Karl stood proud as he heard Hood make that announcement. He felt good, letting out the deep truth to their lies. He just hoped that they would fix ONI and make it into what it was once made for, advanced intelligence and special operations.
"Kuhn, come here." Hood said sternly. Karl walked forward and stood in front of Hood, Karl immediately put his hand to his head in a solid salute. "Reporting sir." Karl said in his full soldier mode. "Walk with me Kuhn, before the cameras surround us." Hood said as he started walking off, Karl broke the salute and followed Hood out of the area.
"Alright, here is the deal Kuhn. Now that this shit is all figured out, I am planning on putting you back on active duty. Unless you need a well deserved break?" Hood said. He walked through an auto door and Karl followed suit. "Look you have been through a lot of shit, and if you want a break you can have one." Hood stopped and turned to Karl. He stopped and looked at Hood straight in the eyes. "I will be happy to be moved back into active duty sir." Karl said sternly and full of confidence, "I want to destroy the UNSC's enemies rather than be them." Karl said.
"Very smart. Now, we will have you ambassador looked after, and I cannot explain how much we owe you for protecting her so well. What drove you to do that to such an extent that you literally became an enemy of all of humanity." Hood asked, Karl was trying to think of the real reason, whether it was that he loved her or that he was doing it for the UNSC. "I did it because it was my duty sir, and I happened to befriend her, and I have already lost a good friend in the war. I didn't want to lose another." Karl said. Hood nodded. "Well I will be assigning you as an ODST shock trooper aboard the USS Viper, a new ship we recently built. It will be committing operations in the outer planets, the ones that were not destroyed. They commonly are under Insurrectionist threat and also Covenant threat." Hood said as he looked around. Karl felt a chill through the halls, normal for a space station. Karl nodded.
Karl was turning to head back out to the hangar when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Oh, and Karl." Karl turned to face him once again. "Thank you for exposing her plot, if you didn't we would have to fight another war that would cost us too many lives." Hood said, and Karl saw actual appreciation on his face. "You are welcome sir." Karl said as he turned again and walked through the auto door.
When he got outside he saw most of the hangar was cleared except for a few marines here and there or navy personnel doing their jobs. He spotted Soya and Leo near a very recognizable figure. He saw Brandy with her distinct dirty blonde hair. She was wearing combat fatigues but not the armor and had a hat on, a bun exposing out the back.
He made his way over and everyone looked to him for a second. Then Brandy ran over to Karl and nearly knocked him off his feet. "Karl- Karl- Karl!" She said as she tightened her grip on him. "Wooow, calm down skippy." Karl said as he pried her off him. "Sorry, I am just glad you are in one piece." She said as she turned to walk back over to the other two. Karl followed her. "So, how come you always manage to find me?" Karl asked as they walked over. "Because I happen to be stationed wherever you show up, weird coincidences I guess." She said.
They walked over and Karl shared a quick hand shake with Leo and him and Soya hugged. "So, glad that is all over." Karl said as he took off his own hat and scratched his head. "Damn, I didn't expect such a quick presentation, how long have you wanted to say all that stuff?" Leo asked. "You have no idea Leo." Karl said as he rubbed his chin. "So what are you doing now?" Soya asked him. "I am being put in an ODST platoon on the USS Viper, a new prototype Frigate." Karl said as he had some look of remorse on his face, he hated leaving Soya alone. "Ah, that new Frigate that will be used specially for ODST operations. Heard it has some fire power too." Brandy said.
"Really, made specially for ODST ops?" Karl asked. "Yep heard it is quite the sight." Brandy responded happily. Karl just let out a grunt. "So you will be leaving your duties to protect me?" Soya asked, obvious sadness in her voice. Karl sighed, "Yes, but you will be protected by someone else, I do not know who yet, and get in contact with your father, he is probably worried." Karl said. Soya nodded and he could of swore he saw a tear. "Don't worry Soya, we will see each other sometime soon." Karl said as he approached her. She looked up and Karl gave her another hug, and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry I'm unkillable." Soya smiled at this and he pulled away from the hug.
Karl turned and looked at Leo and Brandy, "So, I probably have to report to the ship. Gotta get my bearings with what the crew will be like and the platoon I will be with. Hope they aren't assholes..." Karl said as he wondered off, "I wish all of you luck, and I will especially remember you Leo!" Karl shouted as he left the hangar area.
He tried to act cheery, but doing this was putting a heavy weight on his chest. But he wanted to get out and fight the people that were threatening humanity. So he could eventually retire and live in peace, maybe even with the people he loved the most. His family and friends he has met on the clusterfuck of a journey.
He walked down the long corridors of the space station on his way to the ship where he would be stationed, hopefully his armor would be there already. As he walked more thoughts of Brandy, Soya, and Leo popped into his head. Would he ever see them again? Would him and Soya still be in this 'weird' relationship they had. He didn't know but he hoped that he would not die from fighting the enemies he has fought in the past about 100 times.
He made it to the ship where he would be stationed and he saw it in all it's glory. It had two MAC cannons on the front and he saw the many secondary batteries and AA guns. It really was a beauty of ship. It had 'Viper' on this side and then the UNSC logo with a snake wrapped around it. 'Nice custom logo, really fits the ship' Karl thought as he walked towards it. When he got near he saw the Marines, ODST marines to be exact. They were all sitting about chatting, most of them with their luggage and other personal belongings.
Karl neared them, not having anything left but what he was wearing. All of his things had been left on Sangheilios, the pictures of his family, of Him Jorge and Brandy before Jorge was killed. It still haunts Karl of what he did to Jorge's body. He was the reason Jorge was never buried, the reason he was never honored with a coffin.
When he got there they all stopped what they were doing and looked at him. He looked back and had a stare off with the 40 or so other shock troopers. "What are you looking at marines?" Karl said as he walked past. He felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked to his left side and saw a young man wearing an officer's hat. "Sergeant." The young man said. "I am Lieutenant James Stevenson, I will be commanding this platoon on the Viper. I will be taking orders from the Captain of the ship for operations." Karl nodded and held out his hand, the man took it and shook it. "You don't mind being platoon sergeant do you?" Stevenson asked with a smile. Karl smiled back, "Of course not sir."
They released hands and Stevenson took Karl's shoulder, "Listen up marines!" He shouted, "We have the fiercest fighter in the UNSC on our platoon, you will show this man respect, whether you believe what he said in that trial or not! Whether you like him or hate him! He is a part of us now!" The lieutenant said in a very stern voice, loud but not shouting. "Yes sir!" All of them responded. Then Stevenson got closer and whispered. "Your armor is in the ship in the armory, it is as it was except clean and repaired." He said. Karl nodded, "Thank you sir."
"Sir, if I may ask, why are you being so nice to me?" Karl asked. He looked at Karl, "You saved my platoon in New Mombasa, we were cut off when our comms were down, you getting that comm back up saved most of my injured, and potential future casualties." He said. Karl nodded, "Just doing what was best sir, but no problem." Karl said. Stevenson pulled his hand off Karl's shoulder and looked to the platoon.
"Load up!" Stevenson shouted to them. They all grabbed their belongings and started loading up into the ship by the large ramp that was coming out of it. Karl followed close to Stevenson as they headed up the ramp. Karl saw the view of the hangar and saw all of the pelicans inside of it. The use of them would probably be foot insertion rather than drop pod, because drop pod wasn't always necessary for all operations.
Karl followed Stevenson through the winding hallways until they reached the barracks area. Karl went over to what he could only see as his bed as it had his name next to it. He sat down on it and observed all the other soldiers putting their things in the footlockers at the edges of the bed. Now was his time to become the job he was assigned.
"Alright listen up, I don't mean to be an asshole or anything, but I will be searching your footlockers for any contraband that is not to UNSC regulation! If I find anything be prepared to face my wrath." Karl said as he got up and started walking to the first bed. That soldier was a young corporal, kind of short with black hair, he looked like somewhere from the middle east regions of Earth.
"Hello sergeant, go ahead and take a look." He said, Karl nodded and began searching through it. "You sounded confident, hope you are right." Karl said as he looked. He didn't find anything not up to regulation so he moved on to the next one, and the next, and the next. Until... He was looking through the box until he saw something with a specific 'Ms. Jenny' with a almost nude girl on the front. Karl let a smile crack on his mouth. "Oooh, what's this Private." Karl said as he took it out onto the open. He saw the soldier's face drop and his whole face turned red.
Karl in a very exaggerated manner flipped some of the pages, "Damn private, you got a girl?" Karl said in a very sarcastic voice. He saw some of the few female marines holding back laughter as they sat near their footlockers done with inspection or not. "U-uh, no sergeant." He said nervously. "No need to be nervous private, I am sure that your mother would be proud anyways." Karl said. "Welp Private, I oughta smack your jaw for breaking the rules, but since I am nice I will just take this away from you now." Karl said as he walked away but smacked the kid in the face with the magazine before doing so.
"He is probably going to use it himself." Karl's ears went out and he turned around. "I heard that, who said that." Karl turned and looked towards a soldier trying to hold in a laugh. Then a couple more doing the same thing. He walked towards all of them. "You know what, maybe I will." Karl said as he went up to one of them. "But I don't break the rules." Karl said as he went up to each of them laughing. "All of you four come over here." Karl said and he saw the 4 troopers walk forward and stop infront of him.
"Alright, I want all of you to take one page from the magazine and pin it up to your wall until he have one combat mission." Karl said as he started ripping out the pages. "Nothing wrong with pin-ups right?" Karl stated as he gave each of them a page with the most lewd photos on them. "Alright pin them up now, I want to make sure they are here. And remember I am in this room with you boys so I will know if you take em down." Karl said as he watched each of them pin the photo right next to their beds.
"Great, they look beautiful don't they!" Karl said. No response. "Don't they!" He said more assertively this time, all of them in sync then shouted. "Yes sergeant!" Karl let a smile spill onto his face. "Good!" He shouted at them and then went to go sit down next to his bed.
"What about you sergeant, do you have anything contraband?" He heard a marine say. "Nope, don't even have anything with me except for my uniform." Karl stated flatly. "Well carry on, that's all you are free to go wonder now." Karl said. Most of them left the barrack but some stayed and pulled out a deck of cards or their holo- pads.
Karl missed this kind of thing, he had missed it all in a way. But he also couldn't get his friends off his mind. If any of them died while he was gone, he would never be able to forgive himself.
To get all these thoughts off his mind he laid down and took a deep breath. He covered his face with his hat to block out the light that was still on in the barracks. 'Just a small nap will help me out' Karl thought as he leaned back a bit and crossed his legs to get in a more comfortable position.
But he couldn't fall asleep. So instead he got up off his bed with a grunt and walked out of the barracks. He went through the hallways and followed the signs to the armory. After about a 5 minute walk he made it there. He opened the door to it with his special access as Platoon Sergeant and went to the locker that had his name on it. After he opened it he found his armor there. Also the weapons he had with him on the ONI ship, which were his magnum, energy sword, knife, shotgun, and assault rifle. He sighed in relief that he at least had his energy sword still. He loved that thing.
He then looked at his armor, which was clean now and looked very pristine, like when he first got it, not covered in blood stains and marks. But that is what made his armor looked scary. The helmet still had his skull on it at least and he let out another sigh of relief. He looked at it a bit longer and then closed his locker, making sure to lock it and double check that he locked it.
After that was established he left the armory and followed the signs to the mess hall. After walking for about 3 minutes he made it there. Upon entering he didn't see anyone there except for the other ODST troopers which just looked like they were eating while having a conversation.
Karl walked over and got a meal and took a seat next to all of them, which were around 10 of them. He began eating when one of them looked over to him. "Sergeant, I just wanted to ask..." Karl cut him off. "Ask about what?" Karl said as he swallowed his food. "What is Sanghelios like?" The curious marine asked. "Hot." Karl said, "It is very hot, because of the two suns it orbits, but it is very beautiful, full of life." Karl said as he thought about what it was like back on that planet. The soldier nodded and went back to eating.
"So what's all your names, I want to get to know the platoon." Karl said as he looked over to them. "I am Sherry." The marine that asked him the question said. "This is Laroche, Fergus, Chark, Herst, Parker, Garrison, O' Reilly, Brent, and Veloreal." He said, pointing to them all. Karl nodded. Laroche, was a fit man with brown hair and borwn eyes, and a small nose. Fergus was a tall but also fit, he looked a bit like Karl but with obvious face differences. Chark was dark skinned and about average sized, he was bald but had a slight stubble. Herst was a young women that had long black hair wrapped in a bun and looked latino. Parker was average sized and kind of skinny, he saw it was the kid he embarrassed, it didn't even look like he could shave yet, how he ended up in the ODST would be a mystery to Karl. Garrison looked a little old but was very muscular and had some grey hair near his ears, mixing in with his light brown hair. O'Reilly was an odd looking fellow, he had a very tight knit face and did not look very attractive, but looked like he had a lot of determination in his eyes. Brent was short and stocky, he looked like he could lift a warthog. Veloreal was had dark toned skin and also had black hair and looked latino he was tall and a bit skinny.
Karl nodded as he was done being introduced to them. "Glad to be side by side with you all." Karl said as he looked to all of them. "Glad to be side by side with a seasoned veteran, all of us havn't seen combat yet. But we have trained a lot." Laroche said in a french accent. Karl nodded.
He quickly finished his food and sat up. "All of you be in the barracks by 1900 or be scolded." Karl said as he left. He walked back to the barracks and found most of the men doing what they were doing when he left, playing cards or on their holo pads. Karl was now tired and could really use some sleep.
He knew this was going to be a new chapter in his life. He was ready for anything, and he was ready to fight for the UNSC, whether it was killing covenant or humans. He was ready to face anything to protect the human race and fight for what he thought was right.
With these thoughts in mind and he was able to fall to sleep.
This is the last Chapter of Halo: Alliance. No worries! The Sequel to this Sequel will be up in the next few weeks. I'm pretty sure you guys will enjoy it. As I have a lot planned for it.
I want to thank everyone for the support through this story. It was a lot of fun to write. The next one will have a lot of action and will follow Karl and his Comrades as they fight humanity's threats, whether big or small. But will he ever see any of his friends again? Who knows. He might make new ones.
RIP all ONI assholes, they deserved it. Anyways I will be signing off for now.
Love you all, Stevie.