Chapter 2: the Artifact
It had been days since the Infinity arrived at Requiem for the second time, and Fireteam Crimson proved themselves to be extremely capable mission after mission. They were the first fireteam to secure a Covenant base by taking out their generators and killing reinforcements, helping marines clear out a power station in the process. Crimson proved themselves against Fireteam Majestic by clearing out a forerunner structure of Prometheans, and secured ruins in the jungle for Gagarin team. The data Crimson recovered from the jungle revealed information about Covenant archaeological teams leading to a discovery of an artifact in Cauldron. A volcanic forerunner structure surrounded with lava and mountainsides. Crimson was ordered to get the artifact before the Covenant could. Their first order was to eliminate anything that moves. Benji and Nat went up the ramp to scope the area, spotting Covenant forces on the forerunner structure.
"Time to go to work, Crimson." Oracle said to the team
Benji looked back at Kevin who nodded his head, giving him the all-clear to open fire. He took the first shot at a Grunt, follow by two more a pair of Jackal snipers before Nat rushed forward using her thrusters and fired her battle rifle. Kevin ran ahead as he fired his DMR, putting his marksman skills to use while Jan turned on her active camouflage to remain out of sight. Nat took out a horde of Grunts coming from the north side of the structure as an Elite charged forth, energy sword in hand. She used her jet thrusters to evade the blow from the Elite's weapon as it was suddenly taken into the ground and stabbed. The invisible assassin was none other than Jan as she pulled out a SAW machine gun strapped to her back and opened fire on the Grunts and Jackals.
"Thanks for the assist." Nat thanked, taking a quick glance after taking out a Jackal sniper
"Don't mention it." Jan replied as her and Nat helped cleared out the northern structure of enemy combatants
Benji activated a terminal that opened up the door leading to another area of the Forerunner structure. Crimson pushed forward as Covenant forces consisting of Grunts, Jackals, and Elites converging on a pair of ramps. Kevin tore off a Covenant plasma turret off its roster and started mowing down Grunts and Jackals heading Crimson's way, bringing down an Elite's shields. Nat slew the Elite by lunging her combat knife at its sides before plunging it into its neck. Benji ran shooting his DMR, taking out a horde of Grunts before an Elite rushed him with an energy sword. The sword struck and went through with no blood, revealing only to be a holographic decoy. The real Benji kicked the leg of the confused Elite as he stuck his knife at the Elite's nape, killing it. He took the energy sword, slashing Elites in the process as the rest of Crimson advanced after heading to the final section once they activated it. Instead of Covenant, they came across a trove of Promethean Crawlers as Crimson team set out to neutralize them. Promethean Knights and a Watcher flew above regenerating their wounded brethren.
Kevin fired every ounce of the plasma turret until it was depleted, tossing the turret aside before pulling out his AR as he shot the Watcher dead. It disintegrated causing a Knight and Crawlers to fire at Kevin, as Nat and Jan laid out covered once his shields went down. Benji pulled out a shield, giving Kevin not only cover but for his shields to regenerate. Once Kevin's shields were up, they moped the remaining forces left as Crawlers and Knights were taken out. Crimson was expecting Covenant forces on Cauldron, instead there was also Prometheans here. Crimson realized this was not a coincidence, considering the number of forces that showed up on Cauldron. Both Prometheans and the Covenant working together was not a good sign and could only spell trouble.
Jan scanned the surrounding area before looking back at her team. "All clear!"
"Clear on this side too." Benji added. "Well, that was unexpected."
"Covies are bad enough but working together with Prometheans is even worse." Nat muttered under her helmet. "I don't like this one bit."
"Neither do I." Kevin grimly replied. "I need one of you on that control console and get what we came here for before more of them show up." he ordered
"I'm on it." Benji complied. "Oracle, I'm going to need your help for a quick minute." he headed up the platform, walking toward the console.
"Of course." the AI responded
"Crimson, cover me while I work on this console."
"We got you covered, Benji." Jan said to him on comms. "Just hurry as quick as you can."
Benji approached the Forerunner controls, showing a hard-light command key as all custom with Forerunner tech using hard-light. Oracle began her decryption protocol since Covenant technology imitated Forerunner tech. Upon every decryption, she displayed the correct symbols as Benji entered the commands on the outer ring of the command key before he pushed at the center. The ground began to shake as a bright blue light rose from the surface of the structure, leaving Crimson to rush over the platform. It was at that moment they saw something arose from the light. It was a crate made of Forerunner tech judging from the orange light as it floated. This of course was being viewed from the Infinity.
"What is that?" the first voice asked on the comms, being Spartan Miller
"I don't know, and I don't care. If the Covies wanted it this bad, I'm happy we got it first." Commander Palmer said
"Imminent contacts heading this way, Crimson. I highly advise evacuation." Oracle informed the team
Kevin turned on his comms. "Dalton, this is Crimson. We need an immediate evac on the double, over!"
"It's going to take a while, Crimson. Fireteam Castle is still shutting down anti-air defenses." Dalton responded as Prometheans materialized and opened fire with light rifles and suppressors.
"Crimson, defend the artifact! Castle, I need an ETA on clear skies!" Palmer ordered as Crimson returned fire
"Commander, this is Castle. It's gonna take a little longer! We're doing what we can!"
Kevin and Jan took the left side while Nat and Benji took the right. Crawlers charged at their positions as Jan mowed them down on her side while Nat tossed out her frag grenades, blowing them away instantly. Benji sniped off a Watcher coming to their aid as a Knight teleported from their range of fire. It was behind Benji as Nat glanced just in time when she spotted it, taking its bladed arm and impaling it onto the Knight. It materialized into digital bits, leaving Nat to fire more shots at the Crawlers coming their way. They converged and headed Kevin's way as one of them pounced on him. Kevin took his knife and stabbed it in the mouth as it disintegrated while Jan bashed one with the butt of her weapon before impaling her knife on it.
"Crawlers down. The same goes for those Knights and Watcher." Nat stated
"I detect two more signatures, Crimson leader." Oracle informed Crimson
"God damn it." Kevin swore as two Knights opened fire with suppressors, charging at Crimson
"Cover us!" Jan looked at Nat. "Nat, with me!" she added as said person nodded in response
Kevin and Benji covered Jan and Nat as they got around the two Knights. They took out their knives and looked at each other, nodding themselves to signal they were ready. Nat rushed one and stabbed its back as it turned but not before Nat took the knife out its back and struck its neck. Jan ripped out its bladed arm and swiped her leg to cause the Knight to fall, impaling the blade at it face. Both of the Knight disintegrated into digital dust as Jan and Nat ran back to Crimson's side.
"Hostiles eliminated." Jan said
Benji scoped the area. "I think that's all of them for now."
"Commander, there's a lot of Covenant aircraft inbound!" Miller reported
"Dalton where the hell is that ride?!" Commander Palmer voiced to Dalton on Comms. A lone pelican arrived behind Crimson right on time
"Commander, this is Crimson. Our ride just arrived!" Kevin informed
"About time! Crimson, let's go!"
"Help me move the artifact before the Covenant get here!" Benji interjected, pushing the crate-like artifact
The rest of Crimson helped along with him and managed to get it on the pelican despite little resistance. The artifact felt as if it was a repelling magnet that wouldn't leave its place. The Pelican took off and away from inbound Covenant forces. Jan, Benji, and Nat sat down while Kevin flicked his Comms on as he stared at the precious cargo they brought along the pelican.
"Infinity, this is Crimson. Artifact is on board. I say again: artifact is on board." he said
"Nice work, Crimson." Palmer praised the team. "Come on home."
It didn't take long for the pelican to return to the Infinity, as Crimson got ready to step out once it landed. Passing the force field kept in the hangar bay, courtesy of Covenant technology taken by the UNSC. Once the drop shop landed and opened its rear doors, Crimson stepped out as they were approached by Commander Palmer. Behind her was a team of scientists and engineers in sanitation masks and suits who took the artifact off their hands.
"Well done, Crimson. That'll keep the eggheads busy." Palmer spotted a pelican out in the distance. "That makes Majestic the last ones in for the day. Armor's bay waiting. Dismissed."
Crimson saluted. "Ma'am." they said, as Commander Palmer head over to Majestic's pelican while Crimson decided to make their way
"After we file in our mission reports, I'm heading over to the War Games simulator." Kevin glanced at his teammates as he took his helmet off. "What do the rest of you got planned?"
Jan took off her helmet. "I'll be in the sparring room."
"Holographic chess with Oracle." Benji stated taking off his helmet
"I'll be in the sparring room with Jan. That's something you should be doing Morales-"
There was a clank sound and a wary hum that cut the conversation short. Crimson turned to see the commotion came from the artifact as it sat on the ground and glowed before letting out a burst of energy. An orange wave suddenly covered bulkheads and the rest of the ship before it went completely dark.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Elsewhere, Captain Lasky walked into the command center looking over notes and reports. He was startled when an orange pulse appeared and moved around him.
"Roland, what's happening?"
"Multiple decks reporting..." his WWII pilot avatar fizzed in and out. "... loss of power, sir. Trying to source it, now."
"Get me the engine room on the line!" Lasky ordered
"Aye, aye sir." Roland responded
In the Engine room, a man in glasses and a lab coat is looking over monitors as they reacted to the artifact's pulse.
"Dr. Glassman. Infinity's losing power."
"So, I've noticed, Captain." Glassman said in a sarcastic tone as everything on the Infinity began to lose power, even the artificial gravity. he held on something to make sure he didn't float away. "Artificial gravity is off as well, sir." he reported
"Doctor, we're being pulled towards the planet. I need answers!"
"You take engines, built by aliens one hundred thousand years ago..." he explained as he hit a few commands on screen. "And then hire a war criminal to bolt them onto the ship..." he continued as he pushed himself to a screen. "You can't expect predictable behavior!"
Back in the hangar bay, the lack of gravity was such as forklifts and a few warthogs. Crimson activated the magnets on their boots when they noticed the artificial gravity was turned off, keeping them from drifting off.
They heard footsteps as they spotted their CO grounded along with them. She looked at the artifact spark and shimmer with energy. "Roland... what is this damned thing?"
"Unknown, Spartan." the AI replied as Palmer looked over and analyzed it
"She wouldn't..." Benji stopped when he and the rest of Crimson saw Commander Palmer run toward it. "Dear, God. She actually would. Commander, DON'T-!"
Palmer gave the artifact a hard kick. Upon impact, it glowed brighter as the power came back to the ship. In a flash, the artificial gravity returned as everything was floated came down to the deck with a crash.
"You can relax now, Wong." Palmer said, smirking. "It worked."
"The lights are still out." Jan pointed out, observing the area
"She's right there, Commander." Roland agreed. "Most of the power is back online, but the hangar bay is still out of power."
"Huh." Palmer gave the artifact another kick and nothing happened. "Damn it."
"Commander, I think it would be best if we didn't kick the artifact. Might need one of the science teams to get a look at it." Benji advised as precaution. "We have no idea what kind of technology we're dealing with here."
"We'll have Dr. Glassman look it over. In the meantime, head over to armor bay. I want your suits checked out immediately." she said as Crimson saluted, making their way to armor bay
Dr. Henry Glassman was called in to examine the artifact Crimson brought over to Infinity. However, there was an unfortunate setback, in the form of Henry Glassman being digitized. What the artifact did to Dr. Glassman is entirely unknown. Crimson watched the live feed due to Oracle, courtesy of Roland and Commander Palmer. Captain Lasky attempted to prevent Glassman from getting suck in by pulling but was struggling before Commander Palmer herself tackled him out of the way. Both of them watched Glassman get sucked into the artifact. Crimson remained speechless at what the fireteam just witnessed.
"The hell just happened?" Nat asked out loud, breaking the long silence
"Dr. Glassman was digitized upon contact with the artifact. All UNSC personnel on the Infinity has been ordered not to interact with it." Oracle explained
"So, Glassman is either dead or somewhere in Requiem. No doubt caught in enemy lines by Covies." Benji deduced.
Jan crossed her arms. "In any case, we can't help him. Hopefully Captain Lasky and Commander Palmer will send out a fireteam in for a search-and-rescue op for Glassman."
"You're right. That's the only thing that can help him." Nat glanced at Kevin, who stroked his chin in thought. "Kev?"
"Judging from the feeling I'm getting; something tells me we're going to be stuck on Requiem for a while. Command will have to bring in someone who knows more about the Infinity better than anyone else. One of the smartest minds the UNSC would bring in, but also be cautious of." Kevin said as he turned to Oracle. "Oracle, who's the biggest brain the UNSC would have in its possession? Give me the highest probability."
Oracle brought up the ID for Crimson to see. "Upon calculation, I 99.5 % theorize that the most likely candidate command would bring forth is Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey." she answered
The Covenant began its invasion of Earth on October 20, 2552. A day later, the Prophet of Truth's fleet arrived searching for a Forerunner artifact known as the Ark. UNSC forces were retaliating against the fleet, taking in any able hands who were willing to fight back. One such was Janissary James when she heard the sirens when the Covenant reached Earth. She met up with the other 1.1s, led by Kevin Morales spearheading the Vanguards of Sparta. Days later, they were cornered by a Covenant garrison after getting their weapons cache in Old Mombasa. they were pinned down and barely hanging on by a thread. Then all of a sudden, a regiment of soldiers wearing SPI armor ambushed the Covenant garrison in the surprise assault. When the fighting was over, a couple of the soldiers in SPI armor took their helmets revealing their faces. To the shock of Jan and the 1.1s, these soldiers were the same age as them. She looked at the other SPI armored soldiers seeing them took their helmets off, seeing their insignia on their shoulders being a Shield of a spartan helmet with two spears crossed behind it. A pelican showed off and landed, revealing a middle-aged woman in a military uniform and an elderly old man with a walking cane. To their surprise, the 1.1s saw Spartans standing behind them from the pelican. Four of them to be exact as they stepped out, donned in their standard Mjolnir armor.
One of them wore a green Scout variant with an attachment to the helmet, with a rucksack carrying a sniper rifle. The other was fitted with the CQC variant in a sage and silver color, holding a M90 CAWS shotgun with just her hand. The third wore the Recon variation in a brown color, carrying a DMR. And the last one wore a dark blue JFO variant with a battle rifle strapped to his back. The one in the scout variant took off his helmet to show his face, revealing a face tattoo showing a fist holding three arrows. The others took off their helmets and revealed their faces after him. Some of the SPI armored teens surveyed the area of any incoming covenant activity while the rest stared at the 1.1s.
"Looks like we got here just in time. Lt. Col Gwen Novak. This is Professor Ian Cray." the woman introduced herself and the old. "None of you are wounded I hope?"
"We're fine." Benji took a step forward out of the crowd. "Who are you guys?" he asked
"Jun-A266. I'm the leader of Bravo team." said Spartan introduced as he gestured his hand to his team, staring with the brown-haired woman. "That's Rosenda-A344 Bravo-2," he then pointed at blonde haired woman and dark-skinned man. "Hazel-A302 and Owen-B096, Bravos 3 and 4."
"You're Spartan 3s." Kevin deduced
The Spartan 3s glanced at each other before looking at Kevin. "You know about us, then." Hazel said
"I did a lot of digging into some ONI files and tried to look over other secrets left buried." Kevin stated. "Didn't get much but I know found out a bit about you S3s and the S2s."
"A group of sixteen kids, armed to the teeth and very knowledgeable." Rosenda commented in astonishment. "You know, you kids could have just enlisted in the army, or the corps. Join the military if you want to fight the Covenant." she chided. "This isn't the time for you kids to act out this vigilante crusade."
Kevin scoffed. "Yeah, right. Like any good that will do. I don't know if you'd get this, but I'd rather go fighting without any restrictions. Hell, you Spartans couldn't even turn the tide." he added angrily. "Whether it's army or the corps, both aren't doing nothing other than stalling for time. There's no such thing as a safe place anymore. I rather we at least fight on our terms, our way." he took a step forward. "Got a problem with that?"
Bravo team looked at each other before turning to Kevin and the 1.1s. Owen took a step forward to Kevin. "Not at all. But if you really want to hurt the Covenant where it hurts, we can help you with that."
Jan walked out among the crowd. "And what about them?"
The elderly man limped forward, taking each step with his cane. "The Hoplites? Young individuals like yourselves marked for combat. Trained in peak human condition, both physically and mentally." he gestured to Bravo team. "You will be working together as well. There are still living Spartans on Earth but they're available at the moment. Bravo team will serve as your mentors."
"You'll take orders from them." Novak stated to the 1.1s. "You do what they tell you. You learn what they can teach you. This is all that is needed for you to be cohesive units and cooperate as a team."
"There's more you're not saying." Nat said, feeling the Lt. Colonel and the professor were withholding some other information
"We also searched for your Orion parents to train the Hoplites." Cray added, which took most of the 1.1s by surprise while Kevin had a furious look
"You did what?" he responded, glaring at Cray and Novak
"Aside from the Spartan 2s and Spartan 3s, your parents also fought the Covenant for a time before each and every one of you were conceived." Novak explained. "In dark times like this, humanity needs all the help it can get. Your parents don't know we found you. They eventually will, but not now."
"So, this is blackmail? Always knew you ONI spooks played dirty." Kevin retorted
Novak let out a short laugh. "We're not ONI, kid. You would be surprised how many times I've butted heads with them. We're just giving you an offer. We can give you supplies, weapons, whatever you need. It's up you if you want it or not." the 1.1s looked at each other. "The choice is yours." Novak concluded as the 1.1s looked at Kevin and Jan, nodding their heads.
"We're in." Kevin replied, extending his hand.
Jun walked forth, shaking Kevin's hand in response. "Welcome to the fight, Vanguards of Sparta."