"Humanity will not cower. We will never be the aggressors, but the Council will never be allowed to intimidate us. The Office of Naval Intelligence is humanity's first defense in the everlasting war for our survival."
-Admiral Serin Osman in a speech to Section Zero of ONI, taking command of ONI in 2560 after the retirement of Admiral Margaret Parangosky
Shepard looked at the armor situated in front of him. It was his own, red and black, having been hauled off from Reach on the Normandy. God. It's been so long since I've worn it.
Spending six months preparing for a mission that could make or break the UNSC's image, he hadn't been able to wear his armor. Being a part of an ONI Ferret Team meant that sometimes he couldn't wear his armor and it made him feel rather vulnerable. That armor saved my ass on Torfan against the batarians. Wonder what's been upgraded or changed about it.
His arrival in the Normandy's cargo bay didn't go unnoticed for long. The technician, a man by the name of Corporal Jenkins, was standing in front of the armor, going over the greaves with some sort of oil. He turned and wiped his hands on a rag before facing Shepard and he instantly saluted, which Shepard returned.
"Ah Commander Shepard! Welcome to the cargo bay!" the fresh faced technician said. "I'm Corporal Jenkins and I'm the head technician here. I help maintain the Cougar and the Pelican, which your ground team will be using. And I will be help maintaining your armor as well."
Shepard had to smile at Jenkins and his enthusiasm.
"Good to be here Jenkins. Can you give the rundown on the changes in the armor since I've worn it?"
Jenkins nodded, before gesturing Shepard to come closer. He handed Shepard a pad which detailed every single change that had been done to his armor.
"As you know, the Mjolnir armor is state of the art. However, your armor was based on the older Mjolnir Mark V kit doled out to the Spartan IIIs in the mid 2550s, while the Mark VIs and VIIs were given to the Spartan IIs. Since Doctor Halsey made a breakthrough a few years ago, the armor has less bulk and is much more streamline," Jenkins explained. "For example, your old armor was much heavier. A ton to be exact. This one, however, is only around 200 kilograms."
"So what the techs and I did was basically rebuild your armor from scratch. It still has all of your customization work you've done on it, as much as we could replicate, such as the omni-tool. But you will be much stronger in this armor, as it is designed to compensate for Spartan IVs less extensive physical augmentations. However, since your augmentations are roughly on par with Spartan IIs, you are actually stronger than Spartan IVs. In addition, you're much faster than the average Spartan IV as well, due to your augmentations."
Shepard was wowed by that. Years of wearing the Mjolnir Mark V armor made him used to the bulkiness and unwieldiness of it. But if the tech said was true...this is awesome.
"In addition to a new nuclear batter pack that is three times as efficient as your old one, your armor comes with three built-in upgrades; thrusters, allowing you better maneuverability in space combat and EVA activities, along with active camouflage. The active camouflage lasts for thirty seconds and then it has to recharge. In addition, you can channel your energy shields into a sort of riot shield, allowing you nigh invulnerability in any direction of your choice, as long as you face the guys shooting you."
Shepard whistled. He had heard of how Spartans handled riot control sometimes in the Outer Colonies, which was not something you would have expected Spartans to handle. But this would be good for hostage extraction and rescue. We can shield them a lot better.
"Everything else is the same pretty much. Biofoam injector, VISR, AI attachment, basically all the same. Just a little tweaks, but you shouldn't be have to worry about it. I'll make sure your armor is up and ready for the mission on Eden Prime!" Jenkins said.
"Thank you Corporal. Keep up the good work," Shepard complemented and Jenkins gave a salute as Shepard departed.
"Commander Shepard, this is Conrad. Captain Anderson wants to see you," the AI announced and Shepard grimaced a little. It wasn't that he didn't like Anderson. The man was a former Spartan himself, having served as one for about a decade. But then the man became a captain in the UNSC Navy and had little trust for ONI. Though Shepard didn't like ONI either, they gave you a certain degree of freedom. Osman makes sure her teams are independent, Shepard noted.
But ever since Shepard's team (wasn't really a team, only him, EDI, and Alenko) had arrived on the UNSC Normandy, the Prowler-class corvette had an atmosphere of apprehension and fear. The Normandy was one of the few stealth vessels not under ONI control and the arrival of Shepard made them all jumpy. And they're right to be. ONI does have plans for this vessel. But not in the way they think.
Giving Jenkins a verbal goodbye, he went straight for the main elevator which would take him to the captain's cabin. The Normandy was structured into three decks, the bottom one being engines and cargo, the middle being the main deck, and the third acting as a private cabin for the captain. The elevator went all the way to the third.
Captain Anderson was a very serious and thoughtful man. Having worked for the UNSC Navy for over three decades, he knew Adrian Shepard's father. Adrian's father had served in the UNSC Marine Corps and died when Adrian was only eighteen during what was supposed to be his last tour.
Fuck you batarians, Shepard thought as the elevator stopped.
"Permission to enter your cabin, sir?" Shepard asked and the captain hummed an affirmative. The doors to the cabin opened, revealing a fish tank and a spacious room. Anderson was hunched over his desk, dressed in a standard captain's outfit, though with armor on. A gray tunic and trousers hugged Anderson, with the insides of both being primarily dark grey. The back of the vest has additional armor plating to protect the spine; an array of blue lights were displayed in these armor sections. The rank of captain, with four downward chevrons, was evident on his sleeves, while a metal pauldron protected his left shoulder.
"Commander," Anderson said simply. "It's almost time."
"Aye sir," Shepard responded. Shepard was dressed in standard UNSC Marine Corp fatigues despite not having served as one for almost a decade. He had been an ODST for three years before becoming a Spartan and eventually part of a Ferret Team for ONI. The Normandy had a HEV Bay for quick inserts, with the ability of putting a fully armed squad on the ground in less than ten minutes.
"You know, I actually wanted you on this mission. You're different from a lot of ONI operatives. You're a Spartan for one and you have actual combat experience. You and Alenko. I understand that there is some animosity between us, but that's because I don't trust ONI. I do trust you, as far fetched as that sounds," Anderson admitted. Shepard breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you sir. I know that ONI isn't liked much around here. To be frank, I don't like ONI much either, but they give you freedom, freedom you don't find anywhere else. Admiral Osman might be a spook, but she's a good one at that," Shepard said briskly. His mother didn't want him to join the UNSC Defense Forces, even though every single generation of Shepard dating back to the Rainforest Wars had served. His mother was actually still in the UNSC Navy, serving as captain for the UNSC Marathon, an older Marathon-class cruiser.
At least Rosa didn't join, he thought. His younger sister who was a xenobiologist currently on a dig in the Artemis Tao cluster. She studied the Protheans alongside her friend Doctor Liara T'Soni. Rosa Shepard only spoke highly of her.
"I understand that Shepard. That's why I wanted you on this mission. We need somebody much different from the Spartan IIs and IIIs. The other IVs don't have as advanced physical augmentations like you do. But you have history with the Council species, unlike most humans in UNSC space. You served alongside a krogan mercenary and a quarian Fleet Marine squad during one of your missions, is that correct?" Anderson asked and Shepard was shocked.
That mission was classified to the highest order. He had been alone for that mission, having been sent by ONI to kill xenophobic terrorists planning on detonating a bio weapon on the colony of Sedora. Sedora was one of the few colonies that allowed aliens of all types (not just the primary Council races), and he teamed up with a krogan mercenary named Wrex and a quarian Marine named Kal Reegar, who had been sent to pull security for a quarian diplomatic team trying to convince the Sedora government to allow their fleet to discharge their drive cores in the system.
And after that mission, the Sedorians allowed them.
"I'm not going to ask how you know that, but yes. Urdnot Wrex, one of the toughest sons of bitches you'll ever meet and Kal Reegar, as foulmouthed as any human Marine."
"It's good. This mission...it'll bring humanity closer to the Council than ever before. And not everyone will like it. Especially some of the xenophobic bastards on the Security Council who think that the First Contact War is going to blow up again," Anderson huffed. "We're working with a turian Spectre and they're worried? We can stay isolated and I'm glad Osman sees that. Hell, only the Navy seems to see that."
"I understand sir."
Anderson took a deep breath before looking at Shepard.
"Get your team ready Commander. We'll be at Eden Prime soon. That beacon is the key to future relations with the Council," Anderson said. "Get some rest as well. You're going to need it."
Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko was in the co-pilot seat of the Normandy. The helmsman of the Normandy Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau was currently allowing the ship's AI, Conrad, taking over as they were currently in transition from the Arcturus Relay (through slipspace) to the Eden Prime one. Relay 212 was the direct window to Earth and has such, was protected by the UNSC Fifth Fleet, commanded by Admiral Steven Hackett.
Alenko was a rarity; a biotic and a Spartan at that. He had been abducted by ONI following his exposure to element zero, studied and prodded at by scientists who were wondering what the hell it did to him. After realizing that he had "powers" he was sent to a camp where his biotic powers were honed. Over a hundred kids were a part of that camp. By the time they had "graduated" only half of them remained.
He had been eighteen when he enlisted in the UNSC Marine Corps. He had met Shepard, who was an experienced demolitions expert and engineer, and the two instantly became the closest of friends. They both joined the ODSTs and both became part of the same Ferret Team after becoming Spartans. The two were brothers; Alenko was a single child and even then, he had pushed away the other kids at Jump Zero.
"So as I was saying, the asari are just plain weird. I mean, they're blue and they look like us, but they're all women! I remember this one time when I was back on Reach..." Joker continued to regale in his tale of meeting an asari woman who helped "mend" his genetic disease. Joker had Vrolik syndrome, a rare genetic bone brittling disease that made it almost impossible for him to walk. Thanks to advanced UNSC medical technology, Joker's bones were much stronger but he was still medically bared from joining the infantry.
"Joker, I'm gonna call bullshit on that one," Kaiden countered. "I like asari too, but mind mending doesn't heal your bone problems. Maybe your other bone problems, but not that kind."
"Whatever," Joker replied snarky. "Just because I've been with different women from different alien species..."
"Lieutenant Moreau, nothing in your service history says you have had fraternization with women from any alien species. In fact, there is only one instant where an alien woman reciprocated your sexual feelings. And that was a krogan female, whom you denied," a synthesized female voice said with no feeling. Kaiden laughed as Joker gave EDI the middle finger.
"Well, I've never been with an alien woman of any kind, if that makes you feel better," Kaiden offered and Joker grumbled something about damn AI and their intrusion onto private matters.
"So what made you decide to become a massive hulk of muscle and man?" Joker asked. Kaiden was nearly seven feet tall and weighed nearly three hundred pounds. He was a Spartan IV, though he was not nearly as strong as Shepard nor as fast. Goddamn genetics. Spartans were special but Shepard was special even for them. Halsey sure knows to pick them.
"Followed Shepard. We were part of the same ODST team for three years and we joined around the same time. When the brass decided to offer Shepard the opportunity to become a Spartan, I just followed," Kaiden explained. He's the brother I never had.
"Ah. Seems like Shepard is the type of man to follow," Joker agreed. "Remember hearing about Elysium. Were you there?"
The battle that made him a damn hero. No, I wasn't. And I regret it.
"No. I was suffering from a relapse in my biotics so I was on the UNSC Song of the East when the batarians came. I was one of the first down there though, SOEIV, and helped drive the batarians off the planet," Kaiden said with some regret in his voice. Could have helped if I wasn't inconvenienced by these damn powers.
"Oh. Sorry if I'm bringing up anything bad," Joker apologized but Kaiden just waved him off. He was used to being second tier to Shepard. The man was simply the best of the best. This must be what Fred-104 felt when being compared to the Master Chief.
"Sorry to interrupt sir, but we will be arriving in five minutes at the Eden Prime mass relay," Conrad said to them. The AI was dressed as a flag officer of the Imperial Japanese Navy, though his hair and eyes were Caucasian. His donor had been a man by the name of Conrad Verner, a scientist who had written a dissertation in dark energy. The man was eventually killed when he got drunk at a bar on Ilium and attempted to pick a fight with the krogan bouncer.
Suffice to say, he was dead and buried on Earth.
"Alright, give me control once we exit. Damn UNSC doesn't use drive cores so it makes that much harder to use when you're using standard UNSC engines. Luckily for us we got the stealth systems..." Joker mumbled. Kaiden was silent as the hum of FTL was around them. Slipspace was a beautiful thing, once you got used to the darkness and the silent hum of dark energy.
"Kaiden," EDI said to him. "Commander Shepard has sent orders for you to armor up and wait for him in the cargo bay."
It's almost time.
Kaiden excused himself from the mumbling Joker and walked down the CIC. Several bridge officers and enlisted crewman parted ways for the massive Spartan and he saw Lieutenant Commander Pressly, the navigation officer, hovering over the galaxy map. He entered the main elevator and took it down to the cargo bay where the technician Corporal Richard Jenkins was waiting for him.
"Ah Lieutenant Alenko sir!" the high energy Marine greeted him with a salute. "Over here! I got your armor ready for you."
The complete set of Mjolnir Generation 2 armor was ready for him. It was blue with black trimmings and a blue RESOLUTE visor was on his helmet. He had worn the armor for the past six months, doing solo missions while Shepard was on Reach preparing for whatever...this mission was.
He first placed on the armored boots, them locking into place with his under-suit. Second, came the leg pieces, latching onto both legs. Third came the torso piece, which powered the entire thing. Jenkins locked the armor into place and started to screw in bolts which connected it to the leg pieces. Gotta get us one of those Brokkrs! Now, those were fast.
The entire sequence took five minutes and Jenkins was quicker than most Marine technicians. With a handy salute, Jenkins soon disappeared behind the Cougar. The HEV Bay was situated nearby, carrying a dozen SOEIV pods that could carry Spartans and ODSTs down to the surface. More like fall to the surface, Alenko thought remembering his first combat drop.
Shepard was already there, securing his BR85HB into the pod along with a Hydra MLS. On his hip was a M6H2 Magnum with a silencer attached. Alenko had already outfitted his pod with his weapons; a MA6D Assault Rifle along with a M6H2 as well. His main contribution to the two was the use of biotics. Shepard was the tech and heavy support guy; Alenko was the biotics.
"So what's this mysterious mission I've been hearing about?" Alenko asked casually and Shepard looked over, his face covered with his helmet.
"We're to secure a Prothean beacon for extraction to the Citadel. Meeting up with a Council Spectre."
A Spectre? Those guys were the spooks, basically like ONI but with much broader authority and power in Council space. They were just as good as any ONI agent and a couple have fought Spartan IIs on their own and survived.
As the Normandy exited slipspace, the sound of General quarters was heard throughout the ship and the Normandy soon disappeared from sight.
Something was over Eden Prime.
And it wasn't human.
What is this and why I am not working on Fallout? Well blame me for seeing Halo Wars 2.