bzzt! I have applied your personal language filters.
To: Cpt********.1465.UNSC.THESEUS
From: ISitInA.
ERROR DATA UNAVAILABLE
Origin:
ERROR DATA UNAVAILABLE
Received:
Sent:
ERROR DATA UNAVAILABLE
Classifications: Captain's Eyes Only, Message Archival Allowed, Neural Net Upload Permissions Denied
Attachments: 9 (FRE1, FRE2, FRE3, FRE4, FRE5, FRE6, FRE7, FRE8, FRE9, 87 Mb total)
Subject: It could be worse
Captain,
To be honest with you, you're handling finding out that I'm a professional liar better than my ex did. Let's just say that my relationship didn't last long once I was forced to let him find out that I was a "unofficial HUMINT resource." In fact, it lasted ten hours after he found out, until our lawyer opened shop for the day.
Unsurprisingly, it's part of the reason why I was recruited as a full agent, as odd as it sounds.
We all make mistakes. You're included in that. It's part of what makes us human. The other part is to try and correct those as best we can, and try to forge ahead. That's part of the reason why I'm helping you, to make up for past mistakes. To hope that I can forge ahead.
The part that I'm very apologetic for is that there's not much that you can do to make it up to me; we're already going to have a dinner and coffee. You and your crew are already guaranteed to go through an extensive debriefing when you get back into port. And, yes, I expect you to tell the truth in all of this. Honestly, you've handled this admirably, better than anyone anticipated.
If things don't go as I'm hoping they do, then I'll make all this up to you somehow. I promise you that.
I'll be honest, I'm 98% certain that you're dealing with F484, or what's left of him. But that's still not completely sure. I'm trained to have doubts, to report them, to keep them in mind whenever I act. Including now.
It's so dark in here. It's rather strange to me, to be surrounded by shadows. I know you probably think us spooks are used to shadows, but we're not. ONI buildings are well lit, with pleasing colors. (Never sterile white. Never.) We talk constantly, about friends, family, our lives. Our bases are built overlooking places of beauty, so that it's no more than a two minute walk to look out a window and see it all.
It's all psychological, I know. Trying to keep us from loosing it. We have a reputation. We're all heartless. But at the end of the day, nothing could be further from the truth. We carry the weight of humanity on our shoulders. We take it upon ourselves to make the hard decisions so that others don't have to.
Did you know that for every 20 members of ONI on a base, we must have one psychologist on hand? And even with that, our suicide rate is embarrassing? Sure, it would be easier to become desensitized to it all. But with that desensitization comes a lack of perspective. We try and walk a fine line, desensitized enough to do what we have to, but fresh enough that we keep that perspective that allows original thought.
Do we do sinister things? Yes, on occasion. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a liar, either to you or themselves. But do we do them without good reason? No. We only do them when absolutely necessary.
So for my environment to currently be so sinister is a little odd. It only makes my mood worse, more volatile.
I know this is going to sound horribly cliche, but since I have this here, I might as well. I thought I'd skip sending you these, but I've heard the entire audio log, cleaned up as best we can manage, for over a week now. Fitzgerald and I go through them constantly, trying to gauge, to guess. To determine how bad it all is.
Perhaps you can understand why I hate the dark right now.
Sincerely,
Chair
FRE1 wrote:
F484: (DISTRACTED) Let them get closer before popping the hatch, then spank 'em.
Myung: Face full of rocket, coming up.
(PAUSE, 16.4 SECONDS)
F484: The Pelican's running low on ammo and taking damage. Wait for me to put her down before opening.
Myung: Affirmative. I've got waypoints set up, and I'm almost positive that they'll work fine for you.
F484: Roger.
FRE2 wrote:
Myung: (WORRIED) Foxtrot? You okay?
F484: (WHEEZING, GAGGING)
Myung: Come on, get up. (PAUSE, 1.4 SECONDS) Get up.
(PAUSE, 5.3 SECONDS)
Myung: (LOUDER) Get up!
Myung: (AUTHORITATIVE) Get! Up!
(PAUSE, 6.1 SECONDS)
F484: (WHEEZING CHANGES, STABILIZES)
F484: (SHAKING VOICE) Yes ma'am. Procee... (DEEP BREATH) Proceeding to the next checkpoint.
FRE3 wrote:
F484: Hold. (PAUSE, 4.2 SECONDS) Next chamber has... 25 enemies. We'll have to fight our way through.
(PAUSE, 2.7 SECONDS)
(SOUND OF HELMET BEING REMOVED)
Myung: We'll do it like Ariel. I'll distract them, then- (INTERRUPTED)
F484: (ANGRILY) Get your helmet back on! We never, ever go on missions together, and I am not letting you take one for the team!
F484: (SHAKING VOICE) We're... We're going to get through this together. You and me, alright six-three?
(PAUSE, 0.7 SECONDS)
F484: (COMFORTINGLY) You'n me. We're gonna get through this, Charlie. You and me. Then... Gonna go back to Reach, get debriefed. Maybe sneak into Olympus, visit... Visit 23 Zulu for old time's sake. Just you and me. It'll be just like Christmas, yeah?
(PAUSE, 7.2 SECONDS)
Myung: (HORRIFIED, SAD UNDERTONES) Yeah. Affirmative.
FRE4 wrote:
F484: (PANTING, GAGGING)
Myung: (QUICKLY) Come on, they're coming. Now's not the time. Get up!
(PAUSE, 2.1 SECONDS)
Myung: (DESPERATELY) Come on! Get up, soldier! Are you an Orion or do you belong in the rear echelon?
F484: (GROGGILY) I'm an Orion. Orions are the sword of the UNSC. But Orions are nothing without the UNSC. We respect the chain of com-command. We fight, we live, we die, and we kill so that others won't have to. That is what it means to be an Orion.
Myung: Then get up! Move to the next waypoint! Finish your mission!
F484: (MUMBLING) Override Alpha Bravo Golf, four-eight-seven. Spread your wings.
F484: (DEEP BREATH)
(PAUSE, 2.1 SECONDS)
F484: (GRUNTS)
F484: (SHAKING VOICE) Proceeding to the next waypoint.
FRE5 wrote:
F484: (PAINED SCREAM)
Myung: (WORRIED) Foxtrot?
F484: (PAINED) Fine. Proceeding with mission objectives.
FRE6 wrote:
Myung: (WORRIED) You okay? Doesn't look like it penetrated your armor...
F484: (GROGGY) Override... Kilo Foxtrot Sierra niner-niner-three. Pain is an illusion.
F484: (GAGGING)
F484: (DEEP BREATH)
F484: Status nominal. Moving to waypoint.
FRE7 wrote:
Myung: Are you okay? It... It doesn't look like it got through your armor. I think-
Myung: (FRIGHTENED) Hey, hey, hey! No falling over. Come on, not again. Get up! On your feet soldier!
(PAUSE, 4.1 SECONDS)
Myung: (AUTHORITATIVELY) Foxtrot! Eight-four! Get up! You promised to go to 23 Zulu with me! Don't you dare make me go through another Christmas without you! Get your BLAM together and get on your feet! Are you a liar? Are you going to break your promise to me?
F484: (NEAR-INCOHERENT) Override Oscar Juliet-
Myung: (DESPERATELY) No, stop! No! Don't do that! You only get worse when you do that! You're killing yourself! Please, Foxtrot... Please! Stop!
F484: Romeo Delta, one-niner-six. Orions never die.
Myung: (CONTINUES PLEADING)
F484: Sierra Sierra One Bravo Seven Kilo. Who dares, wins.
F484: (STUTTERING PAINED NOISE)
F484: (GAGGING)
(PAUSE, 6.1 SECONDS)
F484: (SPITTING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF LIQUID)
(PAUSE, 8.1 SECONDS)
F484: (VOMITING)
Myung: (COMFORTINGLY) Shhh... Shhh...
F484: (DEEP BREATH)
F484: (MECHANICALLY) Stims are kicking in. (PAUSE, 1.2 SECONDS) Come on, let's meet up with the rest of the squad.
FRE8 wrote:
Myung: (DESPERATELY) Foxtrot, wait! (PAUSE, 0.9 SECONDS) Your arm! (PAUSE, 1.4 SECONDS) You just got shredded by a Hunter! Just wait a minute!
(PAUSE, 3.7 SECONDS)
Myung: (ANGRILY) BLAM it!
FRE9 wrote:
F484: (SOFT INCOHERENT NOISES)
Myung: Easy, easy. Okay, stay right there while I get this door open.
(SOUND OF DOOR OPENING)
(SOUND OF IMPACT WITH FLOOR)
Myung: No, come on! Get up! Get... I can't carry you! Foxtrot!
F484: (VOMITING)
Myung: No, no, no! Please! (PAUSE, 2.1 SECONDS) Open your eyes, open...
(PAUSE, 1.3 SECONDS)
Myung: (HORRIFIED) Oh god.
Myung: (NEAR HYSTERICS) Why are you bleeding from... What did you do?!
(SOUND OF ELITES IN THE DISTANCE)
Myung: BLAM it! Come on, help me out here. Come on. Kick your legs. Something. Just a little more...
(SOUND OF DOOR CLOSING)
Myung: (EMOTIONAL) Okay now... How... What do I...
(PAUSE, 2.2 SECONDS)
Myung: (STERNLY) Foxtrot! Listen to me! We're here. I need you to focus. The last stage of the mission is here. I need you to complete your mission. Can you do that Foxtrot?
F484: (INCOHERENT MUMBLING)
Myung: Speak up! I can't hear you!
F484: (SOFTLY, SHAKING VOICE) Yes ma'am.
F484: (PAINED GROAN)
F484: Completing... the mission...