Chapter 71

12 Hours after Distress Message, UNSC 7th Fleet

"Alright ladies, line up!" Shouted Gunnery Sergeant Avery Johnson as a platoon of marines lined up in front of him. He had been promoted to Gunnery Sergeant following his participation in multiple ground battles in the outer colonies.

"The Covenant must have felt my thirst for their purple blood because they just brought me a gift" Joked Johnson as he walked down through the line of marines.

In his hands was an energy sword which he was allowed to keep after he was ambushed by two elites and emerged victorious. "An energy sword," he scoffed, "Or more like a toothpick for our good friend here." He slapped the back of a towering Marine, who towered over Johnson.

The marine smirked and crossed his arms. "Gonna need a bigger one than that, Sarge."

Laughter erupted through the ranks, easing the tension that had been brewing for hours. It was an eerie calm before the storm, and everyone knew it.

Johnson deactivated the energy sword and dropped it onto a nearby table. After that he began to pace back and forth in front of his troops, clapping his hands together.

"Alright ladies, let's get serious. We've got one helluva fight ahead of us. The Covenant's grunts are tough, but we're tougher. Their Elites are strong, but we're stronger. And their Prophets are cunning, but they ain't got nothing on our smarts." His charismatic voice resonated strongly within each soldier's heart.

The marines nodded in agreement, as the fire in their eyes was visible. The camaraderie that bound them was stronger than any plasma blast or energy sword swipe; they were brothers and sisters standing tall against an enemy that sought to wipe them from existence.

"Now, within our possession is the new weapons that High command has so kindly given us. An Energy Rifle and energy pistol. We've all been through the training and simulations, so I won't waste my good smelling breathe to explain it." Stated Johnson.

"Now gear up! I want every rifle checked and double-checked! Make sure that body armor is strapped tight! And remember," Johnson paused, pointing a finger at each of them in turn, "Nobody...and I mean nobody...dies without permission from yours truly. Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" the marines replied in unison.

"That's what I like to hear," Johnson said, grinning. "Let's show these Covenant bastards what we're made of."

The marines scrambled to get ready, checking their weapons and loading equipment onto the transports. The hanger was busy with activity as everybody prepared for the upcoming battle.

12 Hours earlier on Actium

"Command, this is Echo Leader, we have the Covenant transports and their escorts in sight, engaging now" said Echo leader over the radio. He was leading a Wing of fighters consisting of 75 fighters.

"Copy that Echo leader, good hunting" replied a voice from the other side.

"This is Echo leader to all squadrons; everybody knows the missions and the risk. We are to stop the Covenant from landing those Transports to give our ground troops time to prepare. Wolfpack will engage the transports, while the rest of us will cover engage the Banshees." Explained Echo leader.

"Copy that Colonel" replied the Squadron leader for Wolfpack.

"We may have these fancy new next gen fighters but remember that it all comes down to the pilot in the box" Stated Echo leader.

With that the entire air wing started to increase speed to intercept the approaching Covenant transports and Banshees. The sky was painted with a blue glow from the fighters' thrusters as they began their mission. In the cockpit of his fighter, Echo leader's heart pounded, his hands gripping the flight controls with a determined resolve.

The Covenant ships were rapidly approaching, their purple streaks appeared in front of the wing of UNSC fighters as the Covenant descended further into the atmosphere.

"Wingmen, fall into formation! Echelon right! We're going in hot!" Echo leader commanded as he gritted teeth. He watched as his squadrons skillfully maneuvered into position on either side of him, forming an echelon pattern.

"Roger that, Echo Leader," replied a younger wingman, her voice brimming with determination and youthful confidence. "We got your back."

As soon as they got close to the Covenant transports, a hail of plasma fire erupted from the covenant ships. "Evasive maneuvers!" yelled Echo leader. His fighter twisted and turned dodging the plasma fire.

Meanwhile, Wolfpack Squadron took their cue and dove towards the enemy transports. Their weapons locked onto the covenant transports and fired a few rounds of railgun shots and Hellfire missiles at the Covenant transports.

"I got one!" A triumphant whoop came over the comm channel from one of Wolfpack's pilots as one of the Covenant transport ships exploded in brilliant ball of fire.

"Good shot, Wolfpack! Echo units, keep those Banshees at bay!" Echo leader shouted over the comm. His eyes darted around the cockpit as he maneuvered his ship amongst the chaotic battle.

"Echo Three reporting, heavy plasma fire! Shields down to thirty percent!" A desperate voice came over the comm channel. "Hang in there, Echo Three! We're coming around for an assist," Echo leader replied steadfastly. The dogfight continued, each second felt like an eternity. Suddenly another cheer erupted over the comm links, "Another transport down! That's two outta five!"

The new Fighters had managed to hold their own and even prove their superiority over the Covenant Banshees. Humanity was holding its ground as further Covenant transports were shot down one by one, thanks to Wolfpack's relentless attacks. But the Banshees fought fiercely too; several fighters from Echo squadron were damaged or lost.

After what felt like an eternity but barely half an hour, Echo leader finally gave a triumphant shout "Last transport down! Repeat, last transport is down!"

A wave of cheers erupted from the wing as they had accomplished their mission. But it was only one victory that only halted the Covenant advance by a little.

Over the Comm channel a voice coming from command had interrupted their victory. "Echo leader, RTB to base to rearm and refuel, the Covenant have landed troops while we are still evacuating civilians to another location" ordered the voice.

"Copy that command, we are heading back to base ETA 20 Minutes" responded Echo leader as he and his wing formed up and returned to their base.

Meanwhile somewhere else on the planet a UNSC garrison was desperately fighting the Covenant who outnumbered them and were almost about to break through the base.

"Corporal, get up on that gun right now" Shouted Sgt. Harris as he helped another marine up.

"Aye, sir" said the Corporal as he got on the gun and started shooting at the Covenant. Sgt. Harris was ordered to hold this position to prevent the Covenant from flanking other UNSC forces, but they were being overrun by the Covenant.

As he was commanding his troops, he saw a Covenant tank approaching. "Private fire on that tank!" ordered Sgt. Harris as the private next to him grabbed his rocket launcher and prepared to fire it. But before he could a Jackal had shot him in the head killing him instantly. The Jackals sniper had penetrated the privates shield giving him no chance to take cover and killing him instantly.

On the tower behind him a UNSC sniper had took aim and sniped the Jackal who shot the private. "I got him, Sergeant." Announced the sniper.

Sgt. Harris didn't waste any time and grabbed the rocket launcher and took aim at the Covenant tank. It was the last shot that was loaded, and he hoped that it would do the job. Once he had the shot lined up, he fired the rocket which impacted the front of the Covenant tank but it didn't destroy it as the outline of the tanks shields appeared.

Sgt. Harris ducked back behind cover as he started to panic. They wouldn't be able to hold this position without their own armor to contend with the Covenant armor.

Meanwhile a large, armored figure had fell from the sky and landed on the Covenant tank. A Corporal who had seen this stopped to look at the scene as all the Covenant forced turned their attention to the loud noise that they had heard.

The Corporal had recognized the armor that the figure was wearing, and his eyes grew wider "Sergeant look!!" shouted the Corporal.

Sgt. Harris had stood up upon noticing that the Covenant was no longer shooting at them and had saw a Spartan on top of the Covenant tank tear a piece of the tank off, grab the tanks crew and threw them 10ft away from the tank. At the same time more Spartans had suddenly appeared falling from the sky and landed in the middle of the Covenant forces.

The Spartans didn't waste any time and started massacring the Covenant forces who all focused on the Spartans that had just arrived.

Sgt. Harris couldn't help but let out a whoop of relief as he saw the Spartans tear into the Covenant forces, their presence turning the tide of the battle. "That's what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed, feeling a new surge of hope.

The Corporal near him simply stood in awe. He had heard stories about the new Spartans but seeing them in action was something else entirely. Their movements were swift and precise, their strength and endurance unparalleled, and their fearlessness unmatched. He could never see himself standing in the middle of Covenant forces and remaining calm.

One of the Spartans leaped high in the air, crashing into an Elite. He had fell to the ground as something hard was pressing into his chest slowly breaking his armor. The Spartan that landed on his had his foot placed on the Elite's chest and was applying pressure slowly before he pulled out his energy pistol and shot the Elite in the head killing him.

As the Covenant forces began to falter under this new onslaught, Sgt. Harris took advantage of their distraction to rally his men. "Alright Marines! Let's not let those Spartans have all the fun! We've got a job to do!" shouted Sgt. Harris, leaving behind the fact that he had lost all hope just a few minutes ago.

Combined with the Spartans the UNSC forces had completely took control of the battle and had started to massacre the Covenant forces.