Wake me up tomorrow… at sea
(It took 6 months but hey I'm back! Sorry for such the delay, this was supposed to be destroyed but, guess what? I've found an older copy lying in one of my school H-Drives which had the lost chapter. I went back and started a full rewrite to get this one finished, and also I'd like to thank a lot of other guys who's given me a great idea, and it won't involve the Chief yet… So we're going on to the future! Hope you guys enjoy and also this will be only one of a few, many more are still weeks back.)
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The walk through the docks to the embassy was one thing Jacob had been kindly used to, when the covenant disbanded was the time when he had visited some worlds, this was not as different. Seeing as most of the area was packed for the arrival of the UNSC, many races clamouring to speak.
To captain Cutter he was having a difficulty adjusting quickly of the sights and sounds, the amount of alien species was not as threatening though which made him relax a little from the fact that he was not going to get attacked.
On the walk with the Spartan IV, the team were completely on the lookout but kept weapons on their holsters, the situation was not as different to an escort for an ambassador from sanghelios, but the fact was there were fewer things around them got them open eyes for possible snipers.
The Spartan II were having the most difficult time trying to adjust to the rapid changes, the sight of the aliens kept their eyes on everything, but their priority was defending the doctors and Thel'an, but Thel'an was unlikely of needing to protection.
Haley and Anders were discussing the alien structure around them, it was so different to see such things, and Anders had compared what the forerunner buildings were like and comparing them to the Covenant. It was a long debate as Haley discussed so much of the beauty of one forerunner world she visited; it was a garden world with much flora.
When they arrived at the embassies of the council races they headed straight for the human embassy.
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Inside the embassy the entered the large pristine white rooms, Udina and Anderson began to ask questions to Cutter and Jacob.
"So what, is the specific reason for your arrival?" Udina asked.
Jacob decided to start his recount of events. "We're from an alternate universe, as hard as that may sound to believe, and unlikely of getting back home, the technology that allowed us to get here is damaged and highly unlikely of repairing anytime soon which is why we came here."
"Well, the council might ask you about this technology in your report, but why are you here specifically? Why not go to Alliance high command?" Anderson asked inquisitively.
"We came because we decided that a direct answer or direct permission would be better than waiting in dock at alliance command. Besides we have our reasons." Jacob stated cautiously.
"So this is just your way of getting our attention?"
"No and yes, we are here just to ask for permission for assistance on our situation, but also to appeal for…"
"Free reign within the galaxy as a separate race and power from the HSA?" Anderson asked.
"Not in the way that you'd imagine, we are cautious captain Anderson, there is high chance that your military has been corrupted as our intelligence had been very accurate. And we came to a decision to arrive here for a lot of precautions, there was a high chance that someone may try to access our technology." Jacob said.
"What nonsense, how could anyone infiltrate the entire alliance command structure without being detected?" Udina asked.
"How about infiltrating the government next to it, then paying off the structure and giving their agents access to your military and then filling the lining of corporate businesses to get them additional funds by instigation of conflicts?" Jacob deadpanned.
Udina was surprised that the captain knew more than he let on.
"We don't want to risk our technology falling into anyone else's hands, but we will appeal for assistance or asylum in council space or independence." He stated.
"So then you don't want a direct affiliation to the alliance?"
"No, that would not be advisable, but we still like to retain relations with humanity here."
"That could be possible; the alliance command may be able to be lenient your way but many officers won't be happy, if you can change the scales of support." Anderson said.
"That would help, but I still don't like the fact that there's a chance our tech could fall into the worst possible hands, no race had yet proven that they can be trusted, so we'll only trust those who we know best." He replied.
"Well we better head to the council chambers soon; we have the report and an explanation to give." Udina said.
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Council tower
The walk up the tower was simple it was a straight turn to the right of the presidium down the walkway overlooking the lake, it was then that they headed straight for the tall spire. The talk with the council was not as simple though. Moving along the stairs the group arrived to face an interesting scene, a dozen guards and a spectre standing in front of the council.
The delegates, who were Captain Cutter and Jacob with Thel'an, were the main people the council wished to speak to.
Moving forwards the council began the meeting.
"This session of the council is now active in welcome Captain Hartman and Cutter and greetings to Commander Thel'an. Your appeal for assistance has been heard, though we are confused as to your arrival." The asari councillor said.
Cutter decided he would answer the question for his ship.
"Thank you councillor, my crew and it's reasons for arrival was due to an anomalous energy well my ship encountered, as to how we decided to exit, our strategy was calculated to a simple push, arriving here is nearly impossible to explain, so I'd let my ships AI explain." He said, as he didn't realise the look on the faces of the councillors.
But before they could speak, Serina took to the stage, materialising on the holographic projector for communications Serina entered.
"Well greeting councillors, I am Serina…" She never did finish.
"An AI, what… sec…" The turian councillor was just about to panic.
"Calm down, I'm solely here just for the explanation of my ship and crew." She said the turian councillor simply shut up.
"Well seeing as the niceties are well and truly gone, yes, I am an AI of my ship, but I'm only here to represent myself and crew."
Anderson and Udina was not sure as to how they should react, the AI was in the plain open area and scaring the council and security. The asari councillor recovered fast enough to ask.
"So you are the representative for your kind?" She asked carefully.
"Yes, and no, I just represent my crew and my fellow AI and androids, though Cyrene is in the rear."
"An android, you have an android?" The salarian asked.
"Damien is a single android, but he is like us, as organic, but not as personified."
"But he is under control, isn't he?"
"Of course, well he does have freedom we make sure to check on him, now are we going back to topic or do we have to dance about other topics for the next 5 minutes?"
"Alright, back to your call for assistance, we will need to consider your asylum, however if the alliance is willing to provide assistance you may choose to consider a position with the alliance." Maelon the salarian stated.
"It's alright, as much as we like to join the rest of humanity, we would rather remain neutral, or somewhat independent, the UNSC is willing to remain a neutral power as well as an independent one."
The turian councillor managed to recover his manhood just enough to ask. "There is however, a need to identify any hazardous technology you may be carrying and weaponry. You and your kind are different that doesn't take a genius to figure out, which is why we would like at least time to go over reports for some of your technology or proof."
Serina looked not too surprised. "We will provide relevant data and information, but there is no chance we will be willing to give our technology to you, there are something that needed to be learnt by yourself if you ever felt like it, and only Captain Jacob and Cutter may be given approval of such technological information to be disclosed."
The salarian asked again. "Is there a chance that some information to your arrival is given to us, so we may be able to understand your situation?"
"Yes we have already prepared a proper report that you would be able to refer to one that would simplify the mechanics of our arrival."
"Very well, we will see to it that you and your crew remain welcome guests within the Citadel until another meeting can be decided upon, as evidence is needed to be considered."
"Thank you for your hospitality." Serina said before vanishing.
"Right, we will stay at distance, until our next meeting." Jacob said, before courteously dismissing himself.
"This meeting of the council is now adjourned." Tevos stated.
Serina jumped back to the ship, with almost every eye watching her, the local CNN-Council News Network broadcasting the amazing events to the whole galaxy.
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Udina and Anderson were both talking as they returned to the embassy; they turned to talk to Jacob and Cutter.
"Are you mad? Brining an AI to the council chambers, we could have had a 'political shits storm'."
"Well we didn't, and I would have thought you would have at least been a little more supportive to our situation, however all of this, it's been done, so you need to get over it, we have more pressing matters at hand."
Udina looked as though he could pout about this all day.
"The council will continue our meeting in about a few days and go over any information you can provide them with, though if you want independence, they'll be happy to oblige you."
The captains left the room, with their retinue of Spartans, they'd head to their own things soon enough. The captains had alerted the ships to scan for anything out of the ordinary from here on in including civilian transports.
Cutter wished to send the 10,000 crewmen off for shore leave, but Jacob went against the idea, if his gut feelings were correct, that would only stir trouble. It was then decided that he'd send his special force team of Helldivers off for a break along with any Spartan that wished to take an observation of the citadel.
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Helldivers- Disclaimer to StTheo of Deviant Art who permitted the use of suits, and to Bandai and Sunrise for other character names, I was bored.
Soren Ibrahim- Commander of the helldivers 21st, he's a hard boiled marine since his recruitment over 9 years ago, he is also one of the youngest ever recruited, having some of his augmentations at the age of only 12. He wears a full striker gear and night frame designed suit. ACA01 Striker
Lyle Delany- Second Lieutenant of the squad, he happens to be the sharp shooter of the force and carries a SR-MA-Judgement Scope-X99. He is cold and calculating, but also a sharp marine with years of combat experience, he has a number of ranged weapons. He wears SSC02 type long ranged scout armour.
Kyle Delany- First Lieutenant of the squad, he is the best long ranged sniper and twin brother to Lyle, he is considered to be nothing short of amazing. He wears the SSC01 Scout armour with hood and reflective armour and shield emitters, he is stealthy in almost every mission, there is little to know of his demeanour though.
Allen Uren Haptic- Sargent Major, his demeanour is very vibrant as he finds no middle ground to what he finds purpose in fighting for. He is a CQC expert and a brilliant pilot. His suit is an ACA, medium Assault Combat Armour.
Tierra Erred- Major, a deep thinking tactician, he commands most of the squad in battle and carries the heaviest weapons. Cropped purple hair and green eyes, light skin and a very lanky build, he wears a HBA/01 Demo class armoured combat suit, it is pale in design and has the UNSC Helldivers printed on the shoulder guard. He carries a TMMG Custom MMG- Medium Machine Gun:
Equipment Specs-
MMG
9.52mm AP/AT/APIT Rounds
ACOG 3x optical zoom
Sat Tar System IR
Belt feed
TPMK6
Breaching pad
Magnetic Bayonet Claymore M140
Flash Grenade munitions
Frag/Incendiary
SCS- Tactical pad
AIISCS AI smart system input for tactical operations in battle
This was the squad to leave the ship, they and Spartans were to head on about around the Citadel, it was though that the C-sec members almost staggered back in fear when they witnessed the walking marines with death masks and combat suits, they had enough weapons to start a small war.
C-sec asked for them to remove their weapons, but Soren dismissed them and only asked Tierra to set his heavy weapon down at the ship, when he came back he carried a long barrelled LMG with grenade launcher.
"Look sir, we…"
"No offence, but the Citadel council has yet to include our weapons, on top of which I might add that we are military personnel, so I'd suggest that you stop interfering with our shore leave." Soren budged past.
The other helldivers followed him without even noticing the turian officer stand there and gape at the sheer size of the troopers, he couldn't do a thing to stop them, and they were damned taller than him by a full head or two.
He reported the situation to the council and stated that the helldivers were heading to the wards.
More C-sec officers arrived down to patrol the situation, but it seemed as though nobody in their right mind dared to approach the 5 heavily armed individuals.
They went down past the lines of shops, some of them going to see what were for interest, and there was also a group of UNSC marines accompanying them. They split off into groups and joined back every so often, the C-sec teams jumped to follow each group.
It was only when after 3 hours they arrived at Chora's Den, a marine named Lazoroski suggesting that they enjoy some local ale, the group arrived there in number, the marines and their helldiver compatriots except Tierra took some seats at the bar.
"Hey got any good drinks?" Lazo asked.
"Depends, how strong can you handle?" The turian bartender replied.
"Anything that a human can take will be fine for me." He replied.
"Okay, 7 shots of Nova Ale, on the house."
"Huh?"
"Well you guys are from the report on the arrival of your ships? Some alternate universal thing?"
"Ah that, yeah that's us." He replied.
"Well this ones on the house for you guys, just our hospitality for newcomers of the galaxy." He replied.
"Thanks mate." Lazo said.
The marines enjoyed the drinks, with a couple ordering something else, C-sec was watching on the other end of the bar, the Spartans and Tierra standing around. It was only a few minutes later that something happened.
A slightly rowdy male started getting agitated over an argument of the first contact war.
"Look here you scale faced prick, the council only buttered us up because they wanted to avoid any so called issues with the war, if it hadn't been be-…"
The equally drunk turian replied.
"We didn't know, the council forced the hierarchy to consider a passive gesture and made us give up the fight even though we didn't think to do so…"
Their argument became a little rough only minutes later with the human grabbing the garb of the other being that was when Lazo went over and asked.
"Something wrong gentlemen?"
"This scale face prick won't admit it was his race that started the first contact war."
"Well it wasn't you stuck up moron."
"Okay, so how about you two just sober up before I put you both down?" He gripped their shoulders hard.
That was when the drunk slung his fist wide, Lazo had been in bar fights before, he ducked and kicked the stomach of the drunk and kneeled him to the floor and did the same to the turian, they both went out like lights.
"Is there any place to get these two idiots sobered?" He asked.
The bartender pointed to the bathroom, and then watched as a couple of patrons moved them off, the marine sat back down and ordered another round.
C-sec made the report and checked on the other patrons, they were happy to see that no one else got hurt, or the UNSC marine beat the two into bloody pulps.
"So who want's ice cream?" Lazo asked his two other friends.
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Miranda Lawson watched in absolute humour at the sight, she sat just opposite to the sight and drank her asari wine without so much as missing a beat. Thee UNSC marines were alright in her books if not rough on the edge and absolutely blunt.
She kept her eyes on them and their compatriots; they blended into the crowd almost well, except the death masked soldiers with odd shaped visors and armaments. They looked as terrifying as an army of blood thirsty krogan.
She could tell that some of those soldiers were augmented and definitely experienced, the other soldiers were experienced but they weren't augmented, not in any form significant as far as she could tell, but they had some long history.
She'd report this to the Illusive Man as soon as possible, this group of people are an interest in his case, and they've clearly gotten access to some significant technology. And besides, she liked to know that there was at least someone she could relate to, on the more personal level.
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Back on the ship, Thel'an and his comrades were discussing their situation, and if it was necessary to include all of them as part of the UNSC or as their own separate force. Thel was happier just to call them as a separate force, due to their unique situation.
"Well if we're to call ourselves not part of the UNSC, then shall we go as the New Covenant?" Bariee asked.
"That does sound reasonable, however we are sharing a ship, maybe we should ask Captain Jacob to let us use one of our own, I'm sure that our presence here may cause some concern to the council, if we do declare our independence as the New Covenant." Thel suggested.
They all murmured in agreement, except the Ungoggy.
"But sir, what about us, don't we get to say anything?"
"What about you?"
"We'd like to be part of the New Covenant, but we're still part of the major work crew for the lower decks, is there compensation or a union cut if we're to leave?" One smart grunt asked.
"Well that depends, are you on work choices or just union?"
They all looked and asked the 2000+ crew and said.
"Work choices by a majority."
"Well you'll have to go see Captain Jacob for that, we only have Union here."
"Damn." They all said.
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Serina looked at her new attire; she got it out of one of the older 2550s catalogue from a Crewman Jones who let her flick through the categories manually. She had already gone through a dozen sets and now she found one she liked, it was a long sleeve with smooth form fitting sleeves with frilly braces, and there was a short shirt underneath and a black pair of tight trousers, she liked it.
It was only such a shame that almost all the Spirit's engineers kept staring at her; she liked the attention, but not the constant ogling of her. She still had no idea what she wanted to wear; she went over another set, which was labelled 'swimwear'.
It was only when she began to put on the category clothes that she instantly regretted it.
"CREWMAN JONES!" She screamed.
(Lucky Crewman…)
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Shore party 2 left the loading bay and headed for the nearest market to look for a small set of materials required for the ship, they ran out of iridium and a lot of repair metals required for a full maintenance of the ship. They were only out for 5 minutes before they were swamped for deals.
The market became very crowded in the wards as the team moved along, one psychic they had, had to move everyone out by pushing them with her barrier seeing as she constantly had to shove. They visited the 3rd shop with no luck; they were far too pricy on quantity rather than quality.
Kale had almost enough of scraping in with nothing; he even had a credit chit to pay for materials. The group continued on along the rows of shops, he grumbled frustratingly.
"Why can't there be a simple low to medium priced shop that isn't owned by one race or another?"
His sangheili bond brother Korsee replied with a low chuckle.
"Possibly because were in the lower reaches of the more quaint civilian light, these people are no better than scavengers in our eyes, but then again, they haggle just as good as any Jackal."
They both laughed, the reality of such standards was quite rare, and now they found a place literally packed with vultures of all kinds. (If you know what the actual Jackal race is then you'll know what they're talking about.)
They paused as they noticed a bit of a scene, three people with a small group gathered.
"I'm telling you, we didn't steal anything." A fully suited woman yelled.
"And I'm telling you that you did, there was no way that those new Omni-chips could have gone missing, the shipment was in my shop over an hour ago." A turian shopkeeper yelled.
Korsee and Kale approached the group and asked.
"What is the situation?"
The female in the enviro-suit replied.
"This turian is accusing me and my friends of stealing a small group of new Omni-tool upgrades."
And the turian replied angrily.
"That's because you did, one moment as soon as those boxes arrived and I stacked them on the sides and have to go see a customer and you come in and then while I'm busy then goes out, and then I go check on the box and it isn't there."
"That's because we were looking." Another suited being woman replied.
The C-sec officer in charge stated.
"That's all they've said, but this shouldn't be your business, all new races shouldn't be intervening in matters like this."
"Well we'll see about that. Where is the shop?" Koress asked.
The turian pointed about a dozen feet away, Kale then asked.
"Where is the place this shipment came from?"
"Over at the far back next to binary helix, it's an open warehouse for materials." He explained.
"Okay then, we'll be back in a moment." The two said.
They walked away, then they had the others search the shop and they'd go check the warehouse. When they arrived they were greeted by an asari who was working the terminal.
"Welcome to Inter Space Shipment how can I help you?"
Kale stated.
"We're looking for a box of Omni chips, you wouldn't have happened to have seen a crate filled with them have you?"
"Hmm…" She checked the terminal and went through.
"There's one that's been marked as went through, but there's a bit of a… oh, the box is still here, it says an extra order on components 2-2231-series 5 went through instead, the box is still on the shelf over there, I guess the buyer must have forgot."
"Thanks, that's very much appreciated, we'll be going now." Kale thanked.
As soon as they got back with the whole group they went over and explained.
"The asari at the shipment terminal just said an extra cargo came in for you, the box you're speaking about is still in the warehouse."
The turian looked slightly embarrassed and said.
"Oh, well these quarians could have stolen it."
"Okay I'll close this situation and just put a report in vagrancy, you'll need to find a place to stay and soon." He gestured to the quarians.
Koress had seen much injustice, but these people were being ridiculous.
"Now wait a moment, you accuse these people of theft and have no hard evidence…" He pushed the turian to his glowing grey eyes.
He then jabbed the human in the chest with his finger.
"And you as a person of law for the civilian population only charge them for being here and being accused without even lifting a finger?" He growled.
"How about I pull you in for obstruction of justice?" He threatened.
Koress growled deeper.
"You just try it with the commander of a special operations force."
"Oh son of a…" He walked away.
The quarian looked at Kale and Koress.
"Thank you, I know that you two went through so much trouble to help."
"No problem, we're Kale and Koress Ionremaree; we noticed that you and your friends were in a bit of trouble."
"I'm glad that you helped, I'm Tali Zorah Nar'Rayya. And those are my fellow quarians." She gestured to the 3 others.
"So do any of you know any good place that sells iridium?"
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(We meet Tali and a lot of other new faces, next coming are the meeting with the council, hope to see you guys there!)
There are also new characters to come in the future of the story, but you'll just have to wait.