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 Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:08 pm
Dansmiths's personal Mission Comm channel beeped, and Angel's smooth voice sounded from the nearest speaker on the wall: "Lance Corporal Dansmith, you and the rest of the existing Able Company are to report to Captain Lee in Pelican Bay Six, A.S.A.P." Nearly choking on his own throat in suprise, the Corporal turned tail and double-timed it to the bay. Elevator too damn slow! He thought, and booked it down the stairs, making a right riot in all of his armor and gear. Well, I know they battle-test this s**t, but do they "Marine-in-a-Rush"-test it, too?! He thought frantically. Swinging himself around a pole as he reached the bottom, he came to the massive Titanium-A doors that separated the rest of the ship from the potentially and sporadically Air-free environment of the Pelican Bay. Six. Ashton read on the wall, printed in 4-foot tall white numbers. Good, at least I didn't reach the wrong bay, because I sure as Hell looked like a fool doing it!
Taking a quick breath to compose himself, he stepped beyond the doors and found... No one. Just mechanics. ASAP?! Way to go, Angel! Can't you even keep track of our highest ranking officer!? Well, don't get fussy with me, Corporal. I give you the intel, you get to where you're supposed to. And look, you're here! And as an added bonus, you're early! Don't you feel good now? The AI's voice in his earbud didn't make things any easier, or less humiliating. Why must she be able to read my biosigns, and tell if I'm stressed?! Oh yeah. so she can keep me Alive! I'm sure That's high on her priority list! Nearly falling to the deck with frustration and exhaustion, the Corporal composed himself and strode over to the only Pelican that was fully serviced and ready to go. He gave a quick thumbs-up to the technician, who returned the gesture. All good to go. The signal meant. Ashton decided that, being first, he sure as hell wasn't going to be the last on board. He stood at attention near the Pelican's hatch, off to the side (butted up against some S.T.'s) so as to stay out of the way of anyone else who wasn't Able, the Captain, or the enigmatic and mysterious Spartan on board-- though, everyone always gave those guys room. But, he wouldn't tell anybody that. No, he liked his job, and wouldn't like gettin court marshalled becasue he had a loose mouth.
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:35 pm
"This way sir. The Captain will be with you shortly."
Cpl. Moreau motioned for the Major to take a seat, Lipton simply shook his head.
"Where is Captain Lee?"
The Corporal checked his DATA terminal and the Ship's security cam feeds, then replied.
"He's on deck seven sir, near armory three."
The Major nodded and memorized the information.
"Tell him to stay put, I'll be there soon."
Without so much as a good by, William C. Lipton turned on his heel and walked briskly out of the Captain's waiting room. About two hundred yards from the Captain's office was a service lift. The service lifts led to every deck, anyone could use them, and they were faster than the normal ones. Even still, Lipton had to question the intelligence of the man or woman who decided to have the elevators crawl along at a snail's pace. It was mind-shatteringly slow. Of course the entire trip took about thirty seconds, but it seemed like an eternity. The Major stepped off the lift and out into the bustling crowd of people, all headed for their own specific locations. The Major turned in the direction of the third armory on Deck 7 and took off at a slightly hurried pace, nothing out of the usual on a ship like this, but not the norm.
When he arrived he saw a rather short man of Asian descent, wearing armor and Captain's bars. While Lipton wasn't wearing his helmet, he knew the man's FoF tags would read "CAPT. LEE, XIANG HAO - 301". This was the man he was looking for.
"Captain, I understand you're pressed for time, we both are. If I understand correctly, you're heading for the flight deck, bay six. I also understand that you personally debriefed most of the survivors of VerCrouse, and that you know many of the men stationed on this ship."
He motioned for them to start walking toward bay six.
"I've been put in charge of forming a small task force, but I'm afraid I don't know anyone on this boat. I was hoping you'd have some recommendations for me."
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:50 pm
The Commander sighed heavily and took a seat a few away from the Lieutenant. As he sank into the leather chair his back popped audibly and he sat up straight. Angel was still there, "Angel, could you please initiate Protocol C 97-1B?" "Aye, sir." Michael brought his right hand to his chin and scratched the stubble, leaning against the armrest of his chair. He stared towards the Lieutenant for a moment before speaking to Angel again. "Thank you, Angel." "Anytime, sir." For a split second the room seemed to loose it's gravity, replaced by a quick sense of vertigo and then everything settled back in again. "Alright, now that we won't be overheard I can give you the information that you need to know."
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:32 am
Seth's feet made the background noise fitting to a soldier's trained walk.
heading to the docking bay where the rest of Able Company surely waited Seth rechecked his gear and fatigues he had picked up from the armory.
He brought plenty of clips for his BR55, only one for his side arm. The idea was simple, if something's there, if it is the flood he wanted something with enough umph to tear it to bits.
He had four Fragmentation grenades strapped into their place and was fully decked out in his Marine armor. Seth had found and commandeered some ODST body armor. "You're certainly not using it." He had commented to the soldier laying in the hospital bed who he borrowed it from. Seth assumed the rude hand gesture meant "Sure thing buddy, have it back in one piece. Remember, be safe out there!".
It wasn't that Seth was cocky or bad spirited. It was only logical that the able bodied men have the better armor. Least they all be unable. It was true though, that a man's armor became more to him than just metal and material. It was as personal as flesh and bone. But right now, there was a greater cause that needed to be served. And after hearing what Hammer had to say, they simply couldn't afford to fail.
Stepping calmly Seth reached the docking bay and opened the door, "Okay," he murmured, "Off to war."
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:28 pm
He was leaning against the wall in Pelican bay 6 as Ashton came in and started looking around. "guess he doesn't see me" Muttered warren. He decided to let Ashton have his moment. Soon there commanding officer walked in to the Pelican bay, he muttered something, but Warren couldn't hear it. He began walking towards him "Master Sargent Henry reporting for duty!" he saluted to Able's commanding officer. He walked onto the pelican and took his seat.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:20 pm
Lee had been on his way to his office when Lipton stopped him right outside of the armory. As the Major adressed him, he cautiously turned around and gave a small, quick salute with his right hand in place of greeting. Apparently the Major didn't want to waste time with introductions, because he continued speaking without saying so much as a word about himself or what he had done on VerCrouse.
Good. Time wasn't something Lee could afford to waste. As they began walking towards the bay, and the hodge-podge company of survivors mixed in with the troops he knew and trusted, the Major explained his motives in coming to see the Captain, and Lee was dismayed to hear that Lipton didn't know any more about the installation than he did.
"Of course, Major. The reserve forces on the Monterey have been itching for a fight, and Able company has not only been blessed by a chance at action but also by a platoon's worth of VerCrouse survivors ready for redeployment."
Lee stopped in front of Bay Six's personnel doors and looked Lipton directly in the eye.
"Is 34 experienced soldiers going to suffice?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:49 pm
Ashton heard something around the back of the Pelican, just outside of his view. The tell-tale clank of metal decks being buffeted by a Marine's boots startled him to attention, and he peeked around the corner to find none but the Master Sergeant sitting in a seat near the rear of the Pelican.
"Master Sarge, how do you continue to suprise me?" Sighing, he leaned a little against the Pelican's bay-frame. "So, I get the, eh, vague feeling you're a bit unsettled by this Station we're gonna investigate." Dansmith had a small sense of sarcastic humor that he found eased tension when applied lightly over a stressful situation.
"My vote? This thing should just as soon be dropped into a star and forgotten... the Forerunners never made huge, armored installations to guard a data file, you know? Something's in the oven, and we're gonna be feeling the heat real soon. Ya know, sir?".
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:26 pm
He looked over at Ashton, the man read his mind. "I would usually agree with you, but were losing this war and if there is technology over there we can use to fight the covenant, we have to take the risk". Warren said. It was truth he spoke, but he still sounded like an ONI officer, only difference is he was putting his own life on the line. " Not to mention the distresse signal we received, can't ignore that either"These were 2 very good reasons to investigate and Warren decided to confirm Ashton's guess. " Also since I saw the station for the first time, no before that, My head been all weird" Warren said. " Don't tell the commanding officer's please". Warren didn't want anyone else to know, might get him pulled off the mission. This information might upset or worry Ashton, so he decided to try and change the subject. "and for the last time, my name is Warren, not master sarge, or sir. Warren"
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:43 pm
"My appolagies... if there's one thing they drill into your head, it's 'Respect the Rank!', you know? So, Warren, head troubling you? Well, at least you're not psychotic like some of the guys here, and not dillusional like others. All I'm saying is, you could be a lot worse off than you are." He leaned more against the Pelican, as Warrant Officers and technicians prepped others for service. Hoses, clamps, feul tanks, batteries, ammo drums, medical kits, weapon mounts, armor plates... the myriad of high-grade items that could be stuffed into and onto a Pelican were truly outstanding, not to mention mind-boggling.
"You know, I've a bit of baggage myself, as far as head health is concerned. You ever watch a colony get wiped out from orbit, Warren? Watched the fading sight of Covie warships as they glassed a planet, their bulkheads and engine flares glowing in the light of a thousand million fires down below?" Ashton closed his eyes for a moment, and spoke while he studied the backs of his eyelids. "I have. Ain't pretty. I was thirteen, you know that? And five years before that, I watched on the vids -uncensored stuff, the kind the pirates and raiders like to watch- as the Covies broadcast, to human transmitter signals, as a pack of Jackals ate up about 30 or 40 civilians. Guess what? One of 'em was my mom. So, eight years after that, me being sixteen by then, my dad was killed in one of the fleets trying to protect some crap colony or another-- I never cared which. Then, to top it off, a year later, the Vagabond-class ship I was on got boarded. Took over 200 marine's lives, but we repelled them. Left over 800 people, mostly civilian colonists: that's over 65% of the lives on board. We got out of there with our lives, and only a few of us at that." Ashton opened his eyes, hoping Warren wouldn't think him too unstable to fight.
"It made me strong, you know. I fight for everyone I saw die. That's why I'm a medic.. I hope I can save at least one out of the ten that would die anyway. Still, you never get used to seeing that many people die... The military figured I was too unstable to get some real action, so when I finally did get my rank and training, I was sent on a bunch of crap missions, so that my 'potential mentale instability would not be a factor in any mission failures that may or may not occur in the local area.' They kept me back to prevent colateral damage from an outburst... I really can't blame them for being so cautious. But when VerCrouse happened, they needed anyone they could get. And, I was 'anyone'."
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:53 pm
Warren respected everything he was told, he had never seen any real horror's before. There was no sad tale to his life, and both his parents were still alive. Worst thing he ever saw was the medical ward on the ship, and he was to caught up in the station to even wonder about those marines. He felt ashamed to call himself there brother, to call himself human. Warren problem wasn't like that thou. No traumatizing event, just out of no where. After this mission he would be back to his old self he hoped. "So what do you thinks on the station?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:04 pm
"Hm, the enigmatic station.. what to think about it..." Ashton gazed off in thought, lost wihtin his mind. He felt proud of the fact that he could take a mental break anytime he chose, simply by de-focusing his eyes. Like a switch, boom! he wasn't with the world anymore. It was a mechanism that helped him keep his sanity on multiple occassions.
I think that we have to go in, even though its against my most basic sense of logic. If someone's stuck, in there, they've probably not got a lot of time left. I am willing to bet that whatever screwed up whoever's in there, is gonna screw us up. But, like I said, we gotta go. It's our job. I just wish we had more intel, that's all. Not so much as a blueprint..."
Ashton thought a second, then laughed. "Heh, it's like the saying goes, for us Marines. 'First to go, Last to know!' Aint the truth a b***h?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:08 pm
Warren laughed at Ashton's joke, it felt like he hadn't laughed in years. The feeling was nice and refreshing. "Looks like Able company is going have a comedian" Warren joked back. This was probably a good thing thou, laughter here and there, will help keep everyone's spirits up. Lets just hope he can keep it in check, or it might hinder there progress on missions. " So I gotta know, what do you think of our company so far?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:15 pm
"Well, aside from the fact that a company can and should always, always, always be bigger-- it seems like that no matter how many men you bring, its always five guys short, you know? That aside, I think we've got some good men. The Staff Sarge seems solid, as does Gunney. The Liuetennant, eh, a bit spotty, but who isn't? Of course, gotta respect the Commander, and, heh, if I didn't respect the Captain, I'd be off this boat faster than a Covie strike. I think that our motley crew is gonna get along just fine... you know, aside from the fact that only a few of us have worked with anyone else before. That might be a bit of a road-block...hm."
Ashton thought for a moment, thinking about all that had happened in the last 3 hours. "Hey, whaddya think about Angel, our mission AI? Commander seems sketchey whenever we talk about her, but hey, It sure as hell wasn't my choice to make her apparition nude. Artistically so, but nude is nude." Angel must have heard that... "Ahem?! Corporal, you best watch yourself, or you may find yourself a few minutes of Oxygen short of a safe and happy return to the ship. And I can make it look like the Covenant did it."
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:22 pm
This time Warren didn't laugh, A.I.'s were not right in his eye's. He was always a great believer in the theory that humans would make an A.I. to smart and in turn it would betray humanity, and try take over earth and her colonies. His friends back in school told him that was science fiction, but here he was living on a spaceship, fighting alien life, with an A.I. sorry but science fiction is seeming way to damn real. Ashton thou seemed fond of this A.I. and he didn't know if the A.I. was listening in. " She should help us get our mission accomplished a great deal faster" Warren answered.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:28 pm
"Yeah, she should, I suppose. did you know taht an AI is really just a digital version of it's donor? Like, if I made an AI, I would have to clone my brain-- and that's hard s**t. Only about 1 in 20 survive to the point of useability. Then, the neural pathways are copied into a code, and BAM! you've got an AI that thinks like me, looks a helluva lot like me (mental self-image and all that), and has my personality. Plus, because they're made of wires and code, they can manipulate data as if it were an extension of themselves. I'll say this: I wouldn't care too much to meet Angel's donor. No offense, Angel."
Ashton hoped his response was enough to cool Warren's seemingly distaste for AI's, evident in his short and curt reply. Well, you can't convince everybody, I suppose....
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