Author's Note: Greetings everyone. Today I have a special announcement: I'm rebooting this story.

Now I know that this story didn't actually have all that many followers (and in case any of you guys are left, you're awesome and deserve a medal or something), which I get as the original Project: Nightingale read and felt like the work of a thirteen year-old (oh wait, it was). And I'm sure there were other reasons that people didn't care for this story, but in general I can see that it wasn't exactly anything spectacular. Long story short, the original version of this story is not something I'm particularly proud of, but that's why I'm doing this.

However, despite the glaring flaws that the original version had, it was (in all honesty) one of my favorite ideas for a story, and I didn't want it to just lay to waste.

So that's why I did this. I've redone, rearranged, and rewritten the story, characters, settings, and virtually everything; and this time around I'm actually genuinely proud of how this has turned out (which is weird, cause I never do that).

So I think it's about time I stopped talking, and let you read. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own a lot of this stuff, just the immediate setting, characters, and plot. Everything else belongs to 343i, so please don't sue me.


::Project: Nightingale::

::Chapter 1::

Recording Start…

Video and Audio Recording: Project Nightingale Training

Location: Elysium→Agaia→New Angeles City→Southeast Education District→Iriswright Training Facility

Date: 2542 October 9

Time: 18:00

Inside what looked like a military base's command center was a group of five children, no older than six or seven, who were led by a man wearing a military uniform. A woman with a similar uniform was following close behind them. The man directed the children's attention to a large observation window that provided an overhead view of an expansive gym-like room. Inside were several other children in the room exercising: running obstacle courses, and practicing at firing ranges, though they were considerably older than the five watching above. Each of them performed their tasks with a surprisingly high level of skill given their apparent ages. As the children watched the training in awe, the man started to speak.

"As Colonel Brooklyn here had stated previously, the five of you have each been selected from a large pool of over a thousand other children for this project. You have each been chosen because you possessed skills, abilities, and traits that our tests deem extraordinary enough to be a candidate for our program. As per your parents' consent, you are to attend your normal elementary classes from 08:00 and 14:30, and you will report here for your training from 15:00 to 20:00. We are determined to help you become the best you can be. And with that, I welcome you to project nightin...

Recording Terminated

[**]

Inside that same facility was a pre-teen boy who, unlike in the recording, was completely alone. The boy sat at the central command terminal, a flat table whose surface was primarily a wide computer screen. The screen displayed the time and date: 17:59, 24 March 2550.

The boy, who was taking a nap at the table, awoke abruptly when the alarm went off at six o'clock. He swiped across the screen to shut it off, and yawned sleepily as he stretched his arms. As he rubbed his eyes, he noticed on the main screen that the icon labeled "Misc Assignments" was blinking. He tapped the icon, opening another window that contained a letter addressed to him that read,

Dear Jr Lance Corporal Chase,

This is a message from the Office of Naval Intelligence, Project Nightingale board of directors. This is a reminder that you are required to submit an annual candidate report, as an active member and trainee of Project Nightingale, via a video log, detailing your experience with the project, updates on current events regarding your division, and a mandatory summary on the project from your own knowledge. This must be submitted by March 25, 2550, and failure to do so will induce consequences. Your participation in this project is greatly appreciated, and we will do our very best to take your thoughts and opinions into consideration when making improvements.

Sincerely,

Office of Naval Intelligence: Project Nightingale Board of Directors; Section-4

March 1, 2550

The boy snorted at the last sentence of the message. "Pft. Take our opinions and thoughts into consideration. What a bunch of crap," He muttered spitefully.

"Still, it is required by the board... And I don't think mom'll appreciate having to pay another really high fine..." He said to himself as he mulled it over.

"Alright, fine."

He closed the letter, and accessed the recorder app in the computer.

"Is this on? Testing, testing- Ok it's on." He spoke into the microphone to verify whether or not the recorder was on before starting the log.

"Well the actual assignment description says I have to give a brief description of the project first, even though I'd given it already like a billion times. To whoever it is that's supposed to listen to this, you should probably take that as a suggestion for improvement.

You should know this already, but in the event that you don't, I am one of the active operatives of the hyper-classified Project Nightingale, the newest of the crazy schemes that the UNSC and ONI are trying to use to stop the current threats to humanity's survival as a species. It's a highly classified project, which you should've already known, kinda like the Spartan Program. Just, you know, without all the grimdark aspects. Most of them anyways.

"The candidates chosen are still children with a specific set of physical, mental, and personality traits; they're put through intense physical and mental training; and are genetically augmented. Course, it's nowhere near the level the previously mentioned project mind you, but they have that in common.

Oh, and if you're wondering why I know any of that... well...I'll put it this way: whoever's in charge of monitoring the classified information that's leaked onto the network really shouldn't have his or her job anymore.

"Anyways, on the other hand there are way more differences than similarities. The genetic enhancements and training we receive are engineered to augment stealth capabilities, as opposed to the Spartans, whose training and enhancements augment their combat abilities They're also a lot safer, and carry much less of a risk of killing or horribly deforming us.

Also, we're not kidnapped, taken from our families, and replaced with flash-clones, then whisked away to some military compound on another planet to be trained. All the candidates are chosen from here on Elysium. Our parents are also notified and told that we've been chosen to be a part of this, and, and this is the best part, they actually ASK for their permission to admit us into this project.

"The reason for these things is we're trained, not to be unstoppable super-soldiers, but instead to be the perfect stealth and espionage specialists. The project is trying to develop the most effective and successful breed of stealth soldiers, who have the abilities to infiltrate enemy compounds, run counterintelligence against them, provide extensive reconnaissance information, and help to bring down the enemy from the inside.

"Now you must be wondering, WHY would any SANE parent want their children to become part of a secret government project, whose goal is literally to turn them into child-soldiers? The answer is relatively simple: we're at war with an alien empire, whose apparent goals are to wipe us off the face of the galaxy, and we're losing. Humanity is desperate, and desperation makes people do...irrational things. Though you should know all about that. I mean c'mon, YOU'RE the ones who approved it.

My name is Jr Lance Corporal Icarus Chase, and I'm one of active-duty Nightingale operatives stationed at the New Angeles training facility. Actually, scratch that, I'm the ONLY Nightingale operative stationed at this facility.

There were originally four other trainees, who were also my best friends, though starting about two years ago they all got transferred to other on the planet. I'd be lying if I said that I don't worry about them. You know, especially because we become full active-duty operatives when we enter our first year of middle school.

To put that into perspective, I am thirteen years of age as I record this, and I'm in my third and last year of middle school. We enter into active duty, as in we're actually sent on missions to break into Insurrectionist bases here on Elysium, at the age of eleven. Once again, if somebody actually listens to this, maybe you should take into consideration why it'd be a bad idea to give a bunch of preteens firearms and send them on pretty-much suicide infiltration missions.

Though I'm just ranting now. It's what happens when you're left alone for extended periods of time.

In terms of current events, there's really only one worth mentioning. My commander officer, Colonel Brooklyn, has been going to the eight other Nightingale training facilities to transfer more Nightingales here to New Angeles. According to her it's because I need more friends. Not like it's my fault I don't have any to begin with, but I know that it's just 'cause command ordered her to because New Angeles is undermanned. I should know, I'm the only one.

To be honest, I appreciate her concern, but I've lost my will to care. It's not that I like being alone, but in the end I'm just a soldier, a tool, to everyone. Maybe not the Colonel, but I really don't think it's worth it if she's doing it for my sake.

Still, I can't help but wonder who she'll find..."

[**]

Meanwhile...

Elysium→Shinrin→New Kyoto Prefecture→Mizuzaki Training Facility

24 March 2550

14:00

On the other side of the world, in the New Kyoto Prefecture, was another Nightingale training facility. Inside the facility's training area is a team of eight children who are about to begin an advanced obstacle course. The eight children face the entrance of the course, which split into four paths. As the clock starts, they divide into four pairs.

The first pair is made up of two boys: one being relatively tall and having a look of elatedness and dumb confidence, while the other was comparatively short and compacted though also shared the same look. The second pair has two identical twin girls of average height and slim builds, both looking relaxed and playful. The third pair is made up of an older girl, whose body was more muscular than that of a normal girl her age, with a look of annoyance framing her face, and a boy, much younger appearing than the others, who appeared extremely hyper-active. The last pair is composed of a well-toned boy with a confident smirk, and a short but athletic girl whose expression was unreadable and emotionless.

These children make up the New Kyoto division of Project Nightingale: Nightingale Team Shinobi. The team widely considered to be the best of the best.

The big one is Jr Private Walker Hashimoto: the team's ordinance weapon specialist. Good with explosives and heavy weapons in general, he serves as the powerhouse and is usually either the forward offense or the back-up cover fire. Not that they usually need it, being stealth specialists and all. Outside of combat he is known to be friendly, personable, and outgoing. However he also lacks tact, analytical abilities, and is extremely gullible.

The short one's name is Jr Corporal Kendall Watanabe: the team's marksman specialist. Ironically though, he rarely gets the chance to use his abilities as a sniper, instead typically serving as spotter and surveyor. Considerably more reserved and analytical, though just mischievous as his best friend Hashimoto, the two are typically paired together. Primarily because they're completely inseparable, but also due to the fact that their skill sets are able to work very well together.

The two twins are Jr Corporal Tomiko and Jr Corporal Kimiko Haley: the team's close-quarters specialists. While both possess the same general specialization, they possess two distinct combat styles. Tomiko is physically stronger, and thus specializes in hand to hand combat. Her sister Kimiko on the other hand is physically faster, and thus specializes in melee weapon combat. During missions, they're usually sent as forward to scout areas ahead and occasionally incapacitate guards. They share the same carefree, optimistic, and happy-go-lucky personality, though they occasionally come off as ditsy and attention deficit.

The older girl is Jr Sergeant Nanako Jade: the eldest Nightingale on the team and communications and electronics specialist. As a combat role, she typically hangs back to monitor the others during infiltrations as well as keep them patched to command. At fourteen years old she is the most experienced operative on the team, and has already received her genetic enhancements, thus her augmented physique. On the outside she is considered by most people to be the wisest and most mature member of the team, and she often takes the role of mediator among the others.

The younger boy is Jr Private Akira Hsu: the newest and youngest member of the team. As he is so young and inexperienced, he doesn't have a combat specialty. In terms of personality, he is considerably more naïve, childish, and immature than the others, and often comes off as overly eager and annoying, much to the chagrin of his teammates. Unlike the others, he seems to be delusional about the concept behind being a Nightingale, and appears to treat it like it is some kind of game. This has led to him seeming somewhat insubordinate, reckless, and even insensitive. However because of his exceptionally high scores for his age he was allowed to be on the active duty team.

The boy with the confident look is Jr Captain David Kita: the team's commander. While he does have remarkable fighting ability, his greatest trait is his leadership capability. Smart, charismatic, tactical, calm under pressure, works well with others, he has led Team Shinobi through all their victories one way or another. There is very little question why he was given the position of leader. However, while his combat and leadership abilities are outstanding to say in the least, his greatest flaw is his surprising lack of self-assertiveness which often keeps him from expressing his own ideas or views on subjects, especially if they differ or conflict with his superiors or peers.

And the last member, Jr Lieutenant Candice Suzuki: the second-in-command and the epitome of the perfect Nightingale. The most versatile member of Shinobi Team, she is highly adept at all forms of combat and possesses a high degree of adaptability that makes her an exceptionally dangerous fighter. She follows orders without question, and her athletic and academic performances are nothing short of amazing. However her greatest weakness is her almost complete lack of social skills or emotion. Virtually everyone, including her fellow Nightingales, would describe her as quiet and distant, and agree that her near-inability to show even a slight interest in other people (or make friends) is one of her biggest flaws.

[**]

In the command center above the training room were three adults, who watched the children through the observation window as they performed the exercise. One was a young woman in her mid-twenties, wearing a green dress uniform with a Staff Sergeant patch. The second was a man in his late-thirties, wearing a black dress uniform with a Major strap on his shoulder. The last was another woman in her mid-forties, who unlike the first two, wore a black trench coat over her uniform.

"...and that's a full rundown of each operative, Brooklyn-taisa (1)." The younger woman, Staff Sergeant Kato, told the Project-Head as she finished describing each of the operatives.

The older woman nodded. "It sounds like they really do live up to their legend then." She said approvingly.

"Thank you ma'am, I do try." The young instructor said with a slight hint of embarrassment.

"How come this team has so many members anyway?" Brooklyn asked.

"New Kyoto and her surrounding communities haven't had any qualifying candidates in the last six years." The man, Major Tachibana, answered this time "We haven't been able to get any for a second team. Sergeant Kato explained that when she was going over Jr Pvt. Hsu's file."

"I see. Also you don't have to be so tense Major." She told him, noticing how nervous he seemed.

"My apologies, Brooklyn-taisa."

"It's no problem." She replied, "Though eight members seems like a bit much."

"Their performance has been outstanding lately though." Kato pointed out.

"That is true. They have placed number one in the rankings the last two years." Tachibana added.

"Impressive indeed." The colonel agreed, "May I look at their files again?"

"Of course." Kato said as she handed her the tablet.

"Then that means…" The major began to ask.

"Yeah."

"Great..." He muttered sarcastically.

As the colonel took a look at the trainees' files, muttering something every now and again, the other two adults' attentions were diverted to the team. They had just cleared the third obstacle course and were proceeding to the final one.

"What's their time Yui-kun(3)?" The major asked the younger woman.

"Three minutes and fourteen seconds, Tachibana-sama(2)" She reported, "Half a minute off their last time."

"Half a minute?" He asked, somewhat surprised. The instructor nodded.

"That's got to be a record" The major said to himself.

"Alright, I got it." The colonel announced suddenly.

"You've already decided?" Tachibana asked somewhat incredulously.

"Yep."

"Who ma'am?" Kato asked curiously.

"I think you already know." She answered.

"Now hold on a second." Tachibana spoke up, "You only said you came here to evaluate the trainees here."

"No. I told you specifically that I came here to transfer someone to New Angeles. I've already visited the facilities in Spear Pike, Kadoshima, South Lake, and Oshite. All of them have too few members currently. New Kyoto seems to be the only one that has a more than necessary amount on their roster."

"Well with all due respect Brooklyn-taisa," the major started to say "I must strongly recommend against your decision."

"For what reason?"

"Junior Lt Suzuki is an integral part of Nightingale team Shinobi. Without even taking her skills into consideration here, she is one the longest standing members. Taking her out would greatly hinder their effectiveness as a team."

"I understand that. However, New Angeles is a crucial city on this planet. The facility only has a single active Nightingale."

"But enemy activity has NEVER been high." the major countered, "And the children aren't even sent on that dangerous of missions."

"Yes, it's true that hostile enemy activity has been low. However, protocol dictates that each of the four major cities are required to be prepared for any kind of emergency. That means at least a team, and one person isn't a team."

"And what difference would two make?"

"Well going by the records here that you kept, Lt Suzuki, by skill alone, is worth several Nightingales."

This time, Kato was the one to speak up, "Ok yes, we can agree with that. But you have to consider the consequences Brooklyn-sama."

"And those are?"

"If you transfer Lt Suzuki, you wouldn't just be taking a soldier out of a team, you'd be taking a girl, a girl who is only twelve mind you, away from her friends and her home. Most of these children have known each other since they were six, and you know as well as the rest of us that Nightingales don't make friends with civilian children. They are all they have, and you're going to take that from them?" The younger woman stated more than asked. A brief moment of silence passed, and to Kato and Tachibana's surprise, the Colonel smiled.

"I appreciate your concern Yui. Not many others understand what the Nightingales' have to go through. Even less will sympathize with them. I'm glad you're here for that." She told the younger woman, "And I'll admit, I don't like the idea either. However, there is a reason I'm doing this."

"What do you mean?" Tachibana asked.

"I see something in her. There's something about her that I can't explain now, but I know it's important."

"So woman's intuition then?" he asked sarcastically.

"Something like that."

"Well with all due respect Brooklyn-sama, I'm going to have to say that's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard." he scoffed.

"Well either way, this is still a matter of planetary security, and I also outrank you."

"Nice try, Brooklyn-sama, but I know a bluff when I hear one, and my position stays the same." he replied. The Colonel pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed in exasperation.

"Well, what about a compromise?" Kato spoke up, surprising them both.

"Compromise?" the two senior officers asked simultaneously.

"Yes. Although I don't want to split up the kids, I don't think matters of planetary security are something we should just wave off." She told the two of them. The two officers looked at one another, solid gaze meeting solid gaze, and after a moment of silence, Tachibana was the first to say something.

"Very well. Yui-kun is right. What do you propose?"

"A single year. Lt Suzuki will only be transferred for a year to New Angeles, and after that she can return. By then, the lower division would have graduated to the active-duty division and her services would no longer be required." She explained "Do we have a deal?"

Tachibana thought about it in silence for a full minute.

"Very well, I'll have the paperwork completed as soon as possible-"

"You mean I'LL have the paperwork completed as soon as possible." Kato snarkily interjected.

"Anyways..." he continued, ignoring her, "she'll be on the other side of Elysium within the next week."

Brooklyn nodded. "Good. And don't worry Sam, she'll be in good hands."

"I just hope you know what you're doing." he answered as he turned to Kato and had her pull up the necessary transcripts and paperwork on the computer.

Before she turned to leave, Brooklyn looked through the observation window. She saw the soon-to-be transfer sitting somewhat apart from the other seven, though she still smiled.

'They're so alike.' She thought to herself before turning to leave for Agaia.

Outside, high above New Kyoto's far reaching skyscrapers, a flock of Elysium-native avians flew north towards the mountains.

To be continued...


Translation/Trivia Notes:

1. Taisa=Colonel

2. Sama= Honorific denoting higher respect and senior status or higher rank

3. Kun= Honorific denoting junior status or lower rank. Typically used for young boys, but can be used for people of either gender when used by coworkers of senior status.


Credits:

Chief Editor: TomBuchanan26

Chief Translator: Nekonya1234