CAPTAIN QUAZAR
By: Jesse Augustus-Feuer
PUBLISHED BY:
CAPTAIN QUAZAR
Copyright © 2014 by Jesse Augustus-Feuer
Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the
copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for
commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage
discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
1 - Beginning
2 - In his room
3 - Headed for the bridge
About the Author
BEGIN TRANSMITION: October 22, 2552. 06:13 HOURS.
LOCATION: ABOARD UNSC Coral Sea undergoing repairs and reconstruction behind Earths moon
The somewhat eerie sound of the “freezer” opened up and Captain QUAZAR slowly stepped out of the pod throwing up the slime that he was forced to inhale before entering cryo sleep.
“Where’s my armor!?” QUAZAR shouted.
“Your armor is two rooms down in the laboratory being retrofitted with the newest armor plating, as well as some newly acquired energy shields.” The UNSC’s Coral Sea AI Rose replied.
Rose was one of the few female AI; she wore casual clothing such as shorts and a grey tank-top.
QUAZAR quickly threw on a towel and sprinted towards the laboratory where his armor was being held.
“If they touched my armor so help me god I’ll-“
As he entered the room, he counted 5 people in white lab coats and one person dressed in military uniform with the insignia of a full General was standing in front of him and in the middle of all of them was his armor.
Or was it?
“Is that my armor?” QUAZAR exclaimed.
“Captain QUAZAR.” The General said while extending his arm. “I am Lord Hood. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Rather than shake his hand, QUAZAR snapped straight to attention.
“Sir, it’s an honor to meet you sir.” QUAZAR replied.
“Now that we have introductions out of the way, I need to bring you up to speed.”
“How long was my team and I out sir?”
“You and the UNSC Coral Sea have been moved to a secure facility behind the moon for repairs.”
“Understood. Rose said you were improving my armor.”
“Yes.”
“How long until I can get back in my armor?”
“How about right now?” Lord Hood interrupted.
“Sounds good to me sir.”
QUAZAR walked to his new suit of armor and looked at it. It was nothing like what he wore the last time; before it was the basic SPI armor but now it was completely different.
His new armor consisted of a Recon helmet with changeable visor colors, left CQC shoulder plate, Security right shoulder plate, and Tactical/Recon chest, on his wrist was a Tactical Pad, a Tactical/Trauma kit, and Grenadier knee guards. His colors were white primary and steel secondary.
“There are some new features that you’re going to have to get used to so hurry up and get suited up, we don’t have much time.”
“What about my team?” QUAZAR asked. “What about them and their armor?”
QUAZAR started putting on his armor. He started from the feet and finished by putting on his helmet.
“Their armor will take a little longer to finish so their still in cryo sleep. We will wake them up when the time comes, I promise.
Now please walk to the platform so we can activate your armor.”
QUAZAR walked to a platform with rotating fan-like arms and then they lit up and started rotating and his suit came to life.
“These energy shields are much more durable than the ones you’ve been using,” Lord Hood began.
“Your armor is also more flexible, stronger, and capable of housing an AI.”
QUAZAR liked what he was hearing until the mention of an AI.
“Sir,” QUAZAR said. “What do you mean ‘house an AI?’
“I’m glad you asked. Our ships AI Rose will be joining you on your next mission whom you will be briefed on when your team is up and running. In the mean time why don’t you and Rose spend some time and get to know each other.”
“Yessir!”
Lord Hood exited the room and QUAZAR snapped a salute. The scientists went back to work, and QUAZAR went to his quarters in order to “get to know Rose”.
The last time QUAZAR was on a mission with the Master Chief, he had the AI Cortana with him; even though he knew where the enemy was at all times and could get access to places he normally couldn’t, the Chief said that sometimes AI could create conflicts of interests and the one thing QUAZAR doesn’t like are conflicts.
QUAZAR entered his room; it was a small room with a mini weapons cache, a place to sleep, and a holopad for ‘getting to know Rose’
“This is stupid.” QUAZAR thought. “Why do I need an AI and of all Ai’s Rose!? According to Lord Hood, Rose is 4 years old which means I only have 3 years with her.”
The holopad flickered to life and Rose appeared. “Hey QUAZAR,” she began. “How are you today?”
QUAZAR reflexively sat straight up and almost saluted but he checked the motion.
“I’m fine, how about yourself?”
Rose pondered the question for a moment.
“All things considered I’m fine as well.” She paused for another moment and continued. “I’m reading you file, at least the parts of it that aren’t covered in black ink and noticed you were involved in the battle for Reach, what was it like to be involved in a battle you knew you were going to lose?”
QUAZAR moved his head away from Rose.
“It’s not something I like to talk about, especially with someone I just meet.”
“Aww come on, I’m just an AI I mean, who am I going to tell?”
QUAZAR immediately turned his head and shot a scornful glance at Rose.
“Even though I can’t see through your visor I can tell I was crossing a line, I apologize.”
“I lost good men on that planet; I won’t let their deaths be in vain.”
“I’ll do my best to help you.”
“Thank you.”
An explosion rattled the room, Lord Hoods voice came over the intercom.
“Attention this is Hood; The Covenant have made our location. Everyone prepare for battle and be ready to evacuate.”
“Captain,” Rose shouted. “You need to install me into your helmet now!”
QUAZAR stood for a moment and then removed the chip that held Rose and put it in the back of his helmet.
“I feel like I know you better already.” Rose casually said.
“It’s going to be a long day.” QUAZAR said sarcastically.
QUAZAR dashed out of his room and made his way through the corridors to get to the ships armory.
“What are you doing Captain?” Rose yelled. “The armory is one floor down.”
“I know a shortcut.” QUAZAR replied.
“Oh yeah, like what?”
QUAZAR jumped 3 feet in the air and as he was coming down, he tucked his knees into his chest and pushed down on the steel floor causing it to break. QUAZAR landed right in the middle of the armory. The armory was built in a way similar to the Pillar of Autumn’s with 1 row of weapons caches’ in the middle of the room and several places for other ordinance weapons on the walls.
“Well!” Someone shouted from the other side of the armory. “Didn’t see that coming.”
QUAZAR surveyed the armory to determine who said the previous statement. Since the armory was dimly lit because only weapons needed to be viewed in an
armory however, it was fairly easy for QUAZAR to locate one of his Spartans.
“Spartan identify yourself.” QUAZAR ordered.
“You first.” The Spartan replied.
“Very well, I guess I’ll be the bigger man here. I am Captain QUAZAR S-343, commanding officer of the last know Spartan 2 team Zulu.”
The Spartan immediately stood in attention and saluted.
“Sir,” The Spartan barked. “I apologize for that disrespectful behavior. It’s me Mark S-099.”
“Mark!” QUAZAR exclaimed. “You look so different.”
QUAZAR was used to looking at Mark wearing standard Mark V armor, but now his armor comprised of a Pilot helmet, Security Right shoulder, Grenadier left shoulder, and he was still wearing his beat up Mark V chest plate.
“The same could be said for you.”
“Where are the others?”
“Well Ghost is……..” Mark looked around the armory. “Well he was here.”
The shadow of a Spartan became visible behind Mark. The shadow was slowly crept its way up to Mark. The hand of the Spartan became visible as it went to tap Mark on the shoulder.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Mark screamed as he jumped and reached for his pistol sidearm, which wasn’t there.
“Ghost is that you?” QUAZAR asked.
“Sir,” Ghost responded as he came out from the Active Camouflage he was in. “I was just testing this new AC system to see how it—“
Mark sprinted for Ghost and rammed him into the wall.
“YOU SON OF A B****!” Mark started screaming. “WHY DID YOU SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT!?”
“The technicians told me to test the new Active Camouflage system on someone and to report any anomalies. Why are you so jumpy today?”
“Well for one thing, the