CHAPTER 2 A NEW MISSION A NEW HOPE
Azoth sat straight up gasping for breath and in a cold sweat. He looked around and saw he was in a small room with a bed a small desk, spare weapons, and armor parts lying around. He shook his head a bit thinking 'It's been over two years and I'm still having nightmares. I've never had them about the war. I've seen hundreds die, planets glassed and even the flood and only the flood gave me nightmares and that was only for a few months. But this, this has never gone away. I should have died down there… with them.' as he was thinking about this an AI appeared on his desk
"Are you alright Spartan Azoth? Your vitals spiked there for a moment." The AI said
"Yes Kathy I'm fine just a bad dream." Azoth told the AI whose avatar was of a woman in her mid thirties that was dressed like a lady of the eighteen hundreds.
"Was it about the war? Or was it about that day?... I could schedule a session with the ships psychiatrist?" Kathy said
"No I don't want to listen to him be all… whatever the hell it is he is. These demons are my own and I will deal with them on my own." Azoth said
"Very well your transfer briefing will be at fourteen hundred." Kathy replied
"Thanks for the reminder Kathy now I just want to get some sleep." Azoth replied as he lay back down and turned away from the glowing AI as it faded away.
He laid there thinking of the past two years without his squad, the guys he fought through the war with the closest thing to family he's had since before he wanted to remember. After he had been rescued from that planet he was put into the Spartan four program right away. There he excelled at everything put in front of him. He was given a commission and became an officer upon graduation. He graduated top of his class and was going to be given command of all Spartan units on the Infinity.
That was until he found out who was in command of it. Once he found out Del Rio was given command of the ship he almost killed him on sight. He refused the position if he had to serve under the man calling him a coward.
He was reprimanded and given a position on a long range prowler ship doing recon missions into the most dangerous areas behind enemy lines. He knew Del Rio had a hand in it to try and make him disappear in some suicide mission. It wasn't the first time he was given these missions because a higher up didn't like him. His entire career was made up of those since he had no problem calling out an officer for stupid orders. But as always he came back and his only response was "when's the next mission?" but today he was given new orders to a ship he hadn't heard of or the mission he was supposed to be doing. This passed through his head as he drifted back off to sleep.
A few hours later when he woke up we threw on his gear, unlike most Spartans he had his old ODST armor converted over to the MJOLNIR system, and headed toward the captain's office.
Azoth knocked and heard the Captain reply with "come in" as he walked in he noticed the Captain sitting in his chair along with another person standing next to the desk.
"Commander Azoth reporting as ordered." Azoth said as he snapped to attention and saluted.
"At ease." The Captain said "Well it pains me to lose you but you have been reassigned to a new mission."
"And what is that mission sir?" Azoth asked
"That is privileged information." The man standing next to the desk said as Azoth looked at him. "Good to see you again Night Angel." He said stretching out his hand.
"You as well General Dunsparce." Azoth said as he shook his hand
"Ah so you know the General then Night Angel?" The Captain asked "I thought I found it odd a General coming to pick up a single Spartan.
"Yeah this bastard right here is the reason I have a limp." Dunsparce said with a chuckle "Son of a bitch shot me in the damn leg." He finished with a smirk only to get a confused look from the Captain
"Only because you wouldn't have gotten on that damn bird if I hadn't." Azoth replied
"And I swore I would come back for you, only wish it was sooner and maybe I could have saved more of you." Dunsparce said with a tinge of guilt.
"Don't worry about it sir, it wasn't your fault, you did everything you could." Azoth said putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Right thanks." Dunsparce said with a sigh "Alright then everything is in order and he is officially mine right Captain?" he asked looking over at the Captain.
"Yes everything is in order he is now yours." The Captain said
"Good you have everything Night Angel?" Dunsparce asked
"Just need to grab a few things from the room." He replied as he turned down a hall way followed by Dunsparce.
Once they reached the room the door slide open to reveal an empty room with a suppressed SMG and a stockless shotgun on the weapons rake. Azoth walked over to them and put the shotgun in a sheath on his back and then picked up the SMG and magnetically attached it to the back of his armor. Once he had grabbed the two items and a sea bag he turned to Dunsparce and said "ok now I'm ready."
The pair walked toward the hanger in silence to board the pelican that was waiting for them. Once the pilot saw them walking toward her bird she snapped a salute and ran up to the cockpit. Once they were aboard the pilot sealed the hatch and took off into space.
"So then sir what is the situation?" Azoth asked
"I'll give a full briefing once we get on the ship, but basically a recon mission." Dunsparce replied
"Got to be more to it than that, if you came all this way to just come and get me. Only reason I'm picked is for suicide missions." Azoth replied
"Well that is where it gets complicated." Dunsparce replies
"How so?" Azoth asks
"Well ever since the end of the war we have been trying to expand and establish new colonies, get back up to where we were before the covenant attack." Dunsparce replied
"And we can't do that because most of the planets we had where glassed and uninhabitable now." Azoth replied
"Exactly" Dunsparce confirmed "but we have found a new system, with a bunch of opportunity."
"And you want me to go in and check it out, and since this is a completely new place I'm going in blind right?" Azoth replied
"We have some data but it's very little, so yeah pretty much." Dunsparce replied
"How much intel we have on this place?" Azoth asked
"I'll get to that once we get to the ship." Dunsparce replied
"Alright keep your secrets." Azoth replied as he felt the pelican dock on the ship
Once they had finished docking Dunsparce got up and walked out of the ship followed by Azoth.
Azoth looked around as they made their way to the briefing room not recognizing the ships layout.
"Sir what kind of ship is this? I don't recognize the layout." Azoth asked
"It's a new stealth frigate, built for long range recon missions." Dunsparce replied as they came to the briefing room. Once they entered he saw a few naval officers and a man in ODST armor without a helmet.
"Ah good everyone is here." Dunsparce said as he took his spot at the head of the tactical table and Azoth walked over to the other ODST and removed his helmet as well "As most of you know we are going on a deep recon mission, in search of new planets to colonize." Dunsparce explained as a star map of the galaxy appeared "however there is a slight twist." He said getting everyone to give him look at him sternly and the two ODST's to cringe. "I'll turn it over to Commander Grey to continue." He said as a woman in her early-thirties with shoulder length brown hair walked up.
"I am Commander Grey of ONI." She said getting a groan out of the two helljumpers "While studying the third halo ring me and my team discovered a plan set up by the forerunners to inhabit another galaxy." She explained gesturing to the small group of people behind her while getting everyone's attention. "From what we deciphered it was an alternate escape route but took too long to transport their entire society before the flood overwhelmed them." she explained as everyone was hanging on to every one of her words "While conducting our research we found coordinates to this galaxy and a possible planet to begin colonization on." She said as she stepped away to allow Dunsparce to step up.
"That is where we come in." Dunsparce said as a map of the new galaxy appeared "I will be in command of ground forces while planet side, what little we have any way. Captain Jager here will be in command of everything space side while on this OP." he said as a man in his mid-thirties with white hair walked up next to him. "We have plotted out a few possible locations to begin colonization on. We are to go and investigate them." He said as a planet appeared on the table "first is P8235. This is where you come in Major Sunfield." he said looking over at the two helljumpers.
"My battalion will not let you down sir." Sunfield said
"I'm just itching for another drop sir." Azoth said
"Good because you will be doing long range solo recon while the rest of us establish a fire base and begin research to see if it is suitable for a colony. If not we will move on." Dunsparce replied
"Wait you're going to be doing this recon alone?" Sunfield asked
"I work better alone." Azoth replied
"Allow me to offer one of my squads to assist you." Sunfield offered
"He will be fine alone." Dunsparce replied getting a look of confusion from Sunfield "I forgot his introduction, didn't I? Let me introduce Spartan Commander Azoth or better known as the Night Angel." Dunsparce said as Sunfield got a look of shock on his face.
"As in the Night Angel?" Sunfield asked
"Yes the same one that pulled me and what was left of my battalion off of Tekken prime." Dunsparce replied getting a shocked look from some of the veterans at the meeting.
"I don't understand, is that a big deal?" Grey asked
"As you are research and not combat I'll let that slide" Sunfield replied "The Night Angel squad had one of the highest kill counts during the war they have taken out more covenant forces then some companies, then there was Tekken." He stopped looking over at the General`
"I was a Colonel back then and my entire battalion was nearly wiped out we called for evac and got an ODST squad sent in. however their job was to only get me out not what was left of my unit." Dunpsarce said with a sigh "When the captain of the ship refused to send medivac the squad leader threatened to fill the one evac bird with the most critical and my dead body." He said looking over at Azoth "and since that would look bad on his record he sent the rest of the medivac. But when they realized there wasn't enough room for them the ODST squad stayed behind so the wounded could get out. I was going to stay with them but this son of a bitch shot me in the leg." He said raising a hand to Azoth "but instead of sending another evac bird the captain of the ship bugged out. It took a week to get back there with reinforcements by that time Azoth here was the only one left alive, surrounded by dead covies."
"That was a long time ago." Azoth replied
"Right." Dunsparce replied "he is now the Spartan we have for this mission."
"Then why isn't he wearing the standard power armor?" Grey asked "it looks like you took bits and pieces of older armor and slapped it together."
"This armor got me through the war and will get me through whatever else I'm supposed to get through if it's my time then it's just my time." Azoth replied "Even though I should have been dead a long time ago." He says under his breath where no one can hear him.
"So once we get there and establish forward observation posts we wait for the fleet to get there, any questions?" Dunsparce asked
"What if we run into any indigenous species or alliances like the covenant?" Azoth asked
"We observe do not engage unless you have no other choice." Dunsparce replied "If that is all, dismissed" he said as everyone began to walk out of the briefing room "Angel" Dunsparce called out before he walked out of the briefing room.
"Yes sir." Azoth replied as he stopped.
"You need to head over to the armory for some new gear that we are field testing" Dunsparce replied
"A mission with so many questions and ways things go wrong and they tell us to use new shit we aren't confident in yet." Azoth said sarcastically "yeah this is going even better than I could of thought."
"Just get down there it's not as bad as you may think." Dunsparce replied as Azoth walked out the door.
"Hey Night Angel." Came Sunfield's voice.
"Yes?" Azoth replied as the ODST major walked up to him
"It is an honor to meet you." he said holding out his hand and Azoth took it "I had heard about your squads actions on delta Halo as well as on the Ark. Spartan or not you will always be an ODST in my book, so if you need anything just ask myself or any of my men."
"Thank you sir." Azoth replied "and I will always be an ODST." He finishes as he begins to walk to the armory. After a while he finally made it to the armory, and pounded on the hatch.
"Who is it?" a voice came over the intercom next to the door.
"Spartan Azoth here to get my equipment." Azoth replied in an annoyed tone.
"Oh right the general told me you would be coming." The voice said as the door buzzed and opened revealing a scrawny marine in boots and uts (cargo pants, boots, and tee shirt) "come on in." he said as he walked back in to the armory.
Azoth followed and saw the stuff on the table.
"Alright then better start off with your new gear. First turn over all of your ammo." The armorer replied
"Why?" Azoth asked defensively not like being without a loaded weapon
"To give you the new stuff we are using." The armorer replied.
"Which is?" Azoth replied
"Ingenious idea thought up by some spooks up top." The armorer replied with a chuckle as he pulled out a box of ammo.
"Normally when I hear some spook up top has an 'ingenious idea' I'm headed into a shit storm." Azoth replied getting agitated.
"Oh no this is a good one." He replied pulling out a round and showing it to him. It looked like a normal round however it was purplish blue at the tip.
"What's so special about it?" Azoth asked
"You see it has a plasma coating." He replied with a smirk and chuckle "you load and fire it from any standard weapon that takes that caliber and once it leaves the barrel the plasma ignites and you have a plasma round fired instead of a piece of lead."
"And what if it ignites before it leaves the barrel or over heats in the chamber and cooks off destroying the weapon then you're caught in a shit storm with no weapon" Azoth replied "or what about stealth I fire off a plasma round out of my suppressed pistol or SMG I give away my position once it is fired. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a suppressed weapon"
"Well these are the prototypes, but they have been heavily tested and it's the only ammo we have been given." The armorer replied
"Alright I'll take them but I'm keeping my old stuff as backup in case I don't like them, or for when I want to be ricky ticky." Azoth replied as he grabbed the ammo along with some extra mags and put it into a box he had grabbed "anything else?"
"Yes a new arm guards with some special attachments." The armorer said with glee. "right arm has a built in flame thrower, and left has a energy shield, similar to the jackels but a rectangle instead of a circle, give you a bit more coverage." He said as he handed it to him.
"I will admit this is pretty cool." Azoth said as he took the thing and the armorer began to attach it to his forearms.
"It fires a ten foot flame and takes these fuel cells." The armorer said as he handed him a box of fuel cells. Azoth then pointed it at the door and ignited it sending out a quick flame.
"The hell are you doing?!" the armorer yelled franticly
"Testing it out make sure it worked." Azoth replied looking it over on his arm "yeah this would have been real handy against the flood." He said as he activated the shield to see how much coverage he had, it went to his forehead to just below his knees.
"Wait you fought against the flood?" the armorer asked in shock.
"Yeah not a memory I like to think about." Azoth replied not leaving any room for debate.
"Right, well one final piece of equipment for you." the armorer replied as he walked over and grabbed rectangular object off the table and handed it to him one.
"What is this?" Azoth asked
"Probably one of the coolest pieces of equipment I've ever seen." The armorer replied with a smile "just press the button on the side next to your thumb."
Azoth did as he was told and a white plasma blade erupted from the end in the shape of a straight bladed katana.
"Seriously a fucking plasma sword?" Azoth asked in disbelief
"Yeah and it doesn't even need any external recharge either. They took the power system from the Spartan shields and combined it with the elites plasma swords so it may need to power down for a recharge but that is it." The armorer said with excitement. "I just hope you know how to use it, or it's pretty pointless."
"I had a friend who knew all about swords and other hand weapons I had him teach me everything he could and swords were my best thing from that." Azoth replied as he swung the blades around a bit "what can they cut through?"
"Just about anything." The armorer said as he pulled out a slab of metal. "This is an armor plate off of a scorpion." He said as he stood it up "go ahead try it out."
Azoth swung the blades across the piece of metal and it cut through like a knife through butter.
"See pretty sick huh?" the armorer replied "and if there isn't pressure on the hilt for more than half a second or something, it will shut off. A safety measure so you don't drop it on the floor and it cuts through a ship's hull."
"Yeah this is pretty sick I'll admit." Azoth says as he turned it off "I will have to get used to the light weight, very different then swinging around a practice sword. Where there any pouches or holders for it?"
"Right here." The armorer replied as he handed him a black pouch. Once Azoth had everything he then walked out of the armory and headed toward his bunk and began to set up his gear and load up the new ammo he had been given. Once he was finished with that he left his armor in his room and proceeded to walk to the training room in boots and uts and his black ODST shirt along with the new plasma sword he had been given. Once he reached the training room he began to go through the basic sword forms Kage had shown him years ago. He spent the next couple hours in there going through everything his friend had taught him working his way up to the advanced techniques.
After three hours of practicing with his new plasma sword he stops and deactivates it and says, "you know it's not polite to stare."
At this a woman in her early to mid-twenties maybe a year younger than him with blonde hair going down to her mid back stepped out from around the corner. "Kyler is that really you?" she asked
"What do you want Lieutenant?" Azoth asked not turning to face her but just walked over pulling off his sweaty shirt and grabbed a towel and began to dry himself off.
"It is you." She said not believing it. "We thought you were dead." She said
"And why would you care?" He asked still not looking at her
"What are you talking about, why would I care?" She nearly yelled in disbelief "We grew up together my dad took you in after we escaped Tollon, then at the academy you just vanished one night and when I asked about you they said you ran off and enlisted, even though you were only fifteen." She fume.
"They had dropped the enlistment age due to the needs of the corps." Azoth replied "And since the recruiter I found was friends with the Commandant of the academy he was able to pull some strings and get me a transfer."
"You could of called, could of written I didn't even know how to get into contact with you to know if you were even alive!" She shot at him nearly in tears
"Quit your blubbering you're an officer for god sakes." Azoth said annoyed finally turning around and she saw the scars across his body and the few small ones on his face but a larger one running from the inside of his right eye going down the side of his nose then cutting across the cheek and then down his neck.
"But why, why didn't you at least write me and tell me you were ok, we were family." She said
"And I found a new family." He said as he got a distant look on his face filled with pain. He shook his head and continued "and they were wiped out, you were at the briefing and heard what the General said about what happened on Tekken. That was my family and I should have died with them but I didn't. Now move along Lieutenant and go back to your ONI lab."
"Not until you call me by my name." she demanded "I know you have to be in there somewhere the person I grew up with."
"The person you're looking for died years ago all that is left is the Night Angel." Azoth replied
"You may have buried it but I know you're still in there Kyler just like I know you're the one who saved me and those others from the academy when the covenant attacked." She said getting him to stop in his tracks.
"How long have you known?" he asked
"Since the General said your name and call sign, and I remembered when you saved us the guys on the ship simply called you guys the Night Angel squad, and your team called you Night Angel." She replied
"Surprised you remember that, it was a long time ago." Azoth sighed as he pushed past her.
"When someone save's your life you tend to remember." She said softening up her tone.
"Like I said the one you're looking for is gone." Azoth replied "So do yourself a favor Chelsea and forget about him." He finished as he walked down the halls back to his room.
A few days later Azoth was walking into the cryo section the ship in the ODST area.
"Hey Night Angel." Came Sunfields voice. Once he said this everybody turned to see him walk in "what you doing here thought you were supposed to be up with the command and what not." Sunfield asked
"You kidding if I'm gonna be frozen with anybody it will be my own kind." Azoth says with a smirk as he finds an empty pod.
"What you talking about your own kind you're the only Spartan on this ship." One of the younger looking ODST's said to him. But once he said that Azoth didn't need to do anything because five other ODST's were already on the younger one.
"The hell you say to him?" one of them asked getting the younger one to shrink back.
"Do you have any idea who this mother fucker is?" another asked as he shrank back further.
"This guy is the goddamn Night Angel!" The third one yelled as a look of realization came over the younger ones face "he has killed more fucking covies than you have ever seen, hell more than you will ever see in a life time, all before you even thought about joining the fight."
"Oh calm down guys I'm just looking for a place to freeze other than around higher ups and we can just hold off on this till after the chill when he is nice and sore already." Azoth said with a chuckle and evil grin getting the younger one to get a look of fear as he walked over to the Major.
"You know I can't allow you to do anything to him right?" Sunfield asked
"Yeah but the look on his face was well worth it." Azoth said as he began to take of his gear and put it into the locker next to the cryo tube.
"Yeah I bet." Sunfield laughed as he got into his cryo tube.
"See you in the morning." Azoth said as he finished taking off his equipment and got into his own tube.
END CHAPTER 2