Chapter 35

October 28, 2552, 1045 Hours Kenosha, Tanais Region, Plant Mars

"Incoming Covenant forces on our trajectory, estimate ninety minutes out," the Forward Air Controller related from the operations post in the command center at the sprawling military base.

"Report," Colonel Ackerson responded, "size and composition," he ordered, his heart starting to beat harder at the anticipated assault on Kenosha.

The Army lieutenant hesitated for a moment, to ensure the accuracy of the information. "It's very strange, sir, brigade level in bound but all in Phantom Troop Carriers."

"Armor and main ground force proximity?" the senior officer asked, waiting for the rest of the story.

"Reconfirming," the FAC answered, checking again his data feeds. "At least nine hours behind."

"Say again?"

By now all other work in the headquarters had stopped to listen to what was expected to be the first major assault they'd face.

"Main force is at least nine hours behind even at an aggressive pace," the slim, blond haired officer confirmed.

"Air support?" the air commodore for the area joined in, fingers already tapping on his datapad to spool up his command.

"One, maybe two wings of Banshees."

"And?" Ackerson jumped in.

"And that's it sir," the Army lieutenant confirmed.

What the hell? Ackerson thought to himself. This doesn't make sense. They should be hitting us in force. He processed the information for a moment and unconsciously scratched his head. Oh well, far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth. The Army officer closed his eyes and said a quick prayer of thanks as the other senior officers contemplated the unexpected news. It appeared as if the main attack was about to commence in the region but it was going to happen in a piecemeal and unco-ordinated fashion. This couldn't be better news for the human defenders of this region of Mars.

Pulling up the tactical map for the area he had the Covenant line of advance plotted and then looked for a spot to take the fight to them. The cagey officer resisted the urge to read too much into what was going on and overthink his strategy. The alien invaders seemed to be either stumbling towards them or had such contempt for their capabilities they felt a force of this size would be sufficient. Regardless, Ackerson was going to use it to their advantage. Still, there was still the possibility of something they missed or a cloaked force perhaps so he wouldn't commit everything, rather just enough to get the job done.

"All right, let's get the Longswords in the air and force them to go online," Ackerson ordered to the officer in charge of the Air Force. Then to his ground force commanders he added, "Let's keep them from the city and force them down on the Plain of Zarma," he placed a waypoint on the map. "That'll give us great cover to feed troops in but set up a nice killing ground against them. Send the signal to deploy. Let's chew these bastards up before their main body arrives. We might just win this fight after all."

Since the UNSC defenders had maintained a high state of readiness they were able to initiate the plan quickly. Longsword fighters screamed through the air en route as battalions of Scorpion tanks, Warthogs and troop carriers rumbled out of the city while Pelicans lifted off filled with ODST shock troops to establish the line. Though an impressive array there was still a large body of troops held back in reserve as the UNSC command were leaving nothing to chance.

This included the Wolf Pack and Wolverines.

The advancing Covenant force didn't deviate from their course so as expected the UNSC Air Force elements swooped in forcing the heavy troop carriers to land while their fighter screen tried to keep the humans at bay.

But it was too little too late.

Already the UNSC ground forces were in place and after a devastating artillery barrage the human armor elements rumbled in, taking the fight to the invaders. The combination of action was more than the slow thinking Brute commanders could process so rather than withdraw or attempt to pull back to consolidate they threw their troops into the grinder piece meal.

The result was as expected.

The Covenant forces could never take the initiative and were ground up where they stood. Despite all the evidence the command could still not believe this was the only invader's assault. Wisely they held their reserve back until it was certain this was the only assault. As the battle raged on and it was clear the well-supported UNSC forces were going to overwhelmingly win and it became apparent there was no other imminent attack the Spartans and their ODST support element were finally released to help mop things up.

Swooping down on the Plain of Zarma in Pelicans and Falcons the scope of action was easy to see even for a novice strategist. The Covenant had been forced to deploy on the east end of the plain without any cover other than some low rocky formations. Much of the ground surrounding the area was elevated so UNSC artillery and armor had deployed there to take advantage of the height and rain destruction down on the alien attackers. The results had been devastating for the Covenant forces. Dotted throughout the plain were downed and burning Phantoms. The few Wraiths in the complement were also destroyed along with the full complement of Ghosts.

The battle was now essentially a cleanup action against the remaining pockets of Brutes who stubbornly held on with whatever supporting troops they could rally. Retreat was not in their vocabulary so they were going down with a fight. It was into this mix the Spartans were deploying.

"Are you serious?" Alissa blurted out over the comms in frustration. "The battle's already over."

"Yea, why'd they keep us out of the fight so long?" Terrell added, uncharacteristically complaining as well.

"All right, that's enough," Mike cut in to silence the griping. "Command wanted to be sure this was the extent of the Covvies push. Once they did we were released. They didn't have to since the main forces were able to handle things as you can see."

"It still sucks," Alissa said softly but still so all could see.

Mike let it go, understanding their frustration at not being first into the fight. Instead he studied the tactical situation especially in light of the fact Matt, their main assaulter, was not with them. His seasoned eye saw a small group of Brutes who looked like a command element rallying a party of Jackals and Skirmishers to make a stand. He signalled the pilot where to drop them in.

"Okay, triangle formation on deployment," Mike called out to his team. "I have point with Adam and Maia. Terrell, firebase, Alissa, counter sniper fire. Let's get roll in and show 'em how Spartans fight. Gunny, what looks good to you?"

"Ach, you took the best slice there laddie," MacGregor complained good-naturedly. Then observing a group of Grunts and Jackals retreating to the west he declared, "We'll take care of those ones, you have fun in the rocks!"

As the Falcon touched down Mike called out, "All right, let's get it done!"

MacGregor and his group peeled off to another part of the battle seeking their observed target of opportunity while the Spartan's two Falcons touched down lightly allowing the team to deploy. Small arms fire echoed all about with colourful plasma and Needler rounds flying through the air like fireworks and UNSC return fire buzzing angrily like bees.

The arrival of the Spartans didn't go unnoticed by the concentrated group of Brutes. Knowing they'd lost the fight but hoping to attain a tactical victory they consolidated. With the supersoldiers jumping into the mix the other UNSC troops backed off to allow them to finish the fight as well as ensure there would be no friendly fire casualties.

Mike saw this and despite the state of the battle and overwhelming odds, victory in this particular fight for them was far from assured. It also wasn't guaranteed they'd walk out in one piece.

Being without Matt also meant a change in tactics. None of this the wise combat veteran liked. Mike knew he could just back off, contain the group and call in an artillery strike to finish the belligerent attackers now getting set for the assault. But that wouldn't work. They had to finish the job and be seen to finish it. Anything less and they'd lose credibility and in the battle for Mars to come he knew their fellows troopers needed to have confidence in them. So no, they had to take the fight to the Brutes regardless of how foolish it seemed.

"Okay, you guys wanted a fight, well, you got it," Mike declared over the team channel as several fragmentation grenades from Brute Shots went off around them. He paused and knelt down beside a boulder to get a tactical assessment while Terrell and Alissa set up. Adam and Maia began to trade small arms fire with a group of Skirmishers trying to disrupt their advance.

The other UNSC forces pulled back to cordon off the area or hunt down stragglers but this was now becoming the main event.

Though not lost on Mike he also wasn't impacted by it. He was happy to be only using his team, it made things simpler. The Brutes held a position with excellent cover but in less than a minute his keen tactical mind had come up with a plan.

"Terrell, hammer them until we step off then sweeping suppressing fire, keep their heads down. Alissa, take out any Brutes stupid enough to stick their heads out. Maia, Adam and I, triangle again. We'll hook left but then sweep right to this opening," which he marked on their tactical maps. "That's our entry point. I'll take point the whole way. Stay tight; my armor will get us through their killing ground. Terrell, Alissa, when you see us make our move switch fire to the opening and then once we make the final assault cover our backs. Everyone got that?"

Four acknowledgement lights lit up Mike's HUD.

Terrell opened up with a withering fire from his GPMG which caught a number of Jackals off guard before the others could jump to cover; stone chips flew in the air as he continued to pound away. Alissa was able to head shot two Brutes in mid-taunt as they challenged the retiring humans causing the others to leap for cover as well.

Mike had what they needed. "All right, let's go!" he called out, louder than necessary with their comms but caught up in the intensity of the moment.

Running from cover and in a tight triangle formation the three Spartans moved fast to the left of the Covenant position. Their goal was surprise so speed was of the essence. As fire rained down from Terrell and Alissa the trio closed the gap quick but then the Covenant forces figured out the strategy and began to return fire.

Spiker and Needler rounds zipped through the air. Most were absorbed by Mike's Mjolnir armor. Though his shielding was rapidly diminishing he knew they'd get to where they wanted to go before it drained. Several Brute Shot rounds went off to the side or behind but the humans were moving too fast and now into a zig-zag pattern to really zero in on them. The only problem was there was a no-fire cone around them that Terrell and Alissa couldn't shoot into for risk of hitting their teammates. Once the Brutes leading the defense figured this out they began to concentrate their fire. While Mike caught most he didn't get them all.

A red-hot spiker round hit and went through Adam's shoulder. Though the adrenaline was flowing and his neural changes meant he felt no pain he still registered the hit as his SPI armor was breached.

Damn, the teen thought, what am I doing here? he said to himself as the old panic started to creep back in. Within seconds they'd be in among the Brutes and then what? The old fear and images from the past tried to crowd back in but he pushed them out. This was his family and he'd die before he let them down again. No, the old Adam was gone. Not only could his team count on him, he could count on himself.

And then just like that, Mike shifted to the right, and headed to the desired opening. One last salvo from Terrell's GPMG paved the way and then the three were in among the invaders.

Jackals ran away as fast as they could, knowing the fight was over. But the Brutes stayed.

Two Ultras in their violet armor and a Major in dark blue stood to block the way. Alissa threaded the needle between her teammates and scored a head shot on the first Jiralhanae Ultra, the shaggy behemoths head exploding. Mike tossed a grenade with one hand and opened up with his Assault Rifle emptying half a mag into the other. The Major roared a challenge which died halfway through as Adam and Alissa both concentrated fire to cut the Brute down.

A Jiralhanae Captain stepped into the void to block the way and called to several other Ultras to rally. Mike didn't break stride and brought the butt of his rifle savagely across the face of the Brute, breaking his jaw and pouring fire into the Ultras as he moved. In his wake Maia stuffed a grenade into the mouth of the officer and kept moving as well as the Brute's head blew apart.

Adam had taken the rear position and so was covering their flank. A pair of Kig Yar Skirmishers tried to take advantage of the situation but Adam walked fire towards them with his Battle Rifle and cut them down.

Any Brute or Kig Yar that tried to reposition was cut down by Terrell's relentless automatic fire or Alissa's precision shots. The UNSC troops observing from the periphery went from combat mode to that of spectators and couldn't help but start to cheer at the savage spectacle they were witnessing. In the depths of their minds all knew this was a losing fight for the planet but for the moment that was lost in the savage beauty of the spectacle before them as the Spartan team systematically whipped out the remaining Covenant resistance.

And then as quickly as it had begun for the Spartans just as quickly it ended.

Mike swivelled around 360 degrees looking for targets but found none. His breathing was heavy from the adrenaline of combat but he was under control. There was no Covenant standing. "Wolf Pack, check in," he ordered, seeking the good news he hoped for.

"Wolf 3, all's good."

"Wolf 4, clear, no hostiles standing."

"Affirmative, this is Wolf 5, confirming previous. Total victory."

Then Mike and the others waited for an anxious moment for the last confirmation.

"This is Wolf 2, it's all good." Adam reported, coming out from behind a rocky outcrop, armor covered in his blood and that of a Brute. "Affirmative, all clear."

And it was for Adam. He'd fought in close quarters, had come face to face with one of the Brutes and killed him with no fear. Even if there was no peace in the galaxy, he had found a peace he'd been looking for for years.

October 28, 2552, 1045 Hours, New York state, United States, Plant Earth

Power is an illusion.

Spanner Misriah couldn't remember where he'd read it but it kept pounding in his mind like a bass drum. The source didn't really matter but the reality of it had been gnawing away at the billionaire. After Admiral Parangosky's overt rebuke the industrialist realized there was no reason for him to remain in Sydney so with his key leadership team left to return to his corporate headquarters in America.

With the Covenant attack on Earth intensifying he'd also wanted to be close to his personal bunker and so this is now where he sat, stewing about the reality of what he actually had. The Misriah Bunker had a fully functioning communications center and so he was able to continue running his operations from there with his key staff all around him. In addition it had its own internal power source and was able to self-sustain for up to six months if need be. This was in many ways the ultimate expression of wealth beyond the Smart AI he possessed who was giving him constant updates.

So he was safe, but to what end?

Right now the only thing he wanted in the world was for his daughter to be beside him and safe in this place. After the head of ONI refused to help he'd tried to acquire a Prowler of his own to go get her. Even with his vast resources he'd been rebuffed at every step.

Likely Parangosky was behind it.

That didn't matter to Spanner Misriah. No matter how much he threatened or tried to bribe nothing worked. He thought to call in MacKenzie to get an update but knew already what the answer would be. The situation on Mars was fluid and information was scarce. He'd find nothing new to report and that would only increase his anger and frustration. Finally, for the first time in his life, something he wanted was out of reach. All the power he'd acquired and image he'd worked so hard to craft over the years now meant nothing.

So instead of being a flurry of activity Misriah sat back in his personal suite with a glass of fine Scotch whisky sitting idly in his hand and looked back over his life and the reality of all he'd accomplished. He thought of his daughter who'd declared her love for a Spartan, one whose name he couldn't even recall. If only he'd listened more closely, if only he'd tried to understand, perhaps things would be different. But no, he had believed in his power and wealth and found out how truly small it can turn out to be in a time of ultimate need. Would this be a lesson he'd apply if the situation turned out? He hoped he would but wasn't sure.

So here Spanner Misriah sat, safe but alone despite having twenty people around him because the one person he wanted to have with him was tens of thousands of kilometres away

October 29, 2552, 0815 Hours, Khyber Pass, Mare Erythraeum Region, Planet Mars

The Spartan in SPI armor used the active camouflage feature of their suit to sneak up behind the Jackal who was acting as a sentry. Slowly and silently the Spartan drew a long, thin knife and in one swift motion drove it on an angle up and into the brain of the avian invader. The Jackal didn't even let out a squawk and the Spartan grabbed the Kig Yar and gently let it fall to the rocky over crop that commanded a view of the pass below.

Melanie B252, 'The Whisper', took her helmet off and rolled her head around to relax the growing tension. She'd been out in the field alone for several days now and the fatigue of being constantly on guard in this environment was finally starting to get to her a bit.

Replacing her helmet Melanie settled into position in the shadows of the rocky outcrop completely invisible. If anyone cared to look and knew there was to be a sentry in position they'd probably think the unreliable Kig Yar posted there had wandered off.

The scene below made Melanie's heart beat a little faster. A massive and aggressively moving Covenant force was building in this region. She began to key the pertinent information into her encrypted datapad and prepared to send it to command through one of the remaining satellites the UNSC still had orbiting, ensuring no one would pick up the signal. The reality was though that whoever was commanding this Covenant force likely wouldn't have cared if he'd found out anyways.

October 29, 2552, 0815 Hours Kenosha, Tanais Region, Plant Mars

"Mike, I got a mission for you."

Finally. They'd gotten into the action so late the first day that his team was chomping at the bit. He'd wanted to be in the fight but Ackerson had always held him back. The colonel just couldn't believe what they'd experienced had been the actual attack so had held them in reserve for the day while the battle raged on. So they'd sat idly by.

Ultimately Mike couldn't fault the man, the Covenant attack had been so linear and predictable no one believed that was the sum total of the assault. But then it continued to be lacking in Elites with Brutes leading the way so that perhaps explained things. He looked over at Natalia who sat at a work station looking bored. She was trying hard not to look at him but failing to anyone who had any degree of observation skills. But then he couldn't fault her either. After how busy she'd been in Losantiville she now sat largely idle which frustrated the woman. Whereas before she'd been the main combat controller now she entered into an established pool at the military base and was the low person on the pole despite her marquee name.

Natalia and Mike had gotten together for coffee the previous evening when things finally settled down and swapped stories of their frustration. To compound the feeling they'd not been able to get any time alone, always being interrupted. There was an unspoken urgency seeming to be growing between them to be alone and then see what happened but thus far that had been denied them.

So there they'd sat.

In the end they'd kissed as they parted, neither cared anymore if anyone saw them before turning in for the night.

"We've identified the main concentration of the Covenant command-and-control element along with their munition reserves now that all their forces in the region have aligned," Ackerson continued and Mike started paying attention since the colonel was finally getting down to business. "We still don't know why they came in piecemeal like they did yesterday. It doesn't matter, it was a gift and we'll take it since this gives us a chance to win this fight. Now that they've concentrated your mission is to penetrate their base of operations, gather intel and then blow the reserves."

"AI or scouting support?" Mike asked.

"Negative. No assets available."

"Understood." Mike thought back to Auntie Do who'd been Noble Team's dedicated AI and who'd proved invaluable during the fight. He wondered what had happened to her. Could AI's die? He didn't know what happened when their plugs got pulled. He'd heard something about rampancy but didn't really know what that meant. It didn't matter. They'd truly be on their own.

"You'll have 24 hours on the ground from insertion to extraction," Ackerson concluded. "After that window I can't guarantee a ride so be sure you're there."

"Roger that, sir," Mike answered grimly.

"Good luck." Ackerson shook his hand and went back to his other duties.

As Mike left he saw Natalia staring at him so he smiled and winked as he passed. She in returned mouthed 'I love you' and then he was in mission mode.

It was time for the Lone Wolf to run with his pack.