Halo: Ghost of the Spartans

1030 Hours, September 12, 2525

En route Epsilon Secundus System, UNSC Destroyer, Pioneer

As Indra entered the armory, he was greeted by John, who inquired about his delayed arrival. Indra responded by fabricating a story that the Chief had assigned him an additional task prior to the mission. Indra proceeded to don the black body suit stored in one of the lockers; it bore the number 001 on the left chest.

The suit was exceedingly tight, but having previous experience with similar suits, he had grown accustomed to it. Moving towards the weapons rack, he observed a variety of firearms including MA2B, MA5B, M7S, M392, SRS99C, and his preferred M6D magnums.

"That's an impressive selection of firearms," Indra muttered as he considered his loadout options. He reflected, "Given this is a stealth mission, the M7S would be a logical choice, but once the initial shots are fired, it will no longer remain a stealth operation." Consequently, he opted for the M392 DMR, a M6D, and a pair of combat knives.

As Indra selected his loadout and grabbed his ammo, Sam noticed his DMR. "DMR? Isn't that too loud for stealth?" he asked.

"Logically yes, but the Chief said to be prepared for anything," Indra replied. "Once shots are fired, stealth is out, and it only takes one or two well-placed shots to neutralize an enemy," he explained while loading his DMR.

Sam considered, "You have a point, but what if you run out of ammo?"

Indra revealed his combat knives, "These will do until then."

"Let's hope our cover doesn't blow right after we get inside," Sam said.

As Sam and Indra joined the others, who were already equipped, they all gathered around a table with uniforms that the crew of the Laden wore—blue coveralls with grease stains and names written on the left chest. Kelly examined the new uniforms.

"So, these are the uniforms we are supposed to wear?" she asked.

"ONI provided them," John said. "They're meant to match what the crew of the Laden wear."

Kelly held the coveralls up and frowned. "They don't give a girl much to work with"

"At least it's better than what I'm wearing now," Indra said, eyeing his black body suit meant for the mission.

"Good point," replied Fred, putting on his suit.

Linda handed Kelly a suit. "Try this on."

The group had used these lightweight polymer suits before. They offered small-caliber bullet deflection, temperature regulation, and infrared masking. The helmets included encryption, communication gear, heads-up displays, and thermal and motion detectors.

Sealed tight, the unit had a fifteen-minute reserve of oxygen to let the wearer survive in vacuum. But yes, the suits were extremely tight and uncomfortable and were also tricky to repair on field. And they always needed repairs

"They're too tight" Kelly said. "It'll limit my range of motion"

"We wear them for this op" John told her. "There are too many places between here and there with nothing to breathe but vacuum. As for the rest of your equipment, take what you want- but stay light. Without recon data on this place, we're going to have to be moving fast…or we'll be dead"

The team, with the exception of Indra, selected their weapons.

"Everyone, please select firearms that utilize .390 caliber ammunition so we can share magazines if necessary. Except for you, Linda," John instructed. He then turned to Indra, who had a DMR strapped to his back, a single magnum at his waist, and a pair of combat knives on his thighs. "Indra, you will need to-"

"No need, John. I will rely on my knives initially. If the situation escalates, I will adapt accordingly. Rest assured, I will keep up," Indra reassured John.

Despite his initial hesitation, John nodded and subsequently picked up an MA2B, a shortened version of the MA5B. Indra donned his grease-stained coveralls and gathered approximately 90 bullets for his DMR, equating to about six magazines, in addition to four magazines for his M6D. He also decided to carry a medical kit.

Linda gravitated towards a matte-black, long-barreled rifle, the SRS99C-S2AM. Sam and Kelly chose similar equipment with a few variations. Kelly selected a small computer pad with IR links and a field medical kit, while Sam carried two medium-sized backpacks filled with enough high explosives to penetrate three meters of battleship armor plate. Fred likewise selected an MA2B but additionally took two combat knives and an M7S equipped with a suppressor, just in case.

"Is everyone ready?" John inquired.

Indra and Sam gave him thumbs-up signals while Linda and Fred nodded in affirmation. Kelly responded with a grin, saying, "Ready."

1210 Hours, September 14, 2525

Epsilon Secundus System, Eridanus II Space Docks, Civilian Cargo Ship, Laden

Indra ascended to the upper girders and fashioned a hammock from the support nets he discovered above, allowing him to rest comfortably. The team was positioned above one hundred thousand liters of black water and enclosed by two centimeters of stainless steel. Indra had advanced ahead of the team to scout for an appropriate location to establish camp. During this process, he successfully evaded multiple guards and had numerous opportunities to neutralize them but opted not to, as their elimination would not provide any tangible advantage to the mission.

Later, John and the others joined him inside the water tank. Indra helped set up their nets while Sam adjusted the flow sensor. Once the setup was complete and the nets were secure, everyone took their positions. Kelly finished reporting to John about the cigars and sweets, and John instructed everyone to rest, assigning Kelly the first watch. Indra closed his eyes to sleep, anticipating the next event.

'Now I have to determine precisely how I am supposed to gather the necessary intelligence inside the asteroid base,' Indra thought. 'Whatever it is, I'll have to solve it somehow.'

"Are you still awake?" Kelly inquired as she turned towards him.

"Yes," he replied, looking at her. "Is there anything you need?"

"Actually, I've been wanting to ask this for a while now," Kelly said. "You are a Petty Officer Third Class, just like John, yet you always let him take command. Why is that?"

"Well, it's because John has been leading all of you for a longer period, and I believe in not usurping the leadership position from someone who has earned it," Indra explained.

"I see… Sometimes you sound like a veteran," Kelly remarked.

"Give it a few years, and it will come true," Indra responded, prompting a chuckle from Kelly.

"Well, I'll be off to sleep now," Indra said, and he fell asleep shortly after. Unbeknownst to the both of them, John had also been awake and had overheard their conversation. He smiled slightly, and his respect for Indra grew even more.

A couple of hours later, Indra was awakened by Kelly, who informed him that they had docked. He promptly prepared his gear and donned his coveralls. They proceeded to the cargo bay, affixed the tag on the box of cigars, and then exited the Laden to enter the asteroid base. It matched the depiction Indra had encountered in comics and animated series.

Indra pointed towards the public showers, indicating their direction, and they followed him inside. John led them to the farthest section of the locker room, where they began to discuss their subsequent actions.

"I propose we designate this area as our fallback point in case of an emergency," Indra suggested.

"Agreed," John responded. "As for Colonel Watts, once we apprehend him, our only viable option will be the Pelican. After securing a safe distance, I will activate the distress signal."

"An excellent idea, but what about the doors?" Linda inquired.

"I have that covered," Sam replied, lifting his pack of explosives.

John then checked the location of the cigars. Once he completed this task, they were preparing to move out when Indra spoke again.

"Before we proceed, let's separate for a bit to avoid drawing attention," he advised.

"Alright," John agreed. "Kelly, you're with me. Sam, you're with Indra. Fred, you're with Linda."

They all nodded and began following the cargo tram while keeping a safe distance from each other.

The tram eventually stopped at an apartment building. John signaled Indra to move ahead, and Indra entered with his combat knives, neutralizing both guards stationed there. Over the past months on Reach, Indra had been training in effective techniques.

The rest quickly followed in, removing their coveralls and putting on their helmets.

"The NAV marker is moving," Linda noted. "Bearing 270, elevation ten meters… twenty… thirty-five and holding. It appears to be on the top floor."

Sam entered and sealed the doors behind him. "All clear out there," he said.

"Go!" John ordered.

Kelly opened the door, and she, John, and Linda entered first, eliminating the guards. Indra, Fred, and Sam followed. John motioned for them to take the stairs. Kelly opened the doors and signaled "all clear." She led with John behind her, while Sam and Fred covered the rear, and Linda and Indra stayed at the flanks.

John had them get out a few floors down and they went to the elevator shaft, he had them activate their cooling units on their suits and then Sam pried open the elevator door, exposing the shaft. Before they entered, however, Indra decided to nudge John who looked at him.

"What is it, Indra?" he asked.

"You guys take the shaft I'll continue onwards through the stairs" Indra said.

"What" Fred said as he looked at Indra, "What do you mean take the stairs, it will be filled with guards the more you go?"

"Fred's right, Indra, this is a bad idea," John said.

"That's the point," Indra replied. "I'll distract them while you get Watts out."

"You can't be serious, Indra; that's a suicide mission," Kelly added.

"Look once the insurrectionists fire the first shots, this whole building will be crawling with them, and would probably head towards where watts are at, I'll be in the lower floors distracting them while you take watts out of here." Indra said.

"Then I'll be coming with you," Kelly said as she started moving towards the stairs only to be stopped by Indra.

"No," he said, "They'll need you here." Indra glanced at John, who nodded.

Sam patted him on the back. " Make sure you don't die Indra. Don't be the first casualty."

"I won't," Indra said and soon started sprinting up the stairs, knives in hand. 'Alright Indra… now to gather the Intel' he thought as he started passing by floors at a quick pace. 'Alright the communications room is on the 25th floor.'

As Indra made his way into 25th floor he saw about 3 guards patrolling the entrance to it, Indra went towards one of the guards who had his backs turned and in an instant slit his throat the other two guards immediately reacted to this by aiming their guns but before they could shoot he threw his combat knife hitting one of them in the throat while he rushed the other guy who was too shock to react fast enough and soon he snapped his neck.

As he passed his knife he collected it. "Alright, that's five kills today" Indra said as he made his way through the 25th floor not bothering to hide the bodies as he wanted the insurrectionist to find them and focus on him and not the other.

As he continued onwards, he noticed that there were not as many guards as he had expected. Soon he started hearing gunshots from the top floor.

'That's my signal to speed up' he thought as he unsheathed his other knife and sped his way into what looked like the entrance to the communications room, with 4 guards stationed outside, Indra took off sprinting towards them and threw his knives hitting the two directly in the eye, and without missing a beat he leapt towards the other two and split kicked them in the head shattering their skulls. Quickly collecting his knives before he entered the communications room in a blur as he saw an insurrectionist officer inside attempting to raise his pistol at him but before he could squeeze the trigger, Indra appeared from behind and stabbed him in the left side of his chest right in the heart.

As Indra navigated through the room, he located the central communications computer, which should contain all the necessary data. He inserted a data chip and began extracting as much information as possible. Suddenly, hearing some movement behind him, he quickly took cover behind one of the desks in the room.

Soon 3 more insurrectionists entered the room and started looking around for him, Indra slowly unsheathed his knives, he took a breath and came out of cover firing his two knives through the air, hitting one of them in the chest while the other was hit directly in the eye. The last one turned opened fire into where he thought Indra was but never noticed him already standing behind him until it was too late and was already shot in the back of the head with his M6D.

"That was quite a lot," Indra remarked quietly. He then proceeded to the computer, which had just finished transferring all the information to the data chip. As Indra removed the chip, he received a communication from John informing him that they had captured Watts and were heading down the elevator. Indra replied that he was on the twenty-fifth floor.

Soon, Indra proceeded towards the elevator, ensuring to remain vigilant. He successfully evaded a squad of insurrectionists who were moving toward the communications room. Upon reaching the elevator, he noticed Fred and Linda securing the area.

"Impressive work," Fred remarked as Indra arrived at the elevator.

"The insurrectionists should be preoccupied in the communications room; this should provide us sufficient time to evacuate the building," Indra responded.

"Good job," John added as Indra, followed by Fred and Linda, entered the elevator where a trolley with crates was present. Indra also observed that John had been hit.

"So, which one contains Watts?" Indra inquired.

"This one," Sam replied, tapping the bottom crate with the butt of his gun.

"Alright, let's proceed with our exit," John stated.

As Indra checked his DMR he was nudged by Kelly, as he looked at her, she simply gave him thumbs up sign which he returned.

"Everyone, we will be stopping at the 12th floor where we will take the balcony and rappel down into an alleyway to change into our coveralls," John stated. Everyone nodded in agreement.

As the elevator stopped and opened, Fred and Linda were the first ones out. Once they gave the all-clear signal, the group began moving toward the balcony with Fred and Linda in the lead, John and Sam at the flanks, and Indra and Kelly in the rear. Upon reaching the balcony, Kelly secured a line and fastened the crate to it, lowering it into the alley.

The group then rappelled down the line into the alleyway and changed back into their coveralls. Sam and Fred took the crate and proceeded down the streets towards the docks. They returned to the public showers, removed their coveralls, and donned their helmets again.

"I'll go ring the doorbell," Sam said as he left with his pack of explosives.

"We need to reach the pelican before Sam opens the doors; John's suit is damaged, and he won't survive if that happens," Indra said. "John, I think you should activate the distress signal."

John nodded and activated the beacon, leaving it inside an empty locker. They all headed for the pelican. Just as they entered with the crate, a loud explosion was heard, and soon Sam came rushing in while the ramp to the Pelican closed.

Indra and Kelly were in the cockpit, with Kelly assisting him. As Indra started the engines, he flew through the hole that Sam created and navigated into open space. He briefly observed the asteroid base, which was now spinning erratically. After this, he directed the pelican towards the rendezvous point.

"You can go to the back Kelly. I will manage it from here." Indra said as he continued flying the pelican keeping eyes focused on the front.

"Are you sure?" Kelly asked, reluctantly.

"Yeah, you should head to the back and get some rest." Indra assured.

Kelly then unbuckled her seatbelts and got up from her seat but before she reached the exit to the cockpit she gave Indra one last glance and headed to the back.

Kelly sat next to Sam, who was checking his weapon. John, across from them, looked pale from blood loss, while Linda and Fred ensured their prisoner wasn't suffocating—he wasn't. Kelly kept glancing toward the cockpit where Indra was.

"What's the matter?" Sam asked.

"I'm not sure. I sometimes worry excessively about Indra," Kelly replied.

Sam smiled under his helmet. "It's probably nothing. Aren't you best friends?" he said, thinking that Kelly might be in love. Sam had a basic understanding of love, having learned about it during training through Margret and Otto's secret relationship, uncovered by him and Jorge.

"I guess it probably is," she said before falling asleep. Their first mission was exhausting but necessary for now.

In the cockpit, Indra wondered if his decisions were right and whether staying behind was wise. "Everyone made it out alive, so it's probably fine," he muttered.

As the Pelican landed inside the Pioneer, Doctor Halsey and Chief Mendez waited nearby with a few guards. When the hatch of the Pelican opened, John emerged with assistance from Fred. Sam carried the crate containing Watts, while Kelly and Linda watched the surroundings, and Indra exited last after piloting the Pelican.

"Mission accomplished, sir," John said, saluting Mendez.

"Well done, Spartans. 117, you may head to the infirmary. 104, please assist him," Mendez instructed.

"Yes sir," both Fred and John responded as they proceeded to the infirmary.

"Is Watts inside the crate, 034?" Mendez inquired of Sam, who nodded and placed the crate on the floor. Mendez then signaled to the guards, who opened the crate and extracted Colonel Watts. "You scoundrels, you're all dead, do you hear me? DEAD!" Watts snarled at the Spartans as he was quickly restrained and escorted away by the guards.

"He will undoubtedly have much to say in court," Mendez remarked as he observed the Colonel being taken away. "Spartans...Dismissed."

Sam, Kelly, Linda, and Indra saluted and began heading towards the exit, except for Indra, who remained behind with Chief Mendez and Doctor Halsey. As the Spartans departed, Kelly gave Indra one last glance, to which Indra simply responded with a nod.

"So...001," Mendez began, "Were you successful?"

"Affirmative, sir," Indra replied while producing a data chip, "Everything ONI would want is contained within this chip."

"Excellent work, Indra," Halsey said. "Congratulations, by the way."

Indra looked puzzled. "For what exactly, Doctor?" he asked.

"You will be receiving a promotion and a medal for your actions," Mendez responded.

"Wait, what?" Indra exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Yes, the intelligence you have gathered could very well put an end to the insurrections in the Eridanus system," Halsey explained. "Originally, I had planned to inform the rest of your team as well, but doing so would have jeopardized the mission to capture Watts. Therefore, I only informed you, as I knew you were capable of executing such a task successfully."

"Wow… I feel…strange," Indra said nervously, prompting Halsey to chuckle.

"This is only the first of many medals I foresee you earning," Halsey stated. "Oh, and Command now has no further questions about you following your successful mission."