Sent To Protect and Serve Humanity

Chapter 49: Joint Task Force

3rd POV

In light of the recent developments between Atlas and the UNSC, the two have come to several agreements with one another, but nothing to concrete. In an effort to build trust between the two goliaths, a joint operation was decided upon, hoping to iron out any distrust between the two.

The mission, on paper, should be relatively easy. It was a simple search and destroy mission with the target of a Geist that had entrenched itself in an old Schnee Dust Company mine.

Courageous knew the only hard part of the mission was finding the damn thing. She would silently lean against one of the drops hip doors in the Manta as they flew toward their destination, wondering how she was selected for this mission.

'Could've been Defi or Okie... even the Helljumpers!' She internally groaned as she began to slouch forward, sighing as she did so.

'I thought Onwards was up-tight.' Spring mentally mumbled, hinting at the two operatives that were also in the aircraft. 'I mean, I don't think these two are as bad as the others, but... I don't know.'

'I know what you mean.' Courageous replied, feeling someone pat her back. She looked up at a smiling blonde boy, feeling a grin form on her own face. "Hey, Jaune. I ever tell you how good you look with a haircut?" A teasing smile replaced the grin.

The boy in question had finally cut that same hairstyle he's had since their Beacon days. That blonde hair that covered his ears was now cut short into an upswept and somewhat spikey style. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his newly trimmed head.

"Thanks, Cour, but... are you okay?" The blonde knight questioned, a sympathetic look in his eyes. "You haven't said a word this whole time."

"Yeah." Courageous shook her head and rubbed her eyes. "Just a bit... ugh." She groaned, glancing at the pair of Atlesians onboard. "You know how I feel about Atlas." She uncomfortably shifted.

Jaune shook his head and leaned on the dropship door next to her. "Cour, I think... I think you need to get to know them. They're great people!"

"Just in an Atlesian uniform." She spat with venom, not giving any ground.

The blonde boy frowned before a peculiar sight caught his eye. He stood back up and peered out the Manta's window, watching a UNSC Falcon fly in formation with them.

"Is this what you guys are bringing?" Jaune eagerly stared out the window. "Is that Perth?"

From the outside of the trio of Mantas, a pair of Falcons had joined the mission, each carrying three Marines and a Halberd-Class. This one in particular happened to be Perth's ride.

Courageous would push herself off the wall and approach the small window that was built into the door. As she peered through the glass, she raised her hand, facing up, and let her beloved assistant materialize for their debrief.

"Affirmative! UNSC Naval and UNSC Marines will clear the LZ with authorized use of deadly force." Spring happily explained in an upbeat tone. "We all know our part of the mission, yes?" She gazed across the room. "Hm?"

The A.I. was met with a series of nods and other affirmative actions. A nod, a thumbs up, and a resounding yes from the ginger grenadier, just to name them. The two Ace Operatives, Elm and Vine, had reacted in an opposite manner, with the latter offering a subtle nod and the former silently gawking at the assistant.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" Spring cocked an eyebrow and felt her digitalized face.

Elm smirked and approached the frigate. "Just a little cutie, aren't you?" She attempted to poke the A.I.