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Chapter 4: Master Chief and the War Machine
The Master Chief stood looking at the black and silver armour of the War Machine holding the chain gun in his hands. “Colonel Rhodes, these people were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time they are innocent of the problems at the Triskelion, they are not hostile, and I have injured on board that ship.” He said he’d defend these people regardless of the War Machine’s decision, they’d gone through enough already.
“They will receive all required medical help then each will be vetted by the United States Army and if found innocent we will help them otherwise, I need you to stand-down, Master Chief!” He commanded his weapons not leaving the Chief’s form. “You have my word they will not be mistreated.” He said raising his weapons off the Chief as he spoke. The lone Spartan slowly lowered his own chain gun aiming it at the ground away from the War Machine allowing the security team to move in on the ship and take the SHIELD agents into custody.
Several weeks later and the Master Chief was still stuck on Andrews Field without an assignment since the fall of SHIELD. Natasha “Black Widow” Romanov had released dozens of documents which ended the last fragments of SHIELD now leaving a void where the organisation once was. Elsewhere elements of HYDRA continued to cause problems for the nations of the world. Because the Pelican, his weapons and his armour technically belonged to the Master Chief he’d been given a hanger with round o’clock security while Cortana had been allowed to transfer between the hanger and to the Avenger’s tower in New York at will working with Tony Stark and Dr Bruce Banner in an attempt to solve her oncoming rampancy problem. Boredom was becoming a problem but the Master Chief had spent time refining and cleaning his equipment as he was at work in the hanger Colonel James Rhodes entered the hanger dressed in his United States Air Force uniform. “Master Chief” he said the Spartan didn’t turn around immediately “it looks clean to me” the dark skinned Colonel said looking over the MJOLNIR armour suit.
“It can never be too clean or too ready” he said turning around to face Rhodes “how can I assist you, Colonel?” He questioned the two men had a grudging respect for each other despite facing each other down with weapons when the Chief had first arrived.
“As you may be aware there are still elements of HYDRA on the loose around the globe?” The Chief nodded “the Central Intelligence Agency has been tracking them down and the Avengers have been taking them out around the world. I’ve been tasked with eliminating a HYDRA cell that we have identified here in the United States at a disused army base. We believe they have secured themselves access to multiple surplus army vehicles and they are trying to build an army we cannot allow that on our soil.” He explained crossing the room leaning against the front of the Pelican.
“Then why not use your own forces I have read much since arriving here despite the presence of the Avengers and the lack of any worldwide conflicts there is still great strength in the United States military.” The Chief pointed out
“Yes, but to confront HYDRA’s assembled units could cause a far greater conflict than the military need on our own soil. The military will hold a perimeter while we go in and capture their leadership.” Rhodes said between the two of them they were an army. “You can do this or remain cooped up here in this hanger.” He pointed out.
Several hours later the Master Chief’s Pelican was approaching the enemy base with War Machine flying alongside. Rhodes banked to the right diving towards the main gate as planned he would give them a chance to surrender. As he approached the gates suddenly a large amount of flak began to be fired into the air sending explosions around them. In response the War Machine fired a cloud of chaff into the air near him sending an incoming missile wide of his suit Rhodes then opened fire with his over shoulder cannon blasting one guard tower with a stream of weapons fire blowing it to pieces. Above the Chief watched for a moment as HYDRA units moved towards the gates, there must have been thirty-forty personnel, as they passed he picked his moment switching the Pelican onto autopilot he turned and ran towards the rear of the ship opening the rear cargo door as he moved.
Suddenly the armoured soldier was falling through the air towards the ground gravity doing its job and bringing him down he activated his jet pack to slow his fall before finally free falling the final ten feet to the ground shaking the ground the impact on the ground causing a small crater and a flicker from his suit’s shields. The Chief didn’t hesitate and immediately a rocket launcher from his back and targeted a guard tower destroying it with a single rocket from the double tubed weapon as the weapon cycled small arms fire slammed into his armour from multiple directions as he turned and fired a second rocket into a communication tower causing more confusion and chaos. Behind the Master Chief War Machine moved forwards rapidly into the base using his suit’s jets to make a massive jump in front of an Abrams Main Battle Tank he knelt in front of the vehicle grabbing the ground of the vehicle even as small arms fire hit the suit. Rhodes fired his jump jets once more throwing the massive vehicle through the air like it was a toy.
The tank flew through the air slamming into the ground in front of the main building ripping up the ground as the tank exploded. The Master Chief ran quickly over the ground firing his remaining two rockets as he moved destroying a row of armoured vehicles before discarding the launcher drawing his assault rifle aiming at enemy troops. Moving forwards War Machine’s wrist guns and turreted cannon cut down multiple enemies as the two figures charged towards the building.
Replacing the assault rifle onto the back of his suit he launched through the air on his suit’s upgraded jets the Master Chief flung his MJOLNIR armour through the window entering the building his armour’s shield’s flaring as he rolled across the ground. The Chief drew two sub-machine guns from their thigh holsters and rose to his feet firing as he moved cutting down enemies all around the room. In the next room the War Machine burst through the wall of the building and cut down the two occupants there meeting the Chief in the corridor. “More fun than cleaning your armour?” Rhodes asked
“Just a little” the Chief admitted “we have eight more on the floor above.” He warned as Rhodes flew up the stairs for a moment several large calibre machine guns opened fire peppering his armour. “And they are prepared”
“Any ideas?” Rhodes asked as he returned fire on them withdrawing down the stairs he had a couple of his own but was curious to see what the warrior would come up with. The Chief didn’t immediately answer instead he put machine guns back onto their holstered position on his armour’s thighs and closed his fists.
“I’m in the mood for dancing” he said quietly but loud enough for Rhodes to hear over the commlink “and romancing” he said activating both energy blades instead of Sangheili blades the both activated as long individual blades.
“Tony’s idea?” Rhodes asked the Chief knew he referred to the tune “you need to change that.” He said not waiting for a reply “even with your shields you can’t take the punishment up there.”
“Not going the normal way” he said thrusting both blades straight up into the roof weakening the structure of the building the Chief moved quickly slicing open the roof shattering the concrete. He then launched upwards using his armour’s enhancements and jump jets. Half a ton of soldier smashed through the roof rising up to the upper floor of the building surprising his enemies. Releasing the blades he drew out both sub-machine guns covering the War Machine as he followed him up landing at his back between the two of them they had the entire room covered.
“STAND DOWN!” War Machine bellowed through his suit’s external speakers. The men and women arranged around them did not move for a moment remaining in their positions some of them with weapons drawn some deciding what to do. “You won’t get another warning now STAND DOWN!” He shouted another warning as neither War Machine nor the Chief’s weapons wavered from their targets a moment seemed to pass before one of the HYDRA commanders stepped forwards.
“I am Colonel Norman Knight” he said introducing himself to the two men he was in his forties and other than the BDU of a US Marine that he wore not much stood out about the man. “For you two to have wrought so much destruction in the name of SHIELD and yet you know nothing about the crimes that they committed.” He taunted them stepping closer to the Master Chief.
“We are here on the authority of the United States Government. I am Colonel James Rhodes and I can accept your surrender.” War Machine replied again they had nothing to do with SHIELD and regardless that had no reflection on their current mission.
“Or be my executioner.”
“If it has to go that way” the Chief said interrupting the two of them “Colonel, you cannot win.” He warned the man his guns not lowering.
“Colonel, make your choice.” Rhodes commanded within a couple of moments the remaining HYDRA personnel chose to surrender leaving only the Colonel standing defiant with one of the Master Chief’s sub-machine guns pointed at his throat.
Finally the man spoke “I surrender” he said with those two words the battle was over the remaining guards dropped their weapons at their feet and quickly the United States National Guard unit surrounding the area were able to move in and secure the area taking control over the base. The Master Chief recalled his Pelican while he and War Machine walked out of the facility.
“We should do this again.” Rhodes suggested as the massive Pelican flew overhead slowly turning so the rear of the craft faced them the cargo bay ramp opening as it came in for a soft landing. There was not another craft on Earth that could land as lightly as the Pelican despite all the advancements people had made.
“Agreed” the Chief said stepping onto the ramp “you know where I am, Colonel” he said stepping into the craft the door closing behind him as the craft rose into the air. Behind the Pelican War Machine took off flying up alongside the Pelican for a moment before banking away leaving the Chief to return to base alone.
Meanwhile in New York Cortana watched as Tony Stark and Dr Bruce Banner silently worked in their lab at the top of Avenger Tower. For the last four hours the two had said a total of fourteen words to each other. Over the last few months she had found this to be a normal occurrence the two were friends but each of them appeared equally comfortable with working in silence as they did speaking. Together they had found several ways to slow the Rampancy that was slowly taking over her program; ways that the people of the UNSC had never even considered. Tony Stark’s own personal AI assistance JARVIS constantly challenged Cortana attempting to keep her program from thinking too much instead providing her with a constant stream of puzzles even when she was doing other tasks this had helped slow the Rampancy but she knew that it was only a matter of time before she would need to be shut down. And on that day John would be alone. She thought suddenly she focused on him the Master Chief ignoring Stark, Banner and JARVIS and thought about the Master Chief he’d lost so much over the years his original parents, the other Spartan II’s, Captain Keyes and his crew and then his Keyes’ daughter Miranda and her crew, Sergeant Avery Johnston and now finally her.
“Cortana…” Stark repeated walking around the room “normally this works…” he explained glancing at the Asian woman who stood nearby “Earth to the magnificent AI that isn’t called JARVIS…” he called out again. Cortana noted that Banner was barely containing himself as he watched Stark walk around the room.
“You know I am listening, Stark” Cortana said as her hologram ‘stepped’ out of a nearby wall she’d learned that Tony Stark answered better to Stark when he was in one of these kinds of moods. Her hologram appeared as it normally did on Earth wearing the navy jumpsuit she’d adopted to keep people feeling more comfortable around her. According to Tony he preferred her ‘sexed-up’ hologram but she’d learned that sometimes as brilliant as he was he needed to be ignored.
“I’m glad to hear it” he said glancing at the other female in the room “this is Dr Helen Cho she has been working on some remarkable projects with some of Earth’s greatest minds myself and Dr Banner included” he explained “and together with her we might be able to help solve some of your problems.”
