0600 hours, February 07, 2531 (military calendar)
Planet Unknown
Planet Unknown's Orbit
"You may want to add who or what is the Flood" stated Hiruzen looking at Precious Justice who finally moved to her feet. Understanding what was asked she set up a feed that allowed select individuals to see besides the ones on the bridge.
Naruto and Catherine from the bay, Tsunade, Shizune, and Sakura from the lab, Tenten and Fintz from the engineering bay, Shikamaru Kushina Hinata and Shaak Ti from the strategy rooms, and all the Captains of the ships at the Captains conference room.
"The Flood is a ravenous, hive-mind parasite that aggressively and relentlessly seizes, converts, and controls sentinel host in an effort to propagate and spread into every possible space" she started showing them images of the flood and the results of it horrifying everyone who sees. "Everything they take cover becomes a part of them. Their knowledge, memories, and even some abilities. Even A.I. are vulnerable to them. They never stop and always hunger for more" she finished as everyone looked on in shock not saying a word until the Admiral spoke up.
"Why are you just telling us this now? This would have been very important to know beforehand" he asked
"The information was locked away from me by my creators. They felt that if this information was known to the current timeline, you would actively pursue it looking for information risking its return. Something my creator wanted to be avoided at all costs"
"This parasite, how did they defeat it?"
"They didn't" she answered confusing them. "They created a weapon that wiped out all sentinel life destroying their food source. The weapon killed most of the flood as well and what didn't die starve to death all cannibalize itself in an attempt to survive. It seems this planet has been doing so for a long time to be around this long" she finished
"Is there a cure?" asked Tsunade into the comms
"There is no known cure, but it is believed that your ancestors have created one, but it had been lost due to time and possibly the Flood attacks on them"
"Wait ancestor?"
"Why yes. Your species have been around for hundreds of thousands of years. Your race was very advanced before a series of events happened that nearly ended your species"
"What events?". "I unfortunately do not have that answer" she answered showing the features that she was thinking when Catherine asked, "Is it because you are locked from the information?"
"No. I simply do not have it. They did not give me that information"
It took a few minutes to process this new set information, but they couldn't afford to waste too much time. "The mission has not changed" spoke up Naruto from the comms. "We are to rescue Dr. Anders and find out what the Covenant are up to that would risk infection of the Flood. We can get back to all the other information once those two issues have been solved"
"Correct" added Hiruzen. "Forward the information to Captain Cutter and his forces. No one is to down to that planet without the proper protection to prevent the infections and no one or thing is coming back onboard without proper screening for it. I leave the screening to the doctors and the A.I." he ordered
Ship Bay
Naruto and the other Spartan's were running a diagnostic on the condor as they were getting ready to take off. The Spirit of Fire moved forward first as they received the new information. Once the crew was updated briefly on the threat the Elemental's Guardian had followed after it. Seeing everything was good to go Naruto was about to give Ralph who was piloting the green to go but stopped once seeing Halsey starting to board.
"No fucking way" he started walking up to her gaining her attention. "With the flood on the planet I'm not risking you or anyone without the proper gear. You need to get suited up with a sealed suit, breathalyzer, and helmet" he ordered stopping her at the front of the ramp. Before she could retaliate, she saw all the other Spartans forming a wall behind him in agreeance. She won't be having her way here.
"Dammit, fine" she muttered placing her gear to the side and walking off to get the gear. Once seeing her leave the area to head for the armory Naruto pulled a nearby marine to watch her stuff before ordering the ship to take off.
"You know she is going to be angry at you for this right?" questioned Naomi. "I will be lucky if she is only angry at me" he muttered as the ramp closed and the ship took off into the air. It is 30 minutes later that she would return wearing a white with light blue highlight combat suit to curse out Naruto who left her behind.
Once breaking through the atmosphere an assortment of aircraft left the ship. From their own Condor to pelican gunships, E/A Hatchets, longswords, and shortswords. They were sticking to aircover right now until the troops could be properly fitted with the protection gear. Only the Spartans had their suits which allowed them to be safe from the spores which is why they were going on the ground. They didn't know how the Spirit of Fire were going to conduct their operations as they were already on the ground. The good news was the manufactures onboard were making suits as fast as possible, but it will take some time until they had enough for everyone.
Ground
While the SOF forces were investigating the surrounding area for Anders signal, they were taking a more direct approach to the other situation. They were going to assault a Covenant base causing as much damage as possible to keep the attention of the Covenant forces on them. They just had to worry about the flood. According to scouts the Covenant did the smart thing and created a base away from the flood locations. 'It's time to see what they were up to' thought Naruto walking out the parked Condor with two Spartan fireteams.
Knowing they were going to assault a base he had set up certain roles and for certain equipment to be brought with them. Doing the primary assault on the base would be Fireteam Omega. Having two Spartans rucking large ammo carriers attached to their armor and to their M247 heavy machine guns. He also had two other Spartans equip rocket launchers as their secondary. Two additional Spartans were spilt from the team providing overwatch with sniper rifles.
Spartan Team Kilo would sneak in from the side when the fighting starts to cause destruction and cutting off supply chains. He would sneak in from another side and do what he does best. Cause utter chaos and fear among his enemies. Something a certain being within would love to watch.
Spartan Team Omega
Leon leading his team into position approached the base from a distance to see its purple smooth structure. What the UNSC as designated the structure as a citadel was the main headquarters. From side he could see their motor pool filled with ghosts and wraiths. Behind the citadel he could see an air staging field containing banshees and spirits. In the front were a few buildings he could take a wild guest and assume they were barracks and supply depots. Seeing prime targets to hit first he rely his orders.
"First target is the air staging field. Air power is our biggest threat. Once hit enough target the motor pool. Any other surroundings structures are to follow at your own digression" he ordered as his team gave him a green light to signal, they understood. Assuming their locations as the snipers broke away, Leon toke aim at his first target with his rocket launcher and fired.
Brutes were walking around in a carefree manner. Most of the 'important business' was being handled by the elites. They were just stationed here for reinforcements as well as the staging area for incoming ships. The only thing they had to worry about was the infection which seemed to be focused on something else. 'So, a vacation from hunting the humans' thought a brute as he saw a rocket trail through the sky in confusion.
That confusion turned into shock as the rocket exploded hitting a parked banshee that took two nearby banshees out. More rockets soon trailed after it smacking into different aircraft and buildings causing a panic in the base.
"We are under attack!" he roared reaching behind to grab for his Warhammer to find it missing. Turning around to see why that was he noticed that in that distract a group of demons snuck up on him and stole his Warhammer right off his back. And with that Warhammer, with a swing his lights went out.
Naomi smashing the brute into a wall with his Warhammer dropped it on the ground soon after to grab plasma grenades off his belt. Activating them one by one she threw them in random directions to cause more damage and chaos before leading her team to the supply depot.
With Naruto
Sneaking into the base was very easy for an Elemental like him. He was currently having his back to the wall of a citadel behind some crates. Once Team Omega began their attack, he would start his. Waiting a few minutes for the attack his radio came online.
"You know I'm unhappy with you" spoke a voice he easily recognized as Catherine. "It's a sacrifice I was willing to make. The Flood is not something to be testing our luck on. I gather information first and then make decisions on that"
"I assume you are going to sneak into that building you are next to and see if they have any information on the Flood. They are after all comfortable enough to make a base on this world with it on it. And I can see your view from your helmet cam"
"Ah, well yes. Gather information and then destroy it" he answered seeing the rocket fly through the air beginning the start of the attack. "I can also assume Kora is in your suit for that very reason as well" she added
"Yes, Doctor Halsey. I'm with Naruto waiting to get under the hood" replied Kora as explosion sounded off shaking the area. With that happening that was his que to leap around the corner with his kukri and dive spearing a brute at the entrance. With his knife buried under the enemy's head slammed his hand down on the ground practicing what his mother taught him. From the ground around him red chains burst forward piercing surrounding brutes and grunts inside the citadel.
Releasing the chains, he moved forward heading for the main center operations firing his battle rifle at any enemy that came his way.
"You might want to watch out" spoke a chuckle coming from Kyuubi as he opened the door to get smacked hard to the side by an enraged brute. With his rifle flying from his hand, he skid across the floor to a kneeling stop pulling out his knife again.
"Naruto!" spoke out Catherine and Kora in worry as he looked up to see a brute chieftain slowly walking to him with his gravity hammer. He could see there were these floating aliens that seem to be watching from a distance. They even seemed a bit scared which is odd.
"Thrallslayer will reward me greatly for bringing him your skull! My promotion awaits me and so does your death demon!" finished the brute in a yell before charging at him with his hammer drawn back for a swing.
Spartan Fireteams:
Spartan Team Kilo
Naomi-010
Ralph-103
Daisy-023
Joseph-122
Spartan Team Omega:
Leon-011
August-099
Robert-011
Sheila-065
Li-008
Kirk-018
Note 1:
According to Halo: Encyclopedia grunts can be from 4'6 to 5'7 depending on the grunt type and armor
Note 2:
Have created the two new stories. One is called Halo: Lone Wolf and the second is Halo: Life's Convergence
Final Note:
Thank you to those who help support on the pat account and also thank you for the reviews.
All my stories are still being redone. I will be posting on my p atreon before I do on this. Just remove the %% and search
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