"Five years, five long years... That's how long it took us to get Harvest back. At first it was going well... Then set back after set back... Lost after lost... Made what was going to a quick and decisive win... Into five years of hell. Course that's all Harvest is today, it's hell down there. But now, it's ours again." -Captain James Cutter's Report, February 4th, 2531
Be Hybrid
Chapter 4: Chi Ceti Harvest
LOCATION: Reach, CMA Military Building. DATE: 04/21/2525 Military Time: 13:47
"What? The Argo lost contact?"
"That's what I said sir, it could be a insurrection tactic." The CMA, or Colonial Military Administration was formed for the protection of all colonies. But recently HIGHCOM had mostly taken away power and paid attention only to the Inner colonies, and Saiyan worlds. So the CMA took over protection of the Outer Colonies, helping against lawlessness of sparse population areas and tame worlds that were being colonized.
"Innies aren't known make make colonies completely out of contact with anyone." The CMA general crossed his arms in a moments thought. "Get together a battle group to investigate Harvest, see what's going on." He commanded the soldier.
"Sir, yes sir!" The soldier saluted before making his way.
The general turned around in his chair, overlooking the city. He opened a nearby draw, and pulled out a package and lighter. Grabbing a cigar, he lit it and smoked as he watched the city go about it's daily lives.
"Why am I getting this feeling, that everything is going change?"
LOCATION: Harvest. DATE 10/7/2525 Military Time: 15:21
Three giant blue ruptures appeared in space, out of the Slip-space came CMA Hercules, Arabia and Vostok. The first was a Destroyer, while the following two were Charon-class frigates. The Arbia and Vostok came out of the ruptures before the Hercules.
Captain Maribeau Veredi lead the CMA group. "All stations ready, weapon and Chi shielding systems online. Let's see what been going on here."
"My god what is that!" A marine yelled as he pointed toward a strange and smooth vessel. It was a tone of light purple, and bigger than any human ship that was ever made. This definitely was not a Insurrectionist control freighter.
"Send first contact package, keep weapons hot!" The captain roared.
"Package sent sir! Awaiting response from unknown vessel."
Suddenly, the unknown purple vessel shot forward a bright blue beam of energy, which crashed into the Arabia, who's Chi shields were down, completely decimating it into oblivion.
"Holy shit!"
"Oh my God!"
"Arabia was completely destroyed sir!"
"Unknown weapon, it's nothing we ever seen before!"
"I don't wanna die!"
Veredi got up from his seat. "Pull eighty degrees, full throttle! Return fire with archer missiles!" The Heracles followed commands dozens of missiles fired from the CMA warship, as well as from the Vostok. The missiles hit home at the unknown ship, but blue barriers appeared all over the ship, leaving it completely unharmed.
"Sir, enemy ship appears to have shielding similar to Chi shields!" a lieutenant yelled.
"Captain, enemy firing incoming! It's striking the Vostok!" a female said out loud.
The strange energy projectile made contact with the Vostok, green barrier shields come to life as it fought off the attack, finally it shattered and the projectile made contact with the Vostok however the Vostok did survive, through heavily damaged.
Then out of no where, a second missile rammed into the Heracles. The whole ship was shaken and pushed a bit as the Chi shields took most of the attack and shattered.
Captain Veredi stood back up. "Damnit, Status!"
"Chi shields are down, and hull breaches at decks two and three!"
"Sir if we didn't have those shields we would've been blown apart or extremely damaged!"
"I recommend retreating back to UNSC space sir!"
"Wait... Incoming hail!" someone yelled.
"Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument."
The captain then roared at his crew. "Get us out of here! Slip-space now! Send same command to Vostok!"
A blue rupture of Slip-space appeared forth in front of the CMA vessel. However before it could enter another attack from the unknown enemy shot forward toward the Hercules but the Vostok drove in back of the ship and took the attack for it, it never stood a chance as the Vostok exploded in a bright blue and orange ball.
"No! Damn it!" The Captain roared as the Hercules disappeared into Slip-space.
LOCATION: Slip-Space en-route to Chi Ceti IV. DATE 11/27/2525 Military Time: 18:11
The UNSC frigate Commonwealth exited the blue rupture of slip-space; upon this ship were the groups of both Spartans and Hybrids. Doctor Catherine Halsey also resided on the frigate. The groups of Spartans and Hybrids were heading toward the planet Chi Ceti IV to equip the classified armors; MJORNIR mark IV and SVALINN mark III power suits. This mission was deemed of immediate importance from ONI, which informed them of a newly developed war against an unknown alien species.
"All systems checked weapons on standby, scanning system for possible hostilities." A female AI said. The crew around her, and the captain of the Commonwealth worked on what they needed to accomplish.
Suddenly, an alarm rang on the bridge. "Captain, three-hundred meter long ship detected approximately eighty thousand kilometers away from the planet!" the AI yelled.
Captain Wallace, seeing how the enemy way too far for any weapon, did not show concern. "The ship remains out of weapon fire, so there-"however he was interrupted when the door opened. The esteemed Doctor Halsey, along with Spartan-117 and Hybrid-711 on his sides, entered the bridge and walked up to the Captain.
"I wouldn't put it pass them Captain, this unknown enemy might have pinpoint slip-space drives. It'll be best to be on guard." Doctor Catherine Halsey informs dear Wallace.
The Captain saw the logic in this information. "Bring us to full quarter; I want both weapon and Chi shields up, lieutenant get a pelican prepped for our guest." He ordered.
The lieutenant saluted before going off.
"Sir, Enemy entering Slip-space! Wait… Jesus they just reappeared three thousand kilometers in front of us! The enemy is firing, attack in bound!" The ship suddenly shook as pulse laser weaponry struck the Commonwealth's Chi shields. But thankfully, the shields held.
"Give me status!" Wallace yelled.
"Chi shields down to 8%, no damage to Commonwealth, but the communications are jammed!" The AI reported. "Sir, I'm barely able to remain enabled. That attack nearly disabled me if it weren't for Chi shields."
Wallace nodded, "Return fire with Archer missiles." The Commonwealth fired two giant missiles, which then opened up to reveal a shocking amount of one-hundred and eighty individual archer missiles. Which flew directly into the unknowingly Covenant vessel Unrelenting. The Covenant vessel moved with great speed, causing half of the Commonwealth's missiles to miss, but the other half of the attack made contact. The archer missiles however, failed to break down Unrelenting' shields.
"Quickly, spin up MAC round!" Captain Wallace commanded. The UNSC frigate began loading its round to attack when the unknown enemy returned fire with strange blue lasers. The Stalwart-class frigate's shields collapsed under the energy fire, and their navigational dish utterly destroyed. But in payback, the human vessel fired its heavy MAC round which penetrated the Unrelenting' shields and crumbled it's frontal nose.
"Another, load another round!" Wallace repeated the order.
Both warships locked and loaded their offensive weaponry, before releasing them at each others' target. The MAC and Plasma Torpedo hit home, the Commonwealth was damaged which proceeded venting atmosphere to prevent further damage. Meanwhile, the Unrelenting got a MAC round that shot a clear hole right through their ship, but the ship survived.
"Status update!" Wallace yelled.
With the AI recently disabled by the previous lasers, due to the fall of the shields, a crew member replied. "Sir, our AI is disabled when we were struck by more laser fire. The MAC cannon is also destroyed and all other weapons are out of order. Hull breach in sector three , and a leak in the port fuel tank. She's venting atmosphere to prevent explosions and fires. We do have some Shiva-class Nuclear Missiles through, but we are in too close of range to pull off a successful attack with them."
Captain Wallace swore under his breath as he was made aware of his situation. He pulled his hand through his hair while thinking of a way to turn this battle to his advantage and destroy the enemy vessel.
Suddenly, the Spartan next to Catherine spoke up. "Permission to speak sir!"
Wallace, seeing no other option, replied, "Permission granted."
"Sir, the enemy appears to be able to take any challenge that we can lead them. Their physiology appears ignorant, giving us the advantage as they allow us to attack." The Master Chief commented.
"It's a military risk sir, but it's our most plausible option." Hybrid-711 added.
"Alright 117, what would your course of action be?" Wallace asked.
"Sir, dispatch a squad of Longswords to distract enemy vessel as the Nuclear missile is being prepared. Once prepped send it at the enemy, and tell Longswords to disengage immediately." Chief suggested.
Captain Wallace nodded, it seemed to only option at this point. He gave the orders to the crew, the Longswords were dispatched immediately. Once out the Longswords and the Commonwealth watched as the Covenant cruiser came back for round two, making it's way toward Chi Ceti.
"This is Longsword Squadron Delta leader, we are heading to engage the enemy." The COMMs radioed in as the squadron came in formation and headed toward the Covenant vessel. Where they distracted the cruiser effectively by pulling off hit and 'run' tactics. The Nuclear missile was launched, but a move by the enemy made the nuke fire prematurely, destroying the whole of Delta Squad and damaging the enemy enough for them to disengage.
During this, Doctor Catherine Halsey, along with all Spartans and Hybrids, boarded a Pelican to the planet below to equip the power armors they were originally here for.
LOCATION: Space Elevator upon Chi Ceti IV. Military Time: 18:43
"You have to quicken yourselves, I will endeavor to lead the enemy away from the planet,The Commonwealth shall rendezvous with you at o' nineteen hundred. Commonwealth out."
The elevator halted, and the doors opened. Allowing Doctor Halsey, her Spartans, and hybrids to exit and hurry down the hall. They meet a scientist on the way who halted them with a sign of greetings.
"Ah, Doctor Halsey, a pleasure." He said.
"Not now, have them briefed about their exoskeletons and suited up immediately!" Catherine ordered him, who nodded so quickly his head seemed to about to fall off.
"Right this way!" He rapidly said, hurrying toward a door labeled SAH-4.
Finally, both Hybrids and Spartans glanced upon their new exoskeleton suits, or more specifically, the MJORNIR series mark IV, and SVALINN series mark III suits.
The MJORNIR suit was ranger green, it looked well armored to the point it looked more like power armor than an exoskeleton. The helmet's visor was golden, with the top protruding outward over the visor. On the side of the helmet were miniature holes, no doubtingly head lights. On the armor's shoulder blades lay the UNSC insignia on the more bulky right blade, and on the smaller left blade was the SAA insignia. The leg's armor revealed a durable black inner bodysuit, and the feet had magnet connectors. The suit's number, engraved on it's left breastplate was number 117.
To the right of the MJORNIR suit, was the SVALINN. The SVALINN suit's color is burnt gold, the helmet's visor was green. The coloring was in all eyes, a vice versa to the MJORNIR. The suit seemed less armored than it's Spartan counterpart. But the helmet was roughly the same. The black inner bodysuit was revealed more, but it provided a more, flexible appearance. The insignias' positions were the same, and engraved on the breastplate was the number 711.
The scientist then provided all details about their armors. From the outer multialloyed shell, to the neural interface within. Complete with Chi shields for both suits, the scientist then said the differences.
"The difference between the two, is that the MJORNIR's armor plating can take more hits the the SVALINN, it also enhances the augmentations a bit more too. The SVALINN on the other hand, have more shield power then it's counterpart. It also allows the usage of Ki so don't worry about damaging the suit when using you Ki. Each suit's shields are powered by a miniature fusion reactor, the suits also have a small Chi healing system for emergency usage."
"I think I'm in love..." Sam-034 commented.
"Sir, wouldn't these suits benefit our troops on the field?" John-117 questioned.
Catherine looked at her Spartan, and replied. "Your the only ones that can use them, Petty Officer. Who else could we give them to?"
Military Time: 19:17
The pelican, now containing fully armored Spartans and Hybrids, launched from the orbital elevator in pursuit toward the UNSC Commonwealth. Blue team, consisting of three Spartans, 117, 034, 087, and Hybrid-711, glanced toward the enemy vessel which was coming toward them at twice the speed of any human spaceship.
John-117, the Master Chief, turned to his surrogate 'mother' Doctor Halsey.
"Are these suits EVA-capable?" He asked monotony.
"Yes, both MJORNIR and SVALINN are EVA-capable, why?" Halsey curiously said.
"I propose a boarding actions on the enemy vessel to destroy it from the inside out using explosions where the radiation had erupted from the MAC cannon strike."
"Where are we going to find the explosion to do that Chief?" Sam questioned.
John looked toward the Pelican launcher. "We can use the Pelican's air-to-surface missiles. Every Spartan take one, Hybrids support from the side."
All the super soldiers nodded. The pelican then moved toward the Unrelenting Covenant vessel as the soldiers equipped themselves with Thruster packs and magnetically attached the missiles to their suit's back waist.
The teams prepared to jump from the transport ships.
"On my mark... Mark!" John-117 ordered.
Blue team's packs ignited, they ventured across space toward the enemy vessel. The Commonwealth informed of this plan beforehand, fired another round of archer missiles to distract the enemy from the super soldiers. In return, the Unrelenting fired their pulse lasers to destroy the archer missiles. The brief moment of attack lowered the enemy's shields, allowing our heroic Blue team to enter the cruiser.
Blue team entered within, the area appeared to be a purple dark hallway, bodies of foreign alien species that looked like some sort of avian dinosaur on two legs, floated around in the open vacuum of space within the destroyed hall. John, Kelly, Samuel, and Gohan activated their magnetic boots, allowing the to stick to the ground.
"Kelly, cut that door over there." John pointed in the direction.
Kelly made her way toward the sealed door, and with a bit of Spartan strength, The door was opened free, quickly Blue team entered it, before it closed itself back again.
"There's atmosphere in here, enough for suits to unseal." Gohan-711 said.
Suddenly, a few noises were made apparent. The group instantly brought out their assault rifles, and around the hall way corner, was revealed a quadruple of the dead aliens outside, alive and well with a strange sort of weapon shaped like a distorted C.
"Yah, wok, wort!" One yelled as it spotted Blue team, starting the fire fight. The super soldiers took cover along the wall corners that were numerous in the halls. Green plasma fire shot through the area from the alien creatures. Sam fired his assault rifle at the enemy, but as he watched the bullets accurately aimed at the enemy's torso, a blue glowing shield appeared forth and absorbed the weapon's fire.
"Enemy has wrist shield capable of absorbing projectiles." Sam reported to his group.
"Thanks Sam." Kelly said.
"Gohan, think you can take them out with a Ki technique?" John asked.
"Sure thing, but I'll need covering fire to gather and aim." Gohan replied, already channeling his Ki energy.
"Sam?"
"On it Chief!" Sam came out of his cover and started firing excessively upon the enemy. This gave enough time for Gohan to appear out, charged his Ki, and aim for the midst of the alien unknowns.
"Masenko... Ha!" Gohan silently yelled, golden beam of Ki energy appeared from his palm and shot forward onto the enemy lines, decimating them and giving enough time for all the rest of Blue team to easily pick them off.
"Alright, let's move!" Master Chief ordered, and the team sprinted down the hall.
"Radiation is getting strong, should be just room after next." Kelly said as she looked at her HUD readings.
They entered the room, where a few smaller aliens stood on ground. Upon sight, the aliens fired causing the Spartans and Hybrid to delve for cover and return fire. It didn't take as long, as these small aliens lacked any sort of shielding and fell easily to the fast moving projectiles of human weaponry.
Planting the missiles, and setting the charges upon them. The group prepared to leave when suddenly, out of nowhere a tall eight foot alien, with blue armor and reptilian origin, and four mandibles on it's face, struck hard with fast moving bolts of plasma, and a bolt of a charged green plasma pistol.
"John, watch your back!" These bolts struck hard against Sam's armor as he used himself to protect John-117, the Chi shields of his taking only so few before collapsing under the stress, and finally the charged bolt hit his armor.
"Shit!" Sam swore as he delved for cover alongside his compatriots.
"Yah dar yog!" The alien yelled at the super soldiers as he fired his weapon at them. John-117 returned fire, which aimed true, but blue shields erupted forth around the alien.
John's eyes narrow as he thought quickly of a way to kill his enemy. Getting an idea, he spoke in his COMMs. "Everyone, fire your weapons at the same time on my mark... Mark!"
With that, all of Blue team fired their assault rifles, the bullets overwhelming their foes' shields and killing it outright.
John, the Master Chief, spoke up once again. "Alright, let's move out."
"I'm sorry John, Kelly, Gohan, I won't be coming with you. My suit is breached from that plasma fire, I won't survive out there."
"What you mean Samuel?" Gohan said.
"I'll rather stay here, than perish in the vacuum of space." Sam replied.
"No, no man, no Spartan left behind Sam, you know that!" John argued.
"The mission come first John, go, I'll protect the missiles from being compromised from the enemy."
Kelly and Gohan had to nearly force John from leaving Sam behind. The remaining of Blue team exited the vessel and reentered the Pelican, they heard Samuel's last words as he was seemingly speaking to his team.
"Hey, remember... Spartan and Hybrids never die."
With that, the enemy vessel was engulfed in a ball of blue fire.