-Authors Note-
Some of you may wonder why Atriox seems so different than he does in the games etc. Reason for this is that the Atriox here is way before what shaped Atriox happened. Maybe I will touch upon that later in my own sort of way but idk.

Also thank you all for actually reading this stuff. Ain't that many but 30+ is more than i ever thought would happen.

-Eridanus II major ground battle-

Cas dashed forward with all his might, running for cover. He could faintly hear Dux and Beq Tod running ahead of him. His gaze was firmly on the enemy, their weapon fire trailed behind him, but it started to catch up. This motivated Cas to push himself even further. At the last second, he thought he had made it when his shields popped. 'Shit' he thought. Still darting for cover he was pelted by multiple projectiles. The armour stopped most but still some pierce his skin and gave him unimaginable pain.

Finally getting to cover he collapsed. Unconscious and behind a large pillar constructed by the humans for some unknown reason. Perhaps the beginning of a lookout tower. Atriox slumped down beside Cas and fired around the pillar. Trying to drive the oncoming enemies away. They were surrounded by 100 marines all advancing towards their position. All seemed lost but then Didip came, he stood at the edge of a Phantom firing with his fuel rod in unison with the underslung gun of the ship. The two jackals already jumping onto the ship provided cover fire for Atriox to carry Cas.

Many hours later he woke up, feeling much better. He had nothing against medical treatment and had been fully patched up. Now he was standing in a large open room being commemorated by his superior. "It is an honour to have this team on my ship and thus I will award you what you rightfully deserve. Spec-Ops Major Cas 'Wanee, you are now Spec-Ops Ultra Cas 'Wanee".

-Glassed planet of Harvest orbit-

"Listen up crimson, our mission is to go dirtside soften up encroaching enemy forces and cover the temporary retreat of our ground forces so the planet can be bombarded from orbit". Acknowledgments came in from his squad whilst Cas was looking over them. Didip a grunt major, and the two kig-yar were majors too. Whilst Atriox had become a jiralhanae Ultra.

Some tense minutes later and they had landed. Jumping out and into action they hastily seek for cover. Seeing a warthog a few dozen meters ahead Cas orders Didip to eliminate it with his fuel rod. Before the blast could hit the group was halfway there. Once it had been hit it would fit perfectly for cover, as the metal beams had fused together into a hard metal block after Didip hit it.

Seeing multiple Enemy pelicans trying to land troops he goes to action. The kig-yar and unggoy focuses on the already landed troops whilst Atriox and Cas goes for one pelican each.

The one Cas had picked hovered closely over the ground whilst a few troops jumped out. Activating his active camo, he managed to approach unseen. Once close enough he sprung to life and jumped up into the pelican. Activating his energy sword and eliminating the troops inside.

Once at the front he took out the pilot and used the controls for himself. Steering it towards another pelican with a squad of ODST in it. Cas smashed his into the other and right as he jumps out, they go up in flames. Exploding in the air and sending shards of metal in all directions. Some even grazing his shields.

Once he landed, he looked over to Atriox who had just finished with his pelican. As Cas saw a human get flung out of the pelican at enormous speed, he could also see Atriox jumping out. Making a dent on the ground where he landed and smashing any humans in his close vicinity. Once he left the Pelican on autopilot steered into an incoming Scorpion and used its sheer weight to destroy the tank.

Finishing up the squad had made an opening and hundreds of phantoms and spirits came down. Crimson Squad walked into one and were ferried back up to the Zealous Thunder.

-UNSC High Command Reach Castle Base-

"General, with all due respect. To that single squad you have lost thousands, if not tens of thousands. You must allow ONI to launch special operations towards them. I know it may wound your pride to have ONI eliminate your chief adversaries but if you truly seek victory then that is what you have to do".

"Admiral Cole, I understand your concern, but this is the army's mission, and not the navy or its ONI henchmen. Until the day I die I will not allow you navy freaks to take over my operations!"

-Arcadia Pirth City-

Cas stood on top of one of the human skyscrapers with his team. They were tasked with shooting down any escaping craft. So far, they had eliminated three. Alas it was not enough, the UNSC forces were coming closer to victory, and something had to be done.

Cas contacted the local covenant general. A grumpy old hard-core Elite. "General, I request permission to assist in the elimination of incoming human helljumpers". A short pause then the general replied, "Granted". Cas took s deep breath then led his team down the building. Once on the ground they spotted multiple incoming warthogs, all seats occupied by the veteran human helljumpers.

They were a tough bunch. Lethal in every way, and exceedingly good at adapting to any situation. They had the training of elites, the numbers of grunts, the marksmanship of the jackals and the tenacity of brutes. In every way they were the perfect soldier. Nothing seemed able to stop them. They jumped over obstacles like it was nothing whilst firing in the air and eliminating unfortunate grunts.

Cas and his team set up a quick and dirty ambush of the incoming human vehicles. "Didip! Fire!" Cas screamed into their comm. Instantly four charged up blue orbs from the plasma launcher stuck home, landing right in front of the warthogs. They tried reversing but were stopped by Atriox who swung with his mace and crushed one of the turrets.

The first vehicle was blown up by Didip's plasma launcher whilst another by Atriox and Dux. The third vehicle managed to escape and as it drove the turret launched thousands of projectiles their way. Seeing victory escape them he tried on last ditch effort. "Didip topple that building" Cas said as he marked it on the HUD. A second later and 4 streaks of green bolts flew out and crumpled the buildings support.

It seemed luck as on their side, half the warthog had been hit and with it their turret, including the ODST piloting it. They did not give up as was customary of the helljumpers. As they disembarked, they used the human equivalent of the fuel rod, a rocket launcher. Imitating the strategy that Crimson Squad used, they blasted two rockets into a building making it fall over and trapping Crimson inside their own self-made box.

As if it could not get worse, he heard the screeches of surprised covenant troopers who looked towards the sky. A covenant cruiser was falling to the planet, on fire. Multiple holes penetrating the main body. It felt similar, then he realised. It was their home! Zealous thunder. It seems the other had also seen as Atriox charged forward, mace in hand intent on smashing up a bunch of helljumpers.

Things escalated quickly and they were now surrounded by marines and helljumpers. All shooting them down. Another lance of covenant had arrived. It was hardly reinforcements; the grunts were covering in fear and the elites were near suicidal in their lust for combat prowess and honour.

Dux had a horribly dangerous put potentially fruitful plan. At this point Cas was ready to try anything and he listened. After hearing the plan, he was perplexed as to how that would help but went on with it. Grabbing Didip whilst Atriox took Dux, they hurled them as far up as possible. Didip smashed through a window and was safe, whilst Dux managed to get on top of the building, now in an excellent sniper position. He let loose and plasma rained down on anyone unfortunate enough to be in his way. Beq Tod took her own initiative and climbed up to the top and reported back, "Downed spirit dropship not too far away, just over these building. Still functional, could be our escape Ultra Cas 'Wanee".

Cas now completely in understanding to the plan tried to climb up through a window. He was stopped by a hail of fire dangerously close to popping his shields. Cas let go and dropped down. "Can't climb, Atriox try to smash through the wall here". Atriox acknowledge with a smile and smashed his mace into the wall with enormous force. All this whilst the humans were coming closer.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Didip shooting down one of the humans strange unarmoured transports. If he had to guess, they would be civilian ships looking to escape.

Atriox dragged Cas into the tunnel, and they quickly attempted to block the hole with a mound of rubble. It was a haphazard attempt, but it held the humans back enough for Didip, Atriox and himself to exfil at the other side. There they met up with the two jackals who had the position marked on their HUD.

Cas could hear the humans smashing through the rubble that had served as temporary blockage. They could do no harm now; the range was too great. Crimson was already at the spirit trying to power it up.

With an electric whirl it turned on, levitating above ground. As the squad entered, they spotted another small covenant group trapped further into the city. Deciding to not leave anybody behind. They sped towards the group; trying to reach them before any more covenant casualties happened.

Cas could see a gold covered elite in the group. His golden armour revealed his rank, and the humans knew that too. Intent on eliminating him. The group was close to exhaustion and were pushed into a corner. Crimson Squad came in at the last second. Using the spirit cannon from the side and opening the hatches, a rain of plasma shot out burning any humans not in cover.

Cas and Atriox leapt out, charging in on the enemy position in an attempt to force them into a melee fight. Thus, giving the general the cover he needed to leave his position. Atriox arrived first winging his mace and taking three marines with him. Cas was not much behind, using his signature crimson energy sword to plunge it into any human in his way.

Cas took out two plasma grenades and stuck them to the sides of the human's temporary cover. As Atriox and Cas leapt out, 15 humans were blown to bits. Just as victory seemed assured multiple objects pierced the atmosphere and descended fast. Dux looked up and cursed "More helljumpers!" with s snarl he continued sniping at the humans.

Finding a slight bit of respite as he waited for the helljumpers to land gave him time to analyse the terrain. It was strange really, an open plaza in the middle of many skyscrapers. A plaza of sorts, possibly a park. Although he saw no trees, so what kind of park he did not know.

The drop pods started crashing down and out came the crazy humans who jumped from orbit. One of the pods smashed into what looked like a long plastic tube large enough t fit humans that had both an on and off ramp. What were they used to? It was only 5 metres so could not be a transportation tube of sorts.

Cas was pulled out of his thoughts by a pod landing practically on top of him. He barely got out of the way in time, but not before the door exploded open and hit him with a clean hit. The force of the door flung him 20 metres back crashing into yet another on of those weird tubes, this one twisted and longer. Now it was mere rubble under Cas' weight.

He tried to stand up but found that one leg was broken, in addition to massive chest pain from fractured ribs. Doing his best to ignore the pain, he limped towards their spirit. Trying to get to it in time. From out of cover of some rubble a remaining army trooper ran out slamming into Cas and hitting the fractured ribs. He was temporarily off balance and was forced to stand on the broken leg. That did not go well, and he fell over. The human already pulling out a knife was prepared to kill him. His eyes were burning with anger. And he got an almost maniacal grin on his face when he thought he had the elite done for good.

Just as the trooper was going to stab the knife down, he died. Two Crimson points sticking out of his side. Cas had activated his sword straight through the abdomen and stomach.

Now standing up and continuing to limp towards the ship. Atriox jumped out to give Cas some cover fire. In the end it worked, Atriox eliminating a few more humans and Didip shooting down another warthog.

Immediately as they got the spirit closed, they started attending Cas' wounds. Beq tod had suffered some minor injuries, but nothing compared to Cas. The rest of his squad was completely free of damage. The elite general in its gold plate armour that was currently more grey than shining gold due to the dust, walked over to Cas, "What you did today was very honourable Ultra Cas 'Wanee. Be sure, I will mention you and the risk you took in my report to the fieldmaster". And with that the general walked away.

-UNSC Reach High Command Castle Base-

"Now that your precious navy ODST have failed can I get back my operation? Or are you willing to send another platoon of ODST to their deaths?"

"Calm down general, remember we did manage to pin down one of their own generals".

"Pin down, that's funny. I thought he was rescued right after. Or are you keeping something from the army?"

"He was rescued yes, but from that rescue we got information on this particular squad. Their names".

"With all due respect admiral Cole, but how is that going to help us?"

"You forget. ONI operates perfectly on low intel. A name is all they need".

"If you say so, though I still believe the army should get the mission".

"Your opinion is noted general. Cole out".

-High Charity Council Chambers-

"We need order! Any council members who speak next without being allowed will be thrown out!" The prophet of Mercy said. Clearly in a bad mood. Truth put out a hand to silence Mercy before talking himself. "We all know that the rank of zealot signifies a person with extreme religious devotion and one that has shown exceptional promise in battle. Giving the sangheili this rank I am in complete agreement with, but the whole squad?

Never in recent history has an unggoy been a zealot. For that matter there has only ever been one jackal zealot. It stands to reason that such an appointment will have consequences".

Regret interrupted Truth before he personally continued himself, "Those complications can be my responsibility if it comes to it. I am a hierarch too, don't forget that Truth. I say this meeting is over, they will all be made zealots and the council is dismissed". Truth stared daggers at Regret who calmly looked back with a smile.

The whole chamber burst out in outrage, the elite side supporting the idea whilst the prophet side was wholeheartedly against. Alas a hierarch made the decision, and he has absolute say. There is nothing the council can do.

-High Charity outside Forerunner dreadnought-

Cas was delighted that he would be knighted a zealot, but internally outraged that the council had decided Atriox was not ready yet and had sent him back to his brute squad to prove himself. Not only that but they had decided that if the two kig-yar and unggoy lived the next two missions they would also receive the zealot rank. Though now without both him and Atriox the squad it is seriously undermanned.

He could not even join them; his body was still hurt from the battle, and he would be stationed as an honour guard for a whole year. It was clearly an honour but, in the end, he would miss his fellow squadmates. His thought was interrupted by something moving.

A prophet had taken out the oracle to 'bless' the newly knighted zealots. The prophet spoke up "Here all who walk the path! The oracle has been brought out to bless those fortunate to walk the path in clarity. I bring forth the Oracle, rise zealots".

With that all the elites rose and stared stonily ahead. A silent gasp came from the crowd and the prophet. The Oracle had turned on. Its eyes fixated on one elite. Cas. He was shocked but tried to keep his reaction hidden. When he thought it was over the oracle floated towards him. Stopping in front of him. Its electronic voice-emitter spoke for the first time in many years. "So, it is true, you have returned".