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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT (PLEASE READ): Real quick before this chapter starts, I'd like to say that from now on I will be updating this story first on Wattpad, then I move chapters from Wattpad over to FFN.
If you wish to read this book on Wattpad, please do the following first: Type into a search engine, click on the line and follow the instructions on how to make an account, type the username Mattchew07 into the search bar at the top, and once that is done you will find the story there.
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I gratefully accept constructive criticism as a means to help me develop my skills further as a writer.
Now, onto Chapter 17 of Matt 038.
WARNING: This story contains some MATURE LANGUAGE
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN MEDAL OF HONOR OR HALO
ALL OC'S ARE MINE
Chapter 17: Training the Lone Wolf
4 years after SPARTAN-III Alpha Company OPERATION: PROMETHEUS
Location: Zeta Doradus System, planet Onyx- near Camp Currahee
August 24, 2541
1620 hours
Matt, Kurt, and Chief Mendez watched the Beta Company candidates perform an exercise where they had to ring a bell in the center of an open field. This was similar to an exercise that SPARTAN-IIs did back in training.
"Team Foxtrot shouldn't have walked out into the open like that," Matt observed. "If that happened in real life combat, they would've been wounded or dead by now."
"Your right," Kurt said. "That was a bad move by Tom to do that."
"He needs some more leadership training," Mendez said.
'I can take care of that,' Matt thought. 'I'll have to help him get some better leadership skills and battlefield tactics. Lucy also could use some help on fighting skills as well.'
What's the point of 'exercise,' Lieutanent?" Deep Winter asked.
The AI projection of an old man took a step towards the bank of monitors and touched the screen showing a boy and a girl pinned down by machine-gun fire. A crackle of ice spread over the plastic.
"The point is to have them fight together to survive. They laave to learn to become more like family than a fireteam," Matt said.
Chief Mendez stood, and swatted at a mosquito, frowning as he glanced back and forthamong the two dozen displays in Camp Currahee's control center. The air conditioner hadbroken, and all three of Matt's, Mendez's, and Kurt's uniforms were soaked with sweat.
Kurt said, "Our candidates are doing well in their studies?"
Deep Winter turned his glacier-blue gaze to the Lieutenant. "You've have seen myreports. You know they are. Since you announced their grades were a factor in the selectionprocess, they practically kill themselves every night to learn everything before they pass , I don't see—"
"1 suggest," Kurt said, "you not worry about seeing the point of my battlefield drills, andfocus on keeping the candidates on track with their studies."What could an AI possibly know what it was like on a real mission? Bullets zinging soclose over your head that you didn't so much as hear them hut felt them pass. Or what it waslike to get hit, but still have to keep going, bleeding, because if you didn't everyone on yourteam would die?
Alpha Company had lost their team cohesion on Operation PROMETHEUS. Kurt vowedthat would not happen with Beta Company.
Deep Winter ruffled his cape, and a flurry of illusionary snow swirled about the controlroom. The AI was likely programmed with human safety protocols, so it was natural for it tobe concerned.
"We don't know what they're capable of," Kurt finally told Deep Winter. "Stick with the bythe-bookdrills and we'll neverfind out, either. But put them in an impossible situation, and maybe they'll surprise us."
"Short definition of a Spartan," Mendez remarked.
That's what people had said about the SPARTAN-IIs who were the genetic cream of thecrop and wore MJOLNIR armor. They could do the impossible, and do it alone. TheSPARTAN-IIIs, though, would have to work together to survive. Be more family than fireteam.
"Still," Deep Winter whispered. "This is cruel. They will break."
"I'd rather break them," Kurt said, "than let them go out into the field without everexperiencing an intractable tactical situation."
"Personally I don't think these kids can be broken," Mendez said more to himself than toKurt or Deep Winter. His gaze now firmly fixed on Tom and Lucy. "Ten years old and thesetwo have so much grit they scare the bejesus out of even me."
"Look," Deep Winter said. "What are those two doing now?"
Kurt smiled. "I think... the impossible."
Matt saw Tom and Lucy throw rocks to distract the turrets then the two broke from cover and run towards the automated turrets while the torrents were distracted.
"Good play," Kurt said.
They watched as Tom got behind one of the turrets and disabled its automatic setting. He managed to rip the turret off its holder. The bell was on a tall pole so Team Foxtrot created a human ladder and rung the bell in the center of the field.
"Their learning fast," Matt said.
Tom then motioned for Adam and Min to take up scouting positions. Eventually, all of the Spartans teams joined Foxtrot.
"What are they doing?" Mendez asked.
"Their drawing them out," Matt said.
"Who?" Mendez asked again.
"The DIs," Matt answered.
The rest of the Spartan trainee teams took up positions in the trees and grass, watching and waiting. The DIs came fifteen minutes later. Tom signaled his scouts to fall back.
Matt, Kurt, and Mendez watched the DIs come closer.
"They don't know what they're walking into," Matt said. "They need to be careful."
The DIs approached the trainee trams with their camo active.
Tom and Lucy spotted them and shot the DIs with their turrents at leg level. The DIs screamed and when it was all over, the Spartans dragged there very dazed DIs to the center of the field and tied them up.
As night started to fall, five more waves of DIs came after, but they were all subjected to the same fate as the first three. After eliminating all of the DIs, the entire Spartan trainee defense team was fully equipped and well armed. The Spartan trainees of Beta Company tied them to the pole and used the, as hostages.
"Let's go get them out, shall we?" Matt asked.
Kurt nodded. "I agree. Matt create a distraction."
"You got it," he replied.
They walked down to the area where all the trainees were. Matt pikes up a rock and threw it around the area where Tom was. When Tom heard the noise, he turned snd sprayed the area with stun rounds from the turrent.
Mendez then clamped a hand on the young Spartan's shoulder and growled. Even from a distance of 20 meters away, Matt could still hear what he said, clear as day.
"I think that's quite enough," Mendez said while Kurt wretched the machine gun from Tom.
Kurt then leaned down and whispered, "Good work, son"
Matt started to walk towards the, when he heard a sound behind him. He froze in his tracks and stiffened.
"Don't move" a someone said behind Matt.
He turned and saw the young girl with brown eyes and hair staring at him with an M6 pistol gripped in her hands.
Matt lunged forward with lightning quick speed. He wrestled the gun from the girl and said, "I think that's enough for today, B-312."
She gasped. "Lieutenant Armstrong, sir!" she said and saluted. "My apologizes, sir. We thought you were DIs. I didn't now that it was you, Lieutenant Ambrose, and Chief Mendez coming. Again, my apologies, sir."
"It's alright, trainee," Matt said. "Next time, just make sure to take the safely off. It was still on."
"Yes, sir," she said.
"Now run along to mess hall with the others snd get some dinner. Then hit the sack."
Yes, sir."
She started to walk away, but Matt called back to her. "Wait, B-312."
She turned around to face him. "Yes, sir?"
"Tomorrow morning after breakfast, come see me in my office. I only want to talk to yo. You are not in any trouble. I'll put in a request to Lieutenant Ambrose to let you to skip the warmup. Image something else planned for you to do. Now, run along."
"Yes, sir," she said as turned and ran off.
Matt then walked over to where Kurt snd Mendez were standing.
"Kurt, can I talk to you for a second?" he asked.
"Of course," Kurt replied.
They walked a short distance away from Mendez.
"I'd like to put in a request for B-312 to skip warmup tomorrow after breakfast," he said.
"Why?" Kurt asked.
"I have something else in mind for B-312."
Kurt nodded. "Alright, it's approved. Just tell me what you see in her after you finish."
Matt nodded. "I will."
The next day
Location: Zera Doradus System, planet Onyx- Camp Curahhee training range
August 25, 2541
0900 hours
Matt was waiting for Spartan B-312 to arrive. Over the last 4 tears that he'd seen her, he had started to look up details about her early life, but he couldn't find any. It was like all the data was erased.
The door opened behind him and Spartan B-312 stepped into the room.
"Sir, Spartan B-312 reporting as ordered!" she said and saluted.
"At ease, Spartan," he said.
She lowered her hand and stood at ease.
"Now onto why I called you here. I will be giving you special training.
"Special training, sir?" she asked.
"Yes Spartan, special training. I will be training you to fight alone, to not rely on your teammates. You will be a support soldier in the field," he said.
"Support, sir,"
"A long range support where you will be far away from your teammates. You can't trust your teammates to watch you back for you in these situations. You have to watch your own back," he explained.
"I still don't understand, sir," she said.
"What I'm trying to tell you is that I'm going to train you to be a lone wolf," Matt clarified.
"A lone wolf, sir?"
"A lone wolf is someone who goes on the most dangerous missions. They go in alone to complete the mission and they have no backup. I have a feeling that you would be the perfect soldier for that role," Matt said.
"Oh, yes sir. I understand now," she said.
Matt nodded. "Good, now I want to give you a few rules before we start. One, when we're in this kind of environment, don't call me sir. I don't like formalities. Call me Lieutenant. Two, you don't have to salute me when we're alone like this. Do you understand?"
"Yes, lieutenant." she answered.
Matt nodded again. "Good, now follow me." he said as he mooned her to follow him.
Matt led her a short distance to the armory. Once there, Matt walked over and pulled an SRS99 sniper rifle off of a rack.
"Do you know what this is?" he asked.
"That is the SRS99 sniper rifle. It is an anti-material rifle that is semi-automatic and gas operated, which fires 14.5x114mm rounds. The rifle has a four round detachable box magazine. This a very powerful rifle and this is also the sniper used by the UNSC Defense Force," she said.
"Good, I see that you payed attention in your classes," Matt said as he nodded in approval. He then grabbed several clips of ammunition and led Spartan B-312 back out to the training range.
Matt had set up several plastic targets at different ranges. Some were stationary smd some were moving.
"Set up here," he pointed to a spot on the ground and handed her the clips of ammo. "Set up the bipod and load the rifle."
She set the rifle on the ground and loaded the rifle. Then set up the bipod and got behind the rifle.
"Do you remember the advantages and disadvantages to the SRS99?" he asked.
"Yes, lieutenant," she answered.
"Good, now I will call out targets," he said. "Get ready to fire."
"Ready, Lieutenant," she said.
First target, 500m, 11 o'clock." Matt called out, "Hit! Excellent shot"
B-312 waited for the another bullet to cycle through the rifle.
"Next target, 750m, 12 o'clock," Matt said, Hit again."
B-312 waited for the LT to call out the next target. "Next target, 900m, 2 o'clock," the LT cried out, "Hit..."
B-312 hit the remaining seven targets with incredible accuracy. "Holy shit," Matt murmered.
"What is it LT?" she asked. Jack turned the datapad towards him and Matt saw that he had hit all 10 targets dead center and got a bullseye every shot.
"Spartan, I think you've got best goddamn sniping skills I've ever seen in my entire life," Matt said with a big smile on his face.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
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