Aboard the UNSC Infinity

Deployment Bay

As the Marines and Spartans aboard the Infinity rushed to their stations, one Spartan Fireteam headed for the Hangar deck. Spartan Chris, leader of Fireteam Crimson, hurried his Spartans towards a waiting Pelican.

"Double-time!" he urged, starting to run. "We've gotta get down there!"

"Roger that!" said Spartan David. "You heard the man!"

Laura and Emily merely nodded. Their waiting Pelican greeted them, and as they boarded, the comms table floated down.

"Fireteam Crimson." Palmer said over the comms. "You've been selected to help break the enemy line. Friendly forces from both Infinity and Spirit of Fire are ready to assist. Be advised, our foes have vehicles previously unknown. Gather intel if possible."

"Understood, Commander." Chris said, loading his Battle Rifle. "We'll make it count."

As the Pelican soared down towards the Ark, it was immediately beset upon by the Banished AA defenses.

"Palmer, this is Crimson." Chris said as the Pelican shook from several near-misses. "We're getting torn up down here, any way to take out those guns?"

"We're trying." Palmer replied. "Stay the course, Fireteam."

"Roger." Chris said, standing up and heading for the Pilot's compartment. "Pilot, floor it!"

"Yessir!" the Pilot replied. The Pelican got closer to the ground, and the AA fire intensified. Then a mighty crash shook the Pelican and it began to spin out of control.

"We're hit!" the pilot yelled. "I'm losing her!"

"Palmer, this is Crimson! We're going down!" Chris yelled. "All UNSC forces this is Fireteam Crimson, going down! Coordinates to follow!"

As the Pelican slammed into the ground, tumbling and coming to a stop, a voice came over the Pilot's radio.

"Fireteam Crimson, this is Red Team. Standby, we're on our way."

====

"Chris, can you hear me?" Laura said, shaking her fellow Spartan awake. Chris groaned and retrieved his Battle Rifle, standing up.

"What's our status?" he groaned.

"We've got hostiles all over us!" David said, unloading his SAW into a group of Brutes. "And we're low on ammo!"

"Right." Chris swore as he levelled his weapon and began firing. "Hold out until reinforcements arrive!"

"Whenever that happens!" Emily replied as her SMG buzzed, cutting down a few Grunts. Suddenly, the roar of two Warthogs became clear, and the pair smashed into view and trampled quite a few hostiles. Three Spartans in Mjolnir Mk. V Armor disembarked and began shooting alongside a three-man Marine Squad.

"Spartans, assist!" Chris said.

"Roger that!" said the leader, whose shoulder plate was marked with the Spirit of Fire logo. "I'm Jerome, leader of Red Team. That's Douglas and Alice."

"Chris leader of Fireteam Crimson. That's David, Laura, and Emily." Chris replied, blasting a Jackal with his Shotgun. "You got room for four more?"

"You bet!" Douglas replied as he filled the skull of a few Brutes with 8-Gauge Buckshot. "Climb on!"

The three Spartan-IIs took their positions at driver, gunner, and passenger on the first, while the other Spartans took the second Warthog. The Marines held on as best they could. On Douglas's signal, the two Warthogs gunned off towards the UNSC line, with the Marines holding onto the side for dear life.

====

As the two Warthogs approached the line, they could see the tide was turning. The Spirit of Fire's ground troops had reached the Infinity's line. The skies had been cleared by Wolverines and Hornets, and Pelicans were taking off and landing with no interruptions. Fresh Marines had reinforced the line, and several Scorpions had been deployed.

"Spartans, over here!" a Marine cried as the group disembarked. "We've got more incoming!"

"Roger that." Jerome said, pumping his Shotgun. "We'll hold them here."

"Understood." Chris said, loading his Battle Rifle. "Make your shots count, Marines! Next wave incoming!"

As the Spartans took up positions behind an entrenched Scorpion, the Banished troops came into view, supported by Wraiths.

"Take 'em out!" Chris yelled as the UNSC forces opened fire. The Banished shrugged through the hail of lead and returned fire, plasma shots arcing across the battlefield.

"Incoming!" Chris said as two Wraiths moved to firing positions, and opened up. The Scorpions quickly adjusted their aim and destroyed them. However, the Banished seemed undeterred, and they advanced.

"Get ready, Marines!" Douglas yelled as he reloaded. "Prep for CQC!"

"Roger that!" Laura said as she emptied her SMG before switching to her dual Magnums. The Banished approached the front of the line, and soon the UNSC were not only shooting forward, but to the sides as well.

"Brute on your left!" Alice yelled to David, who filled the encroaching attacker with holes before dropping three Grunts in succession with his Magnum.

"Nice catch!" David replied. The other Spartans kept shooting, and the Banished started to pull back.

"What's going on?" an Infinity Marine asked. "Did we win?"

"No." a Spirit of Fire Marine replied. "They're regrouping."

"Confirmed." Jerome said. "Expect a third wave, Marines. Check your ammo and get ready."

Then, the ground began to shake. A massive and heavily armored, four-legged machine lumbered into view, supported by Blisterbacks.

"SCARAB!" the Spirit Marines yelled. "Focus fire now!"

The Infinity Marines didn't need to be told twice. The Scorpions immediately focused their attention on the Blisterbacks, while the Hornets in the sky engaged the Scarab.

"We've got hostile infantry!" Jerome yelled. "We need more firepower!"

"Amen to that!" Alice said as her Chaingun Turret cut down a squad of Jackals. "Marine! Radio for fire support!'

"Right away!"

The Marine rushed to the radio and relayed Alice's request to Captain Cutter.

"Understood." Cutter replied. "Archer missiles away."

====
Spirit of Fire

Bridge

The ponies watched in fascination, shock, and bewilderment at the holotable, which displayed live feed from the engagement below.

"Archer missiles away." Cutter said, nodding to an ensign, who hit several switches and buttons on his console.

"Captain?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, Twilight?" Cutter replied.

"What's that?" she asked, pointing to a yellow mass approaching the Banished and UNSC lines. Cutter took one look and swore loudly.

"Isabel?" he asked. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yessir." Isabel replied. "Apparently both us and the Banished stirred up the Forerunner defenses. Sentinels are on the way towards our line, and I doubt they're friendly."

"We've got to get moving before those Sentinels hit us." Cutter said. "Captain Lasky?"

"What is it?" said Lasky's voice over the radio.

"Forerunner Sentinels are closing in on our position." Cutter replied. "I've seen what they're capable of. We need to pull out before we get hit."

"Understood, but where?" Lasky replied. "There's no suitable evac zones near here."

"I've found a small valley that should serve nicely, Captain Lasky." Isabel cut in. "We move our troops there, we'll have our evac zone."

"Roger that, Isabel." Lasky said. "I'll radio our forces on the ground to get moving."

"We'll do the same." Cutter replied. "Good luck."

"Same to you." Lasky said as the line ended.

"What if you don't make it out in time?" Rarity asked. "What happens then?"

"I don't know." Cutter said. "And I'm praying we don't find out.

Author's Note

Next time-The two UNSC forces evacuate, and the three sides meet. Meanwhile, the Warden Eternal intercepts Ellen Ander's Halo Ring...