[Halo] New! Halo RPG Pt. 11

[Kairu]

Cochraine saluted Vernette and walked away, leaving the Observation Deck of the Cloak and Dagger. She began to walk herself back to Hangar Bay 2.

[Naked Crook]

There were only a few people left in the Observation Deck after Captain Cochraine had left. These people were Director Vernette, Cameron, and Barrabus. After Cochraine had left, Cameron approached Vernette. Cameron: Sir...should I check on Commander Troy to ensure that he is settling in and that he is able to establish an Ops center? Vernette: Please do, Cameron. Vernette paused. Vernette: And Cameron... Cameron: Sir? Vernette: I want you to see to it that each of our Marine squads are prepped and ready for engagements with The Trust. I want you to see to it that each and every single Marine on this ship runs Counter-Trust simulations. Cameron: I will personally see to it sir. I will make sure our people are ready. Vernette: Thank you Cameron...dismissed. Cameron nodded. He left the Observation Deck. Vernette watched Cameron leave the Observation Deck. Vernette then turned to Barrabus. Vernette: Well, Big Guy...that's that. The only thing we can do now is enjoy the calm before the storm. Barrabus grunted. Barrabus: You are referring to the upcoming escalation in conflict with The Trust? Vernette: Yes... Vernette sighed. Vernette: It will not be easy Big Guy...The Trust has so much on their side. Barrabus: Jacob being one of them...apparently. Why is Jacob working for The Trust now? Vernette: Jacob was captured, and altered, by The Trust. They did somethig to him...they fucked with his head. They are controlling him...and I have no idea how I am going to break that control. It gets worse... Barrabus: It does? Vernette: Do you remember The Risk Takers? The Trust is in the process of cloning those guys. We are going to have to deal with them again. Barrabus growled in frustration. Vernette: You took the..."words"...right out of my "mouth"... Vernette paused. Vernette: Or would that be...snarling noise right out of my muzzle? I dunno... Barrabus grunted, and then chuckled. Vernette: And The Trust also has The Bismarck. Like...how does this get worse? Can it get worse? Barrabus: It can... Vernette sat down at the head of the table again. He leaned back in his chair. He looked at the ceiling. Barrabus: You seem preoccupied. It is not often I see you like this. What is troubling you? Vernette: Everything. Everything is troubling me. I think about how dangerous The Trust has become...how Jacob is working for them now...how we are essentially powerless to defend ourselves to the point where we have to wait for them to attack in order to fight them. Vernette closed his eyes and sighed to calm himself down. Barrabus: You rage like a Brute...but express it like a human... Vernette had to laugh. Vernette: Thanks. That makes me feel so much better about my rage. Vernette paused. Vernette: What do you think...about all of this? Barrabus: Well...the situation could be better. Jacob knows you very well Vernette...and I have no doubt that he is telling The Trust everything he knows about you; how you fight, how you think. It will be difficult for you to overcome this...but I am confident in your abilities. Vernette: I appreciate the vote of confidence. Vernette paused. Vernette: Big Guy...can you keep a secret? Well...of course you can... Barrabus: What is it? Vernette: It is the Bismarck...I cannot get my mind off that ship. I don't think I could give the order to destroy it... Barrabus: Why? Vernette: It is...complicated. The Bismarck is one of Humanities greatest achievements. I cannot destroy it. I have to take it back... Barrabus: That will be very difficult! The Trust will not hand it over, and you will need to take it by force. Vernette: I know...and it will be very difficult. I am going to try and convince FLEETCOM to go along with an idea to recover The Bismarck from Trust possession. I don;t know how I will do it...or where I will muster the man power to get it done...but I will find a way. Barrabus: It will be very difficult. To retake a ship that is as big as The Bismarck...is no small feat. Which is why if you do decide to try and take it back...I will have your back. Vernette: I appreciate that. You're a good friend...always have been. Dunno where I would be without you having my back. Barrabus: You would be dead. Vernette looked at Barrabus. Barrabus looked at Vernette. Vernette: I need a drink...big time. Barrabus: Bar? Vernette: Bar!

[Erex]

Captain Devron called a Staff meeting and invited Tylan to the meeting. Devron: Everybody listen, as your new captain, on this vessel, if I do not have orders from ONI Command, or any other Commanding Officer I am the alpha and the omega on this vessel is that clear? I expect each of your departments to work at 110%, I want this ship in order. Get your acts together, you have an issue you send the issue to me, and I'll deal with it. Consider me God, would you dare disobey god? I don't think so. I expect drills to be rehersed, and I want a full briefing and debriefing of each drill I'll oversee each one, but I need to know how well you guys work under intense stress. If thats all dismissed. Tylan a word. Tylan: Yes sir? Devron: I'm demoting you to Lieutenant Commander, and I'm placing you in Delta Sabre squadron, as a rear guard. Keep in mind, I'm trying to give you a place, but you screw this up, it looks bad on me, and I'll break you. Tylan: Yes sir. Devron: Your not in command your, the lowest in the squadron. Until I deem you not suited for combat, you are to report to Lieutenant Tol, and you will smile about it. Is that clear? Tylan: Yes sir. Devron: Dismissed. Devron:He better not make me look like a damn fool.

[Kairu]

Cochraine returns to her ship. She briefs her officers and tactical drills are started.

[Hells Sniper]

Troy looked at Beckett. Troy: Brute hospitality, Doctor. These men are Trust prisoners, previously assigned to a facility on Dosaic. I was asked to bring them here to have them patched up and kept under guard. Troy paused. He saw nurses already tending to the wounded. Troy: I see your faculty have already begun the latter...a few of my Spartans will remain and watch them, if that is alright? I have to go set up an Ops center.

[Naked Crook]

Beckett nodded. Beckett: Very well lad. It might be better if a few of you stayed...but...I doubt these Trust guys ate in any shape to try and escape.

[Hells Sniper]

Concurrently: The Agents, as well as the members of Task Force 117 had moved to deck 2. Task Force 117 had already set up an Ops center when they were first assigned to the Cloak and Dagger. The members of the task force were already set up, so Dallas and Dakota moved to them. The Agents on the other hand had to begin a setup of their very own Ops center, and remembering that Commander Troy needed one as well, they took the smallest of the areas. There were only five of them, and Troy had at least 300 hundred Spartans. Carmicle and the others dropped their gear towards the side of the room they chose and looked around. There were a few computer terminals set up, along with a few weapon racks on the far wall. Otherwise, it was empty. Carmicle looked at Limos. Carmicle: Alright Techie. What do ya need? Limos chuckled. Limos: I'll handle getting the tech set up...don't worry. You guys handle your crap. Limos removed his helmet and put it next to a table. He looked at Colby. Limos: I need some help bringing equipment, you in? Colby simply nodded, removing his helmet, and following Limos towards a storage area. MacLaren and Carmicle looked at Folee. Folee laughed. Folee: Yeah, yeah, I know. Get the weapons station set up! Folee removed his helmet and tossed it on the table. He removed his weapons and set up his rack. He turned to the four other Agents, as Limos and Colby were bringing in another computer station. Folee: I'd claim your racks, we've got more than enough...but, we should all have our private one as well. Folee looked at MacLaren and smiled. He started laughing. Folee: Well...MacLaren will have at least two.. MacLaren glared at Folee as he walked by, she sent one punch towards his arm and moved him a bit. Folee laughed, continuing to leave the room to grab more weapons. Limos and Colby just continued on their way, and Carmicle rolled his eyes, removing his helmet. He turned to MacLaren. Carmicle: You alright? MacLaren: Yeah...I'll be fine. Carmicle simply nodded. Carmicle: How are you handling everything? MacLaren removed her helmet and placed it on the barrel of her sniper. She looked at Carmicle and raised an eyebrow. Carmicle: Ya know...with the whole situation? MacLaren shook her head and began to remove the first layer of her armor. MacLaren: It's war C...people die, people defect, people betray. So goes it. Carmicle walked over to MacLaren and put his arm on her shoulder, spinning her around. Carmicle: Don't give me that, M. I've worked with you for the past five years...I know when something is bothering you. MacLaren brushed his arm away and removed her chest plate, placing it on an armor rack. MacLaren: The Jacob I read about...the Jacob I heard about...the Agent that defied everyone to do the right thing. MacLaren buried her hands into her face. MacLaren: He's dead. And getting to know him like I did...back in the war and even in the past few weeks....he was everything I imagined. Carmicle: Ya know...he barely remembered meeting all of us back then. I mean..we didn't work with him much...he was more of a Lone Wolf. Carmicle paused. Carmicle: He really shut that year down...didn't he? MacLaren nodded. MacLaren: I read some of the reports he filed through it all...that year got nasty for a lot of us. Mainly him. MacLaren turned to Carmicle. MacLaren: We need him back, C. And not just us...his brother, his task force, his family, his fellow soldiers and sailors. We all need him. Carmicle nodded. Carmicle: I am going to set up a lab station here, get a sample of his blood and try to see what I can do. All of that medical training had to count for something, right? MacLaren smiled. MacLaren: I'll do what I do best... Suddenly, Folee walked in, carrying a flamethrower, and a crate of weapons. Folee: What? Sit around and look pretty? MacLaren laughed and went over, helping Folee. Carmicle on the other hand, left the area to grab some medical equipment and hopefully a sample of Jacob's blood. Concurrently on the Cloak and Dagger: Troy nodded at Beckett. Troy: Can never be too safe, sir. Troy turned to his Spartans and held up his hand, signalling them to stay. He then turned back to Beckett and tipped his head. Troy: These IV's will stay here. I'll be back to check up on them. Troy then turned and walked out of the medical bay, leaving four of his Spartans. He had to go set up an Ops center to command his troops from. He stepped into the elevator, pressed two, and immediately contacted one of his Lieutenants. Troy: LT Wilson, do you copy? Wilson: Roger, Commander. What can I do for you? Troy: Meet me on deck 2. We're setting up an Ops center on the Dagger and I need a head count of my Spartans in the field. Wilson: Roger, sir. I'm on my way up now. With that, the elevator opened to deck 2 and Troy moved his way through the deck, noticing Task Force 117 and the Agents were already setting up. He noticed that the Agents had given him the largest part of the area and was thankful, he needed a large area for his Lieutenants, and top Spartans to work. As he walked into the center he chose, there were already a dozen or so computers, weapon racks, and armory areas. Not enough for the amount of Spartans that were going to be working in here. Troy used his HUD and contacted the Spartans on board the Cloak and Dagger. He ordered them to requisition enough equipment to fully cover the workspace that was needed. Laptops, weapons, racks, armor stations, etc, were all ordered to be brought to his location on the double. The moment he sent out the orders, he knew his Spartans were working on it, and he knew it would be there shortly. Then, a voice broke his concentration. Wilson: Commander. Troy turned and faced Wilson, she was walking in, carrying a few weapons and her laptop. Troy: I see you already got started, LT. Wilson chuckled and placed the gear down, she then placed her laptop on the table. Wilson: I try. Troy nodded and leaned on the table, looking at Wilson on the other side. Troy: What's the count? Wilson: 300 Spartans accounted for. 150 on board the Cloak and Dagger, 75 on board the Dreadhawk, 75 on board the King Raven II. Another 100 are on their way from various areas. Troy: Good. Direct 50 to here and the other 50 split between the two other ships. That should keep us at a relatively maximum efficiency rate. Wilson: Done and done, sir. Troy nodded and stood, removing his helmet. Troy: Who is in command of the Spartans on the Dreadhawk and Raven? Wilson: Lieutenant Avonson on the Dreadhawk...and Lieutenant Konn. Troy nodded, he approved. Troy: Alright...coordinate with them. I want their Ops Station set up within the hour and ready to receieve and transmit communications via video uplink. I want to see my Spartans. Wilson: Understood, sir. Sending out orders now. Troy nodded. He smiled just as his Spartans were walking in with more equipment. He stood there, arms crossed, and watched his Spartans bring in the equipment. After years of training...they were finally going into action. And they were going up against the Trust. In Deep Space, aboard the Bismarck: Black 5 finally arrived at the control center of the simulation deck. Before he started anything, he just sat there. He had to make sure this was it...he probably wouldn't get another chance to do this for a long time. He had to go back in the sims...refresh his skill, but also refresh his memory. He remembered his old self. Jacob. The man who had it all. A family..friends..a life worth living. But that all changed. Suddenly, without question. The day the Invasion of Sanghelios took place...everything changed. He began to reminisce, think about the events after that fateful day. Black 5: I lost my leg... Black 5 looked down at his right leg, he knew it wasn't real. He couldn't...feel it. Black 5: I lost my son...and I have nothing of his to remember him. Black 5 began to tear up. Black 5: I lost my family.... A single tear rolled down his cheek, blackened by the view of his visor from any and all strangers. Black 5: I lost my arm. He shimmied his left arm, knowing, that it would truly never be the same. Black 5: I lost the Trust of my commanders, the trust of my friends, the trust of my squad mates. Black 5 took a deep breath. Black 5: I lost everything...and the Trust gave...well, the Trust gave something back at least. Black 5 sighed. For the first time in a long time. He was alone. He didn't have a family...he didn't have friends...he didn't have an AI talking in his head...he didn't have fellow soldiers; at least none that he could Trust. Ironic considering the organization he was working for was called "The Trust." Black 5 knew that he was alone...there was no one to comfort him, no one to talk to, no one to drink with. He was alone...lost within himself to think about all the questions that plagued him. This had never been the case for him...he always had someone, even if they were on the other side of the galaxy. Black 5: Jacob was truly lost...truly dead months ago. The Trust gave me a new life in the same body. Black 5 nodded, he knew that Jacob had been lost. He knew that the blackness had overtaken him. He had killed his friend in cold blood. He had killed countless of individuals in cold blood, however... Why was this any different? He was just doing his job. He was just trying to accomplish what he needed to accomplish. The same thing happened to him 15 years ago. The same thing happened. The naive, young, careless Jacob died and was replaced by the one that died only a few months ago. 15 years ago, during that battle, during the year 2540. Jacob changed. Black 5 was remembering it...he tried to tune it all out. But he remembered. Black 5 couldn't take it anymore. He had lost everything in the past few months, he had lost every single thing about his life. And all he wanted was some sense of security. But, he had to go back. He had to make sure that what he was doing was right. And something inside of him, something was telling him to remember 2540. Black 5 knew that he had to do it. He approached the computer terminal. And scrolled through the dates, the possible simulations. Human-Covenant War era. Year 2540. The Battle. There it was...in black on the screen. The battle that changed him forever. He clicked it, assigned it to one of the simulation pods and went to go in. He didn't look twice at people, he didn't look twice at anything. All he did was get in the pod and close it. Black 5 took a deep breath as the pod closed. Black 5: Heather...Abigail... Black 5 paused as the pod locked. Black 5: Junior... Black 5 felt another tear roll down his eye. Black 5: I hope you can all forgive me for what I did...for what happened...and for what will happen. Black 5 shut his eyes. Black 5: But...this is me now. Black 5 took a deep breath and knew the simulation was about to begin. Black 5: This is Jacob. ***The NHRPG will now be put on pause for the 2540 Back story.***

[Naked Crook]

(It has been over three years since we last posted in this thread. My God, how time flies...) ============================================================= Midnight – The Cloak and Dagger – Geosynchronous Orbit over Federal Heights City – Observation Deck – 1030 Hours - October 6th 2555 - 5 Days After the Attack on The Citadel ============================================================= Director Vernette was standing in the Observation deck of The Cloak and Dagger. His back was turned to the door, as he stared out of the large window, at the planet below him. Vernette had his hands behind his back, as he stood silently, alone with his own thoughts. However, Vernette's thoughts were interrupted, when he heard the door to the observation deck open behind him. As Vernette turned, he was greeted by Fleet Admiral Harrison. Harrison: You wanted to see me, Director? Vernette nodded. Vernette: Yes, Admiral... Vernette gestured his hand at one of the seats, but, Harrison shook his head. Harrison: I prefer to stand, sir. Vernette sighed. Vernette: Very well. Vernette stepped forward, as he approached Harrison. Vernette: Admiral, I refret to inform you that due to recent events, I have come to the conclusion that it would be unwise for you to continue functioning in your current capacity, as a member of this taskforce. Harrison: May I ask why? What has prompted this? Vernette: The fact of the matter is, I believe that your judgement may be compromised. Harrison: Excuse me? Compromised in what way? Vernette: It is Jacob. Harrison frowned. Harrison: You believe that I am unable to perform my duties, because Jacob is not an enemy combatant? Vernette: In so few words. Harrison: Your concerns are unfounded. I am fully prepared to deal with Jacob. In case you were unaware, I was the one that gave the green light to have him killed if engaged! Vernette: I am aware of that. Vernette paused. Vernette: However, I cannot take the chance that The Trust may try to use your friendship with Jacob, or, Jacob's knowledge of The Crimson Shadow, in an offensive manner. Admiral...you are an exploit...a vulnerability. Too many people on that ship would have baggage. Harrison: Preston... Harrison paused. Harrison: Nobody knows Jacob like I do. I know his methods and I know his tactics. If you want any chance of taking him down, without incident, you need me! Vernette looked at Harrison for a moment, and shook his head. Vernette: I am sorry, Fred. I am doing this for your own good. I am doing this for everyone's good. Vernette paused. Vernette: Fleet Admiral Harrison, you are hereby, effective immediately, relieved of your current position as commanding officer of this task force. Your new orders are to proceed to the Sol system, and engage in standard patrol. Harrison scoffed. Harrison: Preston, you are making a mistake! Vernette: Any and all relevant tactical data that has not yet been submitted to ONI, is do be submitted before your departure. Harrison frowned. Harrison: You are making a mistake! Vernette: Security authorization codes used to access this task force's comm channel and tactical subnet is hereby revoked. Harrison looked at Vernette, and shook his head. Vernette: The rime and date of this order will be logged, and submitted to ONI. Harrison glared at Vernette; a look of anger and disappointed shot across his face. Harrison: Preston...you have to reconsider this! I am one of the few people who truly knows how Jacob ticks! I am the only person here who understands what drives him, and what motivates him! By taking me off this assignment, you are hurting your own chances of stopping Jacob! Harrison paused. Harrison: My ship is one of the most heavily armed vessels we have! By putting my ship on patrol duty is a waste of my expertise, and a waste of the resources under my command. I strongly recommend that you rethink this decision! You belief that I have been compromised to the point where I will be unable to deal with Jacob, is based on nothing substantive! Vernette: I am sorry Fred, but, I cannot go back on this decision. My order stands. Your orders are to report to the Sol system, and you are to patrol the system. Understood? Harrison frowned. Vernette: Understood? Harrison clenched his fist, and scoffed. Harrison: Understood...SIR... As Harrison turned away, Vernette spoke up. Vernette: Fred! Harrison stopped, but, he kept his back to Vernette. Vernette: Please try and understand that this is for the best! This is the right call. This is the right thing to do. Harrison stopped, as he turned back to face Vernette. Harrison: Is that what you think? Harrison scoffed, as he walked up to Vernette. Harrison: You think you are doing the right thing by putting me on patrol duty? If you believe that you are doing the right thing, you are seriously deluded, and out of touch. Harrison paused. Harrison: Who the hell do you think you are? Where the hell does your logic and reasoning come from? In what reality is ANY of this a good idea? Vernette was silent. Harrison: You have no answer. Vernette: I have an answer, you just won't like it. You won't understand. Harrison: Try me! Vernette sighed. Vernette: There are things about me which make me more qualified, than you could ever imagine, to deal with Jacob. I am not as ill-equipped to deal with Jacob as you may think. Harrison: What the hell does that mean? Vernette: It means that I, not you, will be dealing with Jacob. It means that I am taking that responsibility from you. I don't want you doing something that you may regret for the rest of your life. You said it yourself; Jacob is your friend. There is no task as difficult as being force to cross off a friend. Vernette paused. Vernette: You should not be forced to endure that. You should not have to be put into a position where you need to make a life altering decision like that. Harrison: What gives you the right to take that responsibility from me? What moral authority do you have to do this? Vernette: I'm... Vernette paused. Vernette: I am The Director. I can do as a I please in these matters. Harrison: That is NOT good enough, Preston. Vernette: It is going to have to be, because, that is all I am going to give you. Like I said, you would not like my excuse. Harrison scoffed, as he took a few steps back. Harrison: You have always been a piece of work, you know that? Harrison scoffed. Harrison: Know this, Vernette... Harrison paused. Harrison: This is unforgivable. What you are doing here, it is wrong. Vernette: It is necessary. Harrison scoffed, as he turned away, and began to walk towards the exit. Vernette: Fred! It is necessary! I have to do this! Harrison stopped, as he turned his head, just enough to see Vernette out of his periphery vision. Harrison: Go to hell, Director. With that, Harrison walked off the Observation Deck, leaving Director Vernette to dwell on the conversation. Vernette, once again turned, as he glared out the window of the Observation Deck, and stared at the planet below. The conversation he just had with Harrison weighed heavily on him, as he could not help but be distracted by how poorly it had gone. The exchange was more personal than he had expected it to be, and Harrison's words cut deep. If one thing was clear to Vernette, it was that Harrison was not happy with the decision, and that if there was anything that could have been considered a friendship between himself and Harrison, that friendship had just gone up in smoke. Vernette sighed, as he thought about what had just gone down. However, before he had a chance to reflect on it further, he was contacted by the bridge. Banks: Director Vernette? This is Lieutenant Banks. Vernette cleared his throat before he placed his hand on his earpiece, and spoke. Vernette: Go ahead, Lieutenant. Banks: Sir, we have a Prowler inbound from Ivanoff Station. IFF confirms that Agent Corvo is aboard. He is requesting docking clearance. Vernette: Clear them for docking, and have Corvo meet me on the Observation Deck. Banks: Copy that, sir. Vernette removed his hand from his earpiece, and allowed the comm line to close, as he continued to stare out the window, except this time, shifting his focus to the blackness of space. As Vernette looked out into the empty void, his thoughts shifted to Agent Corvo, and how he was expecting his top field Agents to report to Midnight with a status update on Ivanoff Station; one of ONI's more clandestine projects. It was a report that was overdue, and highly anticipated. However, Vernette never much cared for the tardiness of the reports coming out of Ivanoff Station, as their work was more important than fulfilling report deadlines. Vernette waited for roughly 15 minutes, before he heard the door to the Observation Deck open behind. Without turning, he offered a greeting. Vernette: Welcome aboard The Cloak and Dagger, Agent Corvo. Vernette waited a moment, and did not get a response. When he did not get a response, he turned, but was met with someone who was definitely NOT Agent Corvo. The Consultant: It is a little presumptuous to think I was Agent Corvo. Would you not agree, Director? Vernette became wide-eyed, as he looked at The Consultant. Vernette: I tend to agree...

[Kairu]

With the Infinity's Voyage crew beginning tactical drills and status on high alert, Cochraine took a seat in her chair on the bridge. She continued to replay the tactical briefing in her mind that was discussed. She had a thought, and while unsettling as it may be, she felt she may be able to pull it off, given her past experiences with the party. Cochraine walked to a terminal and began searching through her logs until she recollected her history. She then began to open a communication channel to the Cloak and Dagger II, specifically to Director Vernette. Cochraine: "Director Vernette, I think I may be able to gain additional fleet support to help us in our assault. With your permission, I would like to begin making preparations of extending an invitation to this party."

[Naked Crook]

As Director Vernette looked at The Consultant, who was standing at the doorway of The Cloak and Dagger's Observation Deck, he heard Captain Cochraine's message through his earpiece. Cochraine: "Director Vernette, I think I may be able to gain additional fleet support to help us in our assault. With your permission, I would like to begin making preparations of extending an invitation to this party." Vernette was startled by this transmission, as his mind was, at the moment, singualrily focused on The Consultant. However, with a slight shake of his head, Vernette snapped himself back into reality, as he placed his hand on his earpiece, and responded to Captain Cochraine. Vernette: Captain? May I be bold as to ask what you have in mind? Vernette paused. Vernette: I think it is worth asking, don't you think? As Vernette responded to Cochraine, he kept his eyes fixated on The Consultant, who, by this time, had stepped onto the Observation Deck, and was now face to face with Vernette.