Halo: A World's End
Chapter 2
The atmospheric, zero-g-1 was in most respects the best damn plane out there but the A/Z-4 Phantom was better. The fighter could operate in both zero gravity and atmospheric environments. The A/Z-1, its predecessor, was a top of the line weapon testing platform. The newer A/Z-4 was modeled after two five hundred year old ATF's or advanced tactical fighters. The two planes on question, the mighty F-22 Raptor and the famous interceptor the F/A-18 Hornet, were in their the day, the best damn planes out there. The A/Z-4 combined the Hornet's maneuverability, the Raptor's versatility and, everything its predecessor had perfected. Some of these 'perfected' upgrades of the Phantom sported had either been honed to perfection by the A/Z-1 or were top of the line prototypes just entering testing. Some of those prototypes were an experimental cloaking device for stealth operations, new dual stage missiles and, last but not least two .80 cal cannons that could be, at the touch of a button, be converted into plasma cannons.
More extraordinary than the plane however was its pilot, Major Jacob "Dog" Hecks. The Major was the best pilot out there. He was a top of the line pilot that tested everything from commercial airliners to ultra secret stealth craft the ONI used. Right now he was the only pilot with the A/Z program, the rest were out mopping up the remaining Covenant. His current mission was to test out the new upgrades of the Phantom. Sitting in the run way of the Section III jet testing facility, Jacob waited for his clearance to come from the control tower. "Castle Control to Wild Knight you are clear for take off,"
"Roger that. Five bucks says I'll nail that bunker of the first try,"
"You're on. Good luck, control out," replied Castle Control. Bringing his modified Pratt & Whitney's to life Jacob quickly brought his plane to takeoff speed. Lifting off and leveling out at twenty thousand feet Jacob decided it was time to see how fast this baby could go. Running a circuit around the testing range he slowly applied power till he broke the sound barrier. Finally breaking the barrier Jacob pushed the throttle levers to full power. What astonished him more in the next ten seconds was hard to discern. There was the maddingly quick acceleration, the amount of speed he reached in that time or even the smooth ride he had getting there. Usually getting to Mach 7 in ten seconds is impossible but in this plane it's and entirely different story. The plane accelerated so fast that the g's it created almost blacked him out. He getting that close to blacking out is in its own amazing. The pressure suit he was wearing could keep its pilot conscious at up to twenty g's. If it hadn't been for Scott his 'smart' AI Jacob might have lost the plane and his life. The thrills of flying he thought mildly amused. Not risking blacking out Jacob decided to skip the high g maneuvers. Radioing Control to alert them of the change in plans Jacob spoke, "Castle Control I think the high speed maneuvers should be postponed till either I get out of the plane or I get a new pressure suit,"
"Roger that Wild Knight. Proceed to Range F to commence remainder of the test,"
"Roger that Wild Knight out," Range F was about five minutes away. Sighing and sitting back in his chair Jacob prepared to commence a test that could make or break the UNSC Navy.
Five minutes later Jacob entered Range F. Activating his radar he spotted the shielded bunker that was his target around 20 kilometers distance. Still flying around Mach 7 he started to slow the bird down. Dropping down to just under Mach 1 he finally came with in visual range of the bunker. The bunker was situated at the top of a low rise. It was around a quarter kilometer square. The mission parameters required him to get close enough to the bunker to read the daily joke the techies wrote on it. Lining up a low level attack run, Jacob inverted the Phantom so it was upside down. Dropping his airspeed to just above stall speed he glimpsed the writing:
Who's the worst pilot of all?
Major Jacob Hecks that's who.
Deciding to give the techies a mouthful at reassembling the bunker for the next test Jacob armed one of the three missile types he had. The DSM-3 could be configured to fit just about any type of warhead from nuclear to conventional explosives. Making a broad loop he vectored in on a high level attack run. Switching the missile to IR tracking, he heard the missile growling in his ear. Good he thought, it's locked on. Firing the missile he did a 180 and reversed direction. Wanting to see the blast but also to survive it he flew as fast as he could to around 50,000 feet from the bunker he banked and took a look. A bright flash lit the sky. Even with the blast filter on his helmet visor and the fighters canopy visor he still saw a burning white light. Then the shock wave hit. The wave hit him like a giant's fist, sucker punching his plane into an uncontrolled spin. Without Scott he would have never been able to pull out of the spin the wave put him into. Pulling out of it with Scott's help, he looked out of the Phantoms canopy and saw the damage he had done. His 'little' toy completely unearthed the bunkers lowest levels. Needless to say there were no more upper levels either. With a mushroom cloud billowing over the blast site he radioed control, "You guys get that?"
"What the hell were you thinking up there Wild Knight? You launched a nuclear missile at a non-nuclear site!"
"My finger slipped that's all," he replied trying to hold back his laughter.
"Fuck your finger slipping. I don't care how many people are backing your ass but you're off this project for good,"
"You can't seriously mean that can you? I mean look at everything I've done. Besides that bunker was protected for nuclear radiation and the nuke I launched was an experimental one that leaves no radioactive waste. Get out here and you'll find out for yourselves,"
"Get your ass back to base now Wild Knight. I don't care if there was no radiation. You failed your mission,"
"Roger that Castle Control,"
"Oh one other thing, when you get back here start packing," turning toward the base Jacob flew the Phantom for what was surely going to be his last time.
An hour later Jacob was sitting in what had been his room for the last five years. It hadn't changed much in that time. The room still held the old cleaner smell that had been in here when he first moved in. It still had every ding and scratch but, every thing was in order. This was all due to Dog's scrutinizing eye to detail which as a matter of fact, ran opposite of the way he acted. Dog was always breaking rules or bending orders to liven up a usually boring mission. This time it looked like he had over done it a little too much. So far it looked like he was either going to be busted down to an Ensign or was going to be dishonorably discharged. He still couldn't make up his mind which would be worse but, in the end they would both humiliate him beyond belief. Picking up his two duffel bags he exited the room and turned down the hall. He was somewhat lucky with where he lived because he lived in the simplest area of the Castle complex. This was the only area were there were other people who would point you in the right direction if you took a wrong turn. To get to the briefing room and his meet with the Devil all he had to do is turn left at the first hallway intersection and go straight to the elevator. After doing that he went three levels down. Stepping down he walked up to the retinal scanner. After taking his DNA and eye patterns it Okayed him to go forward. At the end of the hallway were the huge blast doors that protected the conference room. Quickly crossing the distance between him and the Marines guarding the door, he handed over his credentials. Once they were Okayed he went to the secretary and asked, "Ma'am, Major Jacob Hecks reporting as ordered. When do they expect to see me?"
"They waiting for you right now," replied the secretary. Turning from the secretary and walking to the door he strode through to meet the people that held his fate in their hands.
After two hours of being berated for insubordination Dog was finally excused from the room so they could discuss what punishment seemed fit for what he had done. It took all of about five minutes. Walking back in and snapping up his hand in a crisp salute he looked the room over again. The entire back half of the room was darkened so he could only see the outlines of the three people sitting there. The one of the left was a short and squat man with a bushy mustache while the one in the middle had a lithe body and her hair tied back in a pony tail. The one of the right had a slim form and no hair on his head. Sitting down the man was at least a full head and a half taller than the other two. As for the rest on the room though the side paneling looked like antique wood. On each of those walls were three paintings that depicted various wars the human race had fought. There was the Civil War, World War I, II and III, Vietnam and Korea. All but World War III took place in the same century, totaling in at around two or three million soldiers dead.
His observations were cut short when the woman in the middle spoke, "Major Jacob Hecks you were charged of willful disobedience and found guilty. On the charges of the illegal use of a nuclear warhead you're found guilty. For the first charge you will be dishonorably discharged. For the second offence you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. You are dismissed to leave the facility to the UNSC federal prison. Goodbye Major," with that the Majors eyes were misting over. Way to go hotshot he thought, you just fucked yourself over for the rest of your life. Feel happy. Turning around and striding toward the elevator he continued to berate himself for being such a dumbass he heard in the distanced, a phone ringing. Thinking nothing of it and stepping into the elevator he was surprised to see the Marine Guard's hand thrust into the remaining pace between the elevator doors. Speaking gruffly he told Dog, "They admirals would like to see you again," Nodding dumbly he walked back to the conference room he wondered why the admirals had to berate him once again. As if reading his mind the short one on the left started to speak, "Major you are one lucking SOB. That was Lord Hood on the phone. You're to accompany the Spartan on their mission to Delta Halo. You role in the mission will be to fly the A/Z-4 Phantom. You're to board the next transport to Sydney to start training up for the mission and to get acquainted with your Mjolinir armor. Major think about what just happened to you. Do not step out of line again or I will personally make sure your get sentenced to an execution instead of life imprisonment. That is all, dismissed," snapping instantly out of his self beration he crisply saluted and strode out of the room with a new bounce to his stride. Riding the elevator to the surface he wondered what mission would be so important that it could pull him out of a life imprisonment.