Chapter 4- new threat
1400 hours
Camp Fortitude, Planet Reach
Epsilon Eridini System
One day after Kantuna engagement
Adam, Samantha, Scott, and Jak sat in the recreatrion room of their barracks as Samantha preformed her routine post-mission medical exam on everyone in gold team.
"Geez, Sammy." Jak started to whine, "Really, I'm fine! That rocket didn't ever damage my armor!"
"Nope, not until I do a full medical scan." Samantha said as she took some blood out of Jaks left arm.
"The rocket just dropped my shields, it didn't give me cancer!" Jak stated in protest.
"Oh come on, stop it Jak." Scott started. "The sooner you get this done, the sooner we can finish our movie." Scott said as he waved his data pad in the air. Adam looked in his pocket to find that it was empty. How the hell did he get it back? Adam wondered to himself. He should have known better. Back in training, Scott could get anything from the outside. Anything.
The scanner in Samantha's hand beeped twice. "Looks like your good to go." Samantha said as she put a Dora the Explorer band-aid on the spot where she drew blood from Jaks arm.
"Cute." Jak mumbled to himself as he got up and left the room. Scott followed suit. "If you need us, just knock and give us a few minutes."
Samantha rolled her eyes. "Your next, Commander. Hop up." Adam was about to take his shirt off when a message came through on his comm. A synthetic voice played through his earpiece.
"Excuse me lieutenant, but I have a message for you." The AI voice said then added. "Am I interrupting anything?"
The Lieutenant, flustered, hastily put his shirt back on and responded. "No Westly, just some routine medical checkups. What's the message?"
The AI responded. "General Halsey would like you to report to his office, and to come as soon as you received this message."
What? Adam thought to himself. Why does nobody ever call? "Alright Westly, I'm on my way." Adam said to the AI. HE then turned to Samantha. "Looks like I'll have at take a rain check on that exam."
"It's fine Commander. In fact, I think it's time for Jak and Scott's annual prostate exam." She said in a mischievous tone of voice.
Adam walked out of the barracks and hailed a warthog then paused. Didn't she give them a prostate exam last week?
After a few minutes, Adam walked into General Halsey's Office building. General Halsey was standing in the waiting room. Adam snapped to attention immediately.
"Sir! Reporting as ordered, Sir!" Adam said to the general.
"At ease Spartan." The general said without looking at the soldier standing in front of him. "The Navel Intelligence Administration has decided that now since you were available that they would like to debrief your last two assignments. You know the drill, answer all questions that they ask you as best you can and don't lie. Meet me in there when you're ready."
"Yes Sir!" Adam shouted with a salute." The general saluted as well and entered the conference room. Adam stood in the lobby for a moment, collecting himself when suddenly he felt a hard lump form in his stomach. He turned around just in time to see an elite uncloak and charge at him. Adam tried to get away, but the elite anticipated his movements and soon had both arms wrapped around him. The elite then lifted the bewildered Spartan in what appeared to be a bear hug.
"Buddy!" The elite shouted as he continued to hug Adam.
"Zahr?" Adam said puzzled. "What are you doing here?" The elite squeezed once more, and then released Adam. Adam stood there, trying to catch his breath.
"I'm here because of the debriefing." The elite started. Adam looked up. "What's new with you?"
Adam straitened up. "We just got back from a mission in the far regions. Rebel activity. We…" Adam paused. HE wasn't sure what to make of the elites that attacked him and his team, then wondered if he should divulge that information.
"We what?"
"Nothing. Forget it." Adam said matter-o-factly. "How about you?"
"Oh me?" Zahr started. "Oh, I was just out taking down a terrorist cell that took dozens of beautiful ladies hostage. I saved every last one of them. I got a sweet medal for it, and I even made galactic news."
Adam crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, then looked back at Zahr.
"Oh all right. I was really investigating a Kig-Yar pirate raid on some cargo ships. Really strange. They seem only be targeting ships filled with human weapons and ammunition."
"Really?" Adam asked. Kig-Yar were known for attacking ships, especially unguarded ships, but they never went for armed military convoys. What would Kig-Yar want with a bunch of human weapons? Adam thought to himself.
Adam shook his head. "We should get in there. They're expecting us."
Zahr nodded his head and the two entered the conference room.
The conference room was dark with a single display panel on the back wall. There was one man on the other end of the table turned around whispering to two MP's near the other exit. General Halsey was standing in the other end of the room, in the corner. One MP spoke to the elderly man. The elderly man turned around and stared at the alien and the Spartan and then shook his head in what appeared to be disgust.
"Lieutenant E229 and Officer Zahr Zehiomie, I am Francis Clark, assistant chairmen of the NIA. I will be in charge of your debriefing. " The elderly man declared. Adam and Zahr snapped to attention immediately. Clark, without allowing them at ease, continued. "You both will answer all my questions fully. You will not speak unless I ask you a question. At any time if I feel you are withholding information from me, I will charge you with insubordination and possibly treason. Do you understand me?"
Adam and Zahr nodded their heads at once. They both knew the penalties for withholding information. Adam looked at the General. HE was glaring at the assistant chairman.
The assistant chairman pulled up a video file. "First, I would like to discuss your previous assignment. You both were sent to a rebel base on Alreaia to acquire information on possible rebel smuggling routes, is that correct?"
Adam and Zahr nodded at once. "Yes Sir. We entered the base and completed our objective."
The assistant chairmen glared at the Spartan, who felt like he had just said something very wrong. "That's correct Lieutenant, you did complete your objective to the letter. However, after review of your mission logs and reports, I believe that during your mission, you violated a major section of the NIA protocol."
Adam looked puzzled. "Sir, I don't understand."
"Oh you don't? Well let's go back." The assistant chairman responded then began to rewind Adams mission logs. He paused at the point where Adam was face to face with several armed guards. Adam felt a lump form in his stomach. Oh no.
"Does this man look familiar?" The chairman said as he zoomed in on the face of a single person. "Let me refresh your memory. This is Jacob Isac, A confirmed rebel leader who the NIA has been trying to find for years, Lieutenant." The assistant chairman was yelling now. "This man who has very high connections with higher members of rebel leader ship." He played through the video. "And you just gunned him down."
Adam tried to swallow but couldn't. His entire mouth had gone dry.
The assistant chairman continued his rant. "This is in clear violation of the NIA charter section 18 article 4. Do you know what that article states, Lieutenant?"
The assistant chairman spoke again before Adam could answer. "The article states that in the event that during a mission that the possibility of capture of rebel leadership should present itself, protocol dictates that all units secure said rebel leadership for further NIA questioning." HE then replayed the moment where Adam killed Isac. "You didn't even make an attempt to capture this man. Do you have an explanation for this preach in protocol?"
Adam couldn't speak. He just stood there and quivered. HE was right. He could have secured Isac, but he didn't. Adam could remember Isac, and his aggravating tone of voice. He let his anger drive his actions. He didn't even give it a second thought.
The assistant chairman continued. "Well Lieutenant, since you have not offered an explanation, I will be launching a full investigation on you. I will see to it that you are cited for this, make no mistake."
General Halsey spoke up, unable to take the assistant chairman's allegations against Adam. "Actually assistant chairman, I don't think any investigation is needed. I believe that the Lieutenant followed protocol to the letter."
The assistant chairman glared at General. "I'm sorry, but what did you just say to me?"
The general, not backing down, continued. "Section 18 article 4 of the NIA charter also goes on to say that if the possibility of capture does present itself, but is impossible due to overwhelming losses or conflicting orders, all units are also dictated to eliminate said high value target, thus damaging rebel leadership."
The assistant chairman's face turned red with rage. HE opened his mouth to speak, but the general interrupted him.
"The lieutenant's orders where to secure the intel without raising any alarms. IF in the event they were compromised, they were instructed to destroy the base and any rebel inside. At the time of opportunity of capture, the lieutenant was surrounded by at least 200 armed personal. Under those circumstances, the lieutenant's decision to eliminate Isac was well protected by Section 18 article 4. If the circumstances were different, however, I'm positive the lieutenant would have done everything in his power to secure Isac. Is that correct, lieutenant?"
Adam looked, stunned, at the general and nodded. The general just smiled at him. Most don't challenge members of the NIA, especially higher ups, and win. The assistant chairman shot the general a look that could stop a nuclear explosion cold, but the general didn't even seem fazed.
"Let's continue to Gold teams recent engagement on Kantuna." The assistant chairman said with as best a straight face as possible. "You and your team were engaged by rebels, is that correct?"
"Yes Sir. Well actually, I'm not sure." Adam started.
"What do you mean?"
"Well sir, they were elite commandos." Adam answered.
Zahr looked at Adam. HE didn't look back though.
"You're saying that your team was engaged by members of the Sangheili military?" The assistant chairman asked.
"Well sir I don't think they were with the Sangheili military. I think they were working with the rebels. We observed the elites with the rebel symbol on their chest plates. They were also assisting rebels inside the base, Sir." Adam concluded.
The assistant chairman and the general almost looked stunned. They both whispered something that even Adam with his enhanced hearing couldn't pick up.
The general spoke suddenly. "That's enough boys, we're all done here. You're dismissed."
Adam and Zahr saluted then filed out of the conference room. They then made their way back to Gold teams barracks.
2100 hours
Sangheili capital ship High Gratitude
FIntagi System
General Halsey walked to the meeting room on board the Sangheili capital ship High Gratitude. The general had called members of both Human and Sangheili council for an emergency summit. Inside the chamber, General Halsey was met by The Arbiter.
The General bowed his head. "Good to see you again, Arbiter. You're looking well."
The elite responded. "Likewise general." The elite then took a seat next to his advisors. "I am a little curious, though, why did you call us out here?"
"The general cleared his throat. "2 days ago, Spartan group designated Gold team investigated a listening outpost in the Jataici System." The general played the mission logs from Adams helmet cam. There, before the whole council, the video of Gold team fighting for their lives played through its entirety.
"Just what is this about?" One of the Arbiters advisors said.
The general spoke again. "They were engaged by Elite commandos, of origin we have not clearly identified. What is clear is that they are clearly shown aiding the human rebel forces." The general paused for effect. "I'm not questioning the loyalty of the members of this council, only insinuating that there are things the Sangheili council has not shared."
The same elite interjected again. "That is completely absurd! The Sangheili council has always been very open with our affairs concerning possible insurrection, and if we felt there was something that needed to be shared, we would not hesitate to bring it to the council's attention! Furthermore…"
"Stop." The Arbiter said aloud and the elite became silent instantly. The Arbiter than played the mission tape again and again, then paused at the point where Adam was face to face with an elite wielding an energy sword. The Arbiter then looked directly at the general.
"Yes. There is much we need to discuss."
Hey guys, Freerider2901 here. Sorry about this update taking so long. I appreciate all the support from you guys. I'll post the next chapter as soon as I can. Later!