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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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"Double-Edged"
February 22 2528 - Hour 1733
Admiral Preston Cole
Aboard the UNSC Everest, En Route for Planet of Tribute
P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c
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Preston Cole found himself in a rather frustrating position once more.
This time, however, he was not worried of personally facing retribution by the military, but he saw a particularly recent event as concerning and worthy of further analysis. It was no coincidence that the attack on Tribute, from the Insurgency out of all potential players, did what was needed to stall the war-related production.
If Reach was the planet known for its military manpower and agricultural production, Tribute was the Industrial Powerhouse that Earth prided itself to have forged through its colonization roughly two centuries early. The planet was the second one to be colonized, with the differing terrain to Reach allowing for industrial compounds to expand undisturbed. Just a few years ago, the planet was a thriving force that allowed Earth to sustain huge expenses with minimal effort due to its spacefaring commerce producing a massive income with modest taxation.
Even when the Insurrection unfolded, the planet managed to keep its production up and running at optimal pace. It was not a secret that no one in the Insurgency would have ever dared to attack that part of Tribute. It was the blood that gave energy to its economy- it was what the citizens need to keep their standards of life improve each day and, in the span of a single day by February 20, a large sabotage effort was conducted, effectively burning, razing, exploding and outright 'gassing' a large portion of the industrial quarters of the city.
The sheer intensity of the attack had numerous emergency volunteers dispatched to assist the police, the firebrigades and medical associations in treating the great damage inflicted to the buildings and the people. Some radical insurgency groups have claimed responsibility for the attack. None of which local to Tribute itself. Which was odd considering that space-travel was meant to be controlled through draconian laws.
Not only that, but the equipment used by the saboteurs were not that easy to find around and no Insurrectionist group had access to this sort of military-grade explosives. There were too many variables, but nothing that truly pinpointed to a legitimate supporter within the UNSC just yet. In fact, it could have been a disgruntled technician that had access to this stuff. It wasn't something Cole had been keen to throw out of the window... until something else happened which set his mind straight to a single potential suspect.
It didn't take long for Cole to realize who was behind this sort of attack, as not many were quick to jump the notion it was indeed the Insurgency behind it: ONI had requested to take preemptive control of the planet to handle the Insurgency issue and thus claim the industrial might it could harness once repairs were over. Considering the funds sent by Earth, that was going to happen just soon enough for a new administration to take over.
A clever ploy, really, to use a semi-destructive attack to create the right reason to try and snatch a major base of operations out of the local rule and thus get access to the production of the ships he had been hoping to get for the planned counterattack operations. Had ONI gotten access to these, then it would have been a dangerous game to keep these ships around as those could have been wired or set up to be turned in immediate suicide bombs to further cripple their chances of winning future battles. And losses of that kind could have destroyed his reputation beyond repair.
That plan could have gone through with ease if not for a simple issue: Cole had claimed the planet too and he had way more awareness of the Insurgency's situation so he could 'handle it better'. Another thing that quite won over any doubt on the matter was the man Cole had suggested to be put in charge of the investigation. Someone that had plenty of experience in the case and the planet.
Sergeant Major Avery Johnson had been part of Operation: TREBUCHET and had been the most moderate agent in the field when it comes to handling this matter. Plus, he was revered as one of those that coordinated the first escape from Harvest and 'having trained the leader in charge of the Balmung Project'.
He would coordinate arrests with the police while also keep an eye out for any relevant clue on who was behind this sort of attack. Cole knew who it was, but it would be difficult to sell the story to the HIGHCOM. He needed evidence and he needed Parangosky dealt with as swiftly as possible.
Then again such an operation was going to take a while to undertake, but that didn't stop him from actually focusing on the immediate ramifications. With the orders he put on the advanced ships he had technicians styled with what they could produce to mimic the Forerunners' technology on hold, there was no means to reinforce his fleet from any costly losses.
For the time being, a counterattack was to avoid at all costs and defensive orders were established to have all ground units reinforce all frontline planets. Retaking those that were lost was no longer within reach for the time being and... this was all stressful. Cole was more than happy to do his part if it means helping saving humanity, but ONI had taken the vile step in crippling Humanity's war efforts and it was going to force months, if not a few years of progress that could have shortened the conflict.
This slight couldn't go unpunished and, seeing quite the chance to return that attack back to its sender, the old Admiral provided Major Sutton with a task to entertain 'discreetly'. Since he had part of Balmung still dispatched on Reach, it was only reasonable that, due the recent events, that the Navy was going to take control all military bases on the planet, thus depriving ONI of the many sweet FOBs that they had been so eager to use against the Covenant.
With the order signed and confirmed, Cole leaned back in his chair as he wondered if he was going to retire in time to enjoy what was left of his life with his family, or if the stress of this war and in dealing with the shady affairs of ONI was going to push him into an early grave. With how things were going...
Perhaps, dying in the battlefield didn't sound that pleasant anymore...
AN
Cole is getting older and yet this shit is just getting irritating. So, to punish ONI he is going to do something they wouldn't want to see happen: giving Halsey back her lab in Reach.
Also, two things:1) I recently posted a new story in FFN styled in a similar way to this one. Ragnarok's Gospel in this Godless World is a Valkyria Chronicles SI where the MC is an Imperial Officer working to help his side, but also carve a path for his own success and glorious ambitions. It is also in QQ with maps and characters' pictures. 2) I have started an original story called The Kobold Emperor. It's available on Royal Road and Questionable Questing, and it involve a High Fantasy setting, an Insert (not SI tho), some debauchery, lots of lore such as maps, history of countries and even an outright timeline I am currently building- all of which is quite original despite people assuming I am copying from Re:Monster and similar franchise with similar topics.
REVIEW Q&A!
ThousandSonSorcere: Maybe soon.