an ODST among Heroes.

S2-11

"Ship status!?" barked the Prophet of Truth, his voice rasping with a dry cough.

The bridge was in chaos, smoke and sparks filling the air as Kig-Yar technicians scrambled to keep systems from completely failing. One Kig-Yar, nursing a singed hand, coughed violently before responding, "Primary systems are down, Your Eminence! Damage to propulsion, navigation—nearly every major system is offline!"

Truth's crimson eyes narrowed. "Flight status?" he snarled, leaning forward in his gravity throne.

"Surely you jest, Your Eminence," replied the Kig-Yar bitterly, risking a glance upward. "The ship is grounded. We will not fly until extensive repairs are made."

Truth’s face twisted in a mixture of fury and disgust, though whether at the situation or the impudent tone of the Kig-Yar was unclear. "Repair this ship immediately! And dispatch word to any surviving vessels—repair what you can and regroup! We must restore the fleet!"

"Yes, Your Eminence," the Kig-Yar hissed as it hurried off, barking orders to subordinates.

Before Truth could issue more commands, a thunderous voice echoed across the bridge. "Truth!"

The Prophet turned sharply to see Krag'Zarak, the Jiralhanae Chieftain, his towering form silhouetted against the bridge’s flickering lights. Rage burned in his crimson eyes as he stomped toward Truth. "The gods have betrayed us!" he roared, slamming a massive fist into the wall, denting it.

Truth's gaze was sharp, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "No! This is no betrayal. This is divine retribution. Retribution for the desecration wrought by your kind, Krag'Zarak. You and your brutish Jiralhanae have brought this upon us!"

Krag'Zarak bared his fangs in a snarl. "You dare—"

Truth raised a hand, silencing the Chieftain with a look of unyielding authority. "You shall take responsibility for your sins later, Chieftain. But for now, your people's sacrifice will serve as atonement. We will gain control of this sacred ring at any cost."

The Prophet’s words dripped with venom, but there was no mistaking the conviction in his tone. "Go now, Krag'Zarak. Redeem your species. Prove to the gods that your kind is still worthy of their light. Rally your troops and claim this installation for the Covenant. Or perish in the attempt."

Krag'Zarak growled low in his throat but bowed begrudgingly, clenching his fists. "As you command, Prophet."

As the Chieftain stormed out, the bridge fell into a tense silence, save for the crackling of damaged systems. Truth sat back in his throne, his mind racing. This was no mere test of faith—it was an opportunity. If he could secure the ring, its power would dwarf any fleet, any army. And if Krag'Zarak failed, well, the Jiralhanae’s usefulness to the Covenant had been waning for some time.

“The Great Journey will not falter,” he whispered to himself, a thin, cunning smile crossing his lips.

---

"This place is a mess," Momo muttered, her voice tinged with unease as she scanned the area. Towering ancient structures loomed around them, their once-majestic architecture now overgrown with moss and vines, crumbling like remnants of a forgotten civilization.

"Something is definitely not right here," Izuku added, his tone steady but cautious. He adjusted his visor, his sharp eyes darting across the ruins as if the shadows themselves might spring to life.

"Told ya," Kirishima quipped, his voice lighter in an attempt to dispel the tension. He hefted his weapon, the weight of it a reassuring presence.

As they pressed deeper into the ruins, Katsuki's sharp eyes spotted movement. "Over there," he barked, motioning toward the base of a collapsed column. The squad moved cautiously, weapons raised, but what they found gave them pause.

Lying amidst the rubble was a Kig-Yar, her breathing ragged and uneven. A jagged piece of metal jutted from her side, the wound fatal. Her scaled hand weakly clawed at the air as they approached.

“Damn,” Katsuki muttered, grimacing. “That doesn’t look good.”

Izuku stepped forward, kneeling beside the alien. He removed his helmet, revealing a face marked by compassion. The Kig-Yar’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze focusing on him with surprising clarity. Her voice, a strained rasp, carried an unexpected familiarity.

“It’s... you... Halsey,” she wheezed, the words heavy with recognition.

Izuku’s brow furrowed as he listened intently. From her fragmented words, he pieced together the Covenant’s objective. They were searching for the control room of this place—this ancient ring.

Before she could say more, the Kig-Yar coughed violently, her strength fading. Her eyes flickered, and in a trembling voice, she said, “A song... please.”

Izuku hesitated, caught off guard by the request, but then he began to hum softly, the melody gentle and soothing. The Kig-Yar’s expression softened, and a faint, almost peaceful smile crossed her lips as she drew her final breath.

Momo, standing nearby, closed her eyes tightly, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. Izuku reached forward and carefully closed the Kig-Yar’s eyes, murmuring a quiet prayer under his breath.

“Momo,” Izuku said softly as he turned toward her. “Can you make a shovel?”

Without a word, Momo nodded and used her quirk to manifest a simple but sturdy tool. Together, the squad worked in silence, digging a grave beneath the shade of a crumbling archway. They laid the Kig-Yar to rest, marking the spot with a piece of stone carved with her name—if only they had known it.

As Izuku dusted off his gloves, he turned to his team, his voice steady but firm. “We’ve learned what we needed. Time to report back.”

The squad nodded, the weight of their task heavier than before as they moved to regroup. Izuku glanced back at the freshly turned earth one last time, his resolve hardening. This wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was about uncovering the truth of this place and ensuring it didn’t fall into the wrong hands.

---

"That’s bad news," Commander Butkis muttered, his face grim as he processed the intel. The revelation of the installation’s name—Halo—and the Covenant’s intent to locate its control room was more alarming than anything they’d faced so far. His voice dropped, but the weight of his words carried clearly through the room.

“This changes everything,” he continued, rising from his chair. His gaze locked onto Izuku, the young soldier standing at attention before him. “New orders, Halsey! You and your team must beat the Covenant to that control room—at any cost. We’ve already seen what this place is capable of. God forbid the Covenant manage to gain control of it.”

Butkis paused, his fists clenching as he leaned forward, the gravity of the situation etched deeply into his features. “If they succeed, I don’t think I need to spell out what that would mean. The destruction—the annihilation—of everything we know.” He took a sharp breath, straightening his posture. “This is bigger than us. Bigger than this mission.”

Izuku nodded sharply, absorbing the weight of the command. “Understood, sir.”

Butkis stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Izuku’s shoulder. His tone softened, but only slightly. “I trust you, Halsey. You’ve proven yourself time and again. You know the risks, and I know you’ll do what needs to be done. But make no mistake—this is a one-way mission if it comes to that. The fate of humanity may very well rest on your shoulders.”

Izuku held the commander’s gaze, his own resolve unwavering. “We won’t fail, sir.”

Butkis gave a small nod, stepping back as he barked his final command. “Get going, Halsey. And may God bless you and your team.”

“Thank you, sir,” Izuku replied, his voice steady despite the tension in the room.

As he turned to leave, the weight of the mission pressed heavily on his shoulders. This wasn’t just another deployment—it was a fight for survival against insurmountable odds. Izuku’s heart pounded, but he pushed the fear aside. His team was counting on him. Humanity was counting on him.

As he headed back to the staging area to rendezvous with his squad, he whispered a silent prayer. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together. Failure was not an option.