Chapter 3 – Mission Brief
I walked behind John into the dark gray mission room with harsh luminescent lights from above. The lights basked everything in shadows that were not already there. A dark metal table that holds twenty-four individuals around sits in the middle of the room and has a hologram display system set up in the middle of the table to allow the AIs to make an appearance without requiring further interaction with individuals. The far-left wall and directly in front of the door displayed dark displays that will be used to post pictures and maps on. To the left of the door were some, in my mind, non-important low-ranking officers awaiting orders to sit. To the right I noticed four unique individuals that I have had the allowance to fight at one time. Now due to the time of peace and reconciliation between our two races, we are trying to play nice. That is what I have been told by the upper chain of command. The one that caught my eye first was the one in solid white armor. This person's skin was black and stepped forward toward John. His jaw opened to display teeth but seemed to be a smile that John had warranted. John stepped forward and clasped forearms with a slight pat to the back. This indicated that he knew this one and was friendly enough to do that. John turned back and waved me over.
"Thel this is Valkyrie," John nodded his head to me. "Valkyrie this is Thel or better known at the Arbiter." I raised my hand to do a handshake and was received with much gratitude from the other species.
"I am sorry, but your name will be difficult for many of my race to pronounce correctly." Thel pulled what seemed like an ashamed look to his features. He was handsome in his own unique way but not what I would be looking for. "No offense."
I chuckled and shook my head and replied, "I take no offense to it. Many people call me either Val, Titan, or TV-466. You and your men are welcome to call me which ever one is the most comfortable to say." Thel nodded his head with a thankful look in his eyes. Then waved for the rest of his men to join him.
"I would like to present my Fleet Master Eton Ader," Thel stepped aside the one in the green and white armor stepped forward. "My Special Operations Officer, Rasi Vern," The one in the red armor stepped forward and nodded his head. "And then my ship-master, Viti Swint." the last one in blue armor stepped forward and nodded. I nodded to each of them when they stepped forward.
"Nice to meet you all." I stepped aside to allow John to talk further with them about something. My focus happened to be on the reptilian-humanoid individual in green and white armor. At a closer look he had strikingly black skin. Which looked smooth and soft in areas and rough in others. I noticed that his eyes were a striking blue that I have not seen on anyone. I would call it beautiful and I could look into them all day long if I was allowed to. I observed that his mandibles moving slightly and saw that there was white intricate tribal design across the lower mandibles that continues up into the upper part of the mandibles to form a sort of tattoo. I looked down his strong neck to his chest that would most likely look fit without the armor. I continued to observe the white tattoo design continues further down on his neck, to his arms and chest, and even further down to his legs. He, I am guessing it is he, seems like a trustworthy and interesting sort that I would like to get to know further when the time is right.
The doors opened behind me and a voice from the center of the table asked us all to sit down. I sat down closest to the door with my back to the corner directly across from it. I felt the chair struggle to not collapse. This indicates that either I will be standing or not moving from this chair for the rest of this meeting. I saw the chair beside me move away to see Eton sit down with ease. I still heard the creak from the chair under his weight. I snickered lightly and noticed that he looked at me with what I would assume is a smile. I turned my head to the person at the end of the table as he cleared his voice to gather out attention.
"The Arbiter and I have talked about doing a joint operation to see how the compatibility would be." He turned to look at Cortana. "From our gather information there is some rebel troops from the Covenant that are staying low and terrorizing the town of Azeilth. We, humans, are sending in these numbers and names 117, 466, Jefferson, and Johnson. The Arbiter and his squad of ten are joining us." The General nodded to the other three Sangheili in the room. "The mission will start with the, as we like to name it, flying black Thunderbird." Some of the men around the room started to chuckle.
"What is a flying black Thunderbird?" Eton questioned beside me as the other three of his races and the Master Chief were confused. Then Cortana and Orion became visible in the hologram display. When he asked this, I felt a weird sensation happening in my head and chest. I remembered the words written on my thigh that could not be erased during my procedure. The words that I always trace over before I head to bed are 'What is a flying black Thunderbird'. I felt like there was a pull that just initiated like a wildfire as he said those five words. I felt slightly dizzy as I am trying to figure out what is going on.
"I," I had to clear my throat then continues, "am the flying black Thunderbird." I noticed his eyes widen and what I would describe as a heavy but light pressure in my chest. It felt like the first time my armor synced with my body and formed a slight bond to be able to respond to me when I was not around. Though this bond feels a lot stronger than what my armor was like. Though I will have to investigate this interesting development because I am not sure of it. I turned my head back to the hologram display and noticed Orion's glance in my direction with a slight smirk to his lips.
"They all have the need to know," The General told the two AIs. Both AIs nodded their heads. "Besides the Spartan program, there was another program that was taking place at the same time. It was called the Titan program. They are just smaller, much denser versions of the Spartans with some altercations. She is one of three lasting Titans to survive along these years. With her dense bone and muscle, Titan Valkyrie four-six-six, can drop from high orbital locations and land without an injury. Her extra attributes to her are some unique eyesight." The General told the very generic view of the whole program. I was not going to elaborate on it either. Everyone around the table seemed either in shock or just plain unsure of what to think. The General continued with the mission plan. Which we all knew would not follow what he said at all. The most that would be correct would be dropping out of the sky at whatever speed to suddenly hit the ground with an impact. I listened in to know that they will use civilians as shields if need be- don't shoot them! That is the most that I get out of these meetings anyways because they are all the same - shoot this, do not shoot that, hide from this, get this object, blow this up, and do not get killed. The General called this all to a wrap and dismissed us. I stood up quickly and left before I could be stopped by the Sangheili with the dazzling blue eyes and black skin.
As I reached my room I sat down at my desk and opened the data pad I had. I was so confused about what I am feeling and how it feels like a bond but not really one either. I just do not know for sure. I asked Orion to bring up all the searches on bond. I did not know there were so many definitions of bonds. I told him that anything with a mother and a child are out of the search. Then I noticed that there were some older definitions. My curiosity got the better of me and I start to read them. Though these bonds were of the movie and the money sense in the past. As I continued reading, I noticed the time was 2115 and I set down my data pad. I stood up and started my nightly routine, which consisted of a shower, facial routine, braiding my hair, brushing my teeth, and settling into my bed. I fell asleep with the thought of what this feeling means, maybe I should talk to Master Chief about it tomorrow.