Chapter 6: Tip of the Spear
The screen comes up from an air view of dozens of warthogs, scorpions, and mongooses on the ground alone. Several Falcons, and at least two Pelicans above the whole field.
"Holy crap! That is an army!" Kaminari exclaimed.
"They are obviously trying to take them out in one go." Momo said seeing the large human force charging ahead.
August 12, 2552 08:00 Hours
"It would seem that Noble Three and Noble Six's discovery last night wasn't an anomaly as we had first hoped. Large Covenant deployments have occurred on the surface unnoticed, and we are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the Winter Contingency, we are countering on every front. Noble's recon last night also identified sophisticated Covenant army hiding canopies, and has been pinpointed by what's believed to be a landing zone for additional Covenant forces, the origin of which is yet to be known." Auntie Dot informs the team and unknowingly, Class 1-A.
"They have a teleporters?!" Mina was ecstatic! Being able to teleport had always been a dream of hers!
"I don't think they have teleporters Ashido." Izuku said while looking in her direction.
The warthogs, being led on the ground by Kat and Noble Six, charged onward to the Covenant landing zone. A small group of Falcons following overhead. Carter was riding one of them.
"That landing zone has been tagged as Priority One by UNSC Command." Carter informed over comms.
"Det-charge link we set last night is loud and clear!" Jun exclaimed happily.
"Copy that. Signal lock on the pylon. Detonating in three, two…"
Kat presses the button, detonating the charge planted by Jun last night. Banshees swoop down on the small army and open fire, while the Wraiths in the back lob mortar blasts. Those on the guns on the warthog returned fire at the Banshees ripping through a few of them. Wraith mortar shots finally landing obliterating warthogs and all those riding inside it. Kat and Noble Six dodge incoming fire as best they can before turning towards a bridge that crosses a deep chasm. Just as they are about to cross, a mortar strikes the bridge, destroying a large portion of it.
"Holy crap that is insane!" Kaminari exclaims seeing the Covenant's response to the UNSC's offence.
"Watch out!" Six tries to warm Kat.
"Should probably hold onto something and brace yourself, Six!" She shouts back.
Kat, in an act of faith, accelerates the warthog, just barely making the gap. They crash and are thrown from the warthog. It rolls over violently but they survive. Six shakes his head a few times to rid himself of stars seeing a grenade launcher on the group in front of him. He smirked under his helmet just a bit. He'd been planning to use it today. He was quite happy to see it had made it across the jump with him. He hears the sound of another warthog approaching fast. He turns his head alarmed a warning on his lips.
Too late. They tried to jump the gap as they had already needn't too close to slow down in time. The troopers inside scream and they fall into the chasm below. Six can do nothing but watch. Despite being a superhuman he can't catch all three troopers or the warthog they were riding and pull them up.
"Yikes! That is bad luck." Hagakure said with sorrow in her voice.
"Sometimes deaths can happen in unfortunate situations, I mean this is a very big warzone, people die. Some unfortunately don't die fighting." Tsuyu said very bluntly.
He grits his teeth in anger before hearing his teammates voice, "Six! You good to fight? I could use your help!"
He grabs the grenade launcher, anger in his voice, though not aimed at Kat, "I've got your back."
Kat, seeing a fuel rod shot coming at her, actives Armor Lock. She had been hiding another crashed warthog before it exploded being hit with the fuel rod shot. A Falcon flies past overhead of them taking down the Banshee that shot at them as well as a few other ground troops before taking too much damage and crashing.
In the background, Warthogs, Ghosts, Revannets, Wraiths, and Scorpions can be seen and heard fighting one another.
"Kat, Six you two alright?!" Carter calls out, worry in his voice for his team.
"The pylons are down, will be pushing up the hill as soon as we can!"
Six meanwhile is busy flanking the ground forces shooting his launcher at the Fuel Rod Shade, destroying it with a well placed grenade underneath its power source. The rest of the forces remaining are just grunts and a few shield jackals. All of them are easily taken down.
"Oni has ID'd two hostile AA guns southwest of your position, over."
"Copy, Commander. We got some targets, Six. Let's go take those AA guns out of the equation." Kat says, happy to have an objective.
A pelican drops off a warthog with rocket launchers on the back instead of a machine gun.
"Now THAT is a turret!" Bakugou said with a massive grin, noticing that it had rockets attached to it.
"Obviously those are expensive and very uncommon or else they would be far more common to use, as explosives are always more effective than ballistics." Momo guessed at seeing the new vehicle type.
"Let's take that hog, Six."
Nodding his head he got in the drivers' seat while Kat hopped on the gunner position. They drive a while before seeing the AA gun. A Falcon, smoking already from heavy fire, tries to land quickly to deploy troops to help Noble Two and Six. They were successful in dropping off the troops but were immediately engaged by the enemy. Seeing this both Kat started firing on them. Six flooring it right into an Elite that failed to jump out of the way in time. It's golden armor and shield crumpling like tissue paper under the grill of the heavy armored vehicle.
"Road kill!" Sato exclaimed.
"Nice to know they don't have immunities to being rammed by a vehicle." Bakugou said as he saw the elite get run over.
Under fire from a still fresh squad of marines and two Spartans. And being without their Commander, the Covenant fall quickly to their fire.
Turning towards the Spartans the squad leader of the Marines asks them if they would like any assistance to which the pair look at each other smirk and nod their heads in sync.
Seeing this the squad leader grinned broadly before turning to his team, "Alright boys and girls! These two are gonna be our new leaders for the duration of our stay here! If they aren't present you listen to me once more! Is that understood?!" Getting a chorus of "Sir, Yes Sir!"
The small group quickly gets over to the AA guns battery that's shielded. Thinking how to get through the shield easier, Six grabs a plasma pistol from a grunts corpse.
Aiming at the shield he overcharges it and fires at the shield. Falling easily to the plasma based weaponry being exposed to the squad who immediately opened fire on the core. It fell fairly easy considering it had already been overheating from firing off plasma shells. They all evac the immediate are as quickly as possible.
"Control, 2 Lima 4: permission to commence bombing run, heading 224.6, over."
Seeing the gun explode in a shower of fire, plasma, and debris. They all prepare to leave hoping into nearby vehicles. Six and Kat in the Warthog with a marnie in the passenger side. The others climbing onboard an abandoned Revenant to carry the rest of them.
Three Longswords, and two massive heavy frigates, the UNSC Grafton and UNSC Saratoga, both fly overhead. A Covenant Phantom arrives but quickly is destroyed by the UNSC ships.
"Well done, Team. UNSC air support: skies are clear you are free to move in."
"Copy. 2 Lima 4, bombing run, heading 224.6, permissions granted - out."
The frigates open fire upon the Covenant forces I. The valley, as Longswords commence a bombing run on a large group of wraiths and ghosts.
Seeing they weren't needed here, Six and Kat moved on. The squad of marines from before joining them. They come to an area with the bridge out so they call in a pelican with a deployable bridge, allowing them across. Driving onward they hear more gunfire and see a group of marines firing upon Covenant at a mining facility.
They help the marines push back the enemy and make their way throughout the facility. Suddenly Dot comes over comms, "New intelligence: Friendly forces near the Covenant outpost have sighted a high value target. An Elite Zealot, in fact. Curious."
"A Zealot? Way out here? We may have stumbled across something big, Commander." Kat notifies.
"Eyes on the prize, Noble. Take out the Zealot if you get the chance, but don't spilt your attention between the two or we'll accomplish neither of our objectives."
"High value target sighted." Six informs quietly.
He proceeds to sneak as close as he can behind the Zealot currently at a mining terminal unaware of Six. Six however pauses seeing that this Elite looks extremely similar to the one from the outpost. The leader that got away from them before. Anger flashes through his veins but he reigns it in as he focuses on his target. Pulling the trigger at such close range destroyed nearly all of the Elites shields. Stunned, the Elite scrambles to fire back but fails to even get his gun out in time before Six has a bullet in its mouth, blasting its brains out across the terminal.
"I thought Zealots were supposed to be tough? Yet Six just took him down like it was nothing." Kaminari complained.
"Well, Six has shown he has extreme ability for stealth and precise take downs. So it would make sense that he would be able to sneak up on an enemy in the middle of a war zone. The enemy wouldn't be able to hear precisely and he was distracted taking data most likely. That and his back was turned. After all, that Elite from before tackled him and was able to keep him down on the floor." Izuku points out.
"High value target has been eliminated. Impressive work, Six."
"That Zealot was the same one from the communications outpost from before." Six informs.
"Interesting. Well regardless, mining facility secured. Let's move on."
As the team moves out they quickly take out any opposition they come across.
"Update team: scans show that second AA gun just up ahead. Take it out so our birds can move in."
As they enter they see two wraiths defending the area which the team uses Kat as a distraction due to her expert use of armor lock disabling the wraith while Six hopped onto the back of it planting a grenade in its exhaust port.
Pulling off the same tactic against the other wraith they proceed to destroy the gun and await further instructions.
"You know, they should have better defences for those AA guns, if just two spartans can take out their entire defence force." Iida said as he questioned their defensive forces.
"Well, it is probably not their only turrets, plus they did have multiple powerful units defending the area. It is also likely that they didn't have the time to reinforce this area." Izuku theorized.
"Good job, Six. ONI needs an upclose recon in those spires, we're gonna be flying you the rest of the way."
"Jorge is inbound with a Falcon, lieutenant. Let's hold the LZ."
"Commander, I'm going to setup a forward observation post here." Kat reports.
"Copy that, I'm waiting on new intel. See what you can see, Carter out."
As Six awaits for the Falcon to arrive, he checks on the marines that had journeyed thus far with him. Seeing that most were uninjured or had a few injuries he took care of easily. Now that he was done with that he just stood there unsure of what to do now. What was he supposed to say? He didn't socialize often!
"So…nice day to kill some Covenant bastards eh?" He tried though it came off as awkward the marines around were astonished! A Spartan had just tried to start a conversation on their own! This was practically unheard of! The rumors said they were emotionless killing machines! What should they say?
Oh god would he kill them if they oissed him off?! Better say something!
"Yup! Covies can always use an extra bullet!"
"Wow, that is gold!" Mina said while laughing at that exchange,
"I mean that was definitely an awkward interaction." Iida said.
"That reminds me of my first encounter with Deku! I said hi and he was just staring at me literally speechless." Ochako said while giggling at his past reaction.
"I mean, no one had ever really initiated a conversation with me before U.A so I was shocked." Izuku said while blushing like a strawberry at the embarrassment.
Six smiled behind his helmet happy that they responded positively. Before he could say more he heard the sound of a Falcon closing in and Jorge over comms, "Spotted some nasty business in the canyon on the way down."
"Want a lift, Six?"
"I'll be calling out your targets as we go." The pilot announces helpfully. He was helping not one, but TWO Spartans!
As they fly off the pilots calls out targets for Six to hit. Which he proceeds to do flawlessly.
"Nice shooting, Spartans!" The pilot's compliments.
"Stay sharp, Six. We're not out of the frying pan yet." Jorge comments.
A spire can be seen as they turn past a corner of the canyon.
"There's the spire!"
"Holy crap that is huge! I wonder what purpose they serve?" Kaminari asks.
"Maybe if you shut up Pikachu, then you would know." Bakugou said irritated at his immediate question.
"Solid Copy, Dot?" Carter asks.
"Latest reports suggests that these spires may be projecting an electromagnetic cloaking shield." Dot responds.
The pilot stops the Falcon just before the shield to make sure they're prepped.
"Priority One, pilot. Gotta find out what's inside." Jorge orders.
"Yes, sir." With that the pilot went forward.
The camera cuts to Six's p.o.v as the Falcon goes out of control. Six grips onto the side of the Falcon then looks at Jorge who also holding onto the side of the Falcon.
"We just lost all power. We're going down!"
"Lock your armor, Spartan!" Jorge orders quickly. Six does as such feeling his armor lock in place.
"Brace yourselves!" The pilot shouts.
The Falcon smashes into the ground. Six is thrown a bit from the Falcon. Jorge emerges from the wreckage, tossing out equipment. Six grabs a DMR and an assault rifle. Jorge looks back before turning back and lifting up his gun.
"Pilots dead. We need to move." Jorge says solemnly.
"Damn, that's unfortunate." Mina quietly muttered.
"At least his death got the spartans inside." Momo said simply.
"I'm picking up hostile over the whole area."
Skirmishers and Grunts are seen charging across to the crash site.
"Commander, we got eyes on the spire. Looks like a staging area." Jorge reports. Thankfully the comms still work.
"Roger that, we have your visual. Dots working the problem, standby." Carter responds.
Jorge and Six make quick work of the forces approaching the Falcon. They reach a small cliff overlooking the base of the spire as it comes into full view. When Dots voice tells them that ONI believes it to be a teleportation terminal.
"HA! I knew they had teleportation!" Mina shouts pointing at Izuku who rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"I mean, I didn't think they had teleporters, as then taking over planets would be too easy." Izuku defends his point of view.
"Teleporters? Linked to what?" Jorge asked highly skeptical.
"Frigate Grafton is on station, ready to kill the Spire, but we need that shield down first."
"Understood, Commander. Six, I'll hold these bastards off. You find a way to the top of the spire."
As soon as he says this a Banshee takes notice of them and dive bombs towards Sic intend on squashing him in a near suicide move. Six times his jump at the last second catching onto the wing of the Banshee and ripping the pilot out throwing him down for Jorge who quickly gunned him down.
Six took control of the Banshee and used it to fly to the top of the spire where he proceeded to fire at the enemy that were milling about seemingly uncaring. All of them running about in terror seeing the Banshee slaughter five grunts in seconds. The Elite with an energy sword quickly moves back inside the building.
Seeing that he won't be able to fight with the Banshee while it's inside. Six lands down and pulls his assault rifle out. He throws a grenade in the doorway the Elite ran into. The Elite having lied in wait just behind the door waiting for the human to rush in after him saw the grenade and dived away just barely surviving due to its shields and armor. Had it been even a split second late it would've had a face full of shrapnel. Unfortunately Six was inside the moment the grenade had gone off and as such loaded the Elites body full of rounds killing it quickly.
"Damn, his efficiency is always scary, he quickly took over an enemy vehicle and used it against them." Ojiro said wondering how he got so efficient.
"Not only that but he also has solid battle senses, way greater than Bakugou and Todoroki's." Iida said referring to when Six flushed the elite out of position.
"Lieutenant, drop the shield and get out of there!"
Six quickly does as such and sprints for the outside. The shield disappears. He sprints for the outer edge of the top floor, where Carter and Jorge are waiting in a hovering Falcon. Not slowing at all, Six leaps off the spire and to the Falcon just barely missing it.
"Oh god no! Please don't die!" The class panicked at the sight of him missing the jump but were quickly relieved to see Jorge catch his arm and pull him up.
"Get us outta here!" Carter orders.
The Falcon flies off away from the spire.
"Control? This Noble One. Spire One is green, and you're free to engage. Have a nice day." Carter says happily.
"Copy that, Noble One. Be advised, all ground units: Frigate Three-One-Eight heavy is inbound, and MAC rounds have been authorized."
The Falcon is getting further away from the spire joined by other Falcons.
"MAC rounds? In atmosphere?" Jorge asks in confusion.
"The heck is a MAC round?" Kaminari wonders aloud.
"According to the notebook, a MAC round is a Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, firing Tungsten or depleted uranium about 9.1 meters long and traveling at speeds of 30,000 meters per second!" Izuku almost went off on yet another tangent but was able to hold himself back due to the feeling in his gut that something was horribly wrong.
"The 3,000-ton slug round, travels 4% of the speed of light. There isn't any explosives just pure kinetic impact." Momo finishes when Izuku pauses in his reading.
"Holy crap! Could you imagine how cool it would be to have a quirk that allowed you to store up kinetic energy!" Ochako gushed at all the possibilities.
"But why would they fire something that's so dangerous in atmosphere?" Iida asked.
"One way to get their attention! Hang on to your teeth, people!" Carter advises.
"Of course they're doing it, because they can." Iida groans swinging his arms in his typical fashion.
The Frigate from before the name Grafton painted on the side in a shallow dive, moves to the spire and past the Falcon.
The Grafton continues to move to the spire, and, with a bright flash, fires it's MAC cannon. A giant BOOM louder than anything Bakugo has ever produced or most likely ever will naturally. It's smashes the spire to pieces and it falls to the ground.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?" Sero and Mina yelled out together hearing the giant boom.
Thankfully it seemed that the noise of the cannon didn't hurt Jirou's ears nearly as bad as she had thought they would.
Jorge turns to the others satisfied, he nods to Carter and Six, failing to notice a giant purple glow in the sky.
"Uh...guys. Why is the sky turning purple?!" Mineta yelled out in alarm at the sight of sky quickly lighting up.
Moments later, before anyone could answer Mineta, an absolutely massive energy beam of pure plasma streaks down and cuts straight through the Grafton bow section, gutting the ship. Explosions going off all throughout the ship and the Grafton plummets to the ground unable to maintain its flight.
The students of class A could do nothing but watch as a massive ship they believed to have been indestructible be brought down by a single shot. This was the power of the Covenant. They realized as the pit in their stomachs grew in size.
"New contact. High-tonnage." Dot says quietly.
Jorge quickly turns around in his seat and sees what the hail going down, "No.(silently) NO! Somebody tell me this ain't happening!" He pleads to the others in horror.
Six stays silent just watching in horror as the Frigate crashes.
"UNSC Frigate Grafton, do you copy?!" Air control asks panicked over comms.
"Grafton just got turned to dust! We need to get out of here, now!" Carter roars into the comms in ever growing horror.
The Falcon continues to fly off and away from the destruction as the camera pans upward to reveal just what hit the Frigate and took it out in a single strike.
"...if this is the power of the Covenant, then it's no wonder that humanity is losing." Kirishima spoke softly, which honestly disturbed everyone present. They'd never heard him be that subdued since the time Bakugo was kidnapped.
Revealing its form in all its horrific glory. The Long Night of Solace. An absolutely massive Covenant vessel. With a width of 11,447 kilometers, height of 3,563 kilometers, and a length of 28,960 kilometers is one of the largest and strongest of the Covenant's Navy. A supercarrier.
"That thing is massive. And they have to fight it? How are they supposed to beat that thing, if even their ships are useless?" Mineta said quietly to himself.
"That must be an omen of the events to come." Tokoyami muttered solemnly.
AN So double update on here for you guys!