Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hunter and Soldier. Enjoy the 4000-word chapter. I don't own Halo, Microsoft, and 343 do.
(2526, August 2nd 'Eden' 00:30)
Gram dropped the rebel to the ground, his visor glistening in the sunlight. He moved like a bullet, leaving a group of URF soldiers and jackals in his wake.
Gram emerged at the edge of the forest, sweeping his rifle around with interest. He knew very well that the covenant and URF were busy destroying each other. Gram questioned if he should feel sorry for them considering they had no problem killing innocent people during the war.
"Cal…" Gram muttered to himself as he turned and shook his head.
Both the covenant and URF had largely ignored the two Spartans. If Cal wasn't in danger? He'd have enjoyed the distraction, and she'd have enjoyed the cover.
The roar of engines caught his attention as a Spirit dropship moved in towards the nav point. Cal could only see smoke from that location.
"They would have moved in, then…" Gram stated as he turned to slowly move up.
Gram moved up, his BR ready and his focus centered.
(With Cal)
She heard the voices before her radar picked them up. If they were humans? They would have simply had a Pelican blast it to pieces and move on.
But she knew covenant, they wanted a demon, and they would get one. Cal managed to grab her assault rifle before she heard noises.
Cal looked through the cracked glass and saw an 'elite' commanding a group of 5 jackals and 4 grunts. It pointed a clawed finger towards the pod. The grunts waddled towards the pod, chattering in their native language.
One of them was about to touch the damaged vehicle before his head splattered, spraying the pod with blue liquid.
There were another 3 puffs of blue liquid as they collapsed to the ground. The group of jackals chattered while Cal hummed. She turned to see the jackals as a small object rolled towards the group, similar to a pineapple.
The object opened up, spraying the group with heated metal. The blast was sufficient enough to throw 2 of the jackals off their feet, they flopped to the ground just as the group spread out.
"Gram…" Cal muttered, knowing the spartan was the only one with the speed to tag several covenant soldiers like that. "Damn sentimental…" Cal started to state before cutting herself off.
No, she would have done the same for Gram if he was endangered. ONI chided her for having care about the others… And she chided Gram for it before.
The jackals spread out into a fan formation, it was good if they had reinforcements arriving or were facing besieged enemies.
But Gram was already moving to flank them. Cal saw the glint of green move through the foliage like a snake. One of the jackals moved up only for an object to smack into its arm, twisting it at an unnatural angle.
The jackal barely had time to screech before another object crashed into it… And tore out through the back of its skull. The bird-like alien spun and collapsed to the ground.
"Kill it!" The blue armored elite hissed while the jackals chattered to themselves.
They advanced into the foliage down the hill, eager to kill whatever had murdered their brothers. Cal questioned why the covenant employed such disobedient soldiers. She rolled her eyes as she remembered Gram had disobeyed the mandate to come to her.
One of the jackals swept its bulky pistol-like weapon into the trees before something wrapped around its neck and squeezed.
"Useless warriors!" The elite hissed and raised its rifle before firing in the direction of the foliage.
The other jackal screeched as several of the searing bolts of plasma washed over its back. Its comrade squawked before falling silent. The elite growled and grabbed at an object on its hip before the body of the jackal was pushed aside.
It was only then Gram emerged, holding his magnum in one hand. The elite flicked its wrist as a long, thin blade emerged from the device.
Gram tugged at his shoulder, pulling a metallic object loose. Cal could see the silhouette of the knife as Gram rushed up the slope towards the creature.
The elite greeted his charge, raising the energy blade towards the spartan. The elite slashed at the spartan only for the spartan to pivot and kick the elite.
The creature crashed backward, its shields flickering in and out while Gram rushed forward, his knife ready. The elite rolled to the side and stabbed again.
The spartan brought up his hand, catching the creature's blade and pausing its feet from his head. The elite growled and started to push forward before turning and kicking.
Gram rolled backward, a haggard breath pulled from his throat as he looked at the creature which went to stab at his skull once and for all. Gram moved ahead with annoyance. His movements were slightly more sluggish. Gram pivoted at the last second, sending his knife plunging into the creature's throat. It twitched once more before finally collapsing under its weight.
Gram hummed and sheathed the knife on his shoulder before stepping over the body of the creature. They were too eager for blood, for the chance to slay someone. Maybe they were desperate to kill her and move once again.
Gram climbed the hill, making sure to check his surroundings with his pistol before he holstered the weapon on his hip.
Gram stepped over the bodies of the Covenant soldiers he had killed. He could only hope the next batch was this easy to dispatch.
Gram arrived at the pod, he slowly approached it, gazing through the cracked glass at his partner. He tapped on the window and hummed. Cal gently tapped back before Gram jammed his fingers into the frame of the pod while Cal braced against the door.
Gram grunted and pulled back, greeted by a screeching sound as Cal smacked the door with her foot, rewarded with a dent as the door was left somewhat ajar. Cal kicked the door again, sending glass flying as the metal deformed more.
There was a terrible screeching noise, like a dying animal as the pod door cracked like a nut as Gram tore it off the frame. He tossed it down the slope, uncaring as to its further destination.
Gram looked at Cal who stared at her partner. The more aggressive spartan brought up his hands and ran his fingers slowly across her faceplate, so delicately that Cal somewhat questioned if Gram thought she'd break from more pressure.
She returned the 'spartan smile', annoyed at Gram having risked so much for her… But also touched at his loyalty.
Gram ran his hands up to Cal's shoulders and squeezed them, a gesture she returned before grabbing her sniper. She turned to Gram who had gone from constantly scouting from threats to near statue-like. He had fallen back into awaiting her lead like he always did if they were together.
"You could have gotten yourself killed coming here," Cal stated to which Gram shrugged. "You, ok?" Cal asked, her voice more tender now.
"Yes, you?" Gram asked, his voice sounding FAR more alert now.
"The plasma damaged the brakes, I aimed for the mountain." Cal put in before both Spartans turned. "Any updates on the mission?" Cal asked to which Gram turned.
"The fighting is still going from what little I saw." Gram stated before drawing his BR. "They haven't evacuated, all that's changed is the time and number of dead," Gram reported as Cal placed her sniper upon her back.
"We should neutralize their leaders… Knowing the URF?" Cal questioned while Gram turned. "They're have placed the FENRIS warheads around that same area anyway. Plus, they don't have the activation codes from what intel I gathered." Cal said which gained a nod as she closed the line.
Cal moved from the snow-covered hills and into the mountain. Gram followed her, only pausing to reload, placing the half-loaded magazine on his hip. Both Spartans moved like ghosts into the jungle.
"We don't stand a chance against the covenant openly." Gram put in and cracked his fingers before he hummed.
Cal said nothing, they couldn't assault the covenant invasion force openly, that was true. They'd only stand a chance against the Covenant in patrols. Cal could only hope Gram wasn't about to try and continue to cut into their ranks.
"I saw a good location which we could use as a vantage point." Cal put in to which Gram nodded as he hummed. "We can take the VIPs out, then circle, secure the ordinance, and evac." Cal pointed out as they moved into the jungle.
"We both know only us, and the covenant is leaving this planet." Gram put in while he and Cal looked over a ridge.
There was a group of rebels engaging an encroaching group of covenant soldiers. They were putting up a good fight, and Gram admitted they had solid cover and an M12 warthog with an M41 Vulcan cannon.
But it was clear the covenant would conquer the planet sooner or later. The war was simply a distraction to the Spartans.
"They haven't glassed Eden yet," Cal stated before turning to Gram. "Radio silence for now. There's enough comm traffic to block out the covenant for now… But that will probably change." Cal added which got a nod from Gram as he looked through the scope of his rifle.
Cal drew her assault rifle; her sniper was far more precious to her. The duo slowly moved up as Cal turned to Gram. She pumped a fist and nodded at the warthog which was busy gunning down an elite.
Gram nodded and slowly moved the slope, aiming down the scope of his weapon. Cal moved deeper to engage the covenant.
Gram showed a green acknowledgment light before he squeezed the trigger. A trio of 9.5 rounds exited the barrel of the gun as Gram swept his rifle to the next rebel, slamming the trigger down faster than the soldier could react.
There was a dual puff of crimson mist while both soldiers collapsed, dead before they hit the floor. Cal drew her knife while Gram dashed into the jungle, already relocating before the rebels could react.
Cal rushed in, knocking a jackal down and stabbing it in the throat. She turned and wrapped her hulking arms around the creature's throat before twisting him to the side.
Another rifle crack signaled the death of another insurrectionist. Gram looked at Cal who was busy starting to look through the armaments of the outpost. He could only ponder what would happen at the moment.
"You, ok?" Cal questioned which got a nod as the spartan scout dropped down, keeping his rifle steady and upon the outpost.
Cal picked up a rifle-like object from one of the jackals. Cal hummed turned to see Gram approach her, interested in the area before turning to her.
Cal picked up one of the plasma weapons and offered it to Gram. The spartan scout simply shook his head before moving on to the human combatants of the area.
Cal watched as spartan training kicked in like a switch had been thrown. Gram began policing spare magazines and taking stock of what had been secured. It was like watching a massive green spider slowly descend upon tasty morsels within its web.
"Anything useful?" Cal asked, discarding the covenant weapon while Gram shrugged.
"Small arms, several assault weapons." Gram stated, he offered a trio of clips to Cal. "This was a scout outpost… We should be near a checkpoint." Gram stated, turning to replenish his rifle with fresh clips.
"I'm picking up plenty of comm chatter 2 klicks north," Cal said while Gram dropped a nearly empty clip from his rifle.
"Probably their commander giving orders…" Gram said before humming. "Security is going to be impossible to breakthrough." Gram put in and finished his work at the moment.
He was thinking of how bad things would be with the covenant. If they had troops engaging a simple guard post? There was no telling how far their troops had reached… Nor their strength.
"We still don't know what they're after," Cal said as the two Spartans reentered the forest. " Did the Vigilant send any intel before it left the system?" Cal questioned to which Gram nodded.
Cal looked up to see a dark shadow, one of the Covenant carriers from what she saw. Cal wasn't stupid, she knew the vessel packed enough firepower and troops to destroy Eden easily.
Yet it didn't, Cal watched dozens of crafts exit its hanger bay. She turned to Gram who had gone silent.
She nodded in the direction of the hulking vessel. Cal could only ponder what had brought the covenant here in force… Besides more humans to exterminate.
"We've got multiple freaks swarming the left flank!" Both heard over a comm line. "Someone needs to get the General out of here! There are hundreds of them." The duo heard before a flash of light drew their attention to the mountains.
The Spartans shared a look before blinking as they nodded. Both slowly started to approach the mountain, their weapons at the ready.
Gram drew his shotgun, expecting more close-range work as he looked up at the mountain. They're looked like dozens of dancing stars up above… To a spartan? They could see it was several URF DR-77 Pelicans who were busy dueling covenant banshees and spirits.
Cal paid this no mind. She only saw targets to dispatch. Cal turned to Gram who was just as alert as usual. Cal felt like she owed him a word for what he had been putting himself through.
"Do you remember Reach?" Cal asked over a private com line. "When we were kids? You knocked one of Red Team out cold… I think it was one of the washouts." Cal put in to which Gram shrugged.
"Had to be one of them if they lost to me," Gram responded and turned to her. "Getting sentimental? We're not dead yet… The war still needs Spartans." Gram put in before an explosion cut them off once more.
A pelican spiraled down towards the ground. It was burned down to almost nothing. The insurrectionists wouldn't hold this planet past dawn in Gram's opinion. It made him far more curious how much time they'd have for the mission in general.
Then again? The rebels had pulled much worse from the jaws of defeat…. But that still didn't exactly explain what they were doing on this battlefield… What had brought them here in force?
"Just remembering how they decided to pair us up…" Cal stated and got a nod from the spartan in response.
"Aren't you the one usually keeping comm talk to a minimal?" Gram asked, sarcasm was dripping from his tone at the moment. "I wonder what Chief Mendez would think if he saw us both like this… Then again? I haven't seen the chief since Reach." Gram said before they stopped.
Before they stood a trail of bodies leading up the mountain. Though the armor blocked it? What greeted them was what a warzone would be called.
Dozens of URF fighters littered the train, custom uniforms and dog tags helped pick out only a few of the bodies. Spent shell casings littered the ground like a carpet and Cal could see plasma burns all over the area. A crashed pelican dropship told the story of a desperate attempt at reinforcements which probably didn't work out as well as it seemed.
There were also dozens of grunts. It seemed like a wave had been thrown at the path to soften it up. There were also several twisted jackals and at least a trio of elites. A crashed pair of box-like vehicles showed the covenant had also brought heavy firepower… But judging by the number of bullet holes within the soldiers around them?
"The covenant must have wanted to try getting in." Gram said which garnered a nod from Cal. "You think this is the most they have to try and engage us?" Gram asked and got a shake of the head from Cal.
The two Spartans slowly climbed into the mountain. Gram hummed and kept his rifle sweeping around. A rock rolled from under his boot, knocking into another as they slowly ascended with interest and purpose.
"Has the holy site been secured?" They heard over a comm line. "We have wasted long enough on these insects… The divine road must be secured." The duo heard in very broken English.
A pair of spirits flew towards the top of the mountain. Cal and Gram watched the tuning fork-like dropships descend on the base like monsters from some unending beast.
Both could only guess what the Covenant was after something the rebels owned. Both turned to look at each other.
"Do you think this 'holy site…?'" Gram started to say something and got a nod from Cal. "Then we can secure all 3 at the same time…" Gram stated to which got another hum from Cal.
(1 minute later)
The duo moved along the ridgeline with speed only Spartans had. Gram looked at Cal who was busy looking through the scope of his rifle. She gazed at one of the elites who were busy ordering another of the sled-like vehicles forward.
"Part of me feels a bit bad for them." Gram put in as both looked at the battle ahead.
Cal said nothing, deciding to get back to work. She looked at Gram who nodded before crouching.
"We've pushed them out from the west gate, going to need reinforcements." They heard before Cal turned towards the base. "General Garvin needs to be evacuated! All available troops engage!" They heard one of the rebels' screeches before the line went dead.
It didn't take a genius to figure out that the covenant was going to kill every rebel they encountered…
He was cut off by Cal holding up 2 fingers to his eyes, then the base before curling her fingers into a fist. Gram nodded before slowly raising his rifle and moving forward. His suit's audio receptors picked up the noises of small arms fire.
He looked ahead and found the source of the noise: A pair of URF sharpshoots were busy firing onto the covenant forces below. He scanned the horizon and saw that ahead of them was another M12 warthog which continued to drive back and forth up the road to the complex.
His motion tracker was almost overloaded from the number of enemy contacts it showed. For once? Gram wished they had been sent with a larger force; it would only take one wrong firefight to kill the duo.
Gram took cover in the shadow of an outcropping, his back slamming into stone as he turned to Cal. The sniper was invisible to the rest of the planet from the small cavern she ducked into…. But to Gram? He noticed the glint of her faceplate staring back at him through the shadow.
"Shipmaster, we have discovered the holy temple." They heard as Gram turned to Cal. "We must move quickly, the heretics come even as we speak." A covenant soldier reported over the line.
Gram shook his head and activated his HUD light. The sign a spartan had detected trouble ahead. Gram was answered by a green acknowledgment light. He nodded before watching as the golden light in the tunnel slowly melted away.
Gram continued his advance higher up the outcropping. He could feel Cal's sight upon him as he moved ahead. He could see several sentries armed with MA5Bs and M7 submachine guns patrolling what seemed like a back road.
He stopped dead in his tracks as he noticed the glint of steel that compelled him into cover. Atop the mountain gate of the complex was a pair of snipers wielding SRS-99C snipers watched the gate… And an M808B 'scorpion' tank backed them up.
Gram cursed; he might be able to neutralize the vehicle if it wasn't covered by snipers. Gram knew even the slightly older models like theirs compared to Cal's were dangerous. It would only take a single direct hit for a 14.5 round to pierce his MJOLNIR armor.
Gram turned to see Cal had approached the 2 sharpshooters in front of him. A glint of steel marked the death of one marksman as she turned. Gram raised his rifle slightly and squeezed the trigger.
A puff of blood heralded the death of the other. Cal nodded towards him before motioning at her with a finger. Cal nodded and leaped, her feet cracking the stone as the Supersoldier landed next to her.
Gram motioned in the direction of the back road ahead. Cal noticed the glint of the snipers similar to Gram did.
"I can take that MBT if the snipers are down…" Gram said over the comm line. "But I don't know if there are others beyond it." Gram stated and checked his rifle.
Cal went low to the floor, hugging her body to the ground as she looked through her scope at the URF position. The snipers she could neutralize within seconds, but the MTB? She hummed for a second and looked for an alternate solution to Gram attempting to attack the vehicle head-on.
She noticed the glint of a helmet on the vehicle. The scorpion was one of the older models where the pilot sat behind a canopy. She could see scorch marks, the sign of hodgepodge welding recently. They had covered the majority of the hatch with titanium A plating… Save for a small, almost invisible slit for the pilot to see.
"What do you see?" Gram questioned which got Cal to turn to her partner. "What's the plan?" Gram asked as Cal spoke.
"Draw its fire after I shoot," Cal ordered and got a nod while the spartan leaped down and moved towards the tank.
Cal moved the reticule back and forth to test if she could shoot both snipers rapidly and move… She could, and the noise would mark her location, however.
Cal took a breath and scanned the road. She could see the glint of a golden visor staring at her. Gram turned to the tank and drew his sidearm. He didn't intend to pierce its armor with the weapon despite the shells being explosive and such… But it would get the attention he wanted. He turned to Cal who squeezed the trigger, the muzzle flashed twice.
The first shot pierced the head of one of the snipers, taking the skull with it as the body collapsed off the gate. The second shot hit the woman in the shoulder, knocking her off the gate and into the ground where gravity took her.
The scorpion turned towards the position before a 12.7 slammed into the tread, sending sparks flying. The vehicle slowly rotated its barrel towards him as Gram sprinted into the road.
He felt a 90mm round grace where he just was…. But he was faster than the tank's weapons, faster than any human combatant besides Spartans were…. However? The pilot was creative… He didn't notice the barrel of the tank until it swatted him from the air. Gram rolled along the ground as the barrel slowly rotated to him.
Gram stared down the barrel of the vehicle, awaiting the shot that would reduce him to smoke and ash.
But the sound he heard was a single sniper round. The pilot was dead in an instant.
He had saved Cal… And she protected him.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out I'm NOT going to be making super chapters like this again. The next chapter is going to be mostly a flashback and show how Cal and Gram bonded as kids and during training. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!