Chapter 26
November 26, 2552, 0730hrs, "The Crow's Nest", Chawia Hill, Kenya, East Africa Protectorate, Africa, Planet Earth
Mike, Captain McLynn, and Gunny MacGregor were being briefed in by the area commander on the situation in the Voi theatre of operations and where their initial deployment would be. Melanie was already out doing reconnaissance of the area. Though not ordered she seemed to want to be alone. The woman had of late started to keep to herself and interact less with the team. That left the remainder of the Wolf Pack and Wolverines to stew.
They'd arrived less than thirty minutes earlier at a UNSC base known as 'the Crow's Nest'. The base was located inside Chawia Hill which was part of a geographic feature in the area called the Taita Hills. The Hills was a Precambrian mountain range consisting of three main mountains, the tallest rising over 2,200 meters. The humid forests surrounding the mountains held many unique flora and fauna and also held a large nature preserve dating back to the 20th century. Sitting about 24 kilometers from Voi and only a few kilometers north of the Tsavo Highway the Crow's Nest was a perfect staging area for the UNSC forces who'd been fighting the Covenant forces undertaking a massive excavation of the city. Though underground and so able to protect the troops lodging there from aerial and orbital bombardment it was actually somewhat of a frustrating place to those who were working there. Built in the 20th century for the United Nations its age dictated it required constant maintenance and the outdated technology meant things like door controls didn't work as smoothly or regularly like many would like. Still, for a scratch defensive position it was fine though if severely tested it would likely fall. Luckily, the Covenant in the area had been content to fight thus far defensively, focusing on their dig around Voi.
The history and strategic value of the base was lost on the teen Spartans of the Wolf Pack who continued to struggle over what had happened the previous day. The usual friendly interaction between the Spartans and ODSTs of the Wolverines had given way to an icy silence as the operator's resentment grew.
Helmet off, Terrell motioned to Maia and said, "Come on."
The pair moved from where the Wolf Pack lethargically waited for their CO's return. They crossed the floor of the concrete garage bay the two teams had been waiting in for orders to stand before the Wolverines.
All eyes were fixed on the teens.
"Listen guys, we want to apologize to you for what happened yesterday," Terrell began genuinely.
"Yes, we know we've not been carrying our weight and that's cost you," Maia added, maintaining eye contact with the group. "We're sorry for letting you all down."
"Not your fault, an ODST sergeant with a bandage on his face responded graciously, "it's just shit happens."
"Thank you," Maia sincerely said in response, "but our inability to adapt to our new armor has been a detriment to our effectiveness and that impacted you. We wanted you to know we'll do better going forward. We're a team and so we want to be an asset."
A corporal who'd been scowling at them since their debarkation from transport finally softened his expression. "That's appreciated. It's all good. We're in this together. The Covvies are our enemy, not you guys. You do what you need to do to get squared away. We got your back."
That declaration broke the ice and thick tension melted away. The Spartans chatted with the Helljumpers for several more minutes and they were even able to come up with some ideas for how things could improve. They were once again a team.
"Well played," Alissa congratulated the pair as they returned to group, the tension in the room bleeding away.
"It was the right thing to do," Terrell responded with a shrug.
"Regardless, great job," Adam agreed, stepping into the conversation. "Listen, I don't know how long we have before Mike comes back but let's get up and run through some drills and simulations with the armor. We can get this right."
They all looked over to Matt who'd been silent thus far. The burly assaulter nodded his head in agreement and said to the rest, "Good idea Adam. We need to get off our heels and get back in the game."
While the teen Spartans didn't have a lot of time before Mike returned, they used it well and things actually started to click.
The Lone Wolf walked into the bay in a sullen mood but then the sight of his team spontaneously and of their own initiative trying to get better in the armor gave him great encouragement and a renewed optimism things might actually work out. He sat and watched them for ten minutes and then interrupted. It was time to get back into the war and that didn't wait for training.
That happened in less than an hour.
A report had been received in the Crow's Nest that the Covenant were starting to more aggressively push out from their defensive ring and so the Wolf Pack was sent out to ascertain the situation and intervene if needed. The Wolverines would stay back on this one to allow the Helljumpers time to regroup but they would still be in the fight, a necessity of need for numbers in the increasingly desperate struggle.
With Matt on the point the team moved off the beaten path to try to get an angle on the Covenant forces they knew to be out there though their HUDs showed nothing. Despite it being mid-morning and the sun being high in the sky and bright the ground was dusky due to the dense foliage canopy overtop. Thick, moss covered trees likely several hundred years old filled the terrain. The ground was mostly rock and dirt though green moss and lichen covered much of it as well as large leafy ferns. It was a lush green environment. The air was humid and little holes of water dotted the landscape as well. In the distance the sound of a waterfall could be heard. It was an idyllic place, much different for the Spartans than the concrete and steel of Cleveland. It would have been a nice place for a walk and to collect one's thoughts if there wasn't a deadly enemy seeking to destroy them. He was also reminded of the cost of war as he moved around a 25-meter-tall piece of debris from the collapsed Mombasa Space Teether that had been destroyed during the initial invasion.
Matt gripped his M45 tactical shotgun tight as he surveyed the ground before him. He simultaneously scanned his HUD knowing the technology couldn't always be trusted. A lot rode on this tasking psychologically since all of the Spartans wanted to get a feeling of being back in control of the battle space. He jumped over a moss-covered log to keep moving as some creature in the jungle trilled in alarm while another let out a mournful wail in the distance. Something was disturbing the environment besides them.
"Wolf Pack, this is Crow's Nest Control, be advised you have hostiles in your grid, over."
"Roger, that," Mike responded for the team, tension rising.
Matt saw a splash of red come onto the outer edge of his HUD but then disappear. He held up his fist to signal a halt though he could have used the comms. The rest of the team dropped into a defensive position.
The sizzle of green plasma bolts filled the air disturbing the serene environment as the Spartan's HUDs lit up with red splotches.
"Contact! Eleven o'clock!" Matt called out as he was hit with several plasma bolts. He reflexively fired his shotgun back at the team of Grunts who'd shot him though he was out of range and hit nothing but ferns and a scrub tree. The aggressive teen flinched involuntarily at the three supercharged plasma rounds that hit him, waiting to feel the searing pain of being burned but nothing happened. He then realized his armor had absorbed the shots and he was perfectly fine. Unconsciously he looked at his armor status indicator and already saw the overshield recharging. It was an epiphanal moment for the member of the Wolf Pack who'd struggled the most with the armor. He could count on it. The often-belligerent teen realized in a nano-second he'd been the one to be skeptical and not work with the armor. Yes, he had trust issues, but now he would admit it here. It was time to do some damage.
"Let's go!" Matt bellowed, standing up and charging the cluster of Unggoy who reacted too late. The power-assisted armor allowed the assaulter to cover the gap quickly and he took a pair out with two quick 8-guage magnum shells.
"Wolf Pack!" the others yelled and joined in the fray.
The Spartans pushed through a screen of Grunts who shrieked in dismay scattering in all directions. Maia hit the methane tank of one with a well-aimed shot causing it to explode in a green puff creating even more confusion. Four Jackals snapped their energy shields open and formed a wall from behind which they began a withering fire. While three had plasma pistols and peppered the advancing Spartans the fourth had a T-31 needle rifle. Firing on full auto the steady chug chug chug of the crystalline explosive projectiles first hit Matt then Maia, draining the shields and causing a pause as the teens had to pull back behind some large moss-covered boulders. But Terrell, with Adam covering him, dropped to the lichen covered ground and opened fire with his GPMG overcharging two of the shields and shredding a pair of the Kig-Yar. Mike then came out of nowhere from the flank and beat the squawking avians with the butt end of his assault rifle. It was an effective albeit vicious interaction.
The Wolf Pack seemed in control of the skirmish and was looking to push forward when with a roar a Brute captain along with three clansmen came charging into the battle from the shadows of several thick trees. The first one fired two quick grenades from its brute shot landing near Terrell. The explosion, though pell-mell, threw the machine gunner into a nearly rock. Even shielded the force stunned him and he lay motionless.
Adam froze for a moment in surprise at the sight of the Brutes which made him a target for the next one who fired several superheated ionized rounds of plasma at him from a brute plasma rifle. The teen took the salvo full force which drained his shield. As the alarm claxon went off the stunned teen was able to drop and roll out of the way as a flurry of needler rounds flew in and blew into the rock he'd been standing in front.
Mike saw the danger to his team and swung into action, throwing a grenade with one hand and firing his assault rifle with the other. Though he didn't hurt the hulking Jiralhanae he did disrupt their attack causing them to redirect their focus towards the Lone Wolf.
Adam, get up, get up! The teen screamed at himself in his mind. He felt like he was in thick mud. His body reacted but slower. The fear and anxiety of the unexpected encounter with the Brutes caused everything to grind to a halt. He looked and saw Mike charge in bull-rushing one of the 1,500 pounds behemoths knocking it off balance and then start to grapple with another. Do something! He screamed at himself but still he couldn't move. Then he saw the Brute Captain with distinctive gold winged helmet come up behind Mike, gravity hammer raised, preparing to stove his commander's head in.
"No!" Adam screamed audibly this time coming through his external speaker, causing the captain to check his movement. The teen Spartan let off a burst of fire from his assault rifle. Though the rounds bounced off the Brute's armor that got the attacker's attention.
A loud crack filled the air and the captain's head jerked back, then again with another crack as two 14.5x114mm armor piercing rounds fired from Alissa who'd gotten into a good position on a rock outcrop slammed into the Brute's head. It was dead before it hit the ground.
By this time Matt and Maia's shields had recharged and they re-entered the battle, concentrating fire on the closest Brute whose deep bass scream of death echoed in the densely treed area.
The third Brute, enraged by the killing of its two clansmen instead of firing its brute shot which could have caused damage furiously charged towards the Spartans. Mike had deftly gotten back to his feet so he could sidestep the beast though he stuck out an armored boot causing the off-balance Jiralhanae to trip and fall flat onto its face. The Lone Wolf then mercilessly emptied a half-mag from his assault rifle into the back of the Brute's head causing it to explode in brains and gore.
And just like that the jungle began to quiet anew, save for the echoing of panicked Grunts running away as fast as they could.
"Everyone good?" Mike called out urgently, looking around for all of his team. "SITREP?"
"Wolf 4 is good, standing by on overwatch," Alissa reported first
"I'm good," Maia confirmed, surveying the perimeter."
"Wolf 6, yea, we kicked ass," Matt whooped, "then added, "and I think I'm finally getting the hang of this bloody armor," he added causing the others to chuckle, while Maia who stood beside him placed her fingers in a side V on her helmet, the Spartan signal for a smile.
"I'm okay, a little bruised and shaken, but good," Terrell reported," the gel layer saved me from more damage. But the G-Pig, is gone," he added, seeing his machine gun had been destroyed by a grenade.
All eyes turned to Adam, including Mike who had seen the hesitation and watched for the teen's reply.
"I froze…I'm…I'm sorry…. sir, you need to pull me and put Melanie back in," Adam reported miserably, "I'm a liability to the team."
Before Mike could speak both Matt and Alissa spoke up.
"Bull, you had only a moment of hesitation then snapped back in," Alissa contradicted him. "You were in the fight."
"It's no worries, we can work through this," Matt added. "It's all good, we kicked ass out."
Mike had been about to agree with the blond-haired teen's assessment of how he'd done and was wondering if his 2ic should be pulled but the response of the two most volatile members of the team gave him pause for thought. He'd need to consider what happened but the response of the team told him they'd get through it.
Key for this encounter was for the first time since they'd gotten their new Mjolnir armor they'd functioned like a well-oiled fighting machine and had prevailed. No, for the first time since they'd gotten the armor Mike became comfortable everything would work out. "Okay, we're at the end of our patrol arc, we do a tactical withdrawal back to base. Well done Wolf Pack."
The rest howled in pure joy.
November 26, 2552, 0915hrs, "The Hive", HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-Six, Sydney, Australia, Planet Earth
"Madame secretary," Margaret Parangosky said to Ruth Charet the head of the UN who she'd finally allowed a video call to come in from, "let me remind you of the very real situation going on now. Covenant forces are entrenched and actively engaged at several points on Earth and we have intel to suggest another enemy fleet is evident and inbound. Why do you continue to press a point that only agitates people and makes no material difference when these same people hang on the edge of annihilation?"
"Admiral, I understand your sentiments but the two shouldn't be inter-related," the woman adjusted her wire-framed glasses nervously. "I know where we stand but again it's at times such as these we need to consider what we want to be remembered for."
"That is IF we're around to be remembered," Parangosky snapped back, a rare moment of impatience showing through the usually collected officer. "I've stated we're looking into what can be done and not hurt operational efficiency and that will have to suffice. Good day, Ruth."
"But wait, I…." But the secretary-general of the United Nations was surreptitiously cut off in mid-sentence and the screen she'd been on went black as the commander of ONI hung up. She had other more pressing matters to attend to.
A brown haired, brown-eyed middle-aged uniformed man in a power-assisted wheelchair sat with an amused look on his hard face waiting for the admiral to finish her call and when it ended waited patiently for CINCONI to speak. Though his body was crippled he seemed to possess a fearless attitude despite whose office he sat in.
Margaret Parangosky, irritated she'd shown such emotion before a subordinate closed off communications. Resetting herself she then ensured her office was secure from any surveillance before she spoke. "What do you have for me, Commander Musa?" the scheming woman asked with unusual anticipation.
Commander Musa Ghanem, or Musa-096, was a former Spartan II candidate whose augmentation process had gone terribly wrong. His body had been destroyed and he'd nearly died. Though still angry at his abduction as a child and bitter at the immorality of the whole program, unlike Serin Osman, he saw the need for the Spartan supersoldiers. So, he'd developed and proposed another way of doing it. Since then he'd been working secretly with ONI Section III on the Spartan IV project.
"The results of the latest round of tests were excellent though we still need to tweak things a bit," Musa reported impassively.
"And what does Jun think?" the admiral asked.
"He would concur. I've already loaded his after-action report on the latest training exercise to your file," Musa reported. The whole time the man's chiseled face was a mask of granite. Though his body was broken he still seemed fit and strong.
"Excellent, commander. Well done," Parangosky congratulated the man.
"Thank you, ma'am," the former Spartan II responded without emotion.
"Are we at the point where we can start to go public with this?" Parangosky asked with an unusual note of concern in her voice.
Musa noted the tone but didn't respond to it "The UN statement and Misriah's meddling starting to bring some heat down on the office?" the man surmised.
"Correct."
"We still need more work but the latest tests we did in simulation versus Marines went well for the most part. Jun and I could start working up a proposal within 48 hours for your review," Musa reported confidently.
A buzzer went off and Captain Osman's voice came over an internal comm link. "Admiral Hood's on your private line. He insists he needs to talk to you."
Margaret Parangosky noted the annoyance in her aide's voice at not being included in this meeting but the shrewd reader of people also knew Serin Osman resented Musa's position so kept the two apart as much as possible. "Very well, Serin, I'll be with him in a moment."
The admiral closed off that conversation and turned again to the no-nonsense former Spartan. "Good, start working it up. I want a first draft in my hands by the end of the week. We can turn this situation to our advantage. It's time to start to bring the Spartan IV project into the light."
"Very good, ma'am," Musa confirmed. Then with a crisp salute he turned his wheelchair and rolled out of the office.
"Hello, Terrence," Parangosky greeted Fleet Admiral Lord Hood over the video call she opened. "How goes the war?"
"You know as well as I do," Hood shot back in a state of irritation, his deeply lined face scrunched up in frustration.
"The UN?"
"Yes, the UN and now the damned press," Hood exploded. "They're all over my office about this Spartan thing. It's starting to create a distraction and pressure on the whole Spartan program. We don't have time for this."
"Really, what can they do?" Parangosky tried to assure the nervous senior officer remembering her conversation minutes earlier. Though the two clashed often she really did like the honorable sailor.
"Dammit Margaret, the UN is trying to tie our hands," Hood retorted. "They've got some in the UEG now breathing down the neck of the UNSC. We don't have time for this crap."
"Be patient Terrence, what can they do?" Parangosky responded confidently.
"But they're right," Hood answered in frustration with also a note of embarrassment. "We have cut corners and done things none of us are proud of. It's just not the time for this to come to light, not when we're hanging on by our fingernails."
"Don't go soft on me now," Parangosky stated testily.
"And you don't be so pretentious, Margaret," Hood shot back. We also need resolve from the people and their trust, at this time more than ever. We need to respond in a united way, not this piece-meal interdepartmental BS."
"Okay, well then we respond," the admiral replied placidly, catching the old warrior off guard.
"All right…," Hood paused to collect his thoughts, readjusting after the unexpected response. "so, what do you mean?"
"We acknowledge the importance of the Spartans and remind people of what they've done in the fight," the cagey woman answered. "Hell, let's make the Master Chief into a public hero. Then…."
"Then we make them invaluable to the war effort," Hood answered the question, admiring anew the sharp-thinking head of ONI. "And that will shift public opinion to our side."
"And, of course, we make some concessions in terms of the Spartans too. Everyone wins," Parangosky stated.
"And we neuter the UN and keep the UEG out of the mix," Hood nodded his head approvingly.
"Exactly."
"Works for me," the head of FLEETCOMM stated. "Can you take care of this?"
"With very little effort Terrence," the scheming woman declared with a broad grin.
The videocon ended but Margaret Parangosky was still angry and needed to do something to someone to show the world not to mess with ONI. She considered eliminating Ruth Charet but was too smart for that. Spanner Misriah? He'd already hardened his defenses. That only left Natalia.
"Black Box," she called out. This was something she wouldn't share with Serin Osman. Despite the former Spartan's bluster Parangosky wasn't sure she would really understand.
"Here, admiral," the Smart AI responded, appearing over her desk.
"What Section III security assets do we have in place in Kenya?" the decidedly un-grandmotherly woman asked.
It took less than a second to reply. "None for what you're likely anticipating," Black Box answered. "All were lost last month when New Mombasa was attacked."
The admiral didn't contradict the assumption. "What about off-book independent operators?"
"The closest asset is in Egypt," Black Box reported the location of the assassin.
"Very well. I know the one. Activate him and send him to Kenya," Parangosky ordered. "When he's in play let me know and I'll personally give the order. This is for my eyes only, understand?"
"Are you certain of this, admiral, at a time such as this?" Black Box asked. Though the Smart AI came in the form of a dark-blue cube so had no expression the tone of voice betrayal that it was disgusted by the order.
"Just do what I say," Parangosky snapped back.
"As you wish it. Message sent." Black Box then disappeared without being dismissed.
