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"Operation HUNDRED DAYS"

December 29 2527 - Hour 1522

MAJ Logan 'Log' Sutton

Archeological Site 'Maxwell', Saturnus, Planet of Ariel

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I want to say that I was surprised by the last few weeks, but it would be a lie.

The Covenant's careful approach had all been a bit of a ruse employed by their military to do the one thing that they really needed: a break from major operations so that they could form a more ambitious plan which was going to catch us off-guard. In a way, that worked. On December 12, four major planets (Gamma Pavonis VII, Ballast, Ariel and Fumirole) were all attacked at once with a considerable invading force each.

Their initial defenses held up until December 16, when the UNSC's reaction forces snapped into action and promptly reached the various attack points to reinforce the defenders in numbers and equipment. A large contingent of ships was dispatched to engage the fleet employed by the Covenant, but most decided to keep in the reserves and attack to encircle. For the first time in a long while, the chances of losing that space battle were pretty high.

72.5% to be precise. Yet this whole offensive is... awfully familiar.

"Sounds like the Kaiserschlacht from centuries ago," I hummed, thinking how ironic the name used for the Counter-offensive was the same one that was used against this specific event in the First World War. "So, do you think we will push them to defeat soon?"

2530s will be interesting. Maybe, yet I doubt their government will survive the signature of a defeat. People are angry and want a scapegoat.

The recent mass mutiny they had to endure proved as much, yet I was quite sure that we would avoid WW2 Redux if the UNSC didn't go full idiot in the negotiations. I could see ONI trying to do something about it but...

But what really mattered at this point was to secure the planets as quickly as possible and allow engineers to build Anti-Air defenses. The entire BALMUNG group was dispatched on Ariel, the priority having been smudged to be the highest not for some increased Covenant presence, but because ONI may have whined to the HIGHCOM to have quality troops. They wanted Spartans, they got us. Which sucked a lot for them since I was quite sure they had secret bases here beyond the official 'Archeological Site'. I don't remember much of this particular place, only that it had some Forerunner-related importance.

Something which turned out to be true when Sif confirmed the presence of unusual activity within some of the planet's communication channels. Locals, they managed to find a way to the 'Control Room' owned by a Forerunner's AI and were holding up in there from the Covenant. The AI had recognized them as prime bearers of the 'Reclaimer' title, giving them access to fully command the AI's abilities through the complex.

"The priorities for this mission are simple," I stated as I spared a look to Gage before looking at the rest of his squad, two humans, three grunts. "Secure the civilians, allow transports to let them take to safety, retrieve the AI within the facility and blow up the place."

The grunts cheered at that last bit much to their boss' chagrin and their human partners' amusement. Quite dysfunctional as a team, but if it worked, it worked. And it did work. I want to bring up anything unusual about this whole mission, but I can't think of anything that really stood out from this. We reached the objective after clearing up some Covenant troops guarding the entrance, reached the control room, escorted the civilians to a secure LZ and then took care of the AI.

However, that didn't mean the overall planetary set of mini-operations went all as smoothly as I had wanted for it to go. Once we were done uploading 'The Knowing' into a safer location and bombed its former station, I was surprised when I received a distress call from Baird and the team that had been sent to 'clean up' one of the unusual Section III bases. For the sake of avoiding any issues with the Covenant, Baird's group had been bolstered with three ODST squads. The issue? Two of those proved to be on ONI's payroll and managed to wound a couple of people while trying to kill them.

To say I was furious would be an understatement. When we arrived to reinforce, I had Sif cut their communications. Serin's team arrived right as we did, and she had her team take position to shoot down anyone trying to escape the facility while we entered the complex. The rogue ODSTs were caught off-guard by our arrival, and were quickly outmatched and dealt with. Two ODSTs were killed in the defense by Baird's side, one was wounded, two were shaken up by the event, and for Baird's team they were mostly fine.

Baird was... alive. A bit bruised, got shot in his knee, and a stab wound in his left shoulder, but definitely going to survive this one out. When the situation got calm enough, I sat down with him and spoke a bit about general stuff of the mission such as the way those rogue troops had reacted against them and if there had been signs of potential betrayals.

"One of their chiefs was nervous. I think they weren't that pleased to have a few Sangheili around and... they reacted negatively to that."

I nodded at this, ultimately bringing up more precise questions once the medic checking on him was out of the way.

"What got them to react? The point where they became hostile?"

"I believe it was around the time we stumbled on some unaccounted paperwork on their servers. I got interested when we found a 'Spartan III' folder with some questionable details and..." Baird's eyes narrowed. "Sir, I know this is top-secret stuff, but Spartans are... They recruit from kids?"

My lips twitched at that, and I looked away for a moment. "Spartan-II were recruited from orphans and gifted children with specific genomes, yes."

"Sir-"

"I am not pleased by this," I stopped him, knowing the outrage was legitimate. "But I can't do much right now to fix this. Once the war is over? ONI will get the chopping block, especially with this Spartan-III project."

He raised a confused look. "It's... not official?"

"I doubt HIGHCOM wouldn't tell us about it. No, I think ONI was trying to set down steps for a slow project. Maybe greatly-expanded to outperform Halsey's work. I am quite confident she isn't involved in this and... let's just say that will get her to move quickly with the 'moving in' process."

Which was hopefully what was going to happen. But this little stab in the back I wasn't going to apologize for. They came prepared, having used special Jammers to try and isolate the chances of calling for a distress call to go through, but failed to employ them before one reached me. I don't know what Paragonsky was trying to get out of this mess, but I was going to make the bitch pay for trying to pull that sneaky on Baird.

And I just knew the best way to do that.

AN

Baird is a tank! But seriously, while Ariel is being reconquered, the next few chapters will show a much more grim situation on the overall campaign. Issues with logistics, the Covenant having planned this perfectly and special forces employed by their army will set off a few reactions from both sides of the board.