Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 4900-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer or Halo, Gameshop and 343 do.
(Sigma Octanus IV, February 29th, 2532.)
Igaros looked at Fred, their armor concealing the looks on their faces…. There was a lot more to this now.
Then he glanced over towards Halius and Linda. Both atop the hill, surrounded by dozens of Ultramarines and Salamanders who had returned from the battle.
Neither had removed their helms, both trading words in tones that were too hushed to be heard by anyone who was not a super soldier.
Both held their weapons, talking. They were so close one could reach out and touch the other… It was a level of trust and friendship only given by war.
Igaros knew Linda was one of the few people Halius let his guard down around. He knew her, she knew him and their trust was something that made them effective.
"They've been up there for 2 hours," Fred stated as Igaros turned, lasgun held in his hands.
"He's bonding with her," Igaros stated as the Ultramarine sighed. "Like I hoped, he is finally letting out the grief and anger he has…. Has had." Igaros stated.
Fred looked at the duo who felt comfortable and relaxed. Linda continued to check her rifle, one leg resting atop Halius's knew as he cleaned Blind Justice.
They trusted each other. They acted like they had fought together for years… And Fred was beginning to feel as if they had.
Something within Halius made the Ultramarine laugh, his armored chest expanding as he and Linda simply sampled the other's company as a pair of Thunderhawks and a pelican flew overhead.
Fred also guessed they were preparing for something. The inevitable idea this battle could bring them death.
"Chief? Are we planning to use the surprise?" Fred asked, gesturing towards part of the pelican next to them which was open.
There was a moment of clarity in their minds… Something which allowed them to finally climb to their feet and slowly start to walk down.
Halius hummed and then shook his head, putting his sword on his hip as Linda looked at him.
"Are you ok?" Halius heard as Igaros looked at him.
Halius hummed, tapping at the nape of his neck, and then looked to the side… There was a lot more to deal with and Halius sighed as he realized both thought of it.
There was a lot more to deal with for now… Halius was tired at the end.
The idea of it all was amusing for now, it was a lot more to try and deal with.
To be fair? Halius seemed to be tired and thrown off at the end of the day. There was a lot more to think about when this battlefield was ended for now.
Halius cracked his fingers and he showed a tired expression in how he reacted for now. They had a lot more to understand at the end of the day, it would not be something they could know.
"You have a nuclear bomb?" Igaros asked as Linda and Halius diverted their attention in that direction.
Halius's HUD showed radiation was indeed in that direction and he blinked, curious as to what it should have been like for now.
Halius turned back to the Spartans, his head cocked to the side as if he was a giant toy or something.
"You plan to detonate the nuclear device within the city?" Halius asked to which Chief nodded. "I thought the objective was to seize back the city… Not atomize it down to nothing." Halius put in, his tone more surprised than annoyed.
"Command wants asset denial," Fred stated to which Halius hummed.
"What asset? Do we know what the covenant occupies the planet for?" Halius questioned, clasping his metal arms in front of him.
"No, but we know the majority are occupying one city… Most of the covenant army have relocated forces to the city." Fred stated as Halius tilted his head.
"That will not deal them a massive blow. Not with most of the covenant fleet in orbit." Halius added, looking upwards and into the sky.
Halius knew the two fleets had separated. The covenant who had lost over 20 ships had retreated most of the fleet backwards beyond the planet while the Imperium and UNSC occupied a large portion of the space above.
Halius knew the covenant still outnumbered the combined UNSC/Imperium force by 5 or so times.
Halius looked downwards at the ground, he had an idea as to how the ground combat would be.
"Is your general still alive and coordinating the UNSC ground conflict?" Halius asked only for Kelly to shake her head.
"Killed in the last 2 hours… Along with the majority of the base." Kelly said as Igaros frowned.
"We would still need to punch a hole in their defenses to get it close enough," Igaros stated as Halius nodded.
"Correct… And the last report we have? The covenant may have captured the human population." Halius stated to which the others looked at him.
There was a moment of silence. They had a problem and Halius was not used to leading the destruction of the city.
Still? They would continue to fight.
"I assume you have a plan to get that nuclear bomb close enough," Halius said before the sound of dozens of footsteps caused him to turn.
Halius hummed and then looked to the side to see a small ocean of green and familiar amber armor.
"Ah… Good plan." Halius quipped before he looked at Chief. "I wish to go confirm the plans, Captain Titus is deploying groups of the chapter around every city. We will not have much support. Nor can I offer much in support, my primary orders are to engage the covenant and support the infantry." Halius added with a sigh.
He knew very much he could and would have to deal with for now.
"Then do it… We are going to push them backward." Halius seemed to relax once.
Halius hummed and then thought of the next move… They had a lot more to try and think of.
"We need to split up the groups." Halius seemed to be tired… He was curious as to how it would be.
He knew that he could have dealt with it. They had a lot more to relax as he cracked his fingers.
The soldiers all shared looks as they realized this battle would be long, it would be tedious.
Still? They would press on… But Halius seemed to require more and more to deal with.
(5 minutes later)
Halius, Igaros, Faze, and Master Chief all crowded around the table.
"The majority of the 1 million strong covenant army has concentrated their efforts on this settlement," Titus said, pointing to a settlement set along the coast.
"It is also where most of their ground-based warships are… The city is surrounded." Halius added as he paused to himself.
Halius shook his head… The fish-like shapes of the covenant warships made him remember that they were still sitting in a pond.
Halius did not at all understand what they were attempting. The idea of the covenant making an entire city a fortress? It made him curious as to what was going on.
Halius sighed, crossing his arms, and looked to the side… The Ultramarines were eager for war, and so were the Novamarines.
Halius hummed and clicked his fingers, this sort of chaos was something he could not deal with for now.
He was too tired now…. And the Ultramarine was exhausted, beaten down for the end.
Halius turned to look over at Igaros and then rubbed at his stubble-covered chin. The Ultramarine withdrew for a moment, gathering his mental strength as the Ultramarine thought for a second… A moment before he allowed himself to face it.
Halius seemed to be dealt with for now as he cracked his fingers. The next battle was going to be odder and odder for now and then he looked to the side.
They had a far harder battle now. And he was beginning to realize a lot more would have to die for now.
He had a lot more to deal with…. This battle was going to be something they could have dealt with for now.
Halius turned to look at Master Chief. It was clear the Spartans were ordered to burn down the city. Halius being himself? He knew this battle would not last.
The idea of them fighting beside the Astartes was more than it needed to be.
"I suggest we put a hole in their defenses… Distract the covenant from the rest of the fight. Right now? The battle with the covenant army? There was a lot more to deal with and we will continue to fight." Halius sighed to himself.
Halius hummed and then thought once more. This was a hard fight for now, a mannerism that he was used to.
"You are planning to engage them head-on." Halius heard from Kelly.
"They want war… I will give them one." Halius stated before grabbing his bolter and helm. "Plant your nuclear device and complete your mission, I will give you the distraction," Halius stated as he hummed.
"So, the plan is just to kill our way through the entire covenant army." Igaros joked as Halius hummed.
"No, the plan is to butcher the covenant until the nuke can destroy them all. They came here for a war, killing every human they had seen. We will remind them humanity has just as much bloodlust and lethality." Halius stated to which a familiar voice chimed in.
"If we had you guys at the start of the war? There would not have been one." Halius heard as he turned.
The sea of green parted to reveal Jerome who walked up to Halius. The two stood at odds for a moment before clasping hands.
"It is good to see you, Jerome… Are you here for their mission as well, old friend?" Halius asked in a tone that sounded just a tad full of mirth.
"Splitting up the groups… Figured if we were going to be attacking. We should further divide their attention." Jerome stated before looking over at Linda. "She's the green team leader." Halius heard as he looked at them.
"I thought the mission was to detonate the nuclear bomb," Halius stated to which Jerome hummed.
"And extract civilians…" Jerome stated as Halius hummed.
There was a moment of silence as the two contemplated things before Halius turned to Titus.
"Do we have a plan, Captain?" Halius stated to which Titus nodded.
The group of supersoldiers all looked at each other, the interest between them as Spartan and Ultramarine shared looks.
Halius as before? Saw nothing but kinship in them, a bond he hoped the others shared with the Spartans. Even within the shells of their armors? Behind all their augments and drastic modifications? Beat the heart of soldiers… Of warriors.
"I must go to prepare the Ultramarines elsewhere on the planet… Remember, our resources are still limited, I can offer nothing than this camp, the Imperium fights at other points than here." Halius heard as Titus turned, offered the Spartans a nod, and left to coordinate their efforts elsewhere.
Behind Halius? 20 or so Ultramarines emerged, both his squad and those who occupied the camp. Halius glanced at Master Chief who stood at the head of the 12 or so Spartans, both armies shared a glance.
"Let us rid this planet of the covenant," Halius said, hefting his bolter in one armored gauntlet. "Lead us to Cote d'Azur." Halius stated as Master Chief nodded and led the group towards the airfield of the combined camp.
"Is it true a million of them are there?" Jerome asked.
"Correct," Chief responded, tilting his head.
"They are after something vital…. Is your objective to deny them it by capture or destruction?" Halius asked to which Chief tilted his head further.
"Classified," Chief said as Jerome looked at the Ultramarine officer.
"That is Chief's way of saying 'I don't know.'" Jerome joked to which Halius nodded.
"We will draw the covenant out… Pretend to besiege the city and engage their forces outside." Halius stated as they marched.
Halius noticed another sea of green, soldiers he knew as brothers… They were not the only ones to come.
Halius saw several hundred soldiers, both guardsmen and UNSC Army and Marine troopers, perhaps even these ODSTs.
Halius saw in front of them was an army, a sea of soldiers who could march into death if commanded. The Ultramarine looked at him and he was too disturbed with the willingness to die.
Halius turned his head upon for the end of the day. There was a lot more to exhaust for now at the being.
"You know we will take several losses." Halius heard from the rest of the soldiers.
"And they will lose more soldiers… The rest of the covenant soldiers here are also expecting us to engage them… If nothing else? We will ensure they lose more battles." Halius added for the moment.
The rest of the group. The army of them was all too distracted… Now? Halius knew they would become a problem.
(2 minutes later)
A few minutes later? There was a small fleet of Thunderhawks and Pelican dropships… Halius crossed his arms as he moved to the cockpit, glancing at a screen that displayed the outside of the craft.
There were indeed dozens of covenant infantry outside the city, dozens of which seemed to be setting up further fortifications to repel them.
Halius knew a direct siege would have been costly. He knew the others were to get into combat.
Still? Halius could see weaknesses in their defenses… If the artillery tanks were beaten down? Halius would have the advantage as the covenant still outmatched them.
Halius seemed to relax as he heard more and more whining as weapons were brought to bear on them.
There was the sound of return fire… The sound of gunfire as the 4 Thunderhawks opened fire, not allowing the covenant to retreat.
Halius hummed, watching as the dropships began to land… And then there was more. Halius remembered the spin-off chapters of the Ultramarines who had been sucked into this galaxy.
Halius prepared himself, taking the time the other chapters might use to pray or recite some manner of ritual.
Halius shook his head and then thought of it as the ramps slammed down and he marched down it, tearing his Bolter from his leg towards the rows and rows of covenant soldiers.
They had a lot more to deal with than just the Ultramarines and Salamanders. The rest of the soldiers in his group also charged out, filling the air with all manner of death and pain as explosions and plasma began to ring out.
Halius paused as a pair of banshees managed to score a hit upon the lead Thunderhawk, sending it skidding into a building and exploding as the others fired their bolters at the rows and it would be easier to deal with for now.
Halius sent a barrage of bolts towards the covenant, nailing a jackal clear in the throat and sending a bloodied corpse to the dirt. He was forced to duck as a wave of pure plasma was sent towards them, barraging them with sheer gunfire and forcing them into cover.
In the confusion? Neither side noticed 1 group of Spartan IIs break off towards the sewers as a pair of banshees were shot down by a retreating pelican.
Halius took cover behind a collapsed building as the UNSC/Imperium force engaged the covenant army. Halius felt plasma, needles, and all manner of weapons tick off the stone as the Ultramarine popped an elite major and his grunt squad.
"Was this the plan?" Halius heard as he turned to see Jerome next to him, M90 popping off shells.
"I planned to kill them all and show them how worthless they were… So yes, shooting them is part of the operation." Halius quipped as the two continued to fire, plasma flying across the air at them.
"Ah… You know we are going to run out of things to shoot them with eventually, right?" Jerome asked as a pair of guardsmen fell to the ground, faces melting.
It enraged Halius into mulching the skull of the elite who did so and his two jackal guards before he spoke.
"I hope the nuclear weapon goes off by then, Jerome," Halius stated, dropping a spent clip, and slamming another into his bolter with a satisfying clack.
"This isn't a plan, is it?" Jerome asked as he started to reload his shotgun.
"No, I am improvising, to be honest… I expected them to have shot down us all by now." Halius stated as an ODST crashed to the ground, torso blown apart. "Part of me wants to kill them the more men die… The other is aware we must continue this fight until needed." Halius stated, shooting again as shells clacked from his weapon.
"Wasn't part of your plan for air support…" Jerome started before the remaining Thunderhawks and Pelicans flew overhead.
The sound of gunfire and explosions made Jerome turn as elites and brutes flew apart and jackals and grunts were sent drowning in ichor as they started to evaporate, the few shades on the edges exploding.
"To push them back temporarily? Yes, now we move… They will reinforce soon and we will be out of ammo for all craft." Halius stated as the 250-soldier force rushed downwards and into the city.
Halius watched as a pair of the hovercraft sleds from before exploded out of the darkness, cannons roaring… Then 10 more.
Ghosts, they were sending in the mechanized support… So be it, he had those as well.
Halius snapped his fingers and a pair of M12 warthogs rushed down the hill, their gauss cannons causing the lead ghosts to explode… And then came a pair of Rhino tanks appeared.
Halius knew very well the covenant would come back towards their force.
If the entire military garrison was here? Halius had a problem guessing how long it would have been before they crushed the covenant. Granted? Halius also knew attempting to fight the entire covenant army deployed in direct combat was…. Stupid.
But considering Halius also knew more and more that something like overthrowing the entire enemy army was going to be… Something.
It was far beyond whatever he could have dealt with now and all. He simply knew the groups of UNSC and Imperium soldiers were beyond understanding so he had plenty of soldiers.
He knew more and more the battle would not be dealt with conventionally. The covenant did not meet them on open fields nor did he believe they cared about this planet so long as it held something of value.
Halius did not know what would happen if they won this battle. Would the covenant dare just keep killing themselves until there was nothing left?
Halius did not know, but he would fight until either he lay dead on his feet or stood over their broken body.
The thunderclap of Linda's rifle sent the covenant further into retreat. He raised Blind Justice, angling the blade towards the covenant.
"Scour them from the city! Tear them apart if you must! We leave when they are slain!" Halius roared as he led the united force into the city, more reinforcements slowly following.
If the Chief did not complete his mission? He believed he might just end up asking for an orbital bombardment upon the settlement… At the very least? They would be winning one way or another.
(With Master Chief)
Chief's armor picked up several sounds of gunfire as it was clear the others were busy warring with the covenant.
"Sounds like a Helluva party outside," Fred stated as Halius spoke.
"It is… Jerome, there are more of their infantry there! Damn it, their tanks…. Never mind, thank you, Igaros." Halius stated before the sound of intense gunfire was heard.
"Force them away from the hill, rally more soldiers!" One of the Ultramarines yelled.
"Bring the rest of the army upon them! We kill them or we die trying!" Halius stated before his voice grew softer. "Complete your mission, Spartan… Leave the war outside to Us, Master Chief." Halius stated before he signed off.
The clack of gunfire and whine of Covenant plasma weapons told him the war went strong outside. If Chief had to guess? The covenant was attempting to rally, but their numbers still eclipsed the entire garrison of this world.
Granted? They were losing far more soldiers than they had killed. The Ultramarines and Salamanders fought them as if they were demons and the Astartes shining knights.
Granted? He was beginning to believe due to their stories the Astartes DID fight demons.
And if that was the case? Chief would love to ask where their largest weapon was and how he could control it simply on account of the fact the Imperium reminded him of a vast ocean… And the covenant would fall just as much.
This was a lot more to try and think of it.
The four Spartans slowly yet surely made their way through the pipes. Every few minutes were met with a rain of stone and dust as the two warring armies tossed themselves into the meat grinder that was the battlefield.
Chief watched part of the roof crack and an elite tumble into the water, their throat crushed entirely.
"I'm starting to feel bad for the covenant." Fred joked as Chief shrugged.
"They have their mission, we have ours," Chief stated before pressing onwards.
There was something else to be done now. He knew that they were buying time and?
The longer they stayed here? The more soldiers died for their mission… And Master Chief had watched enough soldiers die to save the Spartans.
It was time they saved people for once.
(With Halius)
Igaros was thrown to the ground as a hunter bolt knocked the Ultramarine to the ground, a brute armed with an energy hammer approached, hefting it overhead.
It was brought down only to collide with Halius's sword as sparks flew from the two weapons. Halius knocked the brute back with a kick as he parried a pair of elites, he was knocked back with a kick from the brute.
Igaros watched as Halius was rattled and struck by a piece of wreckage from the near miss of the hammer before he pivoted, elbowed one elite to the ground, and stabbed the brute, spearing it on his weapon.
Halius turned back to the elites before Jerome's knife entered the back of one and a familiar bullet split the helm of the crimson elite.
"Thank you, Jerome," Halius stated before he turned to Igaros and offered his hand. "Now who worries about who?" Halius asked as he helped Igaros to his feet.
"Rub it in," Igaros muttered as Halius watched Linda leap onto a destroyed wraith and shoot a golden elite attempting to rally the covenant.
Halius seemed to relax for a moment as the Ultramarine turned to look at Jerome.
"We need to keep pressing them, keep them within the city until Master Chief is done," Halius stated, firing his hand bolter at a pair of far-off grunts as he took cover, plasma flying at him.
"Going to be a while… And they are starting to press the offense." Jerome started his M6C firing as he reloaded his shotgun.
"Hold them off… They have numbers, we have skill and experience." Halius added, returning fire as his armor glowed with heat.
Halius knew more and more the soldiers were doing all they could when it came down to it. If there was no nuke? Halius believed they might overcome the superior numbers simply by playing smart enough.
Halius hummed, they had punched a hole in the defenses so far but he had yet to see anything resembling a counterattack. He knew one would come… They wanted nothing more than to gain what they had come for now.
To be fair? Halius was aware of this and they would fight as best they could, making it clear something would give.
Halius seemed to think of it all too much now. He seemed to relax upon thinking of the next best way to survive.
There was more gunfire as the remaining covenant soldiers opened fire, turning the ruined city into a hellscape.
Halius hummed, tired and relaxed… Now? Now he had no desire to relax… To fight.
Halius hummed and then looked to the side, there was a moment of weakness as he faced down the army.
"You know there's no way through them then straight through," Jerome said as Halius hummed.
"Then straight through we shall go…. Prepare yourself." Halius stated.
He knew damn well there was nothing besides this. Halius had fought the enemy and known them… And they usually did not break.
So? Given now he had no desire to be beaten so easily? He decided to crush them entirely.
Halius turned, put his hand on the cover, and pushed off the cover. Halius hummed and then pushed off from it, firing again and again as he began to wade further and further into the depths of soldiers.
The Imperium bared down with the UNSC behind it. He saw dozens of guardsmen, all clothed in worn armor firing at covenant soldiers.
The UNSC attacked once more, the waves of marines and ODSTS following them firing rifles, tossing grenades, and charging forwards.
Finally? Halius watched more soldiers from the Astartes… Both the Genesis chapter, those of the Silver Eagles, and finally? The Novamarines.
The Ultramarines and 3 of the successor chapters born of them… Halius led this army.
And as he chopped the next pair of elites down? He decided that even if the Spartan was set back.
He would lead them… And he would not hide from the duty Titus had bestowed him any further.
(With Master Chief)
The battle outside reminded Master Chief the UNSC was fully meant to be sent adrift. They were focused on trying to push the covenant back, they both had duties.
"Push them back, the army of the covenant is trying to regroup…" Halius added before he hummed.
There was more of the idea now than before… He had to just fight. Halius hummed and then tired and shook his head.
Halius hummed and then looked to the side, he had an odder option for now.
There was a lot bigger option to consider… Something within them both had to be relaxed.
There was a lot more to deal with it. It was clear the war outside was brutal and personal.
They had a lot more to deal with now than before and it was clear to Master Chief that either way? Covenant died.
"It sounds like a planet exploding outside," Fred stated before he shook his head.
"Jerome, take down that wraith before they organize more mortar fire!" Halius hummed and then shook his head. "Igaros, cripple those aircraft before they strafe us again! We have them on the defensive, continue to press the advantage!" Halius ordered before he sighed to himself.
Chief and the others finally entered the museum. It was clear most of the covenant soldiers had resorted to leaving to fight the UNSC/Imperium army.
Chief executed the two grunts at the door with headshots as the sounds of gunfire reminded him of the war outside.
Part of the sky rained down on them…. Chief stepped over the wreckage and then looked to the side as more and more gunfire came across both sides.
Chief guessed the soldiers were busy winning the war as he waved Kelly and Fred through the doorway. Chief slowly brought up his rifle and then looked to the side.
"Halius? Banshees coming in for strafing runs, we need air support." Jerome stated before more gunfire came.
They were too tired, too exhausted to think and Chief knew that Jerome and the others were exhausted at the end of the day.
There was a lot more to try and think of what was growing for now. This was a lot more to try and figure out as he sighed to himself.
(With Halius)
Halius tossed a slain zealot to the side, picking up Blind Justice from the corpse of a brute captain.
"How many have we killed? I have lost count." Halius heard from Igaros as he dropped downwards.
Halius hummed and shook his head, he looked at the others as the group continued to battle the waves of charging brutes and elites.
He did not at all know what was going on before he sighed to himself and then clicked his fingers.
Halius hummed to himself as he clicked his fingers and then shook his head… This battle was far from over.
And he knew the covenant was not done fighting yet.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out something.
I am aware the numbers of the Astartes vary. The Ultramarines still have roughly 1000 soldiers… Their spinoff chapters are intact.
The battle of Sigma Octanus is meant to be one of the larger battles in this story, hence the massive covenant army.
I am aware Linda might be a little OOC. She and Halius are supposed to bond over being soldiers.
The next chapter will be in 2-10 months, be 900-6500 words… And will show more of the battle and some of the war in orbit. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!