At this moment, nearly a hundred vessels belonging to the Empire's Fist had gathered within the gravitational sphere of planet Yaven IV. These ships varied in shape—some as massive as mountains, others as agile as birds—but each one exuded the authority and might of the Human Empire. Among them, the most striking was the Imperial-class Eternal Crusader.
Stretching eight kilometers in length, the Eternal Crusader resembled a "flying cathedral." Its imposing design and cold metallic sheen instilled an overwhelming sense of dread in the Rebel Alliance. Intricate carvings and inscriptions in Chinese adorned its hull, silently proclaiming the sanctity and inviolability of the Empire.
Inside the ship's No. 7 Armory, the atmosphere was tense yet meticulously ordered.
"Attention: All Spartans, proceed to the designated platform. Repeat, all Spartans, report to the designated platform."
A mechanical, distinctly feminine voice echoed through the vast space, its tone clear and icy. In the armory, 114 Spartan warriors—including John—were already in position. Clad in form-fitting "nano-suits" that shimmered with a subtle metallic luster like a second skin, these warriors were outfitted in gear that served as a simplified, inner-layer version of the Astartes Titan Armor. While similar in overall design to the nano-combat suits used by the elite investigative and special operations units, the Spartans' suits boasted even more advanced technology.
In addition to conventional optical camouflage modules, the nano-suits were equipped with built-in fibers to enhance muscle strength, an environmental control system to regulate body temperature, and miniature sensors to monitor vital signs in real time. These features made the Spartans even deadlier on the battlefield, ensuring they maintained peak performance even in extreme conditions.
Without any external prompts, the Spartans began converging on the central designated platform of the armory. Surrounded by several robotic arms—reminiscent of futuristic altars—the platform awaited them. Leading the formation, John strode at the forefront with steady, powerful steps and a gaze as cold and focused as ever.
As the Spartans stepped onto the platform, they simultaneously extended their arms and gripped the circular handles fixed to the platform's ring. In response, the robotic arms sprang into action, efficiently "dressing" them. With precise and swift movements—like a troupe of agile dancers tracing elegant arcs through the air—the arms affixed thick armor plates onto the Spartans' nano-suits. Every plate had been meticulously engineered to maximize both defensive capabilities and mobility.
The armory fell into a solemn hush, punctuated only by the low hum of the robotic arms at work. Under the artificial lights, the Spartans' silhouettes lengthened, evoking the image of deities preparing to enter the fray. When the final armor plate snapped into place and the robotic arms gradually retracted, the Spartans' "dressing ceremony" was complete. Their figures now loomed tall and formidable within the armory. Leading the group, John casually flexed his arms and shrugged his shoulders, savoring the weight and power of his new armor.
After donning the Thor's Hammer Power Armor, the average height of the Spartans increased to approximately 2.3 meters, with some exceptionally built warriors reaching up to 2.5 meters—almost rivaling the stature of the regular Astartes. Although the armor appeared sleeker and more streamlined than the traditional Titan Armor used by the Astartes, its performance was by no means inferior; in some respects, it was even more advanced. Designed and produced by Halsey herself, the project code-named "Thor's Hammer Power Armor" featured a futuristic exterior and housed countless cutting-edge technologies within. It enabled Spartan warriors to fight normally in toxic atmospheres or even in a vacuum. Its capabilities were on par with those of the Titan Armor, but with one crucial difference: an integrated micro nuclear fusion reactor derived from Pioneer technology generated a powerful energy shield for additional protection. Moreover, the armor utilized a special titanium alloy coated with an energy-weapon resistant finish, achieving peak defensive performance.
However, these advanced technologies also drove the cost of Thor's Hammer Power Armor to staggering heights—approaching that of the Ironclad Terminators used by the Astartes. Every suit was a masterpiece, the product of enormous resources and painstaking craftsmanship. Consequently, Spartans clad in Thor's Hammer Power Armor experienced a qualitative leap in their capabilities. Their strength, speed, and reflexes soared to new levels, nearly matching those of the Astartes. In contrast, the elite support units outfitted with McCoup Power Armor lagged far behind in both cost and performance—often by orders of magnitude.
Halsey was well aware that the exorbitant cost of Thor's Hammer Power Armor would pose a significant barrier to mass-producing Spartan warriors in the future. Consequently, in subsequent projects she had already begun exploring ways to scale back on the armor's features and production costs without severely compromising its performance. Her goal was to maintain the elite capabilities of the Phase II and Phase III Spartans while easing manufacturing complexity and resource consumption—paving the way for large-scale production. In fact, under Halsey's plans, the Human Empire's Phase I Spartans were to remain "limited editions," even the planned Phase II was intended as an experimental elite unit. Their primary purpose was to furnish Halsey and her research team with invaluable data and experience to perfect the design and production process for the mass-produced Phase III Spartans. In terms of individual combat potential, the Phase I Spartans were akin to the Titans of Greek mythology—symbols of raw power with near-invincible combat ability, albeit few in number and nearly impossible to replicate. The Phase II warriors would be comparable to the Olympian gods—slightly less formidable but still possessing extraordinary strength. Meanwhile, the Phase III Spartans would be like demigod heroes—striking a balance between raw power and mass production. After all, when it comes to mass production, compromises must be made.
This explains why, on paper, the Phase I Spartans' stats nearly matched those of ordinary Astartes when genetic seeds were not implanted. Their bodies had been pushed to the very limits of human physiology through the most rigorous enhancements, rendering their production process both highly complex and prohibitively expensive. Yet the ultimate goal of the Spartan program was not merely to create a super soldier force—it was to lay the groundwork for the future of the Human Empire. Halsey had long envisioned that once the Spartans replaced the support units augmented with Inquis' serum, the general populace of the Empire would undergo a comprehensive physical evolution under the guidance of the Department of Biology. Through gene optimization and biological enhancement, the average human would gradually approach the capabilities of today's elite warriors. This vision of a nationwide evolution was one of the founding ideals of the Human Empire. The Spartan program was a pivotal component of that grand blueprint.
At this moment, John and his comrades were unaware of just how valuable they truly were. For these young Spartan warriors, their mission was simple and unequivocal—execute orders and complete the task at hand. Their latest directive was to proceed to the surface of planet Yaven IV and, when engaging in negotiations with the Rebel Alliance's high command alongside Original Dorn and the top brass of the Empire's Fist, to maintain a vigilant posture.
Thus, after donning the Thor's Hammer Power Armor, the Spartans wasted no time. They promptly collected their weapons, ammunition, and various tactical gear from the logistics personnel. Methodically checking every firearm and round to ensure each was in optimal condition, they then quickly departed the armory to rendezvous with similarly armed support troops and elven warriors. Together, they boarded the maglev train destined for the enormous hangar bay of the Eternal Crusader.
Inside the train car, a profound silence prevailed. Yet every support trooper—equipped with full-coverage mechanical exoskeletons—cast curious glances toward the Spartans, whose towering figures far surpassed their own. Though their visors concealed their expressions, it was clear from the subtle body language that most support troopers were engaging in hushed conversations over their internal communication channels, speculating about the origin of these Spartans.
"What exactly are these guys?" one support trooper murmured internally.
"No idea—we don't have any data on them."
"But when we reached Earth in the main universe earlier, it seemed that the Eternal Crusader had broken formation because of them."
These discussions persisted on the private channels, keeping the train car's exterior silence intact unless someone deliberately activated their helmet's external speakers. In contrast, the elven warriors remained largely indifferent to the presence of the Spartans. Clad in elegantly styled armor reminiscent of classical artistry, with finely crafted longswords hanging at their waists—each scabbard adorned with glittering gems that radiated an aura of mystique and grace—the elves appeared entirely unfazed. Even those who briefly lifted their visors wore expressions of serene composure and quiet superiority, as though they were accustomed to encountering formidable warriors. For them, the Spartans' presence was notable but hardly surprising, and the Spartans themselves paid them no mind.
Before long, the train reached the hangar bay. Disembarking immediately, the Spartans, accompanied by the support troops and elven warriors, moved in unison like an unyielding stream of iron, proceeding to the designated aprons to board aerial vehicles. The support troops boarded Luna transport ships with higher capacity, while the elite warriors and members of the Empire's Fist coordinated aboard the Thunderhawk gunboats. Given Dorn's special relationship with the elves, the elven warriors—renowned for their exceptional individual combat capabilities—often collaborated with the Astartes of the Empire's Fist on various missions. After all, the elves of Terrella were essentially human, with no inherent racial segregation like the "xenos" found in other universes. Even before Atlas had ventured into Terrella, humans, elves, and dwarves had united to fend off the demonic forces from the interspace.
John's Spartans, meanwhile, boarded the most iconic vehicle from the Halo universe—the Pelican. Soon, an ear-piercing alert sounded. Immediately thereafter, massive robotic arms began to operate, emitting a deep, resonant hum. Like giant hands, these arms swiftly and precisely maneuvered various vehicles, transferring them onto the maglev catapult track. With a whoosh and a series of rapid sounds, the vehicles were sequentially launched. They soared past plasma valves, departing from both sides of the Eternal Crusader, and the view outside the ship's hull immediately transformed—amid the pitch-black void, the thrusters' fiery exhaust flickered like countless watchful eyes upon Yaven IV, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
Inside the Pelican, John shared a common visual feed via his helmet display, witnessing the dramatic scene unfold. Below, the residual scorching trails left by the Hell Paratroopers and the assault team's airdrop pods signaled the onset of an impending storm.
Although the Rebel Alliance had agreed to be led by the Human Empire—albeit only after the unyielding stance of Magnus—the high commands had only engaged in preliminary holographic talks, with no face-to-face negotiations. Consequently, to secure complete control over the Rebel Alliance—and particularly to neutralize the various political and factional forces backing them—Magnus, immediately after ending the call, alerted the ever-ready Empire's Fist to mobilize at Yaven IV as swiftly as possible.
This was to be a surprise "soft" occupation operation. As the Hell Paratroopers and assault teams boarded their airdrop pods and advanced toward the Rebel Alliance base's outer perimeter, the Eternal Crusader and its fleet simultaneously unleashed a powerful electronic jamming signal, effectively blocking the rebels' navigation and communication systems. The Rebel Alliance fleet, stationed in low orbit, found itself rendered incapable of mounting any effective countermeasures. Their radar screens became cluttered with erratic signals, and their communication channels were reduced to grating noise—as if an invisible hand had gripped their throats. Naturally, the Rebel Alliance dared not fire first. The disparity between the two sides was simply too vast—in both fleet size and individual combat prowess, the Human Empire held absolute superiority. Thus, the already disoriented Rebel Alliance would be completely stripped of any possibility to retreat or escape. This would give Dorn the opportunity to negotiate with the rebels on his own terms, forcing them to recognize the dire situation.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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