Getting acquainted
Elma and I weren't walking in peace for long as my attention turned to the sky. One of the flying mechs I saw earlier was smoking in the air and crashed not too far away. I immediately sprinted to the crash site, leaving Elma behind. As I was running I began to hear a car with a familiar engine creep up on me. I paid it no mind as I kept running. It didn't take long to get to the downed mech and I began to look for a release lever for the cockpit. I pulled the yellow and black caution lever and the cockpit canopy hissed from depressurization before flying off. The pilot, who was in full gear, pulled the helmet off in frustration before throwing it at a nearby fence revealing a white male with a military hair cut.
"Damnit!" he grunted before turning to me. He was confused and hesitant at first but then said "Thanks… for getting me out" I nodded. The vehicle from earlier caught up and the driver was a young girl with a white outfit and black hair. What surprised me is how young she looked as she began to examine the mech. She couldn't have been more than 15 if that. 'Then again, I was six when I started training, who am I to judge'. The pilot then turned to the girl and began to explain his problem. As he was doing that, Elma finally arrived and began to speak.
"It's not like you to flub a flight check Lin" she said to the young girl who I assumed was an engineer.
"Yeah… that doesn't usually happen" Lin replied rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment. Elma simply shook her head while smiling, even the pilot seemed to have already forgiven Lin.
"Six, this is Doug Barrett, one of our best pilots" Elma said introducing me to the pilot. I stuck out my hand which he shook firmly.
"Nice to meet you, though I've never seen you around, you new?" I gave Doug a nod before my attention went back to Lin.
'Kid, I hope you can keep some of your innocence, no one should end up like me'
"I know what you're thinking Lieutenant" Elma stated, snapping me out of my thought. "She looks young and that's because she is. She's only 13, but make no mistake, she's one of our best engineers and isn't too bad in a fight."
I just kept looking at Lin who just smiled at me. "I hope you know what you've signed up for" she looked a little confused at that statement but seemed to pick up on my meaning.
"I have a few regrets, fighting to help humanity isn't one of them" I was slightly surprised by her answer but nodded in affirmation.
'Maybe she'll be fine regardless'
"Anyway, come on Six, I need to get you to HQ so you can get registered." Elma turned to Lin "Lin, you mind taking Six and I in the VTOL?" Lin suddenly got her cheerfulness back.
"Sure thing, hey Doug when you've wrapped up here take the Skell to the hanger."
"Wait, why am I cleaning up your mess?" Doug argued. I turned to Elma
"Give me a minute" she nodded and I turned to Doug. "What do you need me to do?"
He looked surprised but also glad that I was helping. He had me retrieve the ejected canopy and put it back in place while he fixed the internal problem. In just 2 minutes we had fixed what Lin had called a Skell and after Doug took off safely, I joined Lin and Elma in a nearby VTOL ship which had its guns removed so it was just a transport ship now. Lin took the controls while Elma began to introduce me to the city.
"We're currently in the industrial district of NLA, this is where most the production takes place." As Elma was speaking, we began to take off. This is where Lin took over the speaking.
"On our left is the commercial district. They have a shop for almost anything that isn't military." Lin said before Elma added "It's the closest thing we have to a downtown"
I simply took in the view from up high. It wasn't everyday I got to fly through an actual city. The last time that happened was in New Alexandria… and I didn't want to remember that day. I turned to my right to see the houses I saw earlier. I also noticed a cathedral and a park as well.
"If you ever need a place to unwind the residential area is a good place to start, plus it's home to one of our best mediators." Elma said. It wasn't long before we arrived at the final district, the administrative district. Elma explained how this is where the provisional government, armory alley, BLADE HQ, and the Barracks were located. After landing we exited the VTOL and made our way to the Barracks door.
"Why don't you head inside and I'll get you set up Six" Elma suggested
"What exactly do I need to do to register?" I asked. An unfamiliar voice then answered
"I believe I can answer that" it was a male with tan skin and scars on his face and black hair.
"Secretary Nagi" Lin said, giving away the mans identity before I could ask. He briefly addressed her before turning back to me.
"You look like a fully armored soldier, what's you name?"
I saluted "Lieutenant SPARTAN B-312, Noble Six. Call me Lieutenant, SPARTAN, or Six"
"Those sound more like code names"
"They are sir… I haven't used my real name in a long time"
"Any reason why?"
"Not one I could tell you." He nodded and opened the door to the Barracks and we all gathered inside. What proceeded was a long explanation of the events that occurred prior to my arrival in this new life. I went through them in my head.
'So the year 2056, humanity never colonized other worlds, earth was caught in a conflict between two alien army's and was destroyed as a result. Before that happend humanity came up with project exodus in order to get as many people off the planet as they could. Nagi was the captain of the white whale, one the few ships that escaped. After 2 years of drifting in space the aliens that attacked earth came back and forced the whale to crash on this planet called Mira, along with the city it had in tow. Now the primary objective of BLADE, NLAs' military, is to locate the life hold core, which contains the rest of the humans that were aboard the ship… well I know what I'm doing.' I looked at the former captain.
"Sir, permission to join BLADE?" Elma looked surprised by my request
"Are you sure Six? There are other things you could do." She said. I shook my head
"I've been fighting for most of my life, it's what I do best. My duty as a soldier is to protect humanity, no matter the cost. BLADE will give me the best chance to do that." Elma nodded and Nagi responded
"Very well, now before you become an official member you need to register." He handed me a tablet and I filled out the information… until I got to the name portion.
"Sir, may I make a request?"
"Of course"
"Can you keep my name secret for the time being?" he raised an eyebrow
"What for?"
'Ok think, what should I say… well it's not like ONI is around to terminate anyone who discovered me' "My previous line of work required a lot of secrecy sir…. I haven't used my real name in years."
He studied me, trying to get more out of me, but I wouldn't budge.
"SPARTAN is your warrior class?"
"Yes sir."
"Very well, SPARTAN is what I'll call you for now, though I do have one question, how did you get aboard the white whale, we have no records of a SPARTAN."
I was ready for that "My former employers had me quietly admitted"
"So you snuck on board" he assumed
"Basically" I said as I finished the registration
"Bold of you to admit. You're lucky though, we're not in a position to turn down help, no matter how mysterious" Nagi said before adding "Now based on your rank, you have plenty of experience but even so I want to run you through a basic training mission before you join BLADE, just to test your skill and get you used to how things work here on Mira"
I nodded and he began to explain the task as he pulled up a holographic map of the surrounding area.
"In order to gain information of the terrain and its indigiens, we plant probes in marked areas. Your job is to plant a probe here" he pointed out the marked position east of the city. "Once your finished, report back and we'll get you set up with a division."
"Understood captain"
"We'll help you out Six" lin said
I wanted to turn down the offer but Carter's order repeated in my head
That lone wolf stuff stays behind
"Copy that" I said before Elma, Lin, and I made our way out.
AN: I promise you this story will get better over time. Next time we'll see if a giant bug can deal with a fully armored SPARTAN (Oh and Elma and Lin too I guess)
