Spartan Freelancer

Arrival

In orbit of Reach, humanities fortress world, hundreds of ships were in constant motion. some docking for repairs in shipyards, others setting out for the front lines. Amid the organized chaos, a standard UNSC Pelican Dropship made its way to an inconspicuous looking Paris Class Heavy Frigate. This was the Mother of Invention.

Onboard the craft the newly Designated Agent Indiana, doing the final checks on his silver and copper armor. It was a different piece of Hardware than the old SPI MK II armor and Mjolnir Mark VB he had worn, but it would do for now.

"We're here" Came a voice from the cockpit. "Welcome to the Mother of Invention Agent. And try not to hit your head on the way out."

"Understood ECHO-479" He responds quickly and shortly.

"hey just call me Four Seven Niner like the others" She responds. It's what I'm used to.

"Negative" Indiana responds before opening the Pelicans rear doors and stepping into the hanger.

"Damn, is he all business or something? Must be fun at parties." She responds to no one but herself in the empty cockpit.

Indiana descends from the Pelican's ramp into the bustling Hanger seeing work crews running around all over the place. Refueling transports, doing vehicle maintenance, and preparing for whatever the next mission might be.

"Agent Indiana" The new agent turned his head to see a black man in a black Jumpsuit. "follow me please"

"Of course sir" They turn and walk down the hallways, eventually coming to what resembled a classroom. Inside at the front is an older man, seemingly in his late 40's or 50's. Indiana Knows him from briefings as Dr. Leonard Church, the Director of Project Freelancer.

"Ah Agent Indiana, a pleasure to meet you." Spoke the director in a pronounced southern drawl, that almost sounded like it was exaggerated. "I hope you prove yourself a benefit to the project."

"I'll do what I'm able to sir." Indiana responds in a tone neutral and professional. Like that of a trained soldier. 'Why are we in here sir?"

"This is where I will introduce you to the other freelancers. Those who you will be working with during your time in this project." States the Director as eight of the ten Freelancers stationed aboard the Mother of Invention filed into the room. 

"who's the new guy?" Asked a female soldier in Orchid colored armor.

"Not sure." Replied the male soldier next to her in Violet armor. "But it's weird he was brought in on such short notice."

"Well hey, who knows? Maybe he's good." Chimes in the Tan armored freelancer behind them.

"Can't be any worse than wash" Replies the female Freelancer. Hearing a cry of indignation from across the room.

"Quiet all of you!" Shouts The Director. causing the room to fall silent and the attention to shift to him. "Before I introduce our newest agent, could someone tell me where Agents Texas and Carolina are?"

Just as he says that two other agents enter. one in Teal armor sporting a rogue type helmet instead of one resembling the experimental Mark VI helmet. With the other one in all black Mark VI type.

"Agent Texas, Agent Carolina. I ordered you all to be here 5 minutes ago. Where were you two?" He demands to know.

"They were in the Training room in the middle of a sparring match" Chimes in the Shipboard Dumb A.I. F.I.L.S.S. "When the call came out Agent Carolina refused to forfeit the match, and kept it going till she collapsed from exhaustion"

"Told her she'd tire herself out" Responded the Black-armored freelancer revealed to be Agent Texas. "But she refused to listen"

"Take your seats you two" He states, "We have a new agent here to introduce and I would prefer you be on time"

"It won't happen again sir." Replies Carolina dejectedly

"We'll see about that" Came the Director's reply. "Moving on, I brought you all here to introduce the newest Agent of Project Freelancer. Agent Indiana."

"Greetings" Stated the new agent.

"UNSC High command sent this new agent because they are dissatisfied with our efforts against the insurrection." He stated. "As such, they have sent us another agent to focus more on directly combating the insurrectionist threat." He finishes

None of the freelancers ask questions. Figuring there could maybe be more learned by personally interacting with him. Indiana was just glad the cover story held.

"Now Agent Indiana, I will let you know who each of our agents is, Agent Carolina"  He gestured to the teal armored freelancer, "Agent Connecticut" He points to the Brown armored soldier with E.O.D. style armor. "Agent Florida" Referring to the soldier in what looked to be Blue ODST armor, Something Indiana was going to ask about. "Agent Maine" Referencing the White armored freelancer in an EVA helmet. "Agent New York" The freelancer in Tan armor. "Agents North and South Dakota" referring to the Male and Female Freelancers who had a conversation about the new soldier a short while earlier. "Agent texas" The black-armored freelancer from earlier. "Agent Washington" The Steel and yellow-clad Freelancer who was clearly not a fan of York's earlier comment. " And Agent Wyoming" Referencing the All white armored freelancer nearer to the back. "That will be all agents, Dismissed."

The Freelancers file out of the classroom leaving only The Director, Agent Indiana, and the Black Man in a jumpsuit from earlier. "Agent Indiana, Councilor price here will give you a tour of the facilities on this ship. He will then escort you to the quarters you will be sharing with Agent Washington. Do you understand?"

"Sir yes sir" He replied to the superior officer, as he didn't need the man to distrust him.

"Follow me, agent." Replied the councilor. Indiana nodded and made his way through the corridors of the ship.