Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 3200-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer or Halo, Gameshop and 343 do.
(Imperial Strike Cruiser, Immortal Flame, January 8th, 2532.)
Linda looked to Halius hummed, thinking to herself as she paused to think of it all. She looked downwards at the ground, all of it seemed to be interesting.
She was too interested in it all before she looked to the side. Linda hummed and crossed her arms while holding her sniper rifle in her hands.
"Did you manage to talk to the admirals?" Halius asked before crossing his arms before he thought of each step ahead.
Linda looked over to Halius with curiosity as she paused to think of each little thing that was growing on her mind.
The Spartan and Ultramarine were silent before she looked to the side, both investigated the void of space. Both shared a look as they hummed and then Linda nodded once more.
"I did… They are still talking to each other." Linda stated before Halius hummed.
"Good…. We should have to deal with it all now." Halius stated as he paused to himself. "I am not sure how many warriors the Salamanders have," Halius stated to which she looked to the side.
Halius tapped his fingers on his armored side, curious as he looked to the side, too interested in the next move he had to think of it all.
Perhaps she seemed to think of it less like war and more like a small mission. She carried herself as professionally as he expected her to deal with as she thought of the next mission.
Linda seemed to be curious as they had been put through the wringer, each little mission they went on pulled them in a thousand different directions, something that was not lost on them.
Halius cleared his throat as Igaros seemed to walk over, the Ultramarine sergeant seemed to be preoccupied with all of it before speaking.
"The Salamanders wish to speak with you both." Halius heard as he looked over towards his friend.
Halius nodded, clearing his throat as he clicked his fingers. They turned as she thought of what the next step was and she looked to the side.
"Are you ok?" Halius asked himself more than Linda. "We have a lot more to do at the time being," Halius stated before Linda nodded.
Both rounded the corner, both had been too distracted with the war on their minds before long. Halius seemed to smile himself as he cleared his throat, tapping on his side.
He closed his eyes, pondering what he and she would have to try and figure out. Had they managed to find more and more soldiers? They might have a bigger problem on their hands.
Halius did not much care for now, Linda was curious and she was a skilled friend, something that he needed more in response.
She did not want to have to relax and neither did he.
Both soldiers paused and looked outwards into the depths of space, clearly curious as to what the future would hold. Halius guessed that the covenant would not commit to another battle anytime soon, something about it all was curious and odder than before.
She hummed, thinking of it all now, something about it all had been worth a closer look, one they could not understand.
"The Spartans and we appear to be the only effective soldiers against the enemy… It seems they have been slowly falling apart otherwise." Halius stated as he paused to himself before he looked downwards at the ground.
He was curious as to it all, a massive idea of what was going to happen soon raced through his mind.
"Because the Covenant glass most planets… Tactical and strategic victories will be worthless when the entire planet can be destroyed." Linda stated to which she pressed a hand to the glass in front of them.
Halius guessed they wanted humans dead to the point where any success in slaughtering them was a victory. That meant trying to strategize hard when the death of people, in general, was the hardest victory.
She seemed to think of it all now, something which had been prepared for the end of it all. She did not at all know what was going on in her mind as she looked ahead, curious about it now.
Halius turned away from the window, tapping a hand on his chin. There was the inkling of a plan on his mind and he of all soldiers knew more and more that the key to victory was to be ready with plans.
So, for the moment? He led Linda towards the Salamanders and with haste in his stride.
The Spartan followed as he turned his head, resting his hand upon the sword.
"So, these other legions all have a specialty in combat, the Raven Guard is precision, the White Scars are speed… And the Ultramarines is the planning and logistics when it comes down to it." Halius heard as he thought of it all.
Something that he had to deal with it all for now. She had been too tired, too fascinating for now… An idea which he nodded at now.
"Correct. Spartans as you appear to have shown me have been strategically generalists like us." Halius stated, pausing to himself for a moment.
Halius hummed, he had been too interested as he thought of it all now.
"Then why do you have such an interest in me?" Linda asked to which Halius crossed his arms.
"Because in terms of combat skill? You and Chief surprised me. You fight like Ultramarines and you are both skilled soldiers on the battlefield and off it… It is an honor to fight by your side." Halius stated with unabashed pride in it.
It was not a lie, they were skilled soldiers of the highest caliber, and to fight the Covenant was an everyday issue rather than a war to them.
The problem? Most of them were spread around the galaxy as he hummed downwards and then looked to the side before he looked downwards.
Halius hummed and then thought of it all before he looked to the side, clicking his fingers, and then guessed something that he clicked his fingers.
Halius hummed and smirked, he questioned what his friend would do… Both Igaros and Linda had tried to help him and yet? He was not trying to change himself at the time being.
Halius walked through the ship, Linda following as she thought of what the next step would be now.
"Are you ok?" Linda asked as Halius hummed and shrugged.
"I do not believe I have been ok for a long time… But I will try to be." Halius stated before he looked over his shoulder. "Igaros has been doing that as well, asking if I am okay with the details of war… I am fine if I was so hurt by it. I would not be functioning." Halius stated with a hum.
"You are an officer within the Ultramarines… Being a leader is mentally taxing, it demands you be willing to…" Linda started to say before he looked to the side.
"The sacrifices are what bother me… We have lost so much in exchange for little… Something I have seen far too much of when I fought back in the other galaxy." Halius added before he sighed. "It is also his instance that I am not as expendable which bothers me," Halius added with a sigh.
"You want to die?" Linda asked before Halius glanced at her.
"No, but I would rather die protecting the soldiers who I can or helping where I may…. I am not trying to place myself above any of the Ultramarines, nor Spartans, or even regular humans." Halius added with resentment towards the idea.
Linda watched as he rounded the corner and then followed. Both soldiers soon found 2 Salamanders at the end of the lavish hall which was the size of a small house. Halius stared at the mural-covered walls before turning his gaze towards the others.
The Salamanders, both clad in their full armor stared at him. Halius turned to Linda, his helm tilted at an angle that reminded her of a child attempting to ask an odd question.
"Stay behind me… They may still ask questions that would only make sense from our galaxy, not yours." Halius stated before walking ahead.
There was some amusement in his tone either way, either idea had made him curious but he said nothing and would continue to say nothing at all now.
The idea of it all had been so annoying that he might have to fight his brothers. It was a part of life in their home galaxy… It shall not be one here if he had anything to say about it all.
Halius still leveled a gaze upon them. He kept his hand near his weapon if they moved… He did not wish to fight his brothers but he would if push came to shove, something about it had made him almost WANT to laugh.
Halius hummed and then paused, thinking of it all before he slowly moved forward, the two slowly started to step towards him as Halius hummed, an idea that needed to be done had popped into his head.
Halius crossed his arms as they looked at each other… She looked over at him before he looked at them.
"Halius?" They both looked at him as he pointed the sword at them.
"Brothers," Halius stated, glaring at them as they lowered their flamers.
"Brother…. Spartan." One of the Salamanders stated as Halius nodded, thinking to himself. "Are you ok?" Halius heard as he nodded.
Halius sighed, thinking of himself as he clicked his fingers and then thought once more. Halius hummed before he looked to the side, something about it all had been too fascinating.
Something which Halius had been privy about was their odds, something about the way they moved was… Odd, very odd now, and very curious to anyone who had seen it.
Halius tapped the sword on the ground, angry at the time being. Linda looked at him as he smirked, tired once more and it was an entire problem for now.
"Where is your commander warrior?" Halius asked before he looked to the side.
They gestured behind him, Halius allowed them to grow closer, curious as he thought of them both… Too interested in it all before.
The Salamanders cleared their throats and gestured for the two to follow them.
"We have heard you speak for the commander of your company, Lieutenant." One of the Salamanders stated.
"As Lieutenant of the 2nd Legion? I do…. I speak for Captain Titus; I was busy dealing with business a day or so ago." Halius added as he hummed and then looked to the side.
"Captain Titus? The one who…" One of the Salamanders said before Halius glared at them.
"Who has fought with the Imperium as any servant has…. Yes. That Captain Titus… We have a further business to deal with than that." Halius added, his tone blunt, his words BLUNTER.
They said nothing, knowing better than to argue with him, to begin with, all of it? Every idea was another new nugget to be tossed into the well.
Halius had no desire to fight his brothers over this insane issue. If they disliked Titus? He cared not… They were on the same side which meant attempting to be nice at the very least.
Something about it all was odder and odder as if they had dove through the poison, dove deep into the venom… Treated it entirely like a small cut and a scrape.
Halius could only question what they wanted. They had something to deal with, a problem that had yet to die out.
It had to deal with other issues but it WOULD be dealt with now. If they had to fight? They would fight.
Halius clasped a hand to his chest, banging it in greeting to the Salamanders…. They responded with a nod, two cultures of Astartes acknowledging each other.
None of them spoke of Linda until Fax, marked by the scrapes on his armor, approached.
"She is… Enhanced? How? None have been able to carry augments in the Imperium." Fax questioned as Halius hummed.
"They are known as Spartans, Brother Sergeant… They are supersoldiers of another caste. I and the Ultramarines of the second company have seen them and they match up well…. It is odd but they are rather skilled." Halius stated as more Salamanders approached.
The line of soldiers was met by Halius, there were more than 50 surrounding him but Halius refused to let them pass… They stared at Linda not as an enemy, but with interest.
"They are skilled?" One asked as Halius nodded. "Then they are a friend… Why are you out so far, brother?" Halius questioned, one pointing at Linda.
"We fight a war against Xenos known as the Covenant. I act as a voice for the Ultramarines out in the field and as a strategist and combatant for the forces within the second company." Halius added, holding his hands still.
They parted like a wave of metal, allowing one to step forward… They also wore the rank of Lieutenant upon their armor as they approached.
Halius hummed, thinking for a moment while he looked at them all. He paused and allowed them to approach, setting his sword on the ground as they tapped their hammer as if mirroring his weapon.
Halius chuckled with amusement, something about it all was odder and odder now… He chuckled all the same, looking over towards the side as he hummed, thinking to himself before long… It had been harder and harder now to relax but he did so.
Still? This was a lot more amusing than he could seem to think of it all now. They relaxed all too interested in it all now and for good at the time with his amusement building up back and forth.
Still? if he was able to relax? Halius found himself able to relax, something about it all had been harder and harder to deal with.
Halius met them head-on with a gaze that made him aware the other was not looking at him as an enemy.
"Halius of the Second Company," Halius added as they nodded.
"Infernus of the 4th… I did not believe most if any Ultramarines lived, you and your chapter vanished after the siege… We did not suspect warp activity until the entire realm vanished." Halius heard.
Halius thought of it back and forth now at the end of the day.
"If you suspect us all being traitors? I am sorry to inform you we are not, brother… What brings the Salamanders out to this part of space? This is not our reality… And it is not the accursed warp." Halius stated to himself more than his brothers around him.
He frowned under his helm, the others surrounded him over and over with it every second before now.
Halius hummed to himself as he looked over and around at the dozens of warriors. Something about it all had the opposite effect of amusing him for now.
They looked more at Linda than him, almost like they were statues more than soldiers. He watched their heads turn, their bodies move as if they were pistons rather than arms, their legs crunch the ground under them like trees falling over.
Halius had forgotten the Salamanders could crush a man to dust but would rather cradle a newborn infant than attempt to even dare lay a finger on them.
It was part of that which made him happier around him now… But no less weary, if they believed him a traitor? Whatever small amount of mercy they held would burn away like ashes under a flame unit.
Halius allowed them to approach Linda, only keeping ahold of his weapon in the off-chance things got ugly. He knew very well his brothers might believe him tainted by the warp.
He would rather shove his sword through his own throat than betray humanity and his brothers, however… Only a fool would believe he would not.
Halius hummed, too tired by the idea and too…. Unwilling to change from his own choices, something about it all had been MUCH harder to think of now, an idea of everything had corrupted whatever small seeds of knowledge remained within him.
The Salamanders approached Linda with one holding out their hand.
"Any friend of the Astartes is a friend to the Imperium… Though I would be remiss in saying the Inquisitors might find problems." Halius heard as he snorted to himself.
"The Inquisitors would be dead if they lay hands on our comrades… Their form of justice pollutes the emperor's vision… Or did." Halius added as he sighed and then thought of all the ways they might lop his skull from his shoulders.
They did not, which only reminded him the Salamanders were too nice to do most things the Imperium ordered. Slaughtering civilians was one of the easiest ways to tick them all off, an idea Halius respected.
Halius hummed, too interested in HOW this would all turn out, HOW it would have been able to have existed. The idea of fighting the Salamanders, of butchering brother? Never occurred to him at ALL that such issues were harder and harder to figure out and that he had NO intent of even ENTERTAINING the idea.
Halius watched as Linda clenched one of their hands and shook it, the force from her MJOLNIR armor and enhanced body was something that he could not have EVER expected himself to himself.
He had no idea as he paused to think of it all as he looked downwards at the ground.
All of it was amusing to him and it would remain amusing now at the time being, something that he could have dealt with now and for good reason.
It was fun at the end of the time…. But it had to end, everything had to end eventually, those were the rules for life… They were part of him so he did not at all note the irony at the time, an idea he had to try and think about.
Halius hummed to himself, thinking for a moment as he looked to the side… Too tired at the time being.
The Salamanders hummed… And Halius realized he had to fight and he would fight.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! A few things.
Yes, I know Salamanders are still vastly loyal to the Imperium… If I made the Astartes like canon? They would be horrible people still.
I plan to have fewer combat scenes for the moment to focus on the politics and plans of the war.
Yes, Halius would probably be a heretic if he was canon… Because he is not that fond of what the Imperium does.
The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be 900-6500 words, showing the Ultramarines and UNSC plotting for the war and the Covenant's plans. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!