//------------------------------// // Fighting the Cold Grip of Despair // Story: Clash of Worlds // by Gunner59524 //------------------------------// Equinia north magnetic pole, Inside Covenant Destroyer. Gunnar galloped through the halls of the hostile ship alongside Spartan Fireteam Majestic. Their goal was clear, get to the bridge, interrogate leaders, and download data. Every bit of intel helped. Buck and his ODST squad had separated from the group at the grav lift bay. The ODST's were making their way to the hangar to acquire a Phantom, just as planned. He looked back at an earlier moment before they left the grav lift bay just then, remembering the distressing news the team had received. (Fifteen Minutes Earlier, Grav lift bay) "Eagle Actual, this is DeMarco, do you read?" Only static was heard, no response. "Eagle Actual, this is DeMarco. Come in Eagle Actual." Static was heard again, but still no words. "Fuck...." the Spartan fireteam leader cursed under his breath. "What is it Paul," Gunnar asked. "I'm getting nothing but static when I try to contact Eagle Fortress back at Ponyville....." "W-what....?" Gunnar was visibly distressed now. "I heard this static before.... Covenant jamming. If the Fortress is still active, they'll cut through the interference." "I hope so," the soldier stallion muttered under his breath. He knew Twilight was at the fort. He knew she and her friends were supposed to be watching the op. He resolved to press on though. If the fate of the fort was to be revealed to him, they would either have to cut through the interference first, or he would have to finish the mission and then fly back there. "Infinity Actual, this is DeMarco." "This is Infinity Actual, go ahead Paul," replied the voice of Lasky. "We've lost radio contact with Eagle Fortress, can you get a read on their condition?" "Ten four on that. We've lost radio contact as well but visuals from satellites, UAVs, and manned flights all confirm that Eagle Fortress is untouched. It's likely just a Covie scare tactic. We'll keep our eyes and ears open though, don't worry about it." "Roger that Infinity, DeMarco out." Gunnar, having heard the whole conversation, felt his spirits lift a bit. Twilight was okay for now, but he wanted to make certain. So it was time to press on. (Present Time, en route to Covenant Destroyer bridge) Gunnar still felt his heart rate remain elevated, despite the hopeful news. Aerial reconnaissance confirming Eagle Fort as seemingly remaining untouched still didn't rule out possible infiltration. He pressed on though. The only way to get back was completing the mission, so that's exactly what he intended to do. After evading a few patrols and dispatching a few others, they made it to the doors of the bridge virtually without significant incident. "Ya'll ready?" DeMarco asked as they stacked up evenly on either side of the door. "Born ready," Grant replied. Hoya pumped his shotgun and nodded. He was ready "Let's pop some Covie and shiny heads," Madsen said with a smirk. "Just point me at 'em," Thorne said. "Let's get this over with so we can get back home," Gunnar replied, more anxiously than confidently. The team picked up on his anxiety. "Gunnar, make sure to suppress that when we're in there," Thorne told the stallion. "Suppress what?" "We can all hear the anxiety in your voice. Letting that emotion dominate your mind in combat is a surefire way to get yourself killed." Gunnar took a deep breath and relaxed himself after processing this information. He let his mind enter a state of ease, allowing himself to be on alert and ready for anything. "Alright, I'm good to go. Thanks guys." The Spartans nodded to him then focused on the door. DeMarco spoke up. "Alright, on my mark," he said as he held up three fingers. He silently counted down and as he made a fist, he yelled, "MARK!" as he slammed his fist on the door control, causing it to open. DeMarco and Thorne, first in the two lines, tossed in live grenades to disorient and kill. It worked. The explosion killed two Sangheili guards and a trio of Promethean Crawlers. "GO GO GO!!!" DeMarco yelled as they filed in, firing their weapons with precision accuracy to down all enemies but the ones in the center of the room, the supposed leaders. Hoya tossed a flashbang grenade to stun and disorient the supposed ship leaders. The explosive went off, causing ears to ring and heads to hurt. Soon their precision accuracy, speed, and overall skill, payed off, and the room was clear. Hoya disabled the communications and started the hack while DeMarco marched up to the Elite that was obviously the Shipmaster here, and grabbed the alien by the throat. "Alright hingehead, START TALKING! The codes to the local Battlenet, local plans, everything, STARTING NOW!" The elite only chuckled, "You make the mistake of thinking I'll betray my leaders when you ask." "Wrong answer!" Paul headbutted the elite, causing the creature to grunt in pain, "I'M NOT ASKING, I'M DEMANDING!!" "I will not talk heretic." "Maybe this will change your tone." Paul bashed the big-mouthed shipmaster across the face with the butt of his rifle, causing the audible crack of impact, and a wet snap indicating that one of the Sangheili prisoner's mandibles had broken. The Elite only laughed, "Is that the best you have human? For a Spartan, you're rather weak." "You know, part of my training involves the invasion of minds through magic," Gunnar bluffed, but he still smirked, "Perhaps you'd like to experience that kind of pain instead?" The elite visibly tensed, not knowing the full capabilities of a unicorn's magic, only that they could use it. "You wouldn't." "I would. Start talking or I do it," the stallion growled. DeMarco called the bluff, but saw the elite snapping under the stress, causing him to smirk. "Alright, I'll tell you how you will meet your demise. The Forerunners aren't the only ones who could successfully and safely contain Flood Specimens," the hingehead chuckled darkly. "What are you saying?" DeMarco growled, lifting the elite by the throat. "Tanar, our local Fleetmaster, has several sealed pods containing specimens of the parasite called the Flood. Once his ship breaches the atmosphere, you will all perish. He will then turn the surface of this world to glass and claim his victory in the name of the gods." "Thank you for your time," DeMarco growled before breaking the Elite's shields with a hard punch to the gut. He then dropped the Elite and pulled a pistol, firing into the shieldless and stunned alien's skull. "You're free to go." Gunnar killed the other Elites before turning to DeMarco. "I really hope he was bluffing about that." Gunnar had seen the footage. He knew what the parasitic alien life forms were capable of... to have that unleashed on the world.... Gunnar felt the fear start to overtake him, but he fought it down. "I'm afraid not," Hoya started. He held up the datapad he was using to hack the enemy computers and Battlenet for data. Sure enough, in the inventory of one of the enemy ships, were contained Flood specimens. "Fuck...." DeMarco swore, "We need to warn the fleet." Static burst from their helmet radios and suddenly they heard the familiar voice of the Eagle Fortress communications tech. "This is Eagle Actual to Majestic lead. You read me DeMarco?" "We're here, no casualties, intel gathered." "Thank goodness. We were afraid we lost you." "Our condition is the least of our worries Eagle. We've got urgent news, patch in the Infinity." "Patching them in now." "This is Lasky," the Infinity captain's voice was heard over the comms, "Glad to hear communications are back up." "Sorry Captain but your relief is about to be short lived. We have confirmation that the Covenant's local Fleetmaster, Tanar, is in possession of several sealed pods containing Flood specimens, ready to be unleashed on the planet once his ship reaches the inner atmosphere." There was a moment of silence. "Say again Majestic, did you say Flood?" Lasky demanded after a moment. "I'm afraid so sir. We're sending the data now." Paul transmitted the video recording of the interrogation and the data retrieved from the hack. There was an eerie silence before Lasky spoke again. "God help us all....." "Sir, we need orders," Paul piped up. "Your orders remain the same DeMarco. Exfil and get the hell away from there so Infinity can eliminate the enemy vanguard force," Lasky replied, "Then get your asses back to Eagle ASAP."' "Ten four Captain. Exfiltrating now, Majestic out." DeMarco cut the comms before turning to the team, "Alright everyone, you know the music. LET'S MOVE!!!" They charged from the bridge, headed for the hangar, intel in hand. Gunnar felt tears running down his face. He was more afraid than ever now. Should the Flood be unleashed.... his friends, his comrades,.... the mare he loved.... all of it would be taken away from him. He nearly stumbled, but kept going. ================================================================ Eagle Fortress, Ponyville, Equestria; Operations Center After the techs had transmitted the data to the fleet's highest authority commanders and to Thel and R'tas, the room fell into an eerie and grim silence. Twilight felt her heart racing a mile a minute and her mind moving even faster. Fear had overtaken her. Her friends were equally as disturbed. They had all seen the footage.... what the Flood could do.... the parasitic alien's endless and insatiable hunger for sentient life. Celestia's expression was solemn and dark. If those creatures were unleashed.... she would have to let R'tas, Thel, and Lasky unleash their weapons and glass the regions the Flood landed on, lest the creatures broke loose and annihilated life as they knew it. A hologram appeared on the holotable then, in the form of the Arbiter. "I have the data you sent....." the Sangheili stated solemnly as Lasky's hologram appeared next to his, the human Captain transmitting from Infinity, "It seems my objective has changed. The Flood are all contained on Tanar's flagship thankfully. We can try our best to eliminate the pods but.... if they launch.... and just one gets passed our armada.... We will have to glass continent's to prevent the spread of the creature." "I understand...." Celestia replied solemnly. "Princess.... this is a difficult decision.... are you sure?" Lasky asked. "I am.... the parasite can't be allowed to spread." "Then we'll back the Arbiter up should it come to that.... I'll inform the pilots to keep their eyes out but.... I'm sorry Celestia.... Things look grim," the human Captain stated sadly. His voice had cracked too.... he obviously felt large amounts of fear as a result of this news. Suddenly, a third hologram appeared that surprised everyone and everypony in the conversation. An armored stallion, minus the helmet. "I won't let that happen," Gunnar said, a mixture of anger and determination in his voice now, where fear had been before. "Paul, Buck, and I have made a decision," the stallion said as the Spartan and the ODST appeared on either side of him. "Gunnar...?" Twilight spoke up, breathless and uncertain. "Hey Twilight," Gunnar responded with a small, loving smile, "You holding up alright?" "I-I've been better," she replied honestly. "You don't have to do this though... Please... don't go up there." "I wish I could say I have a choice Twilight," Gunnar stated sadly, "But, if we don't go up there... If we don't make certain... I... I don't want to think about what will happen if just one pod gets down to the surface... I can't let that happen, not to my friends, not to my comrades, and definitely not to you." "Gunnar...." "Are you certain of this soldier? You and you're team?" Lasky asked the stallion. "We discussed it thoroughly. We're coming up there. Have fighters ready to cover us cause we're goin' in guns blazing," Gunnar answered, Buck and Paul nodding in agreement behind him. "My squad is ready to fight," Buck affirmed, "We're seeing this through to the end." "DAMN RIGHT WE ARE!" the voice of Mickey called up from the background, receiving cheers of approval from his squadmates in response. "We're going too," DeMarco added, "Majestic doesn't give up till the fight is done." This earned cheers of approval from his squad in the background. "We can't ask you to do this," Celestia spoke up. "Indeed. This mission could be near suicidal," Thel added. "We aren't looking for a request. We're seeing this through to the end," Gunnar replied sternly. "Then you have our support," Lasky responded. "And ours," Celestia added. Arbiter nodded his approval. "You show a great deal of honor and courage Gunnar. You have the support of House Vadam." Gunnar smiled in response. "Thank you," he said, "all of you." "Gunnar wait," Twilight piped up. The stallion looked at her through the holofeed. "Yeah Twilight?" "I love you," she said, "Be careful okay?" "I'll do my utmost," Gunnar replied with a smile and a nod. "I love you too Twilight. Stay safe." He grinned and added, "Have the coffee ready for when we get home eh?" Twilight let out a weak laugh. "Make sure you get home safely to enjoy it." "You know I'll do my best," he promised with a warm smile. "Hey Pinkie?" "Yeah?" the bubbly pink mare bounced forward. "Have a party ready for when we get back huh?" He laughed. "Okie Dokie Lokie." Gunnar smiled before looking at the others. "Take care of each other girls. Hold to hope. We'll fight hard," Gunnar's expression changed to one of solid determination, "and we WILL win." The girls saluted him. He returned the salute, along with Buck and Paul, and their holograms vanished. "We'll provide close fighter escort to them," Lasky said before saluting them, "Take care and fight hard everyone. Good luck to us all. INFINITY, PREPARE TO ENGAGE THE ENEMY!" His hologram vanished. "Honor to you all. May we be blessed with victory in the face of this darkness," Thel said, "R'tas, are you there?" Another Elite, with a missing mandible and the stance of a grizzled veteran, appeared. "I'm here brother." "Focus fire on the enemy flagship, Shadow of Remorse, until their shields break. Make sure the shield stays down until Gunnar's team is aboard with us. Glory to House Vadam, glory to our allies!" "At your command Arbiter. ALL FLEET ELEMENTS, TARGET THE SHADOW OF REMORSE! TEAR THEIR SHIELDS ASUNDER!" and with that R'tas vanished from the display, and Thel right after. After a moment of the silence that enveloped the room soon after... Twilight's knees buckled under the emotional stress, once again breaking down in tears. Her friends helped her up and escorted her from the room, trying to comfort her as they left. Celestia watched them leave before turning to the technician. "Get me Lasky." "Yes ma'am," the tech answered in compliance. Shortly after, Lasky reappeared on the holodisplay. "Something you need Princess?" Celestia smirked, her idea playing out in her mind. "As a matter of fact I do. I have a need for your ship's primary weapon. Let's make Tanar R'aagamee tremble in fear." Lasky let a grin play across his features. "What do you have in mind?"