HALO/Mass Effect
Thank you for the views, and now I have returned with a new idea.
There will be sweeping changes to the whole series and I will make sure things are now in sync, you should also note that I will be removing the Ghosts of Onyx characters due to some continuity issues and ETC.
Prologue
-UPDATE-
CODEX: Nova Stratus
Nova Stratus was a cluster of stars inside of an ion nebula, the ionisation of the stars had caused a great deal of trouble for navigation throughout the sector. When the first colonists who had landed over fifty years ago suffered the same problems, there had been no physical effects of the ionisation affecting the population.
The colonies had each a variety of unique environments which has provided unique functions for each colony:
Valence:
"The pristine waters, the open forests, boundless and majestic, it's a Valhalla in its own right, and I'm proud and honoured to live on such a gifted world filled with promise, the day this paradise ends is the day the end comes. To those who are here and who are yet to come, enjoy it while it lasts… because it might be your last day."
-Jon Yeoman- Beauty seen in the Heart- 2501 first colonists
Has been seen as a world prosperous and ever-growing, and has its function throughout the sector to provide many of the other colonies with necessary agriculture and produce. The planet has a vast variety of fauna and flora, the planet is covered mostly forests and mountains, certain open areas and grasslands. Most colonists living on Valence have grown to adapt hunting as a trade and produce excellent marksman and trackers.
Hunting is the most traditional occupation; the teaching of hunting and tracking are passed down generations and taught to other children, from the youngest of age children learn to catch small game and learn how to survive in their environment, though it is a hazard the children learn quickly and are usually accompanied by an experienced member of family or friend.
There are other occupations on Valence because of its high agricultural occupation.
Those that remain are:
Militia: Scouting and reconnaissance, this includes regular military training, 3 years of academy necessary to join, age requirement is 14-15.
Navy: Militia Naval personnel, a position within the Navy 2-4 year academy then on-hands experience on naval vessels for 2 years, ages from 14-16.
Trader: Trade in the Nova Stratus sector is usually provided by the trade companies of Valence,
Pyros; located in the most dense concentrations of the nebula, has been the source of industrial production and development, they also provide much of the local militia forces that patrol the sector. The planet's surface is rocky and large amounts of volcanic activity, the planet is considered volatile with high noxious fume fields and lava pools with certain amount of seismic activity. The first colonists had managed to construct and erect large amounts of power plants and mining facilities, the planet also has a gravitational pull three times more than earth, altering the physical structure of the humans living on the planet, most are stronger and faster and are capable above all else, though many live within the cities, gravity plating was produced to help with the higher gravity.
Anomia; is referred to as the 'heart and soul' of Nova Stratus, it was the first colony founded and terra formed, Anomia to this day provides an assortment of different values, technological, scientific, and agricultural and industrial, Anomia has been also the core of government. The world of Anomia provides the main shipyards and source of advancement in technology.
Viscos strider:
"If hell itself ever froze over, it would be Viscos strider; it is beyond my belief that it is an actual death world, capable of snap freezing you to death in a matter of seconds, even with suits and vehicles. It wouldn't matter, there is only one way to survive, crawling into the biggest and hottest heat vents on the face of this frozen hell hole and see how well you fare, this is a life that is probably short lived..."
-William Levi Theamman- Vent coral harvester- 2505 first colonists
The most famously known world is Viscos strider, a frozen world with temperatures from 45.C in summer to -450.C in winter and only has a three mixture season only a quarter of a year; the temperatures are supposedly to have been caused by the planets orbit around its post-nova star.
The post nova star erupted with enough force to destroy the other 4 planets that had once orbited 125,250,000 years ago. The destruction caused the birth of a debris field thick enough to block out sunlight from one side of the system, Viscos striders orbit is the same as earth, for more than half of the year the sun is blocked out of view.
The people who live on Viscos strider have had a high reputation for their skills in survival in freezing temperatures and hazardous environments, the people who live there survive with vent harvesting. Vent harvesting is a dangerous occupation; it requires the individual to survive the volcanic vents in open fields, once there the person has to reach into the 39-49.C pockets and retrieve mildew plants that grow, the plants themselves are high in nutrients and vitamins, with additional heat resources, this occupation is the only foremost well-paying and hazardous.
The other field occupations include:
Vent construction (volcanic)
Vent fuming
Vent marker
MHS production (mobile harvester suit)
Mill processing planter
Monolith marker- A person locates a large crystallised deposit of Mildew and heat lime
Pyre crawler hunting- As the world of Viscos's population grew; a native species that lived on the planet did as well, a Pyre crawler is a large multi-pedal insect that shares a similarity with the Pyre's they are only located in the most dense concentrations of Volcanic activity.
Fauna
PYRE: 'Pyre people' called by the people are arachnid like beings which inhabit the dense caverns of the planets vents, their unique humanoid like frames glow within the darkness of the vents and caverns, they are rarely seen outside of their territory and tend to travel outside only when necessary.
They come to feed on the mildew of large vents and attack anything that approaches their homes. They are bipedal and have a humanoid like form, with a hard out layer of their shell covers most of their body comprised of a natural carbon shell with the similar protein compounds.
There are over nine other colonies within the Nova Stratus sector, each are with similar functions and purposes, but none are more successful than these core worlds.
Nova Stratus is an independent democracy as well as socialistic government, specifically modelled with the peoples interests in mind. The existence of the Independent colonies were to form a self-sustainable and determined government that did not by their own doctrine control them, thus the UNSC has never been alerted to the existence of the Independent Colonies.
The Colonies of Nova Stratus prospered for decades, though civil conflict was a concern the colonies have never had to resort to taking action, though what was to come was far worse.
UNSC military date 2550 December 25th
The war had ended for the most of Humanity, though it was still a struggle for survival, the Covenant had nearly exhausted the UNSC to its limits. The war had devastated most of the outer colonies and inner, but in the depth of space a small fragment of humanity still remained.
The Colonies of Nova Stratus forgotten in the war survived but just barely, only a few months before the treaty that signed the end of the Covenant war. A Covenant forces arrived in system, the colonists had planned if Covenant came the colonists would defend with their lives; though it came at a price, a price too high.
Colony of Anomia, Nova Stratus
Standard time: 12:35pm
As the colonial fleet detected the incoming Covenant forces an E-band communications went out through to all active com satellites to neighbouring star systems, activation of Cole Protocol initiated, Colonial HIGHCOM to erase any of the other colonies existence and then execute as many people.
/E-Protocol CODE: OMEGA/ Processing
The plan had only half fulfilled, the civilians who were in the north of densely populated zones desperately tried to escape. While in the cities themselves the people went into the shelters as planned or fled via orbital relay or ship, some did manage to escape the battle for Anomia while others weren't as capable.
The Covenant cruisers met head on with the Anomia colonial fleet forces and orbital MAC guns, the Covenant possessed 9 CCS cruisers, 1 super cruiser, 5 assault cruisers, 6 frigates, 4 destroyers. The colonist's fleet was consisted of 10 cruisers, 24 frigates, 11 destroyers, 10 light cruisers, 5 carriers and 9 Super MAC Platforms.
/ Anomia Defence Fleet/ Battle Group Alpha / 13:35pm standard
Aboard the Few and None –Halcyon class cruiser
As the UCAF fleet took up final preparations as the Covenant forces made their way in system, to the people's dismay the worst case scenario had occurred, now with only hours left, it either meant survival or death of their world.
Captain Jeremy Vance watched as the Covenant force began a steady approach to Anomia's kill zone, Jeremy was concerned, the chances of a Covenant battle group discovering the Nova Stratus cluster was astronomical. How come they arrive now after annihilating the outer colonies was a mystery, but it was no longer to think of what was happening.
The atmosphere was tense, most of the crew had never gone up against Covenant and battle reports over the years on what had occurred in the outer colonies hadn't reassured them. Or to their knowledge of previous engagements in their borders that were hidden by the ONI and ISB.
Ensign Carol was twiddling around with the com lines waiting for orders, while the helmsmen Robert looked ready to turn the ship on a dime, it was the same with the rest of his crew, and unease stifled the air.
The sudden com chatter from fleet command ordered to form a defensive line against the Covenant approach. Jeremy ordered. "Form up with the fleet, we'll have to go head to head with them, helm bring us about, full speed."
The Few and None quickly linked with the fleet at the primary defence point; there the fleet formed a defence formation around the Super MACs, a first line of frigates held the front, while the cruisers and the carriers held the rear.
The plan was simple hold Covenant forces for reinforcements from Valence or Shanxi to arrive, but with recent ion storms in the region it would be a while before they know. The Covenant forces may have also been within their region, the UCAF HIGHCOM wasn't too sure on what was happening on the other colonies.
The odds for Anomia was beyond low, there was little chance the colony would survive if more Covenant came, but they had to do what they could, because it was necessary. All the time they had was necessary, as each second could account for the billions of their world's inhabitants.
Jeremy knew the battle group wouldn't last long, the fleet was made of recently commissioned vessels, and the outcome of these wining a fight against Covenant was going to be costly. Still if the numbers were on their side they may win, but that outcome was still low.
The UCAF fleet began to charge their MACs, and the Covenant fleet now within range began to charge their plasma torpedoes.
Jeremy took decisive action. "Fire when the MAC charges, and then launch Archers from 1-4, we'll only have a few shots but make each count."
The MACs from the fleet went away at speeds of 40% speed of light; the Covenant at the same time fired their volley of plasma torpedoes. The two destructive munitions passed each other in the middle of the void and made their way to each side.
The MACs made contact with the Covenant fleet, and the plasma torpedoes struck the UCAF fleet, the bright illuminations of detonating armaments and debris quickly filled the space.
The Covenant took a majority of damage but it wasn't enough to slow their progress, though the same couldn't be said for the fleet, the fleet took moderate damage in the first exchange, the cruisers had been scorched but the frigates were pummelled.
The frigates took the brunt of the damage except those that had been better prepared, a few recently adapted interceptor missiles managed to clear the plasma torpedoes and saved the ships. But in total the fleet sustained casualties almost immediately.
Jeremy watched as the plasma torpedoes tore into front line frigates while the rear took scorches, the ship was struck a hand full of times on the outer hull but nothing enough to start venting the atmosphere.
UCAF quickly regrouped and spread the fleet out, recharging their second volley and then returned fire once more, this time the MACs were concentrated on individual vessels.
The second volley hit much harder than the last, it destroyed three of the Covenant frigates and destroyers along with four CCS cruisers, the rest scattered, then it was their turn to fire, the Covenant launched another salvo of plasma torpedoes, it struck with brutal efficiency.
Jeremy ordered to hard port, but the torpedoes made contact throwing the crew off their feet, as it burnt through the super structure of the vessel, plasma fire was being subdued, but it hadn't been enough. "Vent atmosphere, and then put us on a course for the final defensive line, the MAC platforms need to be defended."
The Few and None vented for a few minutes and limped her way to the final Defensive lines, during that time, Covenant began to deploy their main assault force, hundreds of tear shaped Seraph fighters and Spirit drop-ships made their way out of the fleet at into range of the planet.
Versa Defence platform 7
The C709-C Long-sword fighters of the Militia are modified bomber fighters, they weren't exactly the same as the UNSC developed, but were modified to support more weaponry and newer tech. The recently developed prototype energy barriers from Hypress research and advancement centre studied Covenant technology and was to implement the shields into the fleet.
The development group never got beyond the prototype stage for the smaller fighters and some ships, the shields were not reliable, the damage taken took a while for it to recharge leaving the fighter vulnerable, even so the UCAF pilots quickly make up for this by skills.
The squadron stationed aboard the defence platforms were made to fight dogfights, the first wave of Covenant Seraphs soon found themselves in a fight of their lives; the Versa defence platform had over four full squadrons in case of attack, reason being the platforms had never had sufficient defences against an attack.
As the pilots were rushing to sortie, Flight Commander Melissa Pham, one of the most decorated pilots within the UCAF, she rushed down the flight deck to her Long-sword the Longan, the blaring alarms and warning signals echoed as the Covenant began bearing their fangs to them.
Melissa began the final flight checks, suddenly a glowing from the holo-projector, a glowing blue form of energy materialised into a small blue man, Michi was a fourth generation smart AI, specifically created from her father's memories, witty and usually a good shot, he made up for her technical staff and support.
He greeted her. "It's good to see you again; I'm sure the alarm blaring and explosions doesn't mean the annual Founders day Festival."
Anna smiled she always knew Michi was a smart mouth, the two of them though worked well. "You already knew that so you should be finalising our start up right?"
Michi simply nodded and said. "We are launching in 30 seconds."
As Melissa finished strapping on her flight gear, the station shook from a direct hit, she knew they had to keep them safe until the Covenant was repelled or otherwise the planet would have much less than a chance.
The approved icons from the computer and active controls let her know; she launched the Longan forwards, speeding away from the dock she was immediately engaged in the combat zone.
Fighters engaged in a ballet of deadly fire, the Longan swerved through the plasma and debris, Melissa danced the Longan past the deadly fire and began her own graceful and deadly art. The Seraphs and Long-swords' continually tore at each other for an hour, and the battle soon reached its end.
The Covenant vessels had reached the final line of defence, and the remnants of the battle group soon regrouped in orbit to slow the Covenant, though it didn't end well.
Melissa was getting tired, the Covenant had already sent their forces planet side but it wasn't going to be enough to stop them up in orbit, the defenders were going to air support and soon. She pointed the Longan andmade a bee line to the nearest friendly, the Few and None had been the only one within range and it was the only one relatively intact.
As the ship came into view she could see the definite beating it had taken from the battle, she entered com range and messaged over. "Few and None, this is Longan flight recognition 1-5-9, please respond."
The Few and None replied. "Acknowledged 1-5-9 we're opening the starboard bay."
Melissa saw the hangar bay open and turned the Longan into bay, as she touched down the flight deck, the refit crew quickly made their way to refitting the Long-sword with fresh sets of missiles, ammo, engines and armour plating.
As she made her way off the fighter's ramp one crewman went up to greet her. "Ma'am Captain Vance wants to see you."
The two walked to the lift, moving around through the hallways of the old Halcyon cruiser, they soon reached the bridge.
The view outside hadn't improved; the UCAF forces had nearly been wiped out, all of what remained in sight was the carrier and a single Covenant cruiser descending towards the planet.
Vance turned to face Melissa and greeted her. "I would welcome aboard, but time is short, you must be Flight Commander Melissa Pham."
Melissa respectably saluted and replied. "Sir, yes sir, I heard that you had some problems with the Covenant."
The Captain turned from her and went to the display table, activating it he pulled up a holographic position of both Covenant vessels. "Your guess is good as ours, we're not getting anywhere fast, the Covenant is deploying ground forces and we have to stop them before the Militia forces are over whelmed, but we're outgunned and outnumbered."
The Captain pointed to a 3D graphical representation of the vessel. "The cruisers will be a hard enough task of hitting fast and precisely and it'll be costly, but we can't hit the carrier at the same time. That is why we have you, our plan is simple the cruiser will be engaged by remaining forces while you and whatever remaining fighters will have to make a run on that carrier, there won't be a second chance if we fail though, so we need to get this right."
"So how do we take the carrier and their cruisers down fast enough?" Melissa asked.
For the first that day Captain Vance smiled, he motioned to the next item on the display. "We'll bring them down with this."
The images of the remaining vessels were replaced by a large device and on it in bold writing 'Shiva-Class Nuclear Missile'. "So all we have to do is drop this on them and watch the fireworks."
"Oh well, I'll get right on it sir." Melissa saluted, and walked from the bridge and back down to the hangar bay, the Covenant were in for a surprise.
/End Segment ALPHA/ 1555hrs
/BETA Beginning/ 1520hrs/ M4 Field Recoding/ Matthew Ilabaca
Anomia Militia recordings, City, New Caldwell
The sirens began ringing across the city, and people started panicking, it had been over two hours since warnings were issued for immediate evacuation, but it wasn't a simple task, especially for the city of Caldwell.
The population had a number between 4.5 to 3 million over the entire city and urban areas it was no small feat to get everyone out, but the Militia knew and they were willing to get as many out as soon as possible.
For most people the shelters located far away from the city seemed like the safest for them, then once you have hundreds of drop-ships and fighters assaulting it tended to change, for one young corporal it was the same.
UCAF special forces corporal Matthew Ilabaca, the day just seemed to get increasingly better and better for him, he had been fighting across the city blocks, and his recently issued carapace armour (like ODST) had been scorched and dented by Covenant weaponry, he hadn't been having the best of days, now he was alone, stranded within enemy territory.
The first landings were to the centre of the city surrounding the space ports; the Covenant weren't just going to let anyone get off world alive, the Covenant soon began to deploy their troops on outskirts to bottle up the population from the outside.
The Militia though knew to think ahead and had reinforced the outskirts, the troops then began to repel Covenant forces in more controlled pockets rather than surrounding the city, but it wasn't as easy to gain ground or hold it at the centre of the city. The Covenant had been rolling forwards with vehicles and pushing them back with sheer numbers, and he knew this from experience.
Matthew turned around a corner of an alleyway, he knew it lead over to central command and communications base, the Covenant had been driving their forces to take it. And from what the reports said; subspace communications couldn't be properly relayed without the Acer's satellites in orbit, the Covenant had only realised this when they entered the region so they were trying to use their means of communications to signal the rest of their forces, Matthew wasn't going to let them have their way.
He walked past a pile of charred and blackened bodies; this had all been because the Covenant decided that humanity was a heretical race they decided it was a good idea to massacre indiscriminately. It made him feel sick.
As he went around a corner of the street, then as he went down past a cluster of damaged apartments he heard footsteps on an approach, he took a hard turn to another alleyway.
An elite and a pack of grunts marched away taking pause as the jackals scouted about, the avian like aliens picked their way through the street, scavenging for something to eat or sniffing out anything alive.
Matthew drew his M6S handgun; he continued to watch them, as one jackal picked about it managed to get the scent of his trail, it began to move slowly to his hiding spot, tensing he waited knowing the alien had found him. The alien was only a few feet away. "BOOM"
A loud explosion ripped the air, sending the aliens scrambling for cover, a few yells were heard and gunfire. Matthew could hear someone over the fire-fight. "Come on, you Covenant scum, you wanted hell and now you've got hell!"
Matthew looked to see a squad of UCAF marines on his VISR IFF that had ambushed the Covenant patrol, a group of eight or nine were gunning down the Covenant in the street. Matthew now had a distraction, he knew he could help, but the orders from UCAF command had been absolute.
No exceptions, the marines who held them off might or might not be killed, but to 'abandon them to die because of his orders?' He hated leaving people to fend for themselves but priority is first, if the Acer's satellite network doesn't go down the people who died for the Anomia would have been in vain.
He gritted his teeth and then slid past the fire fight. "Give'em hell marines." Giving a brief salute to the marines he slid away to the objective.
He made it past five blocks until another patrol was rushing their way to the fight, he knew those marines could fend off one squad, but two would easily outnumber and out gun them, he could only hope for the best.
Matthew walked through the far left hand side of another building when he saw a pack of grunts and elite were searching a shop, he knew that walking in the streets were the worst place to be. Covenant jackals and skirmishers were not the easiest to deal with. Especially since the jackals hid in the highest points overlooking the roads and moving along them, and skirmishers set for sniffing out targets for the jackals, if he wasn't careful it would get worse than bad.
Matthew slid past the patrol unnoticed, as he got ever closer to the centre of the city, more frequent patrols went by, he was sure now the Covenant had saw victory ahead and was making sure that the central part of the city was theirs.
As a phalanx of skirmishers and a regular patrol moved past him, Matthew slipped by moving ever closer to the command complex, the rest of the walk was simple, moving down through the war torn streets he made his way to the last block from the base.
The layout was impressive and harder to crack than he first thought, the base was a hexagonal building spiralling helix with a massive antenna that stretched over 9 stories high, and the building was reinforced from all sides round.
Bringing up his TAC mini data computer, he searched for the building layout, finishing up Matthew could only see two options, either move to a surrounding building and see if he could take a leap from there or sneak under through the maintenance system below the city.
There were problems with both plans, first off, the scanner detected movement and heat, Covenant jackals controlled the roof tops, and second the side he had to jump from to get into the building was too far off, he would probably break his legs trying.
The other plan was similar, the tunnels were overrun by buggers(drones), and trying to fight his way through a swarm like that was the worst idea, and that and he didn't have the necessary codes for the maintenance system.
So each plan was a death sentence, there had to be another way…
At that moment in time he observed, a patrol this time with a slow moving convoy heading towards the command complex, the Covenant had needed to drop supplies in for their ground operations, but the city was not theirs yet so dropping supplies in by the gravity lift was risk, so they had to ship by phantom and then by shadow transports. Though not all of these were well guarded, and the transports themselves had been stripped down of the main turret for more cargo space, the drivers were grunts, and this made things a lot easier for Matthew.
As another shadow hovered by, Matthew had an idea, although risky it was better than the other two he had in mind.
XXXXX
A sole grunt, Dun 'do was having a bad day, he had been dosing off for the past few days, then the commander had changed course of their fleet to pursue a single force of humans and now they were assaulting a city, he really didn't know why or even cared all he wanted to do was stay somewhere safe, though safe wasn't in human controlled territory.
He continued to pilot the shadow transport to the ground complex, it was where the elite officers had ordered them to go, the centre had been in their control though outside was an ongoing battle, he was just glad he wasn't in the front line like the rest of the other cannon fodder, he was in deep thought of what it would be like back on his home world, he really didn't care about much else.
The only thing was that Dun 'do never saw the silhouette of Matthew sprinting and jumping aboard his transport.
End part 1
That's for now, keep watching for other updates!