No Gods, Nor Masters

Spartan Ops

Rosie had found herself sleeping in the base of their newfound UN Comrades. It was a place just like theirs, of concrete, armored walls and defensive positions, on the inside of which resided much of the Military and Civilian personnel that were meant to keep the place running. She watched from her seat near the window of her barracks room as Russians, Americans, Japanese and Chinese milled about, doing their duties and somewhat keeping their distance from one-another.

The base was divvied up, as it seemed, between the Yanks and Japanese and the Ruskies and Chinese. Marine Corps and Russian paratroops present seemed to have some sorta rivalry going from what she could tell. She watched one of the Blue Berets competing with their fellow Marines in the shooting range. Iron sights only, each using the other's standard-issue rifle.

It was a funny sight, honestly. Watching those grudges from about five, six centuries ago playing out in front of her in the form of a semi-friendly match of shoot'em up against steel silhouette targets with hit-reg computers. At least they weren't shooting at each-other this time around. Rosie sighed, then stood to her feet and arranged her uniform and cap before stepping out into the hallways.

USMC and even a pair of Russian Airborne greeted her with waves, a pair pf PLA Marines were playing cards and a mix of UNSC, USMC and others played billiards in the open recreation area. She found their Corpsman running a game of some sort of Tabletop far-future grimdark wargame with a bunch of the boys. One of them had lent her an 'Army' of some several thousand points.

"Since when in hell do we have a Games Workshop store in our base?" Murmured Torres as he approached.

"Ain't got the faintest idea of what that is, sir," Rosie replied, watching the Corpsman rolling her dice.

"A store for overpriced plastic miniatures used to play simulation sci-fi wargames," The man explained and arranged his cap. The Corpsman of the USMC moved a piece of a specific creature of hers, which one of the others countered. The man stated, "So, Sergeant Rosalind... What's operating in the UNSC like? I didn't get to ask Richard before he went to take a radio call."

"Last months of the Human-Covenant War were hell. UNSC operations are simple, otherwise. Most our predecessors dealt with were insurrectionists and, much later, the Covenant. Had to kick a bunch of Neo-Nazis and Neo-Commies out of the Rainforests and off the Jovian Moons back in 2100, or so my great-grandpa told me about some of our ancestors," She spoke as she turned to face Richard, who seemed surprised. He cast a sideways glance at the Russians and the Chinese, to which she chuckled and walked up to him, then whispered "Germans backed the Frieden, the Neo-nazis, up. China backed the Koslovics. The Commies."

He whistled, "How'd they get dealt with?"

"Simple. Lots of fuckin' sanctions that almost drove them into the ground," She smirked, "We only stopped when they pretty much threw out their old systems of governance and politicians, then made themselves properly democratic. Germany, ironically, was democratic, but... Ya know how things go some times with history. Leaders, demagogues and somesuch appear."

"Yeah, yeah, I get that," He nodded, "We have had our own situations like that in the past."

"Aye, I remember. History's almost shared, don't'cha know?" She smirked. The man was about to retort, but the two watched Richard walk in. Rosie turned toward him and saluted, to which Richard, his face devoid of emotion, saluted back. She turned toward him and asked, "Sir, what happened?" as her heart sank. She knew Richard's faces pretty well. That was the face of a man struggling to contain anger.

"Total mobilization," He stated bluntly, shocking Rosie, the Corpsman and Torres. He turned toward them, fury burning in his eyes, then explained, "Doctor Halsey just called to tell me about it. The Imps found out about our research base within the Dragon-born's territories. Struck at them and killed a few. Jeanne herself is undergoing medical treatment as we speak... Meanwhile, all our scientists have been captured."