Spirit of the Fox
(Reach, Epsilon Endari System - Two Days Later)
Reach was on the metaphorical sense of the doorstep of Earth, as such it's location was a guarded secret. For defenses it had over twenty Orbital Defense Platforms and over One hundred to two hundred ships that existed to defend that planet just in case, also many support aircraft backed up those defenses.
The MAC cannons on the Orbital Defense stations were enough to punch a hole in a Covenant Super Carrier, unless the fleet got a surprise chance against the Covenant, it was still out of luck.
A slip space rupture opened dup like a shattered glass and appeared with the Spirit of Fire making it's way to the kill zone to get clearance to pass.
(Spirit of Fire- Bridge)
Cutter smiled eyeing the planet Reach. It was due time that he came home "Serena, contact a communication's line, tell them were home".
Serena's image appeared and she nodded before a voice cackled through the communcations line "This is the Trafalgar closing in. Identify yourself or be destroyed".
Cutter responded "Hull Classification CFV-88, Captain James Gregory Cutter – ID: 208957. Returing from mission" he waited for a response through the minimal amount of static on the communication area. It took a full five minutes before responding.
"Welcome to Reach, Captain Cutter. Docking is granted"
"Reach, eh?" asked Naruto, appearing out of nowhere, Anders looked like she had a heart attack "Damn it! Don't do that" she hissed the last part while the blond smiled innocently.
"Skulking around is one of my main skills. Get used to it for a former Shinobi" he eye smiled while she twitched a bit.
Serena's lips twitched with amusement as she watched Anders deal with a very enigmatic shinobi.
"So then, Reach is your main military planet?" he asked at Cutter who seemed the least phased out of all the others in the bridge "Yes" he replied with a nod, turning to look at the planet as they closed distance.
"All in all, it's the central military hub of activity for the UNSC along with the shipyards and trading that goes on, it's very…active during these times" Naruto caught a glance of a Medical frigate coming in and deduced soldiers from the front lines were being transported.
"It's also the birthplace of the Spartan II Program" that caught the blond's interest as he asked "And who was the so-called genius behind the Program?"
"Dr Catherine Halsey" supplied Anders with a slight hint of aggravation "I studied under her for a time frame, never really got to know her well".
Naruto saw her shrug at the end and smirked "Hate-hate relationship?" he asked with amusement while Anders right eyebrow twitched this time.
Cutter ignored the by play and continued "It's also home to ONI as well as several other military branches. Here, you'll be meeting the UNSC's leader" he turned and faced Naruto "Admirla Lord Terrance Hood" the blond cocked a brow and nodded before they broke through the atmosphere.
Naruto gave a low whistle of respect while Cutter looked on amusedly, this was a reaction that was that of a marine. The blond felt the ship rumble and stop as clamps stabilized, Cutter looked at Serena "Contact FLEETCOM, Admiral Hood will want to hear the report" he saw Serena nod and replied "Already done, message away".
Cutter nodded before walking out of the bridge with Naruto at his side "Do you want me to be there now, or wait here?" he asked at the old captain who nodded at his first guess.
"Given how you can take down a Cruiser all on your own, you tend to take that caution" he shot back, referring to his power level while the blond shrugged "I'd do the same if I were in your position" at this, Cutter agreed to a certain point.
"You can waiting in the hanger, it will most likely be at least three to four hours till you can come down" Cutter sighed inwardly, this meeting was practically going to define he career in his opinion.
Naruto nodded as he stopped at the entrance of the hanger which was bursting with activity as the ramp was lowered and restocking the armory along with vehicles began.
"And don't cause trouble" that grin of a fox certainly told him it wasn't going to be a normal day for him. As Cutter began to walk off, he made his way to a troop transport Warthog and nodded to a Marine to drive him off for UNSC HQ.
He opened his pouch and took out a glowing flash drive and a small memory chip, he fingered the two and put his thoughts in. the footage of their battle against the cruiser would more than likely go to ONI and stay with Section Three, basically their inner circle.
However, the Covenant movement map would go to the technicians mainly in the UNSC. He smiled a bit at that before another memory chip was slid from behind the other one, this was the one of Naruto's battle against the Covenant base.
As he felt the Warthog slow down, he showed his ID to some guards and with a pair of escorts, made his way to the Headquarters.
It had two fountains at the entrance along with many personnel going by in their days of work in black or white outfit's. Cutter very rarely ever liked ONI personnel, always being damned nosy pigeons in the UNSC's work.
He made his way past the front desk as he entered the hallway. It eventully lead up to a elevator and a marine commented "Sir, Admiral Hood is in the War Room. You can meet him there as he is near the ending of a meeting now" he saw the captain nod his ehad and pressed the button to go down.
(UNSC HQ – War Room)
Grim, yet tacitclly sharp blue eyes scanned the holographic map of the Galaxy . showing dark yellow dots indicating UNSC presncse while the Covenant ones were purple. Admiral Terrance Hood sighed aloud as he ran a hand through his black hair that was now turning grey as he put on the cap he took off. Despite being about over the thirty five marker, he was without a doubt the best tactical mind in strategy aside from being in the field.
Over ten years and not a change in fighting the Covenant. Just holding off the inevitablem that rattled his bones quite clearly as he pointed at a few fleets and organized their positionng as he glanced every few seconds at the non stop working of logistics and coordinating the military.
Again, he sighed. Some had hope, others didn't but he kept them walking. The meeting ended moments later on the current state of their war against the Covenant. But why? Why was this war being fought? He chuckled to himself bitterly "Polotics is old men talking and young men dying" he mused to himself before getting up and prepared to go to the elevator. He greeted some soldiers, occasional logistics workers as well too as he passed each hall and stopped at the elevator.
He found himself at a surprise at an old friends face "…Captain Cutter" he uttered with a slight smile, as best as he could manage. Cutter managed one as Hood stepped in.
"I assume the campaign went well?" he asked of the status as Hood had sent the Spirit of Fire on the mission to reclaim Harvest.
"With some complications arisen, it was dealt with" he responded easily as they exited the elevator and began leeway to The Fleet Admiral's office. Hood cocked a brow at the slight hesitation and pondering of what do say.
"Complications?" he asked curiously "You didn't have to come in person for the report" Hood responded, sliding an ID card to a scanner and entered his office, ignoring the `Welcome back, Admral Terrance Hood.' That came from the system.
Cutter paused in thought for a moment "A complication with many complications, sir" he replied finnaly while Hood looked at Cutter with a mix of curiosity and suspicious air to add.
"What kind?" he asked seriously, not lking where this was going. Cutter paused remembering Naruto's words "Actions are louder then words" he took out the flash drive and memory chips and knew this would be a defining moment in UNSC history.
(Three Hours Later)
Naruto sat off the side of the ramp as UNSC personnel were going about restorcking supplies and vehicles. Some of the Marines that were off duty had already left to go see loved ones as well as civilian tech operators. He held in his hand, a mini projection system that was a small disc (Think Star Wars: Phantom Menace).
It was the shield generator he was working on and safe to say, he was preparing for the headaches of the situation before he saw a Falcon closing in on his location, determining that Cutter wanted him at the meeting, as it was near his location, he stored the disc like object in a pouch and spotted two Marines in the Falcon.
"You Naruto?" one of them said aloud over the whirring of the helicopter blades, they had earlier gotten a description of the person they were looking for and wasn't all to hard to find the blond.
"Sure am, what's up?" Naruto asked back while the Marine replied "Fleet Admiral Terrance Hood wants to speak with you, for what, I don't know" he responded with a shrug.
Naruto paused and nodded as he got onto the Falcon fairly easy and held onto a handle at the top of the helicopter as he watched the skyline of the city.
(Office of Fleet Admiral)
The lights flickered on as the holographic sequence ended. A terse silence hung over the office as Cutter leaned back on the wall, observing Hood's reaction to the video that had just played. He showed the man Naruto's battles against the Covenant including his sniping skills. Then came the ship battle between the Spirit of Fire and the Covenant along with audio dialogue that came as well. Last but not least he showed the hand to hand combat skills along with the blade fighting against the shipmaster.
Hood laced his hands in front of his face, hiding it from view as he contemplated what he had seen, not just minutes ago he had sent out an escort for the young blond and was surprised to find that the boy was not more then sixteen, maybe fifteen years old.
But the shield on the Spirit of Fire was amazing to say the least along with the fact he was faster and stronger than a Spartan super solider left him awed. Next was the cybernetic suit he had invted with limited technology.
All in all, it was something he was offering.
"He's able to make shields?"
Cutter snapped his head to Hood and nodded "From what I know, he's already come up with a prototype design. He merely needs the resources".
Hood's head turned to him in shock for the briefest of moments and he slowly went into contemplating about the blond's position in the UNSC. While it did seem like he knew much of technology beyond their own, he was more of a tactician and soldier on the battlefield.
He was cut from his musings when the door opened to reveal a spiky blond haired teen that looked to be a bit older than he would.
Hood cocked an eyebrow in surprise as he recomposed "I assume you are Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze" he stated as if it were a fact, not a question. The blond smiled a bit.
"Yeah, and you are Fleet Admiral Terrance Hood?" he asked while the man nodded, standing.
"Captain Cutter wove quite a tale to me" Hood started, getting into business mode as did Naruto, slightly surprising the older man "You single handedly took down a Covenant Base, easily overpowering Hunters, and made a temporary shield to protect the Spirit of Fire" he crossed his arms "I've seen many things son, but this is quite…"
"Troubling? Preposterous?" Naruto supplied drawing a nod from the older man "I can understand that, your being paranoid about me is not in the least surprising when your in a war" he pointed out in the end.
Cutter agreed with that while Hood nodded "Exactly" he responded "We've had loss after loss against the Covenant, you think you can help us in this fight?"
Naruto responded confidently "I sure can" he paused "Sir" he responded in a slightly sardonic manner while Hood nearly cracked a smile.
"Now, may I ask you something?" Naruto nodded as the Fleet Admiral asked "Do you know if any of your people have survived?".
Naruto's face became sad but steeled, though you could see it in his blue slit eyes "No sir, as far I'm concerned, I'm the only one left" he said quietly while Hood winced inwardly.
"I apologize if I brought up memories, you have my condolences for the loss of your people" he assured while NAruto sighed but nodded mutely.
"Now, can you detail what your plans are at least? I'd like to know what figures would be brought up" Hood stated, gesturing to a chair as Naruto sat down as did he.
"Thank you sir, while I've come up with a preliminary plan…" Naruto started, bring out the holo pad, he placed it on the table and it showed the generator while Hood looked neutral, mostly out of resecpt for what he did to save the Spirit of Fire, but also his wariness in these plans.
"I can come up with the materials to make it, but a power source would be needed" Naruto crossed one leg over the other "That, I can cover for I assure" he smirked a little while Hood nodded slowly, he had already seen Naruto use "Jutsu" as they were called and was sure ONI would jump on this later, like a wolf on an injured deer.
"I also had heard you increased the speed of a MAC cannon's firing, can you explain that?" he asked next while Naruto pondered for a moment.
"A physical resistance seal, that way it wouldn't have lost any speed at the Covenant Cruiser." He responded finally, while Hood and Cutter looked confused, Naruto explained "Fuuinjutsu, is a sub art on my world. It has unlimited possibilities in its use, as such I can do simple things such as sealing a piece of metal in a scroll, or increase the speed of objects with it's usage" he saw the two men nod but knew there was much more complication to what he was saying. Hood knew he wasn't lying given what he had seen on the earlier footage.
"Given the resources this will need, do you have any terms?" asked Hood, the blond raised a brow and started slowly "You saw the footage of my cybernetic suit?" he asked as Hood nodded, remembering the fact it was what allowed him to breath in space.
"I want ONI to help with the upgrades there" that got surprised looks as he explained "Mine is just a Tier Three Prototype, I can modify the upgrades that ONI puts on to my usage, and I return I get the resources to work on the shield I'm talking about" he explained simply.
Hood paused over this fact and nodded slowly "Though, I see from your skills in the videos Captain Cutter showed me" he glanced at the man who nodded "Your more of a soldier then you are a technology expert" he put his arms down on the desk.
Naruto nodded at that, he was skilled in both his areas of expertise "That's correct, I'll take up a rank when I'm finished on the projects" he responded finally and Hood smiled, this had gone well.
"Now, do you commit to the UNSC and all your skills?" he asked Seriously, looking at Naruto in the eye.
"I do, as long as I am not ordered to do unnecessary or illogical action without suitable reasoning" Naruto responded evenly while Hood stared at Naruto before standing up and extending his hand.
Cutter didn't hold back a smirk as he saw the two shake hands and seal the deal. ONI operated around CASTLE base and it was rare anyone got to go there, hell, Halsey was gonna be upstaged more then ever before. He looked amused at the thought of seeing her shocked face, it was sure to get both her attention and scientists everywhere.
Naruto snapped his fingers in realization "Oh! And are here any suitable mining locations that are defunct or shut down?" he asked in a curious manner while Hood cocked a brow and nodded "Near the mountain ranges, several are shut down due to exhaustion in resources" eyeing the blond, rather oddly "Why?"
Naruto only smiled "You'll see" he responded simply and got up from the chair as Hood spoke, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt "You'll be transported to CASTLE base" he glanced at Cutter's reaction which was wide eyes "ONI's main research station is there, and you can begin tomorrow on your plans" he saluted as NAruto did the same and left.
Cutter shook his head as the two made their way down the halls "You kick started something big" his remark made Naruto snort.
"Really? I didn't notice" he responded sarcastically while Cutter gave a good natured smile "I'll have a Pelican on standby tomorrow, Admiral Hood will contact me most likely late morning, until then-"
"I'll be leaving early to do the mining plan, other than that, good luck on debriefing with ONI" the last part was said cheerfully as Cutter groaned, why did he have to get the smart mouthed shinobi?
(March 18, 2531, Reach Mountain Ranges – 8:45 AM)
The sound of a Pelican rumbling did nothing to deter Naruto who was building up his Youkai reserves. He glanced over his shoulder as he was standing at the exit of the Pelican awaiting his arrival to an approved mining area, what for, he didn't tell Admiral Hood the reasoning but knew it was for more then just sight seeing.
The pilot slowed down as Naruto set foot in a rocky area and appeared to be next to a mountain side.
"This is the site! How long for what you're doing?" said the pilot, aloud.
"An hour or two at the most, give me some credit" he shot back before treading away from the Pelican and pulled out a holopad, detailing a signifigant mining area and stopped in a large field leading to a cave that was some three hundred feet away. He noted how it deatield a depletion in titanium and knew this was where he'd start.
Naruto stashed it away and cracked his knuckes "Game on" he smirked before charging some Youkai into his right hand, he closed his eyes as he shot them open, now a glowing red slt with a black iris. With lightning speed, he rammed his now clawed hand into the ground and started to manipulate the earth with a static charge of lightning.
A trail of bubbling red youkai shot into the mine and he began his work. The earth rumbled as he changed the structure of mineral that was left over and smirked to himself before the rumbling stopped a few mintues later. Tearing his arm out of the ground, he Hirashin'd to the cave and took out a flash light, as he made his way in, there was some residual youkai, but it faded away moments later as the flash light scanned over the silver like rocks that now seemed to be overflowing in the cave.
According the Kyuubi's knowledge, this was a mineral known as Trinium, as a result it was a hundred times lighter than the normal metal as well as a hundred times tougher too. This would be used as the shield generator's material as well as ship material, this would help it last longer in space battle.
Next, he stabbed a beacon into the ground and it bleeped red as he walked away. Marking the location. He turned his attention to another mine that was about half a mile away and disappeared in a Hirashin.
(Half and Hour Later)
A panting Naruto climbed onto a Pelican while the pilot noticed this and sent him a puzzling look "Hey kid, you alright?" he asked, slightly confused as to what the blond haired kid was doing what with the small earthquake and such.
Naruto had a metal covered case in his hand and looked to have a bit of sweat while regaining his breath "It's…nothing..get to CASTLE base" he regained himself as he sat down and the pilot blinked and shrugged, deciding not to question what had gone on during the surface.
Naruto smiled all the while as he admired the nature scenery, knowing soon enough, he'd be getting into some hard work in the future. He regained his lost energy and sighed before eyeing a passing convoy, he narrowed his slit blue eyes in anger. The Covenant would no longer push Humanity around after he was finished with his work.
Eyes turned to the Halycon class ship that they were boarding, the war against the Covenant was soon to change with the help of a single shinobi.
Authors Note
Hey everyone, next is Naruto's arrival at CASTLE base and meeting Dr Catherine Halsey. I will also reveal the next mineral that will be used in this Fic. Some may recognize Trinium from Stargate:SG -1, I wanted to use this to the best of my abilities so I do not own it.
If this does not satisfy you, I do not mind rewriting.