Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hunter and Soldier. Enjoy the 2700-word chapter. I do not own Halo, Microsoft, and 343 do.
(2525, September 13th, Reach 6:30 PM)
Cal and Gram fell silent, not simply of the idea that they had more to this for now, something that would be dealt with for now, an idea that could be properly dealt with for now until the end of time… He would not bow to them, to anything similar but because it could end it for now. She would not relent at it but it had to be done.
"You know more than anything that if you try something? I am going to stop you. I always try and stop you, and I almost always seem to try and figure something out more and more. This was a lot more to deal with than usual and you know that… Yet you keep pushing thinking you can handle something you probably cannot deal with it." Cal said as she sighed before as of the time being.
This would be able to try and figure something out. She knew more and more as time pressed on. He knew more and more that these sorts of things would keep being more and more exhausting as he tried for it now.
Still? Gram had no intentions of backing down, not just because he did not at all know what the future brought but knowing that if he didn't push forwards for now.
It made him sigh as his friend leaned upon him more and more, stopping the Spartan from getting up to his feet as he rolled his eyes, if she managed to do something today? He would be impressed but he guessed she was trying to stop him from doing something idiotic for now, he had a LOT more to try and figure it all out.
Something within him would keep breaking to pieces. The two were utterly consumed by it all for now as he would keep being able to try and deal with it all for now as he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
The madness was something that he could keep growing through more and more as he hummed once more, utterly thrown off by it.
This would not keep growing through it for now as he looked to the side, something that would keep dealt with it for now.
"I do not care that my leg is hurt, Cal. This is not exactly going to stop me for now, it doesn't help." Gram said as Cal rolled her eyes.
She did not exactly think of it the same way when push came to shove, something that would be utterly dealt with for now, not because she couldn't deal with it. Yet? She would need to keep growing through it all for now.
Whatever could be dealt with for now? This wasn't something that would be dealt with it for now, this was a lot more than he could click his fingers against one another, not allowing it to end in a single few second as of now, utterly tired for now.
If it ended? So be it for now and so be it for good to end it for now… The idea was just more and more to try and figure out… Something that could be dealt with as of now, it would need to try and figure out for now, a measure to try and deal with it all.
Cal was utterly amused, knowing that Gram was utterly beyond such things… They had a lot more measure of peace to figure out as she hummed.
She looked to Gram who lay down, looking at the ground, unsure of what the next move would be… They had a lot more to try and figure something out as of now.
"We're going to need to cut through the enemy sooner or later… How many hunts have you been on? How many soldiers have you sent to the other side?" Gram asked to which Cal only hummed.
She knew what he meant, for now, something about it all seemed only to make herself more amused. She was unable to try and relax knowing that the covenant was not going to be able to do something.
(Current Days)
Both Gram and Cal marched towards the hanger, utterly tired, thrown out for now… They were tired, exhausted, and worn down, they were utterly thrown for a loop, knowing that the more they fought? The more they had worn down to the bone.
They were both soldiers but they could only do so much, it managed to relax them for now as they both seemed to think of something for now… It would not be enough to bother them… Not when it was all over.
"What do you think the Admiral needs from us, exactly? Because it was going to be like this." Gram stated before he paused and looked downwards at the ground.
He did not exactly know what was going on for now and he would not be able to try and deal with it for now. He had a lot of measures to deal with, a lot of fear and chaos.
Now? Now? They had a war to get to, for now, something was going to push them to the edge as of now. This was not going to push them anywhere anytime soon.
Gram, always the interested soldier? Was busy looking to try and figure out what Admiral Stanforth was going to be dealing with.
Gram would be unable to relax more and more, unsure of what to try and deal with for now as he clicked his fingers, unsure, unable to focus upon it for now.
They had something else to try and figure out, knowing that he could relax, managing to do something to change the way it all went… They would have ordered; they would have peace. Otherwise?
He had more to try and deal with, knowing what he could deal with for now, he had a lot more to try and figure out, something that could be met out for now.
He paused, thinking of something to try and deal with it, not wanting to relax, to find some peace in it… A measure of control and mercy that was utterly done for now. It would not be dealt with for now and for good.
"Your next mission one I require you and Sierra-077 to be willing to deal with… There is a Prophet, one we need to be taken care of." Cal and Gram heard from Stanforth.
"Where do we head out to kill him, sir?" Cal questioned, pausing to look to the side.
"A planet is known as Heian… The covenant owns it." Stanforth stated before he gestured to the hologram behind him.
"You will be deployed to a UNSC Diligence Class-Light Destroyer known as the Kronstadt. It will deploy you and an ODST team to the planet… You will assassinate the target, then reach the evac point where a UNSC Prowler will pick you up… The Kronstadt will send you both and Solomon to the Leviathan." Stanforth said as Cal and Gram both paused to trade looks.
"3 Spartans for one op, sir?" Cal questioned before he sighed.
"It is a minor Prophet, heavy security, and recon we need… If it was up to me? I would have a group of Longswords carpet bomb everything within a 10-kilo radius and call it a day." Stanforth said as they paused to look down at the ground.
"But ONI wants proof he's dead and buried," Gram stated to which Stanforth nodded. "Sir? Even if it is a long shot? Perhaps we should do it… Orbital Drop Shock troopers are one thing but they are not as durable as us, they'd be shredded like cheese." Gram stated.
Cal, for once? Nodded, inclining her head. Stanforth looked at the two before pausing.
"It is not entirely my call. It was going to be an ODST mission but HIGHCOM wished to get it done directly. Silver Team is acting on their orders for this mission." Stanforth stated before he paused, utterly thrown off.
"Kill the target, evac… Get everyone home safe. Got it." Gram said before he paused.
"If you can… God knows we need every soldier we can get for the war." Stanforth stated before he paused and looked downwards at the ground. "You have 2 days to prepare. You will all be sent to the destroyer." Stanforth stated before he paused, looking downwards at the ground in exhaustion, he did not wish to do much at all when it was all over.
Two Spartans and he was sending them both into the midst of a meat grinder, the last thing he wanted to do. Still? He was an officer and sending his men into the breach was not something out of the way.
He was going to be acting more and more like a soldier, an ideal that had been thrown off by it all at the end of the day and such… Not the best ideal for dealing with such a thing at the end of the mission when the push was coming to shove for now.
He would not be allowed to end it… Not now and not before. This would end the battle, end it all, end every operation he wished to bring to the battle.
Still? He knew the operation itself was to be done and dusted well and for good. He was a soldier; his mission was to handle this as a soldier and he would do his duty well.
Stanforth did not wish for war. He did not want to end it at all, yet? He had seen such things as a warrior, he had known that the idea would be well.
If he did not put Spartans on the mission? Did he know sooner or later? They would lose the war, the Prophets needed to die or be captured, and while he still had the best intentions of winning the secrets? He damn well knew what would be required to have won a war of this level.
Cal paused to glance at the rest of them, utterly thrown off but knowing that Gram would be wishing to bring every single soldier back to the ship. He wished to protect, nurture them, heal them, and help what had been established.
She gripped his hand, causing him to pause and look at her as she squeezed his hand, telling him subtly she had his back and she would wish to act as she had always. She knew that Gram wished to protect them and so damn well did she.
"We handle it, sir. We will always handle it, even if we do not have the means to do so." Gram stated as he paused and sighed, knowing what would become of things if they could.
Gram did not want to lie but he probably was. There was just too much to focus upon such things as he had wanted to have been it for now and good.
He wanted to be focused more and more on such a thing that was beyond all ideals, all such mannerisms, and relaxing thoughts. He felt more tired, more exhausted of his options than before.
Perhaps it was meant to pump him up and yet? He had been too exhausted to even struggle and fight against it. He wanted to pause, relaxing, tired for now… It felt too much beyond what was happening.
There was a lot more to this and a lot more to it, an idea that it would not end, would not be capable of being ended. There was just too much to try and figure out, they had to keep fighting and growing.
If he did not? If he did not relent against such a thing? There was a lot that needed to be dealt with for now at the time, it did not seem to be over with anytime soon, not when it needed to be cut down and handled well and good enough for now.
There was just too damn much to deal with, it was not going to end, not now at the very least.
"Sir? What happens if we survive?" Gram asked to which Stanforth fell silent.
"I beg pardon, Sierra?" Stanforth asked with an eyebrow cocked like a loaded gun.
"We are being sent into the wilderness on an unknown enemy planet with little support and very few supplies," Gram stated before getting a nod to proceed. "This is also Alpha Priority. I and Cal both know going in what to expect… But there are more soldiers there and plenty of them are going to be ready for anything, there are going to be losses. Either us or the ODSTS when it comes down to us." Gram added.
"If you survive? You and your team are getting some shore leave… Sierra 141 is convinced you need a few days off and while I need every damn soldier in the fight? I know that a wounded spartan is just going to get things messy." Stanforth stated.
Gram frowned, his eyes were wide and his brow crinkled as he realized just how damn annoying it would be. Cal could tell the Spartan was incensed, insulted at the idea that he would be sidelined and probably looking for any reason to cut loose. It told its own story as he realized just how he had been sidelined.
It bothered him but he said nothing, knowing what had been done, what was tiring, what had been thrown to the side, and what he would have to do. it cut deeper and deeper as a knife would.
It was a lot more tiresome for now, it was something at the end of the day that a Spartan, a soldier, could not handle… This was not something else to keep growing with before now.
He was not going to be dead while he paused to keep thinking of what else will be said and done. He sighed before he relaxed, too tired, unwilling to do more or less to compromise something.
"Are there any other questions?" Stanforth asked before Gram hummed. "There are always going to be more questions," Stanforth stated before she paused to relax.
It was something that was dying at the time, an idea that seemed to crumble within seconds.
"How long until we are on the frontlines, sir? Cal is going to be the sniper and it's clear we and ODSTS have a… Complicated arrangement." Cal heard as she frowned.
He had very little chance to do more than relax and very little time to do it. He was dedicated only to the next fight and he had a lot more pep in him than before. A sign that Gram was going to be fighting even if he was ordered not to… Still? She could not wait to try and fix it for now, not wanting to cut through such a certain way.
He tried to figure something out at the time when it comes to the idea as it seemed to try and figure out an ideal. She seemed to be ready to figure for now as she seemed to be utter as she would be able to try and figure as she paused as she looked to the ground.
Cal seemed to be utterly thrown for now as she hummed to try and figure out as she paused to think as she paused to look downwards before she seemed to think of their next move.
She knew they were going to war, she knew they would be fighting against the worst tomorrow…. And she did not want to relax, she didn't wish to see it any other way… And she wouldn't, because they were going to be dealing with the worst.
All she could do, all she could relax, she would not allow it to end that way… Not when it comes down to it, not wanting to try and deal with it for now…
Author Notes
Phew. The first chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be delayed. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months, and it will show the mission in Legends. It will also set up a time skip towards the Fall of Reach, until the 900–6500-word chapter. Lighting Wolf out!