Project Ares

Shattered

Republic Military Complex - Coruscant

After randomly appearing on an isolated Repubublic medical outpost, Chief was rapidly given an executive escort back to Coruscant once the medical personnel found out who he was. Upon his arrival, Chief was ushered into one of the briefing rooms to get debriefed on his prolonged mission. Administering the debrief was Admiral Tarkin alongside Commander Fox, who was only there in a supervisory role.

Following his recount of events, with the exception of his encounter with the Nightsisters, Chief waited and listened as Tarkin explained what was going to be happening to him to make sure he was still fit for duty. Insisting that he proceeded to the Jedi Temple to make sure no diseases, parasites or magics were being carried around. Chief acknowledged the assignment before asking where Blue Team was.

With some hesitance, Tarkin explained that due to the ARC troopers' insubordination, lack of respect and the teams' inability to perform optimally without the Chief, they had been disbanded and sent back to their respective units. Requesting that they be brought back to the R.S.A, 117 was disappointed to hear Tarkin's blatant refusal because apparently 501st was currently deployed on a critical mission to the mid-rim and the ARC troopers were on a covert rescue assignment on the CIS prison world of Lola Sayu.

Finishing off the debrief, Chief left for the Jedi Temple in silence, fairly certain that the admiral got the memo that he was not happy with the outcome of their conversation. "Commander Fox, I want you to trail the Master Chief while he is still of Coruscant. I want to make sure that he doesn't become a potential threat to the R.S.A."

"Sir?" The clone commander asked in confirmation, this type of order wasn't something new for him but he still wanted to make sure he understood the task correctly. Both the Chancellor and Admiral Tarkin have made similar requests before, mostly regarding other high-end officials like senators and people of immense wealth. But this was the first time he had ever been asked to conduct surveillance on a Republic military asset, specifically a fellow soldier. "You heard me commander, I expect a report on my desk regarding the matter in two days."

"Sir, yes sir." Fox replied emotionlessly, though behind the helmet and cooperative voice Fox was deeply reluctant about carrying out this order. After being dismissed, Fox contacted Captain Fordo, picking up the call after the second beep, Fordo asked his superior officer what needed to be done. "Captain, I need you to transfer me your best urban scouts. I have a mission for them, strictly off the records."

"They'll be in briefing room Delta 32 in 20 minutes."

"Thank you Captain, Commander Fox out."

Time skip

After the conclusion of his medical examination, Chief heard a large commotion of healers and doctors heading towards the main landing pad. Something about a large group of injured from Lola Sayu. As fear started to put its talons in the Chief's mind, he quickly pushed away the string of thoughts and headed towards the landing pad.

Upon arriving, he saw three Jedi shuttles land with personnel swarming the doors. The first people that came out were Jedi Masters Obi-wan Kenobi and Even Piell, who were bound to stretchers and had oxygen masks equipped. Next came a few clones with burns and broken bones until finally Anakin and who Chief assumed was Padawan Ahsoka Tano. Looking around for Fives and Echo, Chief's fear returned as he saw no trace of his brothers. As Anakin walked past him, he weakly pointed at one of the shuttles. "Fives is in there Chief, brace yourself, it's not pretty."

Walking up to the shuttle ramp, Chief peered in to see an ARC trooper on the verge of tears. Coming to the devastating conclusion that Echo didn't make it, Chief walked up the small walkway and sat across the clone. Looking up, Fives presented Chief with a brief smile before it quickly faded back to an emotionless state. Though many thought that the Master Chief was nothing more than a killing machine and a supersoldier, Chief understood what Fives was going through. It was this understanding and the mutual respect that they had for each other that made 117 lift up his hands to his head and press a secret button that unlocked his helmet.

"Fives look at me, there's something I have to tell you. Something I learned before I got frozen on that moon." To Fives' utter surprise, Chief voice didn't sound so harsh and mechanic, and his face wasn't covered by armour and visor. Rather it was the man beneath the suit, someone who very few people have actually seen face to face. He had a pair of light blue eyes that had heavy bags hanging beneath them and his head had the typical military buzz cut that was similar to that of Captain Rex.

"I wasn't always a Spartan, I was a kid and this doctor came up to me and said that I had great potential. She took me from my home at an age where I can't even remember what my parents looked like. My house was replaced with boot camp, parents with drill instructors, and toys with weapons. But through all of this, I was never alone, I had my fellow brothers and sisters next to me going through the exact same thing as I was. Then came the augmentations and I lost over thirty of my brothers and sisters in the blink of an eye, and even more followed afterwards due to side effects and mental complications. It was then that the doctor told me that if I didn't continue, their sacrifices would be in vain and that they would have died for nothing. So that is what I'm asking you to do trooper, never forget but always fight on."

"Sir yes sir." Fives replied solemnly, coming to attention and saluting Chief before exiting the shuttle, 117 picked up his helmet from the floor and returned to his faceless state. Leaving the shuttle and heading back to the Republic military complex, Chief received a transmission from Admiral Tarkin, indicating that there was another mission to complete.