Several weeks had passed since the awful shore leave trial and nothing exciting had happened, much to the dismay of the Spartans stationed here. It seemed like they were on the verge of starting their own little war for some action when the announcement went out.
"Spartans 283 and 369 report to Spartan Command for mission assignment and briefing."
Aaron and Tavish's shuttle was already prepped and waiting for them when they arrived. He was really starting to grow worried about Tavish as he never seemed to have gotten over Sori's death.
Tavish meanwhile was perfectly happy to use this mission as an excuse to ram-raid into an enemy ship and tear off their heads like rag dolls. Though maybe that was a worrying factor in itself. Either way he moved swiftly towards the shuttle, planning on using this mission for some very deserved Schadenfreude.
Shortly after Aaron and Tavish boarded their shuttle it lifted off and exited the base headed towards the Stratavarius which is their ride to Ortega - Quadrant-4 Shiping.
"I didn't say old meant bad."
Spook told Scorch, "Just old means old."
"It's still better than most of the guns."
Scorch told her with a shrug.
"Don't let baby hear you say that too loudly."
Spook told him.
As the two Spartans moved through the Hangar they saw a young pilot waving at them, seemingly trying to get their attention.
"This must be us."
Spook said veering that direction.
"Ya think?"
Scorch asked her skeptically as they approached the pilot.
"You're not gonna be sarcastic this whole mission are you?"
Spook asked.
"As if it really matters once you go off to find the AI?"
Scorch asked her with a shrug. "Besides, if it gets too bad, you can just filter me out of your receiver."
"Or shoot you when you least expect it."
Spook said, smiling behind her visor.
"Oh hardy har har, try explaining that one to the Admiral."
Scorch told her with a shake of his head
"I don;t know what happened sir, the shot came out of no where."
Spook said as if she were speaking to the admiral.
Once they got near the pilot he held out his hand for a handshake. "I'm going to be your pilot for this mission, and I must say it's a real honor."
"It's an honor to transport soldiers?"
Scorch asked him curiously. He cocked his head to the side to emphasize the question.
"No, not soldiers. I transport them all the time. Spartans, and two of them for that matter, that's an honor." The pilot said as he wiped off a bit of grease from the visor of his flight helmet that was currently resting on a box next to him. "And your gonna be the only ones on the bird too, so you can stretch out and stay comfortable."
"Just wait til the ride back."
Scorch told him. If this guy thought that transporting two was an honor, they were supposed to be rescuing a fellow Spartan.
"If you two love birds are done making out, we kinda have a mission..."
Spook said brushing pass them.
"Straight to business. Thats a Spartan for ya, always got their mind on the mission." The pilot said as he trotted ahead to show them to the transport. "Dont know if you've ever ridden in one of these birds before, but its amazing." The transport they were headed for looked a lot like the Pelican troop transport but with several changes to it. It was noticeably larger with several more engines mounted to it on the wings and tail. There were also about fifteen door shaped creases on both sides that resembled the ODST drop pod spots on larger ships. One of the largest changes to the ship was the addition of two shielded gunner spots on the top and bottom. "This is the somewhat recent addition to the UNSC's Navy. Its as efficient and reliable as the traditional Pelican but with better armor, carrying capacity, defenses, and slipspace capabilites that allow it to function as a kind of Black Ops drop ship. Its called the Albatross."
"That's not foreboding at all..."
Spook said, being of Irish decent she had no intentions to carry that sort of bad luck.
"Well, if someone kills it you wont have to worry about bad luck...because you'll be dead as well." The pilot pushed a button and flipped a toggle causing the back hatch to unlock and slowly swing downward to show a small cargo hold.
"So long as it's not around my neck."
Spook said looking under the craft.
"I've seen worse."
Scorch told them both as he moved to the back hatch of the vessel. "As long as it flies us to where we're going, I don't care if it's made of paper."
"I do."
Spook said choosing one of the seats.
Despite the large size of the vessel the hold for cargo or passengers was still about the size of the Pelican's. The pilot stopped and made some last minute checks in the hold before moving up to a door that led around past the drop pods and into the cockpit. "Now if you need anything before we take off just let me know. But once that hatch starts to close its go time, so make sure your strapped in by that time."
"Just go get going."
Spook said speaking for Scorch.
"Will there be an in flight movie?"
Scorch asked the pilot as he strapped hismelf in
"Only if you two act one out." The pilot said as he slipped passed the door and into the hallway to the cockpit.
Spook strapped in and locked herself down.
There was several clicks and the engines of the Albatross kicked to life. The hatch began to close up but they could see that the ship had already lifted up off the ground and was rotating around. The ship was too large to fit through the normal opening, so a much larger hatch opened up in the ceiling allowing the ship to exit the base. The hatch closed up immediately to prevent large amounts of snow and the cold in. The ship quickly accelerated and exited the planet's atmosphere, activated its slip space drive, and jumped to Gret VII.
The top bay doors slid open to allow the larger Condor to enter the hangar. It set down gently in its predesignated spot as its hatch lowered to let out its passengers. "Thank you for flying Run Like Scared Little Girls Air, and hope you enjoyed our quick journey through the galaxy to avoid tracking. Please fly with us again."
Scorch couldn't help but smile as he carried the ruby armor down the ramp. "Wonderful flying, kid."
Spook came out of the condor and sighed. Home again. "First stop, the admiral."
Spook proclaimed. "I gotta get this nut outta my head."
"Urrph!" Behind his visor,
Stitch's face was white. "I'm
really not a fan of Slip Space" He patted his stomach with his fist. "I'll be fine, I'll be fine." Thinking back to the many ships that they escaped from, he had one thought on his mind, aside from mild queasiness. "That is the last time I insult a goddess."
Spook shook her head at the medic and hoped he hadn't just yacked inside his helmet. "I'll see you guys at the briefing." and she left for the command deck.
"Sure thing."
Scorch told her as she left. He looked at Stitch, "Should I take this to the tech heads before or after the briefing you think?"
Stitch shrugged."You probably shouldn't keep them waiting, if it were me, I'd want to look at it immediately." He looked at the armor, such a puzzle. "It certainly is interesting. If you don't mind, I could come with? I want to see what they think."
"Sounds good."
Scorch replied with a nod. He adjusted the armor's weight and headed off to the
spartan labs
The
Stratavarius came out of slipspace outside of Earth's defensive grid before moving into orbit. Several Pelicans were released and headed on down into the hangar where they disgorged their contents, mostly civilians that had been held prisoner by the new aliens.
Aaron stepped off holding his minigun, which had been removed from his suit violently, on top of his shoulder. He watched as all the prisoners were escorted out by Marines to be checked over and then debriefed.
"What do you think Bubs?"
Tavish said, dragging the half a suit of armour out after him, holding it up and moving the head around as if giving it a look "Pretty nifty huh? Nothing on your get up, buuuuut we just bombed you from orbit, so your get up is toast. Looks like your sense of honour rather failed, didn't it Bubs?" Tavish twitched the head forward, as if the armour was speaking, replying in a squeaky tone "
Why yes Mr Shaft, your technology might be weaker, but your reckless idiocy is what makes you a formidable opponent." Tavish grinned beneath his helmet, saying "Awwww... he admires us... when can I introduce him to the boss?"
Aaron just stared at Tavish with a hidden look of sheer confusion tinged with worry. He felt he should say something, but the only thing that kept coming to mind was "What the fuck is wrong with you!" but felt that may be too inappropriate at the moment. "I think you should introduce him to the techs first while I go ahead and let the Admiral know we are back."
"You... realise it was a joke, right?"
Tavish asked, turning both his head and the armour's head towards Aaron so they were both watching him. "Alright, I'll give him to the techs. You want me to come up to meet you in the Brass' room? I promise to leave Bubs behind."
Halo C.E. RPG
-
Spartan Hangar
-
Spartan Hangar Archive1
Stumble!