Part 3: Test Run
Year: 2543
Location, Classified, Viery Territory, Reach
Time 1000 hours/ 10 a.m.
"Ever been ground side Darien?" Zev asked.
"No this my first time." Darien replied.
Darien spoke the truth about being ground side or on planet as the saying goes, he has been above the UNSC fortress world but never stepped foot on Reach until now. Team Jester were in UH-144 Falcon heading towards their training grounds that Quinsey had set up for the Spartans.
Team Jester was outfitted with MJOLNIR Mark IV armor just hours earlier. The armor was dark gray with green accent. As they pass two large mountains they saw their location. An abandon kiva settlement sandwich in the valley. From the Falcon, Darien could see small fire teams and turret encampments.
"Looks like something Mendez would set up." Darien said.
"No, Mendez would have set up something much more...challenging." Macron joked.
The Falcon landed on dirt pad just on the outskirts of the settlement. Quinsey was waiting there in her Army uniform to greet the Spartans.
"Morning Spartans," she said, "how the armor fitting?"
"Fit like a second skin." Macron answered with Darien and Zev nodding in the background.
"Good because you're about to run some field test today." she said then pointed at a table with weapons laid out.
MA37 assault rifle, MA5K carbine, and BR55. Each Spartan then picked up which weapon they were most comfortable with.
"Here the objection, eliminate all targets and learn each other tactics. These guns and magazines are chambered for tactical training rounds. I believe you all known the rest."
Quinsey wave off the Spartans and began to walk up flight of stairs into an observation canopy. The Spartans loaded their rifles. They never seen each other fight before but whatever differences in training they possess will have minimal impact. The Spartans enter the center courtyard and meet on coming fire. With a moment of hesitation they took cover a return fire. Two soldiers drop to the ground.
"Darien, take point." Marcon ordered.
Darien nodded and began moving in front of his team mates. As he turned a corner to exit the courtyard he heard saw a soldier manning a M247 General Purpose Machine Gun on the rooftop. The marine didn't see him and Darien exploited this opportunity to take him out. Darien moved, aim, and pull the trigger. The marine was barely able to pull the trigger when he was hit and collapsed onto the ground. Darien then made a hand gesture for his team to move forward.
"How many we got left?" Zev asked.
"I counted ten before landing." Macron answered.
"I think you're right Macron," Darien said," Mendez would have made this much more challenging."
The Spartans continue to move throughout the kiva, taking out the soldiers with ease. Quinsey was amazed at how quickly they adapted even though there was a difference in age, company, and training. She always heard that Spartans were good but near truly saw until today. Spartans cornered the last soldier who in turn drop his weapon and surrender. Quinsey buzzed the alarm and ended the exercise she had the data she needed.
Part 4: Out with the Old
Year: 2544
Location: New York City, New York, Earth
Time: 1445 hrs. / 2:45 pm
Anica Quinseyreturn home to Brooklyn and sent Team Jester on a long range reconnaissance mission in the outer colonies. It was New Year's Day most of streets of the buildup city was cover in snow. Quinsey wore a leather moto jacket and jeans. Though her return home was not for a vacation instead it was a meeting with her major backer. A man named Mitch Arlington, a Major General in the Army.
After a few minutes of walk she arrived at her destination. It was hole-in-the-wall hotel sandwiched between apartment buildings. She enter the hotel and ask for the general's room.
The hotel manager gave Quinsey a second key and told her the room number. She found the room after a few minutes and open the door. Arlington was sitting on the bed and watching the news. He wore a business casual attire of white longed-sleeve shirt and black slacks.
"Second Lieutenant," Arlington asked," how your little project going?"
"As plan," Quinsey answered, "Team Jester currently on reconnaissance in the 111 Tauri system."
"I see and your little problem?"
"I just word from my source that he has been re-assigned to Tribute."
Arlington then motion for Quinsey to sit next him which she did. Arlington then began to smell Quinsey's neck and placed his hand on her lap. Quinsey wrapped her hands around the general cheeks and started to kiss him. Arlington pushed Quinsey down, kissing her, and removed her jacket.
Quinsey reached for his slacks and pulled them down. This all of course was a part of their arrangement. Arlington was from a rich family that had ears and eyes on at least twelve systems as well as allies throughout the branches. He was also a married man who was distant from his wife.
Part 5: War stories
Year: 2544
Location: 111 Tauri system, Victoria
Time: Classified
Team Jester had just first their patrol as well as their first mission. They were on some backwater UEG colony known as Victoria. There wasn't much significance to the planet since 2531 when a team of Spartans-II raided the planet to uproot a rebel camp. Team Jester following a similar reason.
Though in the end it was only some pirates whom which they easily killed. While Darien hated that he back fighting pirates and rebels, he was happy to be back on the battlefield. It was night and Team Jester had set up camp in the pirate's grotto. They sat in circle, telling some stories, and eating MRE. The team had just sent out a signal for e-vac and were now waiting.
"So was you and Zev on the same unit before being transferred?" Darien asked Marcon, their team leader.
"Yeah," answered Macron," five man team, Team Swordfish, Alpha Company. "
"First mission was to destroy some ammo site during the Battle of New Constantinople," Zev spoke," me and Mar was on point while everyone else secured the area."
"What happen next?"
"We found the site but had Covenant re-enforcements on route so we did the next best thing."
Zev smiled," We rigged their fuel rods, clustered them together with C-12, and left for cover."
"Had to been at least four hundred them mostly blue armor hinge-heads. By the time they realized it was trap the whole site was up in flames."
"Impressive but what happen to your team?"
"After Constantinople, I and Zev were taken out of Alpha, placed in counter-insurrection ops."
The three went silent for a few seconds. Darien knew about the total annihilation of his predecessors thanks to Quinsey. A costly gambit known as Operation: PROMETHEUS. While it paid off by saving countless lives and disabled a Covenant shipyard, The UNSC lost 300 Spartans that day.
"What about you Darien?" Zev asked.
"Me, I was in Beta Company, a part of two man scout team." Darien said, though this was a half true due to the secrecy of the Headhunter program.
"Mostly of our missions were insurrection ops, recon stuff like this."
"No Covenant?"
"No, we finally got our first Covenant mission and… one of us died protecting the other."
"Do you miss him?"
"Her and yes, she was like a sister to me."
"What does that make us then?" Macron asked.
Darien thought about for a second. He remember Mendez words from all those years ago. Macron and Zev were from different companies but they shared a common bond for all Spartans. They were duty bound to the UNSC, their homes were destroyed by the Covenant, and they were all brothers and sisters of the same conflict.
"My older brothers if I had to say." Darien joked.
Macron and Zev laugh a little at his answered.
"Well then," Macron said," you'll be in our care, little brother."
The Team then heard to sound of a Pelican engine coming from the west. Darien took out a signal flare a lighted it. Even if their time together has been short, it enough for Darien to trust his new found brothers.