Ch 5
Landing at the capital, they headed towards the Arbiter.
"Yank me, Chief." Cortana said.
John pulled out the AI chip, and Cortana appeared in her 'human' form.
"You'll get frostbite if you stay out to long." Halsey jokingly said.
Cortana held her hands out, feeling the snow touch her, much like a flesh and blood person would.
"This feels incredible." Cortana said.
I'll never know if it looks real. Or if it feels real… promise me you'll figure out which one of us is the machine.
Chief winced at those words. Cortana reached out to him in her time of need, and he unintentionally pushed her away.
John didn't take his helmet off, but instead removed the armor on his hands. He grabbed some of the snow, and let it rest in his hands.
"That stuff is cold. No wonder they froze to death." John said.
"Who froze to death?" Cortana asked.
"During the war, the Covenant attacked an ice planet. It was freezing, and the covenant didn't have orbital support during the time. Snipers and ski troops picked them off, and the freezing cold did the rest." John said.
"That's nice to know." Palmer said.
To everyone's surprise and amusement, Cortana lay in the snow and moved her arms and legs to make a snow angel. John could only smile under his helmet.
"Chief, your turn to make a snow angel." Cortana said, getting up.
Chief grabbed Palmer's two plasma rifles and aimed them at the snow. He then fired them in a precise pattern, watching the heat melt the snow. When he was done, he handed the rifles back.
"That's how a Spartan makes a snow angel." Chief smirked.
"Nice to see you're adjusting to normal activities." Halsey said.
"You created him." Palmer retorted.
Come on, Chief. Take a girl for a ride.
Chief pulled Cortana closer, and she rested her head against his armor.
"Chief, I hate to interrupt you and Cortana's honeymoon, but we'll be approaching the Arbiter soon." Palmer said.
"If it was a honeymoon, me and Chief would be fucking. A lot." Cortana said.
"Cortana." John said, as she went in the data chip.
"Just saying. Palmer needs to get laid." Cortana said.
"It would help her attitude problem." Halsey added.
Both Spartans facepalmed at the same time.
"I hope there's some covenant left to fight." John said.
Thel watched as the trio approached him. The middle figure caught his attention.
"Spartan." He said.
"Arbiter. It's good to see you again." Chief said, approaching him.
"You two, Spartan." Thel said, shaking his hand.
"Arbiter, we've encountered a forerunner artifact. I suggest you destroy it." Cortana voiced.
"What kind of artifact?" Thel asked.
They entered the Arbiter's tent, and Chief plugged in the data chip. Cortana appeared, along with the guardian.
"This is what the Forerunner's call a guardian. It is used to patrol galaxies and planets. It's capable of great power and destruction." Cortana said.
"The covenant will not get a hold of this. They're on their last legs, and we'll crush them." Thel said.
"Arbiter, if we try to activate this, it could turn against us and destroy the planet. I recommend we destroy it via glassing." Cortana said.
Arbiter glowered at the AI.
"You suggest we destroy something we could use against our enemies?" Thel asked.
"You know damn well what the Didact did when he captured the composer! What would stop him from destroying Sanghelios once he was done with Earth?" Cortana asked.
Thel quieted, knowing the full story.
"Very well. Once we're done with the Covenant, we'll destroy this guardian." Thel said.
"When do you need us?" Chief asked.
"The Covenant are on their last legs. We can handle them. But if what you're saying is true, then you'll need to destroy this guardian. You Spartans will have to handle this." Arbiter said.
"We'll need one of your capital ships. Unless you want a nuke detonated on your own soil." Chief pointed out.
"You'll have my assault carrier." Arbiter said.
"Thanks. We owe you one." Halsey said.
As the humans headed to the shipyards, Chief and Cortana spoke.
"Well, Cortana. You wanted me to take you for a ride." Chief whispered to her.
Cortana laughed uncontrollably, startling everyone else except the chief.
"Of course, Admiral. I can see your next position. Sitting in the captain's chair of a covenant or UNSC warship, giving orders to the crew." Cortana said.
"After we stopped the didact, I was briefed by UNSC higher ups. Hood said I could have any rank I wanted, including admiral." Chief said.
"A Spartan admiral. Now that would be something." Cortana said.
"If you two are done with your pillow talk, we have a ship to take." Palmer said.
…
Shadow of Intent-CAS assault carrier
The ship was ran with a minimum crew, and the humans were on the bridge.
"Never thought I'd be serving on a covenant warship." Buck said.
"Things change, Buck." Lock said.
Chief sat in the captains chair, having the same thoughts as Buck. He was leading the Spartans for his entire military life. Now, he was commanding one of the most powerful ships in the galaxy.
"Admiral fits you nice, Chief." Cortana said, appearing next to him.
"Cortana, patch me into the ship. Have to make a message." Chief said.
"You're in, Chief." Cortana said.
"This is the Captain. We've discovered a forerunner threat in the southern continent, near the south pole. We will glass the area until the threat is gone. If anyone has problems, leave the ship now." John said, cutting the comms.
No-one left, much to the Chief's relief, and confusion. He'd rather not push his luck, and ordered the ship into high orbit.
"You think the arbiter will let us keep her?" Buck asked.
"Doubt it. Property of the Vadam keep." Vale replied.