The Dawning of a New Age
Chapter 3
Authors Note: Another chapter in my first fanfic please R&R!
"Sergeant Johnson, please report to the bridge ASAP"
Johnson got out of his seat on the Pelican. He straightened out his uniform and dashed up to the command centre, 5 decks up. As is the standard configuration on all UNSC ships, the command centre is located at the bottom of the fuselage, near to the MAC gun. While this had proved to be a rather bad placement for the command centre of a ship, the top brass hadn't changed their stance on it.
Johnson walked of the Grav Lift platform, another stolen technology, directly on to the command deck. "Sergeant Johnson reporting as ordered sir"
"Thank you Sergeant, we have a major problem, and right now you are our foremost expert on that problem. It would appear that the flood have returned"
Johnson, clearly surprised, takes a step backwards but quickly regains his composure. "But sir, we killed their last stronghold on Gamma Halo almost 2 years ago?"
"Well, some of them must have survived. We have 10 ships heading towards us on a collision course. It will take time to manoeuvre our ship into a firing position and we are reading multiple Phantom and Pelican signatures heading for us. If they impact the ship and gain access to the inner hull, I will need your marines to protect the vital sectors of the ship."
"Yes Sir!"
"Very good Sergeant, now, get back to your marines and start deploying them"
Johnson gave the Admiral a salute and walked back to the Grav Lift. He took out his mobile communicator. "Jenkins, tell the marines to get off of the Pelicans and to meet me in briefing hall 2."
"Yes Sir, may I ask why?"
"All in due time son, all in due time."
"Ok Marines, here is the situation. The flood survived our encounter on Gamma Halo and has aquired 100 battle worthy ships. 90 of them have engaged the UASUL fleet but the rest are on a collision course for us. They will send boarding craft to us, and therefore we will need to protect vital sectors of the ship. Anzalete, I want your squad to protect the weapon control systems. Jenkins, you are to protect the Engineering. My Squad will protect the command deck. Upon first contact between their boarding craft and this ship, all Grav Lifts will be shut down so we will have to resort to stairs and cable lifts. If your squad is over run, the last survivor is to do whatever they can to stop the flood from gaining control of our dead soldiers. Is that understood?"
"YES SIR!" Replied the troops, the sound echoing around the hall.
"All hands, this is the Captain. You are to report to your duty stations at this moment. All those who have no duty stations are to report the armouries and receive a weapon. This ship will not fall into the hands of the enemy."
"Chief, Chief are you awake?"
Spartan 117 arose from his deep slumber with a start. A technician was standing above him, a worried expression on his face. John sat up, his head in his hands, rubbing away the tiredness which had plagued him recently. "What do you want?"
"Sir, the Admiral needs you on the bridge. The flood is back"
As if a bomb had gone off inside his head, John rushed up and ushered the technician away. Even though the Spartan III program was public knowledge, the intricacies of the MJOLNIR Mark 8 armour itself was still classified information. John's actions in destroying the Prophet of Truth's Forerunner weapon had warranted his inclusion in the aforementioned program. His armour, as most of the UNSC's new projects were, was filled with Covenant technology provided by UASUL. Internal Camouflage generator, fusion power core, Plasma weapon recharger, the works. Each of the improvements had proved invaluable in Johns numerous engagements, but the added weight put a strain on his body, and was therefore tired more often.
The actual process of putting on the armour was much easier than previous models. All he need do was walk into a chamber, and it was put on automatically by a varying array of robotic arms, and it only took 2 minutes. As John stepped out, his HUD sprung to life. All of the instruments read fine, and a Nav Point pooped up on his internal map. A familiar feeling entered his neocortex.
"I was wondering when you were going to show up"
"Well, aren't we a grumpy person today" Cortana replied. Although strictly past her life expectancy had come and passed, her actions with the Chief had allowed the technicians the permission to maintain her program.
"So, what is the situation?"
"Approximately 2 minutes ago, a battle group of 100 ships dropped out of slip space. 90 of them attacked the UASUL Battle Cluster off our Rear port. We have reports that they have been boarded, and we expect that is what the flood will do to our ship. All personnel are on battle alert and the marines are in strategic positions all over the ship."
"What do they need me for then?"
"Ha ha. Can we please just get to the Admiral."
"If we must"
John walks out of his room and straight into a Grav Lift. It took him straight to the Command Deck, where a group of Marines were setting up a blockade. "Sergeant Johnson. Long time no see"
"It has hasn't Chief. I think the Admiral wants to see you"
"Yeah. How you doing here?"
"We will be fine"
"Ok then"
John walked past the marines and into the actual command centre. The petty officers were frantically powering up the smaller turret weapons on the ship. He could see the ship listing to the right, but the gravity plating balanced it out. The Admiral was at the comm station, talking to the UASUL battle cluster. He glanced up and see John, and immediately turned away from the comm. "Master Chief, its good to see you"
"Yes Sir. What do you require?"
The Admiral filled him in on the full situation. The successful attack on the Covenant, the flood ships emerging and the reports coming from the battle cluster.
"I see. Well, I will join one of the squads protecting the ship and do my best."
"That is what I would advise Master Chief. Dismissed."
John saluted the Admiral, and went back to Johnson's squad "Looks like I'm here for the long haul"
"I guess so."