Chapter 4

Chapter Four

0800 Hours, September 1, 2563 [Military Calendar]/

Theta Uradis System, Madilion UNSC Military

Complex, Planet Madilion, Johnson Cadet Academy

    The Lieutenant walked to the wooden podium and cleared his throat. He tapped on the microphone and a loud noise rang throughout the room. "Cadets," he stated. "I would like to announce the Team Leaders for this year. Jake Matthews," he stood up from his chair, walked to the edge of the stage at attention. "Nicolas Swith," he followed Jake. "Missy Andres, and Kody Williams." Everyone applauded, the four leaders stood at attention. This year was different than last, he had taken the best leaders and made them the only leaders this year.

    "These cadets, are the only cadets going on missions this year," the room fell silent, all eyes were on the smiling Lieutenant. He waited a minute and let it sink in, "The cadets, however, get to bring one more cadet with them. Jake can choose one third year, Nicolas can choose one second year, Missy can bring one first year, and Kody can bring one from any year. I will let you converse on who you want to bring."

    They went into a huddle, "Okay, we need Mallory and Anderson. I have already promised my cadet that he would get a spot."

    "Jake is right," Kody said, "We all saw Anderson in his first match, but Mallory is a different story. She is an amazing sniper and I want her here as much as you do, but we need to think about the others."

    "None of us here are snipers," Missy argued. "Mallory is the best one we got."

    "Okay so Jake's cadet," Nicolas continued.

    "Cinna."

    "Okay Cinna, Anderson, Mallory and who else?"

    "How about Swiss," asked Kody.

    Jake thought, Swiss is a second year that has some great close quarter skills, but is he ready? Yes, yes he is, if given a shotgun he is. And we get to choose weapons before we leave. "Okay, Swiss it is."

    They broke their huddle and turned to the Lieutenant, "What is your decision?"

     Jake stepped up to the mic and cleared his throat, "The other members on our team are Missy Lopez, Anderson Cooper, Cinna Sanders, and Will "Swiss" Canard."

     "Good," said the Lieutenant, as he stepped back to his microphone. "Everyone on the team meet in the briefing room, everyone else report to class." They all groaned but followed the Lieutenant's orders. Those on stage walked off and headed straight to the briefing room.

    "Welcome to the briefing room," said Lieutenant Norman. Classroom sized with a table in the middle of it and the walls outlined in one meter thick black titanium armor; in the worst-case-scenario this is the safe room. There was a single table in the room, Lieutenant Norman stood on the opposite side of the cadets he had his back facing them and his hands crossed over.

    He tapped a button on the table and a holo-projection came up and filled the table. It was the schematics to an abandon town, something you would see in the old west films. Three or four buildings on two sides of a street, a few houses off to the right and nothing else. Lieutenant Norman pressed a button and the imaged focused on the few houses and the cadets could clearly count six houses. "This is Maksota Town, on the Planet called Crantoras. These six houses are a base center for the Covenant for reasons unknown to us," he tapped a button some of the walls were torn down and Covenant towers were placed around the perimeter and a shield pylon was set in the center of all the houses.

    "Covenant towers are placed around the perimeters of the base. We are sending you with specialized equipment it will disguise you as Elites one of you will be 'captured' and those who are the Elites will be battle scared, wounded. The Elites you will be disguised as were Generals and Ultras captured by the UNSC. Jake will pose as the captured marine and the other will be the Elites. You are to infiltrate the base, take any intel from it, and get out. If things get risky destroy the base, but only as a last resort, if it's anything like I think it is, y'all might not make it out of there alive."

    "Lieutenant if I may ask," said Mallory. "What do you think it is?"

    "Nothing to concern yourself with cadet," his voice was cold. "Just get the mission done as planned and all will go well. Now," his voice had warmed up. "Head to the armory, there you will be outfitted with your gear and Elite names."

     They did as they were told, Mallory not to happy with her answer followed slowly after them. She looked back as the Lieutenant pressed the button and the holo-projection disappeared. He had a worried look and turned around. "Make it back alive," he said under his breath.

    Jake slide on the broken armor, "So this is going to fool the Elites?"

    The marine looked at him and smiled, "To an extent. We will have to give you a few quote-unquote 'scars' and you will have to act like your in pain, but yes it will." Jake looked at his team, they were putting on their armor and a wrist device. The marine helping Anderson pressed one of the buttons and he turned into a Gold armored Elite. He looked at his new form, satisfied he pressed a button on his new armor and he changed back.

    "Okay this shouldn't hurt," the marine helping Jake pulled out a knife. "For long." He cut a long from Jake's right eye across his nose and to his left cheek. He winced at the pain and was punched in the ribs, he heard a few crack and he fell over in pain. His team ran over to help him, but it was too late, he was unconscious.

    "What the hell?!" yelled Mallory. She grabbed the marine by the collar and pulled him off the ground to eye level.

    "Whoa, wait!" he yelled as she brought her fist up. "He needs the scar and broken ribs, if he doesn't your mission could fail. I talked to him about it, he will be fine, right before I started to put the armor on him he took a numbing pill; it took some time to work but it finally did. He should be fine by the time he wakes up, which should be the time you reach Maksota."

    Mallory let him go and knelt by Jake. She cupped his head and start fixing his hair. A tech operator called them to attention, "As you may know, your wrist gear gives you the appearance of an Elite. When you get to Maksota press the green button, this will allow you to speak, read, and understand Sangheli."   

    "Amazing," Cinna said. He pressed the button and spoke, "Shka shenskroa." they looked at him with blank looks. He pressed the button again, "I said draw your energy blade." He laughed and everyone joined in, then stop instantly and looked at Jake.

    "We need to head out," said Kody. "Is everyone ready?" They all nodded, "Good, Anderson get Jake." He picked up Jake's limp body and headed with the group to the docking bay, and waited for a five minutes.

    "Where the hell is it?" Nick asked. At that the sun was immediately blocked out. They looked up and fear filled their bodies, a Phantom was landing. "Anderson make sure Jake is safe." He moved to the back of the group and everyone else readied their weapons. The bay doors hissed open and a figure appeared, "So, is everyone ready?" They lowered their guns at the sight of the Lieutenant, everyone in awe.

    "How'd you...I mean what...but...huh?" mumbled Missy. She was the most confused out of all. The Lieutenant stepped out and walked toward her and patted her on the head. "We commandeered this Phantom from a mission four years ago. It was the most successful mission this academy has seen in the twenty years it has been up. You will be in this vehicle for the travel to and from the planet. So is everyone ready?" They all nodded and smiled, Anderson and Swiss put their weapons pointed up across their right  shoulders and nodded.

    He gestured for them to get on the Phantom, "Good luck, I will see you back here in a while." He watched them as the door closed and they headed off to Maksota. He turned and headed toward the academy, he smiled, and prayed for their safe return.

0457 Hours, September 12, 2563 [Military Calendar]/

Theta Uradis System, Maksota Town,

Planet Crantoras

    Jake shifted in his seat, What is this? It doesn't feel like normal UNSC seats. His eyes darted open and jumped out of his seat. He reached for his DMR, but was stopped by Anderson's strong grip on is shoulder. "Anderson? The hell is going on," he demanded. He smiled from ear to ear, "We're glad your okay."

    He pushed him away, "That doesn't answer my question." Mallory spun him around and hugged him, Jake winced at the pain. "Sorry," she said and let him go.

    "No, the pain is good, let's me know I'm still alive. So what are we doing here?"

    "Four years ago, they commandeered this Phantom for missions like the one we're on. Anyway we are almost to Crantoras," she kissed his check and sat down. They changed to their disguises and got their weapons. "Not that great weapons," she exclaimed. "Three carbines, two needlers, four plasma pistols, one storm rifle and no swords."

    "Okay this is how we are going to split them up," Jake said, taking back command. "The generals will take the carbines and storm rifle. The rest of you take the plasma pistols and needlers. General Kody, take the weapon bag." She nodded and everyone took place. "Okay Cinna and Swiss will drag me to the camp."