"Thanks Karen...but shouldn't you be carring out the space ops with Tom?"
"Don't worry. He let me stay since Mescath needs to improve my armor. You know. The newly advanced armors from the technology you got us!" said Karen.
"Yea...but i failed. Everyone in my crew died. I just can't seem to work with others. Besides fighting with Spartans, i'd rather fight alone." said Derek.
"Then ask Fred! He'll come up with something!" said Karen.
"I already did. He says he needs to think about it. He also told me to get ready for a new mission. Tom gonna be with me on this one. We're infiltrating a Brute base. Our AIs tell us of a massive colony there that's examining new aliens, and they're going to try and persuade them to join....like the other races. We have to negotiate with tht new race, or we'll have to kill their homeplanet before they start multiplying in other areas of space." said Derek in a dul tone.
"Why so sad? I'd give anything to go on this one!" said Karen
"You're coming along. I knew you wouldn't wanna stay out on this one. It'll be like old times! I just requested and they granted!" said Derek, smiling now.
"Thanks Derek. Finally. When do we get ready?"
"I'll inform Tom and he'll tell you. Don't worry. Just get your mind ready and focused. The rules have changed. A group of at least 50 and 10 spartans against a whole colony, and im pretty sure the female brutes look exactly the same as a male brute." said Derek in a chuckle.
"Alright. See you later guts." said Karen as she walked into a elevator.
"Time to meet my new crew..." said Derek, as he sighed. He must have had 16 crews by now. The longest a crew stayed with him was probably through a week of battles. Oh well. He walked to the elevator adjacent of the one Karen went to. He designated the floor, and he went down.
"Alright Marines. You've probably heard of me and my record by now. My crews get destroed early, so if you don't stay alert and pay attention, it's your ass that's gonna get burned in hell. Not mine." said Derek in a pretty strict voice. The marines chuckled. Derek looked at the men and women. He already knew that some were helljumpers from their tatoos. He quickly thought of the teams, based on their appearences of strength and speed. He was a genius at this. He knew the strengths and limits of someone, just by looking at them.
"You four ladies group woth those 6 men. You will be Alpha team. You are all runners and have ran from hell before haven't you?" The group stood in shock and asked how he knew. "It's not Q and A time. You 5 girls and 3 men. You will be Beta, for you are all strong, really strong. Some of you may be wondering why you were grouped with these strong people when you are't strong at all. It is because you are dead shots. Snipers with the calvary. Always a brilliant tactic. Last, the rest of you on my team. We have no name ladies, just the team. We are the brains and the averages. NOt too stonrg or fast, but not weak or slow either, but you are smart, and you will be at my side in battle, and sometimes will be in charge of the iother teams. IS EVERYTHING CLEAR?!"
"Yea!" said the marines.
"Good. Just remeber. Fight tomorow. Major one. We are going to fight a Brute colony, but suck it up. You'll have some time to get ready, sleep, and if you want, think about strategies, cause there'es a new type of alien, and if they're strong, you get the hell out of there and shoot from a distance.
"Are you serious?! Battle already?! I'm just a minor!!!" said a marine.
"Hmmm. Private Stoker. You are talented. You ar not only a genius, but a damn good sniper. You willl have to suck it up. There is no running away. If death be at frontier, let it be there, but if we're going down, we're taking the Brutes with us to hell. Why would you be scared with the talent you have. But i know how it is. Having your first real battle marine. i'll let you sit it out. You are the only exception. Everyone else will meet me in the morning. You decide what's right. This will be the first and last time i excuse someone. Marines, DISMISSED!" said Derek, as he walked toward the door to his room. See you tommorow." Stoker stood there and thought about something, then went straight to his bunk. In Derek's room, he was memorizing his crewmatess' names. Stoker, Bob, and Sarah would be all he need to know. They would be the leaders. Tommorow he would tell them.