Spectre 117 (Halo & Mass Effect Story)

Chapter 11: Crew Check

(I do not own Halo or Mass Effect.)

06:00 Hours, February 25th, 2560
SSV Normandy
Undisclosed location in the Exodus Cluster

Master Chief's eyes snapped open. He'd only been asleep for about four hours, but it was the most comfortable four hours he had in a while. He looked forward to when he'd get to enjoy full seven hour sleep shifts. He got up out of his bed and went to work putting on his armor, which made Cortana raise her eyebrow as she materialized on the computer.

"You're putting on your armor?" Cortana asked.

"Yes." Chief replied.

"Why? We won't be reaching Therum for at least another sixty hours."

Chief opened his mouth to give an answer, only to find he couldn't give one. Instead, he stayed silent and resumed putting on his armor.

"You didn't answer my question." Cortana noted.

"I like being prepared." Chief said as he put on his helmet.

"Prepared for what? We're in the middle of nowhere."

"No. We're in the middle of the Traverse where pirate attacks are very common. If we get boarded, I'd like to be ready for them."

Cortana sighed in defeat. She learned a long time ago that getting a Spartan to walk around without their armor was kind of like trying to get a little kid to eat broccoli. Cortana went into her A.I. chip and Chief slipped it into the back of his helmet.

Chief noticed Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko working on a control panel of some kind by the sleep pods. He wiped some sweat off his brow, which struck the spartan as odd since it wasn't that hot, at least not to him. He also notices Fives and Echo talking to each other, like usual. Nothing different than last time.

"So, what are we gonna do today?" Cortana asked.

Chief thought about it for a moment. "Might as well check our progress. See how we're doing."

He then turned around and headed up the stairs towards Deck 1.

Cortana mentally sighed. Poor Chief. It was the two-day journey to Eden Prime all over again; her Spartan was bored and was desperate for something to do.

Chief ascended the stairs and arrived at the CIC. The marines standing guard by the door saluted Chief, and he saluted back. With that out of the way, Chief walked up to XO Pressly. He was The Normandy's navigation and executive officer. He was Anderson's second-in-command, and is now Chief's; at least as far as the ship goes. Kaidan was head of marine detail so he was the Chief's right-hand man on the battlefield. Still, Chief felt comfortable with Pressly as XO. He was good at his job. Speaking of which, if anyone would know what their progress was, it would be him.

"Chief." Pressly said with a salute, which The Chief returned out of habit. "I never got the chance to properly congratulate you on making Captain. I know you'll run this ship as tight as Anderson did sir. Very good speech earlier too. It really raised the crew's spirits."

"How's our progress?" Chief asked.

"We're passing through the Exodus Cluster right now, but Therum's still a long way off, I'm afraid." Pressly replied. Chief nodded in reply. He figured as much. "Uh, sir? Permission to speak freely?" Pressly asked.

"Granted."

"Well, I'm not entirely sure if bringing non-Humans aboard the ship was a good idea." Pressly began. "Humanity's always taken care of its own problems. Saren attacked one of OUR colonies, we should be the ones to handle it. Plus... well... you're the Master Chief. You don't need any help from aliens, do you?"