Title:
Halo - Battlegroup Olympia
Chapter:
Orders (Prologue)
Summary:
With the war against the covenant forces intensifying as worlds within humanity's inner colonies begin to collapse, Battlegroup Olympia is formed by UNSC High Command to defend a Rim World known only as Paris IV despite being strategically, economically and materially inconsequential. The secretive Office of Naval Intelligence has plans for this World.
Unbeknownst to them all, the actions of a few individuals could prove vital if humanity is to survive the hostile alien threat.
A/N: So, here we go, though this isn't technically my first story posted here, my previous entry 'Screaming Eagles' has been lost entirely to the ether, not that I had completed much of it anyway! So, this is it, my 'not really' first ever story here!
A more detailed A/N will follow at the end.
Disclaimer: The universe of Halo is owned by Bungie, Microsoft, 343 Industries and their respected owners. Where original content is present, it is owned by me.
Time Unknown, April 20th, 2549
UNSC High Command, Viery Territory
Planet Reach
"Paris IV? Why would the Office of Naval Intelligence care so deeply about it?"
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. Regardless, Admiral Parangosky requested that I, in her absence, petition that a force be sent immediately to its aid." Came the meek response. Which was promptly met with a sneer.
"They do seem to be consistently unable to understand chain of command." The voice paused for but a moment. "Why should we risk more to its defence than we already have? It is strategically underwhelming and right now colonies are dropping like flies. We need to focus on more pressing issues."
A third voice cut-in. "Don't we have SPARTANs on deployment in the area? They are a valuable enough asset to send support to, no? We wouldn't want to lose one of 'humanity's saviours' mere weeks after we officially declared their existence."
A silence took hold for many moments.
"It doesn't have to be a big battlegroup…" Continued the weak voice.
"Alright. Fine. We can spare ten vessels to assist at Paris IV in any way the-"
"Ten?!"
"-Yes. Ten. That's all the navy can afford to waste on behalf of ONI and assisting some child soldiers. Keep balking at me like that and I'll change my mind. Are we agreed?"
Silent nods were the only response.
"Good. Inform ONI of our decision and remind them who they report to, I won't entertain another 'request' like this again. Understood?"
"Aye aye."
-1 Hour Later-
Captain O'Neill exited the secure meeting of High Command quickly, his feet carrying him through the drab solid halls and uniform doors of bureaucracy, past many a saluting marine. The soullessness of the place a crushing reflection of military efficiency. He'd agreed with everything that had been said by Admiral Ward, yet regardless of that, ONI had called in a favour on him he could Ill-afford to ignore. After all, they'd helped to ensure he was able to obtain his position. At the time he had believed, or perhaps hoped, this was done due to his strategic brilliance, now he understood his role within ONIs web of lies and deceit.
It still puzzled him immensely, what was Paris IVs significance to ONI? Why the need to use their ace-in-the-hole now? For such seeming pointlessness. O'Neill was almost glad, they'd used their worst piece of dirt against him to order this little manoeuvre and, after all, it was only ten ships. Once HIGHCOM became aware that Parangosky had ordered no such thing from him perhaps there would be some leniency.
He chuckled to himself as he continued to traverse the maze towards a swift exit. Of course, they wouldn't be lenient on him, there was a reason he had been sent to the meeting in Parangoskys stead, he realised. She knew about the request, she just didn't want association with it.
He was the scapegoat.
"Damned if I do, damned if I don't." He muttered to himself solemnly. At least ONI would protect him from the death sentence. Or maybe they would condemn him to it themselves. He never quite knew with ONI.
Stepping onto his personal pelican he was greeted by a familiar, if not entirely friendly, face, Vice Admiral Stanforth. Head of ONI section III.
"Is it done?" He asked quietly.
"Yes, though I still don't know why you wanted it done." O'Neill responded.
"Irrelevant."
"Of course." He pondered the quiet man before explaining, "By the way, it will only be ten ships. Headed by the marathon class heavy cruiser Olympia."
"Acceptable. We want you on board."
O'Neill blew out a sigh and leaned his head against the hull of the pelican.
"Come now Captain, I'm sure you'll do an excellent job."
"Aye aye."
"Excellent. Now. Onto the details of the mission…"
21:20 Hours, April 21st, 2549 (Military Standard)
On-Board UNSC Olympia, Cote d'Azur Shipyards
Planet Sigma Octanus IV
Yet another coffee to help staunch the effects of the flow of time. Sleep was an idleness that could be ill afforded in these years, especially when given orders to save a planet from its inevitable destruction under the super-heated plasma of the genocidal covenant. Rear Admiral Rayna Stuart knew all too well the ferocity with which the Covenant were systematically removing humanity from the galaxy.
Right now, she had crews to inspect, munitions to request and marines to replace. The logistical challenges of a battlegroup could easily have been delegated to a more junior officer, or the willing Smart-AI currently running simple diagnostic checks on the Olympia. Rayna relished the ability to sate her perfectionism in preparation, after all, in this war, every Shiva nuclear missile could be the key to humanity's survival and for that reason alone, she would not, could not, delegate this task to any junior officer.
Every missile, every nuke, every marine. They were all but details. Moving parts in the mechanical beast so easy able to fail and grind the entire battlegroup to a grinding and stuttering halt.
She took another quick sip and leaned deeper into the captain's chair on the command deck. Though the ship had been ordered to be evacuated to ensure speedy retrofit, Rayna had impolitely declined, preferring the atmosphere of the ship to that of the jungle world residing around her. Ridiculously overheated and dense, she doubted heavily her chances in a swift planning and logistical phase on such an untamed world.
Pausing for a moment, she spoke curtly to the empty room around her. "Lights on." So she asked, so she received. Returning to her work she considered the data-pad residing in her hands.
Nine Confirmed Ships
Olympia: Marathon Class Heavy Cruiser
The flagship of the battlegroup, primarily used for direct engagement with covenant space forces despite bring severely outclassed. The Olympia had served Rayna well in many prior engagements.
Aurora, Calliope, Armagh: Paris Class Heavy Frigates
Heavy Frigates, the mix between troop deployment capacity and direct covenant engagement capabilities.
Vagabond, Seleucia, Europa, Detroit, Pilgrim: Stalwart Class Light Frigates
Troop and ground force support capabilities, alongside impressive speed and manoeuvrability in comparison to other human ships left this ship relegated to fleet escort duties in most combat fleets. Rayna concluded improvisation with this specific class was needed to ensure the success of the entire fleet.
She'd also been promised a tenth ship, though of what class or name, she had yet to be informed. 'It had better be a heavy cruiser,' she thought bitterly, 'or this battlegroup, won't be very effective at battling'.
It was becoming increasingly evident that this mission was itself punishment for previous actions. Of course, Admiral Cole could be forgiven extensive casualties in victory, he even received medals and plaudits for such feats. Yet when Rayna achieved such results it was considered unacceptable. The irony. She produced results. She could only do that when given effective resources. How in the hell were HIGHCOM expecting results here!? The average covenant corvette could destroy several of her frigates, let alone an entire assault fleet, this was a disaster waiting to happen.
A quick shake of the head cleared that flurry of emotion. The following glance at the time on her data-pad was met with a disapproving glower. Twenty hours awake and she was already feeling the effects. Logistics could not wait, the ever-important planning phase was still to come.
With that, Rayna returned dutifully to the task of logistical preparations and requisitioning. Several hours came and went before completion, when she could finally send her orders and requests through to the captains and personnel relevant to her specific battlegroup.
Thus, the planning stage had begun.
"You know I could help you?" Came that irritatingly positive voice.
"Of course." Rayna replied tersely. Following her response, the avatar for the Olympia AI, Athena, winked into existence away from Rayna's periphery. Athena's green glow, red hair and sleek lab coat upon her one tenth scaled body became suddenly ever present within the room. Rayna knew what was happening, it had almost become a game between the two, Athena was no doubt standing on the holomap behind her, one hand firmly planted on her hips, the other clutching a holographic data-pad tight to her chest. Topped off with a solemn, if not entirely genuine, pout upon her lips.
A small sip from her now stone-cold coffee preceded the woman's return to her planning.
There was no doubt in Rayna's mind that covenant forces would concentrate invasion efforts on the larger population centres, in fact, they were likely already underway. Mimir, Baldr and Freyja on the world's largest continent in the southern hemisphere were the only real targets that matched such a profile with the spaceport at Mimir likely to be the highest priority for destruction.
"Please?" Rayna smiled briefly at the distraction, glancing briefly at the still pouting Athena. She always won this little game. She was far too polite and too innocent to ignore, something that caused Rayna to cave every time.
"Alright, I can give you a few tasks to ward off rampancy." She began. "Get me personnel files on all relevant military leadership both in the battlegroup and currently present in Paris IV, within the fleet expand this right through to lieutenant level on all ships, in every marine unit and in every ODST unit." She paused briefly, to allow the now smirking Athena to keep up. An entirely futile and pointless concession for a smart grade AI, but she refused to admit she needed a moment to think herself. "Find and compile any operational intelligence in the Paris, and surrounding, systems, along with pertinent seasonal data on Paris IV, with specifics for the Shanda region."
"Can't I help with battle planning?" Athena pouted.
"Lateral thinking."
"I can think in many directions." Athena deadpanned, almost causing Rayna to chuckle aloud as she looked to Athena, desperately trying to conceal a grin with that godforsaken pout.
"Get me the data first, then we'll see. We're going to need everything."
"Already done Captain." Athena smiled.
A/N
Thanks for reading! I appreciate that having two, nearly three, entirely different scenes was a bit jarring, especially given it introduces two main characters. However I didn't think that the introduction of O'Neill was a worthwhile chapter of its own.
This series will hopefully follow three main characters, each with their own small supporting cast, each with huge roles to play in the upcoming events, and each, I hope, with unique, distinct and engaging characters.
Though as I'm sure you've noticed, writing dialogue and developing characters is something I need to greatly work on. Oh, also be aware for some serious purple prose at times, if I ever overdo it, just let me know, it is something I am trying to fix!
Anyone willing to put up with me who would be also willing to beta write with me, feel free to drop me a PM, I always want to learn to write better.
With that all said and done. Welcome to Battlegroup Olympia. I hope you enjoy, please do leave reviews!