(Multi-Genre Crossover) The Team

Cavalry

For 28 years, the UNSC struggled against Covenant vessels in ship-to-ship combat, constantly needing to overwhelm them with numbers just to fight them to a standstill. Now, with time to upgrade their own vessels and allies who were overly familiar with shielded opponents, it was the Covenant's turn to struggle. Of course, with roughly over 50 ships still standing, Truth's Fleet held the numbers advantage, but not by much. Infinity's Super-MACs tore apart another set of Covenant cruisers while the Turbolasers on their allies' smaller Venator-Class Star Destroyers hammered the hulls of the bulbous, purple vessels.

The mixture of six Strident and four Anlance-Class Frigates deployed from Infinity's hangar and joined her makeshift escort fleet as three Acclamator-Class Assault Ships moved closer to the planet, each one shielded by a Venator. "Knock Knock and Down in Dallas, prioritize any Covenant ships that set their sights on the Acclamators," Laskey ordered two of the Anlance Frigates and then relayed to three of the Stridents, "Lonely Day, Find Out, and Cherry Blossom, protect the Acclamators as well. Everyone else, target the main battle group." All ships acknowledged.

Several CCS battle cruisers took note of the Republic vessels and lined themselves up to position their glassing beams above them. Infinity's support ships went to work, the Anlances picking apart their shields while the Stridents ripped into their hulls. The Venators for their part sent a barrage of turbolaser fire directly into the glassing beams, causing several to explode while they were charging up.

A plasma lance rocked Infinity, its shields saving the vessel from certain doom. Another MAC salvo destroyed more Covenant vessels. The Covenant ships nearest to Earth's surface had moved closer to the fleet and then Roland informed him, "I've analyzed their movements. They're rotating their ships out. It looks like they're sending some in, dropping off fighters, Scarabs, and ground units, and then pulling out to let another take its place."

"Looks like Truth is committed to digging up that portal," Lasky noted. "Relay this information to the rest of the fleet. Send flanking coordinates to any incoming reinforcements. We'll cut off any support for their ground forces. What's the status of the Acclamators?"

Without turning, their Communication Officer said, "They've just begun deploying their fighters and shuttles. Covenant are sending Seraphs and Banshees to intercept."

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Gunships sped out of the hangar and into the fray, a swarm of starfighters serving as their escort and advance guard. Longswords, Headhunters, Broadswords, and V-Wings clashed with Covenant Phantoms and Seraphs to clear a path for the Pelicans and LAAT's bringing much-needed aid to the planet below. Comms were filled with chatter, either UNSC pilots offering frantic, cautionary advice regarding the Covenant fighters to their Republic allies, or Republic pilots maniacally laughing about actually being able to see the enemy craft on account of their coloring and larger profile than the droids they were used to engaging.

Once in atmosphere, several wings of fighters peeled off and rejoined the battle in space as the dropships either punched through or went around a small, but fierce storm system, picking off any Banshees in their path. With the storm localized outside of the nearly-razed city, the pilots made the executive decision to land amongst whatever structures hadn't yet been reduced to rubble.

Wraiths, Hunters, and Brutes alike were cut down by the combined firepower of dropships clearing out a safer landing zone. They defensively hovered above their troops while they filed out and established a beachhead. With their payload delivered, the squadron took back to the skies and fought their way back to the hangars.

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Steve swatted away a grenade fired by one of the apes before a Titan reduced it to a stain as its final act of heroics. The Titan's Pilot clambered out as the hulking machine collapsed in flames from the sheer damage it had sustained. Tony flew overhead and bombed the perpetrators before landing in the rubble next to them.