Halo X Mass Effect Crossover
Operation Noah
Chapter 2: R&R&D
Disclaimer: I do not own Halo or Mass Effect. All rights to both game series are owned by 343 Industries/ Microsoft, and EA/ BioWare respectively.
"They're a bunch of self-concerned jackasses, Shepard," exclaimed Udina frustrated with the Council's lack of doing anything productive, AGAIN! "We may have a spot on the Council but Humanity will always be second rate," stated Udina. "How could they be so blind?" asked Shepard just as pissed off that the Council once again has it's thumb up its ass in the head in the sand. "They're scared. They are just looking out for themselves, divide and goddamn conquer."
Both Shepard turned towards the now opening to see Councilor Spartarus walking in, "Our people are scared and we are looking out for them the best way we know how." Sparatrus continues to walk into Udina's office and greets both the councilor and the spectre. "Commander. I can't give you what you need, but I can tell how to get it," stated Sparatrus. "I'm listening."
"Primarch Fedorian has called a war summit, but we have lost contact with him when the Reapers hit Palaven. These meetings will not proceed without him. The Normandy is of the few ships that can extract Primach Fedorian undetected." stated Sparatrus with a bit of a nervousness in the flexing of his mandibles. Shepard noticed the mandibles twitch 'Hopeful it's not terrible for the turians, we will need the strongest navy' thought Shepard. She was really getting used to reading turians now, with all the help she gets from teasing of Garrus to boot.
"So far you've only explained how I can help you," said Shepard still pissed for getting nothing at all to help with the war from the Council.
"The leaders of the summit will be the ones deciding our future, the fate of our fleets, where they fight, and with whom. A grateful Primarch would be a tremendous help and ally in your bid to unite us."
'OH MY FUCKING GOD politics again! Fucking Christ, WHY CANT I ESCAPE YOU!' said Shepard shaking her head at this little deal with the Councilor.
"We're at war and you want me to play politician," said Shepard in a suppressed yell, trying to keep her cool.
"If it gets you what you need, what does it matter."
Shepard just scoffs off the councilor's statement and walks with him to the other side of the room, "Our latest intelligence says that the Primarch was moved to a base on Palaven's largest moon Menae. I've done all I can to help the rest is up to you."
'sigh. Well at least I get some type of turian help.' said Shepard thinking to herself.
Sparatrus was about to leave when he remembers to tell Shepard that she is reinstated as a spectre, and would have access to resources.
One week later
"Shepard. Damned if you aren't a sight for sore eyes," stated Admiral Anderson happy to see Shepard.
"Good to see you to sir," said Shepard formally addressing the Admiral and Father-like figure of her life.
"Sir? I may have reinstated you but that doesn't mean go all formal on me," stated Anderson in a half smile, half smirk look.
"That's more like," said Anderson in a smile. "Looks like you didn't waste any time getting to work. I can only imagine what would happen to those kids if they fallen into Cerberus hands," said Anderson with a visible frown.
"They're definitely eager to help."
"These students are some of the best humanity has to offer and we're throwing them into battle. Goddamnit I hate this war," said Anderson dripping in disgust of children in war. "Hackett didn't mention in his report..."
"Kaylee Sanders is safe," said Shepard knowing what he was going to ask. 'I didn't know you were married Anderson?' said Shepard thinking to herself.
"She's with the recruits."
"Thanks, Shepard. When I heard about the attack," said Anderson a bit relieved of her safety, but still wondered. Taking a deep breath before continuing," Well I have already lost a lot of friends."
"She asked me to tell you to stay alive."
'Chuckles'," Did she now?" asked Anderson joking smile at the underlining meaning. "Shepard, that might be the first good news I've heard this week, Anderson out," said Anderson before leaving.
Shepard left soon after Anderson's dismissal started to head back to the CIC to thank Traynor. Now arriving at the security checkpoint,' Wow, no banter between you two,' said Shepard thinking to herself about her two talkative security guards. Now in the CIC she walks up to Traynor, "Traynor."
"Commander, I just received word that everybody from Grissom Academy has arrived safely."
"We wouldn't have known about them if you hadn't picked up the distress signal. Nice work"
"Thanks. You have a message from Admiral Hackett Commander."
Shepard was going to go down shuttle bay, have a heart to heart to Cortez, but Admiral Hackett comes first.
From: Admiral Hackett
To: Commander Shepard
A small but weird develop has occurred near the Perseus Arm. Something eighty light-years into the void of intergalactic space is giving off high-intensity energy waves. Scientists and analysts do not know what it is, but given our current situation they theorize that the signal could be the device that indoctrinates the galaxy through the Reapers, or it's Harbinger along with many others theories. There is nothing we can do about it at this time, but it's good to know where your enemy is, Hackett out.
'Bastard, makes my life a living hell and he's in dark space sitting back eating GODDAMNpopcorn watching us survive his goddamn onslaught of space zombies,' said Shepard angrily at the screen. 'Hopefully, they don't take anything out of Sun Tzu's book' said Shepard remembering a quote from him,' If you are near the enemy, make him believe you are far from him. If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.'
Now leaving to go talk to Cortez about his husband,'The last thing we need is the Reapers to develop an actual strategy.'
Same time on Maethrillian/ The Capital
The stasis pods slowly begin to open to reveal eight super soldiers slowly starting to regain consciousness of being under for a whole week. The Spartans start to move and make an effort to stand upright but to their surprise no disorientating effect of being under for so long. After a good minute all the Spartans are up and a bit hungry. Offensive Bias' disembodied voice was one of the people to greet them and the huragok assigned to their care," Reclaimers you have awaken. Floats Too Low has informed me that the procedures are a major success," stated Offensive.
"One thing, why do I have both of my eyes," asked Margaret on not having her cybernetic eye anymore.
"We repaired your eye for the augmentations that you would receive reclaimer," said Bias answering her question.
"Give us a shakedown," said John.
"Of course reclaimer. First, we had to fix a lot of the injuries you had in battles. Pinched nerves and blood vessels, minor rib fractures, missing eye, primitive plasma burns, scaring of early augmentations, and many others."
"Long list," stated Linda knowing at she was the one with all of the plasma burns.
"The heaviest augmentations were done on your bones with a more advanced carbide ceramic. Your height was altered to be more intimidating, capable of wearing your new armor, and carrying more of the new weapons with ease."
"Muscle tissue density was increased by ninety percent, your eyes can see for seven to ten miles, see in the dark, and more capable of seeing invisible targets. Your nerve system was increased by two hundred percent," answered Bias.
The Spartans were getting into feeling around their new augmentations and incredible height of eight feet five inches being the tallest Spartan (John), and everyone else around eight feet four inches tall. The Spartans are fully out of the pods and stretching their bodies until one of the Spartans starts to... growl?
"Oh uh lunch anyone?" asked Otto. Everyone agreed with Otto.
"Please this way reclaimers," said Bias opening a teleporter to a restaurant on Maethrillian. They come out of the other side and are greeted with an open view of an ocean. Around the Spartans are white-clothed tables that are organized around the room and lining the wall with the ocean view. There was cutlery, fancy animal-shaped napkin, and fancy glasses for each plate. The chairs were a pale brown-golden cushion chairs, walls painted pure white with golden tan curtains, and checkered pure white and golden tan ceiling.
'Whistles', "Fancy place," said Kelly looking around at the fancy restaurant that is surprisingly human?"Great view, might take a dip. Want to race after lunch John?" asked Kelly jokingly.
"Maybe, you are the fastest Spartan on land, but at sea? I don't know if you be able to keep up," said John answering jokingly back and getting some chuckles from everyone.
"Now there's the competitive side of John we all know," stated Fred.
Everyone proceeds to take their seats all over the ocean view sitting area two by two. "Offensive, I take it that you have plenty of human food rations and otherwise?" asked Fred now thinking on the possible food problem.
"Of course, we have the food products of the whole reclaimer area of space, and knowledge of how to raise them and grow them, and how to cook to the highest of standards reclaimer," said Offensive answering the question.
"No more rations, good change of pace," said Linda.
Offensive then opened little slits on the table to reveal a menu. Offensive explains the menu is a list of different types of cultural food like American, Italian, Asian, Latin, and etc. John and Kelly ordered some seafood of grilled salmon, steamed crab legs, coconut boiled clams, and steamed lobster with seared mushrooms. Linda and Fred ordered an American made Chicago deep dish meat-lovers pizza. Otto and Margaret both ordered Italian, but Margaret ordered chicken fettuccine alfredo, and Otto ordered a large bowl of spaghetti & meatballs. Roma and Victor both ordered double-stack cheeseburgers with fries.
Both teams of Spartans were done in minutes and ready to do a daily work out to test their new augmentations in many different ways. Margaret ordered Black team into a one hundred mile run in ten minutes or no dinner tonight. Blue team went down to the beach to do a ten thousand yard breaststroke race. Fred and Linda were going to monitor who won the race and asked offensive if the suites are waterproof. Of course, they were and they would be getting new ones designed for them and their later that day. John and Kelly were ready to start the race and with a signal from Offensive the race started and Kelly was off to an early lead. She was in the lead for the major part of the race, but the nearing the end John caught up with her and they were in a head-to-head race to the beach.
"Who do you think will win," asked Fred to Linda on the race between Kelly and John.
"John," responded Linda with swiftness.
"You sure? Cause I'm pretty sure that Kelly is going to win."
"Want to bet?" question Linda with a smirk already knowing the
"I'll leave that to the marines," Fred replied now see them going head-to-head.
Kelly and John continued there head-to-head race to the very end. The race was close, almost a draw but John won only by the tiniest of margins.
"Best two out of three?" stated Kelly asking for redemption for her loss.
"I would like to see our maximum strength without our suites," said Fred not willing to see them race again.
"Yeah, Offensive. Does this station have a weight room, gym," questioned Linda thinking on how many pull-ups she can do now without being interrupted by active duty and war.
"Of course reclaimer," Offensive replied to her question through a local sentinel in the area.
"Please go through and see if the gym will accommodate you to your liking," said Offensive heading through a teleporter, and Blue team soon followed him through. They were greeted to a massive room full of different machines and plenty of space for free lift area.
"Wow. Did Margaret tell you about our weight rooms?" asked Kelly looking to dry off to only find she was already dry and no sand on the bottom of her suite.
"Yes, she did reclaimer. It was in our talks with the warrior of Black team leader when they agreed to deal with this annoying tragedy. It is absolutely wonderful that humanity still has the best warriors." replied Offensive.
Blue team started to do a high-intensity weight lifting with five tons of added weight for pull-up crunches, with three sets of one hundred fifty. Three sets of one hundred fifty weighted dips, and pull-ups of three sets of two handed and one handed pull-ups. Bench press was next and had special made bars to support tons of weight (200 tons) for lifting, but the weights were made from hardlight where Offensive could easily increase the weight of it. Blue team started off with forty-five-ton bench press to only find that it was too light to get a proper workout. That was when they saw Black team come out of the teleporter and started there own workout of pushups.
"So, who isn't getting dinner tonight?" questioned Linda remember what Margaret said.
"Luckily no one is going hungry tonight, everyone completed the marathon under ten minutes," said Margaret responding quickly to Linda's question.
The rest of blue just nodded in acknowledgment and continue their workouts respectively. Blue was informed that they can now lift up to one hundred fifty tons of weight by Offensive. Both teams did full body workouts for the next two hours when Offensive asked them to go to the armory and shipyard. Both teams were a bit excited in what upgrades they got to their armor, weapons, and new ships. They walk through a portal to see a pair of Infinity-Class Supercarrier Skeletons, meters above them with Sentinels zooming about putting on pieces of armor on the ships. They could see other ships being made or were already built but they couldn't tell. A monitor came flying down to the teams, "The armory is that way reclaimers," said Helix Sole gesturing to the far end of the shipyard. "The blue highlighted doors is the armory" stated Helix Sole. They continued to walk to the other end of the shipyard to the door as it dematerialized upon approach. They walked in to see eight massive pods that they couldn't see the contents in them (There display cases). Weapons of the UNSC, Covenant, Forerunner, and other weapons that didn't look like modern human weapons on tables to their direct right. The Spartans were gazing upon the weapons when their chain of thought was interrupted by Offensive through a large three-eyed shell of different colors. "Welcome reclaimers. I hope you will enjoy the weapons and armor that I have created for you today," stated Offensive.
"Show us the weapons first," stated John.
"Of course reclaimer. Your government prefers to use projectile-based weapons, so I and Helix Sole redesign the weapons themselves and the fired projectiles. All of your reclaimer government weapons are all now gauss-based weapons and fires titanium-tungsten tipped carbide rounds. Weapons like this one," said Offensive lifting up the MA5D ICWS before continuing, "Weapons like these have a power core to power the electromagnetic coils, coolant for the heating that it will cause."
Offensive handed over the rifle to John and inspected it before continuing, "Fires caseless rounds and has an increased magazine size of sixty-four rounds," said Offensive when he opened up an area in front of them that look like a firing range.
"This might feel lighter than our MA5," said John still inspecting it for a few seconds and then aim down his sight on the targets down on the rifle range. John fires his weapon with little difficulty of emptying the entire clip on multiple targets.
"This weapon is impressive."
With that, both teams started to look at all the UNSC upgraded weapons and asked Offensive of the weapons specs. Linda and Kelly were the first to ask about their respective weapons.
"Tell me about the two shotguns?" asked Kelly inspecting the M90 CAWS.
"That is what you would call the M90 Heavy Assault Close Assault Weapon System. It is a heavier version of your close combat weapons of twenty-five tungsten pellets in non-electromagnetic shells, carries fifteen shells in its under barrel. The next one, M45, is the more tactical and carries ten shells in the under barrel.," responded Offensive now turn to Fred examining the Battle Rifle and DMR."That weapon like all of the others have the same components, systems, same or lighter frame, and extended magazine."
"Both variants of your sniper rifles are mostly the same with the exception of tungsten carbide rounds. Both are still anti-material rifles, but this rifle," stated Offensive seeing Linda inspecting the sniper rifles of the SRS-99-series five sniper and the M99 old gauss-based sniper of the early covenant war. "Is more in line with anti-infantry and anti-vehicle with it's larger tungsten rounds."
"Reclaimer, I would recommend to put it on a stabilizing bipod to fire it," said Offensive to Linda as she aimed down the sights of the M99 Sniper rifle.
"No need," replied Kelly firing the massive rifle with a big kaboom on the impact of the target.
"Yeah, a bit heavy to be carried around in serious engagements."
Offensive went on to state the specs of the other UNSC weapons, and with both teams testing them. Offensive continued to tell both teams about the weapons before them.
The standard assault rifle MA5D made into the MA5GD ICWS assault rifle being a gauss based weapon with a very powerful power core and capacitors to keep up the continuous firing of the weapon for a whole two mags of ammunition. The weapon has an advanced cooling system for the barrel, coils, and the power itself. The rounds fired from the rifle is a caseless titanium-tungsten carbide round of 7.62 by 51 millimeters AP rounds (Armor-Piercing) and a mag size of sixty-four rounds total. Has a smart-link system to the upgraded Mjolnir armor systems.
The standard battle rifle BR85 heavy barrel service rifle is the BR85 GHBSR battle rifle in gauss-based weapon system with its own power core and capacitors. Fires in a burst fire mode, and fires 9.5 by 40-millimeter rounds of HP-SAP (High-Powered Semi-Armor-Piercing) rounds and has an extended mag size to forty-five rounds in a magazine.
The newly made M395 DMR is now based on Gauss technology and fires titanium-tungsten carbide 7.62 by 51 millimeter AP (Armor-Piercing) rounds with an extended mag size of twenty rounds each. Its barrel is completely covered for the exception to the muzzle and can be silenced and have a sniper like a scope.
The Magnum or the M6H PDWS was a bit difficult for Offensive and Sole to upgrade to Gauss-based technology for the magnum's small size, so it had to be sized up to fit the power core, coolant system, and electromagnetic coils. They were successful in their attempt to fit the systems in the magnum. The M6H PDWS now fires 12.7 by 40-millimeter SAP-HE (Semi-Armor-Piercing High-Explosive) rounds in an extended mag of ten rounds each.
The railgun was the easiest weapon to upgrade to Forerunner grade gauss-based weapons for being already a railgun. The railgun is made into the Heavy Anti-Vehicle/Infantry Asymmetrical Recoiless Carbine 920 with a power core replacement, coolant system, and better capacitors. The Railgun now have a top loaded magazine of three round tungsten harden 16 by 65 millimeter HE (High-Explosive) rounds.
The two shotguns are the M45D Tactical Shotgun and the M45E Heavy Tactical Shotgun are both made to incorporated Forerunner gauss technology. The M45D is upgraded to fire 12 gauge shells with a fifteen-count tungsten pellets in non-electromagnetic and high heat resistant plastic shells. The M45E is made into a Heavy Tactical Shotgun for its custom-made shells and carries twenty shells with twenty-five pellet shells in it's under barrel and has non-electromagnetic, high heat resistant plastic shells.
Both sniper rifles were also quite easy to upgrade to Forerunner grade gauss based technology, but the M99 Stanchion was already a gauss rifle so Helix upgraded its coolant system, replaced the battery with a power core, specially made ammunition, and upgraded to a rifle of anti-infantry/ vehicle. The SRS 99-series-5 Anti-material has the same features as the Stanchion, but not it's anti-vehicle application. The M99 Stanchion fires ten rounds of harden tungsten 20 by 119-millimeter AP-HEI bullets. It's lesser cousin SRS 99 fires 14.5 by 114-millimeter rounds in an extended magazine of eight rounds each.
The submachine, M20 PDW, had to have an entire remake of the weapon to fit the gauss-based technology that Offensive and Helix wanted to fit into the weapon but had to make the weapon a box like weapon with a bullpup design and a top-mounted magazine (Looks like the P-90). The remade M20 PDW now fires one hundred rounds 6 by 28-millimeter titanium-tungsten carbide bullets.
The M739 LMG is now upgraded to gauss technology and carries one hundred rounds. The LMG can fire magnitude of varies bullets of titanium-tungsten core AP rounds, titanium-tungsten carbide HEI-AP (High-Explosive-Incendiary Armor-Piercing) rounds, and tungsten HV-AP (High-Velocity Armor-Piercing) rounds of 7.62 by 51-millimeter bullets.
The M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle or Spartan Laser has been higher upgraded and even had some of its weight shaved off. The Spartan laser now sports a power core instead of its battery. It can also fire more shots and it is technical have a unlimited ammo for only focusing the power from the core onto diamonds with every little lose of the diamonds.
The M57-PAW Rocket Launcher has an upgraded payload and the explosives are encased in tungsten of the 60 by 157-millimeter HV-HEIMP (A/N: Don't know what the 'MP' in HEMP stands for, but here's my guess for this weapon 'High-Explosive-Incendiary-Multi-Purpose') dumbfire and lock-on twin rocket. The rocket launcher has a fast lock-on firing mode.
The MLRS-1 Hydra Launcher has an upgraded payload and better tracking for locked-on targets. Every little has changed of the weapon's purpose outside of its payload and extended magazine of eight total gyro rockets.
The M247H Heavy Machine Gun is now firing titanium-tungsten carbide rounds of 12.7 by 99-millimeter HVIHE-AP bullets. The heavy machine gun no longer needs a belt-feed backpack, but a box feed ammunition of three hundred rounds, and an extra large coolant system for keeping the weapon cool. The HMG can also fire the same rounds and much larger rounds than it's LMG counterpart.
The M9 HE-Dual Purpose Anti-Personal Frag Grenade has upgraded explosives and is filled with tungsten filaments
Offensive continued with the covenant, Forerunner, and the laser-based weapons of UNSC design. Covenant weapons have upgraded power cores and ammunition of the plasma rifles (Storm, Repeater, and type-25), the ammunition for the needler and needle rifle have upgraded special built crystalline shard are thinner, can carry and fire more shards, and has better tracking. The radioactive materials of Covenant weapons have received gotten upgraded radioactive material to make it more potent. The forerunner uses hardlight ammunition in their weapons, and laser weapons in the UNSC designed weapons of the assault rifle, battle rifle, DMR, sniper, and submachine gun. Helix would have made a laser-based shotgun, but the overheating problems were too much for our expedition.
"Wow. Did you bring back the M247? What does the 'I' for in the Heavy machine gun?" question, Otto.
"That would be High-Velocity-Incendiary-High-Explosive Armor Piercing rounds," replied Offensive.
"No kill like overkill," stated Victor smirking at the pair of UNSC sniper rifles.
"Indeed, but what about our armor?" asked Margaret.
"Of course reclaimer," replied Offensive flying over to the eight cylinders before continuing, "I have highly upgraded your armor to match the level of high ranking warrior-servants, Class 18 combat-skin or what a one Doctor Halsey would call Mark X. We kept the look of your original armor. This combat skin has the most powerful shield a warrior-servant can get, shields can be manipulated into different object and melee weapons of the wearer's design, slipspace storage, upgraded polymerized lithium niobocene for the wearer's reaction time by seven and lifting capacity. Built-in gravity lifts, and compulsion system for evasion and limited sustained flight. The undersuit has a gel-layer for protection from the elements extreme heat, cold, vacuum, any and all bacteria and environmental hazards, and EMP blasts. The crystalline layer has been upgraded to Forerunner standards to carry your AI. Once you reclaimers are synchronized into the combat-skins it can be called upon or removed at will. "
"How many weapons can we store in slipspace?" questioned John before continuing, "Where did you get the name Doctor Halsey from? We didn't tell you anything about her."
"Your ancilla had some memory untouched and uncorrupted by rampancy and the Abyss. The Ancilla had some notes and writes for an ambitious plan for Mjolnir from Doctor Halsey. I and a group huragoks looked the notes over and find it quite easy to inaugurate the upgrades into the Mjolnir armor systems. There was a sidenote for aquatic uses, but the Class 18 combat-skin is already completely sealed and can supply oxygen up to twelve hours."
"And Cortana?"
"The ancilla is up and able, but some chunks of her memory are gone or corrupted beyond recovery, and the huragoks are still removing the composed."
John said nothing just in thought about what he would have to tell her to fill in the gaps in her memory. Offensive asked the reclaimers to remove the medical suites and put on the combat-skin under armor. They complied and put on there new undersuit. Offensive lowered the armor using microgravity lifts to the eye level of the reclaimers and the teams proceeded to put on the armored boots when they were lifted up a foot off the ground and had the chest plating was raised over them and slowly lowered down and locked in placed. Both teams knew what was going on, it was a lot like the S-Deck's spartan equipment station. Knowing this the next armor was assembled on their legs and locked on, followed by the armored gauntlet, gloves, and shoulder plates. Now slowly being let down to their feet after all armor pieces are in place except for the helmet.
"There were a few features that just needed a simple upgrade and that would include, Mag-lock boots, mag-lock for the carried weapons, and upgraded radar & motion system, built in cloaking, and tungsten daggers in the forearms."
Both teams were checking for kinks or uncomfortably tight joints. John and blue team were still wearing there iconic GEN two armor, but black team was sporting something different. Otto was wearing a very bulky and large armor set. His shins were massive and thick, his gauntlets were bulky, and his chest plate was massive with a cylinder like compartment. John noticed this and he knew the armor somewhat, it was Jorge's armor.
"Otto."
"John?"
"Remember to honor him for his fighting spirit and sacrifice, Spartan."
"Spartans never die! They're just missing in action!"
Everybody else spoke up," For her." Everybody was speaking on the defense of their home and how hopeless they were to stop the glassing of their once beautiful homeworld.
Margaret is now wearing a new PATHFINDER-Class Mjolnir armor with a blackout visor. Victor wore a Hunter-class Mjolnir armor with a special feature of having Promethean vision even while aiming down sights. Roma was wearing a COPPERHEAD-Class Mjolnir armor with added ab plating.
Both teams were checking their armor kinks and uncomfortable knots in the undersuit. After they were done checking their armor, Offensive had them go out to the shipyard and to the right of the armory to the vehicle bay to see the redesign of some of the UNSC vehicles. They were greeted by a huge fifty-yard door and bigger interior, but their sights were settled on various range of vehicles in the bay. Helix soon joined them and greeted them, "Welcome reclaimers!" exclaimed Helix with glee.
"I shall be giving what you reclaimers call a 'shakedown' on your vehicles."
Helix started off with the heavy air transportation that the UNSC used, the Condor. Helix told them that the pelican was insufficient for transportation of the upgraded armor it will be carrying, too little armor, little to none offensive capabilities, and carrying capacity of warriors was lacking to say the lease. The Condor is now the mainstay all around transport ship/gunship. The Condor now sports a twin chin-mounted eight barrel GAU/53 tungsten 70-millimeter rounds, with a belly-mounted highly upgraded Spartan laser, spinal mounted 100-millimeter SBHVC/DM tungsten shell gauss turrent. It's carrying capacity is now extended to carry twenty-five personnel. The new additions were an upgraded Slipspace drive core and powerful shields.
Next was the M12 FAV or Warthog with added shields, better cooling systems, slightly better armor, and better engines. The first warthog was the LRV (Light Reconnaissance Vehicle) with a new chain machine gun of six barrels of gauss based technology, firing titanium-tungsten carbide rounds. Right next to it was the M12G1 or Gauss Hog with a better anti-vehicle cannon that almost would qualify for it being a mini-mac. The Rocket Hog was next but this hog as said by helix has all around tracking and lock-on systems. Meaning it can now lock-on anything that moves infantry and vehicles (Air and land) can be targeted without the need to lead the target. The last Warthog was the newest addition to the Hog family, The Sword hog. Like the needler and needle rifle of the infantry, the sword hog could fire the dumbfire crystalline shards out of a specially made chain machine gun to fire the shard (same as LRV).
Helix stated that John Forge had a good idea on making the Grizzly tank the UNSC new MBT. Blue team assumed that she got from Cortana's memory banks. Helix continued to state the capabilities of the newly made M850 and the Scorpion M820 with upped size chassis, 180-millimeter smoothbore twin Gauss cannon while one for the Scorpion, better armor, Shields equipped, chain machine/grenadier turret (must be operated separately), and fires IHE (Incendiary-High-Explosive) tungsten shells. Next to both MBT were DEW (Directed energy weapon) counterpart. These two tanks had its main cannon able to focus and direct energy to a target, much like it's an M6 Spartan laser but bigger.
The next one in line was the HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Mantis system, boasting twin eight barrel gauss based machine guns on its right arm, firing tungsten 20-millimeter HE-AP rounds. The mantis had to be upsized due to the size of the Spartans. Carries eight tubes of missiles with HE tungsten shell-missiles. Has an upgraded power core for stronger shields and larger cooling systems. Next to it was it's own Hannibal counter boasting all the same missile pods and DEW machine guns instead of projectiles.
AV-49 VTOL or Wasp was next and also had to go resizing. The wasp was now sporting twin quad gauss based 20-millimeter autocannons firing titanium-tungsten carbide rounds, better shields and cooling system, and tungsten HV twin quad missile launchers. It's Hannibal twin sports the same as weapons and systems outside of the DEW machine guns.
The new upgraded GA-TL1 Longsword with its brand new M9109 tungsten ASW/AC 50 millimeter double-twin wing mounted MLA autocannons, a chin-mounted ten barrel GAU/53 tungsten 70-millimeter MBHRC 360 degree autocannon, carries twenty HV-HEI-AP tungsten shell ASGM-10 missiles, and three SHIVA nuclear missiles. The longsword, of course, had better armor, but it isn't better than the ship grade instead of having much better shields. Unfortunately, the Longsword still doesn't have a slipspace drive. Two extra and upgraded reactor and engine.
YSS-1000 has highly upgraded engines, reactor, shields are equipped, slightly better armor, and a slipspace drive core. Twin chin-mounted GAU/53 MBHRC 70 millimeter tungsten carbide rounds, right-wing mounted M1024 ASW/AC 30 millimeter tungsten HV-AP-HE rounds and two twins belly-mounted ASGM-10 HV-HE tungsten shelled missiles.
The newest bird to the UNSC, The Broadsword, got a few upgrades with a better shield system, a new cooling system for its anti-ship weapons, tungsten rounds and missile shells, better armor, new and better reactors and engines for speed in and out of the atmosphere, and in system only slipspace drive core. It's most intimidating weapon is the new triple eight barrel chin-mounted M1075 ASW/AC 35 millimeter autocannons, and a higher missile carrying capacity of the ST/MMP missile delivery system.
Both teams were awed by the sheer firepower of the new vehicles and had to test them out at once that Helix was done and had the team put into simulators to test the weapons and vehicles on simulated targets. That went on for a couple of hours of testing the weapons and vehicles. To say they were very pleased would be an understatement. The Broadsword performed well above expectations, along with the Condor, Longsword, the sniper rifles, and both MBTs.
Both teams were now complete in the testing of weapons and vehicles, and now back at the vehicle bay. Since they didn't say anything about who will lead, talk to the local leaders, and if the locals are hostile against them. If what Offensive said about the galaxy and their tech tier level then they won't be much of a problem (A/N: This is my fuck up with not doing this earlier on who shall lead. I think you know already).
"That Broadsword will eat through any ship in her way!" said Otto with the excitement of feeling her shake from the firing of her main cannon.
"And it's unimaginably loud. I could hear it through the canopy of my Longsword cockpit," said Margaret stating a mere fact of the matter.
"Yea same here. The Sabre needs tweaking for it's turning speed is too slow. I told Offensive to fix the fins when it's in the atmosphere can't test it in a zero-g environment." said Fred
"All the new toys are great in all, but what happens when we get to this galaxy?" asked Kelly.
Margaret was the one to answer her, "We told him we wouldn't be able to take down a new galactic threat that could destroy all life in the neighboring galaxy. So, the idea was to have two Spartan teams and legions of dumb A.I.s that would control the Promethean Knights, pilots of fighters, bombers, interceptors, and warships. However, we still need someone to be the commander for the ground operations."
Everybody was silent for a few moments until they started to look towards John's direction. He caught on to his fellow Spartans' looks and spoke up on what he thought about it.
"Guess third times the charm when it comes to saving the galaxy, but I'm not going to be the one doing all the talking. Especially if it's politics."
"Yeah the one place that Spartans are not needed," said Kelly.
"And the one place we might find ourselves at if it is early in their war," stated Roma.
"Helix, what is the situation with the warships and their overall readiness?" questioned Margaret a bit ready to hear what she did to do combine the UNSC/ Forerunner made ships.
"Of course reclaimer. The first two ship is your reclaimer government's Infinity-class supercarriers, a Fortress/Infinity class Supercarrier Battleship, and a Domination core seed is ready to build it's ship when it has the resources to build the rest of ship. I have eight of your stealth vessels, the Prowlers, in the last stages on completion. I am in the middle stages on building and completing twenty Autumn-class heavy cruisers, twenty Marathon-class heavy cruisers, ten Valiant-class super heavy cruisers, five Punic-class carriers, fifty Strident-class heavy frigates, forty Midlothian-class (modified to be heavy) destroyers, and fifteen Orion-class assault carriers. We would have removed your orbital insertion vehicle of the ships with teleporting to the surface, but it is with caution that we keep all of our options open if teleporting isn't viable to us."
"Domination core seed? what is that?," asked Linda not knowing that it was the ship that attacked Earth not even a month ago.
"The Domination-class super heavy Battleship is the go-to command ship of heavy fleets during my creators' war against the Flood. The core seed of the vessel is to repair and build anything that it will need to stay functional and ready. It comes preprogrammed to build sentinels to gather resources from any source of materials, wither or not its an asteroid, planet, moon, or another ship that is confirmed to be non-friendly. We also remove the need for a cryptum to operate the vessel," stated Helix responding swiftly to the question.
"The other ships, what are the new capabilities of them?" asked Roma.
"The two Infinity-class supercarriers are going to be the semi-heavy hitters of when Offensive Bias' dreadnought, Vengeance of Orbital Life is in play. The Infinity-class will have highly upgraded systems to a high-medium standard for Forerunner vessels. The ships have the state-of-the-art slipspace drives, shield, and super dense titanium armor. The MAC guns on the bow can fire at least three times in a row. It can fire the same type of ammunition of one thousand ton slugs and can travel up to fifteen thousand kilometers per second with a special MAC slug that carries thermite charges (THEI-HV-AP). The missile systems were reconfigured to be all around the top and the belly of the ship. On the top of the ships' spines are Forerunner missile systems for any type of combat, ship-to-ship, ship-to-starfighter, or ship-to-ground. Also on the top section of the ships are plasma torpedo launchers, but mostly on the sides of the vessels. The defensive guns of the ships have been shrunk down to have less of a visible profile and upgraded to gauss-based technology. The weapon systems of the Fortress guns have tungsten HV-HET-AP 70 millimeter rounds, the Mark 2551 Onager can fire a seventeen pound tungsten and depleted uranium slugs at seventy thousand meters per second, AA guns have more potent incendiary rounds of 20 by 102 millimeter HEI-AP tungsten rounds, the guided missile system was thrown out by the where missile systems and replaced by a network of anti-ship pulse lasers, and the addition of anti-air sentinel beams. The nuclear launchers aren't needed and have more room for plasma launchers. The ships still have their complement of ten Strident-class heavy frigates in there underbelly."
"The other ships have the same upgrades with the exception of the carriers and assault carriers have the Infinity-class MAC guns. The Midlothian heavy destroyers are made into a fast attacking destroyer with its twin MAC guns and all other systems removed and replaced with forerunner missile systems for an endless supply of missiles and ten twins (x20) plasma torpedo launchers. The MAC guns on the non-carriers and down have MAC guns that fire around seven thousand eight hundred kilometers per second and can fire smaller slugs that the carriers can fire."
"Great improvements," said Linda.
"Now on to the Fortress/Infinity-class supercarrier battleship will be done in four months if the tech tier analyzes is correct we will be fine, if not we can always finish the ship in time for any major problems. The hybrid ship has eight bow MAC guns, two top-mounted retractable super MACs that have the muzzle velocity of twenty-two thousand kilometers per second, a belly-mounted heavy ion cannon, large hanger the assault carriers and any down in size, thousands of missile pods from both Reclaimer government and forerunner missiles. Hundreds of Gauss, laser, and sentinel-based ship-to-ship guns alongside ship-to-starfighter, and ship-to-ground guns. Plasma torpedo launchers number in the hundreds. The vessel itself will be one hundred kilometers long, twenty kilometers wide, and thirteen kilometers tall; furthermore, alongside said ships I had to do some resizing."
"The Strident-class heavy frigates of being 585 meters in length, 130 meters in width, and 120 meters in height. The Infinity-class supercarrier is now 6 kilometers long, 840 meters in width, and 1,050 meters in height. The Autumn-class heavy cruiser is now 1,440 meters long, 392 meters wide, and 440 meters tall. The Marathon-class heavy cruiser is now 1,200 meters long, 300 meters wide, and 500 meters tall. The Valiant-class super-heavy cruiser is now 1,530 meters long, 383 meters wide, and 510 meters tall. The new Midlothian-class heavy destroyer is 700 meters long, 300 meters wide, and 275 meters tall. The Punic-class carriers are now 4,200 meters long, 812 meters tall, and 653 meters wide. The Orion assault carrier is now 2,240 meters long, 620 meters wide, and 671 meters tall."
"Thank you, Helix. That will be all," said John pleased with what he heard and what they will be getting for their services.
With that Helix left to continue her work while John goes to see Cortana and the rest of the teams continue on with the testing of already completed weapons and vehicles. Cortana was not very well at all, but that was only with her need to fill in her missing memories that have been destroyed on the Mantle's Approach. John took his time with Cortana filling her in on past, recent, and their current mission on hand. Cortana was intrigued by the idea of going to another galaxy but was also worried about the UNSC track record of first contact with alien species. It would take some convincing that John agreed to it, but getting forerunner built ships and tech would be a great addition to the UNSC Navy, the rewards outweighed the risks. Cortana would stay with the surrounding huragoks for the next two days for the composed in her still in her systems and turn her into a Metarch-class ancilla and make four other Metarch-class ancillas. John was done with informing Cortana of her missing memories and returned to blue team in the Hardlight firing range testing the new weapons and he in short order joined them. This lasted till they tested all of their weapons and had Offensive build some of the covenant weapons with more comfortable stocks. Tested the shields of the vehicles and was pleased to know that they were all very sturdy and tough to penetrate with it taken three quarters of a charged Spartan Laser to get past the shields, another four shots to get past the armor, and three more to destroy the vehicles on the ground and more for aerial vehicles.
Both teams were done with the rest of the day testing the vehicles and weapons for their liking. They went to the weight room to work out and on the orders John to workout till 9:30 o'clock and after they were done head to the restaurant for dinner, and after it was showering, armor off and on their special racks and lights out.
One week Before Arrival...
"Hell of a thing you just pulled off, Commander. Curing the Genophage, I never thought I'd would see the day," stated Admiral Hackett with an ever so slight smile on his face.
"Wrex has agreed to help the turians, Admiral. We should get their full support," said Shepard responding to Hackett's statement.
"I take that leaves the salarians out of the equation?"
"The cost of their support was too high, sir," said Shepard with hidden anger of the Dalatrass crappy way of dealing with things.'I made a promise to Wrex to find the cure for his people on Virmire so many years ago, and I don't make promises if I cannot keep them' said Shepard thinking to herself.
"Well, I'll defer to your judgment on that, Commander. Let's hope we don't need them." 'They'll need us.' said Shepard mumbling to herself after Hackett's words.
"There is a recent development, Commander. The high-intensity frequency signal has gotten closer to the Perseus arm and is now within twenty light years away from the galaxy."
Shepard was a bit piqued by the signal and what it was, "What exactly is the signal, Admiral?"
"It is still unknown to us, Commander. The scientist that somehow still have spare time and sensory equipment say that on LADAR they picked up three objects of unknown origins entering and leaving out of nowhere like 'they don't exist'," stated Hackett quoting the last part.
"Sir, What do you mean?"
"As the scientists explain it, they are there then they are not. The three objects just disappear without a trace; however, Hawking radiation would pop up when the objects enter and leave the sensory range, but it would leave shortly after. They have not a clue who or what it is, Commander. I'll keep you posted, Shepard. Hackett out."
Shepard now leaving the comms. room and to the war room is greeted by Primarch Victus, "Commander, Urdnot Wrex has begun sending troops to Palaven. You kept your end of the bargain, and now I'll keep mine," said Victus greeting the commander with a firm handshake. "The Turian Hierarchy will stand with humanity against the Reapers."
"I'm glad we could help each other out. It's the only way we're going to defeat the Reapers."
"That much is certain," said Victus now walking with Shepard towards the other side of the room to leave."To that end, several dry-dock ships are ready to help build the Crucible. Garrus will coordinate," stated Victus and giving Garrus an order, and him nodding in approval.
"When the time comes to deploy it, the full measure of our fleet will be there for Earth," stated Victus now looking intently at the hologram of the incomplete crucible."May the Spirits watch over us all."
With Victus now leaving returning to a ship on standby, Garrus has a chance to speak to Shepard," I'll start managing turian support right away, Shepard. You must be exhausted. Mordin dying, it can't be easy."
Shepard was quick to respond," No rest for the wicked"
Garrus chuckled a bit at her response, "If there is one thing that I know about you Shepard is that you are not wicked."
Shepard said nothing, and he continued, "We both know you need a clear head to win this war. There's no room for mistakes here," said Garrus comforting Shepard."You should catch some shut-eye. Besides, I know where you sleep. We'll wake you if anything comes up."
"If you insist," said Shep a bit unhappy that she has pushed into sleeping 'That kid. I don't want to see or think about the poor boy, the most affected by this DAMN WAR!' said Shepard angrily thinking to herself while walking. Shepard was in the middle of her thoughts when she had an idea, "You know Garrus it gets a bit cold in my cabin, I could use some warm to get me to sleep faster," said Shepard with a slight smirk and eyeing of Garrus to take the bait.
"I'll send someone to give you blankets and a heater," said Garrus, oblivious to the offer that she gave to him. 'Goddamnit' said Shepard mumbling to herself as she pouts and walks off to her cabin to get a good nights sleep.
(A: N- Sorry for the long wait, but I had school, work, club work, possible future projects (Other crossovers ;) ), and multiple revisions of this chapter and story as a whole. I shall continue onward and forward with this story. To the people that believe that this is going to be a Halo wank, just you wait and see there will be trouble afoot for Blue and Black team. If people have some ideas I'm willing to listen.
Unknown Guest: Yes I know that, but trouble will be heading their way (NO SPOILING!). I figured that they were virtually silent no matter what, but I thought they would be more camaraderie with their fellow Spartan 2s. They are brothers and sisters in their eyes, right, family?
Carlosxvx: No they won't. Spartan 2s only share names with fellow Spartans, Dr. Halsey, and Franklin Mendez.