Coalition Operations IV: Monsters of the Past

[Romulan_Furry]

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A slipspace rupture opened up, and the UNSC Allegiance appeared not far from Gamma Halo. On the bridge, a Spartan and a black-color armored Sangheili stood on the bridge.

"Status?" the Spartan - Andrew - requested.

"All systems nominal, Commander," reported the canine at the helm.

"Weapons on standby, ready to fire at moment's notice - Turbolasers, Plasma Turrets, and the MAC guns are primed," reported the human at Tactical.

"So what now, Andrew?" the Sangheili - Zuka - asked.

"Command said there would be others joining us... so we wait, for now," Andrew told his Sangheili companion.

"Longer we wait, the closer those Iron bears get to releasing the Flood, intentional or no," Zuka whispered.

"I don't like it any more than you, Zuka, but orders are orders," Andrew whispered back. "They shouldn't be long." He directed a comment to his shipboard AI. "Orion, get to work getting into the Iron Bears' comms. Let me know when you're in."

Orion appeared in his hologram form. "Aye, sir," he responded.

[Alessia Starfurr]

The door to the bridge opened,  as a nine tailed fox in customized set of Mjolnir armor, stepped onto the bridge, grumbling as she stepped onto the bridge as she looked outside the window. "So this is what those 'halo' things look like, doesn't look like much, and you say this thing is a super weapon and a containment laboratory?" The nine tailed fox asked, clenching her fist a fireball that was in her right hand extinguishing in a small puff of smoke. "I thought the reports said the UNSC decommissioned most of these."

[XIII]

Quite soon, after the vulpine, Darvo has appeared on the bridge with Zuka and Andrew. It's been a while since the Turian was on a mission with someone else. He is a monster, a socially dangerous creature that should be contained forever somewhere on Kessel. That's why before the operation, Pax asked the two if they can accept him for the mission. But at the same time, he won't be included in the official report. Because by all reports, Darvo is a long-dead man. Course, Andrew, and Zuka were surprised as well. But being a monster has some disadvantages. Beast has given the host everything the Turian wanted - the power, the future, prestige! With the help of symbiote, the Palaven' native is capable of things, where even the Rokhah can't. However, hunger is the reason for Darvo's loneliness. Luckily, the mission on the Halo is the one, where no one may repute Beast as a potential threat for everyone. More like a weapon that needs to be controlled. Iron Bears mercenaries would be a nice meal for the creature from Klyntar.

"Gentlemen. May I ask you if you have read my application? There were a couple of things you need to know about me first.". Darvo asked, right after he had saluted. His armor was shimmering with a blue light like it was made from sapphire. Sure thing, he has noted the fox and her question and wanted to know the answer likewise. But he wanted to be sure that the commanders are aware of who Darvo is. But Beast has also noted the tod and reacted immediately in Pax's mind. "Watch for the nine-tailed. Ideally, stay away from her in a fight, or you'll become a food.".

[Romulan_Furry]

"Clearly, someone read your application, and considered you fit for the job - else, you wouldn't be here," Zuka responded to Darvo.

"Easy, Zuka," Andrew cautioned the Sangheili. "Let's not offend him."

"Sir, I have a ship in orbit," the Operations Officer piped up.

"Identify," Andrew commanded. There was a pause, then the officer responded,

"Looks like a retrofitted USCM Capital Ship - IFF Transponder labels it as the USS Verloc, commanded by the Iron Bears mercenary group," the officer responded.

"Hail them," Andrew commanded. The officer complied, then shook her head.

"No response, Commander. Sir, they're... they're powering weapons!"

"Ready on the guns, shields at maximum," Zuka commanded.

"Awfully jumpy - a ship hails them, and they power weapons," Andrew chuckled. "Why am I not surprised?"

[Alessia Starfurr]

Awfully suspicious..." Blaze grumbled, wishing she were on the ground where she could actually do something, instead of in the void of space...

[XIII]

"I'm not offended. But... any orders, captain? Also, are there any signs of a potential boarding from the hostiles?". Turian asked, watching through the window with no fear. The Turian was rather thinking over his plan in case of close contact. With Beast's help, Darvo would tear all of them apart with no problems. Iron Bears are just ordinary mercenaries with no major powers aside from their numbers. But Pax has no private ship or any means to fly. So executing orders is the only thing he can do the moment.

[Romulan_Furry]

"Weapons ready, Commander," tactical piped up.

"Fire the MAC guns," Zuka and Andrew said simultaneously. There was a thump! that reverberated through the hull as two MAC slugs were fired on the Verloc. The ship's shields took the hit, and the ship listed briefly to port. Immediately, the Verloc returned fire, and her gauss slugs splashed against the Allegiance's shields. "You'd think they'd have taken the hint," Andrew sighed.

"They're mercenaries illegally present and running an operation on one of the Forerunner Halo Rings, Andrew - do you really think they'd just stand down and talk?" Zuka chuckled.

"Very well - Plasma Torpedoes, full salvo, ready on the turbolasers; Helm, attack speed, let's close in for the kill," Andrew sighed wearily. He then turned to the others present as the ship vibrated slightly getting underway. "Any of you familiar with Orbital Drop Pods?"

[Alessia Starfurr]

"IF i could i'd burn their ship to molten slag." Blaze growled, turning to Andrew "Can't Say I am..."

[XIII]

But Darvo seemed to be not bothered with the upcoming battle. As the crew was talking, his gaze was focused on the Halo. He didn't know too much about the Installation. However, the Turian was aware of the Flood. Just as Klyntar, Flood is also a parasitic life form. What would happen if both types start to fight? And how each of them would impact on each other? That is what worried the ex-Hierarchy trooper for real and the symbiote inside him. In case things go wrong, Blaze can do a favor and burn him. To purify, so to speak. Because it's unclear what's going to happen in case of merging Klyntar and the Flood. It can be Pax's death, yet it's much better than a new, potentially dangerous enemy. The Galactic Society and chiefly the DMC, have too many things to care about. Someone might ask the Turian why the Turian opted for such a mission. But then the alien would state, that is what Klyntar made for. To fight monsters akin to him. No one will mourn for him anyway.

"Drop pods? Guess, we have to evacuate? Shouldn't we try to board them first?". Darvo asked with a calm voice. Just like Beast, Pax hates to fall back without a proper battle first as fight means food. However, Darvo managed to convince Beast that there will be plenty of meals down on Halo's surface.

[Romulan_Furry]

"Drop Pods, Darvo, not Escape Pods. We're dropping an initial attack force to secure a beachhead via Orbital Drop Pods," Andrew explained.

"Sir, the Verloc is firing again!" Tactical proclaimed. The ship shuddered as a dual shot of Gauss slugs impacted against the shields, followed by missiles. The Allegiance fired a burst of Plasma Torpedoes and another shot from the MAC guns. The Verloc's shields were wrecked by the MAC shots, one of which tore through the ship's mid-decks. The plasma torpedoes hit next, burning away hull armor like paper. The ship's lights flickered, then the engines died.

"You've got to be kidding me," Zuka scoffed. "That's it? That's all they had for orbital resistance? How the hell did they think this was gonna go?"

"They are mercenaries illegally present and running an operation on one of the Halo Rings under the noses of the USR - they didn't expect anyone to find them here, and any more would have drawn attention. Ten to one, that ship is modded with an illegal cloaking device. One cloaked ship leaves less of a print than several," Andrew explained.

"And you really don't think the Iron Bear mercenaries wouldn't have reinforcements hiding somewhere?" Zuka countered. "This..." he indicated the disabled Verloc. "... this is too easy. Too clean. One outdated USCM Warship against a retrofitted UNSC Punic-class Supercarrier and escorts that could deploy or slip in at a moment's notice? It doesn't make sense, even for a cloak-and-dagger operation. They should have reinforcements waiting out-system - something far more advanced than that. They'd use some form of cover to hide their cloaked signatures, and drop in when the word is given."

"How do you know that, Zuka?" Andrew asked, "You never paid much heed to mercenaries."

The Sangheili looked to his Spartan companion. "It's what I'd do. What any military or mercenary commander would do when running an operation like this."

[Alessia Starfurr]

"It would be wise of them to hide reinforcements nearby," Blaze noted. "this is just a scout for the pack." She added "The others may come soon, what's the plan of attack?" THe nine tailed fox asked,  her tails flailing in the air....

[XIII]

"Indeed, it can be a lure. I suggest to retire and wait for what may happen. That is the best option at the moment. As for me, I'm going to pods. I'm also would like to hear the exact coordinates to drop. Can't wait to smash some skulls.". The Turian said, heading to the pods. Space battles rarely impress him, and that one wasn't an exception. However, the way of how Zuka and Andrew dealt with the Iron Bears' vessel makes the entire affair intriguing. Darvo only hoped that down on the beachhead, there would be something he is good with. The Beast also wanted to feed on upon someone, so it's good for the entire team.

[Ara Av-Toa]

In the meantime, Ara was on the ship that would meet up with the Allegiance. He had no idea what to expect, and what he was told was by no means exhaustive. All he knew was he'd fight mercenaries, who had a plan to flood the universe with some kind of parasite from a ring world. It all sounded unrealistic to him. His mind raced with possibilities, and he wished they'd arrive so he could make sense of it all.

[Romulan_Furry]

"Ops, sensors?" Andrew commanded.

"No sensor contacts, Commander - but I am picking up faint Tetryon particles not far from here," the Operations officer responded.

"Helm, get us to the drop zone - all personnel to the Orbital Drop Pods," Andrew commanded. "Zuka, you lead the initial force; I'll follow you in with reinforcements once you secure a beachhead."

The Sangheili nodded, and looked to the others. "Let's go; I'll take you to the Drop Bay." The Allegiance steadily approached the ring-world, ready to drop the pods.

[Alessia Starfurr]

"I don't like that your sensors are picking up something strange." Blaze  noted as she followed along with the Sangheili.