2537: Eos, Mars

The streets and roads were quiet today. Work and school was cancelled today due to the "special guests" that were arriving to the city. Before they were called terrorists, secessionists, traitors, villains, anything that could paint them as evil to the Martian alliance. Today, the government was forced to brush that aside and invite them to the capital city.

The White House. The building that holds the residence and workplace of all the representatives within the Martian empire. For the first time in decades, members from the outer colonies have requested to return to the white as representatives from their colonies. 

"The outer colonies hold a third of the martian population, as well as two thirds of land claimed by the UNSC, we demand the protection we were promised since the colonization." Harold Grant was a thirty two year old, well built black skinned politician. The scar on his cheek was no doubt a result from the secessionist war. He was probably sent to speak as an 'apology' for the secession attempt.

Throughout the hearing, Harold had been pretending to be a patriot, pretending to victim, and pretending to love the politicians in the room. Fortunately, no one noticed his lies. "If the Martian alliance is to ever unite again, it's the responsibility of the central government to provide the necessary tools, equipment, and aid for the outer colonies to defend themselves against the Covenant empire."

Most of his argument made since, but some politicians were still bitter. "And how are we so sure these weapons won't be used against us once the covenant is defeated?" Michelangelo, a tan skinned congressmen, spoke out against the Harold. He said, "The Covenant threat has only destroyed lightly populated planets that didn't even have proper militaries. Our Spartans have proven to be 100% effective against them. So far, the incompetence of the outer colonies are what have gotten them destroyed, the Covenant are not a major threat. Secession movements are the real threat."

Harold wanted to say a lot more to Michelangelo, but he bit his tongue. He had to trick congress, trick them into believing that the outer colonies won't try to secede again.

XXX

The hearing was broadcasted throughout the city. Although the streets were quieter then usual, Dogma was still glad to have the opportunity to see so many sites. 

"We don't sell to aliens," The wall-mart manager said to Dogma.

Dogma didn't seem to mind. She smiled under her space suit, "That's alright, I just like looking at your human trinkets!"

The manager shook his head, "You don't understand, aliens aren't allowed in my store."

"I noticed that customer brought a dog inside, aren't dogs technically aliens?"

"Dogs don't count."

"My name is Dogma, does that count?"

"No." The manager said, clearly annoyed by Dogma's attitude.

"You know, technically to me, you're the alien."

"What'd you call me?" Before the manager could call security, Dogma's master stepped in. 

He was large, bulky, and humanoid by nature. He wore a suit thicker then Dogma's, but his had a voice changer to make him resemble more human. "Please excuse my padawn," Scourge said to the manager, "She is young, and inexperienced with human culture, we'll be on our way now."

Scourge and Dogma walked out the store. Scourge, as usual, didn't say anything. Dogma asks, "Can we go to the amusement park next? I heard-"

"No." Scourge said calmly. "We are here to observe the hearing of the outer colony debate. We were invited by the Martian government to observe the debate so that we may better understand Martian culture. For the first time in history, earthling diplomats, council ambassadors, and foreign corporate members have been invited to Eos in the hopes to smooth over diplomatic relations with Mars. This is a clear sign that the Mars may need allies against the Covenant empire over the next couple of years. Their isolationist policy will not protect them against this new threat for long."

XXX

XXX

"When human life is under threat, it's the responsibility of humans to protect them. What nation would we be, if we weren't willing to protect our own citizens against aliens?" Harold pleaded to the council, not sure if any of them were listening.

XXX

In outskirts of the White House, a black suited soldier climbs over the walls of the building. Although the White House is named after the American capital building that was destroyed during the great war, the White House is actually a giant obelisk that serves as the command center for the Martian military and intelligence head quarters for the Martian empire. It houses an endless amount of secrets that the public will never know about. It's for this reason exactly, that the soldier is willing to climb five hundred feet to sneak inside.

Armed with the latest stealth technology the Helghast empire can create, the soldier will use the lessened security precautions in order to infilitrate the building.