Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 3700-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer, Gameshop does.
"What do we know?" Halius heard from Titus.
"The rest of the Covenant have retreated to the jungle region…. We believe it is either a stronghold or some sort of weapon. The Orks? They are being dealt with for now." Halius stated before he frowned, putting his helmet on a crate.
"That, and we cannot blow it up because there might be intel that we need to recover from there. The second we do that? We are going to invite a dinner party of Covenant." Forge stated.
"Then we lay waste to all of them and find out what is below. Captain?" Halius stated.
"Sergeant Forge? I believe you may wish to deal with that… The rest of us shall come in… If we appear? It might invite more resistance…." Titus stated.
"Ah, I get to have all the fun… Thanks." Forge stated before chuckling. "Yeah, might be better if we end up splitting up. You guys come into the battle?" Forge asked as the Spartans and Ultramarines shared looks.
"Got a plan, Captain?" Douglas asked.
"I have an idea there will be more Covenant forces…. Even when we wipe out the Orks here? I have a feeling they might regroup. I would rather be ready for a counterattack than wait for such a measure." Titus stated.
Halius was silent as he looked at the rest of the Orks and then glanced at them. He was silent, looking over at Titus for a moment.
"Is it true the Primarch has set off to Holy Terra? That we are considering trying to forge a new empire?" Halius asked.
"It might," Titus stated before Halius nodded.
"Then it seems we have more to discuss," Halius stated before turning to Douglas and Leon. "Can I show you what we are dealing with? These Orks might not be something you have fought before… But the Imperium? Us Ultramarines have killed many of them." Halius stated.
Halius beckoned the two over to a dead Ork and flipped it over, kicking it several times to make sure it was dead.
"Orks are tough, cunning…. And annoying and stupid. They show no fear, no lack of remorse, no pain." Halius stated before he turned back towards the two Spartans. "They might rely on numbers but they are strong enough to kill one of us within our armor…. And durable enough to where blowing them to pieces might be the only way to put them down for good." Halius stated.
"And you said there will be more?" Douglas asked.
"There always is… They are an empire of scavengers and thugs, always eager for a fight." Halius stated before he seemed to look at them. "Captain? Is there any notice of that Covenant Commander we found on Harvest?" Halius asked before he raised an eyebrow.
Titus tapped on his side before he looked over at them, knowing he was guessing that Elite from before had commanded this siege.
Was he the leader of the Covenant? The head general? They did not know; they did not even know when it came down to it… Perhaps for a good reason when it came to it.
"We go hunt for whoever that Xeno is when this is done…. Sergeant Forge? If you need us? We shall extinguish the rest of the Orks… Then meet you back in the Jungle." Titus stated.
"Then we shall hunt the Xeno in charge of this siege…. Me and Sergeant Forge both noticed that…. Elite as Forge calls them, I know he is important, I have yet to see a Xeno in similar armor and I saw an entire army work for him." Halius stated.
"Yeah, I have yet to see another Elite in fancy armor like that…" Forge stated.
Halius and Titus left with the Spartans and the rest of their group as 4 pelicans landed to evacuate Forge and his men.
"You fight well…. You remind me of us. I see why the Sergeant speaks highly of your skill." Titus stated.
"Seconded. You remind me of us, elite, skilled, ruthless, and driven. If you were not so different? I would consider you a different breed of Astartes." Halius stated.
"You kick plenty of ass yourselves." One of the Spartans stated.
"We have been fighting for many years, Spartans, it is who we are," Titus stated.
"The Covenant, do you know anything about them? Strengths, weaknesses? We need to formulate a plan around them. Most would scoff at the idea of asking other soldiers for their perspective." Titus stated.
"None of the second company cares what happened on Graia, Captain. There are to be deviations from the codex, especially against an enemy that we do not understand." Halius stated.
"Numerous, plenty of ugly… They outnumber and outgun us. Every fight we win? They destroy everything on the ground… As you saw, they just slaughter humans when they find us." Douglas stated.
"Reminds me of coordinated Orks," Halius stated.
"Or the Tau," Igaros stated.
"If they were Tau? We would be killing plenty more. They have never engaged us without a tactical advantage. We know we can overcome them in space." Halius stated before he hummed and looked to the side.
Titus nodded and began to brainstorm how to adapt when this battle was done when it came down to it. This was a war unless the Covenant was beginning to run out of soldiers and supplies. They would not stop on this one planet… This was going to be a longer conflict.
Part of him questioned things. He knew the Primarch had gone to Terra, each Captain, and the Chapter Master was informed of things when he had gone off to go to deal with their business and his own business.
Such was life and he had other issues to deal with as the soldier he was bred to be… All were bred to be prepared for the slight differences in how things worked.
All he could do was wait and prepare for whatever came down the line.
(2 hours later)
When Halius and his men got the call? They were also briefed on what had transpired and what had not.
The UNSC had located a dome made of plasma, one large enough to encompass a mile or so of land. That? And the surrounding jungle crawled with the remains of the Covenant army they had torn through.
Instead of simply destroying it? They had deployed what he believed appeared to be artillery guns which fired high-velocity plasma rounds, an interesting design.
They had punched holes in the shield and then used the Spirit of Fire's main cannons to destroy all of it… Halius and his squadron were deployed after a pair of Ultramarine scouts were brought in.
And then they and a Rhino tank vanished in a beam of super-hot plasma and Halius realized WHAT the Covenant had sought to hide here.
It was a giant vehicle the size of what seemed a small base and it held a canon which seemed to make up its face…. The weapon was far from complete…. But it was operational when it came to firepower.
"Damn it… Covenant Scarab!" Forge stated as Halius and his men took cover.
"What is a scarab?" Halius asked before putting his back to cover.
"Really big machine that the Covenant use when they decide to stop messing around." Forge.
"Can it be damaged?" Halius asked before Forge nodded. "That machine is too armored to assault directly…. And it has a defensible position. Halius stated.
Halius knew this machine was blockading them and there were few options. The machine was aimed directly at where they could send reinforcements in and if he asked for a direct assault. They might be caught in the crossfire.
Halius sighed and then knew there was no way to deal with it besides that…. Halius turned to Forge.
"Get somewhere safe, we are going to turn that machine to ash," Halius stated. "Captain Cutter? Can your cannons turn that walker into ash before it breaches our formation?" Halius asked.
"They have some sort of signal jammer right next to it…." Cutter stated.
"Curos!" Halius yelled before the Ultramarine slid into the cover next to it. "Disable the jammer. Igaros? Can you draw fire?" Halius asked.
"Why can't the Sergeant do it?" Curos asked.
"Because the Sergeant is not wearing armor like us. Disable the jammer. Igaros? Captain Cutter? When the jammer is disabled, can you destroy the scarab?" Halius asked.
"Yes," Cutter stated.
Halius sighed and then seemed to think of what was growing on his mind. Part of him wished to have just destroyed the entire area with bombardment cannons from space but he supposed if he did so? They would not have continued such a logic.
Halius watched as the two ran off, Curos carrying a grenade and Igaros rushing straight toward the craft a few seconds later.
Igaros took flight into the sky, pausing for a moment as he looked to the side, he was too eager to watch as the walker fired…. And he twirled around it, soaring into the sky.
"Damn… Does he always do this?" Forge asked.
"Fly around? Yes, he is a raptor… He is marginally skilled at it." Halius stated. "Captain Cutter? Do you have a clear shot of the machine?" Halius asked.
"I do… I am afraid it might take more than 1 to destroy it." He heard.
"So be it…. Whenever you have a clear shot? Aim for it." Halius said before the sound of further plasma beams danced across the sky.
Halius peaked around the corner and realized that the Scarab was not the only thing trying to kill his friend. The Astartes glanced around and spotted a pair of walkers which was shorter, the size of a Rhino or Warthog, and had a similar carapace to the Covenant Banshees.
"Locust! Building killers!" Forge stated as Halius sighed.
"Curos!" Halius yelled just before an explosion close to the Scarab drew their attention.
"Captain? I shall deal with the remains of the Covenant, fire when you are ready!" Halius stated.
Halius rushed out from cover, barely dodging a beam from the massive machine, he raised his bolter and fired a pair of shots that hit the shield and burst but left both untouched.
There were 3 flashes of light from above then a massive explosion and quake that almost tore him from his feet. He heard a dying explosion and then the Scarab exploded into a thousand pieces of scrap.
Good, left him and the others to deal with the others. Halius neared them only for a beam of light to go over his head. The shields of one Locust blew out entirely and then a pair of rockets flew past him.
They slammed into one Locust, exploding it into scrap. The other turned to Halius who raised his weapon.
Then came one of the Spartans from before, sprinting past him and sliding inside the shield, they tossed themselves at the Locust and pounded it with their fist, smashing holes in the alien metal.
The Locust went from trying to kill Halius to attempting to maneuver to throw off the Spartan as she tore her way into the armor, throwing the pilot out.
The Elite roared before turning towards Halius who lasted out with a kick, causing the Elite to fly over the edge of the cliff to its death below. He heard a scream of panic before the silence and then a hum.
The Spartan, one from the team Douglas had, perched next to the cockpit of the alien walker.
"Spartan," Halius stated as she nodded back.
"Sergeant." She stated.
"Thank you, you fight as well as my brothers," Halius stated.
"They aren't." He heard and turned to look at Curos who wore singed armor.
"They fight like us…. Good work, brother…. Captain Titus? The Covenant forces have been dispatched and destroyed. I wish to survey the area and locate any technology or evidence." Halius stated.
"Do it, then get back… I have not seen the cruiser yet; I wish to plan for the next battle soon." Halius heard as he turned to Curos and Igaros.
"Secure the area with the others, I will inspect the wreckage," Halius stated before he turned to the Spartans. "Spartan," Halius stated before he slowly yet surely walked downwards towards the wreckage.
He turned to see Forge following him as he turned before a Hornet started to land.
"Don't mind me, I'm just babysitting her," Forge stated before Halius hummed.
"Are these Scarabs usually protected by forcefields?" Halius asked.
"Not that one, no…. Usually, they are sent out for when the Covenant does something big, they are not usually artillery guns." Forge stated.
"Perhaps there is something they WISHED we did not find," Halius stated.
"You think that attack on the city was just to cover this up?" Forge asked.
"If it was? The deception was well warranted. We could have simply laid waste to the field from orbit… Though, I suspect they did not suspect a massive defense here. Perhaps they did not suspect you knew what had happened." Halius stated.
A few minutes later, they entered the wreckage, and Halius tapped his helm.
"Captain Titus? Is the recording device in my helmet transmitting?" Halius asked.
"It is, Sergeant. Please, document what you may find for the Librarians." Halius heard.
"As you command," Halius stated.
"Hey, how about one for the scrapbook?" Forge asked, holding up part of the wreckage.
"I am glad to assist with that…" Halius stated before they heard footsteps behind them.
Halius and Forge drew side arms only to be met with Anders, the human Halius considered the UNSC equal to a scientist.
"You boys have fun?" Anders asked.
"Merely taking out the trash, eh, Sergeant?" Halius heard.
"Indeed, ridding the galaxy of Xenos and ensuring we survive another horrid war," Halius stated. "Sergeant, does anything look important? I wish to search for structural flaws or anything we can use to find a way to destroy these without orbital support." Halius stated.
"Those legs look important," Forge stated.
"Indeed…. Indeed." Halius stated before they turned.
"Ello, space marine." He heard as he tore his chain sword from his side.
Next to them was an Ork, one as large as a Dreadnought, equipped with armor and weapons, but could not see… Next to it? A primate like Xeno with heavily matted fur and crimson armor, it carried an object like a thunder hammer on its person.
"Ork," Halius stated before the hammer-wielding Xeno swung at him only for him to duck it and punch them back, stunning it.
The Ork gripped him in a power klaw before he slashed the Ork across the face and kicked it back, it was then a third figure joined the fray.
An uncloaked shape… The Elite from before commanded the Covenant forces before he sighed to himself before he clicked to his side.
Halius looked at the trio and realized they had planned for them to come here… Why? He did not know but it was clear that they were here for them in some way.
"Give us the woman or I will kill you both." The elite stated.
"Touch her and I will remove your skull from your corpse, Xeno." Halius spat. "You were at the relic…. These soldiers all belong to YOU." Halius stated.
"We need her, Arbiter." The primate Xeno stated.
"I do not care either way…. Been looking for a proper scrap since the battle of that place… Forget its name, Space Marine?" The Ork stated.
Halius surged forwards, elbowing the Ork to the side and kicking the other Xeno down before locking blades with the Elite.
"You are a coward, hiding behind your men while they die for your folly. You cannot even capture a single person, can you, Xeno?" Halius spat before the Brute tackled him and the Ork opened fire.
Halius activated his chain sword and battened the sword away before rolling to the side and drawing his bolter pistol on the primate Xeno.
By the time he did so? The elite had grabbed the woman.
"Release her or I execute him." Halius spat.
"Do it, I care not for his life." The Elite stated before the sounds of wheels approached. "Goodbye, human filth." He spat at Forge who tried to shoot him in the head.
His shields blocked it as the Elite and Xeno primate backed into a dropship and the Ork chuckled before firing his claw upwards and onto a Landa which took flight.
The Spartans roared over the hill in a Warthog as Curos and Igaros sped in a Land Speeder, both firing at the dropships.
"Damn him." Halius hissed before he turned to the Spartans. "They have taken the scientist. I do not know where they go…" Halius stated before Halius sighed. "Captain Titus? We have a situation; can you send a Stormraven?" Halius asked.
Halius turned towards Forge who was busy wondering what had happened as one of the craft flew downwards, landing in front of them a second later.
"Aboard… We shall head to Spirit of Fire." Halius stated as the hatch opened and Halius and the 2 other Ultramarines boarded.
"Forge," Halius stated as the Sergeant and Spartans boarded. "We need to pursue them, we know they need the woman," Halius stated.
The Stormraven flew back to the Spirit at full tilt, Halius said nothing, ignoring the small dents in his armor where the Ork had grabbed him. It would be fixed by the time they were able to reach the planet.
"So…. You have met the Brutes." Forge stated.
"The Xeno with a hammer?" Halius asked.
"Xeno your word for Alien?" Forge asked.
"Yes," Halius stated. "From where we come from? We fight daily and kill or be killed in droves… It is why I was bred to be a weapon. I will remind them of why soon." Halius stated before he sighed and then looked to the side.
The dropship finally entered the Spirit of Fire's hanger and the entire group rushed to the bridge, ready to leave Arcadia.
"Halius, what do you… Never mind. I have been told the cruiser we have been looking for just fled for space. It is headed to the far side of the system." Titus stated.
"They kidnapped a human woman. They need her for something and I do not know what." Halius stated as he walked. "I need to talk to the Techmarines when we are done, my armor is damaged," Halius stated.
"Return to the Retribution, we will head after them, I'll leave a small detachment of our brothers to protect Arcadia while we are gone." Halius heard.
He turned and looked at Forge before nodding, heading towards the ship that had brought him here… He did not notice Forge follow him onto the dropship as well as 3 of the Spartans from before until he was aboard the dropship.
He departed a few minutes later, heading towards the flagship of their fleet. Part of him knew they needed a human for a reason but another part of him could not fathom why.
He would ask while he was tearing them apart. It was clear they had no further business here now.
A few minutes later, Halius spoke with Titus on the bridge of the Battle Barge retribution's Requiem… Another few after that? The Battle Barge and a pair of strike cruisers followed the Spirit and the Covenant cruiser into space.
(With Forge and Omega Squad)
Forge and the Spartans finally realized how the Ultramarines were different. Their ship looked like a church but it was far more high-tech than anything the UNSC could field.
Halius finally realized they had followed them and realized they had never been aboard the ship.
"How dare you follow us aboard…." Curos stated before Halius silenced him with a look. "Uncultured disciples. None of them even read the Codex…" Curos stated.
"Welcome to home… Halius? Why don't I show them around, you get your armor repaired and such?" Igaros asked before he looked to the side.
Halius looked at them and guessed a reason that they had followed them back onto the ship.
"I am going to guess you wanted a faster ride?" Halius asked before Forge nodded. "Igaros? Get me in a few hours… I need rest anyway and by the time we arrive? There will be nothing to do besides fight, it will still take time." Halius stated.
"So…. He seemed ticked during that fight." Forge stated.
"Halius has many unpleasant memories with the Orks… That? And if you noticed during the siege for that planet? He takes protecting humanity seriously… Even if it puts him at risk, a risk I… Do not believe we all will take." Igaros stated.
Halius rounded a corner, knew that they all wished to explore, and knew he needed time to adapt to his failure. He had been caught off guard and still had a thousand questions about this realm he had put off before.
Now? Now they surged to the surface and he could no longer allow it to fester and grow. He needed time to reflect and process it all and time to collect himself from what had gone on.
Author Notes
Phew. Ok, a few things.
If people are going to argue about religion in the story? I am deleting it, NOTHING in the story is about religion or free speech or such. Nothing, take that argument elsewhere.
My point about how fast Astartes is? Astartes and Spartans are equal in speed, both can dodge gunfire and run as fast as blurs. They will be treated as equally capable super soldiers.
The first few parts of the next chapter will be an argument and show more of who Halius is. I get how Astartes and Spartans are… I am writing them as flawed, human characters who can display ruthless power and such… Not robots. Also? To Randomreader? My point is their soldiers… And not going to all be fanatics, these are not Black Templars or Grey Knights. I fail to see how it is a bad argument for their soldiers and they will act similarly to them.
Warp works differently. I am working out how fast Imperial ships are compared to Covenant and UNSC.
The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be 900-6500 words and show the arrival at Trove and the beginning of operations there. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!