Chapter 4: Didact's Hand
The year is 2552, on the colony world Reach. The Covenant have just invaded due to thanks of its small covert force as the city of New Alexandria was overrun. Kevin had been out at the time, grabbing a bite to eat when the Covenant attacked the city. He left behind his Moa burger and took off. This had happened to him before on Alluvion when he was no more than eight years old. After Alluvion was glassed by the Covenant, Kevin's father Morales took his family to his homeworld, Reach. It was for Kevin's safety to grow on Reach since it was one of the worlds not known by the alien armada. There was another reason why Peter J Morales brought his family to Reach. Morales had heard that ONI attempted to abduct James Lee's daughter, Jan which left James to take Jan and go into hiding. It was on that moment the former candidates of the Orion project decided they would train their 1.1 children to protect themselves. For Morales, the decision was made to train his son in the homeworld he grew up on. Kevin was taken on "hunting trips" with his father. His trips involved all the basic military training such as firearms use and hand-to-hand combat, sometimes it was intense. Little did either of them expect the Covenant to find Reach, or so they thought. Now, Kevin is running across the streets of New Alexandria in search of his mother. He made sure to evade and sneak away from any Covenant in the city. He seemed to be doing well all things considered. He spotted marines and army soldiers fighting Covenant forces, with part of him wanting to help due to his father's training. But he knew he couldn't as he had to look for her mother and make sure she was safe.
His father was currently off world on Earth, so he took Kevin to look after himself and his mother for the time being. He spotted a UNSC marine squad escorting civilians out of the kill-zone. Among that crowd of citizens was his mother, recognizing the facial scar she had across her cheek from the attack on Alluvion. He took solace that she was being led to safety, as he began to quietly move at a quicker pace. Kevin suddenly heard something off in the distance due to his hearing, turning to see a Banshee fire out a plasma bolt hit the marine squadron and some civilians. Another Banshee followed suit and struck, causing Kevin to be sent flying from the impact. He grunted as he saw an Elite uncloak itself behind a marine, leaving Kevin to throw a rock at the Elite. The marine quickly turned around and spotted the Elite, firing out bullets. The shields quickly dropped but the Elite backhanded the marine which caused the soldier to drop his weapons as he brought out his energy sword, ready to get in for the kill. Kevin ran toward the marine's weapon and opened fire, shooting the Elite's eye before permanently killing it. He offered a hand to the downed marine as he took it in response, getting up on his feet. That was when they heard a scream coming from mom. When they turned around, Kevin's eyes were wide with horror as he saw his mother held by the neck by an Elite. But what horrified him the most, was an energy sword piercing through her chest.
"Mom!"
Kevin rushed and tackled the Elite in pure rage, landing a strong jab across its face which surprised it. He was grabbed by a Brute from the neck, Kevin repeatedly began to punch the Brute in the face as it growled in sheer annoyance and fury. The marine from before rushed in to kill the Brute, emptying his entire clip at the Brute. The wounds only enraged the Brute, leaving Kevin the opportunity to stick his fingers at the Brute's eyes causing it to shout in pain. The marine jumped on its back, stabbing it with his combat knife before he was pulled away by the Elite. The Elite had its foot on the marine once he was on the ground, readying his energy sword to kill. The energy sword was plunged inside the marine, as the marine gurgled through his own blood. Kevin took the knife and killed the Brute, as both he and it fell to the ground Fueling by nothing but adrenaline and rage as he glared deadly at the Elite that killed his mother. Kevin ran and jumped on the Elite's back, stabbing it at the back of his neck. It gurgled in its own blood similar to the marine that was slain. Kevin repeatedly stabbed its chest after it died, solely on pure anger and rage. A hand caught his wrist, gripping the combat knife as he looked to see a Spartan in blue armor. Behind him were two more, one had a skull carved on his helmet while the other was a woman with a robotic arm.
"Easy, kid. Easy." he said, as he let Kevin go who rushed toward his mother's body
"All dead. Military and civilian casualties." the woman said in a Slavic accent, before glancing at Kevin kneeling at his mother's corpse. "All except for one."
"Kid's tougher than he looks." the one in the carved skull replied, glancing at Kevin and then at the dead Elite
"Noble 3, sitrep."
"Commander, I've got eyes of Covenant several klicks away from you. Any survivors on your side?"
The Spartan commander in blue armor stared at Kevin mourning his mother. "Only one." he said
"Civilian evac is bound southeast of your location."
"Roger that, Noble 3. Meet with us when you can. Carter, out." he looked to his fellow Spartans. "Kat, Emile. Let's get a move on." Kevin as he walked over to him. "Time to go, kid."
Kevin removed Carter's grip on him. "No!" he exclaimed, holding back tears in his eyes. "I'm not leaving her like this! This is my mother, for fuck's sake!"
"Kid, you ain't the only one whose lost someone today." Emile said dismissively. "Your mom isn't the first and she won't be the last."
He glared back at Emile. "You think I don't know that?! I want to make 'em pay for this! All of them!"
Carter crouched down. "You're pissed. I get it, but you need to keep moving." he said in a stern but firm tone
"How about this, kid? You can either stay here and die with her? Or... you can live today, and fight another day?" Kat queried to him. "What's it going to be?"
Kevin reluctantly nodded his head in agreement of the Spartan woman. "You're right. I need to keep moving forward. For her."
Emile crouched down and took off a necklace Kevin's mother had on when she died, giving it to Kevin. "Take this to remember her by. Let it be a reminder to never forget what happened here."
"I will never forget."
Kevin closed his eyes and bawl his hand into a fist, infuriated that he had to leave his mother in this state. He exhaled and opened his eyes, now staring at the blood covered necklace. He took the necklace off his dead mother's neck, balling his fist as he stood up. He pocketed the necklace and looked back at the Spartans, nodding his head at them. They nodded back in response as Kevin followed the three Spartans. He turned his head back at his mother's corpse, before looking back at the Spartans with a look in his eye filled with fury but determination to fight on living. For his mother, for the homeworld he was in, and for the one he grew up on. He boarded the civilian ship evacuating the citizens of New Alexandria as he stared out the window. The last thing before he turned away was a Spartan in grey armor pop out red smoke for pick up.
"Kev? Kevin?" said person turned to who called his name, seeing it to be Jan. "You were miles away just now. Something on your mind?"
"Just thinking back to a bad memory." Kevin said, thinking back to the Fall of Reach
Before Jan could ask, they heard a grunt as they looked to see two Spartans being beaten by four other Spartans in the training room. From the looks of it, the one being beaten had to be from either the Navy or possibly the Air Force. The four Spartans beaten on the other were no more than marine jarheads, a couple of them that were at least former ODSTs and army grunts.
"What's going on over here?" Jan demanded, giving them a cold look
"Oh, look. Fireteam Crimson." one of them said in a taunting and sarcastic manner. "The self-proclaimed heroes of the day for taking out Parg Vol."
"Is there a reason you're beating on a fellow Spartan?"
"These two? Spartans? Please. Spartans are supposed to be tough, strong. Not a bunch of weaklings like this." one said in cocky overconfidence
Kevin folded his arms and glared at the Spartan bullies. "And you think beating on them in particular is supposed to make you better?"
"He's Navy. He isn't that tough to begin with." the other pointed at a female Spartan. "The same with Air Force Spartans like her."
Jan took offense to that statement. "I'm Navy." she said in a cold tone, glaring at the four Spartans.
"And I'm Air Force." Kevin added in a venomous tone. "A pair of the "weak" ones we're talking about, and yet we both killed Parg Vol. So, what does that tell a bunch of tough "Spartans" like you?"
One of the Spartans walked up to Kevin. "It tells us you got lucky. There's no way you freaks wouldn't have survived, otherwise. But us." three more appeared behind him while Kevin and Jan had their heads down. "We're the real deal. The real Spartans. Not these weaklings, and sure as hell not you either." he finished, as the rest of his team ganged up on both Jan and Kevin
Jan's head slowly rose. "You four, Spartans?" she looked up, glaring daggers at the four of them before looking at their leader. "You don't know the meaning of the word." she coldly said, before sending one of them flying with a punch square in the face
the downed bully was holding her broken nose. "You bitch! Teach these freaks a lesson!" she yelled
Before any of them can retaliate, Jan kicked one of them in the chin flying back as he hit the floor. Another tried to land a punch at Jan but she easily caught the woman's wrist, using her momentum to toss the female spartan aside. Before the last one could react, Jan swiped her leg at the opponent's and elbowed her in the chest. She landed on the floor hard as Kevin stopped a fifth member from joining in on the fight, slamming him on the ground and snapped his wrist. The second member saw this and attempted to deck Kevin from behind, only for him to quickly dodge with ease and knee him in the gut. Kevin then finished the man with a back elbow hit across the face as the Spartan went down on the floor.
"Is there a problem here, Spartans?" they looked to see Roland
"No, Roland. No problem at all." Jan glared at the downed Spartans. "Right?"
The humiliated Regulars left the sparring room, mildly humiliated by the whole altercation as Jan and Kevin turned to Roland. The two Spartans that were bullied left, looking merely surprised at the two Crimson team members. They nodded their heads as their way of saying thanks before they left the sparring room.
"Is there a reason you're here, Roland?" Kevin asked
"Commander Palmer has a job for you, Crimson." the AI stated. "She thinks you're perfect for it."
They looked at each other before turning their attention to Roland. "What's the op?" Jan asked in interest
Crimson has been put in hunting down Jul 'Mdama, the supreme leader of the Covenant. The Sangheili warlord has killed good soldiers, including Spartans with Fireteam Castle being one of them. It had been two days since then, and Crimson has continued to find any trace that could lead them to 'Mdama. The trace took them back to the site: Two Giants, better known as Valhalla. This time, Crimson alongside fireteams Apex and Majestic were sent in different location for a lead on Jul 'Mdama. They find him, they can demoralize the Covenant and cripple them in the long run.
"Listen up, Spartans. You're dispatched to locations where Jul 'Mdama is rallying troops. No cute little competitions today. You're on the ground to work." Palmer instructed as Crimson jumped out of the pelican
"Just point the way, Commander." DeMarco said on comms
"Understood, Ma'am." said Evelyn Rousseau, member of Apex team
Crimson moved up the waterfront tower due to slipspace signature detection, encountered only Prometheans but no Covenant and 'Mdama. They made short work of them. There was something odd about this mission. How was 'Mdama here they wondered as they reached the tower and headed inside, seeing the area was clear. Crimson pondered if this was just baited to lure them into a trap, fitting for 'Mdama's MO.
"Commander Palmer? This is weird. We had the covies cornered and-" Palmer cut DeMarco
"And now they're gone?" she finished
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
"Because the same thing happened here in Valhalla with the Prometheans." Kevin replied through the comms
"This is Spartan Victor Gallardo. Same thing happened to us here in the Fortress site." a member of Fireteam Apex informed the Commander
"Commander Palmer. Majestic says they found something." Miller informed her
"Go ahead, Majestic."
Instead of DeMarco, the voice was Grant. "Commander, it's Grant. The covies didn't disappear. I... Commander? I think they teleported. This might be a transit system and Crimson could be in a similar location. I've sent what we have to Infinity Science."
"She's right." Spartan Dorian Nguyen said in agreement. "A transit system would explain the slipspace signature we got here. Same could be possible with the one in Crimson's location."
"Transit systems are mostly busted down, but the coordinates should be left behind." Spartan Saskia Nazari added
"Crimson, I highly suggest we head towards the canyon tower. There may be a possibly that both towers are similar and could lead to Jul 'Mdama." Oracle advised
"You heard her, Crimson. Let's hit up that canyon tower, ASAP."
The task was easier said than done, as Covenant forces were inbound once Crimson arrived at the canyon tower. They swooped in after clearing Prometheans occupying the tower, follow by a wave of Prometheans. Crimson wiped them all out, eliminating any stragglers left in the process. Once the firefight was over, they activated the relevant controls as a slipspace portal appeared at the front of the tower. Crimson leaped forward, heading into the portal as it took them away. The portal brought them to Fortress where fireteam Apex was fighting off Covenant reinforcements. Crimson joined in the fray against the additional Covenant forces, taking some of the heat off of Apex. Some of Crimson were able to get glances off of Apex team's armor. Gallardo wore a Commando variant, while Rousseau donned an Orbital variant as they were killing Unggoy grunts and Elites. Nguyen was wearing Scout variant armor as Nazari wiped off orange blood on Enforcer armor variant. Their primary color for their armor was all white, and the same blue visor color but their secondary colors were different. Gallardo had orange while Rousseau, Nguyen, and Nazari had yellow, red, and green. While they were fighting, both Crimson and Apex team were getting comm chatter.
"I'm bored." a familiar voice suddenly said among the chatter
"Roland, clear the channel." Palmer replied, sounding not amused
"The data that's confusing Spartan Miller is only confusing because he thinks forts are comm relays."
"What are they?" Miller asked
"A portal nexus." Oracle answered. "They're exactly similar to the towers in Valhalla."
"Though it'd be obvious by now." Roland remarked
"Roland, if you see a way to activate the portal, please turn on the waypoints for us." Nat requested after killing an Elite with a plasma grenade
"Protocols, Crimson." Palmer said sternly
"And done. There you go, Crimson. Move out, Fireteams Apex and Crimson. I command it!" he joked in a excited tone
"Roland, please get off the channel." Oracle kindly said to the fellow AI
"OK, I'm bored now... bye."
Crimson and Apex brushed past the Covenant forces descending upon them. Using their speed, agility, and strength to break through the enemy reinforcements. They headed up the tower as another slipspace opened, giving the opportunity of both fireteams making a break toward the portal. The slipspace took them to Cauldron, continuing on the trail to track down Jul 'Mdama as they fought their way through Covenant and Promethean forces. Bulks of watchers were sent to revive their Promethean brethren and Covenant forces were being led by several Elite zealots. Eventually, both Crimson and Apex would run out of ammo for their weapons. This prompted them to use Promethean and Covenant weaponry to neutralize any and every last of their targets. Thirds of Crimson and Apex mowed them down while Jan and Nguyen slashed through the rest using energy swords. Command got a lock-on 'Mdama as an air strike was called in, wiping out his guard and Promethean knights protecting him. Unfortunately, he had managed to survive the air strike and escape via slipspace portal giving both teams the slip.
In his place were several Knights as they attacked Crimson and Apex team. Gallardo and Jan tackled one of them and killed it, with the rest shooting down the rest. Benji shot a Knight from behind Nguyen as Rousseau tore off a Knight's bladed arm and impaled it on its face. To their discovery, Crimson and Apex found a survivor. A Spartan in sandy color armor with a castle emblem on his shoulder, bleeding out from his armor. His IFF tag identified him as Ernst Deming, leader of Fireteam Castle. The wound he sustained appeared to be from an energy sword penetration, but something was off. The piercing seemed to be curved similar to an ax, judging from the marks on his armor.
"Hang tight, Spartan. We're going to get you some medical attention." Nazari assured the fallen survivor of Castle
"No... it's already too late for me." he weakly said. "Dunlap, Tashi, Estey-Bethel, Lincoln. It was only me and Casillas. The things... the things they had done to us. It was no ending cycle of pain and suffering."
Gallardo walked up to Deming and knelt down. "Was this 'Mdama's doing?" he asked
"No, this was Forsaken." That got Crimson's attention
Apex team looked at each other as Rousseau asked. "Forsaken?"
Jan walked over to Deming and asked. "What happened to you, Deming?"
Deming pulled out a microchip from his helmet, giving it to Jan. "You... you have to let Command know. They... they need to know..." Deming said with his last words as he died
Crimson and Apex took a moment to mourn the loss of a fallen Spartan, before Oracle spoke breaking the silence. "Crimson leader. I detect energy signatures not far from your location."
Nazari took off the tags belonging to the now deceased Deming. "Something 'Mdama left behind while he tried to escape."
"Found something." Nat shouted to her teammates and Apex team
Crimson and Apex walked over to Nat's location, noticing a strange object. Kevin crouched down to grab it before...
"Don't touch it, Crimson-1!" Palmer ordered
"What would you recommend we do here, Commander?"
There was a pause before Palmer spoke. "Commander Palmer to Galileo base."
"Dr. Owen here. Go ahead, Commander." said the voice of Dr. Shannon Owen
"Crimson and Apex are bringing in a package your way." Palmer informed the scientist. "Prep your labs. I want a good look at it before I let it onboard Infinity."
"Um...OK?" Dr. Owen replied in confusion
"Crimson, Apex. Hang tight. We'll have rides for you to Galileo base shortly."
"Commander, permission to send Majestic at Galileo base as well?" Benji suggested, seeing both teams stare at him
"For what reason, Crimson-3?"
"We'll explain once we reach Galileo. But I have a feeling we'll have a fight on our hands with this artifact."
"Permission granted. In the meantime, hang tight until your ride arrives."
"Roger that, ma'am."
After waiting for ten minutes, two pelicans arrived and picked up both fireteams. They had Deming's corpse be shipped off back to Infinity and sent home for a burial. Apex and Crimson were taken to Galileo base to deliver the artifact left behind by Jul 'Mdama, while they chase after the Covenant Supreme leader. There was also the data stored on the microchip belonging to Fireteam Castle, detailing what happened to them. Once they arrived at Galileo base, they were able to find out what really happened to Castle team after their pelican crashed. Dr. Owen and her team were studying the artifact while Crimson decided to look at the footage. Recordings showed Castle team escorting their wounded from heavy Covenant fire after dropping supplies off at Copernicus base. Little did Castle team know the base was overrun by Covenant forces, taking out their pelican in the process. They crashed landed and retreated, carrying the wounded into a cave. As the recording continued further on, that was when they were attacked. Kevin recognized the attacker to be a Pytauri in barbaric clad armor, holding a Spartan member of Castle team by the neck. There were skulls on its shoulders and a Sangheili skull dangling on its waist, as the helmet revealed menacing dark eyes. The Pytauri eyed the rest of the Castle team and snarled, before tossing the Spartan it held in its hand. That was when the Forsaken revealed them as they attacked Castle team, already killed two Spartans in the initial attack. Killed by a beam attached to a Ralok as Deming and his remaining team members shot the incoming Forsaken. That was when everyone noticed two more members of Castle team had their chest slashed by the Pytauri from behind as he wiped off his fur cloak, widening their eyes when they saw a San'Shyuum. Another one approached the other from behind as the Pytauri, both San'Shyuum were modified and enhanced unlike with anything they had seen before.
"A demon?" One queried with curiosity, holding an energy weapon of some kind. "What are you doing here, I wonder."
The Pytauri sniffed Deming and snarled with deadly intent. "This one is weak." he sniffed the other spartan. "So is this one."
The other one wielding an energy spear appeared. "Are they anything like the green demon on High Clarity?"
"No, these demons are different. Similar, and yet... very different all the same."
"We should kill them where they stand." the Pytauri sneered, venomously glaring at the surviving Caste team Spartans. "Leave them here to rot like the rest of their kind."
"No, Knuld. For now, we will take them with us." The one with the spear declared. "It is time to see what they know. Let us leave now before their human cohorts or the Covenant cur find out where we are." Knuld growled and shouted in his native tongue as loud chittering was heard among the caverns. "I will leave the rest to you, brother. Find out what you can from these little demons. I want to know everything."
"Of course, Arvos."
A small swarm of Q'lin suddenly appeared, dragging Deming and the wounded Caste team member away as the recording cut off.
"Where's the rest of this recording, Oracle?"
"I'm afraid that was the end of live feed, Crimson leader." the AI stated. "No other additional feeds were found. This confirms most of Castle team have been killed in action by the Forsaken."
"Were you able to see the video feed on your end, Infinity?" Kevin asked as the screen showed Captain Lasky and Commander Palmer in a secure room
"We have, Crimson. This definitely presents a grave problem for the UNSC." Lasky stated to Crimson team. "I've already informed the brass and sent Castle's last recording to them. ONI has ordered that you keep this information you've shared with us secret." he added
Crimson team looked at each other and before turning to Captain Lasky. "Sir? You've seen the footage. We can't afford to keep something like this secret. Especially when it involves keeping our forces in the dark." Jan urged, pleading for Lasky to inform the Infinity personnel
"I appreciate the concern and I agree with you, Spartan James. However, the Office of Naval Intelligence deems this revelation to remain hidden for as long as possible." Lasky turned to his attention to the San'Shyuum warriors on screen. "But these Prophets are another story. We've never encountered anything like them before."
"Those are Prelates, Captain." Everyone turned to Benji. "The Prophets answer to the Spartan problem. The Covenant's very own super soldiers, although they are covertly operated on the Prophets say so. They can briefly amplify their speed and strength through inebriation. Most of them died on the Battle of Installation 05 and the Covenant city High Clarity based on our records so far."
"How did they even-" Lasky was cut off before asking his question
"My guess is they got here before Jul 'Mdama's people did almost six years ago." Kevin interjected. "The IFF tag we found back on Refuge belonged to a crewman of the UNSC frigate In Amber Clad. They stumbled upon here by accident."
"When it comes to San'Shyumm, they're completely loyal to the Covenant since their people were the first ones who created it to begin with." Nat pointed out. "Thought at least the brothers here would join in with Jul at the first chance they'd get."
"These two don't seem to share the same sentiment for the Covenant like other San'Shyuum do." Jan added, judging from what they witnessed on the video feed
"What about the artifact you retrieve with Apex team, the Didact's Hand?" Lasky asked
"Dr. Owen and her team are examining it and running tests." Nat answered to Lasky. "Nothing life threatening so far, Captain."
"Once the tests are done, we'll have it onboard the Infinity." Benji added
"We'll have a ride ready for you shortly for your debriefing, Crimson. Infinity out." Palmer said as the screen closed to the UNSC logo
"Think they told Halsey?" Nat suddenly asked
"They're barely letting her study the artifact we brought in last time. I doubt they're going to tell her anything at all." Kevin paused before he spoke. "Oracle. Is the Off-The-Record protocol set yet?"
"Waiting on your say so, Crimson leader."
"Do it." he said, giving out the order
"You know we'll catch hell for this." Nat chided to Kevin
Kevin looked back to his teammates. "Any Objections?"
"It's your call, Kev. Just make sure we don't end up paying for it." Jan replied
"If it comes down to it, I'll take full responsibility. I won't drag you three into it." Kevin said in an honest tone to his teammates
Crimson waited patiently for their pelican to arrive as they checked their weapons, while Apex were in the armory getting their armors checked out. A pelican arrived at the launch pad not far from them. Everything seem to be relatively peaceful for now. But Crimson knew better, knowing the Covenant will show up and attack Galileo as they had before. One thing left wondering on their minds was if the Prelates or Forsaken would attack the base first before the Covenant. For now, all they could is sit and wait to see who would lead an assault on Galileo. The plan was to ensure the Didact's Hand didn't fall into Covenant and possible Forsaken hands, while Oracle was on stand-by for any unwelcomed visitors. They only hoped that Majestic would get to Galileo in time before an attack could even happen.
"Crimson, Apex this is Dalton. Just a heads up that your rides will arrive shortly. Until then, just sit back, relax and- Commander Palmer, Spartan Miller. Something's happening at Galileo base!" on cue, a shadow blocked out the sun
"Covenant forces inbound!" Oracle alerted
Nat turned to an army soldier. "Sound the alarm! Battle stations!"
The alarm blared as army soldiers, marines, and a few SPI armored ODSTs rushed to arm themselves for battle. Jan tossed a DMR Kevin's way as he easily caught it while Benji loaded his sniper rifle. Jan ran over to Nat's with an assault rifle with one hand and a battle rifle with the other. She threw the latter her way as they got ready for the attack. A Covenant phantom arrived and deposited a wave of enemy attackers. They repelled as another phantom arrived and dropped off enemy reinforcements, follow by another. Benji sniped off several Elites as he spotted Apex team riding on mongooses, with two of their members firing their assault rifles.
"Crimson leader, a large convoy of Covenant are heading to Galileo base. Eta 6 minutes." Oracle informed Kevin
"Damn it. They're really desperate to get this artifact." Kevin muttered, killing an Sangheili zealot with his knife
"Crimson, this is Apex. We'll deal with that convoy and keep some of the Covenant off your tail in Galileo." Gallardo said on Comms
Nat kicked down a zealot and killed him with her battle rifle, taking out more Unngoy and Kig-Yar with a frag grenade. "Appreciate it, Apex. Good hunting."
"Same goes for you. Stay alive and hold down the fort." Apex team soon drove out of the base on their mongooses, assaulting the convoy
"Think they'll keep the pressure off the base?" Benji asked, sniping off an Elite follow by a few Jackal snipers
"Here's hoping." Kevin replied. "These Covenant aren't letting up like they did in Valhalla."
"Plus, they're still pissed off at us for killing Parg Vol." Jan pointed out, sticking a plasma grenade on a Grunt as it killed two Jackals in the explosion
Nat saw a few marines get killed by a Hunter before pulling out a missile launcher from her back. "Nothing new there." she said, firing missiles at the Hunter as it died from the explosion. "Though a little backup wouldn't hurt-"
An entire garrison of Covenant were quickly being killed off, as Crimson spotted three Spartans wiping out the reminder. They noticed two familiar Spartans, in familiar armor fighting but the third one was a complete mystery. From what they were seeing this Spartan was highly aggressive in killing the Covenant wave. They could see he was being shot out with charged plasma bolts and a needler spike on his back, making it seem he didn't feel a thing. It was then they came to the conclusion they were being backed up by Spartan-3s, as the wounded Spartan knelt on the ground. Jan began to walk closely to the injured S3 but was stopped as the female Spartan in CQC armor took out the spike on her teammate's back.
"I wouldn't go check on him if I were you." the Spartan said in a familiar voice and accent Jan quickly recognized. "The smoother should be doing its job right about now."
Jan looked at the two. "Jun? Rosenda?"
"What are you two doing here?" They side glanced at the other Spartan with them, laying suppressive fire at a squad of Covenant. "And who's this?" Benji asked
"This is Logan-G014." Rosenda introduced
Benji looked at said Gamma company Spartan. "Gamma company?" he queried
Nat spotted a phantom heading toward the base. "We got another one." she said as Elites and a pair of Hunters jumped down from the craft
Jun flicked on communications in his helmet. "Doctor Owen, this is Jun-A266. Why are your base defenses down?"
"They are? Doctor Alexander was talking about using the power from the defenses to run a mini reactor. I told him not to!"
"We need those Anti-Air defenses on." Rosenda declared. "We can't keep doing this for much longer if those defenses are offline."
"You hear the lady." Kevin said. "Let's get those defenses active. We need to make sure these covie bastards don't get any bolder than they already are now and take the Didact's Hand out of our reach."
Crimson rushed to the basement of a building where the generator was and activated the console as the defense turrets fired on incoming Phantoms. They also took shots at the ground forces, with the help from their old mentors and the Gamma Company Spartan III. The odds seem to be working well in their favor. Covenant on the losing front of the battle, pouring in every resource they could in order to retrieve the Didact's Hand.
"Attention, Crimson. I am receiving chatter from the Covenant network on retrieving the Promethean soul. They are referring to the Didact's hand." Oracle stated to Crimson team
"What's Majestic's ETA?"
"Not much further. They should be here shortly in nine minutes. Apex has also pulled out after hitting the Covenant convoy." Oracle added
"Then we hold the fort." Jun declared as he suddenly spotted something heading their way, looking at the scope of sniper rifle. "I got contact." he could tell it wasn't Covenant judging from what he saw as ran over marines and Grunts in a Chopper. "It's an unknown, but highly hostile to our forces and the Covenant's."
Benji looked over to what Jun was seeing through his scope. "Crimson, they're here! We got Forsaken!"
Jun and Rosenda turned to their old students. "Forsaken? What are you talking about?" Jun asked
"Lasky will fill you in once you're back on the Infinity. They must be here for the Didact's Hand. We need to keep the Covenant and Forsaken away." Kevin flicked on his comms to the soldiers at the base. "Attention, Galileo base personnel. Unknown hostiles are approached. Shoot to kill. I repeat: shoot to kill!"
"Did someone or something turn on the mini-reactor?"
"Safety and protection of Galileo base called for it, Doctor Alexander." Logan-G014 said to the scientist on comms. "Science is taking a break today."
"Science is going to kill us all! If power isn't restored on that mini-reactor, it's shielding will fail and wipe Galileo base off the map!"
"Son of a bitch." Kevin dodged incoming fire from Raloks and a Pytauri as he killed both due to his marksman skill. "Oracle, can you restore the power?"
"Affirmative, Crimson leader." the AI answered
"Dr. Owen, have our package ready for transit." Benji said, dodging a pytauri slash from its ax as Jan impaled it from behind with an energy sword. "Make sure Fireteam Majestic gets it while we lay down the groundwork." he ordered, sniping off two Q'lin abducting a marine from the battlefield
"Of course, Spartan. We'll have it prepped and ready."
"Double time it to that reactor!" Jun ordered
They headed to the lower level of the far building, entering as a numerous Prometheans transported before them. Jan was being covered by her team as she activated the mini reactor, getting out of the building after her team did. With the help of Jun, Rosenda, and Logan, Crimson was able to repel ground forces of Covenant, Promethean, and Forsaken skirmishers. Majestic soon arrived, retrieving the Didact's Hand to take it to the Infinity while Crimson and company dealt with the ground forces. Upon watching them succeed, Jul 'Mdama and his loyal subject Gek 'Lhar observing everything happening.
"Shipmaster 'Mdama! The humans have our prize! They are near escape!" Gek informed the supreme leader, speaking in his native language
'Mdama merely gestured his hand. "Let them, Gek."
Gek looked in disbelief at his leader's response and exclaimed. "They carry the soul of a Promethean knight!"
"And we have made enough of a display trying to retrieve it." 'Mdama looked over to a canyon away from the base to see two Prelates monitoring the activity, before leaving the canyon. "And it seems we are not the only ones who seek the Promethean soul."
After making sure the Didact's Hand was sent to the Infinity, Crimson resumed in carrying out missions. From acquiring data readings at the Gate site for Infinity Science to running security for Refuge, repelling Covenant and Promethean forces. They even received assistance from Fireteam Shadow who destroyed a Covenant cruiser attempting to wipe out everyone in Refuge. They were currently aiding Forward Base Magma of Covenant forces. Wave after wave ranging from Grunts and Elites, to Elites, Jackals, and Hunters. The Covenant was getting even more bolder ever since the Didact's Hand was taken to the Infinity for further study. Just when Crimson thought they were done, they suddenly received an alert from Oracle.
"Attention, Crimson team. I have detected a Spartan IFF tag within your operational zone." she informed
"Whose tags do they belong to?" Nat asked
"Spartan Gabriel Thorne of Fireteam Majestic." Oracle answered as Crimson looked at each other
"Oracle, is the rest of Majestic on Requiem?" Benji asked
"No, most members excluding Spartan Thorne are still on the Infinity."
"How did he-" Jan stopped upon realization. "You don't think..."
"The artifact we found on Cauldron. It's the only thing that could've transported him here on Requiem." Kevin deduced. "Oracle, set up a waypoint for us."
Crimson rushed to the location of Thorne's IFF tag, mopping up remaining Covenant forces. Brushing past and eliminating them by every second. Crimson reached the trail of Thorne's tag, seeing several dead Sangheili in their way. They spread out, searching for Thorne or his IFF tag. There were signs of blood, only from the Elites but no human blood meaning he was still alive and put up one hell of a fight while he was at it. Jan picked up his IFF tags and stored in inside her armor.
"Upon analyzing, the tracks in the vicinity predate our arrival. I have movement direction out of this area, but the trail is quite faint."
"Oracle, let the Infinity know Spartan Thorne is missing. Crimson, let's follow that trail." Kevin said, as Crimson began the search for Spartan Gabriel Thorne.