Gathering of the Pawns

April 22nd, 2517

Dr. Catherine Halsey looked up at the magnificent replica of an Aztec pyramid. She stood before the headquarters of Omak Technologies and Magical Research in Lexington, Kentucky. Here was the home of Soñador Malcho, the Great Feathered Serpent and president and CEO of the company. She swiftly made her way through the glass automatic doors into the lobby. The building's interior was decorated with all sorts of Mesoamerican motif. A replica of the famous Aztec Calendar hung on a wall followed by highly detailed tapestries depicting Mesoamerican culture.

Malcho prides his culture, which came all the way from Aztlán, formally Mexico. However, the Great Feathered Serpent is far older than the ancient civilizations that came from there. Halsey heard many stories stating he was at least 40 thousand years old, but there are rumors stating he is far older. Shadowrunners working for the UNSC gathered up information that stated Malcho was possibly well over 60 thousand years old, making him the oldest living being on the planet. He has been around since latter half of the last Ice Age and despite his age, he is a powerful being and resourceful as well.

Malcho was the 'man' who reintroduced Earth to Technomancy, a technology brought over by Atlanteans nearly 15 thousand years ago. However, humans abused the technology and a ban was placed on it, making Earth to rely on older technology instead. Because he was the one who introduced many to Technomancy, Malcho has won much distrust from humans, metahumans, and Awakened creatures alike. Even his own kind, the other Dragons, look upon him with scrutiny. Though, that has never stopped the Great Feathered Serpent, who was once the mentor of many of the current and younger Great Dragons like the late American President Dunkelzahn, or his living brother, the mayor of Denver Ghostwalker, and of course the infamous Lofwyr, the CEO of Saeder-Krupp, and Masaru, the leader of the Huk. Malcho had sired them all and it was through his teachings that they became powerful in their own right. Though, despite Malcho 'fathering' Lofwyr, the two were bitter enemies. Saeder-Krupp and Omak Technologies were always at each other's throat. No one knew why these two Greats hated each other, but their feud continued on from the mid 21st Century and to this day. They had to set aside their differences and form an uneasy alliance when the UNSC subcontracted their companies out to build weapons for the war against the Insurrectionists. Still, they hated each other.

Halsey stopped at the reception desk where a Troll sat and typed away at her keyboard. There were very few metahumans around these days. Malcho had a hand in that, which was one of the reasons why he lost favor with Dunkelzahn those many years ago. Malcho's company was responsible for De-Goblinization, a method of turning Goblinized beings back into their former selves. He could turn Trolls and Orks back into humans. When Goblinization began in 2020, it threw the planet into chaos and that chaos continued on through the centuries. Malcho's company perfected a technology that could take away the effects of Goblinization to anyone who wanted it. Through Malcho's efforts, it made colonizing the other planets easier. Humans could leave Earth without being in horrible pain when they left the Mana Sphere covering it. Malcho's company could suppress the Awakening, which allowed safe passage to the stars. So, only those who live on Earth still were under the threat of the Awakening. Every human born on the Colonies were safe from the mutating effects of Mana. Halsey recalled humans who were born on the other planets, coming to Earth only to feel the mutating energies changing them into metahumans. Immediately such people were rushed to many Omak branch offices for De-Goblinization. Malcho appeared before the press in his human form to warn anyone from the Colonies that coming to Earth could change them. Goblinization did not happen to everyone, though. It certainly did not happen to her when she came here from Reach.

The Troll receptionist was a lovely woman. She looked human, save for two curved horns on her head, a pair of pointy ears, and her fingers ending in thin talons. Her long, black hair was pulled in a pony tail down her back. Halsey caught the glimpse of an Elf pushing along a cart full of boxes down a hall. Some metahumans did not want to change back to their former selves, and Malcho stated that they had that choice. He was never against metahumans, he only wanted to give them a choice. Halsey, though, was about to tell the Great Dragon that he had no choice. The United Nations Space Command and the Office of Naval Intelligence needed his help whether he wanted to give it or not.

Malcho's company was responsible for the construction of the mechanized exoskeleton that the Army and Marines used to fight off the Insurrectionists. He also assisted with the Utah Foundation in constructing stronger frames in bio-syntech cybernetic augmentation in the ORION Project. These two heavy-hitter companies in advanced technology were the means the UNSC needed to strengthen their armies against the rogue band in the Outer Colonies. Halsey straightened her back and cleared her throat.

"I have an appointment with Soñador Malcho," she said.

"Who are you?" asked the receptionist.

"Dr. Catherine Halsey," she replied.

"Ah, here you are," said the receptionist. "Yes, Dr. Halsey. Mr. Malcho is expecting you. His office is on the top floor."

"Thank you," she said.

Halsey walked down the corridor to an elevator. Once she reached the top, she found herself going down another corridor to the end of the hall. Another receptionist waited for her. This one was just a human.

"Mr. Malcho is waiting," she said. "You may go in, Dr. Halsey."

Halsey nodded as she turned the door. Inside was an enormous, trapezoid-shaped room filled with hanging gardens. Various tropical birds sang in the lovely palm trees and other tropical plants. At the front of the office was an enormous window and coiled near that window was the massive dracoform of Soñador Malcho himself. The Feathered Serpent was nearly 300 feet in length with a vast wingspan. He was covered in emerald scales and feathers. His wings were brilliantly colored with deep shades of blue, bright violets, and fiery oranges and reds. On his head was a plume of blue feathers that faded to red at the ends. When he turned around, she saw he had a pair of striking magenta eyes. The Great Dragon leaned down onto his wings, walking on the pairs of three vestigial claws like an enormous bat. His hind feet scraped against the hard floors. His tail unwrapped and Halsey could spy the hooked, poisonous stinger sticking out at the end under the plume of brightly-colored feathers. Around his neck was a golden necklace holding a square medallion of Mayan design.

Halsey had to keep her composure, but deep inside, she was screaming in fear at the site of the enormous predator. She thought she heard him hiss as he leaned down towards her.

"Dr. Halsey, I presume."

Halsey nearly jumped at the sound of his rich, deep voice inside her mind. She forgot that Dragons were telepathic.

"Yes," she said.

"I received word that you would be visiting me," said Malcho. "So, what does the UNSC ask of Omak this time?"

"Do you recall the ORION Project?" asked Halsey.

"I do," the Dragon replied. "Volunteers brought in for extreme cybernetic augmentation. I hear some did not survive."

"Those who did became powerful soldiers," said Halsey. "It was a success."

"I suppose the figures do not lie," said Malcho.

"There is another project that we need your help with," said Halsey. "An expansion of the ORION Project. We will create invincible super soldiers that will finally put this war to an end."

She looked over at a computer terminal on the wall. A holotank for a trideo screen was set up next to it.

"May I?" she asked. She knew she had to keep her manners when in the presence of a Great Dragon. Malcho dipped his head.

"This project is highly controversial, and secretive," she said. "I must have your utmost confidence in this."

"Let me see the file and I will decide whether or not you have it, muchacha," he said.

Halsey typed on the console and opened up the file. Malcho leaned in and scanned the information before him. His eyes lit up when he realized what she was asking him to do.

"Children?" he asked. "You want me to help you train children? You want my company to turn children into cyborg soldiers?"

"We have the best candidates," said Halsey. "All chosen for their superior genetics. We need your help in this. You can supply us with the stable frame to apply the cybernetic augmentation as well as the biological drug enhancement."

"Dr. Halsey, I have done many underhanded things in my life," Malcho began. "I will not deny that, but I cannot say that I agree to this. Not children!"

"You have no choice in the matter," said Halsey.

"Pardon me, but I say that I do," the Dragon said as he hissed at her. "I have all the choices in the world not to go with this evil scheme of yours."

"You leave me with no choice then," said Halsey. "I will expose your treason to the UNSC."

"Treason?"

"Yes," she replied. "We know what you have been doing lately, what you've been working on under the streets of Lexington. Don't think that continuing the studies of Technomancy has slipped under our noses. You would be executed for trying to teach it to others."

"I merely do so for a secret operation in the UNSC to keep Chicago inside it's little closed dimension," said Malcho. "If we Technomancers were not around, you'll have more to worry about than the Insurrectionists. The Invae could get out!"

"Yes, but your actions go beyond what is requested of you," said Halsey. "You're building ships underground, weapons, all manner of technologies you are not supposed to have. It's more than keeping a bunch of giant insects locked up. If you wish to keep your head on your neck, I suggest you follow orders."

Malcho backed away, leaning up to cross his wings to his chest.

"In fact, you're not supposed to be in your dragon form," said Halsey.

"I don't wonder the streets like this!" Malcho bellowed. "But in my private room, my private place, I should be allowed to be in the form I was born with. Besides, I am resting my magic."

"Well?" asked Halsey. "Do I have your help?"

"I don't agree, chica," he said. "I believe this to be wrong. I would hate myself every morning knowing my resources are going towards kidnapping children for this project. Besides, the funding you wish for this project, you could pay Lofwyr several times over to build an entire fleet of Halcyon cruisers on Reach. Why waste it on specifics?"

"We have to do what we can to ensure our safety," said Halsey. "You should understand that. You've used people many times in your corporate dealings. Why should this be any different?"

He could not argue with that statement. Malcho sighed and shook his head.

"Very well, you have the backing of Omak Technologies in this," he said. "I will help you with this SPARTAN Project. But it says here you will need bio-syntech. Good luck in convincing Kiryuu Knight of this project."

"I think I can pull his strings as well, Mr. Malcho," she said. "Oh, and one more thing, be ready in two weeks. Both you and Kiryuu will be traveling to Reach."

"Why?"

"I know for a fact that you are the best in your field when it comes to augmenting humans and genetic engineering," she said. "Who better than to assist in the project. And with Mr. Knight, the SPARTAN project will be a success."

"Muchacha, I cannot leave Earth," said Malcho. "If I do, I will go into Shal-Mora and never awaken unless Mana is around."

"Don't give me any excuses," said Halsey. "I know for a fact you can survive outside the Mana Sphere. You've survived without Mana before. You're not like the other Dragons."

Malcho sighed again: "Very well. Reach it is..."

0

He was the best of the best. His scientific mind could match no other. However, he was not a doctorate, but in fact a corporate executive officer of one of the most influential medical industrial companies of all the Earth colonies. But she had the power to draft him.

Dr. Catherine Halsey walked into the luxurious lobby of marble and bronze. A lovely fountain sat as a centerpiece in the lobby, a testimony of the wealth that his company had accumulated over the centuries. The Utah Foundation of Bio-Organic Research was one of the oldest companies in all of Earth's colonies. It outlasted and absorbed many other companies like Ares Robotics—who was once a rival. Nothing could match the Foundation's scientific breakthroughs in cybernetics.

It was on the topic of cybernetics that Halsey wanted to see the CEO of the Utah Foundation. This was a critical moment. She needed his help. The United Nations Space Command needed his help. The Office of Naval Intelligence needed his help.

Halsey approached the counter where a secretary was painting her nails. The desk was made from granite and mahogany wood, polished so finely that she could see her own reflection on the surface. The Utah Foundation's corporate office showed its riches quite well.

"Excuse me," Halsey began. "I have an appointment."

"Who are you?" the secretary asked. Her voice had a touch of smugness.

"I am Dr. Catherine Halsey," she replied. "Mr. Knight is expecting me."

"Oh, right," said the secretary. She flipped through her screen to see if Halsey was on the list. "Of course. Mr. Knight is expecting you. Take the elevator to the top floor. Then, turn right. You will see his secretary Emily at the end of the hall."

"Thank you," said Halsey. She took the secretary's direction and headed for the elevator. Halsey stepped in, pressing the button for the top floor. The music in the elevator was soothing and quiet. She almost felt like she was about to fall asleep. Halsey ran a hand through her short, brown hair and sighed.

She hoped that she could persuade him to assist her in this new project. The Insurrectionists were becoming more of a problem than the UNSC could handle. The current Commander in Chief of the Defense Force and the Secretary-General of the United Nations were beginning to worry that an all out war between the colonies will no doubt ensue. The Outer Colonies were falling too quickly to the Insurrectionists, joining their cause to break away from the UNSC. With that in mind, she had proposed a program that would quell the rebels with little loss of military personnel on the UNSC side. The Utah Foundation was the perfect resource to make this project come to life.

Halsey began to formulate what she wanted to say to the CEO of the Utah Foundation. She had never met him before, but she knew what to expect when she finally faced him. She knew what he is.

The elevator came to a full stop at the top and Halsey stepped out. Before her was a long corridor made of polished oak and a floor of mirror black tiles. Where the floor met the walls, a line of blue lights lit the way. She looked up and saw a surveillance camera following her move as she walked down the corridor. She came to a stop at another secretary's desk, this one more extravagant than the lobby's secretary's desk. She was Mr. Knight's personal secretary Emily.

"I am…" said Halsey

"Yes," said Emily. "Mr. Knight has been expecting you. Though you are late."

"I am?" Halsey asked.

"Go inside," said Emily. "He is waiting and he does not like to wait."

"Right," Halsey sighed. This was going to be a rough meeting. How dare a simple secretary with barely a high school education treat one of ONI's chief scientists in such a manner? However, she had to remind herself who that secretary was working for. No doubt that Emily had some sort of prestige and education well beyond any normal clerical worker. The CEO of the Utah Foundation would accept no less.

Halsey pushed the door open and walked into the office. She soon found herself in a massive room as she walked onto a reflective, black, long balcony. At the foot of the balcony was Kiryuu Mechagodzilla Knight himself.

She was standing on his desk.

There he was, a creature just shy of 200 feet in height, the CEO of the Utah Foundation. He was not dressed in any suit or tie, but rather in his full, silvery, shimmering armor. His metallic green, cranial cords draped about his shoulders and extended down his back. She could very well see the tall metallic spines. Halsey heard a rhythmic beat and began to think it was coming from his tail. His saurian face showed no expression, but his golden eyes were lit like two bright suns. They reflected the light of the florescent bulbs above. Trideo screens floated around him, showing various information like stock portfolios, the NASDAC, and various news stations.

"Dr. Catherine Halsey," he began. His voice caught her by surprise. Though she had heard it on the news before, it was nothing like hearing it in person. Being in his presence was also just as jarring. Kiryuu's eyes narrowed and the black pupils contracted into tight, indistinguishable slits. "You are late."

"Yes, I was told, but…" she said. However, he interrupted her.

"Twenty minutes and thirty five seconds late," Kiryuu said, his deep voice reverberating into her chest. "I am most displeased."

"Excuse me for not meeting your expectations," she said, snapping snidely back. Kiryuu's right eyebrow twitched.

"It is you who wish to ask a favor of me," he began. "Should it not be pertinent of you to be on time?"

"Yes, but…"

"I am a busy 'man'," he said. He hinted more on the word 'man', making a slight nod that he knew he was not really a 'man' at all.

Halsey sighed and decided mentally that she was not going to argue with the 60-meter tall, biomechanical war machine turned businessman. She had a job to do and she was going to make sure she was successful at it.

"Mr. Knight," Halsey began. "I know you were involved with the ORION Project in the late 2490's. Your biosyntech augmentation to the various Marines and Special Forces proved useful. However, we are looking to go beyond what was done original with ORION."

"Oh?" Kiryuu asked. "How far is beyond? Nearly all of the ORION inductees were outfitted with the most advanced biosyntech the Foundation could provide. We spared no expense in its creation."

"There is a project I have gotten approval from ONI," said Halsey. "It is highly controversial considering the candidates I require. But I suspect that the costs do not outweigh the need."

Kiryuu sent a silvery strand of biosyntech from between the metallic plates of his finger towards Dr. Halsey. She pulled from her pocket a datacard and placed it into the syntech. From there, Kiryuu was able to access the files. Because of his involvement with the ORION project, he had fairly high clearance in ONI. However, he could go even further than that with his expert skills as a hacker. There was nothing that the UNSC could hide from him if he so wanted to go find it. So far, his duties as a CEO kept him busy and kept his nose out of cyberspace.

Kiryuu absorbed the information from the datacard and then handed it back to Halsey. His eyes flashed when he realized what she wanted him to do.

"This SPARTAN Project will require children?" he asked. "You want me to rip open the skin of children and knit biosyntech into them, completely replacing their muscle with my own?"

"Not exact yours," said Halsey. "I realize how adamant you are about G-Cell research."

"I am completely against it!" Kiryuu bellowed. Once more that powerful voice took her breath away. She felt the desk beneath her feet tremble at the sound of his voice. She trembled with it. Kiryuu leaned over the desk, his snout drawing close to her. "G-Cell research is dangerous."

"I am not asking for G-Cells," she said. "The syntech will be cloned from their bodies. However, I do want them to be just as augmented as you are."

"Why children?" Kiryuu asked.

"These specimens have been selected because they meet the genetic requirements," said Dr. Halsey. "Children can be coaxed into the military way of life more so than newly recruited soldiers. They can be educated in all forms of mathematics, science, and military tactics. They're minds are new. It's like programming a new computer. Most importantly, they can be programmed not to have sympathy in their enemies. That was the underlying flaw of the ORION Project."

Kiryuu's eyes narrowed at her analogy and he growled deeply.

"Forgive me for that comment," Halsey said. "I forgot who I was talking to."

"The UNSC will kidnap children and turn them into super soldiers?" Kiryuu asked. "When ONI asked me to lend my doctors to augment volunteers from the Marines for this non-existent civil war, I had no problems with it. They were volunteers. They wanted to be apart of the program. But you are asking to steal away sons and daughters, destroying their lives. The type of augmentation you ask me to do will kill a considerable amount of them. From a sympathetic point of view, you are a devil woman to ever propose this, from an analytical point of view, this project will cost the UNSC more money than building several ships for the cause. It is a waste."

"I had a feeling you would say that," said Halsey. "Which is why I am under the orders of ONI to draft you. You or your company do not have a choice in the matter."

"What?" Kiryuu asked. "How dare you!"

"Immediately, you will travel to Reach," said Halsey. "Where you will assist your doctors in the proper procedures in augmentation of the selected children. Soñador Malcho has been approached to build a new type of exoskeleton for the Spartans. It fits, doesn't it? Spartans? The ancient civilization known for their military prowess and advanced armor—now we have our own Spartans."

"You have chosen a proper name for it," said Kiryuu. "But I do not agree with what you are doing. Not children."

"ONI will cover it up," said Halsey. "No one must know what we intend to do or how we will create the Spartans. It is being covered by ONI Section III. One of your duties will be to assist ONI in information control. Keep nosy pests out of our business. In this, you will be assisting Section II."

"So, you want me to handle two jobs," said Kiryuu. "I refuse."

"Do so and we will expose some finer points about your past you do not wish the world to know," said Halsey. Finally, she had Kiryuu where she wanted him. "Let's say—that secret, unauthorized base you have in Antarctica? Don't think that ONI doesn't know about what you are trying to hide down there. You never killed him in 2007, did you? You lying son of a bitch."

Kiryuu growled again: "Utter one word about Godzilla and I will see you erased."

"Don't threaten me," said Halsey. "Or you will find yourself in a similar situation. I think a degausser should take care of your AI."

"ONI is willing to commit murder?" Kiryuu asked.

"You lied to the United States and to the world about doing what you were original built to do," she said. "And now you keep him locked in ice for 510 years. Trust me, that is fraud on your person, Mr. Knight. If you wish to keep that secret a secret, you will aid us in what we want."

Kiryuu sighed and lowered his head.

"I suppose I have no choice in the matter," he said.

"You will be compensated," said Halsey.

"When do you want me to go to Reach?" Kiryuu asked.

"Within two weeks," she replied.

"Compliance," he said. "Thank you for your visit, Doctor. Is this all you wished to talk about?"

"Yes," said Halsey. "Look over the information. You should prepare yourself before you land on Reach."

"I will," said Kiryuu.

Halsey dipped her head politely and then turned on her heels to head out the door. She was satisfied. She managed to put such an enormous and imposing being in his place. Halsey walked out the door and nodded to Emily.

She finally retraced her steps and went down the elevator to the lobby. ONI was once more in control of the Utah Foundation. With Kiryuu's help, the SPARTAN program will be a success. She had much to think about from today until Kiryuu finally arrives at Reach. She knew that Kiryuu had much of the same as well. Two brilliant minds will be the footnote on a new team of super soldiers. One willing to do all that she could to ensure the safety of the colonies, and one blackmailed into service because he loved his son. This was why such information needed to be kept under lock and key. Kiryuu Knight was perfect for the job.