Chapters Prologue
A Day to Remember 1735 HOURS, NOVEMBER 7, 2565 (MILITARY CALENDER) ** LEAVING PLANET EQUINS ORBIT
Brimstone was herded into a room by the humans along with all the other fillies and colts that we’re on the ship. Brimstone was a smaller colt that was back with a red mane and tail with a black streak in it. He was also a Pegasus who was just a little different from all the other ponies in the room. Brimstone’s father was a member of Princess Luna’s personal guard, and was born with the same bat like wings that they all owned, making Brimstone a little less popular with the other foals.
However this did not bother him at the moment. His parents were dead because of those big monsters down there, causing hatred and pain to burn in his eyes like nothing else. He glared at any colt or filly that looked at him, causing them to shy away and avoid looking at him. He didn’t care what the others thought; he wanted revenge and nothing more. This is why he was surprised when he chosen to stay, and what surprised him more was what the lady up front said.
"Good day, children. My name is Doctor Halsey." She began. "Out of all the other children, you, my friends, are the most capable. I now must give you all a choice. Will you help me in saving both your race and my race from certain destruction? If some of you are not ready to accept this responsibility, you may leave now. If you want to help me, there is no going back. Make your decision." The lady said to them all. As he watched some of the ponies leave he walked right up to the front.
Dr. Halsey watched as the some of the ponies left, but noticed a small few step forward, as if daring her to try and make them leave. As she went about splitting the ponies up into small groups, she grouped these ponies together specifically, for she knew that these few would be dangerous. Suddenly a buzz swept over the children as they were put into groups.
"Silence!" Halsey ordered. A hush fell over the ponies. "Thank you. The Master Chief is in fact a Spartan-II."
“How would you ponies like to be like him?" Twilight asked. There was a general sense of approval throughout the young ponies.
"Good, because that is what you are signing up for; you are all as of now Spartan-IV's. I'll see you when we begin training." Doctor Halsey said, walking out. The team of O.N.I. operatives and Twilight quickly followed. They had to explain to some ponies that their little filly or foal was going away, for a long, long time.
Brimstone watched as the lady left with all the other important looking humans and pony left the room. Turning to look at the other foals he was paired with. He noticed that they all had the same look as he did. “So they killed your parents too, huh.” Brimstone said indifferently. Most of them looked away but a larger colt stepped up to him with an even angrier look.
“HEY! Why don’t you shut your bucking mouth you freak! My parent at least JOINED the militia! I didn’t see no lanky ass Pegasus whore’s or Manticores out there fighting!” He said, practically spitting out the word Manticore.
Brimstone’s blood flash boiled as this colt slandered his parents so easily “WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL MY MOTHER!” Brimstone screamed, bucking the kid in the face as hard as he could, sending him tumbling to the ground “My mother died while taking me to the refugee camp after the big sky chariot blew up Canterlot, where my father was working! My father was a Royal Guard for Princess Luna! What was yours? A beggar?” He said, seething in anger. At his words the colt quickly got up and tackled Brimstone, causing them to roll around on the ground, bucking and biting at each other.
As the two fought Brimstone heard a large booming voice yell at them to stop but he ignored it. All he wanted to do was beat this foal to a pulp for insulting his family. Suddenly he was pulled away from the kid, and let of a wild buck, which connected with the soldier who picked him up, causing him to drop Brimstone and clutch at his now swollen eye. The other colt quickly began to charge Brimstone again before the scary voice shouted again.
“I said STAND DOWN!” Screamed the man, causing the colt to fall back on his flank was if he was struck. The injured guard got up and looked at the man “Sir! These two were about to kill each other!” He said still holding his eye. The man just smiled “Perfect! Fight like that after what these two kids have gone through today is a good sign for members of my team” He said, his smile looking more like an amused snarl “Leave them with me and I’ll take care of them. Mean while get the rest of these kids to Cryo, we have a long journey ahead of us” He said turning around, taking Brimstone and the other foals he was paired with to an office while the rest of the kids went to Cryo. “Welcome to the SPARTAN IV THUNDER Program and good luck, your going to need it” The man laughed as he ushered them into the office for there introduction.
(Ignore this please, just to get my character cap up and allow me to post this story properly! Stupid rules saying you need to have one thousand words to submit a story! I am fifty words off and I am pretty ticked off that I have to add this worthless thing in -.-)
Chapter One: The First Day
Chapter One
First Day 0500 HOURS, SEPTEMBER 20 2569 (MILITARY CALENDER) ** PLANET: CLASSIFIED
“SQUADRON! Fall in!” Major Young called out through the camp wide PA system. He stood waiting as the camp came to life as it usually did in the morning. Humans, Ponies, and Elites all stormed out of there respective barracks and quickly fell into there squads with almost machine like precision. This was PROJECT THUNDER, a secret sub sect of Dr. Hasley’s SPARTAN IV program. However most of the people who just fell in are not the Spartans that are being trained. They were already on there eighth lap around base for there morning PT. No, these were the bases staff. Drill Sergeants, Medics, Pilots, Teachers, and the all important Cooks that kept this base running. The Separatists were even kind enough to provide them with a few extra teachers and some Covenant tech to help make these Spartans the best of the best.
After dismissing the camp staff to go about there duties Major Young waited for the Spartan team to arrive. Looking at his watch he smiled “Five... Four... Three... Two...” he started counting down, till he was interrupted by the sound of ponies running towards him. Looking up he saw five ponies, all wearing standard PT gear form up not five feet away from him. A black colt built like a grown pony walked up to him and saluted “Major Young! Sergeant First Class Brimstone reporting!” He said, dropping the salute crisply and not moving at all. It was almost as if he was looking at stone.
“Very Impressive Sergeant! You and your team are turning out to be the best Spartans humanity has ever created, being as you are the first pony Spartans to date” The major said chuckling at his own joke. The Spartans before him didn’t even blink at the joke, knowing movement was a quick way to be assigned 400 push ups, to be done in 5 minutes or else you have to do 800 in ten minutes. The major was harsh, but he got the job done.
“Anyway, we have decided that since it is your squads fourth birthday today, I will allow you and your squad allowance to take the day to catch some rest and maybe relax a little. Four years of straight training can really start to take its toll on foals like yourself. Run to your barracks and rest for the day, for tomorrow the Elites have lent us a few of there most skilled troops to put you guys through some real tests, so get ready” The major said, taking a step back and dismissing them. He watched them run back towards the barracks, catching them all smiling a little. He knew that today was a good day, and would be well worth the training lost.
Brimstone and the rest of his team sat around in there barracks, unsure of what to do. They had never really been given a day off before and after four years of nothing but training this was almost mind numbingly boring. He looked around at his team and chuckled slightly. It could only really be thought of as funny, how the males on the team got there names changed to suit there position on the team, and the females opted to keep there original names. Amethyst, Star shine, Smash, Click, and himself made up the SPARTAN IV Thunder Program.
Amethyst was a Zebra and the the teams medic. Medic was only the name the team gave her because she might as well be a full on surgeon. She didn’t have a normal cutie mrk, but if she did it would be a red cross with a combat knife and a scalpel crossing each other over top. She would have gotten it when a drill sergeant had some heart troubles on an exercise and she decided it would be a fun opportunity to practice open heart surgery while on the field. In stead, she get a Zebra cutie mark and let’s just say she was successful, because that’s a long story that is really best suited for another time.
Then there’s Star shine the Earth pony. If you want quiet, there’s your girl ‘cause she won’t make a damn peep if you tell her too. Brilliant with a rifle up to one thousand one hundred yards, give her the right tools, and she can reach out and touch you from up to three miles. Yea we’re all a little scared of her when she’s shooting because she takes some risky shots, but has only really hit Brimstone, and only when he makes a stupid remark that may or may not have to do with the position and where about of her flank. Sexual endeavours are forbidden on base and on missions, but he still manages to piss her off some how without getting in trouble with the camp.
Next there’s smash. Five guesses as to what his role on the team is! You got it, he breaks shit. He is the resident CQC expert of the team and self proclaimed ‘interrogator’ of the team. You put him in a room with any less than seven guys and the room will be clear in no time, eighteen if he has a gun. He’s an earth pony as well, and also the same pony Brimstone got into a fight that very first day, making them competitive with everything, including flank jokes. Only difference is he gets razed by the drill instructors every time, when Brimstone just does it without a consequence, other than taking a stunt round to the ass or head every once in a while.
Next there’s Click, and boy is he something. Click in the teams’ multi purpose engineer, who has a thing for explosives. His camp nickname is Click Boom for that very reason and when he makes things go boom, they really go boom. He is also a sarcastic douche bag most of the time but once you get used to it everything is fine. He only got into trouble once, and that was because we were once on a war game and he blew the C and C using nothing but a few flash-bangs and some animal shit. His reasoning? If you blow up the command center the troops go into disarray. Luckily no one was seriously hurt by the explosion but hey, they won the game.
Finally there’s Brimstone, and you all know what he is. His position on the team is the squad commander. He’s nothing extraordinary when it comes to using a weapon or placing explosives, but if you want a job done he’s your man. From the very first day of training he has taken the role of leader and has done an excellent job. His flank jokes have also become a good laugh with the squad, well for all except Star Shine, who is usually the object of the joke but even she laughs sometimes.
The five ponies sat in there barrack looking around aimlessly before Click broke the silence.
Smash was rolling on the ground laughing "Oh my goddesses" He said clutching his sides "That reminds me of your very first flank joke" He said trying to suppress his laughter. Brimstone, finally managing to start breathing again was laughing too "You mean that one on the very first day of training? I swear that was the only one that I got caught for and I NEVER got caught again" He said sitting up. The team started laughing as they remembered that one evening, four years ago.
Brimstone stood inside a Pelican with the rest of the kids that were paired with them. Six to be exact. This was supposed to be there 'initiation' to the Thunder Program, and if they couldn't do this then they would be sent back to join the marine core. Near the back of the crew bay the scary man from the ship stood, looking at the six foals before him. Brimstone watched him hit a button off to the side, causing the main door to open. The Foals screamed and scurried to the back of the crew bay, trying to get as far away from the dark emptiness outside.
Major Young looked at the kids as if they were rats "Now listen here! Those of you with wings, learn to you them. The rest of you have been outfitted with modified Falcon Wing Aerial Decent Units like the one I am wearing myself! You will all form a line, and you will jump! After ten seconds, you will pull the red handle that is dangling across your chest. Some confusion will be normal, and is expected. For those of you with wings, you will fall for ten seconds and then open your wings. You are all old enough to have developed wings that can support your weight in a glide. When everyone jumps, you will attempt to land as close to the lite field as possible, to aid in the retrieval. Now, who wants to go first!" He asked looking around.
A small girl, hardly older that three took a few small steps forward "Sir, I will go first sir!" She said, a look of forced bravery on her face. The major just smiled "Excellent! Form a line behind her and prepare yourself!" He said standing to the side. The small girl took a few baby steps towards the edge and took a deep breath before disappearing into the night with a small squeak. The next girl, a cocky Pegasus walked towards the edge and scoffed "Watch how a pro does it" She said jumping off and unfurling her wings. This was her mistake, for the crosswinds created by the Pelican cause her to lose control, and sent her right through the blast of the Pelican's propulsion outtakes blast killing her instantly. The major watched the even indifferently "That is why we listen to orders! Ten seconds and unfurl! Next!" He said.
Now it was Brimstones turn and he was terrified. He had never flown before and after seeing what happened to that last girl, he started to walk away from the edge but bumped into the kid behind him. "If you would please jump out so that we can continue that would be wonderful" The kid said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Brimstone just gaped at the hole unable to move, causing the kid behind him to sigh "Hey kid! The major wants to talk to you" He said, causing Brimstone to turn to the major who was not paying attention. Using this moment the kid pushed Brimstone out of the Pelican.
Brimstone fell through the night sky screaming. A million thoughts stormed through his head before one very important one remained. Open your wings! he though as he fell. Using every last drop of will power he quickly unfurled his wings, and they immediately caught wind, sending him into a peaceful glide. Looking down he saw the other kids ahead of him and his blood started to boil. They all watched him chicken out and have to be pushed out of the Pelican when even that one girl landed. Well he was going to show them. He angled his wings so that he went into a shallow dive and aimed right for the center of the lit field. The only thing he didn't expect was another pony to land right where he was going to land!
CRASH!
Brimstone collided with the other pony, landing right on top of them, causing them to lose there grip with there front hooves and fall forward. "Hey! Get off me!" The voice said, allowing Brimstone to identify her as the girl who jumped first. "Huh what?" He managed to say before feeling the girl buck a little, making him realize how they were positioned. "Your hurting me!" She squealed trying to get him off. Brimstone couldn't help it "I thought you would like it!" He said suggestively, causing her to start screaming nonsense about cooties and other girly things. Brimstone was just about to get off before he felt a hand grab him by the back of the neck and lift him struggling into the air. He quickly found himself face to face with the major and he did not look happy.
"I didn't think foals like you were capable of such joke" He growled, shaking the now crying Brimstone. Making the foal look at him he growled "If I ever catch you making a joke like that again I will tie your wings to your back and drop you out of a pelican from lower orbit you understand me son" He snapped, causing Brimstone to just start nodding and begging for mercy.
The Major put him down and looked at the other kids who were now gathering around him, some of them glancing at the whimpering Brimstone but quickly looked back at the Major who ordered two of the Drill Instructors to was carrying uniforms for the foals "Welcome to the SPARTAN IV program. Now the other SPARTANS did not go through what you did, for you are to be the elite of the elite. You are all now part of Project Thunder, and will become the very best we can make you. Get to know each other because from now on this is the only family you will ever have. Now get to your barracks and you all better be ready for tomorrows training regime, or your going to be sorry" He said before dismissing everyone. The remaining DI's herded the foals to the barracks where they all quickly fell asleep.
The whole team was now on the ground laughing at the recall of that night. "I swear Brimstone, when the Major pulled you off of me and threatened you I thought you would have died right there just from a heart attack" Star Shine laughed. Click got up and looked at Brimstone "I swear pushing you out of that pelican was the greatest thing ever and I need to do that again one day. The look on your face and the sound of you screaming was priceless let me tell you" He said getting up off the ground. Brimstone just waved a hoof at him "Yea, and the the Major eviscerates you for not going by the book" He said, causing Click to rethink his plan.
They all just sigh "You know, when we first got here, I thought the Major was going to kill us all, but now I see what he is did and I thank him for it" the usually reserved Amethyst pointed out. They all nodded in agreement and relaxed for a moment. Too bad the peace could not last however. Suddenly a large explosion sounded right outside there door causing them all to jolt up. Without wasting a second Brimstone got into action.
"Click, Identify that explosion" He said as the team rounded up the gear they had. "Sounded like a plasma based explosion sir, similar that to a fuel rod projectile" He said, gathering up his gear. Brimstone checked the mag of his assault rifle and cursed "Alright team, we're running with stunt rounds, so this must be a set up! Leave it to the Major to surprise us!" He said bucking down the door.
Taking a step outside he froze. This was no test and they were going to need much more than simple stunt rounds and training gear to get out of this alive.
Chapter Two
1000 HOURS, SEPTEMBER 20 2569 (MILITARY CALENDER) ** PLANET: CLASSIFIED
Questions zoomed through Brimstones mind as he looked at the scene before him, but one question stood its ground. How did they Covenant Loyalists find them? Planet ERROR: CLASSIFIED was so secret that only top brass at ONI knew where it was, and the Separatist Council. The Loyalists being here was by chance was severely unlikely but the separatists ratting them out was even less likely than that.
He stood there in confusion for a few more moments till a plasma bolt melted part of the door, causing him to rush for cover. The rest of his team met up with him and waited for orders. "Alright so we have a situation if you haven't noticed and nothing but pebbles to defend ourselves" Brimstone said looking over the cover. He cursed as another bolt went by his head and made him return to cover "So far all I see are Jackals and Grunts, but there are a few brutes out there. Take this as a stroke of luck, because our rounds can at least hurt them enough to make them stop moving for a little. I want everyone to head for the Major's office. He has real ammunition in a large safe and would probably be heading there" He said gaining acknowledgment
Brimstone counted to three and started running, firing at the group of grunts to keep there heads down. Smash just ran up to the group screaming and mowed them all down before crushing there heads beneath his hooves "If you guys aren't gonna kill the fuckers, I will" He said as he started to walk again. Brimstone popped out of cover and took the legs out from a group of Grunts before turning towards Smash "Smash get back in line! This isn't a time for one of your stupid contests!" Brimstone snapped. Smash just waved his hand at Brimstone and continued to try and fight the Loyalists when suddenly a brute came barging out of the door that Smash was standing by throwing him to the ground.
Smash spun around and unloaded the last of his magazine into the brute but it did nothing. Trying to crawl away he reached for his knife, only to have his hoof stomped on, causing him to drop it. The brute raised a mauler to Smashes face, shrugging off the hail of fire from the other Spartans before he was suddenly engulfed in a sea of plasma.
The plasma came from one of the Elite DI's, who then gave a sharp victory cry before continuing on. It seemed as if the Elites had there own weapon catches in there barracks because they were now pouring out of there barracks, fully armed and ready to take on the hoard. Taking this chance Brimstone ran and dragged Smash into cover before bucking him in the face and pulling him up by the collar, staring him down "Now when I say get in line, I mean get in line! You could have died right there and there is NOTHING we could have done about it!" He said dropping him.
Smash just laid there and wiped his mouth "Sorry about that Sarge... It won't happen again" He said sounding sincere. This was the first sign of actual combat that any of the Spartans have ever faced, so staring down the barrel of a live weapon knocked some sense in the usually brash and careless Smash.
Taking the shock that the troops went through as an opening, Brimstone lead his team to the Major's office with minor events and piled inside. They where a little worried when they noticed that the Major was not there, but were relived when they found an open weapons safe. "Alright team, load up with your usual gear, pack heavy on ammo. We don't know when we are going to get a chance to resupply." He said, switching out his training gear for a standard issue BDU, as did the rest of his team.
The gear his team used was rather unique for each of them. Brimstone had however made it mandatory that they all carry the standard issue MA5B ICW so that they could swap out magazines in times of need but after that there equipment was as unique as they were. Smash carried the M90 8 gauge shotgun, and as much ammo as he could carry, going as far as to fill a saddle bag with ammo. Amethyst just grabbed a standard issue BR55HB Battle Rifle, and stocked up on medical supplies. Star Shine picked up a M392 DMR, and a disassembled SRS 99C-S2 Sniper rifle, and ten magazines for it respectively. Click, living up to his name packed everything he could get his hands on. His signature W/AV M6 Spartan Laser that was modified to be able to switch out batteries on the go, along with some Lotus Anti-tank mines, TR/9 Antipersonnel mines, two dozen M9 grenades, and somehow, a stripped down Shiva class nuclear warhead, which cause Brimstone to gawk for a moment.
"What the fuck are you going to use that thing for?" He asked as Click casually put it in his bag "And a better question is why the fuck is there one on base!" He said, causing Click to look at him and shrug "I requested a nuclear warhead so that I could familiarize myself with them. Major approved and I was supposed to start my advanced training on it next week." He said. This made Brimstone's jaw drop "You don't even know how to work that thing? And your still bringing it with us!" He said, causing the rest of the team to look at the small argument going on. "Please Sarge, you think I am stupid? Advanced training as in learning how to defuse them or build one. I learned how to operate a nuke enough to use safely two years ago" He said giving Brimstone his famous 'your an idiot' look.
Brimstone just decided to give up before he looked even stupider and picked up his gear. He picked up two M7 SMG's and as much ammo as he could hold as well as a bandoleer of grenades. He grabbed five tins of Bio Foam and waited out by the door as the rest of his team formed up. Now that they were deadly they could move out and be effective for the most part.
"All camp personnel this is Major Young broadcasting over the emergency announcing Code Bloody Arrow. All surviving personnel retreat to Twin Fork Ridge. I repeat all Personnel we are under Code Bloody Arrow, fall back to Twin Fork Ridge. This message shall repeat. All camp personnel this is..." suddenly blared over on the E-band causing the team to stop dead in there tracks. "Bloody Arrow?" Star Shine asked, looking at the rest of the team. "Haven't you paid attention in class at all?" Snapped Click "Bloody Arrow means that all friendly positions have been over run! We've been routed and Twin Fork Ridge is obviously our best bet for a fall back point." Click said keeping watch for enemy troops.
Brimstone swore to himself before turning to the rest of the team. "Alright guys this is how we are going to do this. I want a single file line, loose column with ten meters between each of us. Smash, you take point and Star Shine will cover our rear. I want radio silence, so unless your dying or dead I don't want a single peep from the radio. We are going to move out and flank around the rear of the camp, sticking five meters from the tree line till we get to the east side of the camp. Then we are going to make a bee line to the rally point and hope that there is some back up there, or at least an interstellar radio or AI that can get us in contact with someone who can get us off this damn rock. Classified information or not I think the military spent way to much money on us just to leave us here without a fight" He said, gaining acknowledgment from the team.
Taking one last look at the terrain Brimstone and the rest of the team took off and sprinted to the forest. The team quickly lined up and started moving to there destination. The Forrest was quiet for the most part, but the enemy patrolled the area around the base, forcing them to avoid a fire fight.
They soon found them selves just at the bottom of Twin Fork Ridge, but saw no sign of the camp personnel. He did however see a small clearing and raised his hoof, spinning it in a circle to get his team to rally up. When they were all with him he took the risk to open up his TEAM COM "Alright, I don't see any of the camp personnel but that doesn't mean there not here. I am going to walk out into that clearing and broadcast on the open channel. If that doesn't stir the rally point then they're not here" He said looking at them. Smash took this moment to speak up "You know Sarge, if the rally point can hear it, so can the Covies. Are you sure this is such a good idea?" He said looking around for hostiles. Brimstone shook his head "I'm not sure, but it's the best I have so unless anyone else has a plan that's what we are left with" He said looking at his team. They all remained silent, and Amethyst shrugged as if to acknowledge him. "Right, then I want you guys to take position and cover me. I don't wanna get shot out there" He said standing up and approaching the clearing.
As he waited for the team to get into position he surveyed the area. Large rocks that fell from the ridge were scattered across the base of the cliff, providing cover some small arms fire, but leaving them screwed if they had any explosives. He heard his COM click three times, the signal that his team was ready before opening the Channel. "Attention all UNSC and Separatist forces on planet ERROR: CLASSIFIED. This is Sargent First Class Brimstone looking for any remaining personnel. I am waiting in the clearing just north east of the Rally point. I repeat, Sargent First Class Brimstone waiting North east of rally point, over" He said. He awaited a response and was quickly Pinged on a secure channel. "Sargent Brimstone, this is Major Young and boy am I glad to hear your voice! I got someone coming to pick you and your team up" He said before the channel went dead.
Suddenly a small portion of the rock face fell away slowly to reveal a closed metal door. Slowly the door opened and on the inside was a lone soldier waving the team in. Brimstone and his team quickly hurried into the door and the soldier closed it up once they were inside, leading them down to what seemed to be a military base that was rather new. The soldier lead them up to an elevator at the end of the hall, which was guarded by four marines, two of which were manning AIE-486H Heavy Machine Guns. "The Major will be waiting for you at the bottom of the lift Sir" He said before turning and running back to the entrance. Brimstone just pushed the button and entered the lift, followed by his team. Pressing the button to go further underground, the lift began moving.
After about fifteen minutes the lift came to a stop and opened, revealing the Major, who was accompanied by two marines. Brimstone stepped off the lift, followed by his team and saluted the Major. "Sir Sargent First Class Brimstone and squad reporting!" He said, returning to attention after. "Easy son, no need for royalties such as that now, I'm just glad to see that you and your team made it out of there alive but we have an issue son" He said as he started to walk down a hall and into a make shift war room. The major stood at one end of the table, displaying a holo map of the planet. The major Zeroed them into there current position, and a second holo pad lit up, revealing a ghostly image of an Alicorn.
"Greetings My little ponies I am Celestia, this bases current AI" The AI smiled before the major began talking "Right, now we have two Loyalist cruisers in orbit, which is supplying the troops for this invasion. From what I heard the Separatists who showed up earlier today were followed by one of the Loyalist stealth class ships, which allowed the Loyalists to send a small invasion force, so that means these two are only the beginning" He said "The Separatists managed to cripple the ship to the left permanently before they were destroyed by a joint attack from the two ships. We have to find a way to get off this planet and take out or capture this ship here" He said Highlighting the ship. "After that we need to get ourselves to the nearest human base so as to warn someone of this invasion fleet" He said sighing "Only problem is that the estimated time till the invasion fleet shows up is 48 hours" He said looking at Brimstone. Behind his visor is face remained stoic. "We do however, have an advantage for you to help succeed in getting off this planet in one piece. If you would follow me" He said as he walked out of the room.
The Major led them into what looked like a lab and brought them all to the back. Here there was several sets of strange, intimidating armor, that only a pony could wear. Celestia V2 suddenly appeared on a holo pad and smiled "These are SELENE Mark II Pony battle suit. Designed much like the MOJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor the latest SPARTANS II wear, this suit has a few bonuses added in, as well as the design being more pony friendly" She said as a few scientists started to dismantle the suits and aid the SPARTAN IV's in putting them on. "It is made from the state of art ERROR: CLASSIFIED alloy with a Ballistic Gel under layer. This suit is capable to dispersing medium amounts of covenant plasma weaponry for a small period of time, before the plates need to cool down. The system also has a fully functional shield system to aid in keeping the user safe from harm. The suit also features a photo-reactive layer, which effectively mimics your surroundings radiation signature, allowing you to blend in with your surroundings. Warning though, this layer can only take a few hits before it fails and needs to recharge, which will take several minutes to do unless you drain your shields, causing the two to recharge at a similar rate.The suit comes with specialized wing attachments for any Pegasus operators, and a horn guard to protect Unicorns from losing the ability to use there magic while on the field. It also includes a full HUD which lets you know of your shield levels, team vitals, ammo count as well as spare magazines, and allows you to open a single beam COM link. In addition to this you have a motion tracker that is effective to 50 meters, specialized LED lights, linked for your team to allow an easier response to orders and a small tactical map." She said as the Spartans started moving around in the suit, trying to get a feel for it
"Damn Sarge these things got everything" Smash said flexing inside the suit "I feel as if I can tear a brute in two with my bare hooves" He said chuckling. "I wouldn't advise trying that seeing as a brute dwarfs you drastically" Click said in a smug sounding way. Amethyst just remained quiet, getting the feel for the suit. Star Shine just trotted around lightly laughing "Oh my I feel as if I could do so much in this suit!" She said excited. "Star Shine! This suit covers all those bits" Brimstone said smartly, resulting in him getting a stiff smack to the back of the head. The Major continued to talk to a Scientist and didn't even notice Brimstones remark, causing Smash to get frustrated. "Oh come on! You get away with that and I can't even say pussy without..." "Corporal! four hundred pushups, now!" The Major snapped, glaring at Smash. Smash grumbled and got to work on his pushups. Brimstone opened up a single beam COM with Smash and snickered "I'm just that good Smash" He said closing the link and looking back at the major.
"The Loyalists landed here and here" He said marking two places on the map "But the Grav Lifts are only on when they are transporting troops, so that will be a hard task" The major stated calmly. Brimstone just walked up to the map and noticed something big that could help them "There not using that clearing for what I think they are, are they?" Brimstone asked, the smile on his face could practically be heard through everything else going on. The Major looked at the map confused "Yes they are son, but why do you need there air... You have a plan don't you" The Major said smiling. "Brimstone just snickered "I have a plan to do just a little bit more than get off this planet sir, I'm going to take out that other ship as well" He said taking a step away from the table "And we have exactly what we need to do it" He said looking at Click.
(Oh my sorry about the horrible ending it was just getting so long and I didn't want to give too much away so I had to end it here.... Sorry peeps!)
Chapter Three
1900 HOURS, SEPTEMBER 20 2569 (MILITARY CALENDER) ** PLANET: CLASSIFIED
The lab was buzzing with activity. Out of the personnel that were on the base, only a handful managed to make it to the rally point, leaving it low on guards but making the job easier on the Spartans. "So including you there are fifteen people we need to take with us?" Brimstone said looking over the map with the Major. "That's correct son, all will be armed and ready for combat so that you can relax a little while doing your job" The Major said as he walked around the table "There is a small space around here that we can use as a pick up point, but we are going to be tightly packed if you can't get a Phantom" The major said nervously. Brimstone just shook his head and marked a line from the two points "If you were to wait there, then we would have to clear the whole vehicle depot and get on the ship from there directly. That means you would have to be at the ship in time for us to start dust off, meaning we get there at the same time. Do you think you can handle that?" He asked worriedly. The major shrugged "We have our orders. The top five scientists must be saved and removed from the planet to continue there research else where. Everyone else is to remain in the labs, in like chance that the Loyalists want something here. Last time I checked they were still going on with that whole sacred journey mumbo jumbo" He said, pulling out a cigarette.
"Sir, is smoking in a UNSC establishment not against protocol now?" Brimstone said teasingly, causing the Major to shrug "The way I see it? We have some ugly ass visitors topside who want nothing more than us dead and this planet glassed. The UNSC has bigger issues than hounding me down for cigarettes" He said before getting back to business. "This base has a NOVA class nuclear war head planted one level below us set to launch at Celestia's command" He said, prompting the AI to appear "Yes Major that is correct. Under ONI's command I am to detonate the NOVA when all other resources have been spent and we have no further course of action. The blast will most likely tear this mountain to shreds and severely damage any ship in lower orbit" She said casually, as if she had full control.
Suddenly Celestia looked confused "Major, it seems the NOVA is being tampered with. Attempts to activate the weapon manually are being made! Sir there is nothing I can do to prevent that! I am also detecting covenant signatures which are unverified! They got in sir!" Celestia said. Suddenly, as if to denote that a large explosion sounded from what seemed to be below them. "Smash, your push ups are complete lets move" Brimstone said as him and the rest of the team started moving. "Sargent! You need to get down..." "Already moving Sir" Brimstone said cutting the Major off. He trotted to the stair well and opened the door, the sound of battle prominent. "Alright, lets see what these suits can do!'' Star Shine said as the team ran down the stairs. Brimstone just shook his head "I wish we didn't have too" He said quietly to himself.
Plasma melted the wall right where Brimstones head was not half a second before "Where did all these damn things come from! Celestia! Find the security breach!" Brimstone snapped, tossing a grenade into the enemies cover, scattering them. They hadn't been in the tunnel for a minute and they were already pinned down. Smash was up ahead bucking down a brute before planting a shell right into the things head. "Awe yea man! You bitches wanna fuck with me now? You just got fucking lucky at the camp" He said, taking out a couple grunts. "Smash pull back a little! Last thing we need is for you to get cut off" Brimstone shouted causing Smash to nod and start walking backwards, switching to his Assault Rifle so to suppress brutes now running up the hall. Star Shine was fifty feet behind the rest of the team, a slow and steady cadence of rounds turning heads into melons, giving Brimstone and the team the chance to move up.
"Sargent Brimstone, I have discovered the source of the breach. It seems as if the emergency exit was opened manually from the inside. I can't close it until someone deactivates the over ride. A marker just appeared on you HUD" She said cooly. Brimstone mowed down a group of grunts before ducking back into cover "Alright Celestia, we are moving to emergency exit now. We should get there in five minutes if nothing goes wrong" Brimstone said firing at a brute that was trying to reload. Suddenly he heard the sound of a grenade hitting the wall and the tell tale whine that only a Plasma grenade could make. He dive off to the right as fast as he could just as the grenade detonated, causing his shields to flair and wash him with a wave of heat. Warnings flashed across his HUD as his shields and photo-reactive layer failed on him. Not a moment later the ground around him got riddled with spiker rounds and plasma.
"I need suppressing fire!" Brimstone called out trying to get up, only to be snatched up by a brute by the throat and lifted into the air. Brimstone struggled for a moment, before driving his hoof into the inside of the brutes arm, causing it to drop him. the second Brimstone hit the floor the brute was completely peppered with round before it dropped to the ground. Brimstone got up and ran back to the fall back point with his team "What do you think we are up against?" Brimstone asked the team. Click just shrugged "An endless supply of loyalists trying to jam themselves into a hallway" He said. "They have cover set up, and we are stuck with doorways and the wall" Amethyst said quietly, ducking under a plasma bolt and returning fire.
"You still have those anti tank mines Click?" Brimstone asked taking a quick look down the hall "Cause if we can thin these bastards out, then we can take over there cover before they can reinforce" He said as click was pulling out is mines. "So that sounds like a great plan and all, but how to you suppose we get the mine down there?' Click asked dryly. Brimstone almost smacked him "Your going to levitate it you idiot, now get too it! Make it follow close to the ceiling and blow it when its above them. Make sure the top of the mine is facing down and everyone else get ready to run" He said as Click did his job.
A few seconds passed before a large explosion racked the hall, allowing the Spartans to run from the small amount of cover they had and too the fortified part of the hallway, with the emergency exit in site. Th door had plasma turrets to each side and about five standard squads at the door. The turrets started to fire on them but before Brimstone could say anything 2 large cracks later the turrets were destroyed. Brimstone turned around to see Star Shine taking the SRS apart to put away "Figured you would want them gone" She said as she picked everything up and walked towards the door now that the team had put down the troops guarding it.
"Alright lets get this settled before..." Brimstone said before he felt a few solid rounds hit him in the back, forcing him to the ground with his HUD flashing its warning lights. "N-n-none of you m-monsters m-m-move" a scientist wielding a shotgun said "Or your friend here g-gets it!" he said pointing the gun shakily at Brimstone, who was currently laying still. His vitals where showing that he was really confused as to what was going on but stable all the same. "Sir, put the weapon down, we do not want to hurt you" Amethyst said in her calm voice. This only made the man more aggressive "Don't give me that bullshit! I know your plans! Your planning on taking over earth! Using us to train your people and get in really good with the government, then when were all friendly you slit our throats! So what did the Covenant pay you? Earth? 'Forerunner technology'? Well I don't care cause I'm just gonna kill you" The man said, his face locked in a manic grin. "I'm gonna kill you all and theres nothing you can do to..."
BANG!
The squad looked over at Smash. "What? was he supposed to be alive? I'm sorry but shooting my friend then saying that your gonna kill us is not a friendly action" He said slinging his shotgun to his back. Brimstone got up and shook his head "What the fuck hit me?" He asked, stretching his back out. "Oh nothing, you just got hit with two shotgun rounds to the back from forty five feet away, nothing big" Click said, walking up to the door and hitting the over ride "He must be the guy who opened the door in the first place" Click said looking at the man. Brimstone shrugged "Something in this lab must have shaken some screws loose or something, but it's over now. Lets get a move on to that NOVA bomb before it goes off" Brimstone said running down the hall.
"Sargent Brimstone, the NOVA is fine" Celestia said through there radio "It has been untouched and secure since this facility was built" She said with a hint of humor in her voice. Brimstone stopped running and shook his head "Wait, but you said in the..." "I know what I said Sargent" Celestia pointed out. "Then explain to me what that was all about?" Brimstone demanded. Celestia almost seemed smug "Gotcha" She responded, causing the whole team of Spartans to face hoof.
(Yea stupid ending I know but this chapter was inspired by Trollestia, what did you expect. I still think I am better at critiques then at writing, an many of my characters go without dialogue quite often. Anyway, I hop you enjoyed.)
Chapter Four: Click... BOOM
Chapter Four
2000 HOURS, SEPTEMBER 20 2569 (MILITARY CALENDER) ** PLANET: CLASSIFIED
“Celestia... I swear if I get my hands on you I am going to deactivate you” Brimstone growled over the COM on his way back up to the war room. Night had fallen and they needed to get there plan underway fast or they would be over run. They quickly walk into the war room to see an annoyed looking Major and an AI grinning like an idiot “Alright sir change of plans, we need vehicles. Three Mantacore class terrain vehicles, Mongooses if available” Brimstone said as he and his team started to fine tune there equipment. The major nodded “Your lucky because we have Mantacore’s and they were for you specifically. I will have three of them prepped in the main entrance but I have to ask, what is this plan?” The major asked
Brimstone pulled the bolt back on his AR before answering “Me and my team are going to ride in there and take as much out as we can. You and any personnel you may bring head to the vehicle depot and get there by morning, avoid any combat if you can. You do not fire a single round or you could all get killed and this plan would be rendered pointless so not a single death unless you have too” Brimstone said, before walking to the map again “You need to get to the Depot by sun rise because that’s when we will be leaving and I am sorry sir, but I am putting discipline so I will leave any stragglers including you if I have too. As I understand me and my team are priority one and priority two is the scientists. If the scientists are late we will wait no more than twenty minutes before we head out do you understand” Brimstone said. The Major just smiled and nodded “I do son, and I can’t tell you how proud I am to have been the one to train you all. Which reminds me, I have something for you” The Major said bringing up the personnel records for the camp “Upon graduation you were to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and I think that this you be graduation. Congratulations Lieutenant, I think you earned it” He said typing on the keyboard. As he did this Brimstones IFF changed to indicate his rank as Lieutenant, which made him feel a little weird.
“Lieutenant now huh” Smash said in a tense voice. Brimstone knew this would happen if he got promoted, and with a promotion as big as this Smash must be very angry. “Sir, this means that the rest of my team has graduated as well correct?” He asked nervously, to which the Major nodded. “Yes but I promoted you on the field. They will be promoted to there respective ranks when I can fill in there paperwork” He said nodding at the other Spartans “However, because you have always been there superior officer while on the field we felt it was only right to actually make you an officer once you got out to actual combat, but enough with dealing with titles for now. We need to get off this planet now or we will end up glassed with our heads up our asses arguing about rank.” He said scolding slightly at the wasted time “We will meet you at the depot by sunrise, so you better have it cleared. We have your transport ready” He said as he called down the elevator.
Brimstone could still feel the slight tension in his team, causing him to shift uncomfortably. Even with the suit on his body language had always spoke volumes to the rest of the team. A hoof found itself on Brimstones shoulder “Don’t worry sir, your still our leader and nothing else” Amethyst said quietly. “Yea, we will follow you till the end, just like we always have sir” Click added in “And I know you will never be to high of a rank to spill a flank joke now and then” Star Shine said bumping into Smash, who just grunted. Brimstone couldn’t take it “Don’t call me sir. I am Brimstone to you guys, just like your Star Shine and not corporal, or you’re Smash and not Private. Nothing here changes the fact that your my family, and not my team” Brimstone said finally. The Major just smiled “You five have done more in the four years that you have been together than I have in my thirty hears of service. You have surpassed my expectations time and time again, leaving me with no one else in this galaxy that I would rather give my life to. If we don’t make it out of here, the UNSC doesn’t stand a chance. Not because you will change the tide of the war, but because if they can break your friendship then we are truly lost” The major said just as the elevator door opened.
Brimstone nodded at the Major “I hope we can get you off this planet sir because I don’t know if we can win without you” He said before he and his team started up the Mantacores. The Mantacore was the UNSCs solutions to Ponies complaining about sever discomfort while driving a Mongoose. “Click, you will be riding on your own. Amethyst you’re with Smash, Star Shine you’re with me” He said as the team got ready. Approaching his Mantacore Star Shine went to drive but he stopped her “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, the armor isn’t ‘protection’” He said, resulting in him getting a stiff smack. He shook it off and started up the engine, allowing Star Shine to mount up the back. As the rest of the team got on there Mantacores .
“Be at the depot by sunrise sir, or we will be forced to leave you” Brimstone said before revving the engine and taking off. Moments like these made Brimstone feel agonizingly imprisoned, and he didn’t understand why. He could feel the air rushing under his wings, actively fighting him to burst open and allow him to fly but he couldn’t. He felt that the ability to fly removed him from the rest of his team, and it’s not like he needed to use them, right? He could get his job done all the same without them, and has never needed to use them during any of there war games. Sure he knew how to fly, having to learn for the sheer fact that he had wings but he never felt it mandatory or needed. He would not so much as twitch his wings around a pelican however in fears he would end up like that girl who still haunted his dreams. He didn’t know why but it bothered him, and no one at the base could tell why.
“Hey Lieutenant, are you alright?” Star Shine said through a COM link “We almost crashed like three times now, is something eating at you?” She asked. He just shook his head “Don’t worry, just some shit from the past, that’s all” He said, reaching around to pat her in reassurance. What he didn’t expect was her to head butt him “I swear you may be my superior but if you pat my flank ever again, I will turn your manhood into a soup and feed it to the brutes” She said with a hiss causing him to shrink a little. “Well shit Star Shine, I can’t really make sure of where my hooves are while driving” He said in a slightly scared tone. “Sure now get back to driving, were almost there” She said in an unbelieving tone.
Stopping about five clicks from the base Brimstone was getting unnerved. “They have ghosts patrolling rather thickly after this point” Brimstone said as they heard a ghost off in the distance floating around. Star Shine had the scope to her SRS out and was peering through it “It looks like a ghost comes around every five minutes. So what should we do?” She asked. Brimstone thought for a moment “Hey Click, how explosive is the battery to your Laser?” He asked. “Uhh I don’t know, strong enough to take out a large chunk of camp ironhorse if tampered with properly why?” He asked. Brimstone shrugged “I don’t know, I was just wondering if a few lotus mines, and few plasma grenades and the power source of both a Spartan Laser and a Ghost would make a nice light show” He said, his large grin could be heard through everything. Smash and Amethyst just looked a little confused but Click was practically beaming. “It would be like your first explosion, only a lot bigger” Star Shine said. Brimstone could almost feel the anticipation that Click was going through. “Let’s do this” He said.
“Why the fuck did he need to take apart all of the Matacores?” Smash complained quietly. “I don’t know! It’s Click, and that’s all I need to know. Besides, that tells me Click has a lot more up his sleeve then he’s telling us and to be quite honest, I really don’t want to know. Now get ready, here comes the target.” He said as a grunt on a Ghost started to drive up. Before the grunt even knew what was happening he was thrown off the Ghost and knocked out. Brimstone just looked at the thing before looking at Smash “Well, I guess you can work your magic when he wakes up” Brimstone said, to which Smash started to trot around excitedly.
“Alright, the Ghost has been rigged for remote detonation, but if all else fails Star Shine here will plant a round on the Ghost’s power plant. I have jerry rigged it to explode and removed a large amount of armouring from that area” Click said. Brimstone just looked at him funny “And how did you manage that?” He asked. “I dunno, I just used this grinder here” He said pulling out a hand portable grinder. “Where the hell did you get that! I didn’t see you pack one!” Brimstone almost shouted. Click once again shrugged “Hammer Space” was all he said before the grunt started to stir. Brimstone looked over to Smash “Alright bud, your up!” He said taking a step back.
Turnloig started to stir and opened his eyes to see five of the weird four legged human things standing around him wearing armor. He started to try and walk away before he was grabbed and thrown to the ground by the really REALLY big monster. “Please don’t hurt me monsters! I swear I won’t tell anyone you are here just please don’t hurt me!” He started to squawk. The big thing just hit him “We are PONIES you idiot, and we have a message for your head of command, understand?” The big pony said to him in the unngoy language. Turnloig just looked confused “Yes... Ok I can deliver the message!” He said trying to stay good with these monsters. “Alright look, we are gonna give you back you pathetic little ghost, and what your going to do is drive it right to your damn chieftain and tell him this. His worse night mare is gonna strike in five seconds, got it?” He snapped. The grunt just shook his head “What ever you say! Drive ghost to Chieftain and tell him about nightmare in five seconds! Please don’t kill me” He said cowering. Suddenly two of the monsters started talking, and the big one moved away for a smaller one. “Hey bud listen, I know my friend here scared you but we need you to send this message” She said quietly. Her voice was obviously female, but it had this quality to it that made him relax. “Drive to chieftain, tell him about nightmare in five seconds, I continue on the path to the great journey?” Turnloig said to confirm. The pony just nodded “That’s what we need you to do alright? But if you fail, I will have to let my scary friend here deal with you how he wishes, and he has a thing for tearing limbs off people” She said, causing Turnloig to shake. He quickly got to his feet and ran to the ghost “I deliver message I swear!” He said, speeding off. The ponies just looked at each other and moved away.
Turnloig quickly found himself in the vehicle depot and quickly searched out the chieftain. He drove up to him panting causing the Brute to stare down at the pathetic thing. “What are you doing leaving your post so quickly!” The brute snapped. Turnloig winced “I have a message! It’s from weird pony humans! They told me to tell you that your worst nightmare would strike in five seconds” He said. The brute just scoffed *five* “They don’t stand a chance *four* against me, let alone my base *three*” He said looking around “I am just the *two* messenger! I don’t know *one* what they...” Turnloig was interrupted by a bright white and blue light, then total darkness.
The Spartans quickly ran into the depot, putting down the enemy at a startling rate. The explosion had been brilliant, the plum ranging up to four hundred feet in the air, decimating the center of the depot and leaving a large amount of loyalists outside the blast radius stunned or crippled. The team just went through and put the remaining casualties out of there misery with little to no resistance at all. “That had to be your most awesome plan ever” Smash went on “I have never seen an explosion that big thrown together with such common materials!” He said blasting a brute in the face. Click just sighed “But now I am down five shots on my Laser, what if we have to fight a scarab or something!” He said. “Rather fight a single scarab, then a base filled with pissed off brutes who can outflank us” Brimstone said as they double checked the depot once more. He was surprised that nothing else heard the explosion, but was quickly relieved to see the major and the scientists come running through.
“Good work team, we felt that explosion from two clicks away! How did you manage that?” The Major asked. “Click threw together a bomb out of a ghost, a Spartan Laser battery, a few anti tank mines and the Mantacore power plants” Brimstone said nodding at Click “We couldn’t have done this with out him, but enough about that we need to find a working ship.” Brimstone said trying to find a phantom that wasn’t damaged by the explosion.
“Sir I think you should see this” Amethyst said over the radio, beckoning him to move to her position. “What did you find Amethyst?” Brimstone asked walking over, but couldn’t help but smile at what he saw. A single Phantom with two banshee interceptors outfitted for orbital flight. “This must be the chieftains if it has its own set of escort banshees” Amethyst said quietly. Brimstone couldn’t believe his luck here. “Alright, get everyone over here pronto, I want this thing loaded up five minutes ago” Brimstone said running into the phantom. He took a good long look at the controls before giving up. “I guess Click is driving this thing, I can’t figure it out for the life of me” He said to himself before walking out again.
“I can’t WAIT to try this puppy out!” Click said gawking over one of the Banshees. “I mean come on! It’s the covenant equivalent to a space dog fighter! Ours are big and bulky and these things just dance around us like nothing!” He said continuing to look the craft over. Brimstone shook his head “Sorry Click but we need you to drive the phantom. That’s what’s gonna get hailed and we need the best we have to deal with that” He said, noticing Clicks shoulders droop a little. “But sir!” Click whined, even though he knew he lost. “No can do Click, but I’ll be extra careful in mine, just so you can drive it if we all survive, alright?” Brimstone said with a chuckle. Click just started walking to the phantom “Yea yea, you better keep that thing intact” He said before walking on.
Brimstone started to prep the banshee, knowing it’s layout and control scheme better than the phantoms when the Major walked up to him. “Know son, I know your team is pretty damn good, but I want you to have Celestia. She will do a better job in your hands, and we can say she went down with the base” He said handing Brimstone a containment crystal. “There should be a slot for her in the back of your helmet” He stated, which Brimstone found to be true. Clicking her in he felt the sudden cool feel of mercury and then the odd feel of clutter.
“Hello, my name is Celestia V2 and I am a...” “Yea yea Celestia I know, it’s me Brimstone so you don’t need to do that” He said coolly. “Oh I see, well that changes matters completely! Now let me just reorganize here, and do some quick calibrations, and we should be ready” Celestia said with a cheerful voice. As she spoke he felt the clutter suddenly disappear and felt his mind clear as day. “Thanks for cleaning up, but I have a job to do, and a ship to take over” Brimstone said climbing into the banshee and activating it. Star Shine followed suit while Click went about prepping the Phantom quickly before getting in and starting it up. Now they only had one more obstacle, and they would be free from the Loyalists.
(God I know I suck at endings)
HEY EVERYPONY!!!! I have a question for all of you!
Now I am thinking of making the Spartans of Project Thunder not like working with people outside there program, but I want to have a pretty damn good reason cause my guys are gonna be a TOUCH hostile socially with soldiers outside the SPARTAN IV program, and even then not necessarily love working with there either better or worse half XD So here are your reasons why!
A marine kills someone important to them
A marine betrays them
They just REALLY don't like to play nice
So just put 1, 2, or 3 in the comment and we will see how this story goes! I do have a plan for what happens if no one participates in this vote but it's not that good and I can't choose here so I am asking y'all for help. Is that too much to ask?... Wait... It's the internet... Of course it's to much but y'all are fellow bronies! I know y'all won't leave me hanging!
Hey everypony I'm really sorry to tell y'all that this fic will be on hiatus until my school stops bitching at me, but I will be very slowly writing chapters. If a chapter gets done, then I shall post the chapter before as I always have, so I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter, on me. I present Click... BOOM
Chapter Five: Taking The Ship
Chapter Five
0600 HOURS, SEPTEMBER 21 2569 (MILITARY CALENDAR) / SYSTEM: CLASSIFIED, INNER ORBIT PLANET: CLASSIFIED
Brimstone and Star Shine flew there interceptors alongside the Phantom that Smash, Click, and Amethyst along with the Major and the remaining scientists were in. Bored he opened up a single beam with Star Shine "So you think that we can do this?" He asked. His voice was slightly strained and nervous, and Star Shine knew "Yes Brimstone, we can do this" She said trying to cheer him up. "What's eating at you though? You sound like you have seen a ghost or something" She said concerned tone. Brimstone just shivered "Yea... Not exactly fond of flying if you know what I mean" Brimstone said weakly. "Alright... You have some explaining to do" Star shine said flatly.
"You remember the very first day... when we all had to jump out of the pelicans?" Brimstone asked as they flew "Yea, I jumped first right? But what does this have to do with you flying? Your a Pegasus, flying should be instinctual" She said confused. Brimstone sighed "It is... It's just after you jumped, the other Pegasus, the one you were told failed and wound up in the marine core... Died on the pelican" He said, bringing upon a long silence. "How..." Star Shine asked quietly, breaking the silence, and making Brimstones gut wrench. He hated explaining this story "When it was her turn to jump, she was dragged into the Pelicans outtake and was burned alive... She screamed... But I was the only person to hear it as if it was just a sign that was made for me. I wouldn't have jumped if it wasn't for Click pushing me off the damn edge. It was worse than any scream I have ever heard in my life, and every time I go near a pelican I hear it" He said, his voice becoming emotionless by the end. Star Shine remained speechless.
"Why didn't you tell us Brimstone? Why didn't you tell someone so that could have helped you sooner?" She said, sounding as if she was trying to sound angry, but only coming up with sad. Brimstone sighed "Look, I have learned to deal with it... I just need a distraction and I'm not always lucky enough to have one!" He snapped. "I have gone through all these years as a perfectly able commander, my only problem is I am afraid of heights!" He said, causing Star Shine to snap "What? This s not just a fear of heights Brimstone! This effects you on any real battle field that we will see if we survive this! Pelicans are all over the battle field and if your hearing screams every time your near one then we have a problem Brimstone!" Her voice going from angry to pleading "Please let us help at least!" She said. Brimstone was about to answer when suddenly his radar went off "Look Star Shine, as much as I love this conversation this is going to have to wait, we have a job to do" He said arming his weapons. Star Shine reluctantly dropped the subject and armed hers as well.
Click was busy trying to quell the countless covenant hails that where attacking the ship, till he isolated the super carrier from all the other ships. "Jeez, your telling me that every ship in space hails each other in the covenant fleet? This was ridicules" He grumbled before opening up coms. He purposely turned off his bridge camera as a brute came up on the front view screen. "This is Vaht 'Komtaree of the Glorious Destruction . We have reports of a large explosion in the vehicle depot you originate from. We require an explanation" The Brute growled. Click just turned to the screen and in the Brutes language guttural language responded "We were attacked by several demons, and they blew up a large portion of our depot. We are coming back to give a full briefing" He growled respectfully. The brute looked skeptical but shrugged it off "I shall have a team waiting for you to bring you to the bridge to relay your... events" He said before the screen flickered out. Click and Smash looked at each other and a worried feeling went through the bridge "I think we should warn Brimstone?" Smash asked. Click shrugged and looked at the COMs "He already knows" He said simply.
Brimstone felt a little sick. They were going to have a team of brutes waiting for them, but now they have complete entrance to the ship. This may work out a little better than he had hoped for with them knowing the weapon systems. "Alright team, when we get in, clear out the hangar with your ships main cannons and fall into position” He said as he saw the ships approaching the hangar door.
The team that the Chief had ready for them wasn’t much, it was all the personnel that were in the hangar as well. He took a deep breath “Alright, clear the hangar in three... Two... One...” He said as waves of plasma swept across the hangar, dropping the team that was sent to meet them along with a majority of the crew on the hangar. Brimstone and Star Shine jumped out of there banshees, bringing up there weapons and cutting down the stragglers and clearing the immediate area of the hangar, allowing the rest of the team to get off the drop ship, followed by the Major and the scientists.
“Alright! Me and my team are going to take over the bridge with the major. The rest of you stay here. You all have fire arm training so make sure you aim for the head. Short controlled bursts, you should have plenty of ammo, and then you should have all had covenant weapon training so I have no fear of you being over run with us running through the ship” He said before signalling to his team to move.
Brimstone and his team ran down the hall and were quickly resisted by a few squads of covenant, causing a fire fight between the two groups to start. Brimstone and Amethyst were on one side of the hall and Smash, Click, Star Shine and the Major were in joining hallway on the other side. “We need some covering fire!” Brimstone snapped waiting for his team to jump into action.
They never did... Star Shine seemed to be giving orders that the major was obviously not happy about it. Brimstone again signalled for covering fire, noticing that only Click and Amethysts LEDs flashed green, Smash and Star Shines remained dull. Brimstone cursed there lack of discipline, especially now that he was in fact an officer now. “Star Shine! Smash! As your commanding officer I ORDER you to give us covering fire!” Brimstone shouted over the COM. That seemed to get there attention as they both jumped and started firing at the covenant. He hated using rank on them, always had but sometimes there was just a need for it. Finally there was a lull in the fire and Brimstone, followed by Amethyst ran across the hall.
Just as Brimstone made it over, Smash found a hoof to the face in no time with a seething Brimstone at the end of it. "If you ever disobey me I swear I will hand you to the covenant myself and see how you like it! You have two allies pinned down in minimal cover calling for support that you can give and you ignored me! The same goes for you Star! You ever do that again I will call you for treason and disobeying a direct order from an officer" He growled at them both. Without another word Brimstone was returning fire on the last remaining covenant and had dispatched them quickly enough. Smash was still recovering from the blow to the face and Star Shine just cowered slightly. Amethyst moved to help Brimstone as he started to move forward to check everything out ahead, with Click and the Major following leaving Smash alone with Star Shine
"Great! I get hit because you ordered me not to follow that order!" Smash said in annoyance "What was that for anyway? You have never gone against his orders before" He said simply. Star just looked away "I don;t know actually... I just saw him with Amethyst and got angry. I don't even know why it happened" She said as Smash started laughing "You like him! No wonder you always had that 'I want too but will get in to trouble' look when ever he joked about having sex with you!" Smash said clutching his sides. Amethyst blushed so hard you could almost see it through her visor "D-do not! That per-preposterous! Wh-What would give you th-that idea?" She said looking away and shaking slightly. Smash just laughed even harder "Oh my Godesses! This is rich! You almost killed the stallion you like because you were jealous that he was on the opposite side of you with Amethyst" He cackled. He took a moment to regain composure and looked at her "Look, what your doing isn't going to get him to like you, it's gonna get you kicked off the team. A good way to get him to like you is be loyal. Do that and he will be all over you" He said. Star Shine thought about it but was uninterrupted by Brimstone calling them forward.
Brimstone didn't like what he was seeing. Looking down the main hall he saw a large set of doors with two squads of brutes standing outside in rather heavy armor. He turned around and just glared at his team. "Alright, so this time we are going to follow orders. Click, I need your magic here so see if you can float some large explosives over there, maybe a lotus or something bigger if you have it. I swear if you even mention using that nuke I will slap you, I'm in no mood for screwing around" He growled looking at Star Shine "You! I want you on the other side of the hall way once the exposion goes off and laying down covering fire with your DMR, save your sniper in case there are some larger enemies. Get it set up however" He said looking at Smash "Your moving up with me and Amethyst so that we can keep pressure on the brutes and take them out. I expect them to try locking us out, so thats where you come in Celestia. I need you to keep that door from closing and locking, understood?" He asked her. "Yes Liutenant Brimstone, I shall lock them out of the door controls immediatly. If you so wish I could even purge the air out of the control room. Your suits have a oxygen supply, andnyour fitted to allow one person share your oxygen reserve for up to twenty minutes. That is plenty of time to let the brutes suffocate and replace the air in this sector" She said in a 'you should ask me for help more' kind of way.
Brimstone just slumped slightly "Your telling me... We didn't have to fight anyone?" He said. Celestias voice could be heard laughing over the COM "You never asked Lieutnant" She said, the smile obvious in her voice. Brimstone growled "Tell me again why I haven't deactivated you yet?" He asked. "Because when I do actually help you it makes your life easier" She said matter of factly. Brimstone shook his head "fine, Major, use my suits enviroment" He said. The major walked over and grabbed the breathing mask and put it on "Don't worry son, Celestia has that kind of personality. You get used to it after a while and she is enjoyable to be around when you do" He said giving Brimstone a nod. A few long seconds later they heard a rush of air leaving and were left standing in the odd feeling of vaccuum.
The Loyalists at the end of the hallway clawed at there throats before they fell to the ground twitching. Smash walked over to the and planted a bullet in each of there heads before looking back at the others and shrugging "All Clear guys!" he called out.
Brimstone and the team just walked over to the door and allowed Celestia to hack the lock, causing it to silently open up. Brimstone looked around the bridge, being only slightly startled by the two hunter corpses that freeze dried in the vacuum.
The rest of the team however took the liberty to start loading the life pod that was adjacent to the bridge with the corpses of the former crew. This took them a little while to accomplish before they all went to the control panel they were best at operating.
Brimstone waved to Major Young to sit in the captains chair, before taking the post of the First Mate. "Sir, I insist that you take the Captains Chair." He said formally, so as to keep the rank system in order.
However Major Young just shook his head. "At Ease Lieutenant, for this is not my operation. You are in command on this ship. I will not hamper you and your teams progress" He said taking a step back.
Brismtone just sighed. "Is that is what you wish sir," He said sitting down and looking at the rest of the team. "Alright Celestia, I need this sectors atmosphere replaced so that the team in the hangar can make it up here" He said, hitting a few commands on the control panel in front of him. The hiss of air returning could be heard throughout the room and within moments there suits self atmosphere system laxed, allowing them to breath less recycled air.
"Alright team! I need this ship underway. Wipe the Navigation system and spike all auto piloting systems, then run a sweep to find any hidden memory and destroy all location logs. We need to get this to the nearest human controlled sector quickly in order to get word out of the covenant attacking us" He said as the bridge door opened, allowing the scientists along with the small guard to enter the bridge. A quick hoof signal told them to find a place and sit down patiently for the ride ahead of them.
A few hours after they started travelling Celestia appeared on one of the holo pads beside Brimstone with a worried look. "Lieutenant, it seems there are several positive IFF tags on the ship, heading for the Bridge. I can't seem to get any feed on them but I don't like it. They are heavily encrypted and they are all pinging a similar name. I didn't notice it at first while I was sweeping out the other sectors so as to wipe out the last of the covenant but they are approching the bridge rather quickly, about fifteen to be exact" She said looking frustrated.
Brimstone just nodded at her and stood up and looked at his team. "Alright I need the doors locked down from the outside. I don't want to be trapped in here if the cause arises" He said, hearing the mechanical lock inside the door move into the closed position.
The soldiers however were starting to get a little twitchy, whispering to each other quietly. A rather large explosion got them all riled up, and they turned to the spartans with angry looks.
"Who;s fucking brilliant idea was this! Instead of staying down planet side you fucking idiots brought us up here into a floating coffin filled with covenant! Like fuck, where did humanity go when they ordered us to start fucking listening to a bunch of brightly colored talking horses!" He yelled causing another soldier to nod in agreement.
"Yeah! Like who the fuck decided that we should start taking advice from fucking animals! We should be the ones in control here!" He snapped, causing the major to stand up with an angered expression.
"Listen here! Your all under my command and I order you to stand down!" The Major barked. The soldiers just looked at him with disgust.
"Oh well would you look at that! The fucking pony loving Major here to tell us to sit tight huh? Listen to a bunch of talking animals who got us into this mess! Well you listen here sir , cause I am not taking a damn order from any of you!" He snapped cocking his weapon.
In moments every Spartan on the Bridge had there weapons pointed at the soldier. "Put the weapon down" Amethyst said quietly, getting a glare from the soldier. He slowly dropped the weapon and put his hands up and chest level. "Fine, you win" He growled, his eyes never leaving Amethyst.
Suddenly Celestia popped back onto the Holo pad with a worried expression. "I am sorry Lieutenant I really am! I tried but they go the door un..." She cried before she was interrupted by the door sliding open, revealing several very angry looking Captain Ultra Brutes.
In a moment the Spartans had the weapons leveled at the brutes, and they stood there for a few moments in a stare down before the previous soldier broke the silence.
"Hey! Were on your side!" He called to the brutes before he drew his pistol and shot the Major in the head.
The Spartans all froze at the sight of the Majors body collapsing on the ground, time seemingly slowing down for them as the brutes cried out. Brimstones vision flashed red as he heard Smash scream at the top of his lungs before everything went black.
Authors Note!
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! This Chapter has been so long over due I wouldn't be surprised if the people who are watching it took it off there watch list!
I do apologize for the sudden change of writing styles through the chapter, as I have been doing a lot of personal writing for the last little while and I have started to catch on with some of the problems I used to have. Do not take this as me saying all my problems are gone now because I can assure you they are not, and my newer writing style may be even worse then before, I just find it a little easier to read.
I'm REALLY sorry that it took me so long to get this update out, I just couldn't find the inspiration to actually get this chapter out and ready, nor the motivation to keep writing it but hopefully I will get back into the groove and that this story is at LEAST good enough to keep you willing to read.
I would like to thank all my readers to continuing to read this story, and I would like to thank ANYONE who is just starting out for giving me a shot, this is by far the LARGEST project I have ever done writing wise on my own and I hope that does not show too much >.>
I started writing this story years ago, thinking a great imagination was all you needed to make a great story. I learned it requires patience, dedication, and over all, an actually solid idea of how the whole story is going to play out. I didn't have any of that when I first started this, and I don't have any now.
I had too many plans around this story to revive it. Being in an established universe that has ground to a halt it seems, and my plans with the author of the original story having gone to shit what with him rewriting the story I have had nothing else to draw on. In other words, I put all my work into a single conclusion, and see no where this could go as it is set AFTER the current rewrite.
In my eyes, after rereading this damn thing over and over TRYING to find a way to save it, I have failed. It was poorly written ((But hopefully not atrociously so)) and there are some huge holes and things I find difficult to carry on. I will personally admit that this was my attempt to write a deliberate self insert, The main character ((golly gee)), the Major, and one of the AI all being various personas I claim as my own. Not only that but the supporting characters were based on people whom I am either no longer friends with, or have no contact with any more. Kinda demoralizing to say the least.
Anyway, feel free to remove this story from your watch list. I never see it going anywhere, and the only reason I don't take it down is because in some strange and sick way I think it has a decent ending. Total cliffhanger I know, but they are alive, they accomplished the mission they had for the most part, and are on there way to help with the war, as was intended. I will mark this as complete, but for those of you whom are hoping for it's Resurrection, please don't hold your breath.
I am however thinking of writing another story. One with a steadier foundation in a genre I feel is more flexible and more to my liking. Long strung out combat scenes really aren't my forte, and I plan to not have many of those in my next fic, if it ever gets off the ground.
THANK YOU to those who have read it, and given me your comments. They are appreciated greatly and I have read them all numerous times. They have all in some way let me learn if they are constructive, and have made me feel good if they were complimenting. I know some of the things I did in this story would make most writers cringe ((And get me in a lot of trouble with copyright laws should I had ever made money from it)) but, I was a whole hell of a lot younger before.
Anyway, I think I am done! I hope to see all of you again in another story should I ever write one!
