Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hunter and Soldier. Enjoy the 4200-word chapter. I don't own Halo, Microsoft, and 343 do.
(2526, April 5th CAS-Class Assault Carrier, Pious Rampage, 12:40)
Gram dropped his empty magnum as he moved up. He leaped over cover, slamming into a jackal and ending the soldier's life with a snap of its neck. He drew his battle rifle as Cal emptied the rest of her clip into an elite.
"Arthur, move up," Cal ordered as he loaded her last clip into the rifle. "Gram, cover my back," Cal ordered while Gram continued shooting.
It was obvious to the spartan that the covenant didn't want them breaking their lines. The next blockade was a solid wall of jackals and grunts with a few brutes ordering them around. Gram's weapon flashed twice, and a pair of grunts dropped dead, their corpses joining the countless bullet casings.
Gram pulled his last grenade and tossed it ahead. The explosion was muffled by Covenant's cries of panic.
Gram turned to see Solomon dispatch a Jackal, jabbing his knife into the creature's neck.
"That's 10 so far, how many are there?" Solomon asked to which Gram only shrugged.
"40 and counting unless you'd like to count all the covenant I'm delaying currently," Mimir stated, his voice as full of mirth. "The other option would neutralize the crew… But also kill everyone besides you currently." Mimir added, the mirth turning dour.
Gram didn't need to be a shipping expert to know he meant suctioning out the oxygen. The Spartans could survive in the vacuum for a certain period… The covenant could not as far as they knew.
"And only 500 meters left to go…" Gram stated before one of the brutes roared and charged at them.
Gram kicked off the wall and slammed a foot into the creature's head. Gram watched the creature's head deform from the kick as it roared and charged him again.
Gram managed to draw his shotgun and blasted the monster in the head, ending the alien soldier as its bulk crashed to the ground while Gram cocked the gun. Gram hummed and turned to blast another jackal which was blown across the corridor.
"Their persistent, I'll give them that," Gram said and cocked the gun, ejecting a shell to the ground. "Keep away from the brutes. They're too dangerous at close range." Gram stated as he took cover again.
He would rather fight a dozen elites than the brutes. At least the elites were honor bond and had rules he could exploit.
"I know," Cal said, firing the last of her underslung grenades. The explosive detonated amid the next covenant blockade.
Smoke filled the corridor as fresh rounds flew down the corridor. Gram cursed while drawing his rifle and then opened fire once more. More bullet casings joined the countless ones along the ground.
Gram paused for a moment then grabbed one of the plasma rifles before firing anew. Cal opened fire as well before a sudden click stopped the Spartan. She moved to grab one of the discarded weapons while Solomon and Arthur emptied the rest of their ammo down the corridor.
Gram watched several red blips vanish. More took their place, but it was clear the Spartans would breach the room sooner or later.
"How long do you think this would have taken with reinforcements?" Gram asked as he paused to let his plasma rifle cool off. "I'm down to my last clips." Gram stated as he resumed firing.
The only thing he gave to the Covenant. Their guns were VERY effective at killing something without much armor. He watched a pair of grunts seem to melt under the barrage of fire he trained on them.
"We'd already be leaving if it was Blue Team," Cal said, pausing to prime and toss a captured plasma grenade. "I'm down to my rifle. How many covenant soldiers do you think we've taken out here?" Cal asked as the duo continued firing before Solomon and Arthur joined them.
Arthur drew his DMR and continued firing while Solomon picked up a covenant rifle. The quartet continued to rain fire down the hall, they watched jackals, grunts, and drones fall in equal measure. The remaining brutes decided the battle was failing and decided to enter the bridge. The various elites, however? Decided to die fighting the Spartans.
"30?" Gram asked as he fired again, draining the shields of an elite before Arthur popped the blue armored creature. "I lost track, we're getting close and they're getting desperate. We just have to get there before half a thousand covenant breaks into the corridor." Gram stated while discarding the empty weapon.
He quickly grabbed another and moved up as Cal held down the firing stud and fired. A hellish bolt of emerald shot down the corridor, catching a crimson elite by surprise. Its shields drained and broke at the same time Arthur dispatched it with a single round.
"Their difficult, but not impossible to kill," Cal said as Gram hummed.
"There's about a dozen Covenant left in this hallway including those creatures from before," Mimir added while crossing his arms. "And by the way? I've also secured a way to escape… And possibly a way to take care of the rest of the crew." Mimir added to which Gram raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to you almost saying it'd kill everyone aboard?" Gram asked to which Cal silenced her partner with a look.
"The majority of Covenant AIs have been busy trying to call down half the fleet on us," Mimir added before looking at Gram. "Admiral Cole wants an update. I'm trying to give the man one without them tracking it." Mimir said while the Spartans started to advance on the group.
It was then a giant figure approached them. The Spartans turned instinctively, dodging out of the way… Only for one of the creatures to slam its arm into Arthur's shoulder.
Gram watched as his friend's chest was sliced open like a fresh fish. His bioreadings went from green to red quickly.
"Arthur!" Gram yelled as he found his feet and advanced on the hulking beast.
Cal watched as Arthur collapsed, a mixture of training and his own will stopping the spartan from falling to shock. Still? It was something that made her eager to fight. She could see crimson along the ground… Blood, Arthur had been wounded, but not killed.
Gram rushed the hulking blue creature which bellowed a war cry as it challenged the spry spartan. Gram leaped upon its razor-sharp arm and unslung his shotgun with his other arm.
The hulking monster was about to turn towards Cal before Solomon grabbed its other arm. The two Spartans slammed the creature towards the wall. It bellowed at the two super soldiers trying to find a weak point.
Gram fired as sparks flew from its armor, the hulking monster roared in rage and tried to shake them off. Cal brought up her rifle when she noticed something.
Gram's boot caught on the creature's hip as it bucked around. Cal watched a slight movement from the muck on its hip. It lashed out at the Spartan, seeming to screech at the super-soldier.
Cal acted just as the hulking monster slammed Gram into the wall, followed by a loud snap as something broke. Cal watched Gram's vitals turn from green to orange. Gram stared the creature down, unwilling to let it have the satisfaction of killing him.
Cal watched the chest plate and shoulder armor compress as Gram struggled to push the arm away from him. The Spartan grunted, applying the hydrostatic within his suit to keep from being crushed.
Cal leaped atop the creature, planting a foot on its knee as she pulled her knife from her forearm. She shot her hand towards the creature's hulking neck. The creature screeched as orange blood dripped from its throat. Cal sawed into the creature's throat, worms falling from the monster's armor. It thrashed around as Gram managed to secure his footing.
The creature gurgled and then collapsed as Cal finally cut through, ripping the creature's head off and severing its life. The monster finally died as the three Spartans collapsed alongside it. Gram held an arm to his wounded side as he slowly staggered to his feet, pain shot over his body which he pushed aside.
"What the hell…?" Gram asked as the Spartans climbed to their feet. "Is it dead?" Gram asked, cocking the shotgun before humming.
"Yeah," Solomon stated before a roar of anger cut them off. Another of the hulking beasts charged them from down the hallway.
"Here." Gram said as he offered his shotgun to Solomon. "I'll draw its fire, you put a hole in its throat." Gram said before reading himself.
"Gram," Cal said, earning the Spartan's attention as she threw something to him. "Aim for the orange spots," Cal said to which the Spartan scout nodded.
He rushed ahead, meeting the creature's charge head-on before kicking off the way as it thrust its arm at him. The limb cut through the alien metal like a knife as the Spartan flipped over it.
Solomon fired a round into the exposed worms on the creature, it reared up and hissed before turning to him, its other arm glowing neon green. Gram leaped atop the creature as orange oozed from the wound.
He slammed an arm into the armor of the creature, planting the explosive as he kicked off it again.
The creature exploded; its armor being blown across the room as the spartan landed in a crouch. Cal swept her rifle across the room as Arthur started to stand up. Cal brought up her hip and removed a can of bio-foam from it.
"You packed ahead?" Gram asked to which Cal nodded as Gram turned his attention to the creature. "What the hell is this thing? It looks like a walking tank." Gram said as he made sure to get plenty of footage for the staff of Everest.
"Arthur, you good?" Solomon asked while the Spartan nodded and slowly stood up. "We need to get back to Everest soon. That isn't going to hold him for more than a few hours." Solomon pointed out as Cal nodded.
"It's a gestalt colony of organisms pressed into combat armor," Cal stated as she and Gram examined the worm.
"Maybe their spread out between 2 forms, that would explain their reaction to us killing half of the colony." Gram stated as Solomon looked at the duo.
"It's a giant sack of worms stuffed into armor." Both Spartans pointed out his acknowledgment.
"At the risk of sounding blunt and cold? We need to finish the mission." Cal stated, bringing Gram and Solomon's attention back to her. "Arthur, can you move? We don't have much of a way to the hanger… And if they don't trash our ride?" Cal asked to which Gram shook his head.
"They rigged it with a HAVOK in case there were issues." Gram said and turned to the door. "We fail? There's going to be a new sun where Rampage is. Covenant isn't getting anything… And its venting atmosphere anyway, crew and Arty wouldn't make it." Gram pointed out and checked the remains of his ammo.
Cal sighed and turned towards the door. She paused to grab a Covenant rifle and some ammo for the weapon. She almost wished she had brought more ammo as Gram suggested.
"I'll live until then, Ma'am." Arthur put in and slowly climbed to his feet.
Gram didn't want to ask how he was feeling. He already felt like a truck had hit him… And he didn't want to think about HOW it would have hurt Arthur. The only thing that saved Arthur was the augmentations and plenty of armor. That strike would have killed any other soldier who wasn't wearing it.
"Let's go while we still have some ability to fight with." Gram stated as the Spartans turned to the door the remaining 4 elites vanished through.
They approached the door, making sure that they swept every alcove and side hallway that was otherwise blocked.
"I don't mean to ask a stupid question." Gram said as they took positions outside the door. "But Mimir? Do you have a read on how many hostiles are inside?" Gram asked, already guessing comm silence was already out.
They knew they were coming anyway so it wasn't as if keeping a low profile was an idea.
"About a dozen or more." Mimir pointed out while stroking his beard. "If you want me to count his guard as well? let's, just say you have plenty of targets to pick from." Mimir said while the Spartans all shared looks.
"I guess we're carrying out the rest of the plan Silver Team style?" Gram asked as he turned to Cal.
"More or less. The plan hit a hitch; we improvise." Cal put in as Gram hummed.
"When do we not improvise?" Gram said before the door started to slide open.
It paused after several meters, not large enough for a spartan to enter, but good enough for a firing formation. Cal was about to ask why Mimir had paused the door only to be answered with plasma.
Gram watched a pair of grunts clad in silver armor carrying what looked like a turret or such. Gram fired during a lull in the volley of plasma.
The grunts collapsed, one of their weapons going off as he watched an explosion of plasma mark their death.
"Think we should ask nicely?" Gram joked as he aimed a jackal up on the upper ledges.
"I don't know, they don't have the best manners." Solomon joked back while plasma rained down upon them.
The doors slid open fully, allowing the Spartans to sprint inside. They unleashed a hail of fire, scattering the guards as they spread out. A trio of ultras chased after Cal while the 4 elites from before challenged Solomon.
Gram paused to shoot a jackal before a crimson elite took his place. Gram emptied the rest of his rifle into the creature before tossing it at the alien soldier. The saurian swatted the empty gun away and brought up his energy shield.
Gram threw his weight into the creature, toppling them to the ground before finishing the creature with a stab to the neck. Gram turned to look at a gangly creature sitting atop a chair.
"Heretic, you dare sully this sacred vessel!?" The being screamed, his skin turning reddish.
"I dare, your highness." Gram snarked before the spartan looked at him. "Too busy ordering your soldiers to fight for you?" Gram asked as he rushed the San'Shyuum.
Cal turned and blasted the elites following her. They simply charged through the rounds to attack her. One lashed out with his energy sword only for Cal to pivot and grab the limb. She dropped her weapon and elbowed one of the elites before stabbing the sword into him. The elite gurgled and collapsed before Cal pivoted around another trying to strike at her throat.
Solomon turned and fired, ending the life of a blue armored elite before turning to engage the next who was already firing at him. None of them noticed Gram engaging the Prophet. He leaped aboard the creature's throne and began yanking him from it.
"LET GO, YOU WORTHLESS CREATURE!" The prophet roared as Gram started to damage his throne.
This caused the dozens of Covenant soldiers to pause as the others began dispatching them. Cal twisted the sword into another elite before driving the blade through the first elite. Solomon fired another round into the crimson elite, draining its shields before ending it with another shot.
Arthur brought up his DMR and another jackal as he raced to help Solomon dispatch the rest of the Covenant soldiers.
Gram felt the throne buck and weave; however, his grasp was like iron. He pulled the Covenant leader from the throne and towards the ground. The prophet screeched and hit the deck, knocking him out.
This act was followed by Solomon and Arthur tackling the two gob stuck elites and ending their lives with quick stabs. The chamber fell silent as Gram hummed.
"I expected more backup." Gram said as he looked at the soldiers. "Like the bridge, why wasn't he at the bridge?" Gram asked and got no answer.
"Well, if you wanted a fight? You're going to get one." Mimir added, his voice full of amusement. "Covenant battle net JUST lit up. The rest of the fleet is sending EVERYTHING they got to secure the prophet." Mimir added to which the Spartans shared a look.
"Lovely, maybe we get lucky, and the nuke blows up half the fleet." Solomon put in as Cal looked at the prophet.
"Mimir, what's our exfil?" Cal asked, looking at Gram who picked up the prophet and a plasma rifle as well.
"There's a shuttle in the cargo bay here," Mimir said and placed a nav point on the map. "It's your only hope. There's going to be MILLIONS of Covenant soldiers here in a few minutes, and they're all coming here." Mimir added as the Spartans nodded.
"Everest, this is Silver Leader, we have a target," Cal reported as Gram turned to her. "But we're going to be dealing with half the Covenant fleet soon. How copy?" Cal asked as she and the others began moving.
"Roger, Silver Leader, get the target back to a secure location and we handle the rest," Cole ordered as the Spartans all continued their trek to the cargo bay.
"Artie, how you holding up?" Gram asked as the Spartans sprinted down the corridor. "That walking worm is dead, you're going to be back aboard Everest soon enough." Gram put in while they continued their jog.
"It stings a lot, but it's not killing me," Arthur responded as they rounded a corridor. "Why, do you plan on buying the next round of drinks?" Arthur asked while Gram chuckled.
"If you can still think about the bar? Then you're fine." Gram said as a door opened to the side. "Wish I wasn't carrying valuable cargo," Gram muttered as he looked around once more.
A pair of jackals rushed out before Cal turned and fired. Gram watched something fall to the ground but ignored it anyway. The longer they were aboard this ship? The more dangerous it became.
"You think we're going to make it?" Solomon asked while they ran down another corridor.
They turned just as another door opened, the pack of elites didn't notice the group vanish. Gram kept an eye upon Arthur who was busily lagging by a few steps.
Gram didn't say anything, Arthur would be fine. He always managed to pull through things. Gram knew they'd get back aboard the Everest, get their wounds treated, then go back to work.
"I wonder how things are going with Operation: SILENT STORM is going." Gram said and took a corner while he turned to shoot a pair of grunts. "I heard the other Spartans are taking it to the covenant." Gram stated as they stopped near another junction.
"Don't focus on that," Cal said and turned to Solomon. "Solomon, keep an eye on Artie. We're all getting out of here." Cal ordered as they formed up open the door in front of them.
They brought up the map once more which showed a light crew in the cargo dock. Probably nobody expected this cargo deck to be of anything.
"Mimir, how far away is the rest of the Covenant reinforcements?" Cal asked and readied her weapon.
"Other side of their ship a few decks away," Mimir stated as they looked upon each other.
"Both Heimdall and Mimir are pretty damn good partners…." Gram said and looked down the hallway.
"We have a war to win." Gram said as they entered the room. Gram hung back, keeping the spartan ready while he looked to the side.
Gram moved towards the shuttlecraft. They'd need something to distract the rest of the fleet. He left that to Admiral Stanforth and the others.
Gram strapped the prophet to a chair while the sounds of gunfire and combat raged around him. Gram stood guard over the Covenant leader, every single muscle in the super-soldier wanted to fight. Cal would have probably told him to take off and complete the mission.
He turned to the door as the motion was detected, bringing up the plasma rifle as he did so while standing his ground.
Cal entered, her sniper rifle smoking as Gram lowered the weapon. He turned to allow Cal to walk to the controls. She pulled out Mimir's chip and placed him in the console.
"We need to move, there's going to be Covenant all over us in a few minutes. They're under orders to detain us." Gram heard from Mimir which caused him to chuckle.
"How's Artie and Solomon?" Gram asked before the two Spartans boarded the shuttle. "Never mind, let's go. We need to put space between us and the ship.
Mimir began to interact with the controls as the Spartans made sure the prophet wouldn't be an issue. Gram and Solomon paused to look at Arthur who had fallen silent.
"I got hit pretty bad, are things going to be ok with him?" Gram asked as the shuttle shot out of the cargo bay doors and into space.
Nobody said a word, there was nothing more that could be done. Spartans were designed for ground operations the very idea of being aboard a vessel and not on the ground where their abilities made the difference rather annoying.
The four Spartans contemplated their assignment. Part of them wished this would end the war. The covenant could be beaten on the ground, but in space, they were all but unstoppable. The only way to fight them was to destroy them before they fired even a single shot.
But the other half of them knew better. The covenant wanted blood; it wanted their deaths for some inane reasoning they didn't know. The Spartans knew this was bound to fall apart and they'd be thrown back into the war they had fought for years.
Cal looked at Gram who brought a hand to his ribs. The creature had still nicked him before he was able to dispatch it. He said nothing, simply deciding to stand ready if needed as Arthur took a seat at the pilot's chair.
"We have several pursuers…" Arthur reported while looking at the others.
"Boarding craft?" Gram asked, his plasma rifle brought up to a firing position.
"Fighters and transports. I don't know how we're going to out pursue them." Arthur reported as Gram hummed and nodded.
"Silver Leader to Everest Actual. We're being pursued by Covenant craft." Cal reported as Gram looked at her. "We're in a Covenant shuttlecraft, the VIP is aboard," Cal stated as their craft shot across space.
Gram turned to look at Pious Rampage, 3 souls for countless. Whatever traces they left would be vaporized and scattered to the wind. Gram questioned just how much of the fleet would be destroyed in the battle to come.
"Silver Leader, make for these coordinates and let us handle the rest." They heard from Cole as their ship continued through space.
The vessel fled towards Biko, seraphs and covenant dropships pursing on trails of elegant blue light. The Spartans all looked upon each other.
The Covenant craft accelerated upon there's before a sparkle of light caught one of the craft. The seraph spun, its shields flickering as a squadron of Longsword fighters screeched into view, their 110mm cannons bellowing rounds upon the Covenant craft which turned to engage.
Arthur and Gram both slumped over, their injuries finally catching up to the adrenaline-clad supersoldiers. Their vitals dropped lower, still alive, but wounded.
"Gram….!" Cal said as she and Solomon moved toward their teammates.
Cal turned Gram over to see the spartan was fighting to maintain consciousness. Gram looked up at her and brought his left arm to squeeze her shoulder.
Cal did the same, unwilling to let go of Gram's armor till they were aboard Leviathan.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out I'm NOT going to make the Spartans easily win everything… I just want to give them energy shielding before I make fights far tougher. The next chapter will show a debriefing and Cal checking up on Gram along with the mission details and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!