Chapter 9: TBD

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 06:07 am

'Talk to... oh the UNSC ship? Yes s- understood."
I walk over to the communications console and click a button, letting me patch into the comm link.
Then I take my helmet off so I could be easier to understand.
"This is the Super Carrier Class Trophaeum responding, whaddya need?"

The Wizards Posts : 6669 Join date : 2012-08-28 Age : 30

James frowns. "Take a wild guess. I got a super-carrier sized ship hovering over this world, no clue who it belongs to, and now, all I know is a name - Trophaeum. Mind filling in the blanks?"

The Xerxes edged a bit closer, bravely staring down the giant.

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 06:17 am

(Jason)
Let's not take any chances people. Hyperion, I want you and a group of destroyers, along with half of the Forerunner ships, to take position over Haven, between us, and the coordinates that ship arrived from. The rest of the fleet will maintain a presence over the crash site, while Sentinels mop up the remains. As for the civilian ships, let's get them done unloading, and the civilians under a solid roof.

The Wizards Posts : 4926 Join date : 2011-05-10 Age : 34

=walks over to alphonse=

i'll handle it from here

-patches himself into the comm-

this is zeru ishtar captain of this vessel what seems to be th problem here

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 06:26 am

I scratch at my rough beard and back away. Grabbing my helmet with my other hand as I do.

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 06:30 am

(Burk)
=we all head off to various point on the ship, Deniv I think went with Punikav to the messhall, while Simile went to the tech lab to learn with the tech experts. I myself went to the armory to take off my armor and put it away=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 06:47 am

=On the ground, at the settlement, things continued smoothly as people were none the wiser, for good reason. What was an organized arrival of civilians would have turned to panic, chaos even, if they knew what was going on. The captains of the civilian ships were wise enough to not say anything, and thankfully, the unloading was finished on schedule=

(Jason)
Captain Hikowa, you still there?

*Captain Hikowa*
Yes sir. You mind telling me what that was earlier on our sensors?

(Jason)
When i found out, i'll be sure to tell you. For now, I think you and the other ships should get out of here, now.

*Captain Hikowa*
What about the civilians?

(Jason)
It'll take too long to get them back on board, especially if we're about to have more guests. We'll protect them as best we can, but that would be much easier without you and your ships here.

The Wizards Posts : 6669 Join date : 2012-08-28 Age : 30

"The problem is I am looking at the biggest ship ever, and I'd be thrilled to know who your allegiance lies with."
Captain James frowned, motioning Namine in Sign Language to tell her to prepare for the worst.
Good thing the Xerxes was a Paris - Heavy frigate.

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=From the planet Xenos, a message came through to Haven, staticy, though not enough so to be incomprehensible. The message was dated from three days ago, and contained a video log=

Spoiler:

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 07:48 pm

=The last of the civilian ships had left Haven's atmosphere, managing to retreat into slip-space. Which was good, because a signal had been picked up on Haven's long range communications array, and its coordinates matched Delta's last known location=

(Jason)
=I watched in mixed horror and awe, as the video played itself on a view screen in the observation tower. Alpha was calling for aid, from Haven. That couldn't be a good sign, not in the least. I had a few guesses as to who it was that was attacking them, and if I was right then we needed to get right into that fight=
Admiral to fleet, new orders. The Hyperion, and a group of four destroyers, two Sentinel carriers, and six Forerunner warships, are to form up over the civilian settlement. I'm coming up to the Hyperion and we're going to go on an aid mission. The rest of the fleet must remain here, at Haven on constant watch, and I want every base ready. All ground forces are on alert, all aerial forces on patrol. Let's move it people, we're in the middle of a war.

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 08:05 pm

I turn around and head off towards the armory. Making my way past some people. I see Burk somewhere up ahead.

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=The Battleship that had crashed into Haven's surface now lie nothing but a molten ruin. There were no further signals from any apparent XNNO source. Even the source of the repearing message from the Azure Comet had ceased=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 08:18 pm

=High in orbit, ships began to move. The Hyperion and her battlegroup gathered over the civilian colony, while the rest of the fleet itself took up defensive positions over the planet=

(Jason)
=Leaving the tower, I headed for the same dropship that had brought me here. As I walked, I sent a message to the Council, informing them, as briefly as I could, of what was going on, and where I was going. Not waiting for a response, I boarded the ship, and we took off for the Hyperion=

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=Amid fire, ash, dust, and rubble, a single voice cried out on short-range radio. There was no answer. There was no hope...=

?- *cough* Can anyone.. hear this..? Please... respond.... Hello..? Help....

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 08:41 pm

(Miranda)
=From my office within Vigil, I caught news of what was going on on the surface. The video that Jason had watched was sent to my group for analysis, and what I saw did not look good=
And of course, he's flying straight into it.....

(Jason)
=My transport finally landed in the hangar of the Hyperion, and from there I began walking to the bridge, though I wanted to be on the move now=
Admiral to bridge. Jump now, don't wait for me to get there. And I want all fighter squadrons ready to move.

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=Elsewhere in the Galaxy, RSS soldiers Marrthil and Rok continued to wonder if the Armada would ever come to rescue them. Winter was befalling the already icy planet, and with no signs of civilization anywhere, and food sources becoming increasingly scarce, they would have to be found soon if they were ever going to survive...=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 09:00 pm

=With the rest of the fleet now safely in formation over Haven, the battlegroup made the jump to slip-space. Darkness boiled before them, as bright portals opened, and the fleet slipped into slip-space=

(Jason)
=Our ETA was maybe 10 or so minutes, considering our speed. Hey, these may have been heavyweights I was bringing, but their engines and slip-space drives made them very fast. I soon reached the bridge, where the crew waited=
Alright people, we are flying into a storm in unknown territory. We have reason to believe that Reclaimer forces are attacking Delta and his people and we are moving to aid, not Delta or Alpha, but their civilians. We are to push back enemy forces, and provide whatever aid we can spare.

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=It had been three days since Alpha sent her message to Jason, and things on Xenos did not look bright. In fact, for the majority, things didnt look at all...=

The Wizards Posts : 4926 Join date : 2011-05-10 Age : 34

this ships's allegience is with the united olympian federation

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 11:13 pm

(Molly)
=After the orders came down from the bridge, my squad and I, in addition to every other squadron on the ship, got prepped. Our flight gear on, we all sat in the cockpits of our own fighters, and for me my chest was starting to feel tight from the tension. After all, we were flying to the defense of Delta and his people. Whatever had them on the ropes was probably very, very bad=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 19/09/12, 11:49 pm

(Burk)
=i walk inside and start taking my armor off. Peeling it off layer by layer and setting it on a stand not unsimilar like the one on the Whisper of Life. It felt somewhat refreshing, getting out of the big clunking armor=

The Wizards Posts : 6669 Join date : 2012-08-28 Age : 30

"What the hell is that?" James demanded, frowning. "I have never heard of that."

The AI glanced his way. "Rising Dawn is leaving Pluto orbit soon."

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 20/09/12, 07:11 am

I find the armory easily enough, just having followed Burk. I walk inside it and see that he's removing his armour and putting it on a rack.
Then it hits me. I no longer have a place to put my armour. Or my weapons. I'll miss that.

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 20/09/12, 09:11 am

(Jason)
=There was so much uneasiness and tension the bridge, that it had become a palpable thing. Fear permeated the air, and I found myself questioning whether or not this was the right move, going to help someone in unknown territory. We could have been walking into a trap for all we knew=

*Star*
Stow that fear, Manipular. If you are truly the leader of this military, then show no fear. Do you not aspire to be a Promethean?

(Jason)
=Promethean, another word I had picked up from my browsing the Archives. An elite class of warriors within the Forerunner society, they were well respected. The best of the best, they even once had a seat on the Forerunner Council=
Last I checked, I had to mutate to that rate, to become a Promethean. Thanks, but I'd rather not.

*Star*
Oh please. If we are to continue your belief, of actions and character dictating your place in life, then mutation will hardly count towards you ever being considered a Promethean. But I've watched you since I woke, I've seen all that you have done in the past. You are very close, to being something quite akin to a Promethean.
=He was silent for a brief moment=

Then again, I suppose he would take issue with something like you ever being considered a parallel to his rank.

(Jason)
=I was about to ask who he was, but my thoughts were interrupted by Lt. Lake=

*Lt. Lake*
Admiral, we're five minutes out from emerging from slip-space.

(Jason)
Alright. Have the fleet ready weapons and shields, and be ready to move.

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=Down on Xenos, at one of the many military bases, long-range scanners showed signs of an inbound group of ships in slipspace. Sirens flashes, alarms blared, but nobody answered...=

The Wizards Posts : 6669 Join date : 2012-08-28 Age : 30

Sora - 013 lazily lounged on the bridge of the Rising Dawn, the AI, Xion, eyeing the girl with an air of impressiveness.
"And they let you get away with this?"
"Prototype slated for a warehouse. They didn't really mind. I'm just glad that we were able to scrounge a full compliment from Sol."
"Mhm..." Xion shrugged. "When shall I enter slipspace to mert eith the Xerxes?"
"Three minutes. Simple and Clean, Destiny's Embrace, and Long and Dark December should be locked in in two minutes."
"As you wish."

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 20/09/12, 08:40 pm

*Lt. Lake*
Exiting slip-space in ten seconds sir!

=Several slip-space portals appeared in space over the planet Xenos, and the battlegroup emerged from slip-space, standing at the ready=

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=The space around Xenos was barren, not a single ship to be seen anywhere. The planet itself was glowing slightly, patterend black and red like severely burned flesh, or the aftermath of Covenant Glassing. Alarms at the military bases continued to blare, but there were still no answers to them. No radio signals, no transmissions, no comms or messages. Nothing. The planet was silent, and burning...=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 20/09/12, 10:58 pm

(Jason)
What the hell?
=Below us, was hell, plain and simple. An entire world was burned, reminiscent of the colonies that had been glassed by the Covenant=

*Lt. Lake*
Sir, scans aren't picking anything up short of residual radiation. There's a few energy signatures that don't match the radiation, but other than that, nada.

(Jason)
Have the Sentinel carriers move into the atmosphere, and deploy their Sentinels to scout out the surface.

The Wizards Posts : 4926 Join date : 2011-05-10 Age : 34

[u]well then either your new to being a captain or they don't think you needed to know i'd suggest asking an A.I if you have one to pull up the records[/u\

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 20/09/12, 11:33 pm

=Both carriers descended until they were in the planet's atmosphere, swarms of Sentinels deploying from their launch bays. Like small clouds, they began to spread out over the surface, sensors scanning for any sign of life, any indication of survivors. The results were......not promising=

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=Scans of the planet would show no life signs anywhere. Not of plant, animal, or XNNO. They were all gone... Descending into the atmosphere, past the thick smokey clouds, one could see the true face of Xenos. Not glassed, nor bombed to oblivion. No, most of what looked like damage from the skies above turned out to be the wrecks and debris from innumerable ships fallen from high atmosphere in pieces. The entire surface of the planet, for organic and machine alike, was a graveyard. Though, there was something. Down below the rubble of what was an outpost, near a hole in the ground that lead to an underground facility, was a very feint life signature...=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 21/09/12, 05:21 am

*Lt. Lake*
Sentinels aren't picking anything up sir. Nothing but death down there....

(Jason)
Dammit..... Let's stick around for another thirteen minutes. Tell the fleet to send out a pulse towards the planet, just to see if there's anyone down there.

*Lt. Lake*
And if we receive a signal?

(Jason)
Then send out dropships for search and rescue.

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 21/09/12, 05:34 am

(Burk)
=i turn around and see Alphonse=
Hey Alph. What are you up to?

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 21/09/12, 05:53 am

"Remembering what it was like having my own armor rack."
I put on and lock my helmet, activating my energy shields.
"But I guess those days are long behind me. How 'bout you?"

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 21/09/12, 06:52 am

(Burk)
Just getting the armor off. You can call me Burk now, so ya know. I am officially off duty as of now.

=i put all of my armor on the stand and stretch, getting a feel for my normal muscles=

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=From the area of the feint lifesign, a weak signal came through on short-range comms=

?- *Cough* Inheritor..? Jason, is that you..? *Cough* C-can you hear me..? Help...

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 21/09/12, 04:15 pm

"Understood sir."
I smile under my helmet and leave the armoury. Then heading towards the food court.
It might look a little weird in Spartan armor, but I don't care really. I don't care much for anything.

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 21/09/12, 08:25 pm

*Lt. Lake*
Sir, the Sentinels picked up a signal! It's weak, but we've got a survivor.

(Jason)
Have Sentinels ace the signal, and secure the area. Send a group of dropships down there with medical personnel and an armed escort.

*Lt. Lake*
Understood sir.

=Down below, a swarm of Sentinels traced the signal to it's source. Spreading out, they secured the area while a lone Sentinel hovered over the signal, serving as a beacon to guide the dropships. As for the dropships, three were deployed from the Hyperion, two of them packed with troops to assist in securing the area or for heavy lifting while the third contained medical personnel=

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=The signal was originating from X No Alpha, trapped beneath a massive beam of metal that even a Covenant Hunter would have trouble moving, and it was slowly crushing her to death. She looked up and saw Sentinels flying about, but knew they would find nothing but ash and scrap. The ground beneath the beam showed clearly that she had been struggling to climb out, to no avail. Hopefully the Dropships would have an easier time...=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 21/09/12, 08:41 pm

=The dropships, Tridents, sped down to the surface of the planet, their engines allowing them to make good time on their descent. Following the signal of the Sentinel, they arrived at the location of the survivor. Hovering a few feet off the ground, they opened their doors, and soldiers began to pour out. One squad moved to secure the area and check for survivors, while another accompanied the lone doctor, clad in combat skin of their own, as they ran for the Sentinel that was still hovering=

*Soldier*
Hello! Is there anyone out there? We're here to help!

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=She just barely heard the medic shout before calling back=

*Cough* Here..!

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 21/09/12, 08:52 pm

*Soldier*
=He heard a voice, and immediately broke into a run for the source=
Over here! We've got a survivor Doc!

*Doctor*
I'm moving as fast as I can.
=Everyone began moving for the source of the shout now, until they found the owner of the voice: Alpha, and she was trapped beneath a beam=

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=She looked up at the Doctor with a bloody smirk, and spoke in a weak voice=

Never though I'd be saved by a *cough* human...

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 22/09/12, 07:58 am

*Doctor*
Yeah well, try not to get used to it. Hell, never thought we'd be trying to save one of you.
=He checked her condition using some of the tools in his case. It wasn't good, though the beam was ironically not the worst bit....yet anyway=

Okay, we're going to need to get this beam off of you. Trooper, have that Sentinel come down here, we're going to need it's weapon.
=Not paying attention to which soldier he had addressed, he turned back to look at Alpha=

Too big to move, or even lift a little, so we're going to use the Sentinel's weapon to cut this beam down a little.

The Longterm Poster Posts : 3243 Join date : 2011-06-03

=She nodded=

Alright.. *Cough* Just as long as you get this damn thing off me...

=She coughed again, much harder, and would have doubled over if not for the beam=

Agh... Feels like every bone in my torso is broken...

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 22/09/12, 09:00 pm

*Doctor*
Well, that's a distinct possibility.
=The Sentinel floated down, and the doctor marked out what parts of the beam for it to cut into=

Alright, try not to look at the light.
=A bright beam of light fired from the Sentinel, cutting it's way through the metal of the beam. It was going to be a slow process=

The Wizards Posts : 4926 Join date : 2011-05-10 Age : 34

=heads to the labs to see what all the tech crew would need shipped from other parts of the ship=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 23/09/12, 02:26 am

TheWatchman wrote:: =Lucas then turns around, and looks at the footage=

Lucas: Boss...you're going to want to see this.

=Aaron comes over from the vehicle pool and come over to where Lucas is=

Aaron: What is it, Lucas?

Lucas: Roadside security cams got something.

=Lucas pulls up the feed from the camera and freezes it=

Lucas: =Pointing= There's our unknown contact.

=Aaron pats Lucas on the shoulder=

Aaron: Get me a name to that face...and see if you can't get an idea on their plans.

Lucas: I'm on it, sir.

=Lucas gets to work on getting the ID on the contact=

=Lucas looks at the research he did=

Lucas: Boss...I positive ident on the contact.

Aaron: We got a name for the face?

Lucas: =Nods= Yep. Denne Calvaruso: bounty hunter and contract assassin for an organization simply called 'The Nothing'.

Aaron: =Shakes his head= No wonder we haven't heard of them. Their plans?

Lucas: I did manage to get a feed.

=Lucas then plays a recording from a hidden camera, and they both listen as the plans are spelled out=

Subject: Re: Chapter 9: TBD 23/09/12, 02:52 am

=Slowly but surely, the Sentinels weapon cut cleanly through the beam, very little molten metal flying about though much of it did drip down onto the ground. Thankfully, none of it was near Alpha=

*Doctor*
Alright, we're going to have to work fast Alpha. While they lift the beam up, I'm going to pull you out, so this might hurt a little.

» Chapter 9: TBD
» Chapter 7 War, War never changes part 9
» HRP reboot - Chapter 2: On the Run
» Chapter 7 War, War never changes
» Chapter 8 NAME "Shit Happens"