-Report from a UNSC vessel to Admiral Hood-
"This is Fleet Admiral Gren. From the looks of it, the Covenant fleet is firing on it's own ships. Something about this doesn't seem right."
"Noted. What's your status, Admiral?"
"Well, our shipboard MAC gun is working, but all of our Archer Missiles are gone. It's about the same for most of the ships out here, I think."
Time: 1025 Hours
Date: 24, October, 2552 (UNSC Calender)
Location: Voi Marine Base, Kenya, Africa
Earth, Sol System
It had taken longer than she thought it would to get her back in armour. However, it seemed fate smiled on her. There had been other Spartans on Earth a while ago, and a shipment of the new Mark VI had arrived for them. Of course, the one here had been sent out before the armour arrived, so Tamura ended up taking their place. "Sleek." Lariana said, looking over the Spartan from a holotank. It took Tamura a second to recognize her, as it had been a while since she had seen the knight-like AI physically. "Anyway, I've uploaded all the information I could about what's happening. Apparently while we were gone, the Chief has been busy."
"I am aware of that."
"Well then, once I'm back in your head, I'll display the data on your heads-up display. Just touch the tank."
The Spartan looked at her quizzically and the AI laughed. "Recent advancements," she began, "allow me to transfer to any system within a certain distance of my current location. Of course, that means they must be almost touching." Though hesitant, Tamura did as the artificial intelligence wished. Energy crackled around her hand, then a very familiar feeling. A sharp, cold sensation. It was uncomfortable, but easily gotten over. She had survived quite a long time with an AI within her mind.
In a flash, data streamed in front of her eyes, explaining the Flood, some sort of parasite, and the events on Halo. As interesting as she found the data, the woman couldn't help but think it had been ever so slightly glorified for John. "Oh, while I'm processing it, the highest ranking officer here, Lieutenant Colonel Malcom, requested you and the Chief meet with him when everything was taken care of. I'll alert him to your coming."
John-117 and Tamura entered the briefing room of the small Marine base. Within was a man that looked like he was in his late thirties or early forties. His brown hair was greying, but the man's black eyes were battle hardened. Both Spartans addressed him with a salute. "Master Chief Petty Officer Spartan-117."
"Senior Chief Petty Officer Spartan-122."
"At ease, soldiers." Malcom said with a nod. Standing from the chair he was in, walking around something like a table or an over-sized holotank. "As I am sure you already know, there is a Covenant movement heading towards our position. What you probably don't know is there we're already understaffed. I'm not gonna sugar coat it. We can't fight off all those aliens." There was a strange silence. Like when there is no sound, but noise still echoes in the air. Like the calm before the storm. "Lariana told me that you are looking to kill a Prophet. When this is done, I'll send a fire team with Commander Keyes to help you get to it."
He gave a nod, wordlessly dismissing the Spartan-IIs that he was meeting with. There was much planning to be done for this attack. They wouldn't be taken by surprize. Not if he could help it.
A/N: I'm just going to stop there. My brain is melting with a lack of ideas, and no combat is part of it. Anyway, please read this story and review. Who knows, it might stimulate my brain into producing ideas. Oh, and thanks for those who have reviewed so far.