Chapter 24

November 24, 2552, 1250hrs, New York City, New York, United States, Planet Earth

Two Misriah Armory security officers brought the miserable looking MacKenzie Wainwright up to the executive wing of Misriah Tower in Manhattan. They'd kept things quiet for the most part. The man who'd betrayed his employer had been seized in Sydney without a struggle then been flown to a private airport in New York and transported in a vehicle with darkly tinted windows. Finally, he was brought into the building via a loading dock and then service elevator and finally by back stairs to the executive wing that overlooked the downtown of New York.

On this floor, in contrast to the journey so far, everyone saw the man who had sought to betray the company. Word had already spread of the man's actions so the other senior executives made a point of coming out of their lavishly-appointed offices, like the one he used to have on the same floor to look with distain at the man who'd fallen so far from grace. This walk of shame seemed to take forever to MacKenzie Wainwright who now knew the blunder he'd made.

Finally, the miserable experience ended and he moved into Spanner Misriah's wing. MacKenzie saw Nancy Compton, the billionaire's personal assistant watching him from her desk and also a member of the man's close protection detail who stood outside the powerful industrialist's door. The pair of security officers stopped and the bodyguard took him in to face his fate.

"Come in MacKenzie, take a seat," Spanner Misriah said without emotion or malice to the young man.

MacKenzie looked around the room he'd been in hundreds of times over the past couple of years. The priceless art still hung on the wall, the seating area with overstuff leather furniture had the same arrangement for meetings before, the five-hundred-year-old antique side table still held cut crystal decanters, each holding a different and rare scotch whisky. There was only one thing different from usual, Spanner Misriah's Smart AI Niccolo was active and watching him just off to the side of the man's dark mahogany desk.

Hand on his shoulder the bodyguard guided MacKenzie to sit in the single chair that sat across from the powerful businessman then took a half-step back to loom over the miserable man like a harbinger of death.

For over a minute Spanner Misriah said nothing, instead scrutinizing the man who'd once been his protégé, as if looking for something. Finally, with a saddened look on his face and a slight nod of his head said, "You disappoint me, MacKenzie."

"What's going on, I don't understand what's happened," MacKenzie tried to bluster in feigned outrage though it was far from convincing.

"You know what, MacKenzie? Let's cut right to the chase because I know," Spanner countered, again with no emotion in his voice.

MacKenzie looked over at Niccolo, who looked in turn back at him with a smug look on his semi-translucent face. The ambitious young man had been trying to figure his way out of this situation since he'd been seized in Sydney but now knew it was futile. Despite his best efforts to hide what he'd done the Smart AI had caught him. In an instant he knew his life was over but he still had a choice and he knew the one he had to make.

"You're right. I did it. It was stupid and I regret every moment of it," MacKenzie admitted honestly.

"Why?"

"I lost everything!" MacKenzie exploded, causing Spanner's bodyguard to tense up. "I lost my position with you, I lost Natalia…" his voice drifted off as he looked down and away from Spanner's unrelenting gaze. "I lost everything," he repeated despondently.

Spanner Misriah looked carefully across his desk at the miserable young man who sat across from him, one he thought he knew intimately. At first the powerful industrialist had been outraged at the violation and wanted revenge, then that thought became tempered with a curiosity as to why the executive with so much to lose would do something so stupid. Now, sitting before the broken man, in the seat of judgement, something strange happened- he felt sad.

"Tell me what happened," Spanner asked, more gently than he'd expected it to come out. Something had changed within him in the last few weeks, and something new but long dormant seemed to be coming out- compassion.

MacKenzie looked carefully at the billionaire as if trying to understand his angle, but all he could see was curiosity. Unable to meet the steady gaze he looked down to the expensive custom carpeting on the floor and began. "When you sent me back to Sydney, I was really angry. Natalia had already rejected me for that Spartan," the word was spat out, "and now it seemed like I'd fallen out of favor with you too. I get her changing her mind, that happens, but what about you? I used to be one of your right-hand men."

Now it was time for Spanner Misriah to feel uncomfortable. The young executive's words had a strong ring of truth to them. "You're right, MacKenzie, I treated you wrong and I apologize," he confessed causing not only the accused to physically start but the industrialist's bodyguard as well in surprise.

"I guess I allowed too much of your work here to be tied together with your relationship with Natalia," Spanner continued. "I guess I didn't really see it. It was unfair since you are an excellent and valued member of the team. I was wrong."

MacKenzie sat with mouth open at the genuineness of the confession, stunned into silence. Finally finding his voice he continued, "I was so angry I wanted to do something to hurt you. I brooded and drank too much and so talked to someone I shouldn't." Misery etched not only the handsome man's face but was full in his voice.

"Who did you talk to, MacKenzie?" Spanner asked.

"I can't tell you," the man responded in obvious conflict.

"Listen, if there's to be any path forward for you, you need to come clean."

"You mean there might be a way for me to return to what I had before?" MacKenzie cried out, not expecting a light at the end of the tunnel.

"There can be," Spanner stated emphatically. "But it depends on how you deal with this. As angry as you were, I can't believe you'd stoop to corporate espionage. Someone put you up to this and I want to know who."

"It was ONI," MacKenzie stated without hesitation.

Spanner Misriah had thought as much but had hoped otherwise. First Natalia being sent into the warzone and now this. Admiral Parangosky was definitely gunning for him. "And you know this for sure?"

"Yes, I met with the head of ONI's assistant, Captain Osman, on several occasions." It felt good for the young man to get it off his chest. "I met with her but then after I calmed down a bit I knew this was wrong and wanted to break things off with them. I swear to God, it's the truth."

"I believe you, MacKenzie," Spanner replied honestly. "So, then what happened next?"

"She was pushing me to get the data I tried to steal. I told her I wouldn't but she blackmailed me to do it. In the end, I had no choice," MacKenzie stated, tears beginning to fill his eyes and spill down his cheeks. "I wish I'd never done it. I'm so….so…sorry," the broken man began to sob.

"Get ahold of yourself man. Nothing was taken and you've been honest with me," Spanner stated, becoming serious. "It was a foolish thing you did, reckless really, but I understand. We can make this work but I need something from you."

"Anything! I just want to be able to come back to my old life," MacKenzie choked out, holding onto the lifeline.

"I need proof that the Office of Naval Intelligence was involved with this incident. I need proof they tried to steal from the UNSC's primary arms producer. Do you have any?"

MacKenzie thought hard since he knew much depended on this decision. In the end it was an easy one. "Yes, I kept a video log of our last meeting, just in case."

"Good, I need it," Spanner declared. "Show me."

"I can get it for you but I can't do it here. But I can access my files in Sydney from the server in my condo here," MacKenzie declared.

"Okay, go get them and come back here right away, you're free to go," Spanner stated.

"I...I can leave…without escort?" MacKenzie replied incredulous.

"I trust you Mr. Wainwright," spanner declared. "Don't let me down."

"I won't sir, I won't," the man now holding the lifeline replied enthusiastically. "I'll be right back." With that he charged out of the room and towards the main elevator. This time, no one looked at him with disdain.

November 24, 2552, 1435hrs, New Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa Protectorate, Africa, Planet Earth

"You can see, ma'am, the remnants of a firefight here and the pocket of Covenant resistance that was effectively eliminated," the young junior officer who looked like he wasn't old enough to shave reported to the bored woman he was escorting.

Natalia had come in by transport to Kenya earlier in the morning and had gone through a series of briefings at ONI headquarters in the city. Despite the mass destruction in the jewel of East Africa the intelligence service's building had not been touched, a concept not lost on the growingly cynical woman.

Sealed orders had already arrived for the commander of the ONI cell for the woman who'd arrived from the Hive which had caused quite the stir for those who had survived the Covenant invasion and now were processing data for headquarters. The middle-aged operative's brows had furrowed as he read the orders as Natalia stood before him. The man with receding hairline had said nothing though his body language showed she was not to be treated as a pampered guest from head office. In fact, she'd been ordered on a tour of the front lines with no security detachment. It wasn't hard to figure out the intent behind the orders.

For Natalia this was not a problem. While she didn't seek danger, she was no longer afraid of it. So, she was now traveling about the city escorted only by a nervous Army second lieutenant to gather information for a report that she knew no one would read.

The fight for the city had been won the previous evening thanks to a troop surge that had flushed out the last pockets of Covenant resistance so there was little action in the area she was touring. Despite the calm in the city Natalia still wore the ballistic armor of the ONI Security Forces and carried a sidearm. Even though she was being set up and nothing was happening it still felt good for the woman to be away from the Hive and all the intrigue going on. Ironically, she'd hoped the fighting had continued so she might 'bump into' Mike but like so much of the couple's luck of late that was not to be.

"All right, what else do you have to show me, lieutenant?" Natalia asked the nervous logistics officer who seemed very happy to be away from the front.

The pair moved to the next district to make an assessment of what had occurred dodging debris which littered what had once been a prosperous business sector. Natalia knew her father had operations in the area and wondered what had happened to the people who used to live and work here. The sense of loss to humanity was not lost on the intelligent woman. She'd seen the destruction on Reach, then Mars, and now here on Earth. While she could get distracted by her own personal drama she reminded herself her struggles and losses were nothing compared to so many others. Again, a reminder to keep things in perspective.

"Recovery hasn't begun to clear the area, ma'am," the dark-haired officer named Ian Wilson apologized, breaking Natalia out of her musings.

"Now here you can see the effects of a concentrated quick attack," the new officer pointed out, trying to show the knowledge he'd gained at OCS. "This would indicate a group of…"

"Spartans," Natalia finished for him.

"How do you know?" the young man replied in surprise.
"I've worked with Spartans before."

The officer looked at her. She wore no name tape this time. She didn't want her name to change her treatment. He wondered anew why this woman was alone with him on this tour. "That's right."

"Do you know which unit?" Natalia asked, suddenly interested in what they were looking at.

"That's classified, ma'am," Wilson responded, face reddening a bit in embarrassment.

"Even for ONI?" Natalia shot back without malice and then answered easily, "Doesn't matter, it was likely the Wolf Pack."

The officer was stunned anew at her accurate assessment of not only what group handled this fight but which one. "Uhm, yea, okay. Well, I mean…," he stammered, unsure what to say as the attractive woman fixed him with a piercing look from her deep emerald green eyes.

"Any chance you can tell me where they currently are?" Natalia pressed.

"That's…well…that's kind of…." the officer stammered anew, lost in her gaze and not sure what to say.

"Classified? Right?" Natalia answered. "Sorry to put you on the spot, lieutenant. I've worked with them before and was hoping to connect." Then she gave him a dazzling smile that melted his heart. "So, if you ever have the opportunity to connect us, I'd sure appreciate it. By the way, the name's Natalia Misriah," she stated, emphasizing her last name and then looking up at the building in the distance that carried her name.

Lieutenant Wilson heard the name, saw the gesture and immediately made the connection. But in truth she'd captured him with the smile. He smiled back, though gulping as he looked into her striking face with china white skin and already knew what he wanted to do. "I'm sure something can be worked out, ma'am," he stated enthusiastically, suddenly enjoying the assignment that much more.

For Natalia, this was the opportunity she'd hoped for and it was coming the first day she was on the ground. What Admiral Parangosky had seemed to plan for her demise she was now going to turn to her advantage.

Just north of the city the UNSC forces were continuing to push the remnant of the Covenant garrison from New Mombasa and away from the Tsavo Highway and the main road to Voi. UNSC forces were concentrating in an old 20th century military complex about 25 kilometers from the main area of Covenant occupation and only a couple of kilometers off of the highway. The theatre commander didn't want the Covenant forces to make it back to the main concentration since his forces were still thinned out in that area and he couldn't provide an adequate blocking force to stop that from happening. A flash message had gone out to the area commander in the destroyed Kenyan city to continue to engage the Covenant forces and pivot them away from the road. That was easier said than done since the contingent had been reinforced with several Jiralhanae packs and armor. They in turn wanted to push up the Tsavo to link up.

To Mike and the Wolf Pack the broader strategy was not really relevant as they continued to work as part of the spearhead of UNSC forces trying to forcibly move them in the direction the human defenders wanted. It was a pushing match and neither side was backing down. UNSC forces had minimal armor as most were either damaged or being prepared to go north. As a result, an inordinate amount of weight was placed on the Spartans to provide the punch the human's needed. The only problem was the teens of the Wolf Pack were still struggling with their armor. The ODST Wolverines with them had gelled together well as a unit but now found themselves frustratingly hampered by the surprising slowness of those who should be leading the way.

In fact, another ODST detachment was preparing to push through and Mike recognized his old friend from training at Onyx leading the way.

"Hey Mike, what's going on? You guys being paid by the hour?" Danielle-B000 called out cheekily, causing the Helljumpers with her to laugh heartily, to the embarrassment of his team.

"Just a little bogged down, Dani, we got this," Mike responded through gritted teeth. "We have the lead," he reminded her.

"Not for long," the female Spartan replied with a chuckle but no malice. "Wait and see."

"Wolf Pack Lead this is Mkali Actual," the area commander for New Mombasa called over the comms causing Mike to look at his former training mate. "What's your POS over?"

"Mkali Actual, this is Wolf Pack Lead. We have just crossed Line Shujaa and are pushing to the next grid," Mike responded, anticipating what was coming.

"I can see that on the TACMAP Wolf Pack. I wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything. You should be onto the NEXT objective by now. What the hell's going on here?" the general demanded in exasperation.

"Resistance has been heavier than expected sir and we've experienced a few unforeseen challenges," Mike explained, trying to keep his own frustration out of his voice.

"Well you better get yourself 'unchallenged' and get moving, son," the officer demanded angrily. "We can't have assets like this tied up and I sure as hell don't want to see the Covvies flank us and make it onto Tsavo. Do you read me?"

"Loud and clear, sir," Mike answered, an edge creeping into his voice.

"Then get it done. I'm pushing up other elements who have orders to take your position if necessary. If you can't maintain mission pace you are ordered to step aside. They should be on your POS now. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged," Mike answered, feeling his neck tightening in frustration.

"Good. Mkali Actual out."

Mike swore and pounded his leg with his armored hand in frustration. He could appreciate where the area commander was coming from but it also wasn't in their control. Just when they'd finally started to get some momentum the Covenant had brought up a squad of Ghost Rapid Attack Vehicles supported by a trio of Wraiths. The added firepower and the general clumsiness of the Spartans in their new Mjolnir armor caused their progress to grind to a halt. Mike had lost three of his Army Warthogs to the counter attack and the promised Scorpions from the Marine's 506th Tank Regiment had not shown up. So, he was stuck using ground troops. If it had been Noble Team he had little doubt they'd be two objective lines ahead but with his teen Spartans they were barely holding their own.

"Told you," Danielle said cheekily but again without malice. "Listen Mike, how do you want to play this?"

Something needed to change.

Mike thought for a moment and the option before him wasn't one he liked but he had little choice. He could tell from his own tactical map the Covenant forces were beginning to slide over towards the highway. If they gained that road they'd be able to move fast north and their objective would fail. Time was against them and they needed to broaden their front.

Sighing heavily the Lone Wolf said, "Okay Dani, you and your team push left, we'll fill the gap and push right."

"Will you be able to keep up?" the female Spartan asked, this time with no jest but an honest question since they could afford no breaks in the line.

"Yes, I'm going to realign my forces. We'll be able to push forward with you."

That seemed to satisfy Danielle so with a wave she moved on with her ODST contingent.

Mike swore anew, took a deep breath then opened a closed channel to those under his command. "All stations, listen up. New orders. Wolverine Actual, you will push all your elements forward on the following trace," Mike set the forward line for all to see, "Wolf Pack, will spread and provide support to this advance. We'll split into two fire teams. I'll take one, Wolf 2, you will take the second. Wolf Pack Recon you will skirmish out and look for targets of opportunity to disrupt enemy chain of command. All stations acknowledge now, over."

Captain McLynn acknowledge right away and Mike could see him setting waypoints for his platoon commanders. The members of the Wolf Pack around him physically dropped their heads in embarrassment knowing the reason for the order.

"Wolf Pack Lead this is Wolverine Two, request go to channel three, over," Gunny MacGregor requested in his thick brogue.

"What's up, Hank?" Mike asked, figuring he knew where it was going but playing dumb.

"Switching the order of march, sir?" MacGregor questioned. "Going to leave me boys pretty exposed. We're to be the support element."

"Can't be helped, Hank. We're falling behind and can't let the Covvies get away," Mike tried to explain.

"Well then give the wee bairns a kick in the arse and get them going," the feisty Scotsman shot back, understanding what was going on.

"It's not that easy, gunny," Mike shot back, his exasperation boiling over. "You've seen it. Most of them still haven't adjusted to their armor. We just can't meet the timetable in the lead."

"It's going to cost us a lot of good lads," MacGregor growled.

"I know Hank," Mike acknowledged. "You heard the Area Commander's orders. I have no choice. The Wolverines need to lead the way."

"Fine. I guess some things never change. Helljumpers lead the way. Feet first into hell." MacGregor terminated the conversation before Mike could respond though in reality there was nothing the frustrated Spartan could say.

In the end the UNSC advance got unstuck and the Covenant were pushed away from the Tsavo Highway. But the cost to the Wolverines was high.

November 24, 2552, 1735hrs, New York City, New York, United States, Planet Earth

MacKenzie Wainwright felt better than he had in weeks. Spanner Misriah had been incredibly generous at the attempted espionage and had even hinted there may be a path of redemption back to the executive wing. He'd have to give up the ONI leadership he'd met with and for that he needed to get his datapad. But he had no affection for the woman who he knew was Captain Osman, Admiral Parangosky's aide who had tried to use him. It was only fair.

The man had a spring in his step as he left the lobby of the opulent building moving onto the busy street. He decided to walk since it was only a few blocks to where he still kept a condo, a reminder of his dedication to the company. A light dusting of snow had fallen and everything was sparkling white in the streetlight that had come on since darkness had enveloped the city. Much had gone on and the ambitious man began to ponder his path back to success, losing himself in thought.

Too late MacKenzie saw the two larger-than-average men with cold eyes blocking his path near the entrance to his building. Though there were dozens of people around he felt suddenly alone and vulnerable. He started to turn then felt a sharp prick in the back of his neck. Suddenly everything was starting to swirl and he found himself beginning to fall to the permacrete sidewalk of the busy road outside his condominium. MacKenzie Wainwright was dead before he hit the ground.