Edit 5/9/2018:
this is an update chapter 1, i had decided to update chapters 1-4 since i have a better grasp on the characters and where i want to take the story. so if you are a returning reader i want you guys to spot the difference, and if you are new i hope you enjoy!
full Summary
Project Chimera was one of the many Hail Mary military projects commissioned to keep humanity alive by any means necessary during the Great War, and when they grew arrogant in their project, it was shut down. The former test subjects were acquired by ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence) and sent off to the front lines to protect humanity from the Covenant. One of these test subjects is tasked with an undercover mission after some concerning files and requests are dug up.
Infiltrate Project Freelancer.
Now Astrid Lumisade will have to navigate through the toxic competitive Freelancers as Agent Alaska to complete her mission and root out the corruption buried deep in the project. In the meantime, there is someone that is far to similar to someone Astrid knows to be dead, as well as the older brother to one of her former ODST squad mates.
Astrid can't shake the feeling that there is more to all of this than initial tip off. That there is something seriously wrong with Project Freelancer. And if anyone can find it, it's going to be her.
Chapter 1: Reassigned
"What do you mean I'm being reassigned?!" screamed an irritated voice from the fully armored figure as they yelled into the screen in front of them.
The screen was not small but neither was it large as it sat on the desk of the Officer's assigned cabin. The desk made out of grey metal like the walls and floor of the entire ship, a lamp sat at its corner to add some needed light when the ceiling lights were shut off. The desk itself was neatly organized with everything in its place. Off to the corner of the room however was the bed, just standard pillow and sheets as the mattress sat on a platform that had drawers' underneath it, that held the meager belongings of the occupant. Not too far off were the occupant's private bathroom as well.
"It is as I said Captain, with the findings of the investigation of Project Chimera and the increasing similarities being observed in Project Freelancer as of late, you are being reassigned to find out any more information and to report back to your ONI handler." Said the man on the other end trying to be the voice of reason to the volatile individual.
The snarl that came next was not unexpected, this argument had been going on for the better part of five minutes. An officer from ONI had called personally after sending an official reassignment order, which had been a disaster waiting to happen. The reason for this explosive of a reaction is because one of the Projects that the UNSC had approved of did not want to focus its resources in sending people to the frontline fighting the Covenant. Instead they wanted to focus everything on still fighting the Insurrectionists.
"That's no excuse! How can I leave the frontlines when there are millions being slaughtered every hour of every day?!"
The officer had thought it best to give the Captain a call to further explain why they had to leave the frontlines, but what they had thought would be and easy explanation quickly turned into the other ripping into them. Finally fed up with the others attitude the officer on the other end finally ran out of patience.
"These are your orders Captain!" the sudden bark shut the Captain up with an audible click from their teeth as the other continued to speak, "With your entire team killed in your latest mission you are left free, as far as the higher ups are concerned, to accept this mission! And with the findings of the corruption and gross disregard of life of both the staff and subjects of Project Chimera, the UNSC has decided that you will infiltrate Project Freelancer in order to either gather enough intelligence that it is going down the same path as Project Chimera or prove that the rumors were false and that there were just that, rumors."
The silence after that statement was suffocating as the Captain ruminated on the memory of losing her entire squad on a planet that had just gotten glassed not too long ago, just two days prior in fact. Seeing the expression and the somberness of the Captain on the other end of the call the ONI officer continued in a softer tone to bring the Captain back from her declining thoughts.
"I understand why you would like to remain on the front, truly I do. I have a cousin who had recently died there, but with this you could help keep the UNSC avoid imploding on itself even further. With the Insurrectionists still causing trouble along with the Covenant committing genocide we need to keep it together as much as possible. You understand that don't you Captain Lumisade?"
The statement wasn't even a question it was more of a placating statement to get the young Captain to calm down. The way the ONI handler had responded to the irate Captain seemed like they had dealt with this sort of behavior before.
The Captain sighed tiredly as she reached up to remove her ODST helmet revealing a feline head, small rounded fluffy ears pressed back against her skull in sadness. A gloved paw reached up to rub her tired eyes. The white furred face relaxed and had an air of resolve, icy blue eyes looked up to the ONI officer with a look of resignation.
"Yeah, I know, I know. It's just after all I've been through. After all I have done both in the project and on the front, I just want to do what's right. I just want people to not suffer this endless war anymore, hell I don't even know when the fighting is going to end."
A moment of silence passed before the Captain continued missing the brief instance of satisfaction from her handler.
"If I do find evidence of the Project being corrupt, what will happen to those that had no idea? I know the UNSC decided that myself and my family were better use on the field than dead, but I can't help but wonder what would happen to those that had no idea."
The ONI officer took on a pensive look as they contemplated what they were going to say next, so as not to set the Captain off on another tirade. But they also wanted to steer the traumatized Captain in the "right" direction, they had to think about their second job as well after all.
"To be honest I do not know, but chances are they would get off mildly depending on what they were made to do. If they were only following orders and had no inkling of what went on behind the scenes then they would probably get a few years depending on the situation. But from the preliminary findings, it's not looking good in her favor. But I'm sure that if they don't deserve the verdict given I guess you could put your two cents in."
The young Captain was silent as she contemplated what her handler was saying. It sounded like something that one would say to make someone think on the bright side. However, with something like these preliminary findings she doubts that the judge and council will be understanding of their situation. Even if they were just following orders. However, that was not her place to decide because her mission is only to infiltrate them and gather information and report back.
And at the end of the day the only thing that matters is the mission, everything else comes second.
"Yeah. When do I ship out?" questioned the young Captain.
"Five days, doctor's orders. Don't want you to be unable to perform on your first day of school, now would we?" came the snarky remark.
The Captain chuckled and ended the call but sighed when the call ended. She did not want to leave for this mission so soon but she had no choice. Not feeling up to sleeping covered in dirt, blood, sweat, and grime the feline like Captain set her helmet on the desk and went to strip and set her armor and under suit off to the side so they can get ready for a much-needed shower. They turned on the water to moderately warm, cold was a better description of it though, because they do not have the luxury of a hot shower. An option that she had not had in a very, very long time. But as they stood under the spray feeling it as it soaked her spotted white snow leopard fur and tail. It felt like heaven compared to spending weeks planet side covered in the blood of both her allies and enemies.
She did not spend much time in the shower, only a few minutes to lather rinse and done because they had a limited water supply that needed to be conserved. After her shower she brushed her teeth and got ready for bed. However, sleep did not come easy for her, the memories of the battlefield still playing over and over again like some horror movie. The sights, sounds, and feeling still very fresh in the tired Captains mind.
This went on for a few hours, remembering the fallen, past friends, and ultimately the ODST team that had become a part of her family. They had accepted her when she had been forced upon them because of the fallout from Project Chimera. Finally, they were able to lay her eyes to some much-needed sleep, restless sleep but sleep nonetheless.
The current objective was make sure the civilians make it off planet from evacuation, after that it was make their way to a camp and set up shop. Those were their orders before their insertion to the raging battle below. The Covies had come in hard and fast catching the UNSC and Colony Militia off guard and as always, the first order of business before going all out in trying to drive off Covenant forces was to get the civilians out of the way.
Her team was not the first to be deployed, in fact they were among the tail end to help get the civilians evacuated.
"You ready Sis?" asked the armored man next to Lumisade.
Lumisade smirked, "What in the hell kind of question is that Sunshine? Of course, I'm fucking ready."
"Just making sure you weren't getting cold paws now." chuckled Sunshine.
Lumisade shook her head as they entered their drop pods for insertion. The drop was like any other as they impacted the earth and their Captain had them sound off to make sure everyone made it. Like in previous missions they all survived their drops and got to work on their tasks. They were paired up in teams of two with different jobs, the Heavy's took care of vehicles, snipers provided excellent sight and cover, and Sunshine Lumisade took care of the civilians.
Lumisade was helping a little girl get in the Pelican but the child was screaming about her stuffed animal being left behind. Turning around Lumisade scanned the ground and spotted the stuffed tiger and not even thinking about it went to grab it. But she didn't notice the blue sticky grenade coming her way.
"ASTRID!" screamed Sunshine as he shoved her away from the explosive.
It stuck to his abdomen.
Astrid looked back at Sunshine in horror as it explodes.
"SUNSHINE!"
Astrid woke with a start sweating and panting. It was just a dream, just a dream. Thought Astrid as she curled into a ball and calmed herself down from the memory.
The next five days past in a blur of monotony, get up, shower, breakfast, infirmary for checkup, light workout, lunch, rest, dinner, try to sleep, rinse repeat. During the days left before her assigned Pelican arrived the few soldiers that made it off that planet came up to them to see if they were alright. As with the past few days however everything seemed to have been wrapped in a blanket of unfeeling haze. Sometimes it was like her senses have been dulled to the point that it seemed like they could hardly hear or feel anything and just went through the motions of day to day life on the vessel.
As they went back each day to get an update from the med staff the dying and injured littered the rooms of the infirmary. Soldiers in various states of dying. Some were on the mend, but many others were going to die from her injuries. It was a sight that had not been uncommon since the beginning of the Human-Covenant War, and an all too common sight for the young Captain. They had seen such sights in Project Chimera as the scientists involved did not give two shits about the children they considered little more than lab rats. That were easily replaced and were of little use than to further her own research and twisted curiosity. She and her siblings were not human in the eyes of those despicable people, if they could even be called that.
As the Captain headed to her appointment she walked passed people that had asked them to just end their suffering, that they just wanted the pain to stop or so they could see her friends and family again. Others though just didn't see the point in caring anymore and just lay there, but there were a few that just wanted to get better so that way they can head back out to the battlefield so they can take as many Covies as they could down with them.
"I'm here for my follow up." Astrid said to a frazzled nurse.
"Name, rank, and number."
"Astrid Lumisade, Captain, designation Charlie-006"
The nurse looked up from her terminal, "Got you right here, Dr. Peterson is waiting for you."
Not even giving her thanks Astrid went to the examination room she was directed to.
"Ah, Captain there you are. I was wondering if I had to force you to come in." said Dr. Peterson.
The man was old, the wrinkles on his face even more pronounced from the stress of dealing with the soldiers that managed to survive the colonies assault. His hair even greyer from the last time that Astrid had seen the man.
Astrid shook her head, "You know I wouldn't do that to you Doc, even when Sun-."
Astrid caught herself before she could finish his name. the doctor looked up from his notes he was taking from Astrid's exam.
"You really should see one of the shipboard psychologists Astrid."
She shook her head, "Can't. ONI just gave me a new mission last night and wants me mission ready within the week for when I ship out."
The old doctor narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips.
"Why can't they just let you rest and recover like any other soldier, or I don't know let you fucking retire. You've been through enough and have done enough for humanity to at least let you do that."
"They would if I was fucking human."
"Well based on this exam your fine, if a bit exhausted, but otherwise fit for combat. I want you to come back though until you leave so I can be sure."
"Thanks Doc." Said Astrid as she got ready to leave.
As she opened the door Dr. Peterson said something, "And for the record Astrid, your just as human as the rest of us."
Astrid didn't say anything as she left. The doctors statement was nice but unfortunately, she was just another military asset in the eyes of ONI and was to be used as such.
This routine that the Captain had been following for the past week gave her a sense of down time. No missions to report for, no running around on the field to avoid grenades or being shot at. It was oddly calming to someone who had spent the majority of their life on the battlefield. But as always, the relative peace did not last very long because next thing that is happening is that her ride is there in the hangar.
The shake up to the temporary monotony came in the form of packing up her meager belongings and heading down to the hangar to wait for her transport to her next assignment, the Mother of Invention. There waiting in the bustling hangar was a Pelican and its pilot leaning against its side. Sighing to herself the Captain made sure that her helmet was secured, her tail swished slightly in nervousness as she made her way to the pilot.
"You Captain Lumisade?" asked the pilot as the Captain approached the Pelican.
Lumisade nodded as she walked up to the pilot of the Pelican, the pilot held out her hand in greeting. Not wanting to have any sort of pleasantries at this moment Lumisade was not keen on shaking her hand. However, if she were not to shake hands then that could be a slight tip off, so she would just have to grin and bear it. For now, anyway.
"I'm 479er, and I'll be your escort today."
Lumisade shook the others hand as her tail swished lightly behind her and headed into the Pelican to get themselves settled as 479er went through the preflight checks and soon enough they were on her way. To 479er's credit they did not react to Lumisade's ears or tail but with the pleasantries out of the way and 479er in the cockpit they were on their way. Since they would not get to the Mother of Invention for quite some time Lumisade decided to take a short nap if she could. Seeing as she was barely able to sleep the night before.
With Captain Lumisade heading towards her next assignment with the Project Freelancer pilot and even the Director unaware of her mission. Her mission to infiltrate Project Freelancer to see and report back if anything is amiss. With no one none the wiser.
Late 2547
Random part of space
Mother of Invention
Mess Hall
The mess hall itself is not that large, or at least the Agents at the top of the Leader Board's mess hall. For some reason the Director felt the need to separate the personnel and Agents. Then separate the Agents even further with having the Leader Board and having different mess halls. It was also a disputed fact that the top Agents also got better food than the others, but since on one on the Leader Board ever speaks about it, it stays as a rumor to those that can only dream of being on the Leader Board.
The three of the Agents that are at the top of the Leader Board were gathered around one table in the mess hall gossiping about the goings on aboard the ship. Mostly it was either about training schedules, upcoming missions, who they thought was being a complete bitch that week, and so on.
The liveliest of the group though consisted of North Dakota, who wore purple armor with green accents, York, wearing gold armor with silver accents, and Washington who wore steel grey armor with yellow trim.
"So, I heard a rumor the other day." Stated York.
"Yeah? What was it?" asked North Dakota
"Apparently were getting a new recruit."
"But I thought with the recent recruit in you know." said Washington as he discreetly gestured towards Texas who was standing in the corner of the mess hall away from everyone else.
"That's what I thought to, but apparently they don't care and hired a new recruit." Replied York.
"Huh, any idea when their arriving?"
"If I remember hearing right their supposed to arrive today. 479er left to pick them up I think."
Before someone could say anything, else there was a commotion of personnel in the hallway that seemed to be heading toward the training room. Curiosity won over staying and chatting and the others decided to see what all the fuss was about. Texas on the other hand snuck away from the others to keep to herself a little longer while observing from afar like she has been doing.
York grabbed someone by their arm as they bumped into him, "Hey, what's going on? Whys everyone in such a rush?"
"New recruit! The Director has them up against Carolina, South, and Connecticut!"
The shock that ran through York caused him to let go of the random personnel as the released man ran down the hall to go watch the show.
"Are they doing what they did to Tex? Pitting the new guy against three Agents on the Leader Board?" asked Washington.
"It seems that way, come on let's go see." Replied North as he took off in a sprint making his way down to the training room's viewing area, York and Washington not far behind him.