[Mission] Operation Wolves in Sheeps' Clothing (Closed RP)

[SPARTAN-A120]

Petty Officer 1st Class Richard A. Chen
ONI Section III Field Operative "Panther"
March, 2548
Interrogation Room, ONI Prowler "Sombre," Enroute to Reach, Inner Colonies
“Revelation”
(Tags: Llau & Faclan )

“Of course not, Petty Officer,” LCDR. Moretti replied to Chen’s comment. “I'm in a room with two agents. A civilian attache who seems to be lying to me because I don't remember anything that he's saying about what happened during the Operation. Then there's you, Petty Officer Chen… I couldn't help but notice the amount of times your attention was brought down to your TAC-PAD. What's so important with whatever it is on the screen? What happened in the medbay, and what the fuck are you talking about? Being knocked out? Think long and hard before you even open your mouth to answer me. Petty Officer.”

Chen remained smiling as Moretti switched to face Agent Hyde, "And you, Agent Hyde. Pray tell. Since you seem to have all of the answers."

"I’m not lying, Chen can confirm all I said about the Kigs on that ship, it’s you who are lying Mike. And lying in a very ONI way. Like you were just told to say those things. And the fact you don't remember makes it pretty clear that something ONI level sinister is going on here," Hyde replied.

The xenolinguist drummed his fingers on the chair and jumped slightly out of excitement before pointing at Moretti’s pocket. "Check your data-pad...you’ll have a picture there of you grinning with Captain Gaz behind you with his feet on the Innie leader. That should be good evidence for you," the Section I Agent exclaimed.

There was a short pause before Hyde continued. This time, it was a response to Chen’s inquiry, "Uhh...Well doctor Creepo told Mike to relax when he got up to try and back you up and it did nothing. Not surprisingly considering Mike. But then he said something that I think was German...something like shelf waiter?"

The Petty Officer lost his smile. His face became serious and his eyes narrowed slightly. “Shelf waiter?” Chen said, completely ignoring Moretti’s questions momentarily.

The Field Agent pondered at the thought until he noticed Moretti moving back and forth with the expression of anger displayed on his face. Chen sighed out of stress and decided to take some time out of his time limit to play the audio files and the video recordings he had taken of Moretti while he was going through what he went through in one of Rich Man’s Paradise’s many bathrooms during their exfiltration from the mission site.

“This was what happened during our trip back here. It’s not pretty. I’m sure you can remember what happened here and maybe have an idea why Svesson called you a ‘shelf waiter,” Chen said to Moretti.

Chen gave a small nod towards Hyde and said, "I can confirm what Hyde said. Everything that he mentioned happened. The doctor did something to you... something like a mind wipe or some other psychological method. Are you sure you were placed in a choke hold by the Innie Leader? I personally secured her in the way ONI taught me and there was no chance she would be able to get out of that."

Chen then tapped the backup file and started to play each audio file and video file in a synchronized and chronological fashion while raising the speakers to be audible for the two other individuals in the room.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo N. Moretti
ONI Section III Field Officer - “Ombra”
March, 2548
Aboard ONI Prowler “Sombre”, En-route to Reach, Inner Colonies
Tag(s): Faclan , SPARTAN-A120


Still acting aggressive, Moretti glared at Hyde while the Linguist said, "I’m not lying, Chen can confirm all I said about the Kigs on that ship, it’s you who are lying Mike. And lying in a very ONI way. Like you were just told to say those things. And the fact you don't remember makes it pretty clear that something ONI level sinister is going on here."

The ONI Officer then slowly shifted his eyes over to Chen, while Hyde continued, "Check your data-pad...you’ll have a picture there of you grinning with Captain Gaz behind you with his feet on the Innie leader. That should be good evidence for you.”

He slowly sighed, looking like he was starting to get tired of all the bullshit antics these two were putting him through, and didn't bother even checking his DATA-PAD. He looked back at Hyde when he mentioned a phrase sounding like it was German.

He chuckled, shaking his head in amusement at the way the Section One agent pronounced a couple of German words. He laughed a little more when Chen said “Shelf Waiter” as well, and before he could act all smug and correct them, Chen interrupted him.

“This was what happened during our trip back here. It’s not pretty. I’m sure you can remember what happened here and maybe have an idea why Svesson called you a ‘shelf waiter,” Chen said to him.

Moretti stood there, listening, as he leaned over the desk with his head low and eyelids closed. For a moment there, his expression was relaxed, but the more he listened, the more his face started to show signs of distress. He gritted his teeth, slowly shaking his head in disbelief.

"I can confirm what Hyde said. Everything that he mentioned happened. The doctor did something to you... something like a mind wipe or some other psychological method. Are you sure you were placed in a choke hold by the Innie Leader? I personally secured her in the way ONI taught me and there was no chance she would be able to get out of that."

When Chen started playing the audio and video clips of what happened, the Lieutenant Commander shook his head some more, and started to angrily laugh. “Bloody hell, you stupid wankers,” he seethed through grit teeth.

“This is some big fucking joke you both are pulling on me, mates.” He muttered, “Cheeky buggers. I guess Hyde there got tired of all the jokes I've pulled on him over the years, and was planning this with you the whole time, right? Got some nice recording software to record my voice and words enough to do this stupid fucking shit, right? Yeah...” He chuckled in amused anger as he ran his hands through his hair several times as he stepped back from the table and them.

“Both of you can fuck right off...” he angrily spat.

He started toward the door, pushing Chen roughly out of his way. When he reached the door, he turned around to face Hyde. “For a Linguist, you suck at pronouncing simple words,” he muttered, “It's not Shelf Waiter. It's bloody Schlaf Weiter!”

He blinked, making a small surprised little grunt noise as his angry expression suddenly faded into a deadpan stare. He stared and stood in a relaxed state; unmoving, and not even blinking at all, as if he was a statue, and looking like someone said the most dumbest thing he's ever heard, or seen. 

[Faclan]

SPARTAN-A120 Llau

Chris Hyde - ONI section I Agent
Special sneaky room
Do I look like a comic to you?

Hyde was soon back to being a big ol Sass pants when Mike didnt even glance at his Tac-pad and started to look angry with them. Like this was some kind of joke they were trying to pull on Mike. It made Hyde angry right back at him for his behavior and also ONI. This wasn't right. Mike was an asshole nearly all the time but this was a new level. He now didn't even trust his own allies...no fuck that not even trusting his FRIENDS! The few he had! Did they think they would go through all this trouble on a ONI craft for a joke? Of course they would, with ONI being such a huge group of partiers and jokers just itching for a joke. Totally.

Only half listening to the recording Hydes tired and paranoid movie fueled mind continued to race. All of Mikes bizarre behavior lately starting to come back. The open murders, right in view of those who could easily attack or turn him in...it showed a brash disregard for his own safety. Like he was more suicidal that he was before. Like he didn't care. But even after Mikes big drop in attitude after Sage was...gone he knew that Mike still cared deeply to keep himself alive for Remmy. He wouldn't just toss that aside. No, this wasn't Mike. This was some kind of ONI ideals or programming they had stuffed into Mike. Fucking ONI man.

But then Mike spoke up again and it was confirmed that Mike did indeed think this was a joke. Really? REALLY? That had just been deluded thinking on Hydes part, or so he thought, and now thats really what it was? Even Mike wouldn't be like this as Hyde moved right up to Mike, past Chen, and stopped barely a foot from him. Looking him in the eye with his still bruised face and matted hair and beard despite the short shower.

"Look me in the eye Mike, do I look like I'm in a jokey mood for this shit? Do you think I'd lie to you after a week of being held by those fucking Innies? Do you think I would want to see you like this after all we've been through? No, and you need to understand that this," he gestured at Mikes pretty lil face. "Isn't the Mike I know, something is." But then he was shoved aside as was Chen as Mike reached the door. And then clarified the word for both of them, seemingly getting himself in a trance again. Great!

Quickly looking from the door to Chen Chris licked his cracked lips and erred and ummed before asking the important question. "What the hell do we do now? I'm sure doc creepo will be busting down the door any second and wel be in trouble...we need some evidence or try to find out whats going on to help. This isn't right."

(Hope the movement was good peeps.)

[SPARTAN-A120]

Petty Officer 1st Class Richard A. Chen
ONI Section III Field Operative "Panther"
March, 2548
Interrogation Room, ONI Prowler "Sombre," Enroute to Reach, Inner Colonies
“They see it all...”

Chen was shoved to the side by Moretti and the younger agent allowed it to happen. The trained Petty Officer was able to regain his balance with the use of pivoting and he was now facing the Lieutenant Commander’s new position.

Panther was not phased by Moretti’s reaction. In fact, his face was cold and emotionless. He had his emotions under control and the multiple insults that were fired at him from his commanding officer ricocheted off his virtual barrier like an RPG flying off of a well-angled surface of armor plating. There was something seriously going on with Moretti and Chen wanted to hone in on the problem, but his every attempt to establish a connection was being rejected and shot down by the defense mechanism that ONI had installed into the Lieutenant Commander’s head. Unfortunately, Chen was unaware of how deep ONI’s schemes were. If you thought war crimes and propaganda were their forte, then they are just ruses to cover the activities that occur behind closed doors; doors that are heavily guarded and protected which are buried in the deepest darkest hole.

Hyde’s own attempts of convincing Moretti didn’t seem to penetrate the layer of protection that was surrounding his mind, his sanity, and his soul. For these two friends, it appeared that the friendship was falling apart like Icarus’ wings when he flew to high.

“For a linguist, you suck at pronouncing simple words,” Moretti said quietly to Agent Hyde. “It’s not Shelf Waiter. It’s bloody Schlaf Weiter!”

After Moretti said that, Chen observed his face and body relaxing and the expression on the Lieutenant Commander’s face was… blank. Chen took a glance at Hyde and then returned his gaze at Moretti.

“Sir?” Chen started to question his superior, but there was something off about his appearance that made Chen feel slightly uneasy.

“What the hell do we do now? I’m sure doc creepo will be busting down the door any second and we’ll be in trouble… we need some evidence or try to find out what’s going on to help. This isn’t right,” Hyde said to Chen.

Chen replied, “Whatever this is… it runs deep into the pits of hell where ONI keeps their darkness.” He looked at Hyde. “This is beyond my paygrade and I’m pretty sure it’s beyond my security clearance to know.”

The Petty Officer paused briefly and crossed his arms while thinking intensely about the situation at hand. He was in no position or experience to intervene with ONI’s clandestine projects, but Hyde was right. What Moretti was undergoing was wrong. “If ONI brass found out that we’re tampering with highly sensitive material… or messing around with someone like Moretti… behind ONI’s back, we will be eliminated from existence. And when I say that, I mean that we’re going to be kidnapped to an uncharted planet, executed, and buried deeper than we bury our dead,” Chen said to Hyde. “But… I am a curious cat. So…”

The younger field operative stepped forward until he was within arms reach of Moretti and said to the older field operative, “Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti. I am Petty Officer Richard Chen and this is Agent Christopher Hyde. We are your friends. Please, tell us if you remember anything from the ONI project that you’re part of. Who’s involved?”

Before Moretti can finish a sentence, the door to the interrogation room was unlocked and four ONI guards entered with Doctor Svesson following behind.

“Stand down, Lieutenant Commander,” the Doctor ordered with hint of irritation in his voice. Two additional guards closed the door behind the group and secured it to prevent entry and exit.

Svesson turned to Hyde and Chen soon after stopping Moretti in his tracks and said lowly, but angrily, “What did I say about sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? Did I not warn you?”

Chen activated his smart-ass side and responded with, “No, Doc. Technically, you didn’t warn me because I was knocked out by one of your minions, but I guess you can warn me now since I’ve missed the rant.”

The Doctor’s face turned red as if he was about to explode. With a few hand gestures, the guards closest to the emotionless Moretti took him away like a sleepwalker wandering the house. Before the guards laid their hands on Moretti, the Doctor said something that sounded like German and the officer fell into an unconscious state. One of the guards were able to grab him before he fell and picked him up into a fireman's carry. The door opened and closed after the two guards hauling Moretti were out of the room and the two guards who were guarding the door entered and were replaced by two additional guards.

“Brought us a party, Doc? I gotta admit, this room is a bit claustrophobic to be dancing in, but I’ll make it worth your while,” Chen said with a cocky smirk.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo N. Moretti
ONI Section III Field Officer - “Ombra”
March, 2548
Aboard ONI Prowler “Sombre”, // Interrogation Room // En-route to Reach, Inner Colonies
Tag(s): Faclan , SPARTAN-A120

Still staring straight ahead, Moretti was no longer there. He was...lost. If he could have told them what it felt like, he would have explained to them that it felt as if one moment, he was sitting around with Chen and Hyde at a table, talking or playing a game, and then the next thing they know, he was gone. He was missing, but standing outside his own house, looking through the window at them without either realizing it. The window, of course, wasn't the only thing that blocked him from reality. There were thick steel bars and a cage too covering the window. As he was no longer there after saying the German phrase, he had completely disassociated from reality, as his brain waves were automatically brought into an Alpha state again.

He didn't hear much, until Chen spoke directly to him with a question; though, he still stared off into the same direction of the room, and never once looked at him, nor made any type of physical movement or change in facial expression.

“Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti. I am Petty Officer Richard Chen and this is Agent Christopher Hyde. We are your friends. Please, tell us if you remember anything from the ONI project that you’re part of. Who’s involved?”

It didn't matter who was asking the questions, and he was obligated to answer in such a state-of-mind.

“Some of the top neurologists, psychologists, hypnotists, brain and spinal surgeons in the world -”

“Stand down, Lieutenant Commander,” A familiar voice called out to him, and on command, he obeyed.

His lost true self continued to stand outside his house, looking in at his two friends, as Doctor Svesson appeared and spoke to them – Chen, rather. He wanted to scream, shatter the glass window that separated him from his two friends, and tell them the truth about this secret project he has been a victim of for as long as he was able to remember. Despite the extra protection of the bars and cage over the window, if he could find a way to break the thick, heavy glass...then maybe...

He did it before, didn't he? He could do it again...he could break through. It wasn't long until darkness took over, as he overheard another German phrase being whispered to him by Svesson. A dreamless sleep? It was...welcoming, strangely enough. It wasn't like he could do anything about it right now anyway.


Commander Arvid Svesson
ONI Section Three Medical Officer
March, 2548
Aboard ONI Prowler "Sombre," // Interrogation Room // En-route to Reach, Inner Colonies

“Brought us a party, Doc? I gotta admit, this room is a bit claustrophobic to be dancing in, but I’ll make it worth your while.”

The middle-aged man glared, but then slowly smirked back at Chen. “Petty Officer, is that how you speak to all of your commanding officers, agent?” He continued, “And no, we won't be dancing in here, unlike last time.”

He took his DATA-PAD out, clicked play of a video, and showed them what was playing on the screen.

///

“Sir?” Chen started to question his superior, but there was something off about his appearance that made Chen feel slightly uneasy.

“What the hell do we do now? I’m sure doc creepo will be busting down the door any second and we’ll be in trouble… we need some evidence or try to find out what’s going on to help. This isn’t right,” Hyde said to Chen.

Chen replied, “Whatever this is… it runs deep into the pits of hell where ONI keeps their darkness.” He looked at Hyde. “This is beyond my paygrade and I’m pretty sure it’s beyond my security clearance to know.”

The Petty Officer paused briefly and crossed his arms while thinking intensely about the situation at hand. He was in no position or experience to intervene with ONI’s clandestine projects, but Hyde was right. What Moretti was undergoing was wrong. “If ONI brass found out that we’re tampering with highly sensitive material… or messing around with someone like Moretti… behind ONI’s back, we will be eliminated from existence. And when I say that, I mean that we’re going to be kidnapped to an uncharted planet, executed, and buried deeper than we bury our dead,” Chen said to Hyde. “But… I am a curious cat. So…”

The younger field operative stepped forward until he was within arms reach of Moretti and said to the older field operative, “Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti. I am Petty Officer Richard Chen and this is Agent Christopher Hyde. We are your friends. Please, tell us if you remember anything from the ONI project that you’re part of. Who’s involved?”

///

He paused the security feed of the interrogation room just before Moretti semi-answered Chen's question before the security team and the doctor were able to get into the room.

The older man gazed at Chen and Hyde, smiling malevolently. “You're absolutely correct, Petty Officer Chen,” he said, “This is way above your pay grade, and way beyond your security clearance to know. That also goes for you, Agent Hyde.”

He chuckled briefly, and mentioned, “You two friends of his remind me so much like his other friend before we got them out of his life for good,” he continued, “I'm pretty sure it will take something drastic to cause you two to stop poking around where either of you do not belong, as well, no?”

He smiled the same way again. “The both of you have entered a dangerous storm that you two will not be able to get out of. You should have ceased any more discussion while you two were ahead.” He said, glancing over at Chen, and then over at Hyde.

“I do not know what my superiors will do to the both of you after I report them of this situation, but...” He grinned. “I know it won't be pretty.” He turned around for a moment, and had one of the guards unlock and open the door for him.

He turned around, and said, “I do hope you're on good terms with your family members, gentlemen...”

“Cheers.” He waved, smiling at them, and then left the room. The guards filed out by two's, and then the last one shut the door behind him; leaving Chen and Hyde alone in the small room.

[Faclan]

SPARTAN-A120 Llau

Chris Hyde - ONI section I Agent
Special sneaky room
And thats it for him.

Hyde hated it, hated all of it. He hated having Mike being treated like some kind of peice of equipment here and he hated that this was all some kind of ONI plot. And that he couldn't do anything. Nothing at all to help. It was a habit of ONI's to make him feel useless during this damn war but this was a new low. Grring he slammed the wall before looking up as Chen started to speak again. But it couldn't get far before the door burst open and Creepo himself walked in. Making Hyde wheel backwards and worry that he was about to be kidnapped and shipped off somewhere just like Chen had suggested.

It had almost seemed like Mike was about to start spilling the beans too. Had Hyde been thinking more clearly he would have thought that this confirmed it as some kind of ONI thing. And also maybe that Mike wasn't the only one? I mean if movies taught him anything is that while you need like a whole room of people to fix one person. But the tops of a lot of fields probably meant they had a few test subjects to....AND. And if Mike was this well 'fixed' there were probably some lesser fixed people before him before they got it this good. Man...damn ONI!

But the fact that Creepo then played back all of what he was saying about how bad this would be if he found out made Hyde think very un-clear-y as he stood there petrified that the boogieman of ONI was now here for his brain!

Which was a shame because Hyde really should try to remember what Svesson said about 'another friend' for sneaky reasons. But that's not important now.

"U...understood." The nerd would finally squeak out from his terrified stance, which only got worse when Creepo mentioned his family. Making him stagger back a bit to flop into a chair. All the horrible movies and his own mind throwing situations at him where he was going to be just obliterated painfully.

[SPARTAN-A120]

Petty Officer 1st Class Richard A. Chen
ONI Section III Field Operative "Panther"
March, 2548
Interrogation Room, ONI Prowler "Sombre," Enroute to Reach, Inner Colonies
“Into the fire.”

Chen was surprised to see the Doctor smirk. He replied to Chen, “Petty Officer, is that how you speak to all of your commanding officers, agent? And no, we won’t be dancing in here, unlike the last time.”

Chen crossed his arms and kept a poker face; a face that displayed no emotions and expressions even though deep within himself, he was confused.

The next thing that happened was Svesson taking out his DATA-PAD and he played a video for both Chen and Hyde. It was a recording of Chen, Hyde, and Moretti directly after Moretti had fallen into his vegetable-like state. Chen broke his poker face and his eyes narrowed in anger. His anger was not from Svesson’s recording of the trio, but from the fact that his hack into the cameras and audio recorders were overridden before its duration was reached. If anything, Chen thought it was most likely the work of the Prowler’s AI.

“I knew I should’ve shot the camera,” Chen said to himself.

The Petty Officer’s expression was probably misinterpreted by Svesson as he said, “You’re absolutely correct, Petty Officer Chen. This is way above your pay grade, and way beyond your security clearance to know. That also goes for you, Agent Hyde.” The Doctor chuckled before continuing, “You two friends of this remind me so much like his other friend before we got them out of his life for good. I’m pretty sure it will take something drastic to cause you two to stop poking around where either of you do not belong, as well, no?”

Smiling once more, Svesson proceeded, “The both of you have entered a dangerous storm that you two will not be able to get out of. You should have ceased any more discussion while you two were ahead.” The sly S.O.B. gave Chen and Hyde each a stare down.

“U… understood,” a scared Hyde managed to say who had backed off like a lone hyena getting its meal stolen by a pride of of starving lions when the Doctor and his entourage showed up.

“I do not know what my superiors will do to the both of you after I report them of this situation, but...,” Doctor Svesson said before he turned and made his way out of the interrogation room. He turned around before he laid a foot outside and finished by saying, “I do hope you’re on good terms with your family members, gentlemen…”

Svesson waved at the two Agents inside the room and departed with a “Cheers.”

As quickly as they entered, the guards left at the same pace and closed the door behind them.

Chen uncrossed his arms and finally broke the silence shortly after their departure when he abruptly said, “That fucker talks too much. My father is dead and my mother’s been M.I.A. for years.”

The Field Agent started pacing perpendicularly to Hyde who looked like he was about to soil his pants, but Chen didn’t pay him any mind yet. He was pondering on the mental notes that he’d taken during the conversation and was trying to remember key words that would possibly fill the missing pieces to the cluster-fuck of a jigsaw puzzle he had gotten into.

“Neurologists, psychologists, hypnotists, brain and spinal surgeons… commanding officer?” Chen whispered to himself. “That doctor was a commanding officer?”

Chen stopped pacing and turned to Hyde who looked more frightened than he did during his rescue from the Insurrectionists a few hours before. The Petty Officer returned to pondering and was trying to figure out who this Doctor Svesson really was.

“If he thinks blackmail is going to work on a Field Agent with nothing to lose, he will have to watch his back more than me,” Chen blurted out once more.

He turned to Hyde and said, “You too. You’re not properly trained for these situations so keep your head on the swivel from now on. This is not the end of it.”

[Faclan]

Llau SPARTAN-A120

Chris Hyde - ONI section I Agent
Special sneaky room
Movies and madness and sleep.

He wasn't shot in his non glasses wearing face. That was good. A good start. Calm down! There were threats made. Very real ones, but so far they weren't being followed up on. More so this was just a warning that if they continued their lives would be ruined for ONI giggles. Did that mean something? Not just being swept aside now? That was often evil corporation status quo when bad things arose. Immediately eliminate the problem. Maybe they were still useful...or ONI wasn't a Movie villain and murder crazed? Pfft...yeah right.

"Swivel, keep it down, not sure what good it will do Chen..." Of course after Chris had had time to calm down he would probably start to think and not just abandon this like he gave the outward sign he wanted too. Just right now it was all so much after all the Innie troubles, the heroic Kig-Yar, and now Mike being a ONI pet project that he was now wrapped up in the middle off.

Getting up without much ceremony Hyde kind of stumbled toward the door as he rubbed his eyes. "I'm going to sleep...been so much over the past half day. Ready for this day to be over and hopeful for the next new day."

Giving Chen a nod he was soon gone and off to his own quarters as his mind returned to ONI. He needed to stop thinking like this was a movie. ONI wasn't stupid. Sadistic but not stupid. There would be some reason why they weren't just swept under the rug for this. And right now Chris really didn't want to know what it was. But he needed sleep and eventually his paranoid mind finally relented and let him drift off to sleep on the Prowler.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo N. Moretti
ONI Section III Field Officer - “Ombra”
March, 2548
Olympic Tower// Meeting Room // Reach, Inner Colonies
Tag(s): Faclan , SPARTAN-A120


Once the Prowler returned to Reach, Lieutenant Commander Moretti was already conscious and feeling perfectly fine. The only small difference was, is the fact that he had no memory of what happened in the interrogation room between him, Chen, and Hyde on the Prowler. Doctor Svesson made sure of it, as he didn't wish for any other problems to arise. The Tactical Field Officer only remembered waking up, and then being sent to his quarters to rest until they arrived on Reach. Of course, the medical doctor also made his superior officers aware of what happened on the Prowler, and mentioned to them about Chen and Hyde; which, the two agents have been placed on a 'watch list'. If they become a problem again, they'll deal with them accordingly.

In one of the meeting rooms located high up in the Olympic Tower, sat the Operations Commander, who set up and planned the mission beforehand, who also was also Moretti's handler. In another seat beside Lieutenant Colonel Wagner, sat the Assistant Director of Section Three, Rear Admiral Upper Half Robert Reed. There was the ONI logo behind them, as well as in the middle of the floor, where Lieutenant Commander Moretti was standing in the middle of, patiently and silently waiting for Petty Officer Chen and Section One Agent Hyde to arrive for the briefing.

The Rear Admiral Reed gazed down at Moretti curiously through his eyeglasses, looking at the bandage that was still wrap around the Italian's neck, and was just peeking slightly above the collar of his uniform jacket. Clasping his hands in front of him as he leaned back, the admiral decided to pass the time, while they wait for the other two, and asked him, “How are you doing, Lieutenant Commander Moretti? Doctor Svesson told us what happened when that insurrectionist leader you captured tried to kill you before Petty Officer Chen was able to get into the room on the transport ship you were on to save you and subdue her again.”

“I'm fine, sir,” Moretti simply said with an emotionless expression, “The doctor seemed to think so too, as everything checked out.”

Reed looked at him closely. “You sure, Officer?” Not only was he curious about Moretti's condition, he was genuinely concerned about him as well.

Moretti nodded once. “I'm sure,” he replied, “It'll take a lot more than that to make me not feel fine, sir.”

Reed studied him a little longer, and then nodded in approval. “Well, good. I'd hate to see such a highly-trained tactical field officer, such as yourself, to be in bad shape. ONI needs people like you out in the field, now more than ever.”

Usually, when someone stroked his ego, he'd visibly show it in the most arrogant way possible, but what the Admiral said, didn't even phase him. “I appreciate your concern, Admiral, but I insist...it isn't needed.”

The older man nodded slightly. “Fair enough, Lieutenant Commander.”

((OOC: Like Wagner, Rear Admiral Upper Half Robert Reed is an NPC. Feel free to control him and/or Wagner if you need to in your posts, guys. Wagner's profile is in Mike's, if you need a refresher on how he is. Reed, on the other hand, currently isn't, but he's serious like Wagner, but much older and wiser, but genuinely more caring and interested in speaking than Wagner is to our characters about what happened before, during, and after the mission.))

[SPARTAN-A120]

Petty Officer 1st Class Richard A. Chen
ONI Section III Field Operative "Panther"
March, 2548
Olympic Tower, Enroute to Meeting Room - Reach, Inner Colonies
“A clean exit”

Petty Officer First Class Chen brushed a speck of lint that lingered on the left shoulder of his black ONI BDU shirt and straightening everything out. He had showered, shaved his five o’clock shadow that was on the verge of become some stubble, and changed into a clean uniform beforehand. He was now on an elevator to one of the highest floors of Reach’s Olympic Tower and only had the electrical hum and whine of the elevator to ease his ride upwards.

He took a look down at his ONI ID card which was clipped on the right BDU pocket on his chest which was how it was properly worn to prevent the obstruction of the ID velco tag on his left side which stated his Service Branch. Sub-branch, and the other essentials like rank and last name. The Field Agent returned his gaze upwards and took a look around him as if he was new to this environment even though he’s been here for multiple occasions that he couldn’t keep count of. For most of these occasions, his elevator ride was empty and he had the entire lift ot himself. One of the reasons was because the floor he was going to was restricted to authorized personnel only and without a proper ID and clearance, access was denied. The second reason was that he was a Section Three operator who was about to be debriefed by the top brass of ONI operations. The third reason was that Chen usually worked solo operations and not in a team, but this would be his fourth time having another individual on the spotlight with him while highly ranked officers scrutinized them from their elevated seating arrangements.

The elevator stopped with a moderately audible high pitched bell alerting the occupants and those outside that the elevator had reached its destination. Chen didn’t bother at looking at the floor that was on the display panel as the meeting rooms always changed floors and remembering which floor this meeting room was on would be redundant when he returns after his next mission.

The elevator doors slid open and he was greeted by two heavily armed ONI Security Agents with their weapons slung in front of their chest and at the ready to act with violence when it was called for. The Petty Officer gave them both a subtle nod and they returned the same. He approached the end of a wide hallway and unclipped his ID card to scan it at the heavily secured and locked door that could withstand high-explosive ammunition and C12 Breaching Charges. The light panel turned from a light-blue color to a green color and the heavy doors started to unlock open. After five seconds, the door finally started to slide open and Chen waited both sides of the door to fully open before he entered the next section. The hallways were riddled with armed guards and security personnel who were either static and guarding a specific door in pairs or patrolling. Making a right turn after entering an intersection of the many hallways, he reach the end of that hallway and entered a room on his left with his ID card again. After entering the room, he made sure the door slid closed behind him and he re-clipped his ID onto the proper BDU pocket.

The room was a medium-sized waiting room, but most of the room was occupied by Security Agents that belonged to the detail that guarded the highly-ranked superiors that were in the next room to Chen’s front. Everyone was eyeballing him and he was beyond used to the feeling of twenty different pairs of eyes trained on him. Some of the agents had a familiar face. Others were new, but the Petty Officer didn’t care. Afterall, he did have “petty” in his rank. The Field Agent approached a security checkpoint that was to his right side and started to take off his battle belt that was rigged with his M6C, baton, handcuffs and flexi-cuffs, and spare magazines for his sidearm. A few of the new guards tensed as Chen took off his belt, but he ignored them. They wouldn’t shoot him. Chen handed the belt to the agent who was in charge of the checkpoint and in return, the agent handed Chen a retrieval card to get his items back when he was leaving.

Then, the Field Agent approached the door where one of the guards opened it for him and Chen entered without saying a word.

The room was dimly illuminated and he saw Lieutenant Commander Moretti already standing there at eased with his back facing Chen. The younger agent took a glance at his watch which told him that he was ten minutes early. There were three COs sitting on the stands. The leftmost individual was one of Section Three’s Commander of Operations, an unfamiliar Lieutenant Colonel Wagner who he had seen briefly before his deployment for the recent mission. The man the his right was Rear Admiral Reed; assistance director of Section Three.

When Chen was roughly arms length to Lieutenant Commander Moretti’s right side, he straightened out and snapped a crisp salute towards the two officers seated in front of him. Each of the officer saluted back and Rear Admiral Reed said, “At ease, Petty Officer.”

As ordered, Chen lowered his right hand, spread his legs to a shoulder-width apart length, and clasped both hands behind his back while maintaining an emotionless blank stare towards the large ONI logo on the back of the room. After a brief moment, the Lieutenant Colonel asked Chen about the linear bruise that diagonally lined his right temple, “Petty Officer, what happened there? Did you have that checked out by medical?”

“Not necessary, sir. Just a minor injury sustained during combat with an Insurrectionist combatant, sir,” Chen lied. He was hiding the fact that it was one of Doctor Svesson’s guards that had knocked him out cold with a stun baton while they were on the Prowler heading for Reach. He was also hiding the shady business that occurred which was not to be spoken of... ever.

The Lieutenant Colonel nodded in silence and leaned back while taking a sip of water from a clear glass that sat on his right side.

Now, all that they needed was Agent Hyde to initiate the debriefing.

[Faclan]

SPARTAN-A120 Llau

Chris Hyde - ONI section I Agent
Special sneaky room
Movies and madness and sleep.

Despite the fact he had been summoned to the Tower of Peril today was going great for Chris so far. The sleep on the Prowler had done him very well as he clear that he had desperatly needed it after the rescue. But after waking up he found that he had a new set of glasses waiting for him on his desk. One thing he could actually thank ONI for today for getting those to him nice and quick. Didn't even need to wait till Reach. The time he had between waking up and when they arrived was spent with a pencil and his notepad writing down everything he remembered about Nek and Gaz. He knew full well ONI would take these. But writing down their names over and over again, what he remembered about their appearances, and what they did would help him remember them even if his notes were lost. Aliens he didn't need to murder and weren't trying to murder him, it as glorious. And Hyde really hoped that it would be the start of ONI looking for these types of aliens for work and cooperation.

But soon they landed proper and Hyde was reminded that he had been summoned to the big ol Tower of ONI power. Maybe Towering Inferno of disappointment and ego? The walk in and trip up the elevators to get to the near very top was an anxious one. All the worry he had before when talking to Doc Creep coming back slowly but surely coming back to him as the floors were ascended. He was fairly sure he wasn't going to get killed. But he was still going up to where the real Big Wigs of ONI hung out. Where Big Maggie herself would occasionally visit. What the hell was he being brought up there for? The report was probably already completed all proper like by Chen so what was he there for? It was probably not about Mike as that kind of shenanigans would probably be in an underground laboratory under a lake or something not the head building. Maybe it was about the aliens?...You never know right?

The door sliding open to reveal the room, the clocks also revealing that Chris was two minutes early, the civilian slowly entered the room. He felt like he was four hours late and all the bosses were very disappointed with him already as he slowly edged across the floor. The eyes watching from the men and the big eyes on the wall just to make sure the uncomfortablness was at an all time max. But the room was finally braved and Chris made it to the chair. Quickly sitting down and winching at the grinding of the thing against the chair as he gave a little nod to all the people there. But he only recognized Chen and Wagner. Silly little scientist didn't even salute. Though he was avoiding looking at Mike at all, and it wasn't hid well at all.

"Doing alright Hyde?" Wagner finally said which made Chris jump a bit in his chair before he took a breath and a gulp before nodding. Wagner smiling at the spooked semi spook as he nodded at Reed to begin now that everyone was here.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo N. Moretti
ONI Section III Field Officer - “Ombra”
March, 2548
Olympic Tower// Meeting Room // Reach, Inner Colonies
Tag(s): Faclan , SPARTAN-A120


While Moretti kept staring over at Lieutenant Colonel Wagner, Rear Admiral Reed began the debriefing with the three agents. Wagner didn't seem to care, or was completely oblivious to the Lieutenant Commander's stare. Either way, he was relaxed and calm as he listened to Reed, while the older man spoke to Moretti, Chen, and Hyde.

“The initial report said that you were captured and taken as a hostage on Frontier, Agent Hyde, correct?” He waited for the Linguist to answer him before continuing, “Along with another Section One agent...” he glanced up, glancing around briefly in slight confusion. “Who...isn't here. I assume she's in medical recovering from any injuries sustained during captivity?” He questioned Wagner, who nodded.

“Yes, sir,” replied Wagner. “It seems she hid the fact that she was harmed by several of the Insurrectionists for nearly a week before the alien pirates showed up. The medical doctor at the hospital informed me after she was examined before she could be released. She'll be recovering there for the next several days.”

He smiled a little down at Moretti. Glancing over at Chen and then Hyde with the same small smirk on his face. He knew what they've learned of what was going on with the Lieutenant Commander. As his Handler and Operations Commander, it was his job to keep things under control, but the more they worked on re-testing Moretti to keep him under control, the more mental breakdowns were occurring, like what happened on the transport ship and the Prowler. The more that happens, the more uncontrollable, unpredictable, and insane he will become, just like the other failed test subjects, but he knew it couldn't be helped. He just hoped the scientists will continue working on trying to stop all of these side-effects from happening to Moretti, as well as any future test subjects of the project.

“Judging from the report...it seems that the arrival of the Kig-Yar pirates may have saved your life and the other agent's life, Agent Hyde, by giving us enough time to rescue you,” Reed went on. He leaned back, looking rather curious about this, but not surprised.

“I've seen this before, but it's extremely rare for aliens to be trading with humanity; whatever the case may be.” While adding, “It's a very unpopular opinion within ONI and the UNSC in general, but I think it's a start. Though, if the Covenant weren't focused by their religious convictions, then we could probably negotiate peace with them to stop this war, but it is very difficult to do so with fanatical ideals such as their own.”

He paused as he took off his eyeglasses for a moment to rub at his tired eyes.

“I hope you can understand that, Agent Hyde, but do continue trying to learn about them and their languages. Miscommunications and misunderstandings has caused a lot of problems for mankind in the past, and still does. The same can be said between us and the alien species of the Covenant now.”

Wagner frowned at that, shaking his head a little as he scoffed quietly, “Sir, I think it'll be best if we don't stray from the real reason as to why we're debriefing here.”

Reed glanced over at him, and nodded. “Apologies, perhaps I will speak to you more about your experiences and knowledge of them at another time, Agent Hyde.” It wasn't a question, more of an invite to speak with the Linguist, as he looked and sounded genuinely curious.

The Rear Admiral then continued scanning his eyes down at the report Chen wrote up about the operation. He had many questions, and some of these questions caused him to frown in disappointment.

“Lieutenant Commander Moretti,” He looked right at the Italian Englishman, and Moretti's eyes stared directly back at him. “You were told to use non-lethal take-downs to minimize the chances of both Insurrectionists and the aliens from killing our own. What happened to cause you to go lethal?”

“You've read my report,” Moretti coldly said, “I did my job.”

“There is no excuse - “ Reed started, but the Tactical Field Officer interrupted him.

“My life was threatened, and there was no other way for me to take the threats down via non-lethal means,”

Reed stared at him carefully, eyebrows furrowed at the emotionless Lieutenant Commander. He blinked when there was a tiny smirk that formed as Moretti continued to speak.

“Isn't my life just as important as Hyde's and Voleinkov's of whom we were sent there to rescue?” He asked.

“Well, yes, but..” Reed sighed, glancing at Wagner again briefly before returning his glare on Moretti.

“Besides,” Moretti went on, “The space chickens seemed rather impressed after I took out the big goon who was guarding the two captives.”

“Was that before or after you threatened to kill one of them? And is it true that you threatened to kill Agent Hyde?”

There was a sudden, thick tension in the room when Moretti suddenly glared down at Hyde, looking like he was about to murder him for a second before taking a deep breath as he looked away. His brows furrowed slightly and he closed his eyes for a moment. “I...don't remember...that.”

Reed, noticing the sudden shift in the atmosphere in the room, as he carefully watched Moretti, then down at Hyde, and over at Chen, he calmly suggested, “Perhaps a small break is in order, gentlemen?” He glanced over at Wagner. “Lieutenant Colonel, if you will follow me into the back to discuss this further, while the three take a small break and get some fresh air, and something to drink.”

Wagner, glaring at Chen and Hyde, slowly nodded. “Yes, sir,” He turned around in his seat, and followed the Rear Admiral into a back room to speak to him, leaving Moretti, Chen, and Hyde inside the room, as the other ONI personnel either stayed in their seats or went out to deal with whatever they wanted to do until Reed called them back inside to finish the meeting.

Moretti stared in front of him where Reed and Wagner once sat for a few moments before turning around on his heel to walk outside of the room.

[Faclan]

SPARTAN-A120 Llau

Chris Hyde - ONI section I Agent
ONI brand Tower of Terror
Little peak before the valley.

Gripping the admittedly comfy armrests of the chair out of a mix of fear and anxiousness Hyde just watched everyone got their datapads ready. He didn't belong here. At all. He loved language and culture and this was none of these things. It brought him back to his childhood at school the ONE time he was sent to the principals office. It just felt like once more he was in a land of giants and gods while he was just a little mouse trying to hide under a leaf. Just to sink away. But he couldn't sink into these squishy cushions anymore than he already was before Reed mentioned him by name. Making him look over and just nod in response before there was a pause so he managed to muster a response. "Y...yes I was - the Insurrectionists raided the listening post and took me and a lot of our information. Sir." He quickly added at the end.

And then back to little mouse watching the trees speak. Hearing of the other Agents injuries made him feel worse about the entire thing though. Slumping as he seemed to get off so light compared to what had happened to him. He did perk up however when the aliens were mentioned saving him. That was right they had! His slump however made him miss Wagners totally not evil smiling at him and Chen. "They sure seemed to be a big help - it seemed like they were there to trade with the Innies based on what I overheard and the little bit of Chens report I could read. But somthing went wrong and so they killed them all...I mean that seems pretty standard but the fact they were there to trade initially is fascinating."

Now much less fear and more interested Chris leant forward in the chair as he listened to Reed talk about how it was rare and covie religious activities. "I'm not sure they were Covenant Sir. Some of their equipment certainly was but they didn't seem to have any oversight, definite uniform, or kill all Human policy since they let us all go. In my eyes I'd guess the Covenant have for lack of a better word Insurrectionists of their own or some kind of Splinter Group. They may be a great source of information and goods if we are careful with them."

-------Meanwhile-------

Speaking of eyes Nek was currently idly taking some pickled Unggoy eyes from a jar as he played a game on his PP. Sat back in his own ship after leaving the ship of rage that Gaz's vessel had turned into and seeing if he could beat his high score before bed time. He'd have to see if that Mi...M...whatever his name was contact details were correct but it could wait. He think he deserved a sleep after all the gunfire and killing that had happened today and so it was nearly time for these. Damn these eyes were good.

-------And back to our regular program-------

By now Hyde was completely ignoring Wagner as he nodded at Admiral Reed. "Oh of course Sir! I will be doing all I can to keep up with the translations so we can talk with Nek or others like him; Aliens not defaulting to murder is super...cool for all of us. So much we can learn." He did glance over at Wagner when he wehed about not being on topic before nodding at Reed again. "Of course, another time. I look forward to it."

Reed then started to ask about why he killed the big prick that was guarding him and the other Agent...Since when did ONI care about killing Innies? Fuck um! "Well I'm sure the Kig-Yar would have shot that guy anyway...and Mike doing it first would be less threat to me and the other Agent." Oh...thats right Mike was all weird and ONI-ified. Crap. And here he was actually being happy - not allowed at ONI anymore. Hyde back to worried as Reed asked if that was when he...murdered one of the Kig-Yar and then said he would shoot Chris if he did it again. Almost sliding down the chair as Mike bored holes into his soul with his rage stare.

Thankfully Papa Reed was there to diffuse the situation and soon he and Wagner had left. Probably to discuss punishment for him and Chen for that talk they had trying to figure out what was wrong. He was sure this was all being recorded too like that time but at least Mike soon left the room too. Briefly probably as he glanced at Chen and then the table with water behind him. Quickly moving to get some and only shaking a little he err and ummed before speaking up. "I'm not looking forward to the second half of this debrief Chen..."