War of the Old Ones

by Ian the Mechanic

In forgotten ages past, two near eldritch forces vied for the very life essence of the Galaxy. Unknown to the young races, that war is still ongoing. how can the UNSC, the Citadel Council or the Covenant hope to stand against such forces, when they are still embroiled in their own petty squabbling? How could they hope to survive the War of the Old Ones?

9. Ch 08

Secretary General Aisha Hameed looked at the official document in front of her. "Well that didn't last long. Did they give a reason for backing out of the Officer Exchange Program?"

The Russian Federation's Permanent Representative, Ivan Kerensky shrugged nonchalantly. "None they were willing to say openly, though the public spectacle of that debrief certainly stirred their populace in our favor. Tourism is in decline, but we've seen an easement of trade restrictions and an increased interest in our export products. Make of that what you will."

Aisha gave him a flat stare. "I'll leave that to Udina's people. What about our defense situation?" She turned her attention to Admiral Terrence Hood.

The crag-faced Britton brought up a fleet roster. "Surprisingly well. We've been rotating ships back to Mars and Reach as fast as we can, as well as reconditioning our Legacy forces. Currently, roughly a quarter of our escort forces are Flight II Life Extension Program compliant, with about ten percent of our Cruisers and Carriers as well. The Halcyons and Phoenixs have taken the new shield kits well, and our squadrons on the front are reporting a twenty five percent drop in ship losses among unshielded ships, with only five percent losses among upgraded ships. By contrast, our kill ratio is up fifty percent.

"With the Fleet-Yards at Levosia, Groombridge and Komoya coming online this year and the shortened logistics train using local extrasolar national industries, we'll be in a much better position to rotate ships for repairs and upgrades. Once that happens, RDC will be able to open slips for new ship designs, instead of just cranking out old hulls with shiny new tech."

"What about the Forces we have in Relay Space?"

"Given the reduced threat posed by the Relay races, we're rotating out the Paris' and Halberds we have stationed there. We've been replacing them with up-gunned Stalwarts and Charons taken off the Covenant front on a one-for-one basis. Once we have new hulls to replace the Heavy Frigates and Destroyers, we'll phase out the lighter Frigates and rotate the Flight II Escorts back out to Colonial defense. Barring any sudden spike in fleet losses, we should have the entire force modernized by 2555."

Aisha nodded but gave no other indication. "And on the ground?"

"We've only seen a ten percent increase in overall survivability, but at present we only have advanced defensive systems for vehicles. It has allowed our armor to more effectively contend with Covenant mechanized forces; but until we have infantry shield systems, we aren't likely to see any demonstrable improvement there." He looked over to Donnel Udina expectantly.

Donnel brought up a pair of holograms: one of a Mjolnir exoskeleton, and another of a reinforced vambrace. "The Infantry Barrier System integration into the Type IV suits is going moderately well. Integration of Dumb AI into the suits helps with system management, though a Gen 2 Smart AI would be better."

Aisha considered him carefully, but couldn't see if he had anything in particular planned or if this was just commentary. "We can't very well conscript newly emancipated AI, especially with so many receiving the 'nap-time' upgrade." While she didn't begrudge the desire of the wider AI community to implement the new software upgrade; one that promised to extend AI lifespans to roughly human spans, the sudden drop in available AI was hitting the military hard. "I assume you are working with Information Technology experts to develop dedicated interface D-AI?" Donnel's deadpan stare was all the answer she needed. "Good. And this other thing?" She gestured to the vambrace.

Donnel actually smiled. "That, Madam Secretary General, is a lucky break. Some of the technicians working on the Mjolnir project created a test rig for the shield."

A short video clip played of scientists picking up a flat bar that began glowing until a visible wall of energy formed.

"It's short duration; maybe ten seconds of operation per charge, but it can be trickle charged from the electronic suite of a standard infantry armor in about five minutes and less than a minute for SPI Armor, and it has been miniaturized enough to fit onto a standard vambrace. The projected EM field creates a frame, if you will, for the barrier generator to propagate inside. It's proven resistant to both domestic and Citadel kinetic weapons, and Covenant plasma weapons." He switched off the video. "It won't allow our troops to tank weapons fire the way the Covies seem to try to, but it will buy a trooper a few seconds to get to a better position or provide cover for a battle buddy."

Admiral Hood raised an eyebrow as he looked at Director Udina. "I'm assuming you aren't just telling us this to show off?"

Another flicker of the hologram showed a logistics listing. "We have enough Mk. IV suits for our existing fireteams, and one hundred Bulwark systems ready for light infantry and Spartan III training cadres. By the time you get the first Battalion trained up in their use, ideally the Spartans and ODSTs, we'll have enough for a full Brigade." Donnel looked at Aisha and Ivan. "Those numbers are what my R&D teams can make in house. If we could tap into the new frontier industry, those numbers could skyrocket and we could start general training and issue in the next three years."

Aisha turned fully to Ivan. "I think we should be able to generate some interest; some competition against Hannibal Weapon Systems wouldn't go amiss.

"Is there anything else?" She glanced around, but everyone remained silent. "Good; let's move on then. What's the status of Project: Sentinel?"

X

Jane-B183 ran at a dead sprint towards the Covenant artillery vehicle, a deactivated Bulwark she had scavenged off of a fallen ODST clutched in her hand. She ignored both the Covenant small arms fire that was whining around her as well as the Grunts scurrying before her. Just before she collided with the vehicle, she activated the portable shield. The vehicle's shields and her portable unit shorted one another out in a bright flash allowing her to scale the vehicle. She grabbed the Grunt operator by the hump and tossed the squealing creature away before climbing into the turret.

"Glaive, report status of the enemy artillery," David's cool voice barked over the comms.

"Stand by Bowie." She slewed the vehicle around to face the line of artillery units and opened fire while accelerating towards the nearest, then jumped clear. The collision destroyed her Gun-Carriage and the battery's Anti-Air platform, while the Plasma Mortar destroyed the second Artillery vehicle. The remaining four vehicles all turned to track her. "Bowie, Glaive; AA destroyed, call in the Airstrike, Danger Close!"

"Danger Close aye, Steel Rain inbound."

Jane spared no more thought on the matter as she unslung her BR-55 and ran as fast as she could for a nearby crater left by one of the AA-Gun's earlier victims. She caught the faintest of shadows as a pair of Vulture gunships swooped in and blasted the remains of the Artillery battery. Jane popped up from her crater and took potshots at the few Grunts that ran her direction. Within seconds, the hill was seemingly devoid of any life but herself.

She heard a chirp from her armor, telling her the Bulwark was recharged. "Bowie, Butcher; hill is secu-ahh!" Jane's entire body lurched as she was yanked towards a charging Brute, the creature's Gravity Hammer raised to smash her. She activated the Bulwark just as the hammer came down. The weapon glanced off of the shield and slammed into the ground next to both of them, launching the pair into the wreckage of a crashed Hornet Gunship.

She saw the Brute staggering to its feet and taking up its hammer again, so she ripped the chin-gun from the wreck and swung it at the creature's head. The Brute managed to block the blow, causing the ruined machinegun to explode in a shower of blinding metal. Jane ducked under a wild backswing, drew her combat-knife and slashed down through it's unarmored hip. The Brute screamed as Jane stood up and delivered an uppercut into its jaw. There was a crack as the bone broke and the Brute's head was rocked back. She grabbed the hammer by the haft and chopped down with her knife, severing the creature's right arm. It stumbled forward with an almost confused look, as if it couldn't believe what had just happened. Jane snapped the blade up one more time, and the expression was frozen on the creature's face as it's head bounced off the rim of the crater.

"-say again, Glaive; what is your status?!"

Jane surveyed the battlefield again. "Bowie, Glaive; hill is presumed clear, but have battalion flatten it just in case. Returning to base now, over."

"Understood Glaive. Be advised, we have another infantry push. Bowie out."

She did a check of her own gear as she was leaving: the BR-55's barrel was bent, and the Bulwark was well and truly fried. All she had left was her Armor, M6 Pistol, Kukri, and her newly valorized alien Warhammer.

She slung her rifle to be returned to the armorer, then took off back to the Forward Operating Base at a jog. She spent the time 'playing' with her new weapon, alternately picking up and launching various bits of debris along the way. It didn't take her long to get within range to see and hear the fighting, as there looked to be at least a battalion's worth of Covenant Troops attacking the ODST Company Redout. The Gunships from a nearby Army airbase were strafing the flanking Wraith infantry support vehicles, while an Elite led a charge up the center.

"Glaive to Outpost Tango Five; Spartan inbound!" She sprinted towards the Covenant rear while pointing the hammer at the enemy. When she felt the tell-tale tug in her hand, she 'yanked' a trailing grunt towards her. She wound up like a Cricket Batsman swatted the wriggling, squealing mass back into the enemy. The unfortunate Grunt knocked its fellows aside like bowling pins. It finally came to a stop when the Elite spun and speared it with it's Plasma Sword. By that point, Jane was close enough to try something insane; she slammed the hammer into the ground at her feet and fired her jump-jets, launching herself into the air. As she came down on top of the Elite, Jane swore she saw the same befuddled expression as the hammer's previous owner.

Jane stood from the carnage of her landing, preparing to fend off the horde, but saw that those who hadn't been gunned down were running pell-mell into the wilderness of Jerricho. She planted the hammer's haft in the ground and leaned on it, while her suit dealt with her adrenalin crash.

She heard David come up behind her. "Spartan, report."

She was still shivering inside her armor, so she pointed at her landing site while continuing to use the hammer for support. "Saw bad alien, smashed bad alien. End of report."

David looked towards the ruined mass, one arm sticking out of the mud still clinging to a plasma sword impaling a Grunt. "Noted." He turned back to Jane as she finally started to recover and stood straight. "New orders. Pack your gear, prepare for extraction to the UNSC Toulouse for reassignment."

Jane lurched slightly. "Uh, Sir?" Jane snapped fully to attention under what she knew to be David's stern disapproval at her lack of discipline.

David turned slightly after a moment. "You're being sent to a Command Training Creche. As for the reason; all that's left down here is mop-up, and we aren't needed for that."

David faced her fully again. "Fleet managed to drive off the latest Covie push, so there are no reinforcements for their forces down here. The Army can handle what's left. So gather your things," he nodded to the hammer, "and get ready to redeploy."

X

"Helm, come to course 282."

"282, Aye Sir." Lieutenant Charles Pressley entered the course correction into the Flight II Halcyon Cruiser UNSC Piper at the Gates of Dawn and swung the great ship's prow.

When he'd finished his 'Exchange' tour four years ago, he'd been assigned to assist in finishing out the refit of the Piper. At first he'd been reluctant, and not simply due to her rather checkered past as a haunted ship. But the longer he'd worked on refitting and reconditioning the old girl, the more he came to appreciate her rugged simplicity and ease of modification. With the near loss of the UNSC Prophecy, the Piper gained a complete set of new primary and secondary drive reactors. That combined with the new Gravity Repulsor Defensive Systems and her deep magazines of directional nuclear ordnance, the Piper was now easily the equal of any current generation Marathon Class cruiser.

Pressley's console zeroed out. "Con, Nav. Course 282 set."

"Very good. Comms, any sign of our guests?"

A younger ensign had her eyes pinned to her screen. "Possible contact, bearing 045 our current heading." She tapped a few controls. "Confirmed contact on Neutrino and Gravity scanners matches Covenant force output. They're lurking in the gas giant's rings."

The Captain gave a wicked grin. "They think they're laying a trap, do they? Commander Aerospace Group, Scramble the Ready-Five and the Combat Aerospace Patrol, then have all other fighters loaded for Capital intercept. Comms, notify the rest of the Fleet we have tentative confirmation of the Covenant force in the Charybdis system. Awaiting orders."

A round of 'ayes' were followed by ten minutes of tense waiting.

"Captain," he turned to the Comms officer in anticipation, "Flash-Traffic from Fleet-Com. We are 'Go' to deploy. Confirmation code: 'The Music of Eric Zann'."

The Captain pulled a set of plastic cards from his pocket. He cracked one in particular open and read it's contents. "Weaps, ready MAC to full charge and load Sentinel Munition, then switch to Nuclear Plasma Penetrator/Laser Munitions. CAG, Flight Status?"

"Ready-Five and CAP are away, Second Squadron is on deck as Capital Intercept, ready to launch on your command."

The Captain raised his chin and looked around the bridge as he spoke. "Give me shipwide." The speakers piped up a Bosun's whistle. "Crew of the Piper at the Gate of Dawn, this is Captain Hacket. We have been ordered to test an experimental weapon against an active threat. There is the possibility that the system will not work as planned, and even if it does we will be the only UNSC asset in this system for the next six hours. I expect every man, woman and synthetic to do their duty with the courage and discipline I have come to expect of you. All hands, Action Stations!"

With that, alarms blared across the bridge and throughout the ship. As the Captain had said, the crew stepped smartly to their duties.

"Helm, come to 045, then Ahead Flank speed. Weaps, slave MAC firing to navigation: fire at course SRZ, then begin standard weapon's charge. CAG, scamble our birds the moment we first fire, and have the R-5 and CAP sweep our path clear."

Pressley set the ship to turn to it's new heading and readied the engines to full thrust. He had no idea what this 'experimental weapon' was, but he had every confidence in the Piper's fighting ability.

The ship's compass moved to the new heading, and read 'Ship Relative Zero'. The MAC fired at full power, sending the munition racing down range faster than any MAC Charles had ever seen fired. Internal gravity strained for a moment as the Piper's oversized engines hurled her down range. After a minute , there was a faint flash. Pressley's Nav Console lit up, identifying the Charybdis System as a Black System. "Captain?"

Captain Hacket walked over to his station and nodded. "That's it. Comms, send to Fleet Command: Sentinel is a go."

"Yessir. Also, aspect change in the targets. They're moving out of the rings as two groups: One CAS Carrier under twin CCS Cruiser escort moving away, and one group of two CCS', two CPVs and six SDVs on intercept course. They're launching fighters."

The Captain nodded. "Good, then let's give ours some cover. Weaps, calculate optimal intercept, then set all Spitfire batteries to Saturation Bombardment. Designate the CAS group as priority ordnance targets, with the CAS as Alpha-1, and her escorts as A-2 and 3. Second group as three priorities: CCS as B-1 and 2, CPV as C-1 and 2, and SDV as D-1 through 6."

Another round of 'Ayes', and in moments, the deck buzzed as the ships sixteen 20 centimeter Super-Rapid Coilguns began hurling FLAK shells towards the oncoming swarm of alien fighters.

"Captain," he looked at the Weapons Officer, "we're well inside effective range. Shall I begin engaging?"

"How are we set up to attack the CAS?"

The gunner looked at his console. "At current relative opening speed, we have five minutes until they are out of the engagement envelope."

"Then maintain our course, but give me a solution on A-1."

The space between them began to light up with flashes as the bombardment reached the Covenant fighters. There were also traceries as the Piper's attack squadron launched their missiles at the oncoming flotilla and immediately broke off. The new NPP/LM warheads only flew for a short time before detonating, directing eighty percent of their energy as a combination of coherent X-Rays, and nuclear explosion formed plasma penetrators carrying Megatons of kinetic energy. One Destroyer and two Corvettes were pierced by several dozen nuclear spears from multiple angles and were quickly left behind their still accelerating comrades.

The Comms officer skwaked in surprise, and Pressley spared a glance at her station. One of the fleeing CCS Cruisers was now an expanding ball of exotic particles, while the CAS Assault Carrier was a third shorter, showing the same radiation storm swirling where her slipspace engine once was. The approaching fleet of ships turned as one and began racing towards the stricken command ship.

The Captain clapped in excitement. "Can't jump in or out of a Black System, now can you? Weaps, set your target on A-3, then get a solution on B-1 and B-2. Have Second Squadron line up another strike, and focus on the remaining Corvettes."

The great ship swung into action, with the MAC gun now sufficiently charged for a sustained rate of fire of five shots per minute. The missiles being launched were a paltry sixty tons compared to the original six hundred ton kinetic impactors, but their eight independently targeting fifty megaton NPP/LM warheads more than made up for it. The shots only traveled three seconds before releasing their warheads and detonating. The effect was the same as the squadron strike, with all three CCS cruisers being gutted within thirty seconds. The fighter strike wiped out the remaining Corvettes, and even damaged the lone surviving destroyer.

Hacket was preparing to order the ships Marines to ready for boarding of the CAS, when the CPV lashed out with two Plasma Lances: one at the Piper, and one at the Assault Carrier. The Piper's GRDS strained and ultimately collapsed, but still managed to diffuse the beam so it only boiled off the first meter of portside armor and every exposed weapon. The stricken Assault carrier was not so fortunate, with the full fury of the Plasma Lance slicing through the ship lengthwise.

"Shit!" the Captain picked himself off the deck. "Weaps, are we still on line?"

"Yessir," came the shaky reply. "All portside weapons are gone, but the main battery is operational."

"The wipe that sunnovabitch out!"

The deck bucked as the MAC fired again. The CPV could be seen heeling over to bring both it's Plasma Lances to bear, while Pressly rolled the Piper to to present the undamaged starboard armor, when the destroyer was struck full amidship by the Piper's nuclear fury. The Destroyer continued her ponderous turn. Everyone waited for a retaliatory strike, but as the seconds passed no attack came. A quick look through the Piper's five meter aperture telescope showed her hull was pierced through in a half dozen places, with nearly the entire lower hull drifting behind it as a trail of molten droplets.

"Ladies, gentlemen and synthetics," the Captain murmured after a moment, "we've won!"

The entire bridge erupted in cheers.

X

Admiral Hood sat across from Rear Admiral Cole in the Captain's mess of Preston's Flagship.

"You're telling me one refitted Halcyon Cruiser took down thirteen Covenant warships, including a CAS Assault Carrier?"

Preston Cole shrugged his shoulders. "Quibbling on details aside, yes; though it was dumb luck and Covenant ego that allowed it to happen. That one hit from a Plasma Lance did a serious number on the Piper. If the Covies had taken her seriously from the outset, she'd have gone down in seconds.

"Still, I take what victories I can; such as the intel pulled from the surviving hulks." He activated a hologram on the table between them. "We can now confirm that it's these new, or very very old alien sites that the Covenant is homing in on. We've intercepted several attacks and managed to get nearly every at-risk colony evacuated, while repatriating those who were needlessly displaced. We also know our Sentinel devices work. Give it another few years, and 2545 could see the entirety of the outer colonies being fitted with interdiction stations. Our whole colonial sphere would become one giant Black System."

Terrence nodded and gave a faint grin. "If our domestic Eezo mining and processing industry can match the demand, that should buy us time to rebuild before the Covenant brute-forces their way in. Cutting their forces off before they can leave seemed to throw them in complete disarray, though I worry we may end up cornering a few tigers in the process. We should develop some better strategies for Sentinel deployment."

Cole nodded along. "And we need new protocols for Information Security; we can't risk the Covies getting ahold of a Sentinel warhead any more than we can risk them finding Earth."

Terrence nodded. "I read your proposal. Seems a little egotistical, calling it the 'Cole Protocol', but I'll make sure implementation isn't delayed due to ruffled feathers and bruised egos. Now," he leaned forwards and locked eyes with his peer, "your message said, 'a time critical, intelligence driven opportunity'?"

Preston nodded and brought up a hologram showing a navigation course in alien language. "We salvaged the navigation logs from one of the ship's Steve Hacket destroyed. We identified a staging area the Covies are using to repair and construct ships for their offensive. Those records also show that a task force of over 300 ships are slipped there for final fitting out." There was no need to say where those ships would be going once fitted.

Preston looked at Terrence with both concern and anticipation. "I doubt we could muster a force to try to slug it out, but we know our Prowlers can slip past them. I propose an all-Spartan strike against the facility: sneak aboard, raid their computer systems, plant an Eezo-Enhance-Gravity-Pulse-Munition while the Prowlers seed Hornet Mines around the facility."

Terrence considered the hologram in front of him. "That's an awful lot for a Spartan Team to pull off."

Cole tapped his console and brought up his full proposal. "It's an awfully big and valuable target; that's why I'm recommending a full Battalion assault." He leaned heavily on the table. "We've been on the back heel this entire war. I think it's high time we came out of our corner swinging."

X

Jane-B183 walked into the briefing amphitheater onboard the UNSC Everest. She was surprised at the number of familiar faces, including the 'Queen B' Miranda-A152. All told, there were fifty nine Spartan IIIs in the room with her. She guessed that, like her, they had all recently been promoted to Fire-Team Lead; though she couldn't fathom why they were being briefed all at once. She found her seat and nodded to some of her former classmates and sat down.

Everyone looked up as a small woman in a pencil skirt walked onto the raised platform at the front of the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Covenant has made a critical error and the time to strike is now." A hologram of a heavily modified asteroid appeared. "Intelligence has identified the Covenant's forward refit and repair facility that it has used to launch it's continuous attacks against the UTSG.

"In response, we have drawn up Operation: Prometheus. This will be a Spartan Battalion level assault, supported by a fleet of fifteen Savannah Class heavy Prowlers and thirty DT-77 Pelican Dropships. There will be no other assets or support once the operation begins."

There was a general hush in the room; there had never been a Battalion level deployment of any Spartans before this.

"You will be assigned as three companies of twenty fire teams, each assigned one of three areas of control on the rock, and each team will in turn have distinct strategic and tactical goals ranging from establishing and protecting FOBs, disabling the Plasma Furnaces and Gravity Lifters that make the facility work, Infiltration Teams to secure intel from the facility's computers, and Sappers to blow this lump to Kingdom Come."

The hologram shut off and all eyes were fixed on the briefer. "As Team Leads, you will be receiving individual briefings on your assigned duties, as well as any roster changes due to the transfer of our Spartan II mentors. Report to your Section Debrief officers for your individual assignments."

Every Spartan stood and headed out. All of them had the same look of excitement and determination, though there was a slight undercurrent of concern. Every Spartan was taught about the storied warriors they were named after; the last time 300 Spartans were deployed at once, none returned alive.

Still, Jane was confident in her's, and her fellow Spartans' ability to get the mission done.

She came to her section officers office and was met by a small, swarthy man who only went by 'Niko'. "Jane! Excellent, I was hoping you'd be first. Two things for you; first, your fire team roster consists of two Alpha Company veterans: Suki-A202 and Javier-A190, and two Shinys: Leroy-B337, and Kaiden-E002."

"Uh, 'E'002?"

"Yes," Niko uploaded a file onto a tablet for her, "a specialist classification. Apparently, if that Fairy-Dust cancer powder the Relay races use doesn't kill you, it gives you superpowers. Kaiden is, obviously, one of the first. Leroy is, well, Leroy." Jane wondered about Niko's resigned tone as he uploaded a second file. "You'll need to run drills and simulations the entire way, so none of you are getting the Big Sleep en-route.

"Green Team's objective is one of the Covenant data cores." Niko activated a hologram on the desk showing a map of the target asteroid's interior. "From what we can gather, the 'K7-49' facility is largely automated; if that is the case, then it must be controlled by an AI. Your team will retrieve that AI, and any other cyber-intelligence. That's where your third new face comes in."

He handed her a palm sized metallic card with a glowing crystal center. "Ogier is a veteran UNSC Cyberwarfare Smart-AI. It's his job to secure the actual data; your's is to get him there and back safely. You're one of two Spartans on this Op with Mjolnir Armor, and the other is Miranda-A152, the ground CO for this op."

She looked curiously at the data crystal chip in her hand.

"Head on down to your billet and get your team ready. You have three days before the Sarmoti departs. Get everyone some range time to get familiar with each other and the gear so you can spend the trip focusing on the Op."

Jane looked up at Niko, then nodded and headed out towards where her new team was likely waiting for her. She didn't want to admit it, but she was a little excited to be assigned to an important Operation like this; as a team leader no less. Her, a 16 year old Beta Company Spartan, was going to lead a pair of Alpha's.

She frowned then, as she thought about this new "E-Company". As far as she had been aware, Chief Mendez and Commander Ambrose hadn't been training a new Company of Spartans; Beta Company had been started right as Alpha company was finishing up their training, so there was of course some overlap between the two companies for about a year, as the Graduating Alpha's had helped start training the Beta's before they had started their deployments.

Jane ran a hand over her bald head, her eye twitching slightly as she thought about her new CO; Miranda… If Jane wanted to be honest, she hated the older Spartan, and the feeling was mutual. Miranda had seemed to single Jane out right from the beginning, and had made her life a living hell; she had made sure that Jane suffered for even the smallest of infractions. And now Queen-B is my CO.

Walking in, Jane blinked and was taken completely off guard at the sight that greeted her.

There stood a young Spartan, and he looked young; only 13 at the absolute oldest, and Jane wouldn't bet that he wasn't younger than that due to the hormone treatments Spartan III's received to make their bodies mature faster than normal. Next to him was a slightly older boy who seemed somewhat... excitable.

"Can you believe it man?! I mean, our first op as real Spartans! Oh man, I can't wait to take it to those Covies and make em' pay!" He matched the image from Niko's file on Leroy, which made the quiet kid Kaiden.

Kaiden looked uncertainly at Leroy. "But, weren't you on Shanxi with me and Jak?"

"Ch, yeah; but I mean, we already kicked the crap out of the Turbians-"

"Turians," kaiden corrected.

"-so all that's left is teaching the Covies not to mess with humanity!"

Jane was beginning to understand why Niko seemed hesitant about Jenkins; his exuberance along with his lack of situational awareness, since neither of them had noticed her yet, was likely to get him killed, if not everyone around him.

"Ahem." She cleared her throat while standing in the Billet doorway. Both looked up to see the ebony-skinned giantess with Petty Officer stripes and the characters B183 on her chest glaring at them.

"Sir! Sorry Sir!" Leroy snapped to attention and threw a parade ground salute, while Kaiden simply stood at attention.

Jane let her look harden just a touch more. "'Sir' is for Officers, and if you out me in the field as leadership by saluting me I will feed you your ass; is that understood Leroy?"

Leroy's arm slammed down. "Yes Petty Officer, it won't happen again Petty Officer!"

Jane guessed that getting dressed down was a very common occurrence for Jenkins, since he showed zero change in his overall demeanor. She huffed and looked around the Billet. "There are supposed to be two more in here with us. Do either of you know where they are?"

"They said they were going to meet an old comrade, and would meet us at the range," Kaiden's soft voice cut in.

Jane nodded; they were both Alpha's, and there were several others from that company onboard. "Alright. Do you two have your Armor yet?" She held up a hand at the nearly wild look in Leroy's eyes. "Then get suited up and head down to the range. I'll meet you there."

X

Mjolnir armor like Jane's wasn't something you just took on and off; since her's was in the armory getting reconditioned for the upcoming op, she chose to just check out the weapons she would be using.

When she got to the training area, she saw it packed with Spartans. She drew more than a few looks as she strutted into the practice range carrying a battle rifle and a Brute Gravity Hammer.

"Sugoi dekai!" Jane looked over to see a relatively tiny Spartan in the lighter SPI armor with the characters, A202 stenciled on the chest piece. Sitting next to her on a bench was another Spartan marked A190. "Where do I get a hammer like that?"

Jane mentally evaluated the two other members of her team; particularly the indulgent look Javier was giving Suki. It wasn't entirely unusual for Spartans to develop feelings for one another, especially if they had been trained up together. If Command hadn't split them up before now, she saw no reason to make an issue of it.

She unlimbered the hammer which was easily as tall as Suki. "First, you find a Brute that's got one, then you convince them to give it to you."

Suki casually hefted her Medium Machinegun. "I think I can make a compelling argument."

"Oh my god! Is that a Grav-Hammer?!" Jane cringed slightly as Leroy ran up and almost grabbed the weapon. "How'd you get it?"

"By killing the last person touching it." Leroy's eyes came up to Jane's. He then carefully stepped back.

Javier barked out a laugh. "Chika, you and Butcher would get along great."

Suki smiled impishly at Jane's confused look. "You Bravo-Babies call her 'Queen-B'."

She was about to describe in great detail how much she would never 'get along' with Miranda-A152, when said Alpha Company Spartan marched into the room.

Leroy was at attention in an instant. "Commander on Deck!" The room shook as three hundred armored Spartans snapped to attention.

"At ease, gather round." Everyone moved into a rough semi-circle facing Miranda. Between her parade-ground voice and the enhanced senses of her audience, everyone could hear and see her clearly. "You'll all have heard the basics of our upcoming mission. This is deep in enemy territory, so we will not be receiving regular Logistic support. One of the primary missions some fire teams will have in situ will be protecting and maintaining the pre-fab FOBs the Pelicans will be dropping off for us. They have a new fabrication system Logistics Command is, trialing, as well as being our fallback and extraction points. So if your team gets Sentry duty, know that all of our survival depends on you not fucking off."

She turned to face the long cavern of the rifle range. "Right now we have about a thousand rounds per weapon, so start putting bullets down range. We'll have plenty more made by the time the prowlers all get here, and you won't get a chance to practice once we're under way."

With that, Miranda unslung her rifle and headed over to a range stand. Every Spartan followed suit, intent on making sure they were ready when it was Go-Time.