Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 5200-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer or Halo, Gameshop and 343 do.
(May 1st, 2531, Helix-II.)
Halius removed the sword from a dead elite… He had come up with a name he rather liked for now: Willbreaker.
Blind Justice was a good second in his opinion, though he was never one for making a show of things for a long time.
"Spartan," Halius stated before he hummed. "Nicely done… Igaros? You can come down now, I did not believe they would be able to handle it without help, my apologies." Halius stated.
"Well, it made for good fireworks," Igaros stated as Halius hummed again. "All enemy forces are gone. I have swept the base. Every soldier is either dead or they retreated." Igaros stated.
"The Covenant don't retreat," Fred stated.
"There is nothing to be gained by letting yourself be crushed down to the last man," Halius stated. "Igaros? We have 5 wounded, possibly worse, 6 of Forge's marines have died, and… One frigate was destroyed." Halius stated, his voice much softer and heartfelt.
Igaros knew more and more that the Ultramarine was dealing with the fact they had still lost men in this fight and he was bothered by it. Nevertheless, Halius managed after a half minute of silence.
"We should leave, there is nothing further here," Halius stated before he looked at Master Chief. "Spartan. I hope we work together soon…. Your sniper saved one of my brothers from a shot to the head, they have my thanks." Halius stated as he sighed.
"The Covenant won't be defeated in one battle," Fred stated.
"No, but one battle has many advantages," Halius stated. "Morale, buying time for further engagements, securing technology… Though the tech-priests would have my head if they had their way." Halius added.
"Tell that to the inquisitors," Igaros stated with a snort.
"Admiral Cutter, mission completed." Master Chief stated as a Pelican landed a few feet from them. "Blue Team." Master Chief stated.
The sniper from before looked at Halius as the Ultramarine nodded, Linda nodded back as she walked towards the Pelican.
"Perhaps this is not stated often… But you have a masterful aim. Only my brothers can hope." Halius stated. "I hope to fight alongside you and the Master Chief sooner or later," Halius stated.
"That is his way of saying 'thank you and I hope we can help each other…' Halius doesn't have many allies," Igaros stated as Halius looked over at him.
"Thank you, Sergeant," Halius stated, his tone full of sarcasm. "One last thing. Your Admiral, I suppose should be notified of this? This operation was a very long one and I am sure he would need to know of the outcome." Halius stated.
"Admiral Stanforth knows." Master Chief stated.
"Then I shall speak to you back on Spirit of Fire," Halius stated as the Spartan team left aboard the pelican. "Igaros?" Halius stated, raising his eyebrow under his helm as he sighed.
"Hey, you clearly like both that sniper and her friend, you were looking right at them," Igaros stated.
"Perhaps because they were shooting the snipers I planned to take out and I was curious whom to engage next," Halius said, his tone chipped but still both tired.
He knew very well that Igaros was needling him rather fondly and he needed it, he needed every little bit of positive encouragement on the road to improving himself.
The problem? He knew damned well this war was just starting.
(Reach, Epsilon Eridani System)
Dr. Catherine Halsey continued her work, poking and prodding away at the table. She had work to do… And she was expected to do it well and good now.
"Dr. Halsey, Admiral Stanforth would like to speak with you." Halsey heard as she hummed and then turned, walking away from the table and towards the holoscreen.
"Dr. Halsey." Admiral Stanforth stated with all the warmth of a grenade. "I got your report, you do realize…." Admiral Stanforth stated before the doctor cut him off.
"The Ultramarines, I need to see whichever one made contact on Harvest," Halsey stated, her tone crisp, and pointed towards the admiral who sighed.
"Lieutenant Halius?" Stanforth asked. "He is busy handling an operation, I cannot…" Stanforth stated before Halsey snorted.
"John told me of what Lieutenant Halius did and he told me they are coming back to Arcadia for further debriefing," Halsey stated. "I need to speak with him and if you would like us to win this war. I would like to speak with him soon… Bring Douglas, John, and Linda if you wish… Bring all my Spartans if you need security, Admiral… These Ultramarines are something unique and different and if I do not know more? You will not know more." Halsey stated.
Stanforth sighed before he rubbed at the bridge of his nose. Ever since the Primarch had set his little government up, the chains of command for said government became hard to figure out.
The only reason he had a line to the Ultramarines was Captain Titus offering his services… That and Halius chose to spend 3 months working with the Spirit of Fire and Red Team by default.
"Let me talk to him…" Stanforth said before two more screens popped up.
One was Jerome who still wore the same MJOLNIR he did from a few months ago. Another was a soldier clad in blue armor with a red stripe across his helm like Jerome. The red lenses of the helm stared forward at her.
"Admiral/Sir." Both stated almost at once. "I apologize, Jerome. Please speak." Halius stated.
"Lieutenant? This is Doctor Catherine Halsey… She needs to speak to you… Sierra? You and Blue Team will bring him to Doctor Halsey…. I need to speak with Admiral Cutter surrounding another assignment." Stanforth stated before he faded.
"Wish you could have seen the base go up in smoke," Jerome stated.
"Someone had to distract the enemy, Spartan…" Halius stated before clearing his throat. "Doctor, what is it you require of me? My brothers and I are warriors… Not suited for work off the battlefield." Halius stated.
"I need you because you are the one who first contacted us… With my Spartans, Lieutenant. That makes you important." Halsey stated. "Jerome? I need you, Master Chief, and Linda… The others can be security if needed." Halsey stated.
"I will come… Though I will need this explained…" Halius stated.
(With Halius and Blue and Red Teams)
Halius sat aboard a pelican which launched towards Spirit of Fire. The Ultramarine officer slowly stepped down from the pelican before he walked deeper and deeper into the reformatted ship.
The signs this was not originally a warship were obvious, there were still systems for growing crops in some sectors, and the obvious smell of botanical chemicals was faint but there…
Halius questioned how desperate the UNSC had to be to convert a warship like this.
He snorted; it did not matter now. Now? Now they had an ally, they had friends who would fight alongside them in battle.
Halius would not falter… He would not fall when it came down to it… He was eager to get things going.
The Ultramarine took a seat on a scorpion tank, pausing to remove his helm and then begin routine maintenance on his weapons.
Chief and Linda approached the Ultramarine Lieutenant as he began to check his bolter for any sign of needing repairs. He knew he would need more ammo as he only held two clips full of ammo for them each.
"Master Chief, Spartan," Halius said as he looked over Willbreaker with all the care of a parent looking over their newborn child.
"Lieutenant," Chief stated as Halius looked at him as he placed the sword on his hip and gripped his helm.
The Ultramarine rose to his feet, placing it atop his head as he walked towards the Spartan-II. Chief was reminded of a Hunter or Brute with how tall the Ultramarine was.
"Spartan Douglas spoke of you highly on the way back to UNSC space…. That you are one of the better soldiers the UNSC has produced." Halius stated. "I do not know of you, Linda. There is much I do not know of Spartans… Your lethal skill speaks for itself." Halius stated.
"Douglas mentioned you killed a small army of Covenant," Linda stated.
"Over the first three days, we operated together… He and I did. We fought them on a planet where the Covenant and Orks planned to unearth warships that would kill us all." Halius stated.
Linda hummed as she moved in front of Chief. Halius inclined his head slightly at her as they stood off, Halius tapping Willbreaker slightly on the ground.
"Do you believe me a threat to the UNSC, Spartan?" Halius asked as he raised an eyebrow under his helm.
The two supersoldiers shared a look before Linda shook her head. Halius looked at them both and hummed.
"I will comply with your instructions for the duration…. Admiral Stanforth stated this planet is very sacred to the UNSC so I will be escorted to the doctor." Halius stated.
"And you have no problem with that?" Linda asked in the same stoic tone.
"I am a soldier of humanity. I do not work for the UNSC… It does not mean I will spit on humanity's rules." Halius stated. "Douglas mentioned Spartans are stoic and devoted to their work… It reminds me of my brothers." Halius stated.
"Igaros is your brother?" Linda asked.
"Not in the way a human might find it, but yes… Though I might admit, I do consider him as close to one as one might be in your ideals." Halius stated before leaning on the sword.
"I have a question… If you were meant to be the best soldiers in humanity? Why is the Covenant so dangerous? Their technology is powerful… But they pale in every area of warfare, tactics, and combat skill. These 'Elites' seem to care more about their bloodlust than about matching the UNSC in personal strategy and skill." Halius stated.
"Because to them? It is like we are throwing rocks." Fred stated. "Does not matter how many we fight. They can just glass it all." Fred stated.
"They will not win by destruction, Spartan… We have beaten worse." Halius stated. "The more soldiers we take down? The more they will be forced into a corner… Any enemy can be overcome with sufficient skill and strategy." Halius stated.
"You sound like a Spartan," Linda stated.
"And you sound like an Ultramarine. You won today, even if they burn a dozen planets? We can defeat them… The sooner we have a strategy? The sooner we can overcome them… No enemy is immune to being defeated." Halius stated.
"Halius? Captain Titus has another mission for us when this is done… A Covenant naval base… One of the UNSC Admirals needs it." Halius stated.
"I cannot take down a warship solo, Igaros…" Halius stated.
"I know… He said let the Master of the Fleet focus on that." Halius heard.
"Tell Captain Titus I will aid the operation when we are done… If this operation does not drag on." Halius stated.
The Ultramarine Lieutenant was thrown for a loop either way, knowing that he had zero time to consider the options he had. He was glad that he was not the only Lieutenant within the second company lest this issue become too much to bear.
Halius hummed, completely at odds with himself now and for good… Now that he had work to do? He knew he still had to get on with it now and for good reason.
Halius turned and walked back to the tank, pausing to take a seat on the tread as Halius resumed thinking and pondering how well they could take on the Covenant.
From what he heard as well? The Covenant and Orks had still been hampering the Imperial army and navy so even then it was not guaranteed they would win, only strategy and cunning would carry them through it.
That and he knew absolutely nothing about naval tactics so he would leave it there for the Admirals to deal with while he handled the more physical aspects of his work now… Well, at least something like it.
Halius had zero clue what was being done when it came crashing down to it now when push came to shove when it was all said and done.
There was something there when push came to shove now.
(3 days later aboard UNSC Paris Class Heavy Frigate, Savannah)
The pelican dipped slightly; its entire hold was dominated by super soldiers to the point where the elbow room was cramped.
Halius sat between both John and Linda, his bulk magnified by his armor made the seat creak under him as he stared forward at Kelly. The Ultramarine made slight adjustments to make himself more comfortable… The seat was never designed for an Astartes.
"Why would the doctor ask me to come to such a highly secure military base?" Halius asked, tilting his head an inch. "This planet… Feels like it should not be shown to anyone." Halius stated.
Neither John nor Linda said anything but John agreed. Reach was the fortress planet of the UNSC, the second heart of their galaxy, and one of the only safe havens from the Covenant.
Showing anyone the home of the Spartans was itself horrid, yet? He fell silent for good reason, knowing orders could be questioned later.
Their Pelican set down at Sword Base, and was promptly greeted by 5 dozen black armored soldiers, rifles ready… As well as what had to be a platoon of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers or 'ODSTS.'
Master Chief and Linda looked at Halius who nodded and stood somewhat up, his full height suppressed by the cabin as he slowly moved out.
The soldier looked at the small army of UNSC soldiers. This planet was vital to their war efforts… Yet he was brought here? He felt like he was sinning by simply being here.
He was escorted by the Spartans, making sure not to touch his weapons. This planet reminded him of one of the Ultramarine planets with how well-guarded it was…
If it was an Ultramarine world, however? the Pelican would have been swarmed with enough firepower to shoot down a small fleet.
Master Chief and Jerome led their teams through the pockets of UNSC soldiers, Halius keeping pace with the Spartans easily as he followed them.
"This doctor referred to you as 'her' Spartans," Halius stated before they nodded stoically.
He guessed there was some relation to this woman but chose to leave it be. They were allies, Halius hated secrets but he was aware they were a construct of war, one would not be able to win a war without a certain level of discreteness.
The Ultramarine Lieutenant walked towards the next portion of the complex, taking care only to stop once more. He was silent, very silent for now at the end of the day.
They passed inside as the 7 Spartans all took positions around Halius. They did indeed remind him of Astartes, tech heresy be damned. If they were any closer to Astartes? He would begin throwing the word 'brother.'
They passed inside a military complex, the lobby full of soldiers and staff along with equipment here and there. All of them paused as the group passed through, gaping at the 7 elite supersoldiers who were beyond human.
To be entirely fair? The natural response to most Astartes was aiming every massive weapon the size of a small cruiser at them and firing them all.
Halius was too silent before he seemed to think of what was growing on before he relaxed to think of what was growing on before now.
He was too interested in what was growing on his mind as they entered the next room.
They were forced to enter a trio of elevators. Freight elevators who locked behind them, a series of titanium doors folding in behind them like that of a vault.
The trio sat in silence as the elevator rode up, not once did they understand what the purpose of it was.
The elevator rode up in 30 seconds or so, easily riding up into the heart of the facility.
Halius crossed his fingers before the doors opened and they were greeted by a woman with blonde hair who could not be more than her 30s or so, lithe as a small twig… Yet she faced the group of soldiers who could manhandle enemies as if they were twigs with all the emotion of a tired teacher.
"John, Linda. I need you… Fred, Jerome, Kelly, Alice, Douglas? You may speak to Admiral Stanforth and tell him that I will be back within a few hours to a day or so." Halsey stated, her voice blunt, crisp, and to the point.
Halius bristled as he realized this woman could not have done for now. He clicked it into place before he probably tried to figure it out now.
Halius followed him, too curious as he guessed this woman had experience with Spartans.
She treated the sight of an 8-foot super soldier escorted by armed 7-foot ones less as a shocking sight and more like a business meeting.
Halius hummed as he thought of what was growing on his mind, each detail processing like a soldier holding a folding computer.
Halius sighed as he followed them, his footsteps making thugs as did the Spartans as the steady hymn of footsteps reminded him of training.
Halius was led to what he could only assume was a UNSC laboratory, a pair of massive claws hanging down from the roof like the tendrils of a hulking beast.
It was enough to make Halius cross his arms before he looked to the side. Both Linda and Chief were silent.
"Chief? I have something I need to talk to you about." Halsey stated. "Linda? I need you and Halius… Please, remove your armor." Halsey stated.
Both Linda and Halius reacted to this request the regular way a trained super soldier would as of now… They paused and shared a look of intense confusion and fascination with the very idea of it.
Both looked at each other… Thinking more and more with each second that it was off-putting to them than it was to anyone else when it was all said and done.
They had a LOT to do now, a LOT left to understand now at the second. Such details were beyond them now as Halsey sighed, turning to face them.
"Lieutenant, the Ultramarines are augmented enough to be considered beyond human, yes?" Halsey asked.
"Correct," Halius said, tapping his hands on his armored side, confused.
"I need to run tests on you and a Spartan… And since I will guess that armor enhances your abilities further? I would like to know what a standard Astartes would be able to do without further enhancements." Halsey stated.
Hasley bristled at this with amusement, like Linda? Astartes found their armor as much a shield as it was a sword, that? Usually, this would be followed by an inquisitor screaming about all the laws this broke and shooting someone, turning their skull into pulp as they ranted about the emperor.
Halius did not care for the more rabid members of the Imperium. He was a soldier; he would follow protocol but he would also do what he believed correct in times of crisis.
"Very well," Halius stated before he looked at her. "Though, it shall take time… There is a procedure to us wearing our armor and not… And I shall ask if we need not do it again." Halius stated.
"Agreed," Linda stated as the two hummed.
"Fine," Halsey stated before she looked between them. "I simply need some scans… Take your time, we have time." Halsey stated.
"The/our mission." Halius and Linda stated, almost in unison which garnered a look between the duo.
"Can wait," Halsey stated. "Both Admiral Stanforth and Captain Titus are busy discussing strategy for the war... You both must serve humanity, no?" Halsey asked.
Both sighed as they realized point damn blank that dealing with this was going to be a pain in the ass. They had things to do and Halius felt he and Linda had another connection…. Neither liked work that would distract them from their own.
"Give me an hour or so," Halius muttered as he cursed and muttered under his way.
Linda watched as the armored soldier left, realizing she would need to disrobe as well and considering anything short of being almost undressed would not give the best possible scan.
She looked at John, and slowly put her hands to her helm as she slowly disconnected it from the seal on her armor.
"Chief," Linda stated before she bristled, annoyed at leaving her armored shell.
(One hour later)
Halius returned… With Igaros carrying his armor, the angered Ultramarine officer sighed.
"What?" Igaros asked. "You are not the one who has to carry the damn thing," Igaros stated.
"You are enjoying this far beyond what you should," Halius stated.
"I am simply amused this trip amounts to a medical exam as opposed to something more important," Igaros stated.
"It is," Halsey stated. "Lieutenant," Halsey stated as she paused to look slightly up from her work as the two questioned it.
Halsey watched as the Astartes approached, wearing what amounted to combat fatigues. She supposed that in times off the battlefield, they held very different ideas of dress.
She typed in a string of code. It did not matter; they had a lot of work to do.
Halius sighed, constantly considering the reasons he was here as to how he would need to act… He knew more and more that such ideas were hard enough to figure out… Let alone HOW.
The Ultramarine within him shrugged off these ideas…. If this was important? He would do it… No matter how much he resented it.
The Astartes entered the chamber, bristling at things as he realized how odd this would be… The chamber, large enough in diameter to park a scorpion tank or even a land raider, held a pair of spots where he was expected to stand.
He removed his shirt, more annoyed at the prospect of being without his armor or weapons, defenseless, vulnerable. He also placed his shoes to the side and everyone saw the scars both from training and from war.
The door opened and he was greeted by Linda without her armor or the bodysuit, a black tank top and shorts which he assumed were used before… The scars.
Halsey watched as the two supersoldiers eyed the other. not with lust, not with romantic intent nor even a smidge of adoration. No, they reminded Halsey of sharks circling a freshly killed carcass.
They looked at each other with the eyes of soldiers, mentally scanning the other and coming to conclusions about how they stacked up.
Halius eyed her scars from the procedure, angry cuts on her stomach, arms, and legs. He quickly guessed due to the positions and precision of the incisions on her skin that they were neither self-inflicted nor combat-related.
She for her part noted Halius was as tall without the armor as he was with it, looking like a walking tank then a soldier, phrases on his skin which she compared to an ODST getting tattoos.
"As I suspected… Even without armor, they are both physically beyond human." Halsey stated before she spoke into a microphone in front of her. "Halius? Linda? Can you clasp your hands? I wish to see how strong both of you are." Halsey stated.
"I feel there are better ways to understand how our biology works, Doctor," Halius muttered before he turned to Linda. "Be careful, Spartan… Astartes are strong even without our armor." Halius stated.
As one, both he and she extended their right arms, both moving like snakes as they clasped hands, pushing hard not to be outdone.
Halsey realized a few minutes later that Halius was indeed right, the two clenched their arms so much one could hear the ground vibrate slightly.
"I find it comical you brought them here just to record how durable and strong they are outside of armor…. Which translates to them fighting." Igaros stated.
"If it's important, it's important," Fred stated.
"Would you care for me to fight with you and you tell me if that would tell anything? One could tell how we are from telemetry data…" Igaros stated.
It was not a lie, their armor could recover anything needed of them, anything that could be needed from that could be done without risking them.
The two stopped a moment later, clenching their fists as they realized the other was much stronger than possible.
"Are these tests finished?" Both Linda and Halius asked, more annoyed to be out of their armor than any embarrassment over showing themselves.
Halsey hummed and knew this. Why? Because while romantic and even lust-like views were common? It was clear both were reacting the way a soldier would when you took away their favorite toy then anything.
Neither cared how the other looked so much as how their looks factored in as soldiers. Halsey guessed Halius underwent training and technology not to let his emotions become a liability in combat… Spartans had been equipped with something similar.
"Yes." Halsey finally said after a few seconds of silence. "I have the biological data I need; the room's scanners just gave me it… You can both exit the room… And get on with your little war." Halsey stated, her voice a little sore on the world war.
Both Spartan and Ultramarine were silent, guessing the other had been eager to exit the room.
"Igaros? Tell the Redoubt that I will be there soon to help with planning… We have a space station to assault." Halius stated.
(10 minutes later)
Linda finished pulling on the black boots of her bodysuit then allowed the machines to screw her MJOLNIR armor back into place, feeling like she was secure, safe, and wearing her skin again.
Her armor had been passed from a regular variant to a prototype specialist set known as ARGUS, built for sharpshooters and snipers.
The woman heard someone behind her and paused, gripping her magnum equipped to the clamp on her leg. She paused and thought of it for a second before relaxing.
It was not an enemy…. Just Igaros and Master Chief. She paused to think of it now, looking at the two.
"Chief," Linda stated before Igaros looked at her.
"Are the tests common?" Igaros asked before he looked to the side.
Halius was nowhere to be seen for now, saying it took a while to put back on his armor and he was eager to return to telling some of the company their orders before returning.
"Not often." Linda put it bluntly. "Do most Ultramarines act as stoic as that?" Linda asked
"We were trained to focus on the mission and ignore most distractions… I believe Halius focused more on your augmentation scars than you… We have not seen a Spartan outside their armor, I believe he was curious if all of you shared traits like us." Igaros stated.
"Like a roadmap," Chief stated.
"Correct… Astartes also do not like to be outside their armor anytime they are deployed… We feel helpless and defenseless…" Igaros stated.
"That goes somewhat for Spartans." Master Chief stated.
"Ah," Igaros stated as he clicked his fingers before he turned to Linda. "Are you ok? Halius will return… He is busy speaking to Captain Titus and getting new orders." Igaros added before he looked to the side.
There was a moment of silence before now, too much time was spent now.
"Halius, are you on your way?" Igaros asked.
"I am… Hold a second." Halius stated over the link which could be heard by everyone. "We aren't planning to take out the station directly, it is too well defended, I plan to aid the Spartans in overcoming it," Halius added.
"We need to plan," Linda stated.
"Agreed… Is there a military complex where we can speak of this plan privately?" Halius asked.
"Sword does have a few war rooms… But this is mostly an ONI base." Linda stated.
"Then we do it somewhere else… We should meet somewhere we can talk privately?" Halius asked as the Spartans and Astartes all shared looks.
"There is…." Linda said before she cursed, realizing that she had a lot more work to do.
(New Alexandria)
The D-77 Pelican coasted towards the city as Halius snorted, annoyed.
"I HATE not wearing my armor," Halius muttered as he looked at the others.
None of the group including Fred who piloted the craft wore their armor. Why? Because meeting to discuss military strategy at a café inside hi-tech battle armor did not aid them.
Neither Halius nor Igaros nor Fred, Linda, Kelly, or Master Chief liked being outside the armor and forced into civilian clothes, not for the simple reason they did not like being civilians but because all their training told them so.
"So, how about we start this meeting? Operation: SILENT Spear." Igaros jokingly asked.
"A few days prior, a UNSC frigate located a small Covenant naval base within the asteroid belt, not large enough to fit anything more than 3 or 4 kilometers," Halius stated as a hologram appeared.
The structure reminded Halius of a whale breaching the surface. A purple, curved structure partially built into an asteroid the size of a battlecruiser, with 5 purple rings surrounding it.
"Since a direct attack is tactically against us and we do not know if they are aware of the intelligence?" Halius asked, pointing at it.
"We need a ride inside…" Kelly stated.
"Correct… This led to an idea I approved with Admiral Cutter… We ambush a Covenant cruiser inside the field and then ram it into the station, detonating it and the ships still docked." Halius stated.
"Leaving out the matter of the crew," Fred stated.
"We have all dealt with worse." Igaros and Master Chief stated.
"I concur. The hard part is not the act of fighting aboard the ship… It is surviving. We will be left with ONLY extraction… The Savannah will deploy us and draw fire for 2 minutes then it will leave. The second we are deployed? We will be alone within the field." Halius stated.
"No exfil? Almost seems like a punishment." Kelly quipped.
"A small little frigate will extract us when the work is done… For the time being? We focus on work." Halius stated.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out something.
Spartans and Astartes do not need it.
I wanted to show how Spartans and Astartes are physically and remind people they act differently.
Halsey studying the Ultramarines at the time being is meant to set up.
And? I intend to have the war change differently… Someone tell me if the Banished should be included. The next chapter will show more of both Halius and the Spartans all starting their operation and such. Until the 900–6500-word chapter, until the 2-10 months, Lighting Wolf out.