Equispartans

As the Repulsion force geared up for urban warfare, Chris tightened his hold on the Warthog’s steering wheel. He knew that the Covies would stop at nothing to avenge their loss at the Crystal Empire. While the Repulsion force joined up, Warthogs bumper to bumper, Chris looked at Zag, who was surveying the UNSC forces, still holding onto his Incineration Cannon. The force began to move out, Chris flooring the gas pedal. As the once tight group sped towards the city, Chris saw that the Covies had beaten them there. A large wall of shields, Phantoms, and the occasional Lich (Chris swore at seeing them) blanketed the road they were supposed to be taking. On cue, the Covenant forces opened up with plasma fire, resulting in the Scorpions shooting back, occasionally landing hits on Phantoms, but most impacted on the shields. Chris swore, out loud this time, resulting in a punch from Evan.

“Well, plan’s gone to shit!” Grant said.

“That is an understatement!” Zag replied.

Suddenly, as the remaining Warthogs and Scorpions reached the first trench line, the defending Wraiths opened up their main salvos, scoring hits on a few Warthogs. Just as Chris swerved to avoid a plasma shot, a second impacted near them, the resulting force of the explosion rolling over the Warthog. Chris, Zag, Evan, and Grant got out, Covenant Infantry opening fire the moment they were in the open. As Fireteam Crimson sheltered behind a shield, occasionally shooting back at the Covies that got too close, Chris radioed the Infinity.

“Palmer, this is Fireteam Crimson! We’re pinned down just short of the second trench line! We need reinforcements ASAP!”

“Crimson, this is Palmer. WILCO. Hang tight, we’ll get some guys to you soon. Most of our birds are down or engaged by Banshees. Keep moving forward as best you can.”

“What’s the verdict?” Evan shouted

“No reinforcements for the moment. We’re on our own!” Chris yelled back, resulting in Grant yelling a very rude word at the top of his lungs.

Chris frowned before several plasma shots streaked by, causing him to duck back into cover.

“What’s the plan now!” Grant yelled, then the plasma fired stopped.

“What’s going on?” Chris said, pausing when the ground began to shake. Suddenly, from behind the nearby mountain, a gigantic creature with six legs made its presence known. It was covered in purple armor and plasma shots streaked in brilliant lines of fire from the body.

Chris looked up and swore again.

“SCARAB!”

As the Scarab opened up with it’s energy cannon, Chris crouched behind the shield. He knew that the shield wouldn’t last long against a Scarab. With more profanity spewing from his mouth, Chris noticed a Warthog drive up.

“Murphy!” Chris yelled.

“Hey, Crimson. We gotta get out of here!”

“No shit! Let’s move!” Chris replied before the Spartans and Zag loaded up and drove back towards the ragtag defensive line that the UNSC had set up, Chris firing his Battle Rifle at a few Ghosts that decided to pursue them. As they sheltered behind a ruined Scorpion, Chris radioed the Infinity again.

“Palmer, this is Crimson. We have a Scarab on the field. We need heavy firepower NOW!”

“You’re in luck, Crimson. The Mammoth is ready and en route. MiniMAC ready to fire on your command.”

“Hell yes! Crimson out!”

As Chris looked towards the Scarab, a massive “PHUM!” erupted, and a blast of purple energy slammed straight into the left front leg of the Scarab.With the leg crippled, the massive war machine began to fall, Chris motioning to Murphy to drive back to the Mammoth. As the giant land tank drove up, Chris and Icebreaker’s warthog drove into the belly of the Mammoth. Disembarking from the Warthog, they walked up to the Bridge, where two Spartans awaited them. One was black and red, the other was cyan and red. The Black spartan carried a SAW and a Boltshot. The other carried an Assault Rifle and a DMR.

“Who are you?” Chris asked.

“Ken Orochi. This is David Estrata. We’re the reinforcements you asked for, Crimson.” the Cyan one replied.

“What fireteam?” Grant asked.

“Ken’s new. as for me, Fireteam Phoenix.” David replied.

“Good to have you.” Evan replied, and as handshakes went around, Chris looked out the window. He could see fires from several skyscrapers polluting the sky, and the Scarab, although crippled, was still generating Plasma fire from the turrets on its body.

“Pilot!” Chris said, and a Marine walked over and saluted.

“Get a target locator for me.”

“The Marine nodded, and Chris radioed Palmer.

“Crimson. You onboard the Mammoth?” Palmer asked.

“Yep. Commander, that Scarab’s gonna be a big problem with we don’t kill it. Can you scramble us a Pelican? I think the Marines on the ground need some close air support.”

“Pelican en route.” Miller replied.

“That’s my job, Miller. Anyway, the Covies have a pretty tight hold on the city. We’re still figuring out how they managed to deploy so fast. Most Marine squads are pinned down, and we’ve got a massive bulge in our line. Use that Pelican wisely, Crimson!”

“Got it, Commander.”

As the new fireteam of six walked out of the Mammoth cockpit, the Mammoth reached the first set of trench lines, while the Covenant were firing at or fleeing on sight of the colossal vehicle, the Marines began a forward push. Fireteam Crimson disembarked, and sprinted towards a group of marines, pinned down by a Shade turret.

“What’s the situation here?” Ken asked a Marine.

“We’re almost out of ammo, sir. There’s a weapons cache on the warthog on the right, but we can’t get to it. They’ve got us pinned down.”

“Leave that to us!” David yelled, and as he deployed his SAW, a squad of Grunt heavies came out of the second trench line, they immediately began firing Fuel Rod Cannons at the Marines. At that moment, a barrage of rockets impacted right on the Grunts. Chris looked up, and saw a Pelican Gunship raining hell.

“Fireteam Crimson, this is Viking-01. We are prepped for Close air support. Lazing frequencies are being sent to your Target Locator.”

“Copy, Viking-01. We’ve got a Shade Turret pinning down out guys on our six. Knock it out!” Chris said into the comm while blasting the few remaining Grunts with his Battle Rifle.

“Affirmative, Crimson. Engaging.”

As the Gunship obliterated the Shade turret, a few brave Marines took action and ran towards the downed Warthog. As Crimson covered them, the Gunship suddenly radioed.

“Crimson, this is Viking-01. We’re getting reports of the covies suddenly stopping combat with our boys. Getting chat from the science team about the finding something they call “The Nexus”. I’ve got orders for you to capture whatever the hell it is.”

“Copy Viking-01. Let’s move!”

Back on the Infinity, Twilight and her friends watched as the Covenant apparently launched themselves into prayers and worship in the city center.

“What’s going on?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“They found something BIG.” Glassman replied, walking up. “Apparently this “Nexus.” has about a few hundred Promethean warriors in it. And a Forerunner Warmind AI. Which is an AI that is specifically programmed for warfare.”

“We’ll handle it, Glassman.” Palmer said. “Crimson! Get to that Nexus and secure it!”

“Copy that!” Crimson’s voice came over the radio.