A/N: Yea... I know, it's been a while. But my mental health was starting to be an issue again so I really needed to take a break. But here we are again, so onto the story...
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A product of the post war rearming of the UNSC, the HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Armor Defense System (Mantis), was huge departure from traditional Human vehicle designs.
Basically a "Mech Suit", the Mantis was designed to support UNSC Ground forces in a combat environment, they initially lacked the raw fire power of a Main Battle Tank. But they more that made up for this in both their maneuverability and the fact they were equipped with a regenerative shield system. It was not a perfect set up, but it allowed the Mech to stay in the fight longer and provide much needed support for infantry units.
The Siege Merciless actually three of them on board when she was deployed to the Forerunner outpost. As they were meant to be deployed and used as security on the recovery site. But the Covenant had attacked before they could be deployed and were still on board when the Siege Merciless was pulled through the Portal.
But now they were being put to good use by Hannah, As the A.I used them to assault the Blank Moon Clan's castle and making short work of it's would be defenders.
A literal wall of steel was tearing through the Droid army, as two of the Mech Suits slowly advanced on their target. The 20mm rounds making short work of the smaller metallic constructs, tearing through them like tissue paper. While a volley of missiles would occasionally lash out at aerial targets and the occasional ground target.
All the while, Logan's gunship continued to make attack runs on the Castle itself. As the Structure's defense system activated and attempted to engage the attacking Mechs and aircraft. But all they did was give away their existence, as the Pelican would target them with gun fire and eliminate them.
But eventually, the Drop Ship began to run low on ammunition and was forced to withdraw from the action. Leaving the Two Mantis to continue on with the assault.
As this was going on, heavy gun fire and explosions erupted from the lower levels of the Castle. As Logan and the Senshi began to battle their way to the surface. With the Nova Bomb now neutralized, their was no reason for them to remain. For Logan, the objective now was to make it to the surface and link up with the "Cavalry".
Just as Logan had hoped, the diversionary attack had indeed ensured that most of the enemy force would be focused on that. But there was still a sizable contingent of Droids between them and the surface.
Bolts of Lighting, powerful jets of water, arrow shaped flames and machine gun fire, tore through the would be attackers, as the Senshi and Logan pushed forward. At one point, a Spider Droid appeared and launched itself as Mercury, but Logan was quick to respond with a burst of gunfire that tore it's head apart and allowed Mercury to dodge the attack. Venus finishing off the creature, as she sliced the being in half with her Sword.
Two more Droids were quickly dispatched by Neptune, as she used deep submerge. The constructs slamming into the rock wall with such force, they both shattered into pieces. At one point, Logan switched to his Plasma Sword and began to quite literally slice a path through the oncoming hoard. The super heated energy blades slicing through the metal bodies with ease, as the Spartan effortlessly carved his way through the would be attackers.
It was at this point Serenity and the other Senshi got a break from the assault and saw Logan fighting the attacking droids by himself. Needless to say, they were taken aback by the way the Spartan fought. Despite his apparent size, Logan moved faster and with much more agility than they thought would not be possible for someone his size.
"Whoa..." Venus gasped out, just as Logan impaled another droid. "No wonder he was able to beat Haruka and Michiru"
"Yea!" Makoto agreed, ignoring Neptune's death glare.
Finally, the last droid was dispatched and Logan deactivated his Plasma sword and placing it back in it's holster. "I think that was the last of them " the Spartan announced, his booming voice breaking everyone out of their self imposed trace. "We should keep moving, more of those things could be on the way."
"Yea." Serenity replied, still shaken up by the recent battle. But as Logan once again took point, Venus came along side the monarch and asked... "Are we just going to ignore the fact Logan just went Beast Mode on those Droids? I mean he literally tore through them like nothing!"
"Yea!" Jupiter added. "Never seen anything like it."
"You did say he was a soldier back in his world." Mars commented, "and there was a war. Maybe what we just saw was a result of his time in that war."
"We can discuss this later, lets just keep moving. I don't want to stay here any longer." Neptune interrupted, bringing everyone back to the situation at hand. Quickly falling in line behind Logan, as they navigated their way to the the exit
Eventually, the group came upon Logan's Mongoose which was exactly where he had left it. But rather than use it again, the Spartan began to strap several grenades to it's frame. Much to the shock of the Senshi and Serenity, just what did he plan to do?
They soon got their answer when Logan powered up the vehicle and moved it to face the tunnel. Giving the engine one last rev, the Mongoose was sent barreling a into the tunnel at high speed and soon vanished into the darkness.
"Run!" Logan exclaimed, before breaking into a sprint. The Senshi didn't even have to ask why, as they soon followed the Spartan and ran as fast as they could towards the exit. they didn't need Logan to tell them just why it would be a good idea to do so...
Meanwhile... the Mongoose continued on into the darkness. It's engine still revving as it soon approached another group of Humanoid Droids who were coming in the opposite direction. The 4x4 crashing into the leader of the group, which caused a huge wreck that got the group to stop.
The surviving droids soon began to gather around their now wrecked leader and it's assailant, it's engine still rumbling and a distinct beeping could be heard...
Moments later, a massive fire ball erupted within the tunnel and began to travel through it's length. As the rock walls and ceiling began to cave in from the blast. Logan and the Senshi were just barely able to escape the blast as the reached the exit. Wall of fire exiting with a roar before dying away.
"What the hell was that about?!" Jupiter asked angrily. "You could have killed us! We could of--"
Another explosion soon cut off the enraged Senshi, though this time it came from a distance. The Senshi were soon met with a most frightening of sights, as they saw a pair of large "droids" walking towards their position. For a moment, the Senshi thought these were new weapons Esmarude had created and was new gonna use against them.
But to their surprise and relief, the two constructs came to a stop and a female voice said cheerfully... "Nice to see you, Gunny!".
"Hannah." Logan replied, much to the surprise/shock of the Senshi. "What's the situation?"
"The Pelican has returned to the LZ and I have been able to clear a path to it. I see you have been able to achieve your objects yes?"
"Affirmative." The Spartan replied. "Nova Bomb has been neutralized and all hostages have been located and accounted for.."
"Well that's good." the A.I. chirped, all the while Serenity and her Senshi looked on in wide eye wonder.
One of the machines suddenly turned... "I'm picking up a large formation of enemy combatants heading out way, they are blocking our route back."
"Then I guess we are going to have to our way through." the Spartan replied, as his helmet began to display the approaching droids.
"Oh... before I forget, I brought you this." and with that, one of the Mantis dropped a cylinder from it's "back" and went over to inspect it.
Serenity and her Senshi could only look on in awe, as Logan opened it and pulled out what looked like a over sized machine gun.
"Thought you might need the extra fire power."
Logan did not say anything, as he made some fina adjustments to the M46 "Light" machine gun before picking it up and pointing it in the direction of the approaching constructs.
"Stay behind us and don't stop moving." Logan said in a calm voice that was almost unsettling, just as the first spider droids appeared.
Serenity and the Senshi could only look on in awe as Logan and the two Mechs opened fire on their would be attackers. The sounds of heavy machine gun fire and metal being torn apart began to fill the now pungent air, as the Spartan and the twin MANTIS began to advance forward. The advancing droids being no match for the ye trio, as they continued to any and all who dared to attack them.
Despite their shock of what was happening, The Senshi and their queen did what they were told and followed behind the trio. But keeping their guard up in case a droid managed to make it through the hell fire and damnation being dished out by the Spartan and his "Companions".
But as they reached the city itself, a sudden sense of dread soon swept over Mars. So powerful it was, it caused the Senshi to wince as if she were in pain. But what it all the more unsettling for her, was that this was a feeling she has felt before. It was a feeling which was associated with a certain individual from the Senshi's past.
"Mars, what's wrong?" Serenity asked, rushing to her friend's side upon seeing her almost collapse.
"H... He's back!" the woman replied, a frightful expression forming on her face as she spoke those words.
"What?" the Royal asked, "Wh... No." she suddenly stuttered out, as Serenity also began to feel a overwhelming sense of dread fall upon her. But before anyone else could react, the ground below them began to shake and a low rumbling began to fill the air.
Suddenly, the Black Moon Palace began to break apart and collapse in on itself. As a black cloud erupted from the crumbling structure and blanket the area around the now destroyed palace. The Senshi could only look on in disbelief and horror, as the dark mass soon took the shape of a sphere before gliding towards them.
An overwhelming sense of dread soon filled them, as the dark mass churned and pulsated as it came closer and closer. It then began to change and take the form of a human skull with red eyes and purple energy.
It was also at the point Logan noticed the strange, skull shaped mass approaching their position. But before he could react, a wave of energy suddenly shot out from the creature and sent both him and everyone else flying. The Two MANTIS had also been hit, but we're able to remain upright. Though they had shut down and became motionless.
But unlike Serenity and her Senshi, Logan was able to recover and quickly returned to his feet. Just in time to see the demonic
entity now floating just a few feet above him.
"Who the hell are you?" the Spartan asked, not particularly phased by the being before him.
"I... am Death Phantom..." the entity replied, it eyes pulsating demonically as it spoke.
"That's... not possible!" Serenity called out, as she soon got to her feet. "You're supposed to be dead.. where's Esmarude?
"Did you really think that idiot was really behind all this?" Death Phantom sneered, as his "head" opened up to reveal a most terrible sight.
Esmarude, or at least what was left of her, was now floating motionlessly within the black mass. Her face now frozen with a look of absolute terror, as her body was slowly being consumed by the cloudy mass. "I made the mistake of saving her life all those years ago and making her think that she was in charge. But she got to arrogant and I had to step in." Death Phantom finished, just as Esmarude began to disappear for the final time.
Despite their history, Serenity could not help but to feel sad for her former for, as her fear covered face vanished into the darkness. "At least I finally found a good use for her." Death Phantom stated, as his "face" reformed.
"Let her go!" Serenity demanded.
"It's too late for her." the Entity replied. "She and I are now one. I will continue to feed on her until there is nothing left. And now that I have you here, you and your Senshi will become apart of me as well... and after that, I will head to Earth and destroy that damn planet!"
"No... you won't. I Won't let you." Serenity growled back, just as the other Senshi began to recover. While Logan activated his Plasma sword.
Death Phantom laughed, as the ground began to shake again, as a massive dragon like creature began to crawl out from the remains of the shattered place. It's bat like wings spreading out, as the creature let loose a roar that made the air vibrate. It's dark purple skin giving the illusion that the creature was nothing more than a black void. But it was it's blood red eyes with were it's most striking feature, eyes that seemed to ooze pure evil.
The Senshi looked on in absolute horror, as the "Dragon" began to fix it's gaze upon them. Just as Death Phantom suddenly flew backwards and towards the monster he had created, only to be replaced by a new army of new Droids that look much more advanced than the ones they had faced earlier.
"You will never leave this planet Alive!" Death Phantom's voiced echoed, just as he merged with the beast. "Nemesis will began a tomb for you and your blasted Senshi!"
But just as the Senshi were getting ready for what they believed would be the fight of their lives, another rumbling sound began to fill the air. This time much deeper and it was coming from the sky and it soon became clear that it was not the sound of thunder.
Then, like a monster out of the night, the hulking mass that was a Valiant-class Cruiser soon broke the cloud cover and pointed itself directly as Death Phantom and his Beast.
The Siege Merciless had now joined the fight...