Second chance: Noble

(January 2, 1026 11:30hr)
(Near the Siege line)
(West of Alicorn Bay Base)

Staring at the siege line Carter watched as the bright blue plasma slammed into the ground causing it to glow white hot as it slowly moved its way towards the base. They’d been watching said strikes for the last six days with how long the attacks had been going on the ground was a molten pool of melted elements, as he felt his eyes lock onto the pool his thoughts going back to his home world. He always would remember the melting buildings and bubbling ground as he was evacuated, closing his eyes Carter centered himself and looked behind him at his team they were ready to move but still had to wait for the distraction to start. The U.W.M. had moved a portable MAC(M) prototype a week ago to be used on one of the shielded siege machines, when the weapon fired a number of unicorns would quickly cast ice, water and other spells to cool the melted landscape so a small contingent of Ursa’s could charge the opening while simultaneously laying down cover fire with their weapons. Adjusting his shoulders Carters ear chirped and the gruff voice of General Hard Eye spoke “Noble One this is Command Actual, do you read?”

“Noble One here Command Actual we read you,” Carter turned and motioned for Noble to get ready standing up they locked onto the distant line “What’s the news General?”

“The news Noble One is that all teams are ready to move in, I know you have your orders. So I’m going to be quick in one minute we’re gonna blow that damned machine back to tartarus when that happens rush the line and get deep behind enemy territory. This may be the last time I’ll be able to talk to you all for a while, so good luck out there and may the goddess be with you. ”

“We hear you sir and we’ll get the job done. Noble signing off.” Carter answered back as he slowly edged closer to the edge of their alcove.

Time seemed to slow down for the team as a small countdown begun in their helmets. Readying the weapons they waited listening to the crashing plasma the familiar sound that each had come to loathe in their own ways, watching as the earth bubbled and turned from the heat, turning towards the line Carter focused on the covenant draugr. For a moment the world went silent for a moment for a moment all the SPARTAN could hear was the beat of his own pulse until a massive boom echoed through the battle field, its sound was so loud Carters helmet shut down all external noises to protect his hearing. The ground seemed to crack as the draugr was ripped apart by the slug, while the pressure wave following it pulled debris and lava over the line coating the walls and melting the stone. That’s when everything exploded and ice flashed from the draugr remains covering everything like a wild fire, when the ice contacted the lava the difference in temperature caused them to explode covering the area in hot steam that obscured the allies view as screams soon began to cry out from the behind the walls.

Staring in astonishment he was caught off guard just how well the magic laced round worked, the entire line was in chaos now as they heard screams of pain, terror and orders. Not even seconds after spells soon were being thrown down forcing the ground to cool and stabilize so the Ursa’s could drive across what once a no man’s land, as they charged forward the chain guns and rockets fired at the line providing cover. Taking this as his cue Carter surged over the lip and charged the line raging past the vehicles, eyeing his motion detector it was alight with allied movement as they moved towards the entrance, the goal was to disrupt the siege line long enough for the fire teams to slip past and start working their way deep into enemy territory. Cortana had pulled four SPARTAN teams for this mission giving them all a single goal, get to a set coordinates and destroy the target, each team knew how to set the ships engine to overload and explode but first they would need to get into the country.

Carter knew they would be able to get that done considering this attack was happening at six other spots, forcing those in charge into a chaotic mess of figuring out just what they were up to and hopefully by the end all four teams would be through and pushing into enemy territory. Leaping over a chunk of wall Carter spotted two soldiers trying to help their comrade out from some rubble, taking aim he dispatched them before moving on he spoke over TEAMCOM “Activate active camo, if you see targets of interest take them. The steam is giving us a good cover so they shouldn’t know what’s what until it’s too late!”

Receiving five green acknowledgement lights they moved quickly through the camp, killing possible commanders and medics, sabotaging equipment and rigging others to blow when used. Noble got this done and soon found themselves moving out of the combat area, once they were far enough away Carter looked over his shoulder and saw that the steam was now disappearing. He could make out the faint flashes of firefights as soldiers from the U.W.M. forced their way into the camp which was allowing for reinforcements to also join them. This operation hopefully would help with restarting the advance against the U.P.R. but the man didn’t waste anymore time with his observation turning he started to sprint into the enemy territory making for the heart of the U.P.R. home country.

(Several miles away.)
(January 3, 1026 03:08 hr)
(Unknown location)

Looking over the edge of the window seal Jun watched for any possible troops that could be coming, the team had found an abandoned farm and had picked the lock of the main house. Once it was confirmed clear the team had moved to the second floor and were now going over the maps trying to figure out the best way to get to their target, glancing over his shoulder Jun saw Carter tapping something on the map while saying “This train line is a direct shot to the U.P.R. homeland, we can bury ourselves in the coal cart and wait until we’re a mile out.”

“That could work, but we don’t know the security situation. Our active camo could get us close enough to board the train but what do we do when we reach the coal bin, they’d notice the dust.” Kat pointed out as she also scanned the map trying to find something.

“That is if that maps even up to date.” Emile mentioned as he waved a hoof at the edges that were worn and tattered from time.

“SIGH if we keep going at this pace it would take us at least two maybe three months to reach the border we need to scout it out at least just to be sure, the computer also says the station is at least two weeks out at our current pace.” Carter murmured they’d hoped to find a vehicle to commandeer but none were at the base or even the farm.

“That is our best bet at this time,” Kat rolled her shoulder and leaned back crossing her hooves she continued “With our assault against the line you’d think the enemies would have sent reinforcements by now, or even had a base close enough to help bolster the line. This isn’t sitting right with me.”

“Agreed Noble Two, but we’ll deal with whatever comes. We’re in the dark now and have only ourselves to rely on so let’s only use our weapons if necessary, ration ammo like it’s gold.”

Nodding their heads the six super soldiers knew what needed to be done, leaning back they got into a semi relaxed state. Looking around Carter distributed the cycle for watches which soon began, the team would only be able to freely move about when the sun set so they would spend the day resting. Taking first watch Carter relieved Jun of his post and looked over the quiet landscape, in the distance though one could hear the quiet booms of a distant battle rolling over the field.

(Ponyville, Equestria)
(Friendship Castle)
(January 29, 1026 11:37 hr)

Staring down at the reports given to her Princess Twilight slowly read over it again, before her were a number of battle field reports given to her from the front line. With the war moving forward again Twilight wanted to keep up with everything that was happening, especially considering that the Princess of Friendship had recently noticed an uptake of coming and going aircraft from the base outside of Ponyville. Twilight had decided to not be part of the war effort instead concentrating on diplomacy working to convince more to join the A.C.E. after a recent meeting. Equestria’s representative had informed them that Cortana was gearing up for an invasion from outside the cradle system as she believed something was coming what exactly was a mystery but if it had the ex A.I. worried the world was worried.

Looking over one of the reports for the eastern nation of Neighpon Twilight knew that this nation had been on the fence about joining the A.C.E. but recently it seemed that the U.P.R. had taken to attacking shipping routes killing entire crews and stealing the food, medicine and everything else that wasn’t nailed down. This and begun when the lien began to move again inching across the axis controlled territory as they marched towards the heart of there homeland, so it seemed they were getting desperate now stealing form other countries to fuel the fighting and keep their soldiers fed and medicated. Seeing something flashed in her peripheral turning the mare saw that they were reporting on the caudal islands turning mute off the stallion spoke “-with that the final visages of the tyrannical King Riptide has fallen and the caudal islands are free, it seems that A.C.E. diplomat units had been deployed to help with the restoration and rebuilding of the nation. King Riptide’s nephew has been crowned the new leader of the caudal kingdom and he has already made steps to start the peaceful negotiations with the A.C.E. as you can-“

Listening further Twilight had never thought she’d see the day that the caudal islands would join the world openly instead of trying to conquer it. The world was rapidly changing and everything could be different in less than a decade, it seemed that her youngest were already talking exploring the stars wanting to help finding more habitable planets. But then again it seemed that Cortana had hundreds of planets ready to be scouted the majority seemed habitable for ponies to plant their hooves on. But before anything more could be started on Twilight heard her wife shout “I’VE GIVEN MY ANSWER AND IT WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED, I REFUSE!!!” before a loud crack could be heard from her slamming the phone down.

Standing up Twilight made her way out of the study followed which brought her to the dining area. Fizzlepop recently had recruiters coming after her from nearly all the U.W.M. Branches wanted her and they had been relentless since the start of the war due to her past experience in fighting and battle field tactics. Coming down the stairs she saw her wife pouring a drink into a glass and draining it in a single gulp before she walked off to drop it in the sink, following her Twilight approached her and said “Everything okay Fizzle?”

“More annoying shit from those fucks in the recruiting office,” Fizzle growled while she washed the glass her face morphing into a scowl she continued “This time they wanted me JUST as a trainer for the recruits, HA like that stop them from trying to send me out there!”

“You know I can put in a call to Cortana? She surely can stop them from bothering you.” Twilight moved next to the mare wrapping a wing around her shoulders

“Humph I think she’s behind it, I’ve pushed back using old associates. My calls? All from the E.I.A. or Spartan branch no other branch has been contacting me.”

“Since when?”

“Since the beginning, Cortana knows of my past and she must want me specifically in one of those areas because of that.” Fizzle answered looking away from Twilight who’s face had morphed into one of shock at the mention of both military branches.

“Then I will talk-“

“I’m handling it Twilight, I’ve already sent something to our president that she can’t ignore,” looking up at Twilight Fizzle placed a hoof against her cheek and continued “I can’t tell you either…….its a dangerous secret.”

*Clank**Clank**Clank* Hearing the knocker at the front door pulling away from her the two mares walked towards the door, once they were close Twilight opened it using her magic standing outside were three ponies dressed in all black suits glasses covering their eyes the front most pony talked in a light Bridle accent “Miss Fizzlepop the madam president wishes to speak to you today, she says you have some grievances about the recruitment office calls.”

“What exactly-“

“Yes exactly,” Fizzlepop placed a hoof over Twilight mouth looking her in the eye she silently mouthed ‘I’ll be fine my love.’ turning back to the group she said “Now let’s get this over with, I have a hot date tonight!”

Following them out the door it snapped shut with a loud clack, staring at it Twilight knew her wife would be fine. But at the same time she couldn’t help but wonder just what was going on that E.I.A. agents needed to escort her loved one to the president herself.

(CLASSIFIED)
(CLASSIFIED)
(CLASSIFIED)

Fizzlepop was placed in one of the cushiest interrogation rooms she’d been in in a long time, looking around she noted the soft couches, coffee bar and magazines to read. Walking over to the coffee she began to make herself a simple black coffee when the door opened turning she saw Cortana and Black Ink both of whom had serious looks on their faces as the walked in, held in Cortana’s magic were some beige folders that she placed onto the table neatly stacked and ready to be opened. Taking a seat she clicked her teeth and said pointedly “You wished to speak to me Fizzlepop?”

“Yes I did Cortana, I take it you received my package?” Fizzlepop answered nonchalantly as turned back to the coffee pouring it into a paper cup for herself.

“I did,” Cortana answered her voice cool and level but Fizzlepop knew there was more for this meeting the president continued “I am very interested what makes you think something is going on?”

“Well I have some concerns, it all begins with the Bloody Shields.” Fizzlepop said moving towards the chair she sipped the coffee before taking a seat motioning towards the mares she continued “At the beginning of the war we managed to capture a few of them who’d infiltrated Equestria……..except they were in the middle of nowhere important or at least nowhere that anypony in Equestria cared about.”

“Yes well I do have a few black sites……..that one housed the MJOLNIR(P) prototypes and the surgery suits that all SPARTAN recruits go through. I’d just built it a month before that attack.” Cortana explained eyeing her Fizzlepop nodded pretending to accept the blatant lie, she placed her elbow on the table and leaned her head on her hoof.

“I see, then what about all this black op missions you’ve been doing in ally territory? They look like random deployments but I doubt they are considering the chain hooked onto them.” Fizzlepop said her eyes narrowing at Cortana who sighed and shook her head.

“I cannot say if any such missions have taken place, but they were of extreme importance if such missions did happen.”

“I see, well then I guess this picture wasn’t taken by an old friend of mine then?” Fizzlepop asked as she reached into a pocket of her jacket pulling out a photograph of a MJOLNIR clad pony running through the forest almost an orange blur as it raced to an unknown target.

“Very interesting, but what does this have to do with anything? Seems to be a blurry picture taken in the woods.”

“True but we all know that’s a SPARTAN, what I want to know is why they are being deployed in allied territory. Along with you assholes pulling me from your recruitment list as of yesterday!”

“We can do the latter and you will no longer be contacted by anypony. But as for the former Ms. Berrytwist this picture is nothing important ,” Black Ink spoke eyeing the picture she motioned at it while adding “Even if It is what you think it is you are a civilian, which means we owe no explanation to you about anything.”

“I have contacts throughout the world that keep me up to date on the goings on in the it, recently they’ve noticed a number of unknown ships racing across A.C.E. allied nations before zipping away. Don't ask who this is or how they know cause I didn’t ask this photo is something they came across while they investigated near one of the………possible areas of interest.”

“So tell me NOW what exactly is going on! Or I bring all I have to the press and let this story spread like wildfire, we all know SPARTAN deployments are all on the frontline so the media will start digging into this photo and searching for exactly why they are being deployed on the home front.” Leaning forward Fizzlepop slowly rose out of her chair a snarl coming to her face as she looked between the two mares “So you either tell or this gets leaked, I have timed cases that will go off with a special note for my wife and you know she’ll throw this in front of the whole world to witness it.”

Looking between each other for a moment Black Ink leaned back her poker face never faltering while Cortana leaned forward, locking her eyes with Fizzlepop her face stoic and cold as she said “Then you’ll doom this planet to annihilation.”

“What?” Fizzlepop asked narrowing her eyes she felt an ice ball forming in her stomach.

“Fizzlepop what I’m about to tell you is classified so high up that if you even sneeze it to the wrong pony you’ll be immediately arrested and imprisoned for life,” Cortana explained folding her hooves onto the table looking up “We’ve come across something called PROJECT PATHWAY that the axis powers are working on, we know nothing about it but its name. And it’s been months since it’s discovery what we have figured out is simple just by looking at the habits of the enemy, firstly the siege line was to buy time stalling the war, secondly PATHWAY is a pretty straightforward suggestion of what they are working to, and lastly they are no longer trying to win and are only buying time.”

“The incursions.” Fizzlepop whispered her eyes widening in sudden realization.

“Yes we told the world enough of what they needed to know the same goes with you,” Cortana answered as she pushed away from the table and began to exit the room as she left Cortana said “Now if I were you Fizzlepop I’d forget everything told to you here today and destroy those pictures. No point in passing around fake pictures of possible soldiers maybe on a mission.”

With that there alicorn left the room to both her and Black Ink, Fizzlepop didn’t know what exactly she’d just stepped into but her instincts told her it wasn’t good. So she’d do what she was good at survive she’d protect her family and prepare for the invasion that would be coming down atop them at some point , once everything was said and done and the threats/promises were made Fizzlepop was allowed to go back home. As she left Fizzlepop recognized exactly what she would need to do, inwardly she decided that she would be making contact with her old allies and call in every promise she could after all if someone was coming to her home to wage war they’d better be ready for a tempest to greet them.

(Feb 1, 1026 06:00 hrs)
(Train depot, unknown location)

Eyeing the patrol Jun and Six had been sent ahead to scout out the depot, the train station on the map was exactly where it was supposed to be. What was unlucky was it appeared to have been militarized patrols inside gates wrapped in razor wire that now wrapped around the perimeter of the building. They had two watch towers scanning the outside the fenced off area, looking to be recent additions to the stations they each sat on the corner of the buildings, as you entered the station there were two checkpoints on at the fence and one entering the building. The SPARTANs weren’t sure what exactly normal looked like but since the breach at the line they could only guess security had increased inside the controlled territory.

Hearing some commotion Jun turned and saw a guard pushing an older stallion to the ground as his comrades held the family back, he was yelling something but Jun couldn’t make it out. While he yelled the old stallion simply held his hooves up begging more then likely for his life, that seemed to only anger the guard as he used his magic to pull out a small plasma pistol shooting the stallion in the head. Vaporizing it instantly they heard cries of shock as the line suddenly stopped and the family wailed in horror, turning the guard pointed it at them screaming some. Grinding his teeth Jun resisted the urge to shoot the bastard in the head when Six’s monotone voice spoke “Looks like they have a few cargo cars toward the back, no patrols near them.”

“With how they are handling this line I can see why,” Jun murmured as he shifted his sight to look at the cars, at least five of them.

“Hmmmm maybe we can wrench the doors open and board it. The problem is we need a distraction to stop the train long enough for us to board it we also need this guards distracted a bit more.”

“We could always cause a wreck, cut a break line of a vehicle have it roll towards the front of the train and block the tracks. Or sabotage the train enough to where they investigate the front.”

“That could work…….of course the other problem is they may investigate the whole train.”

“True…….maybe we can cause a disturbance somewhere? Pull the guards away from their posts for a moment.”

“I don’t know if—“ Jun began only to stop as he spied on of the ponies, walking out barking out orders and waving his hoof in the direction of the SPARTANs…….no in the direction of the border frowning he said “I think we move now, don’t know what’s going on but that guys in a rush.”

Turning his sights to the pony Six saw him pushing a few of the guards to the side and speaking in their ears, after they had finished the conversation the two turned and raced off towards the train. Six didn’t like this something was about to go pear shaped and when thing's went pear shaped on a mission as tucked away as theirs it could wreck the whole operation, pulling back Six and Jun turned and went to inform the rest of Noble and bring them up to speed. Activating the active camouflage the two soldiers snuck back to a burrow they had made a camp at and as they ventured back, the SPARTANs heard the hum and roar of covenant and pony vehicles on the road racing past them. Reaching the camp, they ducked under a fallen tree and crawled to a hollowed-out center hunkered down were Carter and the rest of noble team all of who were studying the map they had acquired without looking up he asked “What’s your report?”

Stepping forward Jun caught the group up on everything and informed them exactly what the two scouts had witnessed while observing the station, rubbing his chin Carter didn’t like this it didn’t sit well with him that the enemy was moving so much at this time something was going on. Internally sighing he knew the only option they had at this time looking up he asked, “Did you see any troop transport we could commandeer?”

“They had some going towards the train station, don’t know if they’ll still be there if we leave now.” Jun answered cocking his head to the side

“We need to risk it see if we can take one of them now or board that train. They may be getting ready for a fight, either way we need to get ahead of the line NOW and we don’t stop for anything.”

“We hear you commander.” Jun answered walking to his side he placed a hoof on the map in the direction of the siege line.

“I did see the commander pointing in the direction of the siege line, so we know something is going on that deals with us, pushing into their territory."

"Hmmmm then we better hurry and get moving then," Carter murmured as his thoughts drifted to the ally forces 'They are making better time than anticipated.' he grimaced as the group slowly exited the hollow to hitch a ride.

Boarding the train had proved to be simpler than anticipated the guards seemed to have their hands full with the crowd who were now pushing and hollering to board the train, before they had approached Carter had ordered Kat, Six and Jun to break off and plant a couple of the C12 blocks far enough away to make the guards think an attack was on the way but that they only had a limited time before the arrival. Once those explosions were set off the ponies were frantic to board almost causing a riot which the guards were trying to put down, this had pulled enough of the guards away from the train so that Noble could board and hide themselves amongst the cargo pulling some boxes apart just enough to make a type of den they split into three groups of two and spread out amongst the continaters.

(Unknown Location)
(Feb 15, 1026 0:010 hrs)

Feeling the train slowing down Carter activated TEAMCOM and gave sent a soft click over the channel, seeing five green lights wink back he waited and watched his motion tracker not seeing anything yet he and Jorge activated their camouflage and began to move the container slowly making sure they didn't make a noise. They had spent days in those containers without knowing how fast or where they had been heading to, multiple times did the team figure they were being moved to a new train or had changed directions. So Carter was ready for anything knowing the usual course these types of missions took the commander was ready for them to be in the middle of a base ready for battle and brimming with covenant weapons all ready to kill him and his team. Slowly exiting the contain Carter was now looking found himself in the middle of a massive train lot looking up and around Carter slowly recognized the massive structure above them as that of a Covenant ship hangar he murmured "Holy hell we were brought straight to the ship."

"Seems that way commander," Jorge answered slowly as they moved out of the way of a vehicle that held several large containers Jorge looked around "what do we do now commander, the mission called for three SPARTAN teams to converge and take this place out."

"We continue with the mission maybe we can figure out what needs to be done to blow this thing sky high and if we fail that we buy time and sabotage what we can without being found until the rest arrive."

"Mmm I don't like this commander, we shouldn't have been able to find this place this easily and to be brought right into the heart of this thing it's just doesn't sit right."

"Agreed, but we have to take this opportunity and play with the hand we've been dealt with." Carter answered as he noticed four friendly blips appear on his H.U.D. waiting for them to get closer the team quickly regrouped and made their way deeper into the carrier.

Due to the UNSC's war with the covenant and even if the incursions onto the vessels were far and in-between they were able to make wonderful training simulations to practice on and thanks to Cortana they were able to train on fully realized and mapped out structures thankfully all covenant ships had nearly the same lay out. So, the team quickly made their way to one of the Engineers main hubs where they would meet and pass along any information, they had on repairs that were needed or that they had done. Once they had arrived Noble hunkered down into the room large enough for them just barely looking around Carter noted that they wouldn't be sitting doing this again as they were all shoulder to shoulder in this room, nodding to Kat he asked "Are you able to tap into the ship and see what works?"

"On it commander." Kat answered as she took out her pad and plugged it into the system waiting for the pads A.I. to confirm she would go unnoticed it didn't take long as a green dot formed in the center. Pressing the dot the SPARTAN began to sift through the data quirking an eyebrow she began to furiously tap and press further into the system when Carter asked "What's going on Kat?"

"Sir I have to inform you that these ponies have just barely been scratching the surface, according to the data they've only been able to activate the most basic of functions mainly covenant doctrine education, vehicle/weapon maintenance and use, and translation software. They have no access to the ship's weapons, drives, records, or power supply simply put the ships dead in the water these ponies are just looting it at this time but hold on." Kat began to type furiously as her mind leapt to one possibility to which she quickly got her answer leaning away she looked up at Carter and twisted the pad around for him to read leaning in Carter looked at what his second in command had to show, after seeing the information Craters jaw tightened looking to her and he asked "Is this right?"

"It is commander."

"Well don't keep us in suspense what did you learn." Emile question as he leaned around a corner to down up one of the passages.

"What we just learned Noble Four is that this ship is intact enough to be air borne maybe even space worthy. Engines are good to go, and they have enough fuel to glass Equestria and some of her allies." Carter stated freezing up the SPARTAN's looked towards him unsure what to do next.

"Before we even get into this what type of ship is this even?" Jun was the first to speak placing a hoof on wall he gently brushed the purple metal while looking down the passages.

"According to what I pulled the ship is known as the Unyielding Will of the Just, it's an old model that we wouldn't have records on...........but to compare it to modern covenant ships it would be comparable to the supercarrier we saw above Reach. This may actually be one of its early predecessors."

"Holy hell." Jun murmured pulling his hoof off the wall and looked around knowing the full destructive force of this ship, just one was holding it's own against the naval force at Reach. But on a planet as underdeveloped as Equis and it growing naval forces he wasn't sure they could last a day against it, nodding his head Carter turned back to Kat and said "Can we overload the engines?"

"Hmmmm it's possible we can even set it up so it slowly builds up and blows so we can have time to evacuate."

"That may work but we need to figure just what these ponies are able to do with this ship.” Carter said was he leaned back rubbing his jaw he began to think up a plan, they didn’t have back up, no way to call in an air strike, and no idea when or if the other SPARTAN teams were still coming to this city.

Knowing all the dangers Carter needed three things, a way to destroy the ship quickly, to send a warning to Cortana if they failed and a way gain access to information about what exactly the enemy could do with the ship. After what felt like hours Carter finally had an idea of what needed to be done, turning back to Kat he locked eyes and ordered “Kat see if the system can let you access floor plans and where the U.P.R. has accessed and check for any outposts in this ship, secondly find bombs and any volatile materials we can rig to blow and finally find us a escape route that we can use to get out I want to be able to at least scout this place from the outside.”

“On it commander.” Kat answered as she went back to her pad and began to slice through the system

“What’s the plan Noble One?” Emile asked resting a hoof on his kukri in anticipation for action to come.

“The plan I have is simple we’re gonna buy time for the U.W.M. by crippling this base, next I want beacon hooked into this ships communications network and lastly we’re gonna exit this ship to scout the surrounding area so we can report back,” Carter answered while checking over all his weapons and double counting his ammunition after everything was found satisfactory he looked back up and concluded “This can be the beginning of the end of this war if we can eliminate this base, so I want us to make sure of that.”