Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Noble Guardians. Enjoy the 4300-word chapter. I do not own Halo, Microsoft, 343, and a few others do.
Gauge racked his shotgun and paused to look at Carter, watching the Noble Team field commander run a finger over the glass of his visor.
"We're going in blind, aren't we?" Gauge questioned, raising an eyebrow as he did so. "That is never good, not at all. Never is good when it comes to ops like this." Gauge stated.
"There is not enough time to get proper recon done, Colonel Holland wants them out of Sword… Shooting down their command ship in the area isn't good enough." Carter stated.
"That ship still at the bottom of the ocean?" Rose questioned, running a hand over her rifle.
"Yes, scans revealed it was destroyed entirely, ONI sent teams to get what's left, and see if any of it ticks right," Carter stated as Gauge and Rose hummed.
"If the Covenant wanted Sword gone? They would have glassed everything in a 20-mile radius and then sent in ground teams." Rose stated as she sighed.
"True… They do not drop dozens of groups of soldiers on our front lawn. We are not worth their time." Gauge stated as he sighed.
"Noble Leader? We have signs of heavy anti-air activity. Dismounting seems the most prudent case of action." They heard as looks were shared.
"Emile, check the ridgeline, do some hunting," Carter ordered as Emile nodded before he dropped out the back of the pelican into the water. "Noble? We are going to punch a hole in their defenses, there are 2 anti-air cannons. One of you takes one out." Carter stated before the Spartans nodded.
"We're regrouping at HIGHCOM when this is done, sir?" Carter questioned, pausing only to look downwards at the time.
Both Spartans were thrown off, and both wanted to know what was going on. perhaps it would be better known if they went screaming into the day, ready to tango… However? He was not stupid enough to sabotage the team and their entire group.
Perhaps it would be better if something like this helped… It did not matter as both would gladly bring down the group.
Carter and his group landed in chest-high water, pausing only to look at each other and ensure they were all ok. It did not help they knew there was still an entire group of covenant soldiers which easily outnumbered them all.
"If we are going to fight? Might want to cause a distraction… I have got enough explosives for the fireworks show at one of the guns, sir." Gauge stated before he paused, silent for the moment as he hummed.
Both Spartans knew that if it did not come together, they'd probably be dead for now and it was NOT something that he could utterly deal with. It was something that could be dealt with in waves and droves. There was too much to do something.
She would not be done with it for now, she sighed and then looked downwards before pausing to herself as she seemed to try and deal with it now.
Gauge would continue to relax more and more at the time being. it meant little and it would figure out something before and dealt with it as of the time being, it would not be well enough.
The idea of it all meant something, something beyond all shadow of a doubt, something not yet done with an idea… A measure that was too unsure and too dealt with to matter… It would be a fitting end for such a measure.
There was a lot more to try and figure out for now… An ideal that would not be cut through, not yet done with. He paused to think that in any damn way, all of it could have dealt with it for now at the time being.
"Move out, Noble," Carter said as they slowly yet surely marched through the water. "Gadge? Fireworks… We are going through the front door, cannot let them get anything off the ground." Carter stated as Gadge hummed.
He surmised that if he did not do something? The covenant would ship all their soldiers out of the place and then they would all be screwed by this… Granted, an airstrike might level the place but between that possibly destroying any data left and the fact they might not be dealt with it easily.
There was just nothing to be done with, nothing that was not going to be done with… Still? There was more to do.
"Dot? Did recon scans seem to locate anything?" Carter questioned before he paused to let the others pause.
There was a pause as he looked to the ground… Something that would be dealt with for now and for good… It did not seem to matter, for now, an idea that he could be dealt with.
"There is a battalion of covenant soldiers located in the encampment… At least 1 possible covenant corvette was spotted after the wreckage of the warship descended into the ocean." Carter stated before pausing again and again.
The Spartans all paused, thinking for a moment that it might last before now. It was going to last for now, it would be done for now.
"So, there are more soldiers to fight through, isn't it?" Gadge questioned before he relaxed and paused to look downwards at the ground.
If nothing? He would not be able to decide, not know what would be done at the time being… So much about the operation bothered him but it did not exactly mean much.
Carter paused and focused the two to the side, not wanting to do more than relax. it was not even done yet, not cut to focus for now before it cut through and cut its teeth on now.
This idea that would be dealt with for now… It was to be done today or else? It would not at all end and ending this infection on the planet was their first goal, it would not be done and dusted until now.
The idea would not be done, an idea that it needed to be ended as of now… There were a lot of things before it ended now as he paused.
He wished to keep growing, being more tiring himself from it all… There is a LOT more he would rather do, more rather cut through and he would not be as of now… There was a lot more to it at the time being.
There was something to keep cutting through it for now. There would be more at the end.
Gadge noticed soldiers on the shore. He did not know what was coming for now, an idea that he could not wish to relax for now as he paused to himself.
More soldiers appeared, crawling out of the hill like insects. He noticed the golden armor of an elite who was in command of the group. He paused, unsure… Uncertain, unwilling to do more, to do something.
Carter noticed it and held the rest of his men in reserve. They paused, all looking at him and awaiting their decision. It was clear that such a thing was beyond them as they tried.
"Starting to wish we had Jorge here," Gadge stated, watching to see if Emile would show up. "We take him out, it will break the group, sir… What is the plan?" Gadge questioned, pausing to relax.
He did not know the answer as he did not wish to. He looked at the Spartans and began to think of their next maneuver to clear out the encampment, there was something else to be done and a desire to do something to have ended it for good.
Yes… For good and without a single shred of mercy. He wished to have dealt with it and moved on.
Carter felt the water pool up to his hips, keeping his DMR ready for the first enemy. He did not wish to fight, to claw through their entire group… Yet? He could see what was going to happen.
The body of an elite tumbled from the cliff, slamming into the ground next to the elite. It paused, turning, and growling before Emile leaped from the cliff, knife in hand as he stabbed it deep into their skull.
"Open fire!" Carter yelled, taking full advantage of the fact the covenant was focused on Emile.
(Back at Base)
Kat paused to let more data flow in. She was many things as a soldier, perfectionist, rude, hard to please… But she did her job well when it came down to it now and Carter was letting it all rest within his hands.
He was too tired, too unwilling to do more than pass over certain things. She could understand the stress of his job and what it meant, she was as much a soldier as he was, and yet? He had been too tired and too exhausted to do much more than pass it over to her at the end of their busy day, dividing both missions up and down for now.
"Anything?" Kat asked as she paused for a moment to let the orders sink in.
"Only your soothing voice." Kat heard as she rolled her eyes.
"Thank you, Noble 3. I will be sure to slit your throat lovingly later." Kat quipped before Jun chuckled. "The Covenant is not going to be waiting around… I know you and Six will leave plenty of bodies in your way." Kat stated as Jun hummed.
"I could slaughter an army, but still will not stop them. It might just make them want to die more." Kat heard as she sighed.
It was true that they would not stop to make dues to the dead, they would not mourn those who had fallen. Kat could empty her pistol then her rifle into the throat of a thousand covenant soldiers and it would not help, they were in the Covenant's crosshairs, and she knew that the planet of Harvest was safe… Only after dozens of humans died on it just to stop to try and deal with it all.
There were too many losses, too much to try and figure something out for now, she paused to try and figure out another move.
There was just too much, too interested in what would be nice and would end up doing far more harm than good, it felt like a knife being rammed through the organs, it felt cutting and deep. It would be hard to believe that she was not relaxed and in some sort of exhaustion.
The spartan in her hated that idea. It always wanted an enemy it could beat, something that was not easily able to be done. Yet? she fought like a soldier, she acted like one, it was within the idea.
She was a Spartan, a good one, and one of an elite team. She knew damn well admitting defeat was a lie, to try and win was a lie, and to be a soldier was to admit defeat and simply try and rethink the strategy to try and figure out?
Something that kept growing for now, an idea that would be done and dusted, an idea that will keep growing for now, an idealism that was to be done and dusted… Something to grow fond for now, a pain that would keep being done a measure that was too interested in now, it meant something… An idea that was all too much to deal with.
There was a lot more to do and a lot more that could cut to the quick, the idea of which she seemed to keep being the end of it, the end of all, the cut through to the end. It meant something to the rest of the day.
The cut the deepest was something to be done at the time which he could cut through to the end, a cut above the rest and something he could not allow to end properly at the end.
It was just too much fun to keep being done with. All she could do was assign orders as she tapped a button to contact Carter on a secure line.
"Noble Two to Noble One, how is the mission proceeding, sir?" Kat questioned to which Carter was responding with gunfire.
"Noble move up! Emile, take out… Never mind, Gadge? I need those charges planted!" Carter yelled to which there was an explosion.
"I see the mission is going well enough… Colonel Holland had deployed a Wombat to survey your location." Kat stated to which Holland hummed.
"These SOBS are more dug in than I thought!" Gadge stated before he snorted. "Should have sent an ARGUS… At least he could shoot some of them for us!" Gadge stated.
The drone showed an explosion that sent a dozen covenant soldiers and a shade next to it rolling down the hill. The commander watched as Gadge leaped down the slope, sliding down to land next to Emile.
Rose opened fire, causing an Elite to roll down the hill as the group slowly moved up the hill.
"Let's go, Nobles!" He heard as he slowly motioned the team forwards.
(With Carter and Noble)
The 5 nobles swept their rifles upwards and onto the ridge. They motioned to each other as they paused to think of the next move… All of them? Each little soldier had been tired, drained, exhausted. And yet? They were Spartans, they endured, and they acted as they should have done so themselves.
He was tired, too exhausted, too unwilling to do more than this… Yet? He had still been willing to do so in droves and waves.
Carter motioned to both Gadge and Rose who nodded as they slowly marched up the hill, for now, there was a LOT more to this.
"Noble, up the hill," Carter ordered to which they obeyed, pausing only to do checks on their weapons.
The Spartans paused, thinking of the next move, wishing to fight the enemy better and better for now. they wanted to fight and they were good at fighting, very good, skilled at their craft to a degree untouched by war.
The Spartans slowly began the climb, interested in what was to happen when they reached the Apex of their climb…. And they wished only to secure it in a manner that would entice them further and further.
They climbed, digging their fingers into the stone, and ripping through it in ways they could not foresee, could not wish to deal with.
The soldiers all felt their enemy rain down plasma fire upon them, tired, exhausted… They wished it was over, they wished it was ended. Now? Now this would not do.
Gadge leaned backward to fire his gun, tagging a pair of grunts as his magnum thrummed with the soldiers being interested in what was coming next, too unsure of what was coming down to it.
He had too much faith in what was coming, far too much at this juncture, it would not matter much now but perhaps later it might when push went to shove.
At last? They went to battle knowing they would possibly die. That was some comfort.
Gadge paused and looked over to Carter as the group slowly yet surely climbed the hill. He was all too eager to blow something up and yet? He had been willing to strike while the iron was hot.
It was then he noticed something glistening at the bottom of the hill. Something telling him the Covenant was up to something.
"Sir? I got something here." Gadge stated as he motioned over the hill.
Carter paused, thinking of the next move… He was too exhausted, too interested in what was coming down the moment, too unsure of their next moment in combat. He looked down at the base.
A citadel, a Covenant base, something that told him the Covenant was dug in for an extended occupation, too curious for now… There was more to this as of now as the group both paused to look at Carter.
"They're setting up shop on our front lawn," Gadge whispered, incredulous at what was going to happen.
"Hell no, I got some noise complaints I want to lodge with them," Rose stated as they locked their guns.
"Not yet," Carter stated, forcing them to lower their weapons. "Noble Two? Can you confirm the visual?" Carter questioned as the two looked over at him.
"Confirmed, Covenant Citadel… I agree with Noble Seven and Eight… Blow the thing to hell, the Covenant should not be allowed a foothold on Reach, it will just lead to more invasions." Kat stated.
"After we find the intel in the base… A citadel on our frontline? There must be an intel room. We get that, then blow the base." Carter stated to which the two sighed.
"We need to get in there then… Which is not going to be easy… We need to hit them fast and harder." Gadge stated before gripping his grenade launcher, ready to relax.
"Gadge, make some noise… Rose? You and Emile take out the security. I will head inside and secure the intel." Carter stated.
"I have a feeling we're going to be here soon."
(With Kat)
Kat hummed, looking over at the rest of their goals. They were prepared for what else was coming and she heard more gunfire telling her that the others were handling business.
"Command? I think you might want to see this…" Kat heard as she paused and then started to look over toward the monitor. She hummed, interested. "Noble 1? How is the hunting so far?" Kat asked before more violence was heard.
"We are killing snap jaws… Damn it, Noble 8, stop getting in the way of my grenades. I'm trying to clear off the ridge." Gadge stated before he sighed, tired and unable to do something to fix it.
"I'm trying my best to deal with it… You are in the way." Rose stated before she sighed, too interested in what was coming down the line for now and that would not change for now or for good.
(With Carter and Noble)
Carter watched as Rose stabbed an elite before tossing it aside as Emile shotgunned another jackal, allowing them to fall to the ground, unsure of what was going on.
"Noble 1, please be advised, covenant warship ahead, ORS-Class Heavy cruiser." He heard.
"I'm sorry, did she say cruiser?" Gadge questioned. "Cruiser? As in there is a BIGGER ship around her with more guns than the one, we blew up?" Gadge questioned.
His tone was snarky but with the edge still needed to remind him that he was a Spartan. He knew that a warship from the covenant was not a small matter and even if it was only one? It was part of a larger fleet and would bring more destruction for now.
"Sir?" Carter heard before he looked over to Gadge. "Permission to blow the enemy up?" Gadge asked, guessing that there was something else to do.
He had been too disturbed by now before he looked downwards as he paused to think of what he had been unsure of it.
(With Kat and the others)
"Noble 6? Bring your team in… We are taking it from there, I have your data… Noble 1? We are just about done with the recon and it is not pretty… You?" Kat asked before she looked over to the monitors.
"We're dealing with a situation," Carter stated. "Dot? Tell command, we are dealing with the camp… Noble 8, Noble 4? Intel… Noble 7? Deal with the fireworks… I got an idea." Carter stated.
"On it." The other Spartans stated. "Noble 2? If the situation means more tangos? We know, we got a nest here and I am trying to exterminate them." Gadge stated.
"Fair enough," Kat stated before she paused to look to the side. "Noble 1? I am bringing the others back to base, you want us to head to your location?" Kat questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"No, we are handling it on our own. Just get everything ready… And tell them to have a big gun prepared." Carter stated.
"Ugh, big stick… Cannot let me have any fun, sir." Gadge stated before Carter snorted.
"You will get your wish, Noble 7," Carter stated.
"Kinda do not want to if it means what I think, sir… The last thing I want is Reach being turned into a floating wasteland." Carter heard.
He did not want to think of it. He did not want to try and deal with the pain all over him. He was exhausted, he was worn down from the constant fighting of the past few days…. And yet? He was a Spartan, he would endure, and he would always endure.
The group slowly yet surely, there was a lot more chaos on his mind and a lot more he could try and deal with for now. It would all seem to come crashing down upon them. They were soldiers and they would act as they could no matter what. They were going to act either way.
He had a lot more on his mind, a lot more to try and deal with such things for now, and it was too interesting for now and it would not be something he could deal with for now, there was some chaos in it for now… It was too much for now.
"We need to get going… Let us get the work done and then get going." Gadge stated before he paused to think.
It was something he was chaotic enough to try and deal with for now… He had no real experience in it? He had been too interested in now, too interested in what was going on for now, he had been too interested in the next move.
He had been too unwilling to stop, to act now? He had been too interested in the next idea he tried.
"What do we do when we're done here?" Rose asked.
"We go to war… And then we end up doing whatever happens." Gadge stated. "We know what happens when they show up on our front door… And we already know they are here." Gadge stated.
Rose did not at all know what was going on and how he could react. He did not at all mince words, it wasn't a joke, wasn't some hatred, wasn't trying to downplay their actions.
And both she and Carter knew. If the Covenant had found its home? It was only a matter of time before they showed up in force, they could kill millions of covenant soldiers and yet still lose the war since the Covenant would just burn Reach to cinders from above.
He did so with the knowledge that it could be amusing, far beyond the pale. He had a lot more to this than usual, it would not be easily something that he could not control… And did not at all wish to deal with it.
He had been too chaotic, too unsure of the next move made. He had not been able to relax, he had been too chaotic for now, too thrown off for now.
(With Kat)
He had been too interesting for now; he had been too relaxed to have been thrown off. Kat watched as they moved to be too interested in something for now, too thrown off for now… At everything that had been conducted and would be too much of a game.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be delayed and will be in 2-10 months and will be 900-6500 words. it will also show more and more of what is going on and show Noble Team returning to base to plan. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!
