HALO: RE-birth

Reclamation

"As always Ambassador Newa, your council has been heard and appreciated." General Andrews commented. "This tribunal has progressed for three long days. Three days wasted searching for answers to our accusations which were right in front of us..." He and the others turned to the Spartan standing in the middle of the floor.
"John-117 aka the Master Chief, I, Chief General Alexander Andrews, along with the accumulated four hundred members of the Untied Nations Space Command, and Office of Naval Intelligence Council, hereby declare on the evidence of miss-fired ammo, your innocence."
The council grudgingly agreed. One by one the officers filed out of the large room.
"Councilors, if I may." the Chief interrupted. The room fell silent as Master Chief began to speak freely.
"I don't know what's going on here while I'm away, and I won't try to understand it. What I do know and understand is my role as a soldier. I fight for the rights and safety of all who are a part of the UNSC alliance, as well for any alien species who need my help. I understand why you had to investigate Lady Amanda's murder. What I don't understand, or tolerate...is betrayal."
Whispers and murmurs echoed through the room.
"Excuse me?" Lord Smith scoffed.
"When you sent your team to find me and bring me back, one of them tried to kill me."
Commander Westin bit down on the inside of his cheek hard. Master Chief had the nerve to survive and foil his plans. He glanced at the other members. They too were confused and angry. With the state they were in, they would never believe the Chief.
"Are you accusing us of sending someone to assassinate you? Do you truly believe we would stoop so low as to become assassins?" Commander Del Rio fumed.
"If a soldier has become defective, then it is the government's right to send a small team to eliminate the defective soldier. I believe those are the rules...sir."
Del Rio clenched his teeth. This was maddening.
"How dare you soldier! You stand there accusing your government and commanding officers with such conspiracies, yet you don't have a shred of proof to back your theories! How dare you-"
"Your temper is all the proof he needs." Ambassador Newa said calmly. "If what the soldier says is false, why are you so angry for him speaking his mind? Your reaction speaks the opposite of what you are speaking."
Many of the councilors wanted to agree with Del Rio, but decided to stay quiet when the beautiful alien Ambassador spoke. Feeling embarrassed and enraged, Del Rio stormed out of the chamber.
"This tribunal is concluded." General Andrews ordered. Once again everyone cleared the room. Everyone except the Chief and the Orion Ambassador.
"You have made many enemies Master Chief-117."
"I know."
"I know you were telling the truth. Many here have been saying things against you. You are their hero...yet they feel weak and helpless compared to you."
"Now they want me out of the way..."
John stared at the empty chairs surrounding the room.
"It is understandable that you should question the orders given to you. After all, you are human like the rest of them, and yet, there seems to be something god-like about you that frightens them."
Master Chief felt the scars on his armor. Everything felt as though it was spiraling out of focus. Suddenly John didn't feel as strong and tall as he thought.
"I was told to seek you out Ambassador Newa. Apparently you have answers I need.'"
The Orion closed her silver eyes in thought.
"Yes, I know. I too have been in contact with the metal being in the sky. Dark days are on the horizon."

~...~...~...~

Westin clenched his fists and slammed them against the wall.
"DAMMIT!" he shouted. "Damn! How did Master Chief survive?! I gave that girl every skill he had! Every move, all the power he possess, and practically the same DNA...so how the hell did he survive??!!!"
Westin slid to the floor and focused his attention on Cheza's room. There was still time. He had to be patient.
"All good things to those who wait and plan." he sneered. He got up, smoothed out his suit, and calmly walked toward her door.

~...~...~...~

"What the hell was that?" Locke steamed as he and his team checked their weapons.
"I don't understand." Cheza said plainly.
"Chez, why'd you attack Master Chief?" Hawkeye worried.
"That was the mission."
"We were given orders to apprehend him, not just kill him." Locke huffed.
Cheza rubbed her arm. She was still sore from the fight. What happened? She could see herself fighting, but she couldn't stop. All the while she could hear voices in her head telling her to strike the Chief down. How could she explain that to her team?
"...I...was told to..." she began.
"Hey, it's not like you wanted to attack the old man." Hawkeye smiled kindly. He turned to the team. "I mean, we all heard the order. I guess Chez was the only one with the stones to do something."
"I just never thought I'd see the day when we would be hunting down the Chief." Buck sighed. The team stood around Cheza's bedside as she rested from her recent battle. Afraid to leave her alone, they remained close to her in order to talk about what happened on Gao.
"Has anyone heard anything about the trial?" Locke asked.
"I overheard the Shiiran Ambassador say the Chief's innocent." answered Vale.
"And he would be right."
Commander Westin sauntered into the room. His mouth was a thin line that told everyone he was upset about the verdict. Fireteam Osiris stood and saluted the commander. Everyone except Cheza. She still had so many questions swirling in her mind about him. Questions she was afraid to ask without the Chief by her side.
"At ease." Westin said stiffly. "You all did what you could to recapture Master Chief. What I would like to know, is how the hell did Blue Team know exactly where you were, and why they interfered with your mission."
The team looked to each other nervously. They were wondering the same.
"Rest assured sir. No one from this team leaked a word." Locke promised.
"Maybe you were overheard." Hawkeye shrugged. Westin bit his gum as he thought about the conversation he had with Thomas Lasky.
"...That boy scout..." he hissed under his breath.
"Are you alright sir?" Tanaka asked.
"Yes. However the case, Blue Team is now involved, and there's no way they'll allow anyone to get near Master Chief."
"You mean near enough to kill him." Locke said disapprovingly.
Westin looked to each of his squad. He could feel them dissolving. They grudgingly followed his orders, and when they had the chance to kill Master Chief, he felt they wanted to miss.
"We're soldiers, not your personal team of assassins Commander. We're not in the habit of shooting first, then asking questions later." Hawkeye grumbled. The others agreed. Daniel Westin clenched his hands behind his back. This was not what he needed right now. He needed Master Chief dead. He needed Fireteam Osiris to follow any and every order given to them without question. They were suspecting him. He closed his eyes and placed his thoughts in order.
"My own personal team of assassins? Young man...do you know who it was that gave me the order to eliminate Master Chief?" he sneered. The team fell silent. Cheza tried to sit up as she listened with deep interest.
"Every soldier you fight with. Every commanding officer you serve. Every member of the High Council you and I answer to. They are the ones who issued the order. Do you think for one moment I enjoyed repeating those foul words? Do you think I don't know what the Master Chief has done for humanity? For the galaxy? I may not like the fact that you all have placed him on a pedestal of god-like proportions, but that does not mean I don't respect him."
Cheza stared at him. He was lying. Suddenly memories of her childhood came rushing back. She remembered all the times Westin would curse the Chief under his breath, thinking no one would hear him. She remembered the voices all around her talking about "replacing" the Chief with her. Cheza stared close and hard at her commanding officer. He was lying. She could feel it.
"Was there something you needed sir?" she asked dryly. The longer Westin stayed talking, the longer he would take in getting to the point of his visit.
"Yes." Westin winced. "I came here for you Thirteen. Since the Chief's been cleared of all charges, Blue Team has been given a stealth mission on board Argent Moon, and since you are the best stealth officer this military has to offer, I have recommended you to go with them."
Hawkeye glanced at Cheza. He was hoping to spend more time with her before she'd be sent away again. So much for that idea.