Royal Palace, Noble Shores in the city of Constantium
Province of Victoria
Ballast System
April 1st 2552
23:15 (Local Time)
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"I hate this place." Maddie said, quietly.
George frowned, adjusting his bowtie as the Falcon touched down on the roof of the palace. "You seemed so excited to dress up," he said, eyeing her with a grin. Maddie shrugged as she removed the cover, she'd worn to protect her hair from the wind. To call this an unorthodox way to arrive at a party was an understatement. Maddie was sure that few of Earth's biggest celebrities arrived in a close support transport chopper. Still, it made for a good story, she supposed, though it was one of the many things that was so surreal about this planet. She looked out across the Bay of Rurik, where the mouth of the River Rurik joined the Western Ocean. On the far shore, further down the coast towards the Victoria National Park, sat a massive covenant army, hidden beneath four army-hiding canopies. The wind picked up and Maddie shivered, holding her flowing dress to her thighs as she watched the enemy sit, as they had for almost four months, with a peculiar idleness.
"I was, yeah, it's been a long time since I've been able to dress up."
"Well, you don't look like you got very rusty during your hiatus." he said, standing beside her at the edge of the landing pad. "So, what's the problem?"
Maddie blushed at the compliment. It had been five months of dating, the longest relationship she'd had since she was Fourteen. She'd missed the feeling, the closeness that companionship brings and found the heady sensations that surrounded George to be completely intoxicating. "The problem is that giant bloody army. How can we throw a party while they're here? This whole planet has gone mad." she hissed, "They won't evacuate the cities, they won't let us attack, or reinforce their lines, we're forced into a stalemate when we have every advantage. Drake and every tutor at Luna taught me the basics of grand strategy, even I know that we're wasting time."
George sighed and placed a firm hand on the small of her back. "We're in a delicate position, you know that. Ballast is where I grew up, it's a whole planet of weird politics and rich oligarchs. We can't swagger in here with our forces and swing our dicks about like other colonies. Even at the end of the world, wealth talks."
"Sure, but it shouldn't result in this level of stupidity." she sighed and let him lead her inside the elevator, "We've been here for months and done nothing to combat the covenant besides S&D ops on their search parties." The lift moved like a whisper and its gold trimming exuded wealth as they floated downwards toward the ball room.
George nodded, "even for Ballast, it's strange, those ONI agents are way too involved in local politics. The Covvie's are off as well, they've barely moved since they got here."
"Well, whoever they're looking for, they're important. You don't send an army after just any heretic." he scratched his chin near the base of his beard and Maddie smiled. "What?"
"Nothing, just enjoying the view."
"You'll enjoy it even more if you behave." Maddie joked, "leerishness is most inappropriate in the king's court."
"Hey, that goes both ways, Mads, mess me around and I'll abandon you with your mother." he chuckled.
Maddie grimaced. Her Mother had been an awkward and unavoidable part of her life in the last few months. Somehow, the weasel had managed to whore her way into an up-and-coming family dynasty. In divorcing Maddie's father, she had married into a family of wealth beyond anything that could be imagined by the Harper's, who hadn't been poor by any measurement. She scowled, trying to force the woman from her mind but found that she couldn't. Seeing her whenever the UNSC parlayed with the king and his court was enough to sustain her fury from week to week. Worse still, Eliza hadn't returned to Earth. She'd taken to rebuilding her relationship with their mother, much to Maddie's annoyance. It seemed a betrayal to Maddie, whose father had taken his own life when their mother failed to support him following the apparent death of their sister.
"Message received, Sir" she said, dryly. "Anyways, this party, how do you think it will go?"
"It needs to go well. The Francescan Militia are our northern flank, regardless of what the aristocracy want, they need them, especially if they don't want us to take the fight to the Covenant."
"It'll be good to finally meet this 'Spartacus' figure, I guess." Maddie sighed; it was the codename for the rebel leader. She rolled her eyes, this whole planet reminded her of Maggie's old pen and paper role playing games that she loved as a teenager. Though now, being here and surrounded by all the pomp and circumstance of this strange colony, Maddie found no charm or sincerity in the things around her. It was sobering to see the ideas of her youth, the history she'd been captivated by, play out in front of her over the last few months. She had visited Noble Shores a few times. It was situated on the southern bank of the River Rurik and down the coast towards the south as the river reached the sea. Her mother and most of the middle-class refugees had been relocated to Constantium, the rest of the city that lay on the northern bank of the river, exposed to the covenant further down the coast. Spartacus and his 'militia of the proletariat', were based far to the north in the city and lands of Francesca, the two cities pinned the Covenant in their peninsular but nothing had been done to coordinate the forced with the UNSC, who maintained a small camp in the centre.
The doors split open and Maddie stepped out, resplendent in her red flowing dress, cut high on her thighs and tight around the waist. She wore heels to match and had her hair down for the first time in what really did feel like forever. Despite everything that had happened to her, she seemed to retain that love of fashion and parties that had so gripped her during her teenage years and she walked confidently to the back of the line of aristocrats waiting to enter the hall with George by her side.
"For sure, whoever can cause this much trouble for the King is someone I don't mind breaking bread with." he said, looking over Maddie's shoulders. "Look sharp, Drakes coming."
Maddie turned to see Felix striding towards them, dressed in a tuxedo. Maddie smiled, and he returned it in kind. "Harper" he nodded.
"Sir" she replied, "how was the meeting?"
His expression darkened and he looked around, "I met Spartacus".
Maddie raised her brow, curiously glancing about the place to make sure that no one was listening. "You know him." he whispered.
"I know him?" she asked, stepping forward as the line shortened. "What are you talking about?"
Drake looked her in the eye, "remember Albert?"
Maddie searched his eyes then frowned, "Private Stoots? From Skopje?"
Drake nodded. "Seems like he didn't quite drop off the radar like we thought."
Maddie ignored the curious look that George was giving her as they came to the front of the queue. "The local ONI cell should have flagged him, right?"
"Definitely." he huffed, scowling. Drake and Maddie were of the same mind, something on this planet wasn't right and it was a lot more serious than a just an ignorant and doltish head of state. "You spoke with the daughter, yet?"
"I've been a bit busy", she lied. She knew that Drake didn't believe her but Maddie wanted to burn through every military asset she could use before she turned to her old friend for help.
"Parangosky told you to sort all of that" he sighed, calling her on it. "Have you spoken with your mother and sister?"
Maddie looked away.
Drake chewed on his cheek, looking from Maddie to the ballroom. "You know if we get those ships moving you probably won't be able to see them for years."
"It's not that simple, Felix"
"I believe you, Lass. The point still stands though, you really should sort it if you can. You know as well as anyone that family isn't permanent."
"It's hard to forgive her." was all Maddie could say. Felix put a hand to her shoulder,
"It's not about forgiveness, it's about peace of mind. Make sure that nothing is left unsaid, then let the pieces fall where they wish. At least then, you'll have it off your chest." He said, retracting his hand as a servant announced their arrival to the room and walked them to the large table at the head of the room.
"Regardless, this is not the place or the time, let's not forget we have a job to do. Someone is manipulating the King to throw off the defence of the colony and the covenant are searching for heretics that they believe are hiding on the continent. That's a hell of a lot more important than my mummy issues right now." They reached the table and Drake conceded the point, taking his seat next to the King and his wife. Maddie and George were seated further away, with the King's favourite sycophants and an empty number of seats reserved for "Spartacus" and his Lieutenant's.
Maddie scanned the table, there were the UNSC representatives, namely Admiral Reitker and Captain Drake, who sat close with the King and his wife. and they sat with the most important people in the room. Those were of course the King's council. Both the King and the council were elected from the ruling population, the aristocracy, making politics on Ballast a bona fide oligarchy. It seemed gross to Maddie, who remembered the castle not far from her home on Skopje. She had grown to hate it and all it represented. It had been an insipid and narcissistic recreation of something pure, something that had once existed naturally and with purpose. This monarchy was little more than playing pretend, and everyone on Ballast was suffering for it. Caught dead in the middle of it was Lord Donnager, Maddie's new step-father. He sat with Maddie's mother, Carol, dead opposite her.
"A good day for peace, don't you think, Lord Donnager?" another noble nearby asked between sips of his wine. Lord Donnager had been eyeing the King like some street whore eyeing a punter. Maddie smirked as he startled himself, realising he'd been gawking.
"Yes, yes. As good a day as any, I suppose." he said, dismissively.
"Peace?" Maddie snorted, "You have seen the aliens at the gates, right?" she asked the noble, who gawked at her apparent faux pas.
"What the Commander meant to say, was that she finds this situation most urgent." George interjected, cooling the noble, who floundered on his words as he looked to Lord Donnager for support. Maddie grinned as the Lord shifted in his seat uncomfortably, glancing at her mother, who remained awkwardly transfixed on the silverware, pretending as though she hadn't heard anything.
"Hmph, I expect insolence from the likes of her Lord Sterling. I did not expect to see a man of your station defending it, even if she is your companion for the evening." the Lord said, sarcastically. Maddie bit her lip, peace was important, there was far more than her pride at stake.
"Now now, Lord Rubens, it is not the young woman's fault that she does not understand the intricacies of the court." Lord Donnager offered. "You are all aware how quickly my wife, the Commander's mother, has taken to life in Court. The girl simply needs the same time and patience we afforded her mother, is that not correct, Commander."
Maddie wanted to scream in frustration but the tensing of George's hand on her bare thigh brought her sense back with an electrifying tingle. "O-of course," she replied, trying to hide her contempt for the man, "if only we could all forget the past like my mother, it would save us much grief." George closed his eyes in exasperation as Maddie and her mother glared at each other.
The nobleman seemed to get the hint that there was more going on than a mere breach of civility, whatever that had been. He kept his mouth shut, likely hoping he'd stoked the flame enough, and that he could extract as much gossip from the meal as he possibly could. Maddie caught Drake glaring at her from the other end of the table and winced, internally. Focus Maddie! Don't let yourself be drawn into their games. Remember what Drake taught you. Trust your allies. Maintain Control. Never forget your objectives.
When the conversation eventually returned to the normal and meaningless pleasantries of the Ballastian upper classes, Maddie re-joined the conversation, eventually coming to like the Lord named Rubens for his decidedly bold takes on the more scandalous members of the court. It reminded her almost of High School, when Nicola, Angie, Ana, and herself had joked and gossiped about their classmates. "So, now that the King has secured this coalition, will he move on the covenant?" she asked Lord Donnager, who raised a brow.
"I understand that you are eager to take charge of the situation, Commander, but this is not some backwater like Paris IV. The UNSC has only the control that we afford them." Maddie shrugged, internally, the UNSC held all the power here. Since January the Ballastian Defence Fleet had been reduced to three old frigates to the UNSCs Five cutting edge capital ships. The Invictus and the Ides of March could have taken the system alone if they had wanted. The only reason that Maddie, Reitker and Drake were playing along was because the covenant waiting suited them just fine. Maddie needed time to get ARC DREAM working, her ultra-secret ONI division dedicated to the preservation of humanity using the technology of their forgotten ancient counterparts. She shuddered, still awed by the revelation, then looked back at Lord Donnager.
"That is why I ask; we are only here to help the people of this planet see 2553." she replied. "I believe Captain Drake is finalising things with the King. The Seventh Fleet will be represented at the next war council, as will this 'Spartacus' fellow."
"We already have UNSC on that damned council," Rubens growled, "I don't see what we have to gain by adding more of you to the council." he shook his head. Maddie knew who he was referring to, it was the local ONI cell. It was run by Ana's parents: the Valterri's. They had not only the access to the government that Maddie and Drake needed but the influence and trust that would make the defence of the planet a success. Yet they had been oddly difficult with Maddie and Drake, who struggled to get them to cooperate. It stunk to high heaven if anyone asked Maddie, which of course they didn't. Despite four months in the role, few on Ballast seemed to recognise her station and while Maddie knew that was partially due to the hierarchical state that was the Ballastian Earth Colony, another part of Maddie felt disheartened by it all. Grand strategy was something new to the young woman. On a mission she had a clear set of objectives and an easy way to measure her success. On a large scale, Drake had taught her that she wouldn't know that she'd gotten it wrong until it was too late.
"The Valterri's have a separate mission and little influence over the Seventh Fleet." George stated, "I find it odd that they are on the council, if I am honest."
"The Valterri's are good people. I sincerely hope you are not besmirching the name of our ally." Lord Donnager said, fiercely.
"Of course not!" squeaked Rubens, "I was merely suggesting that someone else should take the seat instead, someone like-"
"Like you?" he snorted, "don't make me laugh. No, the Valterri's are personal friends of mine, the King, and my wife. Their children and ours," he looked at Maddie, "were even friends at school. I shall not see them insulted."
Rubens retreated and Maddie and George shared a look as the chefs and waiters lined up along the walls. A short and stout man in a dinner jacket coughed loudly and announced the entrance of "Spartacus" in a voice that could only be described as sanctimonious. Sure enough, Albert Stoots stepped into the room wearing an old battered uniform and jacket, combat trousers and matching boots. His dirty blonde hair was bedraggled in a way that made him seem almost lazy and he sauntered into the room, nodding to the King and to Drake before scanning the room, his eyes eventually resting on Maddie. He made a bee-line towards her, ignoring the servant that was trying to herd him towards a seat near the King. Albert offered it to his second in command before sitting opposite Maddie, next to her mother and leaning back with a grin. Rubens and Donnager looked aghast at the breach in protocol but recognised that Stoots was important enough to let it slide.
"I've been waiting to see you for a long time now, Madeleine, it's been a while." he said, smirking as servants began to serve the opening course.
"You knew I've been here for months; you could have come to see me sooner." she replied, flatly.
He shook his head, "I am a busy man these days. Important as well. I can't be getting shot by a potential ally by being brash."
"I wouldn't have shot you, Stoots, that would have been too quick." Maddie's mother and her husband shared a look. The way she looked at the girl made Maddie angry. Her face was full of judgement, she thought Maddie violent, terse, and inappropriate. Maybe Maddie was those things but her mother certainly had no right to make such judgements, not after what she had done.
Stoots chuckled, "You can see why I was cautious, then."
"Wait," Donnager looked confused, "you know this ter-" he stopped himself, "this man?"
Stoots nodded, "we escaped Skopje together."
"I escaped Skopje. You were deported as a criminal." she spat.
Albert winced, "I see your tongue is as sharp as ever." Maddie didn't reply, she just scowled. "In any case, I am glad that you are here because I wanted to thank you."
Maddie had to try not to spit out her soup. She swallowed, forcing it down her throat with a gulp. "Thank me?"
He nodded, "Not a day goes by that I don't think about what you said. Ellen's death was my fault. I was weak in a moment of desperation and let a paranoid man abandon her. I was a bad soldier and an even worse friend… and I wasn't there for you when you needed it."
"I hope you don't think saying sorry will change anything" she replied, gripping her knife tightly.
"I know it won't. In fact, that's why I left the corps when Sanderson got me out of the court-martial. I'd sacrificed my ideals for a greater good because I thought that was what the war needed. Sacrifice. What I didn't realise was that I had been wrong to join the UNSC when I could do more for the people outside of it. Look at all I have achieved here, Francescans dining at the tables of Constantian's, worker rights for the miners, an armed and powerful civilian militia. All of which is now critical to the defence of this planet." he smiled but there was less arrogance in it now, just a pleasant acceptance of his place. Maddie wasn't sure what to make of all that but she knew that it didn't excuse what the man had done.
"At least some good has come from it, I suppose." Maddie replied, bitterly. "Bit late too for Ellen, though, isn't it?"
"That is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I don't like it but I made my peace with it. It is my only regret that it took her death to make me understand that there is no better time to stand by your ideals than when it is most difficult to do so. Action matters, not theory or talk, just cold hard data, results, and labour." Stoots said, agreeing with her.
At least he showed remorse. That's more than can be said of James, she thought, glancing at her cold soup. She returned to the pleasantries, enjoying each course in turn. All seven of them. It was a degree of opulence that Maddie could barely understand and much of the evening slipped away from her, or at least, the distractions did. That left plenty of time to gather intelligence on the court and their relationships. There was the King, a bawdy man who deserved to be sequestered in jail, let alone run a colony. He was a puppet, of course, with the talons of Lord Donnager sunk heavily into his back and neck. Maddie was impressed, in a way, that her mother could so expertly have whored her way into a family that was a breath away from becoming Royalty. Rubens and Lord Donnager both let it slip that neither of them was the true powers in the land. They each expressed either admiration for or subtle distaste for the Valterri's and Maddie realised that the courtly web of intermingling families and rivalries was directed by this local ONI cell. Her mind imagined a large web, spanning the room, the nexus of which was rooted above the heads of the agents, who sat far in the corner. They observed Maddie, watching her brazenly as they ate at times. Once, Drake even caught her eye and nodded, signalling that he'd picked up on it as well. Whatever was going on, the Valterri's did not want the population moving about like an army or as refugees. Maintaining the status quo was the order of the day and Maddie figured that it must have been an easy task convincing the King to back their plan. Maddie spent a lot of time wondering why she didn't hate Stoots and was stuck somewhere between the fact that she had more important things to worry about and the fact that all her rage had been let loose at James. Albert hadn't spiralled, hadn't made things worse, he had left the UNSC and made people's lives better, just like he'd always said he'd wanted to. He'd even done it during the war. Dinner remained generally pleasant and Maddie was beyond thankful for George, who captained her through the ordeal, keeping her interested in the little intricacies of the court and taught her about all the exotic dishes she was served. As it turned out, George was a bit of a foodie, he knew every dish down to the variations of herbs used by their original cultures. Maddie couldn't help but feel enthralled in his passion and she hoped that he spoke about her like that when she wasn't around. If he did, she'd tell him she loved him on the spot.
Eventually, Maddie was able to excuse herself, taking a much-needed break in the bathroom where she touched up her makeup and fixed her dress in the mirror. She stood, arching a toned bronzed leg as it poked out of the slit and traced the line of her muscle towards her feet. She smiled and twirled because despite the looming threat and the ridiculous court intrigues, it felt good to just be a woman for a change. Spending time with George and talking nonsense to people about nothing in particular made her yearn for a time when it might become a daily routine. The door swung open and her mother entered, freezing as she realised it was Maddie who was examining herself in the mirror.
"You're beautiful." she said, softly.
Maddie's expression hardened and she folded her arms, "What do you want?" she asked, coldly.
"Nothing, I thought you'd taken a call, I didn't realise that you still spent so long in the bathroom" she smiled. Maddie could see she was trying her best but she wasn't having any of it.
"Don't pretend to know me" Maddie spat.
She took the hint and stayed quiet as she applied more powder to her face. "He's nice you know" she said, after a pause that seemed to stretch on for hours.
"I don't care what you say about him, he'll never be my Dad."
She shook her head, exasperated, "Maddie, I was talking about Commander Sterling."
Maddie paused and blushed, "Oh, well, you know, yeah" she stammered, taken aback by her mother's apparent interest in her.
"Is he good to you?"
Maddie settled, unfolding her arms with a sigh, "yeah, so far."
"They don't like him here."
"What makes you think I give a damn about that?"
"Nothing, I thought that might make you like him more, if anything."
Maddie grimaced; how could she have possibly known that was exactly how that information had made her feel? Regardless, Maddie wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of reconciliation. "You still haven't sent Eliza back home."
Now her expression hardened, "She is home."
"Like hell she is. She's in someone else's home. Just like you." Maddie replied, letting some of her pent-up annoyance slip.
"She's old enough to make her own decisions."
"You're only saying that because you like the decision she made."
"It's the right decision, Madeleine."
"Don't you 'Madeleine' me, Carol." she spat, stepping forward, "I looked after her for years while you were playing housewife with someone else's family."
"You mean the state looked after her, while you went off on some stupid crusade to save the world." She shot back, finding her voice. "That's not caring for her, that's-"
"What? As bad as not caring for the man you swore, you'd love in sickness and health?" Maddie was furious, her fists balled up and her knuckles were white. "Dad needed you and you abandoned him. He lost his daughter to the covenant, he lost me to ONI, Preston to the Marines, and Alex to the Navy. He only had you and Eliza left and you took that away from him, too." She bit her lip, her mother had been right about saving the world, even unwittingly she was still right at times.
"I fell in love." She said, firmly. "You don't understand what it was like for me"
"No, but we know how Dad felt, don't we? We found that out the day Eliza found his brains blown out of his skull, didn't we?" Maddie shook her head, "get out of my sight." She said, pushing past her, not looking back as she stormed off towards an abandoned veranda. The veranda was familiar. On every occasion that she'd found herself in the Royal Palace she'd also ended up on the beautiful marble floor, gazing out across the city towards the covenant army. Maddie sighed and thought of cigarettes for the first time in a while. She smiled to herself; it's been a long day. Too much emotion, too many reunions. What I need is a drink and a sleep. Maddie tried to speculate on the Covenant's intentions but her mind, and her feet, were sore. She wasn't used to the pain of dressing up but it was a familiar feeling, one that brought her comfort. If she still enjoyed it, after all she'd tried to be instead, then this was as much a part of her as the black ONI fatigues that were waiting for her back at Ashfell. It was freeing to have said her bit, she felt drained but there was a weight off her back as well. She hadn't felt so unburdened since before she attended the academy and it was a good feeling, one that she was determined to enjoy as a voice sounded from behind her.
"What a view, huh?" George said as Maddie turned.
"There's only so many compliments a girl can hear before she thinks you're just trying to impress her." she laughed.
"But I am trying to impress you" he teased, standing beside her, "anyways, I wasn't actually referring to you this time, just the view."
Maddie pouted and George bumped her shoulder playfully, "make up your mind, Mads" he chuckled as she laughed and nuzzled into his shoulder.
"I already did" Maddie said, "and I haven't regretted agreeing to something more"
"God, that stings even harder now that I know what's hidden under all the black ink in your file."
They both laughed at that, it was a hearty and full-bodied laugh. Maddie even thought that George wheezed a little, a cute little thing that was unique to the man. The wind was all but gone and the icy spring air hung on their shoulders like a shawl, making Maddie and George shiver as they remained close.
"I'm guessing your mother found you." he whispered.
Maddie nodded, "I called her a whore."
George didn't reply but he smiled weakly. "There was a girl looking for you, about your age, kind of sharp looking, waify." he said, sensing that she wanted to say no more on the subject.
"Ana." Maddie replied, her throat dry. "I've had enough reunions for one night, I want to leave. Drake will just have to be happy that I've put one personal issue to bed."
"Drake told me our recon team has been very successful, tonight. You might want to talk to Ana soon, even if it's not tonight."
"So, the Valterri's are up to something. Reckon she's in on it?" she sighed, hoping that her old friend hadn't gotten involved in her parents mess.
"I guess we'll find out." he said, "Come on, let's go, I've had enough of this place as well." he smiled, leading her away towards the elevator. It rose through the palace like a cloud, once again feeling almost surreal as they arrived on the roof. Maddie tied her long blonde hair into her now trademark ponytail and stepped gracefully out onto the landing pad, where Drake stood tall against the sky in his smart tuxedo. He was on the phone to someone and simply smiled as George helped Maddie into the Falcon and sat next to her as Drake followed them, chatting idly about reinforcements and fleet patrols. Maddie smiled as she heard her older brother's voice echo on the wind. It had been good to see him again and it was even better that he was around to help her, his reputation for doing a lot with a little was exactly what they needed here on Ballast. Drake finished the call with the usual suave flair that he held as an ONI agent. Maddie wondered briefly if she'd picked that up yet but Drake spoke before she could come to any conclusions.
"We'll debrief at Ashfell" he said, the chopper whirring into the air as Maddie pulled on a headset on the wall. "But Bee pulled off the impossible with the help of your team, lass. Looks like all our patience has finally paid off with the Valterri's. We've got a few things to sort out before you arrive. Namely, it's time to finalise our plan. We have to commit to a strategy, and commit now."
Maddie pulled a jumpsuit over her dress and put her feet into a pair of boots she'd left for the return journey. The first time she'd not bothered to pack a jumpsuit and felt like she would freeze to death on the return journey. "I've thought about this," she said, trying to give off the confidence that a Commander should project to their men. "I say we assume that the belligerence of the Ballastian government will continue until the covenants are knocking down houses on Noble Shore. By the time we convince them otherwise, we would have likely lost the initiative anyway, if we were going to push this invading force off the continent, we should have done so months ago. Instead, we'll have to hope that Camp Rex can hold the centre and try to reinforce the northern and southern flanks with arms and munitions built at Ashfell."
"You say, or you order?" Drake asked, cocking his head.
"Sorry, or-"
"Don't apologise. Your men don't need you wasting your breath on them, they just need orders."
"Understood, sir."
He smiled, "That's that then." he said, giving nothing away. When he had first started giving her these little tests and letting her dictate the UNSC's role in local defence, she'd always ask Felix how he felt about the decision she'd made. She knew better than to ask now, but it didn't exactly stop her from having her doubts. Drake knew that of course, but she had to learn to trust herself or she'd 'get everyone killed' as Drake had put it.
"Anything else?" she asked, "any sign of the Covenant sending another fleet?"
Drake shook his head, "it's weird, we know they have the ships for it but HIGHCOM seems to think something big is coming elsewhere, tribute is the likely target according to the rumours out of HQ."
"Well for now it means we can actually employ a defence in depth. Usually, the Covenant beat us in space then torch us on the ground but if they aren't coming, we might have more than a good chance to win this conventionally." Maddie said, zipping up the suit as they began to trace the Rurik northwards.
"We could plan a second line of defence" George offered, but Maddie shook her head.
"No point planning for failure. I've set a fallback positing at the base of the foothills around Ashfell and east towards Francesca, I've posted out reserves in those hills just in case the covenant attack Camp Rex or Francesca."
"Sounds like you've got it covered, Mads." George noted, relaxing a little as he rested his leg on top of his knee.
"All I can do is keep the firebase pumping armour out until the covenant decide to make their move. Hopefully that'll be a long time in coming, though." she looked into the night sky, towards a faraway star. "Katya and Jade haven't been making much Progress."
"Talk about balancing on the point of a knife, eh, lass?"
Maddie smiled and watched the River Rurik and its sister, the Romanov, join into the larger river Tsar, a long and slick silver line that moved across the landscape like locks of silver hair. They would follow it to its source, a series of hills at the base of an active volcano. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, trying to let sleep take her for just a few minutes before they arrived at Ashfell. She resisted the urge to ask Drake how she was doing. She hoped it was alright; though she wasn't sure, she was determined to do her best.
The thoughts of her new department, Project ARC DREAM, sent her to sleep with dreams of stars and peace.