Operation Sunlight Part 3: Black
Posted By: Gruntkiller<ttavenor@nf.sympatico.ca>
Date: 4 July 2003, 11:45 PM
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Operation Sunlight
Chapter 3: Black
0600 August 36, 2552 (Military Calendar)
UNSC HQ Earth
The Pelican that took James from the hospital gently touched down and shut down just outside UNSC HQ. The back hatch opened and the squad of Marine's jumped out and began to make their way to the barracks.
"James you follow me," said the Admiral climbing down from the pelican he waited for James who hopped out onto the ground.
It was dark outside but was slowly becoming brighter as daybreak approached. They were on a huge landing strip for craft capable of landing vertically there was another strip not to far away for craft incapable of vertical landing and takeoffs nearby.
The Admiral walked towards a small building only about the size of a garbage shed next to the main hanger. The Admiral stopped in front of the door and typed in a code on a panel next to the door. The door opened up with a click revealing a stainless steel elevator. Quickly they both walked in and the door clicked shut behind them.
"This elevator will take us down to the main war rooms. You'll meet with the other troop commanders that will also be participating on the mission there too."
James nodded. The elevator came to a stop the door opened up to reveal a black painted corridor, the walls were covered with pictures and charts from previous conflicts dating all the way back to the old World Wars.
"The last room down is a large barracks and in a room attached to it an exercise area and firing range,' said the Admiral pointing to a steel door at the far end of the hall. "You'll get to know the rest of the team there later but now we got to go to the briefing room."
The walked up the hall to a black shiny door with the number "5" on it in gold, the Admiral put his hand on a panel on the door which scanned his palm.
"Access granted, welcome Admiral Randal," said the AI system running the base.
Randal opened the door and walked in James followed him closely. The inside of the room was dark, in the center there was a long oval table surrounded by seats all but two occupied. On the wall there were several video screens on of them had the UNA on it reporting the latest news on Reach and the Prime Ministers assassination, the news reporter was speaking most of the room was watching the screen with interest.
"Late yesterday ONI head Thomas Hans took up temporary head of government until an election could be held." Said the female news reporter, "Many experts believe that this is a move by the research core of the UNSC is to gain access to a larger pool of scientists and to break down current laws that set boundaries for their research in fields like cybernetics and biogenetics..."
"Well can we get on with this thing," said Randal flicking off the screen and sitting down in one of the empty chairs, James quietly took the other empty chair and opened up the folder that lay on the table in front of him.
Inside the folder there were two lists of soldiers under the headings of Black and another under the Helljumpers. At the vary top of the page the words "Troop Commander Master Sergeant James."
"As you all know we now have a troop force sufficient to commence a boarding action," said Randal, "but getting a sufficient fleet is proving to be more difficult. As you know our total strength is down form 2650 capital ships at the beginning down to a mere 921 and most of those are seriously damaged, that is 66% of our force eliminated."
The table turned tense, most of the people there already knew these statistics but Randal bringing them up again brought a new urgency to the meeting.
"The only way for us to gather up a large enough fleet would be to withdraw ships from the main defensive only fleets. Which as you know the Prime Minister opposed deeply, but now with him out of our way we have already begun forming a fleet which will be composed of 900 ships of various classes and about 1500 fighter and corvette class ships."
"That only leaves us with 21 ships if this mission fails." said someone down the table, "We can't even hold off a raiding party with that number."
"This is a necessary risk, if we don't launch this attack they will just march right over us." Said Randal, "even if this attack fails it may be enough to scare the Covenant, and once there scared they may retreat or possibly consider making peace with us."
"But they may also redouble their efforts," said the person.
"We don't know but we have no choice but to go through with this it is our only real chance."
~
James walked out of the room into the hall. Most of the meeting was deciding which defensive garrisons they were going to withdraw ships from to form the fleet. James was left to sit and read through the files given to him, his only concern was commanding the troops. He was the first to leave everyone else had questions or were making suggestions as to who the captains would be. James still wearing the cloths given to him at the hospital made his was down to the troop quarters where he was hoping to find his armor, after so much time in it he felt almost naked without it.
As he opened up the door to the troop quarters he was met with the stairs of dozens of Special Forces which also called it home. Most of them were in training suits while a few were adjusting their armor, which looked like a larger version of the standard Marine armor built to cover more area.
James made his way to a cot near the entrance to the quarters which had his name on a sheet of paper on it, below it was a not. Your armor is in a room off from the main armories, it will scan your handprint for access. Everyone here is under your command, including Black.
James looked up and noticed that several of the soldiers a crest with a black raven on their cloths or armor.
Next: Upgrades
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