A nice little chapter for combat that I was able to do quickly. If I can I'll be putting up another chapter this month. It depends if anything happens or not. So without further or do enjoy.
Xytan was too injured to lead troops on the ground and instead commanded the original ships he had command of. His old Zealot armour had been traded out for a mix of Ascetic armour and a combat helmet. Given a nice touch of deep maroon. He sat in the large command chair of the cruiser watching the struggle the Brutes gave out against the combined Human and Sangheili fleet. He had told Able to ready himself and Siqtar for a full combat drop onto Earth.
"All ships this is the Arbiter. Engage the Covenant ships. Remind them who is superior."
Xytan leaned forward and got ready as many ships appeared on the opposite side.
#
Able checked over the gear that had been supplied. It was saddening that Xytan and Relu couldn't join them. Thel and Naridue had already gotten all the weapons they needed. Naridue had held onto a needle rifle and gotten his hands on a fuel rod, plasma rifles and his sword. He wore the once banned assault class harness in a nice coat of white. Thel took a Carbine off the rack and put into a holster located at his side his plasma rifles and sword were already good from his checks before and so he grabbed a concussion rifle off the rack as well and gave it a few checks before putting on his back. Thel had changed his armour as well, but he kept it to the standard issue combat in black with orange trim. Able wore commando armour but had followed Xytan in wearing the combat helmet. Angel stood in her battered Mjolnir armour. She had gotten a carbine and a plasma rifle. A beam rifle hung from her back and her helmet was off. Her red hair was quite short and her green eyes were inspecting the plasma rifle she held.
"Angel." Said Able turning to her. "Grab a needler, it becomes useful against Brutes. They don't usually last long." He said throwing her a needler over. She caught it and took a look at it. She found it lighter than the plasma rifle and hung it off her upper thigh. She turned to her helmet and put it on. The HUD adjusting to its new settings. It marked Able, Thel and Naridue as friendly and it seemed that the new modification was working.
"Thanks for the advice." She said.
"So this is your home world. Where were you born?" Asked Able looking at Earth through a monitor.
"Scotland. I was, however conscripted into the UNSC at a colony. Well more of kidnapped if anything." She said looking over to the UK.
"Kidnapped?" Said Able in surprise. "The UNSC kidnapped you?" He asked.
"Same with the other Spartan threes. It was a desperate time." Angel picked up a Carbine on a rack and loaded in a new mag. "Besides. Now it's too late. Maybe I could see my parents again. After this war." Angel hung the carbine on her side. "I'm ready when you are." She said crossing her arms.
"We wait for Xytans signal. He's sent someone who'll help. I'm in charge they're just here to fill in slots." Said Able sitting down patiently. Thel and Naridue continued talking until two Sangheili stepped into the room through a door. One was in full combat in a black coating the other in full red Assault. The one in black introduced himself.
"Zare 'Refum. Reporting." He said giving a little bow of his head. "And this is Major Sarev 'Mdama." The Sangheili in the red assault armour gave a bow of his head. They both had carbines and plasma rifles and stood firm. Waiting for their orders.
"I am Able 'Lodam. I remember you Zare. Tranquillity. How did that operation go?" Able asked as he stood up to greet them.
"The remaining men under Varin's command were in a large cavern. The fight lasted hours and I have to say Xytan. Those Kig-yar you gave us did their jobs flawlessly." Zare let Able pass and followed him out into the hallway. The squad moved towards the insertion pods and got ready to drop. As the doors closed to the pods an alarm could be heard. It told everyone that this was it. The clamps released and the pods fell through now open hatches. Able's head appeared on screen for everyone to see.
"Move for the landing zone as we were briefed. The Humans are losing here and they need support. Our job is to clear out any and all enemy forces. Angel you talk to the marines. In case they try to shoot us. Everyone else stay with me." The pods broke into atmosphere and the bottom of it began to burn up. The pods fell quickly and slammed into various locations. The door of Able's pod blew open and he jumped out. He drew his Carbine and scanned his surroundings. He could see smoke behind a few ruined buildings with the sound of gunfire and explosions. He ran over to them and started to climb over a large pile of rubble. He heard shouting now and before he could look over he heard Thel over the comms.
"Me and Zare have regrouped. Were waiting for nav point. Do you copy Able." Able turned on his comms.
"Everyone move up into this area. I'm marking the nav point. Angel set up in a good spot. You're our only sniper." Said able looking over the rubble. There were marines in a large building. It was under siege and the covenant had brought numerous wraiths and soldiers. A few Kig-yar sat back sniping anyone unlucky enough to be caught in their sights. Able jumped over and activated his cloaking. He moved quickly over to the Kig-yar but not fast enough that the camouflage would lose its effect. He walked up some stairs and in front of him sat a sniper. Oblivious to his presence. Able carefully creeped up behind him. He grabbed the Kig-yar by the neck and slammed him down into the floor. His camouflage disappeared and he drew the blade in his gauntlet and stabbed into the snipers neck. He turned to the others and fired his carbine at the two. The first one fell on his side and the other barely just turned far enough to see the flash of the carbine before he died. Able turned back to the Wraiths and their infantry support. They hadn't noticed him and he saw Naridue off to the side ready his fuel rod. Able heard running behind and turned to see Zare and Thel running up to him.
"You two are a little late." Able said mockingly as they drew their carbines.
"We were caught up in a firefight. Sarev is still not here. Have you seen him?" Asked Zare looking around.
"I'm alive." Came a voice through the comms. "Angels with me. I'm behind the human structure. They're under attack on all sides. Angel's taking care of the infantry here. Give us a while and we'll be with you." Said Sarev over the sound of gunfire.
Angel looked over to Sarev who crouched down next to her behind a wall. He looked out getting ready to move.
"Angel hit the Brute captain over there. He's commanding this force." Said Sarev pointing to a Brute standing behind the back lines issuing orders. Angel maneuvered her beam rifle over to aim at him. She focused for a second and fired a shot. The Brutes hat flew off and he looked over to their position. Another shot rang out and the Brute flew backwards.
"They know where we are know!" Shouted Angel as a beam flew past her and carbine shots smashed the wall she hid near. Sarev activated the cloaking supplied to him and he jumped over the wall and ran to where he needed to go. Angel carefully crawled out of the line of fire and not a moment too soon as a wraith blast shelled her position. Angel sprinted towards a building and ran through a collapsed wall. The staircase was fortunately still intact and she quickly ascended the stairs. She stopped when they could go no further and she laid down and prepared to fire. She saw the Kig-yar sniper and zoomed in. Just as her finger began to pull on the trigger the sniper fell backwards and his neck twisted as Sarev uncloaked and signalled to her. She took a look back to the Covenant forces which split in two ways as they tried to fight the UNSC and tried to find her. Sarev cloaked again and Angel followed the disturbed air as he moved towards a Brute captain. The Brute turned but didn't get enough time to react as a sword and a half formed ghost appeared out of thin air and struck him.
Two other Brutes sprinted towards Sarev and Angel lined up her shot. A beam flew across the area and one Brute tripped over dead and Sarev smashed his elbow into the other spun round him and stabbed into the Brute's back with his sword. He turned and sheathed his sword drawing plasma rifles. A wraith turned to fire on him but it was forced to turn as a rocket exploded onto its side. Sarev ran to a low lying wall as red plasma rounds flew over to him. Angel let fly two rounds in rapid succession and her beam rifle overheated. A Brute preparing to charge Sarev fell over and now Kig-yar and Brutes were firing at where he had gone to take cover. A grenade stuck to his wall and exploded. Little did the Brutes and Kig-yar know that he had already gone. Blue plasma rounds smacked an unfortunate Kig-yar from behind. The Kig-yar jumped forward and yelped in surprise as its armour was burned from behind. It fell over dead as a round hit it in the back of the head. The two Brutes turned and Angel took another shot. One of them crumpled and the ran at Sarev. He slided to the left of the Brute and fired only inches away from the Brutes face. The Brute cried out in pain and was sent toppling over as it died. The Kig-yar fired their weapons. There were only three and Sarev chose the one with a needler. A plasma round hit the small gap in the Kig-yar's shield and it flinched allowing the other shots to hit it square on. Angel fired two shots and the other Kig-yar flew backwards. Angel rolled to her right as a Brute slammed down on the position she was just in. She threw the Beam rifle to the side and upholstered the needler on her back. The crystal fired rapidly and embedded themselves into the Brute. He screamed as pink explosion caused him to fall off the side of the building and Angel ran down the stairs. Two Brutes ran through the door and she threw a plasma grenade onto one of their heads. The other jumped backwards as his friend exploded and he was killed by another pink explosion as multiple pink crystals hit him.
Angel ran quickly. A few Kig-yar had fired at her and their rounds had damaged her shields slightly. She slid behind some cover with her back towards the building filled with marines. A pelican flew into the large area and released its payload of missiles. Sarev rolled next to her. He put his plasma rifles to his side and drew the Carbine on his back. The explosions died down and Angel looked over the wall. There were husks of multiple wraiths with blue fire burning from their tops and as the smoke cleared there were stragglers limping and slowly dying. The doors to the building behind opened and marines ran forwards. Their sergeants shouting various orders as they ran to reinforce Angels position. A Marine fired his rifle at Sarev and Angel jumped in front. The Marine stopped firing and kept his rifle raised as he slowly approached the two.
"Are you insane Spartan!" Shouted the Marine.
"Were allies with the Elites!" Angel shouted back raising her needler.
"My ass they are!" The Marine snapped back. "They're with the Covenant! He'll kill us!" The Marine stopped and got ready to pull the trigger. A lieutenant ran over to him and pushed his weapon down.
"Command says they're with us green horn. Stand down!" He ordered. The Marine looked at him and with gritted teeth shrugged him off his rifle and ran over to his squad. Sarev stood next to Angel and the Lieutenant looked over to them. "If you're here to help this way!" Shouted the Marine as he turned and ran to the building. Around them gunfire was heard as a small group of Covenant forces entered the courtyard. The three ran inside and two Marines ran put out the door. They both gave Sarev a glare as they ran by but they carried on.
The three slowed their pace as medics ran by. They would stare cautiously at Sarev and do did the wounded who could. A few Marines ahead of them stood to the side and stared at Sarev as he walked by. Sarev leaned close to angel and whispered.
"I don't like being the centre of attention." He whispered trying not to be heard.
"Deal with it." Angel replied. "It's not every day they see a friendly Elite walk by." She commented. A Marine opened the door for them and once stared at Sarev. They walked quickly up a stair case and the Marine guiding them stopped them.
"Weapons ready." He said drawing his battle rifle. Sarev already had his carbine out and Angel only had an almost empty needler. She flicked it and the crystals were restocked. The Marine struggled with opening the door and Sarev helped to open it. It opened with loud dragging sounds and then a green round flew through the gap. Angel ran through the door onto an elevated platform with two levels. She crouched behind a wall and put her needler onto her lower back. She picked up a battle rifle on the floor and its display read twenty nine and Sarev joined her. A few more rounds flew by and plasma began to hit various places on the lower platform. Angel peeked over and eyed a few Brutes who were suppressing them. She signalled it over to Sarev who nodded in response. He raised his Carbine and fired a few shots. One the Brutes were missing their hat and fell over as Sarev's shot hit his head. The other two ducked down and ran as a blue light landed in their position. They ran on an exposed wall and Angel saw them get thrown off by Able. He stood their with a fuel rod slung over his shoulder and a Carbine on his hands. He waved over and slid down the rubble. A Brute turned and he allowed the hidden blade in his gauntlet and it hit the Brutes neck. A Kig-yar ran and able shot him in the back pf the head. Naridue drove round a corner in a wraith and multiple Kig-yar and Brutes flew in various directions. The wraith turned and fired a ball of explosive plasma which hit a Brute square on and killed the Brute and his squad.
Thel was following behind. He held his carbine ready and checked for infantry in the area.
Zare was on a wall with a few other Sangheili that had come down. All firing on the scattering enemies below. Two Covenant phantoms flew over the area and a Seraph blew one out the sky. The other dropped the Infantry mix of Brutes, Kig-yar and Unngoy which immediately suffered from an exposed landing point. Able signalled to Angel and Sarev over the comms.
"Good of you to finally join us!" He yelled. "The Covenant have been hitting this area hard and-"
Xytan cut over the comms his voice calm.
"Siqtar lance I've deployed reinforcements on your position. They'll be deployed on the building. Be sure to inform the humans." He said. A phantom flew over and blasted a straggling Brute. It hovered over the building just above Sarev and Angel. The doors opened and a team of Kig-yar jumped out alongside a pair of Lekgolo and a compliment of Sangheili.
"Protect this building. Do not allow any Brutes to get here!" Ordered a Sangheili in full gold combat armour. The Sangheili ran to various positions on the wall and Marine reinforcements had only just come through the door. Another phantom came in and delivered weapon crates and ammo along with another lance of Sangheili. A final phantom arrived and dropped a wraith onto the battle scared street. Along with it a small number of Sangheili jumped out and took up defensive positions behind dug in positions and prepared their weapons.
The sound of weapons fire was still distant and as the Phantoms departed their was a sense of anxiety. The Covenant fought hard for this position why stop now? They got their answer. A buildings wall fell apart and a scarab burst through onto the street. It aimed its gun and fired its devastating green beam. There was a cry from multiple Sangheili as the beam eradicated them from existence. Zare acted quickly. From his elevated position he ran towards the Scarab. He was just above it in terms of height but it wasn't near enough yet. He was forced to stop and looked out over the edge. The wraith fired and boosted to cover narrowly dodging the green beam. Naridue's wraith was out of the way and he jumped out of it. He ordered a Sangheili to man it and barrage from the shielded position. He cloaked and moved towards the Scarab. It was aggravated and began moving towards the hidden wraiths. Zare jumped and landed onto its head. He gained his footing and a Brute ran up only to be hit by multiple beams from various positions. He drew a sword and got ready to run inside.
Naridue began to climb quickly and as the Scarab approached it only quickened his pace. It fired its beam and killed a few Sangheili. They were more spread out now so not as large a number was harmed. Naridue looked over to the Scarab and jumped from the wall he was on and landed onto its side. He drew a sword and charged in with Zare.
Angel saw them jump on but didn't know what was happening. The Scarab had stopped marching and charged up its beam. It held its charge not suggesting that it was going to do anything. A few gruelling moments passed and the Scarab stopped its beam. Naridue's voice came over the speaker and hew was recovering his breath.
"Brothers! The Covenant have handed over a Scarab! Victory is in our favour!" He shouted with pride. The Sangheili raised their weapons and roared in triumph.
The Scarab turned round and lowered itself to the ground. Able ran down to it and went in through the door. Angel and Sarev had come through the front door of the UNSC held building. The others were climbing on-board and Angel also clambered on-board. Sarev was inside with her and before the door closed the Kig-yar squad that came out the phantom also climbed in.
"Tór." Said Able raising in hand in greeting. Tór bowed his head and ordered his Kig-yar to set up. Able radioed into Xytan.
"Xytan, we have secured an enemy Scarab. What is our new objective?" He asked. A static burst went over the radio and Xytan replied.
"A Scarab? Well now we have something they don't. Move to these coordinates. Regroup with the thirty seventh armour. We're going to help the humans take back a very important position."
"Yes Xytan." Replied Able. "Naridue get this Scarab moving. We have a few friends who want to see their toy again." Said Able with a smirk.
"Then lets show them." Said Naridue setting the Scarab in motion. Another phantom flew over to the building and deployed more Sangheili and a few teams of Unngoy.
#
A Covenant CCS class battlecruiser exploded as the last torpedo slammed into its hull. Xytan watched carefully from his command chair. His wounds had healed but not enough to properly fight. It would be another hour before he could jump in. Relu stood by with a Carbine ready. She insisted to be in place of an honour guard and protect him if they were boarded. He didn't refuse as she wasn't going to back down. He watched carefully as the Covenant fleet was attacked from two sides. Human ships were engaging the Covenants left flank while the Sangheili hit their right. Xytan had lost two ships now but in place his small fleet had taken seven of theirs. The Brutes lacked experienced commanders and that was an advantage. An ORS began to fly close and the Destroyers at the back of Xytans line fired all their weapons when they entered the kill zone. The battle was going well and just as the final order was about to issued multiple contacts jumped in. It seemed the Covenant had rounded up a few extra ships it seemed and Xytans ships held their position. This battle would be won. No matter the cost...