Some time later, Drew was woken from his cryo-induced slumber to the sounds of the ships slipspace drive still operating. The cryotechs were happily going about the process of waking him and testing his armor systems; Drew thought one of them was whistling. They didn't seem to notice that they weren't even out of slipspace yet. As the techs began to secure his cryo capsule Drew tapped one of them on the shoulder.
"Excuse me," he asked politely, "Would you mind telling me why you woke me up before we came out of slip'?"
"Sure," the tech replied, "The captain wants you and your squad ready to drop before we come out of slip' so we can spend as little time as possible in-system. It is an Innie stronghold you know."
"Wait, drop?" Drew asked a hint of worry in his voice, "Nobody said anything about dropping."
Before the tech could clarify the hologram console in the center of the cryo bay projected an image of a young woman in Native American clothing. Drew though she looked kind of like the Apache Indians he had studied during training. The young woman turned to him and smiled.
"Good morning, Spartan," she said cheerfully, "I'm Nyla, the Dark of the Moon's AI. I was told to notify you that the captain had requested your presence on the bridge." The hologram then disappeared.
"Looks like someone has a place to be," one of the techs commented.
"I'll head there directly," Drew replied. He then surveyed the room and noticed something was missing.
"Where is the rest of my squad?" he asked the techs.
"We were having a little trouble waking you up, so they went on ahead," the tech replied.
"What do you mean, trouble?" Drew asked.
"Well, let's just say that if your buddy Grant wasn't such a tech geek, you would still be an icicle."
"Oh," Drew replied, "That's a happy thought."
Without waiting for the tech to answer Drew headed for the bridge. When he got there the rest of his squad was standing around a hologram showing a portion of the planet Tokoran. A 3D model of Jaguar Base was in the center. Standing with them was the young captain Drew had talked too before boarding the ship.
"Welcome, Spartan," the woman said, "Since you missed the meet and greet, let me introduce myself. I'm Captain Lyn Mowsen, commander of this vessel."
"Nice to meet you Captain," Drew replied. Captain Mowsen nodded and leaned over the tactical display.
"Since everyone's here," she said, "Let's get started." Drew walked over to stand beside Rob as Captain Mowsen zoomed out from Jaguar Base to show a 3D model of Tokoran.
"This is the planet Tokoran," Mowsen explained, "It is an Innie refueling station and training facility at the very fringes of the Sol system." She hit a few buttons on the projector and mini-models of defense satellites glowed red in orbit above the planet.
"This is what's left of the UNSC defensive screen," she continued, "Two years ago Tokoran was the planet chosen to test if such a screen was possible. When the Innies came to this planet the station techs were already on the way towards mutiny due to bad command and conditions. When the Innies arrived promising a better solution, the techs revolted. What stations they couldn't commandeer, about 10% of the screen, they outright destroyed." She paused here to zoom in on one of the stations.
"The MAC guns on these stations are powerful enough to destroy this frigate with one blast," she continued, "The required ship numbers to punch through the web is astronomical. Thus, High Command has mostly abandoned the planet, until now." Mowsen switched the display to a projection of blurry security footage showing a hulking man in body armor walking down a hallway, flanked by a dozen guards.
"This is hacked security footage from hidden cameras inside Jaguar only ONI knew about," Mowsen explained, "That man was Bart Barrett, a former UNSC engineer. He was the executive commander of the Tokoran defense grid." Mowsen switched to a UNSC officers academy graduation picture of Barrett.
"It was part of the ONI security protocols that only the commander and his executive officer knew the entire specifications of the system," Mowsen continued, "That way, if the techs revolted they would only know how their individual systems worked, not the whole system." Mowsen then switched to a schematic of the stations targeting console.
"In addition," she continued, "The CO and XO are the only people who know the codes to activate the targeting and firing system."
"So if we take him out…" Gwen said, speaking for the first time.
"The grid can no longer fire," Mowsen finished, nodding.
"Why wouldn't he just share the info with other officers?" Grant asked.
"The targeting computer that requires the codes was also specially designed so that only the CO and XO chosen at the beginning of the project could access it," Mowsen explained, "An unrecoverable computer chip implanted in the CO and XO makes sure that another person can only access the system if both of them are dead." Mowsen then switched to a dual display of the stations targeting console and Barrett's graduation picture.
"You have already been notified of your mission," she continued, "However, I want you let you know of a secondary mission that Commander Horin believed was not necessary but is important nonetheless." Mowsen zoomed in on the targeting console again.
"Even if you eliminate Barrett, the Innies will still be capable to fire the system unless you knock out the computer itself," she explained, "Commander Horin overlooked this detail. I don't know why, but I do know that despite what the commander may say, if we don't knock out that computer the whole mission is worthless."
"That's insubordination!" Rob exclaimed. Mowsen held up a hand to quiet him.
"Due to our special circumstances as an off-the-grid unit," Mowsen explained, "ONI has given me special authority to give you secondary missions as I see fit if the current mission parameters are insufficient without needing authority from a superior officer, as long as said mission does not require further ONI assistance or resources beyond what I have already been assigned." She then switched the picture again to the 3D tactical display. The projection now showed a 2 kilometer square section of Tokoran, with Jaguar Base at the center.
"This is as far as the Innie ground defenses, ie, patrols, guns, etc. extend," Mowsen explained. She then zoomed out to show a 5 kilometer square section, "This is as far as the sensors extend." She stood back from the tactical display and clasped her hands behind her back.
"In order to maintain the element of surprise you will be deploying in drop pods camouflaged to look like debris," Mowsen explained, "We will use a captured Innie transponder to get behind the satellites and then jettison you from our garbage bay along with the rest of the trash, per standard protocol." She said the last part with a smirk.
"Sounds easy enough," Rob said, ignoring the insult. Suddenly the ship lurched and the planet Tokoran appeared in the forward viewports.
"Unidentified ship, identify yourself," a brawny voice said over the radio.
"Hurry!" Mowsen exclaimed, heading for the communications station, "Head to the garbage bay, Nyla will explain when you arrive."
The Spartans didn't have to be told twice. They raced for the garbage bay, tripping over themselves in their haste and excitement. When they arrived Nyla was waiting for them.
"Enjoy the ride," she said mischievously, indicating the six pods in front of her, each marked with a particular Spartans number. Mowsen's voice then came over the intercom.
"Your weapons are already in the pods," she announced, "Standard MA5's and Magnums, as well as a special weapon for each of you, gleaned from training scores and preferences. Supplies are concealed in the garbage; ammo is in the boxes of damaged components, food is in the trash bags, and water is in the barrels. Good luck."
The six Spartans of Coyote Team each stepped into a pod and locked down the hatch as the door opened and they were jettisoned into space.