Terrence Hood - Supreme Commander of UNSC Forces

I can't quite decide which internal problem was worse: fucking ONI or the civilian leadership of the UNSC. The problem with the UNSC was that it was very much an interstellar government created by accident. The old United Nations trying to control the colonization of space and just expanding its role over time. There was never really a plan to create a functioning government, just a series of cludges until the UNSC existed.

While there were democratic voices, at the foundation the UN was dominated by corrupt semi-democracies, autocracies, and failed states who used their weight to get bread crumbs. The leadership started out corrupt, with sham elections for seats or appointed seats being the norm and with little if any accountability for the leadership of the councils that ruled the UNSC. As it expanded, worlds and systems bribed their way onto seats. If you couldn't afford the bribes then you did not have a voice in the UN's governance.

People got upset about this but rather than do the hard job of reforming ONI was created and set off their leash, given permission to do whatever the fuck they wanted as long as the right people in the inner systems got their cut. Then the war happened. You would think that this would be the moment our civilian leadership stepped up to the plate.

These people had been enriched their entire lives by the UNSC, living lives of comfort and decadence. Now that it was all at risk this was the time to step up, this was the time to shine. Instead, like spoiled frightened children, they 'bestowed' emergency powers upon the military and then fucked off to the most fortified places they could with their money.

Of course, they didn't bother to ask if the military wanted this extra burden of governance during a total war for survival. So now I'm stuck doing their jobs and my job. A military junta I didn't want but one that it's my duty to lead. Meanwhile we still have ONI, even if in theory on a leash, going out and making shit worse.

"Bring in the head of ONI."

"Yes sir."

I blamed ONI for the rebellion that created the Front. Yes the civilian leadership was corrupt and useless but they had been corrupt and useless since day one, there was a system to take outer systems and bring them in. ONI broke that, the firm line between inner and outer was created by their bullshit 'have to maintain power at all costs' attitude. I mean you read the reports and it's just... sickening.

Their attempt to squash all rebellions ended up provoking said rebellions. Honestly, after reading through the reports, I get where the Front is coming from. So I got stuck doing the peace treaty because none of our civilian leadership wanted to take any responsibility.

"Fucking hell."

The new head of ONI came in, flanked by his second. I got out of my chair.

"Hello."

"So one of your agents got caught trying to assassinate the Quartermaster General of the Front."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, sir."

Yeah not doing this, I pulled out a pistol and shot him. The second froze, his leader staring at me in shock. I shot again and he fell over, then I shot him three times in the head just to make damned sure he was dead. I looked at the second.

"I don't trust you. I don't trust ONI. You have earned my mistrust and the mistrust of every single person in the UNSC. The only reason for which your existence is tolerated is because we need someone to be our spies against the Covenant."

I pointed my gun at his head.

"You're all bastards, the only reason we tolerate that is because you are our bastards. You ever stop being our bastards and I will fucking put you down myself, like the mad dogs you are. Got it?"

He looked at the dead man.

"Crystal, sir."

"Rule One: one war at a time. No starting shit with the Front while we are fighting the Covenant. You can spy on them, you can steal their tech, but do NOT provoke a fucking war. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

"No pissing off our civilians. I know times are bad but that hard man doing hard things shit does not fly with me. There are fucking lines, obey them or I will fucking murder you."

I paused.

"Congratulations on your promotion."