Spartan Valor Part 3

John was surprised as he walked into the base seeing Linda and Fred talking with Dr. Halsey. Halsey's eyes instantly trained on John. Her eyes widened as they met his 0and she rushed over to him. She had never seen such a cold fury burning there.
"What happened John?" He looked away from his long time mentor trying to reign in his emotions.
"Covenant took Tanis. She's missing." Halsey gasped in shock. He looked up as she put a hand on his cheek. John nodded as looked past her at his fellow Spartans.
"Come with me. I'll tell Cortana to meet us in the armory." She said turning away from them and leading them away from armory they had been heading to. Kelly looked up at him and John just shrugged and followed Halsey.

Kelly let out a low whistle as she looked around the armory. 'Spartan Amory is more like it' She thought as she picked up a small carbon steel throwing knife. Fred just smiled as he stood next to Kelly admiring the knives.
"I always wanted to be prepared and over the last five years you could say I got bored." She said as she watched them start picking out weapons. Halsey moved to back wall where four large steel cases stood. "But a Spartan would never be complete with out proper armor." She said as she pulled a remote from her pocket. As she hit the button the cases popped open with a hiss. The lids slowly opened revealing the latest models of the Mjolnr armor. "The Mark VIII Mjolnr armor each armor has been customized for your specific skills." She said stepping towards them.

Each Spartan stepped towards the armors. Kelly quickly began strip down and change into the under suit.  Her suit had been slimmed down for speed and agility. As she began to suit up she noticed many of the panels had been angled to defend against projectile weapons and turn the armor itself into a weapon. John and Fred's armors were similar except Fred's was black and held more knives than John's. 'Always the shadow' he thought with a small smirk. Linda smiled as she noticed the plating to down the arm so that she could mount her rifle onto the suit.
"Since Kelly's already down suiting up people suit up and gear up. We move in ten." The other Spartans moved quickly getting their armor on and grabbing their new weapons.
"Ready sir." John looked at Fred as he picked up his helmet.
"Let's move." He waited for them leave the cage as Cortana stepped towards them. She pulled him down giving him a quick kiss for luck.'
"I don't care how you do it John but you bring her home." She said placing her hands on his chest.
"I will Tana never doubt that." He said turning away.
"John…" He turned back to her. Her bright blue eyes had gone navy with rage as she stood next to Halsey. "I'll be jacked in and with you just like old times." John smirked as he grabbed his helmet and left the Spartan armory.


The recruits stopped as they watched the four Spartans in full gear walk towards a waiting pelican. Jesse had known the Chief was a Spartan but now it was truly real as he made his way towards her,
"Sir?" John looked down at her and gave her a small salute as he continued towards the pelican. John was surprised as he saw the two smaller and leaner Spartan III's standing fully geared waiting and rear of the pelican. He had met them on board the Spartan Valor but hadn't had much contact with them since. John didn't know them and they didn't really know him so he wasn't exactly sure why they were here.
"Might I ask why you're here?" The young man looked at him giving a quick salute.
"Sir while we may not know each other very well but we're both Spartans sir. You're little girl is a Spartan the first born plus I owe it to my old C.O. he was your fifth sir." John did a double take. "He gave up his life to save ours." He said looking at the young woman who checking her battle rifle. "He'd be right here if he could." John just nodded as he heard someone coming up behind him. He turned to see Johnson geared and ready to go with his shotgun at his hip, Spartan laser on one shoulder, spanker missile launcher on the other and his ever present cigar clenched between his lips.
"Alright boys and girls I've got the party favors let's go kick some Covenant ass." He said boarding the Pelican. John just smiled as he put on his helmet and boarded the ship.
"So Chief where the hell are we going?" Fred asked taking a seat on the right.
"I don't know but there are three Spartans out there that do." He said as the Pelican closed.