A Hyper-Lethal Babysitter
Disclaimer: I do not own Halo in any way, shape, or form, it belongs to 343 Industries and Microsoft studios.
Anthonym3: Same. Would have been great to see the Spartans from the Halo Legends in the games, if they had survived, but I guess that is what Fanfiction is for. Hell, even seeing the ODST's from the Babysitter becoming Spartan-IVs in honour of Cal would have been great...but they seemed to have been forgotten about them much like Jun; even if he was mentioned in New Blood, at least I think it was that book.
Royal Instinctz: Thanks man.
Grudgematch: I'm glad.
Rogue-El: Well, I hope this chapter keeps you interested and yeah, Cal was a great. Real shame that they had to kill her off so suddenly, along with Daisy; would have been great to see them both in the actual games rather than the extended universe.
Edboy4926: Well, there will be a few changes due to the presence of the future Noble Six. There is also an idea I'm working on that I might incorporate into the ending...but haven't decided if it sounds stupid or over the top. If you're interested in knowing PM and I'll fill you in.
Guest: I think the only reason that we all like Halsey is because we know her intimately from the books, but if we lived in the Halo universe and learned of her crimes like the rest of humanity did following the end of the Human-Covenant then we'd probably hate her too. But yeah, deep down she is a good woman and sees the Spartan-II's as her children, even feels responsible for the III's when she learns about them in the Ghost of Onyx.
I can't help but wonder what their lives would have been like had she been in charge of the program instead of Ackerson. Obviously, she would come to view them as her own children, but I can see her doing everything in her power to pull more of them out before Operation: Prometheus and Torpedo happened.
And like Halsey, Ackerson is a morally grey character. Yeah, he doesn't give a damn about the Spartan-III's and only created the program to upstage his rival. That being said I think he cares about humanity, only problem is that his pride and vanity get in the way. After all even after he was captured he lied to the Covenant to misled them to save his brother's life.
Guest: He may dislike Ackerson, but he had been indoctrinated for most of his life. A Spartan, at least a II or III, talking back to a senior officer just seems OOC to me. I imagine Six like the Chief would keep his thoughts to himself. Now if it was Emile, he wouldn't give a shit...but like I said Six in many ways is like Chief, both soldiers through and through.
Waceycorley: Ah, thanks man. It really means a lot. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Lordbrrt: I plan for this story to end following the events of the Babysitter, but I will create a sequel depending on which route I go with the ending of this story. Either way I do plan to continue this story, maybe have Six encounter a few more Spartans such as having Six, and if i decide to have a few members of Noble live, take part in the battle of Onyx.
Hawki: The overall chapter is probably bad. I not the greatest writer out there when it comes to grammar, but I know I've improved since I first started writing on the site.
Yeah, I think it is Unified. I kept reminding myself that it was Unified rather than United guess I wasn't paying attention, I'll have to go back and fix that.
As for the energy shields, I was referring to the Covenant, guess I didn't make that clear. Even following the end of the Human-Covenant war only Spartans, ships, and a select few vehicles got shields... I would really hate to be a marine or ODST in the Haloverse, hopefully in the future the UNSC advances enough so that all their troops get decent armour and shields like in Mass Effect.
Another mistake regarding the number of Spartan-II's, I'll have to go back and correct that.
And Six has met another Spartan-II aside from Jorge seeing as how he was trained by Kurt. But thanks for reviewing and pointing out the mistakes. If I've made any in this chapter, which I'm sure I have, point them out so that I can fix them :)
Krieger Techpriest: I haven't decided that if there will be a romantic relationship between Six and Cal. If there is then it won't actually start until around the time of Halo 4-5 when Six is reunited with Cal aboard the UNSC Infinity...or if Cal rescues him on Reach during the events of Lone Wolf.
Chapter 2.
Stepping onto the bridge, the commanding officer of the UNSC Kronstadt looked as imposing as ever as he had his arms rested behind his back and silently observed his crew as they worked at their assigned workstations. Nodding to himself, seemingly satisfied, he pursed his lips as he turned his attention to the observation deck and walked across the bridge until he was all but pressing his nose against the thick reinforced glass that protected the crew from the vacuum of space and peered outside.
He'd be lying if he said he wasn't anxious about being so deep within Covenant control space. He wasn't worried about his own safety, life and death scenarios came with the territory, rather he feared for his crew. All of them knew what they signed up for but be that as it may he was still their Captain; it was his duty to get them home safely...even if at times he knew that was easier said than done.
But this mission, this assignment was different. He knew it and he knew his crew felt it. As per instructions from ONI, he had kept the mission hidden from his crew as best as he could...still, they were not stupid. They knew that something serious was about to go down. The mere presence of a Spartan, something that a few years ago was thought to be an urban myth, aboard the ship was enough to tell them that.
"Captain." A voice called getting his attention and pulling him back to reality to see one of his Ensign standing next to him and holding a hot cup of coffee out for him. "Black, no sugar."
"Oh, Susan." The captain chuckled as he gracefully took the cup from her. "Whatever would I do without you?"
Bringing the steaming hot mug to his lips, Captain Steven Sheppard grimaced as he swallowed the thick black substance that the Ensign that made it assured was coffee, just one of the reasons he loathed prolonged missions behind enemy lines...and why he had such strong opinion of the requisition officers that supplied all the UNSC ships with the abomination that deemed was coffee, as he stood on the bridge of the UNSC Kronstadt and waited for the newest addition to his crew to arrive.
"Remind me to shoot the requisition officer when I see him." the captain said out loud as he forced himself to swallow the black tar inside of his mug.
"Something wrong with your coffee, Steven?" a soft, gentle voice asked in amusement drawing his attention and looked over to the large holographic to see the ships Smart Artificial Intelligence looking up at him with an amused smile. She had long straight hair that was pulled into a tight ponytail, large blue eyes and skin, like most A.I's, and a smirk tugging on her usual stern facial features, and was wearing a toga that a bow and quiver of arrows strapped to her back.
"You have no idea how fortunate you are that you never had to taste this abomination, Artemis." Captain Shepard informed the Smart A.I sternly but otherwise continued to drink the coffee.
"Ah, the burdens of being an organic." Artemis teased. "Although I do recall my donor having a fondness for tea." she mused missing the small smile that formed on the typically stern Captain's features. "Earl Grey, to be precise."
"As much as I would love to spend all day discussing beverages with you," the captain urged the conversation along. "How are the crews spirits?"
"I would be lying if i told you that they were not nervous about being this deep in Covenant territory," the Smart A.I replied earnestly. "But they are confident in your leadership...do you not see that, Sir?"
"Artemis, unlike King Henry it is not easy for me to disguise myself and walk among my troops." he smiled kindly.
"Shakespeare? How profound." she quipped. "A man of many talents I see...but they trust you completely, Steven."
"I guess they have no choice but too...seeing as how their lives are in my hands." he muttered around the mug of coffee as he took a generous sip.
"However..."
"Yes?"
"Now might be a good time to properly debrief Master Sergeant Cortez on Operation: GREY VEIL." She suggested. "While I do not see him causing any problem, the rest of his team might take issue not only working with a Spartan but..."
"Being placed under the command of one." the captain finished. He, like the rest of the UNSC, was well aware of the rivalry between the Helljumpers and the Spartans, even it was one sided. It was only twenty years ago when the ODST's were the cream of the crop, what every marine aspired to be for tenacity in battle and their overall commando-like state-of-mind. There had been a time when they had been regarded as the best of the best...alas, that had view had changed upon the arrival of the Spartans.
No one knew exactly when the rivalry started only that the ODST's, mostly the 105th Shock Troops Division, went out of their way to make the Spartans lives a living hell and remind them that they were the best of the best...and the only reason that they had earned such renown was because of the power armour they were wearing and constantly remind them that they were Section-3 Freaks.
Astoundingly, none of the Spartans had retaliated even after twenty years of having to listen to it day in and out...clearly, they impervious to their insults; that or they knew that the Helljumpers merely felt inferior and refused to escalate the situation any further. Personally, he found the entire rivalry pathetic. All of humanity, regardless of affiliation, were being massacred by the Covenant as they fought for their very survival.
Just another reason why he thought that every member of the Insurrection were traitors. Even now when they were being killed right, left, and centre, still continuously attacking not only the UNSC but colonies belonging to the UEG. It didn't, or maybe it did but they just didn't care, seem to register to them that the Covenant were not being selective they wanted all of humanity extinguished.
"Well they best put their personal feelings aside and quickly." the Captain retorted, purging his thoughts regarding the ODST's, Rebels, and the Covenant. "I will not allow anybody on this ship to put our mission at jeopardy because of a stupid grudge."
"Precisely the reason why I think it would be in your best interest to speak to Cortez alone." Artemis insisted looking up at the captain. "His men respect him, Steven. If anybody can keep them in check and focused on the mission it would be him...but before he can do that, he needs to be filled in."
"Fine." Sheppard relented with a sigh before coughing to clear his throat and spoke into the comms. "Master Sergeant Cortez, report to the bridge on the double." Whether they MSGT had heard him was unclear, but he suspected that he was in the cafeteria with the rest of his team.
"Are you going to invite Spartan-141?" Artemis could not help but ask as they waited for the Helljumper to arrive. "It would certainly...
"No need." Sheppard cut her off knowing exactly what she was planning on asking. "Cal has already been briefed by both myself and Doctor Halsey regarding the mission."
"I still find the concept of a civilian commanding Spartans to be an oversight on the Navy's part." the Smart A.I admitted with a frown as she crossed her arms in deep thought. "While I do not wish to discredit the woman, her work on A.I technology is unparalleled...but at the end of the day she is nothing more than a glorified civilian. What right does she have commanding the UNSC's greatest military assets?"
"While I might agree with you," Sheppard agree with the Artificial Intelligence. "She was the mastermind behind the Spartan-II program. If anyone knows the ins and outs of the Spartans, then it would be her. Besides ONI have always been...unorthodox when it comes to their agents. On top of that the less I know about ONI the better...I'd rather take my chances with the Covenant then them."
"And yet here we are waiting for one of their agents to arrive," Artemis voiced earning a look from the Captain and the other crewmembers that were on the bridge. "and a Spartan to boot."
"Yes, well...that wasn't my choice." he confessed uneasily.
"Obviously when ONI sent word that they were sending one of their best agents you were not expecting a Spartan." she looked and sounded almost amused as the Captain looked down at her, his expression unreadable.
"Regardless, another Spartan aboard should ease any of the crews worries concerning being so deep within Covenant space." He mused more to himself than the A.I.
"Maybe," Artemis concurred agreeing with the captain. "unless word gets out exactly who we have on board when they finally arrive." she continued as the ensigns silently exchanged glances with one another as they, as discreetly as they could, listened to the conversation while working at their stations. "Until twenty-four hours ago even I thought that he was a myth, typical ONI propaganda created by Section-Two to scare those thinking of defecting and joining the Insurrectionists...seems I was mistaken."
"Assuming of course this Spartan-B312 is the Lone Wolf." the captain retorted getting murmurs from the crew. With a stern look the Ensigns were silenced and focused on the job at hand. "All we were told was that he was on his way here after dealing with the Insurrectionists in the Outer-Colonies..."
"Alone?" she stressed trying to get her point across. "What Spartan do you know that works alone?"
"Have you forgotten who else we have on board?" he asked hoping to refresh her memory...something that seemed almost comical to him seeing as how he was asking an Artificial Intelligence if she could remember something.
"No," Artemis said slowly. "but as you know this is a rather unusual case. And ignoring the fact that for nearly a decade numerous eyewitnesses insist that they have seen a black armoured Spartan operating solo across the Orion Arm...and which organization is renowned for wearing black?"
"You're grasping at straws, Artemis." Sheppard told her shaking his head. "First off we don't even know if this B312 is wearing black..."
"He works for ONI, he's wearing black." she seemed adamant about that.
"Secondly, we know nothing about him. All we've managed to get was his Rank and Service Number...everything else was covered in black ink." He continued only to be interrupted once again by the A.I who seemed adamant, to a stubborn degree, that B312 was the infamous Lone Wolf. A legend that both the UNSC and ONI had dismissed to be nothing more than a folk tale; in fact from what he had heard the INI's had even created a nursery rhyme to scare their children into obedience otherwise the wolf come and take them away.
"Which is exactly what ONI would do if they didn't want anybody to know that he existed or..."Whatever Artemis was going to say as the mechanized sound resonated throughout the bridge before one of the doors retracted into the doorframe and a man stepped onto the bridge.
The man had slicked back dark brown hair and equally dark eyes, serious and grizzled facial features including a bit of stubble and various battle scars that each had their own story and let the rest of the crew know that they were staring at a veteran of the war. He was wearing a simple jumpsuit that did very little to hide their broad shoulders and lean but muscular physique.
"Master Sergeant Cortez, reporting as ordered, Sir!" The Orbital Drop Shock Trooper saluted the captain crisply as he stepped into the room.
"At ease, son." Sheppard ordered as the Helljumper stood at ease as he rested his arms behind his back but was just as stiff as he had been the moment he stepped into the room. "I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here."
"Permission to speak freely, Captain?"
"Permission granted." Sheppard allowed despite knowing what he was going to ask beforehand. After all, had their roles been reversed he would no doubt be asking the very same thing.
"To be frank I'm more interested in knowing exactly why we are out here, Captain." Cortez admitted as he walked over to the holographic table that his CO was standing next to. "With all due respect Sir, we've been here for over a week now and we still haven't made a move. If we're here to do reconnaissance, then isn't that task better left for a Prowler than a Destroyer?" he asked and when the A.I gave the captain a look he continued.
"Then there is the fact that a Spartan was recently brought aboard...so unless you're planning on adding them permanently to the Kronstadt then something big is about to go down." Surprisingly there was no malice in his voice as he brought up the Spartan.
"Very observant of you." Artemis smiled at him before looking back at Sheppard. "I think it's about time we told Mr Cortez what is really going on here."
"As I'm sure you've already worked out this is far more than a simple reconnaissance mission." Sheppard said to Cortez who nodded.
"By now the entire crew knows something is going on but are waiting for you to confirm it." Cortez explained. "I'm guessing that that something involves that planet?" he asked looking at the holographic planet hovering above the table.
"Correct." The captain confirmed with a nod of his own. "A little over a week ago the Office of Naval Intelligence learned that not only are the Covenant using this as logistic base to deliver supplies to the rest of the planets in the systems but discovered that a Prophet is also on the planet."
"A Prophet?" the Helljumper repeated shocked. "Guess it makes sense why a Spartan was brought onboard." he murmured thinking of the implications.
"Spartans."
"Sir?"
"At the minute we're waiting for a second Spartan to arrive...which hopefully won't be much longer." the Smart A.I told Cortez who seemed a little taken back at the thought of two Spartans arriving within the span of a few days from one another. "But being an ONI operation I'm sure you realize that this will be an assassination mission."
"With all due respect, Captain, if this is a simple assassination mission, I don't see why we need Spartans."
"If you have a problem working with Spartan you best tell me now?" the captain commanded as he narrowed his eyes at the Helljumper.
"It's not like that, Sir." Cortez quickly responded. "But unlike Spartans we don't draw attention. A massive green behemoth is bound to stick out let alone two of them. I know my team; I know their strengths and weaknesses and I know that we can assassinate this Prophet and get out of there before anyone knows that happened. O'Brien is one of, if not the, greatest sharpshooters in the UNSC. If anyone can take the shot it would be him."
"It would seem that ONI disagrees seeing as they have sent their best operative to oversee the mission." The A.I informed Cortez.
"Lieutenant Spartan-B312 will be the commanding officer of the mission while Petty Officer Second Class Spartan-141 will be his second in command. Meanwhile you and your team will provide backup in case shit hits the fan; but ONI are hoping that it will not come to that." Sheppard briefed him and when he saw his jaw tighten, he continued.
"I know this is highly unorthodox, and you have strong feelings regarding Spartans, but you will keep those feelings out of the mission and follow B312 orders to the letter...but if you're incapable of doing that I will assign the mission to someone else. Operation: GREY VEIL is too damned important to both the UNSC and ONI to be compromised over a stupid grudge that been going on for the last twenty years.
"That won't be necessary, Captain." Cortez assured him. "We know the chain of command, Sir. If the Lieutenant tells us to jump, we'll ask how high."
"Glad to hear it." Sheppard said and went to continue but before he could the Artificial Intelligence spoke up.
"Captain, we just picked up a transmission not far from our current location." Artemis announced from the holo table. "It could be him."
"Then what are you waiting for? Put it through." Sheppard ordered as he turned away from the ODST and faced the holographic table where her avatar was standing. Waiting anxiously for Artemis to put through the transmission. He hoped that it was in fact the Spartan and not some rouge Covenant ship that had spotted them in the asteroid field; unlike the Covenant the UNSC did not have the luxury of having activate camo installed on their vessels, meaning all they needed to do was look hard enough and they'd find them.
"This is Sierra Beta three-one-two, hailing the UNSC Kronstadt. Do you read?" A male voice resonated across the bridge.
"This is Captain Sheppard of the UNSC Kronstadt, we read you Spartan." the captain acknowledged over the transmission. "About time you got here, Lieutenant. We were starting to think that you got lost."
"Apologies, Captain." the Spartan apologised. "I got here as soon as I could."
"You're here now that's all that matters." Sheppard told him, inwardly relived to have another Spartan with them. "Transmitting our location to you now." he added as Artemis sent their exact location to the Spartan.
"Coordinates received."
"Acknowledged, Lieutenant." The captain responded. "Watch out for the asteroids on approach and we'll meet you in hanger bay one."
"Understood, Captain. B312 out." The crew on the bridge heard the Spartan say before they cut the transmission between the two ships and leaving an empty silence on the bridge, which was quickly ended as the captain turned to speak to the lone Helljumper.
"While we wait for the Spartan to arrive now would be a good time to give you the rundown on Operation: GREY VEIL." Sheppard said as he began speaking about the details regarding the mission to assassinate the Prophet to weaken the Covenant. If everything went according to plan then not only would they compromise Covenant logistics operations in the sector giving the UNSC a strategic advantage, but it could be the beginning of the end.
He just hoped that this Spartan-B312 was as good as ONI claimed and they weren't just blowing smoke up his arse.
And cut! Well here is the next chapter of A Hyper-Lethal Babysitter. Sorry it's been a while since I updated, I'll try my best to update quicker next time; and both B312 and Cal will finally meet next chapter too.