Authors Note: Well the vote is over, flood are coming in later. Thanks to all who reviewed. I am sorry it took so long to update though, I am thinking of doing a story about a female ODST aboard the Pillar of Autumn. Please let me know what you think of the idea and PM me for any OCs for that story, or for this story actually, I may need some later on. Enjoy!
Resolute, Unidentified System, 22BBY
After a few days the Resolute was cleared to go negotiate with the UNSC, the clone wars had started to die down from the republic systems in preparation for something. This had made both the UNSC and Republic uneasy. They both were bolstering defenses in all frontline systems.
"Sir, we will be coming out of hyperspace shortly. Is something wrong general?" "This doesn't seem right, if this UNSC has been here his entire time, why haven't we encountered them before?" "They might just like keeping to themselves sir" "Perhaps" Obi-wan replied. The view screen suddenly shifted from the bright lines to regular space. "Sir, I am detecting the remains of two separatist ships." "Only two?" "It appears that small droids are cutting apart the remains of the ships and bringing them to the planet's surface." "That explains where the ships went" They then see two battleships come out from behind the moon. "Sir, the larger ship is over two times larger than us. It measures at about 2500 meters." "I noticed trooper" Obi-wan murmurs under his breath, something's not right. He thought "There are no midiclorians on those ships!" "Sir, you said that all life had them." "Not on these two ships or on the planet." "Are they droids?" A hologram of an officer appeared. [This is Captain James Cutter of the UNSC Spirit of Fire, Identify yourselves.] "This is General Kenobi of the Galactic Republic, I take you're the one we meet with." [Yes, would you rather meet on our ship, or yours] "Ours, if it's no inconvenience" [Fine, we will meet shortly] the captain says before disconnecting. "They're not droids" Obi-wan says to commander cody
Spirit of Fire
"Sir, I would not advise you go" The AI told Cutter "I have to Serina, and with the Spartans I'm sure I'll be fine." "Which Spartans are you taking?" "Since the General is a Jedi, all of them." He then turned and walked out of the bridge, Red team following him. "Spartans?" They turn "Take care of the captain" They nod before walking to the hangar; they see Theta One and two leaning on the Pelican. A729 talking to the Pilot. "Spartans, let's go." Cutter says, the pilot and the Spartan 3s salute before getting into the vehicle. Cutter and red team gets in the Pelican before it takes off, flying out of the hangar towards the Venator.
Resolute, Hangar
The military green craft flew through the shield of the hangar. All the clone troopers in the hangar looked. "These guys are primitive, they still use slug throwers." A trooper says. "Don't forget that these primitives have destroyed six separatist ships." A maintenance clone tells him "They don't even have shields, how tough could they be?" The trooper replies. They watch the drop ships door open. "Whoa" The trooper says, those guys are huge." They watched as five massive armored behemoths walk out, along with an officer.
Theta Two's POV
He walked out of the Pelican and saw several white soldiers and a few of what looked to be technicians staring at them. He returned the stare until the rest of the Spartans left the vehicle. The UNSC then left the hangar, heading for the bridge, before they entered the bridge of the ship, the two clones standing guard stopped them. "Please leave your weapons outside" The left trooper tells them. "Sorry but we have to follow protocol." The right one adds "It is fine" Cutter replies before giving them his sidearm. The Spartans give the clones their rifles and sidearm's. "Thanks, you may proceed." The doors open and Cutter and the Spartans walk in.
Obi-wan turns and looks at the new arrivals. "So you all are part of the UNSC, hello, I am Obi-wan Kenobi" "I am James Cutter, captain of the UNSC Spirit of fire, and currently the leader of all the UNSC forces in this area" "Please to meet you, and who are they?" Obi-wan asks pointing towards the Spartans. "That's classified" Of course it is, Obi-wan thinks. "We noticed your ships use projectile weapons, why?" "Why not?" "It's just, our weapons seem more effective." "That's how we have killed five of the separatist ships?" "I see your point, now about this alliance?" "We will help the war effort by utilizing all of our available personnel and resources. In exchange, you could give us intelligence on the separatists and help us develop shielding technology." "Agreed" Obi-Wan says.
9th age of Reclamation, Sanghelli Assault Carrier Shadow of Intent
"Will it live Oracle, can it be saved?" Rtas Vadum says to 343 Guilty Spark. "It is just a message, success!" The ancilla replies. "Let it play" The message of Cortana plays. "High Charity, the covenant holy city, is on its way with an army of flood. On the other side of the portal is a solution, a way to stop the flood. I can't say more, the Gravemind, it knows I'm in the system." "I'm sorry" Guilty Spark says to the chief, who is looking at cortana. "No matter Oracle, we've heard enough. Our fight is through the portal, with the Brutes and the bastard Truth!" Rtas says as the elites roar. "Fine, we will stay here, hold out as long as we can." Lord Hood says "Did you not hear, your world is doomed. A Flood army, a Gravemind has you in its sights. You barely survived a small infestation." "And you Shipmaster just glassed half a continent, maybe the flood isn't all I should be worrying about." "One single flood spore can destroy a species, were it not for the Arbiters counseling I would have glassed the entire planet!" Miranda Keyes speaks up "Sir, with all due respect, what about Cortana's solution" "Cortana? She could be corrupted for all we know; her solution could be a Flood trap." "We should take a force through and find out for sure." "What we should do is understand Commander, is that this is humanities final stand, at Earth. We go we risk everything, every last man woman and child. If we stay, we might just stand a chance." "I'll find Cortana's solution, and I will bring it back" The Master Chief says. "Earth is all we have left; do you really trust Cortana that much?" "Sir, yes Sir" "This is either the best decision you've ever made or the worst. Hell Chief, I doubt I'll live to find out which."
UNSC controlled system, 22BBY
Cutter's POV
"Captain, the energy shield schematics, well not as advanced as the Covenants, will jumpstart UNSC technology forward decades, but if the Insurrectionists get their hand on them, well let's just say they will become a lot more dangerous ." "I know Serina, but how long until we can have one built?" "Two and a half weeks, minimum to get ones built and installed on the Past and the Spirit of Fire." "Well, I was hoping for them by the attack on the nearest Separatist planet in one and a half." "Could you move the attack date for two weeks?" "Fine, but I expect you to try and have it done" "I'll design one compatible with our ship, but the techs better be able to build it." "I hope so to, because I'm not sure if the Spirit can withstand more abuse." "I hope so too, because technically I am the ship."
Two weeks later
The UNSC ships jump into the system, closely followed by two Venator cruisers. The UNSC ships open fire, damaging the seven enemy ships. The Republic ships move in for the kill, blasting the hulls of the Separatist ships. Fighters launch from the ships and engage. Explosions and debris of fighters cover the battlefield.
Theta Ones POV
Inside the past
"Pop the hatch." Theta One says. "Yes Ma'am" The pilot replies before the Pelican drops out of the hangar, followed closely by six others and four republic gunships. Flying in a V formation, they rocket towards the planet. "Three vultures follow, shooting down a pelican, which spirals out of control and explodes. A Longsword and a V19 torrent swoop in and destroy the pursuing craft before pulling up back into the fight. One of the gunships gets hit with AA fire from the ground. A wing blows off and its smashes into the ground. A pelican fires 2 ANVIL missiles at the AAT tanks that were firing at the drop ships.
"All troops, go go go!" An ODST yells before all the marines, Clones, ODSTs and The two Spartans run out and fire at approaching infantry. A Warthog gets dropped off of one of the Pelicans. A marine jumps in and they fire the machine gun at the droids. Bullets and blaster bolts fire across the terrain, striking both sides, a SPNKR missile shoots and slams into a group of eight super battle droids, destroying five and pelting the others with shrapnel. The clones fire at the droids, killing many of them, but more approach. Two Scorpion tanks roll forward and fire, scattering the droids. Three vulture droids swoop down firing at the Clones and Marines. A clone fires a RPS-6 rocket at one, blowing off the wing and causing it to crash into another. The other is blown out of the sky by a scorpion shell. 12 droid snipers in the trees open fire, killing two marines and a clone before clones fire their rifles, killing a few, while marines and ODSTs with DMRs and sniper rifles fire, killing seven more of the droids. All the surviving battle droids fall back into the trees. Two Warthogs and three speeder bikes pursue them.
The troops set up a command center, putting fallen trees and broken pieces of metal to serve as barricades before an elephant gets brought in, along with more vehicles. Inside the elephant the ODST and several clones and marines look at the tactical data being provided from the Shadows of the Past. Two falcons fly overhead, patrolling the skies. "Sergeant, I understand that you command your men, but shouldn't we focus on the factories?"Commander Cody says. GYSGT Connor then replies. "Others will deal with the droid factories Commander Cody; I think we need to focus on the remaining ground forces and on taking the shipyards away from the Separatists." "With all due respect, I don't think a small group of your marines can breach those factories, the Seppies usually defend them with everything they have." "Your right, but we're not sending the marines"
Jerome's POV
Red team was moving closer to the factory via Pelican, having deployed separately from the main assault to sneak into main factory, collect data and schematics on the droids, and blow it up. [ETA thirty seconds till landing.] The pilot's voice says over the speakers. Jerome stands up, an assault rifle in his hands, Spartan laser on his back. The other two Spartans stand up. [AA fire incoming, we're coming in hot!] The pilot says before the Pelican is hit and goes down, crashing straight through the roof of one of the factories. Thirty battle droids arrange themselves in a semi circle around the destroyed craft. Douglas pops out and fires a rocket, killing six battle droids before the rest return fire. Hi ducks back down. "Alice, crowd control please." Jerome says. "On it!" She says before standing up and firing her heavy machine gun at the crowd. "All units, find cover!" A battle droid yells before a hail of bullets penetrates its head, killing it. Jerome jumps out from the wreckage and fires his assault rifle. Douglas fires a DMR at the droids as well, and after two more minutes, no droid is moving. "So much for sneaking into the factory." Alice says. Three droidekas roll out of a hallway, Douglas sees them before they unfold and fires, the rocket scattering its pieces all over the place. The other two droidekas unfold and fire. The Spartans scatter, avoiding the lasers before returning fire with their heavy weapons. The Spartans all concentrate on one droid, the Spartan laser weakening the shield so that the other weapons punch through and kill the droid. They do the same to the other droid. "I think this was a distraction for them to get reinforcements here." Douglas says. "What makes you say that?" Jerome asks before turning around to look at three AAT tanks, and three lines of super battle droids.
A V-19 torrent flies through space, being pursued by eight vulture droids. "Could I have some help over here?" A Longsword and an ARC-170 fly behind the droids. [We have them] The clone pilot of the ARC-170 says before the two fighters fire at the droids, killing all but one, which the Longsword peels off to chase. "Thanks for the save" [No problem, but the drinks are on you.] The ARC-170 pilot says. "Fine"
Theta Two's POV
Just before impending attack on separatist shipyards
He was thinking of his fallen comrades I wish that you two had survived to leave reach, I have a feeling the war will be over by the time we get back, for better or for worse. If the wars stop, what will I do? A warrior is all I will ever be. No, as long as there is life, there will be wars; my job won't stop until I am six feet under. He found that thought oddly reassuring. He looked at Thetas Three and Four's dog tags.
Enter Flashback.
July 2552 Epsilon Eridani system, UNSC Frigate Ymirs Wrath
The Spartans ran through the corridors of the ship. [All hands, abandon ship, imminent covenant boarding craft detected] A bulkhead door was closing. "Come on, run!" Theta One yelled. Theta Team ran faster, but two covenant Elites attacked theta four. "Go, I'll find another way out!" She yelled before it fully closed. The rest of Theta team watched. [All hands, brace for impact of Unknown Covenant Energy weapon] "Shit, let's go" Theta One said. "But, she won't make it if we can't open these doors." Theta Three replied "And neither will we if we don't run" An energy blast speared the ship, knocking the Elites over long enough for Theta Two to see Theta four dive down a maintenance hallway. The Spartans ran [Slipspace core destabilizing, ETA fifteen seconds, all hands evacuate!] The Spartans run into the hangar. "Hurry Spartans!" A pilot yells before running up the ramp into the transport. They run inside, and the Pelican lifts off out of the hangar. Two seconds later, most of the ship is sucked into a portal, disappearing forever. Goodbye Theta Two thinks as they fly towards the surface.
End flashback.
The marines get into warthogs and the clones get into speeders before the united force starts on its journey to the Separatist shipyards.
Authors Note: Well, that chapters done, but I have started working on the next, have a nice day. EliteZealot out.
