So I see you all enjoyed our opener to this gargantuan story.
Well I hope we can continue this trend with this one cause we're getting started now.
A lot of questions have been asked with many to be answered as the story goes on. This is gonna be a long haul, let me tell you.
We have a lot of work cut out for us and with how much we have to write, I'm just aching to get to it.
That means there is a lot to do right now.
Let's get to it.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.
The Halo Effect War and Civilization Chapter 2: Where it begins.
Journal Entry IV
The start of this century… is difficult to comprehend in hindsight.
It feels so distant. all things considered now. We had done so much in such a short amount of time that it felt like centuries of work.
What should have been a start to a new era to prosper and grow is now a start to conflicts.
It just happened all so sudden.
The growing threat of our own kind was enough of a catalyst to begin the more… immoral decisions.
Was it fate? Was it destiny? Eventuality or the inevitable?
It is strange really. A rare instance of me being speechless.
I guess that's what happens when I get too sentimental about the past.
All my choices and my decisions, my experiments, my programs.
Excuse me.
I didn't mean to ramble.
I know few if at all would read this but at the very least if anyone would, they wouldn't want to hear my meaningless drivel of my emotions acting up.
The start of the 26th century was the beginning of shifting times for the UNSC, her allies and the galaxy as a whole. One would say it took some time getting there but as we learned that we're not alone, the entire universe is always shifting whether we know it or not.
It was only a matter of time until it just caught up to us.
End of Journal Entry.
2500: Kuat is discovered and also becomes a major shipyard world by the UNSC.
UNSC Roadrunner
Vice-Admiral Dodonna stands at the bridge of the frigate, overlooking the construction of a brand new shipyard that would serve the UNSC and her allies in their expanse of the stars.
It would also be a major boon in the coming conflicts in regard to the damn Insurrection.
He saw ships of Mon Cala, Human and Wookiee design all flying about in tandem with one another as space elevators were built to link up with the ring that would be constructed around the planet.
The Vice-Admiral couldn't help but praise the UNSC's luck in finding allies such as the Mon Calamari.
Their expertise in ship building was beyond astonishing.
The old shipyards they once had have undergone extensive reconstructions thanks in no small part to the Mon Cala.
Though building ships the size of cruisers, frigates, corvettes and so on would take time, having three species working together for such an objective would cut the time down drastically.
From certain estimations from a few scientists, the UNSC would have upwards of perhaps three to four thousand star ships within the next two decades. Maybe even more.
Corellia, Mon Cala, Bestine IV, The Bilbringi system, Byss and now Kuat serve as the primary Shipyards for the United iNtergalactic Space Command.
And thanks to the addition of yet another shipyard, the production of star fighters was on a steady upward trajectory.
Already a few thousand had been made.
X-wings and Arc-wings.
The first in a line of starfighters that would serve the UNSC from here until the end.
It is a shame though.
In a few hundred years, humanity had expanded rapidly across the stars with many colony worlds settled upon with the numbers up to 1100 by this point when adding the colonies they now shared with the Mon Cala and Wookiees.
And yet, in all their advancements and capabilities they still could not stop the inevitable universal pull of conflict.
It was almost frustrating by this point.
Regardless, there was work to be done.
And Vice-Admiral Dodonna would see it through to the end.
2501
May 29: John Forge is born on Earth.
June 2: Skirmish at Theta Ursae Majoris
*This is Breaking news with Gjool Menya and Roy Barton.*
A human male in his mid-thirties with a Mon Cala around the same age sat within a newsroom facing a camera.
"Good evening." Gjool, the Calamari addressed the camera straight away. "We have recently received word of a skirmish that has recently occurred with the Theta Ursae Majoris System between UNSC forces and the growing insurgency spread out through the out colonies."
"This is the third recent skirmish between the two forces within the TUM system." Roy spoke next. "Naval reports that Vice-Admiral Preston Cole was the one in command of the UNSC Destroyer named Gorgon was seen engaging in the identified Insurrection Charon Class Light-frigate of the Bellerophon yet it's captain has yet to be identified."
"This is only the most recent battle between the growing Insurrection and the UNSC, with many wondering when will the ceasefire occur as the conflict has been ongoing for seven years now." Gjool stated.
"Many have wondered if autonomy should be given to the Insurrection yet the UNSC, MCC(Mon Cala Coalition) And Wookiee Leadership have argued strongly against such an idea due to the outer colonies holding such importance in regard to raw resources and goods."
"Some have stated that had there been a compromise made, this unofficial Civil War may not have occurred yet that remains as speculation up to this point."
"With Insurrection growing with the number of casualties increasing with it, the UNSC have yet to declare formal war or a state of emergency."
"And in light… Excuse me. We have just received word from UNSC officials that the Insurrection controlled Frigate has fled the battle with the UNSC Gorgon being sent to repairs."
September 3rd- A young Catherine Halsey continues to defy educational standards at Endymion Gifted, the Koletre-Browning University's Dean of Biological Science funds her education and relocation to the university on Circumstance at the age of Nine.
September 15th- Future Admiral Gial Ackbar enlists in the Mon Cala/UNSC Navy, quickly rising through the ranks as a promising Navy operative.
2502
March 13: Jerald Mulkey Ander, the leader of the Secessionist Union on Harvest, is assassinated by Avery Johnson as part of Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE.
May: The UNSC Gorgon is damaged in the Skirmish at Capella with Insurrectionist forces, resulting in the deaths of 32 crew members and requiring her to be laid up in a space dock for one month for repairs.
November 9: Preston Cole writes to his brother Michael, informing him that he has married Lyrenne Castilla, and that she is pregnant.
2503, June 13: Admiral Harold Stanforth sends UNSC Transmission 08871D-00 to Preston Cole, informing him that his second wife, Lyrenne Castilla is a high ranking Insurrectionist leader. Cole is given three hours to bring her in but finds that she has already fled.
August 13: Ellen Anders is born on Arcadia.
2504
January 2: A battle takes place in the Theta Ursae Majoris System between the UNSC and the Insurrectionists.
June 19: James Cutter is sent to the Officer Candidate School where he was taught Command and Navigation.
2506
February 5th: Zaeed Massani is born.
March 19th: Orion Project the first attempt by the Colonial Military Administration to create and train teams of super-soldiers for covert military operations in the Outer Colonies—is deactivated. Though the soldiers were effective, their abilities fall short of original expectations, and they are far too expensive to develop and field. The soldiers in the program are reassigned to various special operations units.
July 4th: The first successful cloning of a full human brain is performed.
August 23rd: Fondor is discovered and turned into another major shipyard world for the UNSC marking shipyards up to seven.
2507:
UNSC Colony Circumstance, Koletre-Browning University.
It was a traditional college room with multiple elevated seats within a circular room all facing in the direction of a single desk before multiple black boards and holo-displays.
Currently, there were displays of the human anatomy though in a digital sense as in actuality it was an AI that the class was studying.
Before the class stood a young man with brown hair and blue eyes with a fair complexion. There was a slight ruggedness to him, indicating a more battered or seasoned individual if one could call him that.
The trained eye of a marine or ODST would spot a soldier when they see one.
Though he was no ordinary soldier so to speak.
No he was a unique case amongst most UNSC personnel.
*THRRRRRRRRRR*
The class looked up from their work, hearing the sound of the bell indicating that class was over and it was time to move on to their next lessons.
They began standing up out of their seats, packing away their books and data pads whilst their professor spoke up.
"Alright students, remember you have finals coming up and once again I would like you all to thank Mr. Alec Ryder on your way out for being today's guest speaker." A Mon Cala Professor said as human, Wookiee, and Mon Cala students filtered out of the classroom, thanking Alec Ryder.
Alec, former Orion operative as of last year was honorably discharged from service due to not bringing in the results the UNSC wanted. He was a bit miffed but could understand their reasoning so to speak. Most of the operatives that had undergone the experimental augmentation wound up having their bodies rejecting the invasive substances.
They were just too developed and it proved to be a danger so to speak as several had begun developing symptoms of degenerative conditions that led to a litany of physical and mental problems for some of the personnel that volunteered.
Thankfully, he was not one of them.
After being released from the UNSC, Alec pursued AI advancements seeing how important they can be in the field of battle and helped reduce lives being lost to the insurrection. He can attest to this as they had been instrumental in several conflicts against the Insurrection, one of which was during Operation CHARLEMAGNE in later 2497.
As he was packing away his equipment, one young student approached him from behind.
"Excuse me, Alec Ryder I presume."
He turned to see a young teen human, female with jet black hair and silvery blue eyes.
"Yes that would be me." Alec said with a nod. "May I help you with anything? The presentation is already over miss… "
"Halsey, Catherine Halsey."
"Halsey?" Alec repeated, deep in thought for a moment. "You mean the same Halsey that has been the talk of the school ever since I stepped foot on the university? That Halsey?"
Halsey only smirked slightly though she nodded with a slight reverence in her tone as she addressed the former Orion Candidate. "I'm very impressed with your work on the AI coding matrix. It sounds far more complex than most of what I've read as of late."
Alec shook his head with a rueful smile. "Only in theory seeing as the technology is limited at the moment. There are several key components my work is missing for this to be applicable."
Halsey hummed aloud. "What if I were to tell you that your theory can be possible."
Alec, who had finished packing away his equipment, paused in placing his bag upon his shoulders and turned to the young student in a confused expression.
"What do you mean?"
2508
April 1st
He stood facing the ship that would take him from home by himself.
For the most part.
"Are you sure about this son?"
"You can always wait another year, Franklin."
Franklin Mendez smiled, despite himself.
He turned back towards his parents, both of whom were here to see him off. He had enlisted within the UNSC and would be departing from his home of Sigma Octanus IV. His ship would take him to Reach, the military capital of the UNSC.
Though the planet itself has many shipyards to boast, it was not a designated shipyard planet. Reach was the planet where quite literally anything and everything in regards to warfare would be developed. Marines, ODST's, Special Ops and many other military and naval units conducted their training there along with multiple weapons manufactures and industrial complexes mixed in with the agricultural aspects of the planet.
There's a reason why Reach is often called the sister planet of Earth.
"I'm sure about this mom." Franklin said determinedly. "I know my calling when I see it."
He had long since gotten permission from his parents in regard to enlisting in the UNSC. They promised him upon reaching the age of sixteen, he was allowed to enlist.
That was now eleven days ago.
He had been prepping for the duration of that time, spending his last few days with friends and family as he knew it would be some time until he would see them all again.
His father, while saddened to see him go at a young age nonetheless encouraged his boy to pursue what he believed in.
The two had silent moments together, hunting, exercising and such as the days went by until his time to depart from home.
His mother of course was a slightly different matter.
She didn't wish to hinder her little boy but she didn't wish to let him go. She had hugged him goodnight every single day since his birthday for minutes upon hours.
He could understand her hesitation of letting him go.
But still, she would not discourage hi,.
Delay him maybe but not discourage.
"Rawr."
Franklin smirked despite himself, looking over to his Wookiee friend that stood with several of his other friends that had come to see him off.
"Don't worry fuzzball, it's not that you're gonna be alone." Mendez remarked making several of his friends chortle aloud.
"It's not that, Franky." A Mon Cala friend stated. "It's just that Racca is upset that he won't have a proper partner to wrestle with anymore."
"Oh is that it?" Franklin said with a dry, joking tone. "I'm just your favorite punching bag?"
"Grr, Grr, Grr." Racca the Wookiee shook in laughter.
He stepped forward to his friend and from the belt strapped around his shoulder pulled out an intricately designed knife.
A Ryyk blade.
Or dagger in this case.
Racca held it out for Franklin to take which he did.
He stared at it in slight astonishment, taking note of the design, metal and the many carvings ingrained into the blade and handle itself.
It was his friend's insignias.
Mendez smiled again.
"Oh, look at that." A Male human friend joked. "Franklin Mendez smiled more than once in a single day. Somebody mark the fucking calendar."
"Piss off Merv." Franklin shot back.
Their little exchange was abruptly cut short by the announcement of the departure of Mendez's' ship that would go to Reach.
Franklin sighed, steeling himself a moment later.
"There's the music." he said to those gathered with many holding solemn or saddened expressions.
"Take care Franky."
"Be sure to write."
"Or Visit at least."
"Ragh."
"Yeah, what he said."
Franklin only nodded with a slight smile before turning to his parents.
No words were needed as the family embraced in one final hug, pulling away after a few moments.
His mother planted one last kiss upon his cheek with his father simply patting him on the shoulder.
It was time.
With one last look at his friends and family, Franklin Mendez swung his bag over his shoulder and went towards the ship that would take him to his new home.
2509
May 9th: Annaxes is discovered, making it the last major shipyard world for the UNSC. All eight shipyards would play pivotal roles in the coming conflicts for the duration of the century.
August 8: Dr. Catherine Halsey makes the first entry in her journal following her enlistment in ONI's service and arrival on Reach
August 15: Thomas Lasky is born in Tricode Village, Mare Erythraeum on Mars.
August 22: Edward Buck is born in New Albany, Lombard, on Draco III.
By this year, many rebel cells had combined under the leadership of Robert Watts, proudly referring to themselves at the United Rebel Front.
Journal Entry V
It is a strange concept looking back on this year in particular.
From 2510 up to the end of 2526, many key individuals would be born within this timeframe with several others that had been born decades prior being associated with them due to the role they would play in the decades to come.
Such a simple yet effective title and it took nearly 565 long years to at last have a new group that would be dubbed the "Greatest Generation".
2511
January 3: All data pertaining to the planet Onyx is deemed classified.
February 15: Dr. Catherine Halsey delineates the fundamentals of the SPARTAN-II program, specifically her refinements in relation to the ORION Project.
February 23: Dr. Halsey learns of a terrorist with the Freedom and Liberation Party that detonated a commercial nuclear explosive in the Haven arcology and proceeds to log this in her journal.
March 5: Jorge-052 is born in Pálháza on Reach.
March 7: John-117 is born in Elysium City on Eridanus II.
March 19: Linda-058 is born on Verent.
April 3: Fred-104 is born on Ballast.
April 21: Douglas-042 is born on Asphodel.
May 8: Jerome-092 is born on Minister.
May 16: Caleb-095 is born in Newport on Luyten.
July 10: Samuel-034 is born on Harvest.
July 17: Alice-130 is born on Passage.
July 30: Dr. Catherine Halsey outlines the basis of the piezoelectric mechanical enhancement of what would become the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.
September 8: Dr. Halsey writes down her thoughts regarding the recent breakthroughs on human neural cloning in relation to the flash cloning of the SPARTAN-II candidates. She informs Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth that the project will proceed to the candidate procurement stage.
September 15: Naomi-010 is born on Sansar.
September 21: Kelly-087 is born on Imber.
October 19: Kurt-051 is born in Mira on Circumstance.
October 22: A report is made onForerunner artifacts that are found during routine excavations in an area designated Zone 67.
Most of the future SPARTAN-IIs are born in this year.
Journal Entry VI
This year… is where it all began for them.
Though they didn't know it. The individuals that would eventually be chosen were unaware of the genesis in the making that had been undergoing extensive planning for Six Years.
And they were only the first.
I had originally intended it to be extremely selective but I was fortunate enough to have at least been able to choose once.
When dealing with ONI, singular made choices were often a luxury not to be overlooked or taken frog granted. Upon receiving such a matter, I got to work right away making sure that I would pick the very best.
The genetic code, the DNA, the make up the physiology, everything was taken into account.
These Spartans would be the finest human specimens the UNSC will ever produce. Or ONI if you wish to be more technical.
The journey was long but in my heart, I don't regret any of it. The pain, the trials and tribulations that came with it reinforced my resolve.
Everything they endured would not be in vain.
I made sure of it.
End of Journal Entry.
2512
October 25: Wedge Antilles, Future Ace Fighter Pilot is born.
2513
January: The United Rebel Front retakes Eridanus II.
June 19: Dr. Catherine Halsey decides upon the final name of the SPARTAN-II program, up until tentatively referred to as "ORION Project Generation Two".
Latest possible release of Pelican and Warthog series to the UNSC.
2516
July 19th: The UNSC Hammerhead Cruiser officially entered service. First Dozen unveiled from Mon Calamari shipyards.
-Mon Cala-
Vice Admiral Preston Cole stood within one of the observation decks of the shipyard ring around Mono Calamari, watching the dozen Hammerhead Cruisers on their first voyage through space.
These were a uniquely designed brand new style of ships that reflected the ingenuity of all three species of the United iNtergalactic Space Command all coming together to make something new.
His face was stoic, unreadable yet within his eyes were a sense of exhaustion.
He would have figured that after learning of his wife's disappearance and her being an Insurrectionist leader, his career would have been shot down in flames. However, the UNSC command opted to keep him as he was deemed too valuable of an individual to be disregarded and discharged.
So, Cole pressed on, serving the UNSC faithfully whilst keeping a lookout for his wayward Insurrectionist wife.
Of course he'd fall in love with the enemy.
The universe loved its ironies at times and playing jokes on the larger galaxy at whole. He was happy, fleeting as it was.
"What's on your mind, old friend?"
Cole didn't have to look behind him to see who it was that had walked over to speak with him.
"Nothing, Raddus." Cole stated calmly.
Raddus snorted. "You can fool most of our colleagues with your aloofness but not me, Cole."
Rear-Admiral Raddus was an old Mon Calamari friend Preston had made at the start of his UNSC career, the two having been friends for twenty-two years by this point.
Meeting in 2495, the two at first had a bit of a rivalry with one another in their fledgling careers yet soon grew to realize the unique chemistry between each other brought out the best in one another.
After discovering their love for unorthodox tactics, being in the thick of action and some grade-A bourbon, the two enjoyed a roaring friendship for two decades now.
"What is it, Cole?" Raddus asked calmly. "I've seen that look too many times to know that something is bothering your thoughts."
"Just thinking about where to put my farm, Raddus." Cole replied evenly making the Mon Cala snort in derision.
"If it's about Lyrenne then.."
"Don't Raddus." Cole's tone was sharp. "Just… don't."
Raddus however was not to be deterred.
"There's still no sign of her." He stated. "I've looked through datafiles, reports, briefings and-"
"You realize what shit luck I have with women and kids?" Cole dryly cut him off.
Raddus felt for his friend. He truly did.
An esteemed strategist, tactician and war hero, Cole had done a great deal for the effort against the Insurrection.
In almost every single battle after the disappearance of his wife Lyrenne, Preston had single handedly changed the tide on several occasions with effective and brutal victories.
The Insurrectionist forces that he had engaged had either suffered devastating losses or were completely driven from the system until returning after hearing of Cole's departure.
When UNSC high-com learned of his marriage to Lyrenne, he was interrogated thoroughly yet with Raddus' intervention as well as their personal friend Vice-Admiral Michael Stanforth along with Cole's personal military record, they were able to preserve his rank and reputation. Most just chalked it up to the stress of war and combat to his misjudgment but even then, Raddus knew that Cole was simply looking for happiness.
He just wanted to settle on a farm one day, beneath the stars of a planet that were not of Earth's origin.
"Have you heard from your kids?" Raddus asked.
"Well, of the five, four seem to be doing alright." Cole somberly stated. "The other… probably enjoyed their thirteenth birthday by this point."
Raddus patted his friends back.
"You'll be alright, Cole." Raddus said. "I've got your back."
Cole remained silent, giving his Mon Cala friend a silent nod of appreciation.
"How's Ackbar doing?" Cole asked after several minutes of silence.
"Well enough." Raddus said approvingly. "Promoted to Captain recently though I give it another two years or something along those lines before he breaks into the admiral ranks. The Navy will be in good hands for the next few years."
"Seems to be." Cole said. "Heard from Cutter that we got a couple of 'Super Rookies' on our hands."
"Oh? Any names I might know?" Raddus inquired.
"A Jacob Keyes, I think his name was." Cole said. "Heard he can be a bit of a reckless one. But his tactics and strategies are sound."
"Kinda sounds like us." Raddus remarked. "Gial mentioned this Wookiee that he had met earlier who seems to hold a lot of potential. Says he's gonna be made a captain soon after two years of service."
Cole simply nodded again. The UNSC has been building up arms as they usually would but the threat of the United Rebel Front was becoming drastic and dire. They needed means of countering these Insurrectionists sooner than later.
The advent of the Starfighter corps was a great shift in the tide with the UNSC holding mostly superiority over the URF.
But they were tenacious and difficult to quell.
When one was crushed, another would simply rise up to take its place.
Dodonna and Hackett spoke of Gilad having success with the Rebels in his sector but they persisted in their efforts against the UNSC.
It was getting out of hand with casualties beginning to mount on both sides.
But…
Cole couldn't deny a lingering feeling of dread.
Everything that had been happening was nothing new in regard to human history.
A small force uprising to secede from a government they no longer wish to affiliate with. Nothing new there.
Yet Cole couldn't shake the feeling that the UNSC was on the precipice of all-out war.
It was unfortunate how right the Vice-Admiral was though against a much more different enemy.
2517
August 16th
Catherine Halsey stood within her workstation, overlooking her work with a diligent and razor focused demeanor.
These past six years have been one of the longest in her entire life.
It all went by like a blur as she was overlooking her results right now, but during that time…
She found them. All of them.
Though only half could be used, she'd make sure this half would be pushed and trained to their absolute limits and beyond.
Halsey only hoped they were prepared for these coming years as she would like to believe.
Her team had been handpicked and assembled.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez will be the Commanding Officer of this program and head trainer. Perhaps one of the absolute finest soldiers the UNSC had ever produced. Enlisting at a young age, Mendez's files showed him as a soldier with skill far beyond his peers. His hand-to-hand combat is regarded as the absolute best and after besting their next candidate in an all-out spar, it was deemed so by all of ONI and the UNSC.
High Chieftain Tarfful of the Wookiee brotherhood. He has nearly a hundred years of experience under his belt and is a fierce warrior who has been leading his people for decades. He had trained many UNSC personnel, regarded as a legend among the navy with many high ranking Humans, Wookiees and Mon Cala having had their tutelage directly under Tarfful. The first man to beat him was none other than Mendez with the Wookiee Chieftain bestowing upon him his Ryyk blade and exclaiming him to be his sworn brother.
To ensure this little detail, Tarfful showed his cultural awareness by utilizing the ancient Japanese ritual of exchanging Sakazuki cups. From then on, both were brothers in the human and Wookiee sense.
It still surprises me how the Wookiees integrated that facet into their culture yet it fits them quite well.
Now that we have our two heavy hitters that would "whip them into shape" as the old adage goes, we have our more intelligence based members in this program.
Aside from myself, ONI has kept their alliance with the Kaminoans strong with the long necked species providing them one of their absolute best geneticists.
Taun We, the administrative aid to the Prime Minister of Kamino himself was given to us.
She is like all her species, tall and slender with some stating she holds a more elegant and refined beauty to her. Soft spoken and gentle in nature, she is the ideal individual needed to provide the Spartan trainees with the necessary nurture to help them overcome internal strife whenever Mendez or Tarfful wouldn't cut it. Her coordination and planning skills are unparalleled, even by AI standards. Mapping out the natural means of pushing the candidates beyond what they're capable of at the right point in time.
With her, the later phases of the program may prove more fruitful than anticipated.
The last of Halsey's assembled crew was an AI of her own personal design named Deja.
A more higher functioning dumb AI then most, Deja has the figure of a Greek Goddess being barefooted while garbed in a serene white toga, golden band around her head and cascading black hair. How apt that she would resemble a woman of the time in which the program is named after.
Halsey looked over the 150 individuals that were found before marking the 75 chosen candidates and dismissing the other half.
These 75 would be her Spartans.
They would be the key to salvation for the UNSC. For humanity, the Wookies, Mon Calamari and possibly the Kaminoans if they ever get involved.
For a brief moment, Halsey recalls the moment that solidified her decision for this program.
There is an ancient saying.
"The beginning of wisdom is ignorance."
So where do we begin to create the ultimate warrior?
With innocence.
He was rough, so to speak.
Though he was fierce. Determined and unyielding, he was exactly what she was looking for when she started this program and then some.
Halsey knew she had to do this. For the first one at least.
Franklin however chose the slightly alternative route after being talked into it by Tarfful.
They had seen at least several dozen of the candidates, maybe about 36 or more.
Each one made sure to spot what makes them excel and how they can use what they saw to push them past what they presume themselves to be capable of.
They were already working ahead of time.
She knew she had made the right choices with those two.
Does she have regrets? Yes, of course she did.
But now was no longer the time to dwell on these matters.
Now… it was time to get to work.
September 23rd
Catherine Halsey stood within the center of an amphitheater with Tuan We at her right and Deja at her left.
Mendez and Tarfful stood toward the staircase off the theater to the far right, with all five individuals facing the newly assembled 75 Spartan-II's.
They were all here, ready to begin the arduous process of molding them into the eventual sword and shield of the UNSC.
Before she had arrived, Halsey had read the reports of all the procedures of their abduction and was pleasantly surprised to see some were already displaying traits that were quite unique then how most six year old's reacted.
The one with the blue hair, 087, had apparently dodged her abductors for nearly six-hours until she had come out and believed it to be a game of hide and seek due to her birthday.
Another, 006, had attempted escape twice on his way to Reach. They had a tricky one on their hands.
No matter, they were all present and accounted for.
These 75 will become what ONI had asked for.
Halsey hears their confused murmurings, nervous tones and wants to go home.
She quashed any rising feelings of guilt and stood up straight with her hands behind her back.
"Per Naval Code 45812 you are hereby conscripted into UNSC special project codenamed Orion-II also known as Spartan-II." Halsey spoke in a controlled and professional voice. "Your parents are gone. The planet Reach is your new home. Your fellow trainees are your new family."
The kids all looked at one another in blatant confusion. Some were curious and seemed open to the idea. Others, not so much.
"Each of you have been hand selected and called to serve." Halsey went on, regaining the attention of the candidates. "Your bodies are already faster and stronger than other children. And we are going to make them even better."
The children were unsure of what to make of this declaration.
They were always faster and stronger than most kids their age, but this lady just told them that they would become even better. How?
There was a Wookiee on the stage with them. Would he help?
Everyone knows that Wookiees are the strongest species they had ever encountered in space.
Then there was that long-necked alien standing next to the lady. Some recognized her species, others, not so much.
"Children."
The long necked alien spoke in a calming and kind voice. It was almost in a motherly fashion.
"I am Taun We. Please follow me to the mess hall." She spoke elegantly. "I shall have you all fed before Chief Mendez and Chieftain Tarfful will take you to your sleeping quarters."
Choosing not to say no to a free meal, the children all filed out of the auditorium and followed after Taun with Mendez falling in line behind them.
Deja blinked out from beside her and Halsey let out a haggard, shaky sigh.
There was a shiver down her spine with her covering her mouth with a hand, eyes closed. She trembled slightly until she felt a warm hand upon her shoulder.
Looking over, she saw Tarfful gazing at her with worry letting out a questioning growl.
She blinked, realizing she had tears formed on the corner of her eyes and quickly wiped them away.
"Apologies, Tarfful, I didn't mean to-"
"Raaww re." Tarfful cut her off.
She silently stared at the Chieftain before a small smile wormed its way onto her face.
Leave it to the fierce, warrior bound Wookiees to be the gentle softies they really are. It was a running joke at how easily a Wookiee could cheer up just about anyone with a few selective and considered words.
"You're right." Halsey remarked. "I made my choice now and I shall see it through to the end."
There was a snort from Tarfful making Halsey chuckle, reaching up to pat his hand appreciatively.
"And I am thankful I'm not alone."
Journal Entry VII
Tarfful was a godsend every time I think about him.
Looking back on him, he made sure that I pressed on no matter how guilty my consciousness weighed upon me.
Like he told me the day we began, this was something he and Mendez would share with me.
The burden of creating our Spartans.
I am more thankful to Tarfful than ever after everything we had endured.
He went above and beyond what was asked of him.
But I'm once again getting ahead of myself.
I'll elaborate more at a later time.
For now, I just wanted to make sure that Tarfful was recognized by all of the UNSC and galaxy.
Taun We was the motherly figure and older sister to the Spartans with Mendez as the father.
Tarfful was their big brother who saw them through to the end.
Each and every one of them.
And I couldn't be more thankful to him,
End of Journal Entry.
So, I've seen those reviews, I've seen those questions and it fills me with delight and glee at the coming prospects that BSX and I are gonna explore.
I firmly believe you will all be pleasantly surprised within the next two chapters.
I do love the approval so many of you had that we started with Wookiees, Kaminoans and Mon Calamari as the species humanity would meet first over the more entirely humanoid species of the Star Wars universe with headpieces.
BSX and I felt that having them meet the usual species that many of you listed out as their first encounters may come across as missing opportunities to have unique interactions and such with such a diverse cast of aliens from the Star Wars universe. That's not to say they're not in this one. It's just we have a lot planned with our selection of species.
We made sure to list out the species from each franchise, link them together with their distinct histories and relationships with some future species… that I will not divulge about right now cause I want to leave you guys wanting more.
BSX: Your question regarding the Force, Jedi, Sith and droids. They will not be making appearances in this story at ALL. The narrative we want to tell is that of Halo and Mass Effect lore, some Star Wars elements we will be borrowing from and some will not.
FMW: And in regard to the star wars elements, trust me when we say this, they will be used as effectively as possible with a grand scope in mind. We're taking this story and it's trajectory very seriously with how much planning has gone into it.
BSX: As for blaster technology for those who are wondering, that too won't happen either instead the Starfighters the UNSC have will use armaments that the YSS-1000 Sabre uses. Shields will come later, way later.
So yeah, that's all we got for you for now.
If you have any requests or questions, feel free to ask me or BSX as we'll answer to the best of our abilities.
No spoilers obviously cause dur.
Other than that, thanks for reading folks.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.