SICKNESS FROM THEIR SHORES
Disclaimer: I do not own anything and I respect the companies that do but all original content is mine.
Author's note: I don't know how this story is going to end up these treacherous waters. It either sinks straight away to the sticky bottom on the first chapter and tries to rise again from the muck or submerges briefly before it acquires its water wings and drifts towards a derelict and rusting barge as fast as a tree grows.
- That's a taste of my deadpan humour for you. The pun is intended. -
(AU - Alternate Universe)
(REVISED)
Chapter 1: Wanted Done the Hard Way
Unknown Regions
Location: Un-named binary star system.
Missive: [Classified]
In a dimly lit cavernous room sat several shadowed figures, all of them arranged and sitting motionless in a curved semicircle. Each of the seven-seated beings represented each arm of the combined political and armed forces of a combined species coalition that all lived and worked together under one flag in tranquility.
The Alliance of Combined Species, birth child of the United Nations Space Command, Unified Earth Government, the Swords of Sanghelios, and also along with the multitude of the other species belonging to the Milky-Way galaxy.
"So, this is how they intend to take control?" the centre grey haired figure spoke up to the assembled group as a whole, all the while running his fingers along the side of a dim holographic pad before him. "By using… this."
"From our extensive spy network and to those operatives who acquired this through other means. The sources assure my handlers that this information on this is one hundred percent accurate." A shadowy figure on the farthest right hand end clarified with the centred speaker.
A low murmur of the several different voices both high and low flowed across and throughout the room as each figure glanced at their own holographic pads of the relevant data present on them.
"We have waited and watched from the shadows long enough," a deep growl emanated from one of the shadowed figures to the left of the speaker as he finished reading. "Another opportunity such as this won't present itself again, and if there was to be another down the path…" the deep growling individual let the words trail off, the conclusion to their judgment already implied.
The room became deathly silent before the shadowy figure on the far right end stood up straight revealing her slim figure. She pressed and spread her hands out on the metallic bench she sat at and spoke, her gaze meeting each other high-ranking and leaders gazes. "Then it is agreed? Our intervention in this conflict is now a must?"
"It is," another low growl, feminine this time, came from the right of the centre figure replied, as did the hushed grumbling murmurs of 'Aye' and undeniable agreeing nodding from the others.
"Then we all know what must be done. But first we need to acquire this justification in order to begin this." The centre figure spoke to all before pressing a symbol on his holopad. "Hera. You may now show him in."
The doors at the other end chimed and slid upwards and to the side as a man of Asian decent in his late twenties with a clean shaved face and a cut to grooming standards brown hair entered the room. His grey captain's uniform neatly pressed with no sign of an uneven wrinkle in it. He crispy walked into the centre of the room, his black shoes shined to a mirror finish as they clicked against the rooms decking and stopped. He looked up and saluted the seven-seated shadowy figures arranged out in a concave circle before him.
The centre speaker acknowledged the saluting captain, "Captain Nicholas Nagata. At ease."
Nagata didn't hesitate to the words and relaxed his stance clasping his hands neatly behind his back.
"Captain, as you are well aware, you have been chosen for a task. A mission that has been in the planning for many years."
The Captain shifted his stance slightly with the barest hint of unease. The barely unrecognisable motion was not lost on the center speaker, "You know of what this means, do you not?" he said tersely.
"I do."
"Good..." there was a small clatter as the speaker placed his holopad down, "Then you know of what is to be expected of you,"
Nagata acceptably bowed in response. He didn't want to displease any of the shadowed individuals in the room as each one could bust him down from Captain before he could even think as to why.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral. What are your orders?"
"You are to take your ship and jump to the outer edge of the system of Kamino. There you will then head to the dark side of the planet of Yuka and will link up with two Strident-class frigates holding just outside of the Republic's sensor range. You will receive further orders from a Prowler currently stationed somewhere in the system."
"What of the significant republic blockade and patrols around the planet? Surely they will detect my ship and the frigates once we enter range and send someone to investigate." Nagata questioned.
"We are counting on the blockade to do just that." the figure on the left of the speaker stood revealing an impressive daunting eight-foot tall Sangheili. His silver armour adorned with traditional golden forerunner glyphs.
It was the highest title a Sangheili could attain in military rank. The ACS Council as a whole came to an agreement long ago that the titles used during the Human-Covenant war on both sides would be once again put back into play.
"Our opening piece hinges on that very action."
Captain Nagata felt the Imperial Admiral's slit green eyes lock directly with his, even though the Sangheili was covered entirely in shadow. "It is time that we make our presence in this galaxy more apparent and to show the Republic and Separatists that we are here to bring order back to the galaxy and are here to stay. Permanently."
Nagata visibly straightened further and he felt a single bead of sweat form and trickle down the back of his neck, "I understand. It will be done."
The centre speaker, the Fleet Admiral and organiser of the meeting spoke again, the form of finalisation in his tone. "You are to depart in three hours. It's not much. So I'd get moving if I was you, Captain. Have any business you or your crew to be squared away. Dismissed."
Nagata saluted and professionally turned heel, walking calmly back out through the set of doors he had entered through. The gazes of the several powerful figures of the ACS Council gazes locked onto his back as they watched him leave through the doors.
Nagata put his index finger into the front of his uniform's neck collar and adjusted the tightness slightly. He could still sense their unwavering steel stares on him even through the now sealed conference doors. It was one thing to hear what they did in there from a fellow officer or friend but it was entirely something else when yourself was chosen to be called under their magnifying glass with them being the sun and you, the condemned one, the ant.
Nagata mentally shock himself to clear the Council's cold and hard prying eyes from his mind. The vision of their piercing glares washed away but the numb cold still remained. He shivered in response.
Three hours wasn't much and he quickly turned left, heading down one of the many hallways and areas that eventually led towards the immense hangar bay of the ACS CSO-class Supercarrier Night of Serenity. Flagship to the 4th Sector Fleet of Righteous Intent.
The supercarrier he was walking within wasn't the only one of its kind the ACS had present in this galaxy and the twenty-six kilometre long warship was not alone in the completely barren and unoccupied system it cruised through with impunity.
Accompanying close around the immense carrier was an equally immense fleet. A total of over a hundred or more warships. It was a fleet combined of six carriers, of over half, were CAS-class Assault Carriers while the others were Epoch-class Heavy Carriers. Spread out a little a-ways but moving in an orderly furball formation supporting the carriers were at least an even mix of CCS-class II Battlecruisers, Autumn-class Heavy Cruisers and old but retrofitted ORS-class cruisers.
Strewn out further from the core and patrolling their assigned sectors in small groups of varying sizes of ships, were a sheer number of lighter warships and support vessels; Corvettes; Frigates; Destroyers; and Light Cruisers. Dipping, weaving and rolling in between and around them in an almost playful, yet otherwise deadly manner, were the many small glints of star-fighter squadrons.
Residing temporarily inside the supercarrier massive hangar bay, and of one of the many destroyers belonging to the fleet, was one by the name of the Ikazuchi. A name translated from an old, but still in use language, which meant thunder, was currently docked alongside an almost identical class of ship and was in the process of refueling, replenishing supplies, and overhauling two Pelicans with defective tracking sensors discovered in their nose pods.
Also undergoing aboard the ship was the rotation of the ship's combatant contingent of a squad of Spartans IVs with a platoon sized mix of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers and Sangheili Special Operation officers.
Nagata could still recall what the squad leader of the Spartans said to him on the bridge at the time after completing their docking.
'The brass must be crazy' The Spartan had remarked. 'And I must admit, it's good crazy'
Although the supercarrier had a rapid transit system due to its impressive size, Nagata was still a fit and eager young man for his age and there was no need to rush. It wasn't that far of a walk to where he docked his ship.
The ship he commanded was the ACS Ikazuchi, a retrofitted Halberd-class II destroyer. And he couldn't be more proud to captain such a superb vessel.
Measuring in at an additional length of five hundred and eighty two metres, the destroyer was just short of a hundred metres longer than the standard class but seven meters longer than the Strident-class heavy frigate.
After an hour of walking the lengthy corridors while greeting with a friendly smile and nod as he passed by many fellow officers, some of which he personally knew and served with, whether that be human, Sangheili or even Kig-Yar.
Nagata reached a main set of airlock doors where his ship was docked with and looked to his left.
"Marius, I'm back." he announced gladly, still looking over at an unoccupied holo-pedestal by the airlock doors. "How are things been since I was gone?"
The pedestal warmed to a light green glow and a little moment longer a fit and strong male human appeared, clad in full Roman legionary garb. The A.I. was leaning on his rectangular squared shield towards the captain whilst his Pilum, otherwise known as a javelin, was speared down in the "ground" next to him.
"It's been from 'nothing much' to boring since you left." Marius said, using double air quotes to his nothing much before returning to leaning on his shield. "How did the meeting with the top brass go?"
"You weren't able to eavesdrop this time?" Nagata asked, inputting the door code.
"Hera stopped me after I turtled my way past the fifth wall of defence. She's getting sloppy."
"Ah. You do realise she was toying with you?" Nagata humorously laughed at Marius but retained his stiff composure as the hand scanner, hypodermic syringe, and retina scanner folded out of the wall near him.
"I knew that." Marius retorted dismissively, gripping onto his javelin and yanking it out of the invisible ground.
"Well what have we got on-board?" Nagata asked him as the biometric scan began for his identification. "Don't bore me with the long winded details," he didn't wince as the needle took a sample of his blood. "I already know most because of my neural link but I'd rather hear it from you a second time than have it already transferred directly into my brain via my neural-net."
Breep.
"Sure thing. Welcome back to the glorious Ikazuchi, Captain Nagata." Marius said, proudly. He disappeared from the pedestal as the biometrics scan was completed, correctly identifying the person that had been scanned and pricked was indeed Captain Nicholas Nagata.
The heavy airlock doors slid smoothly apart, accompanied with warning chimes as it opened, leading directly into one of the selective shielded side hangars of the destroyer where he could see members of his crew still stowing and securing supplies and equipment before they departed. He had no idea how long they were to be in the Kamino system when they linked up with the frigates and got into contact with the prowler stationed there, so it was always best to prepare for a long stay than what was needed.
As he walked into the hangar while Marius talked in his mind, some of the crew gave brief acknowledgeable salutes and welcomed him back, while the others continued on with their work, giving only a simple wave or nod to their Captain. Nagata long accepted that, he had his orders and so did they. Some commanders who that had served with him, would say Nagata had his own set of rules on what is important to stop work to greet a superior.
Some hated him for it. Others not so much. But one thing was for certain that they all have respect for; his crew got the job done without a fuss even if the he had ordered them for something that boarded along the realm of impossible.
Which was probably why he was chosen to go to the system of Kamino. Whatever the top brass and the Council wanted of him there, it was to be extremely important to have the need of his talents and the unwavering loyality of his crew.
Nagata reached the centre lift that would bring him to the command deck and finally the bridge. His natural element. His home. It was good to be back.
The bridge doors slid open and he walked inside, there he was immediately greeted by the warm pleasant smiles of the current bridge officers and other crew with a combined chorus of three words.
"Officer on deck!"
"As you were," Nagata said pleasenty, before turning his attention to the small holotable centred in middle of the room, located just behind the commander's chair.
"Marius?" he evenly asked the currently inactive table.
The table lit up displaying him and the entire fleet's ships real time positions with their own location, still located within the bowels of the supercarrier's hangar.
"Are we ready to go?"
"Reactor is in final shakedown, sir. Diverting necessary power to engines," the ship gave a familiar reverberating shudder in response as the engines came online. "All hands are aboard and accounted for. All equipment is stowed and secured. And Lieutenant Reilly has already put in the request for departure to command and control as soon as you stepped in the elevator." Marius replied curtly while standing at attention, javelin in hand, shield held strongly beside him.
"Nav?" Nagata questioned, turning to face Lieutenant Reilly at his station.
"All clear, sir. The request for departure from C&C has been approved."
"Then our pleasant stay here at Camp Bravo has ended. Time to get to work."
"Aye, sir."
The rhythmic sounds of docking clamps and the umbilicals disconnecting from the hardpoints, echoed as muffled dings and clangs throughout the ship.
A shrill of pings came from Reilly's station as the holographic outline of the destroyer displayed numerous circles of green lights over it at certain points. "Detachment successful, Captain. We're clear. Half reverse thrust, turning us about."
The destroyer eased itself backwards from its parking space before pivoting around on the spot to point its nose towards the exit and slowly powered forward. At the point where the ship was about to exit the massive hangar his comm officer suddenly spoke up, urgency in her voice.
"Captain. I've got Imperial Admiral Sesa 'Fulsam on the main channel. He's contacting us directly."
"Patch him through." Nagata said without pause.
"Aye, sir."
The Imperial Admiral appeared on one of the forward view screens rather than by hologram via the holotable. All eye were drawn to his imposing figure and golden marked silver armour. Captain Nagata saluted, as did the rest of the bridge crew and the Sangheili gave a small dismissal wave in return.
"Imperial Admiral 'Fulsam, my ship is just about leave your prime hangar bay. Do you wish of me and the ship to turn back to the docks?" Nagata asked the Sangheili.
"No, not this time my old friend." 'Fulsam said, calmly but with an deep urgency that Nagata hadn't heard since the time when he first met the Imperial Admiral. "Your schedule to depart for the system in two hours has been rescinded. You are now to depart for the system of Kamino immediately."
"As you say, Imperial Admiral." Nagata acknowledged with respecting nod and leaned over to Reilly from his chair.
"Coordinates already plotted in, sir. Spinning up FTL drive."
"The best of good luck to you and your men my friend," 'Fulsam placed an arm over his chest and slightly bowed forward. It was the sign of respect and the Sangheili's way of salute.
"As to the continuation of the ACS." Nagata responded in kind.
The high-ranking Sangheili disappeared and the forward view screen returned to reveal the space outside of the CSO-class supercarrier and the gleaming spots that were the other ships belonging to the fleet.
"Captain, crew is prepped and we're clear for jump departure."
"Get us out of here."
A blue swirling flat portal fringed by turbulent wisps of midnight purple appeared before the Ikazuchi. The destroyer, without diverting away from the swirling anomaly accelerated straight into its embrace, disappearing into the eleven dimensions that were of the realms of slipspace and on direct course for the system of Kamino.
Criticism is warranted in your review if you have the time and I won't deny that mistakes will be made in the course of this crossover.