The following has been rated:

E / G / PG / M / MA-15+ / R-18+ / X-18+ / RC

MA-15+

By the Author using the Australian classification system for Film, Television, and Video Games.

The Following Contains:

War Themes

Graphic Violence

Adult Themes

Not Recommended For Those Under The Age Of Fifteen Years

(I hope all readers of this are having a good day because we all frankly need them right now.)

Chapter 4:

Search and Destroy

"There will be a great deal of hardship on the road ahead. You will become the best we can make you."

The last memories, the resolution of a SPARTAN.

"What is this? Professor Ozpin?"

With steadfast resolve they will fight for humanities survival.

"Please Glynda, let them explain."

Even at the cost of their life, they will see their mission through.

"Them?"

Even if they must crawl through the corpses to do it.

Ozpin regarded the duo with calculating eyes. Rho's avatar coalesced on the desk in front of him, leaving Glynda flabbergasted behind the two. Rho's 'eyes' locked with Ozpins.

"Mister Ozpin, I request access to this facility and it's various outlets in order to begin setting up a communications array capable of contacting the UNSC."

Ozpin nodded towards the small being which immediately dispersed. Noble Six reached behind his head, pulling out a small chip before holding it over Ozpin's desk. There was a small pulse of light on both objects before two avatars appeared. One on the desk, the other on the chip. Noble Six brought the chip back to their helmet and placed it there again.

Ozpin glanced behind Six to the dumbfounded Glynda. He motioned to her although she seemed to not notice.

"Glynda." She noticed this time and moved to stand beside Ozpin's desk, eyes solely focused on the small avatar 'standing' on the desk.

"May we continue?" It asked.

Ozpin nodded.

The construct nodded back before the wires over its body turned pink.

"Over the last Five hours, Twenty-seven minutes, Fifty-two seconds Noble Six and I have been studying the equal rights turned terrorist group known as the 'White Fang'." The holographic White Fang insignia moved to centre on the desk. The room shutters closed and the elevator locked access to the floor. "We have found the elimination of this terrorist cell is a high priority. The threat they pose towards humanities survival is great, second onl-"

"Stop, stop stop stop." Glynda cut off the construct as it was speaking. "What are you?" She directed her question towards the small being, Magenta began seeping into the wires on its body.

"That is not the purpose of this meeting. Any questions you may have not pertaining to the op shall be answered after." Rho sent a small glare Glynda's way. "I have pinpointed the location of five possible hideouts or strongholds within the area surrounding the city to the radius of 300 kilometres." A map was pulled up showing the majority of Vale and it's surroundings with five glowing red marks on it. "The closest is 120 kilometres outside of the city. With the speed of a Bullhead transport it would take forty minutes to get to the location. Each subsequent location being ten, forty, eight, and nineteen minutes away from each other means it would be best to strike all five bases as soon as possible." Rho finished.

"When would this be done?" Ozpin asked.

"Today." Six spoke.

"Today?"

"Yes. You wish to test us, correct?" Rho replied. "The destruction of five locations in one day would put pressure on the organisation. Doing it in such little time will make it appear to be a combined assault from multiple strike teams instead of a single operative. Even then, we would be able to infiltrate and exfiltrate without being detected."

"But five White Fang bases?"

"When near, appear far. When far, appear near. By striking at outlying bases it gives the appearance that we are closing in on any remaining bases that are out there, although we are nowhere near them. Leaving those strongholds within the city itself to think that there is less danger when they are the closest."

"I see."

"We request use of a Bullhead to be ready in ten minutes to leave to a location ten kilometres south of the first marked base."

"Okay, that can be done. There will be a Huntsman going in with you as back up."

"They would be unneeded." Six said.

"As a sign of trust." Ozpin countered.

"Still unneeded."

"May I propose something?" Rho interjected between the two men before tensions arose.

"A 'Huntsman' could potentially jeopardise the safety of SPARTAN B-312 if they were to infiltrate alongside. However, if the operative were to delay their deployment until we are done with each base that would mean you may have a trusted individual survey our work without putting extra risk in each infiltration by us having to account for an unknown entity. Would these terms be acceptable?" Rho asked each party.

Noble Six gave his partner a nod while Ozpin considered the words for a few moments.

"I'll alert a Huntsman and have them join you at the Bullhead."

Six nodded towards Ozpin.

"There has been an agreement settled. All interactions within this meeting have been recorded, alongside the plan of attack and target. This information will be labelled classified and only accessible to Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy and Lieutenant SPARTAN B-312 of Fireteam Noble. This skirmish and other supplementary details will now be filed under the title of Operation: BLACK EYE. Mission start will be in ten minutes."

The room lights lifted and the holographic images dispersed from the desk. Ozpin quickly tapped away a message to the Bullhead pilots about an urgent mission. Before turning his attention back to Six standing opposite his desk.

"The Bullhead is on landing platform B. The Pilot's name is Azul Dourado."

"Sir." Six gave him a salute before leaving through the elevator and back down to the ground level.

Ozpin pulled up his scroll and rang one of his staff-members.

"Peter? I apologise about this being such short notice but would you be able to report to landing platform B for a mission? Excellent, I'll send the mission details to your scroll. It begins in ten minutes. Thank you."

Ozpin ended the call and turned to the head combat instructor at his side.

"Would you like to say something Glynda?"

"What was that Ozpin? Who was that?" Glynda asked, gesturing to the elevator and his desk.

"I believe he can answer that question better." Ozpin answered. Giving a small wave to his desk.

Rho's form flickered into being above desk. "Hello. I am RHO 0313-8. UNSC Battle ready Smart A.I. assigned to SPARTAN B-312."

Six was striding through the campus towards the landing pads, reviewing the information surrounding the mission. He spotted pad B and the Bullhead landing at that moment. It touched down and the side hatches opened. Six approached the transport. The pilot standing in the bay, looking at his scroll before briefly looking up at Six' approaching form before refocusing on his scroll before looking up again. Six came to a stop at the threshold of the aircraft.

"I'm guessing you're S B-312?"

Six gave a curt nod.

"Alright then." The pilot minimised the scroll and placed it in his pocket. "Azul Dourado. Your pilot. Please, enter. Don't think I'd be able to stop you anyway." The pilot stepped to the side and approached the cockpit of the Bullhead and retook his seat. He pulled his pilot's helmet back on and started going through pre-flight checks. "Just waiting for a Huntsman by the name of Peter Port and then we'll be off."

Six took a seat in the transport bay.

"You wouldn't be able to tell me what 120 kilmo-kilom kilomet, kilometres? Yeah, you wouldn't be able to tell me what 120 Kilometres is in Miles would you?" The pilot called back. A ping sounded from the control panel and the centre selection hub displayed the message: 120km=74.5 miles. 10km=6.2 miles.

"Not very talkative then yeah?" Azul called back. "I'm just going to assume that's a yes." The pilot muttered as he turned back to the controls.

"Ho Ho, what's this?" Both Six and the pilot looked towards the open hatch to see a portly man with a blunderbuss axe and a small backpack. "I am Professor Peter Port. I take it you two are the gentlemen I am to accompany this fine day?"

"Yes, I'm Azul Dourado. Please, enter the Ocean Pyrite."

Port stepped into the aircraft. "The Ocean Pyrite? I've not heard many Bullheads be named."

"Eh, they told me I couldn't. I figured what's the harm?"

Peter stopped opposite to Six. "You must be the man I'm to oversee as it were?" He held out his hand. "Peter Port."

Six looked to the hand before returning the handshake with some hesitation.

"Sierra B-312. Noble Six."

"Gentlemen, please strap yourselves in, we are departing now."

Peter sat opposite the man and pulled on a safety belt. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance then my good man. Now, would either of you like to hear about a strapping young lad and his overeager encounter with a Deathstalker?"

The hatch of the Bullhead closed as it pulled away from the school and out into the reaches of the Emerald Forest.

"Rho."

"Yes Mister Ozpin?"

"I would like to know how exactly you managed to locate several White Fang bases after only five hours."

Rho paused in his action. Several files floating around himself. "It was quite easy." The construct replied.

Glynda eyed the being warily. "How?"

"I infiltrated your system and started pulling files. Since you keep everything on a single global server and every scroll is connected to this system, I just had to create a database of known White Fang members and supporters and track their movements to any congregation points then cross check that with what is in the vicinity of the congregation points. If it's a place of business like a supermarket then that is less of a chance of it being a hideout but a field in the middle of nowhere is highly likely to be something far more sinister than the produce section."

The words of the being were given time to sink in before Glynda realised something.

"You did what!?"

The constructs pupil-less eyes focused on Glynda.

"I infiltrated your system." It held up it's hands to quiet her for a second. "Noble Six and I found ourselves on an unknown world. I'm going to gather as much information as possible on our surroundings to make sure my Spartan is safe."

"Your Spartan?" Ozpin asked.

"I was assigned to him. Bonds form." The small being replied with a shrug.

"And the, 'wires' that change colour?"

"Merely impression and mimicry of human emotion."

"Oh? And how did this come about?"

"Ozpin, stop allowing the topic to be changed."

"What do you mean Glynda? He's doing no harm."

"What are you talking about. He admitted to illegally entering the CCT and having access to everything."

"Miss Glynda, if I may interject. I am able to shut down your entire network, but that would help no-one."

That gave both teachers pause.

"You can?" Ozpin asked.

"Yes, but as I previously stated, it would help no-one."

"-and with a thorough analysis of his surroundings, he collapsed an old building on top of the Deathstalker. With this he was able to make his way back to safety and bring the support of multiple Huntsmen. Thus, once the Deathstalker broke free, the combined might of the Huntsmen was able to overpower and take down the Grimm. Saving the surrounding town! Why-"

"I'm sorry to interrupt Professor but we're approaching the drop zone."

The hatch of the Bullhead opened up. Noble Six stood and approached the side hatch.

"Now, I've been told that we're to approach on your signal, could you tell me what the signal is?" Azul asked.

Six nodded towards the controls. Azul turned his head to the board to find the word 'signal' written there.

"Alright, mission is a go then." Azul turned back towards Six to find a green light flashing on the helmet. The giant turned towards the forest and dropped out of the Bullhead five metres to the ground.

Azul turned to the professor. "You have another story in you? I enjoyed the last one."

In the Emerald Forest lies a White Fang base. An underground complex. Above ground three guards stand watch. One by the door. Two further out, side by side.

"Hey." The first one asks.

"Yeah?" The second responds.

"You ever wonder why-"

"Shut it."

"I'm sorry?"

"Just, shut up. Don't get philosophical."

"Why don't you want to get philosophical?"

"I-I just don't want to, okay."

"Want to talk about it?"

"N-no."

"You feeling okay man?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yeah! Of course. You can tell me anything."

"I-I-I I'm stressed."

"Yeah?"

"I-I mean look at us. We're terrorists."

"Yeah?"

"Terrorists man! We're terrorists!" The second drops his gun on the ground, clutching his head.

"I'm a terrorist! I joined to peacefully protest! I wanted equal rights! Now I'm a terrorist."

"So, you're not okay?"

"Of course I'm not okay! I'm a terrorist! I-I-I-I I wanted to be a politician! I wanted to let my voice be heard and fight that way but now I'm blowing up government buildings! HOW!? How did it go so wrong!?"

The second was on his knees now, seconds away from entering the foetal position. The first places his weapon on the ground and signals to the guard by the door. Signalling that they were going to go deeper into the forest to cool off.

"Come on man, let's go into the forest. It's private we can talk there."

The duo walk off into the forest.

"Now. Get everything off your chest."

"I, I'm sorry man I'm just really stressed and I just don't-"

"You have nothing to apologise for."

"I just don't know how I got here. I wanted to help people. I wanted to help people! I was given a gun! I'm a pacifist! I don't like violence and I'm a terrorist!" He hung his head in his hands.

"Don't worry. Earliest possible chance. Let's leave. We can support Faunus rights in other ways."

"W-we?"

"You're having a breakdown. I'm worried for you."

"You mean it man?"

"Of course. It'll be like AA. I'll suppor-"

The first paused mid-sentence. Freezing up.

"Glas?"

The second was worried now. Adding to his worry was a…being…appearing over his friends' shoulder, holding a knife to his neck with a rifle levelled to his own head.

"Be silent, or die."

The second passed out.

Glas was terrified. He couldn't focus. The thing at his back had made Dayton pass out and he could feel the flat edge of the knife at his throat.

"Please, we regret what we've done we're ref-" Before he could finish pleading for his and his friend's life a gloved hand closed around his mouth. His breathing speed increased.

"Be silent." He heard from the thing that held him. He felt on the verge of a heart attack.

"You will tell me everything you know about this base. Understood." It wasn't a question. He could tell that much. Glas nodded rapidly within the things grip.

He felt movement, the thing removed their hand from his mouth. Just as suddenly he felt the grip tighten around his left arm before he was moved so his back was against the tree they were next to. The knife was against his throat, ready to slash it at any moment. He was finally able to see the thing that was holding him.

"Talk."

Glas knew one thing, as he stared into that cold visor. Was that whatever this thing was, it scared him far worse than the Grimm ever could.

"We haven't heard a single report or update from base two. Their last scheduled report was supposed to be twenty minutes ago. What's taking them?"

Priscilla idly listened to the conversations going on around her. Why was the report so important anyway? 'Oh hey, nothing's happened. Terry got eaten by Grimm. Edgar tripped and fell in a hole.' Who cares?

The sounds of bureaucracy carried on around her, if she was paying attention to her station, she may have noticed a slight shimmer on the cameras she was supposed to be watching. Instead paying attention to her scroll, she noticed nothing.

"Do you have any sevens?"

"No, go hunt. Do you have any kings?"

Azul looked through his cards. Both him and the Professor had decided to waste some time by playing Go Hunt while waiting for the signal.

"Yes." He handed the cards to Peter.

"Great, do you have any eights?"

Before he had to reluctantly hand over the eight he had he heard a beeping coming from the Bullhead's console. Upon its display were the words;

'SIGNAL. CLEARED FOR LANDING.'

Azul quickly dropped his cards, a halfhearted 'sorry' escaped his lips as he prepared the Bullhead to approach and land at the base.

"Sir, we're receiving a message from base two now." One White Fang member called to their superior.

"Show me, they better have a good reason for being twenty minutes late."

"Here Sir."

The Commanding Officer was handed a scroll.

"What? What is this?"

"Touching down in three, two, one." The Bullhead landed in the grass outside of the compound. The side hatches opened, allowing Peter Port to leave the vehicle and approach the entrance. Weapon at the ready. Azul hung back, not suited for combat. The Professor scanned the area. Azul felt uncomfortable. The place looked deserted. He approached the sides of the aircraft, stepping out onto the ground. This was supposed to be a base, right? Where was everyone, where was Six?

A rustle in the bushes near him made Azul nearly jump. There was a faint whimpering that he could hear. Stupidity won out as he made to investigate the noise. He crept along, nearing the bush. He pulled out the small pistol he had been issued. As he neared the bush, he walked slower, making less noise. He was right on the noise.

Azul quickly pulled back the branches, levelling his pistol at what was making the noise, only to find two terrified Faunus men wearing White Fang outfits, the masks long discarded.

"We Surrender!" The one whimpering yelled. The same phrase being rapidly repeated. His eyes closed tight.

Azul lowered his gun, trying to calm the man. Their eyes shot wide open, rapidly searching for something.

"That thing's not still here is it!?" The man was incoherent, in shock. Rambling on.

"Please, just calm down. What thing?" Azul tried to question the man.

He backed off, it was no use. He heard the creak of a door opening. Even 150 feet from the man he could still here the quiet exclamation of 'By the Gods' from the Professor.

"Professor Port?"

Confusion marred the Officers' face at the report.

"It says it's a casualty report." one of his subordinates answered.

"What?" The Officer gazed at the first page. "What does this mean?" He asked the one that gave it to him, handing the scroll back.

"I don't know Sir, it just appeared."

Any more words that could be said another message caught their eyes.

"Sir, a new message."

"One of the other bases?"

The Faunus paused with dread on their lips.

"It says it's a casualty report for Base Bravo. All hands lost!"

"Sir!" Another White Fang member called. "All our systems are not responding! I can't communicate with anyone!"

Before the Officer could reply the lights in the command room of Base Bravo shut off. There was no cacophony of noise anymore. The sudden transition of light made the Officer close their eyes. As they opened them the room lights flashed on again, disorientating him into clenching his eyes shut again. When he opened his eyelids again, all he could see was the barrel of a gun.

Azul approached the Professor, looking over his shoulder into the facility and felt like vomiting. He stumbled back from what he saw. There was blood everywhere. The Professer could only stare at the destruction.

Both missed the Bullheads console light up again with another message.

'SIGNAL. TARGET TWO SECURED. CLEARED FOR LANDING.'

"Mister Ozpin, a call is coming in from Peter Port." Rho's voice emanated from the desk. The small construct sitting atop it with files floating about his head. Waving various files around.

Ozpin dismissed the report he was reading. It was just an expenditure report for the school.

"Put him through, if you would please."

Peter's face appeared on the desk, he appeared shaken.

"Peter? Do you have a status update on Six?"

"I..." Peter seemed to take a moment to compose himself before speaking again. "Headmaster, I don't think I can properly describe what I see."

The camera perspective changed from the mustachioed face of one of his employees to what could best be described as a slaughter. Blood on the walls and floor and bodies littered the corridor.

The image switched back to Peter's face.

"The Pilot, Azul, has also found two Faunus men in the bushes near the entrance. They appear extremely shaken up."

Ozpin contemplated the information for a moment. "Secure the men then sweep the building for any more survivors. Is there any sign of Six?"

Peter sighed. "No, Headmaster. Azul has told me that another alert has appeared for site two so Six is either there or already on his way to the third site."

"Alright Peter, keep me updated."

The call disconnected. Ozpin dismissing it. He looked to Rho. A pleased smile was on the constructs face.

"How is the test progressing, Mister Ozpin?"

The final White Fang base came into view past the small cliff face. The previous sites had been formed from a mix of abandoned buildings, underground complexes and some tents. This base was formed solely from tents. I circled the small cliff until I was on the west side. The late afternoon sun helping hide my presence as I lay among the rocks. My armour changing to earthy colours to better hide.

I scanned the site. It consisted of ten tents set in a ring around one large main tent that was being used as the centre of command for the compound. Three fire pits in varying states of use were scattered through the grounds. There were several White Fang Members patrolling between the outer tents, some sitting and relaxing beside the fire pits. One body sleeping.

"Fourteen White Fang members present." Rho chimed in my ear. "Three with outstanding warrants issued by the Vale Police Department. I advise their arrest Spartan."

Four were in the largest tent in the centre of the small compound. Two of the High Value Targets situated inside. The Third HVT was inside one of the tents sleeping.

At the unneeded question Rho began. "First HVT is Shera Ram," The image of a woman with horns and hair like wool appeared on my HUD. "Wanted for questioning in regards to recent thefts and possible terrorist activities. The Second, Idna Upine," The image of a man with quills for hair appeared next. "Wanted for questioning in relation to a string of vandalisms focusing on anti-human rhetoric and in regards to a bombing in Vacuo. The final one is Hena Aardvolf. No image available. Weapon and Semblance are currently unknown. He has been labelled unhinged and extremely dangerous. Take caution Spartan, we haven't had a proper fight with an Aura user so we don't fully know what we're in for."

I nodded to Rho before I moved as the active camouflage abilitie on my armour activated. I Dropped down to the bottom of the cliff, landing silently before I pulled out my DMR. The only sign I was present there being the boot prints I left in the grass. The sound of the camp became louder as I circled to the eastern side of the base. I waited for one of the patrolling guards to make their rounds, hid behind a tree and some bushes in a thicket.

As they approached within earshot of my position I knocked on one of the trees. Making the guard react.

"Huh?" They looked towards my position before turning back into the camp. "I think I heard something, I'm going to check it out."

A reply came back from the camp, "When you die to the Beowolf, don't complain!" Causing the guard to roll their eyes before making their way towards my position.

"Please be a rabbit, I'm tired of the MRE's." I could make out the mumbling of the Guard as they moved through the thicket. All they got was shock though as my invisible hand covered their mouth and nose, cracking parts of the mask they wore, not letting them breathe and my combat knife sunk through their breastplate and into their heart. The last thing they saw being a Demon fading into existence as their life drained away.

One down. Ten left. Three HVTs still active.

I disposed of the body in the bushes around me and out of direct view of the camp and reactivated Active Camouflage. I crept through the trees closer to the outer ring of the tents. I halted at the tent containing the sleeping HVT.

"Clear." Rho chimed.

I pulled the canvas sheet back and stepped inside. The HVT lay face down on a cot in deep sleep.

"Idna Upine. Hedgehog Faunus. Nocturnal."

I placed my DMR in its holster and moved my right arm around their head and under their chin. The other going around the back of their neck. The quills doing nothing against the Mjolnir armour. It only took two seconds for Idna to succumb to the sleeper hold. Making sure he wouldn't wake up until I was done.

One down. Ten left. One HVT secured. Two still active.

I backed out of the tent, active camouflage making me invisible again. I began to continue my way around the camp before a voice made me pause.

"Maro has been gone a while." Six stopped. The voice called out again. "Hey Alli, come with me!"

Six waited as the footsteps of the two came closer and emerged where the other guard came from earlier. He followed the two quietly as they approached the thicket where the other guard's body was.

"Maro."

The front one turned to the other. "Alli, wait here."

A feminine voice replied "Okay."

The front guard began making his way into the thicket. I quickly made my way behind the rear guard and put her into a sleeper hold, quickly breaking their neck. I used the bushes to hide the body as I continued to the other one. He was almost at the body. The guard stopped as the feet of the first guard I took down came into view.

"M-Maro?" Shock was in his voice.

I took my chance, drawing my combat knife again I lunged towards the guard, wrapping my left hand around their mouth to stifle them and plunging the knife into the base of their neck. Severing the brain stem, killing them instantly. I quietly lowered them to the ground to ensure there was no noise.

Three down. Eight left. One HVT secured. Two still active.

I sheathed the knife again and turned back to the camp. I came up behind three White Fang members as they relaxed at a fire pit. Two sitting next to each other with their backs to me and the other facing my direction. I breathed out. Analysing the situation in a tenth of a second before making my move. I drew my knife again. Creeping forward towards the two with their backs to me, I placed my left hand under the chin of the one one the right. I readied myself.

"Going loud."

I moved.

I grabbed the terrorist by the chin and pulled, twisting their neck around. Killing them. I used the momentum of the neck snap to swing my knife around, holding it in my right hand, plunging it into the heart of the one on the left. I pulled the blade from their chest and with practiced grace I threw it into the chest of the faunus sitting opposite us. It only took a second, but the deed was done.

Six down. Five left. One HVT secured. Two still active.

He couldn't stop the bodies as they collided with the dirt, alerting the rest of the camp and the main tent. The sound of laughter escaped the tent before the occupants stepped out. Led by the two HVT's.

"Shera Ram. Sheep Faunus." Rho said as the woman emerged followed by the two subordinates and the final high value target. A slender giant of a man, almost matching Six in height. He wore a custom sleeveless version of the White Fang uniform and a half mask that hid his eyes. His hair was in a high mohawk. He carried a large spear with him.

"Hena Aardvolf. Hyena Faunus."

Giggles escaped the man.

I stepped through the fire pit, retrieving my knife from the Faunus' chest.

"Six, scanning indicates his weapon transforms into a firearm of some kind. Be weary, we don't know its strength."

"Intruder." Hena said the word in a sing song fashion. "Everyone gather." The remaining three White Fang members came over from where they were in the camp. Three White Fang stood in front of me now, two coming up behind, all readying a weapon. The two remaining High Value Targets stood in front of me. Seven in all.

"Wh-wh-what are you?" The question came out through Hena's laughter.

I moved slowly to the left, setting myself between the two sides.

"Does Atlas have a new toy?"

I stayed silent.

"No." One of the terrorists beside Hena sniffed the air. Wolf like ears were on his head. They gestured towards Six with their gun. "Human."

Another laugh escaped Hena. "So there's someone in there? Good." He turned to the other HVT beside him. "Shera?"

The Faunus woman huffed. "Bah, kill them. Send Atlas a message."

More laughter escaped Hena. "You heard her! Kill 'em!"

I shifted into a combat stance.

"Careful Six, we don't know Hena's semblance. Be wary." As soon as Rho got the sentence out Hena let loose a shrill laugh, sending a ringing through my ears. I grimaced inside my helmet as Rho muted the helmet's sound receptors.

"Disregard last, Six. It's sound based. I'll be your ears."

I breathed in, and my perception of the world slowed. Three in front, two behind. One elite. The three in front were in the process of raising their guns. The two behind probably doing the same. Shera Ram was backing off, retreating.

A ping from the motion tracker of my helmet allowed me to see the position of the White Fang behind me.

"Rear, left." Rho chimed.

I turned to the left, raising my left hand to catch the swing of a club, quickly retaliating with a chop to the throat that crushed the windpipe of the attacker.

"Front, spear."

I leaned back, watching as the spear slowly travelled in front of me. I glanced over, seeing the lunge the HVT was in. Behind him the other HVT Shera was walking away. I grasped the blocked club with my right hand and threw it past Hena, striking Shera in the back of the head, sending her sprawling to the ground unconscious. The three White Fang all had their weapons raised and ready. The one on the far left pulled the trigger, I watched as three shots left the barrel of the rifle. With Rho's help I gauged vector of the shots before I took my opening and evaded the shots, lunging under them and in front of the three. The shots striking the second White Fang member behind me. I sent an oblique kick to the knee of the one on the left. The knee and tendons having the resistance of aluminium foil as I turned the bones to dust beneath the skin. A punch to the skull ensured they would never get up again. I sent a hammer fist to the skull of the one on the right. The skull cracking and caving from the strength of the strike.

"Behind." Rho called.

I jumped, the crack of a semi-automatic rifle came. The fired round hitting the third person in front of me. Punching a hole and rupturing organs. On my landing I turned to face the HVT. They rested a rifle with a bayonet on their shoulder. He looked to be talking but I wasn't going to reactivate the sound receptors in my helmet yet. I moved back into a combat stance.

"Pull your punches Six."

The HVT seemed to grow tired of talking as their weapon shifted back into a spear and lunged toward me. I grabbed the spear by the haft and pulled it from the HVT, breaking it over my knee. The HVT appeared to try to use their semblance before sending a wild right.

"Shut them up Six."

I pulled the arm and used their momentum against them, hip-tossing them to the ground. They opened their mouth again to use their semblance but were cut off by my fist impacting their mouth, cracking their teeth and breaking their jaw. The HVT drifted into unconsciousness due to the pain.

All HVT's secured. Ten down. One left.

I looked behind me to the ground where the last White Fang member lay. Holding their stomach from the three gunshot wounds they received through friendly fire. The fear in their eyes very apparent. The wounds weren't instantly life threatening. She'd bleed out without medical attention however. I started searching the camp to find something to tie up the prisoners. Rho sending a message to the pilot and the Huntsman. I found cable ties in one of the supply tents. I retuned to the sprawled bodies. I passed them by to where Idna Upine lay, pulling him from his bed and into the open alongside the other three. I left him to secure Hena first. Using several cable ties on him I tied his arms behind his back. I grabbed his forearms with either hand and slowly began to squeeze until I heard the crack of his bones breaking and the bone giving way below before doing the same with his wrists. Just to make sure he wouldn't try and struggle free. I did the same to Shera Ram and Idna Upine before I turned back to the final White Fang member. They watched as I secured each of the HVT's and broke their arms. I went searching through the tents again, looking for medical supplies. Once I found what I needed I returned to them. My armour colour returning to normal. She watched with fear as I walked up to her.

"Will you run?"

She flinched at the sound of my voice. She silently shook her head 'no'. I pulled her uniform up and began a field dressing, giving her first aid until she was stable.

"Hands."

She slowly moved her hands to me. I tied her hands together with the cable ties. Only one for her. I looked her in the eyes, she looked into the emotionless visor.

"Don't even try."

I walked back over to the HVT's to prepare them for transport.

"What are you?" The question came from her. Strained, confused, and fearful.

I glanced back over my shoulder.

"Classified."

Thank you for your patience. What really got me into continuing this/finishing the chapter was listening to the Halo Themes.

Go figure.

My goal for this year is ten updates with my stories. Whether that's ten for one or spread out across them is up to what I feel like writing.

I first wrote the ending third in third person but realised it'd be better in first person.

Also, the amount of time it took me to figure out and create the custom White Fang members at the end, specifically Hena. About twenty minutes.

Hena Aardvolf. Hena is Hyena without the 'Y' and an Aardwolf is a type of Hyena.

Shera Ram. Shera-shear a. and a Ram is a type of sheep. Or male sheep. I don't know.

Idna Upine. Hedgehog. Named after the shortening of EchIDNA and PorcUPINE. Both animals that have spines/quills.

Have A Nice Day!