Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 4200-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer or Halo, Gameshop and 343 do.
(Sigma Octanus IV, February 30th, 2532.)
Ultramarines were taught from the youngest age to put themselves before others… To focus entirely on helping others deal with issues and such they were not meant to.
For now? Halius had focused entirely upon doing this, to put others first… And he did even now.
His enemy had slain several thousand soldiers of the Imperium and millions more within the UNSC.
Today? Today that number ended with his life. For now? For now, he would perform his duty with the same valor he was asked to bring.
Halius raised Blind Justice… Thel looked at him only for a shot to take the life of the crimson elite next to him.
Halius struck without mercy… Throwing himself into their backline as he and the covenant grand commander glared at each other.
He was NOT at all ready for their contest to end, not now and not before, not before he had taken his fill of blood.
"Demon." Thel hissed as Halius snorted.
"Monster." Halius hissed, sword clasped in one hand tightly. "You slaughtered brothers of mine last battle… And have taken the lives of more of those I treasure since then." Halius stated, raising his sword.
He was curious, much more curious than anything for now… They had to deal with it for now as it came down to it.
"So, you have come to kill me," Thel stated as Halius snorted.
"I wish to rectify the flaw…" Halius stated before he raised his sword. "Come on, kill me…" Halius stated before he sighed to himself as he cracked his fingers.
Thel ignited his blades as Halius slammed his blade into the elite's plasma weapons and sparks flew from them.
Halius rolled away before he turned to exhaust once more and then cracked his fingers as his weapons.
Halius hummed and then swung around and parried the last few hits. Sparks flew from their blades back and forth as Halius locked blades with them.
(With Titus and the others)
Titus hummed and started to fight…. He slashed through the next few rows of covenant soldiers. Each elite and brute slowly started to fall to the ground and it was clear it was going to be dealt with.
They had PLENTY to deal with for now. Halius hummed and then thought of what was growing on his mind.
There was a LOT more to deal with… Now? Now it was going to be dealt with and for a good reason.
He knew Halius had attacked Thel, he was curious as he paused to think of what was occurring now.
There was a LOT more to battle than simply keeping a handle on the rest of it.
Something about it all had to end for now. They had much more to deal with for the time being.
Ultramarines like him had to relax… Now? Now? He had a lot more to deal with for now.
There was a lot more to deal with for now and then relaxed for now as she thought was curious for now… The idea was for now as she thought of what was going to deal with it.
Halius was all too much for now. Now? He had more and more to understand what was going to be dealt with.
He had a LOT more to deal with than just his comrade… But it was clear Halius wished to fight as any Ultramarine would… It was especially because he was devoted to humanity that Titus worried about him.
To Halius? Defending humanity was all an Ultramarine needed to do.
Part of him did not agree but he knew Halius had his issues… And after this battle? Titus would aid in dealing with those issues.
But not before.
(With Halius and Thel)
The duel between Ultramarine and Sangheili was a blaze of strikes and stabs.
Thel stabbed twice and Halius batted the blows aside, kicking Thel back whose shields flickered before the elite lunged, Halius pivoted around it but was forced to stave off a stab from behind.
"You fight like this but you run at the battle of Charybdis IX…." Halius hissed as more sparks flew from their blades. "You call me demon… But you have slaughtered those who cannot defend themselves, not ONCE have I shown any desire to butcher those who cannot fight back!" Halius growled out as he pivoted and slammed shoulder-first into Thel.
Thel rolled backward into the trench as Halius panted. This battle, this duel had drained him, his armor carried blackened marks of plasma fire and he felt several bruises under his armor.
Still? The Ultramarine stood; a symbol of how little humanity would bend to the covenant.
Halius watched as Thel climbed back up the hill from the trench. Halius aimed his sword at the soldier, curious as to how this would be.
"We have both butchered soldiers… But you fight for nothing but our extermination… I fight to avenge those who the covenant butcher, for those who shelter, unable to defend themselves." Halius growled as he turned to fend off a pair of ultras.
"You fight for NOTHING," Halius added, too exhausted to do much.
"The great journey is NOTHING little, Humanity stands in the way of the covenant and its ascension," Thel stated, aiming his blades at Halius.
"What Great Journey? You sound like the Tau who have struck at the core of the Imperium." Halius stated, raising his sword to continue their battle.
Before either could? A thunderclap of shots broke the air and Thel's shields broke. Before he could register it? Another shot grazed his face, damaging his helmet and causing him to grasp his face before collapsing back into the trench.
Halius blinked before he turned to look for Linda. There were screeches and war cries from the elites as several crested the hill to avenge Thel and his dishonorable loss. Halius raised Blind Justice to greet them.
Only for another figure to appear, another he was familiar with. Chief stabbed the first one, turned, and gripped the next in a headlock.
Halius stabbed the next elite and put a bolt through the chest of the crimson elite.
Halius hummed and then thought of what was going on when it occurred for now… This was something to deal with it for now… Now? Halius watched as the covenant soldiers seemed to be dealt with for now…. There was something else to deal with for now.
Halius watched as the covenant army retreated… Part of him was shocked but he was curious as to deal with for now.
Still? They were not truly beaten yet… So, he nodded to Chief and both soldiers advanced into the frontlines of the covenant army.
(Within the camp)
Linda lowered her rifle, curious as to HOW they dealt with for now… She had exhausted the entire clip of 14.5x114MM rounds and slammed another one into place.
"Linda… Thank you." Halius stated as he fired his hand bolter at the rows of covenant soldiers. "Captain Titus… I apologize for my boldness, I saw a tactical advantage and wished to strike at it." Halius stated before he looked to the side.
There was a LOT more to deal with but Halius found it HONESTLY more than worth it… Linda had struck true and it had broken the back of the covenant army for now.
If they won? He would atone for his rashness but for the moment? He saw no reason NOT to strike true for now.
Halius hummed and relaxed for now and it was curious as he thought of what was going on.
They had been too much for now. It was going to be dealt with slowly and surely… That was all he could understand.
"Anytime… Chief? We have a problem, the carrier is inbound, I got eyes on 20 banshees on attack patterns." Linda reported as Halius cursed.
"Copy… Captain Titus?" Chief stated to which Titus hummed.
"Air units, intercept and destroy… All guardsmen units? Hold formation and target clusters of ground troops… Brothers? Push them back." Titus ordered as Halius hummed and then chuckled.
"Spartans? Come… Let us drive them off." Halius stated as he hummed, striking down a pair of jackals with one swing which cleaved off their head.
Halius knew what was occurring and what was going on for now. This was going to be dealt with for now and it was clear that the rest of the enemy was fighting to reclaim their momentum.
They had PLENTY left to deal with… Plenty they would not have understood now… Plenty left on the edge of all such things… Now? Now it was too hard to deal with something for now.
Something which had been harder and harder to think of what was occurring and what was dealing with for now.
Halius chuckled and then thought was for now… It was too much to distract for now.
The battlefield was slowly yet surely beginning to become more even. The rest of the soldiers what was going on… It was going to be SO much more when it had been done and dusted.
She had to deal with it for now as it came to it all. Something about it all as he paused to think of what was occurring and what was being dealt with for now as he clicked his fingers and then looked to the side.
Halius seemed to be dealt with for now… Now? He had a lot more to deal with something else, he had more to fight through now.
To be honest? He did not care when it came down to it… Something about it all had been too disturbed and such.
More and more covenant soldiers came to attack them… Halius could see the outline of strike fighters from the covenant. If they were able to get here? Things would be a bit harder to deal with.
Yet? Halius could not tear down an entire warship from the sky. He could not command strike fighters of his own. So? He did what he could, directing the ground troops and aiding Titus.
"We will need orbital support… We cannot repel a warship like that carrier with ground-based weaponry." Halius stated, locking blades with an elite ultra. "The more soldiers that carrier deploys? The more I believe we might be forced to abandon this position." Halius added, pivoting then slashing the nape of the elite's throat.
Halius turned in time to see a pair of Azure elites collapse, helmets blown straight open.
He snorted to himself… The covenant would at least try to push them away.
The Ultramarine watched the covenant. There were very few tactics when it came down to the covenant, nothing but a mass splattering of soldiers… With Thel knocked out for now? He believed the Covenant had lost its tactical and strategic edge.
If that was indeed the case? He would continue to pressure them… He would NOT falter.
Chief raised his assault rifle and put down a pair of jackals, plasma staining his armor and rocking his shields which felt almost somewhat empty.
Halius ducked back into cover. Even with full armor? He did not feel comfortable dueling the entire covenant army directly, only a fool would consider themselves unstoppable in the face of an entire army.
Halius hummed as more soldiers were forced toward him and Master Chief, the banshees drew ever closer as he pondered what the army of Covenant was doing at the end of it all.
Something about this battle had pushed him into a corner. He and the empire of covenant soldiers here had to be beaten into the ground.
Now? Now he had to fight and he would fight, he would not falter now and it was going to be dealt with by the covenant.
There was a lot more to deal with for now… They had a lot more to deal with than before.
He fired and shot dead another brute before the roar of a hunter made him curse as he realized the creatures had attacked them and he would end up having to fight them either damned way when it was all said and done.
If nothing else, he promised to kill the covenant… And he was not one to pass on words he did so.
He was curious as to what it would have been like now… It was worth it for now.
Halius hummed to himself before he looked to the side… The sounds of gunfire and the smell of burning plasma and fuel filled the air. He looked up and saw thick smoke in the air.
They were curious as to how this was going to be dealt with for now and then thought of every single move.
There was LITTLE to deal with now… Besides fighting the covenant now, something which had yet done as he wanted it.
Something within him had to deal with the next best move… He paused to watch as Linda thought of what was occurring now.
It was going to be something.
Halius hummed and then paused, putting a hand to his armored helm. Each idea was on his head for now and it would have been something odd.
"Banshees!" Halius heard before he cursed and then thought of what was going on in his mind.
Plasma raked the area around them and he ducked down, more and more plasma raked the area.
He cursed, too curious now as plasma seemed to burn and scorch the ground, something that he could have dealt with it all… Something about it ALL had to be ended.
Halius cursed as dirt and scorched metal flew on him and he cursed. He turned to look over at the others for now as the Ultramarine seemed to regard what they did.
"We need air support!" Halius cursed as he thought of what was going to be dealt with as he clicked his fingers. "Captain Titus? We need more air support!" Halius roared, cursing now as more dirt flew.
Halius was all too much for now, he had a lot more to do and he knew the Covenant was pressing them hard for now at the time being.
They had a lot more to deal with for now as Douglas seemed to relax once more. It had been too much for now as he clicked his fingers.
There was a whirling of engines as he looked upwards, a squadron of hornets engaging the rest of the group.
Something about this made him curious and he was unsure of what was going on now when it was all too much for now.
This was too much for now and it was going to be a VERY long day when it came down to it. Ultramarines seemed to think of what was going on when it seemed to be dealt with as he paused to relax.
This battle annoyed him and he had been too disturbed for now… This was going to be over now and it was too much for the end of the day… They had MORE to deal with for now.
They had plenty to deal with for now and it was too much for now.
He had to deal with it for now. He clicked his fingers and then looked to the ground before he looked to the side… Something about it was more than he could deal with.
Halius was curious now… Curious how the covenant was too busy being picked apart to fight him… Now? Now it was beyond him.
To be fair? Nothing was stopping the covenant from….
Halius was interrupted by a mass of lasers that scorched everything around them. Halius cursed and dove for cover as several explosions followed, the result of the assault carrier bombarding the area.
Halius did not focus on attempting to fight, knowing the sheer rate of firepower.
There was a lot more to deal with for now… Now? Now he had no clue how to deal with it for now.
Halius was curious as to HOW to counter such firepower, he knew of Titus dealing with a warship by boarding it but he was curious as to how to deal with it.
Something about it all had been too much… And he knew more and more that the covenant war machine was breaking down.
Halius was about to order the rest of the force to retreat but he was greeted by a familiar warship.
The Spirit of Fire slowly approached, firing its MAC cannons at the warship, the ship shook, shields shattering as the magnetic slugs slammed into it for now… The ship was slowly starting to shatter.
Something about it all had to be dealt with… And he had seen the warship be knocked out of the battlefield.
The carrier was thrown to the side, something which reminded him that an idea like this was too much for now.
Halius watched Thel limp away, he raised his bolter to put a round through the skull of the soldier and finally end this farce.
He was greeted by a pair of hunters instead as Halius stopped to engage the soldiers for now and it was curious as it was too much for now.
Halius slammed one of the hunters to the ground, another being slammed into him as he tumbled across the ground and then looked to the side.
Halius frowned, he knew damn well the covenant would have caused problems at the time being… He slammed the hunter to the ground and then thought of what had occurred for now.
He was disturbed, much more tired, and unsure of what was done and what was being dealt with for now.
Ultramarines were allowed to be tired but he had more work to deal with for now… And he was annoyed once more, too exhausted now and for a good reason.
Halius seemed to be tired and he slammed the hunter into the ground and then ripped out the worms from within the soldier.
He ripped the creature within the soldier, tearing it to the side and then crushing it under his fist as he paused to think of what was going on now, and for a good reason.
Halius hummed and then thought of it all when it came down to it… Something about it all had to be understood better.
He turned to the other hunter before a rocket slammed into the creature, the monster combusting as it crashed into the ground.
He turned to see Douglas with his M41 behind them. Halius turned to look around for Thel.
He and most of the covenant soldiers were busy being sucked up with a beam of light as he cursed.
The soldiers were slowly vanishing into the carrier and he knew damn well he had missed his chance to kill him.
"Damn it!" Halius hissed as he turned and looked over the corpse-filled battlefield. "Damn it…" Halius repeated, voice more solemn than before.
The Ultramarine was knocked off his feet as the assault carrier and cruiser started to make for orbit. The faint outlines of several UNSC frigates and a few Imperial destroyers grew closer as the Ultramarine looked up.
The carrier angered him, this battle had slaughtered more soldiers under their banner… And for what? They still had no idea what the covenant wanted, what they were after… How could they take the enemy down without a tactical understanding of what made them like this?
Halius gripped Blind Justice for but a moment before he returned the sword to his hip. He turned to the Spartans who looked at the Ultramarines in turn for a moment.
Halius nodded, and they returned the gesture… And the UNSC and Imperium forces began to gather their dead and prepare for the return to orbit where they would converse with the commanders of the battle.
Somehow? Halius began to believe he had grown used to the sight of his dead brothers on the battlefield, plasma burning their corpses to nothing.
He did not, he never would. It only fueled his hatred for the covenant, for the war… And for all those who butchered humanity senselessly.
Perhaps the galaxy just hated him and wanted him to suffer for now. it wanted to feast on his hatred and deplorable fury on the covenant war machine now when it came down to it.
Halius hummed and then thought of what the battle had brought. They had taken moderate losses but the covenant had lost several ships and thousands of infantry and ground forces.
If they wanted something on this planet? He wanted to know what they were after; it was the only way to take them down to begin with.
Nothing else was going to stop them so easily.
(In orbit, UNSC Leviathan, Marathon Class Heavy Cruiser)
Admiral Stanforth looked down at Sigma Octanus, frowning as he thought of the fact the fighting had finally concluded…. The commander of the fleet and attack had managed to slip their fingers.
To be honest? He did not care… He did not pretend for now… Now they had more problems… Far more than before.
"Status of the Spartans?" Stanforth questioned, frowning for a few seconds. "Report, lieutenant," Stanforth stated before he looked to the side as he paused to think of what was going on before he thought of what was going on.
Something about it all had been as he clicked on the ground and then hummed… The battle was decided but he had several ideas as to how it would have been like now.
He knew something on the ground beside the nuclear bomb had ended up being odd when it came down to it.
(With the others)
Halius lifted a stack of crates onto his shoulder and then slowly walked it over to one of the UNSC D82 darter class dropships.
"Here…" Halius stated before handing it all off to the crew as he turned the others. "The rest of the covenant soldiers appear to have been warded off, have you collected the dead?" Halius asked before he looked to the side.
He pulled his helm from his skull, looking over to the side… Something about it all had been tiresome for the Astartes.
He was greeted by the others. Halius hummed and then relaxed for the time being… An idea of what was going for now as she seemed to be relaxed for now and then relaxed.
Halius hummed, crossing his arms and then crossed his arms across his chest, something about it all had made things weird when it came down to it.
He was bored, exhausted… His armor felt heavy and as if it was a giant weight at the end of it all.
Something about it all had been too much… Now? He was curious as of now.
"Spartans? Recon found civilians in a few settlements… We do not have permission to deal with it all." Halius heard before he thought of what was going on before he looked to the side.
Halius hummed, turned to Master Chief and the rest of the group was curious as to what it would have been like when it came down to it.
He hummed and then relaxed and then he paused to think of it all now.
"Spartan…. I can deal with the civilians if you wish…" Halius stated before he hummed and then cracked a smile, rubbing at the stubble on his face.
"Split up… One group for each." Fred suggested as Halius hummed.
"And an Ultramarine for each in case we need to fight heavier resistance," Halius suggested as Chief nodded.
"2 Spartans each… I will assist the Lieutenant," Linda said as Halius hummed and put his helmet back on.
"Kelly? Go with Igaros." Chief stated before walking to Halius. "Ready?" Chief asked before he looked to the side.
"Lead us, Spartan… Igaros? Take Kasbiel and go… Suriel? With me… We will take civilians to the drop zones and return to orbit." Halius stated as he hummed and then looked to the side, curious as to how it would have been.
He would not show it… But part of him was glad to have met Linda and was beginning to hope for her company more and more.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! A few things.
For anyone going 'Halius should wipe the floor with Arbiter?' I am NOT trying to make him a Mary Sue, not trying to make Arbiter pathetic, nor leave out a good fight scene.
For anyone asking Linda and Halius to be more emotional? Their supersoldiers were bred purely for war, they were not used to those feelings.
I plan to explain more about the war… And have the arc with the Orks wrapped up, the Prelate finished, and such… So, the next chapter will be more action-packed and show more about the Orks.
4? For anyone saying the Imperium is nerfed? I am not having them curb-stomp everyone and take no losses, they are powerful, not unstoppable. The next chapter will be 900-6500 words, be in 2-10 months, will show the aftermath of the battle, more bonding between Linda and Halius, and set up the first Halo game and one of the final battles in the war for now. Until then, Lighting Wolf is out!