Defensive Actions

Covenant Calendar: 4th Age of Reconciliation (465 BCE) 
Covenant world, Bountiful Providence
“Tiros, prepare yourselves! Brotherhood forces are arriving!” Officer Jartek ‘Loreamee’s warning echoed throughout the large cathedral he and his contubernium squad currently occupied, alongside a levy of purple-armored Bladeherald militia, and a gathering of civilians near the back. Zil ‘Kanayee, alongside the rest of his squad, quickly came to attention, preparing their weapons. The grey-armored Covenant soldiers, followed by the Bladeheralds, began taking up defensive positions at the entryway, or openings on the second floor. Zil made his way next to Jartek in the entryway, a pair of plasma rifles grasped tightly in his hands. 
Yorn ‘Nekamee joined them as well, the golden form of a shardcaster resting in his arms. Several Bladeheralds followed suit, watching the plaza before them. Outside, smoke and dust still filled the air from the recent covenant aerial sweep, the limited barrage of suban area purifiers had been met to decimate the gathering throng of rebels, while sparring the holy temple. It appeared to have worked to an extent, with corpses and ruined vehicles littering the area but Zil and the others could see the movement of ghostly figures beginning to emerge through the haze. 
A spear of plasma suddenly sprung forth, the beam of yellow energy missed the covenant soldiers, impacting instead on a nearby Bladeherald. The unfortunate soul could only gasp, before collapsing with a hole through his chest. Jartek brought his needle-bolter to bare, the weapon giving a small chime of confirmation, before he fired several bursts of small needle-sharp crystals into the area the beam had originated. A scream coming forth, before the area flashed in a muted pink mist. 
More shots now came forth, as the battle began in earnest.  A mixture of plasma and crystals whined and sang through the air, cutting into the cathedral’s structure  around the defenders, as they took shelter behind pillars and ramps to return fire. Limited in range, Zil began emptying  a slow but steady stream of plasma into those who got too close, forcing them to take shelter. Those who didn’t toppled to the ground with vaporized limbs and missing heads. Multiple crystal shots rang forth, the gasps from nearby indicating the fate of several other Bladehearalds.
“Soru, any word from the Praetor or Field Commander? Have reinforcements been sent?,” Zil’s question was directed towards the contubernium’s current combat node operator, Soru ‘Galnanee. Stationed near the back where the civilian females and their hatchlings had taken shelter, the cries of the babes almost drowned out the younger Sangheili’s voice as it came through his earpiece.
“Nay, rebel forces are pressing on multiple fronts, including an attack on the main landing zone.” Jartek cursed on hearing the news himself. Moving to a new position for a clearer shot, the red-armored veteran luckily avoided a new lance of yellow energy from above. Moving quickly, Zil placed himself in-between the obvious assassin and his Commander, quickly scanning the nearby windows and rooftops where it originated. The smoke had already begun to clear from the location, yet Zil was unable to see any movement. 
Close to recommending they move inside the cathedral to avoid further attempts, he paused, catching sight of a small glittering object, hanging onto the inner curve of the building like a winged Gorlack. Too late, the figure realized it had been seen, before it attempted to flee. Releasing a barrage of plasma at the shape before it could gain distance, he was rewarded with a high-pitched screech as the thing lost its grip, tumbling down to the ground below a short distance from the base of the cathedral’s steps. Managing to right itself, the Sangheili recognized it as a Felekgolo, a smaller lekgolo gestalt he had been taught were used for overwatch duties or special operation missions. 
Quickly righting itself, the Felekgolo appeared briefly to consider going for its weapon, despite the rifle clearly being too far away. Instead, it activated a pair of plasma grenades and sprinted forth towards the trio of covenant soldiers. It managed only a few steps before being suddenly enveloped in a dome of flashing light. The Lekgolo form spasmed for mere moments, electricity clearly arcing through its body, before the grenades in its hands detonated. Melted armor and carbonized flesh flew outwards, pinging off the steps and nearby walls.
“Vile Writ Breakers, repent of your sins or pay for your heresy!” Kusa ‘Nornaee roared from the second floor, the oldest of the group ever proving his Zealot lineage. Even as Zil briefly watched, Kusa began building up a fresh charge in the weapon, its inner battery exposed as the sides splayed open with the thrum of power. A successor  to the bladeshots of the Former Age, it had replaced its ancestor’s skean projectile and retracting spool with a self-charging battery. While far more efficient, it risked overload if not given the proper time needed. 
For Kusa however, it appeared the Ancients were with him. Rather than being swallowed in the detonation of his weapon on release, a new series of electrical  spheres raced outwards, impacting the front line of the enemy. Multiple Sangheili, and even a pair of Mgalekgolo, collapsed to the ground, unmoving from the attack.
“An excellent shot brother,” Yorn ‘Nekamee called up, even as enemy fire focused on the brazen warrior. Zil felt his hearts sink on seeing the scene. Despite each of them taking down several enemy soldiers apiece, several dozen still remained on the battlefield, including at least three pairs of Mgalekgolo moving up from the rear lines.
“Sire, we can’t hold this position with what little we have,” he stated calmly, turning towards Jartek, “What is your decree?” ‘Loreamee paused momentarily, looking at Zil. The hunger for combat was still quite clear in his eyes, a feeling Zil himself shared. Yet even he knew to stay out here would be seen as foolhardy by his uncle.
“Fall back to the inner sanctum and fuse the doors, it will take time for even those eel-beasts to break.” Repeating the order, Yorn and Zil moved to close the doors, managing to close them with a bang.
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