User:Impurest Cheese/Conversations in the Universe

Chapter 5 – Conversations in the Universe #1

 * The Summer Mist sped out of its icy tomb into the atmosphere of C2196. Orbiting the planet were four ships waiting to send the Frigate back to the grave it had escaped from. Willow studied the read out which identified the four ships. In blue specifying it as passive was the ONI Prowler Radius. The other three ships were identified as the Covenant Destroyers Divine Intervention and Swift Retaliation as well as the UNSC Frigate Silver Wind.


 * Almost instantly the Covenant Ships opened fire with Plasma Torpedoes while the Silver Wind fired a volley of Archer Missiles. Using all her skill Willow was able to move the Summer Mist away from the Missiles and Torpedoes. Kerst’ Ledane and Captain Cage were at the hull inputting Slipspace coordinates for the Eradinus system but the engines were still cold from the time spent incased in the ice.


 * “We need a diversion.” Cage asked Willow expectantly.


 * “Firing the MAC cannon and Archer Pods A to G on the Swift Retaliation” Willow replied as more Torpedoes from the Covenant Ship sped towards them.


 * The Cannon fired as the Missiles flew intercepting the plasma torpedoes. The blast of the Cannon impacted with the Covenant Destroyer causing the shields to falter as a few remaining missiles impacted on the hull. Willow checked the screen the Silver Wind was getting in place to fire its own MAC Cannon. Just as the Cannon charged and fired the Slipspace engines hummed and the Summer Mist was catapulted into Slipspace. The Silver Wind fired and the blast hit the Swift Retaliation causing the ship to shatter and fall to the planet’s surface.


 * On the bridge of the Silver Wind Lepidus turned to Dr Jerald, “The fools they shouldn’t have got in the way of the Cannon.”


 * The Summer Mist was finally in Slipspace and safe from the Covenant. Willow decided to jump into the ship’s Comms system and learn more about how Spartan 041 had survived the detonation of the nuclear device.

James 041 – Remarkable Luck

 * In the Spartan’s Quarters Matt and Claire had activated the computer to speak for James as he typed in his tale. On the Holo Tank Willow flickered next to Claire’s head ready to document the Spartans tale.


 * “As the count down reached 1 minute I had reached the base perimeter.” The Computer said as James typed in his account.


 * “I found a Warthog with a custom Missile Rack attached instead of an Anti Air Gun, I was about to escape when a Brute Chieftain attacked with a Fuel Rod Gun.”


 * The others looked confused as none of them had encountered a Brute Chieftain apart from Lepidus leading the Covenant forces in the battle for the base.


 * “I had a Plasma Grenade and was able to stick the Fuel Rod Gun making my foe drop his weapon. By this time the countdown was at 30 seconds. The Brute charged me and threw me against the Scarab right next to the Fuel Rod Gun.”


 * “What happened next?” Matt asked unable to contain his excitement.


 * “I fired the Fuel Rod Gun at the Scarab. The projectiles hit it in the knees as the Brute Chieftain came charging again. As the Scarab came down it pinned the Chieftain to the snow crushing him. As the blast went off the Scarab took the damage for me. I was knocked out for a while when I came to the base was destroyed as were all the remaining Shadows.”


 * “So you took the Scarab?” Claire answered, “But the Scarab is controlled by Hunter eel’s how did you steer it.”


 * “I had to deal with the remainder of the crew first. I climbed up on the back only to find the Shield Door open. I entered to find a Brute and a pair of Jackals barbecuing a Marine. They heard me as I entered and turned round to face me. They were armed with plasma pistols and a Flamethrower against an unarmed Spartan. The Jackals fired and I hid behind a console. The Brute went berserk and painted the whole area with flames. I was able to grab a Jackal and throw it into the fire. Using his Plasma Pistol I was able to lure the other Jackal and Brute towards my location. I overcharged the Plasma Pistol and hit the Brute causing him to drop the Flamethrower. The Flamethrower was mine and then they were both afraid and ran out of the Scarab into the trap I had laid.”


 * “Trip Mine?” Matt asked.


 * “Yes” James answered


 * “I owe you 10 dollars.” Claire growled at Matt


 * “I was able to slice the navigational system to take me to the Rally Point and convince the computer that the Seraph Fighters. I then destroyed the Scarab to prevent the Scarab shooting down the Summer Mist.”


 * As Willow watched and listened she received a message from the ONI representative Cage that her presence was required in the Brigg for the Grunt’s interrogation.

Gnarrp – Information for Gas

 * Gnarrp was sitting in the Brigg of the Summer Mist waiting for the Demons and Heretics that seemed to run this ship to come and kill him. He shivered despite the ship being warmer then the Shadow. He stared as a Human walked in with a long stick and then sat down in the chair next to him. He placed a piece of plastic on the table and a Green Woman sprung up.


 * “I am ready to record this conversation.” Willow told Kane


 * “Thank you Willow,” Kane replied and then turning to the Grunt, “What is your name.”


 * “Gnarrp” the Grunt replied trying not to sound afraid.


 * “Gnarrp why were you hiding in the Shadow?”


 * “Rather be in cold Shadow then fighting Heretics and Demons”


 * “Can you tell me about the Brutes you were stationed with?”

“Brutes talk about augmentation and Demons all the time especially Big Brute with Human Slave.”

“What kind of Augmentation?”

“Used some kind of Demon from Dawn Ship found near outer world”

“What demon?”

“Just called The Demon. They took him to Dosiac to create Brute Immortal.”

“Brute Immortal?”

“Human Slave said they kill Demon Spartans. One deployed as spy on Ice World.”

“Can you find this facility?”

“On Dosiac in Factory where Gnarrp worked.”

Kane turned to Kerst’ Ledane and Captain Cage who were listening behind the glass. “I think Red Team should go to Dosiac to find out what this is all about”

“I think I know what the Grunt means by The Demon.” Willow admitted. “I can tell you more in a few minutes in the Bridge.”

WLW 0291-6 – Mortality
Willow tripled checked her results and the security footage before she turned to Kane. The Bridge was mostly deserted accept for Kane, Captain Cage, Kerst’ Ledane and Keith.

“At 19:07 hours I took an inventory of the items taken from the suspected Brute Immortal. I found the usual items such as Spiker Cartridges and Power Armour Shreds but I also found an anomaly in his effects.”

“And this anomaly what was it?” Cage asked.

“The anomaly was an AI storage chip very similar to those produced by ONI for the use in UNSC Ships or Spartans. The only thing that showed it was Covenant was the Brute insignia on the chip. At 19:12 I activated with several UNSC Kill Systems that would have prevented it from jumping into the computer system and attacking us from inside.” Willow paused to activate the security footage of her attack.

“After viewing the footage we can defiantly assume that the Covenant have been able to reproduce a UNSC AI.” Kane replied.

“I know which AI was copied as I was able to receive a serial number.” Willow answered activating the video again. The Covenant AI’s avatar screeched.

“Here,” Willow pointed, “this string of code reveals that we are dealing with UNSC AI CTN 0452-91. In all of the UNSC databases there is no CTN 0452-916 but then I noticed this.” Stopping the playback she pointed out the slight blurring around the facial features, “The blurring of this avatar shows this is a second generation clone. I backtracked till I found the original source.” Clicking her fingers her figure changed growing taller, while her hair shortened and her figure turned blue, “This is UNSC AI CTN 0452-9.” She snapped her figures and turned back to her original avatar.

“Cortana has been missing for five years. Being a second generation smart AI she would be dead now.” Kane answered.

Keith turned to Willow to see a tear form on the avatar’s face as she blinked out of the holotank, “Looks like we are going to Dosiac.” Keith said with no emotion, “The brutes will destroy any UNSC ships that enter orbit.”

“Leave it to me.” Kerst answered as he walked out of the bridge.

Kerst’ Ledane – Elite Contribution
Kerst’ activated a screen and the image of an Elite appeared, “Greetings most high Arbiter. I have news from the UNSC Summer Mist.”

“I also have news about the Humans; I have decided to let Human representatives sit on the Council. The first ambassadors are arriving in three days.”

“The Jiralhanae dog Lepidus took the Forerunner cube and he has had the aid from a rouge human. The Covenant also has been running its own program analogous with the Spartan and AI programs run by the UNSC.”

“Do you have any idea how the brutes are doing this.”

“We belive that they have captured a Spartan and AI and are holding them on Dosiac.”

“Which Spartan have they captured”

“We believe it was Sierra 117 and Cortana, Arbiter” Kerst’ Ledane answered, “We are hoping to rescue them but we need aid in landing on Dosiac.”

The Arbiter paused and looked to his left to Rtas 'Vadum, “Ship Master what do you think.”

“I think that we should send a Spec Ops team to aid the Spartans. We will send a Nightshade Stealth Transport to your coordinates.” Rtas replied.

“Thank you my Arbiter.” Kerst’ replied turning off the screen he turned to stand up but some force knocked him down. He looked to see the shimmer of a Jiralhanae Stalker. Using all his strength he flipped the creature and stood up to face his opponent.

The attack came from in front when a firebomb came flying towards him. Dodging left he raised his plasma riffle but his opponent snatched it away using his own riffle to smash him in the face. Kerst’ lashed out with his feet and was tossed into the wall of the Summer Mist. Getting to his feet he picked up a UNSC Shotgun from the wall to defend himself from the follow up attack but the Jiralhanae had vanished.

From the UNSC Silver Wind, Lepidus watched as his Ossoona gathered intelligence and looked down to Jerald smiling up at him on the end of the leash attached to his throne and growled


 * “See you on Dosiac Spartan.”

Characters

 * Red Team
 * Spartan 115
 * Spartan 182
 * Spartan 219
 * Spartan 221
 * Captain Alex Cage
 * WLW 0291-6
 * Shipmaster Kerst’ Ledane
 * Kane
 * Brute Chieftain Lepidus
 * Doctor Catherine Jerald
 * Unknown Brute Ossoona
 * Thel 'Vadam
 * Rtas 'Vadum
 * Gnarrp

Planets

 * C2196

Weapons

 * Type-33 Light Anti Armor Weapon
 * Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle
 * Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol
 * Type 42 Chemical Sprayer
 * TR/9 Antipersonnel Mine

Vehicles

 * Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform
 * M12A1 Light Anti-Armor Vehicle

Other

 * None