The primary purpose of the Chapter was to introduce the Supercarrier, its stat line(italics are used to describe stat further), and some important timeline events. It changed to include some hopefully good character development and some humor. Enjoy.
Chapter 4
Reach
UNSC Fortress World
2589
Year: 2576: Forerunner technology given by Mendicant Bias is slowly becoming widespread. The UNSC and the UEG has been elevated from a Tier 3 to a low Tier 2 Civilization. Some of the many technological marvels include; Forerunner Star reactors, Hardlight Weapons, Enhanced shields, armor, engines, and slipspace drives, instantaneous slipspace communication, matter convertors, and medical nanites.
Year: 2578: Reach is recolonized. Roughly 20 percent of the planet remains uninhabitable. It has an improved defense grid under construction along with several of the newest Forerunner enhanced shipyards. The Imperium, despite the leadership of Thel Vadam and the rest of the Imperial Council is slowly declining into crisis level due to ONI, Storm, and Covenant Remnant pressure.
Year 2580: The Storm has focused their efforts at eliminating the Arbiter to regain Sangheilios. The Imperium's defenses are rapidly being overwhelmed. The Arbiter requests UNSC aid. Fleet Admiral Lord Hood sends several Sierra and India battlegroups to help the Imperium. With Adm. Lasky in command on broad the Infinity. Capt. Tornabene is also in this fleet. The construction of at least seven more Infinity class warships are almost complete.
Year 2582: The Forerunner enhanced shipyards on Earth, Reach, and several inner colonies have been refitting, enhancing, and slowly building new UNSC ships. The fleet is almost back half of its pre-war level. The Valiant Class heavy cruiser is in wide spread use along with at least 10 Infinities. The Construction of the now named Admiral Preston Cole Class Super Carrier is 75 percent complete with three more at lesser stages of completion.
Year 2583: The Imperium and the UNSC Navy has been slowly gathering evidence pointing to ONI actively subverting the Imperium. A key event was the destruction of an important diplomatic mission which was destroyed by Ruda class nuclear weapons, along with the Righteous Fury a CAS class assault carrier and the Nelson one of the few remaining Trafalgar class super carriers.
Year 2583: ONI has been charged with treason and is being reorganized. It's High Command and most of its Kilo 5 Black Ops units go rogue. These radical elements have joined the resurgent Insurrection causing widespread damage throughout UNSC space. ONI is rebuilt as MI (military intelligence) and is tasked to hunt down rogue ONI operatives. Section 0 is created solely to prevent MI from going rogue.
Year 2585: Besieged by multiple threats both the UNSC and Imperium's armed forces, the Sword of the Imperium enter a formal alliance in the name of the Mantle to protect themselves and the legacy of the Forerunners. Technology is traded with the Imperium and the UNSC speeds up ship production. A Second Great War is forming.
Year 2588: All four Adm. Preston Cole class supper carriers are put into service. The ships are named after several heroes from the Great War. The Adm. Preston J Cole, the Adm. Danforth Whitcomb, the Adm. Michael Stanford, and the Capt. Jacob Keyes.
Specifications of the Admiral Preston Cole Class Supercarrier
Length: 17km
Height: 3km
Width: 1.7km
Weapons:
Fore (Front)
3 Series 10 MACs
Capable of firing three standard MAC rounds (600 ton Heavies) in rapid succession
1 Mk V Super MAC
1 Energy Projector
2 Shedder Type Hardlight Cannons
Dorsal (Top)
20 Plasma Turrets (Capable of firing standard Torpedoes or the Lance upgrade first used by Cortana over Reach during Operation First Strike)
20 Ballistae Missile Pods (40 per pod)
10 Archer Missile Pods (60 per pod)
15 Shiva missile launchers (2 per launcher)
Broadsides
15 Plasma Turrets
25 Dual Turrets of Mini- MACs
20 200mm Railguns
50 Ballistae Missile Pods
10 Archer Missile Pods
10 Shiva Missile Launchers
30 Smasher Type Hardlight Cannons
10 Swarm Energy Missile Launchers
Ventral (bottom)
40 Ballistae Missile Pods
30 Archer Missile Pods
5 Shiva Missile Launchers
10 Smasher Type Hardlight Cannons
10 200mm Railguns
3 Dual Turrets of Mini-MACs
1 Energy Projector
Point Defense Batteries: Hundreds
Single Battery
1 50mm Gauss Cannon
2 Pulse Laser Cannons
4 70mm Cannons
2 Medusa Missile Pods
2 NOVA grade missiles
Armor:
Primary Layer: 1.5 meters of Titanium A5 battle plate and Forerunner Alloy
Secondary layer: 2.5 meters of Titanium A5 Battle plate
Capable of resisting an energy projector for 1 minute of continuous fire
Capable of resisting a single ODP MAC impact
Shields
Advanced Forerunner Shielding
Guardian Grade
Can with withstand numerous MAC rounds, Plasma Torpedoes, Energy Projectors, Shiva Nukes
Can be dropped by a NOVA grade warhead
Powerplant:
Dual Star Reactors
Output is equal to a Main Sequence Star
Propulsion:
Enhanced Infinity Style Engines
Forerunner Grade Slipspace Drive
Forerunner enhanced communications and sensor package
Internal Ship Hangar:
10 Frigates
4 Destroyers
1 Halcyon Light Cruiser
Or a combination of
Mass Convertors
Mass Replicators
To act as a repair and refit station for its battle group as well as itself
Advanced Stealth Systems
Total Crew Size: 50 Thousand
Marine Contingent:
1 Marine Division
Organic Air and Naval Assets
3 ODST Battalions
3 Organic Armored Companies
Aircraft:
Thousands
Broadsword Light fighters
Katana Heavy Fighters
Claymore Bombers
Replaced the older Shortsword
100 Forerunner Reaper SUCAVs
Pelican Dropships
Stealth Pelican Dropships
Albatross Heavy Dropships
AIs:
2 Smart AIs
1 Fleet class Smart AI
Standard Smart AI
1 EWAR class Smart AI
A Smart AI optimized for Cyber warfare due to rogue ONI agents more factions can produce military grade smart AIs
Dozens of Dumb AIs
Year 2589: Captain Tornabene is promoted after units under his command were instrumental in winning several major skirmishes in Imperium and UNSC space. He is promoted to Rear Admiral and given command of the Adm. Whitcomb, one of the four Adm. Cole class super carriers. He is than given a mission directly by Mendicant Bias that directly relates to the challenge of obtaining the Mantle of Responsibility.
Reach
Citadel Base
2589
The past decade has proven one thing about humanity and that is that war is ever present and is the one thing we excel at. Barely thirty years have passed since we were at the edge of extinction. Now we have grown and are becoming the arbiters of the galaxy. The shaky peace of the Orion Arm is starting to collapse, another war is on the horizon.
Sitting in his hotel room, Tornabene is still in a state of shock over his promotion. It is not official yet. All Adm. Lasky did was hint at it. He and his crew have been given two weeks of shore leave, something unheard of during the Great War. Sometimes he misses that conflict because the new kids entering the Fleet are too cocky for their own good or so it seems to the forty something year old officer. Getting ready for his promotion party, he is meeting with a large group of friends that happen to be on Reach, friends that were lucky to survive the Great War, his bridge crew, and a handful of Sangheili. He is part of a small but growing population that has forgiven the Imperium and sees them as worthy allies and friends not as murderous xenos. His comm pad goes off, its 19:00 hours (7:00pm) and he rushes out the door in his work uniform.
Walking into one of the private ballrooms in the hotel the UNSC anthem blares in the background as his friends rush to embrace him. After the initial chaos the party takes on a normal tone. Younger officers try to get face time with the senior ones. Old combat buddies talk quietly about lost friends over glasses of whisky. The dance floor is filled with young officers, beautiful young women, and navy wives. Working his way through the crowd Tornabene feels the stress and exhaustion of the past year long deployment fade from memory, it might also be the result of his fourth glass of whiskey.
Just after he finishes his glass, his best friend from the academy walks over, Captain Mickey Weiks and hands him a glass of scotch and water. "How have you've been Drew? It's what five years since we last saw each other?"
"Yeah something like that," replies Tornabene, "I have been doing a lot of thinking about the Imperium ever since the Forerunner planet."
"So I've heard. Are you really starting to trust those split-lip bastards? We were together on the front-lines since the beginning of this war. Hell you watched your home get glassed while there were still people on it. And don't try to hide the discomfort of your scar."
Wincing at the mention of his scar, a souvenir from a boarding action that left a plasma sword blade deep inside his shoulder. Tornabene response, "I know what they did to my home, I was next to the Trafalgar over Reach when she was cut in half. My destroyer preformed so many Danger Close and Final Protective Fire missions that I am sure we killed several hundred marines and civilians. Still would you do what they did, betrayed their leaders to fight against the very system they controlled, all while being led by a war criminal? I can respect that moral courage and they did save Earth."
Weiks shakes his head, "They did that to save their own skins. I would not trust them to save any human if they could help it."
Shaking his head Tornabene replied, "I have seen them do that first hand, I was about to be killed by a dam Promethean knight and the elite, Rtas, jumped in front of the gun saving me and killing my attacker. It nearly cost him his life. They have grown to respect our capability and tenacity. The least we should do is give them a chance." Knocking back half of his scotch, "Hell they are helping to rebuild Reach and the other inner colonies as we were screwing them over. Fucking ONI Bastards, why give them a reason to start another war. I am glad that ONI is gone for one thing."
"I'll drink to that," replies Weiks rising his glass, "Maybe you're right to give them a chance but I still can't bring myself to forgive them. Over 30 billion people died, most of them civilians. That still causes my blood to boil in a hot rage to think about what good has come from the Imperium."
"It will be like every other war, at first both sides will despise each other and over the time feelings will be mended as mutual respect is gained. Hell when we are put into a retirement home our grandkids and great grandkids will ask about the Great War and really won't understand because they have grown up on a mixed species colony or their best friend is a sangheili." Finishing off his scotch he says one last thing to his old friend, "At least that is what I wish for."
"Hmmm," replies Weiks as he too finishes off his scotch, "Nice dream but it is up to us to make it a reality. I might give it a try and allow for a unit of Spear troops on my ship, by the way I got one of the new Reach class battleships she is called the Centurion. It might help me get over my rage and give the new kids some inspiration for your hopelessly romantic future."
With the conversation over Weiks goes off into the crowd to find his wife and lead her to the dance floor. Seeing his old friend and wife dancing a frown comes over his relaxed features, his family was killed during the invasion of Reach. A small amount of rage does surface as Tornabene grips his empty glass tightly. Focusing on calming down he fails to notice two large figures enter the room.
Supreme Commander Rtas Vadum and one of his acknowledged daughters Shipmistress Rha' Vadum enter. The party comes to an abrupt halt as everyone snaps to attention, some with blank looks, some with looks of shock mixed with wonder, but most have barely concealed raged showing on their faces as they salute the admiral equivalent. Ignoring the glares as the party slowly picks back up, the two Sangheili head straight for Tornabene. Before they reach them a young naval officer carefully approaches. "Sir I just want to say thank you, my dad fought in Voi and later on the Ark. Thank you for bringing him home," says the young man as he offers his hand to Rtas. Rtas nods and shakes it.
Tornabene by this point walks over and gives the traditional Sangheili greeting. "How was that?" asks Tornabene.
Rtas shakes his head and smiles, "Better, now your accent is similar to a child that it best culled but your grammar is acceptable. I can't stay long the Arbiter gets nervous when I am not killing the foes of the Imperium. I just came to congratulate you and my daughter wanted to see you. I must take my leave now." With that the large sangheili turns and walks from the party.
Looking at the Shipmistress Tornabene smiles at her obvious discomfort and asks, "Want to join me for a drink?"
"That would be acceptable," after a few moments of hesitation, "Nothing strong please heavy drinking and intoxication is look down upon on Sanghelios."
Shrugging Tornabene has two glass of Markers Mark on the rocks brought to their table. "Sip it slowly, this whiskey is a few hundred years old." Taking a small snip he shivers as the alcohol slides down his throat and warms his belly. "Very smooth," he comments as he takes another sip.
Rha copies his actions and nearly spits out the fiery liquor, "You drink this for pleasure?" ask the female sangheili, "It is horrible."
Laughing Tornabene replies, "It is an acquired taste but this is excellent whiskey try not to waste it. So last time we meet you left off at the test for your sword, what happened?"
Cocking her head to the side Rha tries the whiskey on last time and sets the glass down with a shake of her head. "The test is simple, survive thirty rounds of sparing. Your master, typically the swordsman who sired you, tires their hardest to kill you. If you survive or disarm your opponent you win and gain the right to forge your blade. If you loss then you are dead. Some are spared but that is considered a grave dishonor and usually commit suicide."
Tornabene chokes on the whiskey when he realized she had to fight Rtas. The scenes of him cleaving through Flood and Promethean Knights with ease causes him to look at her in wonder. "So you had to fight Rtas, I am impressed and amazed that you survived, I saw him in battle and he is a whirlwind of blades and death."
Smiling Rha, "Yes normally it would be an uncle or another swordsman part of your clan with similar skill set but being a female I must be better than average. I choose to fight my father, one the greatest sword masters alive, it was hard. Sometimes at night I still feel the heat of his blades inches from my vitals. I know this is a poor question but have you fought against any Zealots?"
Frowning, "Yes. It was during the Fall of Reach. After the Trafalgar was cut in half, my destroyer was protecting one of the orbital defense posts. A CRS light cruiser jumped right in front of my ship. I killed it with a pair of MAC rounds, but before it exploded it must have released several Spec Ops units and my ship was boarded. As the marines and ODST were fighting to contain the boarders a small strike team managed to get to the bridge. The two fire teams defending the corridors were pushed back. I grab a shotgun from the command cryo bay and told my bridge crew to seal the door from the inside. I shot and killed one elite to save a corporals life. I was then stabbed from behind. Shaking me off his blade a maroon colored elite decloaked and started laughing as he was going to finish me off. The corporal I saved hit the bastard with an overloaded plasma round knocking its shields down. He was roaring when I cut him in half with my shotgun. He was the last one left. I was patched up quickly and crudely in the med-bay and was back on the bridge assisting marines on the surface."
With that painful remembrance over with the conversation moves on to better things as more and more people filter in. Tornabene introduces Rha to several of his friends. Weiks gave her a luke-warm welcome. His bridge crew is grateful that she saved their lives over Sigma Octanus IV. Though she hated the whiskey Rha remarks, "This music is pleasant and relaxing."
Over hearing that comment a group of fighter jocks from the Avery whisper amongst themselves. One of the more drunken pilot's saunters over, saluting both officers, the squadron leader, call sign Reaper asks Rha to dance. She throws the drunk at his laughing comrades, knocking them over like bowling pins. The Reaper does not take the hint and tries again. This time Rha looks at Tornabene who just smiles and shakes his head, she says yes and the band plays a short slow song. The party broke up around midnight.
Reach
Citadel Base
Three Days Later
In a secure briefing center 80km beneath the surface of Reach, Capt. Tornabene is standing in front of FAdm. Harper, "In recognition of years of service. In going above and beyond the call of duty. For a record of success in combat not seen since the Great War. I hereby promote Capt. Drew Tornabene to the rank of Rear Admiral of the UNSC Naval forces. You are now ordered to take command of a small mixed battle group for a special mission of vital importance. Mission briefing in twenty minutes. Good luck admiral."
Orbital Shipyards
Later that Day
With his bridge crew from the Johnson they are going to their new home. Radm. Tornabene has yet to tell them they are being given a super carrier. Three of them are in orbit around Reach. Easily visible they are giants among dwarfs. "Pilot," Tornabene calls out, "Make your way to the hangar of the Adm. Whitcomb." The pilots reply was unacknowledged as Tornabene smiles at the shocked faces of his crew.
On broad the executive officer has an honor guard ready to greet the newly minted rear admiral. Two platoons of ODSTs line the walkway, along with two squads of Spartan IVs from Demon Company, Blue Team is arrayed around the XO along with several black armored Sangheili special operations ultras. As the ramp drops the assembled warriors snap to a crisp salute. Three AIs materialize and Taylor announces, "Rear Admiral Drew Tornabene Arriving." As he walks onto his new command the weight of responsibility feels heavy but looking at these young marines, Spartans, and the hard ass elites he feels the weight lift. It is up to him to ensure they come home and they will ensure that the mission is complete.
Walking up to his XO he gives the tradition sangheili greeting and adds "Shipmistress are we ready to RV with our battle group?"
Shipmistress Rha Vadum turns with their body guard of spec op sangheili make their way to the nearest tram car. "Yes Fleetmaster the ship is in prefect readiness, I personally inspected all divisions. We can move once your construct gives us the okay. May I ask what ships will join us and why is the ship hangar filled with a supply load out?"
The rear admiral replies, "We are meeting up with an Infinity class battlecarrier, the Asgard under the command of Capt. William Morris and its attendant frigates, two prowlers, and the Ghost. The Imperium is sending four ships; the Shadow of Intent commanded by Fleetmaster Indo Vadam and three CCS class battlecruisers, No Higher Honor, Promise of Atonement, and the Burning Heavens. As to why we have the supply load out is that we are going a long range/long duration scout and discover mission given to me by Mendicant Bias in direct relation to the obtainment of the Mantle."
Shipmistress Rha shakes her head at the news of the Fleetmaster. "I saw that look," remarks Tornabene, "What is wrong with the Fleetmaster?"
Rha clasps her hands behind her back and cocks her head before replying, "Nothing just he annoys me to no end. I choose to join your ship to grow as a warrior and to get away from my obligation on Sanghelios, which was to marry him. My father wanted a way to better cement his clan with that of the Arbiters. Both of us are of age and our fathers invoked an ancient right and arranged the marriage. That is why he annoys, we have had a friendly rivalry since we hatched and currently he is ahead.
Shaking his head he steps onto the bridge of the Whitcomb, "Taylor let's get this show on the road."
The ships gather around the titanic carrier and move out of the crowded space around Reach. Half way to the system edge they jump, their slipspace drives tearing a hole in this dimension as they plunge into alternate one. Several weeks later they RV with the Sword Task Group Herald of Damnation. The various captains, shipmasters, and the fleetmaster meet on the Whitcomb. The search plan is laid out. Mendicant gave them several star systems to search and a power signature to find. Dividing the ships up, they will start with the outlaying systems and work their way inward. Leaving drones and probes in their wake to ensure that no one sneaks up on the battle group.
The Whitcomb will take this central system marked Kryik, and the Shadow of Intent will take this system named Nihlus in the star charts once the rest of the area is searched the ships will relocate to the Shanxi system and start over. The slipspace journey will take at least two months, it is the past current boundary of UNSC space. The only saving grace is that is in the total opposite direction of war zone. Radm. Tornabene just be for entering cryo thinks, this mission is a wild goose chase. This battle group would be better used in getting the Mantle by glassing Doisac (the Brute homeworld) or have one the Spartans or Sangheili put an energy blade through Jul'Mdama's chest, not to fly away from the battlefield, however, orders are orders. Since these orders and mission came down from Mendicant Bias and Fadm. Hood means this is officially a holy wild goose chase.
