EliteCommander

The Cradle

There was no mistaking that she recognized this virus at this point. They had learned some of its patterns from what Vreta recovered. While she would have liked to have learned more now, it was all she could do to focus through the memories being conjured up in her mind. Once the virus was in the system, Rhia prompted Vreta to give acknowledgement to 595 while she accessed the turrets. After a moment, the turrets turned to face the rear, and after taking in a deep breath, Vreta took the lead to advance on the entrance.

The memories surged forward to the front of Rhia’s mind for just a moment. The agent was running through the halls of the ship towards the engine room at a steadily slowing pace. If her AI could access the computers there directly, they could hijack the engines and redirect the asteroid they were towing.

“Agent, you need to stop and give yourself immediate treatment.” The AI commanded firmly.

The agent, however, was quick to shrug off the suggestion. “We do not have time for that. Everyone on that planet will die if we don’t stop this thing. That’s more important than some pain and blood loss.”

“Agreed, but right now you have a 73% chance of dropping dead before we even get to the engine room. A piece of shrapnel is currently pressing up against your femoral artery. It needs to be removed now.”

The Agent growled. “Have the suit’s medical systems handle it.”

“This shrapnel is from the medical systems.” She remarked. Strictly speaking, that was a lie, but it did drive home the point of how much damage her suit had sustained in the explosion.

While she continued to growl about it the whole time, the agent did eventually find a corner to duck into to start her field treatment. She leaned back up against the wall, then, with some effort, pried off the damaged plating covering her abdomen and upper right thigh. The state of what she could see underneath was…not encouraging. Although the coagulants had staunched the bleeding for now, her scales were still covered in blood, and she could see dozens of marks where shrapnel had pierced into her body. The cocktail of healing agents flowing through her veins had closed shut most of the lacerations, but the shrapnel itself was still lodged in her body.”

Grabbing her multitool, the agent revealed a small, precise blade that, under her AI’s guidance, she used to make an incision on her upper thigh to reopen one of the wounds. The painkillers kept her from experiencing the pain, so she still at least had a steady hand. Granted, her AI was the one doing most of the movements. The agent herself was not qualified for this operation, but with small stimulations to her muscles, the AI could guide her hand. She activated another part of the multitool that could grab hold of the metal shards, then pushed it slowly into the wound.

“Those bastards took out a whole company of their own soldiers with that explosion, just for me.” The agent remarked, mostly just to keep her mind off of the impromptu surgery while her AI did the work.

“They are unusually resolute.” The AI remarked. “They underestimated us in their first attacks, but most opponents would capitulate once they realized the technological superiority of their foe. They seemed determined to win a total war at all costs.”

After another few moments, she slowly guided the tool out of the incision, along with the jagged piece of metal that had been threatening her. Without wasting any more time, the agent pulled herself back up to her feet. “Well, the Rahn’Saki can decide what to do with them after this is over. For now, let’s just stop this rock.”

The Cradle

As much as she tried to focus on the task at hand, Rhia found a memory inexplicably being brought to the surface. An armored Rothian ran through the halls of the strange, alien ship. As opposed to the smooth contours of a Rothian vessel, this ship’s design was dominated by sharp angles and unpainted metal. It was meant to be efficient, practical, though its technology was primitive compared to Rothian designs. Still, this primitive warship was a very real threat to the Rothian border colony it was advancing towards. These aliens had attempted and failed attacks against larger Rothian worlds, so a small colony would have to do to sate their bloodlust. The ship was towing an asteroid, and this colony did not have the defenses in place needed to protect from it. Reinforcements were too far out, so it had to be stopped, here and now.

The AI was doing her best to treat her agent’s wounds, though her options were limited. She had effective coagulants to keep her from bleeding out, and a cocktail of other drugs to encourage healing, but there was shrapnel spread all throughout her abdominal cavity. She could keep her going for now, but the odds of death were worryingly high without surgery. Her armor’s medical systems would be insufficient to deal with it, particularly since the armor itself was heavily damaged in the explosion. She wished the agent was equipped with the prototype medical nanomachines that were being trialed. Even with the bugs that were being reported, the AI would have liked to have some options at the moment.

In the present, Rhia brought herself to focus on Agent 595’s virus. Even at first glance, Rhia was unsettled by what she could detect of its design. Data from the event that led to her melding with Vreta’s mind made it seem…familiar. Regardless, their objective was more pressing than those concerns. Vreta acknowledged 595, while Rhia worked to help guide this virus.

“Let’s see if we can make sure those turrets haven’t been programmed to target us. And just to be safe, let’s try to rotate them around so they aren’t facing us. If this is a trap, that would mean they would have to traverse all the way back around to target us. It would give us time to react.” Vreta recommended.

The Cradle

Vreta certainly agreed with keeping out-of-sight on approach. He kept low, constantly pinging their surroundings to watch out for movement while his eyes scanned the entrance itself. The defensive systems were a concern, especially as 595 was receiving no response through comms. It could simply be that there was interference, or their communications were offline, but Vreta did not want to approach under the assumption that the headquarters’ systems were still under their control.

Already, Rhia started poking around through any wireless access port she could find in range to see if she could breach into the local network, while Vreta leaned in close and whispered over to the Agent. “I don’t like this. If we don’t have control of the headquarters anymore, then we don’t know who those guns are targeting. I don’t suppose your organization has any backdoors into their network, do you?”

Halo: Aegis Team

UNSC AI SHI 1203-8

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Right when requested, Shih’s avatar appeared next to Yalu as he observed the alien weapon in his hands. ”This weapon has been officially designated as the Z-180 Close Combat Rifle/Asymmetric Engagement Mitigator. Common vernacular identifies it as the ‘Scattershot’. It is a close-to-medium range weapon which fulfills a similar combat role to the UNSC’s M45 Tactical Shotgun. Based on our testing, it appears to fire a spread of hard light projectiles created from energy cells loaded through a breach-loading mechanism. It has a capacity of five energy cells and, like many Forerunner weapons, is capable of completely disintegrating the bodies of living beings, most likely for the purpose of denying them as assets to the Flood. The individual projectiles can ricochet off of hard surfaces and possess limited tracking capabilities. A single shot at close range can defeat any known armor system.” She explained. The weapon was not loaded at the moment, but there were a total of ten cells available, and she had instructions available for anyone who chose to take Forerunner equipment.

The Cradle

Vreta was not as familiar with the Cradle’s normal state to recognize immediately what was wrong, though Rhia was already drawing comparisons between current observations and saved data on both the Cradle and Object. Even if she could not draw any conclusions at the moment, she still needed to try and consider the possibilities. With so many unknowns ahead of them, any edge she could manage to give would be valuable. She supposed they could potentially see if Vreta’s idea about living things had merit, as they needed to cross through one of the parks to reach the entrance Freyr pointed out. Naturally, nothing would stop the Cradle beings from simply chasing them, but if the Cradle was unable to suddenly overtake the plant life, as it often did with inanimate materials, then that would provide at least some advantage.

Vreta quickly grabbed Freyr’s hand to encourage her to follow along as they stepped out onto the grass. He made sure to specifically grab the hand holding her weapon so she could only open fire when he allowed her to. His shields had recharged by this point, but he was growing more annoyed by his shields consistently taking…unnecessary damage in the midst of the fight. If they all made it through this, he was going to be quite insistent on her getting more practice in a simulator.

Keeping close together, the team started to move as quickly as they could to reach the headquarters. Whatever they found within, they needed to reach it as soon as they could.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

For a few moments, Meesei could only bring herself to slowly shake her head. As much as she had tried to fight it, she had seen this coming. She had made as much of an effort as she could with the portal, but she never felt it was likely she would succeed. Still, none of that made this moment any easier. What lay ahead for her would not hurt near as much as it did to look upon her family now.

“No…you wouldn’t be able to hold them long enough. None of us can, myself included. I…I cannot control the power that has been collected in the Staff, but…it doesn’t have to be controlled to be useful. The Staff can do what I cannot to give you the time you need, but someone has to release its power, and it is not going to be you, Sabine.” Meesei answered, her voice soft, but resolute.

Ahnasha had not reacted quite as quickly as some of the others, if only because she was trying to work out in her mind what plan Meesei had devised to escape. But, her words soon brought the reality of the situation to light. “You can’t be serious? You can’t…I…we need you, Meesei! Sabine is right! Hircine said it himself that his Champion will be the one to face Vile!”

Meesei took a step forward, reached her hand through the bars of the lift, and suddenly took Fendros’ hand in hers. She locked eyes with him for a few, long moments before pulling her hand back. “He will.”

When Fendros opened his hand, he would find in his palm the Ring of Hircine.

Halo: Aegis Team

Vael 'Virisusai and UNSC AI SHI 1203-8

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Like most of the others, Vael first prioritized heading to the armory to equip himself for the mission ahead. It would still be hours before they were set to begin, but he wanted to ensure he would be ready at a moment’s notice. He could manage the changes to his team, though his impression of the new Human was not particularly positive. Most Humans were not like the Spartans, who were strong, capable warriors even by Sangheili standards. The average Human was…variable. During his time in the war, he had seen excesses of both cowardice and courage from Human warriors. Sometimes, they would flee like Unggoy as their will was broken, and at other points, they would fight against overwhelming odds to the last breath against superior foes, and sometimes even attain victory. Only time would tell how this Human would compare.

Vael was not a normal member of the ship’s crew, but he did not attract near as much attention as the Humans undoubtedly would, aside from the fact that the crew he passed tended to quiet down from their conversations when he was near. As a high ranking officer, that was not a fact he found strange. He only heard parts of conversations between a few Unggoy on the way to the armory, but even though he heard them perfectly clearly, he found what they said to be as incomprehensible as it was irrelevant.

All of the team’s equipment had been transferred to the ship, and Vael quickly found the crate containing it after he arrived. Given the mission parameters, he did not intend to arm himself differently from his standard preference. An energy sword, plasma rifle, and his carbine would be sufficient for what they would be facing. For his armor’s equipment, active camouflage would be the most useful for the first objective of dealing with the anti-air cannon. After that, they would be returning to the ship, so there would be a chance for the team to adjust their loadouts for the assault.

Vael was surprised when the hologram of the Human AI, Shih, appeared at the end of a table near to him, at the center of the room. Evidently, it had been given approval to interface with at least some part of the ship. Vael was not sure that he approved, but it was not his decision.

”I believe there is something I should inform you and your team about.” Shih announced to Vael as soon as she appeared.

Vael turned his head back and spoke calmly. ”Very well. You may speak, construct.”

”Right…if you bring your attention to those crates over there, there is some new equipment that has been approved for Aegis team’s use. It took a lot of…debate, but there are weapons and equipment recovered from Prometheans that both UNSC personnel, and your people, can you. I may have to do some work to interface the armor abilities with your harness, but I have been told it can be done. The modules are adaptable.” Shih explained.

The concession to allow Vael and his team to use the Promethean equipment could have been seen as an offering of trust, through Vael doubted ONI would be so kind. Likely, it was a decision driven by circumstance and practicality. Jul ‘Mdama’s forces were still working with Prometheans after the campaign on Requiem, so it seemed likely that the Swords of Sanghelios would be able to recover Forerunner equipment just as easily. Sharing it with Aegis team now simply allowed them to seem more cooperative.

Opening up the crates, Vael did find a variety of options available. Promethean enhanced visual sensors, hardlight shields, and autosentries were all available, as well as a small variety of Promethean weapons. There were multiple boltshots, suppressors, and grenades, two lightrifles, as well as a single scattershot, binary rifle, and incineration cannon. They were all powerful weapons, but ammo availability would be a limitation. If one chose to use one of the weapons, they would only have a single spare reload.

The Cradle

Vreta gripped his weapon tightly, continuing to press on towards the surface. The situation was hard to interpret from within. Once they reached their destination, they would have the tools to expand their perspective on what was happening. The voice was something strange; perhaps something from within the Cradle? He suspected there might be an intelligence within the Cradle, guiding its actions, but he hoped it was nothing from within the Object they had recovered.

I’ve lived long enough to see nature defied at every turn. Death is no different. Vreta thought with a distinct conviction as they emerged from the subway. He made a quick assessment of the surroundings the moment they came into view. The headquarters itself was now in sight, with just a park between them. The quickest route would be through a grassy, vegetated area surrounding a statue. Vreta was, at this point, inherently suspicious of the plant life, considering how the Cradle always seemed to work through organic agents. However, he had seen more than enough cases of the Cradle suddenly taking over artificial areas to realize that it did not seem to matter. Perhaps the fact that the park was already filled with living beings would make it more difficult for the Cradle to take their place?

“There are the headquarters. What area do we need to reach?” Vreta asked.

The Cradle

Vreta flicked off his plasma blade before both halves of the creature had even hit the ground. Since his weapon cauterized the wounds as it made them, he was spared at least most of the creature’s fluids, though not all of them. Regardless, he could not afford to waste time. Every second mattered, and they needed to get to their destination. He holstered both his knife and plasma blade, then picked back up his rifle off the ground before sprinting over to 595 and Freyr.

Silently at first, Vreta moved towards the stairway, then motioned for Freyr to fall in line just behind him. “We need to move quickly. I can sense them, more creatures on approach. These or…something else.” He informed them. Rhia had put up warnings of what she was detecting via echolocation before the second creature was even dead.

Vreta did not worry about any other concerns other than what was directly ahead of them. This time, he took the lead as he guided them up the stairs towards the surface, and closer to their destination. Regardless of what he might have done had he been in control sooner, there was no time for worry or doubts right now.

Halo: Aegis Team

Vael 'Virisusai

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Vael simply observed through most of the altercation. His stance was that any problem between members of his team should be dealt with however they saw fit, on their own time. Indeed, he gave little restriction as to how his soldiers should behave, as long as they could perform well during their missions. The moment any of their issues started to affect a mission, however, Vael made it known that he would solve their problems himself. If necessary, he would have stepped in to remind Tar not to do anything that would prevent the Human from fulfilling his duties.

Ultimately, though, Tar decided to release the Human and go on her way. A merciful conclusion, overall; perhaps moreso than he deserved. In any case, Vael had made his own observations of the encounter, and drawn a few possible conclusions about this new team member. ”You do not carry yourself as most Humans around us, Petty Officer Flint. For most of your soldiers, we walk among one another, holding closed old wounds that beg to be opened, though we work to keep them sewn shut for the good of our futures. These wounds can bear anger and pain, or respect for some, but it is a history we have shared as enemies. I do not see that weight in your words. You are young, yes? And you do not know my people, not as enemies, and not as allies?”

With others approaching, Vael finally took the time to grab his datapad and confirm the new transfers to his team. Petty Officer Second Class Johnathan Flint, recommended for engineering expertise, and Infiltrator Comi ‘Masam, assigned by the recommendation of Spartan Ryker. The Spartan had proven himself a capable warrior during their time working cooperatively, but Comi would need to do the same, regardless of recommendations. At least her mettle would be easier to test than Flint’s. His reason for being among them were for skills that Vael was unfamiliar with, and that he did not truly know how to measure aside from seeing the results during the mission. ”The weight of words will only carry you so far. I still expect your merit to be proven in battle.”