Awakening in the stars

As the pelican carrying him touched down at Castle base, Jamie could see the effects of the covenant on the area, blackened defences from plasma shots and explosions with some sections of the outer wall looking worse than others, yet despite all of this the marines and other personnel didn't let their spirits waver, they had endured dozens of relentless assaults from the covenant even fighting alongside Spartans to fight off a covenant corvette, as Jamie walked into the base and saw the grim determination in the eyes of everyone he passed, he felt pride for they had survived where countless others had fallen, he hoped that they would make it out alive even though he knew that they most likely would not which was why he needed to talk to High Comm as soon as possible.

As he made his way up the elevator and through the checkpoint, and ONI officer approached him, "Spartan-118, if you would follow me sir, the higher up are waiting." the man said before walking off, as Jamie followed him he began to wonder what to expect, he had already sent ahead his report and was now going to confirm the details, plus captain Magnus said that his contact would be the one in charge here but given ONI's track record throughout all the halo books and games that he played and read, Jamie was sure that this briefing would go either really well, or really really bad.

Upon reaching a big metal door, the ONI officer stopped and turned to face him,"They are waiting inside sir, please set in." he said to the Spartan as he turned and left, as he was leaving Jamie stepped closer to the door which opened as he neared it, inviting him into the dark room beyond, as he stepped in and the door shut behind him he walked a few steps before a brights light suddenly turned on with him right in the middle, despite the momentary loss of vision Jamie could clearly see a raised platform with five shadowy individuals behind desks, all watching him, still dazed he saluted and waited. "At ease Spartan." said a gruff voice from the left, an older man from the sound of it, as Jamie relaxed another more feminine voice began to talk."Spartan-118, we have called you here to clear some doubts we have about your report, there are several things of interest to us including how you appeared here after 21 years of being MIA, these strange creatures called the 'Flood' and the fact that both the UNSC Spirit of Fire has been lost with all hands as well as Spartan red team and an experimental A.I, is that understood?". "Yes ma'am." Jamie said curtly, not wanting to give away his discomfort of the light, "Very well then, give us your report." the voice said, and so Jamie did, from first contact with the covenant on Harvest, to chasing them to Arcadia and through the galaxy trying to stop whatever they were planning, to the Spirit finding the forerunner shield world, and their desperate fight against the flood, and how Cortana stayed behind to make sure that the ships slipspace drive detonated, to ensure everything was destroyed to him being stuffed in a makeshift pod the took him thought slipspace, all the way back to Reach, of course, four of the five kept interrupting him, asking vaugue questions or asking for clarifications on details that were taken out of the report until finally the fifth voice spoke up.

"Well Spartan-118, it's seems like you've been through a lot, but as you can tell, we are currently under attack by a few dozen covenant warships, and a being pushed back, Reach has already fallen its only a matter of time, in fact a few hours ago, one of our Spartan team destroy a tower that revealed a cloaked covenant supercarrier that has made things even worse so we won't take up anymore of your time, all of you are dismissed." the voice said in a level voice, as the other four shadows stood up and began to leave Jamie snapped a quick salute then turned to leave as well before the voice stopped him. "Wait a moment Spartan, I wish to ask some more private questions." it said still not moving from its place, as Jamie stepped back into the circle of light, the shadow just looked at him for a few minutes before talking again. "Captain Magnus has told me about your shared 'condition' and let me say that I understand as I also share the same fate, but I have been here longer than both of you and have decided not to interfere with anything too drastically, I will assist you though of course, we can't have all of ONI out to get the Spartans can we." the shadow said with a dry chuckle. "So tell me Jamie, what do you want to do?" the shadow said expectantly.

As Jamie pause and though, he realized that he just wanted to save as many people as possible and to do that he had to follow the Master Chief and help him, "Sir, if I am able too, I would like to join Noble team, I feel that their sacrifices were tragic and I wish to prevent them, I wish to help save as many human lives as possible and to do that I need to follow 'Him', if you would let me do this I would be most grateful and would feel as if I had repaid the UNSC for the chance of giving me a way to help others, and so that I can honor those lost on the Spirit of Fire." Jamie said taking off his helmet and looking the shadow right were the eyes should be, hoping to get through to whoever or whatever was hidden in the dark.

The shadow paused as if thinking, waying the pros and cons of such a decision, and the effects that it would have on the timeline that it had refused to interfere with, then finally it spoke "Your request, is quite noble Jamie, and your goals align with mine so yes, you will accompany Spartan Team Noble, and you will assist them and you will save those that you can, but as for joining the Master Chief and his adventure across the Halos, that will be up to whether or not you can convince Dr.Halsey as she is also privy to this information and insists that he carry out his duty alone as he would have all along. Good look 118, may the force be with you." the shadow said with a chuckle before getting up and leaving Jamie all alone in the dark.

He had done it, he had convinced High Command to let him help the ones who he though deserved to be saved the most, and so he put back on his helmet and left the room, as he exited the ONI officer from before was waiting for him and he wasn't alone. As Jamie approached them the ONI officer introduced the man next to him "Spartan-118, this is colonel Holland, you will be working with Noble tea, under his directive from now on." the man said before turning and leaving them alone, after he left the Colonel turned to him and looked him right in the eyes "I don't know how you convinced them but welcome to Noble team Spartan, you joined just in time as Noble is getting ready for something big, we call it Operation Uppercut, and we are going to kill us a covenant supercarrier, the rest of Noble Team is ready, are you?" Colonel Holland asked the Spartan to which Jamie returned a his most crisp salute yet"Sir yes sir."