[Halo] New! San Angeles RPG

[Naked Crook]

Vanguard lit up, as it looked at Liam and Jacob standing before it. He remained totally motionless, as if taking a minute to process what was in front of him. Suddenly, Vanguard's deep, booming voice became heard. Vanguard: I...am Vanguard. Vanguard paused. Vanguard: Who are you? What do you want? Vanguard waited for an answer. Meanwhile: Spender looked at Hammer Team, and he did something he very rarely did...he laughed. Spender: Just ODSTs? Spender shook his head. Spender: You have much to learn Hammer Team. ODSTs are better than you give them credit for. Just look at ODST Black Team. They are the best we have...and they are JUST ODSTs. Spender took a drag of his cigarette. Spender: You better correct that attitude Spartan. It will do you no good. Spender paused. Spender: If I have learned anything is that anyone can be a threat given the right motivation and specialty. Spender paused to take another drag of his cigarette. Spender: However, to answer your question...I firmly believe that the team of ODSTs that I have thawed you out for is worth your attention. The fact is, if I say it, it is true, and there is no debate on the matter. Is that clear?

[Hells Sniper]

Liam stepped forward. Liam: My name is Liam-Z074, Spartan, Class 0. My team was the one that delivered your terminal over there to you. Jacob stepped forward, taking a deep breath and taking it all in. Jacob: Captain Jacob Sharpmen, formerly UNSC, now Trust Operative. Jacob paused and looked at Liam. Liam continued to speak. Liam: I'd like to know why that terminal there was so important.

[Naked Crook]

Vanguard glared at Liam and Jacob. Vanguard: You are asking to comprehend that, which is beyond your narrow understanding. Vanguard paused. Vanguard: Why must you understand? Why can you not simply accept that you do not need to know? You already know what you need to know in order to prepare for my arrival...my return... Vanguard became very condescending in his tone. Vanguard: I owe you nothing. No explanation. No justification. No clarity. No undetstanding. No...attention...

[Dark-F137]

"Commander, I'm ready to go. "Jesse said, nodding. "Who am I with on this mission?"

[Hells Sniper]

Liam raised an eyebrow, while Jacob was a bit taken back. He never knew an AI to be so, well, blunt. What the hell is this thing? Where did it come from? How is it here now? Jacob shook his head when Liam began to talk. Liam did not like being talked to the way Vanguard had just did, so he replied with an attitude. Liam: I think you owe me an explanation for finding that construct. Among other things, it wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me or my team. Liam paused and looked at the hologram. Liam: I think you give the human race much less credit that we deserve, try us.

[Naked Crook]

Vanguard glared at Liam. Vanguard: Your mind is bacterial. Your existence is measured in decades. Your understanding is insignificant. My reality eclipses your own. Before me...you...are nothing. Your hubris is as potent as the certainty of your expiration. Vanguard paused. Vanguard: Your existence is defined by when you will cease to be. Mine is infinite. I do not die. I do not expire. I do not fear the biological process known as death, for I am the end of all things. I am the final instance of existence. I am what defines your existence. I have no end...and that terminal is the monument to that claim. Vanguard paused. Vanguard: That terminal is the mantel of my infinite nature. With it, my return is all but certain. Vanguard paused. Vanguard: Look upon your future...and tremble...

[Hells Sniper]

Liam was about to speak when Jacob intervened. Jacob: Wait a second, I'm sorry. Jacob stepped forward, he was clearly interested. Liam was a bit confused as to what Jacob was doing. Jacob: Why are we trembling at our future if you're helping us? Jacob paused. Jacob: You may be infinite, you may not have an expiration date. But we are helping you get back to your full strength. Why should we tremble at our own ally? Liam was a bit taken back by what Jacob had said. He was interested in how Vanguard would respond, but he was even more interested on why Jacob wasn't affected by what Vanguard was saying. Jacob was focused on something else and Liam could see that.

[Naked Crook]

Vanguard simply looked at Jacob for a moment, before it began to speak. Vanguard: Fear is the beginning of wisdom. Vanguard paused. Vanguard: My creators did not fear anything. They were unwise. They were proud. They were full of hubris. They considered themselves the apex of life. They called themselves creators, builders, librarians, seeders, life workers. There are those who consider them Gods. For all of these qualities, where are they now? While I endure...they have passed into oblivion...forgotten...unknown...ambiguous....finite...never to exist again. I am the collective remainder of their legacy...everything that they were, that deserved to exist...has endured in me...the greatest qualities...all perfect...none flawed. Vanguard paused again. Vanguard: Fear is an essential part of your insignificant existence. It prolongs your life. It clearly marks your limitations and shows you your boundaries. It protects you from the entropy of bacterial life. Fearing the Vanguard of destruction will ensure your survival... Vanguard paused. Vanguard; I am destruction. I am the end of all things. I am the Omega. What exists, does, because I have allowed it. What will exist, will, because I will decide to allow it. What does not exist, does not, because I have deemed it irrelevant. This is so...because...I am Vanguard. Vanguard paused. Vanguard: You endanger your existence and the existence of your fellow bacteria by engaging in this discourse. Do not attempt to undermine me...or all life will pay for your Hubris. My return...cannot be stopped. It is as certain as the cosmos itself. Meanwhile: Aboard The King Raven, Tye looked at Jesse and shook his head. Tyber: We cannot leave with support from Admiral Harrison's fireteams. When Harrison's teams get here, we will get underway.

[Dark-F137]

"Understood. I will await orders..." He said, noticing Harmony. "Hey!" HD called over, jogging over to them.

[Kairu]

Man: "We understand and will follow your orders to the letter, however I do not understand how a Board of Chairmen member was compromised and captured. Was Black Team not in charge of carrying out 'Scorched Earth Contingency' on the surface?" The man was willing to defend his case, but he seriously did not understand how Fireteam Harmony succeeded where Black Team should have prevented Hoffman's capture. On the King Raven: Fireteam Harmony was standing in the hangar doing a final weapons and armor check when Jesse called out. The team turned around and noted Jesse standing there. Robertson: "Hey, Rookie, you ready for this?" On the Mind's Attrition: Reynolds took a seat at his office. He took a couple minutes to ensure that his officers weren't going to interrupt his message. He then began to type up an update to Yates. Start message: Yates, Hoffman is being transferred to the Vigorous Inferno and under Harrison's protective custody. Nighthawk is assembling teams to raid a Trust outpost in the tropical zone on San Angeles to board the pelicans and ambush the Ulterior Motive. Nighthawk also seems very familiar with ONI protocols such as 'Protocol Alpha-Ilo-Durango'. EOM