Tek sat across from the human female as they rode together in some sort of rather ostentatious wheeled vehicle. Her manservant, the finely dressed human male called Gillian was driving as both he and his new employer enjoyed yet another distinct human beverage. However, unlike the bitter 'tea' he was treated to earlier in the day, Tek rather enjoyed this substance called, 'cognac.' Together, the pair viewed the human colony through the cars tinted windows so that he could not be seen by the jubilant masses lining the streets. In fact, all he saw were the cheering smiling humans lining the sidewalks, waving at his employers black R-Type Bentley, a vehicle she assured him was a, 'demonstration of wealth,' as it weaved with police escort through the streets towards a rather impressively sized monolithic skyscraper at the cities center.
"This wasn't what you were expecting was it?" she asked him, her legs crossed and body clad in an ornate white clothe suit with a golden lapel stamped in her families corporate logo holding a blue tie together between the valley of her bust.
"Why are they so happy? I thought you were a villain to the UNSC?" he asked in confusion.
"One man's villain… is another man's freedom fighter," she smugly replied as the Bentley turned into a parking deck that the colonial police were quick to warden off with wooden barricades, "They love me because of what I represent, not because of whom or what I am. To them… I am an opportunity, a focal point for the representation of colonial independence from Earth. Huh," she suddenly laughed, "To think that I have become this generations George Washington…?"
"What's a George Washington?" asked Tek as the vehicle suddenly came to a stop, Gillian exiting and opening their shared passenger door for her to properly depart with Tek in tow.
"George Washington was," she stopped briefly while exiting the vehicle to look him in the eyes with a hint of youthful enthusiasm, "a great man… in a time of tyrants."
Ms. Natalie Marquett, Guillian, and Tek crossed the parking deck along with a group of heavily armed security guards wielding both flak vests and SMGs. Together, they entered a mechanical lift and rapidly climbed the skyscraper for the councilors chambers where her employer would soon greet Indigo Sevens Governor… as well as a few other foreign dignitaries.
Together the group exited the elevator into a sky lobby where yet more armed guards, this time in black suits and ties stood at periodic intervals scattered across the observation platform.
"You should know," said Ms Marquett to Tek, "that a meeting such as this has never occurred within UNSC history. Right now, myself, the Governor of Indigo Seven, and at least ten other dignitaries from half a dozen other colonies and large corporate businesses are meeting to discuss an alliance of sorts. All I want you to do is sit to the side and watch… say nothing."
"Why? Aren't I one of your hired guns?"
She laughed amused at his comment before replying, "You're not just some mercenary warlord. You represent… 'A foreign investor' or at least to them, this is how you will be perceived. All I need you to do is act the part, appear entertained… be part of the group, but don't jeopardize this event by attempting to appear as anything other than… 'An interested alien ambassador.'"
Tek understood and simply nodded as two guards opened the double doors into a vast meeting chamber where a holographic projector had been set up in the middle of a circular conference table. Already, the numerous human envoys had gathered and were awaiting the arrival of both him and his employer. Together the group of humans and Tek sat at the conference table while Gillian tended to his mistress.
"A jackal?" said one of these humans in surprise. Before Tek could respond to the human racial slur, Ms Marquett spoke in turn, "Mr. Tek is here as a formal ambassador for numerous 'foreign' interests. He does not represent them diplomatically, but instead as an observer…"
Inside her mind Ms. Marquett also thought, 'Thank of him as representing the French,' but alas it was unnecessary to speak such words because the assembled human ambassadors merely nodded along to his presence. After all, they were already technically committing treason so what 'if' the alien sat in on the discussions. It truly didn't matter if he was here or not, given that word of this meeting would soon leak out to the other races anyway.
"Ladies, Gentlemen, Corporate Moguls, and fine Agents on Mission to their respective colonies," addressed Ms Marquett as Guillian pulled out her chair and pushed her forward gently against the table to which she then rested her arms, "The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a potential alliance of interests, but before we do that… I want to say something important, something that is on all your minds."
She eyed them all and then grinned, "Many of you are here as a diplomatic courtesy. I know that you have no interests in allying yourselves with my little revolution. There is no point in denying it, because both you and I know why. It's the Spartans, the UNSC's Ace in the Hole, so long as the UNSC posses the Spartans and we have nothing capable of matching them… we are forever enslaved into bondage. The reason for this is simple, a single Spartan is worth three hundred marines, and that's a conservative estimate. A single squad is more than enough to defeat a single rebel colony… but… I wanted to let you know that I've created something to help even these horrific odds with the UNSC."
Several of the diplomats eyed one another in surprise and muttered amongst themselves in hushed whispers. She already knew that the Vice Chairman of Vid-com, attending this meeting several seats away was reporting to ONI so she hoped what came next sent a very distinct message.
"Ladies and gentlemen," continued Ms Marquett, "I've created a new type of soldier capable of matching Spartans in the field. The reason for this meeting wasn't just to discuss a potential alliance… it was also to give you a 'live' demonstration of their capabilities.
Tek's employer nodded discreetly to Gillian who then pulled up several live streams on the holographic display upon the center of the table. What everyone instantly saw were twenty different camera feeds broadcasting from an unknown tropical planet.
"Several weeks ago I leaked intelligence to ONI that a group of Forerunner Ruins had been discovered on this planet. That part is true, but… I already had them pillaged sooo… the Spartan team you are now observing has been sent on, for the lack of a better term, 'a fool's errand.'"
Tek saw them, a five man team walking through the jungles in dark blue and black armor. They appeared in camera footage, heat, and night vision; ranging in view from side, top, front, and orbital satellite.
"Gillian… if you would be so kind…" she addressed her servant.
"Of course my lady," he replied while tapping a console in the table, coughing gentlemanly, and then speaking, "Immortal21… you are now live…"
There was a brief pause before a strong voice shrilled back, "Roger that Indigo Seven… now preparing to engage hostiles."
Tek now saw them, the warriors her employer had spoken about, they were tailing the Spartans at a distance… closing in for a gunfight.
"Gillian… would you please patch in the UNSC coms. We do have them compromised don't we?"
"Of course my lady," he replied with a bow before giving more instructions to the holographic display. Shortly thereafter the room erupted in coms chatter, evidently between the Spartans exploring the tropical jungle several light years away.
Tek instantly recognized one of the warriors names as it was spoken, "Lt Carmichael, why did ONI send us all the way out here?" spoke one of the Spartans. Another voice replied with, "We're only scouting the ruins. As far as anyone knows… they haven't been looted."
The Kig-yar mercenary grinned wolfishly… Spartan Carmichael… Tek was going to enjoy watching this, but before he could comment on such matters his employer addressed the mysterious soldiers tailing the Spartan Fireteam, "Immortal21, wait for the Spartans to exit the ruins, at which point consider them sanctioned."
….
Spartan Carmichael and his men entered the mysterious metal Forerunner Ruins and fanned out into defensive positions, DMRs at the ready, with helmets displaying every detail in green tinted night vision.
"Sir… what's that?" asked Spartan Rogers, as he pointed his DMR at a nearby metal pedestal. Carmichael crossed the room and stood before the glowing Forerunner monolith. He knelt down and looked at… a toy? Yes, a toy Spartan bobble-head pinning down some sort of greeting card.
Carmichael picked up the toy, the oversized Spartan head bobbing side to side, as he read the greeting card out loud for his mean to hear, "Finish Line = Pelican?"
Spartan Tomas cocked his head to the side while guarding the entrance, "Pelican? You mean… our pelican… but its five clicks away?"
Carmichael sat the little toy Spartan back down upon the pedestal and looked at his men, "Fire Team Shadow… we've been duped. Coms?" he asked. Spartan Saros was quick to respond in her typical cocky tone, "Jammed sir? We only have short range."
Together the team nodded in unison, "We can't stay here," said Carmichael, "but this is clearly a trap. Expect trouble the second we step outside… Fireteam Shadow… shoot to kill on sight!"