Alternate Reality:

Chapter 5:

Location: Unidentified system:

Date/Time: 3073/2553. Mar. 5th. 13:00 GST

Disclaimer: I don't own.

I promote the use of turn signals and seat belts. )

Specter ran down the hall, his ship's interior wasn't noticed, all he saw was his watch: he was late.

Specter was late for the meeting that he himself trudged quickly on until he arrived at the door of his quarters, once he entered he grabbed his laptop and continued to run at a more careful pace. The doors to the crew's lounge parted with a hiss not quite as loud as the breathing Specter was giving his lungs.

He promptly collapsed neatly into his leather chair and set his computer on the table in front of him.

"Hello team." He panted. "We're here because we have a business transaction in process with the aliens."

Buzz laughed. "How could they pay us?"

"They don't use our money!" Another interjected.

"True, true." Specter pointed. "But money isn't everything after all."He waved his hands about.

"Well then what did they offer?" Falcon asked with an interested manner. She was quite confused, Specter had only ever done one charity mission.

"Technicians who don't need payment!" Specter beamed. "Only they still need to be fed."

"You want aliens to work on technology they don't understand?" Beowulf asked incredulously.

"It's worth a try." He opened his laptop. "We are going to bring them to Terra, and make sure they meet safely with their superiors."

"I thought they hated us." Hannibal explained. "And now they want us to be their body guards?"

"I think that was what they wanted." Specter sighed. "We offered to have their ship jump with us, but they figured we were too slow."

"Meaning..." Someone continued.

"Meaning that I told them they would have to hitch a ride with us or they would arrive there before us."

"Ok?" Shredder took a gulp of his coffee.

"Alright, sit tight and stay sharp, we'll be there in two weeks."

After the first jump, they sat in their ship waiting for the jump ship to be fully charged with its solar sails. It took a couple days, but after that they took their second jump and landed in the Sol system. The first thing Xalconee said when he saw Specter shocked him.

"How can you travel in such a depressing manner?"

Specter just shrugged. "You get used to the disappointment of losing all that understanding."

Xalconee grunted and closed the line.

"He's sure happy." Beowulf chuckled, by now fully recovered.

It wasn't long before the alien opened a line again. "Human, I need you to fly ahead and announce me as an ally."

Specter waved his hand dismissively and channeled the orders through to Castle, and the ships' captain. "We're working on it."

Falcon stiffened as Earth drew near. "Terra." she muttered reverently.

As they drew even closer, a mar was shown on the surface of Africa. "What happened there?" Hannibal asked as he shaded his eyes to get a better look.

The ships' captain's voice came over the line. "I can't get any closer with this ship, there's too much wreckage in orbit. You'll have to take a drop ship."

"That will be fine." Specter sighed. He opened a channel to Xalconee. "We are going to have to land. We'll contact whoever is in charge and indicate your help."

"That will do." His deep voice replied.

Specter ran over to the captain of his drop ship, "Detach from the jump ship and land at any major city of your choosing." He clapped the captain of the"Skippy" on the shoulder and turned to go to his quarters.

"Get organized, we can't be the sloppiest mercenaries around! We are seeing important people look your best!"

They all rolled their eyes and left the bridge as they prepared for their arrival. The elongated, rectangular like ship rumbled as the clamps that connected it to the jump ship and the ship drifted away in the micro-gravity.

The engines burned and the ship sped towards the blue and green globe.

Back on the bridge, the communications officer was holding a hand to his ear, and waving the other at the captain.

"Sir! We are receiving a transmission from the planet!"

The captain sighed. "Patch it through, Slow our descent."

On the view screen, an old man wearing an untold number of medals on a navy uniform greeted them warmly. "Unidentified ship, identify yourself or be blown out of the sky."

"This is captain Don Jekarte of the Northwind Highlanders sponsorship program." He turned around to get a view of his communications officer. He gave him a "thumbs up". "We would like to speak to the highest bidder." He laughed.

"As glad as I am that you're human, I have to wait until you are identified as friendly before letting you land." Admiral Hood crossed his arms. "Give me proof of your allegiance to the UNSC and we'll let you land, we are wary of the return of the URF."

"What if someone else puts in a good word for us?" The captain asked calmly thinking in his mind. "This is like dealing with the loyalists."

"Whose word is that?" Hood asked patiently.

"We are here on behalf of a friendly alien ship, they hired us to come to you and ask for permission to land." The captain was about to say more when Xalconee came in on the other line.

"I have spoken to the shipmaster of the Shadow of Intent, our leader Rtas Vadumee, and he has ordered me to form up with his fleet." He stated with a sigh of relief. "Seems as though we no longer need your assistance to come close. And as such, we sent a message to their leaders informing them of your support; you should be allowed to land."

"Thanks." The captain closed the channel and went to the other one, with Hood waiting patiently on the other end. "Can we land?"

"Your company is not on any of our records, we will need you to land at these coordinates and speak with the Office of Navel Intelligence before we let you go." Hood stated as he brushed his chin.

"We will comply, Jekarte out." The captain pointed at the picture of earth on the screen. "Bring us in."

Specter finished the knot of his black silk tie, with white stripes, and combed his short blond hairs before stepping out into the hall. He walked as fast as possible to reach the elevator that would take him to the bridge, and silently rode up to where the captain sat waiting.

"So, what's happened?" He inquired.

"We are landing, without payment. And we are going to be questioned, and I haven't seen you look nice for a long time." The captain replied with an annoyed expression.

"No payment!" Specter demanded. "We are the most respected division of the Northwind Highlanders! No payment?"

"No payment." The captain responded peacefully. "Technically we didn't do the job we were hired to do."

Specter grunted in annoyance and leaned against the wall. "The sooner we land the better."

The ship rumbled as it entered the atmosphere, and lasted for several warm minutes. That is when they slowed their descent and initiated the burn on their ventral jets to slow and stabalize their landing.

Specter looked out a nearby window. The sight that greeted his eyes didn't impress him as much as he expected, even though it was pretty cool.

What he saw was a large number of heavy tanks surrounding the ship, and behind them were marines with rocket launchers, and around them were light vehicles with gauss rifles mounted on the back. Every gun was aimed at the ship.

Specter smiled, wishing he could show off his arsenal as they had. But he walked over to the personel exit door that was on the bridge's level and opened the door to get a fresh view. Beowulf looked on from behind him, as well as the rest of his two lances. He stepped down and enjoyed the feel of tarmac under his feet, all that time in space had begun to annoy him.

He walked toward the obvious entrance to the nearby building, a black polished tower that gave the place a sense of power. The guard parted to form an aisle still pointing their guns in his face, but they didn't mind much, they just continued on to the doorway.

They were quickly addressed by a man with the two bars of a captain, and were led into the building by an armored guard.

"Follow me." The Captain ordered. To which they all had no say.

Specter sighed, and gave off a sharp salute. "Lead the way."

They were marched through the door, and led past the rather surprised receptionist and to an elevator at the end of a nearby hall.

When the elevator doors parted, it revealed a large room. But the captain only allowed himself to go down with two guards and two of Specter's crew.

The second trip had Specter included, with Hannibal and three guards. He didn't want to rub them the wrong way, especially because they had shotguns in their hands and a ready trigger finger. After a long ascent the doors parted to reveal the fortieth floor, one with painted hallways and offices on all sides, they were led into a nearby office that was more friendly on the outside.

Specter marveled at the change as he stepped into one of them; the room had a lone metal table and a chair on either side. But that area was closed off, the other side had a waiting area with chairs and guards.

In the questioning room was a nondescript man in a normal suit, sitting in one of the metal chairs with a pad of paper in one hand and an expensive polished black pen in the other.

Specter was ushered in, and sat down in the chair opposite the man. One guard stood in the corner behind him, and the interrogator began to talk.

"Let's begin with your name." He smiled.

"Cortana, are you sure they got our message?" The Chief wearily asked.

She didn't answer, for a long time. "Incoming message." She happily announced.

"So they did get it." He mumbled. "Play it."

"One moment, here, it is not an audio file. But a text, putting it on screen." She replied.

-----Reply to Cortana--UNSC Shipboard AI Identity confirmed.-----

---Text encripted--- Access granted.---

"This is admiral Hood. High Comm. has recieved your message of your reports.

And we encountered an unidentified group of mercenaries.

They are not the group you mentioned, these rebels you found are not listed amonsgt our records either.

They are a possible threat, stay away from them.

We are sending a ship, expect it to arrive in eight hours."

-------Message end----

"Well that's interesting." The chief stated.

"Odd, even if they sent a ship as soon as they recieved our message a ship wouldn't arrive for several days." Cortana mused.

"How can they get here that fast?" The Chief wondered.

"I'm not sure, maybe they had help from the elites, or maybe they discovered something Forrunner. I don't know." She replied. "Just try to get some rest."

The Chief just grunted in reply, she knew he would do no such thing.

"Let's begin with your name." The interrogator asked with a smile.

"Hmmm, that's a hard one. My name is... My name is, John, John Kristov Anderson." Specter replied in his sarcastic, irritating manner.

"Okaay..." He wrote it down. "What is your affiliation, UNSC, United Rebel Front... Etc."

"None, or all, I go to the highest bidder. I am a mercenary, of the Northwind Highlanders; one of the most prestegeous mercenary companies that exists." Specter waved his hand in a smooth motion.

"I see..." He scribbled down "Northwind Highlanders... Mercenary." "Are you a threat to our race?"

"No, The Northwind Highlanders has always been known one of the more noble companies, we turn down politically messy jobs." He paused, "Like fighting for usurpers, or for causes we think are unjust."

"I see."

Annoyed, Specter sighed. "Alright, who are you, date of birth, allegiance, ID number? Tell me what you want."

"Do you really want me to answer all those questions?"

"No, not all of them." He smirked.

"I didn't think so, we just was to be sure you are not a threat." He answered, leaning back in his chair.

"Then don't make us one." Specter hinted. "We are top-notch mercenaries; we make sure we can complete even the toughest missions."

"Was that a threat?" The interrogator raised his eye-brows.

"It is if you take it as one, but it may just be a warning." Specter clasped is hands together.

"You don't look intimidating."

"Just hire me, find out."

"Do you have any experience." The interrogator set his pen back to his pad.

"Yeah, I captured an enemy ship. And raided a Covenant base, I have enough combat experience to carve out my own nation... not that I would" Specter said the last part lower as he noticed the dissaproval of the interrogator.

"Report the damages."

"On the ship, I'd estimate about a hundred and fifty infantry kills, before the decks were depressurized. And on the planet, I'm not sure which, we destroyed ten heavy tanks, fifteen light vehicles, and one crab-like mech." Specter proudly stated.

"A Scarab?"

"That's what they're called?"

"Yes."

"Then yes, we destroyed a scarab." He tapped his fingers on the table.

"How, inside, or outside?"

"Who would board a thing like that?" Specter asked incredulously.

"Then we know how it was done. It must have taken a lot of firepower to kill that thing."

"We were expecting a large explosion as well." He waved his hands to emphasize. "And after about twenty minutes the thing went limp and we took cover. That explosion was so large it leveled the rest of the base."

"Well." The interrogator released a long breath. "It seems that you aren't hostile, and you have relayed the events truthfully according to the account of the Shipmaster. So, We'll let you go."

"Do you know of any hotels in the area?" Specter sighed.

"On your way out, ask the receptionist for a tourist map." The man seemed bored and ignored the idea of giving a helpful answer.

Specter stood and cracked his back with several loud snaps. Satisfied, he stepped out of the questioning room and followed the guard out.

When they had taken the elevator again, they saw the same receptionist sitting behind her desk. Specter, or John, stepped up to the desk cheerfully and grinned. "Do you, by any chance, have a map of the area?"

She glanced at the clock. "Just five minutes, just five minutes before I can leave."

Specter waited, his this but trained fingers tapping the counter like he was keying commands into a keyboard.

"Yes, we have a map." She said suddenly as if she had grown tired of his tapping, and pulled out a small folded pamphlet from a drawer in her desk and handed it to him.

"Any hotels you'd recommend?" He studied the map, until he got it right-side-up.

"Well there's the Grand Marlin hotel, but it'll cost you." She tapped her fingers, eager to leave and be done with her shift.

"I'll try that, thanks." He walked out of the building and glanced at the guard captain. "Any chance I could call a taxi?"

The guard whispered something into his walkie. "It'll be a couple minutes." He replied.

The receptionist speed-walked out of the building and ignored them all.

"She's in a hurry." Beowulf commented.

"I'm in a hurry too." Specter replied. "I would love to stay in a hotel instead of my bunk."

After another five minutes, a taxi pulled around the corner. The Australian driver looked nervously around at all the marines; but dutifully stopped by the curb.

Specter grabbed Beowulf and Hannibal and brought them into the back of the taxi. "Grand Marlin." He ordered and buckled his seat belt.

The drive was interesting enough, they got a good view of a river, and drove over an impressive bridge. And after another fifteen minutes, five of them being stuck in traffic, they arrived at the not-so-busy hotel.

They were let out and asked to pay. "That'll be a twenty mate."

Specter pulled out twenty C-bills and offered them.

"What's this? I aint tak'n that." The taxi driver complained. "I work for a living."

Specter was dazed, he hadn't figured there would be a money problem. "Fine, if you take us back you can have my watch; it's a Rolex."

"Fine." The taxi driver allowed them back in and drove them back to the base.

Shredder leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "What happened?"

"They don't accept our money." Specter shook his head sadly and removed his watch before handing it to the driver.

Sorry it took so long. This is another story chapter, but there'll be some action in the next one don't worry. Please, give me your tips, and critiques, I need them to make this readable and legible (even though it isn't handwritten.)

This did get them a little farther and towards more interesting events later on. So, live with it for a short time.

Thanks.

-Tremble Wolf