The assault on the Covenant Strike Force went well at first then it went poorly in an instant. A Covenant Supercarrier made its presence known and destroyed a UNSC Frigate with ease. The UNSC quickly retreated from this failed operation both Space Marines in tow. Speaking of the Adeptus Astartes, Chairon and Tiberius had been sent to a secure UNSC base while Noble Team was elsewhere at the moment. Tiberius requested this so he could brief Chairon on the situation and the circumstances. Being far from the Imperium and all. He hoped he could convince the Ultramarine to help him in his endeavors here on the planet Reach. Though he wasn't completely alone in briefing, Holland decided to help where he could by filing in the blanks for Tiberius. Chairon was confused deeply by this information. Surely the Imperium had found all human worlds. Within a Hangar, Chairon stood in front of Tiberius and Holland absorbing this information.
"So, we're far from the Imperium?" Chairon asked.
"It would seem so." Tiberius said. "Before anything else happens, how did you get here?"
"Wish I knew." Chairon said. "All I remember was entering a Facility and finding an orb shaped relic."
Hearing that, both Holland and Tiberius looked at each other. Chairon noticed and questioned it.
"What?" Chairon asked.
"That's exactly what happened with me." Tiberius said, looking at the Ultramarine.
Chairon looked surprised by the coincidence.
"Was anyone with you?" Tiberius asked.
"My Captain and a few of my brothers." Chairon said. "They were far from me when I accidently activated the relic. So, I'm the only Ultramarine here."
"At least I know we won't have to brief another Space Marine." Holland said.
Tiberius was thinking about something else. That facility mentioned "reality anomaly" when he entered. An idea came to mind, and it sounded ridiculous but plausible. Maybe, just maybe. They aren't in their home reality. Stupid he knows, but it is a possibility. Chairon noticed his contemplation.
"Is everything alright, cousin?" Chairon asked.
Holland looked at the Space Marine before he spoke.
"That facility. It mentioned Reality Anomaly." Tiberius mentions.
"And?" Chairon asked.
"This sounds ridiculous. But perhaps we aren't in our reality." Tiberius theorized.
Chairon raised an eyebrow at that theory while Holland gave Tiberius an odd look.
"No offense, but are you sane?" Holland asked.
Normally, this would've been a death sentence for anyone who said that to a Space Marine. But Tiberius tends to let that slide if it's a valid comment. Which it is.
"I am." Tiberius answers.
"But another reality? Even for us, that seems outlandish." Chairon said.
"What else would this be?" Tiberius asked as he walked towards Chairon before whispering to him. "Chaos?"
Chairon briefly looked at Holland for a second.
"I recognize that stench. This isn't it." Chairon whispered back.
Tiberius backed up and spoke in his normal tone.
"While we don't have enough evidence, we shall keep my theory in mind." Tiberius said. "But onto more pressing matters regarding the Xenos threat on this world."
"You called them the Covenant, right?" Chairon asked Holland.
"That's right." Holland confirms with a nod. "The UNSC has been fighting them for almost three decades now, and we're losing. Badly."
Chairon absorbed this information. It was information he'd heard all too many times. But this time was different. It wasn't just one planet. From what Holland said to him earlier, the UNSC had hundreds of planets which have all been destroyed or lost. If this is a new reality, then the UNSC is on the verge of extinction more so than the Imperium. He then looked at his fellow Astartes.
"Is that why you offered your aid?" Chairon asked.
"I know this was risky. But I refuse to let Humans perish in droves if I can put an end to it." Tiberius said. "But I need to ask of you, Chairon. Will you join me in this war against the xenos?"
"Is there an alternative?" Chairon asked with a neutral tone.
"No."
Holland looked between the two Astartes. Internally he hoped that Chairon joined Tiberius. two Space marines would be very helpful. From what he's seen of Tiberius so far, two of him would devastate Covenant Forces.
"Well?" Tiberius asked, holding his hand out for Chairon.
Chairon looked at it before he turned his gaze to the Phoenix Fighter and grabbed his hand.
"I will gladly aid you against these Xenos." Chairon said.
Tiberius smiled under his helmet as he now knew he had someone who could keep up with him and fight side by side with him. Holland also let out a sigh of relief. The UNSC now had two strong allies who could chew through Covenant Forces with ease. However, even he wonders what their limit is. Soon a UNSC Marine walked over to Holland and whispers into his ear before the colonel nods.
"Something come up?" Tiberius asked.
"Noble One says they have a plan to deal with the Covenant Supercarrier." Holland said. "One that sounds ridiculous, but It might work."
"Do you need assistance?" Tiberius asked.
"Can you fly a starfighter?" Holland asked.
"What is their plan?" Tiberius asked.
"A crazy one." Holland said. "They seek to use a Slipspace Drive as a bomb to destroy the Supercarrier."
Tiberius and Chairon knows what a Slipspace Drive is thanks to Holland, so this sounded like a very creative plan. It reminds Tiberius of a certain someone, same as Chairon.
"An FTL drive as a bomb." Chairon notes before looking at Tiberius. "An unorthodox yet creative strategy."
"Agreed." Tiberius said. "If it works, the Xenos will be beheaded."
"That's the aim." Holland said.
"But we cannot excuse the possibility of reinforcements." Tiberius said.
"What do you mean?" Holland asked.
"I've seen the numbers. I've read the records." Tiberius said. "This force pales in comparison to others your people have faced. With my experience, this attack force may be an appetizer for the main course."
"You think more ships are on the way?" Holland asked, almost fearful.
"My words were not a theory." Tiberius said.
Even though it wasn't clear, it still got the message across. He's seen plenty of worlds burn because the Astra Militarum fails to consider that enemy reinforcements could be possible. He's seen it in the form of Orks and Tyranids. While he didn't want to demoralize the UNSC, he also didn't wish to lie to their face regarding the safety of their world. Holland took in those words and hoped to the heavens that he was wrong. Reach could not fall, if it did Earth was undoubtedly next. If that happens, its game over for Humanity as a whole. Insurrection, UNSC, or hell even Tiberius and Chairon. At least that's what Holland thinks. A new set of footsteps approached.
"Colonel Holland." A voice said.
Holland, Tiberius, Chairon and the UNSC Marine turned to see a man in a Captain's uniform and beside him was a UNSC Sergeant.
"Captain Keyes." Holland greets. "Why aren't you with your ship?"
"We faced a delay." Captain Jacob Keyes said. "You can think our Covenant guests for that one."
"Will it hinder your operation?" Holland asked.
Tiberius and Chairon instantly knew he was dancing around a piece of information. They didn't care as they thought it didn't concern them.
"Not unless that Supercarrier decides to leave." Keyes said.
"Well lucky for you, Noble Team has an idea in mind, and I plan to authorize it." Holland said.
"Is that so?" Keyes asked. "Well then, I'll get the Autumn ready just in case it works."
"I wouldn't put all your faith in a strategy that has yet to be authorized." Tiberius said.
Keyes and the Sergeant with him look at the two Space Marines.
"Thought there was only one Space Marine." Keyes said.
"Chairon here was a recent discovery. Similar arrival as Tiberius." Holland explains.
The Sergeant looked up and down the two Space Marines before shaking his head.
"You two are tall bastards." The Sergeant said.
"That's certainly a first." Tiberius comments.
The UNSC members looked at him confused. They thought for sure someone would've reacted that way.
"First time reactions seeing an Astartes is typically shock and awe, or fear, or all three at once." Tiberius explains.
"Fear?" Holland asked.
"There are some Astartes that are less…. kind then me." Tiberius said.
A few Chapters came to mind. Black Templars, Space Wolves, and so on. Taking in this information, Holland wonders just how bad a Space Marine can get. He hopes he never learns that considering how Tiberius takes down Covenant warriors.
"We can discuss Adeptus Astartes later." Tiberius said. "Right now, we have a Supercarrier to deal with."
"Right, well I'll need to get that Slipspace Drive for the plan." Holland said, before gesturing to both Space Marines. "As for the both of you, I suggest you continue to learn about the UNSC and our conflict. It would suit you well."
"A sound suggestion." Tiberius said. "One we will do. But do not hesitate to contact us in case you need aid."
Holland nods before he walks away with the UNSC Marine beside him as well as Captain Keyes and the UNSC Sergeant. The two Space Marines now alone, had another topic to talk about. Tiberius thought about an Ultramarine that he hadn't seen in ages. Titus.
"Tell me, Chairon." Tiberius said while turning to face him. "Do you know an Ultramarine named Titus?"
"I do, what about him?" Chairon asked.
"You've seen him?" Tiberius asked sounding surprised.
"Of course. We met over Kadaku and fought together on Avarax and Demerium." Chairon explained.
"So he's alive?" Tiberius asked.
"He is." Chairon said. "I take it you knew him?"
"I did." Tiberius said. "I haven't seen him since he left for Graia over a century ago. I was told many things and didn't know what to believe."
"he had been in the Deathwatch the entire time." Chairon said.
"Was he?"
"Yes, he was serving penance." Chairon said.
"Penance? For what?" Tiberius asked sounding confused.
What could Titus be serving penance for?
"He was accused of corruption." Chairon said.
This shocked Tiberius. He's known Titus for quite some time before he left for Graia. Hearing that someone as loyal as him was accused of heresy stunned him. Guess suspicion really does know no bounds.
"How is he now?" Tiberius asked.
"Good, last I knew." Chairon said.
Our protagonist nods slightly, accepting this information. He then remembered that he needs to get Chairon's Vox set for UNSC communications.
"Come, Cousin." Tiberius said as he walked away.
"For what purpose?" Chairon asked as he followed.
"We need to get your vox linked to UNSC Communications." Tiberius said.
"Is that even possible?" Chairon.
"Yes."
[Timeskip]
It had been some time since Holland left to prepare for Operation Upper Cut. The two Space Marines remained at the UNSC Base and Chairon now has access to UNSC communications. The two Space Marines now spent their time learning as much as they could about the ongoing Human-Covenant War. The more information they gathered the more the whole alternate reality theory seemed plausible. They learned of Earth and that caused two theories. One was the reality theory and the next was that they were in the distant past. However, they both find that unlikely. The hangar they were previously in kind of acted as their temporary base. While they talked in the hangar, both Space Marines suddenly hear alarms blaring and they instinctively grab their primary weapons.
"Have the Xenos attacked this base?" Chairon asked.
"I don't hear explosions so no." Tiberius said. "Come on."
The two run out of the hangar and see the UNSC scrambling to respond to something. Soon, Holland comes in on comms.
"Tiberius can you hear me?" Holland asked sounding fearful.
"Loud and clear, Holland. What happened?" Tiberius asked.
"You were right about enemy reinforcements. An entire fleet, the size of which we've never seen, arrived." Holland explained.
"And the Supercarrier?"
"Destroyed, but that doesn't matter anymore." Holland said. "Our forces are scrambling across Reach. The Covenant are deploying their troops everywhere."
"Where are we needed?" Tiberius asked.
"Head to New Alexandria, it's the closest city to your current location." Holland said. "Once evacuations begin, we need you both to hold off the Covenant as best as possible."
"Consider it done." Tiberius said.
He then turns to Chairon.
"Ready, cousin?"
"Let us punish these Xenos." Chairon said.