Well hear goes nothing. I tend to do quite small chapters and with exams incoming I won't be able to update regularly. But here it is, chapter one of "UNSC Thermopylae".
Admiral Williamson puffed on his cigar and idly scanned the document in front of him. He sat in a darkened briefing aboard Cairo station. Below, the blue and green marble that was Earth spun lazily. In front of him stood a heavily built woman. Compared to others of her type, she was small, almost petite. The officer's uniform she wore didn't suit her. She was a soldier. But she bore the rank of Major with pride. Williamson placed his cigar in the ash tray and sighed.
"So ONI wants to steal my new ship?"
"With all due respect, Admiral. Thermopylae was built for Spartans. She has all the equipment needed to service and deploy 300 of them." Said the woman as she stared straight ahead.
"And I agree with you. As does the Admiralty. Thermopylae needs to be out on the front lines, not stuck guarding the home world." The Admiral drew a PDA from his pocket and tapped a few times on the screen. "As of a second ago, Thermopylae belongs to your department Major. Try not to break her."
"Thank you sir." The Major saluted and turned to leave but the Admiral spoke again.
"There is a catch Kelly." Said the Admiral, using Kelly's real name."
"Yes sir?"
"The Brutes have been sniffing around Reach. They have set down near the ruins of ONI's CASTLE facility. They can't be allowed to interfere with Terraforming."
"Don't worry sir; they won't know what hit them." Kelly smiled as she walked out. She and the others were ready to take on the Covenant once more.
Linda stood to attention as Kelly walked into the waiting area. She, like Kelly felt uncomfortable in her uniform. She would have preferred to be in her armour. But she was an officer now and she didn't have the luxury of going everywhere in it.
"So, did you do it?" Asked Linda.
"We have the ship, a crew, and the Spartans. Now all we need is the ODST's to fill the gaps and were off." Said Kelly.
"Colonel Watters said he has found willing volunteers and someone comfortable with Spartans too lead them."
"Who is this guy?" Asked Kelly
"Lieutenant O'Brien. He was one of the Helljumpers present when Cal was killed. His file says that he is an expert sniper and doesn't hold the same hatred towards us as others." Said Linda.
"Good. Tell the Colonel to send the Spartans and their gear over to the Thermopylae and to get the ODSTs over as well. Anything else?" Asked Kelly as she headed to the hangar bay.
"Yes. Captain Andreas is getting impatient. He ordered a crate of Plasma Repeaters three weeks ago and they haven't shown up." Said Linda.
"Isn't that something he should talk to the Elites about?" Asked Kelly. "And anyway hasn't he got enough Plasma weaponry already?"
"He says that these ones are all that are needed to fully equip the armoury."
Tell him that he'll have to wait for a few days. If they don't show up then he has permission to loot as much Covenant tech as he can carry when we get to Reach." Said Kelly as she stepped onto a Pelican.
"We're going home?" Asked Linda.
"What's left of it." Said Kelly as the dropship lifted of the ground.
The reasons for Kelly's and Linda's appearances will be explained later on. As will any other questions. So now I leave you with the bog standard review plea. Review please.