No Gods, Nor Masters

So What If We Were There?

The Saderan Capital had been taken over. News stations from past the Gate to the Unified Earth Government's own celebrated a relatively quick victory over the Empire, their troops settling in for the prolonged job of an occupation of the place while clearing out surrounding towns. Itami, Torres and Richard watched from the top of the city's outermost wall as convoys of UN Special Region Mission and UNSC vehicles rolled in to further bolster the occupation.

Richard looked at his TacPad, then hummed, slightly surprised. The others looked at him, to which he told them, "Looks like the Army's finally deploying its own combat assets to the AO. The 67th Armored Division's coming planetside today for Garrison duties and anti-Insurrectionist ops," then he lowered his arm and added, "They're also bringing a General to install a UGC."

"UGC?" Torres asked.

"Unified Ground Command. We'll basically fall under his command alongside the Army Division," The Marine replied as he leaned against the battlements, watching the allied vehicles, ranging from relief and supply to combat victors, roll into the capital through the open gates. Several outposts and defensive positions were being pre-built, with Russian Sprut-SDM2 light tanks belonging to the VDV already prepared and in fighting positions.

Itami joked, "Sounds like another officer to bloat the command structure," as he looked around. A couple escorting F16s banked right. The sky above slowly filled with clouds, specks of grey marking the onset of a gentle blanketing cold wave on Falmart and meaning the Forces arrayed would have to dig in with warm clothing for Winter.

Aside from the Clouds, however, the team could make out spots in the sky that resembled air assets more than rainfall. Said air assets were clear for all to see. Army dropships swung in, powering their engines to slow their descent as they approached the city limits. A few new Phoenix-class ships had ferried them over in exchange for a couple of the Fleet's cruisers displacing to support ops against the Storm Covenant.

"That was quick..." Henry remarked in a murmur, watching the Army Division descend from their dropships and form into neat rows by the sides of the road, letting their allied forces move in first. They'd come in with their HQ, supply units, tank units, infantry support on IFVs and so on. They even had a Military Police unit attached to them, presumably to keep the peace in the city.

The NATO and UN force present waved to the UNSC Army troops present with smiles that the Army replied to in kind, all while they set up a Forward Operations Base with the help of the Army Corps of Engineers, right beside that of the US. Just like Italica, Sadera would become the joint military defensive position for the Alliance.

"Strange, isn't it?" Halsey commented as she climbed onto the wall herself. The three officers turned back, watching the woman climb up with Tuka, Lelei(unsurprisingly), Rory and Tyuule not far behind, not to mention Delilah. The three nodded, surprised, to which Doctor Halsey said, "Indeed... Apologies for bursting your bubble, gentlemen, but we will need HITMAN-3 moving out again as soon as possible."

Richard quipped, "No rest for the wicked, eh, ma'am?"

"None indeed," She replied as she looked at the disposition of the Armies of both Worlds. She looked at Lelei and asked, "Do you think that, if we examine the Shrine here, we may get more info, miss La Lalena?"

"I have no doubts about it, doctor," Lelei replied as she cradled her staff, plus what looked like a bag with a laptop in it. Itami, Henry and Dick exchanged glances, then looked at the kid, who told them, "Doctor Halsey has requested that I be part of the Research Team operating to understand the Artifacts left behind by the Mother Goddess-... Librarian," She corrected herself, "And all else attached to the Forerunner presence on our homeworld..."