halo.bungie.org

They're Random, Baby!

Fan Fiction


ONI Black Ops Chapter One
Posted By: Havok<Tactical_Havok@hotmail.com>
Date: 2 May 2003, 12:09 AM


Read/Post Comments

      Vladimir stood perfectly still, and let the body reading laser sweep over him. The scan finished, and a pad slid out of the wall.

      "Handprint identification please." A female intoned

      Vladimir raised his hand and placed it on the reader. The pad warmed and a blue light seeped through his hand.

      "Handprint accepted. Good evening, Doctor Ivanov." The female voice said, with a little more emotion now that his identity had been confirmed.

      Vladimir ignored the security AI and opened the door. He strode down to the end of the hallway, where his identity had to be checked yet again. This whole procedure was really starting to piss him off. Reach had fallen less than two weeks ago, and security had tightened to the point of choking him. The security was completely ridiculous of course. The covenant were not going to be sneaking around in a top secret ONI facility. They would destroy the place and leave. That is, if they ever found the place, which was extremely unlikely.

      And besides, Vladimir was in a big hurry. He had been woken by a phone call not an hour earlier. His superior told him to come down right away, that something big had come up and needed his immediate attention. Something always needed his immediate attention, but his superior sounded on edge, so Vladimir didn't complain and said he would be right there.

      He got to his office. It was spacious, well, as far as offices in ONI go. He had a desk, two chairs, two file cabinets, his own AI, one computer terminal, and one holographic imager. His superior stood, looking at some pictures framed on the wall. Two other men were with him. From the looks of them, one was a bodyguard, and the other was a man of considerable importance.

      "Vladimir, you're finally here. Security is a bitch, isn't it." His superior turned and said, earning a glare from the important man. He apparently disapproved of foul language.

      Vladimir took his seat behind his desk. "Can I help you two gentlemen?" he asked.

      The important man spoke. "I have come to you about a matter of considerable importance. I have asked around, and found that you are the best in the business."

      "I try, sir."

      "Yes, well before I divulge any sensitive information, I must have you volunteer for this assignment. All I can tell you is that it will involve covenant technology, and the development of a particular technology for military use. This technology could potentially be the deciding factor in this war. Do you accept?"

      Vladimir thought about it. "Will I stay here in this facility?"

      "No. you will be transported to an undisclosed location, where you will have access to the best equipment and minds that the UNSC can offer."

      He thought some more, but in the back of his mind, he already knew his decision. "I'll do it."




      Vladimir eased back into his chair, propped his feet up on the desk, closed his eyes, and thought. The man had given a few extra details about the op, but was squeamish about revealing anything really juicy until Vladimir had moved to the facility where he would begin his work. And that sucked. It was against his entire mindset to accept a job before he knew all the details. But this one had a special feeling to it. This one was big.

      He looked at his watch. It was almost 11:30. Better get some sleep. He got up, locked his office and headed for his quarters. He got to his room and fell onto his bunk. As he fell asleep, his mind concocted a dozen different possibilities for the mission at hand.

      Vladimir woke up to the sound of horns blasting the wake up call. He stumbled out of bed and hit the shower. After the shower, feeling quite refreshed, he sat down to some breakfast bars and reconstituted orange juice. He was almost out the door when he remembered he had to shave.

      He was back at his office an hour later, cursing security measures. He walked around his desk and sat down, ready for the morning's email. He opened his email file and found no mail. Puzzled, he called up his supervisor and asked what he should be doing because there was no email work. His supervisor told him to get down to section three headquarters, and that he was to report for his new assignment.

      He jumped to his feet and was out the door before his boss could cut the connection. He almost ran down the hall to the elevator, which took him to the lowest level. After another fifteen frustrating minutes, he was standing at attention at his commanding officer's desk. He received his orders and left. He was to report to the main hangar and get on transport C-137A. He was to take no belongings; everything he needed would be supplied for the duration of his assignment.

      He made it to the hangar in a personal record of thirty minutes, hoped aboard the transport, and was whisked out of the atmosphere and into space. The transport made slipspace and Vladimir was escorted to a cryo tube. The tube sealed shut and a mist fogged up the chamber and drove him into unconsciousness.





bungie.org