Chapter 10

R reyes- No character hints at this time.

Robo Reader 21- What scenes other than the one you mentioned were forced? Then again I did attempt to do the movie version of those events, so maybe that's the reason. The reason I did that was because I felt like the movie did better in terms of events between Garma's death and Ramba Ral's appearance. So, to help everyone, Ramba Ral will come to Earth after the Zeon base attack and the Gundam bomb attack subplot. That's the only thing. Everything else will follow the anime version of the plot.

Nemesis Astraea- Yes, you're right, but Chief isn't part of the Earth Federation Forces. So, that's technically void here.

Jetslinger333- Yup, and exploit it like any other resource. Although, they can't use glyph magic as apparently that relies on magic in the air being around in order for it to work. Staffs and wands though are perfectly good to go. So, same outcome.

Austin- I was told she killed before, so I'm not sure if we can do that with her. Plus she's in her late forties, so I don't think she's that unfamiliar to death.

Master Chief

"So that's the reason?" Asked Master Chief as he talked to Bright outside the hanger bay that his Pelican was in. Behind him were Lilith and Fernando, both of whom were stunned at what they just heard.

When Master Chief told Bright that they needed to talk, Bright ordered everyone to leave, including his guards. Though some were reluctant to leave Bright alone with these people, Bright insisted that he would be fine. He told them that they had plenty of opportunities to betray them, yet they didn't. The most obvious one was the time they were on the bridge. Reluctantly, everyone obeyed and went away, dragging the kids away as they wanted to stay with Lilith so she can entertain them. Once everyone was gone, Bright explained the situation to the two humans and Witch. Unbeknownst to him, Joy was also listening in, eager to hear what she could about this Universe and all its technologies. It was during this talk that he revealed the truth about his crew and the shock was expected from Lilith and Fernando.

Bright just sighed before nodding his head in confirmation of what he had just said.

"That is indeed correct." Said Bright as he looked at Chief. "This ship isn't crewed by young men and women because this is a training vessel or anything of that sort. It's crewed by forced conscripted young men and women because the Earth Federation is that desperate for manpower."

"But they're just teenagers." Said Lilith as she recovered from the information that Bright had said to them. "They aren't even fully developed yet. There are even children here! You can't just send teenagers and children into a war! Much less force them to!" Bright just bit his lip at that, agreeing with her, but it wasn't his call to make.

"It's not that I don't agree with you, ma'am. I do, but that's not something I can decide. Nor did I have a choice." Said Bright as he looked at the three. "As I said before to your friend here, this ship's original crew was wiped out during a colony attack by the Zeons. Those who weren't wiped out were too injured to continue manning the ship. Thus, in order to escape, we had to conscript survivors from the colony attack to man the ship until we made it back to friendly territories. At least that was my original plan."

"What do you mean?" Asked Master Chief. Bright adjusted his collar a bit before explaining further.

"When we reached a Federation stronghold, we didn't receive relief from our allies. They simply couldn't afford to transfer any of their men to us. Or at least men that we need to pilot this ship." Explained Bright, leaving out the fact that they also tried to arrest them for knowing military secrets.

"And having untrained teenage soldiers and even children there was a better alternative?" Asked Master Chief. Though his voice was still stoic, hints of disapproval leaked through his voice, showcasing his feelings on this subject.

"Unfortunately yes." Said Bright with a frown. "You have to understand. Most Federation soldiers that are now just conscripts, fresh recruits, or from the Federation reserves, many of whom are undertrained and lack experience in actual combat and their supposed fields of expertise." Upon hearing that, combined with Bright's previous claim of losing an entire colony to a Zeon attack, made Chief presses a different question, but equally as important, if not more so.

"This war you're having with the Zeons. It's not a standard war." Said Chief as he looked at Bright. While Lilith and Fernando looked at Chief in surprise at this, wondering what he meant by that, Bright raised an eyebrow. Why would he ask that question? Everyone in the Earth Sphere knew about just how devastating the war was to both the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation. Lilith he can understand as she was, technically speaking, an alien and wouldn't have known about the One Year War, though why and how she was here was something he had to know about, but this green armored soldier had no knowledge of the war and the damage it had brought upon the Earth Sphere. Could he and that other fellow be…no it can't be. Could it?

Deciding to ignore that possibility, for now, Bright simply nodded his head.

"Yes, in the opening month of the war, both sides lost half of their respective populations." Said Bright, causing both Fernando and Lilith's eyes to widen in horror and shock. "Between the massive casualties suffered from both sides as well as the immense civilian casualties as well, over a third of humanity was killed in the opening month." While Fernando and Lilith were reacting to this in horror, Master Chief was processing this information.

A third of humanity was lost in just a month. Completely horrific, but also brought into question just how much territory this Universe's humanity had. Did they expand outside their solar system? Or do they only possess only a few star systems? Questions like these popped in Master Chief's head as he found it unlikely that such a massive casualty rate can occur in just a month if this Universe's humanity had dozens, even hundreds, of star systems in their control. Unless both sides used weapons of mass destruction on each other. In that case, they had more things to worry about than teenager soldiers manning warships by themselves.

"I see." Said Master Chief as he looked at Bright. "And what caused such destruction in the first place?" Bright pursed his lips a bit, not sure how they would take it, before ultimately deciding to tell them.

"The Principality of Zeon's stated goal for the war was to claim independence from the Earth Federation." Said Bright, causing Lilith and Fernando to look at him in shock and disbelief at that, wondering how the hell a war of independence led to such death. "However, their methods were barbaric, to be frank. They killed entire colony populations in order to use the colonies themselves as weapons against Earth, which they used efficiently against Earth. In the hopes of ending the war quickly, I presume." While Lilith and Fernando continued to stare incredulously at Bright, Chief realized that he just gained some valuable information about the colonies in this Universe.

Given what Bright said about colonies being used as weapons against Earth, Chief and Joy could safely assume that this humanities' colonies were not the same as those used by the UEG or the UNSC. Colonies for them were built on worlds with an atmosphere habitable for human life. Though some colonies were established on inhospitable worlds, a rarity given that humanity has enough terraforming capabilities to make most worlds hospitable for humans, most colonies were built on worlds where human life can thrive comfortably. Because of this, Master Chief assumed that the technological level of this Universe was well below that of the UNSC. Granted, he already saw that with the amount of backward technology that he found in both the Zeon vehicles and the White Base, but this sealed the deal on just how primitive this Universe was.

He had heard of some colonies being established in artificial stations or satellites as a means to avoid the eyes of the UEG or UNSC. Perhaps the colonies of this Universe are similar. Wanting to be sure, Chief asked a question.

"Why would they use artificial colonies, homes of people, to do that?" Asked Master Chief. "That's only going to hamper their goals in the long run."

"That is a good question." Said Bright, noticing how Master Chief said artificial colonies. "Truth be told, I have no idea as well. Even the stated reason is something even I don't understand as well. The use of colonies as weapons is nothing short of barbaric and hypocritical, I'd say. The Zeons are Spacenoids fighting for independence, yet they're willing to use the homes of other Spacenoids as weapons. It's disgusting." Though the mood amongst the four, technically five, Lilith couldn't help but ask a question.

"Spacenoids? What's a Spacenoid?" Asked Lilith, confused at the term. Though she was still horrified at the amount of death and destruction that Bright told her, her curiosity piqued at the term Spacenoid.

"It's a modern term used to refer to someone who was born or lives in space." Said Bright. "Those born on Earth or live there are referred to as Earthnoids. The Zeons detest that Earthnoids are given better treatment than Spacenoids on account of the Earth Federation prioritizing them over their needs, thus the war." Frowning at that explanation, Lilith knew there was more than what Bright said and was about to demand the whole story when Chief spoke up.

"Getting back to the topic at hand, having teenagers and children pilot a military ship by themselves is nothing short of a disaster." Said Master Chief as he walked towards Bright, who took a few steps back as the green armored soldier made his way to him. "They're undisciplined. Untrained and inexperienced to the demands that a battlefield requires. Not to mention they may freeze up when faced with overwhelming military opposition."

"You don't think that I know that?" Said Bright as he looked at Master Chief, both in fear and frustration. "There have been times that they've frozen up in fear from the battles we had and there have also been times that they made the simplest of mistakes that nearly cost them their lives. You don't think that I tried to request additional personnel? Trained personnel that can help ease the burden of my young crew, but it's the same result. There simply isn't enough personnel to help us at the time we request it or they're needed elsewhere."

"You got to be kidding me." Said Fernando, upon hearing all this from Bright. "Not even just a couple of guys to help out here? What kind of fucking government lets kids and teenagers pilot a military warship on their own without supervision?" Fernando then began muttering Spanish curses at this information. Lilith, meanwhile, was staring in concern for Bright. Though she was horrified at everything that she heard, what with the massive amount of death from this war that she really wants to know more about, she could see that he was frustrated at the lack of help from his government. She could tell that he genuinely wanted to look out and protect his young crew, but was frustrated at the lack of cooperation from others to do so. It tugs at her heart that he cared so much about his crew, yet can't do anything to protect them from harm. Pursing her lips, she looked at Master Chief and spoke.

"Perhaps we should stay here until this war is over?" Suggested Lilith. She knew that they were planning on staying on this ship for some time, but she didn't know how long. She didn't want these young people to fight, much less kill people at such a young age, but she could see that it wasn't an option to just have them not fight and kill. There were more of them than there was of Lilith and this Master Chief and Fernando. It would be literally impossible for them to fight without the assistance of these young men and women. Because of that, she wanted them to stay here and help them. To help ease their burdens and, hopefully, prevent them from doing more killing than they already did. Though her heart wanted that, her mind told her that was a mere pipe dream.

Master Chief looked at Lilith because of her suggestion, unnerving her because of his emotionless stance. For the tenth time today, she was reminded of Emperor Belos with how quiet and fear-invoking this Master Chief was. Wondering if he was angered or annoyed with her suggestion, Lilith was prepared to speak to defend herself when he nodded.

"We were already going to do that." Said Master Chief simply, showing no annoyance at Lilith's suggestion. "Whether we like it or not, they're our allies now. And it's our duties as allies to help them to the best of our abilities." Master Chief then went up to Bright and spoke. "If you want, I can help discipline your people. Help them become better soldiers. Is that fine with you?" Bright just looked at Master Chief, wondering if this was something that he should ask them.

On one hand, it would be beneficial to the ship as a whole if everyone was a bit more disciplined and trained. However, he didn't know if any of his crew would appreciate a training regime being placed and done by someone they just met. This green armored soldier was a complete stranger and someone that no one in his crew actually trusted. Yet. Then there was the fact that none of them wanted to be soldiers in the first place. They were forced to.

"I don't know." Said Bright honestly. "My crew may not be too keen on being trained into being soldiers when they didn't want to be soldiers in the first place. Even more so when they're being trained by a complete stranger that they don't know if they can trust or not. I'll try to convince some too, at least, give you a chance, but I can't promise any will listen." Rather than get annoyed, Master Chief just nodded. He understood their stance and respected it, even if it meant more danger to them and this ship.

"I understand." Said Master Chief before turning to Fernando and Lilith. "If you don't mind, I'd like to speak with my people alone. Is that fine?" Bright just nodded at that before leaving. But not before telling Chief that they've prepared some quarters for them that they're welcome to stay in and that someone will come to escort them to said quarters. Once Bright was gone, Chief spoke.

"Fernando, if you and Lilith want, you can rest in those quarters that they're providing for us, you're welcome to. I'm staying in the Pelican and guarding it." Said Master Chief, causing both Lilith and Fernando to blink.

"You still think they'll double cross us, big guy? Even after learning, they're just teens and kids?" Asked Fernando, not sure why Chief didn't trust them yet. Not when they told them more than they probably should have.

"The Pelican and its contents are more advanced than anything that I've seen on this ship so far." Explained Master Chief. "Its technology would be a treasure trove for either the Principality of Zeon or the Earth Federation. It's a tempting target for both sides. More than enough to force either side to listen to the demands of anyone just to get even a portion of what we have." Upon hearing that, Lilith looked at Chief incredulously.

"You honestly think they'll betray us?" Asked Lilith, disapproval in her voice. How could he think that these people would betray them?

"No." Said Master Chief, confusing Lilith a bit. "Not without the right circumstances, at least. They're teens and children that have been forced into a role that they didn't want to be in at all. Some of them may be able to endure it, but others may not. They can get scared or frustrated with what is going on around them. How they were forced to become soldiers for this Earth Federation. They may seek ways to find a way out of all this. Even if it means betraying allies. Would you do the same if you were in their situation and their age?" Fernando grimaced at that, unsure if he could give Chief a definite answer to that. Lilith tried to give Chief an answer but closed her mouth when she realized that, much to her shame, she would have.

She thought back to her earlier years after she cursed her sister. The desperation and self-loathing she felt about her mistake and how she desperately wanted to cure her in order to make up for her mistake. How she increasingly grew desperate to do so after years of searching on her own proved fruitless. Belos had used that growing desperation along with her naivety at the time and lied to her when she was in her twenties. That he can cure her if she helped force her sister to join the coven system that he implemented for her people as well as swear loyalty to him. If she could follow the words of a tyrant like Belos with the promises of helping her sister as a young woman, why wouldn't she do the same if she was a teenager or child stuck on this ship with little to no support from the government that she supposedly fighting for? Pursing her lips, she gave no argument, causing Chief to open the Pelican hanger bay doors.

"For the record, I don't want them to betray us." Said Master Chief as he got onboard the Pelican. "However, we can't risk letting even a single piece of equipment from this Pelican falling into the wrong hands. Understood?"

"You got it, Chief." Said Fernando while Lilith just nodded. Looking at the two, Chief asked them if they needed anything from the Pelican before he started to create a security routine with the ship's onboard AI with Joy.

"Just all my belongings." Said Lilith as she looked at Master Chief after a minute to herself. She remembered that she placed her belonging aside from her staff in the Pelican as she didn't have anywhere else to put them. Now that she had a room to herself, she didn't need to place her belongings on the ship, which she was grateful for. That ship didn't look like a comfortable place to sleep. "I don't think any of my belongings will warrant investigation by either of these governments. Yes?" Chief just looked at her before nodding. Technically speaking, her belongings were enough to warrant taking because of her ability to do magic, something this Universe didn't have apparently. That alone would get people to want to take both her and any of her possessions for dissection. To see what enables her to do magic and how it's done. However, since she wasn't UNSC or human, he wasn't obligated to protect her as Fernando or the Pelican. That being said, since she was an ally of his, he was going to protect her. Much like the people of the White Base. If she wanted to take her belongings to her room, he'll allow it. However, he was going to keep an eye out for her just in case.

Once he allowed Lilith to get her stuff in the Pelican, he went over to Fernando and told him to keep an eye out for Lilith, giving him the reasons for doing so.

"Got it, Chief." Said Fernando as he watched Lilith get her stuff. "I got her back the same as you got our back. Right?" Chief just nodded as Lilith got out of the Pelican and outside, where a few people were coming back to the hanger. Hoping one of them would escort them to their new rooms, Lilith asked Fernando if he wanted to accompany her in finding their rooms, and he nodded. The two soon left to find someone to escort them to their new rooms or, at the very least, direct them to someone who will. As they walked away, Joy spoke to Chief, having been quiet the whole time.

"You care for Lilith, don't you?" Asked Joy as she noticed Chief watching both Fernando and Lilith leave.

"She's an ally." Said Chief. "And a powerful one at that, if her magic is any indication. And we'll need that if we're going to be on a ship filled with just young men and women."

"Fair." Said Joy. "I hope you're just being cautious about wanting security around the Pelican, Chief. I don't like the idea of us fighting teenagers."

"Neither do I, but we have to protect UNSC technology and secrets." Said Master Chief as he went back inside the Pelican. "We need to protect the Pelican from unauthorized dismantling and tampering. Can you work with the ship's AI to protect it?"

"Of course, we'll do what we can to make sure this ship is the most protected Pelican ever." Said Joy with a smile. Nodding at that, he allowed Joy to get to work with the Pelican's onboard AI while he went about closing the Pelican doors. Meanwhile, Fernando and Lilith were talking to each other, having found someone that gave them directions on where they needed to go.

"So, how do you like Chief?" Asked Fernando as they walked together. Pursing her lips, Lilith gave him her honest opinion of the Master Chief.

"He's certainly a cold individual." Said Lilith as she looked at Fernando. "He doesn't seem to have many emotions as well. During my time with him, he always was so calm and collected. I could never tell what he was actually feeling or thinking. He's just so…cold. Even his voice was so cold and emotionless as well. It's almost like he doesn't have any emotions at all. He's…like a machine. He reminds me of a…individual that…I used to admire and respect."

"I see. Yeah, I get that. He's got that effect on people." Said Fernando, recalling how he first met the Spartan. How cold and robotic he was in his single-minded pursuit of protecting humanity from the Banished. "But, trust me, he's a lot nicer and caring once you get to know him. I used to think the same as you, but then I saw who he really is behind that helmet. I'm sure you'll see it yourself one day. Just not today." Lilith, upon hearing that, looked at him before nodding her head in understanding. She had met a few people that she previously looked down upon for being weak or obnoxious, but once she got to know them, she saw them for who they really are and became friends with them. Perhaps this will be the same with the Master Chief. Or at least she hoped so. Thanking Fernando for his words, the two then resumed to find their rooms in silence. As they walked, Lilith couldn't help but feel that her life was about to get a bit more interesting. Very interesting.