Olympus
"This is an outrage!" Athena steamed as she looked about at the assembled gods in fury.
"I wouldn't say that. He just put on one hell of a show." Ares nearly giggled as he looked down into the portal showing the battlefield below.
"Without even needing to rely on that armor of his. I wonder if there is a way to get a closer look at it." Hephaestus concurred absentmindedly, rubbing his beard.
"I still don't understand your infatuation with the Spartan's armor." Artemis huffed. "It looks like every other armor before it and will probably resemble all others after it."
Hephaestus choked on a mouthful of air, sputtering, as he turned to his half-sister.
"Did you not see the trials?! He moves as if the armor were weightless, and that doesn't even account for those small pillars of fire it possesses! If I could examine it, for even a second, I could learn so much!" He exclaimed.
"I'm pretty sure it's outside your abilities with merely a hammer and stone, Hephaestus." Ares offered blandly.
"And yet it may help me design better enchantments or improve my armor's fluidity!" Hephaestus retorted.
"Father! Surely we must do something!" Athena cried, ignoring the bickering behind her.
"And what is it you'd have me do? The Spartan hasn't broken the deal you two forged. If anything, It is the Amazons that have instigated matters." Zeus rumbled from his throne.
"The god-king is correct. You must abide by the bonds you have forged… All of them." Hermes added with a knowing smirk.
Athena sent the messenger a heated glare. Her eyes promised pain if he should continue to speak of matters he knows nothing about. Hermes just chuckled amusedly.
"Be at peace, sister. Your precious Amazons have only lost a small fraction of their number. If he wanted, he could have made the consequences of their transgression far more grave." Ares pointed without tearing his gaze from the portal.
"You will be silent, brother!" Athena sneered as she whipped around towards him. "It is bad enough that you are the reason the man still graces the Amazons' shores! I will not stand here and listen to your revelries!"
"I do believe that you also had a part to play in his current position. After all….. it takes two to tango, sister." Ares returned with a predatory gleam in his eyes towards her.
Athena bit back the retort she had readied on the tip of her tongue and snapped around back to Zeus. She spoke, putting as much fury into her words as she could manage.
"I demand the Spartan be struck down where he stands! Every additional second he remains on our shores is an affront to everything we've been working towards!"
"I have to say, Atha. You've never really been all that great at interacting with or choosing your mortals, but this one is shaping up to take the cake….. Can I ask…." Hermes observed, that same smirk still plastered on his face.
"NO YOU MAY NOT!" Athena raged.
"Athena!" Hera chided from beside her husband.
Instantly the room quieted and became cold. None of the gods wanted to incur the wrath of the one known for her vindictive nature against those that spite her.
"Apologies." Athena offered with a bow, but everyone present could tell those words were half-hearted at best.
The room went silent once more as some of the gods shifted uncomfortably. It wasn't often that one of their number managed to draw the ire of both Zeus and Hera. It also usually didn't end particularly well for whoever had managed to do so.
"Do not make the mistake of thinking you are alone in your rage, daughter. The Amazons were as much my plan as they were yours… I do not find joy in being shown how dull a blade they have become." Zeus said empathetically.
"Then strike down the Spartan. Restore the Amazon's confidence and show that we still stand with them." Athena pleaded.
"To what end?" Zeus answered with an irritated growl. "If we strike down the Spartan, we have only proven that we will intervene in every conflict which threatens them. They will return to their comfortable and care-free lives and will continue to degrade."
"To be fair to them, the Amazons have been spending the centuries honing their skills with the blade and shield… A shame the rest of the world moved beyond such weapons centuries ago." Ares spoke, somehow both defending the Amazons' skills and at the same time condemning Athena and Zeus.
"You dare besmirch my centuries of work?!" Hephaestus roared. A forge hammer materializing in his grip as he eyed his brother. Ares rolled his eyes.
"No, brother. I am merely pointing out the largest facility in Father's plan. He didn't account for mortal's innate bloodlust and thirst for violence. Your trinkets barely factor into the matter." Ares dismissed.
"Mortals still use bows and arrows." Artemis pointed out.
"For sport and usually only to hunt game. The Green Archer and his cohorts are the exception, not the rule." Ares huffed.
"So what are we to do?" Zeus asked the bloodthirsty god. An event that had never occurred before. All of the gods stiffened in surprise, even Ares. But he quickly pulled himself back together.
"Simple. Allow the Amazons to leave the island." He answered with a serious look.
"Absolutely not!" Athena protested.
But Zeus ignored her. "Explain."
Ares turned to his Father and regarded him. His gaze was assessing, beware of some sort of trickery. Surprisingly, he found none, so he spoke once more.
"Father, your mistake was believing that mortals don't change and grow. But they do, and with that growth comes new reasons to fight against one another. To find new ways to kill and decimate the enemy.
You chose the Amazons because they were the pinnacle fighting force of their time, due mainly to your enchantments over them. But times have changed.
Warfare is no longer line upon line of soldiers and horses. Its small teams and coordinated strikes, using both man and machine.
I will concede that the Spartan is far more advanced than anything currently on the planet, but his tactics and technology are only a few centuries removed from what currently occupies the planet. There is also substantially more of it.
You and your Amazons remained ignorant of the wide world around it and have now been thrust into a strange new world. So, the solution is to educate them. Allow them to go out into the world and learn of its new history and technology. Have them study the strategies and tactics of the modern man. Maybe even have them incorporate a bit of the modern world's technology." He explained.
The room held its breath as Ares finished his speech, awaiting the King's reply. But it was Hera who spoke first.
"I believe the Hound has a point, dear." She conceded. Ares emitting a low growl as she spoke.
Zeus spared his wife a glance as he weighed Ares' words in his mind. As much as he hated to admit it, his bloodthirsty son had a point. Athena had always held mortal's strategic abilities in high regard, but she often ignored the bloodshed which such strategies wrought.
Ares, on the other hand, reveled in such tragedies. Which may be why he had a better understanding of human warfare over that of Athena. Because he understood that at the end of the day the goal of battle was to kill or disarm your opponent.
"How many should be allowed to leave our shores?" Zeus questioned after a few moments.
"Father! You cannot be considering this!" Athena screeched, shocked at her father's words. But both Ares and Zeus ignored her once more.
"I don't think you should necessarily put a number on it. Most of them will be reluctant to leave the island after having spent so long away from the rest of the world… I'd inform them that recent events have changed your views on certain aspects of their lives and then I'd lift the rule against leaving the island. Those who wish to do so will leave on their own and will be far more motivated than if you ordered some of their number to go." Ares explained.
"And what happens once they leave our shores? They will be alone in a world they no longer understand. They will be isolated, far from the safety of their sisters." Athena pointed out.
"Are they not warriors?" Ares answered rhetorically. "Sister, they have centuries of swordsmanship and hand to hand combat to draw upon. They are also still stronger than the average man. Most will be fine in man's world."
"But not all." Athena grit out.
"No, not all. Some will….. some will never return. But that doesn't mean they failed, just that they fell in battle like their sisters before them." Ares offered, knowing Athena would be more accepting of the truth with a pinch of sugar.
Zeus rubbed his beard considering the idea. It was low risk to both the gods and the Amazons below, but that didn't mean there would be no losses. Already, thirty of their number had been cut down and with them centuries of experience and training.
But the potential gains were too big to simply ignore. Should the world need them, the Amazons needed to know what potential threats they faced and that meant knowing about the modern world. It may also surprise certain threats should they choose to ever return.
"I've reached a decision!" Zeus bellowed into the room, drawing everyone's eyes.
"We shall allow the Amazons to journey back to man's world, but they are not allowed to bring any men back to the island." He proclaimed. "Athena, inform the Queen of this decision and extend our condolences for her lost sisters."
Athena stood there for a second, uncomprehending of his orders. Eventually, his words sunk in and she found herself silently bowing. But internally, her mind was awhirl at all the changes and possibilities this decision offered. Although, not all those possibilities were pleasant.
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Themyscira - Palace - That Evening
Hippolyta trudged into the throne room, Diana and Donna at her sides. She was still adorned in her armor. Although now it was covered in dust, blood, and scuffs from the Spartan's Archer Missile. Whatever blasted weapon that may be.
Her warriors had all sported a similar look. But there had been a few of their number that were less lucky, either falling on weapons, being trampled, or simply having a large chunk of rock fall on them in the midst of the chaos.
The funny part was that the battle and subsequent reorganization of her forces may have been the easiest part of her day, because when her warriors marched back into Themyscira they received nothing but wide eyes and horrified looks.
Hippolyta could see fear spread itself among her people like a virus, infecting them one by one until the entirety of the island was firmly in its hold.
The Queen and her daughters approached the throne, all of them too tired to notice their lady looming next to it. It took the goddess clearing her throat to jolt them into action. As one they dropped to their knees, the clang of their armor hitting the stone below them filling the room.
"My lady!" Hippolyta gasped, only to find herself at a loss for words.
"Be at peace, your Highness." Athena soothed gently.
She gracefully strode down the stairs to meet her loyal subjects. She then crouched and cupped Hippolyta's chin, pulling the Queen's gaze to her own. A silent conversation passed between the two of them before Athena pulled the Queen back to her feet. She reached over and repeated the gesture with each of the Queen's daughters, sending the two of them a gentle smile as she did.
Athena then spoke, "The gods are not displeased with you or your people….. I am not displeased."
"How?!" Donna cried, drawing two frantic looks from her fellow Amazons. But she continued unabated. "One man just broke the morale for the entirety of our people, and he did it with one weapon! How can the gods not be displeased?!"
"Because the fault is not your own." Athena answered, stunning the room.
"We…. I have been ignorant, proud... I ignored the progress of the rest of the world, believing your weapons, enchantments, and training would outclass anything the world of man could come up with.
I was wrong and thirty of your sisters have paid the price for that ignorance… I humbly beg for your forgiveness, as it was my lack of humility that brought about their end."
The goddess then bowed before them, stunning the three of them once more. So much so, that Hippolyta couldn't help but stammer out her response.
"My lady…..we…I….. I assure you, our sisters died a warrior's death and they went to the fields of Elysium with no ill will towards you in their hearts. Thus, I have nothing to forgive you for."
"You are too kind." Athena observed, straightening back up.
"If you don't mind me asking, my lady. Besides the recent battle, what brings you to us?" Diana questioned for her mother.
Athena turned and strode back up the stairs leaving the question dangling as she looked up at the fading light of the sun reflecting off the waterfall in the distance.
"Besides conveying the gods' condolences and assurances, I have also been tasked with informing you of a change…. Recent events have shown us that we were wrong to isolate you from the rest of the world. So, it has been decided that should an Amazon choose, she may leave and travel man's world."
The declaration strode into the room with all the subtlety of a grenade going off. Leaving the trio again grasping at straws to make sense of what was happening.
"What?!" Hippolyta screeched, being the first to recover.
"Should an Amazon choose to leave and explore man's word, she will now be allowed to do so. Athena repeated. "However, it remains that no man shall be allowed to step upon our island."
"But, who among us would want to leave? This is our home!" Donna cried, missing how her sister looked away and off to the side.
"It is." Athena agreed. "But that doesn't mean there aren't those around you who wish to explore the world around you. It was wrong of us to forbid them from doing so."
"My lady, we can't just send our sisters out without some sort of way to get back home!" Hippolyta protested.
Athena scrunched her nose in displeasure as she realized they had missed such a simple issue. It seems that today they were realizing they had missed many simple issues.
"I will talk with Poseidon and secure passage to and from the stormviel. So long as your sisters can reach the edges of the island, they will face no hardships upon their return." She assured.
"But what of man's world? Surely they will take notice if we start sending groups of mysterious women onto their shores." Hippolyta tried once more.
At that, Athena could only shrug.
"I'll not pretend to know what man's world will and will not notice. How you choose to go about interacting with them is your people's choice. Just know, the gods wish to see your people grow and evolve with this change. Whether that be with learning of new technology or increasing the city's stockpile of books."
Athena the turned to face the trio once more, a confident smile on her lips.
"I understand that this is an… adjustment. But we have faith that you and your sisters will thrive under this change. Know, we have faith in you."
With that, a golden light encircled her and she disappeared once more.
"We….. we'll have to inform everyone." Donna stammered as the weight of the day finally caught up to her.
"We'll have to do a lot more than that, daughter." Hippolyta sighed.
"Mother?" Diana questioned.
"This…. This is going to change our island forever and many will be unwilling to accept it." Hippolyta answered as she rubbed her temples. The sheer headache this change would inspire made her question the gods' wisdom.
"Then what do we plan to do?" Donna asked.
"It remains to be seen, Daughter…. For now, we'll retire for the evening and then maybe confront this tomorrow. Gods willing our people have recovered by then."
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UNSC - Katoptris - That Night
Grim exited the surrounding tree line silently, his M739 SAW holstered on his back. Its drum and the two he had stored away having gone unused in the day's events.
He strode into the clearing, one of his new M5 Talos turrets tracking his movements for a second before returning to its normal rotation.
It was one of six that now lined both his ship and the hill above, providing three hundred and sixty degree coverage. Pep and Sparks had also somehow upgraded their programming, implanting a close equivalent to a Dumb AI in their matrices and reducing Phoebe's workload. Which had increased considerably after the fight.
Barbara was having trouble processing that she had killed in self defense, something that was beyond Grim's expertise. They also didn't have access to any sort of therapist in this new world, leaving it to Phoebe to navigate the woman through the rough waters of her mind.
At the very least, the AI could take solace in that she was making progress with the woman. She had come so far as to returning to roaming about the ship and had even started interacting with the engineers. Something that had initially concerned Grim, but Phoebe assured him she had it handled.
He was about a hundred meters from the entrance of his ship when a golden glow appeared before him, collapsing in on itself to form the figure of Athena.
Instantly, two turrets snapped to her form. Their barrels spinning slowly as they assessed the threat. Eventually, Phoebe silently sent the "All Clear" signal and the two turrets returned to their original position.
"That was an impressive display of force today." Athena stated flatly, eyeing his gear warily.
Grim cocked his head, a silent signal for her to continue.
"But I must admit that it intrigued me…. You intrigued me. My experience with men is if they have the power to bend others to their will, they will use and abuse such power to ensure their will.
Yet, you chose to only use a small fraction of a fraction of your resources. Why?" Athena asked as she turned to admire his ship.
"Standing orders." Grim answered coldly.
Athena outright chuckled at that. "Come now, I don't believe that for a second. We both know you could wipe clean this island and still have enough weapons to endure… so why don't you? The Amazons did threaten you after all."
Grim stood silent, an unmovable sentinel before the goddess.
"It's not honor, I've seen you fight. You dispatch your foes quickly and efficiently. But you offered them a final warning, instead of reducing them to a smoldering pile.
It's also not because you want to be sporting. You'd have never bothered with the show of force in the first place. Instead you'd have charged in and fought them like the Spartori. So, I'm left wondering, why?" Athena explained as her eyes roamed.
"What do you want?" Grim asked instead.
"To understand you, if only a little bit. You've changed things on this island and I've found myself humbled. Something no one else has done in centuries." Athena answered before striding over to the back of the nearest turret.
"You'll be disappointed then." Grim answered easily.
"Perhaps." Athena conceded. "But I think I'll get further if I don't antagonize you."
Grim tipped his helmet forward, conceding the point. But he remained silent.
Athena then turned to meet his golden visor.
"After all, keep your friends close….." she trailed off.
"And your enemies closer." Grim finished, understanding.
"I guess we'll have to find out which ones we are, Spartan….. but until then, I'll be watching you. Much. More. Closely." Athena smirked as another wave of golden light enveloped her.