Chapter 4: Harvest
When Urban Holland learned he'd be part of humanity's first formal meeting with a new alien race, he was justifiably wary. With humanity currently engaged in fierce and bloody fighting with several alien races, the UNSC officer couldn't help but feel a little cynical about this new race that was apparently seeking an alliance with humanity.
Still, this race had already bailed out a couple different groups of UNSC forces that would have otherwise been annihilated by the Covenant, so if nothing else it was worth it to hear them out…with a hefty amount of security that is. After the disastrous first meeting with the Covenant on Harvest the UNSC were not taking any chances.
So with all of this, Holland was a little surprised to see just how…human the aliens were.
Physically they looked almost exactly like humans save for typically being taller and of a more lean build, and they also had slightly pointed ears. Many of them had unusual markings on their faces, which Holland assumed to be a cultural thing. There were seven of the aliens total, each one sporting the most elaborate and colorful armor Holland had ever seen.
Once the aliens and humans all sat down, the alien wearing black armor and a red cape spoke first, Holland noting that he and the massive one with the skeleton motif did not take their helmets off: "Greetings to you humans" he began. "I am Eldrad Ultran, chief of the Farseers of my people. With me are the Six Phoenix Lords. We are here to discuss an alliance with your race against the armies of monstrosities that threaten us all"
"Indeed…" began another of the UNSC representatives, Marneus Calgar, the legendary Grandmaster of the Ultramarines. "...we appreciate your willingness to pursue an alliance, but in light of our last first encounter with alien life, you will forgive us for being just a bit wary and cautious"
Eldrad nodded. "Of course. But I am confident that by the end of this discussion you will see that an alliance will be mutually beneficial to all involved"
"Perhaps" Marneus replied simply.
"I for one am curious as to how long you've been aware of our existence" said another of the UNSC representatives, Captain Jacob Keyes. "Clearly this "Covenant" has been observing us for some time, as they have broadcasted messages to us in perfect English. So how long have you been watching us?"
"Long enough" Eldrad replied. "We learned of your existence about the same time the Covenant did, but they got to you first. That and many of my fellows were reluctant to pursue an alliance with your race until the rest of us were able to convince them, so unfortunately we are only just now approaching you. But it is with open arms and an extended hand of friendship"
The different UNSC representatives shared silent looks amongst themselves for a moment or two before turning back around to face the Eldar.
"What can you offer us if we choose to help you?" Jacob Keyes asked.
"Firepower for one thing" Eldrad replied. "Not to be offensive, but our weapons are, shall we say, a bit more advanced than yours by and large. And we've been fighting the Covenant and their unholy masters for a very long time, so we now everything there is to know about how they operate, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. That's valuable information to have is it not? If you are willing to work with us we will offer it to you freely."
After Eldrad finished his sentence the UNSC representatives began to whisper amongst themselves, unaware that Eldrad was able to read their minds and project their thoughts to the minds of the Phoenix Lords:
They're making some pretty good offers, Holland said. I think we should trust them for now.
I disagree Marneus said. It sounds too good to be true if you ask me. After what happened on Horizon I think we'd be fools to trust xenos so readily.
We're going to have to give them an answer sooner or later Jacob Keyes pointed out. I think we should make the choice that doesn't involve making more enemies.
I agree with Captain Keyes said Vulkan Hestan, the legendary Forgefather of the Salamanders. The enemy of our enemy should be our friend.
Only a fool believes that said Helbrecht, the High Marshal of the dreaded Black Templars.
Let's just say yes for now. Vulkan said. If they betray us, we'll deal with that when it happens. For now let's take advantage of this offer of peace.
At last, the various UNSC representatives all turned to face Eldrad and the Phoenix Lords once more. Having listened in to their entire conversation the Eldar all knew full well what was coming.
"All right Eldar" Marneus said. "We're open to an alliance. You give us your men, weapons, and information, and we'll give you ours."
Eldrad smiled underneath his helmet. "A very wise choice humans. As our first gesture of friendship we'll send a few of our ships to your "Harvest" to help you retake it."
Marneus nodded in approval. "Much appreciated."
And with this exchange, a new alliance was forged against the Four Powers and the Covenant.
-X-
Harvest was hell.
A mere few months ago nothing could have been further from the truth, as the planet had the highest agricultural productivity rate of any UNSC colony and as such it was one their most vital planets concerning food and other resources. But ever since the Covenant had attacked the planet, Harvest had gone from one of the crown jewels of the UNSC to a constant warzone, one that the Covenant was gradually winning despite some early victories for the humans defending the planet.
Commander Dawson of the UNSC's Space Marines sighed deeply and rubbed his temples. He was coming along in years and as such was steadily losing the will to keep fighting. He still wore the bold red armor of a field commander proudly, and fought just as hard against the Covenant as the rest of his men, but more and more he found he was getting tired of fighting, having already spent a great many years battling Insurrectionists. He wanted to be able to retire, live a little. But the Covenant had put those plans of retirement on hold.
"Commander, we're losing our position on the eastern shores." came the voice of Commander Dawson's second Sergeant Baxter. "Reports are coming in that monsters are reinforcing the Covenant battalions."
"The Covenant are monsters" Commander Dawson replied gruffly. "What are these newcomers?"
"Reports tend to be a bit contradictory, but the general idea is they're vaguely feminine and have, to quote one report's words: "Crab claws". The men have taken to calling them: "Succubus"
"I see" Commander Dawson replied laconically. "Can we spare anyone?"
Sergeant Baxter shook his head. "Negative. We're coming under heavy attack all over the planet and the defenses are only just barely holding. If we spare anyone to reinforce the eastern shores we'll lose other positions in an instant" Sergeant Baxter snapped his fingers to emphasize his point.
Commander Dawson growled. "Damn Covenant. There's too many of the bastards and too few of us. Where the hell are the Gray Knights when you need them?"
"I believe they're currently reinforcing the farms the Covenant haven't destroyed yet" Sergeant Baxter replied. "Reports say they're struggling and cannot leave their positions."
"You wouldn't happen to have any good news for a change would you?" Commander Dawson asked Sergeant Baxter with just a touch of hostile sarcasm.
"Actually yes, I do. I just got word from the Brass. Negotiations with the new Xeno race were a success. The "Eldar" they're called, are sending a few ships to Harvest as reinforcements as we speak."
"So we've got some xenos on our side now do we?" Commander Dawson asked. "So be it. I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, mandibles, or whatever it is these things have. When can we expect their arrival?"
"Very shortly sir. I think we should get ready for them"
Commander Dawson nodded. "Yes, lets. I'll meet them out at the airfield"
When the Eldar ships arrived, they immediately made their presence known by obliterating several of the Covenant vessels orbiting Harvest. Commander Dawson sent out a message to the Eldar ships telling them to land at his base's airfield. As he saw them in action in space, Dawson was privately impressed and awed by the size, shape, and aesthetic of the Eldar's ships. Truth be told he found them much more impressive looking than the crude, ugly giant slabs of metal that Dawson had been serving on for his entire career in the UNSC.
While most of the Eldar vessels stayed in space fighting the Covenant fleet orbiting Horizon, one went to the coordinates Commander Dawson had given them and touched down on the airfield. Out of the ship came several squads of humanoid figures clad from head to toe in armor that was either sea blue or a red identical to the color of Commander Dawson's armor. They all wore over their heads white cone shaped helmets and covered their faces completely with black faceplates. One of the red armored ones, with a sword slung over his back, a half-cape that was a violet purple, and a majestic black and white crest atop his helmet, walked up to Commander Dawson.
"Are you the leader of this facility?" the Eldar asked.
"I am" Dawson replied matter-of-factly before adding: "Commander Richard A. Dawson of the UNSC Space Marines"
"Greetings" the Eldar responded laconically. "I am Tevras, of the Eldar Guardians. We could see the fires from space. The Covenant and their masters have made steady progress in scorching this planet"
"Yeah, no kidding. We're kind of hoping you and your boys can help us out with that"
"We shall do more than that. We will help you beat these abominations and their minions back into the abyss"
"I'm fine with that" Commander Dawson said before taking a look at the other Eldar. "Are these all of your troops?"
Tevras nodded.
"Seems a bit understaffed..."
"I wager any one of my men behind me has killed more Covenant and Daemons of Chaos in one firefight than you will in the next five of your race's years.
"So why do you even need us?" Commander Dawson replied.
Tevras shrugged. "Our numbers are not what they once were. Essentially what it comes down to is that you need better weapons and people who know your enemy, and we need more men, so this is a mutually beneficial partnership."
"Is that a fact? Well it just so happens I have a place I'd like you and the other boys in red to go. I've got a location for the ones in blue as well"
-X-
"Hold the beach!" shouted the squad leader of the Space Marines still defending the eastern shores. Despite fighting hard, the Space Marines were rapidly getting pushed back more and more as the Covenant forces continued surged forward in an all but unstoppable and seemingly never-ending tide of black and amethyst.
The Grunts went down easily enough, but they were also numerous and prone to throwing plasma grenades that had already killed more Space Marines than anything else. The Jackals were also very physically weak, but their energy shields were highly resistant to ballistic weaponry, forcing the Space Marines to kill them with either grenades or alternatively just bashing their avian heads in with the butt ends of their assault rifles. Only a few of the Space Marines had the marksmanship skills needed to shoot the Jackals in areas their shields didn't protect them, or alternatively to shoot them in the split-second their heads or bodies were exposed.
But the most dangerous of all were the Elites, clad in amethyst colored armor with black stripes, they were few in number compared to the Grunts and Jackals, but one on one, they always killed the Space Marines. And even together the Space Marines still struggled to take them down, as they were faster and stronger than humans, and also armed themselves with strange blue colored guns that tore through the Space Marines light armor with ease. A few of the bluish-white bolts of energy usually succeeded in killing the Space Marines.
But for all of this, the defenses of the eastern shores had been just about holding, same as every other part of the planet still under UNSC control, if only because the Space Marines had enough men to lose. But now that their numbers had thinned considerably, the Space Marines were being forced back more and more to keep from suffering casualties they could afford. And then the army of Elites, Grunts, and Jackals assaulting the eastern shores got some back-up.
Physically they resembled female humans, but there were a good many things about them that made them decidedly not human. For one the black and purple claws they had in place of human hands, resembling the pincers of both a crab and a scorpion. In place of human feet they had black feet with an arch ending in a spiked heel and sole and with two claws each in place of toes. Their legs and arms were bare and any that covered their torsos wore a black breasplate with a gold trim and a black loincloth with a strange purple design on the front. Their eyes were glowing light blue and pupilless, their mouths were filled with sharp rat-like teeth, and any hair they had was always a greasy black.
In all they were immensely ugly-looking creatures, and also looked rather out of place alongside the Elites, Jackals, and Grunts. But for all of that they immediately made an impact on the battlefield as they surged forward and soaked up most of the Space Marine's gunfire, which allowed more Grunts, Jackals, and Elites to advance and push the Space Marines back even more. And any of the feminine monsters that got close to a Space Marine would viciously and mercilessly tear him to pieces with her claws, her dry, lipless mouth forming a sadistic smile as she did.
After these monsters showed up the Space Marines found themselves losing ground fast as the distraction the creatures provided allowed more and more Covenant to advance relatively unhindered, where they wrecked havoc on the Space Marine forces. As the fighting continued Space Marines were steadily cut down in droves while the Covenant forces suffered comparatively minimal casualties. Eventually, the few surviving Space Marines were forced up into a tight cluster that was quickly becoming surrounded on all sides by the Covenant forces.
But then, rocketing forward onto the scene were sleek blood red vehicles with arrow-shaped hoods adorned with both black stripes and a large white serpent. On the back of each one was a large turret that a black armored Eldar with a red snake on his white cone-shaped helmet sat in, raining heavy fire down on the Covenant and Daemon forces out of a long black barrel shaped like a medieval lance. In all, the appearance of the vehicles reminded the beleaguered Space Marines of their Warthogs, but far more technologically advanced, moving not by wheels but propulsors that saw them hovering over the ground, and firing out powerful laser blasts instead of bullets.
The torrent of fire from the vehicle's cannons cut down scores of Covenant and Daemons, with both too caught off-guard by the surprise attack to react in time. Taking advantage of their surprise, the remaining humans opened fire on them with renewed determination, and between them and the alien vehicles, none of the Covenant or Daemons were left standing.
As the dust settled, the surviving marines saw several lithe, red armored humanoids making their way towards them as one of the red vehicle's gunner stepped out of his turret to address the space marines: "Don't shoot at them. We're on your side"
"Who are you?" one of the surviving Space Marines asked.
"Eldar. We have entered an alliance with your race against the Covenant"
"So...you're xenos? And you're on our side?"
"Isn't that what I just said?" the gunner asked in a condescending tone before adding: "Prepare yourselves primitives. There will be much more fighting before the day is done"
-X-
"Die monsters!" one of the Gray Knights shouted as he swung out his blue sword. The blade collided with the neck of one of the Succubus, sending her head flying off her shoulders. Black blood spurted out of the stump before the whole body was consumed and incinerated by amethyst colored fire. Growling with grim satisfaction, the Gray Knight swung his sword out again and decapitated two grunts in the same swing. Behind him his fellows continued to fire out at the mess of Grunts, Jackals, Succubus, and Elites that were hitting them with everything they had.
"Protect the farms!" shouted Captain Munroe. "Do not let these monsters destroy them!"
As he said this Captain Munroe gunned down several more Grunts and Jackals as they came within sight of his DMR, each round finding its target in one of the aliens' heads. It was also quite adept at taking down the Succubus and Elites even though they were a bit more resistant.
By this point the Gray Knights had caught on to the fact that the Elites and Jackals energy shields were, for all their high resistance to bullets extremely vulnerable to melee attacks, and many of the Gray Knight's iconic blue swords were covered in the purple blood of the two alien races.
A Succubus caught Donald's arm in its pincers but Donald pumped it full of assault rifle fire before it could take his head off. As the succubus fell down dead, Donald switched to his DMR and peppered several Elites shields with fire before finally dispelling them all together. One final shot to the head for each Elite was all it took to take them down after that.
But as the Gray Knights continued to fight off the Covenant forces, more Elites arrived, and these ones came in riding purple colored vehicles that hovered above the ground, had a massive rounded hood, and twin plasma cannons that managed to cut through even the Gray Knight's armor. Any Gray Knight that was rammed by one of the vehicles was also killed instantly.
"Destroy those vehicles!" Captain Munroe shouted before he himself was hit by one. The impact of the alien vehicle ramming into him gave a sickening crunch and sent him briefly flying into the air before he collapsed and lay still.
"Captain!" Donald shouted. Turning to the vehicle, Donald threw a stolen plasma grenade that managed to stick itself to the Elite driver's head. One bright blue explosions later and Captain Munroe was avenged.
"The captain is down!" Donald shouted. "I repeat, the captain is down!"
Upon hearing of their captain's death, the remaining Gray Knights were thrown into a frenzy, and the remaining Covenant ground troops were massacred as the Gray Knights threw themselves at them without quarter, tearing through shields and armor with equal ease and pumping the aliens' bodies full of bullets or alternatively cutting them to ribbons with their swords. The alien vehicles still remained, peppering the Gray Knights with plasma fire and ramming into others, but then shuriken zipped through the air and embedded themselves in the Elite driver's heads, killing them and causing them to tumble out of their vehicles. Turning to the source, the Gray Knights saw the Eldar Dire Avengers sent to their position arrive.
"Looks like we just got rescued by the friendly xenos again boys" Donald said. "Don't shoot them."
Once the Dire Avengers reached the Gray Knight's position, Donald walked up to them: "I'm glad you guys are here. We're being hit hard and our captain's dead. We could definitely use some more manpower"
The Dire Avenger squad leader nodded simply before saying: "We should move out now. It is not safe to remain here"
Donald shook his head. "No. We need to protect these farms. They're valuable resources and we can't afford to lose anymore"
The Dire Avenger squad leader nodded. "Very well. We shall help you defend them. But be warned: the hordes of Slaanesh contain fouler and more dangerous things than what you've seen so far."
"Really? Like what?"
An unholy howl tore through the air. Turning to the source of it, the Gray Knights and Dire Avengers saw a large white-skinned monster vaguely resembling a moose standing upright, but with four arms, two human and two giant crab-like claws like the ones the Succubus had. Its skin was adorned with gaudy gold jewelry and piercings and in one of its hands it held a massive sword with a strange symbol in gold at the bottom of the guard.
"Like that"
-X-
With the Eldar Guardians and their vehicles having now arrived to replace the fallen Space Marines, the remaining ones were able to stand firm as more Covenant appeared on the horizon. With a roar, the sea of black and amethyst armored aliens and Daemons surged forward with only one desire, and the Humans and Eldar met them with volleys of bullets, shuriken, and lasers. The Eldar Vyper Jetbikes performed lightning fast drive-by attacks on the encroaching Covenant hordes, thinning their ranks and keeping them under pressure as the remaining Space Marines and Eldar Guardians continued to shoot at them from the front. At first, this strategy succeeded in killing scores of Covenant, but then Covenant vehicles arrived on the scene and engaged the Vyper Jetbikes, forcing them to pull back and return fire as the Covenant ground troops continued to advance towards the Space Marines and Eldar Guardians. As they could no longer afford to suffer anymore losses, the Space Marines positioned themselves behind the Eldar Guardians, who took the brunt of the Covenant's punishment, but also dished out just as much, firing volley after volley of shuriken from their guns that cut through energy shields, pierced armor, and tore through flesh in equal measure.
"For the Bloody-Handed!" Tevras shouted as wave after wave of Grunts, Jackals, Succubus, and Elites fell to the Guardians and their human allies.
But then, slowly making its way towards the Eldar and Humans was a large dark blue tank-like vehicle with a rounded hood and an Elite manning a turret.
"Scatter!" shouted Tevras. The Guardians all dispersed, and most of the humans caught on and followed suit. The two that did not were promptly blown away by a massive indigo-blue colored blast of plasma energy from the Covenant tank's cannon.
"Destroy that Wraith!" shouted Tevras. "Destroy it at all costs!"
Hearing his command, the Vyper Jetbikes all directed their fire on the Wraith, but its bulky blue form was able to absorb a distressing amount of damage before the vehicle finally exploded in a brilliant blue explosion accompanied by a shower of sparks. By that point the Covenant and Daemon forces had closed in fully on the Eldar and Space Marines.
"Kill them all!" shouted Tevras as he drew his Witchblade from his scabbard and sent an Elite's head flying off its shoulders with it. Behind him his men unleashed a withering hail of shuriken from their guns, but the Covenant still had numbers enough to smash right into the Eldar, causing desperate hand-to-hand fighting to ensue.
What followed was a sight that would make both Khaine and Khorne beam with pride. Eldar, Humans, Covenant, and Daemons all fought fiercely and without quarter, with ammunition of all kinds flying in every direction and bodies piling up on both sides. The Vyper Jet-Bikes provided support fire for the Eldar and Space Marines, but the Covenant had numbers to spare. In the end though quality outweighed quantity and the members of Tevras's Guardian Squad did indeed each kill more Covenant and Daemonettes of Slaanesh in that one firefight than Commander Dawson would in the next five years that would be the known afterwards as "The Harvest Campaign".
Finally, the carnage at last ceased and the air grew quiet as the last Elite fell to the ground dead courtesy of being run through by Tevras' Witchblade, which was now drenched in purple and blue blood from all the Covenant he had killed with it. As the last Elite perished, Tevras and the other surviving soldiers dared to let out a sigh of relief.
"I think the eastern shores are secure for now..." one of the few surviving Space Marines said weakly.
Tevras nodded. "Yes. For now."
-X-
With one last echoing roar, the massive white skinned beast at last staggered and flailed about before collapsing with a resounding thud. As it hit the ground, some of the surviving Eldar and Space Marines cheered or let out sighs of relief, as the monster had taken an inordinate amount of punishment before finally perishing. Many of the Gray Knights and Dire Avengers had expended every last bullet and shuriken in all of their guns before the thing had finally perished. No sooner did its body hit the ground, it was consumed in the same amethyst flames that consumed Daemonettes after death and reduced to ashes in seconds.
"They certainly burn quickly" one of the few surviving Gray Knights quipped.
"All demons are consumed in the hellfire that spawned them after death" one of the surviving Dire Avengers said. "Keepers of Secrets are no different"
"So that's what you call these things eh? I thought "big ugly moose-headed monster" sounded better, but that's just me"
"There is no time for stupid jokes human" another Dire Avenger said. "The fight for this planet is far from over, and so is the war. You primitives may not realize it yet, but you've just entered the greatest war our galaxy has ever known"