Adrift Among Foreign Stars Halo/SGA crossover (Commissioned)

[Sayle]

The UNSC is not facist, they're not the fucking bad guys, and I'm tired of people treating them like they are.

Click to shrink...

Hey, I didn't use the F word. Doesn't change that even the pre-Covenant UEG would have been a villain-of-the-week on Stargate.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 14

"Sheppard, I'm not willing to hand over all of our navigational data on a whim," Caldwell said once they'd stepped into the hall and the door had slid shut behind them. "If I understand Dr. McKay correctly, that data is precisely one of the things he's going to need to get us home."

"I agree," Sheppard replied. "But I think there's going to be a middle ground here. They don't exactly seem like the sort of people who are willing to take chances on losing more people if what they've told us about the war is right."

"If they're as desperate as you think, then this is going to be a sticking point for them. Caldwell crossed his arms across his jumpsuit. "Look, I'm willing to defer to you and your team in negotiations and allow you some leeway. But this is regarding my ship. The final say lies with me."

"Yessir," Sheppard nodded. "I think if we can get the details of their Protocol, then we should be able to work some things out."

With that, the two Colonels reentered the room and took their seats, Caldwell nodded for Sheppard to take the lead again.

"Can we see a full copy of the Protocol?" Sheppard asked. "We didn't wipe the navigational data when the Covenant first arrived because we didn't have similar protocols. We also might use different systems and it might be harder for them to gain access to ours. We want to work with you and keep your worlds safe, but we also aren't willing to give up one of our ways to potentially get back home."

"We can understand that," CPO Rodriguez nodded. "Our main concern is with the Covenant being able to gain access to any of the computer systems and gain coordinates to Human worlds." The CPO reached into a pocket and retrieved a datapad. "I have a copy of the Cole Protocol and its subsections loaded onto here for you to review."

"Thank you," Caldwell accepted the datapad and began reading over said protocol. It was short, only a few paragraphs and subsections, but what it contained gave a great deal of insight into the UNSC and how they were still alive after facing a superior enemy that was actually taking them seriously.

After he had finished, he passed it onto Sheppard and let him read before exchanging a nod with the other man, An entire conversation passing between them in an instant.

"As the Covenant threat has already passed, you were intending on restoring the astrogation databases of your ships, yes?" Caldwell asked.

"We typically don't do that until after we've arrived at an RZ point," Jaggers interjected. "Just in case there are any Covenant lingering around that might not be misled by the first random jump."

"Well, what if instead of wiping ours now that it's over, we keep our copy, execute a random hyperspace jump, and then join you at the RZ?" Sheppard asked. "That way we're still not giving any intel away, and you get to keep your protocol without violating it."

"I'll have to confirm with Vice Admiral Stanforth," Rodriguez accepted the datapad back and slid it into his pocket. "But I believe that would be a worthy compromise. I wouldn't be able to tell you if you would be able to continue onto other UNSC worlds after meeting us there. That would be a discussion for people above our paygrades."

"If we could borrow a communication terminal?" Jaggers asked. "I'd like to ensure that this compromise is acceptable to our superiors."

Colonel Caldwell stood up and headed over to a nearby intercom system and hit the button. "Captain Cooper, can you open a channel to the Leviathan? Our guests need to speak to Admiral Stanforth."

"Yessir, opening the channel now," She replied calmly.

"We'll give you the room," Sheppard nodded at the UNSC pair. "Knock on the door when you're done, we'll be waiting outside."

Jaggers moved to go speak into the intercom, but Rodriguez halted him and slid his datapad over, keeping it hidden from the cameras in the conference room.

"They're monitoring all communications and are recording everything said in this room," the pad read. "Keep any conversation polite, professional, and give away no intelligence beyond what has already been discussed."

The Lieutenant simply nodded, his face turning a bit paler as he stood and headed over to the intercom system where Caldwell had been standing scant moments before.

"This is the Leviathan," A calm male voice stated.

"This is Lieutenant Jaggers with an update for Vice Admiral Stanforth," Jaggers tried to force his nerves back down.

"Stanforth here," the steady voice of the old officer finally came through with a few crackles. "Son, you better have some good news for me."

Swallowing down the tiny bit of saliva he had left, Jaggers careful relayed everything they'd discussed with the Daedalus crew up to that point, leaving nothing out.

"Well, they do have a point regarding the fact that the Covenant threat has already passed," Stanforth paused, and Jaggers imagined the man stroking his bare chin before replying. "I'm going to give permission for the compromise, on the condition that both ships have at least one member of the UNSC aboard to ensure that a random jump occurs first, and then rejoining at the RZ point. If they'll go for that, then we have a bargain."

---

One of the things about the Cole Protocol, was that Rendezvous points weren't explicitly listed. It had been an organic thing that had come about as a result of battlegroups and ships needing to regroup and restore navigational data once a threat had passed.

The other thing was that sometimes, the UNSC used worlds that had already been discovered and glassed by the Covenant as RZ points. Previously, the RZ point had been a random system chosen by Beowulf, Vice Admiral Stanforth's AI. Instead, with the capture of two Covenant ships, an alternative had been found. Choosing one of said worlds, they intended to bring the Covenant vessels there before dismantling one of them for study.

After a bit of deliberation between the senior officers among the battlegroup and the AI that were onboard ships, the Inner Colony of Paris IV was chosen. Given its proximity to Reach and the Inner Colonies, it was decided that it was the best option available to them if they wanted to take full advantage of study while they could.

A few hours after making that decision, the UNSC battlegroup vanished into a series of different directions, leaving a pair of frigates and a destroyer behind to continue with the battlefield cleanup and patrolling the system.

With the battlegroup were four ships that had not been a part of it originally, the pair of covenant ships with ONI, Marines, and the Spartans aboard, and the USS Daedalus and the Traveler ship, the Homestead. Followed the temporary protocols laid down by the UNSC for their continued relationship.

Soon, they would see exactly why the UNSC was so paranoid, and why they felt that all of this was critical to their survival. As one of the people from one of the most popular pieces of media in UNSC space once said that had led to a mass recruitment drive."It is an undeniable, and may I say fundamental quality of man, that when faced with extinction, every alternative is preferable."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 15

Location: Aboard Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier Long Night of Solace
Date: July 23, 2552 (Human Calendar)/Covenant Age of Reclamation

Time travel stories would make you believe that time itself is a river. Constantly flowing in one direction across the axis of space. That altering one event would alter the course of a river through different choices made.

The problem with that theory and way of thought is that it ignores the fact that there are many influences on time besides itself. There are many things that have an influence on time. There is space, gravity, perception, and the many different layers of hyperspace, slipspace, or whatever means a ship may use to travel in the galaxy.

So, a singulur event doesn't just alter the stream of a river. Instead, it's the basis for a massive rock being tossed into a 'lake' of time, sending ripples that move throughout time and space, affecting not only one event, but many.

Such was the case with the battle of Sigma Octanus IV. With the capture of two Covenant Ships, there were ripples sent out. One such ripple reached the Fleet of Valiant Prudence. Shipmaster Rho 'Barutamee had intended to follow his Luminary and the artifacts they had recently retrieved from the Humans.

Instead, he had been contacted by his fellow Fleetmaster and old friend Ziko Traramee of the Second Fleet of Solemn Accord just as he was preparing the jump to the next world to look for artifacts.

"You are telling me that men I attached to your fleet were destroyed," Rho growled, flaring his mandibles at the other Sangheili. "There were important artifacts to be recovered from the human filth."

"The entirety of the group, along with the ship you assigned to them was destroyed," Ziko replied, canting his head a touch to indicate shame. "I am aware of your mandate. Of your goal to retrieve all that you are able. I was unable to fulfil my objectives due to the humans having obtained new allies. However, it is unlikely that they are aware of the artifacts that were left behind."

Rho slammed his fist down on his command chair and stood onto his hooved feet, his hand resting on the pommel of his energy sword as he paced. His golden armor shimmering in the lights of the Long Night of Solace.

"I will assist you," Rho glared at the hologram of his 'friend'. "But know this. Your failure casts shame on you and your family line. You may consider our friendship and any debt I owe you erased. You did not merely fail with your own ships and fleets. You wasted the lives of My Sangheili, Jiralhanae, Mgalekgolo and Unngoy. Do you think that a fleet such as that of Valiant Prudence contained any less than those who were the best? Nay, a single one of my zealots was worth an entire Cruiser!" Rho realized he had drawn and ignited his energy sword before he shut it down and but placed it back on his hip. "Send me the coordinates. I will postpone my current expedition in favor of helping you with the eradication of the Nishum, of the worms."

"The coordinates have been transmitted," Ziko said, again dipping his head, this time in thanks. "I thank you for your assistance, Fleetmaster. May your ships be swift, and destruction of the humans final."

Rho simply growled again at the other Fleetmaster and the hologram was removed from the pedastal. Leaving the Sangheili Zealot alone on his ship.

Weeks of careful study, of examining the artifacts and using the Luminary to glean the wisdom of the Forerunners. The Great Journey was not something to be found and discovered by those who failed and lacked faith, such as Traramee did. There was a reason Rho's Zealots were of infinitely more value to the Covenant than a mere ship.

Decades of training, of learning spent delving into the secrets of the Forerunners, of studying archeology and the mysteries of the stars. Each Zealot was a warrior without peer, but more than that, they were students, and scientists, each and every one.

Rho sighed, perhaps the artifacts to be found on this human world would be worth the loss in time and men. If they were not… Then Ziko would learn that while Rho was an excellent friend to have, he was also a most fearsome foe…

Then he touched the communications system built into his combat harness. "Get me into communications with the Prophet of Regret. I must inform him of the next moves my fleet is to take."

---

Location: Reach, Inner Colony World UNSC
Date: July 24, 2552

"You're being temporarily reassigned," Spartan B312 heard a voice that was amplified by his Mjolnir Mark V(B)'s microphones. "Effective immediately, you're being seconded to NAVSPECWEP for a new operation. You're to report to CASTLE Base for further orders."

B312 recognized Jun-A266 from previous briefings on Noble Team, the man's Mjolnir had been modified for his job as a scout/sniper. It still retained the olive drab that all Mjolnir was painted in, but it also had extra rounds for his sniper rifle mounted in easy to reach areas. The burnt-orange visor of his helmet rested beside him, and the sniper simply glanced up at the younger Spartan with a look before returning to filling magazines.

"Any idea of what we're goign to be doing, Colonel?"

"Negative Commander, just that whatever it is, it's of critical importance. There are rumors, but nothing concrete."

B312 reached the entrance to the outpost and noted a Spartan with a CQB helmet scratching a kurkir against his shoulder pauldron. They nodded at each other and a robotic arm prevented the Spartan III from entering the outpost.

"Commander," A voice B312 remembered from years ago came from the other side of the door. It wasn't often that B312 ran into another Spartan from Beta Company.

"So, that's our new number six," A massive figure that dwarfed the rest of the Spartans said, turning around and revealing that his armor had some extra modifications as well.

"Kat, you read his file?" The man that B312 identified as Commander Carter-A259 asked.

"The parts that weren't covered in black ink," Kat shrugged.

"Sir, you sure you're okay with releasing us to the Navy?" Carter asked.

"If it's as important as ONI is leading me to believe, then they can have you permenantly," Holland frowned. "You're not the only team being hastily reassigned. Whatever this is, I'll see you on the other side. Holland, out."

"Lieutenant," Carter nodded at the other Spartan.

"Commander, sir," B312 nodded back.

"I'm Carter, Noble Team's leader. That's Kat, Noble Two, Emile and Jorge, Four and Five. You're riding with me, Noble Six," the man began walking out of the building, and the newly named Noble Six followed. "I'm not going to lie to you, Lieutenant. You're stepping into some shoes the rest of the squad would rather leave unfilled," Commander Carter, A-259 said, his green helmet held in his hands. "Me, I'm just happy to have NOBLE back up to full strength. Just one thing… I've seen your file. Even the parts the ONI censors didn't want me to. I'm glad to have your skill set, but we're a team. That lone-wolf stuff stays behind. Clear?"

"Got it sir," Noble Six replied.

"I'd say welcome to Reach," Jorge commented. "But I think we're about to leave…"