January 1st, 2551 – Athena system – Planet Aegis – 10 Am
A voice comes over the Holo Screen in front of Naruto and his female companion in a high society British voice, "A world in conflict Minab has been attacked today by Covenant forces and the UNSC troops in orbit were swept aside and the world mostly glassed, reports coming in from ONI scout vessels is that some survivors are known to be hiding underground attempting to survive the Nuclear winter that the planet is now undergoing. Those reports state that Spartans were on the ground and have all returned to friendly space, none are currently MIA from this action. Please note that in 2 to 3 weeks evacuees from Minab if they escaped will be arriving at a system possible near you. Please be courteous. This is Thomas Yularen with your scheduled UNSC news have a good night "
Naruto says to his companion, Well hopefully the evac ships managed to get off the planet in time, Rakshata I think we might need to put a hurry on some of the projects to make sure we can get the Roc off the ground in an emergency. Not the best way to start a new year but we should take what we can get. Speaking of what is the current status of Project Aegis. "
A beautiful woman with dark skin and hair almost the color of a summer sun responds, "Well Naru as you know the whole point of this Project is to refit a vessel to be an Ark of sorts. We picked an old Phoenix class as a base since they are common especially compared to the other ships in the size category we need, a Punic class Supercarrier and the super-secret Infinity Project are the only things bigger and we are prototyping the tech for that Project. Have you seen the budget spent building that monstrosity geez? Anyway, currently, we have lengthened the ship by expanding the Titanium A pillar that runs through the ship and pushed the Engine section further back, adding a thousand meters to the overall. "
Naruto says, "So how are the newly installed Prototypes, I know the shield tech is brand new just coming out of your lab a few months ago, I am especially concerned about the upgrades to Agroponics and the automated factories the whole point is to make the ship easily self-sustainable and also be able to support a small fleet. I mean we doubled the factory deck in one swoop. Heck, the whole meat cloning throws me for a loop every time they try to explain it, I just wanted to know if it tastes good. "
She pats his head, "Yeah, it's not my expertise either but the ones over those systems say they are running at full speed right now, we could feed up to Half a Million if we pushed to the max so going forward I could imagine we could have a useful export. Also, yes, my shield tech is installed and working as intended we shot a full power MAC shot at it yesterday and it fluctuated but held so long as our power systems hold the ship should be able to hold its own. "
He says, "Well what about my requests\projects have they installed those experimental MAC turrets I wanted to test? I know they finished installing the Prowler armor and baffles last week on the engines so we can run silent Lloyd and his wife cornered me a couple of days ago telling me about it when all I wanted to do was see Anya, even if they are the ONI reps, I think they need to relax "
She says, "Yep most weapon systems are installed and ready, the only major system not being prototyped right now that isn't installed is the Slip-Space drive we requested a Series VI Coden but they keep pushing back stating budget issues "
She continues, "And on the emergency side of things I am thankful that most crew and their families live onboard already and those that don't are close so should something happen it wouldn't take an hour to get everyone onboard. The engines work and we can take off with the ONI tech we can escape fairly quickly. Three hours max if we have to initiate the plan "Covvies are here take everything not nailed down " She says with a small grin and a side eye at Naruto.
Another voice pops in now another female with crimson hair, a beautiful woman with a modified set of Marine armor and a Titanium A broadsword on her back who was disassembling a BR-75 in her lap, "My Marines are ready for everything sir I have them on exercises every day and Sergeant Iceman and Sergeant Flame-mouth report total readiness I train with them every day. . "
Naruto looks over, "Well Lieutenant Alicorn, that's awesome I would expect nothing else from Hellhound Company. I have a bad feeling about today so can you do me a favor and be ready for the worst "
She responds after a few seconds, "I have already hit the big red button on my pad. Your troops know to believe in these bad feelings, I imagine they are scrambling to get defensive positions built already. "
He says, "Good I am sending Captain Anderson a message as we speak hopefully it's nothing. "
Two Hours Later – Noon – Bridge of the UNSC Roc
Naruto is sitting in the big leather chair he had installed working through a pile of paperwork as an alert came through to his console.
RED ALERT YOUR EYES ONLY – Covenant forces have breached the Oort cloud and are moving in-system, small Scouting fleet will be engaging within the hour reinforcements are expected within 3 hours begin Evac plans now.
Naruto hits the Big Red Button on his console in front of him, it opens the intercom and starts an alarm he says, "To all crew of the Roc we have a Code Red begin evac protocols, begin defensive actions, and all Bridge Officers to the bridge. "
Men and women begin rushing onto the Bridge within a minute and begin their tasks, LT Alicorn and Rakshata enter together. Naruto motions to them to follow him to the Command room where ONI agent Lloyd and a hologram of an older dark-skinned man with Captain insignias on his shoulders are being holo-called in. He speaks first, "Most of the fleet is in a holding action currently staying near enough to the MAC station and space elevator. We have fired MACS multiple times hoping to thin their numbers, the initial bombardment took out two of their Armored Frigate types, but the rest are hiding behind their larger ships. The plan is to buy at least a day hopefully, but we expect more like 6 hours before we have to pull out and expect enemy ground forces to land we can't hold them all off. All evac trials put the planet at 5 hours so we will be running it close. "
Naruto looks to Lloyd, "Lloyd, I want you to secure all projects and get them on board as well as all personnel and VIPS that we are assigned you have access to the Pelican and Darter complement at your discretion. If you need troops from the LT let her know. I will be leading the securing of one VIP myself and then helping lay our defenses as I assume we will be last on the ground along with leaving. I will be directing weapon crews to use all our armament to help keep the air clear and launch the triplet of Shortswords for ground support. LT, I want the bulk of our troops digging trenches and putting the turrets up Moreso than they already are. The logistics arm of your company I wish to begin ferrying people and material if you need more then and only then pull troops off the line. After defences are built you may move into the city and initiate our plan, firstly defend the Evac shuttles, and then do our plan. You are technically the highest-ranking Ground-pounder so you can take over the Army units as well as the Police use them at your discretion. I want us ready and airborne in under seven hours."
Lloyd says, "I will have all ONI personnel onboard within the hour and all projects within two and VIPs within three. I imagine your Grandfather is in a holo-meeting in Aegis Plaza with the Admiralty he mentioned it earlier "
Alicorn says, "Build a base, save Civvies, and initiate Plan Loot and Scoot gotcha boss "
Naruto says, "Also Cap our MAC turrets are speced off the Planetary defense ones so feed us gunnery data and they should be able to help surprise a few enemies "
The meeting breaks up and the members begin moving to their new duties. L.T. Alicorn rushes out of the Bridge with a look of Bloodlust. Lloyd rushes out after she looks the epitome of calm but if you looked further seemingly the burning rage in his eye gives him away as no one endangers his daughter.
Naruto looks out the bridge and out to the fields surrounding the shipyard, now seemingly covered in a system of deepening trenches with heavy vehicles and artillery being brought out of the bays of the ship more by the minute. Kodiaks and Grizzlies were being set up in positions of use and Warthogs are rushing around of various types. The troop transport variants sped toward the city and to the warehouses set into the mountain behind the ship moving people and material into the 3500 Meter behemoth that was the Roc, his baby. A convoy of Elephants moved into the city to move the contractors, civilians, and families out of the city and back to the Roc. Thankfully the administration had just done an Evac drill the week prior, so people had it on their minds.
Naruto pulls up his personal Comm as he is walking into a Pelican ten minutes later. He is calling his wonderful and grumpy Grandfather who was in a meeting with the Admiralty Council, they were meant to be discussing some new master plan that he and his ship were seemingly perfect for. He waits a minute, and it doesn't go through and tries again and finally, the old man answers, "What boy I am in a meeting right now discussing your future, while I do love annoying the Admirals it's not the time, they are staring at me awkwardly right now "
Naruto says, "Gramps, we have a RED ALERT Covvies inbound I am on the way to pick you up you better wrap it up fast and if you can have the Quantum Entanglement device ready to go as well you can continue your meeting on my ship after getting it installed. If they ask, currently it's a small scouting fleet but a full one is expected the planet should be empty within six hours and us off the planet in seven as we are the leading force on the planet. Tell the Old lady that all her projects will be secured within the hour and onboard along with her Son and Granddaughter. "
Retired Lord Admiral Sarutobi Hiruzen stands up to his full height and says, "Well there goes my whole day plans I will be ready, and Margaret says is going to kick your ass next time she sees you and also to tell Anya she loves her "
Naruto responds, "For sure I'm already sending the text to Yor they were at daycare today with a parent's day. "
Hiruzen says, "Aren't you flying a Pelican right now are you sure you should be texting "
Naruto says, "Yup flying and texting you know me master multi-tasker. Oh, shit …... take that you stupid Seraph " A BRRTTTT is heard as Naruto lights up a Seraph fighter that had slipped into the atmosphere.
POV- Lieutenant Alicorn inside Aegis city limits
She says, "Sergeant we don't have a Slip Space drive in the Roc at the moment so you and your team need to secure all possible provisions that you can find we only have a few hours until the Covenant ground forces become too numerous to secure anything of use. Your team is to go to all grocery stores and bulk stores in this sector of the city and get what you can. "
She points at another member of her leadership staff this one being a Taller man with pink hair, " Sergeant Flame-mouth I want you and your squads on patrol to make sure the others can do their jobs. I am giving you this chance because both Naruto and I think you could do a great job if given the chance so don't let me down. "
She continues, "I and my squad will be heading to a nearby Army garrison and seeing if they left anything of use any weapons, armor, or vehicles could be useful as we as of right now have an uncertain future "
She and her squad enter a nearby Elephant with a large crane attached on the side. She directs the lumbering treaded vehicle to the Garrison two blocks down that they needed to secure. This garrison was for a platoon of armored troops and was defending an evac ship as it waited for civilians. Their orders were to get on the shuttle as it got ready to leave so they wouldn't be coming back to the Armory.
They arrive after a few minutes and after deploying most of her squad on overwatch and perimeter duty Alicorn and two of her squad members enter the Armory, in the fenced-in area around it three Warthogs sit in parking spots at the front, and two of the troop transport variety and the last being a regular Chaingun variant. She and her two soldiers enter the front door clearing it as they go. It is seemingly clear at first go round and so she calls over the Comm to the soldiers in the Elephant to bring it into the parking lot as it would be easier to move everything. It drives slowly through the gates and the rest of Alicorn's squad exits and begins moving into the building she follows they begin moving crates of ammo, weapons, and various armor into the back of the Elephant. Three soldiers move the three Warthogs inside the bay of the Elephant. Alicorn moves to the rear of the Armory and is surprised to find more vehicles.
She says over the Comm, "hey get the crane ready, Sergeant there is a Skorpion back here in maintenance along with a Kodiak and a pair of Wolverines under a tarp. I want these secured next. "
She is in the middle of talking and pauses for a second and swiftly dodges as an Energy sword swings into the space she previously occupied. She pulls out her Titanium Great sword and charges the now-revealed Stealthed Sanghelli. She calls over the Comm, " Gray Alert, Stealthed Elite troops in the facility turn on motion trackers. "
She begins a furious back and forth with the Elite a lot of dodging and slight riposting as her sword wouldn't hold up to the Plasma sword in a straight-up fight. She dodges to the right and swipes at the Elite who roars in anger and in perfect English, " Well human finally someone who knows how to fight if you don't hurry all of your men will die, me and mine are already in position "
She jumps up into a giant slash attempting to bisect the Elite and misses and gets a Plasma burn for her trouble. She goes into a low crouch like she is hurt and when the Elite goes in for the kill she pierces the Elite through where she knows his heart is and he dies almost immediately. She rushes into the building as her men are fighting the Stealthed elites and using the motion trackers they carry with them they manage to kill several of their enemies before a retreat is called and they leave. Her squad only has one casualty as they timed their stab just as the other one did, thankfully not outright killing the soldier and she is Medevacked quickly. After catching her bearings Alicorn says, " That was an intense fight I haven't had such a difficult one since I fought my mother, well I need to let everyone else know to watch out. "
She calls over the Comm, " To all Ground Forces watch your motion trackers there are Stealthed Elites in play I say again Gray alert keep a weathered eye out. I managed to kill one in melee, but I don't recommend any of you try it. "
She then calls to her people and says, " Alright get going we need to hurry and also grab the bodies of the Elites, the Engineers are always happy to have Covvie tech to mess with. "
20 Minutes later …. Aegis Plaza – UNSC Headquarters for Planet Aegis
Naruto says, "Come on guys we got to go there are three more Pelicans and ten Darters on the way. I need to get this Machine back pronto. "A line of UNSC enlisted and officers were trying to get on the Pelican. Hiruzen is sitting in Co-Pilot and as soon as the Pelican maxes out at 50 people some strapped to the floor it takes off with a container-sized piece of communication equipment meant to talk to another device across the Galaxy. After destroying two more Seraph fighters and a small squadron of Banshees Naruto arrives back at the Roc, firstly dropping the device into a slot near the bridge where a similar device was supposed to have been installed last month, that one being taken by the Local Governor for the plaza which has now come full circle. With that being installed by the technicians on-site Naruto flies into the right hanger beside the Bridge and parks unloading the Officers and Enlisted who he picked up. He and Hiruzen move to the Bridge and the Pelican takes off behind them as another pilot jumps in and heads back into the city. Naruto makes a couple of calls to both Rakshata and Lt. Alicorn. While he reading a report being updated live by one of the bridge crew.
Materials namely warehouses of armor, general supplies, parts, weapon systems, C&C consoles, and the A. I core are being moved as they speak. Lloyd has secured all ONI projects and is moving them into the on-ship labs. Alicorn says that all defenses are built to their normal expectations, and they are now moving to engage Covenant troops fighting in the city wiping out scattered groups before they can congregate. Twenty Evac shuttles have already taken off and entered Slip-space and the remaining One hundred across the planet expect liftoff within two hours, they are thankfully ahead of schedule as someone alerted the Governor of Naruto's bad feeling, and he sent the population into a frenzy as most knew his feelings were on point most of the time.
POV Switch to Rakshata in Warehouse 1
She says over the Comm, her lab coat now covered in dirt and seemingly a little blood, " Yes, Naru I am fine, and the boys just fought off that small group that managed to sneak through. I got to test my suit finally you know how long I have been wanting to do that my Chaingun turned the Grunts into a paste and the new grenade launcher works perfectly. I will be stationing guards now since if there's one group there might be more. This two-mile-long warehouse of perfectly good Titanium A Battleplate won't move itself though however so we won't be returning. The more delicate parts have already been moved over though. The Bridge will get its new consoles and the Holographic display you wanted. I will install it all myself. Alright I will see you later be safe Hun "
She looks over at the large group of scared engineers who were wielding small hold-out pistols and the standard M6s they carry and says, " Alright you maggots get this armor loaded on the transports now. You have an hour to have all this inside of the interior warehouse on deck 6. GOOOOO now before I wack you with my mech. "
POV Switch back to Naruto on the Bridge
Lloyd comes over to the com console in front of Naruto, "We have secured all the projects. Here is the list so you know what is on your ship, I know that is a pet peeve of yours. Also, thanks for texting that to Yor, Anya is excited to hear from her Grandma it made her day "
1x Prototype Blueprint for MAC cannons
1x Physical Prototype of Sabre Space Superiority Craft
1x Set of Ship class Shield Generators (The spare one)
1x set of Next Gen Mjolnir Armor
The Bridge shakes as the two MAC turrets that are aiming up fire a salvo of rounds into orbit, along with most of the various weapon systems opening fire into the air as Squadrons of Seraph fighter craft, Banshees, Phantoms, and Spirit transports begin coming through the atmosphere. Many of these take the fire straight on and begin crashing to the ground not expecting this amount of ground fire.
Naruto calls out, "Contact the FOB outside and tell them to expect small groups of enemies and see if they can secure and transport some of those wrecks back to the ship. Loot and Scoot part two "
Naruto calls Captain Anderson in orbit, "So how goes the fight up there we just killed about 100x Ships entering the atmo "
He responds with a shake to the ship behind him visible, " Well apparently two CCS Battlecruisers slipped through pushing gunnery data to you if you could hit them at the same time as the Archer barrage we might pop the two which would shift the battle for at least an hour more ships keep coming out randomly like a bunch of scattered fleets are coming in, I am guessing in response to some kind of distress signal from the first fleet, we have already lost half the fleet so we will retreat when the Shuttles are off the ground, we came up with a plan for you since you don't have a Slip drive, you will have to scavenge from the field after your off planet, that ship is stealthy enough you should be fine. "
A series of loud thumps are heard, and the Captain confirms two kills that are hulked and floating, but a massive wave of the remaining troops onboard is disembarking and heading to the ground. As it is either wait for rescue or take off for the planet and do some damage, in general, the policy for the Covenant is that those who are trapped on ships have failed and either aren't worthy of rescue, or they will be rescued if they are important enough. So, most of the time those crews take it upon themselves to just abandon their ships as usually a lot of hulked ships are in the orbit of something. In response to this policy, it is noted that in ONI records of checking old battlefields in some ships that weren't able to evac, some have been found to have an extant population inside of them if some are tech-savvy enough to fix what they can.
Naruto calls over the Comm to the Sergeants leading the defenses known to Alicorn as Iceman and Flame-mouth but officially known as Gray and Dragneel, " Hey massive wave of Covenant troops not going to be very well equipped as they are from the Hulked ships but be ready and call in support if you need it the Kodiaks are ready they even have some of those cluster munitions loaded and also all the guns on the port and starboard sides are loaded so make sure your JTAC's have full reign for all support. Drones are up and scanning for enemy locations and that will be relayed."
As Naruto relays that information, he sees out of the buildings to the North a wave of Grunts and the occasional Kig Yar with its shield up. In opposite to that to the South a convoy of Elephants and a long trail of Civilian vehicles carrying the several thousand civilians that were assigned to the Roc as evac.
Naruto Coms Lloyd again, "So which VIPS were we assigned and have you secured them?"
He responds, "There are several and they have all been secured and are onboard already all the tasked craft have been returned and are leading efforts to hasten evac. Here is the list that was given to me by ONI should this happen. "
Reyes Mclees and + Wife Leanne Mclees – genius shipwrights and engineers, were on the planet assisting with Refit of Roc and on a kind of vacation from Mars. UNSC navy and ONI affiliated.
Kisuke Urahara + ONI handler Yoruichi Shihoin – Genius inventor and scientist with major work done on Mjolnir armor and originally attached to the Spartan II program as a Surgeon and Augmentation specialist. Along with his Handler who is a renowned ONI agent who is well known for her "interesting" attitude and stellar record. She also seems to have an engineering background but in only one specific field which is the Stealth armor used by ONI for the ships and engines.
500x Ex-Marine and Army personnel and their families, all retired and had some major connection to the Navy, Army, or ONI itself.
Lloyd also says, " I have a final count on the Civilians and other persons being brought onboard as the last truck just pulled in with their manifest, 7,000x people of various backgrounds and professions, mostly those useful in what only could be colony making or support would be my guess, ONI seemingly got most of the "useful" people on our list Doctors, Farmers, Engineers, and Police along with their families. A larger than normal percentage of Teachers and College professors as well. The Sailors are escorting them indoors and into the Crew Quarters as we speak, the ship has acquired around 70 Civilian vehicles which could augment what I think was called Plan: Loot and Scoot. I have already authorized two Platoons of Marines and the Police officers who have joined to go back out and acquire whatever they can "
Naruto responds, "Honestly good job Lloyd that's a great initiative and exactly what I would have wanted in all honestly if my plan goes as I think it will I'm still having the calculations run nobody is going to be able to return here for a few years even if it doesn't get glassed. So, grabbing whatever we can on the way out is recommended. Heck I just sent out the Herons with fighter cover to recover all wrecks and old Firebases they can over the next two hours "
Lloyd says after switching quickly to an encrypted channel, "You could also use your other abilities to further this goal as I know the locations of a few Armories that are sitting unguarded and full of many weapons and vehicles, and if you spawned a bunch those could be secured along with wiping out lots of Covenant on the way. "
Naruto responds a little surprised, "You are completely right I could go out back and summon a few and do a lot of good. Honestly great catch as I am quite overwhelmed at having to handle everything right now. "
Naruto excuses himself for a while and heads in a hurry to the rear of the ship, he had turned cameras off in this area before leaving the Bridge and over the next twenty minutes summons over 100x clones mixing in some Sage clones to rush out into the city, all of them Henged into non-descript armor or clothing. Rushing through the city and even a couple to some of the surrounding settlements. When Covenant leaders would descend on the planet soon after the fighting is over they would discover many of their troops almost all killed with some kind of sharp knife to the back of the skull or beaten to death by seemingly hundreds of fists. They would also discover that the Capital city and many of the surrounding settlements were empty of Vehicles, Food, Weapons, or anything substantial. Many of their troops were even stripped of their weapons and armor especially those with shields personal or otherwise. Also, seemingly a few of the leaders were found missing.
On the other side of this phenomenon, over the next hour, many vehicles full of supplies and survivors would pull into the Roc many of those who had been left behind during the evac, several were children who had gotten lost or separated from their families. All of these vehicles were topped up with fuel and as many supplies as could be fit inside or had entire armories worth of weapons. Also, various Crafts were left to rot in Hangers or Garrisons that didn't need them anymore. Along with these also came many Army personnel who had been in the scattered units trying to defend themselves. And in the back of some of these vehicles were some of the higher level Covenant leadership that was on the ground. One Field Marshal, 3 Ultras, a Brute Chieftain, and somehow a Huragok team that had seemingly deployed to look at some kind of tech.
Naruto vows to himself to make sure only his report is submitted to ONI as knowledge of what he did could cause issues even if he was related to a member of the Admiralty council and friendly with two heads of ONI. Worse things have been done with nicer people better to keep that information off record. He is very happy with all that he happened to get through. All the civilian vehicles will be fed to the factory recyclers except for the bigger engines which will be saved, and the literal piles of other stuff will be sorted but will help arm his force for a while to come, there were even two Vultures locked in a deep Hanger in one of the garrisons.
Also, over those two hours wave after wave of hundreds of Covenant troops crashed against the wall that was the Roc helped actually by the many Doctors from the Civilian side of things grabbing and getting injured troops to the Med facilities onboard and the continuous Army troops being folded in as well stemmed the tide only taking very minimal casualties all things considered. As the fighting continued it seemed to get more and more disorganized until it was just Grunts suiciding across the fields with Grenades who were swiftly Sniped with large caliber weapons from the ship. At the Seven-hour mark of the whole operation most of the troops have now retreated into the armor of the ship and the guns on the Roc were keeping the Covenant troops at bay.
Naruto says from the Bridge, "I am sorry Aegis I hope you can forgive me we need a distraction. Activate Plan- Scorched Earth, hit the big concentrations of the enemy and a couple in random mountain ranges. The calculations say it will cause a harsher winter but no long-term effects and if they don't glass the planet maybe we can come back. "
10x ICBM-type missiles launch out of their tubes on the center part of the Roc. Nuclear detonations going off in all pre-selected locations wiping out entire regiments of Covenant troops and hopefully masking the already small heat signature of the Roc as it launches into orbit passing the two CCS Battlecruisers it had taken out earlier.