A/N: This is the second instalment of my Orestean Liberation. I had a few PM's about another story they had missed out for UNSC/Imperial First Contact. There isn't one, so you ain't missing out yet. I have thought about it but I will keep working on the projects I have in the works now. Codex and Orestes is Priority.
Question: Why is the UNSC so advanced now?
Answer: The Janus key and the Absolute record propelled humanity further in a MUCH shorter time. However, there will be revisions to the UNSC Military Calendar to fit in a time of rebuilding and mass military overhaul. Halo can go bigger really, but not Frigates the size of LNOS. [UPDATE: Timeline revised to 303 years after the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War]
Q: Why is there no Introduction of how UNSC/Imperials met each other?
A: I have stated in my previous chapter that they worked alongside the Volpone (And got on with them), Tanith 1st, Narmenian's and the other regiments present during the Siege of Vervunhive. Please do not bash me for not making a first contact. I really do hate writing them so It is NOT going to be something I am planning to do on this year. (2015) However, on the other side, maybe.
Q: Why would Emile be seen as a Chaos agent when the Imperium regularly decorate everything with human skulls. Space Marine Chaplains are more scary than a scratched on Skull.
A: Emile's Helmet might not be scary in the fact of being, like a Fear Factor. It's more of a disconcerting. The Chaplains of the Astartes are apparently "Scary" with their Skull Battle Helms. The skull on the EVA Helmet is laughing and gives an appearance of constantly staring at you. Does a Chaplain Skull look like it's laughing at you? No, It is there to beat your bones to dust. What faction is seen as laughing, when they kill? Chaos.
Final thing from me, Thank you for reviewing and pointing out some things to me.
CHAPTER TWO: Negotiations.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Halo (But I Wish I Did), Warhammer 40,000 and Titanicus. Bungie/343 Industries/Microsoft Studios, Games Workshop, Dan Abnett Respectively.
Imperial Guard Brigadier General Alphant Bulwar, 1st Narmenian Armour Division, Imperial Lord Governor Aleuton Personal Residence, Principle Hive, Orestes Forge World, 779.M41.
On the other side of the Nalwood doors are the UNSC. A group of Humans that battled the mad forces of chaos during Vervunhive's Siege without balking, had been deployed here with them once again. 10 years ago, when he was a Captain, he'd commanded Quartet of Leman Russ Conquerers in Operation: Dericus, the Armoured Counter-Assualt on the Ferrozoican Armour Thrust that arrived through Ontabi Gate and Croe Gate. Now commanding a Heavily Modified Super-Heavy Shadowsword. Now armed with Twin-Linked Volcano Cannons mounted on a Traversable Turret, Additional Twin-Lascannon Turrets, standard Heavy Bolters were replaced with Assault Cannons after seeing that the secondaries on UNSC Vehicles were nearly always multibarreled. Pintle weapons were replaced with Chimera Twin Heavy Bolter Turrets and the Front of the Vehicle, an enormous Siege Shield had been built onto the front and the Flanks.
Now, it was time to meet with the Commanding Officer of the Vessel holding a few dozen kilometres away. He'd seen the Picts from the PDF Satellites of the ship's arrival, not like the Warp's tendrils on exit, but just blackness with blue-white edges. He was wondering what they could bring to the war against engines. He himself had looked over signatures of Titans, so whenever he'd found something similar to one, General Grizmund would pull all forces away from that area. They had experience of chaos, but not an chaos engine.
Just then the Tanith Export, Nalwood, doors began to swing open, revealing a group of UNSC that he'd never seen before. Obviously they have had some changes to their battle armour. Gone were the shiny black, gun metal silver rifles, now they were a Matte-Black colour with soft Blue lights along the length of the weapons. The Armour had changed too, with guards on the fore-arms. The full body armour had changed, it looked more armoured, more bulky, almost like they would clank into one another. Yet these men and women were moving without a sound. Even with these drastic changes, he still recognised the ODST Helmet. That too had seen massive improvements, but they still made it look the same.
He and the Narmenian's let the Lord Governor move forwards to greet the Captain, personally. As he looked through the security around her, he saw a helmet that he had seen before, during Vervunhive. Back then he was further forwards than any UNSC and Imperial Forces, and he had found some pockets of Imperial Troops that had been cut-off. By the time the area had been cleared of infantry and armour, his hoppers had been drained, he would have to pull up and wait for more shells to arrive. During the wait, he'd ordered his crew to dismount to quickly stretch out, he approached the Armoured Skull Face Trooper. His armour was dirty and covered in both enemy and allied blood, either from providing Medical assistance or an explosive death nearby. The soldier was quiet. Sheathing a sharp, angled blade to his upper-right torso armour, then crouching down to collect a Shotgun used by the UNSC Force and reloading it, one shell at a time. It was an oddly disturbing sight, seeing an individual like that, calmly standing there in the middle of this. Not 15 minutes ago he'd been fighting for his life.
The conversation had been short and straight to the point. He had thanked them for helping and he was waiting for additional support and resupply. With mentioning resupply, he had replied saying he was waiting for more shells. 10 mins later, a flight of UNSC Pelicans had arrived and instead of picking up the Skull Faced Soldier, they swung around and dropped Armoured Munition Crates in Mustard-Drab colours. Long before any Munitorium Convoy would have arrived. Staying to load them into the armoured stores, mounted behind the Turret, they had the Tank Squadron ready after 30 minutes of waiting and loading instead of an an hour of waiting for the convoy.
Now, 10 years later, the same Skull Face looked towards him, and nodded.
UNSC Navy Captain Kirsty Goodacre, Command Centre (Strategium), Imperial Lord Governor Aleuton's Personal Residence, 10:16 hrs, February 17th, 2895/UNSC Military Calendar/Military Standard Time.
The Strategium was a vast contrast of what she'd experienced in the past. The UNSC build's its bases with one purpose in mind, War. They were built with as much protection and functionality as possible. There were paintings, decorations and statues everywhere you looked. But the most interesting part of this was, these additions haven't compromised the ability of the room as a whole. She wasn't the only one, the whole detail present, noticed this. However, odd that it might be she had something much more important to do.
"Lord Governor Aleuton, I am here to inform you that a fleet of UNSC Vessels involved in the recovery of Orestes from Chaos Heavy Walkers will arrive tomorrow." she informed him.
This brought the morale to its highest level since the Titan Legion of Invicta walked upon Orestes. A real feeling of a victory on Orestes was beginning to permeate the air.
"Furthermore, the fleet arriving tomorrow is 168 ships strong. The Vessel composition will include 6 Infinity-Class Super Heavy Battle Cruisers [60 Internally-Stored Strident-Class Heavy Frigates], 4 escorting Autumn-Class Heavy Cruiser Squadrons (12 Ships per Squadron), 25 London-Class Heavy Frigates, 10 Brutus-Class Super Heavy Destroyers and 8 Titan-Class Super Heavy Fleet Carriers." (A/N: These [about 12km each] ships will have an entry on the Codex Eventually {No pun Intended on name})
"What about ground forces? What kind, are they mostly armour or mechanised infantry?" asked a PDF Officer.
"The Force Composition is a mixed bag, though no additional Armoured Regiments have been requested. As of this time, the UNSC Spirited Fire will be the fire support for Legio Invicta's Titans." she'd replied.
Nearly all nodded at the assessment of providing support to the Invicta Engines. Without them, the Lord Governor had seriously considered Evacuation of the Hives and recommending the Adeptus Mechanicus to follow.
"Is there anything that should be discussed before we finish?" an PDF Officer asked.
"Yes. This meeting is NOT to be mentioned to anyone connected to the Forge." the Captain replied.
"I believe that is possible, however, may I ask why?" another Volpone Officer inquired.
"The Inquisition and Imperial Force High Command understand us, however, we've only served in Combat Zones alongside Imperial Forces." Major Schmid informed them quickly. "Next to none of them had Mechanicus-Led Forces present in the Area of Operations."
"Ah, I see why that might be of concern to you. The Forge demands to study any hint of new technology before Hiding it away from us." Lord Aleuton replied, contempt obvious.
"You sound like you don't support the Forge on Orestes, Governor?" asked another ODST.
"I support the Forge, this war is one of them… Did you know I had signed off an Orestean Pride Armour to support an Operation led by the Forge." Aleuton had replied "The operation Failed. It was a slaughter, an Armour Unit engaged a Titan head on, without dedicated Anti-Titan Weapons or Engine Support. There wasn't even an pyrrhic victory. " He had asked when they'd return, only to be told that the entire of Pride Armour Six had been destroyed.
"That is a fair assessment. I'd to hate order another Unit into a position similar to that." Captain Goodacre said. "But, they served the People of Orestes and the Emperor well."
"You're right. They had died in the Emperor's Glorious Service. No greater honour could have been awarded to them." Aleuton had declared. The Imperial Officers had nodded to that too. The UNSC party silently watched, nodding to the respect of the fallen, though the Captain was still surprised them at how brash and uncaring they're attitude towards life and resources were. Machines, were more valuable, and mourned over soldiers. There were, of course, notable exceptions like General Grizmund's Armour Divisions and Colonel-Commissar Gaunt's Tanith First-And-Only from their experiences with them.
The meeting officially over, Aleuton had invited those present, to dine with him in his residence. This wasn't part of the briefing the UNSC had expected, however, they couldn't leave without harming first impressions. The room had a long octagonal, Nalwood Table. Crafted by the master carpenters of Tanith, it featured an Imperial Eagle spanning the table, polished into its surface. The Lord Governor sat at the "head" of the table by the eagle's own. With General Grizmund and General Gilbear sat opposite him, with PDF Officers either side. Captain Goodacre took a seat besides General Grizmund with Major Schmid sat to her right next to General Gilbear, before taking off her ODST Helmet and setting it down in front, revealing a her head's features. Schmid had dark red, shoulder length hair, Dark green eyes and a fair face.
"Captain Goodacre. Thank you for joining us now. I trust you are both comfortable?" Aleuton said warmly.
"We are. Thank you for inviting us to dine with you and your Chief of Staff." Schmid replied, holding her armoured hand out. Aleuton accepts it and asked who she was.
"Major Hannah Schmid, 121st ODST Battalion." she stated, nodding to others around the table.
"Ah. Might I ask what ODST does compared to other forces?" He asked.
"Orbital Drop Shock Trooper. We drop down onto the planet below… Without use of dropships." she said, much to the surprise of the Volpone officers, who voiced the question they all had.
"Without dropships. God-Emperor! How is that possible?"
"ODSTs use SOEIV's. Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle before you ask," shutting down the confusion painted across many faces. "To drop into the heat of battle. This practice has given us our motto of 'Feet First Into Hell' or simply 'Hell Jumpers'."
"An interesting approach for un-augmented soldiers. The Astartes employ similar tactics, however, they drop in Whole Squads in one pod." replied a PDF Major, four places to Hannah's right. A man with large muscles, broad shoulders and a strong, loud voice like he was constantly shouting. Her experience with others having similar traits pegged him as an Artillery Man.
"Yes, we have the capability of that, however, as learned from past experiences, if a pod was hit by fire, then you'd lose one, instead of a fireteam, that was to say an Anti-Aircraft position to allow dropships to land." Many nod their understanding at that notion, so the mission wouldn't be compromised.
At that time, covered trolleys and servitors came out of a side entrance, which was placed in front numerous occupants, both Imperial and UNSC alike. The dish consisted of a few slices of meat, some local vegetables and a choice of drinks, both alcoholic and non. Captain Goodacre and Major Schmid had chosen a non-alcoholic beverage due to regulations, regulations that did not seem to enforced.
"What do you think of it?" Aleuton asked the two UNSC Officers, who have had a few bites already.
"It's very nice." Schmid replied, knowing that this far into an invasion, how hard it was to source food like this. "The meat reminds me of gammon from home." Captain Goodacre nodded to this in agreement.
"It's called Salt-Meat. How it is prepared is by cooking it with a few loads of cold water that is heated to evenly cook the innards of the joint." Aleuton said with familiarity.
The event ended after another hour of sharing past experiences and finally discussing strategies of where to land UNSC Forces without issue of being questioned by the Forge and under-threat of attack from enemy Titans. The idea was to use the Highway that Invicta was walking on 70 miles from Principle Hive, whilst Higher Authority Members of the Forge would be informed of more Imperial forces arriving. Which was true as Salamander Space Marines were arriving 2 hours after the UNSC Fleet had transitioned from Slip Space.
After being led back to the three awaiting Aircraft on the Landing Pad, by a detachment of Volpone and Narmenian Troops. Captain Goodacre and Major Schmid's Security Detail left the Governor and Officers to witness the down-force of the Pigeon and its two Hawk escorts as they pivoted and rocketed off to the awaiting UNSC Spirited Fire.
A/N: Not my best ending so far, however, I wanted you to know that I haven't abandoned this FanFiction. It's just from where I am Writing/Updating the story, the WiFi has a tendency of logging you out of ALL your accounts, and the login page is blocked too. Add to that the promised Fibre-Optic Cable, has been placed to shallow in the field. Basically the cable is meant to be around 2m-5m below ground, however, they set it down only 1FT under the surface and that field is ploughed by the local farm and the cable would be caught and destroyed if it were to happen. Can you please Review this so then your opinion will be read, preferably with an account name I can respond to.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The bulk of the UNSC Fleet WILL NOT STAY. 2 Titan-Class Ultra-Heavy Carriers, one or two Infinity Vessels, Accompanying Strident's and Autumn Squadrons and half a dozen Brutus Destroyers for Heavy Ground Support.
Can you please keep your Review's coming in. Your opinion will be read.
SmokeTinyTom.
