No Gods, Nor Masters

Everybody Wants to Rule The World

The noose had been tightened and the Empire choked. Any Imperial Forces and Insurrectionists left in the city had either gone underground or surrendered to the joint United Nations task force moving into the Saderan capital. Marines, VDV, US Army and NATO troops marched through the city's roads, sweeping the areas for IEDs and ambushes while lighter vehicles slowly rode on through, turrets on a swivel.

Overhead, Mi-28 Havocs and AH-64 Apaches flew alongside SDF Cobras, rotorblades chopping through the air as the troops advanced into town. A few Sangheili dropships moved in as well, scanning the rooftops with their turrets as the Elites deployed into the place. Advancing through the slums of the city with an ONI agent in tow, HITMAN-3 swept the area.

"These people propped open the doors for us when we started Operation Spearhead," The ONI Agent stated, looking at the kids around. Several crowded around him, smiles and laughter echoing as he handed them candy. He grinned and told Richard, "CIA, FSB and Chinese Intel, not to mention our boys, have basically dismantled any chance at resistance within various sectors of the city before you arrived through subterfuge, leaflets and a bunch of other shit."

"Psych Warfare really works, huh?" Torres spoke as he looked around at the slums. He saw some of the people present, kids included, staring at them with fear in their eyes. He smiled at them, stowing his rifle on his back, then looked ahead at the rest of the team. His Marines swept the rooftops with their guns, while Richard's troops kept their eyes on doors and windows and Itami's team was scanning through the alleys.

The Humvee behind them, its Mark 19 pointed at the sky, simply enjoyed the ride through the town. 'Enjoyed' meaning the gunner was handing out food, MREs and Candy. Hearts and minds still applied here, especially to people living beneath the two mountains that made up the upper echelons of the city:The rich peoples' quarters and the Palace and Senate.

The Senate building was visible from the street level, a domed structure with supporting marble columns. The palace was not far behind it, an imposing structure mixing gold and other construction materiel to match itself to Roman architecture, marble included. Temples resided in a nearby district, each presumably dedicated to one of the Gods of the place.

Tyuule spoke, "Indeed. Though it's quite easy to sway the poor and tired to one's side," as she looked at the people around. A Warrior Bunny Battalion had also been deployed with them to the city. They were the second unit in line, escorting Humvees, Warthogs and trucks full of supplies. When she saw people were looking at her, Tyuule chuckled and said, "Offer them a better deal than the current Overlord."

"Fair," Itami smiled as they walked. Rory chuckled a little at the little nugget of wisdom, only to note that people stared at her, too. She offered them kindness in the form of a smile and a wave, before casting a glance toward Emroy's temple. He looked at her and asked, "Looking to go visit your Patron soon?"

"Normally, yes, though I think it best if I do it with Blue Team. The Spartans can boast to him about defeating a fellow Apostle," She replied jokingly. She then added, "Were it not for me spending so much time with the UNSC, I would've thought them Apostles of their Sky Gods, too. Thankfully, we needed not meet on the field of battle."

"Heh. Ain't that the truth," Rosie chuckled, "You were about to cut Halsey's head off because she mouthed off to ya."

"I'll have you know, Sergeant, I can control my temper quite well," The woman offered, then mumbled, "And she made quite the persuasive argument in regards to not starting conflict through the use of one MAC round," and that got a few of the UNSC personnel and Warrior Bunnies to laugh. The SDF and US Troops laughed, too.

As the vehicles pulled up to the square of this district, Medical staff, Marines and more aid personnel dismounted, carrying medical supplies for the injured and food and water for the locals. The Outreach Program here could, thankfully for the ONI agents, finally begin in full. The ONI agent they were escorting met the staff of the FSB, CIA and ChiCom intel in the middle.