This chapter was redone mostly do to errors and was rewritten to make more sense. Please review, I need input.
Chapter 3: Warspite, Part I
21:39 September 15, 2552(Military Calendar)/UNSC Warspite, Slipspace en route to Diamond
Hera stood on the pedestal of the Warspite; she looked around the bridge of the Halcyon-class Cruiser. The ships XO, Commander Peterson looked around the gargantuan bridge looking for the nearest console to sit at. He looked at Hera, she new the answer to the inevitable question, he was about to ask.
"Hera. Where are we?" asked Cmdr. Peterson.
"25 percent of the jump has been completed, by my estimates it will be almost four days before the jump is completed and we arrive at Diamond in the Eta Cassiopeiae System." responded Hera.
Cmdr. Peterson simply shrugged and sat at the empty console, he tried to no avail to keep his eyes open, but eventually succumbed to drowsiness, and thus fell asleep. She looked around the bridge of the Warspite, five UNSC Marines stood near the the bridges entrance, guarding it from a possible Covenant infiltrators, which was learned after the Covenant almost took over the aging Ajax-class Cruiser, Achilles during the Battle of Byzantine V. Before the Achilles was nearly captured by Covenant Spec Ops Elites, the captain self-destructed the Achilles in accordance with the Cole Protocol to prevent its capture. Four of the Marines were armed with Misriah Armory MA5B assault rifles, and a Marine corporal held a M7 sub-machine gun. The corporal slung his M7 and walked over to Cmdr. Peterson. Corporal Klinger looked over Cmdr. Peterson, he tapped the commander on the shoulder twice then he shook his head. Then he looked up to the four Marines guarding the entrance.
"Danson, get over here." ordered Cpl. Klinger.
While Danson wasn't the smartest marine, he was possibly and or easily confused. He was however startled by Cpl. Klinger's request; he accidentally pulled his assault rifle's trigger, which bullets ricocheted of the floor into the wall and ceiling.
"Private, safe that weapon!" exclaimed a very surprised Cpl. Klinger.
"Sorry sir, it's really complicated." replied Private First Class Danson.
Klinger on the other hand was clearly annoyed.
"Never mind that, just get over here." replied Cpl. Klinger.
Cpl. Klinger and PFC. Danson carried Cmdr. Peterson out of the bridge to his quarters. Hera watched and then looked at main screen. She shook her head at the stresses that the crew of the Warspite had endured since the fall of Reach.
Hera found something peculiar in the mission directive under an ONI code; she accessed the data and found a letter sent from Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth to Captain Andrew Monroe. She accessed the letter and read it read the following:
From: Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth
Date: 08/10/2552
To: Captain Andrew Monroe
Well Andrew it looks like you've just received the mission to highlight your career. Well I'll cut to the chase and tell you. You are going to be assisting the Pillar of Autumn, which was pulled out of storage a couple of years back. You're to escort the Autumn to and from Covenant territory. Originally it was just going to be the Warspite, since it had all of its major refits out of the way, but some pencil neck morons in ONI decided just to send the Pillar of Autumn all by itself. However needless to say we've convinced them at ONI that two Halcyons are better than one. So don't be surprised that the Warspite, will be receiving a big upgrade. Some the upgrades will be standard like extra armor, several more point defense turrets, couple dozen more Archer Pods, enhanced sensors. The big upgrade though is an upgraded MAC Gun, ship reactor will be replaced with the one that will be like the one on the Autumn, larger armory for weaponry, along with larger hangar bays, and the crown jewel of the upgrades, a shield for your ship and Longsword fighters that will be stationed on the Warspite. I know what your thinking though, the shield is somewhat experimental, but it should give your ship a needed advantage over Covenant warships, just don't engage to many ships, you'll be assisting the Autumn in capturing a Covenant warship, so don't destroy every ship you run across. The shielding technology is similar to that of the new armor system that the SPARTAN-II's are receiving; the Warspite's cryobay for the SPARTANS will have a targeting test and energy shield test facilities. Your probably wondering were the Warspite comes in all of the this, is that Warspite will act as a escort for the Pillar of Autumn, which will be the primary carrier for the SPARTANS, where as the Warspite will act as the secondary transport. The SPARTANS will have a command to fall back to the Warspite. Now here is the mission directive:
1. You will leave Reach on August 30, 2552 at 08:00, the Pillar of Autumn; will leave the same day but at 05:30.
2. Rendezvous with the Autumn at the predetermined coordinates.
3. Escort and assist the Pillar of Autumn in capturing a Covenant warship.
4. Rendezvous with the captured Covenant warship along with the Pillar of Autumn.
5. Initiate Cole Protocol Article 1 subsection 4, then RV with Pillar of Autumn and captured Covenant warship.
6. Scan the captured Covenant ship for tracking devices: internally, external, or sub-space transmitter, etc.
7. Attempt to jump either to Earth or Reach, if unable head to Xerxes III, if unable to reach there then head to the nearest UNSC held planet. If pursued by Covenant ships follow the Cole Protocol and attempt to evade enemy ships, when hostile ships have been evaded return to Earth or Reach.
We will discuss this more in detail at your briefing at HIGHCOM, Reach.
To exit this page press /enter/.
Hera pondered at the shielding part, truth be told this startled her. She still thought about it before checking all systems, and then she checked and then found it. She grinned at the status of the shield.
"100% full charge" she said to herself.
Hera was a "smart" AI so her capabilities were near limitless, she didn't require all of her capabilities to pilot the Warspite, and she required only 10% of her power to fly the ship. She concentrated more on the identity of the three SPARTAN-II's, her capabilities surpassed most and even rivaled a few of ONI's counter-intelligence AI's. She looked up all relevant data, then suddenly several ONI classified files came up, she quickly used the cryo pods bio sensors and neural interfaces to identify the three SPARTANS. Out of 75 files that were up it had been eliminated down to three. She opened the first one it was labeled SPARTAN-140, she quickly opened the file and it read:
Name: Sean
Spartan Tag: 140
Height: 7'2
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Status: Active
She continued to read his file and record, when she found the battles he participated in which was over 200 missions and notable battles like New Victoria, Miridem, Octavian II, Byzantine V, New Venice, New Gettysburg, Xerxes III, Second Battle of Harvest, Sigma Octanus IV, Jericho VII, Amber, Operation: RAMPART, Operation: TALON, and Reach. He was also team leader of SPARTAN Team Theta, from what Hera found. She then looked at the next file labeled SPARTAN-131; she opened up the file and looked the same before she continued to the file labeled: SPARTAN-053, he found several references to a "SPARTAN-090" and she decided to run diagnostics and closed the files. She brought up a file labeled: SPARTAN-090, she opened up and noticed that he had been a Petty Officer Second Class and Theta Team member number 4, she noticed that he was listed MIA during the Battle of Reach.
Inside the cryobay, Sean looked almost peaceful in his Mjolnir Mk V. armor, however he was in cryostasis.
Sean looked around at the surrounding terrain, he looked to what he guessed was east, he saw majestic snowcapped mountains and to the south, green rolling plains and forests of trees, conifers and oaks he guessed, he looked up at azure sky with a golden sun he looked toward the plains and walked toward it. As he walked forward he heard a splash as he moved his feet, he stopped and looked down at a light bluish-green almost aquamarine liquid that was almost as green as an emerald when the sun struck the water. He looked around the mystical landscape he reached for his M6D but found his holster empty.
"Where am I?" thought Sean.
He heard a sound in the distance, which sounded like thunder. He looked up toward the direction of the forest; he couldn't see any clouds above the forest. He thought a moment then decided to investigate the sound, thus would give him the opportunities explore the landscape. He moved forward pushing brush and low branches out of his way; he cursed himself for not having a machete. He pushed on and the sound of thunder got closer and louder, then it turned into the distinct sounds of explosions. He heard plasma streak across the sky before impacting with some distant target, followed by another one, he listened to the sound intently before identifying the source of the sound.
"Wraiths" thought Sean as he heard a third blast of plasma streaked into the air.
He knew that the source was from Type 25 Mortar Tanks or commonly known as "Wraiths". He knew his chances of survival were slim to none. He pressed on when he heard the distinct sound of Banshees as they swooped down onto an unknown target. He looked at the forest it looked familiar almost like Reach, but he wasn't sure which planet he was on.
"This isn't Reach, and not Sigma Octanus IV or Xerxes III or even Earth or Miridem, maybe New Victoria or Octavian II?" thought Sean.
He looked up at the sky to see a group of Banshees flying in almost perfect V-formation. He trudged on noticing that the forest was becoming less dense. Finally he cleared the forest. He saw a hill with an oak tree at the top; he slowly climbed it, to prevent his position from being given away. He looked down at valley with a small town, as he looked a plasma round from a Wraith slammed into a small building, leveling it on impact, while a Covenant Light Cruiser loomed overhead taking out distant farm houses.
He looked unsteadily down as the battle was intensifying, as a Spirit Dropship flew over him turning towards the town. He looked off to his right, then at the tree. At the base of the tree was a S2 AM Sniper Rifle. He picked it up, he looked at the clip, it held four 14.5 mm rounds, he stuck the clip in to the rifle and pulled the bolt back, he aimed at Elite, possibly a veteran. He held his breath as he pulled the trigger, all he heard was click instead of the resonating crack of his rifle firing, he cocked it and fired again but it only clicked. He ejected the clip and stared dumbfounded at it. The clip was empty; he quickly used the scope to watch the battle. As he watched, he saw a marine try to melee a silver armored elite. Sean silently cursed himself for not being able to intervene, the Elite swung his sword and the marine attempted to block but failed as the rifle was cut in half. The marine looked dumbfounded at the two halves of his rifle, the Elite swung his energy sword to left, amputating the marine's right wrist and decapitating him. In his peripheral vision he saw a lance of plasma streak down from a CCS-class Battlecruiser, he dropped his rifle and ran down the hill as it was decimated by an explosion from the lance of plasma, he was thrown ten meters away from the crater in which the hill stood. He attempted to get up when a hoof stepped on his chest, a silver armored Elite, the same one he had attempted to kill stood over him, in his right hand was an energy sword. The eyes of the Elite pierced right through his armor, he plunged the sword in one swift movement into his chest, and he felt the air rush out of his chest as his eyes slowly closed.
Chief Petty Officer Zack Pfeil woke up to the sounds the sounds of his computer. Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Beckett, looked up at the console.
"Sir, it looks like he going into shock!" exclaimed Beckett.
"Let's thaw him out." replied CPO Pfeil.
Chief Petty Officer Pfeil decided to contact Hera since there was lockout, which required her to unlock.
"Ah, Chief Petty Officer Pfeil, how can I be of service at the moment?" inquired Hera.
"Looks like our 'guest', needs to be thawed, however I need you to unlock the lockout you can override." responded CPO Pfeil.
"Consider it done." replied Hera.
CPO Pfeil looked at the computer and was satisfied that the lockout had been disabled and that SPARTAN-140's vitals started to transmit.
"Prepare to pull the pins." Ordered CPO Pfeil.
CPO Pfeil sprinted down the catwalk in the middle of the cryobay to a ladder on the left of the bay; he climbed down into the cryobay and moved in front of SPARTAN-140's cryopod. He turned towards Beckett and gave him a nod to proceed, with the unfreezing process.
"Yes sir. Cracking the case in 30 seconds." said Beckett.
"He hot pulling the pins in 5." said Beckett after waiting twenty five seconds.
Beckett turned towards Pfeil giving him a nod and a thumbs up signal. CPO Pfeil acknowledged the gesture, then he turned to the console next to the cryopod, the Spartan's vitals were good. He looked at the cryopod, looking at the giant in green armor.
"Damn. He must at least seven feet tall in that suit. Definitely have to be brave to wear that." thought Zack as he stared at awe at the Mjolnir Mk. V armor.
Chief Petty Officer Pfeil decided to contact Hera since there was lockout, which required her to unlock.
"Ah, Chief Petty Officer Pfeil, how can I be of service at the moment?" inquired Hera.
"Looks like our 'guest', needs to be thawed, however I need you to unlock the lockout you can override." responded CPO Pfeil.
"Consider it done." replied Hera.
CPO Pfeil looked at the computer and was satisfied that the lockout had been disabled and that SPARTAN-140's vitals started to transmit.
"Prepare to pull the pins." Ordered CPO Pfeil.
CPO Pfeil sprinted down the catwalk in the middle of the cryobay to a ladder on the left of the bay; he climbed down into the cryobay and moved in front of SPARTAN-140's cryopod. He turned towards Beckett and gave him a nod to proceed, with the unfreezing process.
"Yes sir. Cracking the case in 30 seconds." said Beckett.
"He hot pulling the pins in 5." said Beckett after waiting twenty five seconds.
Beckett turned towards Pfeil giving him a nod and a thumbs up signal. CPO Pfeil acknowledged the gesture, then he turned to the console next to the cryopod, the Spartan's vitals were good. He looked at the cryopod, looking at the giant in green armor.
22:08 September 15, 2552(Military Calendar)/UNSC Warspite, Slipspace
Sean's vision blurred white before it cleared. He looked left then right, he then realized he in a cryopod. The outside of the pod looked faintly familiar. The pod opened and he looked down at the technician. He heaved forward breathing heavily, then it calmed back down to normal breathing.
"Don't worry sir, the disorientation will pass." said the Technician.
"This is the Warspite?" asked Sean.
"Yes sir, you are on the Warspite, and welcome a board." replied the Technician
"I wasn't aware I left the ship?" asked Sean.
"You didn't sir, you were never properly welcomed aboard." responded the Technician.
"Who are you then?" asked Sean.
"Sir. I am Chief Petty Officer Zack Pfeil. Sir." replied CPO Pfeil.
"Take me to the quarters I'm assigned to." ordered Sean.
"Aye sir." replied Pfeil.
He was led through the corridors of Warspite. They reached the crew quarters and Pfeil returned to his station. Sean entered the quarters he noticed three wall lockers, each of them looked big enough to hold Mjolnir Mk V. armor and still have room to spare. He found one labeled SPARTAN-140, he opened it up, his suspicions were correct, and in the center of the locker was a stand for the armor, on the left side two small compartments, one held his standard issued M6C sidearm along with three clips, the bottom one held all the awards, ribbons and medals that was awarded to him for various services. He turned to the right and saw six compartments; three of them held dress uniform items while the other three held his utility uniform. He removed his helmet and placed it on the top of the rack. He looked around scanning his eyes for any possible threats. His gaze looked at the opposite wall near the hatch where the quarters entrance was, three meters to the right was small armory, then on the opposite of the wall was the entrance to the quarters showers, behind him were a cluster beds, along the wall to the bed's right were three computers. He decided that 10 hours of undisturbed rest sounded good for he might as well get more sleep while he still could. He removed the rest of the armor sections, leaving just the black jumpsuit on; he looked on the far wall as he sat down on one of the bunks and looked at the clock above the hatch, it read twenty two hundred hours, Sean smirked as he laid his head a pillow.
"Good, leaves more time for me to sleep." thought Sean.