//------------------------------// // Chapter 18 // Story: A Noble Death // by LSTS Connor //------------------------------// „Now with the pleasantries out of the way, I require your assistance here“ Spoke Halsey turning back around to face the metal arch in the center of the room, the discarded clipboard now floating back beside her. „Well to be accurate, I require the use of the fusion reactor in your Armor if I am to figure out how to turn this thing back on and get us back to Reach.“ Added on the Doctor as she knelt back down at the metal pedestal and went back to her tinkering.  „Reach?“ Questioned the Spartan as she approached the strange metal arch trying to wrap her head around what Halsey was implying.  „Yes, as I am sure you‘ve probably heard by Agent Stanford. I as well as a few others arrived by a far different mode of transportation. The side effects were...unexpected to say the least“ She began, stomping her hoof against the hard metallic floor before returning her attention to her tinkering. „But it's certain benefits, as I‘m sure you have already thoroughly exploited, are quite helpful. The research possibilities on this as the locals call it  ‚magic‘ is truly breathtaking to any scientist, myself included.“ A sigh was heard soon after. „But when it comes to being used as an energy source for this damn portal” Continued Halsey as she knocked the edge of her clipboard against the Arch “it‘s useless.“ „Is this what brought you here?“ Questioned the Spartan once again as she looked towards the Doctor „Yes, but enough with the questions, the others can answer those for you. Now will you assist me by removing your armor?“ Six nodded, albeit slowly, before she began to disengage her armor from her tech suit. She didn‘t like it. No Spartan likes to remove their armor, and those that say they did were lying. The suit was their second skin, and when it comes to a Spartan like Six. The inside of their armor was their home. But even then she would have to remove her armor at some point, at least here it wouldn‘t be examined by the Equestrians. So hesitantly Six began to remove her armor and soon she stood there before the Doctor in only her techsuit. Removing her changed armor took longer than usual for the Spartan, the armor around her wings took extra care to remove due to Six not having any experience in removing armor from her two new appendages. Halsey nodded in approval however once she was finished, the armor plates sitting neatly against the pedestal Halsey had been working on „Good I can get to work now, with the power generated by the fusion reactor I should be able to jumpstart this room's systems. For now, though you are no longer needed, you may go.“ The doctor said with a small wave of her hoof as she knelt down and began to do something to her armor. „How long do you need my armor?“ Asked Six curiously. „A day or two perhaps depends on how easy this tech can be adapted to use your armor as a power source.“ Answered Halsey offhandedly. Six nodded in confirmation towards the doctor as she made her way to the exit now no longer covered in her full suit but instead a dark grey tech suit. It was better than nothing but still contained multiple downsides if she were to enter combat with it. For instance, her wings were no longer weaponizable but looked like simple pegasus wings covered by the dark grey material of her suit. However, if there was an upside to not wearing her several hundred-pound armor it was that maybe...just maybe, the Spartan would be able to fly. The logic was sound, in Six‘s head. Without her armor weighing her down she should be able to generate enough lift with her wings to take flight. She would have to test this theory, and what better time than whilst waiting for the Doctor to find them a way home. Home She allowed a small almost predatory smile to grace her features at the mention of home. Once she gets back, the Covenant will learn that the UNSC has not one, but two demons on their side. As for right now, however, the Spartan had nothing to do in the meantime. The Sun had probably long since set under the Horizon. So Six decided to explore this complex she now found herself in, and maybe do what Stanford had previously suggested. Heading back towards the main area the pair had walked through beforehand, Six saw the same soldiers from before still doing something around some sort of map. Now without the heavy footfalls of her armor Six was able to approach the group without being noticed as they were all engrossed with their current tasks.  Two marines were seemingly engrossed in some sort of conversation regarding their weapons with the main question being: “How the hell do I pull the trigger with hooves?” Six would have chucked at the question until it hit her. Sure she could wield a knife no problem, but pulling the trigger on a gun? That is a valid concern to have, the unicorns among the group would have no problem wielding such weapons but as far as Six could tell they were only a handful of them here with them. She would have to ask about that later, but that hopefully doesn't matter by then as Halsey would surely have that machine powered up and ready to go.  Any further thoughts Six would have had on the subject were interrupted as she approached the table where the rest of the Marines and that one ODST were standing. “So from what our intel suggests the current conflict happening above us has come to… well not a Stalemate per-se but definitely a standstill. It's certainly a far cry from what we’re used to when it involves the ponies as I know them.”  Came a distinctly female voice from the Bat-like ODST as she pointed out several places on the map in front of them to her fellow Marines.  Said Marines were intently listening to the Woman, their gazes following the tip of her wing as they pointed out several locations as she continued speaking. “We haven't got any more concrete information about what the hell happened that sent Stanford and several others flying into walls, as all we can get is that Quote, and I’m not making this up, the power of love between Princess Cadence and Shining armor did it.” She said with the most disbelieving voice the ODST could manage as several of the Marines chuckled slightly. “Anyway we can’t really tell if they're making it up or if that is an actual thing here but remain cautious either way, I’ll send a letter to Smith to see what she knows about this. Any questions?” The Marines around the table shook their collective heads. “Well how about you Spartan, you got any questions?” The ODST began looking over her shoulder towards the approaching Six.  “One. Who is Smith?” The Spartan said as she walked up to the side of the table to get an overview of the map they were discussing earlier. It looked like a Map of their current continent with small markers acting as indicators for friendly and or hostile forces. A single marker was different however, it instead made it look like the UNSC Symbol, and it was placed on the mountain next to the Equestrian Capital. “Good question” She turned back towards the others around the table. “Who else here was wondering the same thing?” Two marines made themselves known. “ Ah, when did you two get to come to join us here in the afterlife?” “Ma’am we arrived together 3 days ago we were one of the last holdouts on Reach, Camp Independence with Vice-admiral Danforth.”  Independence? I thought that was glassed by the time the Autumn made for orbit. “Did the Admiral make it?” “No clue Ma’am but he isn't here so there may be some silver lining to it.” Responded the other. “Good. You give them covie bastards a good fight?” “Ha! you should have seen us, ma’am, Mr. Badass over here gave them hell with the machinegun turret we had. How many Elites did you say you took out again?” “Man, you know I wasn’t counting” “My ass you weren’t, It's pretty hard not to have heard you holding your rear when you shouted ‘That's number 30!’” Finished the Marine with a laugh that was soon joined in by the others around the table with Six only allowing a smile to grace her features.  Soon what started out as a question about someone called ‘Smith’ grew out of proportion as the Marines around the table shared their stories with each other. The next trying to outdo the last and laughing as situations that would make any civilian's heart ache, become a heroic tale of sacrifice and Alien Slaughter. Six listened intently to every story, especially those containing the latter. Though as soon as the circle reached her was about to reach her Drop-Trooper neighbor she turned to face Six as the commotion around the table went quiet. “If you still want your question about Smith answered come find me later. Names Gloria by the way.” And with that, she left without another word as whispers among the Marines were soon picked up by Six’s ears. “Any idea what that's about?” “Dude, remember, we died to get here, not everyone wants to relive that.” The clearing of a throat was heard. “Anyway I don’t know about the rest of y’all but I for one want to hear what our Spartan friend here did to end up here.” A cacophony of affirmatives was heard afterward as they all looked towards Six as another much more predatory smile overtook her features. “ Well...where do I begin?”