Author's Note: If you have any tips writing tips, please feel free to comment.
Again, I gratefully accept constructive criticism as a means to help me develop my skills further as a writer.
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Chapter 91: Separation Anxiety
Location: Sol system, Cairo Station, Hood's office
October 19, 2552
0700 hours
Newlyweds Matt and Linda stood in Hood's office dressed in matching fatigues. Both of them only got a couple of hours of sleep after being otherwise 'preoccupied' throughout the night. Lord Hood had called them both to his office first thing but didn't give an explanation as to why.
"At ease," Hood said to the two Spartans as he walked into his office, running late. He had one of those looks on his face like he was about to deliver some bad news. "Commander, Linda's being reassigned by ONI to Songnam. You've been transferred here."
"Can I ask why sir?" Matt asked.
"ONI knows the two of you are married... and apparently, there are certain safeguards in the Spartan program that I wasn't aware of."
He passed a paper to Matt who picked it up and read it with Linda.
ONI Directive: 270 - dated 2/28/25
Pertaining to NavSpecWep program codenamed: SPARTAN-II
The Spartan children have undergone significant mental training to suppress any emotions they might have in order to increase their combat effectiveness but one emotion takes priority above all others, love of the romantic variety. Since they were taken from a young age, the children have only a vague understanding of what love is but we cannot allow a single male or female Spartan to become attracted to a member of the opposite sex. In combat situations, we predict that a Spartan pair in love serving together in the same combat theater will risk the mission to save the other if their life should be in danger. Steps have been taken to ensure this doesn't happen.
PRIMARY MEASURE: A platinum pellet will be inserted into the Spartan's thyroids that contain human growth hormone catalyst. A simple modification will release a drug to suppress certain hormones preventing their sex drive from functioning. Although this has been proven certain in tests with chimpanzees we do expect a significant number of failures in those that survive. In that eventuality, a contingency was developed.
SECONDARY MEASURE: If a Spartan becomes attracted to another Spartan of the opposite sex and this Spartan returns the attraction both must be separated immediately, and not allowed to serve together in combat situations or otherwise. No interaction is to be allowed, correspondence included. A prolonged period of separation and possible therapy measurements would be taken until both Spartans have been absolved of these feelings. Only then could they be allowed to serve in combat situations.
Matt threw the paper down in a fit of rage. Anger boiled inside him, against ONI and their damn regulations. Linda was equally as mad.
"Admiral, you have to do something," Linda asked, "they can't get away with this".
"Believe me I'm disgusted by this as much as you," said Hood. "You two are human beings and should be treated as such. Not like programmable soldiers without feelings. I'm going to fight this but for now you two have to accept this."
"Sir, can't you overrule them?" Matt asked.
"Not when it comes to ONI," Hood replied. "NavSpecWep is out of my jurisdiction, but I intend to launch an appeal ASAP."
"Sir, Matt and I. Are we still married?" Linda asked.
Your marriage is perfectly legal and ONI doesn't have authority to invalidate it," answered Hood. "So yes, you're still married to your husband."
Linda let out a brief sigh of relief.
"You ship out tomorrow at 0800," Hood said to Linda, "and the award ceremony is also being held the same day, Commander. I suggest the two of you make the most of the time you have left. I don't know how long you'll be separated. I promise I'll get that order repealed."
"That's all I ask, sir," Matt replied.
Matt and Linda had been assigned a larger room on Cairo Station, figuring they would be serving together on the station. It had a small living area and a private bedroom. Matt and Linda sat in the living area thinking about the decision.
"What if you don't get on that Pelican tomorrow?" Matt said. "What's the worst they could do?"
"That wouldn't work," Linda said.
"I can't just accept this," Matt said.
"Matt, I know this is going to sound a bit selfish, but I think we have to do this".
Matt looked up at her, wondering why his wife would be in favor of their being separated.
"Matt, that report was right about conflicting feelings in a mission. What happened with the cruiser is proof." She stood up, sat on Matt's legs and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Earth's at stake now, this is the future of our species at stake. Two married Spartans don't make the slightest difference in choosing not to save humanity."
Deep down Matt knew she was right.
"Let's just make the most of the time we have," Linda said as she kissed him. She stood up and Matt followed suit, pulling her to him. Linda wrenched free and moved toward the bedroom.
"Come and get me, loverboy," Linda said as she removed her shirt.
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Location: Sol system, Cairo Station, Matt and Linda's quarters
October 20, 2552
0600 hours
Linda sat on the side of the bed putting her bra back on and zipping up her pants. Matt still lay in bed, the sheets pulled up to his waist. It was still two hours before Linda had to leave.
"Stay," Matt said.
"You know I can't," Linda replied as she reached for her shirt, but Matt grabbed her arm and pulled her on top of him.
"We still have time," Matt said as Linda felt her bra taken off. She didn't protest as he slid her pants down followed by her underwear. Linda arched against his bare body as Matt began his thrusts. She moaned slightly as her stamina was drained. She broke away and lay next to him
"Who would have thought that the shy redhead I knew would eventually be my wife?" Matt said.
"I could say the same about you," Linda replied. "A month ago I didn't think something like this would be possible. Now we're married."
Linda glanced at the clock then got up and gathered her clothes. She dressed and then returned to the bed, kissing Matt goodbye.
"Let's promise we'll see each other again," she said.
"You know I will," Matt said.
"Don't make a girl a promise if you know you can't keep it," said Linda.
Matt pulled her close and cupped her face in his hands. "I promise, Red. I will see you again. You better do the same."
Linda pushed herself close to Matt until their foreheads were touching. "I promise I'll see you again."
Linda kissed him one more time before leaving for the hangar bay. She waited for ten minutes before her transport was called. Once onboard the Pelican, she managed to convince the pilot to make a slight detour.
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Location: Sol system, planet Earth, Vandenberg Base, Baker's office
October 20, 2552
0830 hours
Linda walked into Baker's office to find her packing things into a box.
"You're leaving?" Linda asked.
"I was only here on temporary assignment," Baker said. "ONI reprimanded me for not telling them about you and the Commander. I've also been demoted to junior grade Lieutenant for my actions.
"I'm sorry I got you into this," Linda said.
"Don't," Baker replied. "ONI has no right to keep you two apart." She walked over to Linda and hugged her. "Watch yourself out there."
"You too," Linda replied.
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Location: Sol system, planet Earth, Songnam Military Installation
October 20, 2552
0900 hours
Linda arrived at the base and was surprised to not see Fred or Will meet her at the landing pads. She was ushered into one of the sub-levels of the base and entered a dark cavernous room. At one end a floodlight came on and displayed a suit of MJOLNIR armor, but it was different from an Mk V.
"Allow me to introduce you to the Mk VI," Fred said as he came up behind Linda. He was wearing one of the new sets of armor, as was Will when he emerged from the shadows.
"So this is the secret project you were assigned to," Linda said, "testing this out?"
"You should try it," said another familiar voice from behind Linda. She spun around to see Maria, without the armor on. "They conned me into it," Maria joked.
"Come on, let's get you fitted," Fred said as he and Will went over to the new armor. Linda and Maria followed but Maria held Linda back a moment.
"Is that what I think it is on your finger?" Maria asked.
"Oh, this," Linda said as she held up her hand and showed Maria the ring.
"He proposed!?" Maria almost yelled, assuming it was an engagement ring.
"Oh he did," Linda replied, "but we're married already. It was a private ceremony at Cairo Station."
Maria almost screamed but settled for a "congratulations!" instead
"Tell me all about it," Maria said as they went over to join Fred and Will.
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Location: Sol system, Cairo Station, Armory
October 20, 2552
1243 hours
"Like the Master Chief over here, your plating was about to fail. There's viscosity throughout the gel layer," said the Gunnery Sergeant as he inspected was was left of Matt's Mk V. He moved over to a table where the remains of several key components were scattered. He picked each of them up and showed them to Matt.
"Optics, totally fried. And let's not even talk about the power supply," the Gunny said as Matt reached for his helmet. "Do you know how expensive this gear is, son?"
Matt snapped the helmet for his new suit of MJOLNIR Mk VI armor on and said, "Like the Master Chief just said... tell that to the Covenant."
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