Murphy and Finagle

Somewhere in Gallia…

After waiting for two minutes, the German soldiers finally leave the area. Fireteam Vanguard and Jarhed's team start moving again once the soldiers are out of sight. They managed to not encounter anyone except some wild life. That's a good thing because killing or knocking someone out might compromise the mission.

After walking for more than half an hour, both teams finally see a settlement, only few meters away. From how it looks however, they know the settlement is not the normal one.

"Koyuki, check the settlement!" Ordered Abbas.

Koyuki complies by getting a better view using her scope. When she looks at the settlement, she sees some German soldiers patrolling just outside it.

"Patrol up ahead." Informed Koyuki.

"I see. That means there's going to be more of them inside." Said Abbas as he puts his hand on his chin.

"We should positioned Koyuki and Tang over there, Abbas." Suggested Gal as he points at a nearby hill. "I believe they can get a clear view and give us covering fire if needed there."

"Sounds like a plan, Officer. Alright, Koyuki, Smith, head over there and be our eyes! Adams, you're not equipped with active camo, so you'll be with them! Get your camo ready, Locke!" Ordered Abbas.

"Understood, sir!" Replied the three SPARTANs.

"Tang, head to the hill and watch over the humans that aren't on our side! Dayab, Yadab, watch over him! 'Lodam, you're with me!" Ordered Gal.

"Yes, boss." Replied both Grunts.

"I understand." Replied Tang.

Both teams split up and become still two teams but different composition; Koyuki, Smith, Adams, Tang, Dayab, and Yadab are heading to the hill so that they can give the second team supports while Abbas, Locke, Gal, and Vata are activating their active camos before heading towards the settlement.

Hill

The support team finally arrived at the top of the hill. Both Koyuki, Smith, and Tang immediately prepare their rifles before setting their eyes on the settlement. Adams, Dayab, and Yadab are guarding their six.

From their respective scopes, Koyuki, Smith, and Tang can see the Elites and other SPARTANs infiltrating through the holes of the patrol's view. Though, they don't need to do that in the first place with their active camos, but better safe than sorry.

Well, one thing for sure they're going to need quite an amount of time to complete the objective.

Romagna Airspace

Aleksandra "Sanya" Vladimirovna Litvyak is currently flying through the night sky of Romagna. While the patrolling duty at night is at the hand of the 504th Joint Fighter Wing "Ardor Witches" (since it's their original jobs before the 501st JFW are forced to replaced them), Sanya has spent a lot of time flying during the night. So it's more like a habit to her.

Suddenly, she stops moving when she hears something through the night witches antenna. Sometimes, the antenna will catch a signal or two from another device. It's kind of inevitable since night witches methods of communication sort of involving catching a signal, which is why this kind of problem exist.

Sanya once heard a rumor about a night witch accidentally listening to a conversation between a soldier and a…woman of a certain "job". That wasn't an exactly pleasant conversation.

That's why, Sanya is quite careful on what she's currently listening. She doesn't want to hear something that will haunt her until death finally gives mercy to her. What she hears however, makes her confused.

"Reclaimer…Reclaimer…Reclaimer…" Said Sanya softly as she repeats what she heard. From the sounds, the ones who speak them are a male and female.

The Orussian girl can't help but get confused. Reclaimer of what? She tries to hear more of the conversation, something that she usually won't do. But this one sounds very interesting. Alas, it seems the only clear voices that she can hear is when they say "Reclaimer".

Now that she mentions it, she doesn't recognize the signal at all. It doesn't sound like anything the military or civilian use. Nor it sounds like someone just decided to create his own radio. It's very alien to her. One thing for sure is that it's obviously not a Neuroi since previous attempts to hear their communication were failures.

So where's the signal come from? Well, looks like she won't have to think about it anymore since now she hears nothing. Perhaps the conversation has ended. Should she reports this? While indeed the signal is alien, there's nothing important about it except the alien part. Maybe she'll just write a note and drops it on Minna's office.

German-occupied Settlement, Gallia

If there's one thing that both the SPARTANs and the Elites find relieving in infiltrating a settlement occupied by WWII forces is that the protection is not as good as even a minimum security level prison of UNSC. Then again, the prison is guarded with 26th century technology while these forces used what can only be described as ancient by UNSC standards.

It's quite easy sneaking around the settlement. Besides the fact that they're trained for stealth (less so for the SPARTANs, but they still receive one), they're using an active camo; something that will only exist in the wildest sci-fi book in the 1940's.

The team are walking through an alley soon come across a German officer. They're seeing him exiting a certain building which is guarded by a couple of guards. The building looks quite nice compared to others.

"There's a chance that that building is used as an officer dorm." Said Locke.

"Not an exactly right words, but I agree with you." Abbas then ask something to the support team. "[COMMS] Koyuki, Smith, see anything suspicious?"

"[COMMS] Negative. We're only seeing the two guards that are on your view. How about your, Tang?" Asked Koyuki.

"[COMMS] I see nothing strange either. The other nearest guard is at least a…hundred meters away."

Knowing that the only guards nearby is the couple, Abbas takes out a knife. At the same time, Gal takes out what appears to be a handle of sort. While Abbas doesn't know what that is, it's clear that the weapon is a melee one.

Abbas gives a signal to Locke. The latter immediately claps his breastplate loud enough for the guards to hear, but not loud enough to attract others. Hearing the sound, both of them speak to each other before one of them approach the team position. When the guard is out-of-sight of his friend, Abbas immediately chokes the man's neck and close his mouth before stabbing him at the back. Gal comes out of the alley, still using the active camo, looks around and then runs to the last guard with the handle. The type of the weapon is finally revealed; it's none other than the Elite's infamous Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword.

Gal immediately stabs the soldier through the abdomen before pulling the sword out, letting the body falls to the ground. The rest of them follow in closely.

"Listen, 'Jarhed. I am suggesting that you don't use that kind of move. We could be compromise." Said Abbas.

"Worry not, Abbas. I'll do no such thing if it makes me spotted. When I won't however…"

Gal stops talking and instead opens the door. He gets inside, followed by Abbas, Locke, and Vata, with the last two carrying the bodies. When they're inside, they see that the building looks kind of nice. The team deactivate their active camos since they won't need them. The chances are high that if there's an occupant in the building except the officer, he or she would be sleeping. Both Locke and Vata drops the bodies at nearby chairs and make them look like sleeping. When they do that, Abbas and Gal look around the building to find the officer's room.

After few minutes searching, Abbas finally find what looks like the office. There are papers on the table, maps with marks on them, and possibly an archive or two. He gets inside the room and takes out a special camera. Anything that he took with it would be send directly to the Infinity.

UNSC Infinity

Roland is currently doing his own weekly inspection of Infinity before he receives a signal. The signal is rather weak, but he should be able to compare it. Roland immediately compares the signal with every known signal in the UNSC. When he manages to find the most similar signal with the one he received, the Infinity's AI immediately contact Lasky.

After few minutes of contacting, Captain Lasky has arrived on the bridge.

"I heard that it's important, Roland. What is it?" Asked Lasky immediately.

"Sir, I received a signal that has 98.85% similarity with the known Forerunner's signal." Replied Roland.

"Forerunner's signal?! That means…"

"Yes, sir. Something…or someone is trying to make a contact with us from the ruins of the Forerunner."

"This…this not another Didact, right?"

"Unfortunately, I don't know about that. The only thing I received from the signal is a repeated word 'Reclaimer'."

"I see. Can you tract the signal?"

"The signal is quite weak, but I'll try my best."

"Good. At the same time, contact the Shipmaster. If there's someone with more experience in finding the Forerunner's relic, it will be them."

German-occupied Settlement, Gallia

When Abbas and Locke run through the documents, they manages to find inconsistencies between Earth's World War II and this planet's World War II.

For example, when they see the map they realize that the North African campaign are still active despite the year of this planet is 1945 according to local calendar that they found. That's fine if not for that fact that the connection between the Africa and Germany is severed. So how the German forces in Africa could receive reinforcement and supplies?

The other inconsistency is that according to a document, the German are fighting something called "Neuroi". At first, they thought that it's just the local's nickname for Allied forces, no matter how strange that is. But then another document said something along the line of "liberation of Karlsland".

Then another document revealed that the German received support of US, Great Britain, and others Allied countries. This is a proof that both the Allied and the Axis are fighting together against the Neuroi. Unfortunately, there's nothing that they find indicates the nature of Neuroi.

The lesser inconsistency, but perhaps the most important one, is the name of the countries. If compared to Earth, USA is US of Liberion; United Kingdom is Commonwealth of Britannia; France is Gallia; Japan is Fuso; Italy is Romagna and Venezia; Austria and Hungary is Ostmark; Russia is Orussia; Finland is Suomus; Sweden, Norway, and Denmark; Romania is Dacia; Belgium is Belgica; Germany is Karlsland; and so on. The type of government is also different when compared with 1940's Earth.

"Huh, I think we make a mistake." Commented Locke when he read the last parts.

"You tell me. Now we have two dead bodies of perhaps actually two soldiers who only do their jobs that none of them involved a systematical genocide." Replied Abbas as he takes a picture of a document.

Suddenly, the light inside the building is out. Both SPARTANs activate their helmets' night vision mode and points their weapons at every possible entrance.

"The hell?" Commented Locke.

"[COMMS] 'Jarhed, this is Abbas, what's your status, over?"

"[COMMS] We are fine, Abbas. What about you, Tang?"

"[COMMS] It's fine here as well. Though I am not going to recommended getting out now as the soldiers are panicking around.

"Damn it. Any…"

"[COMMS] Oh, damn it."

"[COMMS] Something wrong, Smith?"

As if to answer Abbas' question, the soldiers outside begin to scream and firing their weapons. The SPARTANs immediately on their way to the outside with the Elites already there. The scream and firing suddenly stop. When they're outside, they can see what caused the soldiers to react like that.

In front of them, just a few feet away, is a group of what can only be described as animals. Their appearance resemble a saber-toothed tiger. Their entire bodies are black with the exception of a red slit on where their eyes would be. The tips of their tails are pointy, not unlike a knife. One of the creature can be seen biting a Karlsland soldier by his neck.

"What should we do, Abbas?" Asked Locke.

"Stay calm and attack only when…"

Abbas words are cut short when one of the tiger runs towards the team.

"Open fire!" Said Gal as he activates his Energy Sword.

The two SPARTANs and an Elite fire their weapons at the tigers. One of them jump to close in on the team, but Gal immediately captures it by the neck before stabbing the tiger at the abdomen. When the Special Operations Officer pulls his sword, the tiger shattered into white glass-like substances. Another tiger tries to pound the Elite, only for Gal to avoid it and stabs the tiger at the neck. Just like its kin, the tiger shattered into white glass-like substances.

"Area clear!" Stated Abbas as he reloads his MA5D ICWS. "Let's move!"

The team start moving with a fast pace. The team can hear the sounds of Koyuki and Smith's rifles alongside Tang's beam rifle. When they turn at an intersection, the team see the Karlsland soldiers are trying to fight back the tigers. Some of them succeed, especially the ones with flashlight. Others don't have the same result. The team decide to help the Karlslander by destroying as many tigers as they can.

Suddenly, the light returns. It is at that time the Karlslander soldiers see the SPARTANs and the Elites and, in a state of panic, fire at them as well.

"Damn it. No choice. Eliminate the soldiers as well!" Shouted Abbas as he kills a squad of them.

The SPARTANs and the Elites are now cutting both the Karlslander and the tigers. Most of the Karlslander's attention seem to be focused at the Elites, especially Gal. Gal replies it by cutting the Karlslander and the tigers left and right. So far, none of their attacks manage to give his energy shield a significant damage. It's the same thing with the SPARTANs and Vata; their energy shields are still quite strong.

Soon after, the street is covered with the bodies of dead Karlslander and the glass-like substances that start to disappear. The team resume their move and heading outside.

"[COMMS] Koyuki, this is Abbas. How's the condition at your end?" Asked Abbas.

"[COMMS] Quite bad, Abbas. This tiger-creatures keep coming to our direction. Better hurry up."

"[COMMS] Copy that. Hang on there."

Hill

Adams fires his shotgun at the tiger that's only few feet away from him. Another tiger tries to approach him, but Dayab and Yadab soon dispatch it. Koyuki, Smith, and Tang manage to keep the number of the tigers from overwhelming them. But it is clear that the tigers keep coming at them.

When the three of them are aiming their weapons at the group of tigers, the sudden appearance of the other team destroy most of them, with the three snipers/marksmen picking up the rest. Both finally regroup and start to fall back while firing their weapons at the tigers. Suddenly, the tigers turn their attention back to the settlement, leaving the team alone.

"They're retreating. But why?" Asked Smith.

"Doesn't matter. We have to get out of here." Stated Dayab.

As the team moves, Abbas is calling for an extraction.

"[COMMS] Infinity, this is Vanguard. We managed to complete the objective and requires immediate extraction."

"[COMMS] Solid copy, Vanguard. Proceed to the designated LZ and wait for the Pelicans." Replied Roland.

"[COMMS] Understood, Infinity. Vanguard out."

The team is now moving towards the LZ, leaving the settlement and then the planet.

And this chapter is done.

Just a question, but what do you think will happen if the Strike Witches' Earth locals see the Grunts, Jackals, Hunters, and Elites before knowing that they're friendly?

If you have question or suggestion, feel free to tell me.

Review please.