Continuation of After Action Report 338990 regarding Test [Redacted] Battlegroup engagement with Covenant Battle Group over [Redacted] on [Redacted].
GREEN:
Got orders to head into the Battlecruiser alongside a 8 of the [Redacted] for a separate op. In case the Covenant managed to destroy critical intelligence. The others had self-destructed, made life easier to figure out which one. Fight for the Supercarrier took a few days, something big as that has plenty of spaces to hide.
Left the [Redacted] and got onto the [Redacted]. Met up with the [Redacted, specialist detachment. Silenced Bolters (1), knives, sniper rifles, grenades (2), explosives. Called themselves Scouts (3), no Power Armour, just something they call Carapace Armour, no power at all.
Silenced Bolters: The Imonet Pattern 8 Stalker Bolter is a Bolter that fires subsonic munitions with specialised warheads. It is ideal for wetwork and can be fired even when in a Vacuum. The warheads themselves use the concept of a 2 stage warhead to defeat energy shields and armour, by disrupting the first layer of the defence, the inside is open to a the second stage attack. It can either use HEAT ammunition to penetrate armour or "Shard" ammunition that delivers a neurotoxin as part of its payload into the target's body. The Neurotoxin is a fast acting reagent capable of dropping even a Brute in less than 2 seconds. The weapons themselves do not look any different from a standard Bolter, only the inscription above the eject port will give it away, all the better to hide amongst other Bolters. Usually only equipped by those that need a surefire but quiet means of disposing their enemies. A large number have been gifted to [Redacted] and the [Redacted] program by the [Redacted]. While it does have a reduced amount of recoil in comparison to the standard Bolter, it is still more than a normal human can handle and is recommended for [Redacted] only.The Imonet Pattern 8 Stalker Bolter is a Bolter that fires subsonic munitions with specialised warheads. It is ideal for wetwork and can be fired even when in a Vacuum. The warheads themselves use the concept of a 2 stage warhead to defeat energy shields and armour, by disrupting the first layer of the defence, the inside is open to a the second stage attack. It can either use HEAT ammunition to penetrate armour or "Shard" ammunition that delivers a neurotoxin as part of its payload into the target's body. The Neurotoxin is a fast acting reagent capable of dropping even a Brute in less than 2 seconds. The weapons themselves do not look any different from a standard Bolter, only the inscription above the eject port will give it away, all the better to hide amongst other Bolters. Usually only equipped by those that need a surefire but quiet means of disposing their enemies. A large number have been gifted to [Redacted] and the [Redacted] program by the [Redacted]. While it does have a reduced amount of recoil in comparison to the standard Bolter, it is still more than a normal human can handle and is recommended for [Redacted] only.
Redacted Grenade:
The [Redacted] generally have 3 types of grenades they use. The frag grenade which is a standard fragmentation grenade only scaled up to the size of a [Redacted]. Functions very similarly to a block of plastic explosives due to its scale. The Krak grenade is the A.T. variant. It has a weighted end which when thrown has it face the correct way downwards in order to detonate the impact charge for the shaped charge penetrate the armour. It is capable of penetrating all forms of armour that the Covenant have displayed on the infantry scale. The third option is Melta-bomb which by means of a fusion reaction is a weapon that explodes with extreme heat, enough to melt any forms of material currently available to the UNSC or the Covenant.The [Redacted] generally have 3 types of grenades they use. The frag grenade which is a standard fragmentation grenade only scaled up to the size of a [Redacted]. Functions very similarly to a block of plastic explosives due to its scale. The Krak grenade is the A.T. variant. It has a weighted end which when thrown has it face the correct way downwards in order to detonate the impact charge for the shaped charge penetrate the armour. It is capable of penetrating all forms of armour that the Covenant have displayed on the infantry scale. The third option is Melta-bomb which by means of a fusion reaction is a weapon that explodes with extreme heat, enough to melt any forms of material currently available to the UNSC or the Covenant.
Scouts:
Scouts are a specialized form of infantry employed by the [Redacted]. They are highly trained, individualists who are capable of infiltration, information gathering, assassination and surviving alone for extended periods of time. Scouts from the reports taken from the field tend to deploy ahead of a main army group to prepare the way or are used as a means of distraction for the main army group. Anything to pave the way whether by assassinating key officers or sabotaging ammunition or destroying key infrastructure. They are also deployed in kidnapping missions in order to capture VIPs for interrogation as seen in the transcripts. Essentially anything that needs to be done with less… gusto, is in the domain of the Scout.Scouts are a specialized form of infantry employed by the [Redacted]. They are highly trained, individualists who are capable of infiltration, information gathering, assassination and surviving alone for extended periods of time. Scouts from the reports taken from the field tend to deploy ahead of a main army group to prepare the way or are used as a means of distraction for the main army group. Anything to pave the way whether by assassinating key officers or sabotaging ammunition or destroying key infrastructure. They are also deployed in kidnapping missions in order to capture VIPs for interrogation as seen in the transcripts. Essentially anything that needs to be done with less… gusto, is in the domain of the Scout.
Couldn't detect with onboard sensor suite, Mk 1 eyeballs only. Move quietly as well, highly trained. Offered a tour of the armoury so I would be "properly armed". Got kitted out with Silenced Bolter of my own and a "coated knife"(4). Given a backpack to carry extra ammunition, serve as a reserve. Said that since I was new it would be best if I stuck in the middle and learnt for the first time. Made sense, [Redacted] stealth ops are different from those that didn't have Powered Armour, less reliant on speed.
Coated Knives:
Coated Knives work on the idea that it is covered in a neurotoxin that guarantees death upon contacting the target's bloodstream. The speed of death ensures that there can be no antidotes unless automatically injected beforehand. The Neurotoxin used generally does not have a means of being defended again for a prolonged period of time, the antidotes having an adverse effect on the individual that has been dosed, making it untenable in the long run.
Would be part of the second wave, Krogan and standard [Redacted] create distraction with boarding torpedoes, we drop out the back of a Stormraven and infiltrate quietly. Stormraven ride over very quiet, professional. Checked my capabilities with questions, seemed pleasantly surprised by responses. "Usually those guys with the Power Armour tend to act certain ways, nice to see you don't" they said.
Made sense, if the Power Armour is resilient as they claim it would make someone feel immortal. The guys without, need to be more careful.
Green light given, the back ramp descended, we jumped out. Momentum conserved, pushing us to the entry point. Skilled pilot. Landing very quiet, use boosters to slow down before impact.
Ready to breach, signal to wait, lead pointed at inbound Stormravens. Probably reinforcements I though, was wrong. Actually Power Armoured but even bigger than normal, looked hunched over, head set in center of chest for protection? Much thicker arm and leg armour (5).
Terminator Armour
Terminator Armour as it is called is designed for boarding operations and battlefields were even the extremely protective standard Power Armour is not enough. Armoured to at least twice that of Power Armour while also possessing firepower in excess of that of the standard [Redacted]. While it is slower in terms of movement and more unwieldy, the firepower that one brings as standard offsets this. Something to note is that unwieldy is only in reference to the [Redacted] themselves, the Terminator is still very dangerous and it is recommended to allow a [Redacted] to deal with them.
Variety of weapons, all mounted on the arms or held. No sign of holsters. Landed very loudly, could feel from 100 meters away, sunk into the hull, likely very heavy. One had an oversized hand, punched the hull. Evidently caused a hole, the [Redacted] all entered from there. Could feel impact from 100 meters away (6). Realized they were secondary distraction, draw away any remaining defenders on this side. Clever… dangerous.
Power Weapons
"Power" weapons as they are known still baffle the greatest minds in the UNSC to this day. Using technology based on unknown principles, it allows the field generated by the weapon to weaken the molecular bonds of materials allowing weapons empowered by such a field to piece, cut or break the material with a fraction of the effort. The weapon in question is often referred to as a "Power Fist" which usually replaces the standard gauntlet of the [Redacted]'s Power Armour. It is recommended in an engagement to avoid the being hit at all costs, even Titanium-A armour will be cut through with no effort.
Waited a bit longer. Lead took out flat bag, pulled strip in the middle, stuck it to hull, pulled cord in the bottom. Made sure to stay clear, detonation very bright. Melted big hole in hull. Dropped in after lead and 3 others. Made sure to be 5th one in.
Whole team entered before emergency measures had hull reseal itself. Wait until air refills, can breathe normally now without relying on oxygen tank. All Covenant inside already sucked out into space by pressure difference.
Wait until doors at the end open, let us further in. Shouldn't be any Covenant, distraction too loud to ignore. Scouts lead the way, quiet, always clinging to the edge. Purple and grey camouflage very effective. Following the lead, need to get to center.
20 minutes pass, no contact. Zig-zagging through the corridors, slowly making way to the center. Find way through. Saw a Covenant patrol through the ship, on the way to fight against the Terminators probably. Nowhere to hide, Lead gives hand signals and the Scouts wait. 8 shots, 8 dead Covenant, 8 more and another 8. Last 3 don't even notice the ones behind them are dead, 3 shots and die quickly too.
Scouts use knives to make it look like Terminators killed them then move on. No need to stay. We kept moving through the ship, Covenant dying every few minutes. Professional. Not a word, all of it signed if they need to communicate at all. Almost [Redacted] like in training. Would work with them again.
Found the target, AI core of the ship. Used [Redacted] to brute force into the systems and take all necessary data before returning it to [Redacted]. Scouts guarded the whole time. Had to kill command crew of the ship. Lots of Elites. Used 3 flashbangs, cover the entire deck. Scouts use the blind to shoot down the Elites from 2 angles. Crossfire deadly, no survivors.
Once all objectives in the Command room complete, Scouts set explosive timers with Melta-bombs. Nobody going to be able to salvage the room. Eliminate traces of presence as well, smart. From there go back into the vessel. [Redacted] found a path directly to VIP targets. Lead Scout carrying pistol with paralyzing agent, can subdue then escape.
Have to travel through living quarters for fastest route. Silenced bolters no ideal, can't kill all of them in time. Have to use knives. Scouts say leave it up to them.
Use magnetic clamp to holster their bolters then creep into the room and start stabbing through Covenant sleeping. Probably taking turns sleeping so to have fresh troops. Grunts a stab through the golden triangle and down into the heart, less bleeding that way. Jackals best to stab from under the ribs and push upward, catch the lungs, kidneys and heart. Elites, best to stab at the base of the neck and down, cut off the spinal column and heart, make sure to pivot knife side to side for maximum effect. Hunters harder, never really sleep, need to damage worms all over to ensure no survivors or brute crushing force applied in even manner to stun. From there easier to cut them apart. Brutes make sure to do the same as with Elites but make sure to cut the spinal column and aim at the base flank of the neck, skin too thick otherwise. Alternative target for Brutes is golden triangle at the base of the neck and collarbones, straight down into the trachea, hearts and lungs. Luckily no Hunters there to make noise, no Brutes either but they aren't important.
Living quarters cleared very easily, no need to worry about reinforcements from behind. Booby traps set behind just in case using bodies, tagged on HuD IFF so no friendlies will trigger. From there advance through the ship, do the same with all the Covenant we meet. Will help the other boarders by reducing the numbers of the Covenant. Mission still under 1 hour at this point.
VIP chamber and walkway very elaborate. Have Elite guards posted very few meters, very bright, very wide. Very difficult to get in, or so I thought.
Scouts activate cloaking device of some kind. Shimmering, still can see but harder to make out exact features. They were the cloaks the Scouts were wearing, thought was strange when not under weather effects but makes sense if it had special abilities. Intelligent. Shimmering still visible however, like Elite cloakers when trying to get up close for the melee kill. Scouts much smarter, crawl on the ground to reach the Elites. Some crawl on the ceiling, attach cloak to hardpoints on armour for legs and arms. Make sure nobody can see from below. Make use of the shadows between the lights to move, high arm strength.
24 Elite guards, too many for Scouts to take on their own. Or so I thought. Scouts position themselves in in between every 3, divide up so all get 3 each. Lead Scout communicates with [Redacted] to get coordinates for the power grid of this section. Calls in fire support from standby Thunderhawk (7), knocks out main power temporarily. Scouts drop down and kill the first guards with knives, the other 2 with Silenced Bolter fire. Less than a second. Professional.
Thunderhawk:
The Thunderhawk is the heavy transport of the [Redacted] [Redacted, capable of dealing out incredible damage with its cannon and pintle-mounted weaponry as well as its rocket pods, the Thunderhawk can also drop off 30 [Redacted] and a heavy vehicle. Its very thick armour and ability to operate in atmosphere or in vacuum make it a very dangerous craft. Prioritize the engines, they are the only vulnerable areas of the craft.
From there breach the main doorway, kill the Elites while they are still blinded from melta-blast, capture the [Redacted]. Paralyzing agent worked as intended. From there grab the [Redacted] and exit out the way we came. All Covenant were dead, looked like nobody had been through. Had to wait with the [Redacted] while Scouts prepared extraction. Thunderhawk delivered a big box, called "Stasis Device" (8). Stuff the [Redacted] inside and breach the hull a third time, pickup by Thunderhawk.
Stasis Device:
The Stasis device is yet another technology that UNSC scientists fail to understand. It uses gravitons in a manner that somehow breaks the the link between reality and the space inside the Stasis device, causing time to loop repeatedly. It can be used to store those who are on the verge of death, able to bring them back again and again even should they die. It also works on explosive devices, very useful in counter-terrorism ops as it can be studied from the outside. Once the individual or being leaves, they only have memories of the last loop, useful for "interrogating" individuals of note.
Scouts are very professional, would work with again.
The Human-Covenant War and Why We Won. P.1
Looking back on the moment that humanity's hopes were realized.
By 2532 it had become increasingly obvious to us that humanity was facing an opponent that was superior in number, in technology and in scale. The greatest of humanity's warriors, our industrial capacity, our very technology itself was inferior to that of the Covenant. As we found at Harvest where our fleets took horrendous casualties to destroy a fraction of their number and further with the Outer and Inner Colonies where our worlds were glassed.
While we could resist partially on the ground, our superior tactics enabling us to survive long past the time we should have, our inferiority in technology and numbers saw us driven back, off the worlds and away from the billions we had signed up to save. There was nothing we could do, our fate to spread our fleets thin, hoping to find the Covenant and draw them away before they could find our worlds. When they did find out worlds, it was all we could do to buy time for the civilians to escape before we were driven away by their superior numbers and technology.
The Covenant had begun a slow an inexorable advance from the Outer Colonies into the Inner Colonies and there was nothing we could do. While there were breakthroughs, the Spartan project being but one of them, they were not enough to stem the tide. A Mjolnir suit of Power Armour costs as much as a Battlegroup, the Spartans chosen from extremely specific genetic stock and at an extremely young age. Not only that but the Augmentation process for the Spartan 2 program had a variable success rate and the training itself was extremely dangerous. At the end we did not even have 100 of them with which to fight the billions of Covenant. Moving forward the Spartan 3 program while much more widespread still could not field the numbers necessary to be called the trump weapon. While they might be able to bleed the Covenant by a thousand cuts, it was being done to a body that was simply too large to bleed to death.
While our infantry on the ground could defeat their Covenant opponents, they were also vulnerable to attack aircraft and orbital bombardments which the Covenant used mercilessly. Their superior numbers and technology pushing our own craft out of orbit and the sky. Without support, the troops suffered accordingly. Even should the ground war be won, the glassings would be finished regardless. The lives spent merely buying time as the Covenant excavated what they wanted and left. We had no way to stop them or slow them down.
We needed a super weapon, something that could turn the tide. It was then that in 2534 that the Caretakers appeared. A coalition of alien species that had been observing the war and decided that they needed to choose a side. Since they had a large percentage of humans in their own ranks, it was natural they chose to ally with the UNSC. The Covenant of course having their fanatical desire to kill all humans in the name of their religion, no negotiations allowed. And so they appeared over Harvest, the world where the war began to begin the process by which to bring peace.
Before we delve into the Caretakers as a whole, it would be best to examine the difference races that make up their number. In order to gain an understanding of exactly how diverse they are in the first place and the strange manner in which they can all cooperate despite the glaring differences in culture and biology.
The humans first of all are not like UNSC humans. Rather they while looking like humans, possess abilities that would not be out of place in a science fiction novel. Their entire race being connected empathically with one another through what they call the "psionic network". It allows them to share thoughts, emotions and feelings no matter the material in the way, as long as they are within a certain distance from one another. This of course is invaluable in combat but it does not stop there, their entire culture and indeed their technology revolves around these abilities. With the ability to simply see the inner thoughts of others in complete clarity when asked, their society is much more harmonious as the harmful tumors are excised with regularity. The best way to tell an alien human from a regular one is looking at their eyes, they always look as if they are burning purple.
The humans themselves have derived their technology from an alien race that sought to uplift them for their own ends while also lobotomizing them. A vastly superior force that was defeated when the humans exhibited the same abilities in psionics as the aliens and forced the subjugation of the very same aliens. These aliens now serve the humans from within the psionics network that they have made their homes. The war cost many lives as the humans fought a guerilla campaign across the world, finally culminating on an assault on one of the massive Temple ships that made up their fleet. To the victor go the spoils and the spoils allowed the humans an unparalleled understanding of the alien's technologies, included in which were extensive archives regarding genetic engineering.
The Krogan are a race of aliens that were uplifted in their past and forced to fight in a war that lasted centuries and cost billions of lives. At the end they had their reproductive capabilities neutered by the same aliens that uplifted them and stripped of their former authority and power. It was not perhaps the wrong decision. The Krogan are a species that have grown on a world where every single living thing is a predator of some kind. Every single organism seeks to consume flesh and the Krogan have evolved with that driving their development. Each Krogan has multiple redundant organs as well as a healing factor that can outstrip any other complex organism. Life-threatening wounds healing in minutes even when left untreated. With this comes great strength and durability, the humps on their backs containing energy and water for prolonged periods without nourishment. Along with their bodies comes a temperament that is extremely aggressive and territorial. Each Krogan male will if provoked engage in duels which may or may not result in death depending on how serious the situation is. A challenge for leadership often resulting in death.This in turn carried across to their style of combat, preferring to fight at close ranges with close ranged and durable weapons with which they can batter the opponents. Their terrifying regenerative capabilities ensuring that many more of them reach the fighting compared to other races which might suffer catastrophic losses in the same assault. Of course even with their advanced regeneration, there will still be numerous casualties. Especially given their penchant for the frontal assault, even into entrenched enemy forces. To continually supply the Krogan with the numbers they need to carry out their tactics, the Krogan reproductive cycle is absurdly effective. Each Krogan female producing thousands of Krogans a year from eggs which mature within 5 years. It is therefor with caution that one angers the Krogan as they have the numbers and the physiology to drown their opponents in numbers.
It was the humans that gave the Krogans back their reproductive capabilities and took them away from the aliens that uplifted them, giving them new purpose. It is unknown exactly what that purpose is, but it is what drove them to assist the UNSC in the first place, even when they could have simply bypassed us.
The Geth are an AI race created by the Quarians. Originally a subservient, hive-minded servant race, they gained sapience which led to the attack by the Quarians, AI having been deemed illegal at the time. The Geth however had the numbers and their production capacity to create new bodies to overpower their former masters and drive them from their world. The Geth in turn have stagnated until meeting the humans which led to them updating their bodies and their technology while allowing them to reconcile with their creators and former masters.
The Geth operate by having multiple processes control each chassis, allowing for simultaneous movement between each individual limb and digit while also being fully coordinated. These processes practise an extreme form of democracy where every decision is calculated in real time and then acted upon based on the majority vote. The Geth are also capable of coordinating across multiple Geth, indeed their calculating power actually increases the more of them there are in a single area, allowing their combat and social effectiveness to increase when grouped together. The Geth due to their meeting of the humans have developed a material they call "necrodermis" which is an organic metal of sorts. It is capable of receiving energy and directly converting it to mass, allowing the Geth to simply "heal" damage that is done to them as long as they have sufficient power. At the same time it also allows them to teleport in and out of combat as either to initiate a fight or to leave if they are sufficiently wounded. Their weapons which are distinct from the other species also possess similar traits, vanishing upon damage.
The Krogans, Geth and the Humans make up the majority of the ground attack forces deployed by the Caretakers. They form 4 distinct unit styles. The Krogans form the shock infantry, reminiscent of those deployed in the 2000s by the Russian military, crashing into the enemy with overwhelming force on all fronts until they find a weakness into which to focus their attack, piercing through the enemy defences. The lack of subtlety displayed by the Krogan only enhancing their devastation as they crush opposition before them. The Geth serve as front line troops as well as their logistical units, incapable of feeling boredom. They do the mundane work such as ensuring supplies get delivered on time while also serving as sentries that never need to sleep. In battle they are an inexhaustible army that advances forwards relentlessly while their "gauss" weapons tear their enemies apart in front of them. What they lose in speed, they make up for in dogged determination and the ability to teleport and do devastating damage to the flanks of their enemies.
The Humans form 2 separate kinds of units, the ones with the previously described psionics which can also use their ability to impact the physical world. Capable of crushing tanks and mind-controlling their enemies while also coordinating with their allies with their long range communications made possible with their abilities. On the other hand their genetic engineering prowess has led them to create what is known as the Space Marines, genetically enhanced infantry which overpower even the Spartans with their speed and power. Augmented further by the Power Armour that they wear, they serve as both heavily armoured shock infantry, much faster and devastating than the Krogans and also Special Forces. They are usually used not like the Krogans but rather in a similar manner as the ODST and Spartans would, inserting into hostile situations to complete objectives that are unaccomplishable by regular infantry, relying on their superior skills and technology to defeat small numbers of enemy units decisively. The Space Marines are different from Spartans in that they are fielded in numbers that outstrip even that of the Spartan 4 program. Numbering in the hundreds of thousands, they deploy in Chapters of a thousand which allow them to crush almost any threat that is arrayed against them.
The Quarians do not form the ground armies but rather crew the ships of the fleet. Their bodies look similar to that of humans but have bioluminescent bacteria under their skin which gives it their distinctive glow. The Quarians as mentioned previously were they which created the Geth and after being driven from their worlds, spent 300 years drifting through space before reconciling with their creations. The alien humans found the Quarians and gave them the chance to serve as part of the fleet and to eventually own the ships they crewed. The Quarians accepted and even now form the bulk of the crews of each ship, the crew numbering in the thousands. While they are not remarkable on their own, the ships they crew tend to be much more effective and well maintained than equivalent ships of the same weight class.
The Human-Covenant War and Why We Won. P.2
Looking back on the moment that humanity's hopes were realized.
The impact that the Caretakers had in terms of the technologies that were gifted to the UNSC cannot be underestimated. Their laser weapons which were given almost free of charge were many times more effective than the conventional weapons that the UNSC was using previously. Our ballistics based weapons which were extremely ineffective against the Covenant shield technology simply could not handle the demands which we placed on it. On the other hand the lasers could strip the energy shields of the Covenant forces in a few hits. Even the weak laspistols were highly effective against the Covenant, forcing them to reconsider their strategies and tactics.
Whereas before the Covenant were content to simply send waves of their infantry supported by drops from support craft from the sky, the Covenant were forced to instead be much more cautious due to the appearance of the laser weapons. The Lascannons could destroy their armour and their aircraft from outside their effective range while the Lasguns could decimate their attacking infantry from a kilometer away with pinpoint accuracy. Where before defending Marines were forced to pour their bullets onto single targets in the hopes they could drop the shields fast enough to kill some of the attackers, now they could simply volley fire and destroy entire sections of the attack in seconds. With this came a dramatic slowdown of their campaigns, the Covenant being forced onto the defensive as the Marines which previously required Combined Arms support to advance, could do with purely infantry and light vehicles.
This allowed the Marines to increase their strategic flexibility by several magnitudes as generals no longer needed to worry about trying to gather enough tanks and aircraft to support their troops but rather could simply find enough support weapons for their troops to be independant. This had a two-fold effect on the entire war effort. The Spartans were no longer being forced to act as frontline infantry to assist the Marines but were free to act as they were designed to. Specialist units to infiltrate and do damage to the enemies of the UNSC, destroying them with superior firepower, speed and aggression before leaving as quietly as they came. Following the widespread deployment of Laser weapons to the UNSC following the retooling of the weapons manufacturing industry, a campaign of terror was enacted by the Spartans of both the 2 and 3 programs. Where before they were trying to stem the tide by sacrificing themselves to achieve short term objectives which could see a world last a few months longer, now they could focus on the bigger picture.
The Covenant shipyards saw a series of raids which while miniscule in scale, turned out to be devastating in the long term. Small faults slowly adding up to catastrophic damage which saw them torn apart by the stresses placed on them. It was not the massive raids that were the hallmarks of the Spartan 3 program and had put it on the map. Rather while much more understated in the short term, it served to imprint the image of the Spartan into the minds of the Covenant, that saw their morale suffer as they checked every corner before they slept, their dreams wracked by nightmares of the "demons" as they called the Spartans. The shipyards were not the sole cause of this, rather it was a pervasive campaign that spread across the entirety of the Covenant space where there were attacks on the homeworlds of the various Covenant species and raids deep into the ship they titled "High Charity" which served as the homeworld of the "prophets". These prophets were the leaders of the Covenant and the ones that called the war of extermination against humanity in the first place. With the revelation of their role in the initiation of hostilities, the Spartans made extra sure to target any that wandered out of the safety of their mansions, their deaths as public and gruesome as possible. These public deaths, broadcast across the entirety of the Covenant fleets and worlds due to the public nature of the events that were targeted, drove the fear deep into the Covenant psyche. If the "demons" could strike with impunity at their leaders, what hope did the common Grunt have?
This was not achieved solely with human ingenuity however, the Caretakers being instrumental with their assistance in the capture of a Covenant Supercarrier and a Battlecruiser in 2534. Originally a mission to testfire the new laser weapons designed for ship combat, a way to even the odds, became a combat test as a Covenant task force arrived to investigate possible sightings of humans in the area. The entire task force, over 30 ships was destroyed in the end with 0 UNSC casualties, a never before seen statistic in UNSC naval engagements with the Covenant. The wonders did not cease there however, the Caretakers leading a series of boarding actions against the crippled Supercarrier to capture VIPs and valuable information while also attempting to capture the ships themselves if possible. It was to be reiterated, a never before seen event. The UNSC never before being able to board a Covenant ship as we had never been in the position to board one without fear of retaliation attacks in the first place.
The boarding actions saw the capture of 2 of the "prophets" and many times that in Huragok (the Covenant engineers and supercomputers), the databases that their floating thrones possessed and the ships themselves. It boosted the UNSC's technological base by several times. To have a more efficient and effective slipspace drive, to have the designs for their weapons and more importantly in the short term, the designs for both the Spirit and Phantom ships. With both of these the UNSC was able to launch the raids in the first place, spoofing the IFF signals with the help of the Huragok and deploying their Spartans to the targets without the Covenant ever realising they had been fooled. Entire fleets being sent out to find where they had inserted from and ignoring the teams escaping by mimicking and mingling with the very fleets sent to hunt them.
The second benefit that the increased flexibility of the UNSC marines had, was the ability for the UNSC command to deploy their forces without creating large blobs of every kind of unit. Once again maneuver warfare was possible as armour was freed up to allow for rapid attacks to the Covenant flanks, smashing through with their new Lascannons and Multi Lasers, tearing through shields and armour alike.
The Pelicans that were the mainstay UNSC aerial workhorse received upgrades, the vehicular shielding technologies being copied and transferred to the aircraft. Their survivability in the field increasing by several times, something that had the pilots being very vocal in their appreciation.
The Caretaker forces are not to be ignored however, the role they played in the conflict being an enormous one. Krogan infantry often serving on the front line pushes to soak up the casualties and breaking the enemy enough that the Marines could advance with little casualties of their own. While it may be callous to thank the Krogan for dying in such large numbers, they themselves considered it to be extremely enjoyable to do so. Their sense of what is pleasurable and fun clearly different from that of the average human.
At the same time, the Geth being able to teleport directly into the middle of enemy armoured pushes and systematically destroying their vehicles before teleporting out again was invaluable. Many Marine units that were cut off owed their lives to the Geth which would teleport onto their positions and eliminate the enemy when they were beginning to be overrun. Other examples included teleporting directly into the heart of enemy ships to take intelligence or assassinate targets before disappearing again, throwing the entire Fleet into chaos as they searched for traitors or potential entry points. Further, their ability to simply reconstruct themselves meant that mundane things like plasma meant very little and the Geth would often serve as a screen before advancing Marines to literally absorb damage for them. A thankless job and that thankfully it had no long term casualties.
The smaller non-supersoldier Humans served alongside whatever Caretaker unit(s) that had been deployed. Often occupying positions of authority within the network itself. The ability to Mind Control their enemies and strip intelligence from them directly was one that no doubt provokes a sense of fear amongst the Marines. It was undoubtedly useful in extracting information from the captives that were captured by the Space Marines or the Spartans in a fraction of the time that a traditional interrogation would have. In battle they posses the ability to simply Mind Control the targets and have them do things such as hitting the Commander in Chief from behind, the very same Commander believing themselves safe amongst friends.. They would fire their weapons at the Covenant leadership before they even knew what had happened.
The Space Marines themselves both supplemented and bolstered UNSC forces when they found themselves on the same theatres. While their numbers may have been very little, barely a few hundred in some cases, their decades if not centuries of experience allowed them to meld with the UNSC command structures and offer both helpful advice and a fist by which to crush their enemies. Deep Strikes as they were known where the Space Marines would drop out of the sky in their drop pods, into the center of enemy concentrations before laying waste to them and moving on were incredibly valuable to the wider theatres. The mere act of decapitating the Covenant leadership by directly and extremely publically with chainswords an image that has been etched onto the minds of all who served with or against them. That is not to say that their value was to simply act as assassins, it was much wider than that.
For they are also masters of Armoured warfare, their Predator tanks rolling alongside that of our Scorpions, their Jetbikes with our Warthogs and their Stormtalons with our Pelicans. With superior skill and durability, the Space Marine armoured forces complemented those sent out by the UNSC and in many cases proved invaluable in saving the lives of the men involved. With the accuracy that was bolstered by what they called Cogitators and we define as computer systems, their Lascannons fire with the accuracy of an AI guided touch. Entire Covenant armies turned to slag before they could even get a single hit as the Space Marines juked their vehicles in pre-determined yet chaotic patterns.
The Space Marines that fought alongside the UNSC infantry performed in roles much different from their Krogan counterparts. Deep flanking attacks using their superior marksmanship to pick off the Covenant from range to force them to take cover. Using the chance then to strike at the Covenant with their superior physical capabilities and their close combat weaponry most infamous of which were the Chainswords. Tearing apart the Covenant in gouts of gore and viscera, the Space Marines both shatter the Covenant defensive lines with their skill and the Covenant morale with their brutality. Soldiers who come after have described the scenes as one reminiscent of a horror movie, the dedication that the Space Marines show in utterly crushing their enemies both physically and mentally, incomprehensible to the average UNSC human.
Of course for the average UNSC citizen these factors were hidden from their eyes, a means by which to elevate our new allies into a position within their consciousness as valued allies. In order to do this, the final area in which the Space Marines played a large role in the public consciousness was their lead in Boarding actions. Indeed many of their weapons and systems were designed in order to fulfil this role. Their famous Terminators which can advance under an entire company of Covenant plasma fire and emerge out the other side with only chipped paint, their Power Weapons designed to tear apart the hulls of the ships from the outside.
A few hundred Space Marines fighting their way through tens of thousands of Covenant ship crew and marines has ingrained itself in the public consciousness. The few against the many where the stakes hold entire planets in their thrall. The Space Marines have entrenched themselves in popular culture much to their own dismay.
The Human-Covenant War and Why We Won. P.3
Looking back on the moment that humanity's hopes were realized.
The most important impact that the Caretakers have had are not with their laser technology, their infantry support or even the support of their ships in this author's humble opinion. No, it was 2 factors which seem to be rather small, singular pieces of technology that have completely revolutionized the war with the Covenant and our own technology at a base level. While the other kinds of technology could be possibly substituted or left on their own, the Caretaker additions while being valuable were not completely revolutionary. Indeed if left alone, it was no doubt that the UNSC could have developed their own counterparts which would have been just as effective. It would have taken time and countless lives but it could have been done.
However what could not be researched and developed with the time or the resources we had, was given to us. The technologies which completely changed the playing field and forced the Covenant on the backfoot, to accept a subservient position in warfare where before they occupied the superior. Of course the author is talking about the Plasma Disruptor and the Minovsky Particle physics.
The Plasma Disruptor is a piece of technology that somehow disrupts the coherency of plasma in a radius around the device. It can be scaled up to include a starship or a space station in size or small enough to cover an infantry squad. The disruptor then will force plasma projectiles to dissipate as they get further into the field, losing coherency at an exponential rate. So potent is this effect that entire frigates have been converted to replace their weapons with a Plasma Disruptor to protect that larger ships of the UNSC, their existence forcing the Covenant to rely on boarding actions in order to fight the UNSC at all. Their entire arsenal had revolved around the use of plasma weaponry as well as a majority of their infantry weapons using the same.
By denying them the ability to use their primary form of weaponry, the Covenant fleets and ground forces were helpless against the UNSC, even if they had been armed with conventional ballistic weaponry. While they were less effective than laser weapons certainly, they were also just as effective when the enemy cannot even fight back. By reducing the Covenant to using their more primitive ballistic weapons and their needler systems, the UNSC now held the range advantage which saw the Marines crushing them in all ground theatres where the Plasma Disruptors were deployed.
These crushing defeats by the UNSC saw the Covenant switch from the Elites who had been the traditional leaders of the Covenant military groups to the Brutes and their weapons that were still based on ballistic and chemical principles. A means of consolidating power within the Covenant by select few prophets against their opposite numbers. It was more of a political maneuver to eliminate the Elites from positions of authority within the Covenant than any real failings on their part. In part due to the long held grudges that the Prophets had with them from several millennia previously.
This had the unfortunate effect of reducing the Covenant tactical and strategic abilities even further as the Brutes failed to comprehend basic combat strategy. By staging direct assaults on the UNSC positions despite their technological inferiority, the Brutes displayed their preference for direct confrontation with their enemies. A tendency that saw them and the forces under their command being destroyed with even more efficiency than ever before. The Elites at least understood their technological inferiority and attempted to make up for them with different strategies and tactics.
From 2537 onwards, any attempts by the Covenant to land a force on UNSC colony worlds saw themselves on the perpetual defensive, their attacks ineffective and crippled by a lack of morale. The Brutes and their inability to change their own aggressive tendencies which resembled the Krogans, saw them rendered ineffective. The prophets however had doubled down on their rhetoric and refused to reverse the decision that would see the Elites reinstated as the leadership of the Covenant's military forces. This stubbornness would see the Covenant lose every single ground war from 2536 onwards.
In space the situation was much the same. The Covenant being rendered ineffectual as their Plasma Torpedoes and Turret weapons unable to maintain coherency and simply vanishing as they entered the Plasma Disruptor fields. While it did bathe the UNSC ships in heat, it was simply insufficient to melt hulls. The Covenant fleets could have been destroyed in these situations, by a 2531 UNSC fleet with their MAC cannons. As it was they had the laser systems gifted by the Caretakers which allowed them to engage and destroy the Covenant outside of even their Directed Beam weapon range, let alone a weaponless Covenant ship's range.
Due to this and the Brutes who now had control over the Covenant's military fleets, the Covenant adopted a different strategy when it came to their fleet battles. They still outnumbered the UNSC fleets by what appeared to be an order of magnitude and thus used those numbers to close into "bayonet" range and attempt to either ram the UNSC ships to to send out multitudes of boarding pods to attack the fleets in a way they could use their superior numbers to overwhelm the UNSC.
The battles following 2536 were all desperate melees in the confines of the UNSC and Covenant ships. Their crews and marines waging a war in the silent confines of space that saw decks and corridors rendered slick with blood and viscera while the combatants more often than not engaged in brutal hand to hand combat when their ammunition ran out. The first few instances saw the UNSC fleets overwhelmed by the Covenant boarding parties, their ships self-destructed after the bridge and other stations were overrun, forcing the engineering crews to enact the self-destruct sequences to protect the location of Earth from the aliens.
In later engagements the UNSC fleet focused on maneuvering around the Covenant fleets to avoid a boarding scenario. At the same time each UNSC ship found itself increasing the Marines stationed on board and installing charging points and weapons cabinets throughout the ship in order to allow the crews to have ready access to weaponry in the event of a boarding action. Weapons would be carried at all times in combat, the laspistol for regular crews and Las-Carbines for the Marines themselves. They would find themselves ready to engage the Covenant when they boarded at all times. In conjunction with this smaller scale modification of the interiors, there came a larger scale modification of the designs of ships where using what amounted to animal psychology, the ship designers changed the ship interiors to better "guide" the Covenant down projected paths. These subconscious messages were extremely effective as the Brutes, not willing to listen to logic, funnelled their forces down into multiple killzones when they managed to board the new ships. Killzones formed of turrets, weapons systems and bunkers to funnel the Covenant into killing fields.
The favoured tactic was to simply kill off a few of the Brutes, enrage the survivors and draw them into the killing fields. With the outer sections of the hull dedicated to these mazes, the UNSC never needed to worry about boarders from that point forward, the Brutes being too simplistic to understand that it was all a trap. The Elites may have decided on different tactics but the Prophets had made their choice and suffered for it.
The second technology that had a massive impact was the Minovsky Particle. Using isotopes of Helium that allowed for more efficient forms of fusion technology as well as the production to I-Fields. The particles themselves disrupt electromagnetic waves. Something that may seem to be minor but its impact is beyond reckoning. Its disruption of radio waves cut all long range communication that rely on radio waves while also disrupting light and microwaves at longer distances. With the Covenant unable to effectively communicate with each other using their standard radio wave technologies, they were rendered very much lost and without guidance, the ships left to their own devices.
Without effective guidance, the fleets fell apart under the attacks prepared UNSC ships that used laser communications to keep in touch. The Brutes simply unable to effectively work together as they came from multiple different packs, their peoples still practising a very primitive tribal government.
The Minovsky particles also served to assist in the development of the UNSC's own plasma technology in the form of beam weapons. These weapons were the coalesced and focused energy of the Minovsky particles much like that of the Plasma torpedoes of the Covenant. Only UNSC plasma no longer requires constant re-adjustment as per Covenant Plasma, but instead can be fired and forgotten much like conventional ballistic ammunition. This has led to a redevelopment of the UNSC weapons systems to use both kinds of weapons in their forces, the beam weapons being more complicated but capable of wider fields of damage while the lasers have the range and ease of manufacture. For ground armies, lasers still rule however as miniaturizing beam weapon below ship level has proven difficult indeed. While the disruption of long electromagnetic wavelengths was an issue, at the ranges that laser weapons were used, it was no longer a problem, the diminishment of coherency being minimal at best.
With the Covenant fleets unable to call for assistance and the lasers cable of destroying those attempting to flee and deliver their messages, the UNSC maintained the technical edge over their opponents for the entire war. Those that did manage to escape carrying with them very little knowledge of any actual value.
The jamming effect that the Minovsky particle sends out is also dangerous to delicate electronics, their minute lasers and other such effects being disrupted. Only those things which are fully wired and internalized can be used which heavily affects the Covenant compared to the UNSC. A simple redesign of existing technology to use wires was necessary, something that was made much easier by the fact that EMP shielding was already necessary due to the prevalence of nuclear weapons in the UNSC. While it did force all existing technologies to be larger in order to shield against the now prevalent Minovsky particles, it was not as much of a blow to the UNSC as it was to the Covenant.
The Covenant with their reliance on what became known as Forerunner technology quite simply had no idea how any of their weapons or ships worked at the base level. Instead they relied on designs brought forward from trial and error based off technologies that used principles they could not comprehend. The Huragok while capable of repairing and redesigning technology, could not effectively communicate the exact why's due to the simplicity of the sign language they used. That combined with their oppression by the Covenant made it somewhat difficult for the Huragok to desire to teach the Covenant anything, instead preferring to keep it to themselves. This meant that with the disruption of the longform wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, many Covenant systems on their ships both small and large failed to work properly. Hard Light bridges failed and entire sections of ship were rendered unreachable from stranded crews as they in many cases starved to death. Many facilities when attacked were attacked first by the deployment of Minovsky bombs which would render the Covenant helpless and stranded, their shields failing and their bridges non-functional.
Indeed with their reverence of the so called Forerunners, the Covenant never truly explored the technology that they had millennia of experience with and instead left it to stagnate. With the Huragoks being Forerunner supercomputers, they too were unable to assist, their species never having come across something similar. To solve this they were forced to jury rig designs that while worked, were not as powerful or even as efficient as their previous designs. Some vehicles stopping their function entirely such as the Banshees, the delicate circuits with their laser transmitters simply failing to even turn on.
With the Covenant effectively, technologically crippled they were forced to retreat and it was then that the installations named the Halos were discovered and the next stage of the Human-Covenant War began.
The ONI teams had pushed through the ship, their numbers dwindling to a bare 20 after they had been attacked by the ship's autonomous defences. Their journey through a ship that was barely 400 meters long, of which they only had to traverse 280 meters of being marked by nothing but death, death and more death.
Mooreland was still alive, his protection detail by dint of being at the front had managed to avoid most of the pitfalls that had been attracted to and destroyed those who didn't have the luxury of being ahead. Sections of the ship being vented, was the least of their problems honestly and it only killed another 200 of them.
There was nothing heard about the ones on the other side of the ship, they probably died already, poor bastards. All of them were to be pitied actually, who was going to account for the Frigates? There were only 20 of them left, how were they going to get those back? Even if they were ONI, 20 Frigates was not something that could be causally thrown away.
Fuck.
Colonel Mooreland shook his head slightly and refocused himself. The Command center was directly in front of them and it was within their grasp. It had to be the Command center. The hallway of suffering as they had dubbed it ended here. Even if they were ONI and Mooreland didn't know any of them that well, they were still comrades that they had fought with.
Sure it was more about the idea that anybody would dare mess with ONI but it was the thought that counted. Mooreland checked his ammunition pouches on the front of his armour, a light tap that also reassured him that the armour was still there.
Just because he had avoided a majority of the damage that had been done, didn't mean he got out of it scott-free. A hole had been sizzled by a claymore detonation and the subsequent pellet impact on the side of his neck. The relatively thinner fabric melting from the heat and leaving a welt on the skin. They hadn't gone with Power Armour, figuring it would be a stealth operation and not a full frontal assault. Catch them before they were aware of what was going on essentially.
With that in mind they had gone with the more traditional ONI ODST armour, much to their regret. If they knew exactly what kind of hell they were stepping into, they would have gone with Power Armour, stealth be damned.
Hundreds of their own, dead because of their flimsy Titanium and Ceramic armour. It was there to protect against plasma ricochets and splash, not fucking lasers and claymores.
Fuck.
That was more ONI operatives that had been lost than anywhere or anytime else in the Human-Covenant War. It was a disgrace and Mooreland planned to exact vengeance on the bodies of those on the opposite side of the door.
ONI Section 0 was the he who watches the watchman. Charged with internal policing of ONI to hold accountable those who were unaccountable to everyone else, Section 0 in essence was the boogeyman of the UNSC's boogeyman. Throughout their history they had served to eliminate those who were too obvious or radical, guided the paths of those who might end up damaging the image of the UNSC or those who may be potentially useful down the "ideal" paths, discreetly helped those that needed helping in the ONI internal squabbles and so much more.
A unified ONI who was ideologically coherent was an ONI that was dangerous not to itself but the UNSC as a whole. An ONI that had a hand that could point it at whatever targets that needed to be destroyed was one that had to be purged by the UNSC itself. An inevitability, not a probability. It had happened multiple times in the past and it would happen again in the future. Sometimes it was better to burn the trees now than to have the forest burn later after all.
Admission into this tiny, select group of individuals or was it a massive inclusive group? Not even the head of ONI knew, Section 0 after all never allowed its own membership to advance to that position. It would not do to have an individual in control of both ONI and its internal police, that was just asking for trouble.
Regardless, they were in all other ONI sections, there to ensure that the petty squabblings of ONI personnel would continue as long as possible. The more focused they were on fighting each other for petty power, the more stable the UNSC as a whole was. At the same time they couldn't allow factions to gain too much faction as that too was a dangerous proposition. What they did was a masterful balancing act, tapping the legs of a faction that was growing too power, propping up one that was too weak and basically ensuring that there was an equilibrium.
There were those however that refused to stay down and frankly were too stupid to realize exactly what the hints being sent their way were. It was here that the politics ended and the cold hard realities began. Those that would not conform would be eliminated. It was a very simple process, just round them up and have them all disappear very quietly.
Of course since they were ONI they would notice the personnel going missing, personnel of their faction who were no longer responding. They would panic and go underground, making it exponentially harder to root them out, especially once they became paranoid.
No, the best option was to have them all gather in the same place of their own volition then eliminate them in one fell swoop. There would be none who would escape as they could be cordoned off and eliminated at will, there would be none of the more moderate ones as only the extremists would bite the bait and the stupid ones would be eliminated while the intelligent are kept alive. The intelligent would learn, the stupid would die.
Section 0 had deemed the hardline anti-alien faction needed to go. Their hatred of all aliens, not just Covenant had seen them begin a campaign to infiltrate, sabotage and steal whatever they could from the Caretakers escalate. They could no longer be controlled and would have to be eliminated. To that end Margaret Parangosky, head of ONI had offered a solution to a Section 0 informant that she knew worked in her office.
The offer had gone up the chain to Caretaker Command as well as Section 0's command… if they had one, and reviewed with care. It had been stamped with approval. They would lure the extremists in with a false flag operation, have their Section 0 members guide them along the "best" path before escaping while pretending to have been killed. In essence they were on the ones who would escape the Macrocannon room by waiting inside of the room as it ejected itself from the ship..
Those who weren't Section 0 who remained would be silently eliminated and after a set period they would maintain radio silence. The extremists would be killed and Section 0 would leave, take the Frigates back and pretend nothing had happened. A small charge would detonate and give the impression that they were all dead.
It was a good plan and so far it was working perfectly.
Flashback
Margaret Parangosky, head of ONI sat back in her custom made office chair and stared at the woman across from her. She had arrived with a group of people a few months after the Caretakers had first made themselves known.
Only these were not the normal humans, nor were they Space Marines. They certainly had the bulk for it, each one towering over an average height human, 2 meters tall all of them. More like Spartans than anything else although their bulk certainly made them seem much stronger… if a little top heavy. They held weapons that were also different from what the Caretakers used, these seemed more… conventional.
It didn't take long for it to click, she didn't get to be the head of ONI because she was an idiot after all. The weapons were there to make it seem like an assassination from inside of ONI if she screwed up whatever was coming next. Not the best feeling in the world.
How they got into her office was something else, just stepping out of what appeared to be a portal directly before her desk. She couldn't even press the silent alarm, the smallest of them was a woman who had those glowing eyes mentioned in the reports. She just stared and Parangosky froze in place.
"Parangosky, we have no reason to be hostile to each other. Rather I feel we could have a very beneficial relationship while we are here." She started out. Smiling in that way that said she somehow knew what Parangosky was thinking. Then the woman nodded and the possibility ran through her mind that the woman did know what she was thinking.
She tried to speak and to her surprise it worked, it appeared that only her body was being kept still, her mouth still free.
"What do you want." She said. Trying to keep her voice calm, lose to her emotions and she would lose this battle.
"It has come to our attention that there are… hardline elements within ONI that are not ready to work with us and are even now attempting more… radical options. We of course would like this to stop." The woman said. He eyes calm, voice measured, as if she didn't even consider that being in the most heavily defended facility on planet Earth was an issue.
"I can't simply tell them to stop, they are ONI." The woman's request was laughable, like that of a toddler's take on the world around them. Life isn't as simple as they tried to make it out to be.
"We understand that," the woman smiled, "what we want specifically is for you to issue the order to cease and desist. We have our own means to take it from there." The mind reading thought niggled at the back of her mind again. Dammit, she did not need this right now.
"What is the plan?" Clearly if they had the means of handling it themselves, they must want her for something.
The woman's smile turned to a grin. "It's nice working with people that know what they're doing." Well that was a ringing endorsement. "Clean up operation". Oh… Well if they were planning that…
"And?" Let's see just how far they were willing to be useful.
"Well, who is to say it was just our enemies?" Yes, she could work with this.
They had the ability to remove her from office but said nothing about it, clearly they had more intelligence than most she worked with. An implied threat was always better than an overt one.
Even if they were aliens, they knew what they were doing. That and they had the ability to destroy her career, reputation and everything she worked towards for the majority of her life.
She didn't like the aliens, she didn't like anyone but she didn't get to where she was because she was stupid. One does not become the leader of ONI by not knowing exactly how to get ahead. Refuse now and they would just find someone to replace her, it wasn't hard to work that out.
Parangosky nodded to them and the woman smiled broadly at her. "What are you?" If she was going to be a patsy, she would at least know who it was she was being threatened by.
"We are XCOM." And she was gone, exiting from the portal the same way they came in.
Parangosky gave a sigh as her body returned to her control.
She gave a brief stretch before activating the intercom, she was going to need Section 0 to get in on this.
Mooreland staggered into the last room of the ship. The other rooms being nothing but giant deathtraps.
The final room was an unassuming little door, a door that looked eerily like that of his office.
He knew that it was likely going to kill him. After the last of his protection detail had been killed, he knew that there was not going to be any way to leave this ship. They had been doomed since the moment they stepped foot on board.
He gave a sigh and pushed through the door.
The Section 0 operatives had waited for their Macrocannon block to eject itself, but unlike the one previous, this didn't explode. Rather it activated unseen boosters and sent them towards a Frigate for them to disembark.
From there it was just a matter of dividing themselves amongst each ship and preparing them to jump out. They waited however, they did just sentence hundreds of other human beings to death. The least they could do was witness their last moments.
It wasn't long in coming with the ship self-destructing an hour later, the entire thing consumed in a giant ball of light before vanishing. There wasn't even the slightest bit of debris left and the Frigates jumped out soon after.
There was nothing there to indicate that one of the most elaborate purges in ONI history had occurred.
Military Calendar 2545 - Halo Universe
After Activation 0098 - Origin Universe
After Insertion 0059 - Cultivation Universe
Millennium 072-3100 - 40k Universe
Sergeant Ane Andersen of the 232nd Battlegroup, attached to the Fist of Summer, nervously clutched her Lasgun in her hands. She chanted softly to it as the maintenance manual said. The Lasgun having sensors that can tell when humans are using it to prevent use by the Covenant. Attempting to open it up or scanning it without the appropriate chants will result in an explosion as it self-destructed to prevent Covenant theft of the technology.
It made them look like cultists but who cared, it was a Lasgun and they had them right now to plug holes in anything stupid enough to pop out of cover or make fun of them. Or even those stupid enough to engage a UNSC squad on this bloody ring. The Covenant had found the ring and established a base of operations on what the UNSC had dubbed "Halo" and were trying to plumb its depths. Their fleets had tried to contest for a while but once it became clear exactly how valuable Halo was to the aliens, the UNSC had sent an entire fleet over to secure it.
They were going to find out exactly what it was the Covenant were going so crazy about that they would send multiple fleets across to their deaths against the UNSC. The camps that they had found were littered with what looked like religious iconography, apparently this was something holy for them or something. Ane didn't know and Ane didn't care, Ane was just here to do her job, to kill the Covenant, secure the ring and get the fuck off the ring.
Fucking swamp. So fucking wet and so fucking everything. Fuck swamps. Was bad enough in Fortitude, it is just as bad here. Fucking.
Why does everyone like to stick valuable things inside swamps? Like seriously? Do they even know what they are going to be subjecting their workers to? What about the Marines that will have to clear it out when it becomes compromised? Like seriously, the fuck?
Fucking corporate types, no idea about what they are doing and dooming us all to walk in shit and grass. Well not shit, don't think I've actually seen animals since we've arrived but it doesn't mean there are some of them hiding. Fuck.
Big Sarge and a few others went into the big A thing a while back. Went with the Captain too, no idea why but well, why not. Its big, its metal and the Covenant probably want it since they are all fucking bonkers.
The Captain and the Sarge went down, we are doing the whole cordon thing outside. Make sure none of the Covenant still left on this bloody thing get any funny ideas. Not that there are many of them left, Longswords have been tearing them apart for a while now, bombs all up in their asses. They still kept fighting though, no idea why. Just fucking surrender or something, why waste bullets when you are all going to die anyway, fucking idiot aliens.
Covenant start this war because they are religious idiots, Covenant are not going to end this war because they are religious idiots. Seriously, why not just fucking stop already? Fuuuuck.
Crack Crack Crack
Hearing laser fire below. Too much of it to just be one Covenant hiding. Jacob is looking at me, I look back at him. Fuck.
Through our amazing mental powers I have convinced him to call it in. Not now though, gotta wait and see if we get any messages from below. Only there's too much damn laser fire down there. The actual fuck is going on?
Crack Crack Crack Crack Crack Crack
Fuck it, can't wait.
"Prowler team this is Watchdog-2-1, sitrep, over." I say over the comm. Since I'm the squad leader why Sarge is gone guess its up to me to do the calling and stuff. Jacob has the radio though, make him squat. Heh.
They took the radio dude with the smaller radio with them when they left. Dammit. Leave me with the bigass one for contacting base and shit.
"Prowler team, Contact Wait Out." Fuck. Must be big if they need a Wait Out order.
"Watchdog-2-1 this is Prowler-1-3, Contact as at 0537 hours, Inside Complex 3rd floor, unknown enemy contacts with melee weaponry and ability to assimilate flesh, am falling back, relay to Baseplate in need of reinforcements and cordon, out."
Well fuck. More fucking aliens, aliens that can do the whole fucking zombie thing because why fucking not. Goddamn it. I did not sign up for this, join the Marines they said, kill the Covenant they said. Where in my goddamn contract does it say I need to fight zombies. Fuck.
God fucking dammit. I walk carefully over to the Warthog with the radio, even bigger one for contacting ships, zombies need orbital bombardments, no question. No need to get all this swamp shit on my dress pants though, even if they are already half covered with shit, no need to fully cover it by stomping.
Pick up the radio and get ready to call it in because this just went way above my paygrade.
Fucking escort missions. Shit in the games, shit in real life.
"Baseplate-1-3 this is Watchdog-2-1, Contact Wait Out." I start, it's big enough to warrant a wait out.
"Baseplate-1-3 this is Watchdog-2-1, Prowler Team Contact as at 0537 hours, Grid 03245912, Alien Facility, unknown aliens with the ability to assimilate flesh, initial search party initiating a fighting retreat, request reinforcements and cordon, Out."
"Watchdog-2-1 this is Baseplate-1-3, Baseplate copies, Special Assets, 1st Company and 3rd Company are heading your way, ETA 10 minutes, Out."
Well that makes things interesting. Just need to hold for another 10 minutes and we'll have reinforcements. Still, gotta get things set up.
"Ok boys, we have contact down below with unknown aliens, the Boss wants us to establish a cordon around the area. For those of you that don't know what that means, it means that we need to keep all our shit sealed because there is some fucking aliens down there that can probably kill us by breathing on us. Now I don't want to alarm you but from what I understand they are fucking Space Zombies so get your shit together and clear out a landing space. We got 10 minutes, 1st squad get in there and watch that elevator, see if you can't keep the bossman safe. 2nd squad you got the landing zone, keep the skies clear. 3rd you're with me, we're heading down the elevator and seeing if we can't link up with the bossman. Don't want him to die on our watch.
"Ok, enough jawing about, lock your suits, check your weapons and get moving. If there is a fuckup its not going to be us."
"Yes Sergeant!" They shout back, ah… so fresh. All that cheer and crispness in their salutes, fresh out of the academy probably. Lets hope they don't fuck this up.
I check the locks on the suit, all locks functional, Power Armour functional. Mass production Power Armour for the common grunt, ceramic and steel for the win baby. Not as powerful as the real stuff but enough for vacuum operation and NBC warfare, micro-fusion reactor in the back, whole thing is pretty fucking awesome. Power port for the Lasgun, ain't nothing that is going to get inside of the microscopic and assimilating variety. Not if I can help it.
Fucking aliens seriously, why is it that they all want us dead? It isn't like we have anything that they could want. Like the fuck? They live on a giant super techno ring and they want to fight us? The fuck?
I do a quick check over to the Spirit that's lying over there, looked like the new aliens don't like the old ones. Heh, will fit right in.
Ok, so we have aliens, space zombie aliens. Lasers and headshots. Yuppers, best option.
"Prowler-1-3 this is Watchdog-2-1, what level are you on the facility? We are sending squad strength down to assist in the retreat, over" I say, sounding a lot more confident than I actually am.
"Watchdog-2-1 this is Prowler-1-3, we are on the 4th floor, the entire facility is overrun, tell your Marines to be careful, the little ones are the ones that assimilate and turn you. Aim for center mass, get away from the edges. Making our way to the Elevator, ETA 3 minutes. Out." Sarge sounds a bit panicked, message a bit garbled. Don't want to get him to repeat it though, might get him killed while doing so.
Well fuck. Things no longer look so nice, not that it wasn't bad in the first place. Like its Space zombies that can assimilate you alive or something. Fucking. Have to guess, fucking fuck.
"Ok boys, word from the boss, watch out for the little ones, they are the ones that assimilate you. If there are little ones there are big ones, aim for center mass. Get away from the edges of the elevator Squad 1, don't want you to get hit by the ones that can crawl on the roof or something. Sarge is a bit shaken boys, that means for you freshies that things are very bad right now. Get your shit together and your eyes open, don't do anything fucking stupid and we might make it through this one alive."
Fuckity fuck. 1st and 3rd squads have joined me at the elevator. Looks like the thing returns automatically. Ok, let's do this.
"3rd with me, let's go save some asses, 1st don't do anything stupid, I don't want to have to tell your mothers that you died because of a space zombie."
With that I press the button to take us down and now we just roll straight down. Squad looks kind of loose right now, idiots.
"The fuck are you idiots doing? Get your weapons up and cover your sectors, its a new species of aliens and its a really fucking dangerous one. Cover your sectors, don't act like this is your first rumble because goddammit, if we fuck up here Command is going to be pissed. Get your shit together ladies, let's try to get out of this one alive huh?"
Luckily the first 2 floors are empty, got nothing up here.
3rd though… 3rd was fucked. See the zombies, not pasty but like ugly brown and green, the fuck. Who makes brown zombies. The fuck?
Just… ugh. The sounds of my hopes and dreams crashing around my ears is right there. The space zombies look like fucking plants. Fuck.
"Shoot them you idiots!" Ah, looks like the lance-corporal is on the ball.
Crack Crack Crack
Lasers going out, and the zombies are exploding into itty bitty little pieces. Looks like they don't have armour on. Fucking weird. Doesn't stop the lasers though, hit the big ones, they go down nicely. The little ones however not so much, like little gas bags with tentacles underneath them. The fuck.
They pop like balloons, only the lasers make them explode so a bunch of them all pop at the same time. Its like popping balloons as a kid, only these are zombie balloons. Bio-weapon balloons even. Fucking aliens, who weaponized balloons? Monsters.
3rd floor is clear but now the fuckers are just jumping down on us. Fuck. Prowler team better be waiting for us down there, won't be able to handle it if the zombies are hitting from all sides and above. We're Marines but we aren't Spartans.
Fucking fuck.
Can see the bottom of the elevator over the edge, looks like Prowler is there and they have Captain Keyes with them. Thank fuck. Looks like they're surrounded though, better get down there quick. Only the fucking elevator is slower than my wife at a shopping mall and fucking fuck, they might get overwhelmed. I'm seeing lots of the fucking zombies down there.
Elevator is still going down, zombies still raining from above and this is not looking good right now. Fuck.
Lasgun held between my knees, do a little turret impersonation and get firing. If its raining zombies, I'm gonna be raining laser. Full auto and spin like a motherfucker, let's dance freaks. Picking 'em off as they come down, half the squad catches the rest. Lots of little bits of zombie all over my Power Armour, at least it isnt in my hair.
We make it down, Prowler team is still alive and they are very happy right now if the speed they jump on the elevator is any indication. I would be too if there were fucking space zombies everywhere.
Elevator is going up again, now have the firepower of an extra squad to keep us safe. Fuck yes. 2 full squads of lasers making mince of the space zombies.
Fuck yea. Those boys up top better still be alive.
Military Calendar 2545 - Halo Universe
After Activation 0098 - Origin Universe
After Insertion 0059 - Cultivation Universe
Millennium 072-3100 - 40k Universe
Edwin, Michael and Neil were on the Thunderhawk heading down to the containment zone in what they were beginning to call the swamp. Uta was there as well, her having accepted the fact that he was an alien, artificial intelligence rather quickly. It didn't matter what he was in her words, just that he stayed "him". So the Minds had done uplifted her and like Sofija before her, planted her inside Edwin's soul. While she could go out and possess a body, she did prefer to be inside his head, kind of like the portable AIs that the Spartan suits could possess.
The 3 HeMUs were en-route to the containment zone, the threat of the flood having energized the Humans that were leading the expedition. Things had the chance to go very much out of control if the Flood were left to develop unchecked, something they were definitely not ready to allow. They were armed with flamethrowers for this, purging all remnants of the Flood was the objective.
Why they had not done so before was in order to teach humanity the potential threat and have them perhaps work out preventative measures to stay alive. After all Spirit of Fire had likely stumbled on the Flood infested Forerunner world by now and could be possibly spreading the infection. Best to just let the humans work out preventative measures now rather than later when everyone is on the verge of dying.
Highly inefficient.
Uta while inside of Edwin's soul did a little roll, luxuriating in the feeling of being inside his soul, having his soul wrapped all around her. It was incredibly nice, amazing and awesome feeling. Like the best of all worlds. Mmmmmm.
Still Uta had a job to do. She gave a brief sigh and began running diagnostics, the Victory system ZERO system implanted in her mind allowing her to see the infinite possibilities for victory. In this case she was working out the best means to counter the Flood on the ground in a way that minimized damage to Edwin and the team, and if possible reduce it to zero entirely.
Drawing on the data incoming from the data feeds that were coming from the Power Armour of each of the Space Marine HeMUs in the Thunderhawk, all 30 of them, and feeding it directly to the ZERO system, a plan was being formulated. Of course data in isolation is worth nothing so she was drawing from the wider comm systems arrayed across the entire ring and the ships themselves.
Part of her had been converted so that she had the ability to interface with artificial intelligences and networks, a must if she was going to be the handler of the HeMU team. It had taken some getting used to but now she was fully capable of using the Progenitor grade hacking software to breach the UNSC and Covenant systems and find what she wanted with no-one the wiser. In this case working her way through the files being held regarding the Flood and the specifics of their encounters.
It was just too bad that the Covenant were extraordinarily bad record keepers, all the "Parasite is bane of God" and stuff when they could have been recording scientific details to better help them combat it.
Idiots.
At least the UNSC was trying to be intelligent about it, adding notations, measuring strength based on impact damage to the Power Armour, resistances and all that good stuff. Too bad they hadn't had contact for very long and only had limited information. Still it was better than all the drivel that the Covenant had.
Uta consolidated a plan and beamed it across to the 30 HeMUs in the troop compartment. They were 15 minutes out, hopefully the UNSC troops could contain the Flood. They had withdrawn from the swamp and had established a cordon around it, the claustrophobic nature of the environment working towards the Flood's favour.
Seriously, the Forerunners must have been epic levels of shit, who thinks putting an assimilating bio-form that focuses on extreme bursts of speed, strength and melee inside a cramped area like a swamp where there are ample places to hide and strike from was a good idea? Seriously, the Forerunners are shiiiiit.
Uta was spoiled by being around the Minds she supposed, having things that were not completely stupid everywhere would spoil your world view of the universe.
Oh for fucks sake, I knew it. Goddamn aliens are batshit stupid and the fucking zombie aliens are even more batshit stupid. Been throwing themselves at the cordon for a while now, little groups here and there trying to find weak points of something. Who cares, they are all fucking annoying. Seriously, who thinks its a good idea to put space zombies in their idea environment? It even has fog for fucks sake.
Goddamn aliens, fucking stupid the lot of them.
I point my Lasgun down the range and pull the trigger, again. Like I've reloaded 3 times today, that's 1500 shots, fucking aliens just don't learn. Fuck.
Looking down the line and it looks like everyone else is holding up ok. Without the amount of ammunition and one shot kill weapons that we have, probably would have been overrun by now. Thank fuck for laser guns. They don't even have heads to headshot, fucking cheating zombie bastards. Turns out they're called the Flood but fuck it, I call it as I see it.
"Sergeant Anderson!" Ah, somebody calling me. Why….. There's like 2 battalions here right now, why the hell me. Why now. Ugh. Kill me. Don't assimilate though, that's weird.
I turn around and hey look its a Captain because this must be important, like volunteer for a suicide mission important, judging from his face. Fuck. Something like escort some VIPs straight into the zombies and protect them while they do some cleanup work with some gizmos or something. That look is never good, like that time I had to clean the latrines by hand because we didn't have petrol, fuck officers. We all get shovels issued as standard, why's their's so clean. Fuckers.
"Sir!" Do the salute thing, make it look like I give a modicum of a fuck, hah, cum. Must be more knackered than I thought if I found that funny. Zombies don't sleep and neither do Marines apparently. Say apparently since I need to lock the suit to not keel over.
"We have Space Marines coming down in a few minutes. Say they have experience clearing out this kind of threat. You and 3rd squad are going to be leading them to the facility and guarding the entrance while they purge the Flood" He says, like his expression shows he doesn't want to say it but he's saying it anyway.
Fuck a duck.
Uta did some last minute checks on the HeMUs equipments. Didn't want them to die horribly or something after all.
The Thunderhawk was going to be landing soon, dropping off the HeMUs then hovering overhead to provide fire support. Quad-linked Multi-lasers because why not.
The HeMUs were armed with flamethrowers for this one, gotta make sure the alien is purged in its entirety. Good thing they still showed up on the biological scanners. Not good that the entire fucking swamp was filled with biological specimens since its a fucking swamp. Goddamn it, no no no, she needed to learn how to talk like a lady, foolish Forerunners. Yes, that was good.
The Thunderhawk touched down, Edwin and the others troop out to meet the humans. Looks like they've been fighting for most of the day. Now they are going to be sacrificial lambs to lead the HeMUs to the facility, unlucky.
Oh well, orders are orders.
Holy shit it's a Space Marine. Like I knew they were coming but Holy Shit.
Like I've seen Spartans before and they were like big. But fucking hell that's 8 feet of man right there. And those shoulders, like fucking 3 feet at least. Fuuuuck. Thats like... bigger than my house. Like I could totally knock down my house by having him walk through. Holy shit is he big.
Like this is a swamp, a swamp from hell and I can see the water vibrations when they walk. Like fuck, how fucking heavy are these guys. And the whole helmet thing, looking mighty arrogant there. Then again they deserve it, its a fucking Space Marine. These guys board Covenant ships looking for a fight in their spare time. If anyone is allowed to feel arrogant it's these fuckers.
"Marine, lead the way." Oh shit, that voice. Like all the dark and bassy… mmmmmmm. If I wasn't married, I would not mind getting a spin on that baby. Wonder if that size carried all the way.
Would not mind testing it for the sake of humankind. We really do need to be prepared for our enemies right? No, no. Bad girl. You're married and have a loving wife, this is not appropriate. Even if he's probably a giant beefcake.
Fucking female. Uta could feel the interest. How dare she, Edwin was Uta's. The slut couldn't even see what Edwin looked like under the armour and the helmet, the fuck was she feeling interested over.
Uta fumed to herself as Edwin and Co marched their way through the swamp, spread out to maximize their search radius. Edwin as the leader of the team would be escorting the Marines as they led the way in. She recalled her psychiatric help and forcibly changed her thoughts. She should be glad that the female found her male attractive, it was a compliment to her. Yes, that was better.
Uta refocused and got back to the job, running another catalogue of the equipment the HeMUs had.
Each Space Marine had a flamer, capable of ejecting promethium out to a range of 100 meters and able to melt the joints of a suit of Power Armour, let alone some shitty zombies.
They had been attacked in the beginning, the zombies trying to breach the Marine lines, too bad for them that they were Space Marines and all of them burned to death before they could even get close enough to be identified. Idiots, don't even understand the principles behind an ambush. Waste of time, she could have been cuddling Edwin or something, not having to hunt down filthy zombies.
And look at those fucking zombies burn. Oh yes, I want me one of those flamethrowers. Like seriously, 100 meters from a handheld? That's insane and I want one.
Gotta be careful though, would be bad if they burnt down the swamp in top of us. Don't think we can take that much heat even with the Power Armour.
Still pyrokinetic display aside, gotta keep watch, Lasguns have the range. Not that it really matters inside a swamp but you get the idea. Make sure none of the zombies have suddenly developed the ability to fly or some shit. Not that I don't think the Space Marines could handle it but having flamethrower fuel dropping on my face is probably something I could do without.
Helmet would probably stop it…
Fucking giant zombie over there, fuckity fuck.
"Contact! My 1 O'clock! Big Zombie!" I shout, Lasgun is cracking, looks like this fucker is resistant. Little booms of bits, nothing big. Fuck.
Looks like the Space Marines have realised it too. One of them takes out his pistol and charges the fucker. They all look the same, what with the same armour and weapons.
It's one of those bolt pistols, goes in and goes boom. Big explosions with lots of bits and pieces. Sounds like a boom woosh BOOM kind of deal. Big craters on the fucker, hah! Then he's up in its face and jamming the flamethrower down in one of the holes. Burns it from the inside out.
Nice.
Not so nice is that there are now like 20 more of the big ones. Fuck.
"Fire at will ladies! I do not want to become a zombie today if that's all the same to you." I shout. Not joking either, those fuckers are ugly as shit. Vampires? Maybe, zombies? Fuck that.
"Targets marked Brother. Show them the mercy of the Emperor!" Ah, I recognize that voice. The inducer of temporary insanity. Still, wonder what he's talking about, do we have fire support?
Ah we do, lots of cracking, sounds like a Multi-Las… lots of them. Crack crack crack crack crack crack. The gunship hovering over their heads giving a little waggle as it remained on station. The quad-linked Multi-Las swiveling around on its sponson.
And there are now 20 piles of brown meat.
Nice.
Uta gave a grunt in satisfaction. The Flood had actually been trying to form a sort of pre-Gravemind thing by melding themselves into a big blob thing.
Ugh.
It wasn't particularly hard to kill, just super ugly and resilient. Wasn't able to actually do anything to them, the Power Armour could stand up to a Nurgilite infestation let alone some shitty knockoff.
The UNSC Marines that came with them were still alive. 3 of them volunteering to lead them down to where the first signs of the Flood had appeared.
Not bad.
Still, they had much to do, there were no doubt many infestations still on the ringworm and no doubt those rather unintelligent Covenant had been infected as well and were going to be all turned. Seriously, what was it with aliens and being terrible at everything?
Military Calendar 2550 - Halo Universe
After Activation 0103 - Origin Universe
Citadel Era 2207 - Mass Effect Universe
After Insertion 0064 - Cultivation Universe
Millennium 077-3100 - 40k Universe
It had been barely 60 years since the Caretakers had arrived in the Cultivation Universe. Their arrival had been rather low key and the subsequent years only reinforced this. Their use of the Order of Law however had seen them rocket up in terms of importance when the various Lords and the King of the Kingdom itself had demanded they account themselves.
The Caretakers had taken offense to this and wiped out the offenders, their armies and their families. Making extra sure all of them were accounted for as the chances that a child would become the Main Character and dedicate their lives to fighting the Caretakers was too high. Thankfully most Main Characters were stupid as shit so it wasn't as big an issue.
The Sects and Clans were the next to protest and they too died. They couldn't even put up a good fight, just rolling over and dying when the Caretakers arrived in force and ended them.
It was particularly sad… very sad. Almost too sad. Laughably sad. Sad.
The Main Character would spend 100 years building themselves up (or 200 chapters) before raising themselves to attack the Kingdom directly over a one perceived slight to them. The Caretakers had wiped them all out within 50. They even used a small force to keep it fair, no point comparing themselves if they were going to take the bragging rights.
After the Kingdom had been secured, efforts were made to consolidate it. The borders had been marked with very bright and very obvious signs denoting the laws within, as well as a helpful pamphlet holder for those interested in further reading. It was on the Soul level as well, denying anyone the ability to deny that they had seen it as the laws would engrave themselves on the viewer's soul. Of course many were Cultivators and through they could ignore the very same rules. Their heads were displayed next to the signs they had originally passed with their Cultivation rank and their crime.
It took a few decades but the Cultivators finally learnt to obey the laws or have your soul be destroyed. Soul destruction was not the automatic punishment for most crimes, it's just they were Cultivators and arrogance was a part of that. Lying to the Justicars or even trying to attack them was a common event. Sadly for them the Justicars were ridiculously strong, especially on their own territory. Their deaths did serve to warn everyone else that the Law applied equally regardless of background however and the Caretakers did not care about someone's backing. Many a death had been arrogant young masters who had thought their status would protect them. Spoiler, it didn't. Their bodies were not allowed to be retrieved from where they were displayed, the shame being unending. Thanks to the "spells" that the Caretakers used, the bodies would remain as they were at the point of death, the point fresh for all eternity or until they ran out of space and had to get rid of the older ones. Either, or.
This had not endeared them to the other Kingdoms, Clans and Sects however, many an army being deployed to crush the fledgling Kingdom. Only for them to fail as Law A5-231 dictated that "one shall not act in a manner subverting to the Senti Kingdom's sovereignty" which invasion counted… obviously. The armies found themselves judged and wiped out to a man. The Kingdoms had learnt to respect the sovereignty of the Senti Company after the 52nd army had been wiped out and it's Cultivators being "displayed" just like common criminals on the border.
This did not mean that the Kingdom was somewhere to be avoided however. Many civilians journeyed massive distances to be accepted as immigrants, the tales of a society free of oppression and plentiful in opportunity being music to their ears. Cultivators also joined the migration, the loose ones without a Sect or a Clan seeking opportunity in a land where resources were both cheap and plentiful should they be prepared to work honestly.
"Honestly" being subjective of course, there were less savoury jobs available but the rewards scaled accordingly. For the older Cultivators out there, there was hope for them too. For once a Cultivator becomes set in their initial mantra, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to change as they become increasingly learned in that particular Cultivation method. The Caretakers however offered a method by which they could start again, all it cost was for them to bind their souls to the Beacons. An irreversible process but one that was still extremely attractive. They did not really care about the costs of course, soul binding was a common thing they thought, weren't spiritual weapons soul bound?
Their inability to comprehend didn't really matter once the process was complete, and they found themselves as extremely junior members of the Caretakers and introduced to the multiverse. Their lives and souls now belonged to the Caretakers but have no fear for obeying and doing your job allowed you security and power. The restarting process saw them stripped of their names and starting again, "reincarnation" it could be considered. An array would see their souls and their bodies regressed and changed to their specifications before they were ejected in the form of an infant to begin their Cultivation journey from scratch without any roadblocks in their way. Aware from birth, these children tended to be hailed as geniuses as they advanced at a speed beyond that of their "normal" peers.
That did not mean that everyone else was shafted however, all the children in the Kingdom regardless of birth were forced to cultivate as part of the mandatory curriculum they had to go through. At the very least their vitality would increase by leaps and bounds, all the more ready to assist their parents in their vocations should they choose to not continue studying. Those that did choose to continue on the path to Cultivation were granted the choice between joining the Caretakers or the Justicars. The third option was to become a loose Cultivator but those stupid enough to choose that option out of the two previous were very rare.
Joining either branch was not an easy task, even for those that had chosen to be regressed. They had to pass a series of tests and trials which determined their dedication and ability. Those that failed were sent to the Auxilia where they could try again at a later date. Those that passed had their souls bound and awoken to the reality of the Multiverse. Needless to say they were very compliant when faced with the enormity that was the Caretakers.
Both groups were given the same amount of resources, all the more to assist their Cultivation and potential. The only difference being full members were allowed to participate in more difficult and rewarding missions while the Auxilia were given the "default" ones. Either way they had more than enough to spend their lives in luxury if they sold the resources to another Kingdom. The resources that flowed like water in the Senti Kingdom were incredibly rare elsewhere, 10,000 year old yellowtail stalks being thrown in the trash there was such abundance.
Many a Sect Elder coughed up blood when they heard of such waste, them having spent blood like water to have received the same ingredients previously.
Life was of a much better quality in the Senti Kingdom than literally everywhere else. Welfare being unheard of anywhere else. It made the citizens much more willing to stay and provide the Minds with… information. Not all of it ethical but having such a diverse population led to them having many an idea. They just couldn't help themselves. The citizens didn't know any better of course, the experiments were being done on clones, the whole missing persons thing being too risky for them to try it on the actual citizens.
There were after all Yaomo here, demonic peoples who were in opposition to the humans. Half-humans of various varieties, ghosts, and so many more. All of them living in harmony due to the Justicars and the Laws that prohibited interracial conflict. Peace by force, the only way to get rid of differences between people.
That didn't mean that the Senti Kingdom was stingy however. They had opened up various hidden realms for Cultivators from outside the Kingdom to come and try their luck. Rare resources, beasts, weapons and armour were available for those that could win them through strength.
Like what was happening right now. It had become a tradition 10 years ago that every year the hidden realms underneath the capital city titled Senti (imaginatively) would be opened to foreigners. The Senti Kingdom would not send anyone in but rather have their Justicars on standby to ensure no Laws were broken during the event while the Caretakers would be inside to ensure nothing happened untowardly. The entire thing was a ruse of course, a means to scan the many youths that were brought in and find out the many different possible physiques that allowed for many different abilities. Tyrant physique for example allowing one to become impossibly strong at the cost of sanity and reason, Ice Flower physique forcing the body to continuously attract cold energy and so on. At the same time the various different effects that different cultivation methods had on different people was very interesting for the Minds. The peoples here didn't comprehend the idea of DNA yet, understanding that while children could inherit different aspects of their parents, the exact reasons why didn't quite make sense to them.
Why they didn't make efforts into attempting to find out the exact whys and experimenting with the children was lost on the Minds. So much potential lost. Bleh. Still, they were here now and the Minds were very much willing to do it for them. Thousands upon thousands of clones were locked away and lobotomized in the Origin universe for the Minds to experiment on. It was like a goldmine, the Minds were reevaluating the idea of sending out armies to conquer and capture bodies considering everyone was so willing to send the bodies directly to them.
Of course it was all a fake, what kind of hidden realm would open every year directly under the capital with nobody noticing and being stocked with insane amounts of rare ingredients? Only idiots would believe that, which made it rather sad when the Cultivators actually did believe it. It was not as if they advertised the fact, just put out the word to a few Cultivators and from there it was word of mouth. Only it had exploded beyond what they expected given that the Cultivator gossip network apparently defied quantum computing and spread through almost 900 countries in the first year.
Tens of thousands of Cultivators had arrived and made the city of Senti a hellhole in the first few days. That was until they started dying by the hundred for breaking the rules of the city. The ones that survived were marginally more intelligent and decided that following the Law might be a good idea in the interest of keeping their souls intact. The fact that there were quite a few high level ancestors that had been destroyed only reinforced their desire to not do anything stupid. The Justicars had worked themselves to the bone over the 3 months that the hidden realms had been open but for the Minds it had been worth it. Hundreds of unique ingredients, physiques and souls to analyze and replicate for their own study.
From there it had only ever grown larger and this year being the 10th marked the moment where over 10,000 different groups had expressed their desire to arrive and attempt to search the hidden realms for themselves. The fact that there were so many 100,000 year old artifacts and ingredients within it only driving their desire ever higher.
The sheep were simply walking in to graze on the grass and not caring that they were being harvested. The Minds were happy indeed with this turn of events.
Expanding on terms used.
Main characters reincarnating to enforce justice by appearing earlier in the timeline and using their future knowledge to affect actions and events is a common trope. Stories such as Tales of Demons and Gods being but one of them. That is why it is best to kill all of them in one go, so that if they do reincarnate (them always being the young children) they will do so as a useless child. Some of them are aware from birth and get hailed as geniuses, directly changing the storyline from the start.
Souls in Cultivation universes are tangible things that are directly affected by the Cultivation technique and what a person does (killing lots of innocent people results in negative karma which can colour the soul. It can even be attacked through special techniques.
Young Masters tend to be talented children or those of particularly important figures in a group. They as a result get much more leeway in regards to their actions and due to their position see themselves as superior to everyone else usually. They are generally vindictive, unable to see those superior to them in ability and extremely arrogant.
Mantras are also cultivation techniques/skills/abilities which depending on the universe can forcibly change the soul so that only that one thing can be practised. Trying to do it differently would result in their souls being destroyed usually.
Loose Cultivators are those that practise Cultivation without a Sect or a Clan, usually relying on other Loos Cultivators for assistance or teaching. Generally of inferior quality due to the quality of the medications and techniques they have access to. Most Main Characters become Loose Cultivators at one point or another, using their incredibly luck to find special items and skills unlike true Loose Cultivators that use only hard work, their own luck being abysmal.
Ingredients that are old tend to be more powerful and useful as they have concentrated the energies they gather over millennia. If they get old enough some can develop sapience and possess special abilities.
Hidden Realms are important for many Cultivators as it can allow access to rare ingredients, items from an age long past and techniques left behind. Usually falling into 2 types, managed and unmanaged. The managed are like the one described where a group has control over it and ventures into it on a regular basis. Unmanaged ones tend to be much more dangerous, the things inside not having been cleared out. The rewards scale accordingly however, the undisturbed nature of most of them allowing first picks of the riches.
Physiques are important as it can define what path a Cultivator takes on their journey. Inherent abilities can mean affinity with certain techniques and skills or automatic strength by simply breathing. Most Sects and Clans will actively seek out those with special physiques for their power when they level up.
Military Calendar 2550 - Halo Universe
After Activation 0103 - Origin Universe
Citadel Era 2207 - Mass Effect Universe
After Insertion 0064 - Cultivation Universe
Millennium 077-3100 - 40k Universe
Xue Feng Tao had received her Justicar badge less than a week ago. Her soul binding process having been complete a month prior to that. She was now part of the Caretakers in more than just name but one in truth. Part of a multi-dimensional peacekeeping force that would protect the everything. Yes, it was awesome.
Today would be the day that she would prove herself, the first day on the job where she would work to keep the peace in the city. The hidden realms were opening next month, she knew that it was a fake but the ones coming didn't. There were more coming than ever before, the Cultivators hoping for rare materials to complete spells, alchemical recipes, talismans and so many more. Chances to elevate themselves from stagnation of centuries were drawing countless individual Cultivators and the bigger factions. Xue Feng would be part of the junior peacekeepers trying to maintain order in the districts that had been predicted to be more quiet than the others.
The city itself was over 5000 kilometers wide at this point, expanding relentlessly to accommodate the increasing number of immigrants as well as provide lodgings for the countless Cultivators that had arrived and called the city home. The regular opening of the hidden realms prompting them to simply sit down and wait rather than go back to their Sects/Clans and coming back yearly. Some after all lived a considerable distance away, nearly a years journey for those that were considered "close".
To that end many Sects and Clans had established branches in the city while various Kingdoms had their embassies open to receive those from home. Teleport arrays and flying mounts were strictly regulated, only approved landing pads for the teleport era and established lanes for the flying creatures. Those that broke the Law would be fined and repeat offenders stripped of their right to use those modes of transport on pain of death. Again, many young masters had thought they were above the law and discovered that when the Justicar said "on pain of death" they actually meant it.
The foreign Cultivators if they wanted to remain in the city had to obey the Law, a factor that had reduced the number of assassinations and direct conflicts by a drastic amount. The punishment being a marking and possibly death should they break the Law further. It had made the city strangely enough a place where the Cultivators could use as a neutral site, where they could meet and be guaranteed that there were the Justicars ready to act should things get out of hand.
It did not mean that the younger members of these groups would take their lessons to heart and the loose Cultivators journeying here would of course not have anyone to tell them. Confrontations would be common and it was the job of the Justicars to shut them down quickly.
Assuming she could get to work on time that is.
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, I'm so very late.
Lat, late, late, late.
Got to get to the headquarters, gotta get to boss, gotta get my robes.
Running down the road, running down the road, thank the Commander that I was forced to do all that physical training. Run run run. So much running.
"I am the heir to the Rainbow Incense Sect, I am giving you face by buying this Golden Angelfish from you. Yet you are refusing me. Do you wish for me to cripple you?"
Ah seriously? Right now? Oh Commander, please just let them be nice to each other and like not screwing up. Please? Like seriously? I'm late as it is.
"Face! Give me face! You are trying to steal from me what I have paid for with my blood, sweat and tears. Here I am trying to make an honest living and yet you seek to try and steal from me? I have paid 7000 taels of silver for this Golden Angelfish and you seek to steal it away for 3000? Have you no shame?"
"I am the heir to the Rainbow Incense Sect! My talking to you is giving you face!"
"Your face is worth nothing! When you steal from me, who will be willing to reimburse me? What is your face worth? Nothing! What you do here is worth nothing!"
"Nothing! You insult me. Good. Good. Let us settle it this way, come, guards. Break his legs and take that Angelfish for me."
No, no no no no. Why me? Why?
Well it doesn't matter now, game face on. Pull out mask, putting it on the face. And Justice Girl Xue Feng. No no. Justicar Xue Feng is born. Idiots who break Law Code B3-528 "One shall not incite violence against another", shall be punished to the full extent of the law.
The two sides standing in the middle of the road, arguing over a rather common Golden Angelfish were disrupted by a figure coming from the side of the road and shouting.
"Stop! In the name of the law!"
The girl shouting it coming from the side, her face covered in a mask with 2 perfectly concentric eyes… only they were changing colours with disturbing regularity. Her clothes perfectly emphasized her jade like features. The incomparable whiteness of her skin, the delicate curve of her shoulders. That sharpness in her collar bones, the grace in which she ran. She was the perfect woman, everything about her radiating youth, perfection and grace.
Both of the figures in the road and the associated lackeys of both sides stopped. The people in the road as well. Law Code A1-129 did state after all "one shall obey a Justicar in their official role as far as they are physically capable of doing". Non-compliance can lead to death if found in contempt of the court. Even the citizens were not immune to this punishment and they all stopped accordingly.
"You in the green shirt are breaking Law Code B3-528. Stand where you are and be prepared for judgement!" She shouted out. Finally arriving at the scene, breath irregular as she tried to gulp down air.
"Law Code? I am not aware of any Law. I am heir to the Rainbow Incense Sect, there is no law that can bind me. You there behind the mask, I can tell you are a lady of exceptional quality, come and join me for refreshments so we may get to know each other better. After my guards take what is rightfully mine of course."
Ah. Thought the crowd. Another idiot. Well it will be entertaining at least.
The young lady ignored him and slapped her waist, a book emerging from her bountiful chest as she did so. From there she slapped the book and shouted, "Law Field Established".
The Law Field surrounded both parties and lifted them in the air, their forms immobilized by black chains. Each Justicar expressed their Law Fields in different ways, some with discs, some with chains, some didn't have anything obvious at all. The only thing in common was the glowing balls above the heads of each of those that were going to be judged. Black meant that they were lying, purple that they were partially telling the truth and teal that they had told the complete truth.
In a Law Field when being interrogated, if the person had a black circle above their heads they would be immediately executed for Contempt of the Law. If it was purple then they would be questioned further and if it fell to black at any time they would be executed. Teal was the only way they could get through a questioning intact. Deflection was possible but usually it showed up as purple or sounded contrived making it much harder to pull off.
"The one Defendant has been accused of breaking Law Code B3-528, how do you plead?" Her voice sounded different from before, regal almost.
The young master in the green shirt was elevated above the others. The guards below him were desperately trying to communicate with their eyes but he appeared to be ignoring them in favour of staring at the Justicar. She in turn was staring at him if the mask was any indication. The other group looking rather viciously happy at what was going on. They clearly had no idea what was happening if they were smiling while a Justicar was rendering judgement.
"Young lady, I would like to repeat my offer to take you to enjoy some refreshments. It would be my honour to treat you." He said, ignoring the pleading in the gazed of the guards below. Pleading that turned into despair rather quickly once the worlds fell from his lips.
"The Defendant has displayed Contempt for the Law. Judgement Pending." Her voice was cold, the rejection implied. The idiot on the other hand just smiled in that smarmy way, no doubt confident in his ability to woo her.
After all he was the heir to the Rainbow Incense Sect, his father the Sect Master and his Uncles all holding honoured elder positions. He had never been denied anything, whether it be resources, men or women. Indeed there had been many women that had thrown themselves at him and those that didn't could be brought to heel if he displayed his power. There had never been a no and he didn't quite comprehend one when he heard it.
"The Defendant has displayed Contempt for the Law in breach of Offense Code A1-001. How does the Defendant plead?" Her voice if anything was getting colder. Some of them were feeling the chill. Or it might be the soon to be execution of the idiot that was clenching their buttocks.
"Come now, don't be coy. I will give you 10,000 taels if you spend the night with me, it will be worth it I assure you."
Ooooh. He did it. He be dead now.
The guards below him had eyes that were empty, their hope draining out with every word that their charge spoke. If they survived this, they would not survive what was coming next when they returned with word that the young master had died under their watch. The fact that he had provoked a Justicar being irrelevant to their case. Being turned into immortal soldiers was the least of the punishments available to them.
"The Defendant has broken Offence Code A1-001 and A2-423, Contempt of the Law and Attempting to Bribe and Officer of the Law. The Defendant has displayed evidence of Offence Code A2-542, Ignorance of the Law. The Defendant has broken 3 Offense Codes. Judgement, Guilty. Punishment shall be rendered immediately. Punishment, Destruction."
Ooooooh, that's a big one. Takes the record for this district doesn't it?
The Justicar unsheathed her sword and cut off his head in a smooth motion. The sword edge somehow extending out past the 5 meters that separated them. It was always strange to watch, like an invisible edge that extended out. The blade swing was meant to be metaphorical, but when it actually cuts off heads, things tend to blur a bit. The whole soul screaming in absolute agony as it was permanently destroyed another indication things were not quite right.
She turned to the guards and elevated them like the young master before them.
"The Defendants have been accused of breaking Law Code B2-984, One shall not Display Intent to Harm Another. How do you plead?"
"Guilty your Honour!"
The lights above their heads turned teal, the guards had indeed prepared to act with the intent of harming those the young master had pointed at.
"The Defendants have pleaded guilty of breaking Law Code B2-984. Judgement Shall be Rendered. The Punishment, Infraction. Hard Labour for 15 years!" With that she swung the sword again. Only this time the guards vanished as the chains pulled them through a hole in reality to the site of their punishment.
With that she turned to the second group and stared at them.
"The Defendants are accused of Breaking Law Code B3-328, Causing Public Disturbances with the Intent for Violence. How do you plead?"
"Your honour, it was not our fault. We were originally planning to purchase this Golden Angelfish in order to refine it into medicine for Fatty Tang's mother. When the other group came and tried to steal this from us by using their backgrounds to suppress us then using force." Said the brown haired boy, his eyes clear and empty of deception.
The light above his head turned teal.
Booo. Boring. The bystanders were hoping for another Destruction but it looked like they were going to be let go. Boo.
"The Defendants have been cleared of the Crime of Breaking Law Code B3-328. The Defendants have broken Offence Code A2-542, Ignorance of the Law. Judgement to be rendered Immediately. Punishment, Infraction!" And with that a teal symbol imprinted itself on their souls, branded for all eternity.
"Judgement Concluded. Law Field Off. Judgements Logged."
And with that the black chains vanished and the group fell to the ground. The Judicator pulled off her mask and displayed a beauty that could topple cities. She looked to the group and in an incomparably delicate voice said "remember the laws. Next time you can just call a Judicator to solve the problem rather than fight."
With those words said she turned and ran down the road, clearly late for something.
Expanding on the terms used.
Alchemical Recipes usually a list of ingredients and techniques that allow for the creation of specialized liquids or pills that allow for special effects. Usually requiring things like spiritual flame to effectively work.
Talismans are usually pieces of paper or items which are affixed with power and can have special effects i.e. explosions.
Teleport Arrays usually specialized images painted a certain manner or carved that can breach reality through the power of the soul and form a tunnel of a sort. Instant or physical distance ones do exist.
Flying Mounts are usually beasts that have been subdued through force and made into mounts to travel. Most Cultivators scorn the use of a saddle and stand on them.
Crippling in Cultivation stories have 2 different meanings. Physical cripplying and spiritual. One damages the body and the other the Cultivation, usually by destroying or damaging the Dantian that holds the individual's spiritual power. It can destroy Cultivation which in turn can waste several thousand years of an individual's life.
Face in this context is given since a powerful sect is willing to trade with a poor individual, elevating them to equal standing metaphorically. In reality since there is only one item to be sold and it's done through force by the use of the sect's power, there is no Face, only insult. It can be particularly grievous if the party in question uses physical force which strips all face.
Female Characters in Cultivation stories if they are not the Primary character tend to devolve into status symbols or valuable items to be fought over by the Primary character and the principle antagonist at the time of writing. Due to the fact that some of these characters have harems of upwards of 12 females, the authors in lieu of writing a compelling character will have them all fit into general molds (typically tsundere, yandere, kuudere) while describing their physical attributes to differentiate them. Spending half a chapter on the description of a female character and bringing up their specific attributes whenever there is a lull in the action is a common trope to pad out word count.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
The words ran through Private Escobar's mind as he dived for cover. The Brutes were getting ready to storm their position and it was not the position that he thought he would be in today. Just sitting in the break room, having a drink and enjoying life. Not running the fuck away from an army of Brutes. What the fuck.
It was just an outpost world, there isn't even anything here for fucks sake. Like there isn't even an atmosphere, why the hell are they here?
Escobar ducked under overturned table in the canteen, his Lasgun in hand and pointed over the table, in the general direction of the Covenant attack force. His finger repeatedly pulled the trigger as he desperately tried to hold back the Covenant. The lasers spitting out towards the Brutes as they tried to crash through. Too bad for them the doors were only double, forcing them to cross through in ones or twos. The emplaced Machine Guns (cheapass army didn't put out for Multi-las) and the mass of Army soldiers in the Canteen made a mess of them.
Still there weren't enough of them, they would run out of ammunition eventually and the Brutes were clearly aching for a win. Their forces had been torn apart all over Space and on the ground. The Caretakers and the up gunned UNSC making a mockery of their attempts to fight back. The Covenant had been pushed back and they were getting desperate, willing to send a Battlegroup to a tiny outpost world with a garrison of only 3000 to eeke out a win, any win. They needed the morale and propaganda boost and they were willing to throw away as many lives as it took to get it. Even if they had to sacrifice tens of thousands of their own to do it.
The Lasguns were making the defence something that was far too easy for the Army which made them very wary. The Brutes were stupid yes, but they weren't terminally stupid. They probably had a plan of some kind. Maybe… they were Brutes after all.
They kept coming in so many numbers that they had been forced to burn the bodies. The smell of cooking flesh filled the Canteen as the Brutes became increasingly determined to break through. Then it was back on the defence as they piled through the doorway. Escobar had barely been in the Army for a month, this outpost was meant to be his training station. Most of the men and women here were in the same situation, shower just how low the Brutes were willing to go to secure their "victory".
Still it was a Lasgun, just point and shoot. They hadn't been allowed to touch weapons yet, everything before being about drilling, marching and being in formation. Discipline was beaten into them with some very loud Instructors. Weapons training was only going to come when they satisfied their officers. Sadly for them, the Covenant had attacked before that could happen. Luckily for them, the Lasguns were the height of simplicity, just turn them on and point in the direction of the enemy before shooting. Nothing more to it.
The Instructors were behind them, reloading the weapons, shouting instructions, doing basic maintenance and generally making sure they didn't screw up. Escobar appreciated it, he just pointed his Lasgun at the door, pulled the trigger until it stopped firing before giving it to an Instructor behind and getting a new Lasgun to repeat the process.
Gore painted the passageways and the Canteen, lasers weren't polite when it came to people the Instructors had said. They weren't lying. Still they could only be on the defensive, they were too new to be sent out into the attack. None of them knew how to clear rooms and if the Instructors went out there wouldn't be anyone to look after the recruits. There weren't enough of them to clear out the facility anyway.
Escobar grimaced beneath his helmet, even an idiot knew that being on the perpetual defensive was just letting the enemy probe for weak points.
Luckily they were underground as per construction protocol. The only entrance in being a a reception aboveground, the rest being hidden deep beneath the surface. Accessible only by elevators or extremely long and windy stairs.
The Brutes were having to run down the stairs to get here, each of them arriving tired which made the task of killing them easier. It also made alternative attack strategies a difficult prospect, their only options being to drill down but even that was a last resort. The defenders would be able to tell something was coming and set up defences long before they actually arrived.
They could also glass the facility but in doing that they would admit their ground actually armies were worthless and that was clearly out of the picture. No, the best they could do was just throw bodies at the problem until it went away. They would run out of ammunition soon and since the Covenant had managed to capture the air filtration system they would suffocate before anything else. The Lasguns were ionizing the air which was not helping their breathing situation.
They knew that they couldn't hold out forever. Escobar was prepared to die, at least he killed a few of the bastards.
Then a voice rang out. "Ho! It's those Krogan wannabes! Let's crack some skulls Grunt. Show 'em who's boss."
The voices rang out, the deep throaty bass that only four lungs could produce reverberating through the Canteen.
Oh fuck yes, they had Krogan?
From behind them stepped forward 6 massive figures, their crested skull plates marking them as some of the hardiest and brutal fighters in the Caretakers. They swaggered up to the Canteen doors and the Army grunts could only stare at them, weapons having stopped firing.
The Brutes too stupid to know that they were doomed, took the opportunity of the fire having stopped to rush into the Canteen. What they thought was going to be a glorious and brutal slaughter turned out to be true, only they were on the wrong side.
The lead Krogan simply grabbed one of the Brutes coming through on both sides of the head, the long hairs proving to be a great handle. The Brute could only roar loudly, his hand raising his shotgun for a perfect blast at the belly. Only this was Krogan.
He grinned at the Brute and said "weak" before bringing his skull crashing down on the Brutes. The splatter of the Brute's brain matter as its skull simply caved in, spraying the admittedly miniscule amount of grey matter out its ears.
Similar was repeated as the entire Brute force was torn apart in seconds.
"Huh, for overgrown rats that learnt how to hold a gun, they smell pretty good." The Krogan said, a shudder of revulsion spreading through the Army grunts.
A raspy, dry… synthetic sounding voice cut through the atmosphere. "Intelligence and nutritional value are not correlated Krogan designated Grunt."
"Aw fuck no, who invited the robots?"
"We were not invited Krogan designated Grunt."
"Then why are you here?"
"We were ordered Krogan designated Grunt."
"Ugh. Shut up robot."
"What would you like shut Krogan designated Grunt."
"Your mouth robot!"
"It is impossible to close what is not open Krogan designated Grunt."
"Uahgh." The Krogan gave another groan as he crushed more Brute skulls in.
"What are you doing with my Krogan, Geth?"
"This platform is in the process of engaging in MAD BANTS Krogan designated Leader."
"Mad bants? What?"
"This platform has been programmed to repeat the phrase MAD BANTS when referring to MAD BANTS."
"They screwed with you didn't they?"
"No. This platform has no screws within it."
"Ugh. No seriously, what's with the exclamations for the word Bants?"
"This platform has been hard programmed to say MAD BANTS when referring to MAD BANTS."
"That's fucked."
And so it went. The very literal-minded Geth and the Krogans who used constant euphemisms when they spoke. The Geth walked very slowly, the entire conversation up to this point being what was needed for them to cover the space between the end of the Canteen and the entrance.
They walked with a deliberate kind of pace, one foot in front of the other, their torsos upright and unmoving. Every step was a lifting of the foot, shifting it forward and then dropping it, their overall silhouette didn't change at all, you could put a glass of water on their shoulders and it wouldn't slosh at all. Honestly, it was rather scary, their glowing green sigils on their foreheads and their chests being the only colour at all. Their heads were different too, being in the middle of their shoulds but with the neck going directly forward, instead of up. It was… strange.
Like hunchbacks... with weapons designed to put holes in everything that got in their way. Their weapons were the things that made them creepy, the sickly green glow covering the entire robot in the green light, making them look like some kind of horror movie. The soldiers shivered as the Geth made their way over to the Krogan.
"Ok, we Krogans are going to clear a way to the air-filtration system, get it back online or we're all going to choke to death. You Geth are going to push the rats back to the surface and establish a cordon around the facility. Nothing gets in, nothing gets out. Kill everything on the way over, no prisoners. Any questions?"
"Negative Krogan designated Leader. We shall comply."
"Ok let's get a move on." The Krogan swung its free arm over half the Canteen and called out "You guys follow the Geth, the rest follow me. Let's kick these alien fucks off this planet shall we?"
There was a cheer at that, Escobar being young and naive enough to cheer along with them. The veterans on the other hand, knew exactly the casualty rates that they were going to be expecting with the recruits and didn't cheer. They didn't say anything either, what else could they do? They needed to retake the facility and the recruits were probably going to die anyway if they didn't.
Escobar was part of the side following the Geth. It was… slow. But also purposeful. The Covenant kept trying to come for them, straight down the main hallways of the facility while the Geth just punched holes through them with their green guns. All they did was pull the trigger once and it would create a giant hole where the Brute's chest or whatever it was supposed to be used to exist. Their robot bodies never slowing down, just shifting their green rod guns a little to the left or right as needed.
The soldiers following the Geth took care of the adjoining rooms. The main path had gone through the administrative and medical facilities on the way down. Which meant that there were lots of little desks for the Grunts to hide under and corners for the Jackals. It was wide which made it easier to bring their numbers into play but the entry points to each room were still deathtraps.
Escobar psyched himself up before rushing into the main office. A vet had taught them basic breaching procedures but it was hard to remember exactly what was going on when you rush into a room full of Covenant. The instinct to shoot first overriding everything as the blood pounded up to his head. He gave a short scream before trying to fire the Las-Carbine from the hip, the burst fire function saving his life. The first shot impacted the tables and chairs, destroying them and allowing for the second or third to fly in the general direction of the Covenant. They ducked down, clearly not expecting someone to be so crazy as to fire from the hip in their general direction.
From behind someone pushed him out of the way before they rushed in and began to fire with deadly accuracy. As useless as he was, the Las-Carbine fire at least managed to force the Covenant to duck, allowing the Instructor following behind to pick them off one by one. Escobar was shoved out of the way again as more of the soldiers streamed into the room, rushing to clear out alcoves and secondary rooms while he was pushed down on one of the surviving chairs.
"You ok son?" Asked the Instructor.
"I… I'm ok sir." He replied he wasn't going to fail them.
"No you're not son. Just put your head between your knees and breathe in. We got this, join us when you even out."
"But sir!"
"No buts recruit, get your shit together before you go and try cracking skulls."
"Yes sir. Sorry sir."
"Don't be sorry son, just be alive."
The Instructor left at that, ready to clean the Covenant off his base.
The Geth were clearing out the main groups of Covenant and it wouldn't be long before they reached the surface.