(A/N) I do not own Star Wars or Halo.

Chapter 8: The Cavalry Have Arrived!

The Gnat sped out of the hanger followed by the Chimeras in their old Basilisk War Droids. Quickly getting into formation the four squadrons took flanking positions around the disembarking Star Galleon. The large ship just barely fit inside the Iron Wolf's hanger, and the process of getting the ship out without damaging it was a slow process.

"Admiral! Banshees inbound, at point-zero-zero-two-eight!"

"Copy that. Alpha and Beta squadrons, take them out. Gamma squadron, continue to protect the Star Galleon. Omega squadron, there are multiple inbound Covenant boarding craft at point-three-three-zero-one. You must eliminate them before they get to the Galleon."

Half-listening to the stream of acknowledgements to his orders Ehren addressed his two wingmates, "Deltas two and three, follow me. We're going to assist Omega squadron."

"Copy that."

"Affirmative."

Ehren relaxed in his pilot chair, his hands moving fluidly over the controls. It would take a second for them to reach the troopships and the carrier that had deployed them. He decided to check on Alpha and Beta squadrons, and did a quick eavesdrop on their reports to the tactical officers aboard the Iron Wolf.

"Target destroyed/Talkar you've picked up a tail/Whoops! I see him/He's gone now./Target destroyed./Nice shot/There's a couple of Banshees making a run for it! Take them out/I see them, got one./There goes the other bastard, nice offhand shot Davis./Quit moving…"

Well they seem to be doing fine. Thought Ehren as he switched back to his group channel. They were approaching the boarding craft now; he could see their U-shaped forms from his viewscreen. A squadron of Banshees escorted them and the carrier was making its way towards the Iron Wolf as well. Ehren contacted his wingmates, "Leave the boarding craft alone, we're taking out the escorts."

With that he spun the Gnat so it went head on with the squadron leader and squeezed out a sustained burst. It exploded in a ball of blue flame. Behind him the gunner droid, K-17, was hammering away with the turrets. Banshees fell like flies on fire.

"Admiral, you've got one on your tail!"

"A-4," Ehren shouted to the back of the ship, "take him out!"

"What do you think I'm doing, Sir?" came A-4's caustic reply.

"Laying back and sipping tea! Get to work soldier!"

Another explosion signaled the destruction of the tail. Around him the dropships were beginning to fall as the Omegas had their way with them. The carrier had come within range of the Iron Wolf now and was receiving its share of turbolasers. Ehren watched Delta 3 take out the last Banshee and return to formation alongside the Gnat.

"Deltas return to the Star Galleon and assist Gamma squadron. I'm staying to take out the remaining boarding craft."

Aligning himself with the rear of the closest troopship he started to pour laser fire onto its shields. The dropships own turrets spun to track the Lambda shuttle. Ehren ignored the plasma and continued his own stream of death. The enemy's shields flickered once and died, blossoms of fire appearing along the troopship's hull. Soon the boarding craft exploded, sending fragments of metal and meat hurling in space.

"Admiral, this is Omega leader, what are our new orders?"

"Return to the Star Galleon, it should be out by now. We need to escort it to a point where it can enter hyperspace."

"Yes, Sir."

The Admiral followed Omega squadron and soon found his assumption to be correct, the Galleon was out and maneuvering into a position leading away from the battlefield.

"Admiral Varick, this is Captain Keyes, we have found our exit vector. I have pinpointed it on your tactical display, if you would escort a lady to it."

'A lady' huh? "N-6 where is the Captains exit vector?"

"It's at point-three-five-six-three, Admiral."

Ehren looked at the droid in shock, "That leads TOWARDS the battle! What is she thinking?"

"I'm thinking that the Captain is planning on a fighting retreat, Sir," K-17 spoke up in her feminine voice, she was an oddity, K-17 was the only 'female' battle droid. "Technically, sir, she isn't disobeying your orders."

Ehren had to think about that, true he hadn't told her where she had to retreat, or whether or not she was to avoid combat. He had simply ordered her to retreat and not help him in this fight. She wasn't helping him; she was merely taking the dangerous route to run. However he still didn't like it, but what choice did he have?

"Alright, fine, she can go out her way, and we will still escort her. Ready the concussion missiles. Let's plow the road!"

All four Chimera squadrons aligned themselves and prepared their weapons. Hundreds of Banshees flew to intercept—and in unison the Chimeras fired their missiles. Explosions erupted as the shatter missiles flew into the ranks of Banshees, sending debris and blue fire in all directions. Delta 2 was knocked off his Basilisk by a fuel rod burst and sent, screaming, into the blackness of space. Plasma strafed across the Gnat's canopy, making the window become opaque for a second. It was the chaos of a thunderstorm.

"Red group, Green group, Blue Group, Gold group, all fighters follow me! We need assistance!" Ehren yelled over the comlink as he dodged past a flaming Banshee and blasted another fighter to ashes.

In response all 54 squadrons of a collection of Z-95 Headhunters, Y-wings, TIE Interceptors, TIE Fighters, Skipray Blastboats, Hornet Interceptors, older X-wings, and even a 'borrowed' squadron of A-wings came to the rescue. The Banshees fell as wave after wave of laser fire tore into their ranks. In the chaos three more Chimeras were thrown off their mounts.

"Admiral! This is Captain Keyes! Move your ships away from the forward side of the Star Galleon!"

Without thinking Ehren followed the order, and his fighters scrambled to get out of the way as the Galleon belched three thunderbolts and a flurry of missiles at a Covenant Cruiser. The first MAC round splashed against the shield, doing little damage; however the second round punctured a large hole in the shield, large enough for the third round to puncture the ship's reactors. The resulting explosion was large enough to destroy a nearby frigate's shield. Archer missiles pounded the helpless frigate and soon it was dead in space.

"Nice shot, Captain!" Were the words of many at that moment. Ehren himself was mildly impressed by the attack—JUST mildly.

"Captain Mendoza, target that Covenant Destroyer," he highlighted it on the tactical display. "And take it out with the superlaser."

"Yes, Sir!"

Ehren watched as the Iron Wolf's main weapon was fired, disintegrated the Destroyer, and continue through to collide with and destroy a carrier. The explosion destroyed several nearby Banshee squadrons. Ehren smiled smugly to himself and continued his personal fight against a Banshee.

The Star Galleon soon reached its exit vector and retreated into hyperspace, leaving the mercenaries to finish off the once-grand Covenant fleet. It wasn't long before the Iron Wolf was ready to follow the UNSC ship into hyperspace.