Flashback one week from end of last chapter
Douglas and Alice walked over to Jerome. "What do you want Jerome?" Alice asked their leader.
"I've come to the decision to split red team up. There are only three Spartans in this whole galaxy, and we need to make sure we are used to the most benefit. I'm sending you two to the Spirit of Fire. The captain has sent me a message; they are planning to use the Spirit to attack Geth staging areas." Jerome paused for a minute to examine his subordinates. Alice looked slightly upset, and Douglas looked the same as he always did. "I want you to be in the spearhead, the marines will probably need you."
"Yes sir," Came the reply.
Jerome continued, "I know you don't like me splitting up the team, but it is necessary if we are going to win with the fewest casualties." Jerome looked between the two. "Alice, you are in charge of red team while I'm with Commander Sheppard. "
"What about Serina sir?" Alice asked her commander.
"The Spirit of Fire might not operate a peak capacity without her, but discovery of an AI by the citadel might cause a political backlash, at least that's what I'm told. She stays with me." Jerome replied. "Spartans, dismissed."
End Flashback
Captain cutter was in his office, going over reports when his com buzzed for his attention. "This is Cutter, go ahead."
"Admiral Hackett wants to speak with you sir," The com tech said.
"Put him on." Cutter replied.
"Captain, we just got an emergency transmission from our colony Terra Nova. It looks like a major Geth attack. You are the only ship that can reach them in time to avoid a major catastrophe. We're sending over the frigates El Alamein, River Somme, Coral Sea, and Agincourt. They have instructions to dock with your ship so they can be carried into the battle. This is highly irregular sending a dreadnaught without an escort, but it's all we can do." Hackett sounded worried, "You are in command Cutter, kick the Geth off Terra Nova, no matter what the cost."
"Understood Admiral, we'll be under way as soon as they dock," Cutter replied, anger evident in his voice. It hadn't been very long since the Spirit had been attempting to defend the helpless inhabitants of Arcadia from the covenant. He left for the bridge, leaving his paperwork behind on his desk.
After a few minutes riding the elevator Cutter arrived on the bridge. "Are we ready to go?"
The helmsman looked up from his station, "Aye sir! Alliance frigates docked, we are ready to depart."
"Make best speed for the relay, place all stations on alert." Cutter ordered.
"Aye sir, FTL engaging," the helmsman replied.
The blast shields started to lower over the bridge windows as the massive ship turned and accelerated into FTL speeds. As it did the asari specter entered the bridge. "Captain, what's going on here? This ship isn't scheduled for any maneuvers today."
"The Geth are attacking Terra Nova, we're going to stop them." Cutter replied. "Operations, tell the helljumpers to get ready we're going to need them when we get there, have the Spartans deploy with them. "
"Helljumpers captain?" The asari asked, obviously curious.
"ODSTs, Orbital Drop Shock Troops. We're going to hit them hard and fast." The captain answered.
"Orbital drop? The Salarians experimented with those tactics, but the element zero cores needed were too expensive to put in a disposable vehicle." The specter looked puzzled.
"You may not have noticed, but we've gotten away without element zero for hundreds of years where I come from." The captain smiled at the confused asari
"Of course, it's just that all of our technology is based on element zero, it's strange to see technology that doesn't need it." Nidara shook her head.
"I'm sure, now if you will excuse me, I need to make sure my ship is prepared for battle."
***
Jack Demetrio and his ODSTs were loading their pods with supplies; each one still carried a Covenant plasma rifle in addition to an alliance issue assault rifle and shotgun. They were loading the drop pods with explosives and survival rations. While an ODST was expected to come out fighting, the pods were designed to carry some basic survival gear for when the fighting was done and they were expected to move on. Two of the six pods in their bay stood empty, reminders of the war; they had lost one teammate defending a civilian transport on arcadia, and another to the flood.
That engagement had left him with nightmares, he could still hear private Henkel's screams as his teammates were forced to shoot him as the infection form turned his body into a monster. He shook his head to clear the bad memories. He noticed the bay doors opening and the two Spartans he had met at the citadel entering. He didn't really know what to think of the Spartans, they were certainly welcome on the battlefield, but beyond that they were generally quiet and awkward to be around.
The first one saluted and said, "Sir, we were told to report to this bay for spare drop pods." Her voice was female.
Jack sighed, "Yeah, right there, he jabbed his thumb over at the two empty pods." He looked at the Spartans. Each one had a Spartan laser attached to the magnetic locks on their back. The experimental weapons were rare enough that only Spartans generally ever used them. He would have loved to get his hands on one. "You two here to help my squad?"
"No, we've got our own orders, we are on anti-tank duties, you are welcome to help us once we are on the ground marine."
Jack smiled; fighting alongside a Spartan usually meant you would go straight into the toughest enemy defenses. Of course if the marines on the Spirit were to be believed, fighting with a Spartan meant you had a damn good chance of getting out alive, especially if they went first. "We'll see what happens down there Spartan, but if you need us, we'll be happy to help."
If he could have seen behind her faceplate he would have seen her smile. "I'm sure," was her only reply.
Jack shook his head at the super soldier and turned back to his own squad, they had pulled on the medium armor the alliance had provided them with, sans the helmet and were now busy putting on the standard issue ODST drop armor. He did the same. It was mildly uncomfortable having both suits of armor on at the same time, though the latex like alliance armor made it easier. It was surprisingly comfortable, and actually fit him well. The thing he most appreciated was the kinetic barriers that would activate over his armor. ODST armor could already withstand a bullet, if something got through his new shields it; along with the alliance armor might just save his life.
He and the rest of his squad finished loading their pods and clambered inside, waiting for the drop order.
***
The Spirit dropped out of FTL near Terra Nova, what they found surprised them, there wasn't a single Geth ship waiting to engage them. Cutter turned to the officer manning the sensors. "Where are they lieutenant?"
"Not in space, we're getting a signal from the planet, I'll put it on monitor two," The tech answered and hit a few buttons on his console.
An overhead monitor lit up with the position of a battle camera from an alliance marine, a marine officer was yelling into the camera. "-eth are all over the city, they're landing frigates all over." Static filled the screen for a few moments. "Destroyed X57 as they came in, blew it apart. The Stalingrad was overwhelmed in seconds. Civilians are still inside the city, we can't take out the frigates, we don't have the weapons, and we can't risk hurting the civilians. If you're with the alliance, we need immediate reinforcements." Tracers from Geth weapons flew over the screen followed by a low hum. A blue projectile hit the ground nearby and the screen went to static.
Cutter turned to the ops tech. "Make a pass, deploy the hell jumpers. Have our pelicans follow them down, tell them to load up only gauss hogs, they are the only vehicle with a chance of hurting these Geth tanks." His face hardened with anger. "Get an airbase set up just outside the city. Deploy any hawks and hornets we have left. Tell the shortswords to prepare for sorties."
The com officer looked up from his station, "Sir, the frigates are requesting orders. It looks like they caught that transmission too."
Cutter considered this for a moment, "Those Geth frigates won't be stupid, and they won't come out to engage a dreadnaught in open combat. They also won't leave the protection of civilian hostages and risk us knocking them out. Have the frigates land in two separate locations, he gestured to a holographic map. They will help us clear a landing zone, set up pre-fab bases once they report it as clear."
"Aye sir," The tech replied, then busied himself with sending the orders.
Nidara spoke up from the back of the command center, "Captain, I'm going to head down to the planet. It looks like you'll need all the help you can get."
Cutter didn't even look up from his tactical display, "Be my guest Specter."
***
The HEV jolted as it hit atmosphere. Lieutenant Jack Demetrio had his head knocked into the side of the drop pod. His vision started to go red from the negative Gs as his pod accelerated towards the planet's surface. He fought to keep himself from going under into unconsciousness. He succeeded in time to get hit with the sudden positive Gs as the pod's first stage air brake deployed. He cried out in a wordless cry of pain as the wind was knocked out of him. He thanked god when his final rocket assist landing came to an end and the front hatch blew off the pod. He saw it rebound off a pod that had landed right before him and go spinning off into a storefront.
Damn, landed right inside the city. He though to himself. Can't be helped. "Squad check in," He hit the com bead in his ear.
"Lima-3 here," "Four, ready and able," "Two here, I've got what feels like a fractured rib, but I'll be fine." The chorus of replies reassured him.
"Alright marines, let's get to work, three, see if you can't locate the nearest friendlies." He barked out the orders as he hefted his rifle and started scanning the area. He noted the Spartan's pods were already empty, their occupants obviously not bothering to wait while the normal humans got ready to fight.
"Lima-3 here, I've managed to raise some people who say they are alliance marines, about two blocks from here, they say they know the area." His com specialist radioed in.
Jack looked around for his squad, lima-2 and lima-4 were nearby but he couldn't see lima-3. "Three what's your position?"
"Uh, I crashed through the roof on the building to your right, I'm still a couple stories up, and I'll be down in five minutes." Three replied.
"Hurry the hell up, we don't have all day," Jack said angrily. He looked over at four, who was cocking his head like he was listening to something. Now that the ringing in his ears from the landing was subsiding he could hear it too, a faint buzzing sound. He held his rifle pointed at the nearby T-intersection. The sound of an explosion rang out and what looked to be some sort of drone, but was now debris crashed into the intersection.
"Lima team, this is red team, be advised enemy has deployed drones, not as deadly as the ones on the shield world." Came a Spartan's voice over the radio.
"Thanks red team, we are heading to a stranded group of alliance marines, will you assist?" Jack asked over the radio.
"Negative, it looks like the Geth are setting up a turret tower deeper in the city. We are going to take it out." The Spartan cut the channel, ending the discussion.
"Great, let's move out marines." Jack shouldered his assault rifle and led his team deeper into the city.
***
Spartan-130 walked along the roof of the building she and Douglas had secured. It had been emptied, gunshots marred the walls. What disturbed her most were the blood smears were someone had dragged the bodies away. A dropped assault rifle told her that alliance marines had been the victims. She looked at her own gun. Some techs aboard the Spirit had stripped a vehicle mounted machine gun down for her to lug around. A replacement to the turret she habitually carried. It was prone to overheating, but it could sweep an enemy off their feet.
Douglas carried an alliance issue heavy weapons rifle. It was essentially a standard assault rifle with an under slung rocket launcher. He carried seven rockets for the weapon. As they neared the edge she set down her heavy weapon and belly crawled along with Douglas to peer over the ledge. She saw several Geth troopers drag the body of an alliance marine over to some sort of stand. After a few seconds a massive metal spike shot up, impaling the body.
"Check the other spikes 130," Douglas said over their helmet com.
She looked and saw the bodies of several other victims, but these seemed to glow with metal parts, they had an unnatural grey corpselike pallor over their skin. "Dragon's teeth," She said. The reports from Eden prime had mentioned these. They turned bodies into reusable, disposable shock troops. "Take them out, use grenades." Douglas' acknowledgement light blinked green and he pulled several grenades from his belt.
He waited until Alice picked up her machine gun before he threw them, one at each body on the dragon's teeth. They exploded, breaking the metal spikes as they did so. Even before they exploded Alice had her machine gun up and firing, burning down all five troopers before they could react. The weapon overheated, and Alice saw two of the troopers start to get back up, having only been knocked over by the impacts. Douglas quickly dispatched them with bursts from his rifle.
Alice looked up and saw a shuttle, the one the asari specter had used to travel to the Spirit of Fire, come screaming out of the sky, its entire left side was aflame. She continued watching as it came to an obviously controlled landing, if barely; crashing down the street she had just been looking over. It clipped the building and nearly sent her off the edge.
"Let's see if there are any survivors," Alice stated over the radio. Douglas' light winked on in acknowledgement.
***
Nidara woke in a daze. Her head was spinning. As she pulled herself together she took stock of her surroundings. She was still strapped in by a five point harness in the pilot's seat of her shuttle. She tried to pull up a systems report from the VI interface, nothing. She grimaced. The power must be dead. She thought. The asari unstrapped herself and got to her feet, noticing for the first time that the shuttle was tilted. She looked back towards the exit ramp of the shuttle. It had flown open in the crash, thankfully it didn't look like anyone, or anything was outside.
She pulled out her pistol and started over to the open hatch. She paused and stood perfectly still as she heard heavy footfalls from just down the street, at an intersection. She lay down and waited, until the monstrous form of a Geth colossus lumbered into view. Damn, the Geth just happened to be here, and of course they will look for survivors. The colossus wasn't alone she noted; several shock troopers were clustered around its legs. This just gets better and better.
The specter got up and was preparing to run for her life, hoping there was some sort of cover she could use to escape from the war machine, when she noticed something. A thin red beam of light was pointed at the colossus. It looked like some sort of targeting laser. A surge of hope went through her. If someone had heavy weapons they might distract that colossus long enough for her to get into cover, she just hoped the heavy weapon was on some sort of tank, otherwise that group was likely done for.
That hope changed to horror as the colossus turned and began charging its main weapon. It was pointed directly at her. She threw up a biotic barrier even though she knew it probably wouldn't matter.
Just as she was consigning herself to the end a bright red streak impacted the colossus, its head, weapon and all fell to the ground, the body started to collapse shortly afterwards. Laser weapons, impossible, only ships could support weaponized lasers. The five shock troopers turned to face the new threat, but even as she watched, one of the human's elite soldiers, a Spartan, appeared on the ledge of the nearby building. The green armored warrior hefted what looked like an antipersonnel turret at the shock troopers. She hadn't seen these soldiers in person, only heard about them during her stay aboard the Spirit but that display of strength was amazing.
The Spartan burned down two of the shock troopers within seconds, and then retreated back behind the ledge for cover when the other three fired their rockets at it. That was when the heavy weapons team made their presence felt again. A rocket sped out from the intersection and blew one of the Shock troopers apart. The Spartan wasn't to be outdone however; it jumped straight off the ledge and landed right on top of one shock trooper. Its shields flared as the second opened fire. It brought up its turret and destroyed that one too.
Nidara took a few cautious steps forward, her pistol out, but not pointed at the Spartan. "What the hell are you?" She questioned the green giant.
"Spartan super soldier ma'am," The soldier was apparently female. She turned as another Spartan turned the corner, a rifle with a rocket attachment resting against its shoulder. "We're Spartan red team; we'll escort you to where Lima squad said there are some marines holding a building in the center of town."
"I can take care of myself," Nidara began.
"Okay, then you fight through the Geth to get to the rendezvous. We'll just leave you alone." The soldier sounded smug.
Nidara smirked a little at the Spartan's humor. "Fine, just get me there quickly."
The Spartan laid out directions for Nidara, and simply told her to move as fast as she could to the destination. She frowned, "What about Geth?"
She could have sworn she heard the super soldier chuckle under her helmet before she replied, "we'll take care of them, you don't need to worry yourself."
Nidara was suspicious of that statement, but began heading off in the direction the Spartans had specified, she was running in a light trot, with her pistol out and ready. All she saw along the way were Geth corpses. Even a Geth prime lay dead in the street, its head blown off by a grenade. She didn't know how these soldiers were so good, but she was suddenly very glad the humans seemed to be loyal allies of the council. If they had more soldiers like these two, the citadel armies wouldn't stand much of a chance.
She finally arrived at a large building. It was pockmarked with craters from where heavy weapons had impacted the structure, but the distinctive muzzles of machine guns poked out of various intact windows.
A voice came out over a loudspeaker, "An asari? What are you doing here?" The voice demanded.
"I'm a citadel specter, I was sent along with the human reinforcements. We came to take back this world." The asari said, lowering her pistol as she noticed several of the machine guns tracking her.
"I'll take all the help I can get; we've got a lot of wounded. Get inside; hurry before the Geth come back." The voice said weariness now evident in its tone.
Nidara ran to the opening doors and ducked inside, finding several alliance marines standing inside, their weapons pointed out the windows. "Where's you leader?" She asked.
"Command post is on the second floor specter," One of the marines said flatly, not looking away from his assigned window.
Nidara walked up the lobby stairs at the back of the building, upstairs she found an alliance marine without his armor on, his right leg ended in a stump; it had obviously been cut off and repaired with medigel. The strange pattern of scarring a dead giveaway.
The man gave a salute, "Gunnery chief Banks, Terra Nova militia, I'm in command of this group, what's left of us anyway."
The specter didn't return the salute. "I'm Nidara, council specter. I was sent here with the reclamation group to take back this colony."
"It's damn good to hear that, they hit us hard. We managed to get a lot of the civilians out into the wilds, but the rest of them…" His voice trailed off. "The bastards are using them as hostages. They aren't killing them and turning them into husks like they did to any militia they captured, they have 'em corralled in buildings underneath their ships at the center of the city."
"We found that out already. The Spirit of Fire is in orbit, they are deploying their army to take back the city." Nidara informed the militia leader.
The militia leader sighed and relaxed, then straightened up as best he could when a civilian carrying a pistol ran into the room.
"More Geth, coming down the street, there's a bunch of big ones this time," The civilian said, sounding panicky.
"Well damn, it looks like you showed up just in time for us to get slaughtered," The gunnery chief said while shaking his head." I'd appreciate any help you can give."
"I'll see what I can do commander, it might not be much though." Nidara turned and headed to the other side of the building where a machine gun nest was set up near a broken window. She looked out across the street and saw a pair of juggernauts advancing along with several normal Geth troopers. The machine gun crews opened up, drawing the juggernaut's attention, the first one fired, hitting a target in an upper story and raining debris down the front of the building.
Nidara saw the second one preparing to fire and sent a biotic shove its way. At this range the telekinetic throw lost some of its strength, but it had the effect of throwing of the monstrous Geth's aim. The Machine gun crews concentrated on the one she had shoved and knocked out its shields, a rocket fired from somewhere else in the building finished it off.
The other one continued to advance, readying another rocket, when all of a sudden a storm of blue fire came at it from further down the street, the juggernaut turned to face the new threat, and as it turned Nidara could see glowing molten holes in the back of the massive machine. The arm holding its gun fell off in a torrent of plasma melted and damaged. The Geth soon followed it to the ground, much of its armor looked melted and slagged. The other troopers were cut down from the militia inside the building, now free of the threat of the juggernaut's rockets.
Nidara looked down the street where a small group of four soldiers carrying strange looking weapons sat huddled behind a wrecked car. Her radio buzzed on the alliance com channel.
"This is Lima squad, looks like you guys could use some help down here," Came the voice.
Chief Banks held a hand to his ear, "Who am I speaking to?"
"Lieutenant Jack Demetrio of the 105th Shock division, 12th brigade," The trooper continued, "Command wants to secure this point as a forward base in the city. Spartans just took out the nearest AA tower, relief pelicans are en route."
"We've got a lot of wounded here lieutenant, we are going to need evac," the chief replied.
"Command says you can ride the pelicans back to our lines, you'll get treatment there," Jack and his squad continued forward until they were in the building. They walked up to where the chief was sitting in his chair. "Another ODST drop is inbound, they'll hold until the reinforcements arrive," He looked at the chief's missing leg. "I suggest you take a break, we'll take it from here."
"Thank you lieutenant, that's good to hear," The chief said, and then he leaned back in his chair, apparently having passed out due to exhaustion.
Nidara walked over to the ODST lieutenant. "How is the battle going?"
Jack looked at the asari with more than a little distrust, but seeing the way the alliance soldiers acted around her, he decided he could trust her. "We're pushing them back. The Spartans have been carving a path through their heavy armor, the marines are behind them, mopping up and securing the city."
He looked back out the window, hearing sonic booms of HEVs entering the atmosphere. He saw several land outside in the street, a few hit buildings at glancing blows. He winced; those marines probably didn't survive impact. "Looks like the cavalry is here."