Matt-038 (Halo Fanfiction)

Chapter 19: Training the Lone Wolf

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for all the support! You've been great with inspiring me, and I am highly appreciative of your input. If you have any tips writing tips, please feel free to comment.

Again, I gratefully accept constructive criticism as a means to help me develop my skills further as a writer.

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Chapter 19: Training the Lone Wolf

4 years after SPARTAN-III Alpha Company OPERATION: PROMETHEUS

Location: Zeta Doradus system, planet Onyx, near Camp Currahee

August 24, 2541

1620 hours

Matt, Kurt, and Chief Mendez watched the Beta Company candidates perform an exercise where they had to ring a bell in the center of an open field. This was similar to an exercise that SPARTAN-IIs did back in training.

"Team Foxtrot shouldn't have walked out into the open like that," Matt observed. "If that happened in real life combat, they would've been wounded or dead by now."

"You're right," Kurt said. "That was a bad move by Tom to do that."

"He needs some more leadership training," Mendez said.

'I can take care of that,' Matt thought. 'I'll have to help him get some better leadership skills and battlefield tactics. Lucy also could use some help on fighting skills as well.'

What's the point of 'exercise,' Lieutenant?" Deep Winter asked as he looked at Matt.

The AI projection of an old man took a step towards the bank of monitors and touched the screen showing a boy and a girl pinned down by machine-gun fire. A crackle of ice spread over the plastic.

"The point is to have them fight together to survive. They have to learn to become more like family than a fireteam," Matt said.

"Well I do sure hope this won't backfire sir because this was your idea," the AI said.

"Trust me, I know," Matt replied. "And for the record, it won't backfire."

"I hope you're right."

Chief Mendez stood, and swatted at a mosquito, frowning as he glanced back and forth among the two dozen displays in Camp Currahee's control center. The air conditioner had broken and all three of them were soaked with sweat.

Kurt said, "Our candidates are doing well in their studies?"

Deep Winter turned his glacier-blue gaze to the Lieutenant Commander. "You've have seen my reports. You know they are. Since you announced their grades were a factor in the selection process, they practically kill themselves every night to learn everything before they pass out. Frankly, I don't see—"

"I suggest," Kurt said, "you do not worry about seeing the point of my battlefield drills, and focus on keeping the candidates on track with their studies."What could an AI possibly know what it was like on a real mission? Bullets zinging so close over your head that you didn't so much as hear them hut felt them pass. Or what it was like to get hit, but still have to keep going, bleeding, because if you didn't everyone on your team would die?

Alpha Company had lost its team cohesion on Operation PROMETHEUS. Matt and Kurt vowed that would not happen with Beta Company.

Deep Winter ruffled his cape, and a flurry of illusionary snow swirled about the control room. The AI was likely programmed with human safety protocols, so it was natural for it to be concerned.