Chapter 15
1200 Hours, May 15, 2525(Military Calendar)/Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Complex, Planet Reach
The amphitheater at the Naval Academy on Reach was packed with young men and women filled with the excitement that follows the tough times at the academy. In the back sat a Lieutenant who was reminiscing of his own times at the academy. After Simmons' graduation, Dr. Halsey was waiting for him and Amacus. Now it was the other way around.
"…You have done all that we asked and more. I congratulate you all on your success." Dr. Halsey sat down and the announcer resumed the ceremony.
"Valedictorian," he droned, "Ensign Fhajad." The crowd cheered and the shaking ex-Spartan was wheeled to the stage. After the excruciatingly long list of names and the throwing of the hats, the newly christened Ensigns and Second Lieutenants were dismissed.
"I'm surprised to see you here Lieutenant." Dr. Halsey had spotted Simmons from the stage and sought him out.
"Why should you be surprised, you sent for Me."?
"I thought you'd have been sick of me and my summons by now. Oh, Lieutenant, I think you know Ensign Fhajad." She gestured to the Spartan she had been conversing with before she found Simmons.
Simmons saluted promptly and replied, "Congratulations Ensign."
"Thank you sir," he replied as he returned the salute to the best of his ability. Then he turned and resumed his conversation with the Doctor. "You need to delay the tests ma'am. The CPU interface and the optical crystal aren't ready yet. You'll probably kill the subjects."
Simmons had no idea what they were talking about, but this was obviously an appeal to the Doctor's conscience, which must be going mad lately, since he calculated her personal death toll at… fifty odd subjects killed, a dozen wounded. How can she sleep at night? Simmons wondered. If she had a conscience, she had it under control.
"Nonsense Fhajad. The AI simulations say it's going to work. And the Lieutenant here is going to prove it."
"What is it now Doctor?" he asked with a grin.
"I need you to test my Mjolnir armor again," she said in a whisper, though there's no way anyone could hear them over the chattering cadets.
"Again? …I knew that wasn't an ODST drop suit. What is the Mjolnir armor for then?" He was eager to fill in the gaps in his limited knowledge.
"It's for the Spartans. But maybe, if you're good, I'll let you keep one." Her usual sarcasm was laced with something else. There, just behind her eyes. What was that? Apprehension? Fear? Simmons didn't think the Doctor was capable of such emotions.
"Don't do it Lieutenant. You might live to regret it. Oh, before I forget, can I ask you a question sir? If you could select any field in the Navy, what would you pick?"
"A friend asked me that once. My answer's still the same. Astrogation."
"I can't serve aboard a ship sir, but thanks any way. Maybe I'll do astrophysics…" Fhajad then left to celebrate with his fellow cadets.
"Do you accept my offer Lieutenant? I think you'll enjoy it."
"Fine Doctor. I'm in. I'm glad you asked my opinion this time though."
"We'll be in touch Lieutenant." With that, Doctor Halsey turned on her heel and slipped into the crowd.
1600 Hours, May 15, 2525(Military Calendar)/Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Complex, Planet Reach
"And be sure to keep them on the fitness regimen."
"No prob LT," Dominique answered.
"Oh, and if you see the Spartans again, use the same pairs as last time."
"Ok boss," O'Donnell replied.
Simmons was busy packing as he gave his orders out. The Doctor had given him six hours notice. Six hours. What was she thinking? As Simmons mused, Omni poked his head in the door.
"Hey boss, can I say something? Its about yesterday."
"Yes Marine?"
"Its that Spartan girl, Linda. She's amazing boss. She can see a grasshopper on a twig four hundred meters away, and if you asked her to, I think she could hit it. I've never seen anything like it sir."
"While we're on the topic, I think Sam knows more about those weapons than I do…" O'Donnell thought out loud.
"John's no pushover either Lieutenant," Dominique chimed in.
"Well, I'm glad you guys like the Spartans. We're going to be seeing a lot of them." With that Simmons waved off his men and hopped in his Warthog on his way to Fairchild Airfield.
The MP's at the gate checked Simmons' identification and thumbprint and he was ushered in. "Proceed to the passenger's terminal Lieutenant."
"Thank you Marine." It turned out the 'Passenger Terminal' was a single prefab barracks, since the airfield specialized in fighter aircraft. In the terminal, Simmons sat down next to an eager young Second Lieutenant, who may well have graduated just hours ago.
"Sir!" the eager young Marine shouted.
"At ease," Simmons said as he returned the salute.
"You headed to the Midsummer Night too sir?"
"How'd you know?"
"I think that's the only outbound Pelican from here today."
"Very observant Lieutenant. What are you doing on the ship kid?"
"I can't tell you sir. My objective is classified."
"I get a lot of that. Well, looks like its time to go." The viewscreen flashed 'Pelican Romeo Thirty Six Departing' and Simmons and the new Marine ran out to the awaiting drop ship. Romeo Thirty Six was sitting on the pad out side the barracks burning its jets, and Simmons was forced to crouch up to the rear of the aircraft.
"Sir! I'm Chief Sanchez, and this is the direct route to the Midsummer Night! Take a seat and we'll be off in a minute!" The Chief made last minute checks while Simmons and the Second Lieutenant strapped themselves into the crash seats and attached their duffels to the recessed D-rings in the floor. The door to the cabin was sealed, and Chief Sanchez was forced to ride in the back. As he cycled the hatch closed, the pilot's voice came over the ship's intercom.
"Romeo Thirty Six to Fairchild Control. Taking off from pad 9 and using orbital ascent pattern Delta."
"Roger Romeo Thirty Six, radar is clear, you're green to go."
"The Captain likes to put the radio traffic over the intercom, so the passengers know what's going on. It really helps the nervous fliers." Sanchez explained. It appeared the young man next to Simmons was one of those nervous fliers.
"What's your name kid?" Simmons asked.
"Lieutenant Roy, sir." The young kid seemed about to lose his lunch right there at 50,000 feet, but he held it together.
"This your first trip to orbit Lieutenant?" The Crew Chief asked.
"Uh huh. Ohh…"
"My first time up, I blew chunks as soon as we hit zero gees. It floated around the cabin the rest of the flight, and it was a pain to clean, let me tell you." Apparently Sanchez had prepared this story for just such an occasion. The concept of cleaning floating vomit didn't appeal to Roy, so he resolved to hold it in.
2000 Hours, May 15, 2525(Military Calendar)/ UNSC Frigate Midsummer Night. Exiting the Epsilon Eridani System en route to the Chi Ceti systemHalsey seemed to have a habit of taking large quarters on board ships. She must have taken the XO's quarters this time. Simmons was surprised when Lieutenant Roy followed him to Halsey's room. If Halsey hadn't said he was allowed in, the senior Marine would have accused him of being a spy. Of the three other occupants of the room, only one was a stranger to Simmons. He wore a Navy Lieutenant's uniform with the name 'Keyes' embroidered perfectly.
"Lieutenants, this is Lieutenant Keyes. He'll be our Navy correspondent on this mission. Upon arrival on Chi Cheti 4, we will proceed to the installation and test the equipment as quickly as possible and get you back to your units. I don't want to risk any information being leaked, so we will not discuss the matter any further while on board. The whole ordeal should take two standard weeks, round trip. Thank you gentlemen, that will be all." Halsey ushered them out of the room and closed the door practically in their faces.
"Sirs, I'm still not feeling well, so if you'll excuse me." Roy proceeded quickly down the corridor in search of a head.
"Let me guess, his first time in orbit?" Keyes asked the Marine.
"That's what he said. Have you known Dr. Halsey long sir?" Simmons asked.
"I think she'd tell me that information's classified. But yeah, I've known her a while. You?"
"Long enough. Any idea what this escapade is about?"
"No, she likes to be dramatic. Do you know this new Lieutenant Roy?"
"No. I don't know what he's here for, but I'm sure the Good Doctor has her reasons." Though Simmons was several inches taller than the swabbie, this man Keyes was still an intimidating presence. He had an aura of command about him, and the Marine guessed it was his quarter's Halsey had taken.
"What do you do on ship sir?"
"I'm the second in command. Commander Wallace needs someone to sit in his chair while he naps. What do you do on land Lieutenant?"
"I command a platoon of ODST's sir. Best in the Corps."
"ODST's huh. You must be darn good Lieutenant Simmons. Come see me around 0600 tomorrow in the Officer's Mess and we'll trade stories about the 'Good Doctor' as you called her."
"I'd like that sir."
Simmons and Keyes spent the week becoming better acquainted, and by the time they reached Chi Cheti they were the best of friends. While the Doctor was their original topic, they soon moved on to the academy, astrogation, and battlefield tactics. Keyes was glad for information on the fledgling ODST program, and Simmons enjoyed hearing tales from the bridge. Keyes said he never saw Lieutenant Roy, but Simmons saw him every morning in the gym.
Considering how much time he spent in the gym, the Lieutenant seemed the perfect specimen of a normal Marine. He wasn't big but he wasn't small. He seemed neither fast nor slow. Simmons called in a favor and had Aaron hack his file. Second Lieutenant Jason Roy graduated exactly in the middle of his class at the academy, and scored the median score on all his PT tests. He was typical in every way. Halsey had found the average Marine. She had procured the perfect guinea pig.