Cath

The Cradle

Hale massaged both his cheeks with one hand and stared into space for a moment.

Brasikha made a very convincing argument. It was important that Outremer’s new administration was decisive on the Cradle, not least to calm public panic in the short term. That was why the military had assumed transitional authority after all.

Brokering this ambitious new defensive pact would give the Lord High Admiral an impressive policy to sell domestically. It would cushion an announcement that they had collectively decided to help reunite the Cradle beings, and provide comfort when news about the Hegemon’s presumed advances inevitably went public.

Hale was a shrewd political operator, and knew there was no way to bring Outremer’s military or government totally in line. Siding with the Rothians would certainly make him very unpopular in some circles. He’d need to tread carefully.

“My lord?” Souza prompted eventually.

“Very well. We can try it your way and start a limited defensive pact, covering the Hegemon threat, with the immediate aim of de-escalating Psi-Helios. But, I want discretion on when and how we approach Earth with this offer. I want to see whether we can bring the Tindrel & Qalian-Vosh to heel first. As for the science teams - what does the savant Dr Lang think?

Souza & Sequiera looked at each other, then Souza replied.

“I believe the Cradle Institute is taking the lead on optimising our team now.”

The Cradle

“I fear having to rely on anyone apart from ourselves. As I just said, we’d be opening up to others who have proven themselves to be fickle and predatory. The Outreman people don’t deserve that.” Hale said.

“And I fear that if we tell the other civilisations what may be hidden on this planet, they will try to take it for themselves.” Joao Sequeira chimed in. “Because that gives them leverage over proceedings."

---

The exam room was cold. Goosebumps rippled down Freyr’s bare arms as she stepped out from behind the changing screen. She was now clad in a lightweight bathing suit with buoyancy blocks positioned around her midriff.

The doctors were waiting for her by the pod. One held a headpiece with a multitude of wires protruding from the back. The other held pads which looked like they were for her body. Masgard Xandrus stood nearby with his arms crossed. He smiled encouragingly, though a look of concern flashed across his eyes.

Halo: Aegis Team

After getting patched up, Tar stalked over to one of the clusters of ex-Covenant storage crates, littered with weapons and equipment. Pushing to the front, she snatched up plasma grenades and tucked them away in her armour. They’d pack more punch against materiel than her usual spike grenades.

Tar grabbed a jetpack and slung it over one arm. She was still without her armour, clad in just her thin underdressings. She leaned over and pulled a carbine out of its housing in a third crate, along with plenty of ammo. Lastly, she slapped her customary Maulers on each thigh.

Tar turned and nearly jumped when she found the armourer’s apprentice standing in front of her. He held her mended cuirass - with only a fleetingly short time to spare, they had just magnetised metal patches to it as a temporary measure. She grunted with indifference and raised both arms, guns and equipment hanging off them.

The armourer’s apprentice tentatively approached, holding the cuirass out in front of him. When it got close to her skin, the back flaps wrapped snugly around her with a satisfying *clank*. The interlocking parts shimmied around until they made a perfect fit around their owner’s torso.

“Give the armourer my thanks.” Tar hissed, striding round the youth and heading for the armoured column. She fastened her jetpack as she went.

She’d only just arrived back with the rest of her team when Vael gave the order to mount up. Tar roared, raising her carbine into the air and shouting for the chaotic mass of rallying troops.

“Glory awaits us! Take it, it's yours!” It got a smattering of encouraging replies from the crowd. The Commando bashed her new carbine against her chest to raise more noise, before jogging towards the front of the column where she’d take a turret in a Wraith.

The Cradle

Hale breathed in heavily. One hand played with the picture of three girls that faced him on the side of his desk.

“We’ll lose our independence. We’ll lose our whole way of life, that’s come from centuries of co-existence with the Cradle.”

He put the picture back.

Even if the Hegemon doesn’t exist, I fear this is exactly the sort of excuse Earth will use to reunite our ‘little federation’. Their influence runs deep in our society, even today.”

“Forgive me, but I feel we’re drifting from the more pressing issue of access to the Psi-Helios system.” Benoit Souza interjected.

“All we need right now, is a promise that our teams can enter unmolested. We can promise to leave the locals alone if we think that will do any good.”

The Cradle

“Oh, nothing.” Hale tapped his mahogany desk with his index finger’s nail.

“We protect ourselves first, and always have, because we can never expect the same from them. This isn’t just about the Tindrel and the QV, but Angjusk, the Renaissance, the whole Diaspora. They all stand to exploit this crusade. Even Earth.”

Benoit Souza and João Sequeira bristled at the thought, looking at each other.

“With all due respect, All-Conqueror, I expected a longer term view from you. You and many of your kind would have been alive when Human civilisation ripped itself apart.”

The Cradle

Hale’s eyes narrowed about two millimetres.

“Our fortress is built on the combined might of two of the strongest navies this galaxy has ever seen. Over a thousand ships of the line of battle, and two million fighters to go with them.”

He swept one forearm out to the side, then clenched a fist.

“I think I know what side of the walls our friends will want to be on, when it comes to it. Regardless of how much they know, they won’t want to face this alone.”

Word association Game!

Lyrics

The Cradle

The men shared a glance, arranged in Hale’s office such as they were. A few more aides were present in the background of the meeting - the rest of the Committee were no longer present. These aides quickly explained the significance of this new figure, though it wasn’t necessary; they all already knew to a certain extent.

“Clean up these comms.” Hale snapped in private to them, before responding.

“Hello. I don't understand your meaning - could you elaborate?”

---

The Institute doctors took Freyr to a specially outfitted room aboard the Barbarossa. It was darkened inside, with banks of interfaces throwing up faint blue light onto the ceiling. She could faintly make out a large hexagonal pod with the top slightly ajar. Steps led up to the opening.

“Please change into the clothing provided behind that screen.” One of them gestured; Freyr’s implants outlined the hand to make it clearer. She swallowed the rising tide of bile in her throat. “What is the meaning of all this?”

“We’ve developed some new methods of testing for psychological damage caused by contact with the Cradle.”

“I’d like a chaperone.”

“Very well, we’ll call your legal representative. Please go and change.”

After 5 years, I am back. And it is great.

@Catharyn A 2x2 sounds like a really fun concept.

@Benzaiten

Maybe i'll set one up sometime!

After 5 years, I am back. And it is great.

@Catharyn Thanks!! You too, welcome back! I haven't quite gotten back to writing yet, myself, but I do hope RPing will help with that. I would love to try a 2x2 - does that involve four people as the word suggests? While I do not have any specific ideas for RPs yet, I'd love to do something vaguely fantasy, history, and mythology focused. I've been studying Ancient Chinese classics lately. At the moment I am also very intrigued by East Asian folklore and mythology. Does any of it tickle your fancy? :)

@Aiyanna

Yeah, for me a 2x2 is four people who perhaps interact a bit more with their designated main partner. Depends on how the story pans out really!

I love fantasy & history but not sure about mythology. Would need to be a great angle.