Planet Sera
An hour after the battle with the raiders
Elizabeth Lopez P.O.V.
Previously, after the villagers of Fort Umson and its defenders reached an agreement with Prime Minister Jinn and the Cogs; Specifically regarding a ceasefire, one which fortunate for the two sides a surprising attack would transpire in the ongoing night.
Even after the battle, those who were not present during the conflict remained captivated by the aftermath of the recently concluded battle.
The scientific and technological experts from the UNSC and the 21st century's would collect samples from plants, soil, and flowers for their research purposes. Some had even took upon themselves to take one of the still intact deebees for their own matters. Though minister jinn was apprehensive about this,She ultimately allowed the two parties to take only the items that were destroyed, while excluding those that still had most of their robotic components intact.
During the current event, it is evident that nearly all structures, vehicles, and gardens intended for growing vegetables and fruits were affected by the previous battle. Fortunately, some were saved from the conflict. However, despite this, their chief Reyna Diaz found it quite abhorrent. Nevertheless, she understood that she had to refrain from taking any foolish actions, especially after all that her people have endured.
Reyna Diaz stood in the balcony of the front entrance of the meeting hall, by her sides were her daughter Kate, Jd and del, alongside oscar.On the other side, there were Jane Harrow, Nalia, Empress Nahara, Mendez, and the López.
"Mother, what are our plans following this situation?" Kate said making a humorous inquiry while raising her arms at their front path.
"It's pretty simple, we just focus on not complaining while fixing the damages done on our home." Reyna responded with a solemn demeanor while letting out a sigh.
"And what of our guests?" Jd Added nonchalantly.
"The first minister Jin and I have mutually agreed to a deal in which they will supply us with essential necessities. Food, farming equipments, alongside with setting their own personal base around the gate."
"Are you sure that wise of you chief." A Humorous del said responding to reyna's comment. "What if they're setting their base around that gate to expand their territories?"
A laugh emanated from one of the individuals behind the empress. Nahara stood aside, revealing to Reyna the distinct figure of Elizabeth Lopez.
With a discerning expression on her face, Kate Diaz directed a stern look at Elizabeth, as if urging her to proceed with what clever response she had prepared ready.
"And I'm assuming you got an answer?" Kate said with her arms crossed, gazed intently set on Elizabeth.
"You have no need for the unsc to expand it's territory." Elizabeth told the Diaz girl while gesturing around them all. "We've been to nine different worlds, colonized each ones, who's lands provides the unsc the resources it needs. These one, it's safe to say we won't harm it."
Oscar, who was known as the inebriated uncle of the Diaz family, placed his bottle on the flat surface of a bench after burping. "Whatever you bunch of showoff's. But I'll acknowledge the fact that it is nice to see the extent of humanity's capabilities across the rainbows!"
"Don't you mean space." The voice of a young teenager said replying to a slightly disturbed Oscar.
Oscar on the other hand just looked at the young girl with a grinning look. "Space, stars, whatever. But you know what I mean kid."
The two close friends, JD Fenix and Delmont Walker, shared a laugh upon hearing the attempted rebuttal from Kate's uncle.
"Oh shoot Girl! You gonna let him push you like that?" Jd told the girl awaiting to see what she has to say.
The girl in question, otherwise known as Daley Keyes shot Oscar a deadpan look, unbothered by his attempt in pushing her button. "It's okay. I am not in any way ticked by the minor jest from an elderly man."
Nahara promptly brought one arm up to conceal a smile. She was listening attentively to the discussions and found the girl's response to be quite entertaining, as she could easily perceive that those around her shared the same sentiment.
"Easy dragon girl, no need to go any further with the insult." Elizabeth told the girl with one hand set on her niece shoulder.
"Sorry about my girl. She can sometimes be a smart mouth." Miranda told Oscar in hope that he'll not get offended by Daley's Comment.
Oscar, feeling slightly annoyed, initially pretended to be affected by the situation, but soon broke into a small laugh. "Oh it's quite alright, I've been through worst. What's your name kid?"
"Daley Keyes." The teenager replied.
"Well Daley Keyes." Oscar repeated comically. "I'll take the defeat, for now. But next time, spare dear old Oscar from your mean words."
In agreement with the carefree individual, Daley realized that Oscar was not the person she had perceived him to be. But since he was willing to forfeit from any further words with her, she too submitted to the deal as she gave a nod of agreement.
"None taken old man."
A quiet exchange of laughter and giggles spread among those present, as they appreciated the subtle verbal interaction between the two individuals.
Elizabeth was also participating in the jest; however, she couldn't help but notice her twin brother, Koa. He was seen standing alongside the only other spartans within the camp.
One of which tap five on his shoulders and then urged for him to hold some things for her, whereas the female spartan bent down to pick something up.
Elizabeth released a frustrated sigh, fully aware of the strength of the Spartans, super soldiers capable of lifting over one ton. However, she believes that these issues were not significant for her twin, as she and others, like Rose and Henrique, observed where their brother was at.
"You okay ellie?" Rose ask wondering what's in her sister's mind.
"I Bet it has something to do with Koa." Kathy contributed as she noticed it from a distance.
"He didn't even seem interested in knowing who we are, when we first met him." One of the siblings interjected, arms crossed, clearly expressing her disappointment regarding the reunion.
"Do not take it to heart child." Nahara responded to the woman, as she was quite accustomed to this type of conversation, having seen it herself from her own children back on Vahrian. "For trust me when I say this, time is required for families to mend their relationships after a long separation."
Hannah disregarded the lookalike of her mother, yet internally she found herself in silent agreement. "Whatever you say Empress... But, somehow I feel like that'll take more then time for us to know Koa."
Nahara conveyed a look of understanding to Hannah, acknowledging the validity of her statements. In her mind, this was precisely how Greythian was depicted by his siblings. Though with some slight differences.
One was that greythian was slightly more of an extrovert instead of being silent, like that of five.
"Relax sis. I believe Koa does not hold any ill will towards us. Let's focus on the positive aspect of having finally found him, especially for mom's sake." One of the Lopez brothers says reassuring Hannah about her doubts regarding five's acceptance of them.
"Look on the bright side, at least he greeted us first." A relaxed Kathy spoke casually, oblivious to the unspoken judgment from Hannah.
"I Take it that something happened between you all and five?" Jd inquired as he looked at the siblings, anticipating a response from them.
Despite their desire to explain the events that led to their behavior towards Koa, they refrained from doing so, The Lopez siblings remained quiet as they looked towards Catherine and Sandra.
Halsey, who was attentively listening while also addressing a few matters on her tacpad, tilted her head when she noticed the expressions from Sierra-005's siblings after not hearing anything.
Halting her work, Halsey placed her pad into her bag and addressed the reasons behind their gaze. "In response to your inquiries, Mr. Fenix, the rationale behind Spartan Sierra Zero Zero Five's unusual behavior towards his biological siblings remains classified. However, I will share the unclassified part with you. That is if you are inclined to hear it out?"
At first Jd was surprised of how the woman knew of his last name. However, upon learning that Catherine was prepared to share some non-confidential details about five with him and his group, he felt intrigued by it and straighten himself as he uncrossed his arms.
Even individuals such as Nalia and others from the twenty-first century, including Jane Harrow, Case, Mel, and Baron, were drawn into it.
"I'm all ears?" JD responded with indifference as he composed himself.
__________
FIVE. P.O.V.
As Five assisted a villager in clearing away a large debris, he held it in place while the man crawled through a small opening to retrieve what seemed to be an object to the Spartan.
Curious of it, the Spartan couldn't help himself but spoke in an inquiry to him.
"What is that?" Asked five.
The elderly man got up on his two feet after exiting the hole. In his hand he showed the Spartan what it was. "This is a saltberry necklace. It began as a simple fruit that my wife and I planted on our wedding day thirty years ago. After she passed away, I decided to incased the fruit within a metal crystal, so that I can turn it into a necklace as a way to remember my girl."
"I See." The Silent Five said addressing the older gentleman in a respectful manner.
The elderly man stared at five in question. "You know, from the way how you speak you sure are one hell of a gentle giant."
"I'll take that into consideration." Five said in a monotone voice.
"Dad!" A Woman said calling after the old man.
The elderly man turned around to ascertain the source of the voice, and he clearly saw that it was his daughter. "Excuse me, I must attend to my daughter. But thank you for the aid young man."
Five did not provide any verbal response to the elderly man, instead acknowledge him with a simple nod.
From behind him, five could hear multiple heavy footsteps. Already aware of who they were, he turned to see that it was just Quinton and Asta.
"Being the helper of the old man, seems like you still lack the same Ole stoicism as before." Asta Zero One Seven said in a light-hearted manner.
"I Still do that, i just prefer to stay silent, unless spoken to." Five replied back dryly.
"Yeah, as if we aren't any different." Responded Asta comically as she then stepped aside so as to let Koa see who the person was that had been behind her. "Koa, these is Morgan, your kid."
The young girl, who is fourteen, timidly waved her arms at the Spartan, feeling apprehensive. "Hi, I'm Morgan. Daughter of vice admiral Keyes."
Five gazed down at the young individual, and regardless of the fact that his face was obscured by the helmet's visor, Five felt quite astonished.
Locking his sidearm in its megnatic holster, five just kept his sight on her as he then evantually utter a word. "I Take it then that you are also of my blood?"
He has overheard how the young girl and her two other siblings addresses Sandra as their grandmother, while also calling his biological siblings uncles and aunties. It was also very well clear how they say the word mom whenever they're around Miranda, in turns making him as the father.
"Yes sir." Morgan said anxiously for she couldn't bring herself to stare the Spartan straight at his eyes, regardless of the fact that he wore his helmet.
"You don't need to call me sir, Morgan. Five is good enough." The Spartan spoke to her, offering reassurance to ease her feelings of dismay.
Regardless of the situation, Morgan felt a deep sense of sadness, not from his words, but because she sincerely wished to call him father, to call him dad.
This was precisely what she had wished for all along, to have the opportunity to meet him. Yet, as she found her calm, the young girl dismissed her hesitation and exhaled to steady herself.
The girl nodded respectfully at the armored Spartan and replied. "Copy that five."
"You sure you aren't offended from being called five by your own daughter Koa?" Asta, in a teasing manner, said speaking to him via their team communication.
"No, I am not." Responded five, understanding that it would require his daughter some time to prepare for the occasion when she and the others would call to him by that name. "Where are your siblings?"
"They're over there, by the front entrance of the town hall." Says Morgan pointing with her thumb back at where five looked at.
There they stood, two children with striking resemblance to that of the youth infront of him. Though they all have quite the same face, what bothered him was his clouded memory of them, that is until the memory finally clicked. He has only seen them for a short moment; during his time in one of the towns while he was with Morgana, Carly, and the other adventurers.
As they were in the same vicinity, the Spartan could confirm that the trio of children were indeed who he believed them to be.
Although he was reminiscing about various matters, a gentle knock on his armor brought him back to the present.
When he glanced down, he saw that it was just his daughter Morgan. "Sorry, I was just thinking to much... What is it?"
Morgan chose not to answer directly and instead pointed towards another path, where the Spartan observed a couple of individuals struggling to lift an object, something that was clear in which was more than they could manage by themselves.
Seeing this, five strode forth with heavy steps, followed by that of his daughter and the other spartans behind them both.
As he reached the three people, five noticed the US and Mexico Flag stampes on the two soldiers left side of their top uniforms.
With his considerable size, the Spartan stood above the three individuals, effectively casting a shadow over them, like a tree in the hot sunny day. One of which, a man of asian descent took two steps back, his eyes wide in surprise at the sight before him.
"Damn he's huge!" Was all the man said in his mind as he then quickly adjusted himself when the Spartan spoke.
"Do you three need help with that?" Five said taking note of the three soldiers who were glancing at one another and then back at him.
"Umm, ye-yes sir. The damn thing weighs at least half a ton."
"The allow me." Five told them as he stepped forth, but undoubtedly was halted when the other ones spoke.
"Are you sure? We can do it all together."
Morgan having a great understanding of the spartans, especially that of her father spoke up for Koa before he could.
"No, it's okay. My fa-im mean the Spartan can handle it himself, trust me." Morgan told the three reassuring them of their uncertainty.
"Okay, go on ahead." The American us soldier said in response to the little girl, whereas she then looked at the Asian one of her squad. "Let him be horangi, we'll see what he can do."
The woman, along with her two companions, was unsure whether this man or robot could truly manage to carry the half-ton box by himself, hell, she even doubted he could barely even lift it off three feet from the ground.
The three stepped aside allowing the Spartan some more space. They watched as he knelt down on one knee, but before he could make contact with the box, he turned his helm towards the woman, acknowledging her leadership in the group.
"What exactly is inside this?"
"It's some essentials, one of the few things the eggheads from harrows team. They wanted to bring it here with her." The insouciant woman said replying back to him casually.
He turned his attention back to the box, gently nudging it with his right hand to check its weight. Once he comprehended the entire concept, the Spartan utilized one arm to dig beneath the box while wrapping the other arm around the left side of the box.
Afterwards, he then lifted the box with ease, oblivious to the shocked expressions on the faces of the three soldiers and the people around him who were shooting at him.
Horangi, positioned at the center, took the lead with the Spartans and others.
As they walked, Horangi was approached by the female companion from his group, who spoke to him in the languages of his people.
Leaning in from his left, the woman made sure to take a slight glance from the corner of her eyes back at where five is and then spoke. "무게가 그를 짓밟지 않았다는 사실에 놀랐습니다. 나도 똑같이 할 수 있었으면 좋겠다고 생각했습니다." (Translation, "I'm surprised that the weight did not trample him. Makes me wished I could do the same)
The woman, felt someone tapped her from behind on her back. Initially, she believed it was the Spartan; however, upon turning around, she realized her mistake as it was the same young girl from before.
"I Just wanna let you know that the Spartan can also speak many languages. Especially Korean." Morgan addressed the woman with a sly smile, causing her to look surprised. "감사합니다. "
Five observed the change in expressions of the trio when Morgan shared his numerous attributes, and so in an effort to reassure them of his unwavering stance, the Spartan expressed his thoughts.
"No need to feel sorry, or be embarrassed. People make mistakes all the time." The Spartan told the woman in flawless Korean, in which also causes that of Horangi to reconsider his perception of him.
"You Korean man?" Horangi inquired respectfully as he gazed at the Spartan in question.
"I am afraid not. I'm of a different ethnicity." Five said answering the Korean man.
"I see. Though, I do gotta say. Your Korean is pretty great, fluently better then domino's over here." Horangi commented, and subsequently, she playfully punched him on the shoulder.
"You three, I take it your from one of the two twenty first centuries, correct?" Five inquired, curious about the matter ever since he learned of the two anomalies.
"Yes. Though we are from the other one, in the year two thousand and fourteen." Domino said responding to the Spartan.
Five was ready to continue speaking after the woman, but regrettably, he was interrupted by someone who spoke up after him.
"Hey, I see you got the box here finally!"
"Sorry were late. The damn thing weighs way more then we thought." Horangi told the lady.
Domino pointed at the Spartan as she stopped in her track. "Good thing is, we had some help."
"Spartan, thank you for aiding these three. Please, bring that thing here."
Infront of him, five saw the same amount of the three boxes he carried. Each one was laid flat down right next to each other. He advanced three steps, knelt on one knee, and carefully placed the box down to avoid damaging its contents.
"Thank you big man. I appreciate the help." The scientist says shaking hands with the Spartan.
"No problem. Glad to help."
"Hey spartan! There's someone wanting to talk to you." Domino says aloud to where five could hear him.
After nodding goodbye to the scientist, Five turned around and was met by the person standing across from him.
"Hello Koa. Have any time for a talk."
"Sure." Five said replying in a simple answer. "Your name again ma'am?"
"Rose, this one here beside me is Elizabeth, your twin. She and I met you earlier, in case you forgot." Rose said experiencing a deep sense of sorrow in her heart when Koa could not recall their names.
"Right. Apologies then. I'll remember it from now on." Five told them in a reasonable manner.
"Come, let's take a walk. Talk with one another. I Wanna learn about all that my little brother has been through." Rose saud to the Spartan; satisfied with herself when five acknowledged her request affirmatively.
Just as Five was about to engage in conversation, an unexpected screeching sound interrupted. The unusual sound prompts individuals in the camp to glance left and right, examining their surroundings for its source. Shortly thereafter, they were met with a cacophony of monstrous screeches originating from every direction, seemingly in response to the initial call.
The five acted in an instant and immediately unlatched his rifle from its megnatic holster and pointed the head of his weapon at a far corner to his right.
As he and rose looked at each other, five nodded at her way as he took the first steps.
At the direction both spartans were aiming, their fingers were inches from the trigger, but stopped midway when a villager of Fort Umson came running out of the corner with both hands waving in the air.
The distressed man raised his voice dramatically, as if what he witnessed had left him in a state of fear.
"Wait, hold on!" Morgan told the man, attempting to stop him.
"Morgan stay away from that man." Warned rose as she stepped forth to grab her niece by the back end of her shirt.
Meanwhile, five on the other hand kept quiet for he was ready for whatever came next. To his prediction, the Spartan sped forth, as he reaches Morgan he pushed her forth to rose's arms. And as he proceeded onward, five when reaching the screaming man pushes him aside as well.
It was clear that his target was not the villager; rather, his true adversary was the monstrous foe that lunged at its intended victim.
"Koa!" Yelled rose shocked as a red scaly creature tackles her brother aside from where he once was.
"Auntie! Look, there's more of them!" Morgan told rose where both individuals watches the scene.
An elderly man rushed out of a small shack just near a vehicle. Within the grasp of his hand was his lancer rifle. Knowing he wouldn't be able to make it more then thirteen feet he decided Rev up saw within his weapon. Turning he watched a snatcher gradually making it's way towards him.
Rose wanted to yell out to him to stop, but the older man instead waited for the creature. Unfortunate for him, the man knew he was doomed, nonetheless he showed no fear and rushed forth only to have the snatcher knocked him backward on his rear. The old man disoriented from the strike; slowly began to gather himself. He turned around searching for his lancer, however one of the snatchers tentacles wrapped around his two legs and crept up to where it enveloped him whole.
The last thing the man could only muttered was a muffled words, words that even with a Spartan like rose's enhance hearing couldn't pick up.
Rose was looking at where her brother Koa was sent with that monster. Though she was aware of his capabilities in defending himself, it still didn't exclude the fact that she felt scared for his well being.
She then saw how the snatcher was sent rolling backward from where it and five had landed. Moving her sight away from the that of the creature and onto her brother, rose saw how he deliberately moves forth whereas he grabbed a stone slab and brings it around and snacks it across the incoming snatcher.
The monster stunned by the act of the Spartan moved back with its four limbs trying to keep it's entire body still. But be that as it may, five didn't give it any chance of recovery and came in hard shoulder checking the creature on the knee.
Rose and Morgan both mortified by the scene were winced as the bones from the back leg of the snatcher bent backward exposing it's leg bone for the eyes to see.
"Rose!" A Familiar voice said calling after the elder sibling.
Rose turned around to identify the source of the voice and encountered a grotesque figure.
The disfigured being had a human-like form, albeit with a much larger body, that instead of it depicting the same color skin of an average human male or female. The skin was replaced with a red, scale-like covering similar to that of a sea crab, which served as armor running from the waist down to the legs. It featured a two-foot scale affixed to its body, functioning as a shoulder pauldron.
The only thing that it held as a weapon was a rifle, one in which was oddly unfamiliar to rose herself.
The monster was about to raise its weapon and aimed it at its intended target. Rose, however, to her surprise the monster changed its target and lowered the butt of its rifle down to where her niece was.
Upon observing this, Rose promptly stepped forward and kindly guided her niece behind her to ensure the monster would not harm her.
"Morgan, get behind me!" Rose told her niece.
"Okay auntie." The youth answered back, understanding that answering back in refusal wouldn't work well in her favor.
It was evident to her that she would not be able to support her brother in his fight against the gigantic snatcher, especially since the surrounding area of Fort Umson; was overrun by an unsuspecting amount of snatchers and unknown beings, beings that were once known to the population of Sera as Locust hordes, or to put it simply, grubs.
One of the Swarm grubs made its way towards Morgan, emerging from Rose's blind spot.
And while rose had just gotten finished with gunning down a grub scion, she reaches instinctively to stop Morgan from pulling out her magnum pistol. Nonetheless, Morgan was slightly faster, she held the pistol in hand, aimed it at the scion grub coming her way, and without hesitation she pulled the trigger to where it's eye socket was plunged with a decent size hole.
"Good shot!" Rose said complementing Morgan's quick thinking. "You know how to handle that gun?"
Morgan nodded up at her aunt, to whereas the Spartan woman began leading her towards a safe area.
The said safe area was being defended by a mix squad of twenty first centuries and unsc marines. All of these soldiers were providing cover, shielding any civilians or villagers from being abducted, either by one of those red giant scaled snatchers.
"Hold fire, it's just me!" Rose says showing herself to a soldier who had almost mistaken her for a scion.
"Sorry ma'am." The man apologized.
"It's fine, here take my niece. Make sure she's safe!" Shouted rose having to raise her voice over due to the ongoing commotion over the village.
"Copy that ma'am!" A Marine said emptying the last seven rounds in his mag.
As the soldiers were moving Morgan into the small shack house, Morgan quickly turned around in defiance and ran out to her aunt.
"Auntie! I can help. Please let me join you!"
"Your safer here kiddo! So don't do anything Foolish. And if you want to help, then protect this people, I gotta go help your father!"
Morgan wanted to refuse her aunt, however to her dissatisfaction, she just stood there watching as rose ran through a duo of scions with a shoulder check.
Her head then turned to look to where her father was. And there he was, battling a snatcher by himself.
It was noted that Five was fighting against the giant Swarm beast, which had its lower jaw opened wide, displaying three slimy tongues that acted like tentacles, reaching out to capture Five. Unfortunately for it, it was sadly being denied it's prey for the Spartan had expected that way before they fought. Which was mainly thanks to five, of how he had observed the other snatchers that were going around the village and snatching up anyone it sees.
The snatcher roared loudly at five, angriest at him as he was continuing in avoiding it.
Quickly, Five pulls out his M7-Revolver, and with a pull of the trigger, both his and Rose's weapons fired simultaneously. Rose focused on the beasts eyes while five aimed to where the glowing stomach was at. He understood from earlier that these was one the beasts main weaknesses.
With pure rage, the monster ignored the amount of heavy fire that it was receiving and just bulldozed it's way through a small brick wall, it continues on for a while, but five being the the type to head forth and ask question later; chose to latched his revolver and rushed forth to meet it.
"Koa wait!" Yelled rose, but was sadly ignored by him.
And so without even thinking twice, rose wasted no seconds as she too lept over her cover to join her brother.
"Got damn it!" Uttered rose as she proceeded to provide Koa cover fire by gunning down any grubs that tried getting in her brother's path.
She noticed five skillfully dodging a swipe from the snatcher's spiked leg, and afterwards, he leaped over a second one and landed on its back.
Rose was about to aid him, but then a couple of grubs came in halting her from doing so. Feeling angry, she promptly used her last three rounds on the first opponent and tilted her head back, as she continued, she perceived with her heightened sight how the bullets passed by, almost as if time had slowed.
And while she may have dodged the first few rounds fired from the scion grubs hammer burst rifles, the spartan woman dashes forth to meet them head first.
To the grubs, they thought of how Foolish the giant robotic being was to think of just running towards them, not thinking of her safety. And so they fired upon her. Regrettably, they were shocked to see how their bullets weren't slowing her down at any moment. One of the few though, notices how an energy field emerges whenever the rounds came into contact with the Spartan.
One of them however was either braver then his comrades or just outright idiotic, for it relished in this kind of moment. Once he had emptied the entire magazine of his hammer burst, it too went forth to meet rose.
Rose in the other hand simply surprises the scion by leaping over it and unloading a burst of her M7 submachine gun down on her Foes head. And once her boots made contact with the ground, she swiftly spins around and allowed a scions gun to go past her arm. As three feet of the hammer bursts head passes through, rose immediately latches her right arm over it and squeezes her armored arm to where it forced the grub to let go of it, due to it failing to pull it out of the spartans intense grip.
Though that didn't stop it, the scion grabs his combat knife and went to stab his foe. But the Spartan having a far better reaction speed delivered a spinning backhand punch with her right fist. With the force of it, it had sent the lower part of the scions jaw flying off at another direction.
The other ones shocked by these sight stopped firing for a second, however, that didn't halt them in any moment and ran ahead while firing at the Spartan. Meanwhile, rose on the other hand deliberately rolled to the left and pulls out a dead scions own knife and threw it at the incoming grubs chest with enough force to where it ceased in its act.
Despite the fact that the grub had gotten a knife to the center of his own chest, it refused to die so easily and continued onward. But be that as it may, rose ended it by quickly killing off two of its own comrades, and as she beared him, the Spartan with a swift move came in close and punches the hilt of the knife forcing it through the grubs own chest.
Once rose has dealt with her end of the fight, she turned to where she saw Koa was forced to hold onto the back of the snatcher. The beast couldn't shake the annoyance that was her brother, and so it did the only thing that it could break it off its back, which was to ram it's own self onto a building behind it.
Meanwhile, five has had to grip his hands by literally digging his fingers into the snatchers skin. But as the beast continues in its rampage through the entirely of the building's walls, it evantually came to a stop when a sudden glow shined from the balcony of where the main leader of Fort Umson stood. Beside reyna herself, five also notice how Sandra was providing assistance by gunning down any grubs that dared came close to her position.
And Although she was managing her own fairly well, there were still far too many scions causing a ruckus in the village, including the monstrous creatures that were snatchers and infected deebees drones. One of the few, numbering around at least fifteen were closing in on her. Five didn't know why but he somehow felt an sense of concern for Sandra.
It was fortunate that he observed his mother was not alone, as a member of the green team was present with her and those around her. And One of her closest allies was none other then the empress Nahara.
The woman herself drew her sword and cut the arm of a scion drone and with one kick she sent him flying into the sharp head of a sentinal's axe. During her second strike, Nahara executed a seamless performance, whereas she formed a fist with her hand and pulled one drone towards her using her magical abilities; and piercing the grub's mouth with her sword. After that, nine drones advanced towards her from the left, leaving her to single-handedly defend that side. As she dropped a slain foe, nahara utter words of unknown languages as an enchantment to her sword; and as it glowed brightly for a short moment, she promptly swings her sword in a straight line, cutting down every enemy thereafter.
Later she raises it up into the sky to where she summoned a jolt of thunder, though instead of a regular blue or white lightning, the one the empress had summoned was golden. After she did so, she simply lowered it with the head of her sword pointing towards his location.
The result he knew of and he immediately started to detach his arm from the snatcher's back, swiftly he propelled himself away from the beast, though not without leaving a presence on his prey.
When he made land, five watches as the golden lightning from nahara's attack struck the snatcher, to where when it made impact; it also resulted in the grenades that the Spartan had embedded deep in the beast's back exploding together with the magical attack from the Empress's own work.
After the little light show, both Empress and five caught each other's sudden glance, with thanks the Spartan nodded towards her in appreciation and moved to deal with a rushing scion, while the empress continues providing aid to those in the village.
"Koa! Behind you!" Yelled the expected voice of rose.
Five heard her and immediately moved back avoiding an attack from a grub. With his free hand, the Spartan brought his right arm up and gripped his palms around the grubs forearm. It with a failed attempt tried to pry the his hand off of his own. Sadly five didn't give it any moment at all and returned the favor by wrapping his left hand around his neck while with his right hand he simply began asserting force to where he easily tore off the scions own arm and head.
After had he dealt with the grub he turned to see his sister stopping next to him.
"How's your end of the fight?" Five said in a remark as he asked her.
"Fine!" Rose said aloud as she brought a grub down with three shots to his cranium. "I Could say the same about you brother, but it seems like the empress did the job for you!"
Five in his part moved in a jointly act with rose as they both took out one grub after the other.
"The snatchers! They're not killing anyone?" Rose spoke obscure by the odd move from the invading monsters.
"That's cause they aren't choosing to. They are taking them somewhere." Five said answering her back.
Rose was on the verge of replying to her brother when both siblings paused their actions momentarily.
The ground beneath them shook so hard that it causes those nearby to suddenly fall down once a crater formed below them.
Lucky enough for them, one of the members of green team, Quinton was close to the two. Both man and woman believed the end was near, but didn't expect a seven foot six spartan two to coming to their rescue.
Once Quinton had reached them, he glance down at the crater. He with one hand; the Spartan laid fire on numerous scion grubs that were crawling their way up the hole, while with his other hand he used to lift the first individual up the edge. And in the midst of battle he took a quick glance down at the second victim.
The soldier was seen frantically crawling his way up for the edge. The Spartan is diligently holding off the other grubs on the ground, understanding the gravity of their situation and must run with this thought in his mind. Once he was sure that he had enough time, he then reached down further for the second victim in the hole urging her to take his arm.
Despite her uncertainty about making it, the soldier decided to climb, seizing the opportunities she was sure of. After she accomplished that, the soldier took her left hand and wrapped it around the Spartan's arm without any hesitation, and in that instant, she was lifted onto the land where Quinton is.
After he had assured her safety, spartan Quinton turned around to face an incoming brute of a grub. These particular scion was of an elite drone, that with an overly amount of a large built was only equipped with a much more heavy armor then their other counterparts.
Each of the three elite drones were beared with lancer rifle that had chainsaws equipped underneath its head. One drone rushed the Spartan while he had just gotten done reloading, and the midst of time; Quinton had the barrel of his rifle aimed at the kneecap of the running grub. He calculated the first weakness of these beings, and understood what had to be done to this first foe... As the Spartan's finger slowly moved towards the trigger, two individuals swiftly ran in front of him, crouched down, and employed their shields to shield them from the continuous fire of the elite drones.
Surprised by the sudden event, Quinton stopped firing for a moment whereas from his right was one of those sentinel knights of the empress nahara.
At first, he had reservations regarding the empress's personal guards, but what he observed was much more than simple surprise. The two sentinel knights proceeded to block the incoming burst of the drones lancer rifles At this moment, behind the two sentinels, there was an additional companion who ran forward and utilized one of their shoulders to elevate herself over the three drones.
As the female knight landed she pulled two of her swords out and in a blaze of glory swung her sword down diagonally on her first victims knee. Once after the first strike, the sentinel knight herself used one foot to propelled forward and sliced through the second drones kneck; with a clean cut, the grubs head was completely decapitated from the way it fell down.
And as she rolled to a stop, the knight gradually got back up from the opposite side of the two surviving drones. With the other one greatly injured from her first attack, the knight knew she had the second one mainly focused on her. It made it's decision and turned around Foolish in an attempt to shoot at her. However, it ignored the previous sentinels who quickly got to their feet to where both of them thrusted the head of their speared straight through the drones armored chest.
With the two other grubs down, the female knight walked forth, stalking down the crawling scion that was backing away hoping to reach his fallen weapon. The sentinel knight raises her two swords high into the night sky and brought them down onto the drone, resulting in an oddly unfamiliar yell from her victim. And with a finishing blow, she twisted both swords; severing the scions spine apart from one another intending to end the enemy for good.
Upon witnessing the scene, Quinton turned to the two soldiers behind him to inquire about their condition before he guided them to the nearest cover.
"Stay here. It'll keep both of you shielded from the surrounding fire! Understand!" Quinton told the two of them making sure they got it down.
"Copy that!" The female soldier replied back as she now reliad on using her Glock-17 handgun after losing her rifle in the fall.
One grub came running from his left, and Quinton turned to deal with it, however a stray shot from a villagers Longshot high caliber round; speared right through her target's head. The Spartan quick to pick up from it veered his head left, and up in a building's window was a woman who blowed him a kiss. Troubled by the odd act from her, the Spartan just watched as the woman continued in sniping down each foe one by one.
Though as great as the moment was, Quinton hurriedly made his way towards one foe that was bashing it's fist against a sentinel knight's shield. At the moment, the warrior, equipped solely with a shield and sword, could only protect himself from the ongoing assault of fists and bullets. Thankfully Quinton came to his aid by cracking down on the grub side. The other ones who were firing from his far right were quick to focus their aim onto the armored behemoth.
Nonetheless, five who wasn't so far behind rushed them from their blind side. He was seen carrying one elite drone body while using the struggling grub as a meat-shield. Once he had reached the gunners, the Spartan drop the already dead grub and went to town as he tore one drone down with three quick rounds to his eye socket. The second, third and fourth grubs evantually saw five standing in between them, and before they could've reacted; the Spartan then proceeds to shoot one grub in the shoulder forcing him to spin his left arm where he accidentally shot it's own ally in the waist. The third one uneffected by these went to fire at his new foe, however five simply kicked one rock straight at its head greatly landing a stray shot, causing him to lurch his head upward. And once he had done so, the Spartan quickly performed three perfect shot on each of their head.
"Koa, the townhall!" The voice of asta-017 said out loud through his team com.
Five recognizing her voice immediately turned to where the front entrance of the town hall was. What he saw was something that engulfed him in a state of dread.
Henrique, his biological brother was seen fighting alongside one of the empress sentinel knights. The Two were doing great defending their position, but just up above them, on top of the townhall's roof were one of the snatchers quietly sneaking it's way towards the two, all without being noticed by anyone.
He turned to one of the only two members of green team. Unfortunately, Quinton was far from the town hall. At the same time, the wolf pack team was managing their affairs on the northeast side of the village. Where the three of them had to fend off an incoming wave of not only grubs but also one of their large beasts with gorilla-like arms.
Understanding that time was of the essence, he realized he must make a swift move, being the closest spartan to the town hall. With a burst of speed that would make even spartan Kelly-087 impressed, five sped forth with great efficiency clearing one grub with a snap of his neck after it had tried to stop him.
Another one saw the speeding spartan and gradually turned to deal with him. It held with itself an oddly unidentified weapon that resembles a turret. Though, instead of a machine gun rounds, it fired three sets of grenades towards his path. With this it caused the Spartan to resort in having to dodge midway as he avoided another one from impacting him on his chest armor. And even tho he manages to dodge a shot, the ground beneath his boots rocketed in an explosion in which greatly causes him to almost lose his footing.
Regardless of the circumstances, five stilled himself and ran as fast as he could. For he saw how the snatcher from ontop of the roof was closing in on both henrique and the sentinel knight who were already aware of its presence.
"Boom! Hahaha haha!" Laughed the scion boomer as he continuously fired upon the Spartan.
Five beginning to feel pressed began feeling resentment towards the grubs, and once he neared one of the two boomers, he spears one through a fallen debris, and when both individuals landed with the slightly bigger grub on its back.
It saw how the green armored being was ontop of it, it tried reaching for his booms hot but the Spartan kicked it out of the way and pressed the head of his own M7 Revolver against his temple and shot it, killing him on sight. The other boomer turned around after witnessing it's own brethren getting tackled. And despite the fact it manages to fire one shot at the Spartan, it only blowed it's own brethrens body apart. The Spartan who had rolled to the right in avoiding the shot, snatches the boomshot and fired it at the grubs head, unloading the rest of the grenades on its head; to the point where it no longer had one, for it slumped backward on his own back.
Once five had dealt with the two boomers, he rose to his feet and moved forward quickly, wishing to avoid any further delays.
Up ahead he saw how both henrique and the sentinel knight were dodging the snatchers tail swipe. The knight, on the other hand, skillfully evaded two swift strikes from the sharp claws, while Henrique's attack came from the right, targeting the creature's vulnerable glowing stomach.
However, with the knight who was merely closing in from the left side of the target, it was unaware of the tail that came from his rear and swung hard enough to where it sent the sentinel flying smacking him across the field.
Henrique upon seeing that was shocked by the scene but quickly dodges a claw swipe. He tried firing at the beast's stomach, however, he suddenly heard a click, indicating that it was completely empty. He tried reaching down to his waist for the last clip he had, unfortunately the snatcher was far too quick for his liking. When it came close to him, it knocked him down, sending him spiraling to where he evantually landed on his back.
With his breath nearly taken away, the man exhaled deeply as if he were in need of oxygen, he then slowly rolled to the side on his stomach. Tilting his head forth, he looked to where his rifle was, where it was laid only four feet from where he was crawling.
With his heavy breathing, henrique proceeded towards the gun just to simply be pulled back. As he attempted to kick at the various tentacles there were hauling him into the opened stomach of the beast, henrique knew he couldn't get the things off of his legs, sadly it made it even worst when the tentacles slowly crept around his entire body, encasing him in a mummified form where he had nearly every opening for air shutting him from even the night sky.
Luckily, in the midst of his expected capture a golden lightning shot from the empress sword struck the snatcher forcing the beast to drop the mummified henrique hard onto the ground. The sentinel knight who was sent off to the side came in running towards the spot the lightning struck, and with his sword in hand it leaped upward at the burnt mark of the snatchers stomach.
Unexpectedly, from his right, five sped by, moving with the speed of forty three miles per hour, a speed that nearly came to a match with that of an ostrich. With his monstrous rush of adrenaline five pierced straight through the snatcher's abdomen, creating a gutt wrennching scene that the resident of Vahrian and civilians, as well as those nearby weren't used to seeing. The snatcher after it had made one two final steps suddenly ceased in its walk having finally been slane by its Foes.
Given his speed, he was unable to stop midway, resulting in a trail on the hard concrete floor of the town hall's front entrance.
Once five had been able to stop himself, he whirled around grabbing one grub by the edge of his armor to where he lifted the shocked drone and smashes him down head first. With one other hand five unlatches his revolver and let out two quick rounds on another one dropping him.
The one he had smashed on the ground was still breathing while it was scraping his own claws against the Spartan's armored forearm. Five without a hint of resignation just ignored it's attempt and pushes his palm down on its neck harder earning a sudden snapp of the drones bone.
He then proceeded towards Henrique, who was in the process of being freed from the snatchers' gutt prison.
Upon reaching them, he happened to overhear one of the Wolf Pack team members being hit forcefully. He turned his head and observed Robert being thrown across the air. He directed his gaze towards the two other members of wolfpack. Upon noticing them, five understood what they were confronting. It was a creature unlike the snatchers and scions.
It was one of the slain beasts that laid amongst the battlefield. With the first one taken down, which was mainly thanks to the three spartans, the second one had took it on itself to rush the wolfpack where it had clearly struck Robert first.
Shane and Jane, who were the two remaining spartans standing against the monster continued to lay oppressive fire upon the grub carrier of a swarm tank. While it may have been slower than its primary adversaries, it certainly compensated with the functionality of its two arms. Both arms exhibited prominent red scales that were thickened to the bone, extending from the upper part of the hand to the elbow.
Whenever the two wolfpack fired at it, the beast simply brought its two gigantic arms forth and uses it to shield itself.
"How many times must we lay waste on these bastard!" Hollered shane as he quickly reloaded his assault rifle and fired at the beast carrier.
Yet despite it's thick armored arms, it left its sides exposed to those of the surrounding gunfire. At this moment, it appears that even both the villagers of Fort Umson and outsiders were currently contributing to considerable amount of annoyance onto the carrier.
At that moment, Shane and Jane were both distancing themselves from the Swarm carrier, ensuring that they would not come into contact with the creature.
"Shane, the beast! Aim for it's stomach! Once it opens!" Shouted jane-A203 as she has had to deal with a drone elite that attempted to blindside her from the right.
Shane veered around having being overwhelmed by two boomers heading his way. In the event of their critical situation, Shane's eyes, whether obscured by his helmet's visor, caught sight of a metal pole that flew past, intersecting the path between him and Jane.
Once the first boomer was struck in his chest by the pole, a second one swiftly flew by and impaled the struggling grub at the waist, anchoring the pole into the ground.
The other one who upon witnessing it's own comrade being struck down by a finishing blow from a third pole to the head, hated his booms hot at an incoming third spartan.
Both shane and Jane seeing the speeding form of five, could only watch as he sped forth and slided under a sweeping arm of the Swarm carrier. As he passes the beast, five gradually slid onto a halt and dashes forth once more.
The hive carrier saw a speeding five and positioned itself directly in the Spartan's path; as it did so, it stood on its own tail with its chest split open, revealing an anonymous amount of rocket-like explosives ordnance that as it was firing, it seems to have had a tracking system when it targeted only five.
Thankfully, while it continues to track five with its explosive ordnance, the others too joined in as they focused fire on its exposed stomach. Regardless of being equipped with an energy shield on his mjolnir armor, five couldn't be too sure of the circumstances when those thing struck him, so therefore he relied only on the other disadvantage the Swarm carrier has, it's extremely slothful movement.
Given the thick armor it had around its body and its tremendous strength, it was quite powerful. However, Five was able to identify the weaknesses that was clearly evident after it attempted to pursue Shane and Jane.
Using his weapon, five rolled forward as one of the explosive tendrils passed by where his head should have been. As he came to a halt, five grabbed his rifle and fired at the exposed stomach of the giant pushing himself to avoid the third wave of bombarding explosives.
Granting their current situation five could see that shane and Jane, along with Robert who had rejoin his team; aiding him with providing suppression fire on the carrier, limiting the Swarm beast from effectively engaging or often respond greatly after five.
The wolfpack, through their dedicated efforts, came to understand that the old man, as they knew him, was quite capable of handling a challenge like the Swarm carrier. After all, they had dealt with a monster similar to the carrier, the Mgalekgolo, or commonly known by many in the unsc as simply hunters.
Firstly the Spartan was able to move exceedingly fast that the other three nearly lost track of him. The Swarm carrier ultimately met its annoyance when one of the sentinel knight beared with a bow-n-arrow shot three arrows altogether straight at the carrier's opened chest. They not only offered excellent support to the Spartans, but also gave five a final blow to the robust beast by leaping over the carrier after it failed to hit him. When he landed on the carriers back, it grabbed one of the fallen drones grenades and stabbed it into the Swarm carrier's thickened skin.
With the same Ole move he had performed when he dealt with the hunter, five brought one leg clamping it on the carriers back and pushed leaping off of the Swarm beast's back.
When he landed he just kept his eyes on the carrier watching it as it turned to him with a guttering roar. Unknowingly to the Swarm beast, it was oblivious to the eleven bolo grenades that he had trusted deep into its back.
Counting down within his head, five made it from three, two and one, and moments after that he watches as the the Swarm carrier suddenly halted in its steps. It confused some when it started clawing at its own back, but we're evantually given an answer when something oddly bizarre had transpired.
The Swarm carrier with its act stopped when the top of its entire body seemingly began getting bloated in a glow of fire from within, whereas not even a beat later it's head along with is upper body exploded outward in a show of orange blood as it smeared the ground around it.
Instinctively five veered around checking his surrounding area. He was trained by chief Mendez that no matter what comes to him, that he shouldn't have wasted any amount of time he has left. Fortunately, he noticed one of the assailant drones charging towards an unsuspecting Jane Harrow, who instinctively recoiled in fear upon encountering the Swarm grubs.
The only other people closest to the woman was that of the empress, reyna Diaz, Elizabeth and Sandra Lopez. Prior to the invasion of swarms in Fort Umson village, the other siblings had entirely parted ways with Jd, Kate, and Del, as the trio intended to show the Lopez siblings their homes, until their current situation occurred.
As those of the drones elites hounded in on harrow, the woman had her back up against Sandra's own, whereas the two woman and that of the empress, Halsey, nalia and reyna each defended one another's side.
Nahara, despite being the most formidable member of the group, was unable to fully utilize her abilities in her immediate surroundings. For if she had she would've slaughtered not only the swarms but that of the fort umson villagers and outsiders that had entered Sera.
So therefore she refrain from summoning her thunderous bolt of lightning attack. Though within the thought on her head, she had think of various abilities she had but knew ultimately that it'd be a great mistake if she used it. And so with her mind made up, she raises her hands where every pieces of metals and fallen knives slowly gradually floated in the air.
Then with an opened palm she sent each of the Knifes, combat blades, rocks and bolo grenades striking down any grubs, while also noting to herself that the snatchers and carriers were also subject to the same fate.
Those defending against the Swarm attacks halted in their action, though some took it upon themselves to land a finishing blow to each of their own individual foe.
However, with one particular snatcher, it ignored the various amount of attacks that it received and pushed itself further towards harrow. Sandra who upon seeing this attempted to shove the woman out in time, but was sadly smacked sending her crashing through a pot of flowers gardens.
Harrow shocked by the sudden event tried bringing her gun up at the large swarm beast, but the snatchers quick with one of its tentacle like mouths struck her rifle aside and was quick in its feet as it leaped out of Naharas attack.
Five who was rushing his way towards the town hall balcony was hoping he'd make in time. But when he saw Sandra being struck by the snatcher he immediately the adrenaline he has made him push himself further.
When he reached the balcony, he knelt down to check on Sandra who was also being helped up on her feet by both reyna and Halsey, while Nahara kept their back covered.
"Is she okay?" A Slightly concerned five said asking Halsey.
The doc herself pulled a medical syringe out of her bag and sticked it into Sandra's shoulder earning a yell from her. "This syringe will keep the pain she had sedated for the moment. The wound she gotten isn't that fatal, she'll live Koa. Trust me, Sandra will be fine... But you need to find that thing that had taken harrow, and bring her back."
"Ma'am!" A Soldier interrupted.
"What is it?" Asked Halsey.
"It's the gate. There's been a report that one of these things have been passing through it. There were just far too many against the team tasked with defending the gate."
With this new info she was told, Halsey's head veered around sharply to five, but all she saw was the preceeding form of her spartan speeding ahead to meet the snatcher.
"Quick, get wolfpack, we're going for a ride."
"Ill look after Sandra." Nahara added in having a great sense of familiarity with the woman herself.