Important AN: As I study for the LSAT, I'm also going to spend time and edit a lot of old chapters…. So, ya. I deleted both the author note's chapters since I found out it's against Fanfic's rules (lol). I also renamed the story to simply Reclamation instead of The Reclamation has already begun. I also changed the little summary and little story picture.
So, as I go back and edit old chapters, my priority chapters will be one and two (not only they establish the story, but they're also the first thing a new reader sees… I'd prefer them to be clean, ya know?). My other high priority chapters 9 through 14, since they're very important chapters and need some...cleanup
I'll also be deleting the word vomit of the author's notes in each chapter. And….I'm debating of responding to reviews or not. I really do love reviews. So...lmao leave me a review if I should respond to them. But that being said, I'm putting out a call to all hands. I need….a Beta….not necessarily one for grammar and such, but a dude to bounce ideas off of and who knows a decent bit about the Halo and ME universe, the best way they interact with each other, and so on. I need a guy who I can share my plot and see what he/she/whatever thinks and how a larger audience may react, etc. So….ya, send me a PM…. Discord is highly, highly preferable. Idk, maybe I just need to get into a discord server who talks about this stuff.
So, besides going through chapters and fixing grammar, etc, I'll be brushing up some plot points. I'll list the ones I plan to fix and/or change. If you have any suggestions, please for the love of christ leave a review or PM me. I'll list these changes in the next chapter, because I don't blame you guys if you don't want to go back to old chapters just to see the changes. All these changes are based on past reviews along with stuff I just wanted to change for a long while.
Plot changes I plan to do (but not limited to):
-Brush up Shepard and his interactions. Try to strike a balance between a Special Forces vet trying to keep it together with the help of his teammates, and…. an angry dude going off on the Master Chief (though that is pretty much like a decent part of being in the military lol). And also have his teammates call him out when he's being a dumbass. (I know if I were a Commander I would want someone to call me the fuck out.)
-Hint at the Banished throughout previous chapters, be it a little detail here or there. For example, maybe the Arbiter mentioning that the Elite elders are worried of the growing Banished threat, etc.
-Make Liara more likable and justified (Did not realize that she pissed off a lot of Halo fanboys. Her actions will be the same, but the lighting will be different...if that makes any sense.)
-Change that experimental first-person chapter (The Quiet Moments) into third-person. - This has already been completed.
-Possibly rewrite some explanations and interactions to make Shepard (at least in chapters 39ish through 42) and his crew seem like they'll get in 'less trouble' by the UNSC. Basically, add a lot more consequences to actions.
-Clear up some general plotholes and loose ends I haven't filled in or addressed that NEEDs to be addressed.
-Fix some science shit that Miro0815 pointed out in his reviews (this one may take the longest, and some info may still be wrong…. But, I'll try my best.). And, as Miro0815 also pointed out, clear up the first battle in the first chapter.
-Remove some plot conveniences for the ME side (for example Tali being able to scan the Infinity)
-In a couple reviews they pointed out that switching between multiple viewpoints hinders exploring the plot and in-story universe. I kinda agree. So, possibly, I'll begin to flesh out viewpoints in previous chapters and streamline it.
-Clear up and streamline the plot point with Thane and Kasumi aboard the Infinity. That was born out of writer's block, so...ya.
-Add some more downtime chapters?
-I'll be fixing other stuff as I look back through the old chapters, but these are the common complaints I see in reviews, and again just other stuff I wanted to fix. Again, all the changes will be posted in the next chapter.
Enjoy.
FLOOD
The order had been sent to Matriarch M'kici. Still, Councilor Udina stood in her office. He paced around, looking rather nervous. He wanted something else.
"It's done, Councilor," Tevos said, trying to push him out of the room.
"Thank you," Udina replied. "But our work isn't truly done."
He opened up his Omni-tool, inputted some commands. Somehow, Tevos' office door closed and locked shut. Her holo-television deactivated. Councilor Udina then pulled out a pistol from under his coat, aimed it right at Tevos.
She had no idea what to say. All she could was put up her hands. The gesture was...habitual.
"You're a lot more sympathetic to the UNSC then I thought," Udina said. "Every time we spoke to the UNSC, I had always thought it was your usual compromising attitude and Asari charm that forced you to display some sort of appeasement towards them."
He now seemed scared, as if Tevos had a gun on him instead of the other way around. He was sweating, and his aim was shaky.
"Donald," Tevos whispered. "Just put the gun down. Okay? I won't call C-SEC, we can just talk about this."
"Spartacus and Valern agree with me," Udina said as he stepped back and placed the Omni-tool in front of him. "This isn't just a Human-versus-human issue."
"What do you mean?" Tevos wasn't sure if submitting to this person's reason was the best tactic, but her six-hundred years of political experience told her this was the best thing to do.
"You've seen what the UNSC has done, what they're trying to do…" Udina said. "Their Spartans are just tools, and Shepard and just manipulated their tools. Do you think when he gets back they'll let this go? He'll be dead."
"You don't know that, Donald." Tevos tried to move. Udina gripped his pistol tighter and motioned her to move back to where she was. "Even if the UNSC is an enemy, there are ways to deal with it. And you need the full strength of the Council. This isn't the best move."
It was as if Udina's suit was tightening, beginning to suffocate him. "We're past that point, Councilor. Those Spartan teams that were deployed against Cerberus? If only you saw what they truly did, what else they did against us. But the worse atrocity, trying to destroy Thessia? You sit here and justify it?"
Tevos didn't say anything. This rhetoric, this tone, wasn't natural. "Who got in your ear, Councilor?"
When she said it, there was really only one other player left. "What did the Illusive Man say to you?"
"Oh, it wasn't the Illusive Man at first," Udina said. "At first it was Admiral Osman…"
"Admiral…?" Tevos thought for a second. "ONI? How did they get into contact with you?
"Only when she got me connected to the Illusive Man, I learned what ONI was doing, and it pales in comparison to what the UNSC has done!"
"According to the Illusive Man, of course," Tevos tried to think of her options. Her receptionist would just think Udina and Tevos were just beginning to discuss the shadow of the political world. And of course, there were sound dampers in these rooms. Goddess damnit.
"Cerberus knew about the UNSC, about this other Humanity…" Illusive Man said, "they witnessed Reach turn into glass. Onyx transform into Sentinals. They saw the Halos…. Cerberus was there, at the Ark."
Tevos had no idea what he was talking about anymore. It sounded like the ramblings of a mad man. She had a personal defense firearm (at the behest of Spartacus) under her desk. She just needed to find a way to calm him down, to make him allow her to sit down.
"And ONI…" Udina said. "They were there, at Shanxi. They were always in the Shadows."
"Okay, Donald…." Tevos calmly said. "I believe you, okay? I wasn't trying to justify the actions of the UNSC. I was only trying to understand, okay?"
"How do you THINK THE MASTER CHIEF CAME BACK TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING? BY MERE CHANCE!? IT'S BECAUSE THE ILLUSIVE MAN ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN!" Udina cried. "He knew Captain Florence would activate the rings. ONI knew. THIS WAS PART OF THE PLAN!"
"Okay, Donald…" Tevos said. "Why though? What was the plan?"
Udina's arms relaxed a little. His aim slightly lowered. "There's only been one answer, Councilor. One from the very beginning. You don't know it, the UNSC doesn't know it, and ONI certainly knows it and is trying to stop it."
"Okay," Tevos said. She gently reached out her arm and made a relaxed motion like she understood what he was spouting. "Why is ONI trying to stop it?"
"Because if what must happen happens, then a lot of people will die, Tevos," Udina said. He activated his Omni-tool. "Tens of billions. But it must happen."
"Is this what the Illusive Man has told you?" Tevos asked. She slowly lowered both her arms. Udina seemed to let it happen.
"No. This is what he showed to me." Udina said. "The Reapers know this too. That's why they are the antithesis of life itself. That's why they're also trying to stop this."
"Stop what?"
"The Reclamation," Udina pressed a button on his Omni-tool. Nothing seemed to happen. "The Illusive Man understands it. Cerberus is the most pragmatic option in this situation."
...
Something moved from underneath the pile of bodies. It wasn't deep under the pile. A Cerberus soldier climbed his way out of the bodies. His movements were jagged and puppet-like. He, it, fell onto the cold metal floor. Something burst out of its chest, still stuck underneath the armor plates. Small, bloody red tendrils with ends covered in whisker-like protruding veins sprouted underneath the armor. They slowly brushed the metal floor. A sickly green and pale yellow liquid slowly seeped out of the orifices of the soldier's bodies. A few more Cerberus soldiers climbed out of the pile, fell to the floor, and began to produce these soft-like feelers.
It was a silent process.
...
[Location Unknown]
[Positioning Unknown]
2557 Military Calendar, [H-Hour. M-Minute]
-System
-Dialogue
-Repeat
ADJOURNED: 25570903
REASSEMBLED: 25570906
ASSEMBLY MAJORITY ACTIVE
ASSEMBLY MINORITY ACTIVE
PRIORITY ALERT OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN. STRATEGIC VALUE: ABSOLUTE. THE AUDITORIUM OF THE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY AND ASSEMBLY MINORITY SHALL REMAIN REASSEMBLED UNTIL THE SITUATION IS RESOLVED.
THREAT CRISIS: BLACK
RECOMMENDATIONS?
IMMEDIATE MOBILIZATION OF UNSC FLEET AND GROUND ASSETS? IMMEDIATE MOBILIZATION OF ALL UNSC RESERVE FLEET AND GROUND ASSETS? IMMEDIATE RE-ARMAMENT OF ALL INACTIVE FLEET AND GROUND RESERVE ASSETS? CONTINUE MILITARIZATION OF ECONOMY UNTIL SITUATION IS RESOLVED?
THIS SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION IS PENDING
SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION: APPROVED.
IMMEDIATELY CONTACT UNITED NATIONS SPACE COMMAND HIGH COMMAND INDIRECTLY?
THIS SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION IS PENDING
SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION: APPROVED
UNSC HIGHCOM
STRATEGIC VALUE: ABSOLUTE
IMMEDIATE MOBILIZATION OF ALL FRIENDLY EXTRA-SOLAR FLEET AND GROUND ASSETS?
THIS SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION IS PENDING
SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION: APPROVED
ATTEMPT TO REESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE?
OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
STRATEGIC VALUE: ABSOLUTE
OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE… UNRESPONSIVE.
OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE… UNRESPONSIVE.
LAST COMMUNICATION FROM OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE: 25570731
CURRENT STATUS: UNKNOWN
COMPLETE LOSS OF OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
UNACCEPTABLE.
STRATEGIC VALUE: ABSOLUTE.
PROCESSING…
PROCESSING….
ATTEMPT COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENT EXTRA-SOLAR CONSTRUCTS?
STRATEGIC VALUE: UNKNOWN
SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION...ACCEPTABLE
ATTEMPTDIRECT CONTACT WITH MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER SPARTAN JOHN SIERRA-117?
MCPO SIERRA-117. STRATEGIC VALUE: ABSOLUTE.
SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION PENDING
UNKNOWN HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION AT THIS TIME.
ATTEMPT CONTACT WITH COMMANDER SHEPARD?
COMMANDER SHEPARD. STRATEGIC VALUE: UNKNOWN.
SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION DENIED
RE-REQUEST APPROVAL OF SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION: ATTEMPT CONTACT WITH COMMANDER SHEPARD?
COMMANDER SHEPARD. STRATEGIC VALUE: UNKNOWN.
SOLUTIONARY APPLICATION: APPROVAL PENDING.
PRIORITY OBJECTIVE: ENSURE THE CONTINUED SURVIVAL AND EXISTANCE OF MANKIND AT ANY AND ALL COSTS. AGAINST ANY AND ALL EXTRA-SOLAR THREAT. STRATEGIC VALUE: INFINITE.