Pillar of Autumn Main Cargo Bay (Spartan Barracks) 0518 Hours, August 30th 2552. Epsilon Eridani System Edge.
It didn't take long for us to all start feeling at home with the SPARTAN II's.
Ryu worked his magic and instantly made friends with most if not all of the Spartans. It took me and the others a little longer, but in the end us SPARTAN III's and the II's fit perfectly. Same training, same Drill instructor, and basically the same armor. For a good few hours we traded stories with each other, about training, missions, and things like that.
It was good to know that we weren't the only ones who had to go through Mendez's version of hell. And I considered myself, and the others lucky that we didn't have to do it for as long as they did.
One of the more popular questions was why we kept our full names. "Well," Ryu said. "As I mentioned earlier, we all lost thing in the war. Me, Jordan, and Sarah all lost our families at Harvest and Jericho. Corrine however never really had a family, so she treats us as one, and we promised to stay together. As for our names, since we are pretty much the last of our families, we didn't want our family names to just disappear. The Hisanaga family was know for generations for great warriors aging all the way to ancient Japanese Samurai. The Takeo family were known as very experienced pilots ranging from old planes from the 20th century, to modern day Longswords, Pelicans, you name it, he can fly it. Sarah's family, the Lenix's were known to have at least one family member join a military in almost every war dating all the way back to the American Revolution. As for Corrine…well, as I said she really didn't have a family. But she refuses to forget who she really is."
John, who was listening to our story along with the other Spartans, nodded. He was about to say something when suddenly he, and all of the other Spartans looked up. We felt it too. A slight lateral acceleration, that soon became a spin strong enough that we had to brace our legs. The Pillar of Autumn was turning.
Shortly after, the Autumn's engines rumbled to life like thunder through the hull of the ship.
"Sir, I thought we were accelerating to enter slip Space." Kelly said. "So did I." John replied. "Have Fred and Joshua continue to prep the tubes. Have Linda get a team and secure our gear. I'll find out what's going on."
"Aye, sir." Kelly said. Then the Master Chief walked to the Intercom. He pressed the button. "Cortana? We've changed course. Is there a problem?" he said.
Instead of Cortana's voice, the Captain himself replied. "Captain Keys to Spartan 117." He said,
"Here sir."
"There's been a change in plans." Keys said, with a long pause. "This will be easier to explain face-to-face. I'm on my way down to brief you. Keys out."
After the transmission, Corrine spoke up. "I got a bad feeling about this." She said.
"You always get a bad feeling." Sarah said.
Soon after the Elevator doors opened and the Captain entered the Cargo bay. The Spartans soon stood at attention. "At ease." Keys said. Though, the captain's face showed that "Ease" was not on his mind at the moment. "Something's very wrong." Keys said to the Chief. "Let's talk in private."
"Sir, Unless you want to leave the deck, the Spartans will hear everything we say." The chief said.
The captain glaced at the Spartans. "Very well." He said. "You might as well hear too. I don't know how they found Reach, they bypassed a dozen inner Colony worlds to get here. It doesn't matter now, they are here, and we have to do something."
"Sir, they?" the chief asked, but me, Ryu, Sarah and Corrine all knew who they were.
"The Covenant." He said. He then displayed the Alpha Priority message saying just that. "Shit." Ryu muttered on our Private Comm. "This isn't good."
"The Covenant have found reach?" Sarah said, a hint of worry in her voice. "But, how could they-"
"Found it without us knowing?" Corrine finished. "My guess says they tracked a UNSC ship after a battle. I don't know, but it doesn't matter now. They are here. And we have to stop them."
"Easier said than done." I said. "Reach may be a Fortress world, but the Covie's are probably bringing in the big guns. This isn't earth, but its just as defended."
"And if Reach falls…" Ryu said, trailing off. "Humanity's life just got cut short." I finished.
The captain then said that the Infiltration mission had been Scrubbed.
"Sir, Scrubbed?" The chief said.
"Reach is our strategic headquarters and our biggest ship-building facility." The captain said. "If the shipyard falls, then Dr. Halsey's prediction of humanity having only months to survive will shrink to weeks."
Even though we knew that, the fact alone made us stiffen. "Sir, our two missions are not mutually exclusive." The Chief said.
The Captain staired at the chief. "What do you mean master chief?" he asked.
"A hundred alien vessels, sir. Between the combined force of the fleet and Reach's orbital gun platforms, its almost guaranteed there will be a disabled ship my Squad and Delta can board and capture." The chief said.
"There will be hundreds of ships exchanging fire with one another." The Captain pointed out. "Missiles, Nukes, Plasma Torpedoes…"
"Just get us close enough." The Chief said. "Punch a hole in their shields long enough for us to get in their hull. We'll do the rest."
"It's what we were trained for sir." Ryu said stepping forward. "Infiltration is our middle name."
The captain chewed his pipe. "There are operational complications with your plan." He said. "Cortana has been running the Pilliard of Autumn's shakedown, We have our own AI, but by the time we get it initialized, and running on the ship, the battle could be over."
"I see sir." The chief said.
The captain gazed at the chief, then to Ryu. He sighed. "If there is a disabled Covenant ship, if we are close enough to it, and if we're not blown into billions of bits, then I'll transfer Cortana to you. I've flown ships withough AI's before." The captain gave a quick smile.
"Yes sir!" The chief said.
The captain then said that we would reach the Ralley point in a few minutes. And that we should be prepared for anything. The captain gave a quick salute, and walked out of the Hanger bay.
Almost immediately the Master chief started barking orders to get everyone ready. Getting C-12 Explosives ready, ONI gear, and all that.
Me and Delta team were getting our own gear ready. We were expecting a big battle, so we were gathering everything we could carry.
Ryu was going after his personal favorite assortment. He had his Katana sword (of course), along with some hidden wrist-mounted 6inch knives that Fred gave him. He also grabbed a Grenade launcher, a M45 Tactical shotgun, a D.M.R, MA37, four frag grenades, and enough ammo for the said weapons.
Corrine also went after her favorite gear. A Sniper rifle, a M7 SMG with a suppressor, and a DMR with a substantial amount of ammo for those weapons.
Sarah did as she always did, Overkill in firepower. She grabbed a Rocket Launcher, 6 Rockets for said launcher, a Shotgun, DMR, MA37, and lastly, one M246H Heavy Machine Gun.
I also got my own selection of weapons. Two M6G Pistols, a Grenade Launcher, DMR, Shotgun, and a MA37. I was going to grab a pair of M7's, but I decided what I grabbed was enough.
Sarah then stepped up to me after she grabbed her gear. "Reach is gonna fall, isn't it?" She asked.
I shook my head. "Proboly." I said. "Reach will fight back...But The Covenant are coming with a Large force. Even with the MAC cannons, all we can really do it slow them down here."
Sarah nodded her head. "What will we do, then?" she asked. "The only thing we can do, Sarah." I replied. "Fight."
A few hours later
"…They've breached the perimeter! Fall Back! Fall Back! If anyone can hear this: The Covenant is groundside! Massing near the Armory… they're-"
The message from the Reach ground defenses were sent to us after the chief receved them from the Captain.
We all knew that the Covenant would only invade for one reason. The ground-based Planetary defense generators. They helped power the MAC guns. If they got those…Reach will fall instantly after that.
And on top of that, was the message the Chief attached to it. Coming from the Reach Shipyards. The UNSC Circumference could not initiate the Cole Protocole, and purge all data reguarding UNSC weapons research, force deployments, and most importantly…The coordinates to Earth.
Then The Captains image appeared on the view screen. "Master Chief, I believe the Covenant will use a pin-point slipspace jump to position themselves just off the space dock." He said. "They may try to get their troops on the station before the Super MAC guns can take out their ships. This is going to be a difficult mission…I'm open to sudjestions."
"We can handle it sir." The chief said.
Keys leaned back in his chair. "How so?" he asked.
"With all due respect, sir. Spartans are trained for difficult missions." He said. "I'll split my squad. Three will board the space dock, while the remainder will go ground-side and protect the Defense generators."
"Too risky." Keys said. "We'll just use our conventional weapons and destroy the station."
"But sir," Ryu said. "If you use the conventional weapons, the Covenant could scavange the wreckage, and they could get lucky and the data is salvageable. And if you use nukes, the EMP could disable the Coils on the Orbital guns."
Keys nodded his head. "You do have a point." He said. "Fine, chief, Delta. Missions approved. But I need Delta for a separate mission."
"Sir?" Ryu asked, stepping forward.
"On reach, a very vital package was going to be delivered to the Autumn when we caught a Covenant vessel." Keys said. "But with the Attack, we need to get that package now. It's absolutely vital that this reaches UNSC hands, and stays away from the Covenant."
"Where are we going sir?" Ryu asked.
"The Ship-breaking yards of Aszod." He replied. "Nobel Team has a very important package that can not fall into enemy hands."
"Noble team?" Ryu asked, not believing what he was hearing. I couldn't either. We knew Noble team well during our own training.
"Yes, Noble Team." Keys confirmed. "You are to take a Pelican and to pick them up."
2 hours later, Aszod.
SPARTAN-B312 Julia Waters ran through the building of Aszod attempting to reach the extraction point. Following her was SPARTAN A239 Emile, who wore complete EVA gear with a custom helmate shaped like a skull.
"We're almost there!" Julia shouted as she fired her DMR at a grunt while still running. "I know, I know!" Emile replied. Julia herself was wearing the MJOLNIR/UA Multi-threat Variant armor.
Julia rolled forward, missing a Grunt tossing a Plasma grenade. Emile fired his shotgun as said grunt killing it.
An elite dropped from the catwalk from above with it's energy sword drawn, but Emile jumped up, slammed into the elite, and stabbed his knife into the Alien's neck. "That's what you get when you mess with a Spartan." He said to the dying elite.
"Now's not the Time Emile!" Julia shouted as she exited the building, quickly followed by Emile shortly after.
They now found themselves outside, next to a small Pelican landing platform. There was a collection of Marines there as well, about 7 of them armed with MA37's, DMR's, and such.
In another building next to them, was a single small MAC cannon used for taking out single targets. "I'll take the big gun!" Emile said. "Take out any Phantoms." Julia nodded and activated the comm.
"Command! This is Spartan B312 requesting evac." She said. "I have the Package. I repeat, we have the package."
"Roger that, Nobel 6." The voice of Captain keys replied. "I'm sending a recovery team your way now. 4 minutes out."
"Roger. Nobel 6 out!" She then switched it to Emile's comm. "We've gotta hold out for 4 minutes!" she said.
"No problem!" Emile replied as he activated the MAC gun. "We've got Phantoms inboud! I'm going loud!" Then, the MAC gun fired off a round. One of the Covenant drop ships that was about to drop their load of infantry were hit by the MAC, and exploded into a blast of blue fire.
But two other Drop ships managed to deploy their loads of Troops of Grunts, Jackals, Elites, and Skirmishers.
Julia tossed a Frag grenade at a columb of Jackals and Grunts walking down some stairs. The grenade detonated and the bodies of the aliens went flying. She then hopped and stepped on a Jackal's shield, hopped behind the said alien, grabbed it's neck and broke it. She then grabbed the Jackal's shield and used it to avoid a blast from a Grunt's overcharged pistol, disabling the shield, but leaving her own personal shield intact.
She fired a trio of shots from her M6G pistol at the Grunt, killing it.
An elite attempted to get up behind her, but she side-stepped, and she fired the last few rounds of her MA37 into the elite killing it's shields. While using her own knife to finish the job.
She tossed away the useless rifle, and grabbed the Elite's own Plasma Repeater and fired at a pair of elites. The shots tore through their shields and killed them.
Julia then holstered the Repeater, and drew out her DMR and fired at a team of Skirmishers with Needle rifles. Two shots, two aliens hit the ground dead.
She herd additional Plasma fire behind her, and she turned to see three marines firing at a Zealot class elite, with two elite minors. She sprinted over to them, but the Zealot elite impailed one of the Marines with a Sword, and the other two were killed by a Minor's Plasma Grenade.
Julia reacted and fired her Repeater at the aliens drawing their attention for the four other Marines. She got lucky and killed one of the Minors. But the Zealot and the last Minor took cover.
Her Repeater was running low on energy, so she tossed it aside and drew her DMR again, along with a Frag. She tossed the Frag in the direction of the two elites. Before it detonated, the elites ran out of their cover to dodge the blast. But Julia saw this coming, and with a few quick shots killed the last Minor elite. But the Zealot saw her and managed to evade the shots. The elite ran towards her with an energy sword drawn.
She responded by drawing out her own Knife, and her Pistol. She fired a few shots from her pistol at the elite, but it wasn't enough to drop it's shields.
The elite raised it's sword, but Julia tackled the elite in the chest. She then slapped the elite's sword away.
The Zealot tried to kick Julia off, but she then stabbed her knife into the Elite's chest. The Zealot yelled out in pain, witch was ended when Julia brought the knife out, and stabbed the Elite in the neck.
She could hear Emile whistle. "Remind me never to piss you off." He said. Julia smiled and nodded at the Skull-faced Spartan.
"Here comes the Drop ship." Emile said. Indeed, the Pelican approached the Landing pad. Julia quickly ran up to the Pelican. Where she was greeted by none other than four Spartans.
"Who are you?" She asked one of the Spartans with samurai-like armor and a sword.
"Ryu Hisanaga! Spartan D118!" The Spartan replied. "You Noble team?"
"Julia Waters, Spartan B312!" she replied. "Yes, I'm with Noble."
"You got the Package?" one of the other Spartans wearing a Rouge helmate.
"Right here." Julia said, grabbing a canaster with a purple light emmiting from inside it.
"Alright, come on!" Ryu said. "We're getting out of here." Julia nodded and climbed onboard the Pelican. "We have to pick up Emile on that MAC gun." She said. Ryu nodded. "Jordan, pull over to that MAC to pick up the last Spartan!"
"Copy that sir!" Jordan replied from inside the cockpit. The Pelican then started moving towards the MAC gun. Emile dismounted the MAC and headed towards the Pelican. We're getting out. Julia thought. We're gonna get out of here. Just as Emile was about to jump on, a strange shimmer appeared behind him. "EMILE! BEHIND YOU!" Julia screamed. Emile turned around just in time to see the Cloaked elite stab him in the chest.
Emile responded to this by drawing his own Machete out. "I'm ready!" he shouted as he stabbed the Spec-op elite. "How about you!"
"Emile!" Julia shouted. Emile killed the elite, but fell next to it. "..G..Go…" he managed to say. "get…outta here…"
"But-"Julia said as three more elites appeared. "Go!" Emile shouted as he stood back up. "I'll hold e'm off!" One of the elites charged, and Emile fired his shot gun, killing it. The second elite kicked Emile away, but he got back up, grabbed the energy sword the elite used to impale him, and stabbed the other elite with it.
As the last Elite approached, the Pelican started moving away. "no!"Julia shouted. "We cant just leave him!"
"We got no choise!"Ryu shouted back, as they watched Emile fight with the last of his strength against the Elite. "He stayed so that we can live…don't let his sacrifice go in vain."
Julia said nothing, but watched as Emile stabbed the last elite in the neck, killing it. And he himself fell to the ground, motionless.
Jordan POV.
I piloted the Pelican towards the Autumn. I managed to avoid direct fire from the dozens of Covenant carriers, destroyers, and cruisers. When our Pelican landed in the Autumn, the Pelican John was using also landed.
I exited the Cockpit, and met up with the others outside in the Hanger bay, along with the new Spartan from Reach we picked up.
She was wearing Sage green MJOLNIR mark V armor, Multi-threat variant. With stripes of red along the helmet, back, and legs.
Though, most of the paint was worn off, and most of her armor was fading from Green and Red, into a dark steel color.
"The Captain will probably want to meet you." Ryu said. The Spartan girl nodded, holding the package in her hands and followed us as we made our way to the Bridge.
As we passed the Chief, medics were taking Linda, who looked practically dead already, to the medical wing of the ship. Hope she's alright. I thought.
After a few minutes, we managed to reach the Bridge. We then stood at attention and saluted to the Captain. "At ease." He said. He then faced Julia, who handed him the Package. "Good to see you, Spartan." He said, taking the Package. "Dr. Halsey assured me I could count on you."
"Not just me sir." She said, almost emotionlessly. Keys nodded. "They'll be remembered." He said. Keys walked up to the AI terminal and inserted the Package into it. The Package stopped glowing and the Captain let it go. At that time, The chief stepped into the bridge. Took a quick glance at Julia, and then saluted to the Captain. "Reporting for debriefing, sir." He said. Keys turned to face the Spartan. "Was the NAV database destroyed?" He asked.
"I wouldn't have left a mission incomplete sir." The chief replied.
"Very good, Master chief." Keys said.
"Sir, may I ask for active FOF tags in the region?" the chief asked. "I lost a man in the station…and he may still be out there."
"Lieutenant Hall?" the captain asked.
"Scanning…" The said crewmember said. She looked back and shook her head.
"I see." The chief said. "When are we going to pick up the groundside team?"
The captain turned, and faced the viewport. "We wont." He replied, shocking us. "They were overrun. And we've lost contact with them."
"Then, permission to take a Pelican and retrieve them, sir."
"Denied, chief." Keys responded. "We cant stay here any longer…Dominique, aft camera."
We looked at the view screen, and I, along with most of the others felt their hearts sink.
Covenant ships were Swarming reach now. UNSC ships were fleeing, those that couldn't move were slaughtered by covenant ships.
Also, covenant Carriers and Destroyers were firing their plasma cannons on the surface of reach. Glassing the surface.
"…Doctor Halsey's mission…" The captain said. "…is more important than ever now…it's the only hope humanity has left now."
I clenched my fists. He was right. I thought. This…is humanity's last hope now…
"Ensign Lovell." Keys said. "Give me our best acceleration. I wanna get into slip-space as soon as possible."
"Yes sir." Lovell said. Keys then turned to the Spartans. "Your dismissed." He said. We gave him a quick salute and left the bridge.