Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Shattered Glass. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own Halo, Bungie, Bioware, and 343 do.
(Unknown date and time, Unknown Planet.)
Kelly arrived at the Normandy as the vessel was named. Part of her was bemused by the fact that even in this place they named their ships after military battles like the UNSC did.
"Commander?" Kelly questioned over the com. "I've arrived at the ship… I'll await your return, then we need to talk." Kelly stated with a hum.
Kelly was well aware that she should be tripping out over being in another galaxy… And part of her brain was firing on all cylinders. She kept her resolve through training and the fact that she wasn't dead. There was more than enough reason for her to stay on track… Not staying on track would lead to her death.
(With Gadge)
'Admiral's log 1…. Goliath has been sent to unknown space. I have the location of only one Vessel in Vanguard Fleet.' Gadge input in the ship's log. He paused for a moment before continuing to type.
'The Hellion. I have yet to locate Spartan 087… We have made contract with this galaxy's military… Admiral Hacket… I have yet to ascertain his trust with me… We are enroute to the Serpent Nebula in the Widow system.' Gadge put into the system before brushing off his hat.
He paused to look around his quarters. It was decorated mostly with a few books. Gadge also kept datapad around it as well as a globe of his homeworld. To most Admirals? It would come off as rubbish, quaint.
To a newly minted Vice Admiral? It was one of 2 of his personal sanctums. The Vice Admiral didn't need much, nor did he consider much outside of the war.
'I've been told by Admiral Hacket that this contains the Citadel. A massive space station and the source of the galactic government. He's told me if Spartan 087 is with the Normandy as he suspects due to a large energy pulse? Then he will meet us here… I will update this journal every few hours. Admiral Gadge out.' Gadge typed and then placed his cap to the side.
Most Admirals would kill to be this high on the ladder. Gadge didn't have massive ambitions. He joined the UNSC navy to fight the Covenant. The promotion was dropped on him due to what he suspected was simply his ability to actually fight the Covenant.
His duty was to defend humanity, and he coveted that over ANYTHING else.
Gadge heard a knock on his door. He pushed himself up from the cluttered desk that he called his work station. Gadge left his Admiral's cap on the table.
"Who is it?" Gadge questioned and tapped slightly on the worn metal.
"Lieutenant Jason, sir." Gadge heard from the Communications officer. "Ensign Yami is planning things out when we arrive. She's told me that Hellion has been told to meet us in this system." Jason put in.
"We haven't entered the system yet?" Gadge questioned as he tapped in the code to open the door. "Anything on the channels about the rest of the fleet?" Gadge asked the man.
He got nothing from the man. It was quite clear that things were going to get worse before it gets better.
"First we're find Spartan 087…." Gadge put in and smoothed out his uniform. "The other captains will make sure to find us. I'm more worried about the Covenant." Gadge put in as he slowly grabbed his Admiral's cap.
"We're arrive in 2 hours according to the data." Jason put in which caused Gadge to nod. "Do you think that they're be ok with our arrival?" Jason questioned which got a shake of the head from Gadge.
"If I was the head of government…" Gadge put in and started the walk from the admiral's room to the bridge. "And I saw a 4-kilo long supercarrier emerge from nowhere in front of them? No, I think I'd be a bit inclined to turn their guns towards us." Gadge added and cracked his knuckles.
"Then what do we do when we get there?" Gadge heard from Jason and hummed.
"We wait… Find the rest of Vanguard fleet…" Gadge stated and turned to the side. "Then we push back against the Covenant. I have a feeling we just brought our war to this galaxy. We might not even be the only fleet brought here." Gadge added before brushing off his uniform.
"The Covenant aren't the biggest fish out here." Jason put in which caused Gadge to nod. "Your placing a lot of trust on the Spartan you know…. Their employed by ONI, shadow work, assassinations, kidnappings." Jason stated as Gadge let out a sigh and turned to look at the Lieutenant.
"I don't trust ONI, Lieutenant." Gadge put in and folded his arms behind his back. "But I trust Spartans like I trust any soldier. ONI stabs people in the back and leaves them to rot in the gutter. Spartans don't, they operate with speed, precision, efficacy. They don't operate in the shadows." Gadge stated and cleared his throat for a second before continuing.
"I trust Sierra 087 because she's a soldier, I've seen what Spartans can do once. They chew through Covenant like sharks through fresh meat. And I trust the men and women under my command. They don't dance in the shadows cutting everyone with knives…." Gadge put in and walked to the bridge.
"I'm just worried about what threats to the human race." Gadge said as he crossed his arms behind him. "I'm trying to lead us against the very extinction of humanity…. And I have a feeling we're going to have to discard the rules to survive." Gadge stated to the crew.
Gadge took a seat at the bridge. He began to plan what to do next. It was what he was good at.
Gadge just wondered if it would be enough.
(Covenant CAS-Class Assault Carrier Shade of Judgement.)
"The holy relic has sent us to the glorious lands!" Zyze hissed as his fleet continued through space.
Zyze turned to his subordinates. He had questioned why the humans were here. They had been judged as heretics by the Prophets, unworthy of transcendence.
"Commander?" Zyze heard from one of his men. "We've detected a ship silhouette. It doesn't match any human ships." Zyze heard from the soldier and nodded.
"Then it is from the gods themselves!" Zyze hissed in response. "We must greet them." Zyze stated as he walked to the shipmaster's chair.
"3 vessels are already approaching it…" One of his men stated.
That was before a beam of light pierced one of the light cruisers. It cut through the vessel like paper, dicing it in half as fires broke out over the vessel. The ship vanished in a conflagration of infernos.
Then 2 more slashed through the shields of 2 more of his vessels, sending them spiraling to their deaths. Zyze said nothing at this. They obviously had been judged unclean by their gods. Their deaths didn't bother him.
"The vessel is approaching us, commander." Zyze heard saw the massive aquatic like vessel approach them.
"Such grace…" Zyze stated as he dropped to a knee, as did the rest of the crew.
They basked in the light of the ship as it and it's insect like guardians approached. The vessel loomed over them, Zyze could only bask in the light of their god who would greet them.
The sirens that washed over Judgement were the horns of the gods themselves. They had found transcendence, and they were now ready to serve their god.
To a normal mind, however? They were the pawns of a Reaper, and the tendrils of indoctrination washed over them instead of what they expected.
If Sovereign knew how the Covenant worked? It would not even need to do that. He had more cannon fodder for the Reapers, however.
(With Kelly)
Kelly slowly walked up the ramp and into the Normandy. The ship was small, it reminded her of an ONI Prowler, perhaps it played the same role within their navy as it did for the UNSC.
"Who the hell?!" Kelly heard as she watched multiple red blips emerge from her radar.
Kelly dropped her Geth Rifle. Kelly watched a dark-skinned man in an officer's uniform… Least she guessed that it was, emerged along with several crew. All held handgun sided weapons, the officer tapped the com line.
"Shepard, do not return to the Normandy! We have a hostile…" The man put in before the com line roared to life.
"She's not a hostile, sir." Shepard put in to the man. "We can trust her for now." Shepard said as Kelly looked to the man.
His hands didn't shake, he was a veteran. It was the only explanation for his behavior. If she had to hazard a guess? He was the captain, the other soldiers looked to him for orders.
"Hmm…" The man said before slowly lowering his handgun. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?" The man asked as Kelly raised her helmeted head to look him dead in the eye.
"Spartan 087, Chief Petty Officer First class." Kelly responded, keeping her hands close to her hips.
Kelly could drop every single soldier sat around the table before they moved… But she stayed her hand. They were humans and even if they weren't UNSC? They weren't insurgents either.
"Spartan?" The man questioned which Kelly nodded to. "Captain Anderson, Alliance Navy… Your armor looks like nothing from Alliance or other militaries." The man put in which caused Kelly to hum.
"Neither does yours, sir." Kelly responded and slowly dropped her hands from her side arms. "But I have a feeling we're going to find answers for this down the road." Kelly stated.
Anderson said nothing but slowly lowered his weapon. Kelly could only nod before letting out a hum.
(With Gadge)
Gadge watched Goliath drop out of Slipspace. He checked the time 1200. They had arrived.
The Goliath was greeted by dozens of vessels. Gadge saw the sensors ping each one. So many shapes, every single one was dwarfed by the Punic-Class Supercarrier.
The warship didn't move through the armada of craft. Gadge didn't want them to try shooting Goliath down. They massively outnumbered Goliath, plus they were new blood in the galaxy.
"Sir, orders?" Gadge heard and crossed his arms before clearing his throat.
"Wait for them to contact us, then give the standard response." Gadge put in as he gazed out at the dozens of craft. "We're just requesting permission to travel to the citadel, no different from the countless ships that daily arrive." Gadge stated and rubbed at his temples.
The smaller ships were varying between the size of UNSC Cruisers and Frigates. Gadge suspected they were the same. The biggest ship was a kilometer in size. Gadge would make an assumption that this was the flagship.
"Sir?" Gadge heard from Benson as the communications officer looked up. "Communication from the flagship… Responding now. I'm surprised we're managing to communicate with these guys." Benson added which caused Gadge to hum.
He could only hum and question what how these communications were possible. Still? As long as they could convoy their message.
Gadge almost wondered if they could end up gathering more allies to fight the Covenant. Perhaps this would be another chance for them to win the war.
"Goliath, stay this distance… Dropship permission to dock in hanger 3." Gadge heard from the console. It was a female voice which made Gadge hum.
"Someone needs to get a pelican ready…" Gadge ordered and then turned away from the console.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out that next chapter will be much longer and will start the main plot of stopping Saren, Sovereign and the Covenant. Next chapter will be in 2-10 weeks and will show Gadge meeting Shepard, set up both Kelly and Gadge properly meeting Anderson and Udina… And all begining to move against Saren. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Next chapter will be 3000 or so words… Linda's story is 1200 words.