A/N: Yep... I'm back with another update to my odd little story. hopefully you guys will like it.
This is not a easy story to write, let me tell you. As trying to mesh to totally different fandoms together into a story can be a Royal pain. Not to mention, real life has a way if getting in the way at times. So yea ...
Also... to that one "Reviewer" who asked... no. Just no. I don't take request and I see no reason why you can't write it yourself. That's what I did. So no.
Anyway, read to the end cause I have announcement. Now on to the story...
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Despite being classified as a "Super Heavy Cruiser", the Siege Merciless also possessed a rather modern and well equipped medical facilities. The Covenant War showed the UNSC just how important such facilities were on their vessels and more than a few lives had been saved because of them.
Though considered "Out Dated" when compared to those found on newer ship classes, the Medical Facilities on board the Merciless were still just as capable of tending to the sick and wounded, just as well as any other vessel of her type. But instead of treating an unfortunate U.N.S.C. marine or naval officer, it would instead be used to care for another kind of warrior.
It did not take long for the Engineers to reach the Medical ward with the still unconscious Sailor Uranus. Without missing a beat, the biological constructs carefully placed the wounded woman onto the operation table and placed an oxygen mask on her face. Moments later a metallic casing soon covered Uranus up to her neck and soon, a digital display appeared on its surface. Showing not only Uranus's body and her vital signs, but also all the injuries she had suffered.
Endymion, a former doctor himself, had also followed Uranus into the Ward and was rather surprised by how this operation table worked. But he soon switched his focus back to the Woman before him and began to read the data that was now being displayed...
It wasn't Good, Not Good at All...
He had seen similar injuries back when he was just nothing more than a simple doctor back in the early 21th Century. Injuries which were normally associated with persons who had been in car accidents, accidents in which they rarely survived. But at least now it looked as if she had been stabilized, as a small robotic arm injected the Senshi with something to help with the pain. But she was still in serious trouble.
"Initiating Emergency Medical Protocol."
A voice suddenly announced, as the metallic casing fully enclosed Sailor Uranus. Endymion was taken by surprise by this action and he was about to protest, but that was when he began to witness something remarkable.
Despite now being fully enclosed, Endymion could still see the images being shown on the machine. Soon, a number of small robotic arms emerged and began to cut off Uranus' Fuku, as well as clean her body. Then, several more arms appeared and before the king knew what was happening, they had begun to conduct surgery on wounded woman.
"Don't worry, Uranus is going to be okay." a voice suddenly spoke up, much to the surprise of the king. Moments later, the holographic image of Hannah soon appeared right next to Endymion. "The Emergency Medical Program was created with this sort of situation in mind. It can conduct surgeries on persons if there is no doctors available to treat them."
"That's what's this machine is doing?" the Royal asked, still trying to wrap his head around the idea that a machine could do entire surgeries without the aid of a human.
Hannah just nodded before she replied, "Yes. Take a look for yourself, she is going to survive."
Sure enough, the display soon began to change to reflect the injuries being treated by the device. Advanced Nano-bots had been injected into her body, so as to repair her broken bones and even deal with the internal bleeding. While several of her deep cuts were cleaned and eventually "sown" shut with specialized lasers which not only removed the dead skin, but grafted the healthy skin together.
But just as quickly as it had all started, the program came to an end. As the display began to show that Uranus was no longer at risk and was now stabilized. Moments later, a clear liquid began to fill within the cylinder and completely envelop the still unconscious woman.
"Patient is now stabilized, initiating BACTA treatment. Estimated time before patient can be removed, Thirty-six hours."
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Command and Control Deck
"Are you sure that's what they took?" Logan asked the Artificial Intelligence, as he met with Hannah.
"I'm afraid so." the A.I. replied, as she displayed a list of all the items which had seeming gone missing during the battle. "I'm still not sure why I wasn't able to detect the intruder."
Logan just remained silent as he continued to go over the list. Somehow, an intruder had managed to board the ship completely undetected and make off with several items. But there was one item on the list which had him very concerned and for good reason.
"Were you able to track the attack fleet?"
"Affirmative." Hannah replied, as the holographic list so changed to show a chart of the Sol System. Sure enough, several highlighted icons representing the enemy fleet could be seen heading out of the system and towards ...
"What's that?" The Spartan asked.
"Unknown" the A.I. replied, "It looks like some kind of Dwarf Planet. Strange... Sensors didn't pick it up when we scanned the system."
"It looks like who ever attacked, is heading there."
"Maybe it's their home world." Hannah reasoned. "But we still don't know who 'They' are."
"We may not know, but there is someone on board who can explain."
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She would have considered it a beautiful view of the planet below, if the circumstances were different.
Despite being a warship, the Siege Merciless did have a few areas where it was possible to see outside of the ship. One such view point was located near one of the "Mess Decks" and would normally give the hungry crew a panoramic view of space. Though such a view was only possible when the ship was in orbit around a planet or in Space Dock. The rest of the time, the view ports were covered by armored blast doors.
Usually, this particular mess deck would be able to cater up to 1000 hungry UNSC personnel at a time. But now, only Serenity was present among it's empty tables and chairs. Her mind more focused on the situation at hand and not the vast selection of meals she could possibly enjoy.
Esmeraude was back and she had taken her friends as prisoner.
Who know just what twisted things she was putting them through at that moment.
Serenity didn't know how just yet, but she was going to get her friends back and hopefully, defeat the Black Moon lieutenant once and for all. So lost in thought she was, that the Royal didn't notice that Logan had entered the area and was now standing right behind her with Endymion.
"Usa..." the king spoke up, using her pet name to gain her attention. Turning around she could see her husband standing there with Logan. The super Soldier towing over the Royal as he stood there silently.
"Mamo... what about Haruka?"
"She's going to be alright." Endymion replied, but his expression let her know that there was something else on his mind. "But... there is something you need to know ..."
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"It's called a 'Nova Bomb'" Hannah began to explain, as both Royals and Logan stood within the CC and looked at a holographic image of the device "It was developed almost a century ago as a means to destroy entire enemy fleets, using nine nuclear warheads. Or render a planet lifeless."
"But it can also be used to kill a planet if needed " Logan added, as the images soon changed to show the nine individual warheads. "Under U.N.S.C. Doctrine, at least five Nova Are kept on board all major Capital ships. But due to the nature of our last mission, there was only one on board this vessel. But it has now gone missing."
"I'm afraid that during recent battle, someone or 'Something' was able to board the ship." The A.I. explained, as the images soon changed to show a shadowy creature seemingly making off with the powerful nuclear device. A cold shiver soon ran through the spines of both Royals, as they began to grasp just how serious the situation had become. If Esmarude had gotten a hold of such a destructive device...
"What we want to know us just who or what attacked us and where did they go?" Logan said firmly. His deep voice not hiding the fact that he quite serious about the situation.
"Her name is Esmeraude." Endymion spoke up, just as Serenity glanced up at him. "She is... was a member of Black Moon clan."
"Black... Moon...?" the Spartan asked curiously.
"They were originally a group of radicals who tried to over throw our kingdom... and kill me." Serenity spoke up, as Endymion held her hand for support. "We had originally exiled both them and their followers from Earth years ago, but ... they tried again. They attacked Earth again ten years ago but... it failed and mist of their members were killed."
"Esmeraude was one of their top lieutenants." Endymion added. "We though she had died during the final battle."
"But obviously she didn't." Logan replied, as he digested everything which had been told to him. "I'm guessing she is back for some kind of revenge?"
Serenity nodded. "She almost killed me and my friends during that war and now she has captured them. She has probably taken them back to Nemesis with this... Nova Bomb. Why did your people even develop such a weapon?"
Logan was silent for a moment, before he replied... "There... was a war. A bad one and my people were losing."
"A war?"
"My people were losing and we were doing everything we could to avoid defeat. The Nova Bomb was developed to prevent that."
"Did it work?" Serenity asked him.
"We didn't lose." The Spartan replied. "But now this ... Esmeraude person has it and if she is as dangerous as you say she is, then I need to get it back. Or at the very least, prevent them from using it."
An awkward silence soon flooded the command deck, as the weight of the conversation soon fell upon them. It was bad enough that Esmarude had captured most of the Senshi, but now she had in her possession, something that could destroy an entire planet. It was not long before the two parties came to a undeniable truth...
"Logan..." Neo-Queen Serenity spoke up, as she stepped forward to face the Super Soldier. "I believe it may be in the best interest to both of us, if we were to work together."
The Spartan looked down at the slender woman before him, his gold visor showing Serenity's reflection as she peered up at him. "Esmarude must not be allowed to use this... 'Nova Bomb' and must be stopped. Which is why ... I am asking for your help "
Endymion was taken aback by his wife's request, as he did not her ask for help from Logan. But all things considered, it should have been expected.
"I know you have no reason to help us, but many lives hang in the balance. Please, help me save my friends."
Logan for his part, just remained silent as the Royal pleaded with him. Deep in his own thoughts as the seriousness of the situation was not lost on him, especially now there was a missing Nova Bomb in the equation.
UNSC protocols dictate, that if a Nova Bomb or any other similar device is lost/Stolen, then there was one of two options which would have been used...
1) Detonate the device to neutralize both the weapon and who or what ever had taken it. (Usually used against Covenant Forces)
or 2) Retrieve the device.
Normally, the first option would have been used and from what Serenity had told him, he doubted the Universe would mourn for this Esmarude individual. But there was a complication, Esmarude had taken "prisoners" and obviously, remotely detonating the Nova was out of the question. Which meant he would have to try and retrieve the device, or at the very least, deactivate it.
But of course, there was also the issue with the "Hostages" Esmarude had taken...
Honestly, he really didn't know what to think about them. But it was obvious to him that Serenity did care greatly fir their well being and now she was asking him to help her rescue them. The duty of a Spartan was to defend humanity from any and all outside threats, or at least that was why he had been thought while being trained. To preserve human life, even if it meant sacrificing his own if needed. It was this mindset which had ultimately lead to him remaining on board the Siege Merciless to ensure his comrades had escaped.
Now it seemed that despite being in another universe far different from his own, Human Life was once again being threatened. The Duty of A Spartan was to Defend Humanity, even if it wasn't the same spices he knew.
"I will." Logan said crisply, much to the surprise of not only the Royals present, but Hannah as well.
"Gunny?" The A.I. asked curiously.
"U.N.S.C. property has been stolen and hostages taken. This is a blatant transgression that must be answered for under UNSC regulation 128-33-A." Logan explained, much to the surprise of Hannah. Mainly because he was right. "We need to locate and if possible, retrieve the Nova Bomb before it can be used."
"And what about the Sailor Senshi?"
"They are also a priority, as the same person who took them are also responsible for the theft." The Spartan explained.
Needless to say, both Serenity and Endymion were surprised that this armored clad giant was willing to help them. But were equally as grateful as well. Noe with Esmarude on the run, there was only one place the matriarch of the Black Moon clan could have gone.
A mysterious black rock said to exist on the very edge of the Sol System. A black rock known to all ... as Nemesis...
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A/N: Another chapter down with more to come, so stay tuned!
Now for my announcement: I have actually started a new FaceBook page named "The Armchair General" dedicated to everything military. It basically a page where we post news, weapons breakdowns and even war stories you may have never heard about.
I use to help admin another similar page, but it died out and I was the only admin posting on the regular. So I decided to start my own, so if you want to help out, go to The Armchair General's page and give it a like to help it grow. There are a few posts up already, but more will come in the future.
Until next time, UH-60 out!