Meeting HIGHCOM - Part 3

I walk up a couple of steps, before stopping and swallowing my saliva. "Good afternoon, Gentlemen," I say, putting up a confident facade. "My name is Alia Dawn." I pause. "I have a proposal that may interest you."

"A proposal?" A man says. "What a waste of time. Miss, we have important things to discuss. If what you have is merely a proposal, you can see yourself out." The other brass starts to lose focus and mutter among themselves.

"Are you completely sure about that?" I ask

"Of course" the man replies with a haughty tone.

"I see," I say before turning around. I start to walk to the door, before saying over my shoulder. "I guess I'll just leave and spread the word of how the Spartan Two program is going to kidnap children to create super soldiers." That did it. All of the brass froze.

The man who had greeted Halsey sits up. "How do you know about that?" He asks. He turns to Halsey. "Did you tell her about this."

"No," said Halsey. "But she knew about it. And about the Mjolnir armor."

I turn around. "So, are you interested?"

"Of course." said the man.

"We should just silence her!" shouts the arrogant guy. "She's a breach of security!"

"Oh please," I say. "Can you shut up and let me explain?" The guy looks like he was about to blow. He tried to say something before the man said,

"General. Please. Calm down." The General opened his mouth again, but a glare from the man shut him up. He sat back down. The man turned toward me. "Would you explain this deal of yours? Alia."

"Of course, ..."

"Admiral. Admiral Harold Stanforth." replied the man.

"Ah," I say, my eyes flashing with recognition. "The man who commanded the Leviathan. And the friend of Rear Admiral Preston Cole."

"You seem to know a lot about me." says the Admiral.

"I know about a lot of things. Here is some advice Admiral, stay in contact with Cole. He is a good man, and he will be important in the future."

"You are right about him being a good man," says Stanforth with a sigh. "Such an unfortunate thing with his wife."

"That it was. He just had to marry an insurrectionist. I hope his heart can hold up, after all that drama." We both let out a sigh.

"So, what is this deal of yours, Alia?"

"Nothing leaves this room, yes?"

"Correct"

"Well then. Let's just say... I have seen parts of the future." All of the brass bolt up at that statement.

"Did I hear that correctly?" asks the Admiral.

"Oh you did," said Halsey. "She has a lot of interesting secrets."

"So you're saying that her future sight is just the start." Stanforth starts to rub his head.

"Unfortunately for your common sense, yes," I say. "I will provide you with information, and you give me authority in times of crisis. By authority, I mean enough to command Vice Admirals."

"What do you mean by a crisis?" asks the Admiral as he leans over his desk.

"Oh? You didn't shoot it down immediately?" I say with a bit of a surprise.

"You did just imply that you broke common sense." He says. "So I threw that out the window."

"This is why I love conversing with smart people." A smile begins to grow on my face. "They always understand what I am talking about."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"You are welcome. Now back to the topic. By crisis, I mean any group that threatens humanity as a whole."

"So not the insurrectionists."

I shake my head. "Yes and no. No, because the insurrectionists are nothing compared to the coming enemy. Yes because they undermine humanity's ability to fight."

"Who is this enemy you speak of? When are they coming? Why are they our enemies?"

"The enemy I speak of is a group made of multiple alien species who are controlled by a race of crazy fanatics. They believe that their gods have tasked them with killing humanity. But don't worry. We still have 5 some years to prepare."

"I see." Said Stanforth. "I feel like you are a good person. But I can't give you authority of any kind with just that information."

"Of course," I say. "That was just an appetizer. I'll start by listing off an insurrection spy and supplier."

"Who?"

"Johanson Sloan, Vice-president of Chalybus Defense Solutions. Also known as Jonas Sladwal. He leaks Colonial Administration Authority convoy routes and schedules. He also provides them with technology from Chalybus."

"So that's how they always seem to know where the convoys are." He falls into thought. "But it's not enough."

"Of course. What do you want?"

"Confirmation?"

"Confirmation?" I ask. "What sort of confirmation? If you're asking about the Spartans, they work spectacularly. They were completely worth all the money and time you spent to nurture them. And they saved many lives in the future. Completely worth the inhumane things you will do to them."

"No," He says. "Confirmation on humanity enemy. But I will take that confirmation on the Spartans. It takes some weight off my chest, knowing that it will be worth it."

"I see. You want information on the Aliens. Well then, basic information shouldn't be too hurtful for the future. The name of the group is the Covenant. It is composed of many different species. The leaders of the Covenant is the Prohpeht race. Their guards and long time ally is the Sanghelios, or what we call Elites. The other species are the Grunts, Jackals, Brutes, Lekgolo Worms, and engineers. The grunts and brutes are used as cannon fodder. Jackals are their standard infantry, and the Lekgolo Worms are their heavy weapons. The engineers are a species whose only purpose is to repair machines and the like."

"How do we know that you're telling the truth?" Harold asks, addressing the big elephant in the room.

"You won't," I answer. "That is until they show up five years from now."

"I see. So, what will you do till then?"

"Well, for one I plan to join the Spartans?"

"Why?" He asks, with a bit of confusion. "If you know what we are going to do to them, why would you join them?"

"There are a lot of reasons. One, they are going to become the savior of humanity. Two, I can heal them to make the modifications easier. And three, It's where the fun is."

"I see," said Stanforth. "You're just like Preston." He says with a sad smile.

"I guess I am," I say.

"Well then. I suppose we should wrap this up. I can't give you the rank of Admiral, seeing as the information about the Covenant might be fake. But for your information on Sloan and the fact that you are joining the Spartans, I suppose I can make an exception. I'll give you the rank of a Lieutenant. If you were telling the truth about the Covenant, I'll give you the rank of Admiral." Gasps of shock and cries of indignation rang throughout the room.

[*Ding* Quest has been completed]

"Thank you," I say with a smile. "I owe you one."

"That you do," replies Stanforth. "You are dismissed, Lieutenant."

"Sir!" I give him a salute, before walking out of the room.