Chapter 12 : Anvil Gate's last battle

Present day

Infinity

The Master Chief quickly hacked the console. The Console blinking green and the pressure doors slide open revealing Palmer and the rest of fire team majestic.

"Chief. Thank god you are here," said Palmer with a growl in her tone." I want to know how this sick son of bitch gets here in the dam first place."

" He must infiltrate into the ship that what we heard from FLEETCOM. We don't know the details" said Fred.

" Yeah" added Hoya " Captain Lasky is still on the bridge who knows how long he was last with that pyschopath."

" We got to armor up." added Throne " There is no way we letting that dumbass get away with this."

" Hell no we aren't letting that dumbass stand for this." added Honya." We better take him out before he destroys the entire ship."

" Listen we only got 10 minutes until Infinity reaches Sangheilios. " said the Master Chief " We head to the bridge and the rest of you armored up asap."

" You better wait for us so we could put a bullet into that sick son of a bitch." snarled Palmer " After what he did to Lasky."

" What happens if Infinity reaches Sangheilios?" asked DeMarco.

" We are in so deep shit if that sicko fuck up the arbiter." finished Grant

Then the AI avatar popped up on the nearest console and blue team turned their weapons at Roland.

" Relaxed it me," breathed an anxious Roland " Your man- I mean your target alright calm the hell down. He still in the bridge right now. Master Chief I know a way to get to the bridge."

"Save it Roland, I want to know who that son of bitch then we shoot him in the head." said Palmer furiously.

"I know who that guy is but this guy is so going to be a lot distributing," Roland insisted.

"Show us the target." said the Master Chief." what we have to know about him

Meanwhile at the bridge. Marcus was completely relaxed after his outburst. He was sitting on the holotable with his assault rifle on his lap. The bridge was a mess ; terminals , monitors and screens smashed and busted along with chairs over turned.

Lasky still cuffed behind a pipe column still buried and bleeding and a smell of sweat and blood. Marcus got up with his face devoid of emotion. Marcus walked up to Lasky then spray a dose of bio-foam into Lasky's shoulder. Lasky flinched with pained as he taste his own blood from his bloodied lips.

" I wouldn't kill you yet" said Marcus seriously " But I wouldn't stop until we turn Sangehilios into a parking lot. I made a god dam promise to Anya I will kill every one of them. I wouldn't stop."

" Destroying Sangehilios wouldn't bring the people you care back not even Anya ." protested Lasky despite his wounded state and half a blood lost. " War changes people a lot. There is no turning back if you do this."

" I am do it for them." said Marcus emotionally . " I watch so many people die. I wasn't there to save them. I vow to avenge them no matter what is takes"

" We suffer same thing too. I lost people too even someone I love just like you." plead Lasky " I know we suffer and we did too . Please you don't have to live like this. You still need help."

Lasky looked up at Marcus who was staring at him with a cold look. " Why hurt yourself when you can hurt other people." However, Marcus didn't replied.

Frustrated, Lasky continued " How many times I need to tell Sera was completely lost to the Covenant."

Marcus didn't answer and stared into space.

" Is it really your name Sergeant Marcus Michael Fenix ?" asked Lasky finally

" Yeah." said Marcus. "I am no hero Captain. I am a Gear. A soldier" with a hint of regret" I was so dam ashamed of what I was. I am glad the COG is gone and I am never come back."

" Marcus Michael Fenix ? " said Palmer with a hint of surprise. " That SOB who attack the bridge this time. Beat the crap out of Lasky all this time."

" There is even more than that." answered Roland as he pull out a holo file from the holotable. as he show them more information to both Palmer and the Chief could see. "This is Marcus Michael Fenix according to ONI ; he is military and has the rank of Sergeant. He was a soldier and last of the Coalition of Ordered Governments. I found pockets of information from ONI and the rest is strongly classified."

" Well declassified that information Roland." ordered Palmer

Roland signed and said sadly " Sera is the only planet isolated from the UNSC and the most sad part is the entire human population was killed and the rest of Sera was glassed by the Covenant before the war end leaving Marcus the only survivor. Sera are declared lost." Another screen shows the planet in ruins from decades of war.

The Chief lowered his head and felt sadden for the deaths of millions of lives lost on Sera but didn't show it to Palmer.

" What ? That the son of the bitch that tried to kill Lasky." said Palmer angrily "Who does this asshole think he is?"

A file picture shows a Marcus Fenix in a COG uniform with a stoic look.

" That him is him? Well Chief ready to go gun blazing " asked Palmer before ready two handguns but the Chief said nothing but continued to look at the holoscreen.

" Well Chief." snapped Palmer impatiently.

The Chief turned to Palmer " I know him."

" There is more Roland."

Roland nodded " After he was rescued by UNSC forces , Marcus had a breakdown and diagnose with schizophrenia , suicidal tendencies and anger issues. He was hospitalized and transfer to medical facility on Earth after 6 years later, he escaped and he vanished off the grid and ONI had word that Marcus was part of an insurrectionist group. After that , Marcus went crazy and hell."

" That dam awful Roland but no exceptions, a psychopath is always a psychopath." scoffed Palmer " Let go kill this son of a bitch."


Flashback

Anvil Gate

On the battlement, Hoffman lowered his binoculars before taking a sit down on a chair before slipping a bottle of whiskey. Bernie next to him smoked a cigarette as she calmly loads her longshot rifle.

" This is how it ends Bernie. One way or the other. So much for holding on to hope through my dying breath." scoffed Hoffman lending against the chair.

" There is no way to run Victor. There nowhere." said Bernie.

Then Bernie rose from her chair and grasp on the sandbag wall. " The hell ? " Out of the tree line was a packwagon with the rest of Delta squad onboard.

" They are back." said Hoffman turned to the guards on the front gate." Open the gate!" shouted Hoffman. The gates open and out came the packwagon. The Packwagon scrolled into the courtyard.

The doors open revealing a weary Marcus followed by Anya then Cole expect for comatose and tearful Baird in the trunk with Sam's dead body.

" Marcus." said Hoffman bluntly.

" Sam…..didn't make it. Everyone else is dead, The covies beat us." said Marcus sadly before turning to a devastating Baird still holding Sam's body holding back the water work.

Hoffman smashed a fist into the door and Hoffman leaned his head while Bernie sighed with distress and muttered god dam it.

Bernie looked down on the ground sadden ignoring the stares from the Gears and militiamen present in the courtyard. Marcus and the squad continued to remain silent for their fallen friends until an explosion heard from the outside the wall. Shouts and gunfire erupted.

" Covies ! " shouted a gear.

" They found the fort ! Move it soldiers!" shouted Hoffman

" TO the Gate !" shouted Berine.

" Come on people, we got a wall to defend double time ! " shouted Marcus as Gears raced to the battlements.

"Come on Baird." shouted Cole to Baird " We got a lot of Covies to kill. Every ugly is going dam pay!"

Shooting with rage, Baird hesitated before taking one last look at Sam's body on the packwagon, kissing her forehead and with a snarl grabbing his lancer and joined the rest of the gears to the front gate. Then he mouthed to Sam's body good-bye.

The sound of plasma and gunfire filled the air as streams of covenant soldiers came from the tree line eager to kill as many humans as possible but the defenders managed to halt the advance. Elites and grunts along with jackals fired their plasma weapons at the defenders.

" Don't let them get to the wall." shouted Hoffman firing his lancer down on the battlements. Cole placed a box of ammo near another group of gears maining a machine gun.

" Keep firing ! Make your shots count ! "

On the walls , Gears were ducking and firing back everything they got at the covenant. Grunts , Elites and Jackals returned fired with plasma fire. some of the gears had mortars and blasting lances of troops from a distance.

" It a whole battalion out there !" shouted Marcus " They brought some friends too" shifting his lancer to fire.

Grunts fan themselves across the field firing their plasma pistols , needlers and plasma rifles wildly hoping to get some kills.

Waves of heat and energy smashed into the battlements. " They trying to get to the wall hold them off." shouted Marcus.

Cole ducked as a bolt zoom his head before rushing to the turret. Baird dragged an ammo crate and handout magazines to resupply the defenders.

Bernie fired shot after shot from her longshot sniper. "They keep coming!" shouted Bernie as wave of heat exploded against the stone wall.

Anya flinched as a bolt of blue detonated against her cover. Marcus snarled with frustration as his lancer rounds hammered into the energy shields protecting the elites.

The Elites maneuvered and dodge streams of bullets and growled with frustration that they could not break through the defense. Jackals held their energy shields like legionnaires as heavy caliber rounds hammered into the shields. Dozens of grunts cut down by heavy gunfire.

Some of the shields overload and got several Jackals killed.

Then, the Covenant began to withdraw and retreated back to the tree line. The gears on the battlements continued to fire until every last covenant soldier was out of sight with thin the tree line.

Baird snarled with frustration as he fired what is left of the turret on the treeline. " That right you murdering ugly Fucks ! Run all you ! I just shoot you and your asses. And Yeah I am dam pissed." shouted Baird squeezing the trigger on the turret as bullets sprayed into the treelines.

" Hell yeah we aren't got this party started ! " shouted Cole

" We clear for now, stock up what we can but the dam covies will be back." said Marcus " Someone get me some ammo."

" Well I am glad none of us are dead yet and I don't know if we have an escape plan after this." said Hoffman " how much longer are we going to last."

" Well there is a dam army out there and we are still sitting ducks." added Marcus. " We going need more firepower."

" Wish Dad isn't here to see this but he gone already." signed Marcus

The second wave came with a full force of Sangheili , Yamme , M'galekgolo, Unggoy, Kig-yar and Jirhanae troops attacking on the left slide of the fort.

" Cole ! Anya ! Baird and I will take the left side " shouted Marcus through the noise of fire and artillery. Marcus lead a group of gears to the left side of the wall where more covenant troops massing for an attack.

Marcus ducked down as a swarm of spiker and energy rounds hammered into the battlements along with Delta Squad pinned down by gunfire.

" Those things aren't giving up that easy." shouted Cole "Baby it's a shit storm out there. Wish the grubs are here to see this."

Waves of Covenant troops came charging from the treeline with weapons blazing. Turrets and lancer fire peppered the covenant on the group. The field was reduced into flaming trees , explosions and bodies. Covenant was swarming the area trying to blast their way through the fortress front.

Grunts were the first to attack spraying needle and plasma pistol fire along with a flew fuel rod cannons.

Berine took out a Brute heavy gunner with the troika with a single shot to the head. Another Brute heavy took it's place and fired it's rocket launcher. Berine cursed as spike rounds flew over the battlements.

Swarm of Yamme pelted the defenders with plasma fire in mid air as they swarm over the battlements as Gears hesitated fired their lancers and what every weaponry against the drones. Marcus snarled as he slashed a drone from it's lancer.

" Shit they got heavy artillery out there." shouted Hoffman on the tac/com

" Yeah " shouted Marcus before pressing the trigger on the mortar cannon and rain a bombardment of droplets on a wraith tank that just came out of treeline. The bombardment wreck havoc on the wraith and other covenant troops. Switching to another heavy weapon an Oneshot.

Marcus fired a round from the oneshot into the nearest hunter. The power round from the oneshot sniper cannon enter the hunter's torso and exploded half of it's body off nothing but armor pieces and worms.

Brutes , Grunts and Jackals fired everything from plasma rifles, rocket launchers, troikas , plasma cannons from needlers and fuel rods. Hunters raised their shields and deflect the 10mms rounds from the defenders then returned with fuel rod beams or projectiles fire . Mortars and gunfire exchange back and forth. Then came the tanks ( wraiths) , more wraiths show up and leveled their cannons at the fort.

" Tanks ! " shouted Anya " They got tanks. All sides !"

" For the Covenant ! For Sangehilios! " roared an golden elite raising a plasma sword as the cannons fired a volley.

" FUCKING INCOMING ! " Shouted Berine looking at the skies.

Plasma balls flew and exploded on the battlements . Blue balls of plasma vaporized dozen Gears and emplacements. The impact had knock gears off their feet.

Hordes of covenant soldiers came charging forward as the covenant took advantage of the COG's disorient defenders. A pair of M'galekgolo threw themselves against the gate repeatedly with their shields and their strength. Suddenly the phantom dropship showed up before blasting the fort with plasma fire.

Gears hit by plasma fire as plasma melted into their armor like butter. Battalions of Covenant soldiers begun to climbed on the walls.

" Keep firing ! " shouted both Hoffman and Berine at the rest of the gears.

Seeing their chance to strike, a Lance of Brutes and Elites active their jackpacks and launched in the air with energy swords and hammers at the ready. The first Elite let out a war cry as the Elite landed on the battlements with energy swords at the ready. At the same time , the Elite slammed both of it's swords into the nearest pair of gears. More Elites and Brutes landed on the battlement clashing with COG defenders in close quarters with energy swords, knifes and hammers.

A brute scream with rage while brute swing a gravity hammer hitting a gear in the chest and sending him spawning over the battlements.

Bernie let out a roar of defiance spraying her lancer at an sword wielding Elite rushing towards her with it's force field fading. The Elite swing his energy sword instead of slicing Bernie, the sword cut the lancer in half. Berine stumbled back and fell on the ground crawling away from the Elite who grinned with his energy sword draw but Berine quickly snatched a gnasher shotgun from a dead gear and fired in blank range.

The zealot Elite shot in the chest and flung backwards on the ground. " Berine ! " shouted Hoffman as he was fighting with the brute. The brute just had him pinned down with both paws on Hoffman's neck.

The Brute roared at Hoffman's bruised face before the brute could take a bit out off Hoffman's face. Berine fired a shotgun into the brute's head from behind ; spraying a shower of blood and gore infront of Hoffman. Hoffman gasp and groaned from the god awful taste of the dead alien. Berine took a moment to slipt on the brute's corpse as the battle rage on.

" Victor ! We about to be swarmed !" said Berine before grabbing Hoffman's hand pulling him back on his feet. They both turned to see more machines belong to the covenant emerged from the treeline.

Five locust walkers followed by wraiths division and Hunter reinforcements emerged from the treeline. The walkers charged up their cannons and unleashed pink beams of light into their main target the fort gate. The Hunters leap away from the laser beams as the beams hit the gate

Gears and the last of the COG commanders watched in horror as the gate exploded revealing an opening in the fort . swarms of Covenant troops entering the fort. More Covenant warriors climbing on the walls.

Hoffman then look up at the skies to see phantoms and banshees making their assault on the fort directly. The Zealot groaned and look at his chest armor dent from the shotgun blast and saw his opponent catch off guard and took no chance.

" Victor…" chocked Berine with pain as she look down on her COG armor to see an energy sword appeared in her chest. Her hand drop the weapon. Caught off guard, Hoffman turned quickly and he was kicked in the chest.

Flung backwards to the ground. Hoffman look up despite the ringing in his ears. The zealot Berine had shot was still alive thanks it's strong armor.

Berine coughed up mouthful of blood and looked at Hoffman for one last time as the roaring zealot lifted his sword with a stabled Bernie in the air

" NOOOOO! " shouted Hoffman with horror with his arm raised as the Zealot withdraw his blades and Berine collapsed to the ground.

Vowing to destroy Berine's murderer , Hoffman roar of defiance raising the chainsaw bayonet. A grunt next to the elite fired a plasma pistol at Hoffman. Hitting him in the chest. Hoffman collapsed on one knee and growled back much to the Zealot amused.

Coughing up blood , Hoffman fired everything at the Zealot. " Come you dam basterds ! Come Get Some !" roared Hoffman raising the chainsaw blade " For Berine you ugly fugly !"

The Zealot grinned with the energy swords drawn preparing to charge. Then two ultra Elites stabbed Hoffman from behind. Hoffman roared with agony and pain as his arms dropped the lancer as the zealot finally enter his sword into the torso of the colonel.

Hoffman coughed blood and look down on his chest to see the energy sword blades in his chest. Once the blades were withdrawn , Hoffman dropped on his knees. The colonel last look when the zealot let out a victorious roar before the zealot could swing his blade.

Hoffman took the last moment of his strength to prim his last grenade on his free hand. " You love burning us huh. You burn us ! " shouted Hoffman with his last breath " We burn with you !"

The frag exploded and took Hoffman , zealot and the other covenant elites with it.

Marcus slashed a chainsaw into the chest of an Elite and kicked him over the wall. Anya ducked and dropped her clip of magazine on the ground as a fuel rod round detonated against the wall.

Suddenly the ground went shaking as a thunderous sounds broke through the shattered forest before the largest form reveal to be a scarab heavy assault walker. The scarab let out a maniacal roar

" Oh shit ! " shouted Marcus with horror and awe

Flashback ended

Orbit Sangheilios

Infinity exit from slipspace and revealing it's presence at the blockage of Sangehilio warships. The ship was heading towards the blockage.

Marcus sighed with relief from his outburst and frustration as he saw the sight of the planet. A trill of excitement filled his veins as his vengeance side took over . Marcus vow to burn Sangehilios to the ground and the covenant too.

" There it is." chucked Marcus wickly held Lasky on the neck with the handgun ready. " That Sangheilios right. That the place I want to go. Yeah look like the brass is going to kill you for that."

" Hey Roland ! " shouted Marcus at the AI on the holotable. " You better have the big gun ready because I going to blow the living hell out of them."

" Hell no you wouldn't." chocked Lasky from his bloody lip " You can't. The Swords of Sangehilios at in a civil war if-"

" Shut up." growled Marcus as he fired the handgun at the holoscreen.

Meanwhile the Chief and rest of blue team raced through the hallway unaware of Marcus's actions.

Marcus smirk at the port view as Sangheili ships shifting into confusion then the fleet took up defensive position around the planet.

" Listen captain , I am going rain the living hell on the covie pricks , I am going show them I can send them off to the stone age. After that I shoot you. " said Marcus tunefully." We are going kill all of them."

" What have you done Marcus ? " asked Lasky bitterly. " You are going to kill yourself just kill every sangheili on Sangheilios now. Doesn't make any sense."

Marcus scoffed and continued " You know what else. I already said good bye to my family. I kiss Anya good bye. This is going to be my last fight."

Suddenly a screen came to lift as a transmission came from the CAS ship in the middle of the blockage. The transmission revealed to a be an armored Sangehili. Marcus turned and a twist of hatred filled his face to see a Sangehili right infront of him

" UNSC Infinity , this is a restricted area. What is your ship doing on Sangehili orbit ?" growled the Sangehili Captain. But Marcus cut him off and held a bruised Lasky on head lock and a handgun to the head.

" Listen you fuck." said Marcus wickly before yelling " I want you to tell every Elite, I am going to kill everyone off and everything off to the stone age ! And I am burning your god dam planet to the fucking ground."