The Spartan Directive: Operation: STARFALL

=== Chapter 1 ===
Jace walks into the briefing room of the UNSC Winter with Harrington and Baz in tow; he takes off his helmet and sets it down on a chair as he looks at the other members of Echo. Harrington has found a seat and is fiddling with her sniper; Baz is leaning against the nearest wall as he rotates his right shoulder.
"How's the arm, Baz?" Jace asks, remembering how far The Legionmaster flung him.
"It's at 85% proficiency right now, but I can still hold a weapon, so I'm good."
Jace nods as he grabs the data chip they got from Scarr and inserts it into the terminal. RAYMOND's hologram pops up, greeting the team.
"Welcome back, Spartans," RAYMOND's holographic form materializes, its voice resonating with digital clarity. "I trust the debriefing with Spartan Commander Agryna went well?"
"It did, thank you for asking. I need you to start analyzing this chip here."
RAYMOND salutes as he begins to analyze the information, processing it with lightning speed. He watches as Jiralhanae letters flash on the display before the image shifts, revealing a schematic of a Banished orbital maintenance facility hanging above a large gas giant.
"We've located the target," RAYMOND announces, his voice cutting through the silence. "It's a Banished orbital maintenance facility for their starships."
Baz leans forward, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Any idea on defenses or vulnerabilities?"
RAYMOND hesitates for a moment before responding. "The facility is heavily fortified, with multiple anti-air defenses and a significant Banished presence. The chances of a successful assault with our current personnel are estimated at 15%."
He grits his teeth, a habit he realizes he is doing more regularly these past months, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He knows the SPARTANs have faced impossible odds before, but this feels different. The Banished isn't just another enemy but a formidable force with more significant resources and manpower.
"We need reinforcements," Harrington says, her voice firm. "We can't take on an entire Banished space station with just the three of us."
He nods in agreement, turning to RAYMOND. "Can you pull up the Fireteam and personnel files of all Spartans at the Avery J. Johnson Academy of Military Science? We need to find a team that's best suited to help us with this mission."
RAYMOND nods, its holographic form pulsing with data as it sifts through the files. After a few moments, he projects the images of several Spartan IV Fireteams onto the display.
"Analyzing combat records, proficiency ratings, and mission history," RAYMOND announces. "I have selected Fireteam Nova as the most suitable candidate for this mission."
The holographic images shift, highlighting Fireteam Nova's members: Spartan-IV Rachel Harris, Marcus Chen, Emily Rodriguez, and Ethan Clarke. He studies Fireteam Nova's files, reviewing their combat records, proficiency ratings, and mission history. The team's impressive achievements show they're ready for anything, boosting his belief in the collaboration even more.
"RAYMOND, give Fireteam Nova the order to report to the ramp of the UNSC Winter. he says. We will need them if we want to pull this off."
=== Chapter 2 ===
A little over an hour later, RAYMOND's voice fills the room.
"Fireteam Nova has arrived and is awaiting instructions, Sir."
He nods as he, Baz, and Harrington head outside to the ramp of the UNSC Winter.
"Fireteam Nova is reporting as ordered," one of the Spartans announces, her voice steady. He recognizes her immediately as Spartan Rachel Harris.
"We've got a mission; we're heading to a Banished orbital maintenance facility. It's heavily fortified, and our chances of success are slim. But with Fireteam Nova's help, we might pull this off."
He sees Rachel nod, and the rest of Nova follows suit.
"I'll brief you inside, make sure you have everything; we'll be gone awhile."
Nova walks up the ramp as they follow Jace back to the briefing room. As they enter, he gestures to them to take a seat. Waiting for them to settle in before starting the briefing.
"We'll need to hit them hard and fast," He says, his tone decisive. RAYMOND will fly the Winter to the underside of the facility; from there, we will spacewalk to the Banshee hangar here." He points to a hangar several hundred meters from the entry point. "From there, Spartans Harrington, Clarke, and Rodriguez will steal Banshees, fly outside, and help deal with any Banished forces that detect the Winter. Spartans Harris, Chen, Baz, and I will make our way to the facility propulsion systems, where we will disable them, making the facility and any ships undergoing repairs crash into the Gas giant below."
"Any Questions?"
The room falls silent for a moment as everyone absorbs the gravity of the plan. Then, Spartan Rachel Harris raises her hand.
"Sir, what's our exit strategy once we've completed the mission?" she asks, her voice calm but with an underlying urgency.
He considers her question carefully as he looks at the schematic, weighing the risks and potential complications. "Once the facility's propulsion systems are disabled, we'll rendezvous at the Banshee hangar for extraction. We'll regroup there before returning to the ship."
Spartan Marcus Chen nods, his expression determined. 
"Understood, Sir. We'll be ready to move on your command."
With the plan finalized, the combined Spartans prepare for the mission ahead as RAYMOND lifts the Winter, heading towards the best position to jump into Slipspace. They check over their MJOLNIR armor, checking and double-checking their weapons and equipment. Jace can almost feel the tension in the air, which is palpable as they await RAYMOND to map the way to the facility. In an instant, the UNSC Winter enters Slipspace on a course to the Banished orbital maintenance facility, hurtling through space at breakneck speed. Inside the ship, Jace can see the members of Fireteam Nova steel themselves for the battle to come.
"Everyone, stay sharp," he says, his voice steady. "We're about to embark on one hell of a mission. But stick together, keep your ears open and eyes moving; we can overcome anything the Banished throw at us."
=== Chapter 3 ===
As the Winter exits slipspace, they all look out the viewport at the giant facility. Jace sees 3 Ket-pattern battlecruisers undergo repairs at the large docks of the facility. Good, Jace thinks; they'll be locked down while they repair them, so their cannons and batteries shouldn't be operational, but their Seraph and Banshee squadrons will still be. RAYMOND carefully guides the ship, bringing them to the underside of the massive structure. The Spartans seal their MJOLNIR armor as they walk to the hangar bay. RAYMOND starts to vent the air from the room as they get there. Jace checks his HUD, seeing the dots for all the Spartans present, each blinking green as they finish their checks and prepare to spacewalk to their designated entry point.
"Remember, stay in formation and watch each other's backs," he says, echoing through the comms. "We've all trained for this."
RAYMOND opens the bay door as the view of the facility over the planet fills his visor. The Spartans step off as they float to the facility's hull, their boots magnetically attaching to the metal surface.
"Move out," he commands, leading the way as they make their way across the hull towards the Banshee hangar. The void of space stretches out before them, silent and unforgiving.
As they approach the hangar, Harrington takes point, her sniper rifle at the ready. "I've got eyes on the Banshees," she says, her voice crackling through the comms. "No sign of being spotted yet."
He nods, his heart pounding in his chest. "Keep us covered, Harrington. The rest of us will move in and secure the hangar."
With Harrington providing overwatch, he and the rest of the Spartans breach the hangar doors, flooding into the room. Gunfire echoes as they engage the Banished forces guarding the Banshees.
Harrington, Spartan Clarke, and Rodriguez quickly locate three Banshees and prepare to take off. "We're good to go, Sir," Clarke says.
"Copy that, Clarke. Get airborne and provide cover fire for the Winter," he replies, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around them.
As Clarke and Rodriguez take off in the stolen Banshees, Jace grits his teeth before realizing he needs to stop doing that, as rounds from Manglers and plasma pistols hit his shields. "Stick together, watch each other's backs!" he commands over their comms; he sees the green lights on his HUD blink in acknowledgment from the boarding party. Gunfire and plasma bursts echo off the metallic walls as they move forward, encountering fierce resistance from the Banished forces. Jace takes point, his MA40 Assault Rifle spitting controlled bursts, clearing a path for the team. Wielding a BR75 Battle Rifle, Baz covers fire, picking off Grunt and Jackal forces with sharpshooter precision. Spartans Harris and Chen move in tandem, seamlessly transitioning between offensive and defensive maneuvers. Harris's M45D Tactical Shotgun roars as she slams slugs into Brutes and Jackals. At the same time, Chen's dual M7 SMGs provide rapid suppression against the relentless waves of enemies. As he moves through the dimly lit corridors, Jace's senses remain heightened. As he and Harris turn the corner, a faint hum catches his attention as he spots the looming danger—a plasma turret primed to unleash its deadly barrage.
"Watch out, Harris!" Jace's voice pierced through the chaos, a split-second warning. With lightning reflexes, he lunged forward, his arm snaking around Harris's waist, pulling her out of harm's way as the turret erupted in a searing cascade of plasma fire. The heat seared past them, the air crackling with energy as they take cover behind the wall, narrowly escaping the deadly onslaught. With the plasma turret bearing down on them, Jace quickly assesses the situation. He knows they need to act fast to neutralize the threat. 
"Baz, suppress that turret! Chen, cover fire!" Jace barks out orders, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Baz nods, his Battle Rifle roaring to life as he lays down a barrage of suppressing fire, pinning the turret and preventing it from targeting them directly. Positioned at a strategic angle, Chen unleashes a stream of suppressive shots from his M7 SMGs, keeping any nearby Banished forces at bay. Meanwhile, Jace grapples a nearby fusion coil, his mind racing as he formulates a plan. With a swift motion, he hurls the explosive device toward the turret, aiming for its vulnerable power source.
"Fire in the hole!" Jace shouts, his voice echoing through the corridor as the fusion coil hurtles toward its target. The coil strikes true, detonating in a blinding flash of light and heat. The plasma turret shudders under the force of the explosion, its mechanisms fried and disabled.
"Keep moving!" he yells as he pulls out his Assault Rifle, firing at two Brutes dazed from the explosion.
As they push further in the relentless onslaught of Banished forces becomes a tidal wave of chaos, pushing the boarding party to their limits. Jace's senses are bombarded as Grunts and Jackals swarm, their weapons firing in unison. The air echoes with the sharp reports of gunfire and the sizzling hum of plasma, their shields flickering under the sustained barrage of enemy fire. 
"Hold the line! We can't let them overwhelm us," he shouts over the comms, his voice a steadfast anchor amidst the storm.
"Banshee's report!" he says over comms, taking cover behind a pillar, hot plasma impacting in front of him, keeping him pinned. He listens helplessly as a situation unfolds over the comms. "I've got you covered, Clarke! Hold on!" Rodriguez calls out; her voice strained with determination.
"Can't hold out for much longer; these bastards are all over!" Clarke's comms cut as he looks out a viewport, he sees Clarke's Banshee, now engulfed in flames, crashing into a part of the facility.
The comms fall silent, leaving an echoing void reverberating through the remaining Spartans.
=== Chapter 4 ===
Jace swears to himself as he turns his attention to their battle outside the facility,
"Keep pushing forward! We can't let Clarke's sacrifice be in vain," he orders.
"We can't hold out much longer," Baz shouts over the din of battle, his voice strained with exertion.
He knows Baz is right. They're outnumbered and outgunned, with no hope of reinforcements. But he refuses to give up, drawing on every ounce of strength and determination within him.
"We've come too far to turn back now," he says, his voice firm. "We finish what we started, no matter the cost."
With renewed determination, he throws a grenade, waiting for it to go off before pressing forward, his Assault Rifle running hot as he targets any banished forces he sees. The other Spartans follow, their weapons blazing as they fight tooth and nail against the Banished troops. The air is thick with the smell of smoke and ozone, the sound of gunfire and explosions ringing through the halls. And amidst the chaos and carnage, they push ever closer to their objective: the facility's propulsion systems. If they can disable them, they can send the Banished facility crashing into the gas giant below, devastating to the enemy's war machine. But they're met with heavy resistance as they reach the propulsion systems. The Banished forces are prepared for the Spartan's arrival, and the entrance is fortified.
"We need to find a way to breach their defenses," Chen shouts over comms.
He nods, scanning the area for any sign of weakness. Then, he spots it: a ventilation shaft leading directly into the facility's heart.
"Chen use the ventilation shaft to bypass their defenses," he says. "It's our best chance of getting through."
Chen dashes to the ventilation shaft as the rest of the Spartans cover him. Jace watches him enter it as he continues to distract the brutes guarding the entry. He sees Chen emerge on the other side, catching the Brute's forces off guard.
"Go, go, go!" he shouts, leading the charge as they storm the disorganized Brutes. They fight tooth and nail to defend their position, but the Spartans are relentless, and they fall in a matter of minutes.
Jace rushes to the control panel as he starts to disable the systems. The other Spartans cover him as Grunts and Jackals flood the halls dedicated to taking them out. He disables the systems with quick keystrokes, sending alarms throughout the facility as it starts falling toward the planet below. As the facility begins its catastrophic descent, the chaos intensifies, echoing through the corridors like a symphony of destruction. With each tremor rocking the structure, the urgency of their escape becomes increasingly palpable. As a piece of the ceiling cracks, Jace looks up, seeing the large piece of metal fall toward him before receiving a thrust from behind him. He rolls, glancing behind him as he sees Spartan Harris now corned, the ominous glow of Banished energy swords illuminating the darkness around her. Looking over her shoulder, she nods at him, understanding what she needs to do. "Go! I'll hold them off!" she commands, her voice unwavering despite the dire circumstances.
Jace watches the Banished Elites close in before Baz helps him to his feet; he can hear Spartan Harris's words and insults as she holds back the elites.
"Face me, Hinge-heads! Come and try to extinguish this Demon!" The clash of fighting rang through the air like a ghastly melody.
Jace glances back as he watches Rachel Harris unleash a flurry of blows, driving back her adversaries with sheer determination. But as the relentless onslaught continues, he knows her time is running out. With one last defiant roar, she charges forward, meeting her fate head-on. As the team enters the hangar, Jace can see that the Winter has already landed. Harrington and Rodriguez, their Banshees smoking, are each embedded in a Hunter.
"Time's up, Spartans!" RAYMOND's voice cuts through the chaos, urgency palpable in every word. With shields ablaze from incoming fire, the team sprints toward the prowler, their determination unyielding. But as they near the ship, two towering Mgalekgolo Hunters crash into the fray, blocking Jace and Chen's path to safety.
Jace's heart races as he faces the looming threat of the Mgalekgolo Hunters. With adrenaline coursing through his veins, he urgently issued a command to RAYMOND, "Get out of here, now!" 
=== Chapter 5 ===
As the prowler begins to lift off, one of the Hunters unleashes a barrage of plasma from its Fuel Rod Cannon, the searing energy narrowly missing the retreating ship. Meanwhile, the other Hunter advances menacingly, its heavy footsteps echoing through the corridor as it closes on Jace and Chen. Time seemed to slow as Jace and Chen faced off against the towering Mgalekgolo Hunters. Gripping his MA40 Assault Rifle tightly, Jace felt the weight of the impending battle pressing down on him, matching the gravity of their dire situation as the facility hurtled toward the planet below. Without hesitation, the Hunters charged forward, their massive forms shaking the ground beneath them. Jace's heart pounded in his chest as he braced himself, the adrenaline coursing through his veins, heightening his senses. As the first Hunter swung its massive shield, Jace ducked and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow. He felt the rush of air as the shield passed over him, the sheer force of the impact sending vibrations through the metal floor.
Meanwhile, Chen unleashed a hail of bullets from his M7 Submachine Gun, the rapid fire echoing through the corridor as he peppered Hunter's armored hide. Each round found its mark, chipping away at the creature's defenses. Still, the Hunter seemed unfazed, its thick armor proving a formidable barrier. With a grunt of effort, Jace regained his footing and opened fire with his assault rifle, the controlled bursts of gunfire aimed at the Hunter's exposed joints and weak points. He could feel the weapon heat up as he unleashed a relentless barrage of bullets. But the Hunters were relentless, their massive forms bearing down on the Spartans with unyielding determination. With a roar of defiance, Jace charged forward, his assault rifle blazing as he closed the distance between them. With a swift motion, Jace secured his MA40 Assault Rifle onto his back magmount, freeing up his hands as he mounted the towering Mgalekgolo Hunter. Gripping onto its armor for dear life, he drew his Mk50 Sidekick with his free hand.
As the Hunter thrashed and roared beneath him, Jace steadied his aim and fired into the creature's orange flesh. But even as his ammunition ran out, Jace remained undeterred. With a quick flick of his wrist, he primed two plasma grenades, their glowing blue cores pulsating with energy. Ignoring the bucking from the Hunter's massive form, he jammed the grenades deep into its body. With a final surge of adrenaline, Jace flipped off the Hunter's back, his heart pounding in his chest as he propelled himself away from the creature. As he soared through the air, he watched with grim satisfaction as the plasma grenades detonated with a deafening roar, engulfing the Hunter in a fiery explosion. Orange Blood covered Jace as he stood and turned to the other Hunter. As the Hunter, angry at the death of its mate, lashed out, its massive shield struck Chen with brutal force. The impact sent the Spartan hurtling through the air, crashing through the hangar's entrance and soaring into the vast space beyond. Jace's heart pounded as he witnessed his comrade's involuntary flight. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprinted the length of the hangar, his MJOLNIR armor enhancing his speed and agility. The void of space loomed before him, and with a determined leap, Jace launched himself outside, chasing after Chen's tumbling form. The cold grip of weightlessness surrounded them as they drifted into the vacuum. Jace activated his thrusters, swiftly closing the distance with Chen. He reached out, grabbing hold of his fellow Spartan, their armored forms silhouetted against the backdrop of stars.
"Got you, Chen," Jace's voice crackled over the comms, his relief palpable even through the filtered audio. As Jace plummeted towards the gas giant, the rush of wind and the fiery glow of reentry surrounded him. With Chen unconscious in his grasp, he felt the intense heat battering against his shields. The dire situation weighed heavily on him, and for a moment, he closed his eyes, focusing on the impending impact. Suddenly, the familiar hum of the UNSC Winter's engines echoed through the chaos. Jace's eyes shot open as the prowler swooped in to intercept them. He activated his grapple in a swift, practiced move, securing himself and the unconscious Chen in the hangar bay of the UNSC Winter.
As the airlock sealed shut behind them, Jace's voice echoed through the comm system, laced with exhaustion and determination. "Let's get out of here!" 
Inside the prowler, the other members of Fireteam Echo gathered, their armor battered and worn from the intense battle. The sight of Jace and the unconscious Chen brought relief and concern to their faces.