1500 HOURS, NOVEMBER 15, 2554 (UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)
HALO INSTALLATION: SIRCA-QOPPA-FREELANCER HEADQUARTERS

With Freelance Command secure, and Church retrieved from his hide and seek, Tysiac and the Movement were quick to scavenge the base. In addition to making room for themselves and remaining Freelancers, some of the vans that the HADES forces had brought were converted into extra transports, loaded with supplies, ammunition and other scavenged materials.

With some of the Freelancers and the Movement, Tysiac and Constance had focused their attention into stripping as much as they could. As the rest focused on getting the vans and Scorpion tank ready for departure, the Spartan-III and Chupadore woman went through a prioritization of what to take. Radios, crypto-Kits, spare parts, and electronics were the first things listed, tagged and bagged.

Demolition points were made in liaison with Cali so as to ensure that Omega or HADES couldn't come and convert Freelance Command into another base, though both Constance and York had argued with Tysiac against destroying too much. They reasoned that the base may have use if need be, or that they could return for additional scavenging at a later time.

Part of Tysiac suspected if York's argument was colored by sentiment, not wanting to let what remnants of Carolina be buried and destroyed. Nonetheless, as much as the Spartan argued against letting sentimentality affect their decision, he relented in their counterpoint that this wasn't his rebel cell that he was leading.

Finding the remnants and documented research over the Werewolf Hypnotoxin was certainly a boon for the rebellion and ONI Spartan-III, and one that Tysiac took well advantage of before letting the Movement have their share. There had been minimal hope that Omega wouldn't have allowed much to be left behind, however it appears the Director had played enough loopholes for the Movement and the Spartan to take back home to L-Base. Much of Tysiac's remaining data storage was filled to the brim with snapshots of documents and materials and copied encrypted data from terminals.

The encrypted data fragments that had been left behind without their decryption keys. But for ONI? Once the data was sent their way, that was barely a problem. Much of the Chupadore species' tech was still UNSC tech, well familiar territory even for Tysiac to take a crack at, even if the species had taken any personalized touches to their security.

By the time Tysiac looked at the time and saw it was 1500, he had made his way to Wash in the Director's office. Constance and York had taken the last of what could be collected up to the surface as the Spartan made his way to the Director's Office.

There Tysiac found Wash and Trevor, the Movement's tech, staring worriedly at the holographic screen as Director Lionel's voice could be heard. Wash gave a glance to acknowledge Tysiac's presence as the Spartan came around, seeing the screen show a recording between Lionel and Omega himself.

"You'll be singing a different tune when she shows up and beats it out of you." The Director's reply was firm, almost taunting. His claws folded in front of him and resting to the side as if his conversation with Omega was a courtesy call.

Omega's laugh followed - a chilling, theatrical sound that sent a shiver through the room,
"Now you really are a comedian. Don't mistake me - I'm looking forward to meeting her. Enjoy the few moments of life you have left, Director."

The recording didn't end then and there as the Counselor's voice came next, tense and foreboding, "You know he'll be sending more than HADES to kill us. The Left Hand-"

Director Lionel's tone interrupted the Counselor with a confident tone, "Oh, I wouldn't count on that any time soon, Counselor. Omega's about to have his hands full. Let's see how the son of a bitch likes the taste of his own medicine."

The recording finally stopped, and Wash wasn't confident or happy with what he and Trevor listened to.

Tysiac's displeasure only deepened. There was grim, undeniable confirmation that Omega was wearing MJOLNIR Powered Armor, it wasn't a good outlook. Depending on whether this was a replica of MJOLNIR or an actual set of the powered armor, the Movement was going to be heavily relying on Tysiac to combat Omega.

He shelved the thought and consideration away, turning his attention to what he had heard. 'When she shows up'... Given how Bethany had stormed out and if it hadn't been for Tysiac, it was all but easy to figure that the Director had been trying to wind her up and set her off flying at Omega.

"So that's it then." Tysiac commented, getting Trevor to jump a little, "The Director has been trying to raise a rebel army against Omega, and he's been grooming Bethany into doing it."

"Manipulative bastard..." Wash growled.

Silence reigned in the office before Tysiac spoke up, carefully tapping Wash's shoulder to not cause a bruise, "We scavenged what we could. Some of it will likely sweeten Q-Base enough to not reject us outright. We've also found encrypted data on Project Werewolf."

Wash placed a claw over his muzzle as he gave a scoff, "So Tex still gets a bit of what she was after, huh?"

Tysiac didn't immediately answer his question, but continued, "We've spent enough time here. Omega's bound to send another detachment of HADES soon."

Much as Wash looked like he wanted to stay and keep digging, the Chupadore seemed to accept the Spartan was right. Giving a nod, he told Tysiac, "We'll be up top and ready to move soon." He turned his attention to Trevor and began working with the Chupadore to collect and store as much as they could, letting Tysiac leave.

Once on the surface, Tysiac found Bethany leaning against her motorcycle. It had taken some scrapes from the shrapnel during the firefight from HADES, but it was still in working condition while the rest of the Movement was prepped for departure. Bethany locked eyes with Tysiac's visor and gave a small jerk of her head at him as he came closer.

"Turns out the Director's been grooming and manipulating you into attacking Omega on your own." Tysiac told her, once he was sure they weren't going to be intruded.

Bethany's head turned to look at the Spartan, her expression cracking and showing both surprise and anger. She clenched her claws, the knuckles paling the woman's ebony fur as her eyes darkened, "Fuck..."

The Spartan reached and tapped her arm, getting her attention, "Hey. It's a lot to take in. But, we did stumble across some Werewolf encrypted data. It's not much, but it can be cracked and we're likely to find what you came here for."

She looked up again, skepticism in her eyes and nearly haunting Tysiac again with the memories of Allison. Mentally fighting off his ghosts, the Spartan added, "And despite all that's happened, Omega's distracted now. He's under the thought that Lionel had sent you after him to Kaprime, and the Director's out of our way."

The Chupadore scoffed, "So what? Omega's going to be expecting us any day. Even if-"

"Omega still does not realize I'm alive, and I am working with you." Tysiac interrupted, making her pause, "He's expecting you. Alone. Not with the Movement working with tactics that he's not recognizing from you or Wash, and certainly not a Spartan-III. Yes, he'll be expecting an arrival, but this time it's on our terms."

She stared at him for a little longer before giving a tired sigh, "... Fine. Fair points, but... Just don't expect me to be your miracle weapon."

Wash and Trevor were soon heard and seen leaving Freelance Command's ruined entrance. The tech-specialist Chupadore was muttering something to Wash before moving off to one of the vans, carrying a datapad with him. Wash still wore the look of someone who hadn't shaken off what he had heard in the Director's office, but after hopping onto the back of Constance's Mongoose and the two talking, that seemed to ease his emotions a little.

With the additional sounds of motors turning on and the Chupadores piling on, with the Reds on their Warthog and the Blues hopping on the Scorpion tank with York, Tysiac knew that was their cue. He turned to Bethany, "No offense, but if I started expecting that, it'd mean we're desperate. Time to get going, Tex."

The name slipped, and the Spartan paused uncomfortably once he realized it. Thankfully, Bethany didn't think much of it as she gave a chuckle, "I'll be sure to not live up to your expectations." The Chupadore woman straddled her bike and waited for the rest of the convoy.

Her quip snapped Tysiac out of his silence as he gave a sigh before moving on to climbing into the Scorpion. Church shuffled a little as Tysiac moved past him, the Chupadore Werewolf muttered under his breath as Tysiac moved past him and settled into the cockpit, "Who the fuck makes tanks have seats right on top of these meatgrinder for wheels?"

"Combat readiness and gives you boys a chance to not die with the driver." Tysiac replied before drowning out any argument with the roar of the tank's engines as he slowly reversed and began following Bethany and Constance out of the base, with the vans and Warthogs out of the now abandoned Freelance Command.

Once they were past the gates, Cali triggered the explosives from one of the vans, collapsing the base's atrium. This turned the ground surface of Freelance Command into ruins. With the convoy moving steadily onwards and through an alternate path through the thunderous and lightning filled desert, the Movement made their way and left behind the remnant ghosts and memories that Freelance Command possessed.

Red vs Blue © Rooster Teeth. Halo © 343 Industries. Concept by Myshu, assisted by The Department of Chupapology.