Chapter 8 NAME "Shit Happens" Part 5

=They walk hand and hand down the hallway, her pushing against him=
=They are silent as they walk, letting the other people talk=

=They arrive in the messhall and go off to the counter to get something to eat=
=A veggie burger for him and some soup for her=

=They go off to a table and sit. They begin eating=

(Jason)
So he'll answer one sin with another? Alpha, we're not talking about soldiers here. This a living world, with families on it. Families just like the ones you've lost.

Al- And what are we to do, Jason!? Sit back and let this slide past like it never happened!? No. We will take an eye, for an eye.


=Delta stood from his chair, and shook hands with each of the UNSC leaders in the room. He was lead back to his transport, where he was taken back to the Azure Comet. Upon arrival on the Bridge, he sent a Comm to Alpha=

Code:

It is done...

(Jason)
I'm not saying don't respond to this. But if it was soldiers that took the lives of your people, then it should be the soldiers who pay for this, not their families!

Al- Its too late, Jason. I just recieved a message from Delta. Its finished...

(Jason)
=I slumped back into my chair, the wind almost knocked out of me=
Then I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. But I warned you, all of you, what would happen if you attacked Earth. Argo, engage stealth systems. And send a message to Haven. We're going to war.

(Argo)
Understood, Jason.
=I activated the ship's stealth systems, cloaking us from detection, as well as sent a message back to Haven=

(Miranda)
Are you sure about this, Jason?

(Jason)
=I didn't hear her=
Alpha, I gave you all a chance, to end this madness. But you've forced my hand.

=The Azure Comet jumped to Slipspace towards the Wreck of the OW. Alpha and the others preadied themselves for battle=

Al- So be it...

Si- No... Dont do this...

Gi- Why..?

=The message reached Haven, reached the fleet, already assembled over the planet. It didn't take the Council long to vote; The fleet was to launch, all human ships, and Forerunner ships. They all massed, and within minutes, slip-space ruptures appeared before them, and they drifted into them, for the wreckage of the Obsidian Wolf=

Al- Even if you defeat us here, Jason, mark my words that Delta will unleash Hellfire upon Haven. And nothing, nothing, will save you then.


=As the news traveled throughout the Comet, there was bittersweet celebration. Some of them were angry not to have the revenge they sought, but all of them were overjoyed that the war was now over. Even Delta himself forced a smile=

(Jason)
Then we shall wait here for Delta. Alpha, believe me, I did not want this, never this.
=I took control of the ship, and made probably the dumbest decision of my life: I charged the ships. We were still cloaked, so they couldn't see us, so that was a plus=

Argo, bring the pulse lasers online.

(Argo)
Are you sure about this, Jason?

(Miranda)
You crazy son of a bitch, you're going to get us killed!

(Jason)
Not yet. Argo, plot a course through the debris field!

(Argo)
Working.

=The Azure Comet was still a ways out, but Delta was already getting anxious. He couldnt wait to tell the others about the massive victory they had achieved this day. Xazhi was down in the messhall, celebrating with the other SS. They were drinking soda, singing songs, and a whole lot of food was on the way. For once, all was good. All was right. And the atmosphere of the Azure Comet was similar to that of a massive Christmas party. For the SS, and the crew of the Azure Comet, Life was good=

=The Serenity flew through the debris, and once close enough to the first ship, discharged it's weapons at them. The pulse lasers flashed, bright blue bolts, and impacted on the hull=

(Jason)
Aim for their sensor array Argo, I want them blind!

(Argo)
Firing again.

=This time , the pulse lasers took out their sensors=



=The Haven fleet was now ten minutes out=

=The Silver Void took the hit, and immidiately began firing back in all directions with its large cannons. One struck the Serenity head-on=

Si- Where are they!?

SS1- We dont know, Sir! They cut our sensors!

Si- Damnit, i didnt want this! Contact Alpha! Tell her to call this shit off!

SS1- Yes sir!

=They sent the Comm to Alpha=

(Jason)
=We took the hit, but thankfully, while we had some minor damage, the hull held. Unfortunately, the cloaking features were disabled=
Crap, evasive maneuvers!

=the Serenity began to weave through the weapons fire. She may not have been as agile as a fighter, but let it never be said that my girl wasn't fast, and hard as hell to hit=


=The Haven fleet was now three minutes out=

=A lot of the Azure Comet's soldiers had moved into the Messhall, and were celebrating the victory with songs and music. There was food and drink and much fun to be had. Delta began to think about the Obsidian Wolf. While they could never replace the lives lost, he knew that with the people aboard all six of the Capital ships, they would be able to rebuild. But this time, without the threat of UNSC attack. This made him feel very good=


=All five Capital ships began firing on the Serenity with everything they had. Some were hits, some misses. Alpha ignored Sigma's comm, but soon another came in from Giga, and another from Theta. Even Beta sent one=

=The Serenity continued to dodge enemy fire, executing strafing runs on each ship. Some shots hit sensors or comms, others just hit simple hull. Hits were taken, but the Serenity held. However, she started to move farther away, taking shots from afar=

=At this point, space boiled, and the Haven fleet emerged from slip-space. The Forerunner ships took position at the head of the fleet, forming a ring, while the human made ships were centered, the Silver Hawk at the lead=

=Sigma took it upon himself to call for aid from the rest of the Alliance. The five massive XNNO ships formed a line, priming all of their weapons. Alpha showed no fear. Theta and Sigma each said a silent prayer. Beta just cursed. Delta was nearing the wreck=

(Jason)
=Once I saw that the fleet arrived, I pulled back, and headed for the Silver Hawk. We were hailed by the fleet. They wanted orders=
Don't fire, at least not yet. Wait for me to get to the bridge.

=we docked in the Silver Hawk's hangar, and I immediately got out, taking the lift down to the cargo bay=

=Alpha again commed Jason=

Al- You will leave this place, or you will die! We've seen enough destruction in these past days without you filthy creatures butting in as well!

(Jason)
=I responded to the comm on my way to the bridge=
You were warned Alpha! You were given fair warning of the consequences of attacking Earth.

=I had reached the bridge then. Everyone there was at attention, and they all looked anxious. Couldn't blame them-- they were about to face the fleet that destroyed their homes=
I don't want to fight you, never did. But if what you said is true, if Delta really did destroy Earth.......then I can't let that go unanswered.

=The Azure Comet came out of Slipspace at the OW's wreck site. Delta saw the haven fleet standing off against the XNNO capital ships, and he was instantly filled with rage. His eyes flooded with red. The door behind him opened, and Xazhi came through, laughing=

Xa- Delta, you son of a bitch! You did it! You fucking did it, man! How di-

=He too saw what lie before them=

Xa- Oh no..... Delta.. What are we going to do..?

=Delta's voice was deep and metallic. It was filled with anger and a newfound hatred. He simply screamed, not realizing he was still on an open Comm frequency=

De- JASON!!!

(Jason)
=I got Delta scream loud and clear=
Hello, Delta. Glad you could join us.

De- After what we've seen, after all we've been through the past days, you have the BALLS to bring you fleet to MY doorstep and challenge my brothers!? You will watch your step, human, or by my words, Haven will see Hellfire! Our war with the UNSC may be over, but i still have strength enough left in me to fight you!

(Jason)
I originally came here, to try and talk with you Delta. I wanted to take another shot at peace. But then i saw all this, and Alpha told me you left for Earth, and that it was finished.
=I paused for a moment, controlling myself=

I warned you Delta, what would happen if you attacked Earth. And I find out you destroyed it? I wish it didn't have to be like this, but such a crime, cannot go unanswered.

De- This goes to show how much you slimy goddamn humans try to figure out what is going on before you act! Do you even know what happened at Earth, Jason? DO YOU!?

(Jason)
All I know is what Alpha told me! She said you went to Earth, to make them pay for the attack here, then she tells me you sent her a message, saying it is destroyed. What exactly am I supposed to think?

De- I said it was finished! Yes, we went there to destroy them! Yes, there was a battle! But what was the outcome!? The war is OVER!

(Jason)
Wait, what? What do you mean, over? Alpha told me that you destroyed Earth!

De- Alpha! What did you tell him?

Al- I gave him the exact message you gave me. It's finished.

De- You are a motherfucker, Jason! Get out of here before I decide to destroy Your world!

(Jason)
Delta, if you didn't destroy Earth, then what the hell did Alpha mean when she told me, "it's finished?" Because as far as Ieally happened, before we both start a war none of us wants?

De- Its. Finished! The war is OVER! What is difficult to get about this!? Are you humans so hard-wired for conflict that you dont understand the concept of ending one!?

(Jason)
We all have definitions of how a war is ended Delta. And I do not wish for a conflict. All i want to know, is did you destroy the Earth. If not, if I really was misinformed, then I will gladly leave, and hopefully never trouble you and your people again. But I cannot do that, until you please, tell me what happened, exactly.

De- Then i shall spell it out for you. We arrived. We dropped. We took a city and met little resistance. While there, i was taken back to a time in my past. The SS were taken back to the Comet, and i was dropped off at the Capital. I spoke with the leaders, and achieved what we've wanted since the beginning. Peace with the UNSC. Does that satisfy you, Human?

(Jason)
=stunned, I was quiet for a few minutes. Hell, everyone on the damn bridge, and maybe everyone in the freakin fleet, did a double take on that one=
Peace? You finally, achieved peace? Well then, this is rather awkward..........

=Awkward? I felt like the kid that showed up to school naked or something=

De- Yes. And now, tired and weary from battle and victory celebration, I am afraid to tell my men that since the destruction of the Obsidian Wolf, we have nowhere to go. It is only slimly possible that our race will even survive with so few of us. I wont ask you again to leave. I will not risk the safety of the very last of my kind.

(Jason)
Uh, wait, did you ever get that message I sent you, before you left the Tower? I told you about a world you can live on, that the UNSC don't go to anymore.

De- I did get it, and you must think me to be some kind of fool to consider such a thing. No, we will go into hiding again untill we have rebuilt. Maybe then, but not now.

=I grab the ground trying to crawl=

=I see a pelican searching through the casualties and I light up a flare=

(Jason)
I'm not talking about hiding, I'm talking about a new home. I'll go, if that's what you want. But I gave you those coordinates not to hide, but as a gift. You left me your sword, so I felt I needed to give you something in return. And that's what I gave you Delta, a new world to make your own.

De- We must go into hiding. Someone, some day, will seek war with us again. And when that day comes, we must be prepared. Goodbye, Jason.

=The Delta sends the jump coordinates to the other Five capital ships. The Comet goes into slipspace, and the rest soon follow, one by one=

(Jason)
=I watched as all the ships left the area, leaving for God knows where. Once the last slip-space portal had closed, I let out the breath I had been holding=
All ships, return to Haven, at once. Send a message to the Council. Tell them....that Earth was not destroyed, and that Delta and his people, while still alive, will no longer trouble us.


=All the ships, turned, and entered slip-space. The trip was uneventful, yet everyone in the fleet, seemed to be......happier, was not the right word. Calmer, more relaxed, like a great storm was over=

=I had assumed the Pelican saw me and I kept crawling to an open area=

It's been.. a... long day...

(Jason)
=While the fleet traveled through the slipstream, I headed down to the Serenity. My heart sank as I saw her: She had taken more damage than I expected. One of her engines was blown, the stealth systems, mainly the cloaking and engine bafflers, were shot to hell. Miranda was waiting outside the Serenity, making a list of the damage. When she turned ans saw me, the first thing she did was walk up to me, and slap me across the face=

(Miranda)
You crazy, suicidal, gung ho son of a bitch!

(Dormii)
=She said yes, and I asked if she wanted to come with, but she declined, as long as I brought some food back and ate with her. I dressed myself and headed out towards the messhall, thinking of what I can get her. I didn't have any of my weapons on me, save for the blades in my forearm=

(Jason)
Miranda, what the hell?

(Miranda)
=I answered with a swift kick to his crotch=

(Jason)
=Blinding pain erupted from my balls, as Miri's boot, crashed right into my crotch. I went down, knees bending, and my hands already covering my balls=

(Miranda)
Why in the hell, did you fly our damn home, right into enemy fire!

(Jason)
I was trying to buy us time.
=What came out was mumbled garbage=

(Miranda)
What in the hell made you think that this tiny ship, could stand up to a group of capital ships?
=I was angry. Despite the fact that Jason had the best of intentions, he risked all our lives, in a stupid gambit. He was supposed to be smarter than that=

We were supposed to wait for the fleet, and instead, you charge headlong towards the enemy, in a ship that's not meant for combat.

(Jason)
=I managed to pick myself up off the ground, and stood facing her. There was a fire in her eyes, and it frightened me a little=
Miranda, I was angry at the time. I thought they had destroyed Earth. I wanted to lash out.

(Miranda)
=I calmed down, but my voice still had a frosty edge=
I know, but you let your anger make the decisions. You chose to endanger all of us, in an attack that had no chance of even being a success.

Scorch wrote:

Nick: OHHHHHHRRRAAAAAH! That was a great way to end this s.o.b. Out-fucking-standing, sir!

I'll send the UNSC Naval Air Arm your overwhelming approval, Nick. Let's get out of here Gold.

=I give Diana the signal and she comes and picks us up in the ship=

What a good way to come back to the team...

=I smile as Diana takes the ship into orbit=

=I go back and talk to Dan=

You know the name of your ship?

Dan: You were just talking with it sir.

Thanks, Dan.

=I radio the Kiev=

Control, this is the Kieran. Requesting clearance to board. I have wounded that need assistance.

Control: Roger that. You have clearance to land. We'll have medical personnel and techs waiting in Bay 2.

Understood, Control. Heading to Bay 2.

=I take the ship into Bay 2, set it down, and open the landing ramp=

Medic: We'll see the wounded. We'll take it from here. They'll be okay Spartan.

=I nod= Thanks. I'll see myself out.

=I head to my team's quarters to rest=

(Olympus, Nexumil)

=It had been some time since the 'ruling' of Olympus had begun. It wasn't... Exactly going to plan. It had gone mostly to plan. The Humans didn't have much defense, and any type of help had been cut off a while ago. However, there had been some... Differences. The 'Followers of the Old', had all been following the 'Chief'. Or High Chief as he'd called himself. There were some still believing in the current Queen. So, there had been some kind of fight... And the Old ones had been winning. The Queens Followers had been attempting to save the Humans, and they'd headed to what remained of the forests. And just to note it, the town was almost completley destroyed. Most of the buildings had been knocked down, and the church... It had been used as an Execution hall. Any Queens followers not killed in battle... Or the Traitors as they were more commonly known. The bodies were usually burnt, torn to pieces and the remains... Were hung. It was... different to the life before. The... Happyish life before. That had all changed.=

(Dormii)
=i walked into the messhall and headed over to the food counter to pick up some stuff. I hadn't decided, so I just stood there, looking at my choices=

=He looks up from his meal to see Dormii at the counter=

Hmm.

=He sighs and turns to Lynn=

Draco: How's the soup?

=She smiles=

Lynn: A bit hot, but it's perfect.

(Dormii)
=i grab a tray and put some soup and some fruit on it. I look around again, trying to find something I would like=
Quid volo ...

Quote :

What do I want...