Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 2100-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer, Gameshop does.
(February 16th, Forerunner planet Trove)
After the Covenant and Ork forces were forced backward? Halius, Forge, and the Spartans returned to their respective ships.
Why? Red Team had found what was generating the signal… Thousands of the parasite which was exterminated by the Retribution using its bombardment cannons to turn everything in that area into molten lava.
Then the planet began to drag the 4 four ships and the UNSC and Ultramarine forces were called back to their ships, encountering some sort of machine-like guardians who battled the parasite.
The 4 ships were brought into the planet… And Halius was curious as to what this place was, where the Covenant brought Anders.
More of the Parasite attacked them, never touching the Astartes due to their void shields… But the Spirit of Fire was another story.
Before they could assist? There were fires and bullets and more machines, Halius had seen them burn the parasite… Then they declared humanity a parasite and sought to engage them.
Through dozens of shots and UNSC vehicles? Captain Cutter and his men had cleaned off their ship of the enemy.
Halius still stared at the tunnels, miles, and miles of intricate tunnel.
"You think she's somewhere here?" Igaros asked as Halius turned.
"I do not know where here IS," Halius stated before preparing for the next mission. "Hopefully there is more land to see… And less parasites." Halius stated.
(Apex)
"You could not even exterminate one human!" Arbiter hissed.
"You knew of the parasite; you were aware of what it would do and you still asked me to set up defenses. I did, they are after the woman." Thrallslayer said.
"Yeah, you never told me, boys, just what we were doing… But you still want our help!" The Ork chieftain started.
"Both of you are subordinate to me, do not forget that." Arbiter hissed.
"I don't like how youz is talking." The Ork stated, preparing for combat.
"Arbiter, the human fleet begins to draw near…" A zealot went to say before Arbiter turned, striking him across the face and knocking him to the ground.
"Destroy them. Do not fail me again or I shall kill you both." Arbiter hissed before the Ork Warchief chuckled.
"I don't think he knows the space marines. Not like I do…" The Ork Warchief stated. "Lads? Keep the boats here… Let's see if they show up..." The Ork Chieftain ordered.
(With Halius and the UNSC)
It was about 30 minutes before the fleet punched through Trove's shell… And emerged in what seemed to be a large forest-like area.
And it was broken by at least 3 Covenant purple warships which began to advance on the 4 human ships.
"Sergeant Halius? Prepare for boarding combat… Bring weapons online." Titus stated.
"I do not see any Ork ships… Perhaps they are withholding the rest of their forces?" Halius stated.
"We shall worry about that late… You will take care of the middle warship…. We shall take care of 1 and Spirit perhaps can finish off the last." Halius heard.
Halius and his squad as well as another one both boarded an assault ram. Halius watched as Stormhawks were launched, prepared for battle… The Spirit launched what appeared to be a combat craft as well.
The Covenant launched several dozen Banshees and it appeared the Orks had launched a dozen Fightas to intercept them.
"Ah, back to the usual carnage." Halius heard while the shields of the middle destroyer buckled, the lasguns on the strike cruisers whittling it away.
The two rams were launched into the maelstrom as Halius watched plasma fire rake the 2 Strike Cruisers and the Spirit of Fire.
"You know there are more enemies ahead of them," Igaros said before their ram was launched at the Covenant.
"One problem for one day," Halius said as the ram flew.
Halius knew they had no end to problems, that they would eventually succumb.
They are not here for fun; they were here to rescue. Something Halius knew might not work out for the best in the end.
The assault ram hit the lead destroyer and its mega-meltas made short work out of the armor, tearing through it like they were made of tinfoil.
"I have sent terminators to disable the warship attacking Spirit of Fire… I would send further backup but most of our brothers are defending against boarders." Halius heard.
"We shall bring down the warship. They are not enough to stop us." Halius stated.
"We are close," Igaros stated.
"Agreed, they are putting up a fair amount of resistance," Halius stated.
Halius and his squad ripped into the ship, tearing into the hull as they were unleashed. He and his squad cleared out the few amounts of grunts and he looked at the rest of his squad.
"We go towards the back, that is where the engines are…. If we disable that? Gravity will do the rest." Igaros stated.
"Correct…. Igaros? You and I shall go forward, draw attention away from the others." Halius stated before he looked to the side.
There were a few moments of silence as both groups of Ultramarines finalized plans. Halius knew exactly what he and his squad could do.
"Captain Titus? We will have disabled this vessel in 10 minutes tops. What about the rest of the fleet?" Halius asked.
"We have already disabled the first of the destroyers, the Orks are giving more damage to us than the Covenant… Spirit of Fire has almost fought off most of the borders… They are relying more on numbers and firepower than anything." Halius heard.
They ducked around a corner as a lance of elites all opened fire and both Halius and Igaros hummed, looking at each other.
"Think you can keep up without your pack?" Halius asked.
"Very funny," Igaros stated. "I can. Why send Curos and the others to all disable the engine? 3 of us can handle a few hundred Covenant soldiers it seems." Igaros stated.
"It will be the most guarded portion… They will expect a frontal assault on the command center." Halius stated. "I do agree with you, this much resistance means something… But I am curious as to what is here and what they wish to keep hidden." Halius stated.
"That is a more serious question, brother," Igaros stated.
Both Ultramarines turned and unleashed a coordinated volley of bolts.
3 of the 4 elites managed to evade it…. But the crimson one and quartet of grunts were greeted and fell to the ground as smoking corpses.
Halius watched as Igaros pulled a grenade from his side and tossed it as more elites and jackals emerged.
Amidst the screams, Halius and Igaros emerged and began to rush through the open door. They began to surgically work their way through the Covenant.
"Captain Titus? We may wish to start conducting ground operations…. There is more to the Covenant than we know." Halius stated.
"One option at a time… Captain Cutter decided to try and deploy something to help you… I think you might like you." Titus stated.
"Spartans?" Halius asked before Titus chuckled.
"Indeed… Handle this, if I can direct more support your way. I will. We have begun to punch a hole in the Covenant defenses, they simply wish to try and continue this assault." Titus stated.
"The Orks know not to quit and the Covenant seem too dead set on destroying what has been built up?" Halius said before he opened fire once more.
He had been eager to fight, they had been either diminished or the Covenant were easier to figure out once more.
Halius turned the corner and flipped an elite to the ground, pausing and shooting them in the back as he went. Halius turned and parried an energy sword only for Igaros to grip the crimson-armored elite and snapped his throat.
"You know they are only going to get harder to defeat. They cannot be that stupid, even if they allied with Orks." Igaros stated.
"I am fully aware. The Covenant has become the largest threat in this galaxy… And we are reduced now." Halius said as more Covenant soldiers began to gang up on them. "If we manage to win this conflict on this planet? We shall need to adjust the remains of the forces we have…" Halius stated before turning and firing down the corridor.
"You know, I am always here if you need it, brother…. We both know what happened on the siege and what changed in you." Igaros stated as he fired as well.
"I am only interested in protecting humanity, Igaros…. As I always have." Halius said before more gunfire greeted them.
"And you bear the burden of that," Igaros stated. "The Spartans…. Do you think they are our equals?" Igaros stated.
"I think they are the UNSC's version of us… And as much heresy as I believe that might invite? I would call them friends as much as I would call you, Igaros." Halius said before reloading, dropping his magazine to the ground.
"They are skilled… Perhaps the Primarch might invite them to eat with us. Like you did with Sergeant Forge." Igaros stated.
"Sergeant Halius? The Spartans have breached the ship and are on their way to the reactor. Meet with them." Titus stated.
"When we have exterminated the rest of them…. How goes the battle?" Halius asked as he raised an eyebrow and continued to fire once more.
"It still goes on, we have disabled our warship, and the other which attacks Spirit of Fire is causing damage but we have brought its shields down…. It will take some time but we will surpass." Halius heard.
He had zero intention of following through without it, zero. He had zero idea what the Covenant intended but it was not good, it would not be good and he had no intention of compromising someone to get what he wanted.
He had been capable of it sooner or later. Whatever the Covenant tossed at them? They would not be able to deal with it for now and for good reason.
His HUD pointed him to the wall behind the Ultramarine, he turned and gripped the door, pulling it screeching from its hinges and tossing it to the side.
He tore the door down and was greeted by the expression of a Spartan, Leon from his armor and nodded.
"Spartan," Halius stated before more Elites emerged from the doorway. "This is my first time boarding a Covenant warship, I do not know the structural weak points of such a target," Halius stated.
"Neither have we…. We just planted a bomb in the power core, but this ship is different." Leon stated.
"Then we damage the most vital facing point," Halius stated before he hummed. "Where is the rest of your team?" Halius asked before an explosion rocked the ship.
"Damaging something vital," Leon stated before Halius nodded. "The rest of the Covenant fleet is here, they want something, something more," Leon stated.
"Their entire armada or the small portion of the fleet we have come to greet?" Halius asked, firing down the hall at the elites. "I doubt it, they wage a war and with an army this massive? They have a fleet large enough to sustain it." Halius stated.
It was not a lie and even they knew this. The Covenant probably had 50 times the warships they had here and killing a few here or there would not dwindle their resources.
Yes, it seemed the UNSC and Ultramarines would have to slowly carve away the Covenant's steel shield.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! A few things.
To the guy saying I am consciously making a mistake? No, Grammarly has corrected it. It did it so often that I just decided to roll with it. I am not against people explaining it… I am not that young enough to not understand. I will gladly adjust now that I understand a bit better.
For anyone expecting the Covenant fleet to be dangerous? They are but I am sure someone will tell me the Ultramarines are stronger… That is why I also did not include the ENTIRE Imperial fleet; this would not be a war if then.
For someone expecting the Spartans and Astartes to be stoic and quiet? They can be but they would not be character if they did not have some personality… I ain't making the Halo TV show flaw…. Even if I kinda like it.
The next chapter will show Anders escaping, more of the battle on Trove, and the UNSC and Ultramarines learning WHAT the Covenant wants on Trove. Until the 900–6500-word chapter in 2-10 months, Lighting Wolf out!