Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or Halo. They belong to their respective developers. This is of my own creation and for the entertainment of the readers and myself, I do not intend to profit financially from this work.
Halo First Contact : Chapter Two
Location: UNSC Training Grounds, Outskirts of Gladsheim
Staff Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson makes his way out of his base, Red Base. His very intent is to destroy Blue Team and capture their flag. Against his comrade who holds the same rank as himself, Staff Sergeant Nolan Byrne leads Blue Team with the same intent as Johnson. Both vying to prove to the other who is the most capable at training and leading their respective Platoon's. The deciding factor to this exercise is who has the better plan and who implements it the best.
A plan. Oh Johnson has a plan all right.
The training grounds are symmetrical, meaning both sides mirror the other perfectly. A single base at either side that are two floors tall. Two entrances at either base on their left and right sides, both defended with many sets of cover to be used by either team. At halfway through the grounds is a little pedestal with a command console protected by hard casing. The console itself allows a single group of VI operated drones to enter the exercise and aid the team who activated it. Deadly if used at the right time, useless if they are put under coordinated fire. At the top of either base is a sniper rifle, modified alongside all the training weaponry it fires concussive rounds just like the rest.
All of these things could go perfect if used properly, ensuring the defeat of Blue Team.
Moments prior Johnson had ordered Corporal Kirkham to retrieve the Sniper on the roof and await for his signal to attack. Kirkham's job in this exercise is to provide precision support, eliminate highlighted targets and take out the enemy sniper.
Alongside these orders to Corporal Kirkham, he also gave orders to Corporal Blackmoore to take her group up the left side as Johnson will go up the right with enough men. Hopefully they could pull of a small pincer movement to secure the Drone console.
The sunlight rises up Johnson's body as he exits Red Base and into the fray. He charges forward to some cover on the right side. The men who follow him are Jenkins, Houldey, Forsell, Poole, McReynolds, Downs, Simms, Petrovsky and Bowen. Just as they get into cover, fire from Blue Team erupts onto their cover, suppressing them into staying down and showing no signs of letting up just yet.
3 . . 2 . . 1 . .- Johnson counted in his head.
"Now!" Johnson pops out of cover taking aim and letting loose his trigger finger onto the enemy position alongside his men.
The few soldiers of Blue Team who are engaging them are of the same number and most likely have the same idea as them. But for now they are pressed into cover or they will be taken out for the count.
"You two!" Johnson points at Poole and Bowen "Move it up!"
They both step out of cover taking great care to not get themselves shot they proceed rapidly forward. Johnson returns to suppressing the enemy. A glare catches his eye from the top of Blue Base, an all too familiar glare.
"Get down!" Bellows Johnson as he grabs Houldey and drags him into cover with him.
A loud crack echoes across the battlefield as everyone dives into cover. Johnson takes a quick look from behind cover and can see that the shot from the sniper hit it's target. Private Forsell is now enveloped in a kinetic barrier and his weapons are all disabled as per training ground rules. Forsell now has to exit the battlefield and spectate from the tower behind Red Base. Forsell walks off with his head held low showing his shame.
Johnson sets his gaze upon the enemy sniper and putting two fingers to his ear he intends to destroy him/her.
"Kirkham!?" says Johnson
"Sergeant?" came the reply through the radio.
"Are you in position yet?" asks Johnson as he performs a hand signal to Houldey beside him.
"Yes Sergeant, just give the word" came the answer
"Now!" bellows Houldey as he pops out of cover to suppress the enemy sniper.
The rest of Johnson's group do the same and suppress the other troops nearby.
"As soon as you have a clear shot take it" orders Johnson, he then rolls over his cover and slides into the next set of cover pieces.
Johnson soaks in as much of the battlefield as he can, the individual sounds of each rifle firing, each footstep taken and even the sound of the enemy sniper snapping out of cover to aim. Corporal Kirkham rolls out of cover in a prone position and takes a deep breath to help steady the aim of his rifle and takes the perfect shot he has been trained to achieve.
The round sails through the air rapidly and slams into the enemy sniper.
"Tango eliminated" came the words from Kirkham, giving Johnson all the help he needs.
Johnson pops out of cover again, this time taking aim expertly and firing in short controlled bursts at three distinct Blue Team soldiers preventing him and his group from advancing. Within moments they too were out of the exercise. They were dropped in less than two seconds. Johnson and his men sprint forward to claim the available cover, shortening the gap between them and the Drone console.
Additional fire catches them by surprise as a group of soldiers from Blue Team flank Johnson's exposed side.
"Cover the Sergeant!" shouts Jenkins as they all shoulder their rifles and open fire, giving him enough time to get into better cover.
But unfortunately, Houldey has exposed himself too much and gets downed by a controlled burst of fire from the opposite side of the Drone console. Houldey is inches away from Johnson. Johnson looks up to see the soldier responsible. He should have guessed really, no one other than Byrne himself who waves sheepishly as if nothing had happened and then dives into cover out of sight just as quickly as he had shown himself.
The speakers around the grounds roars to life.
"Blue Team Casualties 12"
Good! 12 out of 30 leaving 18 left. Thought Johnson.
"Red Team Casualties 15"
Shit! How in the hell did that happen!?
"Corporal Blackmoore!?" says Johnson as he raises his fingers to his ear.
" . . . Private Benti, Blackmoore got hit Sarge" replies Benti
"Private, get who ever is left with you over to the Drone console. I'll meet you there. Over" orders Johnson "Kirkham, give our boys some cover would ya?"
"Copy that" replies Kirkham
Immediately after Kirkham's reply, a series of shots rang out. Moving in order, Johnson and his group moved away from the ambush made by the Blue Team and closer to the console. Unknowingly, either side has set up symmetrical to the other with what forces they have left. All encircling the console perimeter, waiting for the others to make the move into open ground. Blue Team has more men but Red team still has it's sniper.
Things just got a lot more interesting.
"I'm going for the controls, cover me!" shouts Johnson over the firefight.
"Covering fire!"
"Protect the Sergeant!"
As Johnson exited his cover he dashed forward in a sprint, not intending to fire his rifle so he could get maximum speed. Just as he gets four metres from the target he notices Byrne doing the exact same thing. But as two Blue Team troopers step out of cover to provide support, they get quickly downed by suppressing fire. Johnson slides into cover and props himself up on the cover, aiming directly at Byrne and he opens fire.
Byrne expertly slides into some nearby cover, only capable of protecting him if he's prone.
"Jenkins! Get your ass over here!" orders Johnson as he provides cover fire for said marine.
Within moments Jenkins is right beside him catching his breath from the sprint.
"Cover me while I upload the codes" orders Johnson
Johnson activates his omni-tool and begins uploading the command code. After a minute or so of intense code typing, Johnson succeeds and the console highlights indicating a 15 second timer before they are on the exercise. Pleased that he will be able to end the exercise soon he shoulders his rifle and peeks over cover, only to be shot at, pushing him back into cover.
Johnson looks around his remaining group, seeing that he only has a remainder of six troopers left not including himself. Johnson nods to Jenkins, signalling the time to strike. They both stand up to aim from their cover, but Jenkins is forced down to the ground with concentrated fire. He is out of the game and leaving Johnson in the centre without support.
Not giving Johnson enough time to analyse the situation, Byrne leaps into action catching Johnson by surprise. Byrne having closed the gap between them and moving in for a close range elimination. Johnson rises to the occasion and blocks Byrne's fist expertly and provides a swift jab to the gut and followed up by a tackle to the ground.
The timer hits 00:01 for the drones to enter but before they can the speakers boom to life once again.
"Alert! Exercise Terminated by Lieutenant Commander Al-Cygni. Staff Sergeant Johnson And Staff Sergeant Byrne Please Report To Her Immediately"
"You lucky bastard" mutters Johnson to Byrne.
Johnson gets up from on top of Byrne and starts to walk away, pulling out another cigar and lighting it in his mouth.
"Haha oh man. You almost had me that time" says Byrne as he catches up to Johnson.
"Funny cus I didn't see you in the better position there" cuts back Johnson
"What ya mean? Take a look around" says Byrne as he raises his arms and showcases the training grounds.
Johnson takes notice of how his men had been surrounded and almost annihilated. But at the same time notices that they would have been exposed to the drones. Johnson laughs at Byrne, the fact he thought he was about to win.
/\/\/\/\/\
Location: Covenant Holy City, High Charity, Higher District
The Minister of Fortitude and Vice Minister of Tranquility have made their way across one side of High Charity's Higher District to the opposite side in a manner of minutes. Intent on meeting with the High Prophet of Restraint. Fortitude had already sent a message to Restraint, requesting a private audience with information vital to his station. Very true, but not the whole truth as to their intentions.
After being dropped off at the landing pad a floor lower, Fortitude was forced to witness some of the more cruel aspects of the Covenant, cruel but necessary aspects. Seeing slave races such as the Unggoy labor to clean and build is not a comfortable sight. Their slave masters, such individuals coming from races like the Kig-Yar or even the Jiralhanae regularly beat them to keep them working efficiently. This is still up for much debate, as Fortitude himself has argued many times that surely, by beating them you are reducing their efficiency even if you are instilling discipline.
Rising up through the gravity lift to the High Prophet's residence, they witnessed a sight that not many of the Covenant has had the privilege of. Many dignitaries and ambassadors have come and gone to discuss private matters surely. But these incidences are far and few between. Two sets of rows, parallel to each other, of Honour Guardsmen which is a Sangheili specific role. No other race has the Honour of being the Prophet's protectors as the Sangheili are a founding member and the leading race in military power and authority.
The Honour Guards all bow their heads and place their right hand over one of their hearts in respect to Fortitude and Tranquility. An Honour that humbles even the most racist of San'Shyuum. As they reach the door, it slides open revealing the beauty of the residence that each High Prophet in history has enjoyed. Truly remarkable and beautiful to all who behold it. As they enter the main door, the Prophet they intend to speak to turns the corner in his Gravity Throne, the most expensive, decorative and powerful one of it's kind.
Fortitude bows and signals for Tranquility to do the same, snapping him out of his stupor.
"Ah, the great Minister of Fortitude" Restraint says in his ageing voice, making sure to bestow disgust in the so called greatness of Fortitude "And who is this?"
Tranquility looks to Fortitude for approval, which he receives.
"I am the Vice Minister of Tranquility your grace" he responds, trying to be as graceful himself.
"Ah, I have heard much about you. Interesting that you pick this one" indicating at Fortitude "as your company"
Fortitude's anger swells inside. For Restraint has been his enemy on many occasions, for reasons mostly unknown to Fortitude himself. During each debate and argument Fortitude has presented in the High Council chambers, Restraint has personally sought to humiliate and ridicule Fortitude on each occasion. Failing that ensuring his work got a lot more difficult. Much to the anger and resentment of Fortitude.
"Now, what is this information that is of the most importance?" asks Restraint, putting his fingers together in an interlocking manner in front of him.
"Well as I stated in my message, this would be best if we discussed it alone" replies Fortitude, trying his best not to disrespect the High Prophet, lest he be executed. "What we have discovered is important to you and the foundations of the Covenant itself"
"And why should I believe you?" asks Restraint expectantly
They almost fumble over themselves but Fortitude takes the lead.
"If this information is deemed useless, we will resign from our respective positions and allow someone more competent to take our place." declares Fortitude, leaving the bait that he knows Restraint cannot pass up.
This does however startle Tranquility however, unnoticeable as he controls his emotions.
"Very well we shall proceed to my personal quarters however" replies Restraint "If it is indeed useless, you will be executed" says Restraint, directing his finger to Fortitude "And you shall also" Restraint indicates to Tranquility.
Restraint smiles, knowing that he could get rid of these two fools at once.
"Agreed" snaps Fortitude in an instant, catching Restraint's hatred.
"Very well, let us discuss this information elsewhere"
A few minutes later, in the privacy of Restraint's quarters. . . .
After the door is closed and all Honour Guards have been dismissed from the other side of the door, they begin.
"So" starts Restraint as he begins to pour a drink of wine into an expensive glass "What is this information you deem worthy of risking your neck over?"
"Well, if your look here on these data pads" replies Tranquility as he hovers over to hand them to Restraint "This holds all the necessary information that we have come to provide"
"Did I give you permission to approach me boy?" Restraint asks, with an underlying threatening message.
Tranquility quickly moves back once he has handed them over "No your grace"
Restraint lazily looks over the data pads but his attention is grabbed once he reads key parts in the writings.
"You! You Dare?!" barks Restraint as he knocks over the wine bottle and glass in his sudden outburst.
"I dare what exactly?" shoots back Fortitude "Retaliate against what has been decades of constant humiliation from you?"
"I have lead this Covenant through times of great peril and need! You would dare to blackmail me into stepping down and naming . . you . . as my successor!?" barks Restraint, his older voice giving way during his rage.
"Yes we dare you old bastard" shoots Tranquility in an unexpected strike "This is, after all a game of thrones isn't it? And you either win . . or you lose once you play. There is no middle-ground"
Fortitude smiles knowing his new-found ally, though young by San'Shyuum standards has quite a bite. Restraint takes a moment to acknowledge the situation, to soak in and process all this information and the likely outcome of each and every scenario.
"And what is stopping me from just killing you here and now?" asks Restraint
"We have an information broker who will release the information should we perish any time soon" replies Tranquility.
"Of course you would" responds Restraint " I . . I have led this Covenant greatly and now I am forced to . . .recede" the disgust ever present in his voice, alongside an undertone of defeat. "You're both very fortunate I enjoy living" Restraint takes a deep breath.
"Well?" asks Fortitude
"I will get to work immediately, I do not want to lose my head any time soon" Restraint takes another deep breath "Go, leave me in peace for whatever time I have left as High Prophet"
Restraint taps a button signalling the door to open and income a pair of Sangheili Honour Guards.
"Escort these two of the premises and safely to their destination." orders Restraint, bringing him great pain to say these words he utters "Make sure no harm comes to them and use my personal Phantom"
A few minutes later, upon boarding said Phantom the pilot awaits their orders.
"Take us to the God's relic in the centre of the city" orders Fortitude
"What? Why?" asks Tranquility.
"We need the blessing of the Oracle if we are to succeed in our mission" replies Fortitude, taking care not to reveal anything to the others nearby and their own escort.
"Yes . . . that makes sense" replies Tranquility "Onward, to the holy relic!" orders Tranquility.
The Phantom takes off and with great speed, heads directly for the Forerunner Dreadnought in the centre of the city. All is falling into place it seems.
/\/\/\/\/\
Location: Orbit of Harvest, On board a Merchant Vessel
Staff Sergeant Johnson had been given new orders effective immediately after the exercise he and Byrne were conducting. Lieutenant Commander Jilan Al-Cygni, a Naval Intelligence officer in control of both Johnson and Byrne had been told to train the local militia up into UNSCDF standards. So far they have succeeded and alongside some new gear brought for defense purposes their job is now done.
However, LC Al-Cygni has discovered that a vessel leaving the system earlier today has been raided and left adrift in space, by what she isn't sure but she intends to draw out whoever it is and she has a good idea just who it is. Either Pirates or Insurrectionist scum. Neither are particularly good news but this presents her with an opportunity to prove her worth and gather Intel on where they are operating from.
That is the reason she is now commandeering a merchant freighter alongside Johnson and Byrne with their Platoons. She intends to get into orbit and fake an emergency distress beacon. Now the Insurrectionists would definitely not risk being discovered unless the prize is worth it and that is the reason for boarding the largest known merchant freighter class.
Such a prize, no Pirate or Innie would pass it up.
Just escaping Harvest' gravity well, Al-Cygni activated her radio. Jilan Al-Cygni is a black-skinned women who has the most perfect ass, in Johnson's opinion and has a strict but fair approach to her command role. Her beauty is not wasted in her position as many times she has used it to her advantage such as gaining entrance to a secure facility under Insurrectionist control.
"Staff Sergeants, Report!" she orders.
"Staff Sergeant Byrne here, my men are just setting up now ma'am"
"Staff Sergeant Johnson here, my men were ready five minutes ago ma'am"
Jilan laughed but not loud enough for it to be heard by the others on the radio. The competitiveness between these two never ceased to amaze her. But as she noticed and Johnson confessed, lately it has just been because Johnson has taken a liking to Jilan.
"Ready five minutes ago . . what are you twelve Johnson!?" replies Byrne
"Yeah twelve years older than you jackass" responds Johnson, his smoking can be heard through the radio
Jilan looked around the bridge, seeing the four other soldiers operating the ship working away with shit-eating grins as they listened to their respective Staff Sergeants at it again. They continued to bicker as Jilan read the sensory systems and anticipated the arrival of the prey.
"You're just pissed Blue Team had your pants down aren't ya?" laughs Byrne
"Decrease speed to drift and release the beacon" orders Jilan to the bridge operators.
"Yes ma'am" came the stern reply.
After a few brief moments of fingers hitting consoles, the Ship decelerated and released the beacon on all frequencies.
"Ha as if! You were about to taste my balls Byrne!" laughs Johnson at the absurdity of Byrne's claim.
A screen pings next to Jilan indicating a vessel has been detected within the 150,000 km range of the vessels scanners. Rapidly approaching and it's vector means it was hiding behind the systems gas giant. Possibly refueling.
"All right listen up!" orders Jilan through the ships comm systems "The target is approaching and will be on top of us in a few moments at it's rate of speed."
"Unknown vessel detected, searching UEG databases for ship model" said a synthesised voice in the bridge.
"Once the vessel is close enough we will jam it's transmissions" says Jilan pleased with herself at the trap working
"UEG databases dismissed, searching UNSC databases . . ."
"Ma'am, the vessel is coming into view now dead ahead" alerts one of the bridge crew.
"UNSC databases dismissed"
The vessel rapidly came into view, growing from a little dot and into a strange looking vessel of a purple colour. Instilling fear into each of the bridge crew and Jilan herself about what this actually is.
"Vessel is of unknown make and design . . . protocol indicates possible first contact scenario"
Those words screamed into everyone's head on the bridge crew.
First. Contact. Scenario.
The alien ship moved alongside the freighter and halted and a few openings on it's side opened up.
"This is not a drill! I repeat this is not a drill! We are in a first contact scenario, Sergeants prepare to repel boarders!" orders Jilan as she picks up her SMG and speeds out of the room towards the defenders.
Just as she leaves however, three tubes extend from the alien vessel and one after the other cut into the front of the freighter with expert precision as no atmosphere is lost to space.
/\/\/\/\/\
Johnson is not an easy man to scare. He has fought in many battles across many different fronts against the Insurrectionists. He has been a part of major offensives, assassination attempts and even mass orbital deployment. Killed countless men and women who thought of the UNSC as a dictatorship. Killed other human beings even though his religion dictates he should not do so.
He hasn't felt fear in a long time, for fear comes from the unknown and not much is unknown to Johnson but, whatever that vessel he is staring at is it scares the shit out of him. It is definitely unknown, it's too curvy to be a human vessel and sure as hell screams fear me! Into his head.
Falling back on his classified training, Johnson readies himself for the worst as he watches the tubes cut through the freighter and into the cargo hold. He and his men all readying their rifles at the smoke that came from the intrusion. A dozen rifles prime to fire at the same time, each rifle hugging the shoulder of the soldier wielding it. The Soldier's cheek hugging the rifle as they aim down their sights at something completely unknown to them.
An alien walks out of the smoke alongside it's comrades, they are of equal size and carry what looks like a rifle, each of them. They realise that they have a dozen different weapons trained on them alone.
"Stop right there!" orders Johnson, not that they will understand him or maybe they would seen as though these must have been responsible for at least a dozen different ships disappearing.
They do stop, clearly taken by surprise. One of them growls and raises it's rifle. The others follow suit. Without hesitation, Johnson opens fire with his prototype rifle, the XBR55.
"Open fire!" orders Johnson.
Rounds smash through their flesh and down them in a fashion similar to a firing squad, quite literally. The aliens scream in pain as they are thrown to the ground by the force of the rounds fired.
"Hold fire!" orders Johnson as he lets the smoke clear a little more.
Johnson realises he may have just made first contact a mess. But the aliens boarded the vessel first did they not? And raise their weapons at his men. He had been forced to act, or explain the loss of someone to a loved one. No, he performed his duty to the letter.
Just as Johnson raises his fingers to his ear to warn Byrne he is interrupted by Byrne himself.
"Johnson! ET's are hostile, I repeat hostile!" shouts Byrne as he is firing at his targets.
"Confirmed" replies Johnson.
"Sarge!?" shouts a Marine.
Johnson turns to see where the Marine is pointing, only to see the smoke cleared and a lot more ET's aiming in his direction.
"Hostiles!" declares Johnson as he shoulders his battle rifle once again, aiming down his scope at an aliens face. Pulling the trigger it explodes into a pulpy purple mess.
His men follow suit, suppressing the enemy with short controlled bursts. The aliens return fire with semi-automatic weapons of some kind. Their rifles producing a notable green flash alongside a green trail where the projectile has travelled. They impact and are deflected by the soldiers kinetic barriers.
Johnson peeks out of his cover to see the aliens tap at their wrist and a shield of some sort flashes into existence from it. Placing their rifles on their backs they use a side-arm from a slit at the side of the shield to fore from cover, which they can move at will.
"Suppressing fire!" shouts Houldey as he pops out of cover before his shields have recharged.
Within moments he is downed as the aliens snap at him and open fire rapidly. Their projectiles burning through portions of his armour with a hiss. Subconsciously, Johnson takes note that the first soldier to die in this confrontation is under was under his command.
Unfortunately, that soldier would not be the last.
/\/\/\/\/\
UNSC Training Grounds
In the recent decades, the UNSC has made use of advanced VI systems and a series of Kinetic Barriers and concussive rounds to provide battle simulations as close to the real experience as possible. The battle is observed either by an AI or a series of VI's which monitor each individuals armour which is set to take a certain amount of damage. Once this damage has been reached, the VI's or AI disables that soldiers weapons and boosts his/her Kinetic Barriers to allow them same passage off the exercise area.
No casualties have ever been recorded on these training grounds, further solidifying their usefulness in training.
Authors Note: Hello again. Well, I'm glad to say I am enjoying writing this story so far. I'm still working up to the part which no other author seems to have wrote or implemented yet and I'll give you a clue.
It has something to do with the Covenant.
Even if you guess right, I won't let you know until I confirm it in a chapter for you, but I would like to see what you think it is and what you thought of this chapter.
Thank you and until next chapter ;)