Operation Sunlight Part 1: Aftermath
Posted By: Gruntkiller<ttavenor@nf.sympatico.ca>
Date: 25 June 2003, 4:31 PM
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Operation Sunlight
Chapter 1: Aftermath
0526 Hours, August 32, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Location: unknown
Admiral Randal stood in front of a video screen watching the seemingly endless coverage of the attack and glassing of reach only 2 days earlier. The UNA (United News Association) had been running the near endless footage of human ships desperately trying to defend Reach from Covenant ships within 1 hour after the retreat from Reach was ordered and since then it had only stopped for the occasional public announcement concerning the incident.
Randal pressed a button turning off the screen. He turned around and faced a long narrow table that was lined with high ranking military officials save one seat at the head of the table for him.
"We lost a lot of lives and ships there," said Randal taking his seat at the table. The room was dark illuminated only by a dim light casting shadows over the faces off every official at the table. "Most of those ships were supposed to be part of the force sent for Operation Sunlight too," he added in a sad voice.
"What's the news on the Pillar of Autumn," said a voice from the far end of the table, "the Spartans and it were supposed a major part of the operation."
"From what we have been able to find the Pillar of Autumn fled into slip space following the Cole Protocol so there's no telling where it is," said Randal, "all but two of the Spartans were killed, Master Chief John 117 is believed to have escaped on the Pillar of Autumn and James, He was picked up by a retreating frigate the Henry IV. He's currently in critical condition on his way to Earth, when they found him he was on the edge of death."
"Will we be able to amass a force to replace the ships that were lost a Reach," asked the voice again.
"I'm working on that now," said Randal in an exhausted voice. "Were stretched way to thin as it is and our building docks are working overtime just to try and replace some of the ships that have been lost, they can't change priorities to help build a force to launch an offensive with the Covenant on our front step."
"This mission is vital," said another voice, Randal automatically recognized it as the head of ONI. "If we can't capture a Covenant ship or at least make an impact on their fleet strength and moral we will be sitting ducks. We can't keep Earth hidden from the Covenant for much longer."
"Yes, but it seems that the Prime Minister and his cabinet don't want to risk losing too many ships in what they see as an unnecessary risk," said Randal. "Even if we somehow get a hold of enough ships to launch the attack we still don't have nearly enough Spartans to pull of a boarding action. One alone even with a large force of Marine's will get slaughtered."
"We must come up with an alternative," said the head of ONI. "Other special forces could be used, like Helljumpers or maybe some of the Black squads."
"That could be a solution but the Prime Minister isn't about to let us take a couple of squads form the Helljumpers or Black for a mission that he never approved of," said Randal thoughtfully. "Almost all of Black is out on other missions anyways."
"The Prime Minister can be persuaded," said the head of ONI grimly, "we can get those squads from Black easily, just pull them out of the field."
"Their not under any of our command though, the Prime Minister has direct control over the complete force."
"We can find ways around that, you just get a fleet together and bring up a large enough force and well take care of the 'legal' work," said the head of ONI in an even grimmer voice.
"Good, just make sure it can't be traced back to us."
~
The Prime Minister John Azari walked out of the parliament building flanking him were 6 members of Black assigned to be his personal guard. High above him from what appeared to be a news ship about the size of a pelican a small window opened up and from it a shot was fired off by a sniper. The Prime Minister fell to the ground the bullet went straight through his heart killing him instantly.
Next: James
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