Well. We're switching back to Master Chief's perspective in this chapter.
Sorry it took too long to write. We were busy with other work. I hope you can understand why this is too late to publish within this month. But that doesn't matter. Here is what you need to know.
Though it will be only this chapter before we are going to look at what Spartan Fred was doing with General Secura and rescuing the stranded Clones of the 327th Star Corps.
With that said, let's go ahead with the story shall we?
Halo Galactic Wars Chapter Nine: Escorting the Enemy
"Are you fine with doing this, Big Green?"
"Done it numerous times, Commander."
"Even though there may be enemies that could defeat you?"
"..."
Master Chief was on the bridge alongside Ahsoka Tano. Both were waiting there as they were about to meet with a Clone Commander called Gree and his unit, the 41st Elite Corps. Clone Troopers who only heard about the Spartan couldn't help but to glance at him with curiosity under their helmets.
"Uh…forgot you're too famous with the clones, Big Green?" Ahsoka said with a smirk. Her tone was mixed with a bit of smugness as she saw the body reaction of the Spartan.
"I suppose." The Spartan spoke right before he saw a yellow-skinned humanoid dressed up in black robes walking up to them with a Clone Commander with Dark Green Markings on her side.
Jedi Master Luminara Unduli stared right at the two before her gaze shifted at the Padawan. "Ah, Ahsoka. It's good to see you again. Although… it's curious to see you without your Master."
"That is why General Skywalker assigned me to assist her," Chief stoically informed the Jedi, which made her face twist into a look of mild surprise.
"So, I'm guessing you must be the Master Chief then?" The Jedi Master obviously stated as she looked at him. "The Clones in my Command wouldn't stop talking about you ever since that Broadcast."
Commander Gree saluted at the Spartan in a respectful way. "An Honor to meet someone heroic like you, Sir!" Chief responded in kind. Saluting him back.
Unduli was not the type to judge an individual at face value. But… Every fiber of her being could feel the potential danger radiating from this… Forceless being. As if he's a blank spot in reality.
"So, where is this Gunray that we were meant to escort?" An Unknown female voice spoke, which immediately broke the meeting. The General and their Commander were looking around to find where the noise was coming from. Chief just silently sighed as he brought his left palm out to reveal his AI Companion, Joy, who looked at him. "Huh. I'm starting to think you need to tell people about my presence." She then looked at the aforementioned two, "Oh, was I interrupting something?"
"Oh, no no. You're perfectly fine." Came the response from Ahsoka.
"Great!" She responded before disappearing into thin air. The two who haven't had the pleasure to meet Joy before now stared blankly into the gold visor of the Master Chief. Who in turn, performed his closest interpretation of a shrug.
"We're partners." He replied.
The Jedi Master wanted to know who that Individual was. But knew that it wasn't exactly the right time to ask. She proceeded to answer the question that was asked earlier. "Formerly, he was the ruler of Neimoidia after a successful CIS invasion. But as you can see… He's been dethroned."
"No thanks to Senator Amidala's assistance," The Spartan bluntly said and already saw a mental thought of his AI companion saying that she and General Skywalker seemed close. Which he was aware of but didn't say it out loud.
"Ah, and I see you're acquainted with the Naboo Senator then?" The Mirilan Jedi spoke to the Spartan.
"On occasion." He replied dryly.
Before anyone could converse further, Joy then interrupted again through the comlinks. "Sorry if I interrupt once again. But where is this Nute being held?"
"He's being brought up via corvette. For interrogation and transport to Coruscant." Undili answered the AI's question.
"Are we expecting company?" The Master Chief questioned the two unfamiliar faces. Or rather, an unfamiliar face as Gree looked exactly like the other Clone Troopers he saw without their helmets.
"Considering whatever information he might hold, it's a possibility." Gree responded back to the Spartan.
"Then what are we waiting for then?" Chief said, seeing that they are only wasting more time.
-Scene Change-
"Let me put it this way, Gunray, you're in no position to negotiate. Talk." Ahsoka demanded. She was currently in the room with the aforementioned leader of the Viceroy of the Trade Federation. Undili and Chief were with the Padawan as they were observing.
"Like the Jedi would be interested in… less savory methods of persuasion." The Viceroy smugly commented back with a retort look on his face.
Ahsoka responded by igniting her lightsaber and swinging it an inch above his neck. This shocked everyone within the room at the young Padawan's action. "Now then, you are going to answer my question before this Lightsaber is going right through your slimy throat."
"Commander!" Master Chief spoke, which caught the Togruta's attention. "... You're doing it wrong." Without skipping a beat, he firmly pulled her away from the Viceroy. He picked up her chair and began… bending it. The Neimoidian was sweating as he twisted and stretched the metal into a shape. By the time he was done, it looked like… a loth cat. Down to the littlest detail. "So, unless you want to see what I can do to your spine. I suggest more cooperation."
"You-you're insane! Do you think I would answer to some…freak?!" Gunray snarled back at the Spartan.
"Well, assuming since I don't technically work for the Republic in the traditional sense. So, I have a bit more… leeway." While accurate, he's mostly using Joy's advice she apparently saw in old crime television before entering this Galaxy. Not his usual job but. He can't deny the effect it's having on the prisoner.
Ahsoka was shocked and surprised to see this side of the Spartan. She was still shell shocked that he grabbed her after threatening the Viceroy with her lightsaber and surprised to see the Spartan easily bend the chair she sat on.
"... I will consider it." The Viceroy spoke, the sweat pooling beneath his feet. "Now please, leave me be."
Without any words spoken, all occupants decided to leave the room that Nute Gunray was in. As they did, the Spartan looked at the Padawan and she could tell that he was disappointed by her previous action. "That was unnecessary, Commander. Threatening the Viceroy with your lightsaber is not the way your Order approves of." She hung her head in acceptance. "But that does not mean you can't use more hands on means of interrogation."
"Master Skywalker does that when he does those things." She admitted while holding her wrist.
"Yes, but sometimes the implication of harm is more effective than the act itself." Chief spoke right before he brought out his left palm to reveal Joy's avatar. "I need to have a word with him as well, Joy."
Said person was crossing her arms over her chest and pondered at the words that the Togruta had said. "I am starting to think that you need to not copy everything that General Skywalker does."
"Well, he is my teacher." The Togruta clarified to Joy.
"True, but you could always do your own spin of things." The AI told the young Padawan. Right at that moment, her system told her something was about to happen. "I'm getting readings. It's.. coming close."
"What is?" Gree asked the AI.
"Fighters, drop pods. Looks like his friends wanna bust him out before he squeals." Joy answered before going back into the Chief's armor.
This somewhat grabbed everyone's attention as it made them prepare for the incoming Separatist Attack. During this time, Undili looked towards the two individuals. "Commanders. Get the General and deal with them."
"What about you?" Ahsoka asked the Spartan.
"I'll keep the prisoner in check." He replied before turning towards a nearby Clone Trooper while the two rushed to help their leader. "I need a weapon."
"Right this way, Sir." A Clone Trooper looked at him before grabbing a nearby DC-15 Carbine and gave it to him. "Now please, give those Seppy bastards hell."
-Scene Change-
The venator had been turned into a battlefield for the stationed Clone Troopers. B2's marching from the hangar to try and overrun the ship's crew. Serving as a distraction so that the agent could cripple the ship, swipe the viceroy, and use the corvette as a getaway vehicle. It was simple, almost flawless… Though there were complications. First were the pair of Jedi stationed aboard, a pain but nothing she couldn't handle. Second was the Clones. Easier to handle but in trouble in group's. Again, no big deal. But… Then came him.
The one Dooku warned her about.
For some reason, this… almost droid-like soldier was guarding the Neimoidian. First was his aim, almost perfect. Requiring her to deflect each shot with her blade. Some of them were deflected, yet it was supposed to kill this unknown individual.
Yet something had caught her eyes. As the blast shot back at his armor, there was some sort of protection that surrounded his whole body.
This was no ordinary Clone Trooper. And he didn't look like one.
Master Chief replaced the empty magazine with a fresh one and aimed the carbine at her. Her skin was pale as white with black markings around her face. She was bald and yet despite her feminine appearance, he knew that this was not an ordinary enemy.
"Chief. I'd be careful if I were you." The voice of Joy informed the Spartan. "Those lightsabers could cut your shields down with one cut as well as you." The last sentence reminded her of a very old Anime that she had watched during her off-time, and she just let out a groan. "Just saying that reminds me of this anime show I watched."
"..." The Master Chief didn't say anything as he stared at the woman in front of him. He had had to be careful or otherwise one single hit could instantly shut down his shield and give the enemy an opportunity to eliminate him. Dodging each swing she took towards him, the Chief aimed his rifle as his opponent. But the barrel was cut before the Spartan could even fire. So, he ditched the weapon and decided to use his fists despite it being at a disadvantage.
"My, my." The Sith Assassin, Assajj Ventress spoke to her opponent with a mocking tone. "Count Dooku has informed me of your works. And you must be the Master Chief the Republic's Holonet has been talking about?"
"Something like that." The Spartan Spoke in a very apathetic tone to that statement.
"Well then, let's see how you fare against the-HRK!" But before she could finish, she was launched across the detention center from a swift punch to the stomach. She got back up and felt the pain coursing through the area that got impacted. But then realized something… she was missing a lightsaber.
"How about we even the odds?" The Spartan directly questioned as he had got a hold of her missing lightsaber.
"Chief…" Joy's voice rang through his helmet comms. "Just please remember that it's not the same way as an energy sword. And I won't be starting a debate between them."
'I know…' He thought to himself as he ignited the crimson blade. It reminded him of the Arbiter's Blade, the Prophet's Bane, due to the darker hue of the weapon. Still, he's gonna have to try to use this thing to defend himself. Since he sure wasn't allowing her to take Gunray… or worse, kill the prisoner. "If you want to get him, you'll have to go through me first."
"If you say so…" She spoke with a small smile on her face. Without any time to waste, she used the Force to rush towards the Spartan.
Now, fighting a Jedi or Sith without the same magic powers and or a laser sword is usually suicidal. But he made up for it in speed, strength, and mind. Now that sounded arrogant to him, yet he had no reaction to such things. As the Sith got closer, he blocked her attack despite his stance not fitting in either Sith or Jedi tradition. He then used his temporary blade to push her off before attempting to strike her. But she used the Force to push him away. Causing him to slide a few feet away from Ventress.
He wasn't the only one who felt the Force. "Is it just me who felt my system being affected, or am I just imagining things?"
"CHIEF!" Ahsoka's voice was heard. The Spartan turned to his left to see the Padawan approaching him. "I saw you fighting Assajj. And I think you need some assistance."
"I'll be fine, just make sure the prisoner is safe." Chief ordered her.
"Bu-" She protested as she had got here recently.
"Now." He said, not wanting to repeat what his orders were. Ahsoka was a bit hesitant but nodded and left the Chief to do his thing.
As The Padawan left with Nute Gunray, The assassin and the spartan got themselves ready. Blades ignited, staring each other down. Preparing for the coming battle. The only sounds present are that of quiet breathing and the low hum of the Kyber blades.
Insert [Halo 2 OST: Blow Me Away]
Then, they suddenly leapt towards each other. The energy blades clashed together, Ventress scowled at the Spartan before using the Force to her advantage to try and stagger the super soldier. Once again, he was pushed back but was not staggered enough for a clean kill. This time, he decided to charge towards her. Performing a low swing to see if he could disable her movement, she managed to block it in time but was flung back a good distance away from him.
"Chief, you need to press the attack. Multi-hit this chick." Joy informed him as they were a distance away from the Sith assassin.
"...What?" The Spartan spoke. His stoic voice seemed to crack up a bit of his stoicism before resuming back to it.
The AI let out a sigh as she added more to her previous statement. "Fast attacks. Don't give her a moment to breathe. Got it? Just forget what I said, okay?" She felt quite embarrassed at the word she had previously spoken.
"..." He nodded and charged back towards the force user. Getting himself ready to apply pressure to his foe. As soon as he was in range, she prepared to block in anticipation. That was when he began his attack. Using his speed and enhanced reflexes to perform fast swings and jabs. Each one she was having trouble deflecting.
Ventress meanwhile, was surprised at how much she was being pushed back by someone that didn't have a single midichlorian in his body. Especially with his impressive physical ability, each strike being stronger than the last.
Yet despite this, she knew her rescue mission was going to go to her plan. See, she had an inside man. Someone who was willing to look the other way or assist with the jailbreak… for the right price. So as long as he was distracted, that meant he could take in Nute Gunray instead. All she had to do now was to distract the Spartan right before he was aware what was going on. Speaking of which, the Spartan must have moved fast, and…
Wait a moment, why does her left arm feel numb?... Ventress looked at said arm and saw that the Spartan had twisted it. Before she could shriek in pain, she was interrupted by a shattering punch to the face.
Being thrown against the wall, she got up while holding her sides as she looked at the Spartan. The Sith Assassin coughed as she was in pain and despite her injuries, all she wanted to do was to kill this individual. This would have been her fatal mistake if it wasn't for someone to contact her through her still functional comms. {"Ventress, are you there?"}
"Bit busy at the moment, did you get Gunray out?" She asked, making the Chief stop in his tracks and looked at her. He knew something else was going on.
{"Not yet, still busy trying to keep the jedi away so I can do my thing."} The mole responded as the sounds of blaster could be heard. {"If you encountered someone called the Master Chief, then I'd advise avoiding him at all cost. Guy's built like a monster from what I saw in the Holonews."}
Hearing the seriousness in his words, the Assassin looked at the Spartan before she laid her eyes on her lightsabers. As much as she wanted to get up and fight this individual once again, she knew it only meant imminent death. She was faster, yet he could hit her like an asteroid. Literally.
There was only one option left.
She needed to leave and report this to Count Dooku. But not before rescuing Nute Gunray.
Looking up at the ceiling, she used her remaining Force Energy to rip down the ceiling above the Spartan. This made him distracted as she got her two lightsabers back and proceeded to head where the mole was within this Corvette.
The Master Chief saw this and was about to follow her when a voice came through the communication. {"Chief. This is Commander Gree. We're pinned down by these Seps and we need your help."}
"I'm on my way. Enroute to your location now!" The Spartan spoke with stoicism. He knew he was letting an enemy get away, but there were other important things that needed to be done.
-Scene Change-
The firefight between Clones and Droids were exchanged in the Hangar bay of the Corvette. Both sides were dealing massive blows towards one another, yet it seemed to be shifting into the Separatists' Favor. The Mirilan Jedi deflected a plasma bolt before she looked over to her Clone Commander. "Commander, what is the status of Padawan Tano?"
"She's currently with Nute Gunray," Commander Gree responded as he fired at a Droid coming near his position. "We're pinned down and I cannot send in more of my troops with all these droids around." His words were true as many of his men fell and only a handful of them remained.
That's when something seemed to be plowing through the line of droids. B2's being flung or smashed as something is being pushed through. The Clones saw the Master Chief using his Grappling hook to swing a B2 Battledroid towards the other Droids. He used this to go to their position and landed near the group. Without saying a word, he swiped the nearest blasters off of the closest clone corpses and started blasting.
"Good to see your presence, Sir." a Clone Trooper spoke as he threw a Grenade that exploded in the center of a B2 squad. "We thought we were goners!"
The Master Chief looked around to see that one specific person was missing. "Where's Commander Tano?"
"Watching the prisoner, why?" Gree asked and the Spartan was having a small flashback where that assassin was talking to someone over the COMs.
"She's in great danger." That was all the Spartan had to say as he turned to where the supposed escort was supposed to be. Anyone who had listened was confused by his words. "There's a mole on board this ship, and I am not willing to let her be killed."
"That's impossible…" One of the clones spoke. "One of us couldn't possibly be a mole."
"The assassin begged to differ." He coldly stated as he thought about the ones wearing Dark Blue Armor that arrived recently. "I have a feeling some of the Senate Commandos aren't quite so keen about the current state of the war."
-Scene Change-
As this was happening, Ashoka and a few Senate Commandos were dealing with a wave of supers. Some were shot down and some were pushing through the line.
"These Clankers won't stop coming!" The Padawan Togruta shouted as she used her lightsaber to deflect a few plasma bolts that were shot from the B1 horde. Nute was at her side as he was being protected by the Commandos and Clone Troopers.
As the hoard continued to press on. Thinning out little by little. Whether it be sliced by her sabers or blasted by the troopers. They kept on coming, earning each inch ever so slightly. Enough to distract the others so that the Commando Captain and the senator could slip away unnoticed.
The droid wave was over and done with. The young Padawan let out a sigh in relief as it was finally over. "Finally! Now all that is left is…" She trailed off when she saw the Captain and the Separatist Senator gone. "Uh, where are they?"
"Commander!" Her ears heard the voice of the Master Chief as she turned to where she heard it from. The Spartan ran towards the youngling and immediately asked. "Where's Gunray?"
"I-I don't know he's just-" but before she could finish the spartan began to sprint. "Where are you going?!"
"To intercept their escape." The Spartan replied as he shifted his attention to his AI Companion. "What is their current position?"
"Their heading to the corvette docked below. If you can pick up the pace you might just catch them!" Came the response of Joy.
Master Chief then nodded his head and hoped that he wasn't too late to catch them. Sprinting as fast as he could towards his marked targets. Dropping the weapon to the ground, he kept moving faster and faster. Maneuvering past the sliced bodies and such. He was getting closer. Eventually, he saw Ventress and Gunray entering the Corvette along with one of the Coruscant Commandos. The assassin turned to her side and had her eyes widened as seeing the Spartan coming close to their position.
"Start the engine!" The Sith assassin shouted to the mole, who immediately slammed his fist onto the console.
The airlock hatch closed while the gondola receded into the cruiser.
The Chief however kept running, before reaching the door. Prying it open with his bare hands. The sudden decompression sucking out anything that isn't bolted down. Once it was open enough, he jumped towards the corvette… before it blasted off and went into hyperspace.
"Sorry Chief, we'll get 'em next time." Joy's voice had told him through his helmet as they was in the vacuum of Space.
Master Chief went silent at his AI Companion's words. Right before he was about to reply, a familiar voice had reached to him first, "{Chief, do you copy over?}"
"Affirmative, the Senator has escaped." The Spartan informed the Jedi Master. Having heard the seriousness within her voice, he decided to ask his own question. "Is there something that I need to be informed about?"
"{It's your other Spartan companion.}" The Jedi replied. "{He has information that he wants to share with you.}"
-Scene Change-
A thud was heard within the recently captured corvette as a body was dropped towards the ground. Ventress rolled her shoulders a few times as she felt the injuries from encountering that Green Armored individual early on. She still couldn't believe that he managed to hand his ground against the Assassin and temporarily used one of her lightsabers against her.
At least Ventress managed to get Nute Gunray out from Republic Custody thanks to that mole. But he wasn't left alive since he didn't inform her how he underestimated the Spartan's Capability.
And it was this weapon why she had to inform her master right away.
Fiddling with the holo-network, the holographic figure of Count Dooku was seen and he saw his apprentice in a pretty bad shape. "Am I to assume that you engaged the Republic's Newest War Hero, My Apprentice?"
"Yes my master, while I managed to get Senator Gunray… he almost compromised the mission." She bitterly informed her Master while tending to her wounds.
Dooku raised an eyebrow at his Apprentice. His contempt was somewhat subdued. "Normally the tool's of the Sith are more than enough to handle any challenge thrown your way. But… I assumed that there was more to this individual than meets the eye."
"He used one of my lightsabers against me."
"He certainly must have held his own… well."
"Master, give me a chance to-"
"No… I will see if Durge is willing to handle this." Dooku had finished before the hologram flicked off, leaving the Apprentice to her thoughts.
It sure has been a while hasn't it? Damn, this took a while to complete, and now we're going to be writing more this year. And look at the bomb drop? Now it is time for Fred's Perspective. Still, I wonder where the hell is Linda?
Crimson Soldat: With the Bad Batch and the Mandalorian being out, I haven't been watching the episodes for a while as I am busy. But I would like to continue Halo Galactic Wars to have more chapters for this year.
SomeRandomMarine: Apologies, been a bit of a busy few months and well… no longer giving a shit about new star wars content certainly didn't help. Makes me wonder whether or not I'm cut out for this story. Though, I'll still try to work on this in between D&B and other projects. Ain't that much of a pansy to give up so soon.
EXACTLY! We would want to publish more chapters, no matter how shitty the new Star Wars content is like. Well, except for Andor, I heard it's really good and shows how competent both the Rebels and Imperials are. With that said, We'll see you in the next chapter…whenever that comes.