Mantle Airport
October 28th, 2154 Local Time, 2552
If Ben was being totally honest with himself, he was feeling terrible. His wounds from yesterday still ached, his stomach felt like a sailor's knot thanks to the antivenom that he had been given, his throat was as dry as a desert in spite of how well hydrated he was, and he was worried to the point of nausea about Curie. In spite of how he felt, he hadn't thought twice about accepting Lieutenant Oswald's request to act as security for Curie and himself. It would take a lot more than a bit of sickness and pain to keep him from doing his job.
It was also a relief to finally have a plan of action to save Curie, although he certainly would've preferred a strategy that put her in less danger. From what Curie had told him, they had no idea if they could even get her Aura working, and even if they did, could it possibly fix the damage that she had already sustained? There was a high risk of failure in every aspect, but that was a possibility that Ben was unwilling to acknowledge.
It really was just dumb luck that Ruby happened to know the only android on the planet. Ben realized.
Curie, Lieutenant Oswald, and himself were now waiting at the Mantle Airport for Penny to arrive. The Atlesian Military had given them clearance to use their military-exclusive landing pads, which just barely accommodated their Pelican. A second Pelican from the Dominion had been routed to pick her up from Beacon Academy, so there was no point waiting in the terminal when the Troop Bay of the Pelican was so much closer to the landing pads. If it kept them away from the prying eyes of the public, that was simply a positive side effect.
While they were waiting, Ben took the time to examine the city of Mantle in greater detail; the more that he took in, the more he felt a sense of unease and paranoia at his surroundings. The tightly-packed brick buildings and alleyways provided hundreds of magnificent locations to stage an ambush and the Dust heaters that lined the streets would regularly pulsate in such a manner that made it seem like they were going to explode. Of course they never did, but that didn't make Ben feel any better about them.
The worst part of the city however, was lingering a couple kilometers overhead. It was one thing to see pictures of Atlas on the CCTS or to see it hovering off in the distance, it was entirely another to stand underneath it all, knowing that the only thing keeping it aloft was the same technology that Curie had effortlessly disabled dozens of times before. There were also the gigantic chains throughout the city connecting Atlas to the ground that, as Penny explained, kept the city from flying away. It was yet another point of vulnerability for any potential terrorist to exploit.
This city is a catastrophe waiting to happen. You wouldn't even need a MAC or a nuke to take it all down, just a few missiles on those Gravity Supports would bring it all down, millions would die. Ben pessimistically thought. Thankfully, the Atlesian Military seemed to be well aware of the weaknesses, and a variety of airships of all kinds patrolled the skies around Mantle and Atlas alike, keeping a watchful eye out for any threats to their two cities. And for all he knew, there was some unseen backup system in place to keep the city afloat in the event that the Gravity Supports failed.
"Ben." Curie prompted. She spoke through the speakers in his helmet, ensuring that their conversation would be kept private. "You don't need to worry, everything will be just fine."
He wasn't surprised that she had picked up on how he was feeling, not just because she knew him so well, but because she was monitoring his vitals for any abnormalities. She had been… less than thrilled when she heard about his latest round of injuries, and had taken it upon herself to monitor his recovering wounds.
"I'm okay." He said, knowing damn well that his words would be falling on deaf ears.
"Really?" Curie asked, her voice rich with disbelief. "You have not slept in two days, your body is still fighting off enough venom to kill a bear, and you have a few more holes in your body than normal! While I appreciate that you may have a higher pain tolerance than average, it is still completely reasonable for you to be exhausted by it all!"
"I can handle injuries." Ben calmly replied. "I don't regret coming along."
Curie sighed heavily. "You know, I've met armor plating that's less stubborn than you are."
"I take pride in that." Ben said. "Trust me Curie, you don't need to worry about me. Focus on yourself, think about this Doctor. Are we sure that we can trust him?"
He knew that Curie had some deeply unsettling experiences with scientists and doctors, and that was probably weighing on her at least in some manner. It was certainly on his mind at the very least, and he was not willing to see Curie come to any harm again. Thankfully, he would be present to ensure that Doctor Polendina was only acting in Curie's best interests. And if he wasn't... Ben was willing to do whatever was necessary to keep Curie safe.
I hope we can trust this guy. Ben thought. Atlas had already proven to be full of disgraces to mankind so far, but there were also examples of excellent people from Atlas, like General Ironwood and the Ace Ops. Whichever camp Doctor Polendina would fall into remained to be seen.
Curie's momentary silence spoke volumes about her thoughts on the matter. "I believe so. But I will admit, I would have wished this to be a less desperate affair."
"It will work." Ben reaffirmed. He still remembered just how broken Curie had been after she had learned about where she had come from, and he didn't want to see her like that again.
Who are you trying to convince? A cynical part of his mind spoke up, but he didn't pay it any mind.
"I am willing to take whatever chances I must to continue existing." Curie firmly said. "I will not leave you alone again, I promise."
For a moment, he was unsure of how to respond. Her reassurance was certainly appreciated, but Curie didn't know anything more than him. In the end, it was a promise she had no say in keeping.
"Thank you, Curie."
Before either of them could say anything more, the familiar sound of an airborne Pelican's hybrid fusion drives drowned out practically every other sound at the airport.
"That's our cue." Thomas said as he watched a second Pelican come in to land at the next pad over. "Come on."
When they arrived at the landing pad, they found Penny talking with Yu and Peggy, who had presumably been assigned as her security detail. It was somewhat surprising just how short Penny was in comparison to the two Helljumpers, but then again, she didn't have the added benefit of a suit of armor to make her look taller. She wore the same dress that Ben had previously seen her wear, which at least seemed to be more modest and simple than some of the more esoteric outfits that he had seen on Remnant.
I suppose body armor is a bit redundant when your skin is made from steel. Ben thought. At the very least, she had a better excuse than most fighters on Remnant did for her unusual attire.
"Sal-u-tations!" Penny said as she gave a firm salute, before her gaze quickly drifted to Ben. "It is good to see you again Ben. Do you have Curie with you?"
"I do." Ben replied. It was a bit weird knowing that she was an android, but also seeing just how convincing her disguise was in person, her creator had done a very good job at making her seem no different than an ordinary human. Eccentric personality aside.
"It is good to see you, Penny." Curie said via the speakers of Ben's helmet. "I certainly hope the flight over wasn't too much trouble."
Penny shook her head. "It was no trouble at all. I enjoyed getting a chance to examine one of your spacecraft in person, and if I am happy to help you however I can."
"Ms. Polendina." Thomas interjected. Ben stood aside to let him address her face to face. "I'm Lieutenant Oswald, Doctor Polendina may have mentioned me."
He instinctively held out his hand to shake, which Penny accepted, although Thomas was clearly not expecting her grip to be quite so tight. She seemed to be oblivious to his slight flinch, but a quiet snicker from Yu's direction confirmed that he wasn't the only one to notice it.
"Oh yes, my father spoke extensively about you!" Penny replied with a broad smile. "He said that you and Curie talked to him about helping Curie get better!"
Well, she's certainly upbeat. Ben thought. He spared his squadmates a glance, and noticed that both of them seemed to be somewhat exhausted. Has she been like this for the whole flight?
"I… yes, that is true." Thomas replied as he managed to get his hand free from the android's vice-like grip. "As much as I would like to stick around and chat, we're on the clock here, and I would prefer that we get moving as soon as possible."
Penny nodded firmly. "Of course. Follow me, my Father's workshop is just down the street."
After clearing themselves through the surprisingly lax airport-security, Penny led them down the streets of Mantle with a strong sense of confidence.
"This place is a maze." Yu commented.
"Mantle is my home, it gets a lot easier to navigate with experience." Penny explained.
"Wait, you weren't bui-" Thomas began to speak, but interrupted himself by clearing his throat. "You weren't born in Atlas?"
Ben scowled at the unintentional reminder of Penny's secret nature. He didn't understand why Atlas would need to keep such a project secret, or even why they would need to create sentient androids in the first place. Penny clearly didn't serve the same purpose and role of a traditional AI, which raised the uncomfortable question of what her purpose really was. It's probably secret for a reason.
"Nope! My Father lives in Mantle, but I go to Atlas for training." Penny answered.
Yu and Penny kept talking about something, but Ben found it ever more difficult to focus on what they were saying. Mental exhaustion was creeping up on him, so he focused what energy he had on keeping himself alert for any kind of threat in their surroundings. But from what he could see, the people of Mantle presented no threat to him or the people he was charged to protect, they didn't even spare him a hostile glare.
I wonder if they appreciate what we did at Argus, or if they're just apathetic. Ben thought. He knew that the UNSC was still fairly unpopular in Atlas, but it seemed like in Mantle, that same animosity didn't carry over.
"Ben." Curie's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Penny was talking to you."
Ben stifled a rude exclamation as he realized that he'd lost focus of his duties. Penny was looking at him, clearly expecting him to say something.
"I'm sorry Penny, I didn't quite catch that."
"That's okay." Penny said. "I just noticed that you don't seem to say very much."
Wait, that's it? Ben thought with a slight hint of annoyance. He had expected her to report some kind of suspicious activity or a change in route, not a criticism of his social aptitude. "I was taught not to speak unless I have something to say, and right now I don't."
"That is not a bad thing." Penny quickly added. "I didn't mean to come across as standoffish, I am sorry if I offended you."
"You didn't." Ben replied with a bit of exasperation. It wasn't Penny that he was truly frustrated with, it was himself. "Sorry ma'am, I've just been busy lately. There's a lot of things weighing on me at the moment."
Penny didn't once break her friendly smile. "That is completely understandable, and I hope that you can efficiently manage your problems in the future!"
"Yeah… thanks Penny." Ben replied.
"If there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask!" Penny said.
You already are. Ben thought about voicing his thoughts, but instead only gave a nod of acknowledgement. Now wasn't a time for any kind of personal thanks, they still had a job to do.
UNSC Dominion, Brig
October 28th, 2106 Local Time, 2552
Set hadn't slept in far too long. It wasn't for a lack of trying, or a desire to stay awake, he was simply unable to sleep. The silence of his cell had become deafening and the featureless grey walls taunted him. No matter how many illustrations he put upon them as he found it harder and harder to stay still. He knew it was the isolation, his psyche forcing itself to try and stimulate itself, but it was all in vain.
Endless exercises kept his muscles firm and ready for action, but he knew now that no battle would ever come. His eyes were crusty and dry, and when he looked in the mirror, he didn't see a warrior any more, just a tired old prisoner. Forgotten by all, even his captors, and left to rot. Forgotten trash that had long since lost its value, nothing more.
Can you truly blame them? What use could the Humans even have for you? You're a servant of the Gods and the Covenant, you're their enemy. Set told himself. You're nothing but a forgotten savage to them.
"Am I not faithful…?" Set pondered aloud. Were the Gods simply unimpressed by his accomplishments, was his faith shaken somehow? Had they given him the message that he had asked for, and he had simply missed it? What was the real reason that he was subjected to such neglect?
He had prayed, and prayed, but nobody had come to provide answers to his lingering questions. No instructions came to him, not a word. It was as if he had been sealed in a can, left to wallow in isolation for all time.
Perhaps that truly is my fate… Set thought, before simple pragmatism shook him free of his despair. He stood once more, as sternly and proudly as he could manage, and let out a roar of fury and defiance.
"You will not break me! My faith is strong!"
He didn't know what or who his taunt was aimed at, be it the ship, the Humans, the cell, or even the Gods themselves. His hearts pumped blood through his body with renewed vigor as he took a series of shaky, ragged breaths. His lungs ached from the effort, and he felt as if he would burst from the energy that he had.
"I am a Warrior! I am-"
In an instant, as if somebody had turned off the lights, everything suddenly went dark. He tried to step forward, but he only managed to fall flat on his face. Before he could even think about what was happening, he was already slipping into unconsciousness. He was vaguely aware of letting out a faint groan, and then he felt nothing.
But he did not remain that way for long.
He awoke in what felt like an instant, and found that he was no longer in his cell. Instead, he was back on Sanghelios, standing in the courtyard of Vadum' Keep. Fortifications and familiar structures surrounded him and the ground was not the familiar metal of a starship's prison cell, but instead the harsh, homely rocks of his home planet.
For a brief moment, the impossibility of what was happening was overridden by the sheer joy of feeling the wind around him, and the sensation of honest soil beneath his feet. He laughed gleefully as he took in the sights around him, but it didn't take him long to realize that something was very wrong.
He was still alone. There was not one Warrior atop the walls, not one worker in the fields, or artisan practicing their craft. Wherever he looked, there was not a single Sangheili to be seen, not even an Unggoy laborer.
Where has everyone gone? Set thought. Has something happened?
But before he could start looking around for more information, he froze as a voice spoke from behind him. "Oh thank goodness, I was worried that I have failed to contact you, this equipment is very old, after all."
Set turned to face the mysterious voice, and as soon as he saw the speaker, he nearly tripped over himself in utter shock. Hovering gently in the air at around the height of his head was a small metallic sphere, with a gentle glowing light occupying its eye.
"An oracle…" Set murmured. Were he in any position of alertness, he would have lambasted himself for such a daft statement, but at the moment he was far too stunned to realize just how insolent he was being. "...how can it be? How am I here?"
"Whatever do you mean?" The Oracle bobbed downwards slightly, as if to display confusion. "Nevermind that, we will hopefully have time for questions later. I am 421 Bound Intention, I require assistance in a critical matter."
Despite his confusion, Set straightened up his posture and made himself as presentable as possible, in spite of the ill-fitting human garments he was still wearing. Whatever was happening, his status as a holy warrior made his duties abundantly clear. He was to obey any command from the Oracle.
Could it be… have the Gods seen fit to answer my prayers at last? Set wondered. The possibility was almost too good to be true, and yet, it seemed to be happening. "What… is your Command, Holy Oracle?"
"I require you to deliver a message for me when you awaken, to any Reclaimers that might be present in Shunspace. I would do it myself, but unfortunately, the Domain has been dysfunctional for some time now. As such, I have been forced to rely on obsolete methods of communication and observation, and you are the only sentient organism in Shunspace that my systems can register." The Oracle answered. "I am unsure as to why exactly, but I believe that is of little significance. You seem to be suitable for the task."
Set blinked in utter disbelief at what he was hearing. He… was to deliver a message to the Gods themselves? That couldn't be right, surely they would be able to receive any such message themselves. What could they possibly need him for? Whatever the case, it was not his place to ask questions, it was his place to serve.
The Domain has been damaged… Set mentally repeated the Oracle's statement. He didn't understand what that meant, but in any case, if the Oracle could only communicate with him, it meant that there was some kind of special quality about him. Perhaps it can only speak to the faithful...
At the very least, the Oracle inadvertently confirmed that what Set was seeing around him wasn't actually real. This was all probably some kind of dream-world, perhaps a spiritual realm that the Gods used to communicate with mortals? Holy texts had spoken of such places before, so it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility.
In spite of his questions roaring through his mind, his duties were clear. "I would be honored to! But I am being held captive on a Human Warship, I am afraid-"
"That's splendid!" The Oracle cut him off mid-sentence. "You should be able to locate a Reclaimer with no trouble at all!"
Set frowned at the Oracle's interruption, was it somehow broken? "Holy Oracle, are you certain that you wish to entrust Humans with such delicate information? How can we trust them to ensure that it reaches the Gods?"
The Oracle remained silent as it seemingly pondered Set's words. "What are you talking about? Why would you have any reason to be distrustful of the Reclaimers? Are they in some way a rogue variable from the rest of their species?"
It took a moment for the meaning of what the Oracle had said to truly fall on Set's ears, and when it did, he was shocked beyond words.
Does it mean… surely not, that's impossible! Set thought. Perhaps the Oracle had misspoken somehow, or perhaps Set just didn't understand what it was saying.
"Oracle… The Prophets dictated that the Humans were the enemies of the Gods, and that they were a threat to the Great Journey! They said that we were to exterminate them!" Set said. His tone bordered on outright insolence, but he wanted his reasoning to be obvious to the Oracle.
Despite the Oracle's lack of any true expression, Set could sense the exasperance that radiated off of it. "Well, these Prophets were clearly attempting to incite rebellion against the Reclaimers! I hope that they were terminated swiftly and without issue, otherwise, please see to it once you get a chance."
Set froze in place, stunned beyond the point of words. Here was an Oracle, a divine creation intended to help the worthy along the Great Journey, claiming that the Prophets were to be killed for treason! As if that wasn't startling enough, it only confirmed the most terrifying thing that he had thought. The Humans were never the enemies of the Gods, they were worthy of undertaking the Great Journey!
Briefly, his mind thought back to every Human he had ever killed, every warrior he had ever slain in battle, every body that he had seen across dozens of Human worlds. The disgust and betrayal that he felt made him want to retch. what had he done? What had the Prophets made him do?!
The Prophets… Set's mind fixated on them, and rage filled every essence of his being.
"Those… shriveled inbred liars! Those fools! Those… heretics!" Set exclaimed with such force that the Oracle before him floated backwards in surprise. "The Prophets… are you saying that they've betrayed the Gods?"
"If you are referring to the Forerunners, it would certainly seem so." The Oracle innocently replied.
Set felt his blood ignite with the fury of a dying star, as a red haze descended upon his vision. All of those battles, all of his dead brothers, had they all been in vain? Fighting for some traitorous cause that the False Prophets had attempted to propagate? And to think, he had been desperate to save them from a betrayal by the treacherous Brutes!
It is a sick and ironic twist of fate that the Jiralhanae represent truer servants of the Gods than the Hierarchs! Set thought. As impossible as it seemed to be, the Oracles words were clear. The Prophets were heretics and the Humans were worthy children of the Gods. For many cycles he had fought a bitter crusade, and he was on the wrong side the whole time.
"You are going to help me, correct?" The Oracle asked. It seemed to be oblivious to Set's internal conflict, and perhaps a little impatient.
With all of his willpower, Set did what he could to temper his fury. He was still in the presence of a divine being, it would not be reasonable to lose his composure now. "I… of course, Oracle. You wanted me to deliver a message to… to the Humans?"
"Correct." The Oracle confirmed. "You are to inform them that a Flood containment breach has occurred, and the resulting outbreak has reached multiple Forerunner Installations, including at least two Halo Rings."
Set felt his breath catch at the mention of the sacred rings. The Parasite had dared to assault them?
"Then we must rally to the defense of the Rings!" Set proclaimed. "I… we could return home with your help Oracle, but the Humans need-"
"That is not your duty." The Oracle interrupted him. "My colleagues and the Reclaimers, as well your race and a number of allies, are working to contain the outbreak. However, in the event that they are unsuccessful, it is imperative that you continue to enact a quarantine in Shunspace."
Set nodded in understanding, the fighting was already being handled by others, but he would have another duty. While he was privately somewhat disappointed at having missed the possibility of a great battle, he also felt pride that the Gods trusted him to ensure the protection of an entire other universe. "How would that be done?"
"It is quite simple actually. All you would need to do is remain in Shunspace, and ensure that no civilization attempts to return to the Galaxy." The Oracle explained.
"I can see it done, but the Humans have lost their Slipspace Device, and I know of no other civilizations here." Set explained.
"Well, that should make enacting a quarantine fairly easy then." The Oracle noted. "All you need to do in that case is deliver the message."
As was customary, Set took a knee and bowed. "It will be done, your Holiness."
"Splendid. Once your message has been delivered, you will continue to act as my line of communication until such time as the Domain can be repaired. I will contact you in approximately twenty annual cycles as to the status of the Flood Outbreak, and whether or not it is safe for the Reclaimers to return." The Oracle said.
Despite the simplicity of the task, Set immediately noticed a major issue that would arise. "Your holiness, the Humans do not trust me. How can I ensure that they know your words come from the Gods, and not some false idols?"
"Hmm, you raise a valid point. There is the potential for a breach in security." The Oracle stated. "Tell me, do you have any military experience serving on behalf of the Forerunners?"
Set felt his hearts leap at the question, that was one area of expertise where he had no shortage of qualifications. "I do."
"Very good. In that case, you will resume your service until you are no longer required, or you are killed. Although I currently lack the necessary materials to alter your genetic structure, I can provide you with simple neurological security credentials. Although I will be the first to admit that our knowledge of Shunspace is far from extensive, you should still be able to gain the trust of the Reclaimers with these." The Oracle proclaimed. "If that was all, I will send you on your way."
"Wait!" Set stopped the Oracle. For all he knew, this was the only chance he would ever get to ask his most burning question. "Once I've delivered your message…what should I do?"
The Oracle pondered his question for a moment, no doubt consulting its vast and ancient wisdom. "I don't suppose I have any further instructions for you, other than to ensure your continued survival, you are needed for communication purposes. If you are seeking further assignment, consult the Reclaimers. They seem to be in constant need of fresh warrior-servants, if my recent observations are anything to go by."
Even in spite of the grand revelations that he had just been given, he was still taken aback by the Oracle's word. The teachings of the Prophets, and those of other Sangehili that the Prophets had misled, had forced him to only ever consider Humanity as an enemy. Learning that the Gods had intended for them to be a part of the Covenant was shocking on its own, but to affirm that their status was even higher than that of a Sangheili?
If I ever find a way to enact vengeance upon the Hierarchs, I shall deliver them justice that the Galaxy has never seen before!
"Of course, that is only my suggestion. Ultimately, you are responsible for maintaining your own productivity." The Oracle continued speaking as Set remained silent. "Now, I am afraid that I am needed to attend to the ongoing crisis, best of luck. I will contact you with an update in the future, failing that, you are to assume that the Flood has become a Tier-Zero civilization, and not return to normal space."
Set didn't get a chance to speak before everything went black.
When he started to stir, he felt some kind of repeating compressions on his chest, and through his groggy and blurred vision he could see the outlines of at least two beings standing over him, with a third leaning down to touch him. There was some kind of blinding light overhead, preventing him from seeing exactly what was happening.
His Warrior instincts kicked in a moment later as he roared in confusion and a slight panic as he sat back up, thinking that perhaps he was under attack. He inadvertently knocked the figure that was touching him off of him, and when he blinked his eyes clear, he saw what was happening.
He was back in his cell aboard the Human ship, and predictably, the figures were actually the Medical Humans. Three of them were in the room with him, fearfully staring at him with broad eyes. They didn't even have their Marine bodyguards with them.
Hmm, they must have assumed that my hearts failed. Set thought as he groaned in slight pain, he had a bit of a headache.
"Are you okay?" One of the Humans asked, a female named Doctor Chase, if Set remembered her face correctly. Even though her expression was fearful, she still stood taller than her compatriots.
For a moment, Set sat in silence as he tried to ponder whether or not he really was okay. The obvious answer was no, as he had just learned that the Great Crusade that had consumed much of his life was all a great heretical lie; he doubted that was what the Human had meant however, she was probably interested in his physical health.
"...Yes." Set tentatively answered. "Thank you for your efforts, Humans. But I believe that I am well."
"Are-" One of the others fearfully spoke up, but his voice was strained by his nerves. "Your vitals were all over the place, and you weren't breathing! For like ten minutes!"
Set looked at the man curiously, causing him to shrink back somewhat. Hmm, these Humans truly aren't warriors, only scholars.
"Was I not?" Set asked. But as he spoke, he realized that the Humans had not seen the Oracle, or they would surely have known that he was perfectly fine. From their perspective, he had probably fallen on his face and stopped breathing, which was more than a little embarrassing. "No matter, I have news."
Set stood up to his full height, feeling better than he had in months. The Humans stared up at him with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
"Listen closely Humans. A Holy Oracle has instructed me to deliver you a message, it is from the Gods themselves. You must take this message, and you must bring it to your Shipmaster."
Doctor Polendina's Workshop
October 28th, 2213 Local Time, 2552
Once Curie got a good look at the inside of Doctor Polendina's Workshop, she found it to be a very impressive establishment. The simple building that the Doctor lived within betrayed the complex and advanced tools that he had access to. Some of them were seemingly unique, as Curie hadn't seen them at Beacon Academy, or anywhere on the CCTS for that matter. Despite the sheer quantity of tools, materials, and general things that Doctor Polendina owned, everything was kept in a relatively organized manner.
The Doctor himself was sitting behind a counter, putting on a warm smile as Penny followed everybody else inside.
"Dad!" Penny exclaimed as soon as she saw him, practically launching herself into the air like a ballistic missile as she tackled him in a hug. "I have so much to tell you about Beacon! I made lots of friends, and I-"
"Penny." Peitro gently interrupted her, but he still returned the hug in earnest. "It's good to see you too sweetie, but I'm afraid we'll have to wait. Right now, Curie needs our help."
Recognition flashed across Penny's face. "That's right, my apologies."
"Don't worry about it dear." Pietro said. "Would you mind having a look at the Mark Two Body and making sure that everything is still how you left it?"
"Sure thing!" Penny replied. She dashed off into one of the back rooms.
Pietro turned back to face Ben, Thomas, Yu, and Peggy. "Penny will handle the basic preparations before we begin, but it's going to take a little while until we're ready here."
"Take your time." Thomas said. "I'd rather we get this done right, we only get one shot."
Pietro nodded. "I'm glad you understand, but uh, if you have any questions, you should ask them now. We're going to be very busy soon."
"Yeah, I've got one." Yu piped up, but shrank back as everybody in the room turned to stare at her. "Uh, that is, if nobody else wanted to go first?"
"By all means Corporal, go right ahead." Thomas answered. "I'd rather somebody else ask the questions for a change…"
Yu straightened up once more. "So… Penny. Why does she look like a Human? I mean, does she really need all of the hair and the eyeballs and stuff?"
"A surprisingly common question I get asked." Pietro chuckled. "The ethical concerns didn't elude me but, well, believe it or not, she wasn't originally supposed to have all of those features. We added them once we realized that she couldn't project her Aura without them."
Curie felt a spike of fear, would that cause problems for her too?
"Why not?" Ben asked. Judging by the focus in his voice, Curie could tell he had the same thought.
"Well, as you probably know by now, Aura isn't exactly a… science. It's believed to be powered by the soul, which makes predicting how it will respond to stimuli very difficult. We eventually learned that if you want to project an Aura and use it in a fight, you need to use the body and the Soul in tandem." Pietro explained. "The problem Penny had was that her body didn't match her soul, or her soul didn't recognize her physical form as her body, and that made her Aura… unpredictable."
Curie listened closely as he explained the process and, while there were certainly elements of it she was forced to suspend her scientific logic, it made sense to her. A quick glance to the others showed that she was the only one who understood.
"Are you saying that Penny's Aura wasn't working… because she looked weird?" Yu asked.
Pietro chuckled once more. "That's a rather blunt way of putting it, but you're closer than you might expect.. We discovered the solution when developing Atlas' prosthetic technology actually, in amputees. If the individual failed to accept the prosthetic, or they viewed it not as an extension of themselves in some way, then they would be unable to protect it with their aura. In Penny's case, she had to learn to accept her entire body."
Thomas scowled and shook his head. "I take it that this is a little more complicated than some cosmetic surgery?"
"Oh goodness yes, it took us days to get her Aura working across her entire body." Pietro answered. "Thankfully, she was able to give us a bit of guidance as to what needed to change. Curie, you'll need to do the same."
"I… will do what I can." Curie said. "I will admit Doctor, I am not sure I understand."
"Well, try to think of it like custom-tailoring an outfit, you can't just take any set of clothes and put them on anyone out there, they might not fit." Pietro explained. "Some of the plates might need to be moved, and some of the external features might need to be entirely reworked."
"Doctor, with all due respect, we don't have time for that." Thomas interjected. "Curie's got maybe a few days before she literally falls apart. If we can't get this done by then-"
Pietro raised his palms to interrupt him. "Don't worry Lieutenant. We've moved on quite a bit from the technology used in Penny's current body. The Mark Two has some advancements in that department, come along, I'll show you."
UNSC Dominion
October 29th, 0623 Local Time, 2552
It was becoming increasingly common for Richard to wake up and find that a stack of paperwork, reports, and equipment requisitions were all waiting for his attention. Everything from logistics, diplomacy, enforcement of shipboard discipline, tactical operations, and research efforts required his examination. In spite of the long line of duties and missions that would undoubtedly follow through the day, it was still the death of another man on Onyx Team that weighed on him the most heavily.
They'll need replacements soon. Richard thought. The obvious candidates were any of the Marines who had discovered their Semblances, but they were very few in number, and both Captain Clark and Gunnery Sergeant Moerdani would be reluctant to give them up.
In spite of the weight on his shoulders, he carried out his morning routine as was standard, and was on the bridge and working within fifteen minutes of waking up.
The first two issues that required his attention were easily the most prominent, Salem and the White Fang. While the White Fang was the more immediate threat to the safety of Remnant's people, that did not mean that Salem could be forgotten. But that was certainly easier said than done.
Salem had been a threat for all of Humanity's history on Remnant, apparently, and the way things had been going it was unlikely to change anytime soon. At least, according to the esteemed Headmaster. The wizard didn't have the same resources however. Whether they waited to deal with her or not didn't matter, she was a problem that would not resolve itself.
Finding her base of operations was proving to be a matter of patience more than anything else. It was a simple inevitability that one of the numerous satellites in orbit would find something, and even if they didn't, the recon drones that were patrolling the skies certainly would. Once they had a lead, they would do what Ozpin had failed to do, strike hard and fast, and hopefully do at least some damage to the Grimm in the process.
But it wasn't a straightforward fight that had Richard worried, it was Salem's magic. He had just been coming around to accepting Aura and Semblances as part of day-to-day life on Remnant, but now he had to deal with honest-to-god eldritch sorcery. Naturally, his lack of information on the topic made planning against it practically impossible, and so there was little that could be done to deploy any kind of counter-strategy.
Well, we can presume that she can't hurt the Dominion, or else she would have shot us down. Richard thought. While the Grimm had managed to score a number of minor hits on the ship during the Battle of Argus, it seemed that Salem's magic lacked either the range or power to present a threat to Humanity's only warship. So it had limitations, but what those limits were, Richard couldn't say.
"Commander." Richard turned to see Bradford walk onto the bridge, two mugs of coffee in hand. "Here, you'll be needing this. We've got some news."
Richard gratefully accepted the mug as Bradford continued to speak. "We got a call from Ghira at four in the goddamn morning. Shockingly, Menagerie's citizens have expressed some… outcry, at the idea of Atlas stepping in to fight the White Fang."
"Shocking indeed." Richard bitterly said. "So, we're going this one alone then."
And without support, again. He silently added. Well, there's no sense whining about what could have been, we'll just have to do this the hard way.
"Well, we do have some good news on that front." Bradford said. "Chief Belladonna said that the White Fang's most recent outing in Kuo Kuana has left them with a lot less supporters amongst the general populace. If we can keep proving that we're the good guys, I think that we might be able to stem the White Fang's ability to recruit any new impressionable people."
"That is good news." Richard confirmed.
He had been worried about being forced to fight another Insurrection, which had been something of a self-replicating war. Every battle against the Insurrectionists had made the local colonists hate the UNSC more and more as their planets were ravaged by war, driving more of them to take up arms. But if the public's contempt was aimed at the White Fang, it might be enough to convince the extremists to rethink fighting as a whole.
"There's something else. He also said that if we're looking for a little bit of manpower, a lot of the local Huntsmen are looking for work." Bradford said. "Apparently the Grimm in Menagerie have gotten a little bit less feisty ever since we showed up, so I'm sure they'd appreciate the offer."
Richard had to admit, the offer was certainly tempting, having a couple-dozen superhuman Specialists would make the fighting on the ground a hell of a lot easier. With the UNSC's undisputed dominance of the skies, and their powerful intelligence gathering tools, fighting the White Fang would be a hell of a lot easier. As an added upside, any local Huntsman would certainly know the lay of the land better than any of the Marines.
On the other hand, there were some fairly obvious problems with that plan. For one thing, it seemed like standardized equipment was more or less taboo on Remnant, and so all of them would need to be equipped at the UNSC's expense. While they currently had excess equipment, it was far from infinite, and their ability to replenish their losses was minimal at best.
There was also the controversy of hiring mercenaries in the first place, as it was pretty firmly forbidden by practically every regulation in the books. While Remnant had already forced him to abandon many guidelines for the sake of keeping everybody alive, that didn't mean that Richard was willing to continue making a mockery of basic military discipline, which led to the biggest problem of them all;
"They aren't soldiers, Lieutenant. Are we certain they could handle something like this?" Richard asked. "They aren't trained to our specifications either, we're already running into problems coordinating our efforts with Atlas, how the hell do we work with a bunch of state-sanctioned bounty hunters?"
Bradford shrugged. "It wouldn't be easy, but I still say it's better than going into this alone. Menagerie's Guards wouldn't be useful in any offensive action, and that's the only way we'll be able to get the White Fang into a fight."
"Commander."
Bradford and Richard both turned to face the door to the bridge, and saw Captain Clark standing before them. He was back in his Marine Uniform, his new rank emblazoned on it, but by far the most obvious difference from when Richard had seen him last was the large blue cybernetic eye that was built into his face.
It kind of looks like a big monocle. Richard thought. "Captain, it's good to see you out of bed."
"It's good to be out of bed." Clark replied as he joined them on the bridge. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything major, but I had a report from the ground regarding the Grimm."
"Well, let's hear it." Richard replied.
"Moerdani swept up and down this island half a dozen times, and my men have been idling for the last forty-eight hours." Clark said. "I'm happy to say Commander, I don't think there's anything worth killing down there anymore."
"Damn fine news." Richard replied. He had no doubt that the Grimm would return before long, but a good turkey-shoot every now and then was good for Morale, especially considering that the only casualties of the operation had been a couple of men wounded.
"Yes, but I'm afraid that's not all." Bradford said. "While your Marines were putting out that fire, two more have sprung up. I take it you've heard about the White Fang attack yesterday?"
"It would have been hard not to Sir." Clark replied. "I take it we're mustering out?"
Richard solemnly nodded. "Sorry Captain, I was hoping that we'd catch a break too. But it seems like Zulu Company is in high demand these days."
"No matter, I wouldn't mind going back to Menagerie for a bit, and I'm sure that the weather will win over the Marines before long." Clark said. "I'll have the troops bring some more heavy gear, we don't need any more of those garbage things creeping up on us."
It said a lot about how busy Richard had been that he had completely forgotten the incident at the CCTS Relay Tower with the Geist Grimm. "That's probably for the best."
"We were debating whether or not to hire some local Huntsmen to help bolster our forces a bit." Bradford added. "You're more experienced with fighting on the ground than I am Captain, do you think that's a good idea?"
Clark shook his head. "Unless you have a couple weeks to get some of them trained with modern communications, I honestly don't know. We'd probably just be asking for a friendly-fire incident."
That's what I was afraid of. Richard thought. "What about Mags? Or Winter?"
"Winter's Atlesian Military, Ghira wouldn't let her anywhere near Menagerie." Bradford pointed out.
"Yeah, and she's also one of the biggest reasons why anyone got pulled out of those Mines." Richard argued. "She even led the strike team to capture Jacques Schnee! If anything, she should be a goddamn national hero."
Bradford shrugged. "I'm not saying your wrong Commander, but that's an argument you would have to bring up to Ghira."
"Actually Commander, since you brought up the strike team..." Clark repeated aloud. "Moerdani said that one of the Atlesian Units really distinguished themselves down in Vytal, the Ace Ops. Hell, even Sergeant Benjamin spoke highly of them. And if my memory serves right, they were also the team that brought down Jacques Schnee."
Richard connected the rest of the dots in his head, it wasn't a bad idea at all. Perhaps Menagerie's citizens would be more accepting of an Atlesian Military presence if it was only comprised of a small number of people, moreover, if those people were responsible for bringing in the very War Criminal who was responsible for the Atlesian Faunus Slavery Ring in the first place.
"I see your point." Richard noted. "I'll bring it up with the Chieftain later today. In the meantime, get your men back aboard the Dominion, and get them ready for Counter-Insurgency Operations."
"Sir, yes Sir." Clark replied.
"And I'll let you know if we find any of the White Fang's bases." Bradford added. "They can't hide for long."
Richard couldn't help but share in Bradford's confidence, for once, they were preparing for a battle on their terms, not the enemy's. "Damn right."
Author's Notes: I wanted to briefly address my stance on RWBY canon (And I suppose to a lesser extent, Halo canon) when it comes to this story. I've gone over this extensively in various private messages, but I figure a more broad statement can't hurt.
As a general rule of thumb, I am completely willing to make changes to parts of existing canon that do not fit in with the story of The Men From Onyx, provided that it contributes to a better story. Lore and canon serve the story, not the other way around. For example, I personally feel that Ironwood's Semblance reduces the nuance of his character substantially, and if he had that Semblance in The Men From Onyx, I would be forced to tell the story in a different (and worse) manner. The obvious solution is simply to retcon his Semblance out of the story entirely, which is what I have done.
Whenever I decide that a change is necessary, I will make it very clear in the story itself what the change is, and if the change necessitates replacement lore, I will provide it. Going off of Ironwood's Semblance as an example; in The Men From Onyx, Ironwood never discovered his Semblance, and in combat he has relied only on his training, not only with his Aura, but with his specific style of fighting.
As many of you probably know, the eighth volume of RWBY recently concluded. Now, I personally have enjoyed RWBY for the most part, but I think it's worth being transparent that I truly loathed volume eight, so much to the extent that I have no interest in watching the show going forward. I could type up a massive rant here, or levy a criticism a mile long at RoosterTeeth, but frankly I just don't care to.
What I do care about is The Men From Onyx, and ensuring that it fits with my vision and the central themes behind it. I have had a vision for the rest of this story for a good long while now, and no matter what RoosterTeeth does with their story, I intend to see mine through to the end. So to that end, I wouldn't base your expectations for the future around volumes four, five, six, seven, eight, or anything that may come after. And while I can't offer any spoilers for what the future may hold, I will say this:
You won't be disappointed.