Project Ares Gold Edition

Chapter 18 - Recalled back to HQ

Moleen - Naboo

After a week of heavy storms, the weather eventually eased up and the cruisers were permitted to return to the surface. With them came the full might of the 104th Battalion, their fleet of Venators orbiting in space. Wolffe and his men ended up being alright, with only some mild cases of dehydration between them, turns out that they had found an emergency bunker that had been built following the Trade Federation's blockade decades ago.

As for Chief and the rest of the people at Dry Haven, they were relatively fine. After Chief initiated the shield generator, the base remained mostly untouched, with only some water damage here and there. However, with the communications out, Chief missed about a dozen calls from Tarkin, Fox, Fordo and even Palpatine himself. So when the first few gunships touched down on the ground, Commander Fox stepped out from the sea of supplies and reinforcements alongside a full squad of Coruscant Guard troopers.

"Master Chief, you were recalled back to Coruscant four days ago with no reply. I am here under strict orders from Admiral Tarkin to being you in, any means necessary." Fox informed Chief quite aggressively. Seeing the situation from Coruscant's point of view, 117 realised that his prolonged absence and radio silence must have appeared like he was AWOL. "It's okay sir, our communications got damaged during the storm and we were pinned down inside."

"That may be, but you have been officially AWOL for the last 5 days. From what I've heard across the Military Complex, a big push is about to happen and I think Tarkin wants you at the head of it." The clone commander told Chief, almost whispering the second part. Quickly bidding his farewells to the men in the command centre, Chief jumped on the transport alongside his escort before the ship left for Coruscant.

Republic Military Complex - Coruscant

Upon his return, Chief was immediately summoned to Tarkin's office. Feeling a scolding coming, Chief sighed under his breath before going over to the Admiral's room. Reaching the office, Chief was stopped by two Coruscant guard troopers wielding electro-staffs. "I need to get in there."

"I'm sorry sir, no-one in or out while the Admiral is busy." The trooper hotly replied, slightly adjusting the tip of his staff to point towards Chief. Just as the Spartan was about to do something drastic, the door opened to reveal a Chiss military officer, his red eyes instantly darting upwards to look at the Spartan's visor. "Master Chief, let Commander Thrawn pass and get in here."

"Sir, yes sir." Chief replied, still looking at the Chiss commander. What was so important about Tarkin's meeting with Thrawn that it took priority over whatever assignment the Admiral had in store for the Spartan? After closing the doors and walking up to the Admiral, Chief asked what Tarkin needed. "You asked for me sir?"

"Stand at attention when I speak to you, Spartan." Tarkin ordered whilst walking with his hands tucked behind his back, similar to a drill instructor at boot-camp. Something was clearly wrong, Tarkin was usually an asshole, but this was different. He was more direct, more condescending. "In your absence, the R.S.A. has had three separate missions come up that needed Spartan involvement, but due to your detour on Naboo, I've had to dispatch Commando units instead. Can you guess how many of them failed?"

Chief was about to answer before Tarkin cut him off yet again. "All of them, every single trooper that was sent out because of your absence was killed in action. That makes their failure, your failure. As much as I want to discipline you and put you in front of a tribunal, the R.S.A. still has use for you."

As Tarkin explained what was going to happen next, Chief did not like where this was going. According to the Admiral, Chief was going to be sent on non-stop missions across the galaxy as a penance for his prolonged trip to Naboo. Reluctantly asking where the first assignment was, Tarkin almost cheerfully informed him that the mission was on Tatooine, where he would have to take out a bounty hunter that was under the protection of Jabba the Hutt. Of course, the Republic couldn't sanction this mission due to their fragile agreement with the Hutt clans regarding vital space lanes.