Chapter 18
A/N: Hello there everyone. I do hope you guys are doing well. If not, I hope it won't be for long.
Welcome to another update of Becoming Human. I do hope you like the current direction this story is currently going, now considering that the UNSC have now made official contact with Remnant. Things will be going a little slow to tell you guys in advance.
So to go on to say, the UNSC have been on Remnant for about a good few months now so they're still getting used to the fact there's another universe but are adapting well.
And RTX 2016? Not bad, not bad. RWBY Volume 4? Excited as hell to see it on Oct 22. Did you see Ruby? She's... Different now is all I can say. Excited how the UNSC's role in Remnant will affect the coming canon events with some changes to say.
I got nothing else to say. Enjoy this chapter you guys.
New Viery, UNSC Colony, A Few Months Later...
"-In other news, local Huntsmen are once again in debt to the UNSC after White Fang Members tried to hijack a train from the Schnee Dust Corporation. A small squad of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers lead by Sergeant Riley O'Neil have demonstrated their effectiveness in the field again as they assisted the Huntsmen in securing the train and the passengers. Again, they've shown they can get the job done working with Huntsmen. What will be the next big event they'll be in? This is Lisa Lavender, live from Vale-."
"Bah, whatever. I can't believe they always have to somehow praise us when we do something on this planet," The Driver of the Warthog muttered switching the radio station to a music one instead, not wanting to hear the news at the moment.
"Can't blame them, Trooper. We've been doing a lot since you've arrived," Riley replied back to the Marine leaning against the cushion.
Riley was currently seated in the passenger seat of the Warthog as the driver made a quick right turn down the road. Looking at his surroundings, he took in the view of a large plains area driving down a singular dirt road with trees dotting the landscape and roots of the nearby mountains. A couple Falcons flew nearby since they were assigned to be an escort for him. Then again, Patrick has increased security for him to make sure nothing horrid happens. "We'll be at the academy soon, sir," The Marine told him speeding up down the road.
He just nodded in return with his attention still captured by the view. It reminded him of his home planet Reach, growing up in a megacity, but loved incursions into nature that resided close by. That and most of the new colonists and personnel of the UNSC Forces on Remnant here were from Reach. Though he did thought about said planet, wondering how his home was doing.
His thoughts were dashed away when he heard someone clear their throat causing Riley to look forward. Heather was there with her arms crossed, an annoyed look stamped on her face. "I've been trying to catch your attention for the past five minutes, Riley."
"Sorry about that, Heather. Just... Thinking," The ODST replied back to her making the A.I sigh.
"I'll ask about that later. I've gotten a message from your brother. He insists you listen to it."
"Play it then, Heather."
Heather nodded and snapped her fingers before an audio log began to play. "Riley, hope you had a good night's sleep. Thanks again for coming to New Viery to help your students to get some other tactics to use. Man, I thought it would be easy to do these types of programs for our academy and the other schools to share tactics and training. I'm so wrong. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know to meet me at my office in Overlord Academy. And if you're wondering about your handler, don't worry. Miss Goodwitch is currently still in her residence in the academy. And to add the sugar on top, she's still asleep. So do whatever you need to drill into the Beacon Students after we've talked. See you in a bit."
Riley just sighed leaning back into the leather cushion of the seat closing his eyes. "I wonder what he wants to see me about?" He asked out loud returning his gaze back the plains surrounding them.
"Beats me, Riley. But I'm pretty sure it's nothing horrible," Heather replied back smiling at her host.
The ODST raised an eyebrow at his A.I and chuckled lightly. "I always wonder what keeps you so optimistic from time to time. Programming or yourself."
"I keep telling you, I choose to be like this. Maybe you should give it a shot, see where that'll take you," Heather retorted back sticking her tongue out at Riley.
"Last time I did that, I got drunk with friends and ended up driving a Scorpion Tank around almost blowing up the mess hall in the process," Riley answered to her making her roll her eyes.
"Boys will be boys..." She muttered out, blowing away some hair in front of her face. "Just go talk to your brother, Riley. It's the least you could do," Heather said and disappeared from his sight.
It had been a few months since the initial encounter of the UNSC with Remnant. So far, things have been going smoothly with the inclusion of the new group on the planet. After sometime of negotiating with the ambassadors from the Four Kingdoms and the Headmasters of the Huntsmen Academies, UNSC Officers and Patrick have sorted out an array of problems to how they'll contribute to the planet and where they'll have their first colony.
Deciding the location was tough, considering geography, the climate, landscape, resources and much more, the UNSC ultimately decided to colonize on the very southern most part of the continent the Kingdoms of Vale and Vacuo were found on. Despite the thick forest regions and the heavy Grimm presence, the UNSC have managed to establish a foothold on the region with their superior firepower and military.
Soon enough, the colony was soon created with heavy celebration, marking this as the very first colony in another universe. Though naming the colony was a bit of a problem amongst the officers in the early days of construction, they all agreed on naming it New Viery, named after a region found on the Planet Reach and considering most of the personnel in the fleet were from the very planet itself, it made sense somehow. So New Viery stuck.
Sighing again, Riley fixed his position in the seat and relaxed once again. Surely this time nothing could disturb his somewhat quiet-
"We're at Overlord Academy now, Sir," The Marine told him causing the ODST to hiss softly.
"Can't I ever get a goddamn break? I'm constantly doing paperwork. Making sure none of the students are mauling each other to death. And the fact I'm basically the bridge for Remnant and the UNSC... I need a fucking vacation..."
Looking forward again, Riley was met with the sight of a large building with multiple buildings surrounding the area of the larger building. The usual UNSC style of structure, it clearly showed some inspiration from Remnant's culture as it featured a similar tower to Beacon, but instead of the iconic green light, it was replaced with a bright blue with the logo of the UNSC spinning around it.
The Warthog slowed down approaching the gate of the academy with the driver conversing a little with the guard at said gate before being allowed access. Driving in, Riley looked at the academy again with awe being impressed with it. It did remind him of Eisenhower Academy back in his Cadet days on Reach, which Patrick had attending as well.
Arriving at the very front of the academy, a statue showing an ODST offering a hand to a fallen Faunus. A plaque was right beneath it on the base with the words Simul nos sent fortis (1) etched onto it. "Thanks for the ride, Marine. Get yourself a drink," Riley told his driver hopping out of the Warthog walking towards the building.
"Anytime, Sir! Just say the world and I'll drive you anywhere!" The Marine responded and soon drove off leaving the ODST to himself.
Sighing, he walked past the front doors of the academy and breathed in deeply. "Let's see what you want to talk about, Patrick..."
The Admiral sighed as he leaned back against his chair recently finishing a discussion. Once again he was in a discussion with an Academy's Headmaster regarding about creating a program for exchange students. Outside, he was regretful that he couldn't since he was already in two exchange student programs with Beacon and Atlas. But in the inside, he was thankful as all the paperwork was too overwhelming for him. Sure he could ask Gloria to help him out, but he didn't want to divert her attention away from monitoring the entire fleet lest something important was to happen. SO he was stuck doing said paperwork by himself.
"Oh God please save me from these stacks of papers I call hell..." Patrick thought grimly after quickly skimming over another one about the very exchange programs themselves. Letting his eyes wonder for a moment, they landed upon papers for his own people to head over to one of the academies to participate in the program as well. "I hope you're ready, Cobra."
A knock on his door brought him out of his trance and he blew out a sigh of relief placing the papers down. "Thank you, Lord..." Clearing his throat, he straightened out his posture and said, "Come in."
The doors opened and a smile etched itself to his face seeing it was his brother coming in. "Morning, Sir," Riley greeted his older brother, sass lacing in on the last word.
"At ease, little brother. It's just the two of us," Patrick replied back. Standing up, he walked over to his brother and gave him a quick hug hearing Riley grunt a little at this before letting go. "Glad you came over. This is pretty important so listen. Ceri will be here shortly."
"Your wife? Why is she-?"
Riley was interrupted when he heard footsteps from behind and looked to see it was the very person they were talking about. Ceri flicked her hair back and smiled walking in. "It's good to see you again, Riley. How long has it been since we last met?"
"Just about two months ago?" The ODST replied to her with an unsure tone.
"Huh, felt longer than that. Oh well. Good thing you're here right now." With a snap of her fingers, the door closed with the automatic lock going and the shades going down on the windows leaving them in darkness. The center of the room was soon illuminated by a blue hologram showing the UNSC Coat of Arms rotating around slowly.
Riley looked at his brother and sister-in-law with a suspicious look backing up from them. "Ummm... What's going on here?"
Ceri motioned for him to wait as she walked over to the logo and nodded. "Access ONI Database, Codename Project Legacy. Password, United Front."
"Accessing notes to Project Legacy, Dr. O'Neil," The A.I responded.
The logo soon morphed away into multiple blue screens and they spun around before one floated right in front of her before she began typing away a couple commands.
Sadly, the ODST was just more confounded seeing this and shook his head. "Can someone tell me what this is all about, please?"
"Riley, do you remember why we're called Helljumpers in the first place?" Patrick asked his brother.
"Because we go feet first into hell, Patrick. Right into the action to pave the way for the regular forces. And for good reason," Riley responded to him crossing his arms. "Why are you asking?"
"I mean think about it. We go from long range reconnaissance to direct action against the enemy. If you think about it, look at the attrition rate of the ODSTs. Some of us die in the entry from orbit which is a given, as well the impact against the surface. But once in direct action and in the field, we take more losses before the conventional forces arrive while we make a foothold," Patrick explained to his brother as his wife was busy typing in commands on the screens.
"I know. But that can't be fixed since it's in our line work, since we're always in the thickest of the combat," The ODST replied back.
"Which is why I'm helping to make you and your fellow comrades more combat effective and the survival rate go higher, creating in a sense, Gen-2 ODSTs," Ceri added in catching her brother-in-law off guard hearing this.
Riley tilted his head in confusion hearing this. "And how exactly?"
"Riley, Ceri here has been working on this project for awhile now. She was under the tutelage of the very woman that created the SPARTAN-IIs, learning about genetic augmentation. And she proposed this idea to me which I then relayed over to some ODST Commanders and High Command Officials. They agreed that Ceri would lead the project to create ODSTs with better combat efficiency and survivability."
"Then why did you ask for me-?"
It then all clicked automatically to him once he pieced the words together from Patrick and Ceri. "You need a volunteer," He stated bluntly to them.
The ONI Scientist nodded with a sigh as she moved a screen away to face him. "You're not wrong there, Riley. I need a willing volunteer to go under the augmentations. Theoretically nothing horrific should happen to you since I've been running numerous simulations. Should you survive the enhancements, then we have the armor and equipment-"
"Wait, survive? You mean... I might die in the process?" Riley questioned her.
Ceri sighed softly giving him a somber look. "There's a possibility that may happen. But that's only twelve percent of that possibility ever happening. Eighty eight percent is a successful augmentation. But since this is my project and you being my brother-in-law, no one is forcing you to partake in this."
"She's right, Riley. I just wanted to ask you if you're willing to be part of this project. I'm not forcing you at all. It's all on-"
"I'll do it."
This shocked the couple hearing this from Riley seeing the somewhat bland look on his face. "Wait, you're serious?" Ceri asked wanting to be sure to confirm what he said.
Riley nodded at her with a sigh of his own. "I got nothing to lose, Ceri. I won't have any regrets if something happens to me."
"But Riley, I might lose you," Patrick stated to his little brother. "I promised Mom that I'd look after you."
"I know you did, but let me take this into my own hands, Pat. If she needs a volunteer, then she'll get her volunteer."
The Admiral just nodded at him and looked over at his wife. "Okay... It's your choice, Riley. I'll trust you on this one. Ceri? Your stage now."
The ONI Scientist took in a deep breathe and nodded. "Very well. Riley? This will be conducted on the Pathfinder a week from now. It will take me a bit to get the components ready as well the serums."
"Got it, Ceri. I won't let you down."
"I have faith you won't. And Riley? Welcome to Project Legacy."
You guys weren't expecting that weren't you? Well, what'll happen now that Riley is going to be given some genetic augmentations? You'll see next time when Becoming Human updates again.
And before you start raging at this, I wanted to give the ODSTs on Remnant a better fighting chance since the UNSC Forces on Remnant have don't have as many Spartans. So I hope you guys understand.
1: Simul nos sent fortis is Lating for Together we are strong.
See you guys next time.