Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 4100-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer, Gameshop does.
Halius looked downwards into the depths of the cavern. It was old, very old compared to the rest of the planet and it was clear something below existed… All this did was make Halius…. Curious, about what could have caused such a thing and what drove the UNSC here.
Halius motioned his squad deeper into the tunnels. So long as there was something to take away from here? He could no longer stand it.
Halius motioned for the rest of them into the caverns. He looked upwards as burning wreckage seemed to fall downwards towards the ground before he looked to the side.
He knew damn well what was going on, damn well what would occur now. If they tried and failed? Well, it would be good to know they at least tried.
"Brother Halius? The captain requests to see all officers on the bridge." Halius heard as he turned to see another of his brothers in the iconic Mark VI Corvus helmet.
"Igaros… I thought you died back in the fight for the planet before." Halius stated.
"The wound was not so deep it could not be healed…. The captain requires you on the Insurmountable." He heard as he sighed.
"I will report at once. Please, make sure they are safe and make sure our brothers are secure in my stead." Halius stated as a Stormraven landed.
"I will, brother. You know me." Igaros stated.
"It is because I know you that I worry," Halius stated as the doors snapped shut after the marine entered it.
Halius watched as 2 more Thunderhawks emerged… And more of his brothers emerged. He could not tell what their actions would bring. Yet? if it caused problems? He would gladly return.
The dropship broke orbit soon enough and he realized that dozens of human ships surrounded their flagship…. It was clear the UNSC were human but it was also clear they held a great many answers.
"Halius. Sergeant?" Halius heard over his vox box.
"I am here," Halius stated, waiting for his chance to enter their flagship.
"I've heard the battle for Harvest has led to many deaths and it was clear such actions might lead to further death…" Halius heard.
"I am eager to confine such death to the enemy," Halius stated his eyes half closed.
"As am I…. Return to the flagship, we've heard back from Macragge." He heard.
Halius blinked. A ship returned to their homeworld? What news did it bring, did it tell the citizens they required further warriors? They could not allow it the way they had been doing to be done.
He did not know it, he could not know it for there were many, many damn reasons he refused to handle it at the time being.
At least he could allow it to go to an end one way or another at the time being. There were a lot more ways to figure it out and a lot more ways to handle it either way now.
He had been silent for now, silent which aided him as the others did not know what was going on. Not once did it allow him peace but he kept to it all the damn same, even as it pushed him to the side with each little breath.
He finally boarded the Insurmountable, dozens of staff taking up the hanger as he slowly walked down the ramp, pausing only to check his weapons.
There was a very long walk to the bridge as he realized the Covenant had not put up much fight for Harvest's atmosphere. This ship had not many battle scars when he had boarded it.
He paused for a moment before entering the bridge and dropping to a knee before the captain.
"Arise…. I do not need formalities." He heard. "Do you know why I have called you and the others back?" He heard.
"No," Halius stated, remaining as still as a statue.
"The Imperium no longer exists here." He heard. "The emperor does not appear to exist in this realm… And plenty has changed. This is not where we were on our last assignment." He heard.
Halius remained silent. Ventris could not see his expression behind his helm… But he knew Halius, Halius was currently processing all of it and thinking each letter of his response through.
"Do you remember anything?" He heard.
"Of the battle? No. before that? I have no recollection." Halius stated.
"Neither does the majority of our brothers." Halius heard before he hummed. "Cleanse this planet and assist the 'UNSC' as they are called. I will speak to the other officers and see if we recall anything." Halius heard.
"These Covenant are different from the other Xeno armies we have fought. They show no fear and are willing to throw plenty of soldiers away to win… And from what I noticed? Most of their weaponry seems to be plasma-based." Halius stated.
"Yes. I can tell… The lieutenant stated they threw half their number at you in a blind charge, dying on our blades rather than retreat." He heard.
"Do you think we will encounter them again?" Halius questioned.
"We will, whatever chatter we pick up from their communications systems? The Covenant have laid waste to humanity for years…" Ventris stated. "Harvest has been at war with the Covenant for 5 years…. We appear to be at the end of the battle for the planet." Ventris stated.
Halius was silent, glancing at him before he and the captain looked out the bridge window.
"No ruinous powers, no Tyranids, no Tau?" Halius questioned.
"The Greenskins were spotted near the other side of the system but they left…. Their fleet still outnumbers us 10 to 1, whoever commands the Orks? Their no idiot… But I have never heard them run from a fight such as this." Ventris stated.
"There will be… The warriors I fought with? These soldiers fight as if they are Astartes…. They fight against an enemy that appears to outnumber them easily." Halius stated.
He knew very well what was going on at the end of the day. there was something else to try and figure out for now.
He sighed and slowly stood up when it came down to it. he paused and turned on his heel.
He knew damn well what was going on, he knew damn well what would happen now and if they were going to be at war? He had plenty of reason to fight it.
"Do you need anything before I return to the surface?" Halius stated.
"Only to know why you have taken this so well," Ventris stated.
"Would you purge humanity for being different or would you examine why they have strayed from the path?" Halius asked. "They have not killed my brothers and I have sworn an oath to protect humanity…. I cannot protect what I am asked to destroy." Halius stated before he sighed.
He looked downwards to the ground, knowing if they wished. He would be erased.
"I have to meet with their admiral soon," Ventris stated.
"Hear them out," Halius stated as he began to walk away.
"You are very forgiving and compassionate for an Ultramarine, brother." Halius heard.
"I am simply willing to listen and make my calls…. If you require me? I shall be below…. The Marines are fighting an army and I do not like the looks of it." Halius stated.
(With Admiral Cole)
Cole looked over at the fleet of space marines. They had helped drive back the enemy and yet? he did not know them; they spoke different tongues and they had their own goals. He could tell they were not willing to help without their own goals.
Yet? from what he heard? They were still human; Captain Cutter's men had told him the one who had spoken to Sergeant Cole was human and the few he had seen without their helmets appeared to be humans as well.
Which left questions in his mind. Who they were and what was going on now. He was not stupid, not at all, and yet? All the answers were going on now, all of them seemed to be beyond fixing and beyond such logic.
Even then? Who were these soldiers? They fought like Spartans and tore through the Covenant like tissue paper. Part of him believed they were some sort of super soldier Halsey had refused to mention until now.
Yet? That did not explain their fleet of warships that was willing to put holes in every covenant ship and just as capable of doing so.
These soldiers were elite, they were trained and they were skilled at killing the enemy brutally. They were beyond human, that much was certain, they were beyond any real humanity and they were dangerous beyond belief now.
Still? They did not appear to hate humanity enough to purge them, some even seemed to wish to protect humanity now even if it could not be done now.
He was confused and unsure of them but for now? he was willing to put aside any concerns he held about them. They had a very big fish to fry and while they existed? He was not willing to shoot himself in the foot.
(With Halius)
Halius was silent, very silent and he closed his eyes behind his armor. The idea the Imperium was gone and their master was gone was born of lies…. Perhaps, he could not tell but it was not his place to judge.
He was a tool, a piece of a puzzle. Halius served humanity, he protected the meek and the innocent. If humanity itself was the problem? He would weed them out and pull them out.
The Astartes took a deep breath, he readied himself. what did the Covenant want? Their war with humanity was clear enough, but their goals were not. THAT worried Halius as an enemy with an unknown goal made them unpredictable, unable to be countered.
The craft set down… And Halius realized more had transpired in the few minutes than he had guessed.
There were several gunfights, his brothers firing their bolters or meltaguns, a few even firing plasma pistols. He quickly took cover.
"Damned Xenos, they were waiting in the tomb!" He heard as he paused and then executed an elite. "Sergeant, good to see you alive!" He heard.
"They counterattacked?" Halius questioned.
"They ambushed the Sergeant as he and his companion withdrew information from some sort of terminal," Igaros stated.
"This is why I am the one who gives orders, brother," Halius stated before drawing his bolter pistol. "Where is the sergeant? They could not have cut us off." Halius stated.
"They haven't, they dropped off 300 troops or so and the majority of their fleet seems to have left… Damn them to hell." Igaros stated.
"Cover me, I will retrieve the Sergeant and his men," Halius stated.
"Always protecting," Igaros stated. "I will. Do not die, brother." Igaros stated.
Igaros unleashed a hail of fire from his bolters as the Ultramarine Sergeant rushed past him, he stabbed one of the elites and shot a jackal before vanishing into the caverns… It was then he realized his brothers had not broken, not at all.
Though the beings in front of him were much larger? At least 10 feet? He knew them by the brilliant blue armor they wore.
Terminators…. They had sent in the Terminators. They turned towards him, a group of 3 as he approached.
"Where are the Marines?" Halius asked as one pointed a finger. "Are you injured, brother?" Halius asked before they shook their head.
"No, Sergeant… They fight like ruinous forces just to kill some of us." Halius heard.
"Then they are either desperate or eager to die," Halius stated before he motioned them forward.
If they wished to die so badly? He would show them the door to the afterlife soon enough. Yes, he would dash them against the rock which was the ground of this cavern, and wipe them off the face of the planet forever if he could.
For now? He settled on fighting them to a draw, fighting them until they were beaten into the ground, what little he needed to be done would be with it.
He was going to be able to kill them if he tried harder and harder.
It only made him sigh as he was forced into cover, looking over at 3 groups of at least 10 Covenant soldiers each, each group appearing to have what looked like walking suits of armor.
He blinked, Chaos Marines? They did not look like traitors…. And then he noticed orange between their armor and bodies. No… Xenos, they were Xenos still, big as them and perhaps as strong.
"Blast it…" Halius muttered before he sighed, thinking of his options. "Form a line, target the larger ones first," Halius stated.
Halius hummed as he realized he had to break their lines… Which considering they were STILL trying to press against them? Eh, it was easier said than done.
He sighed, looking to the side. He sighed and then turned to hear the dying Covenant.
"Sergeant!" Halius yelled across the chambers as the Astartes took cover amid a rush of plasma.
"Little busy!" Forge yelled as Halius sighed.
"How do we kill the larger ones!?" Halius yelled before he turned and opened fire on them.
"Hit them with something…." Forge started to say before Halius blinked.
They were interrupted by an object which slammed mid-flight into them and killed them in a giant display of guts and gore.
He watched as a pair of vehicles which reminded him of rhinos slowly rounded the corner. It was clear the UNSC also had giant firepower as well.
"Bigger…. Nice, grizzly tanks." Forge stated as the Astartes hummed.
"Impressive." He heard before he sighed and tried to motion them toward them.
"Reinforcements behind us!" One marine yelled as more Covenant soldiers emerged from the entrance.
Then came the tunnels exploding in violet fireballs as more Elites, Jackals, and Grunts surged from them.
"They were plotting an ambush the entire time… Clever." Halius heard.
"Captain? The Covenant is pushing hard on our position, we need support." Halius stated before he turned and emptied his bolter pistol into them.
"I've already sent 2 Stormhawks… The Xenos have pulled their forces back from Harvest. Finish them off and report back." He heard as he blinked.
Halius hummed as the bolter rounds tore through Elites and Jackals behind them. Forge and his men along with the rest of the enemy, what little he held left in his mind was going to be bothering him with it for now and for good reason.
He had to remember to dial back for now and for a good reason, he could not have allowed it to be finished or else it would ruin it all.
He was too tired, far too tired now, and far too unwilling to try and end it for now. Whatever issues they had? He would deal with it later now.
Now? Now was the time for fleeing the enemy as he turned and blasted them with more and more bolter rounds, dropping the magazine as he was tossed another.
As their rear guard collapsed? The UNSC and Ultramarines both turned their attention to the front who collapsed under the strain of bolter rounds and bullets.
Before they could finish off the Covenant forces? The clack of weapons mounted gunfire did so and they turned as a D77 Pelican and a pair of Thunderhawks set down.
"Well, looks like our ride is here," Forge said as he turned to look at Halius. "Thanks… They attacked the hell out of nowhere, shot us up before your friends came, and started hosing them." Forge said.
"They wanted something," Halius stated before Forge nodded.
"Yeah…. How about you come with us and I show you and your friends what we found? Only fair after you kicked so much ass." Forge said as he gestured to the Pelican.
"Commander?" Halius asked.
"Go and decode the data…. The rest of us are securing the planet, the Primarch wished to speak with them at Holy Terra…" He heard.
"I shall… Follow you, Sergeant." Halius said before he tapped his Voxbox. "We are going to need fresh supplies soon, sir. My bolter is almost empty and my blade is almost torn from killing Greenskins with it." Halius stated.
"We're getting fresh supplies in a day or 2, a supply ship is returning… Though, given how space appears to work? We are taking it slowly." Halius heard.
"I will contact you with what I know when I am done," Halius stated before he sighed to himself.
He slowly boarded the dropship…. Realizing this vehicle was made for unaltered humans. Granted? He did not know what was going on and he did not wish to.
He squeezed into the transport and watched as he looked at both squeezed in.
The transport slowly began to take off and Forge looked at Halius.
"All you guys that tall?" Forge asked as Halius hummed.
"Yes. I am average height for an Astartes." Halius stated.
"There's an entire army of you guys, ain't there?" Forge asked as Halius nodded.
"Yes," Halius stated.
"Reminds me of the Spartans." The human woman stated.
"I am not familiar with that group of Astartes," Halius stated.
"They aren't… Ugh, I'd explain it, but then the UNSC would court-martial me." She stated.
"Join the club, doc. I have already been Court Martialed plenty…. It is why I am here." Forge stated.
"You were formerly an officer?" Halius stated to which the man was silent.
"Could have been, got in too many arguments as a soldier… Brass doesn't like people like me, breaking bad rules when they don't help." Forge stated.
"It is not wrong to disobey an order that does not help," Halius stated before he investigated the void of space. "We are almost back," Halius stated as the pelican flew closer.
It rolled alongside a runway into one of the hangers aboard the ship. He knew this ship was different from their warships…. But now and here did he tell what was vastly different.
There was none of the gothic aesthetic that he had seen aboard other warships. It was sleeker, cleaner… There were fewer munitions, and fewer soldiers milling about.
The marines here still gawked at him; he said nothing. He had seen warriors gawk at him, gawk at the massive soldier clad in armor who saved them merely because it was his duty.
He walked with them to the next room, pausing only to squeeze through a door not meant for his ilk.
"He's huge." One of the marines stated. "That's the guy who helped fight them?" The marine asked.
"Your soldiers don't know about us," Halius stated.
"You guys DID just show up and start kicking the crap out of the Covenant… They are kinda still surprised someone can go toe to toe with the covenant." Forge stated.
"We have killed Xenos before… Their plasma weapons are nothing compared to what we fight." Halius stated.
He was tired, very tired… Despite the augments? He had been fighting long enough to know just what needed to be done was done. He had been through too much to be like this.
"That will be all." They heard as Halius paused.
The soldiers at the door looked at him. Despite this fact, they shook with fear. They bared his path, bared his way. He knew damn well that they were scared and yet? he did not push them or cut them down.
"Let him through… We cannot stop him anyway." They heard as the two backed up to let Halius through the door.
"You're a large one, aren't you?" He heard.
He looked at a man who was the captain, distinct cap, and posture of an officer who had served his station for a great many years, and many of them looked at him for a reason.
"Captain James Cutter, UNSC Navy," Cutter said, holding out his hand.
"Sergeant Halius Salaro of the Ultramarines, Forth Chapter," Halius said as he removed his helmet and extended his hand to shake the man's hand.
"You are human…" Cutter said.
"I am Astartes, captain… Though I suppose I am." Halius added.
"The UNSC has been getting its ass kicked before we got help…. Sorta help." Forge stated.
"We lost enough, Forge," Cutter stated. "You are more than human," Cutter stated.
"I am a soldier and I remain one at the moment." Cutter heard. "You are the commander of these soldiers? Then I shall talk on behalf of my commander." Cutter heard.
He had been silent following this for but a moment. Not out of fear, but because he had to figure it all out.
He looked around the bridge, knowing that something was amiss but he said nothing, allowing them to have some small peace as they had earned it.
"There was some sort of map down there… And it looks like the Covenant got what they wanted down there and it couldn't help." Forge heard from the human.
"So, they have a weapon? And plan to fire it?" Halius asked.
"We don't know… I am going to need some time to decode it and try and figure it all out for now." The human stated to which Halius sighed.
A weapon. A giant gun or perhaps a warship. Great, he couldn't fathom how well it would work out for they would fight, draw a line in the sand and run their fingers through it.
"What about you?" Forge asked.
"We will return to our world, restock, replenish… Talk about plans. The few who are elder than me speak about how this isn't our galaxy." Halius stated.
"So you are not going to fight?" Forge stated.
"I will, I am a soldier, Sergeant… And I will remain that, my first goal is to protect humanity. I will fight chaos, the Tyranids, Tau… These 'Covenant', so long as it protects humanity." Halius stated.
"I'm going to meet with Admiral Cole…. The issues of a larger campaign and an alliance are not for me to decide." Cutter stated.
"But it is for us to decide." They heard.
Halius turned and was met with something most humans hated, a figure smaller than his fist and one clad in light…. An AI.
His first thought was to draw his bolter pistol and put a round through their skull before they imposed harm. Yet? He was not some dull-witted brute so he turned to Cutter.
"This is a construct, yes?" Halius asked in a tone that was half cautious and half furious.
"Seems we have a lot more to discuss… But yes, her name is Serena. We have others like her, scanned from our brains from what she's told me." Cutter said.
Ah, a loophole, humanity was their core, and as such? They were human designs… Good, a means to drop this. He did so, knowing many of his brothers would simply slaughter and kill without remorse. He was willing to do terrible things…. But he tempered it.
"Let us discuss what you have found… And then let our leaders decide the course." Halius said as Cutter nodded and looked to the side.
(3 hours later)
Halius was dropped off by a Stormraven which had come to retrieve him from the Spirit of Fire.
He passed serfs and staff for their ship; he marched through dim hallways and past many of his brothers towards the bridge where he needed to remain.
It was only as he entered the bridge to greet his commander. Only then did he notice 2 things that made his twin hearts beat like war drums at a machine gun pace.
One was that his commander spoke with a VERY familiar Captain… And the other was who stood beside the captain in the hologram.
"The Primarch…." Halius stated, almost tempted to drop to his knees in reverence.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done… So, a few things.
'BUT TECH HERESEY!?' Cool, Smart Ais are LITERALLY made in Halo by scanning human brains, space marines are not Tech Priests. Not every damn space marine is going to froth over an AI without a reason, their soldiers. This story is not about 'everything sucks in Warhammer so they are all miserable.'
'BUT THE CODEX ASTARTES!' Look at Space Marine, the codex is not the 'god book of all space marine law.' It is rules and rules change.
Halius is what a space marine in Halo will act: honorable, ruthless, valorous, stoic, and concerned with humanity first. Not frothing rules lawyers. This story is about the Ultramarines and Halo, not the Imperium.
The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show Gulliman meeting with the UNSC, the Ultramarines plotting their next strike with the UNSC, and Halius on Macragge during the calm. Until the 900–6500-word chapter. Lighting Wolf out.