Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hunter and Soldier. Enjoy the 1500-word chapter. I don't own Halo, Microsoft, and 343 do.
(2526, April 5th Valiant Class Super Heavy Cruiser Everest, 04:00)
The doctors departed after stabilizing Gram who took a deep breath and slowly sat up. His arm ached, but the Spartan pushed the pain aside as both Halsey and Gram entered. Halsey stopped near the spartan while Cal walked to his side. Gram managed to turn his head to her.
"Did we win?" Gram asked as he looked at his bad arm. "Damn, that walking maggot pile got me." Gram said, making Halsey lookup.
"Walking maggot pile?" Halsey asked as Gram shared a look with Cal.
"We ran into a new type of covenant soldier," Cal stated as Gram nodded. "A colony of worms or similar organisms, it sliced through Arthur's MJOLNIR like butter. It's a gestalt creature, we think they work in pairs of 2… They're what injured Gram and Arthur." Cal added to which Gram nodded.
"The rest of their soldiers could barely touch us… We should have just sprinted to the bridge." Gram said and looked at Cal. "Where's Artie? I know he's not dead if that walking worm pile didn't kill me? It sure as hell didn't touch Artie." Gram added, pulling his weight towards the other side of the bed.
Cal said nothing, questioning how the capture of the Prophet would affect the war. If this prophet was a lower rank like this? Then she doubted it would end the war. It might tip the war in their favor, but that was it.
"Arthur is busy recovering as are you, Gram," Halsey added which Cal hummed. "I've also heard the Pious Rampage as the recall was destroyed. We've confirmed their commander was aboard it at the time. Your mission might have spared Biko from the Covenant." Halsey added before a marine knocked at the door.
Halsey turned and looked at the Spartans who were busy looking at each other. Gram watched Halsey leave and turned back to Cal.
"Before you say anything?" Gram said and looked at his partner. "If wiping out a Covenant carrier and capturing a VIP was what happened? Me being messed up a little seems a good trade-off." Gram said and tried to move his wounded arm.
Cal took a seat next to the wounded spartan. She didn't know much about medicine besides stabilizing another soldier. She heard it would be at least 2 weeks before Gram was back and fighting again.
"How's the arm?" Cal asked to which Gram shrugged.
"The dermacortic steroids they used to feel worse than my arm," Gram responded and winced. "Why? You want to tell me how reckless I am?" Gram stated to which Cal could only look around with amusement.
"I'm just glad you're not dead," Cal said, her lips pulling apart in a very wry smile. "I'm guessing you'd rather be out on the battlefield? I heard John and the others are busy taking apart the rest of the fleet… There were insurrectionists on the moon." Cal stated as Gram frowned.
Insurrectionists? What were they doing here? Were they in league with the Covenant? Knowing how much of the traitorous humans wanted to destroy the UNSC? He assumed they probably wanted to scream UNSC secrets to them in exchange for help. Gram didn't love violence, but the idea of the Insurrectionists trying to befriend the Covenant to murder the UNSC… Only to backfire did amuse him.
"They won't stop blowing their flagship into orbital fireworks, Cal." Gram said and shook his head. "But you're joking about insurrections on Biko's moon… If their suicidal enough to believe the Covenant would help them? Then I don't feel bad when it backfires on them." Gram added and looked to the side with a hum.
(Bridge of the Everest.)
"Did you order Silver Team to capture the Prophet because you wanted us to have a bargaining chip?" Halsey asked as she entered the bridge. "Or did you want to destroy Pious Rampage with a trojan horse technique and simply wanted an excuse to try and bring down their flagship?" Halsey asked to which Cole was silent.
Halsey knew for a fact that Cole was quite willing to put any soldiers in the path of fire when it came down to it. Victory mattered to Cole.
"If I did?" Cole asked, turning to greet the doctor. "Then it would still have accomplished 2 goals in exchange for a handful of lives and a single ship," Cole added, his hands folded behind his back.
"I'm quite curious as to why you would not simply ask them to partake in the mission if they're doing the same," Halsey said and frowned at Cole. "The destruction of one ship will not save Zhoist on its own and you know this. How many ships have fallen so far? 7. And they have a fleet of 100 from what I saw." Halsey stated and shook her head.
Cole said nothing. He was aware of how prideful and steadfast Halsey was. Those Spartans she had sent on the trip? SHE had created them, they were loyal to the woman, and their honor was to her first.
"The Spartans still reside under the UNSC Navy, Dr. Halsey," Cole responded, taking a seat in his chair. "I outrank them… And if I saw fit to send them on an operation that could kill them to secure a tactical or strategic advantage? I'd still be within my rights to utilize their talents to combat the enemy." Cole pointed out as one of the staff on the bridge approached.
"Sir? The Rio Grande will be around to send Silver Team to the Sanatorium." The soldier reported to which Halsey raised an eyebrow.
The Sanatorium was a UNSC medical outpost. A place where the most wounded soldiers in the military were sent. It was secret, with one needing high-level clearance to know it.
"You have more work for my Spartans when this is done, Admiral?" Halsey asked with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you? Your fully aware Silver Team will only be out a week at best…" Halsey said, knowing that her Spartans would recover faster than any UNSC soldier would.
"If they do? Then Admiral Stanforth will give them another assignment." Cole said and shrugged. "The war comes before any soldiers, doctor. The Covenant here is my goal." Cole added and turned back to the space between them at the moment.
Halsey sighed and left. Did she find it amusing that despite being so involved in military projects? The military had NO reason to care or respect her beside her building their toys.
She turned to go and speak to Arthur and Solomon before returning to Cal and Gram. If some of her Spartans were being shipped somewhere? She'd be right alongside them as much as she could.
(With Gram and Cal)
"You know… I'm kind of hoping the drugs wear OFF?" Gram asked looking at the chuckling Cal. "Seriously, fractured arm? The painkillers are giving me MORE pain than that giant maggot pile did." Gram said as Cal shook her head back and forth with amusement.
"And if you weren't here?" Cal asked to which Gram shrugged as he looked once more at the Spartan.
"Probably would have gone back to fighting the rebels." Gram stated and looked at Cal. "You? We've fought a lot recently; I can't tell who we're fighting right now." Gram said as Cal shrugged.
"Whoever they're telling us to fight," Cal responded to which Gram raised an eyebrow.
"On another note? Where's the prophet?" Gram asked, raising his unwounded arm as much as possible. "We already parading him around? Somehow I don't think it's that easy." Gram said and frowned.
Cal did the same. She knew well enough this wouldn't end the war. The prophet they captured was a small fish in a massive chain, they had presumably only bought the UNSC a small tactical advantage… Not a strategic one that could turn the war.
"You thinking we're going to be fighting a while, aren't you?" Gram asked, gesturing to her drumming her fingers on her leg. "You've got that thinking look on you again." Gram said before the door slowly opened.
Both Spartans turned to see Dr. Halsey at the door. Both Spartans shared a look before speaking up.
"Ma'am, what's going on?" Cal asked as Gram hummed.
Both were sure this war wasn't over. It couldn't be that easy when it came down to it.
But that didn't mean they were out. There were still Spartans in the fight, after all.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will show Gram and the others heading to the station and more of Gram and Cal bonding along with another flashback. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Next chapter is anywhere from 1500-2000 words; combat chapters are MUCH longer than that currently, but it might change.