Sent To Protect and Serve Humanity

Chapter 59: Poached

3rd POV

The arrival of the Covenant's vanguard was sudden, yet expected by the Alliance. There were concerns about the overall strength of the Covenant's fleet, but the Alliance's force proved to be as stalwart as ever, leaving only one hostile warship standing. The battle cruiser Divine Prejudice was the former leader, once highly-respected, and devout warrior to his fellow battle cruisers, Pledge of Defiance and Faithful Respite. He was their brother and master, so it was only natural that these two Sangheili still held respect, even if it were a modicum, toward the Jiralhanae.

On the other hand, most of the warships of the UNSC, rigging activated, continued to circle like vultures, eager to finally strike down the menace that shattered their fleet so many nights ago. Hastings and Jubilant were particularly poised to strike, even through their damaged state. Still, they maintained their composure out of respect for Defiance.

The three warships of the former Fleet of Furious Redemption had met in the middle, joined by the rest of their defectors, seemingly reflecting on the past as they spoke a shared alien language, assumingly Covenant Sangheili. Whilst they reconnected, the UNSC had sent a single frigate to assist in finally deposing of the Sick Man of Remnant.

Valorous, now in his rigging, darted toward the last pair of airships of the Atlesian Airfleet. Below him, a fleet of Pelicans and Phantoms raced toward the landing pads that were being harassed by army green Banshees and Hornets.

He would open his missile pods and launch four Archer Missiles at the obstacles in his path. These objects would screech through the sky, leaving a brilliant streak behind them, and soon impact the Airships. Explosions rippled across the Airships, both unable to properly protect themselves with Dust, and throw debris into the air.

The Pelicans and Phantoms had no issue navigating the falling wrecks but instead suffered from the few remaining anti-air encampments on the landing pads around the academy. Hornets Banshees would descend upon these defenses unmatched swiftness, managing to completely do away with the threats before they could bring any harm to the dropships.

Then, came the hard part. On one landing pad, several Pelicans had deployed their Marines, which were met with harsh resistance from fortified areas near the academy's doors. Despite Dust being rendered obsolete by most forms of UNSC BDUs in small numbers, large concentrations of it could still be enough to damage the BDUs and potentially be fatal. However, Dust still had no effect on the armor and energy shielding technology of the Covenant.

As the Marines quickly ducked behind cover, using the wrecks of Mantas and debris from the Airships to do so, a Phantom flew overhead. It would come to a halt above the Atlesians' fortified positions near the doors and began to deploy its troops. Elites and Grunts floated down from the grav-lift and immediately went to work. The cries and screams of the defenders were cut short by the sound of plasma and gunfire.

"Let's move, Lethernecks!" A Marine shouted, rallying his unit behind him.

Behind him, Davis and Arbor quickly glanced at each other and nodded. They would quickly leap over the debris and charge forward, joining Anne, Eddy, and several other Marines as they raced toward the doors.

"I have the door, Humans!" A Sangheili corporal roared, reloding his carbine. "Stand clear!"

The Marines stacked up against the door as the Sangheili jogged up to it and planted a small purple device on it. The humans gritted their teeth as a purple explosion of plasma disintegrated the door before they were quick to enter with their weapons at the ready.

BANG BANG

The only resistance they found would be a pair of underequipped soldiers using the reception desk as cover. Eddy was quick to put a bullet through both of their arms, rendering the two men no longer a threat.