Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Iron Cross. Enjoy the 3500-word chapter. I do not own Warhammer or Halo, Gameshop and 343 do.
(Imperium Planet Zethl. 2532, March 13th.)
Jerome looked at Halius who glanced over at Guilliman.
There was a crowd of Ultramarines, Space Wolves, Imperial Fists, Salamanders, and Dark Angels. A sea of ceramite of different colors as the thousands of Astartes gazed at their gene fathers.
"Let me guess… The leaders of the other groups?" Jerome asked before Halius nodded.
"Guilliman had brothers, we believed 2 of them dead for centuries…" Halius stated before Igaros hummed.
"Why are we all standing around them while they argue?" Igaros questioned to which Halius hummed.
"We await their orders, Igaros… That and you are aware of the fact Lord Dorn, Russ, and the Lion had… Issues with him." Halius stated.
Guilliman glanced at both Dorn and Russ, both hulking statues of men almost looking ready to kill him, he turned to Vulcan who attempted to calm them. The ruler of the Salamanders still hefted Dawnbringer, the massive Warhammer ready to pulp any who dared to fight him.
"I did not come to fight," Guilliman stated as Russ marched up to him.
The Primarch of the Space Wolves reared back a massive fist and launched a punch at Guilliman which was so fast it seemed almost like lightning.
The Primarch of the Ultramarines gripped the fist and pushed Russ into the ground.
2000 weapons were clicking into place as both Ultramarines and Space Wolves moved to fight and shatter the other legion.
"ENOUGH." Vulkan hissed, his voice a low whisper as he stepped between the two forces. "Brother. It is good to see you… But this is not the imperium, is it? I see soldiers stand amongst our sons clad in unique armor, ships in the skies." Vulkan stated as Halius hummed.
"It is not. The Imperium as you know it? Is dead. Humanity is not under the yoke purely of Imperial rule. We war with a new enemy, that of genocidal aliens who wish only for humanity's destruction." Guilliman added as the Lion slowly appeared.
"So, the Ultramarines and that of Ultramar rule this new Imperium? You see yourself as the successor to our father?" Lion asked, features hidden under his helm.
"No, I see myself as attempting to hold together the Imperium. We persisted in hate, fear, and a desire to slaughter anything we could not control and conquer everything. I will not allow it anymore." Guilliman heard before he looked to the Ultramarines.
"We leave… Return to your assignments. I will speak to my siblings without a thousand guns at my back." Guilliman ordered with his voice barely above a whisper.
The Ultramarines glanced at him but said nothing. He was their ruler and they would obey him until their dying breath.
"I do not care if you hate me, believe I have betrayed our father which I have not. I will speak and you will listen, then you may do whatever you wish." Guilliman stated, stepping amid the other Primarchs.
(2 hours later)
Halius sat in the back of the condor, curious. He knew at the very least the legions would not kill each other but the fact almost every legion was here?
It was bothersome for now… They had a lot more to deal with for now.
"Do you think the war will change at all? With Dorn and the Lion? They are 2 of the best strategists in the Imperium." Halius heard as he snorted.
"If he can talk even one Primarch into helping? Yes… Considering the Space Wolves? It will… Screw over our plan." Halius said as Jerome hummed.
"You guys have a name for every group of Astartes, don't you?" Jerome asked as Halius hummed.
"Space Wolves, Salamanders, White Scars, Blood Angels, Raven Guard, Iron Hands, Imperial Fists and Dark Angels. Yes, we do… But each legion is different, some are… Less professional than us." Halius added before Igaros piped up.
"You know how we said the World Eaters love to stab things with axes and kill?" Igaros asked to which the Spartan-II nodded. "So do Space Wolves… And they do not listen to rules or orders or anyone. They are like us without planning, they are nice to civilians and good people when you get past their drinking contests and love of violence." Igaros added as Halius sighed.
"The idea that they will straight up want to fight the covenant without a plan is the problem, Igaros," Halius said before turning to Jerome. "Has Admiral Cutter finished his discussions about the battle? We are deploying many ships and soldiers and soldiers." Halius stated, frowning.
Jerome opened the hologram projector on the condor as they looked over a fleet of covenant warships, the largest of which was a carrier that hung over the ring like a shark.
"Intel says there is about a fleet of 25 cruisers and Thel's flagship… The odd part is? They have been there for days and barely managed to set up much on the ring." Halius heard as he nodded.
"Perhaps because of the Orks encroaching upon their positions. The rest of the soldiers in the fleet might be expecting an attack. The second we show up? We will have to punch through their fleet. That? That is the part I dislike." Halius added, pausing to himself as he thought of it all for now.
He had a lot more to try and think of it all for now, she was silent at the end of the day.
They had a lot more to try and relax. It was all more chaotic for now as they were silent.
It was all too much for now. Something about it all had been too much to deal with for now as she relaxed once more.
Halius hummed as he paused. All the motions, all the chaos? All of it? They had NOTHING else to deal with and nothing beyond it all had to be dealt with for now.
He was silent as he pondered exactly all the details for now, he had an idea of what to expect at the end of the day.
He was silent for a moment. Then? Halius turned his full bulk towards Jerome as he spoke a few moments later.
"The hard part of the battle will be reaching the ring, even amid a massive battle. The covenant will surely know about the attempt to land troops, that? And they still have more soldiers than us, plus they have had time to prepare for combat, reinforce their positions." Halius stated before he sighed.
"What do you suggest then? We are going to have to fight through them." Jerome stated as Halius hummed.
"I do not know. I am not a naval expert when it comes to war… What I do know is when we get to the ring's surface. We will be on the back foot, we lack orbital support, supplies, and reinforcements until the fleet is broken." Halius added, frowning to himself as he crossed his arms.
He was tired, too curious as to how this would be. He knew what was growing for now and then thought of it all. The variables of the war crashed through his mind like a tank, he knew exactly what was going on.
He also knew what he would do if he was in command of the fleet. He would allow the Orks, all too eager for blood and death to whittle down the covenant forces and then launch a full-scale assault to cover their insertion into the ring.
If nothing else? The surprise assault would allow them to down most of the fleet. Halius knew the Imperial ships had a longer range than the covenant fleet but they still outnumbered the Imperials and UNSC fleet.
If he was to command the fleet? He did not at all see how the battle would go, only that it would be odd.
"Did Admiral Cutter speak with the UNSC council? I know we were supposed to make final preparations before the fleet jumped… And I know the Imperium will change with the others joining. Well, if they join." Halius added before he frowned.
He was silent, curious as to how things were to go for now. This was more and more chaotic at the end of it all.
Now and for a good reason would they need to focus more on small details? If the other legions were to come? They would bring problems from the Imperium and undermine what was going to occur.
They had a lot more to deal with now and they had to relax once more, a chaos with which to deal for now.
There was all more and more to deal with for now… The pain and pain as she relaxed for now.
There was a lot more to understand with, for now, a pain like this was more uneasy for now. An idea like this was thrown off and he was all too much for now and he had been too distracted now.
He was bored to throw himself off now when it came down to it.
They had a lot more to deal with for now.
(2 days later)
Halius hummed and then sighed to himself. He looked over his bolter as he sighed, put it on a crate, and left it there.
There was a lot of exhaustion on his mind as he slowly thought of it all for now.
"Report to Captain Titus… Ask if my numbers were correct before we move onwards." Halius stated before the Ultramarine sighed.
He was silent, too curious for now. The Ultramarine was silent as he knew what was growing through his mind, all too thrown off.
He was also aware of the woman behind him and turned a few steps toward Linda.
She and he nodded as he stepped closer to her and he paused, thinking for a few seconds for now.
"You tired?" Halius asked as Linda shook her head. "Good… I am, I am curious. The battle we will be headed off to seems the biggest of the war effort if I were to think more obviously. I believe the covenant might be devoting the rest of their military to the war effort." Halius stated with a frown as he thought of what was growing on.
He had a lot more to deal with for now. They had PLENTY left to deal with for now. Linda glanced at him, her armor hiding her emotions as he sighed.
He was silent, sure of what was going on. He? He knew more and more that as it came crashing down to the ground.
Halius hummed, slowly walking back and forth as he paused, thinking of what to say. He felt an unease and something that would have been too much for now and always said and done.
It would be impossible to end it now, impossible to end it for now with the details plaguing his mind.
He hated it, both were in for a ride, something about it all had been too much.
Halius turned for a moment towards Linda, helm hiding his expression but his body language told her that he was eager to deal with something chaotic for now. He needed something off his chest and now? Now he had an idea about it all when it was all said and done.
They had more left to deal with, for now, an idea like this was chaotic for now. He needed to break the tension before it was all too much for now so he relaxed for the time being.
"Walk with me?" Halius asked, his voice softer, almost as if he was asking for comfort in a time of need. "I would ask Igaros but he… Does not understand how I am the way I currently am." Halius stated, his tone much more taken with emotion.
Linda paused for a moment and he was silent as he cracked his seconds.
There was a pain that he needed expunged from himself and currently? He saw no idea as to what it would have been like for now. Now? He had zero clue as to how this would have been done.
Linda nodded and then paused, looked at Igaros, and then back.
The two slowly trekked through the Pillar of Autumn, Halius watched as ODSTs and marines stacked packs of crates around the warship. He had heard this ship was captained by the same soldier who had destroyed the first covenant fleet during their battle with Thel.
He would like to talk with this captain if they survived the battle. Halius turned to Linda, hummed to himself, and then spoke once more.
"This battle could end the war with the covenant, victory here could destroy them for now," Halius stated with his tone that of a hoarse whisper.
"You don't sound so sure," Linda stated before he sighed to herself.
"I am…. I fear the fact I do not know." Halius stated, inclining his head to the side. "A year ago? I was certain of my purpose, of what was to come. Now? Now I find myself unsure of what to do. The covenant is an odd enemy, I do not at all know what was growing in their mind, I do not know what my brothers will do." Halius stated, sighing to himself.
Linda looked at him, he looked to the side, out a window into the vacuum of space, the endless void seemed less a comfort to them and more of a smokescreen that obscured, for now, the horrors.
"War is full of uncertainty," Linda stated to which Halius hummed.
"Maybe… But do you ever feel safe without the promise of victory? I like to be able to go on missions and fight. Leadership? The weight and burden put atop my shoulders? It has shattered me." Halius stated, frowning under his helm.
Linda planted Nornfang on the ground. She was silent… As a sniper, she had taken the lives of many covenant soldiers and insurgents, lives who could have ended the war and who needed to die.
She knew what leadership was. John had led Blue Team through the war and it was a burden that had bothered him just like any leader had been bothered by such a thing.
"You feel like every death in your command is your fault," Linda stated to which Halius sighed.
"Doesn't every officer? The worst burden of an officer is knowing they must throw soldiers into the fire to gain victory. I despise that, I despise the idea of watching lives thrown into the chaos now." Halius stated before he hummed once more.
Halius fell silent as he questioned what was occurring in their minds… Each little idea in their brains had bothered him now and for a good reason at the end of it all.
Now? There was something to deal with for now, a chaos within them that threatened to cut them into a thousand pieces now at the time being.
She had been through such an idea of it…. Such was chaos for now now, she knew better than to ask senseless questions and not to focus on such soldiers.
Still? She turned to Halius and spoke.
"I've got your back if you have mine," Linda stated as Halius chuckled.
"Deal, Spartan… I enjoy your company. I have never met a group of soldiers outside the Astartes who understand what it means to have a duty and burden like this." Halius said before looking out the window. "You Spartans… Have no downtime, no? No calm before the immortal storms like this, yes?" Halius questioned, curious and crossing his arms.
"Correct… Do Astartes?" Linda questioned to which Halius nodded.
"Correct. We have fought thousands of battles… According to imperial history? I was born after the war which split our brothers into a handful of legions. It was ten thousand years or so." Halius stated before one of the marines walked over towards him.
"Sir? Admiral Cutter would like a word with everyone…" They heard as the supersoldiers nodded.
"Sure… Let us see what the others deal with." Halius heard before he looked to the ground.
(5 minutes later)
"All ships are prepared?" Cutter questioned; eyebrow raised.
"2 Paris class frigates, 3 Charon, 2 Stalwart class, 3 Halberd class heavy destroyers, and 2 Halcyon class light cruisers. Yes, we are all ready to die in this mission, Admiral." Selina joked as the doors opened and Halius and the Red Team along with Linda walked in.
"About time you arrived," Cato said as Halius glanced at the captain who he heard was soon to be returning to the Victrix Guard.
"I believed command of this operation fell to you and Captain Titus. I am his lieutenant, not his superior." Halius added, frowning to himself.
Halius turned towards Titus, questioning what was growing on his mind. They had a lot left to distract them for now, it was an odd thing for him to be involved in the operation as a commander but he knew better than to question orders.
Halius walked closer to the table as a layout of the fleet appeared, far larger than their combined force, and with the Banished and Orks interfering.
"Even with our force? I dislike the fact we are outnumbered. The covenant has had time to prepare for our arrival, even if we can shatter their blockade. They will have sent thousands of soldiers to the surface." Halius stated before he sighed to himself.
"We can punch a hole in their blockade with an opening barrage to weaken their shields, follow it up with the terminators boarding the more damaged ships… I expect boarding operations by the covenant and long-range bombardment." Titus stated as Halius hummed.
"It still leaves the problem of landing any forces onto the ring, it will be a lot worse when we get down to the surface," Halius stated, crossing his arms.
"I will leave ground operations to you and the Captain, Lieutenant. The fleet battle will be mine and Admiral Cutter's to manage until we have managed to secure orbit." Halius heard before he looked at the captain.
"You wish for ME to lead the ground war alongside General Drevan and Captain Cato?" Halius questioned, raising an eyebrow, resting his helm on the table.
"Yes. Their fleet must be annihilated and most of their fleet is a major problem… We will fight and then we will cut down their fleet, and then we will join you." Titus stated before he turned to Cato.
"I know you are one of the most elite warriors in the Ultramarines… But there is no need to put glory over the needs of our brothers. The Lieutenant is young but he can handle himself." Titus stated to which Halius turned.
"Serina, do you have mission objectives?" Halius stated to which the AI was silent.
"From what little intelligence ONI and TAC satellites have picked up? Your guess was almost correct, there appear to be almost a million covenant soldiers on the ground… HIGHCOM would like to ask the Ultramarines to secure whatever the covenant asked for and establish a beachhead." Serina said as Halius nodded.
"Rout the covenant, secure a strategic foothold, and ensure the ring and its technology do not fall into enemy hands. Understood we will do what we can." Halius stated before turning to Titus. "Permission to transfer to the UNSC Rubicon before the jump?" Halius questioned to which Titus hummed.
"Why, Lieutenant?" Titus questioned to which Halius was silent.
"The cruisers and most of our more armored warships will be engaging the covenant fleet if their commander is as smart as I know he is. He will attempt to board whatever ships the fleet cannot currently engage. The crew may need reinforcements and they will be covering the deployment to the ring." Halius stated, frowning to himself.
He was silent before now. Thel… He knew about Thel and the elite bothered him more and more, he had slaughtered plenty of Imperial and UNSC soldiers.
He was all too much distracted. This was the battle to end the war, he was not stupid it was less important to the major war effort.
Yet? He knew that there was a storm coming. A bad omen was almost upon them.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! A few things.
I intend for either the battle of Earth or Reach to end the war but I AM adapting First Strike.
I will be covering up to Infinite.
What do you guys think about Halius being promoted to Captain at the end of the war and becoming a Primaris? I have an idea but I want people to weigh in before I do that or make up a new successor chapter.
4? I do plan to bring in Chaos or Necrons. I do plan for the Ultramarines and Imperium to face worse… That and I hoped I got the Primarchs right from what I heard of their views of Guilliman.
The next chapter will be in 2-10 months, be 900-6500 words, and show the fleet battle and deployment to Halo and more of Thel's plans. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!