Exiled soldiers

A day's passed since the formation of Alicorn company, with no shortage of laughter from the other companies due to the name, and the squads were all in the hanger in their armor. The reason why was that, due to timing and other factors, Lasky had a mission for them, and Roland figured it'd help to build the company teamwork.

The four squads were each doing their own task-Riptide was checking weapons, Domino was checking comms, Wolf overlooking what they knew of the mission thus far, and Lone the Pelicans. All but Twilight, that is. She was sitting on a supply crate, noticeably shaken about something. Josh saw this, and walked over. "Hey, Twi," he said as he approached. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she replied. "Just a dream I had last night."

"What about, if I can ask?"

Twilight sighed. "Guess it wouldn't hurt," she said. "Back home, princess Celestia and princess Luna were known to have visions of the future, and in the past, it was rumored that the visions they had were split for each of the rulers, so they wouldn't have the entire thing themselves. I think the fact I'm an alicorn let me see a fourth of it."

"What'd you see?" Josh asked.

"I saw Ponyville, my old home, burning, a Guardian over its remains, and even Canterlot-I saw it falling off the mountain side it was on," Twilight said. "Nothing good."

"Then I wonder what your old, emphasis on old, friends saw, then."

"Probably Equestria being destroyed," Twilight said. "Equis tech isn't that advanced. Our weapons, aside from magic, are still swords, spears, and the like. Pretty much useless against Forerunners, I imagine."

"Maybe they'll be able to escape," Josh said, though he was doubtful. The Prometheans would eliminate an entire race to make sure they weren't a threat, if need be. Look at what happened to Meridian.

"Maybe," Twilight said, though it was obvious she had the same train of thought.

Before either could continue the conversation, though, Captain Lasky stepped into the hanger. "Captain on deck!" Ken yelled, and every Spartan, regardless of what they were doing, stopped, stood up straight, and saluted.

"At ease," Lasky said. "I imagine you're all wonder why I asked for you on this mission, so I'll explain. Roland?"

"On it, captain," the A.I. said as a hologram of what the Spartans guessed was the planet they were near showed up.

"Thanks," Lasky said. "Spartans, at triple-oh one today, ship time, the communications system picked up a distress beacon planet side. Seeing as how this isn't, nor ever was, a known UEG colony, we forwarded the data to ONI, who, amazingly-" this got a few chuckles- "replied quickly, saying this is the last known of one of their recon teams. They weren't very forthcoming with data on this team."

"What do we know, sir?" Bella asked.

"That the team was a group of nine Spartans, codenamed Phoenix, and they were here to scout for potential remnant forces, and gather intel, as well as kill any potential VIPs. Given it's an ONI team, that's a lot of intel."

"So I'm guessing we're going to be looking for 'em?" Tom, fully recovered, asked.

"Affirmative," Lasky said. "You all will be landing on a now known remnant planet, recent scans have revealed that much, twenty clicks south of the beacon, as Roland is sure the Covenant has been investigating it as well."

"Shouldn't they have found it by now, then?" Brendon asked.

"Not likely," Roland said as his avatar appeared. "Lone team's A.I.s and I have been going over their records of Forerunner sites and such, and this planet has, or, rather, had, a Forerunner site, purpose unknown, and, well, it's the Remnant. They probably don't want to stain the ground with 'the blood of heretics'."

"Makes sense," April said.

"You know, if they want to see god," Michael said, "why not take the quick way?" he asked, making a gun with his fingers and firing at his head. "Save everyone a lot of trouble."

"Because," Ben said in a rare moment of speaking, "their honor doesn't allow for it. Or the fact they want glory, money, or something else, really."

"Even the Grunts?" Anderson asked.

"Yeah, I can't really see that," Lexi added.

"Regardless," Roland said, stopping that conversation, "with intel satellites we've deployed, we've identified this Remnant group as The Bearers of Truth. And before you ask, Spartan Elegance, they're led by the personal Brute bodyguards of the former Prophet of Truth."

"Oh," Elegance said. "Good thing I kept my mouth shut, or I would have embarrassed myself."

"Far as we can tell, they only have light vehicles, along with a few banshees," Lasky said. "But still, be careful. They may have a cloaked, space worthy ship near, so be careful on the ground."

"That all, sir, and we will be," Ken said.

"As far as we know," Lasky said. "Good luck, Spartans." With that, he saluted, which was returned by the Spartans.

"Sir," they all replied.

"Let's go, people," Ken said, and he and Josh entered the Pelican they had used on Twilight and the others first mission. As there were eighteen Spartans, the pelican could barely hold everyone, but they were able to squeeze in there. All the seats were filled, and six, namely Palmer, Twilight, Spike, Bella, Marcus, and Hannah, were standing. The pelican took off, and they made their way to the planet's surface.

In the cockpit, Josh and Ken were in the pilot and co-pilot seat, respectively, and talking with Roland. "So, Roland, what can you tell us about the planet?" Ken asked.

"Not much from my own banks, Spartan," Roland replied. "But Palmer's Ancilla said that this planet used to be a Forerunner colony, the name doesn't translate to English, and it's mountainous, at least where you all are going. It may help. As for where the beacon's coming from, records indicate there are a lot of cave systems there."

"So they may be underground?" Josh asked.

"It's a possibility," Roland agreed. "May even be how they survived against the Covenant. They may not have heavy vehicles, but they do have numbers."

"We'l keep that in mind," Josh said. "Talk to you if we live."

"Grim," Ken commented.

"True," Josh countered. "Spartans aren't invincible, or do you forget Jones?"

Ken noticeably flinched. "Fair enough," he said.

Back in the cramped as hell crew compartment, the rest of the company was talking as well.

"So, should we go with a squad by squad kill count, or individual?" Sam asked.

"Why not both?" Bella replied. "One for in-squad competitions, and one for the company so we know which team is the more lethal."

"Guess we should lay down some rules, then," Marcus said. "Two points for a kill of any kind, one for an assist, while assassination moves are worth three. Who ever of each squad has the highest there should be able to take a Req of any variety and level from their team mates. The winning squad, which will be determined by adding individual scores, will get a day off from company training on any day of their choosing."

"I'm good with it!" Josh yelled from the cockpit.

"Eh, why not," Palmer said. "Sounds fun, and I get a chance to show you all how it's done."

"Good luck with that!" Ken yelled form the cockpit. "How many kills did you get last ground deployment again?!"

"And who survived a crashing Pelican that was on fire?!" This got a few laughs from the others.

"Touche," Ken replied.

"So, why do you think that ONI squad's here, guys?" April asked. "By which I mean why they haven't left the planet yet."

"We can ask 'em when we get them out," Kevin said.

"Assuming they're still alive," Elegance said. "And if we survive."

"Well, if it's ONI," Brendon said, "might be their extraction craft was destroyed."

"Then someone's gonna need to hijack a phantom or spirit," Josh said from the cockpit. "Because I'm not leaving this thing unless it can't be repaired and is practically destroyed, and even then, I'd push my luck."

"Sure you aren't crazy, then, Josh?" Sam asked.

"You really want to find out right now?" Josh asked in a deadpan, but one that got a few chuckles. For the remainder of the flight, it was the four squads just talking, easing the tension that the mission had brought along with it.

It was thirty minutes after they left the Infinity that they landed, and disembarked.

Once they had left, Ken said, "Okay, people! Here's how we do this: we split into our squads, and stay in sight lines for tight point beam communications. We move to the north, find the ONI squad, and hijack a phantom. We work from there. Let's move, Spartans!"