1034 hours, February 18, 2536 (military calendar)
K7-49 (Asteroid)
UNSC Nightshade (Corvette Prowler-Class)
The UNSC Nightshade under the new command of Captain Kurenai Yuhi was watching from her chair in the bridge the asteroid. Her ship is cloaked with the best tech created from Forerunner, Covenant, and Human technology. Her mission was the simple monitoring of the asteroid housing Covenant fleets. While it was sad to say, she was waiting for the fleets to leave to attack other planets. Once doing so she will signal her own fleet to attack this outpost. The Covenant was using this as a staging point for fueling their fleets. Taking out this out would make refueling and refitting the fleets difficult. This was also one of the targets requested to be token out for the Spartan project.
"Mam, the fleets are moving from the docks. They are preparing for slipspace" reported an officer.
"Quick, launch a tracker on the command ship and calculate their coordinates" she ordered as the crew went to work. From the side of the ship a compartment opened up and a pod was ejected out. With the momentum from the ejection, it was launched in the direction of the command ship. With accurate adjustments to avoid other crafts the tracker made to the command ship and latched onto the hull. A few seconds later the ship was leaving through slipspace.
"When you have the direction, they are going, forward it to the defenses there. For now, send a alert to all UNSC of a impending attack. Alert the Maelstrom fleet and the recon team they are green to proceed" she ordered. In return alerts were sent out all over.
From the bay of the ship three black stealth pelicans were launched to the surface of the large asteroid. Avoiding the scans and patrols of the enemy, the shipped arrived at the surface to perform a survey of the area. Once locating a secure area, the pelicans touched down and unloading teams of Spartans clad in black armor. They quickly broke out into separate groups to secure the site.
The crew of the nightshade were waiting for the rest of the fleet in their designated coordinates. While the crew primary role is for recon, espionage, and intelligence, they also conduct a secondary role. While fleets would have the command ship take charge of the fleet and the secondary command ship being a ship of similar importance be the secondary, the maelstrom fleet was different. The command ship is the Elemental's Freedom but in times of chaos the Nightshade provides a secondary command from a bird's eye view away from close combat and cloaked.
It also provides early tactical data for battle placements. Portals opened up all around space for fleets to come in through slipspace in flanking maneuvers on docked ships. A massive portal opened up above a few ships to reveal the Elemental's Freedom in all her glory. With it fully appearing out of slipspace its glassing beam was pre charged and fired straight down ripping an unexpected Covenant CAS Assault Carrier in two. The green beam continued down ripping a few cruisers on the way before striking a refinery on the asteroid and destroying it.
Not relenting in its assault, the ships weaponry began targeting nearby enemies and firing away. From the compartment land mine nukes were launched and fired in the areas the Nightshade had designated. They have watched the location for a long time and marked were the ships arrived at and left. Any new ships arriving to help, would be in for a very nasty surprise. Aircraft and sentinels were being launched from the ships as the troops were being deployed for the ground assault.
Ground Assault
The area that was cleared in advance by the recon team allowed for the new and improved Spirit of Fire to hover above it and launch ground forces to it with a base. Other ships launched their own ground forces to the established staging point. A pelican landed on the point allowing for a heavily armored spartan to come walking out. The personal recognizing him quickly identified him as Major Uzumaki and Naruto to his friends and family. Following him were four Spartan III's.
Looking at the other people who were facing him, he gave a nod before saying "let's wreck em" and turned off to walk towards the other refineries as the others took that as a signal to charge.
As the ground battle was starting to commence, above them in space the battle was already underway. Different types of weaponry were being fired upon each other and the Covenant learned very quickly that this is no ordinary fleet. Plasma beams fired at a frigate were being deflected off its shield. In return it fired back a MAC run, missiles, and blue beams of lasers causing heavy damage upon the Covenant Cruiser.
As the battle progress, it showed that every ship had heavy shields and powerful weaponry causing catastrophic damage upon the Covenant forces. As much as the enemy wanted to focus on the most threatening ship, its supporting fleet made doing that deadly.
Admiral Hiruzen sitting down on his command chair from the bridge commanded the crew with the A.I.'s onboard to target the most threatening targets. Currently it was firing upon the docking station and the fleet still docked on it. Taking that out the ships currently fighting them would have no support until another fleet arrives.
: Sir, the cruiser UNSC Armstrong has sustain heavy damage: called out PJ
"Order any surrounding ships to provide cover. The Armstrong is to dock inside for emergency repairs. Focus weaponry on its location and provide cover fire. Have Sentinel group Delta provide overwatch and repair on the ship while its on route" he ordered
The UNSC Armstrong was trailing smoke and fire with it's shield down as a Covenant Cruiser and three destroyers pursued it while firing. As the weapons systems were locking on to the ship for a more devastating blow three UNSC Heavy cruisers moved in from the side and started unleashing a hailstorm of MAC rounds, missiles, and laser beams. Blindsided the ships had to break off pursuit but not before sustaining heavy damage to the ships causing two destroyers to explode in a resounding boom. One heavy cruiser each pursed the last two ships as the third maintained escort positions with the damaged Armstrong.
As the ship came closer to the Elemental's Freedom, two Frigates assisted in the escorts as a swarm of sentinels arrived. The sentinels immediately latched on to the Armstrong and started performing immediate repairs. The fire, smoke, and sparks were put out as the ship was below the Elemental's Freedom and raising up into the ship. Passing the blue force field, the ship had docking clamps latch on and move the ship to be placed on the platform next to a Frigate that was being repaired.
As Admiral Hiruzen was ordering his ship to continue fire upon the docking station, he was keeping his eye out on the perfect target. "There" he pointed out arranging the optics to zoom in on a certain field in the battle ground on the holo table. Zooming in it showed a single CCS -class Battlecruiser with 3 DSC-class support ships. "Lock EMP's onto those ships and move the ship into position" he ordered
From the side of the ship tubes opened up and locked into onto the four vessels as the ship moved closer to them.
"We are locked and loaded Admiral!"
"Fire at will" he commanded to which missiles with a blue streak were fired out of the ship and headed directly for them. Avoiding all the other combat taking place they closed in before detonating near them taking out the power for their shields and some engines. Another volley closed in and smacked into the hulls exploding upon impact. In result the EMP's caused all electronical systems onboard to fail leaving the ships adrift in space.
Unable to do anything the Elemental's Freedom was soon above them having sentinels latch onto the ship and moving them towards a secured bay. Locked from other areas in the ship the ships were placed on a platform with latches securing them. All around armed forces were trained on the ship as Sentinels started opening up different entrances around the ship. Within seconds they were opened allowing for Spartans, ODST's, and Special Forces to go clearing through the ships. They were followed up by marines who started inserting A.I.'s into the ships to assume control of the ships functions that was starting to come online.
Aboard one of the support ships a Spartan team was clearing out the last remaining section of the ship, which was the bridge and spotted something shocking. The four spartan III's with their battle rifles trained spotted a cowering alien behind the command chair.
"Is that what I think it is?" questioned a Spartan
"Spartan Team Nova to Spartan Command. We have captured a San'Shyuum" reported another Spartan
: Good work team. He is probably a lesser prophet, but he still knows some valuable information. Bring him in order Commander Jerome from the comms
"Think dad will be happy?"
"You know it" spoke another fist bumping a Spartan as cuffs were being placed on the terrified prophet. It was his first encounter with the demons after all.
Ground Battle
Covenant forces were trying their best to hold the defensive line in front of the refineries, but they had run into numerous problems. While the troops on the ground ranged from elites, grunts, and jackals they had no vehicle support. This was a massive a problem as the Maelstrom forces were airdropping vehicles of all sorts into the battlefield. Another issue was the difference in troops, weaponry, and armor.
Naruto advancing on the battle fired his battle rifle in rapid succession dropping Elites dead. They were his main priority as they were the leadership and most threatening. From the side he watched a trail of plasma round smack into the ground before leading up to hit a marine charging as well.
The Covenant were expecting bursts of blood but were surprised when they defected off a blue shield powered by his armor. The recoil from the impact had forced him onto his back only for another soldier to jump in front of him and slam his hands on the ground making an earth cover for them. Following it up another marine formed hand seals and jumped on the top of the wall to unleash a powerful fireball at the bunker shooting the plasma rounds. Upon impact the bunker exploded with fire was grunts and elites came running out in fire and pain before dying.
With the amount of fire power being poured upon the Covenant ground forces, they overtook them with little causalities. A few simple bombs placed in a few refineries, and they were up in flames and smoke.
The mission was going smoothy due to the amount of preparation put into it, but Naruto also felt that this was a message to the Covenant. They are now fighting back, and the technology leverage is over. It now depends on the people fighting and strategy. Looking around at the battleground, he could see his forces performing clean up as in the distant sky he could see Covenant ships blowing up and crashing into the ground.
: Naruto, the last refineries are set to explode. When they do this asteroid will go up with it. It's time to pull out: warned Kora from his helmet
"What's the status on the fleet above?"
: The remaining Covenant forces are pulling out:
"Good. Sound the retreat and detonate the last refineries on our exit. We will now purse the fleet that left to attack the colony earlier. Hopefully they are holding out while we catch up" he ordered
: Will do. The order to retreat from the area has been issued. The fleet is massing up and preparing for slip space once all personal have been accounted for. Your ride is here: she finished as a pelican landed next to him.
Stepping to the side he allowed for a few marines and Spartans to climb aboard before stepping on himself. The pelican lifted up into the sky before maintaining a hover as he watched from the edge as his troops were picked up. It wasn't long before he got the all clear to which he signaled the group to detonate the bombs destroying the last refineries and leaving the area.
Admiral Hiruzen watched from the side as the Spirit of Fire left the orbit of the asteroid as it was about to explode from the destroyed productions. With the ship linking into formation, he orders the slip space for the ships to jump to the invaded planet Tyrphenis.
Planet Tyrphenis
The Covenant invasion was already taking place by the time the fleet had arrived. The tracker did come to use as with that information the UNSC had its defenses ready, ships were being called in, and the evacuation of the planet was underway. On the flip side it still became an uphill battle due to the Covenant superior numbers and tech in comparison to Maelstrom tech.
Moving the fleet into combat positions, they advanced forward to attack the Covenant fleet from the rear. The Covenant picking up on their signal sent half of its fleet towards them in the attempt to wipe them out.
"Precious Justice, what are their numbers?" spoked Hiruzen from the holo table.
: Admiral I'm detecting a fleet of 120 vessels approaching us. The main ship is a CCS class:
"120 vs our 165. They think they can still beat us in tech when it comes to space battles. Make this their folly. Focus fire through the middle and break through. We need to link up with the reminding UNSC vessels and deploy troops to the surface" he ordered
With the two opposing fleets entering range of each other, they opened fired upon one another. The Covenant once again quickly realized that this is different from the normal fleet due to its fire power and energy shielding. They quickly went to adjusting to this new change but by then, they were deep in contact sustaining heavy losses. Shipmasters were charging in thinking that their shields would hold up, found out they didn't under the laser barrage. The human's fleet in return held up nicely against the plasma fire with their own energy shielding.
The chaos that was unfolding allowed for the Maelstrom Fleet to break through and send ships and aircraft to the surface to help in the invasion. Aboard one of these aircraft was Naruto ready to bring pain upon the Covenant. This is one planet that the invasion will fail.
Next time Planet Tyrphenis invasion
Note:
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