Second Journey :: The Role

[one_one_se7en]

"Contacts. Stand by."

The Master Chief knew there were probably more than a hundred of them -- Motion sensors were off the scale. He wanted to see them for himself, though; his years made that lesson clear: 'Machines break. Eyes don't'.

The Spartans that composed his team for the moment covered his sides, each of them with varying patience inside their MJOLNIR suits of armor. Someone had once commented that they looked like Greek war gods in the armor... But his Spartans were far more effective and ruthless than Homer's gods had ever been.

He snaked the fiber-optic probe up and over the three-meter-high stone ridge. When it was in place, the Master Chief linked it to his helmet's HUD. On the other side he saw a valley with eroded rock walls and a river meandering through it... And camped along the banks were hundreds of Grunts, Jackals, Brutes, and Elites, with a handful of pairs of Hunters around the camp.

The Master Chief detached the optics cable, and took a step back from the rock wall. He passed the tactical information along his companions over a secure COM channel. Like him, encased in battle armor easily weighting half a ton. All armed with energy shields protecting them from the plasma, enough speed not to be even noticed in the seconds they all ran exposed on the field, and enough strength to toss even the biggest Hunter among them.

"Are the mines set?"

This is what being a Spartan is like. When two of them against a almost a thousand of them are poor odds for their enemies.

Comments

[waterfell]

"Do we even need them for such a pathetic group of enemies?" SPARTAN-031, arrogant and eager for battle as ever, couldn't resist the jab, with a light and careless lilt to her voice. After all, wasn't a secure COM channel for the purpose of showing off? (Alright, maybe not.)

Of course, the mines were set. She may have been loud, but she was good at what she did. They were perfectly set for maximum impact based on their tactical information. They should be able to take out plenty with this alone.

And they were not alone. Her helmet turned towards the Master Chief. She was ready for the moment it was time to begin the battle. She was ready to show the enemy her power, and win.

[one_one_se7en]

"Saves ammo."

His helmet turns to her, seeing rank and name displayed immediately upon looking at her. Even for a Spartan, Ami was ruthless - just as she was brilliant. He wouldn't have asked her to do it if she wouldn't do it. While several marines and Spartans were willing to make them all suffer as much as the 105th Drop Jet Platoon did, he didn't think Ami would receive as much of an excuse to do it.

It still makes him happy. It's a sense of familiarity he had not felt in so long. Being beside another MJOLNIR.

He brings over the detonator. He flashes an amber acknowledgement light on her HUD -- Spartan language to tell her to wait.

"On my mark."

[waterfell]

There's a second before the helmet dips in a slow nod. She's eager for the signal, but her stance is steady and there's no sign she'll move ahead of it. A feeling of anticipation courses through her like a stiff current.

It's all she ever asked for, in the soldier's life she never chose for herself: someone else fighting at her side, someone who can be relied on, not to be alone in the battle. It might be an even stronger feeling than the thrill of battle itself.

She's not foolish enough not to stay alert, or to let down her guard, even with her confidence; but she's ready to unleash the wrath of the gods they've been compared to on these enemies who would damage this planet. Give her the signal.

[one_one_se7en]

A Covenant Elite kicks a Grunt to return to its' group as soon as he sees it slacking off -- before he stops when he notices a humming beneath the dirt. One hood attempts to move off dirt. A four-fingered hand removes a heavy rock from the element. It's dug deep. He moves to call three Grunts--

Dirt flies as a cilinder marking a napalm fougasse ejects from the ground in front of the creature.

The Elite spreads his jaws to scream a warning as the cylinder flies in front of him. Its' explosion shreds him and everything within a radii of fifteen meters in shrapnels and napalm, before the rest of the mines follow.

Amidst alien screams of alert, one name turns common, translated behind the Spartans' head-up displays:

Demon.


Time slows down to a crawl. Grunts, Elites, and shrapnels move too slowly in front of the Spartans.

He bolts forward.

"Go."

[waterfell]

"Should I take orders from a demon?" Of course, by the time she makes the flippant joke, she's already running at top speed.

It feels like flying. Something tells her she should be used to the responses and enhancements - and the suit - but the dizzying speed (she'd be a rival for Uranus like this), the strength (could even Jupiter match it?)... She's not used to them; she wants them. She'll yearn for them.

Her whole body responds better. It feels like she could run away, away, away- except she has no intention of running away from this. Instead, she's running right into the thick of the fighting.

[one_one_se7en]

SPARTAN-117 trails closely behind her, firing, running, -flying- in the middle of enemies, shrapnels, explosions, and even plasma bolts that moved awfully slow around him. Not as a teammate of the Petty Officer, but as an extension of her own body, and her of his own. One mind in two bodies.

One Elite Colonel primes a plasma sword in front of them -- at the same time a Minor and three Grunts move from behind a rock to flank them.

"Says the witch."

He tears down its' shields -- and turns around SPARTAN-031 as he grabs a grenade.

[waterfell]

"You'd better get places ready!" comes the next remark, deliberately ignoring the name she's been given. "Because, I'll be sending these guys to just where a demon lives."

The witch maneuvers herself into position. She has a steady aim as she leaves the Elite to the Master Chief and fires on the others, with no sign of hesitation. It's notable that she prefers the range of her weapons to closer combat even now; but she's confident in both. Of course.

As soon as one goes down, she makes certain of the kill before turning her attention to his comrades.

[braidstobows]

A girl with nothing remarkable about her appearance save for the very long hair stood calmly near the Master Chief. Having handled the placement of the mines herself, she nodded.

"They're in position." The tone was as calm and even as her stance, but deceptively soft and mild for a fighter. A hand brushed the hair out of her way as she prepared for action. There were a lot of creatures amassed against them. That didn't seem to perturb her. She betrayed no nervousness or fear. It was the calm preparedness of experience.

"I'll wait for your signal." She affixed a small gem to her hand, her final preparation, and her fingers gripped a simple bow. She carried no arrows.

[one_one_se7en]

The lack of even the slightest bit of military gear doesn't surprise him as much -- the girl glows in his eyes. The Master Chief has gotten too used to fight with spectral warriors without military discipline.

He wonders how did they get away with a requisition meant for a full-blown Orbital Drop Shock Trooper regiment. They were not happy once they learned they were the ones hoarding all of the weapons in the ship for this.

The Spartan looks at her bow. For his part, armed with a Galilean Nonlinear Rifle and an MA5B Assault Rifle (and a lot of grenades), he only makes a small glance at the bow.

"You'll be alright with that?"

Not doubtful. Just curious. Some people he met could summon fireballs with their bare hands.

[braidstobows]

How long has it been since she would have died in the first seconds on this field? Homura doesn't let herself think of that too deeply. She simply answers the Master Chief with the same composure as if he'd asked her a question about her schoolwork.

"This will be fine." She pulled it back, as though fitting an arrow to it after all, and a shaft of light with a burning flame fitted itself to the bow instead. "It's a weapon to be used against the ones who attack humanity."

[one_one_se7en]

As an arrow of light appears in Homura's hold, the Master Chief turns his sight back to the field. Same as the MJOLNIR. Same as Spartans.

That, and given the energy levels the artifact let out, it was bound to hurt people.

He brings out the detonator. He calmly gives out three words as a warning.

"Aim for the Elites."

Before everything in front of them glows and burns through many explosions around the camp.

[braidstobows]

The explosions don't seem to perturb Homura in the least. Instead, she peers through them as though quite used to them. As soon as she finds her opening, she starts to shoot.

It's hardly the first time she's faced enemy after enemy, one after the next, coming and coming without relief. She can handle it again- as many times as it takes, as many times as she has to.

Following the Master Chief's advice, she aims for the ones she somehow knows are the Elites. If her enemies are numerous, her hand is quick, and bolt after bolt is fired into the fray.

[one_one_se7en]

SPARTAN-117 takes care of the lesser enemies. While Homura had a power weapon, the Spartan had rate of fire. He took care of Grunts, Jackals, and the occasional Brute and Minor Elite that could present themselves as threats to outnumber them. Grenades and copper rounds tear through the masses enemies.

But the energy arrows?

The body of a General in golden armor that tries challenging Homura is simply undone the moment one of the arrows hit him. His personal shields don't even get to make an effort.

He moves up front, gathering the attention of the rest of the warriors, diverting it from Homura's. The girl that was tearing apart Chieftains and Zealots that had supposedly killed over a thousand adversaries each. And for a time, it works -- with the only problem being the vehicles that remain on the ground between them and the Gravity Lift. Ghosts, Wraiths, Spectres...

"Can your arrows pierce them?"

[braidstobows]

"I don't know yet." This is delivered with an undertone of willingness to try. If these creatures advance much further, it will be a more difficult battle. Homura shifts her aim.

These are new adversaries to her, but she will not let that make her back down. She never has before. Though she knows not to let down her guard - witch's barriers are places that defy both logic and physics, and her battles are never certain - she fights on.

The burning light fires straight and true towards the closest vehicle.

[kyouya_okaasan]

Despite the number and the size of the opposing side, the mines had been placed in a manner that would limit their movement and cause a limited advance that would make it more manageable to last against them and minimize loses. "They are, it will prevent from attempting to flank left."

He might have not been there physically, but everything had been planned out and calculated. Each communication and position being monitored as well as the resources available in the area.

[one_one_se7en]

The Master Chief holds the communicator in his helmet. Kyouya was not in sight, but he nonetheless continues to transmit the information right over to him -- and receiving the information about the rest of the mines.

So we're taking right and center, he comes to think. With the way the mines had all been laid out the night before on the field, they would all the manageable in the middle of the crisis.

Once it's done, they could board the ship.

"Are you coming?"

Jokingly, but even then, he was still going to protect his position if need be, wherever he was.

[kyouya_okaasan]

"I've dispatched plenty of others to re-enforce the right side for you. It would be shame for me to be distracted and miss any crucial changes or details regarding their movements." Besides he was more useful for analysis and strategy that strength and combat, that was the reason that he had the position he had. "Though if you think it's too much for you to handle I can find some additional units to help."

[one_one_se7en]

"I'll be fine."

Not that he doesn't appreciate the help. Playing their cards well, they could strike down as they're fragmented. It was going to turn into a massive fight, and having an eye on the sky would help him as it happens.

The Master Chief readies. The explosions could probably flare the Kyouya's view from the sky, but putting his hopes on the way he proposed to lay down the explosives, he may still get to have a good view on them even in the moment of the detonation.

Kyouya does his job well. It'll be his turn to do the same.

"Commencing attack. Keep me posted."

He pushes the trigger. And seeks for threats.

[kyouya_okaasan]

Also with it coming from a single direction it would momentarily cause the enemy forces to focus in that direction, thus leaving more vulnerable and prone for being flanked. "The initial charges will blow in ten, followed by a secondary."

[one_one_se7en]

"Understood." Good plan. All the more space to strike. His feet position themselves ready to run. He waits a few more seconds. "Detonation in five..."

Four. Three. Two. One.

The white glow and the shockwave in the distance hits the camp before the sound of the explosion does.

The part of the camp that was not hit by the explosions is immediately woken up, rushing and screaming in reports of the threat. -- And then another one follows, claiming part of those that had moved. into that position.

Kyouya was a great planner.

"Good job."

Now for his part. He ventures out, neutralizing threats as he moves forward in the middle of the confusion. Amidst smoke, plasma and physical rounds fired without knowledge of their origins, the Covenant was only vaguely aware there was a Demon within their midst.

He needs to get to below the Grav Lift. Toss a HAVOK Tactical Nuclear Device. Accomplish his obective.

SPARTAN-117 takes cover. He spots a general and three teams that have taken notice of him. He engages the nearest team.

"Found a general."

[kyouya_okaasan]

Kyouya was rather pleased that the initial engagement had went so smoothly and that they had actually responded in the predicted manner. Then again the amount of research that had gone into learning their mannerisms and mode of operation had made it fairly straightforward.

Now was the more cumbersome part since there were a number of other possibilities and combinations of situations in play. In front of him was a display of the teams that had been deployed, and details of the enimies as they came in. News of the general though brought everything to a momentary pause. "Good, dispatch the team and capture the general if possible."

Perhaps they would be able to get additional information if they were to manage to do so.

[decaying]

Kanda had seen his share of war but this? This was different. This was child's play.

Akuma came in all shapes and sizes, levels of strengths, and various ranges of abilities that were sometimes almost impossible to figure out until they were using it against you. In his world, only an exorcist; an individual blessed by God himself, could destroy them. Kanda ws engineered for war. But this? This was going to end in a massacre.

After spending a few moments watching the battle field he had come to a conclusion: whatever those armored folk were, they were using simple guns and whatever those creatures happened to be were dying. There was nothing special about them, bullets and metal. The strange creatures, despite the armor, were made of blood and tissue, nothing mechanical like the akuma back home. They could break just as easily as his own skin if he could manage to get around the shield. He wasn't sure why he was here but, as an exorcists duty called for, he had to save these armored people. They were humans right?

"I'll go in first. I don't need you idiots holding me back." He muttered. This was some strange mission, all right. Preferring the lone wolf over some teamwork with someone he hardly knew. "I'll get you some ground so you can move in."

[one_one_se7en]

Mavericks. While uncommon in the war, these types of people were walking snags. Disregarding any sort of discipline in their overconfidence. Getting others killed for their irresponsibility.

"Wait. For the mines."

He remarks over the comm. He had been told he would be an asset -if he wasn't, none of his team would be covering him-, but it's five minutes before the start of the Op, and the Master Chief already has his doubts.

[decaying]

Kanda paid attention but he still didn't agree. Mines? He figured after so much time of disregarding his own safety, considering he couldn't exactly get hurt, he should be a little more mindful of the humans. Regardless, this guy obviously didn't know he was capable of. Unfortunately for him, Kanda wasn't one to brag either so he kept his mouth shut. This guy was running the show, he didn't have a voice here.

"It's your call." He waited.

[one_one_se7en]

The Spartan catches his breath. At the very least, he understood the need for it. They would get to blow the mines without getting anybody of their own killed. For now.

One Elite looks around. Almost too close towards Kansa, but it does not notice him. It turns its' head to try looking closer--

An entire field turns ablaze behind it. It turns its' head. Someone else throws grenade towards its' squad's positon.

"Now."