The Blue Spartan walked up quickly, his footsteps as loud as a brute's roar; he gestured swiftly with one arm up the building so quickly the ODST's couldn't tell if he was pointing to something or throwing a grenade. The second Spartan held back, simply sharpening his knife and waiting for his buddy to make the call for him to join in.
"I want your sharpshooters up on that building, spread them out across it and keep low; I don't want any movement until I've given the all clear." The commanding Spartan spoke to them, his voice was soft but the suit's amplifier orchestrated it heavily to them.
Grey White stepped forward, unimpressed with the 'freaks' appearance and orders he was trying to dish out, "And since when did you did you become Sergeant of my squad? These soldiers are staying with me."
The Spartan IV reacted explosively, not even pausing to grab the ODST and lift him up from his neck and shoulders as he shouted into his face, "And what were you going to do? Run in there and get mowed down one by one!?" The other ODST's protested, aiming their rifles at the blue Spartan; unsure of how to act. The Black Spartan IV reacted immediately, as if he knew something like this would happen; he knew that if this held on, bloodshed would be inevitable.
"Gabriel! Ease down, they aren't your enemy." His team-mate yelled at him, grabbing his shoulder and forcing the sergeant down from the mechanical grip.
The Blue Spartan stopped himself from harassing the rest of the squad, breathing heavily he slumped to a seated position and started reloading his sniper rifle again; keeping his hands busy with something that didn't involve strangling friendlies.
Lucifer watched him for a second, before turning back to the shocked ODST squad, "I apologise for him, he is not himself; but I would really appreciate if you just did what he said next time."
An ODST stepped forward, Marko the troublemaker, "Sarge was right, he's not the commander of our unit and neither are you." He pointed his finger straight at the Spartan, not getting within touching distance.
"No he's not your Sergeant, but he is a Lieutenant Commander; therefore you really do have to do what he says." Lucifer stepped forward menacingly, letting them know who they were really answering to.
Grey White pondered it for a second while rubbing his neck, "Very well, we'll do it your way. But I am holding both of you personally responsible if I lose one man out there."
The Blue Spartan stood up slowly, "Sharpshooters with me, the rest of you follow Lucifer round the centre." He led them up the building quickly, scoping through his sniper rifle down at the amassed Falconer forces that was preparing to barricade up.
He shuffled forward, letting the two ODST's follow him; their names were Thresher and Nurse. One had a sniper like him and the other, a Designated Marksman Rifle. Gabriel scoped out the location swiftly, all too aware that the enemy force had probably called in for reinforcements or even for extraction.
But no, it was a lot worse than that.
"Is that what I think it is?" Thresher asked to his left, his sniper rifle aiming down at the same set of cylinder tubes the Spartan was looking at.
"UNSC class Havoc nukes grade 2, it seems the Falconers are here for a reason." Gabriel complied, aiming down the sights at the sight of the Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar slowly equipping the nukes onto a stolen phantom aircraft. He confirmed sight on both Tangarus and the priestess Phi-Gar before calling in to command.
"Drafter? This is Gabriel" He spoke quickly, not choosing or caring over her official ONI classified title, "Falconer target Alpha and Beta are lined up and confirmed, they seem to be loading Havoc Nukes onto a stolen phantom vehicle; permission to engage?"
Silence awaited him on the other side, this was taking to long for the Spartan; the second squad down below would be detected any minute and the nukes were nearly completely on-loaded.
"Permission to engage!?" He spoke louder; he knew they could hear him on the other side and he didn't appreciate being ignored. He readjusted his angles right over the Brute Chieftain's head before switching it to the Havoc nukes, they weren't primed say they would just act like simple missiles; obliterating the group but not harming his squad.
"Negative Gabriel, pull back" The voice finally came through.
Gabriel paused for a moment, confused, "Say again command?"
"Pull back Spartan, we've gathered new Intel on the Falconers; ONI wishes for us to simply track them for now. We have reasons to believe they are working for the Storm." Drafter's voice came over again, leaving him dumbfounded.
"Ma'am, I say again; these rouge units have acquired a heavy set of Havoc Nukes!" He whispered angrily, making sure his reticule was aimed right at them. The ODST's at either side were looking at him anxiously, unsure on what they should do next.
"I am ordering you to pull back." Her voice finalised, completing the call.
Gabriel shrugged to the other soldiers before telling them all, "All right we have to fall back, new orders – we've got to wait by our drop-pods for extraction."
"What!"
"Dude did you…"
Angry chatter filled the communications as he stood up, disarming his sniper rifle.
"Not my call ODST's form up and get moving." Gabriel spoke, a hint of anger in his tone at Drafter as well as their lack of loyalty.
Suddenly Lucifer's voice came over the private Spartan radio headset, "Gabriel, I have confirmed sighting of an elite up there!"
"What!" Gabriel shouted, crouching back down and looking through the sights of his sniper rifle again. The Havoc nukes had now successfully been on loaded onto the phantom, letting the Brutes and Jackals climb aboard.
One last figure walked up, a golden zealot with an energy sword marked on his holster. It turned its head and gazed to the direction of Gabriel for a moment before growling loudly and drawing his blue cackling energy shield.
Because they recognised each other.
It was the Royal Zealot named Mort'ang.