Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 2300-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer or Halo, Gameshop and 343 do.
(February 18th, Phoenix Class Support ship Spirit of Fire.)
"How long has he been staring at that feed?" Forge asked.
"2 hours," Igaros stated.
"For humanity!" Curos yelled as he fired again and again at the dozens of Orks that attacked him.
Halius watched as the Astarte was beaten down by sheer numbers as the Orks, ravenous little beasts, surged across him. His armor was torn in several places before he was tossed to the ground.
They went to finish him only for the Astartes to pull a belt of krak grenades from him and prime it… Igniting and then vanishing in a giant ball of fire.
The Ultramarine bowed his head, sighed, and crossed his arms at it once more, his finger paused over the rewind key until Igaros gripped his arm.
"Halius… His death was not your fault." Igaros stated. "Neither was the 20 of our brothers who fell or any of the dozens of UNSC soldiers who fell… They died in combat, fighting." Igaros stated.
The Ultramarine turned, slowly and surely to them before he hummed, gripping his helm next to him.
"He died so we can win… Despite our faults, he was a brother, Igaros… I only hate it was him and not me who made the sacrifice." Halius stated before he put his helm on. "Captain Cutter? Our ships travel faster…. How long until we reach the Everest?" Halius asked.
"2 days. The Admiral wanted to speak to Captain Cutter and Forge… As well as you and your commander, Sergeant Halius." Serina said. "Sounds like promotions all around," Selina stated.
Halius remained silent…. He did not want it to perform his job.
(On Earth)
"Are you mad? We do not even know him!" Whitcomb heard.
"And? We do not have much choice… Those Ultramarines cut through an army of Covenant and destroyed a handful of ships without a scratch. They showed up and just started putting holes in the Covenant, each one seems comparable to the Spartans." Whitcomb stated.
"Agreed, we did not lose Arcadia, and according to Captain Cutter's report? They helped Captain Cutter destroy an entire covenant fleet and just save humanity from being wiped the hell out." General Hogan stated.
"We are seriously considering a possible permanent alliance with soldiers that just showed up on Harvest?" Colonel Ackerson asked.
"Yes, Ackerson… We are." Whitcomb stated before he snorted. "Now? If you will excuse me? I want to talk to the 12-foot Super Soldier who just offered his help." Whitcomb stated. "Admiral Stanforth? I suppose you are heading out to speak with Captain Cutter when he meets with Admiral Cole?" Whitcomb asked.
"I do," Whitcomb stated.
The two UNSC Admirals shared a nod as they went to carry out their work. It was clear to them both that whatever small victories these 'Ultramarines' had brought? They still had work to do as it was clear they all had better work to do.
(Spirit of Fire)
Halius was silent as he sat next to Igaros, their armor stained with blood from the covenant and their weapons marred by battle. They were Ultramarines… But even they felt exhausted by fighting for several days none stop without even a second of peace or such.
A second which had been too long.
Halius knew he could return to the Retribution… No, Titus had arranged for new armor to be made… The forge master aboard their ship was not happy to see armor made again and again, hammered into shape and place before trying to make it certain.
"You believe we can win this war?" Halius asked.
"We have fought long enough to remind humanity no enemy is impossible to overcome, no cause too great." Halius heard.
"This war will not be easy. The Covenant is not hard to kill but they will adapt to us, we must prepare strategies, and form plans for when they prepare for us so as not to become complacent." Halius stated.
Halius was silent, very silent for now and it was clear even he of all people was eager to get work done.
"How about you boys get some food while we get some rest? It will take a bit of time for us all to show up at Arcadia, even if your ships are a few days faster." Forge asked.
"I would be through your food supplies within a few days, Forge," Halius stated.
"He is right. Us Astartes eat a LOT more than you believe." Igaros said with a chuckle.
"Well, we have food to spare and their going to stock us back up when we get back… Might as well eat enough," Forge said as both Halius and Igaros chuckled.
He decided he would mourn his brother and get some measure of peace in the process.
(High Charity)
"You fool!" Truth hissed at Regret.
"Fool? You were the one who told us to exterminate humanity! You were the one who did this despite not knowing what they could do!" Regret stated.
"An entire army, slaughtered, the Fleet of Glorious Interdiction WIPED OUT… An arbiter dead, and an entire planet obliterated! These new demons threaten the very covenant itself." Truth stated.
The prophet frothed in rage. 5 years and they had decimated millions of humans, 5 years and now? Some new soldiers appear and rip through Covenant soldiers like they were PAPER… Oh, the indignity was not lost on him… The indignity he would cast on them to the end… He would ensure that humanity was wiped out…. Yes, he would.
"TARTARUS!" Truth roared, slamming his hands on his chair. "Bring me the Prelates… NOW, find these demons and tear them apart, even if you must use every resource we could have." Truth hissed.
"This war is far from over…" Regret stated as he turned to Mercy. "And all too soon, we might wish we had never started it." Regret stated.
(2 days later)
Spirit of Fire finally exited Slipspace, passing by the Retribution which had long since met up with the remains of the fleet.
There was another warship, a cruiser which floated next to the UNSC Valient-Class Super Heavy Cruiser Everest… A Marathon-Class Heavy Cruiser known as the Leviathan.
A pelican dispatched Captain Cutter, Forge, Red Team, Halius, and Igaros who were dressed in new armor to the warship.
"Oh… Guess the hotshots wanted to talk…" Forge said as Halius hummed.
"Forge…" Cutter stated before Halius hummed and then looked to the side, too tired and too unwilling to do much.
The gunship set down in the hanger and the group exited as Halius hummed. Both were silent as they walked through platoons of marines.
"Damn, pretty high stakes," Forge said as they walked up to the end where both Titus and Admiral Stanforth and Admiral Cole stood.
"Sir." All said, either snapping off salutes or holding position.
"Captain Cutter, Sergeant Forge, and Sergeant Halius… Sierra." Stanforth said as he approached them.
Halius mentally thought of this man. He was old with greying hair and carried the air of a soldier who had just walked out of a conference rather than a command center… But he had the grit and well-respected confidence of one.
"Which one of you is Lieutenant Halius?" Halius heard as he looked at Titus who nodded.
"I… I am… I am Halius, officer of the second Ultramarine company." Halius stated.
"You were the one who first made contact with UNSC forces on Harvest?" Stanforth asked.
"I met with Sergeant Forge when I was sent to the surface," Halius stated. "Was there a problem? Your soldiers fought well, Spartans as well. I was impressed by their skill and bravery." Halius stated.
"You know what a Spartan is, son?" Stanforth asked.
"An augmented super soldier like myself and my brothers… They are well armed and too trained to be simple special forces and the way your men speak of them is like how the guardsmen back home speak of me and my brothers." Halius stated.
"Your officers are not very skilled at hiding the fact we remind them of Spartans," Igaros stated.
"You have met Red Team?" Stanforth asked.
"Correct. I have and we fought together on Arcadia and that other planet. I have no issue operating alongside them or any Spartans the UNSC may have." Halius stated.
"Blue Team?" Stanforth asked as a group of soldiers stepped up.
All were Spartans… Yet Halius could tell they were different.
One wore a specialized version of the trademark armor. He could see the specks of knives on his forearms and he carried himself more professionally.
Another seemed to hop from one foot to another like a small animal. He noted the appearance of a small rabbit on her chest plate.
The other two were interesting. One held a rifle across their back and their armor seemed to suit marksmen. They eyed him with the grace of a hawk, scanning him each second.
The fourth he mistook for a second as a stoic Spartan. They moved like a leader, acted like a soldier, and stood opposite to him as if measuring himself against an Ultramarine.
"This Blue Team… I have missions I would like some help on… Captain Titus suggested I request you and your Ultramarines for help." Stanforth stated.
"You are suggesting Hasley's supersoldiers, our most important asset, bet sent off to go and get work done… Instantly?" Cole asked. "I think you forget the Ultramarines have been fighting as frontline soldiers since they showed up here," Cole stated.
"We perform whatever work needs to be done…. After that? We continue fighting…" Halius stated.
Halius fell silent as he realized the two admirals were in different agreement at the end of the day… To him, however? Halius did not care much for the politics of war before he clicked his fingers.
He turned to Blue Team and did what he had done before as the two Admirals, Forge, and Cutter all left to discuss things privately.
"Ser… Lieutenant Halius, Second Ultramarines." Halius stated.
The spartan was hesitant to do so before Douglas spoke up.
"John, good to see you again… He is a friendly, rough around the edges but he gets the job done." Douglas stated.
The one with knives, probably no longer seeing any reason to continue the act of being stoic the entirety of the talks, spoke up.
"John, 117, Master Chief Petty Officer." Master Chief stated, his voice sounding soothing but final like most veteran soldiers.
"Fred, 104." The bladed one spoke in a similar monotonous voice.
"Kelly, 087," Kelly stated, still moving like she was dancing on fire.
"Linda… 058." The marksman one stated as Master Chief gripped his hand.
The two supersoldiers realized the other was strong and well-trained in the gesture as they shook hands, their armor clanking as it did.
"If you wish to ask? Yes… I am not what one would consider a normal warrior, neither is my squadmate Igaros… We are Astartes." Halius stated.
"I would take my helmet off to show you. however? I kinda expect you to shoot me like any idiot who does." Igaros stated.
"Igaros… Be respectful." Halius stated before he turned to Master Chief. "I understand if this is either an odd meeting or we both lack trust for the other… I had only been here for a few standard days and I only know Spartan Red Team by our operations." Halius stated.
"Reports say there's more of you," Fred stated.
"There is. Most of us are adapting to this galaxy, Captain Titus deployed our company to Arcadia." Halius stated.
"Most of us aren't as nice." Igaros joked before Halius looked at him. "I am sorry… My point is, we have plenty of reinforcements. You Spartans fight very well, that is how we can tell you are enhanced like us. No normal soldier can move that fast or strike that precisely." Igaros stated.
"And you are just against the Covenant the second you show up?" Kelly asked.
"We have fought aliens who wished to wipe out humanity before. The Covenant are not monsters to us, just another enemy to destroy tactically." Halius stated.
"Most Ultramarines are very skilled at combat. You will find plenty of professional warriors like Halius among them." Titus stated as both Halius and Chief lowered their hands.
"You do not speak often," Halius stated.
"Chief will let the action speak," Fred said in the same tone.
"Understandable," Halius stated before turning to the others. "Lieutenant?" Halius asked Titus.
"I have another item I believe you might be surprised to learn," Titus stated as he turned to the others. "Let us get to work." Halius heard.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done. A few things.
But Space Marines do not get PTSD! They are enhanced to ignore it, not immune to emotion. Halius has lost men before, he does not always take it so easy.
Why a Lieutenant? Halius is going to be issuing orders and strategizing, a large part of what Ultramarines excels at… That? And because he is meant to be part of the war. Also? No, Halius is not that young, he was born after the Horus Heresy… He is over 50 or so, he is 'young' by Astartes, not by humans.
Yes, the war still will go on a bit. It is not going to end in 2 months or so.
No, that do not talk a lot thing was not a jab at the chief. Spartans are not the most social outside their group, Halius knows this.
Why time skip? To set up the Spartan next mission and such. I also promoted Forge because lore said he would not due to his behavior.
The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show the Spartans performing a mission from Ghosts of Onyx. Until the 900–6500-word chapter, Lighting Wolf out!