Requiem, "The Fortress" 15:08 February 9, 2558

Crimson team took their first steps on the snow covered ground, the Pelican dropship that gave them a lift here flew off into the horizon. Spartan Joe scanned the sight below; amongst the snow covered mountains was a Forerunner structure, the reason why Crimson was deployed here was thanks to this installation.

He heard footsteps coming from behind, he turned around and saw David approaching. The Spartan stopped directly behind him. "Can you explain to me again why we're here Captain?" Joe pointed at the installation below them. "That shiny little place there is why. Apparently, it's acting as a power relay for Covenant bases all around Requiem." Joe looked at David. "There are several installations like this in the region. We're gonna shut this one down while Majestic team shuts down another Command found."

Josh joined them. "Word is Majestic won against Castle in the War Game simulations, so Demarco probably a bit confident right now." Joe chuckled, he looked at Josh. "Commander Palmer did suggest that our two teams have a friendly competition. Which team can shut off their installation first."

Brittany strolled over to the rest of Crimson, she hefted her SAW on her shoulder. "Perfect chance to show off to Majestic. What do you say sir?" Joe looked at Brittany, then back at the structure below. He smiled. "Let the game begin." He jumped off the ledge and slid down the mountain side towards the Forerunner installation. The rest of Crimson followed close behind, landing on the ground with a thump.

Crimson team was right in front of their target now, on a ledge overlooking the front side. Joe and Josh paced over to the edge, scanning the area. "Seems a bit empty." Josh said, not realizing that this base was guarded by Prometheans; Forerunner AIs that can warp into any area they wished. Just as Josh finished speaking, several Promethean Crawlers warped into the area and began firing at the Spartans.

"You were saying?" Joe said as the two of them returned fire. Despite the element of surprise, the firefight ended rather quickly as David and Brittany joined their teammates only to look at the blown up remains of the Crawlers. "So these guys explode when you kill them." David said, more as a statement than a question. "Neat."

"Brittany, David, have a look around." Joe commanded the two. As they moved out, Joe decided to give Miller a call. "Miller, we're at the target installation and encountered enemy resistance. Mind telling us how exactly to shut this thing off?" A few moments passed, nothing happened. "Hello? Miller? Do you read?" Silence.

Joe looked at Josh. "Comms are down, not sure on the source of the interference." Josh sighed. "Typical Op, going wrong from the start. I'll see if I can find the jammer." Josh hoped of the edge, informed Brittany and David on the comm interference, and had them help find the source.

David walked by a Forerunner tower looking device, passing it entirely. "If I where a jamming device, where would I be?" He backup a few steps, leaning his hand on the control pad of the device behind him as he thought of where the device would be. Unknown to him at the time, he found and already deactivated the jammer.

"Crimson!" Miller's voice came over the comms. "Can you hear me? I lost yours and Majestic's comm signals." Joe laughed, since he saw David's unintentional success. "Good to hear from you Miller. There was a comm jammer but we deactivated it." Joe said as David backed away from the jamming device, looked at it, then his hand, then back at the device.

"Roger, I'm sending you the locations of your first targets." Two orange blips showed on Crimson team's visors. "Watch out though," Miller continued. "There are Prometheans guarding that area." "We've already been acquainted." Joe said, resting his DMR on a nearby boulder. "Alright Crimson, take that point in front of us. I'll provide cover from here then join up with you to hit the second."

Brittany, Josh, and David moved towards the 1st target which Josh on point. As they went up the path, more Crawlers warped in on the rocks above them. By the time the majority of Crimson could react, Joe opened fire and downed two, but the rest pounced on his team. David caught one by its mouth pieces and pulled it apart. Josh caught another with one hand, pushed it away, and finished it with a burst of his BR. Brittany managed to intercept her Crawler with a hail of bullets.

Joe was about to say something when Miller cut him off. "Majestic just deactivated the 1st target and moving on to the second. Show some hustle if you want to beat them." Brittany lifted her SAW up. "Well you heard the man! Let's get going!" Josh, David, and Brittany reached the location of the 1st target: It was a small building surrounded by walls on most sides. Before they moved any further, a portal appeared above them and out of it came several Promethean Watchers.

The little floating Prometheans opened fire on the three as they moved around every which way. However, with support from Joe, the Watchers were easily dealt with. Josh walked up the side of the building and pressed the terminal control. Miller confirmed that the device had shut off.

"One down." Joe muttered to himself before jumping off the ledge and began to run over to his team. "I'm moving to join you now." He said. "And Miller? You mind patching me to Majestic, particularly Demarco?" A few moments passed, by the time Miller responded Joe had reached the rest of his team. "Done, though I can assume why you're asking for this which is why I hesitated for a few."

"Thanks Miller." Joe looked at his team, he signaled them to advance towards the second target. "Hey Demarco." Joe said, seeing if Miller wasn't pulling a fast one on them. "Who is this?" Demarco's voice came over the comm. "Crimson? That you?" Joe smirked. "The name's Joe and yes, I lead Crimson team. I heard from Dave that you've been talking about me when I'm not around. I though we could have a little discussion on that." A few moments passed before Demarco responded. "Ah...A bit busy at the moment. Maybe later."

As Joe's conversation with Demarco continued, another portal appeared above the target building dropping out several more Watchers. "Bastards just love coming out of thin air!" David yelled as he fired on the new arrivals. Joe, Josh and Brittany fired on the Prometheans as well, all the while Joe continued his conversation with Demarco.

"Of course. So how's Majestic handling things right now?"

"Oh you know, having a discussion with the locals."

"Same here, only we're about finished. And by the way, we're gaining on you."

And with that, Joe shut off the comm link. Crimson team mopped up the remaining Watchers and deactivated the device. "Good job Crimson." Miller said over the comms. "Marking the last target for you now." A blip showed up on Crimson's visors, it was a the top of the tallest building in the center of the complex.

With a gesture of his hand, Joe ordered his squad towards it. Upon entering, they were greeted by three Crawlers who were gunned down easily. After reaching the second level, a mixture of Watchers and Crawlers engaged Crimson. Though outnumbered, Crimson team mowed down the Prometheans in their path and made their way to the third floor. David walked over to the terminal and, while trying to be as dramatic as possible, pressed the button, shut down the relay system.

Miller came over the comms. "Confirming third target down, Crimson team has shut down all systems at their tower." "Excellent work Crimson." Commander Palmer's voice came over the comms. "Looks like you won this round." "Oh come on!" Demarco complained. "Crimson couldn't have had the defenses ours had!" Palmer was the first to respond. "You're right Demarco, Crimson had more to deal with than you."

Joe smirked inside his helmet, Brittany and Josh highfived, and David did a little dance while singing an old 21st century song known as "Harder, Better Faster, Stronger." As Crimson team celebrated in their own ways, Miller sent them the coordinates to where their ride was going to pick them up. As Crimson made their way to the LZ, Josh and David gloated over the team's easy victory.

"Now that was too easy!"

"Showed Majestic how its done!"

"Demarco will be raging for weeks."

"The guy deserves it! So full of himself, he deserves to be taken down a peg or two."

"An't that the truth."

Just then, as if an act of vengeance or a last ditch effort, a large number of Promethean Crawlers and Watchers warped in behind Crimson team. Joe was the first to noticed the large amount of contacts on his motion sensor, he spun around and fired on the nearest Crawler. The act prompted the rest of Crimson to action, quickly turning around and firing at the Prometheans. The firefight lasted for ten minutes, though it seemed much longer.

David was shifting through the remains of the AIs, picking up what he though were weapons. He was surprised when he reached out to one it would break apart and reform in his hands. "Captain! You have to try this out!" David waved to Joe, a Boltshot in his hands "These weapons form in you hands when you reach out to them!"

"Oh really? Why don't you grab a few for R&R?" Joe called back. "Maybe they can reverse engineer it so our weapons can do that. Might as well keep some for yourself do, considering they're all over the damn place." David saluted in response and began to pick up as many of the Promethean weapons as he could hold.

After a few more moments, Crimson team's Pelican arrived at the LZ. The back ramp opened up, Joe looked back at Josh, Brittany, and the approaching David caring one too many weapons in his hands.

"Let's get back to the ship." Joe said with a smile "After all, it's Poker Night."

UNSC Infinity, 18:24 Feburary 9, 2558

It was Poker Night aboard Infinity, a monthly occurrence among other activities held on the ship for the benefit of the crew. The Spartans were no exception to this, as Crimson among other Spartan fireteams gathered in one of the areas hosting the event.

"Are you looking at my cards?!" Joe yelled to a Marine setting besides him, surprising the man.

Most people that knew him aboard Infinity knew that this was the Spartan's usually routine during a poker game in the hopes of adding some comedy into the serious atmosphere. Needless to say, it was usually successful.

"No I'm not!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! I wouldn't cheat a Spartan."

"If you're lying to me-"

"I'm not lying!"

Joe slammed his cards on the table as he stood up, everyone who knew the act snickered as they waited for the best part. "I used to drop down through a planet's atmosphere riding in a glorified tin can just to shoot aliens for a living! I will NOT hesitate to jump across this table and bitchslap you for looking at my cards!"

"I'm telling you I'm not looking at your cards!"

"You sure?!"

"Positive!"

Joe pointed his index and middle fingers at his eyes then towards the Marine before sitting down. As he did, those who knew it was a joke-David included- laughed hysterically. The Marine who was the victim of the prank, as well as those who didn't know it was a joke, looked around at the ones laughing as they wondered what was so funny.

At that moment, Joe gave the Marine a squeeze. "Ah don't worry mate, I'm just messing with ya." He let the Marine go and patted him on the shoulder. Joe looked to Brittany and Josh. "It's a bit of an inside joke I've been known to do at poker games. The people laughing right now have are those who have seen it before." He pointed to David who was trying to calm himself down. "This guy especially."

"It's still funny, every time." David said when he managed to calm himself. He looked at Brittany and Josh "So now you know."

Several minutes passed as the room managed to quiet down and the games continued as everyone tried not to lose all their money.

The door to the room opened, revealing two members of Majestic team: Hoya and Madsen. The Spartans walked through the door, moving around full tables when they stopped at the table Crimson was at. Hoya was the first to sit at the table. "Have room for one more?" Brittany smiled. "Sure big guy. We could use some fresh blood."

"Especially since I keep losing my money to these assholes." Josh added in, pointing to David and Joe. Hoya laughed. "I'll be sure to watch my money around you two." Joe let out a short laugh. "Even if you do that, I'll still take your money."

Joe looked at Madsen "Care to join us?" Madsen shrugged. "I don't know, I hate to lose to you guys twice in one day." David gestured for the Spartan to join them. "Come, come, sit down! Come lose your money, I can always use more." Brittany smirked. "Looks like David here is calling you a poor poker player. You gonna let him get away with that Madsen?"

Madsen smiled. "Well now it looks like I have to join now so I can prove you wrong." He pulled out a chair and sat at the table. As Joe dealt out the cards, he decided to start a conversation with the two Majestic members.

"So where's the rest of you're team?"

"Well Demacro's off being Demarco." Madsen answered. "He's pretty mad at losing to you today. Throne said he's not much of a poker player and Grant's off doing something. I didn't really pay attention."

"Yeah," Hoya cut in. "But that's because you were starting at other women again."

"You know me so well Hoya. You know me so well." Madsen stared back at Joe. "I've been meaning to ask, but why do you wear your armor all the time?"

"It's a habit I picked up from the war." Joe finished dealing at this time, he looked at his cards before continuing. "Long story short, I've survived a bad experience that resulted in half the crew of a ship I was on at the time to be wiped out because they weren't prepared."

Madsen nodded, he understood that type of situation but not personally. A few minutes pasted in the game before David brought something up. "So how's that Grant member of yours?"

"She's alright, I guess." Hoya answered, a bit confused by the question. "Why d'you ask?"

"Dave here's been wanting to make a move on her for some time now." Joe answered.

Hoya and Brittany looked at David, half in pity half in amazement. Josh and Madsen broke out in laughter. "Dude, she'll kick your ass!" Madsen said in between laughs.

"Which is what I've been trying to tell him from the beginning." Joe looked at David. "The man just doesn't listen to reason sometimes."

David responded by flipping the bird, to which Joe responded in kind.

And for the majority of that night, the Spartans of Crimson and Majestic teams continued to play poker as most of them most more money than they gained.

OK, so this mission wasn't that amazing so I didn't waste much time on it. I mean, it was pretty easy when I played it.

Hope you enjoyed that Poker Night bit, get a little look at Joe when he's off duty.(And an actual inside joke I have with some of my poker playing buddies)