Disclaimer: Halo belongs to 343 Industries and Bungie but this story does belong to me.
Chapter 3
The Battle of Spartan HQ Part 1
Meanwhile, as the Covenant Armada are preparing to leave to join with others at the rally point, Colonel Heath is showing Chief the Spartan base. However, he had to go and see how the trainees were doing. At that time a major arrived at the gate in an ODST uniform.
"Sir what are you doing here?" The guard asked.
"I'm here to see the colonel." He answered as they checked his ID and allow him to enter the compound. Just then, Spartan-118 drove up to the gate in a Hog.
"Well hello Major Cutter, would you like to go see the new Spartans before you get settled in?" The colonel asked.
"Yes Sir, I would." he answered before hopping into the hog.
"I know that HighCom sent you here to teach my Spartans how to drop from those Drop Pods you and your Helljumpers love so much." The colonel said in a sarcastic tone as they drove out to the Spartan training field. Major Cutter watched the Spartan-IV recruits going through their morning drills and practicing their skills in hand-to-hand combat. The Master Chief was giving them some pointers and all the new Spartans listened closely to the Master Chief had to say before they went and practiced them. Many of the Spartan-IV's were pleased to be in the presence of such a legend.
"Sir, the Arbiter has landed at the airfield." Heath heard over the radio.
"When did the Arbiter arrive?" Colonel Heath-118 asked.
"Just a few minutes ago, it took some time to clear him to land." An air traffic controller in the tower told him. The Master Chief hopped into the Hog with the colonel and the major before the colonel drove the Hog out to the airfield where he saw more Hogs near where the Arbiter's ship had come down. The Arbiter then came out with eighteen Elites behind him.
"Greetings Spartans, I came to warn you that the New Covenant is planning to attack you soon."
"Do you know when the attack will take place?" The Master Chief asked.
"It could be anytime," he answered.
"Then let's head to the bunker, at least we'll be safe for a while." Colonel Heath-118 suggested to the others. Agreeing, they all started to make their way for the bunker that was located underneath Spartan HQ. They boarded the Hogs and were on their way; but before they could get close to the entrance, Seraph fighters came screaming down from the sky and bombarded the field with plasma fire. They managed to make their way to the bunker without getting hit by plasma fire. UNSC Longsword fighters chased after the Seraph Fighters and managed to shoot down two of the enemy fighters before five more flights of Seraphs appeared behind the Longswords and blew them out of the sky. Marines were busy hurrying people into the bunker as the two Spartans, the major, the Arbiter and the eighteen Elites jumped off the Hogs and ran into the building. Though before the major could get into the building he was killed by a burst from a Banshee's plasma cannon. Right after he was gunned down, a Spartan-IV with a rocket launcher blew the Banshee out of the sky. The colonel was the last one inside the building as the elevator went down into the bunker on its first trip. The colonel knew that his Spartan-IVs wouldn't last long because many of them were not in armor; though some were wearing the SPI armor used by the Spartan-IIIs. He knows that'll buy them time. A Covenant assault carrier arrived and began unloading Covenant troops via gravity lifts. The Marines and the Spartan-IVs started fighting them as they landed. Twenty Elites and plenty of Grunts fell to the weapons of the UNSC, but more kept coming.
An Elite fired a Plasma Rifles at a Spartan-IV, killing him because he had no armor on. Grunts and Jackals started killing more marines and Spartans. Brutes also came down the gravity lift and started to kill UNSC troops. Elites cut marines in half, causing blood to spurt up into the air. The battle with the Spartans and the few UNSC marines stationed at the base didn't last long because just as the Covenant engage them, they were call back to the ship. Colonel Heath witnessed another Covenant Battlecruiser appeared above the Spartan Base and was preparing to fire their primary weapon. The colonel saw this and hailed ass to the elevator. As the elevator descended into the depths of the earth the Battlecruiser fired and everyone still on the surface was killed by super-heated plasma.
Several minutes before the Covenant attacked the Spartan Base in East Africa and a few minutes after Orbital Defense Platform Alexander cleared the Arbiter's ship to land, a split space rupture was detected next to the moon. Several more followed the first until Eighty Covenant ships of various classes emerged from slip space. The lieutenant looked up at his CO.
"Holy Fuck, get a message to HighCom and tell them a hostile Covenant fleet has just emerged from slip space and that only ten of the original Orbital Defense Platforms are operational and we are sent a Pelican to investigate why the new Orbital Defense Platforms hadn't come online when the Covies entered normal space." The naval lieutenant sent the message but nothing happen. He turn around and told his CO that he thinks they're being jammed. The commanding officer of the Alexander radioed the few remaining UNSC ships in orbit, since most of the Home Fleet was off practicing scenarios near Reach. The UNSC ships in orbit around Earth numbered twelve, not counting those at hidden UNSC bases throughout Earth and three at the Lunar Base. The original Orbital Platforms still had their one Super MAC but a small shield generator had been installed on the Cairo and the Alexander, which they hoped may save them so they can get off another salvo off. The ten Orbital Defense Platforms including, the Cairo, open fire. Instantly, Ten Covenant ships were terminated. The Covenant ships returned fire and four unshielded Orbital Defense Platforms were obliterated. The remaining Orbital Defense Platforms returned fire and six more Covenant ships were blown out of the sky.
The UNSC ships, which included the UNSC Point of No Return, UNSC New Mexico, UNSC Brave New World, UNSC Hamilton, UNSC Sitting Bull, UNSC Gray Horse, UNSC All under the Havens, UNSC Paris, UNSC American, UNSC Leviathan, and a few that didn't have names yet fired onto the Covenant ships and Nine Covenant ships disintegrated. The small UNSC Home Fleet and larger Covenant fleet engaged one another in small scale battles; MAC guns fire, Archer Missiles are launched, the Covenant fire their plasma weapons. The older UNSC vessels that are not equipped with shields which include the New Mexico, Gray Horse, and the Hamilton are vaporized. The UNSC Brave New World, with its lone MAC gun, opens fire at a Covenant Corvette and takes out the Corvettes shields, giving the UNSC American time to fire its twin MACs and three dozen Archer Missiles to destroy the Corvette. However, the UNSC American is destroyed by a Super carrier and a destroyer. Several UNSC ships headed out of system and made the jump to slip space as more Covenant ships drop out of slip space leaving only the UNSC Brave New World, UNSC Point of No Return, UNSC All under Havens, UNSC Leviathan and the ODP's remaining. The Sitting Bull shielded one of the Orbital Platforms and is destroyed in the act, saving the ODP for a little bit longer. The Orbital MAC guns are targeted by several light cruisers and are obliterated except for two the Cairo and the Alexander but not before five of the Covenant ships are destroyed and one crippled.
The Point of No Return cloaked, as they weren't equipped for dogfighting with the larger Covenant Warships, and they move close to one of the non-operational Orbital Defenses Platforms to watch the battle unfold and to radio what the Covenant were doing to the UNSC Leviathan. The UNSC Leviathan is the same class as the UNSC Infinity, except it isn't carrying any of the extra ships it can. The UNSC ships and the Covenant ships had all launched their fighters and they were dogfights happening all throughout space, around the ships and the Orbital Platforms. The Broadswords were proving a pain in the ass for the Covenant fighters. The other two UNSC ships were destroyed by multiple Covenant ships but not before they took three with them, and dozens Covenant fighters, out of the fight with two being destroyed and the third cripple to a point it was unable to fire its main weapons. The two remaining Orbital Defense platforms have destroyed ten covenant ships, and thanks to the shields, they have survived; but the shields on the Alexander were falling fast while the Cairo was holding steadily so far. The Brave New World bridge crew watched as a Covenant ship docked with the Cairo 2, which controlled all the new Orbital Defense platforms, and heard transmissions from the UNSC forces guarding it before they stopped. The UNSC Leviathan had taken multiple hits from Covenant ships but they manage to destroy eight more ships.
The 4 MAC guns have obliterated Covenant shields and ships until all of sudden a new Covenant ship emerged from slip space, twice the size of the Super carrier, and deployed a dozen Light Cruisers and a corvette. The Leviathan fired its MAC guns, which obliterates the Light Cruisers, and then the new Covenant ship return fire dropping the Leviathan's shields to 49%. The Leviathan returns fire with its MACs, but the Covenant ship remains intact, to the surprise of the crew. The Alexander fired its Super MAC at the Covenant ship, but still nothing happened. Eight Covenant ships headed towards the Alexander, whose MAC gun is still charging, then the Cairo fired and destroyed two, then the Alexander fired and destroying two more; but before another salvo could be fired the Alexander was turn to molten slag. The Cairo fired again and destroying another two. The captain of the Leviathan decided to ram the new Covenant super-ship. He ordered all but those that choice to stay of the bridge crew to abandon ship. He informed the captain of the Brave New World to watch what happened and then get to the nearest UNSC base on Earth and inform them what happened. The Leviathan went full blast towards the Covenant ship, ramming through a light cruiser and destroying it. The Leviathan fired everything it has upon reaching the enemy new super-ship before ramming it. The captain of the Leviathan had no clue his heroic sacrifice had no effect on the enemy ship except a small vibration in the shields. The Covenant then turned their attention onto the Cairo, which had destroyed five more Covenant vessels, and instead of destroying the Cairo, the new ship docked with it.
Firefights sprung out through the Cairo as the defenders gave the technicians' time to lock the Covenant out of the Cairo systems, so they can't use the weapons, or the shields, against any UNSC counter-attack and then abandon the Cairo. Escape pods were launched, but only 23 pods made it off the station and headed for UNSC bases throughout Earth. Some of the escape pods from both the Leviathan and the Cairo crashed, but the vast majority of them made it to the surface and the pilots manage to land them. The Brave New World watched as the surviving Covenant ships formed a small blockade around the planet to keep any UNSC ship that might arrive from reaching Earth. Captain Takenov of the Brave New World watched as four Covenant ships headed for Mombasa, again, while four headed for Antarctica, and another five headed for the Spartan Base. The Brave New World headed to a shipyard in Paris, France, which had a huge tower that was twice the size of one of the World Trade Centers, where UNSC military and merchant ships could dock. The tower was defended by 8 MAC turrets, several missile batteries, and Scythe Anti-Aircraft guns.
Back at Spartan HQ, once they reached the bunker, they were surrounded by fourteen marines. Once the marines recognized them they were allowed to enter. They headed to the control room where Cortana and April's images appeared on a hollow projector.
"Good to see you again." they said to the two Spartans.
"Does the rest of the UNSC know about this Covenant attack?" The colonel asked.
"Our Communications are down colonel, but we should have them back up soon."
"Don't worry about it, we're leaving the base soon." Heath told them. "Cortana tell me what happen."
"The fleet and the operational ODP's managed to destroy more than a dozen Covenant ships, but thirty-five are still up there, before the fleet was vaporized, along with the operational ODP's. They sent ships to Antarctica, Mombasa, as well as here." April said.
"How do you this if communications are down?"
"The UNSC Brave New World arrived in Paris and informed Admiral Nimitz about the Covenant attack, and he sent out a message to all UNSC forces warning everyone of a Covenant attack before communication went done. The only parts of the communications that are down are sending messages." April responded.
"I thank his warning was a little late for some places." A marine technician said.
"We did manage to destroy two enemy ships when they attacked with our two MACs on base, but they were destroyed after their first shot. I take credits for that, and two more were destroyed when they attack New Mombasa." April answered.
"You mean we take credit because we both took out the Covenant ships." Cortana said and April gave a sigh.
"That is where you are wrong; they are not here to destroy the planet, but to enslave your people. They attacked this base because they fear you. This is just a pre-invasion force, more will be on their way soon, just like when our forces attack Reach." The Arbiter told them.
"How many Spartans survived and what's the situation?" Spartan-118 asked.
"You mean here or throughout the UNSC?" Cortana asked. April knew exactly what the colonel was asking.
"Including you, Spartan-117 John, Spartan-119 Clare, Spartan-104 Fred, Spartan-087 Kelly, Spartan-058 Linda, Spartan-046 Andy, Spartan-B292 Tom, Spartan-B091 Lucy, Spartan-G099 Ash, Spartan-120 Jason, Spartan-121 Sam, Spartan-123 Suzan, and Spartan-197 Will are all that survived the Covenant Bombardment." April answered. "The three that went with Dr. Halsey, a further two hundred eighty at other locations on Earth, including the Hell-hounds, and Zodiac Team are all the Spartans that are left on Earth."
"What about Ash, Mark, and Olivia?" Tom-B292 asked.
"They are at Alamo 1 I believe." April answered.
"Who are the Hell-Hounds?" John-117 asked.
"Another group of Spartan-IV on other assignments." Cortana answered.
"What's our situation?" John asked.
"The situation is this; thirty-five Covenant ships are in orbit and are dropping troops here in East Africa. UNSC forces on this continent are being overrun and are falling back to hidden military bases or larger military installations." April told them. "Except for the larger UNSC Military Installations that are protected by MAC Guns."
"April, you already told us how many Covenant ships are in orbit." Kelly said.
"I was just seeing if you were paying attention."
"Why are they massing here near New and Old Mombasa and not anywhere else?" Jason asked.
"They believe there's more Forerunner artifacts burying here." April replied. "The Covenant don't believe that the other cities are worth their attention yet."
"I thought you said that our communications were down."
"They are, we can receive messages but can't send them. The satellites still work fine though."
"Are they targeting civilian population areas?"
"No, only military installations here in East Africa, but as UNSC forces leave they are being left alone." April told them.
"Strange the Covenant has changed their tactics again." Heath said.
"That will because of their New High Prophet." the Arbiter replied.
"Ma'am, the Covenant are drilling down to us." a technician told them.
"They will be down here within minutes." the chief said to everyone.
"Let's get our armor on chief." The colonel said to the Master Chief before they headed to the armory. They found several rows of Spartan armor. The Master Chief saw his new MJOLNIR armor since his old one had all kinds of dents and blast marks all over it. He was helped by a few technicians to put it on. He walked over to a holo projector and ejected Cortana into a chip before he placed the chip into the back of his helmet. Her voice came over his internal speakers.
"Chief, this is the MJOLNIR Mark VII. They have made a few adjustments to the armor."
"What are they?" He asked.
"The new shielding can take more damage than before, even from two direct hits from a Hunters fuel rod cannon won't drain it completely, a new motion detector, new health monitors, and new NV and thermal scopes for camouflaged Elites and Brutes." The colonel placed his armor on with the help of technicians, then he placed April into the back of his helmet. April's voice came over his internal speakers.
"Your suit has more improvements in it as well." she told him. "There are new motion sensors, an energy sword built into your left hand, new shields that are better than your old ones and lots of other stuff too." The other Spartan-II's had on their Mark VII armor as well. The Spartan-III's had on the MJONIR Mark IV which was the same armor the Spartan-III's of Noble team used on Reach. Most of the Spartan-IV's that survived are in Mark V armor. The base armory was huge; there were racks of MA5B's, MA5C's, BR85's, and all kinds of weapons and ammo. Heath walked over to one of the gun racks. He saw his old friend, the MA5B Assault Rifle, and grabbed it of the rack; He never liked the new MA5C. Half the clip was never something he liked; He preferred the 60 round clips over the 32; twice the bullets, twice the amount to kill Covenant with. He wished the new MA5D assault rifle was here. He had test fired it at an UNSC weapons factory in Berlin, Germany and he liked the new 98 round clip, and for even more Covenant killing it could mount a grenade launcher or shotgun underneath the barrel, as well as a flashlight. The next thing he garbed was an M90 8 Gauge Shotgun and two sidearm for his two leg holsters. Linda picked up her SRS99 2 AM Sniper Rifle. She was the best sniper in the Spartans, as well as in the whole UNSC. She also choose to bring a sidearm along with her. The Master Chief pick a MA5C and two M7 SMGs. Every Spartan grabbed weapons, some grabbed the BR85 Battle Rifle and others the DMR. They also grabbed grenades and ammo and placed them in mag and grenade holders that magnetized them to their armor and won't come off unless they remove them.
"Let's get out of here." The colonel yelled.
"Sir yes sir." they replied before heading back to the control room. They saw about twenty marines heading straight for them.
"What's going on marines?"
"Sir." They stop once they notice his MJOLNIR Mark VII armor. "The Covenant has entered the base through several breech points and we couldn't stop them before they took over the main control room."
"Where they able to get into our systems to access our files?" the Colonel asked.
"Sir no sir." a marine answered. "As soon as we saw them trying to access our files we fried the systems with a new EMP pulse that only took out the systems in the room."
"They're right behind us sir, I suggest we move," another marine tells them
"Very good, let's head for the Pelican and Longsword bays." The colonel said. So they headed for the bays.
"Chief, I'm picking up movement, dead ahead." Cortana said into his helmet and then chief told the colonel. The colonel and Spartan-087 Kelly went up ahead. Their motion sensors picked up a hostile contact ahead. Spartan-118 thought it might be a cloak Elite so He drew his side arm and fired several rounds at the cloaked figure. The figures shield fell and the last slug punched through the Elite's forehead, blowing brains and purple blood onto the wall behind the dead alien. They approached the dead Sangheili but then they saw more hostile contacts as at least ten Elites surrounded them.
"I should have known this might have been a trap." the colonel said to himself.
I would like to think my Beta Reader thearizona for his help in correcting and making this story better. Please Favorite, follow, or review or all 3.
to be continued...
