Chapter 4 revival
10 minutes prior
"May day, may day! This is civilian transport Echo 10 we are under fire, does any one hear me over!"
a few seconds passed. Nothing. Another plasma bolt struck the pelican in one of the rear engines. The pilot not caring which engine was damaged from the shot increased its speed to maximum. An explosion rocked through the cabin. The rear engine on the right had exploded.
"This is the UNSC prowler winters storm do you reed Echo 10"
on the bridge of the winters storm there was silence.
"Sir I'm getting something it faint but defiantly there" crewman Daniels reported
"On speakers quickly"
"Winters storm we have taken a hit to our engines if you going to help do it now!" "We hear you longswords are away."
Helmsmen drop us 15 thousand feet and launch long swords I want to be in atmosphere before we launch"
"But sir"
"Do it!"
"Yes sir"
"Thirty seconds until we are in atmosphere…twenty….fifteen… seven ….three…we are in atmosphere sir"
"Launch longswords four through seven."
The launch bay doors on the under side of the prowler opened and a arrow head shaped longsword interceptor dropped out a split second later its engines flared and roared to life propelling it away, soon followed by three others. They made there way to the pelican Echo 10.
The longswords had the pelican in site it was being tiled by 3 banshee flyers, the first of which was half destroyed with tattered wings, the second was trailing a purple smoke from a breached fuel cell, and the third was engulfed in blue-purple flames it was loosing altitude.
"Let's move people" said the pilot of the first longsword.
The bay doors of the interceptors opened. Each longsword reveled there four ASGM-10 missiles into firing positions.
The long swords lined up into a delta formation. Two of the interceptors launched one missile each. The first missile accelerated towards its target that was blissfully unaware of the formation of UNSC interceptors.
The lead banshee exploded in a mixture of red, orange and purple flames as the first missile detonated on the surface of the banshee.
"Tango down!" one of the pilots said with excitement in her voice.
The second banshee turned hard to its right in an attempt to dodge the missile, a futile attempt as it simply penetrated the cockpit pilot included and shot out the other side the missile soon arced upwards did a role and shot toward the now falling banshee exploding on contact with it.
"Thanks for the assist" said the pilot of Echo 10
"Just doing our job need any thing else?"
"We're making a pickup some ODSTs got them selves in a mess you couldn't give us an escort could ya"
"Ill have to check with command" said captain gurear over com's
"Command this is Captain James Gurear of the winters storm do I have permission to send a longsword to escort civilian transport Echo 10?"
"Stand bye….. Ok you have new orders captain you are to give full escort to that transport it is evacking a n OSDT squad with a priority 0 package I repeat priority 0 do u understand"
" I read you command priory 0 we are on route".
Echo 10 we have been ordered to give you a full escort please wait for us to get there do you understand"
"I m just happy for the help. Hell yeh I'll wait"
Reaper squad
Present time
"Dun Dun Dun Dun ….Dun Dun Dun Dun …crash!"
Kelly looked up to see one of the banshees had smashed into the side of the elevator "what the..." three longsword interceptors flew over the building with a "whoosh". "Reaper teem this is Echo 10 we've got you a little backup" said the pelicans pilot smugly.
"Bout time" said Zack.
The prowler winters storm deactivated its cloak reveling the un-camouflaged ship to the world.
"Now that's backup!" Conner said as the pelican landed on the helipad.
"Ok let's get u lot on board" shouted a civilian on the pelican as he approached the descending ramp.
"God this things heavy" said Kelly trying desperately to push the Cryo pod onto the pelicans loading ramp.
"give it here" replied Conner wrapping his arms around the pod his massive muscles tensed as he slowly lifted the immensely heavy pod of the ground suspending it three feet in the air and eventually carried it into the pelican with virtually no trouble.
Conner placed the Cryo pod down at the back of the pelican once everyone else had entered the transport.
"You're from the Orion project aren't you?" said the doctor.
"Yeh I was one of those who signed up" he banged on the Cryo pod. "I lost some dam good friends to that project too… thirty three out of 75 that's how many of us survived. I knew every single one of those people."
Just as the doctor was about to ask another question Kelly jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow not hard enough to hurt him but just enough to get the message not to ask any questions about the program or what he went through. The doctor got the message almost instantly shutting his mouth and waiting for the silent journey to the winter's storm to end.
"Ok captain we have the package. Where are we off to now?" commented one of the bridge crew
"I don't know I wasn't told so I suppose we clock get back into orbit and wait"
At that very moment command crackled through the com's
"Captain of the winters storm do you read me"
"I reed you loud and fuzzy" said the captain trying to break the tension of the bridge crew.
"No time four jokes captain we need to get your package of world ASAP. Your destination is Hibrix XII, orbital installation zeta. You are to proceed immediately as the covenant fleet is approaching"
"Command what orbital defenses does that system have" "allot more than reach and that's all I can tell you other than you are not going alone.
The UNSC capital ship winged fury, two carriers the burn in hell and the war driver… never mind, we just lost the war driver to enemy fire. Listen whatever is going on its big you will be reporting direct to UNSC high command from now on out."
"You herd the man commence random jump then head to Hibrix XII" said the captain.
The Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine opened up two mini black holes ripping the fabric of the very universe so the ship could enter the dimension called slip space if you where in slip space and you looked out of a window you would not see anything but pure blackness. The journey would take a couple of days at least for short jumps like this the crew would stay awake but for longer week long trips the crew would be suspended by Cryo stasis pods similar to the one reaper team recovered.
46 hours later
The recovered Cryo pod aboard the winter's storm was stored in the cargo bay closely watched by Dr. Kingston.
"I finally got you off qui keeli, a few more minuets and they would have had us"
He sighed and got up.
"Well its late I'm going to get some sleep."
Alarms and warning lights flooded the ship just as the doctor finished his sentence. "well there goes that idea"
he sighed remembering a earlier incident when a ship he was on miss jumped and ended up in orbit around the sun of the same system it started in. it was a close call any further and they wouldn't be able to pull out.
Doctor Kingston talked to one of the marines on his way to the emergency evac station, and apparently they jumped to the correct place but it was a mess. A ship grave yard was something that sprung to his mind as he looked at the hulls of many destroyed ships through a port hole.
They where all shapes and sizes many leaking atmosphere. That or in the middle of a rescue operation. Before captain gurear could even radio to ask if they could help high command came through the speakers.
"Well-done captain you made it. We are expecting you at docking bay 12 in-fact I will be meeting u there my self."
"Going anywhere nice are we"
"Yes actually you and the doctor get to witness the revival of our greatest heroes the Spartans."
The communications stopped. The captain looked at the faces of his bridge crew they where a mix of shock and awe over that last statement. Spartans thought the captain there aren't many left are there... one... One team of twos left. Who knows either way its not many …for now.
After the captain of the winters storm had been through a full guided tout of the facility he finally arrived at a door labeled Cryo room there was a large sticker over the seem in the middle where the two doors met on it was written ONI section 0. To remain sealed unless instructed. Failure to follow will equal in harsh punishment. Contents: classified under ONI section 0
Doctor Kingston came around the corner followed by the Cryo pod that had been recovered by reaper teem a few days prior.
"I would have to take the long route I was so hoping to get here before you."
"Never mind doctor at least where all here"
"Well it's going to be nice to see everyone, one last lime before they get shipped off"
Both the captain and his guide looked at him with a puzzled look. The doctor decided to explain what he meant
"I was one of there teachers. Admittedly I've grown attached to the Spartan twos" he said.
"Sorry to burst your bubble" said a voice in the distance one the captain recognized almost instantly the ONI spook who said she would be meeting him in the station. "But there aren't just twos in there"
"What do you mean" was the doctor's reply.
Once she had reached the two men she spoke again
"In there is not just twos but threes as well in fact most of them are threes"
Before the doctor could even speak the captain had already asked another question. "So how many are in there"
"seventy nine Spartan twos and one hundred and thirteen Spartan threes from both alpha and gamma companies unfortunately we could not find any from beta company."
"Poor souls they where just children" the doctor said quietly no one took notice of it.
"Oh erm sorry I should have told you my name. It's Emma. Emma Santeal" She said holding out her hand to the captain. Captain Gurear shook her hand and nodded towards her as she let go. Emma then shook the doctor's hand and spoke
"So who wants to break the seal?"
"I'm sure the good doctor would do that with out a second thought" the voice came from a navy officer in the distance. Everyone went silent trying to place the voice.
As the figure got closer it was quite clear that he wore the uniform of an admiral before captain gurear could even salute the admiral was dismissing the formalities
"at ease captain. Admiral David Bentley at your service... Mam" he said with a nod "you don't need to say that you know. You do technically out rank me" replied holly "but where is the fun in that" he hastily replied there was a short silence before it was broken by a cough from doctor Kingston.
"Well let's get on with it" said Admiral Bentley as he handed the doctor a pen knife from his pocket. Doctor Kingston easily broke the seal with the knife and pressed the button to open the doors.
As the doors separated there was a large whoosh as the air re entered the room. the room itself was massive it was more like an entire level of the facility it was lined with rows upon rows of pods some with people inside and others had been converted to store personal effects of those people or too store equipment. Each row of pods was designed so that once opened and the items collected they would lower into a storage room below so the next row could move forward on over head rails. The group proceeded inside towards a computer terminal in the middle of the room. The terminal had 3 buttons on it:
THAW
DEEP FREEZE
And TERMINATE
The 1st thing that captain gurear noticed was the button labeled "TERMINATE". "Why is there a terminate button on here?" he said concerned about that particular button.
"If the project was deemed to be either not cost effective or simply not possible then the Cryo pods would be powered down and the Spartans buried with full military honors." said holly
"But that button is one we are defiantly not pressing." said the admiral just before he paused to think
"in-fact since your so concerned why don't you press the thaw button for this row of Cryo pods" he said with a smile. The admiral made a gesture to the terminal before stepping aside so that captain gurear could press the thaw option.
The captain moved towards the terminal with his hands shaking from nervousness. Once at the terminal he placed his hand over the thaw button and took a deep breath "need a hand" said the admiral trying to show some support the captain looked at him and pressed the button "no thank you sir I'm fine" he said and took two steps back and watched the Spartans as they where injected with various liquids in a range of bold and striking couloirs. After a minute of silence as the trio watched patiently for there silent hero's to awaken, there was a faint hiss and a small jet of water vapor from each Cryo pod.
The lids to the pods opened slowly reveling each Spartan all wearing medical robes each one looking as if they where asleep and would wake up at any moment…
The trio had waited nearly an hour now praying for any sign of life. Finally they had given up there were no signs of life from any of the pods.
"we are not giving up. We will bring you back I promise with my very soul one day we will bring you back!" the admiral shouted before making a short salute and placing them once more into cryo sleep.
Over the years they were moved from planet to planet attempt after attempt was made to revive them, All failed and the Spartans where entombed on the UNSC's greatest ship and sent to the final journey to the center of the galaxy.
/… grave ship Valhalla log … A.I designation Odin.
/… subject… anomaly detection.
Date unknown
Location unknown
Time … 3:25 AM earth standard
/… Anomaly_ planetoid designation A-243.679/5 has broken orbit around local star.
/… WARNING! Collision course detected… emergency thrusters online.
/… Course correction underway… FAILURE! Couse of planetoid A-243.679/5 has changed. Collision imminent!
/… obtaining image of planetoid through external cameras…
/… planetoid A-243.679/5 classification change! … Forerunner instillation detected… no known match in archive.
/… PRIORITY! Data burst incoming.
/… Data burst received:
Attention unknown vessel you have breached quarantine zone of this sector turn back or prepare to be inspected for possible parasite infestation…|
/… reply sent: grave ship designation Valhalla cannot deviate course… message end
/… reply received: very well I will commence scans immediately please stand by for results…
/… standing by
/… RECLAIMERS DETECTED! Enacting protocol 3-17
/… query reclaimer?
/… Species designation: Human. Requesting status of reclaimer occupants?
/… occupant status cryo stasis, small compliment of scientists ,military personnel… unable to elaborate further all crew are classified under ONI section 0. Unable to proses further queries, questions exceed programing capacity. Thawing out bridge crew please redirect further inquiries.
/… END CONTACT
POV captain Lucas barns
I could feel the air rush against my face as the cryo pod thawed me out I swallowed the vile liquid that the cryo pod had been feeding be for the last who knows how many years.
"Odin why did you thaw me out?"
"we have encountered an unknown forerunner installation. The installation has opened communications with us and I am no longer able to proses its queries as they exceed my capability"
"Very well. Reactivate the ships main A.I please"
"At once" the pedestal in front of my pod flared in to life standing on the pad was what appeared to be a sngheili honor guard.
"Captain how may I assist you" the figure spoke.
"Open communications with the installation find out what its objective is. And tell me how long we have been on "ice". You got that?"
"at once sir… the instillation has identified itself to be a factory planet specializing in experimental technologies. It wants to know if we require any assistance, and as for how long you were in cryo I don't know but it is sufficient to say a very long time as we are in uncharted space, considering we were drifting that is an incredibly long way from where we started."
Upon hearing that my heart skipped a beat how could we have been asleep that long.
Once I had my uniform on I woke the rest of the bridge crew, after explaining the situation I moved to the bridge with the crew. We settled into our stations before reopening communications with the installation.
"This is captain Lucas of the Valhalla to whom am I speaking to?"
"I am 0965 Hunters legacy but you can call me legacy for short."
"Ok. What do you want?"
"I wished to know if you had any directives you wanted me to carry out. As the only advanced humans that remain you are the only reclaimers of sufficient levels of advancement to inherit the forerunners legacy."
"What do you mean only?!"
"approximately 4.75milion years ago it was recorded that 99.9856% of reclaimer planets had been wiped out with only a small population on the home world remaining at a technological level of a class 8 species"
"So what you are telling me is that we wiped ourselves out?"
"more or less… my earlier scans indicate that you are carrying several hundred passengers that are not showing life signs. With your permission I would like to give them medical treatments immediately otherwise I cannot guarantee a complete recovery after revival of the passengers"
"revival? … WAIT YOU CAN BRING THEM BACK!"
"yes the medical technologies on my installation will be sufficient for such a proses however I am sad to say that my installations medical technologies are mediocre at best but I will be able to do this much at least" the monitor looked farther proud about this.
"do it"
"yes at once. If you follow the flight path I have sent you, you should arrive at space port 12 the closest to the medical facilities that we would need." at this point I closed communications and spoke to my crew.
"You heard the light bulb snap to it! I want every one awake, prep the teams get the Spartans ready to be moved! Their going first, then the civilians."