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.
(May 1st, 2531 Strike Cruiser Eternal Crusade.)
"This is the recording of Lieutenant Halius of the Second Ultramarine Company," Halius stated before he took a deep breath.
"It has been close to 3 months since the warp event that has transported the Ultramarines to this galaxy. Since then, we have made efforts to regroup." Halius said as a row of monitors began to play.
"Our Primarch, Roboute Guilliman, has taken control of the forces brought here… Reforming them into the Imperium Secundus once more," Halius said as a monitor showed the Primarch and legions of guardsmen and Ultramarines.
"We have also shared some technology with the UNSC," Halius stated before a monitor showed a group of marines practicing with lasguns.
"While we have attempted to hold the galaxy? We still suffer from our greatest weakness, the inability to exist everywhere." Halius stated that a third monitor showed covenant ships glassing several worlds while Ultramarines and UNSC soldiers fought.
"We have also learned more Orks have arrived… Only a matter of time before the Greenskins cause more trouble." Halius stated.
"As for me? I have endeavored to do as I always have, protect humanity… And slay its enemies." Halius stated.
He shut down the recorder, then gripped his helm, newly painted with the colors of an Ultramarine Lieutenant. He then gripped a power sword which had recently been created to honor the new officer… Captain Titus also wielded one now.
"Blue Team just got sent down," Igaros stated, the Ultramarine now wearing the helm of a Sergent.
"I do not like this… Insurgents with a nuclear device? They would not give that up." Halius stated.
"Think it's a trap?" Igaros asked.
"Yes. I believe Master Chief knows as well." Halius stated.
"Then why go?" Igaros asked before he frowned under his helm. "Never mind…. You have a plan?" Halius heard.
"Get Spartan Douglas and tell him to wait ten minutes… Then we both join him and Red Team." Halius ordered, pausing to look at his sword.
"He chose you as a Lieutenant for a reason… The Ultramarines need good soldiers." Igaros stated.
"They need us both, Igaros," Halius stated before sheathing the blade and grabbing his bolter. "Get ready… They can handle the nuclear weapons; we shall handle the camp." Halius stated as Igaros hummed.
"Going to be a lot of soldiers for 5 people," Igaros stated.
"An advantage they shall need," Halius stated as he walked by Igaros. "They wish to trap the Spartans… We shall remind them what a trap is." Halius stated before he walked past the Ultramarine.
He could only fall silent, realizing that they had work to do, and despite having the ability to destroy the base from orbit? They would not do so… That would take out any intel they needed, any officers that would need to be interrogated, and any soldiers that needed to be killed and confirmed.
To him? it was easy… But Halius knew not to underestimate one.
It would turn out he did not need to… But it gave him something to deal with. It gave him a lot of things to deal with, so much…
(2 hours later)
Halius hummed as he watched what had been done. 31 Rebels dead, and they had retreated with the nukes.
"That is not the only operation we have to deal with… The Covenant have attacked a place called Vodin." Halius heard.
"Well aware," Halius stated as Spartans and Astartes gathered around Spirit of Fire's holo table. "What do we know of their strength?" Halius asked.
"About 15-20 Covenant capital ships to our 8… And a battalion of UNSC marines." Halius stated.
"We did send a Cadian regiment to reinforce them…" Halius heard. "That? And 4 Imperial ships." Halius heard.
"How long until we can arrive?" Halius asked.
"4 hours… Why? You plan to stop them?" Igaros asked.
"Something like that…" Halius stated before he looked at Blue Team. "Perhaps you have plans?" Halius asked.
"Admiral Cutter asked for help," Fred stated.
"Fair enough," Halius stated as he turned to Igaros. "Igaros? I may have a plan…" Halius stated.
"I know we have not worked together… But Halius is going to want to plan with you. You know the Covenant more than us." Igaros stated.
"What did you have in mind?" Fred asked as Halius hummed.
"Selina?" Halius asked before the AI projected the planet and the fleet.
"We can handle the naval battle…. The problem is their planning to destroy this structure." Halius stated.
"The space elevator," Kelly stated.
"Then we need to hold off their boarding parties… I suggest Red Team takes care of the closest ship… While a group evacuates the civilians towards the Spirit and the rest of us hold off their forces." Halius stated.
"And the fleet?" Halius asked.
"Their largest ship appears to be supplying the most troops… I plan to focus on taking it out, force them to close to the gap in distance…" Halius stated.
"Plan on having us take out the majority of the fleet ourselves?" Fred asked.
"No…. But the main target is the elevator… The more pressure we put on the Covenant? The better. It will make them attack us more." Halius stated.
"Risky," Kelly stated.
"If it was not? They would not have sent Spartans." Douglas stated as he and the Red Team emerged from the door. "Those soldiers are holding their own… But they said we might lose the orbit in 2 hours." Douglas stated.
"Leave that to the reinforcements…" Halius stated before he sighed. "If we had more time? I could come up with a better plan." Halius stated.
"Uh. An incoming report, Admiral Stanforth is redirecting us… He said Captain Titus asked to hit that facility." Halius heard. "Intelligence has located a Covenant facility… Big, Titus wants us to take it out." Halius heard.
It was then he realized there was a planet shown, a rather large one with a mountainous visage… He and Chief both shared a look as it showed a large building the size of a small cruiser.
"On second thought…"
(1 Hour later, Spirit of Fire, is en route to planet Helix-II.)
"Halius, this plan is either insane or tactically brilliant," Igaros stated.
"It's better than coming in blind," Halius said as he looked at Fred. "This… The covenant staging area has most of its warships docked, awaiting refueling. The Spartans can both infiltrate the facility better than us and are just as lethal." Halius stated.
"And you plan to fight the entire covenant army stationed there as a backup," Fred stated.
"As a distraction… They will expect a large-scale invasion, not 7 Spartans, 104." Halius stated. "I will take a force and attack them from several angles, forcing the Covenant infantry to march out to confront us. Then Blue and Red team sabotage the systems and destroy the base." Halius stated.
"If that fleet gets off the planet? We are not going to be able to stop it." Fred stated.
"As I told Master Chief… Victory comes first if it comes down to it. We go to the plan Admiral Cutter suggested." Halius stated and looked at Chief. "Will Blue Team require assistance?" Halius asked.
"No," Chief stated before Halius nodded.
"Understandable," Halius stated before looking at Igaros. "Igaros? I will head to our ship to prepare for combat soon… But for now? I would rather we rest." Halius stated.
Halius walked around the table. Both Linda and Kelly went to block him as the Ultramarine looked at Master Chief.
"I do not believe we are allies yet… Friends possibly less so, but I want you to know I respect the Spartans… And I see you as a fellow soldier. That is why I trust you and wish to treat you as a friend." Halius stated before he turned and exited the bridge.
"That's his way of saying he wants to consider you a friend," Igaros stated. "We fought with Spartans a few months ago, he has no problem trusting or taking orders from fellow supersoldiers if need be," Igaros stated.
"Taking on the entire covenant army there is risky, trust or not," Douglas stated.
"We are Ultramarines, Douglas. We do this daily for humanity. Great, now I sound like Halius." Igaros stated before he chuckled. "We will hold off the Covenant. You have the important job while everyone engages their defenses." Igaros stated.
"Tactically suicide," Linda stated before Igaros turned.
"If it was not? They would not have sent Spartans." Igaros stated before he exited the room.
"For what it is worth? Halius can handle himself. He trusts us with doing the mission we were asked while he draws fire." Douglas stated.
"He can be trusted?" Linda asked.
"Yes," Douglas stated.
"Admiral Cutter has orders." Master Chief stated. "We complete the mission at any cost." Master Chief added, pausing only to make certain his weapon was ready.
"All combat teams, report to hanger bay 6. Transit to Helix-II is halfway complete. ETA, 4 hours." They heard.
They had a lot left to do before anyone considered them allies, let alone friends.
Despite this? The Imperium Secundus and UNSC were allies and they held onto the hope they could continue to fight side by side.
"How are we going to get past the fleet?" Kelly asked.
"We improvise." Master Chief stated.
"Oh great… Two Halius's." Igaros stated as he looked at the two with interest.
(Several hours)
Igaros thought both the Master Chief and Halius were insane. Why? Simple.
Both had decided to surpass the 4 warships in orbit by having the Spirit of Fire launch a MAC round at the base… Then fire the HEVs and have the Astartes launched in drop pods that streaked across the sky.
"Remind me why this is working?" Igaros asked as their fleet moved in to engage the Covenant.
"Because it is unexpected," Halius stated.
"It is crazy," Igaros stated.
"Exactly why it is working," Halius stated.
The pods streaked past the fleet and by the time they noticed? It was too late, far too late to stop them. Halius knew there would be little in the way of air support which also bothered him for now.
"Spartan Douglas? I wish you to contact me when your goal is achieved. We will need to evacuate before the explosion." Halius stated.
"I or Chief will do it," Douglas stated before all 10 pods impacted the ground.
The pods split and Halius and his men emerged first, all clearing the pods and taking up positions on a rocky outcropping near the base.
"Spartan? Be advised, they have snipers and some sort of stationary gun emplacements on the walls." Halius stated.
"Noted, wait for the signal," Linda stated.
Halius turned as the UNSC pods hissed open, each Spartan crawling from them, taking care to remove any equipment or weapons before joining the Ultramarine Lieutenant.
"Where is Sergeant Igaros?" One Ultramarine asked.
"Where he is needed," Halius stated before turning to Master Chief. "I see no structural flaws to exploit. Where shall your squad infiltrate?" Halius asked as they paused to look over the schematics.
The base was shaped similarly to a crown, 5 protruding points out of the central structure which was large enough to house a Covenant warship. Halius estimated about 1000-1500 troops as a garrison and twice that on the 2 cruisers they saw docked.
"Here, heat exchange," Fred stated, pointing to a spot on the map. "Red Team can head in through the assembly lines," Fred added.
"Those shades have each angle covered, how are we going to get past them and the sentries?" Douglas asked.
"Your sniper could flank them… We did not mask our approach; they expect a siege… She could join you after we begin our attack." Halius stated.
"Going up against an entire army is risky," Kelly stated.
"We fought a small army on that planet a few months ago…" Douglas stated.
"1000 Covenant soldiers vs 24 Ultramarines is an even fight for us, Spartan… I only hope you complete the mission; we will have little support until they break the blockage." Halius stated before he sighed.
"Extraction will come," Chief stated before he turned to Halius. "Can you suppress them?" Chief asked.
"Yes. Defeating them is a different story. complete your mission, we shall complete ours." Halius stated. "When you are ready? Tell me." Halius stated as Chief and the other Spartans vanished.
"Master Chief," Halius said in a stern voice which caused the Spartan-II to turn to him. "Good luck, Spartan. If you need anything? Tap the radio… There will be reinforcements then." Halius stated before he planted his sword on the ground.
Halius was silent.
Author Notes
Phew. The next chapter is done! A few things.
Yes, I am struggling to decide how to do the war. Most of it will happen in a few years and such.
Master Chief does talk, I just want to keep him as stoic and professional as possible and more about growing a bond with Halius.
The log was to explain what had happened in the last few months as well as Halius's choices and such.
The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show more of the battle and more of the war. Until the 900–6500-word chapter, Lighting Wolf out!