A Spartan's War

This chapter has been edited as of Aug.2011

A/N: Special thanks to: SpartanGodess, arby, Norvak, LightvsDark99, Som Skxawng, Mysterious Angel-05, and Insanepyro for your awesome reviews! I will do this for the next chapter as well.

Chapter 7: Awake

PILLAR OF AUTUMN-10:30 HOURS

When Jessie entered the med room, she was delighted at what she saw. Will was sitting up in the hospital bed and he smiled weakly at her.

"You're out of your coma!" she exclaimed. She pulled a chair over to the bedside and sat down.

"Yeah, and I should be able to get out of this place in a few more days. How are you?" Will's voice was strong compared to the condition his body was in.

"Fine. I should be able to get out of my bandages soon. Do you want me to go get the team? They'll be thrilled to know you're okay." She offered. Will resituated himself in the bed and looked at Jessie once more.

"Thanks for coming to see me. Only you, Fred, and the Chief came. I could hear what you guys said while I was out. Tiffany didn't seem to come. Not that I wanted her to, though." Will told her.

"We know you better. She was probably off pestering some poor Marine. Do you want me to get the team?" She tried again.

"Why not? I'll be as happy to see them as they'll be to see me." Will chuckled and closed his eyes.

"I'll be back in a few." Jess stood up and exited the room.

PILLAR OF AUTUMN-11:00 HOURS

As Blue Team entered the infirmary, Commander Jacob Keyes and Colonel James Ackerson stepped out. Blue Team snapped to attention; Tiffany still a little slow.

"Blue Team. Good to see you." Keyes said. "Now to business. Colonel Ackerson will explain." He gestured to the man next to him.

"We have two missions for you. You will be debriefed in 10 minutes." His gaze grew colder as it moved down the line of Spartans in front of him,

"Yes, sir." The Master Chief replied. He watched as the two officers exited the room before he let out a sigh. "We better see how Will is. We have a mission to complete." Slowly Blue Team entered Will's room.

PILLAR OF AUTUMN-11:10 HOURS

Fred helped Will strap on the last piece of his armor as the rest of the team went through the ammo and guns before them. Jessie silently grabbed a shotgun and a pistol before moving over to the crate of grenades. Master Chief frowned and grabbed his own pistol and assault rifle. He turned to face Tiffany as she started to complain about her MJOLNIR again.

"This stuff is so heavy and bulky! How will it protect us!" She moodily grabbed a pistol and AR then followed Jess to the crate full of grenades. When she noticed John's gaze following Jessie, she rammed shoulders with the other girl as she passed by, making the woman spin around and bare her teeth at Tiffany.

"Jeez! Wild woman." Tiffany pulled her shoulder back one more time, but Jessie's hand clamped down on the armor covering her upper arm.

"There's no need. I've got the point." She snarled into her ear.

"Just making sure." Tiffany whispered. She tried to yank away, but the other woman's grip tightened.

"Stay away from me. I have no idea why you hate me, but I can give it right back." She yanked her hand away and Tiffany stumbled back a few steps.

Right into the Master Chief arms.

She lost her balance and slipped into John's chest.

"Oh, thanks." She batted her eyelashes, even though he couldn't see it through her visor.

"Really. Your timing, Tiffany, always ceases to amaze me." Jessie's hands clenched into fists and she swung back around to face the grenade crate. John pushed Tiffany onto her feet and approached Jessie.

"Get a hold of yourself, Jessie. I need you to be in the right mind for the mission! And you must stop threatening Tiffany!." He lowered his voice a level, "I know you and Tiffany don't get along for whatever reasons only the two of you know. You have to stop. If you threaten her or one of the team, one more time, I'll be forced to court martial you. Stop this wild behavior now." He leaned back some.

"She does it on purpose. I try my best. You have no idea." She said back. Jessie forcefully yanked her arm from John's grip and retreated to the other side of the room. Fred watched John closely as he moved to follow Jessie. Tiffany sidled up and clasped onto his wrist, then slid her hand down to his. John looked down at her and carefully pulled his hand form her grip apologizing.

"Sorry, Tiffany. I need to finish getting ready." He quickly filled his hands with his assault rifle. Tiffany stuck her lower lip out and stomped away. Fred looked at Will, who shrugged his shoulders. It wasn't his fight. Fred tried to think of something to fill the growing silence.

"Didn't Ackerson say he wanted to see us in 10 minutes, Chief?" Fred asked.

"We better get gong then." John slid his helmet over his head, becoming the faceless solider once again.

PILLAR OF AUTUMN-11:20 HOURS

Colonel James Ackerson clasped his hands behind his back as he watched the five Spartans enter the room, armored and armed. Jacob Keyes nodded his head at the Spartans and then to Dr. Halsey who had entered the room. John sat down on a reinforced bench and the team followed suit.

All of Blue Team sat in their MJONLINR Mark VI armor. John had on his green armor, Fred his grey, Jessie her black, Will his white, and Tiffany her light brown.

"As you might have known, there was a squad of the finest ODSTs onboard this frigate. They were sent on a mission a week ago and have not returned nor reported. We have reason to think they have been captured by the Covenant." Ackerson's grip on the chair he was standing behind tightened. His distaste for the super-soldiers etched on his face.

"The alien vessel, Triumphant Declaration, was in the area during the Helljumper's mission. Captain Keyes will explain the rest." Ackerson lowered himself into the chair and turned to face Jacob Keyes. Keyes stepped forward and clasped his hands in front of him.

"Triumphant Declaration is also known to have a Prophet on board. You must infiltrate the cruiser, rescue the ODSTs, secure the cruiser, and capture the Prophet. Don't kill him, he is needed alive. Be prepared to depart in one hour. A Pelican will take you planet side. The vessel is currently docked and can be accessed via gravity lift. Good luck, Blue Team. You'll need it." With a wave of his hand, Keyes dismissed Blue Team. Ackerson ground his teeth together and his cold eyes followed the Spartans form the room. Oh how he hated sending Spartans after his Helljumpers.

Epically SHORT chapter! I cut so much from this, I'm not even sure it can be counted as a chapter :) I guess it is more setting up context for the next four chapters or so. Those make up for the shortness. They are all between 4,000 and 6,000 words.

-Masterful-Mind