Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 4800-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer or Halo, Gameshop and 343 do.
(Bega-IV, January 7th, 2532.)
Halius of all people had been eager to meet the UNSC when he had first come to the galaxy of their people.
Now? He began to realize some issues were going to be here either way.
Yes, it seemed very well that these issues would persist even at the deepest level where nothing could exist.
Halius of all people was annoyed, why? Because he knew damn well that he had to focus on other pursuits when his only way forwards appeared to be war… All of it? Was war, and all of this had to be something else to deal with.
Still? Halius was very damn aware of the problem, very aware it would have ended now.
Halius frowned and then looked over to the side, all of him wanted to scream about how terrible things were.
Yet? The Ultramarine said nothing, he simply glanced at Linda as the two looked out into the sea of stars.
"Was war this hard for the Ultramarines?" Linda asked as Halius hummed.
"Yes… Much harder, you should be glad you have had no time to fight the monsters we have fought, the abominations we have fought tooth and nail against." Halius added with anger, venom striking from his mouth.
Halius hummed, thinking of it all before she managed to think of it all.
Such a clue was only hard to pause upon seeing it.
Halius hummed and then thought of it all before she looked to the side, she seemed to think of it all while she sighed to herself.
She thought of it all now and for good reason. Whatever needed dozens of super soldiers to conquer? Linda hoped she would never see more of it than now.
Halius hummed, tired at the end of it all before she thought of it. Halius frowned and he cracked his fingers, prepared only for the chaos.
Still? Halius was exhausted now, all of him was eager to think of it now, and for good reason. Something about him was off as he sighed, he had plenty of options now.
Halius had been thrown off at the time being. Linda was odd now, something which had been eager to end now and for good reason.
She was all too interested in it all, an idea that made him think of it. Halius hummed before he tapped on his armored side, something that had been too interesting for now and it would not be harder and harder to figure out.
Halius hummed before he pondered it all being done and dusted. Linda seemed to think of it all before she managed to tire himself before now.
She was all too interesting, all of them were but in the way of their progress? He had not been able to think, he had not been able to act now… Something about his new move, they had been too interested in it all now.
Halius guessed that Linda was just as curious about his galaxy as he was about hers, both stared out the window as both warriors thought of the future for now and it would not falter.
Halius hummed, tapping his hands on his metallic side. All of it was different before he looked at her.
"The galaxy I have lived in? The UNSC would hate it… People die in droves, we fight wars that scorch stars, leave planets husks." Halius stated to himself more than her.
He pondered it just as much as she did. The wars he had seen them fight were but a speck compared to what the Imperium had fought, he had seen what it was like… But he had missed a millennium of war, a strike upon Earth itself.
Halius questioned what thousands of years of war would have been like. Most Ultramarines did not live to see that age as they were butchered in combat.
"You and Igaros have been at odds a lot for brothers," Linda stated as Halius nodded.
"He believes since I have taken up a role as a Lieutenant? That I have not properly rested… That I have risked my life more and more just because of that and that I have taken the losses of my brothers and the rows of soldiers harder than any officer." Halius stated, pressing a hand to the glass.
It was clear that he had been trying to act like a soldier despite also being an officer… Halius did not blame his brother for his concern, Igaros was born close to when he was… Halius knew Igaros was aware of the sting of war.
Halius tapped a hand on his jaw, too tired now to believe that something like this would not be done easily.
"You were trained from a young age to be a soldier… Like me, yes?" Halius asked as Linda said nothing. "I will guess yes. Astartes are trained from a young age to serve the Imperium, our bodies would not be able to handle the enhancements otherwise. It bothers me but I did not create these enhancements and I have served when I could." Halius stated to himself more than her.
Halius was at peace with himself despite this… He knew more and more that something had been thrown and dusted at the end of the time.
Halius closed his eyes and then smirked before he looked upwards and into the ceiling, opening his eyes before he looked downwards at the ground.
Halius was all too interested in the next move that she had been too interested in.
Both soldiers were captured in their thoughts before it was all thrown to the side, something about it all had been too hard to deal with.
To be fair? Halius knew damn well the Ultramarines were caught off guard, they were fighting a war against the Covenant. Aliens had been something they were trained for… But not in the same damn way they had now… Something about it all had made things harder.
"The covenant… You have been at war with them a long time?" Halius asked to which Linda shook her head. "Hmm… The Brutes? And the saurian like aliens? Both remind me of Orks and even the Tau… Though the Tau are much more powerful and control several galaxies." Halius added with a frown.
"How many enemies do the Ultramarines have?" Linda questioned; her head tilted.
"Several… And all could reduce the UNSC to ash… The Covenant reminds me of the Tau, bloodthirsty, unmoving… They fight with a zeal that none of us fully have." Halius stated before he hummed, too tired and too unable to think of it all.
She did not at all know what was growing on her mind, something that could be done and dusted.
She had been too interested in it all before she had too interested to try and figure it all out before it was all said and done.
She had not been able to think of it all before she looked to the side, something about it all before she looked to the side.
Something about it all bothered him at the time being. She hummed to herself and then thought of it all.
Halius was curious, all his mind went to parts of strategy he did not dare speak of now. All of it was odder and odder, all of it crashed down on them like a storm. Halius knew better than to believe such things easily answered.
Still? He was curious, so many questions remained and so few of them were answered.
"You are one of the most skilled snipers I have seen from your skill… And I am aware I have said so a thousand times. I am simply not used to seeing a soldier defeat so many enemies with one simple bullet." Halius added, frowning to himself.
"You talked about a group… Something of Battle… Who are they?" Linda asked.
"Soldiers… An order of warrior priests who are skilled as Ultramarines… They? They and we do not get along, Astartes are considered mutants, heretics against the throne… Granted? We have reasons but we do not get along with them." Halius stated to which Linda nodded.
"So, they'd hate Spartans," Linda stated as Halius hummed.
"Any mutants, correct… I do not much care who they think is better. We are at war, there is no time to focus on such things but it is far more annoying than it could be done and dusted." Halius stated before he looked to the side, annoyed at the time being.
Halius hummed, something about it all made him sigh.
"Sisters of battle," Halius added to which there was a hum.
"Who Halius hates… He almost fought one 50 years prior." Halius heard.
"Igaros," Halius said, taking a deep breath.
"Remember Drivk IV?" Igaros stated.
"Yes, I did almost kill one… Because they were a fool who embodies all I despise about the order." Halius added, crossing his arms across his metallic chest.
Igaros moved behind the two, weight shifting from each footstep which rung like a bell across the armored floor.
"You hate a majority of the officers and soldiers we worked with," Igaros stated to which Halius hummed.
"Because they forget why we were made. We protect the empire and its people; we protect those who cannot protect themselves… To do less is to spit on our oaths, to spit on those who have fallen in combat, Igaros." Halius stated as Linda tilted her head.
"Sisters of Battle kill their own?" Linda asked, more than a little disgust in her otherwise stoic voice.
"Most of the Imperium has been willing to kill any who do not show loyalty or faith in the emperor. Halius hates those sorts of warriors, and believes the slaughtering is a disgusting atrocity." Igaros responded.
"As it is, Igaros. The Imperium was rigid, fueled by fear and hate… I am driven by duty, not worship of our father, not by a desire to kill any who will not bow." Halius responded before looking at Linda. "And I am slowly becoming SICK of losing brothers and good soldiers to monsters who slaughter those who cannot or will not fight back," Halius stated with an ember of hate in his tone.
Linda looked at Halius as the Ultramarine rested a hand on the frost-covered window, there was anger… And grief in every single motion he had made as if the mere act of existing hurt the Astartes.
"We cannot save every single soldier in humanity, nor every innocent soul… You should not carry the burden of that suffering, not alone." Igaros stated as Halius huffed.
"Then you do not know what I carry, brother," Halius stated, the anger bubbling out from his words.
"He's right," Linda stated as Halius glanced over Igaros. "Chief? Chief hates when soldiers die, tries to tell them that it is a duty, that we are meant to die… Sure. We still grieve and mourn, that is what you are doing, what we all do." Linda stated as Halius lowered his helm.
"And how many must die so we can carry it? Duty is one thing, Spartan… This war will kill far more than I believe should die… And I am sick of soldiers dying because I lead them." Halius stated. "If a warrior dies under my command? Astartes, guardsmen, UNSC? It is just another blade in my heart." Halius adds, his tone low.
Halius almost seemed to slump over. Linda could tell this grief had been slowly pouring over for a LONG time and it was clear he was tired of it.
Igaros turned, almost raising an arm in comfort before slowly lowering it and stepping back as the two heard something.
There was a warp signature in front of them, carving darkness through which a ship emerged… With Astartes markings. The damage did not look like Ork inflicted nor wounded by Covenant fire.
Halius hummed before he looked downwards at the ground, something about it all done and dusted.
Halius blinked before he looked at the ship, she had been too interested in it all for now. Halius looked to the side before he glanced to the ground.
He was too interested as he hummed to himself and crossed his arms.
"Brother?" Halius asked before he glanced at his group. "Round up the others. We check that ship." Halius stated before he sighed and then began to walk towards the hanger.
Halius hummed to himself, tired… And yet curious at the end of it. He turned and walked over towards the hanger, something about it made him curious as he made himself prepared for now and then thought of what was growing on his brain.
(5 minutes later)
Halius hummed as they started to think of what was growing on his mind, he and his squad were loaded on a Thunderhawk…. Along with Linda who had decided to get ready, ready with her rifle, and then thought of what was growing on his mind.
Linda seemed to be prepared for war, her rifle strapped across her back as the Thunderhawk crossed through the void of space.
Halius crossed his arms as he thought of what was aboard the ship. Perhaps it was an odd little choice for them to come to investigate the cruiser, something was interesting in it all as he tapped Willbreaker on the ground.
Halius leaned on the sword before he guessed his next move. Halius hummed, watching as they landed in a hanger, curious, the ramp slowly unfurling.
"Shouldn't we have sent another squad?" Halius heard as he shook his head.
"The other option is to blow up the ship…" Halius stated before motioning for the squad to move ahead forward.
Halius looked at Linda as she thought of the next step before he clicked his fingers and then thought of his next move.
Halius hummed, too interested in the next maneuver that he could have done it in all now, and then relaxed.
Where had this ship come from? The markings were not Ultramarine… And they were not interesting it as he thought of it all.
He was curious as to what was growing on his mind… Something which distracted him as he thought of his next move before he sighed and then cracked his fingers before he looked to the side.
Halius smiled to himself before clanking ahead, thinking of himself, and smiled once more, he was all too thrown off at the time being… She had not been eager to think of it all now and for a good reason.
He was curious as to what had drawn them here, what was this ship, and what was drawing them here now. He held a LOT more on his mind before he looked to the side.
Halius grabbed the door and peeled it open, gears slowly grinding open as the Spartan behind him raised her rifle. Both soldiers stepped through and into a rather large hallway for a moment.
Halius drew his bolter pistol with his other hand as Igaros and his group all formed behind them.
"These markings don't look chaos inflicted…" Igaros stated before he turned to Linda. "That means traitorous Astartes. You never want to meet them." Igaros stated as Halius nodded.
"Anything contaminated by the warp must be purged," Halius added before the sound of clanking was heard.
Halius hummed and motioned for Igaros and Kasbiel to move ahead of him, watching closely as he did so.
"Brother, we have seen these markings before… This ship is still Imperial and we know who might own it." Halius heard as he nodded.
"But things are different here… We speak to the occupants and then decide from there." Halius added before holding up his hand towards them.
Halius moved towards the door and typed in the code, watching as it slowly ground open. Halius caught a flash of movement and grabbed the weapon by the handle, pulling them forward and pressing Willbreaker towards the base of their neck.
Linda looked at the other figure, a warrior who was clad in greenish armor like her and hefting a massive hammer, a dragon-like symbol on their pauldron.
"Brother?" They spoke before tightening their hold on the weapon. "Remove your helmet." Halius heard before he pushed them back.
Linda watched as Halius brought a hand to his helm and lifted it with a hiss of smoke.
"What is a Salamander doing this far away from the Imperium?" Halius asked before pointing the blade again at them. "Do the same… These men follow me as does she… I will kill you if you hurt her." Halius stated before he slowly slid the weapon down.
The soldier did so a moment later… Revealing dark ebony skin which reminded her of cracked leather, their burning eyes looked like twin suns.
"A Salamander would never hurt an innocent…. Sergeant Fax of the 3rd Salamander Company." Fax stated as he placed his helm atop his head.
"Lieutenant Halius of the 2nd Ultramarine company… This is not our galaxy, brother… And NOTHING will return." Halius stated as Igaros hummed.
"What is a Salamander doing in Imperium Secundus territory?" Igaros questioned.
"We were fighting one moment… Now we are here." Fax stated before looking at Linda. "Who is she?" Halius heard as he brought up his sword.
"A friend… She may reveal who she is soon, but she is not of the warp… Are there more Salamanders? We have much to discuss." Halius stated as Linda hummed.
"So, there's other groups of Ultramarines?" Linda asked to which Igaros shrugged.
"Astartes. Also, yes. The salamanders are us without worshiping the Codex and with flammers and hammers… They also come in green." Igaros joked as the squad chortled slightly.
"You said Imperium Secundus." Fax added as Halius hummed.
"Much to discuss…" Halius stated before turning. "Stay here… Fax? I will speak with the other Salamanders aboard this strike cruiser, then I will tell you if I find myself able." Halius stated before the squad formed up behind Halius.
He had been too interested in something beyond it all, something which needed to be done.
Granted? He was all too curious as to what this would have been like, something which had torn through his brain like a chain sword.
Halius hummed as his squad followed anyway, perhaps it was something he just could not escape but there were times he envied being told what to do rather than giving orders, at least then he was allowed to do things like tell his men to stay put.
That, and there was a LOT he did not give up on now, something about this all was bothersome enough to him… It cut deep and like a knife, something about it all became harder and harder to reflect on.
He had a LOT more to deal with now, all of it had been harder and harder to think of now… Something which had yet to take full effect now.
Fax led them deeper and deeper into the strike cruiser as Halius turned to look at the Salamander.
"I assume you are aware the entire Ultramarine legion had vanished along with all of its holdings?" Halius asked, raising an eyebrow under his helm.
"You did. There were talks the entire legion had…" Fax started to say as Halius snorted.
"We would not betray anyone… Just as a Salamander would never harm a human being. If there is anyone to tell you the details of the incident bringing us here? It will be from the Chapter Master and Primarch." Halius added, a stomp as he walked.
"Not you, brother?" Fax questioned; his hammer held aloft.
"What happened to the Ultramarines concerns the entire chapter. I will not besmirch or harm our legion with information that is not mine to hand out." Halius added, his eyes burning with anger.
"Halius is a mere Lieutenant, Sergeant… The information he would give is far beyond something of his liberty to discuss." Suriel stated, his weapon held firm.
"I understand, brother… The Salamanders might have befallen a similar fate, however. We were sent with a battalion of the sisterhood to secure vital support lines… That is all I can say." Fax added to which Halius huffed.
"Of course, the Sororitas are here… Do they still believe the Astartes are horrible mutant abominations who should be slaughtered horribly?" Halius asked, his tone much angrier.
There was a nod for this… A nod made Halius glower which despite his armor made it very apparent he was angry.
The Sisters of Battle and Ultramarines clashed before and it had been something that he despised despite himself, despite it all being a case of the same side and same place, most of it all had been something that needed to be done.
Halius hummed as to what was growing on his mind before he looked at Linda.
Halius stated before he sighed to himself, something which had been too tired at the time being.
Halius hummed to himself as he would relax for now. Halius hummed and then thought of Linda for a moment, clicking his fingers.
"Fax? Sergeant Igaros will go with you… I must speak with my comrade." Halius stated as he hummed, looking at Fax.
"Hal?" Igaros asked as Halius looked at him.
"I must speak with Spartan Linda… Please, I need you to ask… And you remember the last time I interacted with the Sisterhood… And how that altercation had to be handled." Halius stated as Igaros hummed.
Igaros took a moment, looked at his friend then looked at the Sergeant.
"The Lieutenant is correct… We must act and there are some details I may discuss… Any others and we must contact the captain." Halius heard before he and the others walked back through it all.
Halius hummed, too interested… Far too fascinated by it all as he paused, something about it all had been too tiresome for now and for a good reason.
He had been torn upwards and like he was all too interested in it all. Halius crossed his arms before he looked over towards Linda as the others left, leaving 2 of the squad with Halius humming, letting them walk towards the corridor.
"You are curious… Tell me what is on your mind." Linda heard, Halius crossing his arms across his chest.
"There are more groups of Astartes?" Linda asked to which Halius nodded.
"Correct… Raven Guard, Iron Hands, Salamanders, White Scars… Each group of Astartes specializes in different aspects." Halius added, leaning towards the window. "We specialize in the mental part of war, logistics, planning, diplomacy," Halius added, tapping on his armored arms.
Halius cleared his throat and then hummed, tapping his weapon on the ground before speaking.
"Salamanders excel at fire and close range… They are also the most compassionate of these legions. I have seen one throw themselves on a dozen grenades then allow one death… I did not expect any other legions to be here." Halius stated as he hummed.
"Will the Salamanders help?" Linda asked as Halius inclined his head.
"They will… Though I suppose asking them to join the Secundus will be something odd, they fought for an empire… Not this small little collection of a group the Primarch has put together." Halius added to himself before he sighed.
He was tired, he was worn down at the time being… She did not at all know when it was all said and done. Halius hummed to himself before thinking of what to tell Fax.
If anything? He had a LOT of options that he had to deal with it all before he looked downwards at the ground.
Halius seemed to be done and dusted before he looked to the side. Halius thought of his next movement before he tapped on his sword, he clicked his fingers before he looked to the sides.
They were all too interested in it all before now… Something about it all had been too hard to ignore, much less deal with.
Halius hummed, curious as to it all for now, for each little measure. All of this entire madness had driven him through hoops he didn't believe should have been leaped through now and for good reason.
Something about it all made the Ultramarine curious about the moves made by the Imperium.
They held onto so damn much of an army it almost made Halius curious as to WHAT the enemy was doing with so much firepower, so much wasted firepower better spent on the frontlines of war.
"I worry more about Covenant… They are also baiting the Imperium and UNSC into fighting a war of attrition… We have lost one system because the rest of our forces are spent fighting elsewhere." Halius added to which Linda hummed.
It was clear to Linda that Halius was just as capable of the idea of leading… But he had the same problem most leaders held onto… Blaming all failures upon himself, she could guess Halius was blaming every setback, every failure, every lost soldier on his plans and ambitions.
Still? if these were not yet completed? They had to be done with it all.
Halius was not stupid, only a foolish commander would find fault with the plans.
"We cannot save every planet… The attack on Kholo caught us off guard, nobody knew about this portion of space." Halius heard as he shook his head.
"We should not have had to lose it to begin with… If there were soldiers who could be evacuated, some group of warriors that we could get off the world? We should have been able to do it… Instead? We showed up to fight an operation that did not meet the required goal." Halius added with annoyance.
"That… And part of me questions why one of their highest-ranked officers was here." Halius added with interest.
"You think they went there for something besides combat," Linda stated as Halius nodded.
"Yes… It would be equal to Admiral Hood leading a fleet himself, there would be no tactical or strategic importance." Halius added before he sighed to himself.
He had been too tired, too distracted now, something about it made him more curious as of now when it was all for now.
Halius had been able to be distracted by it for but a few seconds, he had been too decided for now, something that had distracted them all now and for now.
This was just odder and odder to the soldier, even with the zealous nature of the warriors involved, it did not make even slight sense… Unless Kholo was a part of the plan for the war.
In which case? He had to deal with it all the only way that he could relax, something that needed to be done, would be done more chaotic now.
Something about it all was more and more harrowing as it was all done and dusted now and for a good reason at the time.
Linda seemed to think of it all before she looked to the side, something about it all seemed to be fishy but it was a variable to deal with.
Halius looked out the window and into the vacuum of space, turning back to Linda for a moment.
"Contact Admiral Cutter and tell him to send word to your leaders. I believe this might be a very long day for all of us… And I would rather learn what we can tell the others and what is forbidden." Halius stated as Linda hummed.
"The war is going to change," Linda said as she walked away to have done so.
Halius watched the Spartan walk away… And for once? Let himself show more weakness as he brought a hand to his eyes.
She had been kind when he had needed a companion outside his brothers… And for that? He believed he could trust her with his inner doubts.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be delayed… A few things.
Yes, I said no other legions… Salamanders I wanted to include following a certain Warhammer show… No, the other 8 are not showing up currently.
Yes, I know Halius does not act much differently. I am trying to have him pretend to keep the pain inside.
This is the short pause leading up to the battle of Reach or such.
The next chapter will be in 900-6500 words and such and will be in 2-10 months and set up Halius and Linda speaking to the Salamanders. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: I am posting a story about the Sons of Horus entering the end of the war and attempting to reform. That will be up soon.