A single Pelican flew over the land towards the Aszod Ship Breaking Yards while the Pillar of Autumn was docked in it, waiting to receive the package Noble Team had been sent to acquire from Sword Base. Within the troop bay of the dropship stood both Tiberius and Chairon while a squad of UNSC Marines sat in the bay. They looked demoralized due to the loss of Reach. It was a crushing defeat like so many worlds they've lost. For the Space Marines, they only wished they could've done more to stop Reach's fall. If they had more of their brothers, they could've saved this world from ruin. While Noble Team retrieves the package from Sword Base, the two Space Marines are to rally with Captain Keyes and ensure the Pillar of Autumn is protected from Covenant assaults allowing Noble Team to deliver the package to Keyes before they leave. As much as Tiberius would've preferred to help Noble Team, he agreed that holding the rally point was just as important. He had heard that Noble Team suffered casualties. Kat and Jorge are gone. Jorge perished during the plan to destroy the Supercarrier by sacrificing himself to ensure the mission succeeded while Kat was killed in New Alexandria while fleeing the glassing of the city.
Ever since they left New Alexandria, UNSC lines have completely collapsed. The Battle was as good as over and the UNSC lost. Glassing had begun in parts of the planet. It was a truly demoralizing and hopeless situation. As horrible as it was, it was also a familiar situation to Tiberius and Chairon. Both of the Space Marines had their gaze focused on the ground the Pelican passed over. The rear hatch was open letting the occupants look outside. With their Bolters in hand, the two Astartes didn't speak. One of the UNSC Marines behind them spoke as he pressed his fingers onto an earpiece.
"Yes, sir, we're almost there." The Marine said.
A conversation that Tiberius couldn't hear was happening. He heard one side but not the other.
"Affirmative. We will stay with the Space Marines." The Marine said.
Tiberius turns around to look at the squad in the troop bay. He then looked at the Marine that spoke on comms who had moved his hand away from his earpiece. He noticed the superhuman looking at him.
"Need something, sir?" The Marine asked.
"Your names." Tiberius starts. "I wish to know the names of the warriors who will fight beside me."
The Marine looked around at his squad before speaking.
"Marcus P. Stacker, sir." Stacker said.
The rest of the squad then gave their names one by one.
"Chips Dubbo."
"Anthony Mathew."
"Louis Park."
"Miguel Martinez."
The Phoenix Fighter takes in their names and keeps them in his mind before giving a nod.
"It is good to meet you all." Tiberius said.
Tiberius's vox lights up with activity as a voice is heard.
"Space Marines, this is Captain Keyes." Keyes greets. "We're tracking your dropship now, proceed to dry dock platform D. I've chosen it as the drop off point for the package and need it secured."
"Any word on Noble Team?" Tiberius asked.
"Negative, but they should be on their way by now." Keyes said.
"Any signs of the enemy?" Chairon asked.
"On the way and we don't have a lot of preparation time." Keyes reveals. "All I need you to do is hold Platform D so Noble Team can drop off the package."
"Consider it done, Captain." Chairon claims.
A relieved sigh is heard from Keyes. "Thank you. Both of you."
The pelican flew over the dry docks and moved towards Platform D. Other UNSC marines were present setting up defenses. The Dropship reached the landing pad and hovered at the edge. The two Space Marines walk off the dropship with the UNSC marine squad following them. The dropship then flew away towards its next destination. The Space Marines stayed on the platform while Stacker and his squad walked off the platform. Tiberius and Chairon observed what defenses had been set up, and they were not up to the standards they grew accustomed to. The UNSC fortifications were rudimentary and made quickly. The two Space Marines knew the UNSC didn't have the time to set up proper fortifications given the situation. Tiberius doubts they'll hold for long, he hopes it's long enough for Noble Team to deliver the package so they can leave the doomed world.
"Alright Marines, help get these defenses up and running!" Stacker barked out.
One of the Marines who were working on defenses rushed up to Stacker.
"Is this it?" The Marine asked, surprised and fearful.
Stacker points over his shoulder with his thumb. "Hey, we got the big guys. We'll be fine."
The Marine looked around Stacker and saw both Space Marines approaching.
"What's the status of the defenses?" Tiberius asked.
"They're… well, not official." The Marine said. "We're basically fortifying with sticks and duct tape at this point."
"Any heavy weapons?" Chairon asked.
"Heavy Machine Guns, rocket launchers, and Grenade launchers." The Marine lists. "That's about it. No heavy vehicles or other weaponry."
"Then this defense will be difficult." Chairon says to Tiberius.
Tiberius nods. "So it seems."
Everyone then hears explosions in the distance which attained their attention. They all look up to the skies and see a collection of Phantoms and Spirits flying toward them. Any AA Guns set up in the area open fire upon the approaching dropships, but there aren't enough, so they don't do much damage. Spirits and Phantoms descend from above and land troops in other sections of the shipyard while others approach Platform D. They used two patches of ground to land troops. One to the right of the landing pad and another ahead of the landing pad.
"Alright people here they come!!" Stacker shouts. "Give 'em hell!"
The first Covenant Troops landed on the patch of land to the right of the landing pad. Brutes, Grunts and Jackals all disembarked from the Phantom and begun their assault. UNSC Marines let bullets fly while the Space Marines unleash Bolter fire upon the enemy. Grunts were torn to shreds first, the Jackal shields held against the gunfire but then the bolts began hitting and soon they were cut down. The Brutes faired better as they charged forward firing their Spikers at the UNSC Marines and two Space Marines. One UNSC Marine takes one spike to the face and drops dead. Tiberius aims at the heads of the Brutes and pops them one by one before reloading. A plasma bolt flew past his head as he turned around and looked at the other patch of land. Covenant troops landed there. A UNSC Marine who didn't know was shot in the back and killed by a Skirmisher's Needler.
"Cousin!" Tiberius calls out.
"I see them!" Chairon said as he turned to face the enemy.
One enemy was different than the rest. A Brute Chieftain. He stepped off a Phantom with a Gravity Hammer before roaring and raising it into the air. Other Brutes around him rush forward accompanied by other Covenant warriors.
"Oh man, it's a Chieftain!" One Marine calls out in fear.
"We'll deal with the Chieftain and his guard; you deal with the rest." Tiberius said to Stacker.
Stacker nods and directs his men to target the enemy. Both Space Marines switch to a bolt pistol and their respective melee weapon.
"Ready, Cousin?" Tiberius asked.
"Always."
The Brute Chieftain looked at Tiberius and chuckled in a low volume before barking out words towards the other Brutes. They look at the Chieftain and step aside. The large brute walked forward with his Gravity Hammer at the ready.
"It appears he is challenging you, cousin." Chairon said, sounding amused.
"Then I will not disappoint him." Tiberius said with an amused look under his helmet.
He holsters his Heavy Bolt Pistol and walks forward with his Power Sword. The UNSC marines and other Covenant combatants continue fighting in the background. The Chieftain shifts his grip on his hammer while the Astartes in front of him does the same for his Power Sword. They both stop walking and glare at one another before the Brute let out a battle roar and charged forward. The Phoenix Fighter charged forward as well. They both swing their weapons and when they clash, the shockwave from the gravity hammer caused them to parry one another. The Brute backs up while Tiberius only stepped back once. Moving forward, the Space Marine thrusts his sword towards his opponent. The Chieftain steps aside while switching his grip to swing his hammer from the right. With one swing he hits his foe causing him to back up. The Brute roared and lunged forward, pushing the Space Marine with his hammer and slamming him into a boulder. The Cheiftain then pushed off him and raised his hammer. Tiberius dodged by stepping to the right and backing up. The Brute turned his head and swung his hammer in his direction.
The Astartes leaned back to dodge but the Jiralhanae twirled his hammer and slamming it onto the Space marine's chest knocking him back. He takes a knee and the brute marched up while laughing victoriously. Chairon didn't look worried and a smile grew on his face.
"Have you had your fun cousin?" Chairon asked.
The Chieftain raised his hammer and slammed it down. Tiberius grabbed the handle before it could hit it's target and held it in place shocking the Chieftain. He then looked up into the alien's eyes.
"Yes… I have." Tiberius answered.
He pulled the hammer toward him taking the brute with it and kneed the Xeno in the stomach hard enough to cause his energy shields to flicker. The Chieftain stumbles back and flips the side of his hammer to the blade and swung it. Using his sword, he guides the blade away as he punches the Brute in the face, breaking his shields and his helmet. he then thrust his sword upwards and into the jaw of the brute, the blade tearing through his head killing the Xeno. The hammer hits the dirt as the Chieftain's body went limb. The other Brutes looked stunned and angered. Tiberius tossed the body aside with a flick of the wrist, freeing his blade from the corpse causing the body to thud when it hit the ground. The four Brutes growl and roar at the Phoenix Fighter while the Ultramarine they briefly forgot about rushed at them. With his Chainsword, Chairon beheads one Brute and shoots the head of another. The other two turn to the Ultramarine but one gets a bolt to the side of the head twice for good measure and the other gets a Power sword thrown into his back.
Tiberius walked over and grabbed his weapon's hilt before pushing it deeper killing the brute and then ripping it out. The Covenant warriors were taken out by Stacker and the Marines leaving the landing area clear. Vox then lit up.
"Space Marines, Noble Team is closing in on the landing pad." Keyes said. "They'll be there shortly."
"The landing pad is secured for now." Tiberius reports.
Chairon was looking up at what looked like a large cannon on the building near the landing pad. He looked at it with curiosity. If it was a weapon, why wasn't it being used.
"Cousin!" Chairon calls out.
"Yes?"
"Look."
Tiberius followed his gaze and saw the cannon looking device.
"I see you've found the Mass Driver." Stacker said as he approached.
"Is it a weapon?" Tiberius asked.
"It can be."
"Spartan!" one Marine said.
The two Space Marines and Stacker look and see Noble Six going down a set of stairs and heading towards the landing pad.
"Noble is here, captain. I suggest you make your approach to pick up the package." Stacker said.
"Already on my way." Keyes said.
The UNSC Marines and Astartes move to the landing pad and join Noble Six on it. Once on the platform, they saw the Captain's pelican approaching. Tiberius didn't see the rest of the surviving Noble Team members and assumed they were gone. Killed by the Covenant. He made sure to remember their names. The dropship opened its rear hatch, and the door touched the edge of the platform. Captain Keyes stepped off the dropship with a number of UNSC Marines protecting him. Stacker's squad was the only Marines left. The Space Marines and Spartan approach the captain.
"Good to see you, Spartan." Keyes greeted as Noble Six handed him a device. "Halsey assured me I could count on you."
"Not just me sir." Noble Six said, remembering the deaths that led to this event.
"They'll be remembered." Keyes assured.
"I'll ensure that happens." Tiberius adds.
"Thanks for holding the landing pad you two." Keyes said to the Astartes.
"Our pleasure." Chairon said.
Keyes looked over and saw a Covenant Cruiser approaching them. He pressed a finger on his earpiece and looked up at the Mass Driver that started to move.
"Cruiser, adjusting heading for the Autumn." Keyes reports. "Noble Four I need fire Cruiser, or we are not getting out of here. Do you copy?"
"You'll have your window sir." Emile said over comms as the Mass Driver aimed at the cruiser.
The UNSC marines and Keyes board the pelican.
"Bridge, this is the Captain." Keyes starts. "We have the package. Returning to the Autumn over."
Noble Six and the two Space Marines raised their weapons as a Phantom flew in and shoots down a pelican that was hovering around nearby. The dropship crashed into one side of the platform causing Noble Six and the Space Marines to dodge while Keyes's Pelican moved out of the way. The Phantom hovers above the Mass Driver with one Elite landing outside the cockpit. Emile responded with a shotgun round directly into the alien's chest cracking its shields. The Spartan climbed out and put another slug right into the face of the Elite killing it.
"Who's next?" Emile asked.
Another Elite came from behind, grabbed him and stabbed its energy sword through him lifting the Spartan into the air. not willing to go down without a fight, Emile grabbed his knife as the Sangheili removed its energy sword.
"I'm ready!! How 'bout you!?" Emile shouts as he stabbed the Elite in the neck.
Both of them drop from the Mass Driver and onto the platform around it. The Captain's Pelican realigned itself with the platform to allow the Spartan and Space Marines on board.
"Get on board, we gotta get the hell out of here!" one Marine said, holding his hand out to Noble Six.
Chairon and Tiberius began moving until Noble Six spoke.
"Negative. I have the gun." Noble Six informed.
Tiberius and his fellow Astartes turn and look at the Spartan. Knowing the consequences of his choice. The Spartan looked at them while speaking.
"Take this bird and get off this planet."
Chairon moved to the dropship with Keyes and the Marines backing up allowing him to get on board. Noble Six turned and walked away but stopped when Tiberius spoke.
"Noble Six."
The Spartan turned to look at the Phoenix Fighter.
"Burn Bright." Tiberius said.
Noble Six nods. "You too."
Both warriors turn away from each other and go separate ways. Tiberius gets into the troop bay of the Pelican allowing it to take off. The dropship flew back to the Pillar of Autumn while Noble Six rushed to reach the Mass Driver. As the pelican gets into the ship's hangar, the Cruiser attempts to fire its glassing beam, but the Mass Driver takes it out causing critical damage, allowing the Pillar of Autumn to leave. Noble Six gets out of the pilot seat and watches the Autumn leave dry dock and fly up into the clouds.
[Timeskip]
Within the Pillar of Autumn's halls, both Tiberius and Chairon stood in the bridge with the captain. The ship was currently in Slipspace as they were heading to an unknown destination.
"Let me know when we exit Slipspace, Cortana." Keyes said to the AI.
The holographic form of Cortana was on an AI port. She nods.
"Yes, sir."
Keyes then turned to both Space Marines that stood behind him.
"Well, all we can do now I evade the Covenant." Keyes said.
"Easier said than done I'm guessing?" Tiberius asked.
"Yeah." Keyes sighs. "Let's just hope we can find a way back to Earth. If that's even possible."
The two Astartes look at each other, wondering how else they could help this Humanity and hoping their efforts aren't cut short.
[Reach]
The Aszod Ship Breaking Yard was in ruins as the Covenant glassing had finished. Around platform D were the bodies left behind. The howling wind brushed up against the land as the last vestige of life on Reach. Some of the casings from the Bolters lay on the ground. Soon crackling lightning appears in the air above the ground before a blue vortex opens. A tall figure steps out and looks around with a staff in hand. The figure looked down at the ground and saw the shell casings. It knelt down and grabbed one of them, holding it up to eye level and inspecting them. A Forerunner drone flew out of the vortex, and the figure held the casing to the drone. The drone scans it before a voice comes from it.
"Anomaly Object Detected." The Drone said.
The Figure looked at the shell one last time before standing up.
"Hm."
The figure turned and walked through the vortex with the drone following. The portal closing behind it as the Figure walked through.