- commander tempu
- |
- Noble Member
"Life to you stepson and everlasting glory. " Thifes World.
Part Eight:Hiding in Plain Sight.
0630 hrs November 18Th 2527 Harvest.
Captain Carlson woke up filled with dismay. He was trained to keep his team positive. Keep the objective in mind. Things seem to catch up with you. Stress from the situation is both physical and mental. You don't have to be trained to care about those you serve with. It becomes natural. This reminded him of the Alamo. Surrounded by enemies they held on to galvanize a state. Allowing General Sam Houston time to gather his forces and boost morale with the famous battle cry" For the Alamo.!"
It is different when you read about these epics. While in collage he got to take part in a archaeological dig for cannonballs. It was very interesting at the time. He went to Berkley Collage on Earth. His father determined his son get a proper education. Now he was apart of history. One that he could not tell any one. Military was a good choice to further his education. Get the skills he needed. So with the Collage Deferment Fund. Being trained to be a proper officer is one one thing. Being a sent for Ranger training is another.
He got out of bed to get ready for the day ahead. Shower shave and getting dressed he had time to go downstairs make him self a bagel. Nikki was enjoying a cup of tea while looking out at many of the empty base housing. Smiling as he entered the kitchen he had his bagel in the toaster. " Hi Captain." Arden smiled back." Good Morning Niki." She held out her cup." Having one last luxuries before we leave here. I wish we could stay longer to enjoy a peaceful day." Arden grabbed his toasted bagels. Put cream cheese on them looked out the window."I do too. I have been thinking about Forthright,About many things when we got back. I feel as if i am on a ship that is in a Storm yet we can not seem to hold on too well." Taking a bite of his bagel he leaned back in his chair. She reached out a hand patting his." Sir. that is why we have each other. We must help one another to ride out the storm. but i tell you now i miss home more than anything. My mothers fresh made Yaki-Soba is heavenly. We are here to try to make sure those things stay that way. We all feel the same about Top sir. He was a good man." Quiet filled the Kitchen as the others came down the stairs for one last cup of Coffee.
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0800 hrs
Whiskey team hoped out of Warthogs to walk across the tarmac entering the Pelicans cargo door. Commander Elizabeth Willow had light body armor over her UNSC Grey/Blue dress uniform. Carlson was glad they were able to change into there body armor. Mp's stopped at a empty hanger while they got ready. Handing them ammo before being driven over to the Pelican.
Sgt. Ward sat next to him on the pelican. Once all of Whiskey team was on board. Elizabeth notified the pilot it was time to go."We can take off when you are ready." She took a seat near Carlson who was currently checking over his gear. As the Pelican lifted off. pilot from the front called back."Any idea where we are headed ?" Carlson whispered the coordinates to the pilot then headed back to his seat.
Sgt Ward leaned over."Sir you sure this is a good idea.?" Carlson shook his head up and down.." We are going to get Turner back find out what this mess is about. Lets hope no one gets trigger happy." Ward leaned back in his seat now quiet. Carlson knew that the conversation was not really over. Looking his team over. He looked each one in the eyes. All of them depended on him. Why did it feel he was in over his head. Five hours later at the base of Mt. Storm in the Asgard Mountain range they landed.
Pilot could not get closer due to heavy Covy air activity. They were five miles away from Gryphon Companies coordinates. About an hour later they arrived. It was a old geological monitoring station. More like a farm with a concrete grain silo. Mercenaries were hidden in the rocks to ambush any hostile enemy forces. Carlson left Ward, Hope and Tokugawa to watch there backs in case something happened. Two Gryphon's Company Soldiers walked out to meet the three. " Sir, Ladies this area is closed off. Even to Spartans." Commander Willow smiled at the corporal." I am Commander Elizabeth Willow. ONI Section Six." flashing her identification." With me are Captain Carlson of the 82ND Airborne Rangers. Warrant Officer Haze. We are looking for Lieutenant Turner or who ever is in charge. They stole my codes. I want them back so i can complete my work." Corporal walked away calling it in while the other soldier smiled at them." One Moment."
After a chat the Corporal waved for them to fallow. They were lead into once was a geological survey building. Once inside was an A.I. who was no doubt surrounded by Gryphon's Companies leaders. The only non Gryphon's Company members standing in the cold was Turner who seemed to be assisting a Blond woman dressed in her Battle Dress Uniform. Turner seeing them entered. Looked down ashamed seeing Carlson. As the three approached the Blond Major looked them over." What can i do for you ?" Liz gave a chilling smile." First you can cut the crap. Second i am here for the Codes you stole." Carlson chipped in." I would like the Codes as well. Turner should come with us. She has much to answer for back at HQ."
" My name is Major Alice Hernandez. With AIC. We are in a critical stage of Operation:Firelight. I do not know what you have been told but i have not received any help. My requests for ONI to give certain data or any assistance have gone ignored. With me are Serenity Gryphon Company's A.I. Her caretaker Dr. Allen Carver. Also helping are Dr. William Anders. Dr. Jone Carver and Captain Ramirez who is in charge of the security Element." As Major Hernandez introduced each one they smiled or gave a slight nod.
" You can have the codes back since Serenity found the one we needed. We are going to use a captured enemy drop ship to take over a battlecruiser. Gather intel then place a virus that will crash the ship into the staging area. After a great deal of analysis with limited resources. This should work. We didnt have the team to do it till now." Major Hernandez looked at them expectantly. Ward, Hope and Nikki walked in escorted by two others Gryphon personnel. Carlson Temper flared " My team got left high and dry. Now you want me to go on a mission for you when you caused this !?" Major Hernandez sighed." I had no choice. Turner was one of my best students. I gave the order because i needed those codes. ONI would have locked them away. My chance to make this happen would have been lost. We need more information on what they are after. The Covenant are looking for something. So while we are at it i figured we would give our forces here a fighting chance." Major Hernandez looked over to Lieutenant Turner who remained quiet.
All eyes were on her." Captain, Commander this could be our chance to find out what is going on." Commander Willow looked upset now." This nearly jeopardized my work!. I am so close to cracking the alien language. You nearly pulled the rug for my work. The UNSC would have been unable to understand what information they were giving or how to understand a computer panel. Do you realize what you nearly put into jeopardy with this!." The globe was handed to Liz who took it into her arms like a babe. Turner looked sad." I understand but it was more than that. I ask you do this Captain. Help us to end this conflict. Major Hernandez would not have asked if it was not important." Liz looked at Carlson." You are not really thinking about doing it are you ?"
Carlson did not know what to think so he walked off. Sgt Ward Fallowed. Carlson stood under a tree. Thinking it over in his mind. He could just walk away but what would that say about him self and his team. Ward stood beside him looking at the partially snowed ground. Hints of grass poked through the white snow." Captain..Arden." Ward begin." Look sir. I know you do not want to be a Hero go all in but it might change the war. Before i joined i was Mechanic. Originally from New Orleans i learned a great deal about machines. Also about my self. That sometimes a person would bring in a car. But no one would do it but me. Those kind of jobs need to be done. Not for the others who wont do them. Because they need doing. I resented haveing to do those jobs constantly. But i took pride in knowing i did them. They did matter." Ward patted the Captains shoulder before leaving him to his thoghts.
[Edited on 04.02.2012 3:40 PM PDT]