[b]Cassie A-313
February 21st, 2558
UNSC [i]Fortitude South[/i] Observation Deck[/b]


The observation deck was quiet, all sound but the humming of the [i]Fortitude South's[/i] engines reverberating through its titanium platted hull sucked away like atmosphere in a vacuum as the lone figure there bobbed their head gently to the music playing through their headphones. it was an old song, some 21st-century noise that had been obscure even when it had been released. Beside the figure's yellow armored foot lay a similarly colored Gen2 MJOLNIR EOD helmet, it's visored eyes keeping a silent watch of the rest of the room as the musically inclined Spartan stared out at the inky blackness of Slipspace. Unlike normal space, Slipspace had no stars to see, in fact, were it not for the lights from the ship there would be no light whatsoever. While the Spartan preferred to stargaze, there was a sort of peace to the void of Slipspace as well that could not be denied.

A faint vibration at her fingertips bought Cassie out of her thoughts, and with a casual flick of her fingers, she opened the datapad she had balanced on one armored leg to find a shipwide alert.

[i]>>>Task Force Conglomerate to bridge for Mission Brief[/i]

A frown found its way to Cassie's face for a moment, but it quickly vanished as she stood up, casually tossing the headphones aside to a nearby couch and with a grace unseen in any Spartan IV, slipped the toe of her boot under her helmet and snapped it up to her hands, where it then was placed over her head and sealed with a slight [i]click[/i] and a hiss of air. With strange, almost loping strides, the Spartan made her way out of the Observation deck and began making her way to the bridge as she flicked through what little information she's been provided about this Task Force and its mission. 

Rescuing a Jackal Matriarch wasn't exactly her idea of fun, but she did like the thought that she'd probably get to kill a lot of the damned bird-faced pirates along the way. Served 'em right anyway, the disgusting things. Why this Nuc was considered a Tier-1 asset was beyond her, but it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. She'd do her job. With the Mission Document finished, she turned her attention to the dossiers of the rest of the Task Force and snorted. 'Task Force' seemed a little grandiose for what basically amounted to a fireteam at best.

Sergeant Marcus Greene, ONI Recon and former ODST. Fairly standard fare really, a well established soldier and decorated from his time in the Human-Covenant war. Cassie did wonder why he hadn't been outfitted with SPI armor, however. ONI could certainly afford to spare a set for an unaugmented human on a mission like this. with a team this small, they'd need every advantage they could get. She frowned, despite his record, he was only Human and she'd have to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn't get himself hurt or killed on the battlefield. 

Zertus, Brute, and probably a Chieften, based on his record and ownership of a Gravity Hammer. Suddenly not giving Seargeant Greene SPI armor made a bit more sense. It would hardly be needed with both a Spartan and a Brute able to take most of the fire that would be thrown their way. He seemed quite well groomed, but his dossier spoke to a fairly typical example of the species, if perhaps more on the cunning side. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about him.

Finally.... Zax. A member of those filthy bird aliens. Cassie suppressed a shudder, and ran through the document quickly. A former Sniper from the HUman-Covenant war and apparently had some distaste for his Brute commanders. Cassie expected little from him, and was quite happy to see that he hadn't been given a Beam Rifle, which meant she could rest easy knowing that he wouldn't be able to stab them in the back. Not without dire consequences, anyway.

Overall she had to admit, the composition of the team wasn't bad. Zertrus and herself could draw fire and give it out in equal doses and the other two could provide aditional ranged support. She closed the documents and found herself outside the elevator that led to the upper decks, where the bridge was located. After a brief wait, she was on her way up, to meet her team, and get this mission started...