It's time for some more grammatically incorrect writing from yours truly.
Mountain Glenn
"For Hammond!"
"For Faunus!"
"For Remnant!"
All these chants and more filled the sky as gunfire erupted throughout the abandoned city. Anti-Aircraft fire filled the sky, shooting down Bullheads and damaging the Atlesian Battlecruisers, at the cost of shooting down the occasional Hammond dropship that would jump into the system. Larger C-18 transports would be damaged, but still be able to drop off more troops and maybe a Mongoose. Those carrying only Mongooses were shot down with extreme brutality.
"Squad, get in the building! We need to hide from the snipers!" An Atlesian soldier shouted, while ten more soldiers went into a smaller building. "Dammit! Where are the reinforcements?"
"Get into a crater! Those damn robots are coming!" A Fang soldier shouted, those following him into a crater of a crashed C-18, turning it into an impromptu trench. The Fang turned their guns towards the approaching spectres, giving covering fire to those who were retreating.
Elsewhere, a four way street was having a three way firefight, with two roads with Atlesian soldiers, the other two having either Fang or Hammond soldiers. Bullets flew all sorts of ways, but was weird was that the Hammond street had spectres while the Atlesian ones had their Knights.
"This is the weirdest fight I've been in. Two sides aren't even speaking, it's creepy!" A Fang soldier said to his partner.
"You're telling me, it's so weird when the only talking is your side." The partner said, only to be shot a second later.
"Gus!"
Other streets were consumed with fire, as Janus Firebombers dropped their payloads on non-Hammond streets, burning the two sides locked in firefights. Atlesian soldiers fired at the bombers with their rifles, but they had no effect. The battlecruisers had better luck, their missiles having an easier time destroying the planes.
Until more planes jumped into the area.
"Sir! Multiple squadrons are in the vicinity! They're fast, really fast!" A junior officer reported.
"Have the missiles focus on the bombers, we can't allow for more casualties on the ground!" The captain shouted.
"What about the Bull-"
"Forget them! We need to defeat the ground forces and eliminate all enemy close air support!" The captain shouted, as the new squadrons came into view.
The ASF-32 "Wasp" Air-Superiority aircraft was a state of the art fighter, capable of fighting in and out of the atmosphere. Armed with automatic gauss cannons and either anti-air missiles or cluster bombs, these fighters could be used in the fighter bomber or air-superiority role. At this moment, they were in the air-superiority role, but they were escorting a more dangerous aircraft.
The SBA-46 "Ambassador" was a strategic bomber, carrying a very low yield nuclear payload. The explosion was kept in a square form, but essentially destroyed anything in it. Very few could survive, save the stronger mechs and very tough Grimm. Unfortunately, an Ambassador could only carry three at a time, as the delivery device was heavy.
There were three squadrons of 12 Wasps each, but there was only one Ambassador.
"All Hammond forces! This is 17th Division Actual! We're pulling out, retreat to the east forests!" A voice crackled in the radios of all soldiers. Soldiers gave no response as they fell back from their positions. Grunts threw down electric smoke grenades to cover their retreat, any enemy that followed was killed by the electricity in the smoke. Mongooses fired larger versions of these grenades to cover larger forces, producing the same result.
"Don't charge the smoke! It's electrified!" A Fang soldier shouted, stopping the White Fang forces from more of them charging into the smoke and dying.
Somewhere outside of the combat zone
The Atlesian officers ordered their forces not to charge, their scanners picked up the electricity when the smoke deployed
"Sir! They're in the forest, shall we strike?" A soldier asked one of the officers.
"No, they're most likely planning an ambush for us. Contact Blue Six, tell them we need evac for wounded and prisoners." The lead officer responded.
"Yes sir- Enemy aircraft!" The soldier shouted, watching as the Wasps and Ambassador headed towards the combat zones.
"All forces, retreat! Our Paladins will cover us!" An officer called into the communication device, watching as the smaller aircraft roared over the city. The bomber, however, let loose its payload.
Combat Zone
"Bombs incoming!" A Paladin pilot shouted as a projectile screamed towards the Paladins and soldiers. "Soldiers! The fire will burn you! Run, we can tank thi-"
The bomb hit the ground and the ensuing explosion vaporized the group.
Soldiers near the explosion were blinded by the flash, and were deafened by the sound. They were thrown to the ground, the vibrations even bringing down a few buildings.
When the explosion cleared, the soldiers and Paladins not in the blast zone looked back to see their comrades' state.
There was nothing but a large blast mark.
Blue Six
"Report! What the hell just happened?" The captain shouted.
"Sir! 6 Paladins and 57 soldiers were just wiped out from an explosion! No remains, they were vaporized!" A lieutenant reported. "Vehicle identified, bringing it up on screen!"
The Ambassador appeared on screen, and the captain ordered all weapons to fire at the plane.
Ambassador
"I think we got 'em riled." The pilot said to his crew. "Turrets are pointin' at us."
"Well, we should probably arm the bomb. The plan requires it." The bombardier noted.
"Why are we even going through with this plan? We could've wiped this planet out hundreds of times over." The navigator stated. "What's the point of elongating this fight?"
"The plan requires it." The bombardier said again, as if that explained everything.
"Hey, they're shooting us." The turret operator said flatly. "Should we dodge?"
"Nope, bomb's been armed. Activating our teleporter, changing course to target." The pilot answered. "Hopefully this works."
And with that, the crew was engulfed in a white light, and disappeared.
Battlecruiser Blue Six
"Hey, is that plane getting closer?" An officer asked a passerby. "I feel like it is."
The passerby looked out the window. "Yeah, it is. Is that a bomb under it?"
"Yeah." The officer answered.
…
"Oh shit!" They shouted,and a second later the Ambassador crashing into the bridge.
The bomb went off the instant it did.
Outside, on the ground
The remaining troops looked up, hearing a loud explosion from one of the Battlecruisers. Their eyes were met with the sight of billowing smoke from the bridge of the ship. The entire bridge was gone, replaced with fire. All troops watched as Blue Six fell from the sky, crashing outside of the city.
The radios on Blue Six's troops came to life. "Battalions B6-1 to B6-5, now hear this. You are to report to rendezvous point Charlie for extraction. Support will be provided from Blue One."
All troops and Paladins moved out, ignoring the retreating White Fang. Bullheads flew overhead, strafing any Grimm who got too close to the retreat column.
White Fang troops moved towards the wreckage of Blue Six, hoping to scavenge some technology and capture Atlesian personnel for ransom. They had never been able to bring down a Battlecrusier before, so this was their chance to get their hands on some high quality gear.
Elsewhere, Hammond soldiers gave a resounding cheer when Blue Six crashed on the ground. They had, technically, lost the fight at Mountain Glenn, though. Their objective was to wipe out the White Fang operation without interference, and now their element of surprise was gone. Remnant probably knew about them now, and they hadn't exactly been nice to the main military power on the planet. Now, they had to quickly shift course to Plan B.
Whatever that was exactly, was only known by the upper echelons of the HEF 3rd Military Group.
Northwest White Fang Base
Atlesian and Fang soldiers were fighting for their life. And they weren't fighting each other. In a rare moment, Atlesians and Faunus put aside their differences and worked together.
A shame all it took was the immediate threat of total eradication of both sides. And before anyone says Is that not the same as the current threat from the Grimm? It isn't, as both sides were numb to the latter, but the current one? Well, Quantum shells were a bit more destructive than the Beowulfs they were scaring/destroying.
"Focus fire on the transports!" The highest ranking officer, a Fang lieutenant, shouted. "Don't let anymore land on the beach!"
Dust rounds flew through the air, impacting Hammond soldiers and bouncing off the shields of the grunt captains. Landing craft was pulled back from the beach, as any that were carrying vehicles were immediately targeted and destroyed by unidentified mortar fire.
"We're running out of soldiers! They can almost charge us soon!" A Hammond soldier shouted. "Sir! Where are the reinforcements!?"
"I don't know! Air transports can't leave their hangars until the Atlesian air fleet is neutralized!" The captain shouted, another round bouncing off his energy shield. "Only a part of the 11th Fleet is here! The rest is in orbit, awaiting the command of the Fleet Admiral!"
More mortar fire landed around them, killing more grunts. A grunt sergeant ran from the other part of the trench. "Sir, we just got word that reinforcements are coming!"
Play Send in the Tanks from the HOI IV OST
"Really? How many troops?" The captain asked.
"It's not troops."
The treeline from the right of the White Fang and Atlesian lines started to shake. Some of the fire stopped, only for Paladin tanks to burst into the clearing. The tanks immediately provided cover for the Hammond trenchline, blocking fire and scaring the opposing line.
The Paladin tank was a vehicle that was new to Remnant. A tank itself was widely regarded as less useful than a more mobile mech when fighting Grimm. However, Hammond had only just started fighting Grimm but had been used to fighting horde tactics for a while now. The Paladin was a tank that mounted two separate 210mm cannons on it's chassis, and lightweight titanium armor of 12 cm thick. The secondary weapons were .75 caliber modified coaxial Spitfire machine guns and Spitfire on the top of the turret cupola. Leading Paladin tanks mounted the same specifications, but had an extra 40mm triple burst fire cannon in the center between the two barrels.
(Paladin Tank - Titanfall)
"What the-where did they come from?!" A Fang soldier shouted. "What are they?!"
"Fire everything!" A soldier shouted, and all fire was directed at the tanks. Bullets bounced off harmlessly from the armor, while the turrets turned to face the trench lines of Atlas and Fang.
The lead tank's barrels aimed, as did the other tanks, and fired. The HE shells ripped through the trenches, killing the soldiers with ease. The tanks fired their machine guns, destroying what little aura was present, and silencing the enemy. Hammond soldiers marched from behind the tanks, as every enemy soldier was killed. Now all that was left was to destroy the base.
End OST
Until one of the Everest Summit battleships went up in an explosion from behind the force. The forces suddenly turned, watching as multiple Grimm forms were coming up from the sea. The Hammond forces watched, stunned at the sight as a Leviathan rose up from the sea bed.
Then another.
Then another.
Then another.
To top it all off, a Leviathan Major rose up, towering over the Leviathans from before by about an entire three body lengths. They started crushing the naval force, as Krakens and Sea Dragons burst from the water, and if one looked closely the wreckage of Tigersharks could be seen.
"We need to retreat." The captain said flatly. "We ain't beating those things without nuclear help."
"Let me guess: The plan says we can't use nukes?" The sergeant asked.
"Yep."
The random grunt sighed. "Dammit, at least we tried."
The captain nodded, and radioed for evac. Multiple transports jumped into the system, as grunts, Spectres, and Paladin tanks made a hasty circle to protect from the charging Grimm. The naval Grimm knocked the battleships out in the background, leaving the cruisers and destroyers, unable to break through the Grimm's sturdy bone armor, to their deaths.
The partial 11th HEF Fleet broke off from their engagement to cover the retreating transports, leaving the Atlesian Fleet feeling victorious. Now, they pushed on the advance. Fang and Atlesian soldiers who weren't killed launched mortar strikes at the Hammond forces, denting tank armor and killing infantry units.
Beacon
"Reports are coming in, General." An officer reported. "The enemy force has been attacked by S-class Grimm and an SS-class Grimm. Their naval force has been decimated and they are retreating. Heavy casualties to them, somewhere in the millions."
General Ironwood, who was looking outside the window in Ozpin's office, turned around so violently the junior officer was worried the General broke his neck. "What?"
"Sir, reports-"
"Not that. They suffered how many casualties?" Ironwood specified, not wanting to hear the report again.
"The count is sketchy, since we don't know the exact crews of the ships. We used Atlesian standards, multiplied or divided to get for the battleships and destroyers respectively, and came to the count of somewhere in the millions." The JO reported.
Ironwood was...somewhere between ecstatic and mortified. He was over the moon about winning the bigger fight, but was completely horrified at the casualty count. What force could justify that loss?
Council room, Arora
All four Vice-Emperors sneezed at once.
Beacon, again
Ironwood rubbed his chin. "Okay, tell our units to get out of there. The White Fang we can deal with later, right now we need all forces to prepare for any more attacks from this faction. What was it...they call themselves Hammond, right?"
"I believe so, sir."
"Then keep an eye open and an ear listening for them. Dismissed." The General said, turning to Ozpin as the JO left. "Well? What do you think?"
"I think we ignore this for now." Ozpin said, sipping his coffee.
"What?! Have you lost it?!" Glynda shouted.
"Professor Goodwitch, we have just won a fight against this faction, while forcing a draw from another. They have suffered over a million casualties from one fight alone. No force will have the capacity to counter-attack us, nor do I think they are the extra-terrestrial empire they make themselves out to be." Ozpin said, with Ironwood nodding.
"But what if they are?" Glynda asked.
"Sir! We captured one of the soldiers!" The JO from before shouted.
"Well, I think we can ask our new friend, don't you think?" Ironwood asked menacingly. He was going to enjoy watching this one squirm.
Council Room, Arora
"So, are casualty count is in the millions?" Grey asked. The general giving the report nodded. "Good, that makes it believable then. We should now focus on the more important matter now. Give our Councilmen a call, tell them what we want to do now." The general nodded, and left the room.
"I hate how they're all so silent." White said. "It gives me the creeps, like they're planning something against us."
"I feel like you're speaking from experience." Red stated.
"Call it a woman's intuition." White answered.
"I don't think that's how it works." Blue noted.
"And suddenly you're a woman?" White asked.
"Probably more than you-"
"Enough." Grey said, annoyed. Red shook his head, but was chuckling.
Grey sighed. "Look, by tomorrow, Remnant will think we were a rogue faction who was just eliminated from the face of the planet by a freak Grimm attack. I'll admit, I wasn't expecting a Leviathan Major but here we are."
"What's the next step?" White asked.
"We use our inside allies to keep our plan rolling. If the info my technicians acquired from the CCT network is true, then something is going to happen at this year's...Vytal festival." Grey said, confused. "Apparently, this planet celebrates peace by making the students from the different Hunter Academies fight each other for sport."
"...What?" The other three asked.
"I don't know the specifications, I just know something is going to happen. That coincides with plan. Luckily, I have made the adjustments necessary to counter this."
"Care to explain the plan to me?" Blue asked. "I don't think I was here to hear it."
"All in good time, my friend. All in good time." Grey chuckled. "I need to work on how I'm going to break the news to the public."
The four of them shivered. The Hammond Empire's military was brutal...but the public was brutal-er.
Ozpin's Office, a week later
"Could you repeat that, councilman?" Ozpin asked, confused.
"The council has decided to stay the course for the Vytal Festival." Councilman Winchester repeated. "The festival cannot be cancelled."
"I'm assuming here, but this has to do with the quietness from the, quote, rogue faction?" Ozpin inferred.
"Correct. We have good reason to believe, from both the good General's...methods...and our investigators that this faction is far gone."
Ironwood, who was in the office with Ozpin, showed him the file from the Atlesian Knights who went over to the island near Atlas. The island, which was mentioned, showed nothing but wreckage and a multitude of Grimm hordes. He also had the transcripts from the prisoner he interrogated, showing the information he was given.
"They were most likely overrun. Millions of souls, snuffed out by the Grimm." Ironwood said, a tone of pity was heard in his words.
"A shame, for sure. But now, we must focus on the present. No info or technology could be gleaned from the ruins, almost like it was intentional." Another councilman noted. "But we leave the defense of Vale and the festival to Ironwood and you, Ozpin"
"Both of us?" Ozpin asked. "I agree, two heads are better than one."
"Agreed." Ironwood said.
The call ended, and the two looked back at the files from Dragon Island. What really happened at that base? This force was able to knock out an A-class Grimm and an entire horde with it, so another should have been okay to deal with. Except...the Leviathan Major?
"It must have been the Leviathans…" Ironwood mumbled.
"What a terrible way to go out." Ozpin sighed.
In orbit, above Remnant
To the naked eye, it looked like Remnant was covered in space trash. To observers on the ground, they saw nothing. To the Hammond Empire, it was five HEF Fleets. HEF Fleets 9-12 awaited their orders, while they surrounded the main HEF Fleet.
The 3rd HEF Battlefleet, comprised of 120 Malta battleships, 40 SuperCarrier ships, 10 Colossus superships, and 1 entirely new ship.
While the Dreadnought class Flagships were saved for HMF Fleets, there was a special class designated for HEF Fleets: the Phoenix Carrier.
(Phoenix Class Colony Carrier - Halo Wars)
For all intensive purposes, the design called for all original lengths to be multiplied by 10 each way, making for one of the larger ships in the Hammond Naval Fleet List (HNFL). It still supported many of the same weapons systems, but more were added to give additional cover. Missile pod count was increased by the original number times 10, but the singular Railgun cannon on the front of the ships was removed in place for multiple smaller railguns, around 12 cannons firing a 650mm tungsten round at mach .99. The hangar, which usually carried colonial needs and military vehicles, was replaced with an entire ship hangar.
That is correct. The Phoenix ships held an entire hangar full of Malta battleships ready to support the other fleets, as well as a manufacturing plant to build more ships. It was a base on the move, but it couldn't field any military vehicles or other needs. So...one drawback.
HNV Exiled God, Phoenix Carrier (PCS-12)
HEF General-Admiral Alexander Barkhov sat in the commander's chair on his bridge. The Admiral was a modest figure with a tired expression and pale skin. He wore his standard Admiral uniform and his white overcoat, while his curved cap sat on his head. He stared out at the planet of Remnant, contemplating this 'plan' of Vice-Emperor Gray's. His fleet was to be stationed in orbit of the planet until the final step in Phase I was complete. Of course, this meant many things had to still happen until he could...be relieved of his duty. Now, all over the Hammond Empire people were talking about the last failure of the HEF. So much was lost on the fake out, too many dead. But it was still successful in a way, the fact that it was so obscure to the public eye was the annoying part.
"Sir, incoming call from the 3rd HEF Military Group Field Marshall." A junior officer reported.
"Patch it through." Gen-Adm Barkhov said, in a dull russian accent.
The hologram patched through, showing the Field Marshall in his...well, its full form.
The Field Marshall was, in fact, a Spyglass model spectre. "Barkhov, report."
"The 3rd HEF Fleet Group is holding position above Remnant. Ships are operating within nominal status, and our orbital bombardment cannons are still targeting the Grimmlands." The General Admiral reported.
"Excellent. I have some news for you."
"Oh?"
"Yes, the Supreme Commander has given the green light for our next step in the plan. Prepare the Titan squadrons, we will be striking in two weeks." The Field Marshall answered.
"And the target?" Barkhov asked.
"Our target is…"
Ironwood's Flagship
"Sir, you wanted to see the prisoner again?" A soldier asked, two others holding a handcuffed man in a prison jumpsuit.
"Yes. Leave him here. Have the two guards posted at the door." Ironwood ordered. The soldier nodded, and left while the two guards let go of the prisoner. They left to guard the door, watching the prisoner warily.
"Now then." Ironwood started. "State your name."
"Second Lieutenant Michael Farrallon, 3rd Squad Leader of 2nd Platoon, Bravo company." The soldier answered.
"Alright, Farrallon. Why did your allies attack my forces Mountain Glenn and North White Fang Base?"
"Because my orders said to." Farrallon answered.
"Who gave you those orders? What was the highest ranking member you remember?" Ironwood asked.
"I already told you, my company commander."
"Who gave him those orders?"
"The battalion commander."
"Who is the battalion commander?"
The soldier shrugged. "I have no idea how to explain it to you."
"I just want to know if he or she is the highest ranking person in your little group." Ironwood explained.
"Perhaps. Orders were pretty vague from the BC. It would never say if we were with other groups or not."
"Sorry, what?" Ironwood asked. "Now you've spawned more questions for me to ask."
"Well, the BC was not a he or she, but a robot." The soldier explained.
"A bunch of humans took orders...from a robot?"
"Well, it was a mix of robots and humans taking orders from a robot."
"So...you were unaware of other battalions were with yours?" Ironwood asked.
"Yes. I was only aware of the battalion I was with." The soldier finished.
"Very well. Is there anything you can tell me about your group? Preferably along the lines of 'space faring empire'?"
"Oh, the hacking and rerouting of the signal? Yeah...we made that up."
"Why?"
"We wanted to sow discord and doubt into Remnant. So we waited years, and struck when we thought we had a chance."
"By wiping out two Atlesian Fleets at once." Ironwood finished, crossing his arms.
"Yep. It should've worked, until the Grimm showed up." The soldier nodded.
"That's always an unknown variable."
The soldier nodded. "So...what do you want to know?"
"Well, tell me about your life."
Somewhere over the Grimmlands
Malta class battleships hovered over the clouds covering the Grimmlands. From time to time, a beam of plasma would come down from a ship and pierce the clouds, illuminating it with the beam glassing the ground.
Originally, the commanders wanted to not harm the planet with glassing beams. But when the Field Marshall ordered for a small squadron to glass a section of the Grimmlands to test the effects of the beam on Dust deposits...well, orders are orders.
Thankfully, the beams didn't harm the Dust at all. It was another story for the Grimm. Many Grimm pools were decimated, lowering Grimm production while also killing swathes of Grimm in the process. This allowed for small Forward Bases to be built. Many fortresses were built, two or three would surround a foundry that would extract Dust from the ground to be shipped to manufacturing plants.
Since Dust was unable to work when it left Remnant's Atmosphere, it had to be converted into an energy source before it could be transported. Thankfully, after many trials, Dust was converted into a storable energy source. It was stored on large batteries and put onto transports to be shipped off-world.
While the batteries worked great, and the glassing opening more fields everyday, there was still discord in the upper ranks of the glassing squadrons.
Bridge, HNV Athens, lead battleship
"Why are we using these glassing beams to clear out Grimm and their spawn pools when we could easily overrun the local populace with them alone?" A holographic captain asked.
In the bridge of Athens, a meeting between Squadron Captains was taking place. Much like certain governments, the captains were split between to parties. One was for the continued glassing and asking no questions, the other was for asking why they were still glassing monsters and not the human population of Remnant.
"We're still here to protect the foundries and bases from Grimm. Why we're still glassing is up to the Field Marshall. Our squadrons are here on its orders." Another holographic captain answered.
"This is true. As squadrons of the Exiled God, we listen to the Field Marshall and the Field Marshall alone. We are not to question what its orders are." Another explained.
"You say the same thing every time this damn question is brought up." Another said.
"When you asked a math question, does the answer change because you asked again?" The only non-holographic captain asked. "This debate should be over by now. The Field Marshall was clear with the orders. We are to glass our areas and protect the foundries and bases. Am I clear?"
The other holograms stayed silent, but nodded. They disappeared to continue with their duties, leaving the captain to look outside the Athens. He watched as a group of Nevermore were obliterated from the sky by gun batteries on the other battleships in his squadron.
"Soon, it has to be very soon." Was all the captain said, stroking his chin. "Because I have a feeling they will be ready soon."
Somewhere in the Grimmlands' Edge
Multiple figures moved through the mist of the dark forest. They became clearer, showing to be bipedal mechs. The sleek domed front, the missile racks, and the shadows their weapons cast.
Zooming out, more and more of these figures moved through the forest, while hundreds of smaller bipedal mechs moved with them.
Unknown to the Remnant, hundreds of Ogre Titans and probably thousands of Reapers moved towards the Kingdoms, unopposed and without obstacle
