Welcome back everyone, just a fair warning to those of you still out for Batarian blood this chapter will mainly be a dialog filled chapter and to those of you who like that sort of thing have fun.
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Star Chart: South Eastern border of S.R. controlled space…
Location: aboard the U.N.S.C. Spirit of Fire…
Date: 13 June 2560…
Time: 17:00 military standard time…
"Captain Alexander to the bridge for debriefing," Cutter called over the Spirit of Fire's loudspeakers as he finished reading through the reports from the claiming of the enemy ships. Of course, there are still minor holdouts on some of them, but the main systems were under U.N.S.C. control it was just a matter of time until they either gave up or were wiped off the board.
"Admiral Cutter I've finally translated the alien data we were able to grab from their flagship," Isabel informed her form appearing on a holographic pedestal next to Cutter her features making her look confident.
"That was quick," Cutter stated a small barely noticeable smile crossing his features.
"It would have taken longer but with the help from Private Johnny Maxwell on the information that they speak the ancient Forerunner dialect, it saved time by 75.9%," Isabel said.
"Good, send a translated copy to HIGHCOM and my private terminal," Cutter ordered as Alexander walked onto the bridge standing at attention.
"You asked for me, Admiral?" Alexander asked.
"Yes, I wanted to know why you didn't fulfill Cole Protocol?" Cutter said turning to face the battered captain.
"Our main engine was out of commission, and Rax connection to the reactor was severed," Alexander explained.
"You could have sent a team with explosives to detonate it manually," Cutter said harshly.
"We couldn't get to engineering, the enemy made sure to land a sizeable chunk of their force to that location," Alexander defended himself, "it was like they knew exactly when and how to hit us."
"That's impossible they couldn't have known our doctrines or naval protocols," Cutter argued.
"I don't know sir that's above my pay grade," Alexander said slumping in defeat.
"Okay, captain I'm going to send a report of this back to HIGHCOM until they figure out what to do with you, you're free to return to your ship and oversee the repairs," Cutter said sighing.
"Yes, sir," Alexander sauteed Cutter before leaving the bridge.
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Star Chart: South Eastern border of S.R. controlled space…
Location: planetside of Sangheili colony…
Date: 19 June 2560…
Time: 17:00 military standard time…
"To the young blood, and his new promotion," Johnny's sergeant toasted lifting up his glass of whiskey in a toast to Johnny finally returning to active duty and earning the rank Corporal by Cutter, the remnants of Johnny's squad yelling out "HOORAH" downing their glasses with laughs. All except Johnny who stood up with a sigh.
"To all those, we lost on the Benediction," Johnny said downing his glass of alcohol which burned as it went down, the unit went quiet for a moment of silence.
60% of the Marine compliment and a detachment of 40 Spartans from the battle group holding over the planet were helping the Sangheili colonists rebuild the colony back to self-sustaining levels while setting up defenses in the event of another invasion. The bar they were currently in was one of the few things that were still intact when Johnny's squad went planetside.
They spent most of their days building back up hospitals, factories, and a couple residential districts so the residents of the planet could return to their homes. The most daunting task that they had to do was burying the dead. After every day they would meet at the bar to unwind.
"I can't wait to take the fight to those four-eyed fucks," a marine from Johnny's squad growled, "we lost too many good people in that fight."
"Agreed," another marine called out from across the bar, a Sangheili still in his forest green battle plate.
"Don't worry you greenhorns will be able to give them a belly full of lead when the time is right," a large man no taller than seven foot said with a humored smile across his tanned scarred features. He walked into the bar making the room turn quiet in his presence.
"Spartans on deck," Johnny's sergeant yelled out, standing up and saluting along with everyone else, as three more Spartans walked in behind the first. One female of obvious Asian descent, and two other males one with a more Irish look, and the other with blond hair and sideburns along with an eyepatch. All of their faces showing plasma scarring of the last dire war humanity fought.
"At ease marines," the lead Spartan chuckled before his face turned grim, "but right now we mourn our dead and rebuild the homes we were tasked with retaking."
"What makes them so high and mighty, we've done the same things they're no II's?" a young marine to Johnny's right no older than he was questioned obviously unable to hold his liquor.
"Watch your mouth, Jax," Johnny nudged the marine, "those are the Spartans are war heroes from the Great War."
"No kidding? Well, the Asian one doesn't look half bad for her 50's if you catch my drift," another marine chuckled as he gazed at her... 'assets'.
"Jackass," Johnny said under his breath as he rolled his eyes.
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Star Chart: Dark Space Installation 00…
Location: Capital City 2 miles Southeast Of the Ark's Control Room…
Date: 20 June 2560…
Time: 14:10 military standard time…
"This war council will now begin," an A.I. in a 20th-century judge uniform boomed out over the loudspeakers from its pedestal in the middle of the wide conference hall, "all representatives of the A.U.R. may take your seats."
The representatives consisted of the Arbiter for the Sangheili Republic, Yap Yap for the Parlement of Unified Systems, April Orenski for the United Earth Government, Tyraxus for the Freeholds, and Princeps Eischal 'Kaluur for the Veiled Dominion. These governing bodies make up the main bulk of the A.U.R. military and scientific powers.
"I have gathered us here today to inform you all of the growing threat to our shared eastern border," April said being the one that had previously called for the war council 24 hours ago. April tapped the screen to the holo-pad in front of her displaying the form of an angry Batarian on a large screen.
"Roughly nine days ago a U.N.S.C. patrol group was responding to a distress call in the outer colonies to our eastern fringe," Orenski explained judging their reactions, "when they encountered this..." she tapped her pad again showing a large forty ship fleet hovering over a Sangheili world, a short clip of the ground invasion that was transmitted to the patrol, and lastly the counter assault and fall of the patrol group.
"It should be obvious, we should send a fleet to crush and subjugate these upstarts," the Princeps of the V.D. shrugged sitting back in his seat with a bored expression on his face, "it worked well enough for those who supported the Covenant."
"That would be the case with any other threat but these upstarts are under the banner of this 'Citadel Council' at least partly since from what our intell has gathered it's a bumpy relationship," Orenski explained showing another picture of a ring with five ward arms (which was pathetically small compared to what the A.U.R. had on any given day) along with full body pictures of three other races (Asari, Salarian, and Turian), "this Council from what we've been able to pull from their star charts is based out in what we call the Serpent Nebula, and have been active for well over 2000 years."
"So is it like another Covenant?" Yap Yap asked frowning behind his rebreather.
"Yes and no," Orenski replied, "but if we launch an assault on the Batarians this council will support them. Which brings in the event that we would be outnumbered by at least four to one odds if they have been building onto their fleets regularly every solar month like we have been doing for the last seven years."
"And what's the worst odds?" the Arbiter asked speaking for the first time this meeting.
"Ten to one if they were to throw everything at us," Orenski sighed grimly.
"Does not matter we have superior technological firepower," Eischal 'Kaluur waved the threat off once again.
"You must remember, Princeps, that there is power in numbers which they do hold against us in any event that we go to war with this 2000-year-old coalition," the Arbiter warned in an almost parent-like tone, "that's why the humans were able to hold the Covenant and even my personal fleet at bay for so long during the Great War."
"That's why before we launch any kind of offensive against the Batarians, I wish to send an emissary representing the A.U.R. to the Citadel Council to make sure they stay out of this conflict," Orenski made her point and went silent to judge the other member's thoughts and expressions.
"I agree," the Arbiter sighed standing up, "it is obvious we need to fight back but we also need this 'Council' to not interfere."
"Thank you, Arbiter," April sighed.
"But we need to make a show of force," the Arbiter continued, "it will give us the political pull we need as well as deliver the freed slaves from our care and back to their people."
"How many ships do you think we'll need?" April asked.
"A full War Congregation to both the Citadel for our emissary's escort, and one to Batarian controlled space to kick-start our response to invasion," the Arbiter clarified with the same tactical knowledge of his youth, "and after the meeting is complete with the Citadel Council we send the other fleet to attack the Batarians on another front to hopefully split their numbers."
"I second this motion," Yap Yap called out, standing on his stubby legs, "we need to show our dominance over this 'Council'."
"Anyone who agrees with these terms, say, 'I'," the A.I. called out again, followed by the room erupting with the word 'I', "motion unanimous."
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Star Chart: Serpent Nebula…
Location: Citadel C-sec traffic control room…
Date: 02/13/2157 CE…
Time: 12:00 galactic standard time…
A young Turian by the name Tiberius sat in his normal boring position at the C-sec traffic control deck watching as trade ships of the different Citadel species came in and out of the Citadel on their standard routine marked by their F.O.F. tags.
Ah, the all so glamorous life of a C-sec officer, Tiberius sighed rubbing his eyes and yawning, why did I leave the Turian Military again?
"UNKNOWN ENERGY SIGNATURES DETECTED! UNKNOWN ENERGY SIGNATURES DETECTED!" the V.I. assigned to Tiberius' station repeated over and over again until he opened a video feed to the signatures location only to find the fabric of space to be torn apart ten light years away from one of the ward arms. Soon enough 200 warships of unknown origin came through the rift in space, every single one of them cruiser size and up followed by a massive ship the size of the Citadel itself. This fleet drifted in a standard defense line formation around the super dreadnought as it expelled six more dreadnoughts from its cargo bays.
"Sir, are you seeing this?" Tiberius asked in horror, pulling up his omnitool for a comlink to his commanding officer.
"Close the Citadel arms now!" Tiberius' superior panicked. The arms slowly began closing before they got a transmission.
"Hello?" Tiberius answered getting a video feed of a tan colored Asari looking creature, but it held more masculine features along with white fur on its face, giving it a more grizzled and wise appearance.
"I am Vice Admiral Cutter of the War Congregation Hades," the alien said, "on behalf of the Alliance of Unified Races, we wish to speak with your Citadel Council."
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There you go the next chapter hope you all liked it. I think I'm going to keep all the big exposition dumps in the closing notes of each chapter from now on so you guys/girls that want to understand what these new things are lore wise and those of you only here to read a fanfic can skip over me babbling on can go to the next chapter.
A single 'War Congregation' is made up of 200 warships, and the U.N.S.C. has ten of these in its pocket.
1. OLYMPUS: defending the Sol system and its surrounding 300 inner colonies, led by Grand Admiral Hood (human) onboard the Dreadnought U.N.S.C. Atlas.
2. PALADIN: defending the U.E.G. 300 outer Colonies, led by Rear Admiral Lasky (human) onboard the Supercarrier U.N.S.C. Infinity.
3. TITAN: defending 200 glassed colonies being terraformed, lead by Fleet Master Rtis 'Radom (Sangheili) onboard the Dreadnought U.N.S.C. Profits Bain.
4. SWORD: defending the S.R. home system and its 200 inner colonies lead by Fleet Master Rtas 'Vadum (Sangheili) onboard the CAS-class Assault Carrier U.N.S.C. Shadow of Intent.
5. SPEAR: defending 100 S.R. outer colonies, led by Fleet Master Mrivo 'Natam (Sangheili) onboard the Dreadnought U.N.S.C. Vengeance of Sanghelios.
6. HADES: defending 200 frontier colonies on the eastern border, led by Vice Admiral Cutter (human) onboard the Star-Dreadnought U.N.S.C. Spirit of Fire.
7. WARDEN: defending the P.U.S. 400 inner and outer colonies, lead by Admiral Yulul (Unggoy) onboard the Dreadnought U.N.S.C. Strong in Numbers.
8. VALOR: defending 300 V.D. inner colonies, led by Fleet Master Jar 'Kodam (Sangheili) onboard the Dreadnought U.N.S.C. Fall of the Forerunners.
9. BASTION: defending the V.D. 400 outer colonies, lead by Admiral Yeth Ren (Kig-Yar) onboard the Dreadnought U.N.S.C. Against the Dawn.
10. CERBERUS: holding the border between A.U.R. and Confederacy of Former Covenant States territory, lead by Admiral Makarov (human) onboard the Dreadnought U.N.S.C. Helldriver.