Me: well here we go, my first published story. Interesting how inspiration hit me after the AC meme.
Koro: What the-? Where are we?
Me: Like many others, I thought I'd have some fun with a pre-story lobby, as it were.
Turi: This looks more like your bedroom.
Me: yeah so?
Dante: whatever, I like the idea. Then you can tell them important stuff before the story.
Jake: Hey Zero, shouldn't you get on with the story and try and make a fan base before you try their patience with some super long pre-story digression?
Me: 0.0 oh yeah, right. So with that lets start the show!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the Halo universe except this stories plot, Jack, Koro, Turi, and Dante.
Comenza Nuovo
The year is 2556, 3 years after the end of the Human-Covenant war, the destruction of the Ark and the disappearance of the Prophets. In those three years tensions between humans and Sangheili have relaxed. The Sangheili have recognized that humans are the direct descendants of the Forerunners, whom they still revere as gods. As such, humanity is not seen as demigods but they were automatically given a lot more respect in general by the Sangheili race. Sangheili scientists have decided to collaborate with humans on looking through the forerunner shield world, Onyx. They have reached the inner slip-space portal and the humans have proven to be key in solving the mystery of its functions. Almost a year ago, ships were sent to the previous location of the Ark, in the hopes of finding the lost Spartan. They have just reported back and are combing the sector for the second half of Forward unto Dawn. Finally, The rebels have all but disappeared most decimated by the covenant over progress of the war and others realizing during that humanity never started it, rejoining UNSC to help fight off the Covenant. With less internal fighting and more help from the former rebels and the Elites, the UNSC was able to provide more support for the Battle of Installation 00. These are all the newest developments that have taken place in these past 3 years, and now there will be one more new event.
He strides purposefully along the brightly lit hallway, armor glinting and splashing soldiers faces with reflected light. To him the ceilings are low, but then again he stands at nearly 8 ft, and due to his stature his head and back are parallel to the ceiling. This is the Elite Nuro Vindoon, extra guard, assistant, and attendant to the Sangheili-human Ambassador, Thel Vadam or the Arbiter. Nuro reached the door he sought opening it while checking the holo-notes he had in his hand. He walked in shutting the door securely to enact the soundproofing of the room and quickly took his place by Arbiter, listening while he discussed the Alliance with Lord Hood.
"Even if the Elites are more welcoming to humans, most of us are still not as inclined. Thankfully we do have merchants and pilots willing to open trade routes with your Elite traders, although whether it's because they're greedy or brave I don't really know." Said Lord Hood.
"In the end it matters little as with time, others will realize the gains outweigh the risks of an open market between our races and join in. This will invariably help to build good ties between us, therefore we must use this option to our advantage whether it's present out of virtue or avarice." Replied Arbiter.
"I understand. I'll have some notices and announcements made asking for volunteers." Lord Hood said as he turned to his computer to type in the command and distribute it to the necessary branches of government and UNSC.
"There is another more serious subject we must discuss Hood." Said the Arbiter. "It does not bode well for either of us."
Finishing up Lord Hood turned and gave the Arbiter his full attention asking, "What is it?"
"We have recently found some kind of Galactic scanner in a Forerunner ruin, which activated once we got near and started showing large blobs of gray all over the galaxy. We had some of our accompanying scientist human's work on it and they managed to show Sangheili and human signatures as friendly. Once this was done the blobs actually changed to show green allies and red enemies. When we took closer looks at the enemy groups we found out that the prophets and the Brutes have begun rebuilding the Covenant. We must gather our forces and strike them before they manage to amass too large of a force for us to have a quick, decisive victory." Stated Arbiter.
While he said this Nuro copied the files from his holo-notes pad and transferred the copies to the table, bringing up a galactic map for all to see, showing the gray space blobs that then turned red and green around the middle of Arbiters speech, and highlighted then zoomed in on the red groupings to show Covenant ships as Arbiter neared the end. Lord Hood watched and listened intently to everything the Arbiter said and quickly found himself agreeing. 'This could also forge a bond of blood between our races if we go into another war together for the sake of both species. Then again we don't have as many Marines ready to fight, nor do we have as many ships as we once did.'
"I agree Arbiter, we should destroy them as soon as possible but I'm afraid our military might not be enough to handle this new threat." Said Hood.
"Yes, both of our races are weak, but we do have military, tactical, and technological superiority between us. Both of our races are easily physically superior to the Yan'mee, the Kig-yar, the Unngoy, and the San 'Shyuum. We are easily smarter than the Jiralhanae and can outwit them in ship battles and ground skirmishes. The Lekgolo have almost all abandoned the other Covenant races, as their loyalties have always truly been with us Sangheili so we have their combat support and some Unngoy colonies are under our control as well so we have them to use as soldiers/shields" Said the Arbiter.
"Alright then it's agreed. As soon as possible Sangheili and Human forces ship out to decimate the Neo-Covenant." Said Lord Hood.
"Agreed, ill go back and tell the others to ready the ships." Replied Arbiter, turning and walking towards the door.
"Wait, Arbiter" The Arbiter turned back halfway to look at Lord Hood. "I have an idea on how to help unify our races during this war."
Turning fully The Arbiter looked at him questioningly. "Go on."
On a road to a UNSC base, a lone warthog is driving at top speed with two fully armored figures in the front, one driving, and one riding.
"Are we there yet?"
"No"
"…"
"…"
"Are we there yet?"
'No"
"…"
"…"
"Are we-?"
"No, shut up, and why the hell are you so anxious?
"I can't help it, I have this feeling like something really big is about to happen"
"Like what?"
"I don't know, maybe they've found the Brutes so we have to go to another war, maybe the UNSC got hold of a Forerunner Dreadnought and we're going to help make it into a high tech fortress like the Covies did with High Charity."
"I would much prefer that second option. That sounds pretty awesome. Still, Dante, you're a Spartan, you're supposed to be a stoic death machine, not a 6' armored 25 yr old with the strength of an elephant and the mind of a teen."
"Maybe but there's no one here so I'm not going to bother with keeping up appearances of the usual Spartan. You've known me for years Jake why do you keep pestering me?" replied Dante.
"Its part of our usual banter isn't it?" replied Jake. Jake was the Spartan driving the warthog. He was a captain Delta 1, former leader of Delta squad, which only has two surviving members, him and his best friend Dante. Jake wore a blue Mjolnir Mk VI armor with a rogue helmet and yellow secondary color. He had a yellow stripe on his right upper forearm and right upper thigh. His sniper rifle and battle rifle were both strapped into the back of the hog.
"Touché" quipped Dante. Dante was Delta 2, Jakes battle partner, spotter and back watch. Dante wore a yellow Mjolnir Mk VI EVA classification armor with a blue secondary color, making his and Jakes armors inverted color schemes. Dante's preferred weapons, a shotgun and pistol were on his person pistol strapped to his upper thigh and shotgun in his hands as he rode, well, shotgun.
The Spartan bond brothers rode in silence the rest of the way to the base hurrying into the facility commanders office, surprised to find Lord Terrence Hood himself standing and reassuring the commander that he did not want a seat. He turned to see the Spartans, smiling as he did so.
"Jake, Dante perfect timing. Do you know why you are here?" asked Lord Hood.
"No, sir" the two replied in perfect unison.
"Alright then, at ease" Lord Hood said as he realized they've been in the usual Spartan salute since entering. "I have important news for everyone. The Elites and our own scientists have discovered galactic radar in Forerunner ruins. After helping the radar differentiate between ally and enemy signatures we discovered that the covenant has been rebuilding these past few years and pose a threat. As a result we have agreed that all human and Elite forces should ship out as soon as possible to launch a surprise attack on the rebuilding Covenant fleet. Seeing as this is the best option for a quick decisive victory we will be sending everyone not needed to keep the small amount of insurgents left in check. As such, you Captain Jake will be in charge of a new squad I and the Arbiter have personally put together."
"Sir, yes-wait why would the Arbiter be picking human soldiers?" asked Jake.
"He didn't" replied Lord Hood "come in you two."
As soon as the words left his mouth two 7+ ft tall Sangheili strode into the room stopping next to the Spartans.
"This is Koro and Turi, your two elite squad partners and subordinates. Congratulations you four are now the first conjoint Spartan-Elite team since the Arbiter worked with Chief." Remarked Hood, smirking a little.
"What?" exclaimed everyone.
"You heard me." replied Hood.
"Impossible, you can't expect me to work under this human!" said Koro. Turi backed him up with an obvious frown directed at Hood.
"The Elites have always hated humanity and I know some of them still refer to us as demons!" exclaimed Jake.
"It doesn't matter, the Arbiter and I have both worked together on this and we each agreed on all of you." Replied Lord Hood.
"Man, what were you guys on…" Dante muttered quietly. Jake, Koro and Turi each heard him but only Turi chuckled quietly at the comment. Dante's head snapped around to look at the Elite, who stopped chuckling and glared at Dante. Dante glared back noticing that since his helmets visor was reflective when polarized Turi only saw himself glaring, which infuriated him even more. Depolarizing his visor, Dante made some of his face visible from the front revealing the light glare in his eyes and the smirk on his face.
"I will not hear any more complaints. The four of you are a squad now. Jake is the captain, listen to him. Koro, you are second in command. Turi, you and Dante are equal ranks so the next one to take command is the expert in whatever situation you find yourselves. Now, go and get acquainted with each other, you guys have the old Delta squad Falcon to use and remember that we have a war to go into so don't break anything." Said Lord Hood, "Dismissed".
As the mixed squad leaves the base commander decides to voice his concern.
"Lord Hood, sir, what makes you think this will work?" asked the base commander.
"Well commander Arbiter and I both looked over their information intensely seeing as how a mixed species squad will help strengthen ties between our races made this project important, and we both noticed that all 4 of them are very similar, almost like having a human and Elite counterpart." Said Lord Hood. "Goodbye commander, seeing as how my work is done I think I'll head back home for other business."
"Yes sir, goodbye sir." Replied the base commander to Lord Hoods retreating back.
"Besides if they haven't started fighting or even shouting at each other already then we are off to a better start than I planned." Muttered Lord Hood under his breath.
Me: That was fun, took me about six hours but it was fun.
Koro: Should we describe the scenery more, to help the reader visualize the surroundings?
Jake: Yeah, like what if we get into a fight somewhere and someone picks up something to use as a weapon to decimate the fighters? That'd be a Deus ex Machina, since we didn't set up the scene well enough.
Dante: yeah, like if we fight in an engineering section of the base and someone picks up and uses a fusion coil to destroy our attackers? That wouldn't be a dues ex machina now would it?
Me: I agree, but the readers should tell me whether or not they want more detail. I am a fledgling writer after all.
Jake: so review you guys-
Dante: or get an unfortunate close-up of Turi's plasma rifle shots.
Me: *deadpans * Really?