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 13th, UNSC Marathon Class Heavy cruiser Leviathan 10:43 AM)
Stanforth looked out the window upon the vastness of space. He almost questioned how many Covenant cruisers it contained. There were plenty of places where there were soldiers. He wished there were better soldiers like the ones behind him. Stanforth mentally sighed and shook his head, moving on to the mission.
"Spartans?" Stanforth questioned as he turned, his arms crossed behind him. "I trust you've healed up better. I know just how much you all love the battlefield." Stanforth added as he watched the soldiers straighten up.
None of them showed any real emotion, any drop in their behavior. He could tell they were all privately talking on a comm channel… And he knew entirely how much Cal and Gram were probably speaking.
"We're all happy to be here, sir," Gram stated to which Stanforth nodded. "I only wish our teammate was here," Gram added, crossing his arms behind his back.
"Your teammate will be quite ok, Spartan," Stanforth stated to which he nodded to himself while he shook his head. "Onto your mission. Spartan? Had you informed your team?" Stanforth questioned as both Solomon and Gram turned towards Cal.
Cal looked over them, Solomon was quite curious when it came down to it, eager to hear what she had to say. Gram looked at her like he always did. He had spoken to her; he knew the mission inside and out.
"We know the specifics, sir," Cal stated before the Spartans turned back to him. "There's an enemy soldier you need us to kill, one who has been causing issues to vital supply lines. Silver Team is to establish a beachhead. We will then cut down this target." Cal added as both nodded and hummed when it came down to it.
"I'm going to guess you know just what is at stake if the target escapes?" Stanforth asked as the Spartans nodded to themselves. "There will be plenty to do when this comes down to it. I'm going to allow you to think of how to handle this well. I know how skilled and talented Spartans like you are. There is never an end to soldiers like you, crafty ones." Stanforth added as the Spartans nodded.
"When do we set out, sir?" Cal and Gram asked to which Stanforth typed on the computer. "Sir?" Cal questioned to which he nodded as he hummed.
The three Spartans tilted their head and looked up at the monitor. They were quite eager to get on with their mission. They were Spartans, they lived for things like this.
"How long until we leave, sir?" Gram questioned as he cracked a smile under his armor. "We will be ready when you need us." Gram stated to which there was a nod.
"First questions, Spartans," Stanforth stated before he held up a hand. "The planet is something you need to know about. There's been heavy enemy activity there. I sent a pair of frigates to investigate, but neither has responded in over 24 hours." Stanforth said before Gram spoke up.
"Enemy ships, sir?" Gram questioned, a tone of interest in his voice. "I thought there was no real human presence on that planet. The covenant shouldn't have found anything." Gram stated before he blinked.
"There's plenty of covenant ships in orbit. We need one of them gone." Stanforth said, causing the Spartans to all share looks. "If you can? We've heard one of them was carrying something important… We wouldn't be sending you if we didn't think you'd be up to the problem at hand." Stanforth added as they all shared more looks.
"Your dismissed, Spartans, data will be sent to your helmets. we will make sure to keep you in the loop." Stanforth ordered to which they nodded and turned and walked.
All of them were curious, every single spartan didn't know what the plan was. Stanforth never outright lied to them, but there was always something he never told the Spartans. It made them invest more in the mission, but also made them unsure.
They filed out of the room, their unarmored footsteps a sound Stanforth wasn't used to. He'd never get used to the fact that these children were some of the best soldiers in the UNSC.
"I'm going to head to the armory, meet you there?" Solomon asked to which Spartans nodded, walking down the hallway. "Don't forget, we might Be cutting it close like we usually do," Solomon stated before he left.
Cal and Gram turned to each other, both Spartans shared a look of understanding.
"Another one of the hunting missions?" Gram questioned, leaning on the wall as he did so. "There's only so many assassinations we can do before the enemy gets smart," Gram added, watching Cal loom over him.
"We're killing the smart ones, remember?" Cal questioned to which Gram nodded. "There's plenty of people like that. I still need you to watch my back, always need my partner." Cal said, setting her hands on Gram's shoulders.
"I got you if you got me," Gram stated to which Cal nodded. "You ever remember when we first did this signal?" Gram questioned as Cal smirked.
She remembered just how scrawny Gram years were ago before. Now? He was busy killing covenant and Insurrectionists who were much stronger looking.
"I know our 'I got you now' signal," Cal stated as she leaned on the wall. "There's plenty of Spartans, Gram…. But none of them are as scrappy as you. I still can't believe out of every spartan? You chose me." Cal added to which Gram chuckled.
"Maybe I had a good reason to. You ever think of that?" Gram asked as he turned towards her. "I got lucky. You're the best damn sniper in the corps. I'd have died on that planet; you think I want another spartan next to me?" Gram questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Do you want to point out how this rolled next?" Cal questioned to which Gram nodded, turning to her. "If things were that bad? You'd be dead." Cal stated as she drummed her fingers on her arms.
"You know we're going to see some heavy fighting down there, right?" Gram questioned, closing his eyes as he did so. "We need heavy firepower. We're going to be outmatched, outgunned. There's plenty of work to be done." Gram stated as he turned to leave out the room.
"That just means there's no lack of targets," Cal stated to which he nodded.
"You hate when we start clearing out hostiles left and right." Gram stated to which he got a nod. "You do know we are going right through the enemy. It isn't like we get to pick and choose who we take down, we're there to get the mission done. Isn't like Spartans haven't taken down armies with nukes before. Plus? They want us to take out as many enemy soldiers as possible." Gram put in as Cal waved her hands back and forth.
"Lack of enemy targets is better than a thousand hostiles," Cal responded as both Spartans began their walk to the armory. "Would you like me to point out how we don't drop everyone we see?" Cal questioned to which Gram nodded.
"This coming from the sniper who drops enemy VIPS every day?" Gram questioned, gaining a smirk as he did so. "That's what I thought. I only attack the enemy who's in the way. However? I heard the war might be turning around." Gram which caused Cal to nod.
The two Spartans were quite curious. The war was constantly raging, both of them would rather be in a fight when it comes down to it. Cal wanted nothing more to be in the field, putting a bullet through a VIP, hunting down the enemy which could try and escape.
"You like fieldwork, yeah?" Cal questioned and watched Gram nod as he hummed as he clicked his teeth. "You know this mission isn't any harder than the rest. We've dealt with worse when it comes down to it. There's plenty of work we've dealt with, killed plenty of targets." Cal stated to which Gram hummed.
"Doesn't mean we don't need heavy firepower." Gram stated before he shook his head. "We need to pack heavy. We probably aren't getting resupply in the field. I HATE using covenant guns, though." Gram said, watching her smirk as he hummed.
"They suck that bad?" Cal questioned as Gram nodded. "I'd like to point out we're supposed to bring back enemy tech to our ship. You know that it's what going to need." Cal added before she hummed to herself.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to apologize for this chapter is short. The next chapter will be showing Silver Team being sent on this mission. The next chapter is in 2-10 months and will be 900-6500 words. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!