Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 3800-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer or Halo, Gameshop and 343 do.
(February 17th, Forerunner planet Trove)
Halius and Titus looked over screens that showed alien ships… And not ones used by either the Covenant or any species they had located before.
"So, the Covenant plans to unearth a fleet of warships," Halius stated.
"Yes, and they appear to be readying them for war," Selina stated.
"What is the size of these warships?" Titus asked as he looked over Spirit of Fire's screens.
"9.430 meters," Selina stated.
"That's not larger than the Primarch's ship," Curos stated, attempting to keep a straight face.
"They are larger than our ships and have enough firepower to dice apart anything we have assumingly… We need to destroy them before they reactivate." Halius stated.
"One problem… The way to the zone where they held me is guarded by the rest of the covenant forces here… And plenty of those Orks." Anders said.
"How many enemy troops?" Titus asked.
"Roughly over 4000 soldiers spread across the planet. Each ship has a compliment over a 1000 if my math is right." Selina said. "Half are spread over the portal site where the planet opens and most have been attempting to hold territory… That still gives them roughly 1000 or so soldiers holding the Apex." Selina stated.
"And there is no way around them," Halius stated.
"Then we go through," Titus stated. "We punch a hole in their forces and scatter them. Then? We find a way to destroy this weaponry." Titus stated.
"I know how… Just getting to it is the hard part. The covenant parked most of their army right outside the door." Anders stated.
(With Guilliman)
Guilliman looked at the heads that made up the UNSC council. It had taken plenty of words to convince them to grant him an audience but it had paid off.
"What your offering is…." The human woman stated, her gaze as cold as an inquisitor.
"An alliance… We were not brought here of our free will but my men? Those soldiers who call themselves Ultramarines? They have fought to defend humanity, if I wished to destroy the UNSC like this… Covenant?" Guilliman asked.
"You would have annihilated us before we could even mobilize a single warship." He heard from a general as he nodded. "You picked a hell of a time to attempt to parley." The general stated.
"What good would war bring me besides a dead world and a mountain of corpses?" Guilliman asked.
They spoke little and the Primarch was silent but knew they were desperate. They projected strength when he arrived but it died, soon replaced by fear and anxiety. They wished to act but they had little in the way of resources and he could see it.
So? He did what anyone would do, press the iron while it was hot and hope for the best.
"I do not wish war… Now, either we can fight the common enemy or we can all be destroyed over baseless words and attempts to show strength. I have power but I care NOTHING about using it to destroy unless they are my enemies." Guilliman stated.
(On Trove)
"We use whirlwinds to drive them into a charge… Then we push back with heavy armor… Once we are in range? We bear down on the Covenant forces with all we have." Titus stated.
"You want us to fight the entire covenant army," Forge stated.
"We fight entire armies…. A lot, Forge." Igaros stated before he looked at Halius. "Let me guess? This is where we go fight hundreds of Covenant soldiers in some blaze of glory?" Igaros stated.
"Yes…. We cut through them and reach the portal. We are the shield of humanity, Igaros… If I die? I die among my friends." Halius stated before gripping his helmet and placing it atop his head.
"He acts like he is a century older than he is…" Igaros stated.
"You aren't kidding when you say that, are you?" Igaros heard.
"No. We're meant to be weapons, not liars." Igaros stated. "You know, you treat Halius the same as a Lieutenant, he's not capable of carrying out that level of authority," Igaros stated.
"If he survives today? I will make certain he is… He is younger than most Astartes but he acts like one who has served for decades." Igaros stated.
"Ok… Moving on. Are you sure this plan is going to work? They have us outgunned and Spirit is a support ship, we ain't taking out any Covenant unless their backs are to us." Forge stated.
"We will handle the bulk of the work… But I do need as much support as the Spirit can provide… We shall all fight today or we shall all die if they get that fleet." Titus stated.
"We are engaged and sending in almost everything. I cannot tell if it will be enough." Cutter stated.
"We shall see," Titus stated.
(With Halius)
Halius and Curos along with Douglas and Red and Omega teams both walked through dozens of UNSC marines.
"You don't have a plan," Curos stated.
"Given sufficient time, me and Captain Titus might generate one. We have no such time; the Covenant cannot be allowed to control those warships or humanity shall cease to exist." Halius stated.
"I… Fair point, Sergeant. I shall assist as best as I am able." Curos stated.
"And I shall aid you if I can. If you die? I shall drag as many covenant soldiers into the afterlife as I can." Halius stated.
"Hold on… Several covenant outposts are going dark." Selina stated.
The UNSC all conversed on what had caused this.
Halius and Douglas shared looks. They knew both knew.
What was to be a two-way battle had become 4 or 5 as it was clear the parasite, the Orks, and whatever created these machines would soon clash.
Whether this served their advantage or not? He did not know. He did know he would need to fight and the coming battle would be one for the history books. Now and for good.
Halius boarded a Stormraven and it took him, Curos, Forge, Igaros, and Titus down to the battlefield. Halius watched as Retribution and its two escort cruisers moved into position to attack, deploying most of their Ultramarines below.
The rest were sent towards boarding the 2 Covenant Destroyers and 1 cruiser… Halius hummed as he looked to the side and he thought of the battle to come.
"You know taking the Covenant head-on never goes well for the UNSC, right?" Forge asked.
"If we had time? I would think of a better plan… We neither have the time required to do so nor anything related to it." Halius stated before she paused to let it come crashing.
Halius stated to himself before he clicked his fingers and then looked to the side… This battle? Was not yet decided.
Halius stayed silent and simply thought of the fact the battle had yet to come to an end.
It set down and Halius and the others exited… Halius could see nothing but rows of elites in different colors, brutes wielding weapons like them. Jackals who screeched for blood, grunts who looked ready to panic, and hunters who screamed for battle.
That and dozens of vehicles including scarabs… And then it was chaos as he watched dozens of the parasite swarm the field… And the machines from before follow, lasers and gunfire threw the Covenant into disarray. Then? The Orks appear, screeching and crying with all due eagerness.
"I would say this makes it easier to approach the apex… But I have a feeling it is not." Halius said as several drop pods landed. "We must move quickly, Captain," Halius stated as he rushed forward, taking cover.
There was no time for verses from the codex, a blessing from a chaplain. No, there was time only for battle.
Several Pelicans as well set down, offloading 3 warthogs and 3 dozen marines… A dozen HEVs then joined them.
"Cut a path to the apex!" Titus stated.
Halius joined the captain in battle, leaping down as they advanced into the maelstrom. Halius felt his bolter clack in his hands as Titus slammed an Ork to the ground, executed it then turned and stabbed through a Brute.
As more allied soldiers began to join the fray? Halius, his squad, Titus, and the Spartans began to make a spear-like formation, cutting through Ork and Covenant alike.
It was not without incident, however. Halius heard 3 of his brothers scream as Ork rounds impacted them and they collapsed unmoving… A half dozen marines collapsed to Covenant plasma fire.
"They fight like demons!" Halius heard as Curos tossed a grenade into the groups.
"They die the same, brother!" Halius stated, emptying his bolter into the hordes of enemies. "Captain, reach the Apex, we shall hold off these forces!" Halius stated as he paused.
"No, you must escort the woman there," Titus stated.
"What? You wish another vital task of me?" Halius asked. "I am not you, Captain," Halius stated.
"Correct, and that is why I must remain here," Titus stated before he sighed. "Our brothers require leadership and I must ensure the entrance to the shield world is open so we can escape…" Titus stated.
Halius frowned under his armor but realized his commander had a point. Halius knew a simple Sergeant like himself could not command entire armies…
"I will carry it out…." Halius said before one of the Covenant destroyers exploded. "Fight well, Captain, Honor, and courage!" Halius stated before he sighed to himself.
He rushed up the hill as one of the strike cruisers was finally brought down by Covenant and Ork fire, slamming into a mountain as several fires raged across its hull.
He had decided to push further and further up the hill, sprinting and jogging like the inhuman tank he was.
One of the small supply ships he had seen before landed atop the hill, deploying Anders and the Red Team with her as he finally crested the hill.
"We need to breach the Apex…" Halius said as Igaros and Curos finally climbed next to him. "Igaros, rejoin the battle, I will see to it the professor reaches the goal," Halius said before a warthog dropped off next to them.
"Omega Team says hi…" Forge said before he dropped down. "And no, we all go… We have no idea what the covenant hotshots have for defenses up there… We wanted to get as many soldiers up there as possible." Forge stated.
"Fine… We should hurry or all who die here will have died in vain." Halius stated before the group slowly entered the portal.
"This war doesn't end here, Covenant isn't going to let one defeat slow them down," Forge stated.
"Then we keep fighting," Halius said as the group vanished in a beam of light.
(Trove, the Apex)
Halius dropped down then Forge then Douglas, the trio swept their weapons around as they went. Then came the rest of the group as they walked down the corridor.
"This is where they kept you, doc? How come I do not get a five-star resort?" Forge joked as Halius and his brothers paused to look at the dreadnoughts.
"The Covenant is not the biggest enemy in the galaxy," Halius stated.
"Xeno trash will always lose, Halius," Curos stated as they stared at him. "I am attempting to make small talk as you do," Curos stated.
"It is a start," Igaros said before they followed the Spartans and UNSC.
"So, you walk through this door, press a button and it all blows up?" Forge asked.
"If I can reach the terminal? The one they had me press? I can trigger the planet's star to meltdown…" Ander said.
"There is a button to destroy the planet?" Both Douglas and Halius said before staring at each other.
"Safety measure for those parasites," Anders stated.
"Let us find it and destroy this place," Halius stated before he and the others walked down.
It was then a shimmer leaped down from above the doorway and uncloaked… The Arbiter. Halius and the others raised their weapons.
It was then a whirling noise came up behind them as a trio of tunning fork-like craft rose. Over 3 dozen Elites and Brutes dropped behind them.
"Told you," Forge stated before he looked at Anders. "Get to your computer, we can deal with him," Forge stated.
Anders rushed forward and Arbiter went to impale the woman, Forge brought up his M6C and shot at the elite. He flinched enough for her to enter the elevator which was sealed behind them.
"Deal with them… The ugly one is mine." Forge stated before rushing the Arbiter.
"Mind some help?" Douglas asked, gripping his M90.
"If you can keep up," Halius stated, loading the last clip into his bolter.
"You would be surprised," Douglas stated.
"Impress me, Spartan," Halius said with some amusement before he looked to the side.
The 6 super soldiers charged the groups of Brutes and Elites without any hesitation. Jerome fired around Halius, killing an elite as Halius caught a stave and then shot the elite dead with 3 rounds.
Alice took this position to throw herself over Halius, vaulting off his shoulder and killing an elite as Halius fired into a pair of brutes, throwing bloody corpses down.
Curos fired at another brute, his shotgun punching a hole through them as Douglas finished off an elite next to him.
Then Alice and Douglas tossed the staves back, killing 2 elites as the Covenant forces paused for a moment, surprised at the skill unleashed on them. Halius emptied his bolter into them as the 50 or so Covenant attacked again.
The weapon finally clicked dry as Halius drew his knife and bolter pistol…
The Ultramarine trio and Spartan-IIs met the Covenant head-on, and plasma fire flew toward them as 2 more dropships provided more Covenant infantry… Bullets and bolts flew from the humans while they waded into the bloody, body-covered bridge.
In a minute? There were at least 12 Covenant left… And the super soldiers charged them again.
Igaros stabbed through an elite and tossed it off the bridge as a brute attempted to bring their hammer down on Alice only for Halius to grab it, letting her shove her M7 into its mouth and empty it.
Halius picked up the hammer and slammed it into the last of the brutes, caving their skull in like pulp as an elite leaped at him only for their chest to explode from Douglas.
Halius felt plasma singe his armor as he gunned down another elite.
It was then another signature came from the teleporter… The Brute from before and another dozen brutes.
Halius glared at the brute chieftain as the reinforcements rushed past him.
"Demon…" Avitus stated, hefting his hammer as Halius removed his chain sword from his belt.
"Mind some help?" Douglas asked, cocking his shotgun.
"Gladly," Halius stated before the Ultramarine and Spartan engaged the Brute Chieftain in combat.
(With Forge)
As the sounds of gunfire, plasma, and screaming Covenant soldiers filled the air? Forge and Ripa fought, the Arbiter sneering at the Marine Sergeant.
It was clear without a shadow of a doubt everyone on the Apex wished death for one another, but death came at a cost.
He dodged the sword, rolled to the side, and fired his shotgun at him, watching as his shields glimmered with each hit of the shotgun.
Arbiter backed off and then kicked the sergeant, sending him across the platform.
"Like the rest of humanity, weak and undisciplined," Ripa stated before Forge gripped his belt, dragged an M9 from it, and tossed it at the Arbiter who sailed across the platform, his shields finally breaking.
"And you are just as ugly and mean as the rest of the elites," Forge stated.
(With Halius and Douglas)
Halius slid backward as Douglas landed next to him, shields crackling.
Halius surged forward, grabbing the hammer, and using it to land a punch across the Brute's face, shattering several of its teeth and making it growl.
Avitus turned and shoulder-checked the Astartes, sending him staggering for a few seconds before he parried another strike from Avitus.
"You fight well, demon… But you will die all the same." Avitus stated.
"I will drag you with me into whatever hell you have, brute," Halius stated as he charged forward only for the brute to drag him closer with his hammer.
Halius parried a strike with his chain sword then another as the brute and Ultramarine clashed.
Halius would not lie, the Brute was well-trained and skilled in combat. He knew a lucky blow would take the brute down… The only problem was landing it.
Douglas tossed himself off Halius's shoulder and landed a punch which staggered the brute and forced him back.
"He is skilled… And powerful… I do not know if I cannot beat him alone." Halius stated.
"We can… We just need to fight him together." Douglas stated.
Halius hummed and then nodded, curious all too easily when it was said and done… But he agreed, they could not win alone… Halius knew even if he fought alone. He might win but it would take a few direct hits and he wanted to confirm the kill.
That? And this fight was a long time coming at the end of certain things…. He was owed this damn fight and he would not be denied the chance to kill the brute he had fought twice.
"Get me an opening… Then we shall." Halius stated before he sighed and fell silent.
He and the brute circled each other as he prepared to kill him once more as he clicked himself into place. He had been too eager to fight but he was curious as to how this was going to win for now for good reason.
The Ultramarine rushed forwards, rushing into combat against the warrior… He would kill the Brute or he would die when it came down to it, there was no second course.
Halius watched as the brute wound up their hammer to attempt to crush his skull into a paste. Halius rolled to the side as Douglas slammed into him, staggering the brute as Halius drew his combat knife.
He went to stab the brute only for the chieftain to catch his hand… So Halius opened it and let Douglas catch it, stabbing it into the side of the brute.
Avitus roared and went to charge only for a shotgun burst to damage his leg, fur matted with blood spilling onto the platform as Avitus fell to his knees.
Halius revved up his chain sword, twirled it once then brought it up through Avitus's neck.
The brute fell to the ground, his head joining his body a few seconds later as Halius and Douglas shared a nod… Then they clasped hands for a moment.
There was a scream of alien pain as they turned and watched as Forge drove Ripa's sword through him. Plasma burned through his sternum as Forge glanced at him.
"And for the record? I would have kicked your ass the first time if he didn't try to do it for me." Forge stated before kicking the Arbiter to the ground.
And it was at that moment the group realized they had won… But this war was not over yet.
"Doc? All the bad guys are gone. Did you find anything?" Forge asked.
"A… Lot," Anders stated before she hummed. "We don't have much time, the console only gave us 30 minutes before the star breaks down," Anders said.
"And? Plenty of time." Anders said.
"There are HUNDREDS of those Orks coming," Anders stated.
Halius fell silent. The Orks were not insanely smart but they could stop the countdown… And if they did? It meant all such ships here would fall to them or the Covenant when reinforcements came.
"I will…" Halius went to say before Curos spoke up.
"I will stay and defend the console until it reaches critical mass," Curos stated.
"Curos, this is not the time for jokes," Igaros said, his voice devoid of the mirth it always carried.
Curos removed his hand from his side to show where most of the plasma from before had burned his armor… And where he had been wounded severely.
"The Spartans saved me on that destroyer… And I realized how you saw them, Sergeant. Honorable, protective, and equal… I will ensure humanity lives, you? Take the others and go, I will hold the Orks off." Curos stated.
"Curos…" Halius stated, his fist clenching, his tone angry. "They will kill you before long," Halius stated.
"Then I die dooming their treasure… Go, brother, and protect humanity as we were meant to, codex or not." Curos said.
Halius stepped backward, thinking of the fact he would be letting another Astartes die… Another fallen soldier lost to war, another brother he had failed. And? All he could do was accept it, to let Curos walk to his death despite their differences.
"Honor… And Courage, brother." Halius said before he turned and walked slowly towards a landing Stormraven came to extract them.
Igaros watched as the Ultramarine lowered his head, a gesture he had done the last time they had fought on Garthl 6.
"Is he normally that hurt by a sacrifice?" Forge asked.
"This is only the latest in a long list of Ultramarines Halius has seen die… And another human lost to war."
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! A few things.
But a Space Marine is so much STRONGER! Yes… And they are matched by Orks and other enemies in power. Avitus was not a rookie brute, it would not be easy to kill them without weapons. I set up this duel between Avitus and Halius… That? And to show not every covenant soldier can be slain so easily, they just killed a small ARMY.
But the Ultramarines have super… Armor? Yes, and plasma and certain weapons have pierced it, I have not seen an example of how strong Astarte's armor is, you do not need an anti-everything nuke to kill 1.
But Space Marines are superior to…
This is a WAR, it is not grimdark but the Astartes are not invincible. Part of Halo is showing the cost of victory, there will be times when the Astartes fail or cannot curb stomp the Covenant and Orks.
Why Curos? I wanted a sacrifice, to show Curos had seen what Halius sees about humanity and Spartans and because winning with no cost is not fun.
The next chapter will show the escape from Trove, set up a little time skip, and set up Arc 2… I want to ask if people believe the Covenant should not have a FEW of the Forerunner ships so this is not one-sided. Until the 900–6500-word chapter in 2-10 months, Lighting Wolf out!