[center][h2]Chapter One[/h2]
[h3]Project Conglomerate[/h3][/center]

The Human-Covenant War, a long brutal crusade to exterminate the human race by the will of the Hierarchs of the Covenant, ended in the year 2552 while official hostilities would continue until 2553. The war resulted in an estimated death of 23 billion human lives with many of their planets having been glassed by the Covenant threat. The Sangheili split within the Covenant, the Great Schism, caused the collapse of this threat and allowed for Humanity to come out victorious. Yet, even five years into the future, there has been little forgiveness from the humans and the Sangheili have still believed that the humans are still an enemy. 

ONI, the secretive organization that masterminded many events such as the infamous SPARTAN-II Program and many assassination attempts against Thel’Vadam, otherwise known as the Arbiter. The things that ONI has done is long and numerous, many of them to be struck from the record and others to be publicized for the masses. One such is Task Force Conglomerate, an interspecies Task Force to show that Humanity is willing to work with other species, rather than reject and be hostile. However, with funds being allocated to more important tasks and operations, coupled with the fact that not many within ONI were entirely onboard anyways, it seemed that the existence of this Task Force would be short lived. 

Then, mysteriously, an unknown person offered money and supplies solely for the Task Force. Miraculously, ONI took the offer, yet, no one would ever know the details of the mysterious entity that is funding the program, other than the ONI higher ups. Not long after these funds had been acquired, ONI commissioned an Impulse-class stealth frigate, the [i]UNSC Fortitude South[/i], to act as the mobile headquarters for the Task Force. 

The date is currently February 21st, 2558, with the UNSC Fortitude South travelling though slipspace on its path towards the Verent.

[hider=Marcus Greene]  
You find yourself busy at work, maintaining your MA5D in preparation for the mission to come. Lost in thought, you could remember being assigned to Task Force Conglomerate, not of your own accord and certainly not with any of your own opinions being asked. As you are cleaning your weapon, you can remember very vividly the conversation that you had about your assignment.

“The funder has specifically requested that you be a part of this force. You will be monitored based on your actions, and should things going well enough that you will be compensated greatly for your efforts within the Office of Naval Intelligence. Of course, once your time there is up, you will be given the option to stay as a part of the Task Force, should you desire.”

At least you knew that if things didn't turn out to your interest, you could leave when you were given the option. However, knowing ONI, they would not tell you when that would or what that compensation would even be. Best to focus on the present.
[/hider]

[hider=Kax] 
Running a hand against the back of your head, you felt the burned ends of your feather and a pang of destroyed pride in your heart. It had been many years since the incident, but it still hurt and you could still feel the flames burning away at your feathers. At least you survived, but at what cost?

You felt the need to have some of your infusion, but ONI had explicitly gave you instructions to avoid using the substance when there is a mission that needs to be done. It was a very different feeling than it had been when you were in the Covenant as they would allow the recreational use at virtually any time, one of the only good things they have done for you. 

You took your hand away from the back of your head before looking towards you weapons, particularly towards the carbine. If the time was right, it was almost time to deploy soon.
[/hider]

[hider=Zertus]
You felt anger, anger towards ONI for not yet giving you the vengeance you desires, and anger towards the humans aboard the ship for taking away your hammer. They had continued to tell you that it was for “Safety and mental well being for the crew” but clearly none of them trusted you. HOwever, you could understand, as you were once an enemy to them, the memories of slaughter and joyful destruction washed away the anger for the moment. 

You gazed over at your trophies, those were the truly good times. Now look at yourself, working for the weak human garbage that littered the galaxy. A grunt left your mouth before grabbing for your maulers.[/hider]

A loud intercom noise went over the ship, catching the attention of the crew members and the few members of the Task Force. “Members of Task Force Conglomerate please report to the bridge, I repeat: members of Task Conglomerate please report to the bridge for briefing.”

The doors to each member’s room opened automatically, each private room neighborred each other. Now it was time for the squad members to properly meet each other.