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A Fresh Start by Simon James
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A Fresh Start, part 1
Date: 8 December 2002, 6:44 pm
Feburary 13,2552
Approxametly 2 months after the destruction of Halo.
Spartan John 117, better know to humanity as the Master Chief, the hero of Halo, was sitting in a small, dark room in the UNSC HQ on Earth..After they left Halo, he and Cortana had been found by a trader looking for a shortcut, and they were taken back to Earth. On the way there, the Master Chief was able to put Cortana into contact with Earth through the cargo ship's comm system. From there Cortana made a full report, and uploaded all of John's visual records of what transpired on Halo.
"So why am I here," asked John to the officer who took him into the room."did I do something wrong?" "No, not at all." Said the officer, who looked strangly familer to John. "All of Earth is grateful to you. The reason you are in this room is because what I am about to tell you is top secret. The simple fact is, we have almost no army left after Reach. And Halo of coarse. That means that we have no defence for Earth. And Covenant recon patrols are comming closer every day. We have had a break through in cloning though. At this moment, we have over 1000 clone soldiers ready to train and more comming in every day. We want you, Master Chief, to train these men and women exactly as you were trained. But the difference is, these new Spartans will have only light armor and no bio-upgrades.
" Thats impossible!" Exclaimed John." The original Spartans were chosen when they were young! We were trained from the age of 10! We don't have enough time to train 1000 men!" "Ah, but you didn't let me finish." Said the interviewing officer, who was looking more and more familer."When you were about 21, do you remember having a blood test? Of coarse you do. That wasn't a blood test at all. We took your blood just in case the Spartans were wiped out. So these men and woman are cloned from you. They are only half trained though, and since you are the only surviving Spartan, plus you have combat experence, we thought you were perfect to train the clones."
John was agaist."Are you serous? I thought that there were 2 Spartans away from Reach!" "There were," The officer said."and they will also be training the clones. One is Sarjant Peter 121. You can meet him later. The other is me. Yes, I'm a Sparten too. My name is Major Robin 130." "Thats were I've seen you!" Said John."I knew I regagnised you from somewhere! Um.. Sir."
"Thats fine soldier. You're dismissed." John turned to go but was stopped by the major again. " That reminds me. You don't need to call me sir." John turned around. The major stood there holding a strip in his hand." For your bravery on Halo, and destroying an entire Covenant armada, you have been promoted to Major John 117. Congradulations." For the secound time in an hour, John was shocked. " Thank you very much."
"Now," said Major Robin."UNSC protocol demands that I grant you one requist and it will be carried out to the best of our abilities." John thought hard before saying,"I'd like to keep Cortana to assist me in training, if I may." "I'm afraid that that requist cannot be fullfilled"Said Major Robin.".I am sorry, but Cortana has been assigned to other important duties. But I can give you another AI. He also has battle experence. He was pretty much the only AI to get off of Reach. Major John, meet Xader." As this was said an AI hologram flouted into view over the room's table. The AI took on a male look, but like all other constructs was sexless. He wore a long trench coat, and old style hat. He looked like hr came straight out of the 1930's. " He will be your new best friend." The major said.
A Fresh Start, part 2
Date: 18 December 2002, 8:56 pm
Feburary 14, 2552.
First day of training for the new Spartans.
John 117 walked briskly into the theatre room filled with the clones. It was uncanny, how they were almost exactly like him. There must have been some DNA from the other Spartans in there as well, but his was predomanent.
"Well," John started." I guess we'll all get along fine and think on the same track, right?" All the clones laughed. Of course they did, they had John's dry sense of humor. "Anyways, you all know who I am and I know you. I know how far your training has gone, and what your skills and limets are. All you really need at this point is to fine tune your training and weapons skills. O.k, good. Meet me at the firing range with your pistols and assult rifles at 1300. Dismissed."
John walked back to his hut afterwards, to get his own weapons. It felt so strange, to be without his MJOLNIR armor for so long. His reflexes and strength were still far over average, but he missed the speed and even farther improved reflexs that the armor and Cortana gave him. He felt weak and defenceless without the comfert of a full body shield. He needed to put that behind him though, and concentrate on the new Spartans and Earth's last defence. ********** Meanwhile, the Covenant were also hard at work. Even the great victory at Reach was overshadowed by their loss on Halo. They too needed a new type of soldier. And so they were tring to pesuide more and more races to join the allince. They assigned a formar Elite commander to recon planets for a race of ultimate warriors. This Elites name was 涧Ø. He would have been called Gatern, or something simular in English.
So far his search for a perfect race had been fruitless. He had meet with many species, some of which had joined to Covenant Empire. But only as scientists, or in the armies with the equivlant rank of a regular Grunt. It seemed impossible. The Hunters were the ultimate race, he knew that. If only it was possible to cross a Commander Elite with a Hunter. Perfection. Knowledge and speed with power and brute strength. Gatern had heard of a technolgy the humans had. It was called cloning. If he was to capture this technolgy, they would have a way to create an ultimate warrior as the Gods wanted.
He only needed a way to find the human home planet and get to it. There was still a small human outpost relitivly nearby, called Hahn. They were far from any other coloneys, so they might not of heard of the war with the Covenant. Or the annoying Cole protocol. Perfect. This could get Gatern a promotion. ********** John 117 arrived at the firing range in his personal Warthog. Being a Major did have very good aspects. All the new Spartans were already here. "Attention!" Barked one of them, a newly appointed leader. "At ease." Said John. "You all know why your here. Lets get started." The Spartans all moved over to the weapons locker. Their new leader opened it. Inside were many of the new weapon that the UNSC were using, the SC-120. It was much like the MA5B in appearence. But this new weapon had a 20mm grenade launcher attached under the barrel. The Spartans picked up the guns and some ammo.
"O.k everyone, fire at will." Said John 117. The Spartans opened fire all at once with a roar. The Elite, Grunt and Jackel targets were shredded by dozens of rounds. If anything, these Spartans were even better shots then the original ones.
Over the next 2 months, John trained the Spartans in batches. He rarely saw Sarjent Peter or Major Robin. When he did see them it was simply for an instant. And his promissed AI helper, Xader, never showed up after that first day. In all, this was a very poorly organized training operation. But John was taught never to lose, and he never did. This was pounded into his trainees.
(This may be a bit boring but more action is comming in part 3!)
A Fresh Start, part 3
Date: 15 January 2003, 1:01 am
May 19, 2552
The first assignment.
One afternoon, during a hand-to-hand combat lesson for the Spartans, Major John 117 was called to the office of the nearby commandant. John arrived in his personal Warthog only minutes later. He went into the huge office."Sir!" Called the desk clerk," They're waiting for you! Hurry up! Last office at the end of the hall, sir." John thanked the clerk and double timed it to the office. He burst into the office and came to attention right away. "Sir, reporting as ordered, sir." Said John, slauting smartly.
"Sit down Major," said the commandant. "we have a very grave situation on our hands. First though, I am Captian Willium Keyes. I believe you served under my brother, aboured the Piller of Autuam? Yes, of course. Anyways, our situation. It turns out that a coloney that was reported glassed soon into the war on the Covies, in fact was passed over as too small for a proper coloney. This is the planet Hahn. And the Covenant have launched an invasion against it."
" How soon into the war was this reported?" Asked John. " Soon enough that they don't even know of the Covenant." Replied Keyes."It would have been the first planet to be glassed. Hahn was ment to be self-suffencent for 100 years, so there have been no visitors."
John thought for a moment. Then he saw the gravity of the situation. "They won't know the Cole Protocol!" " Right." Said Keyes."Thats why we need the Spartans there right away. You, Major Robin, Sarjent Peter,Xader and the Spartans will leave tomorrow on the 'Druckpatrone.' The Druck' is one of our new ships, with experamental shields. Now, inform your men and get to the spaceport. Dismissed."
John came to attention and saluted, then turned and marched out briskly. He had much work to do. ********* Gatern was also busy. He had given the commander his proposed invasion of Hahn, it was immeditly accepted and Gatern was put in command of the opperation. The Covenant had a habit of leading their men into the field, as Gatern planed to do.
He was at this moment in orbit on board a troop ship in orbit over Hahn, breifing his troops. They were mainly Jackles, but their were also 5 other Elites. Later the Jackles would inform their squads of Grunts what they needed to know. The invason would start in 2 human days. ********* Major John was assembling and briefing his team. He would command a third of the Spartans, while Major Robin and the newly promoted Major Peter (specally promoted for the operation.) would command another third each. They would have their old Spartan II armor back and lead their men and women into battle.
"Atten-TION!" Barked John. There was a clatter and stomp of boots as the Spartans came to attention. " Alright, Spartans, we have a crisis on our hands. The planet Hahn is in the threat of a Covenant invasion. You may not have heard of this planet, for it was reported a lost planet way back at the begining of this war. Our job is to avert the invaision. " John waved his arms to put his point across. He had learnt to talk to his troops effectivly since promotion. "Now, we are not the only group down there, so no need for heroics. Major Robin and Major Peter will also be there, in Spartan II armor, as I myself will be. And I will tell you, I promise to be the first one down there and the last out!"
If not for their superb training, the clones would have burst out in appaluse. Indeed, some where close to tears. The Major was a very good motavional speaker.
"Right! Prepare for departure on the double! Report to the Druckpatrone and head for deck 12. Our bunks and lockers are there. Spartans, dis-MISSED!" The Spartans run for the armories and barracks.
********* Gatern also was finished preparing his men. Now he himself would prepare for the grand invaision. He needed to brush up on his combat skills. You see, there were more survivors of the Halo incident. Gatern was at Halo and maneged to escape in a lone Banshee. He was picked up by the fleet that had come to find out what had happened. He too was a hero. ********* All the Spartans were abourd the Druckpatrone. The 3 majors were in Spartan armor. The AIs were in the armor as well. Xader, Comsung, and Kopic for the op.
The voice of the ship's own AI annonced on the intercom,"Prepare to go to Slipstream." John recognised the voice. It was Cortana. He would talk to her later. Now they were on the way.
Later...
The 10 pelicans carring Johns team and supplies flew through the atmosphere of Hahn. On the horizon they could see Covenant drop ships decending towards the planet as well. Were they too late?
"O.k Alpha team, get ready to roll!" Shouted the pilot on the intercom. "Right, hit the dirt, Spartans!" The tailgate dropped, and the Spartans ran from the ship, assult rifles ready. Major John was first. ********* Gatern was also in the first wave. As his ship hit the ground, and the hatches opened, he was also first out. The humans put up a pitiful defence at first. He easly cut them down with his plasma rifle, and their inferior guns, even older then the ones on Halo, were completly ineffictive against his sheilds.
Thats all for now. Some question to give away the next part: Will the paths of Gatern and John 117 ever cross?
Will Hahn be saved?
Will the secreat of Earth be kept?
All this and more in, A Fresh Start, part 4.
A Fresh Start, part 4
Date: 7 February 2003, 2:19 am
May 19 2552.
Conflict Resolution.
The Pelicans of John's squad disengaged the troop carrier Warthogs from their bellies. The squad inbarked and they moved towards the cities. In a mere hour and a half they were on the outskirts and moving in. They divided into sub-squads and cleared each building in their assigned sector. As support they had Warthogs with the standard LAAGs mounted. After another 2 hours, they had cleared their sector with little combat. "Alright Spartans," Called John." rest up. We need to wait for the other squads to check in. Then we can move out." The Spartans did as they were told. Some opened up their M.R.E rations.
Soon Majors Robin and Peter had joined Major John's squad. " We must move to the spaceport at once." Said Major Peter." If the Covies get there first, Earth will be discouvered!" The Majors agreed the spaceport was objective one. Major Robin spread out a map of the area. " Alright, we are here right now," He said, indicating a point on the map with his finger." The spaceport will be here. It will most likely be deserted ,if we get there first, and in bad shape." Major John commented," We should give our men five more minutes." "Agreed." Said Peter. ********** Gatern too was looking for the spaceport. He had sent out numerous patrols that had not yet returned. Finally one did. All that remained of it was a Grunt, injured at that. " What did you find, comrade?" Asked Gatern. "Death!" Screamed the terrified Grunt."We found only death, comrade commander. Death and destruction at the hands of ...of ... Spartans!" At these last words, the Grunt succumed to his wounds. Gatern recoiled in hate. He had seen a Spartan once, on Halo. It had killed is friends and nearly killed him. " They too will head for the spaceport," He announced." We will double our efforts to find it. When we do, they will need to fight us. And they will die." ********** The Spartans were approching the spaceport fast. In less then an hour they were there. One clone muttered," This is too easy. Where are the Covenant?" " You think they're waiting for us?" Asked another. Yet another said," Nah, they don't move that fast. I don't think they even know where it is."
But only 3 hours after the Spartans had established themselves at the 'port, the Covnant discouvered it. Gatern was in the first wave to attack. He and his troops maneged to get inside the front foyer.417 But the Spartans put up a wall of fire that seemed to be solid lead. Although the Covenant were behind cover, they went down one by one. In minutes they were down to a fraction of their original stragnth. But renforcements were on the way. Wave after wave of grunts poured into the foyer. Soon the Spartans would be overwhelmed.
Major John also realized this. He needed to get out now. The Covenant masses were building and he had men going down. He found the other Majors and had a hurried conference. " We need to destroy this port." Said John. " If we manage to detonate the Havoc warhead, it should set off a chain reaction to destroy the whole coloney. They are only small. We can get out on one of the old ships hanging around." Peter said," I'll take a squad to find one large enough. Vincenti! Cellini! Joe!" He called," Get some men and we'll find ourselves a way out of here!" "Sir, yes sir!" The Spartans said in unison.
Gatern saw the men move to the hangers. He screamed," Charge! Kill then all!" The Grunts swarmed over their cover. Many were cut down right away. Grunt blood splattered all over, but the wall of alian flesh kept moving. The Spartans brgan to pull back, steadily firing bursts into the enemy, then deftly changing magizenes.They went into the hanger where Major Peter's squad had gone. "Major!" Called Robin, " Any luck with ships?" " Yeah," He replied, " I think that we can get this one going in no time." "DO IT!" Called John.
Some of the clones went to try to close the huge blast doors. They were cut down by Gatern coming through." Go!" Yelled John," Get on the ship now!" The remaining Spartans ran for the small craft with John covering them. Gatern charge him from the side. John turned just in time to avoid the full force of Gatern's blow. It glanced off his shield. The Elite was momentarily at a disadvantage and John made a return attack. He lashed out with his rifle and hit Gatern squairly in the head. Gatern's sheilds collapsed and John struck again, this time in the neck. Gatern felt his neck snap, then died. John recouvered quickly and loosing a shot off at a Grunt taking aim on him, ran past the team setting up the Havoc and towards the ship. Then the team ran to the ship as well. They reached it well before him. The ship began to hover, and John leapt onto the tailgate. It closed as he scrambled on board.
Once the ship was in space, John took a device from a pouch in his armor. He pressed a butten on it a watched as Hahn's only city disapeared in a nuclear firestorm. He thought of all the people who might have been there. He thought that they would understand, if only they knew why.
Afternote: John later reached the Druckpatrone with all survivors. After this mission he decided t retire from the U.N.S.C. The athorities understood and gave him a generous pension, on the condition he would still do what he could for the human race. So he sometimes went to the new Spartan officer training school to give lessions to the recruits.
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