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{{Era|HW|RW}}'''''“I have a bridge to look after here.”''''' is a flash-fiction story included in the [[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]. It is about [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]] and his thoughts before the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} rendezvous with the [[UNSC Prophecy]] and join the fleet en route to [[Harvest]].<ref>'''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]'''- ''page 20''</ref>
{{Status|RealWorld}}
'''''"I have a bridge to look after here."''''' is a flash-fiction story included in the ''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]''. It is about [[Captain (NAVCOM)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]] and his thoughts about his career and family on board the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} while en route to rendezvous with the {{UNSCShip|Prophecy}}.<ref>''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]'', p.20</ref>


==Story==
==Plot synopsis==
Cutter looked out over the bridge and took in the view. Slipspace always reflected and lit the exterior of the ship in an unnatural and unwelcoming light. The vast size of Spirit of Fire stretched out serenely in this odd sea. The orders were quite specific: rendezvous with The Prophecy and join the fleet en route to Harvest. He had always liked the word “rendezvous” ever since he got it right on Mrs. Ash’s sixth-grade spelling test. He unconsciously sounded it out and Serina flickered on.
Cutter stands on the ''Spirit of Fire'''s bridge observing slipspace's eerie casted light. Immense and serene, the ship moves through this unnatural dimension. His orders are clear: Rendezvous with the ''Prophecy'' and join the fleet heading to [[Harvest]]. The Captain remembers fondly how he mastered the word "rendezvous" in [[Ash (teacher)|Mrs. Ash]]'s sixth-grade spelling test. As he mutters the word, [[Serina]], the ship [[artificial intelligence]], suddenly appears.


“The Prophecy is a good ship—could have been your ship if you had taken them up on the chair,” Serina quipped. She said it loudly enough that Blake looked up from his console.
Serina teases him about ''the Prophecy'', mentioning that it could have been his ship had he accepted the command offer. [[Blake]], another crewmember, overhears and glances up from his console. Cutter reassures Serina that he’s content with his current command; despite ''Spirit of Fire'' not being the fastest or most heavily armed, it's a vital fleet ship bringing essential supplies, water, fuel, and ground support. More importantly, it's stationed at [[Reach]], sparing Cutter from long deployments. He briefly thinks about [[Cutter's daughter|his daughter]] and her potential spelling test today, knowing that passing on command of the ''Prophecy'' likely ended his chances for future prestigious positions. However, he has no regrets, seeing as the choice was easy.


“I’m happy with the seat I have, Serina.” Cutter glared back.
Serina breaks his reverie, reminding him she’s on the bridge. She playfully mentions that it took her long enough to adjust to him as captain, and Cutter, slightly irritated but amused, asks for a status update. She reports that the ship is "loaded for bear" and will exit slipspace in 32 hours and 12 minutes. She also notes that Professor [[Ellen Anders]] is unhappy with her quarters and insists on seeing Cutter. Interrupting Serina’s complaints, the Captain orders Blake to attend to the Professor, much to Blake’s silent frustration as he feels babysitting civilians is beneath him.


And in truth he was. Spirit of Fire was the largest operational ship in the fleet, and while it wasn’t the fastest and didn’t boast the best weaponry or military complement, it was the one ship every other captain in the fleet was happy to see. Spirit of Fire brought supplies, water, fuel—and ground support to the field. More importantly for Cutter, Spirit of Fire was stationed at Reach and generally wasn’t part of long tours of duty. Cutter thought of his daughter and wondered if she had a spelling test today or not. He also knew that by passing on The Prophecy command that his chances of being offered something as prestigious again were slim. In fact, he had already heard rumor to that effect. The choice had been easy, though, and he had no regrets.
With Blake gone, Serina playfully questions what "loaded for bear" actually means. Cutter sits back, thinking of his early days as an [[Ensign]], his father’s disappointment when he joined the [[UN Colony Logistics Office]], and later applied to flight school. His father had scorned him for being "nothing more than a trucker." However, Cutter’s time piloting [[colony ship]]s, though monotonous, eventually led to his command of the {{UNSCShip|Glasgow}} and later caught command's attention after an incident with [[Insurrectionist]]s. His father’s approval finally came when he toured the ''Spirit of Fire'' with Cutter, acknowledging that Cutter’s mother would have been proud.


“Hello! Ship AI on deck!” Serina brought him out of the moment and back to the bridge. “Well, I would have hated to break in a new captain anyway; took me long enough to get you where I want you.”
Cutter sighs and tells Serina that tomorrow will be a long day.


“Thank you, Serina. I think. How are we doing?”
==Appearances==
 
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-6|title-1=Characters|
Serina could get under his skin, and she knew it. The AI was necessary to run the ship, and her sometimes flippant character didn’t betray the complexity of her second-to-second duties. However, sometimes Cutter thought he could do without the running commentary.
*[[Cutter family]]
**[[Cutter's father]] {{Mo}}
**[[Cutter's daughter]] {{Mo}}
**[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]]
*[[Serina]]
*Officer [[Blake]]
*[[Lieutenant (UNSC)|Lieutenant]] [[Green]]
*[[Ellen Anders]] {{mo}}
*[[Ash (teacher)|Ash]] {{1st}}


“Loaded for bear, sir. We should exit Slipspace in thirty-two hours, twelve minutes. Professor Anders has requested better quarters and insists on seeing you. Apparently you must know the ship layout better than me because I told her—”
|title-2=Species|
*[[Human]]


Cutter interrupted, “Mister Blake, please go see to our guest. I have a bridge to look after here.”
|title-3=Organizations|
*[[UNSC]] {{Mo}}
*[[Insurrectionist]]s {{Mo}}
*[[UN Colony Logistics Office]] {{1st}}


Blake looked around the largely empty bridge. Lieutenant Green peered up from the flight control; he was sure Serina was looking at him smugly.
|title-4=Locations|
*[[Epsilon Eridani system]] {{Mo}}
**[[Reach]] {{Mo}}


“Yes, sir!” Blake barked as he made for the door. He thought to himself that he would never be babysitting civilians if he was on The Prophecy.
|title-5=Vehicles|
*[[Colony ship]] {{Mo}}
*[[Freighter]] {{Mo}}
*[[UNSC starship]]
**{{UNSCShip|Glasgow}} {{Mo}}
**{{Class|Phoenix|colony ship}}
***{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}
**{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}
***{{UNSCShip|Prophecy}} {{Mo}}


Serina paused, waiting for Blake to leave. “So, Mr. Captain, sir, what do you think ‘loaded for bear’ actually means?”
|title-6=Technology and equipment|
*[[Artificial intelligence]]


Cutter sat down and pushed back in the chair. His mind fixated on the empty seat Blake had vacated, and he thought back to his long days as an Ensign in the fleet. His father had pushed him to get his degree and was furious that he had signed up for the UN Colony logistics office and even more furious when he applied to flight school. “Nothing more than a trucker!” He could still hear the words echo.
|title-7=Miscellaneous|
 
*[[Slipspace]]
Piloting colony ships was mind-numbing work, but
it gave him experience and eventually earned him command of the Glasgow, a colony freighter vessel.
It wasn’t special, but he pulled his runs, and after an incident with insurgents in the Epsilon Eridani system, he gained the attention of UNSC command.
*[[Bridge]]
 
*[[Water]]
His mind moved to his father again and the redeeming words he later said when he toured the ship with his son—the new captain on the Spirit of Fire. “I guess you knew something, after all. Your mom would be proud.” This was all he said, but it was enough.
}}
 
Cutter sighed. “Serina, it means that tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
 
==Characters==
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]]
*[[Serina]]
*Officer [[Blake]]
*[[Lieutenant (UNSC)|Lieutenant]] [[Green]]
*[[Ellen Anders]] {{C|mentioned only}}
*James Cutter's daughter and parents {{C|mentioned only}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
{{Reflist|1}}
{{Ref/Sources|1}}
{{HWSG}}
[[Category:Halo Wars]]
[[Category:Short stories]]
[[Category:Canon]]

Latest revision as of 07:57, August 21, 2024

"I have a bridge to look after here." is a flash-fiction story included in the Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide. It is about Captain James Cutter and his thoughts about his career and family on board the UNSC Spirit of Fire while en route to rendezvous with the UNSC Prophecy.[1]

Plot synopsis[edit]

Cutter stands on the Spirit of Fire's bridge observing slipspace's eerie casted light. Immense and serene, the ship moves through this unnatural dimension. His orders are clear: Rendezvous with the Prophecy and join the fleet heading to Harvest. The Captain remembers fondly how he mastered the word "rendezvous" in Mrs. Ash's sixth-grade spelling test. As he mutters the word, Serina, the ship artificial intelligence, suddenly appears.

Serina teases him about the Prophecy, mentioning that it could have been his ship had he accepted the command offer. Blake, another crewmember, overhears and glances up from his console. Cutter reassures Serina that he’s content with his current command; despite Spirit of Fire not being the fastest or most heavily armed, it's a vital fleet ship bringing essential supplies, water, fuel, and ground support. More importantly, it's stationed at Reach, sparing Cutter from long deployments. He briefly thinks about his daughter and her potential spelling test today, knowing that passing on command of the Prophecy likely ended his chances for future prestigious positions. However, he has no regrets, seeing as the choice was easy.

Serina breaks his reverie, reminding him she’s on the bridge. She playfully mentions that it took her long enough to adjust to him as captain, and Cutter, slightly irritated but amused, asks for a status update. She reports that the ship is "loaded for bear" and will exit slipspace in 32 hours and 12 minutes. She also notes that Professor Ellen Anders is unhappy with her quarters and insists on seeing Cutter. Interrupting Serina’s complaints, the Captain orders Blake to attend to the Professor, much to Blake’s silent frustration as he feels babysitting civilians is beneath him.

With Blake gone, Serina playfully questions what "loaded for bear" actually means. Cutter sits back, thinking of his early days as an Ensign, his father’s disappointment when he joined the UN Colony Logistics Office, and later applied to flight school. His father had scorned him for being "nothing more than a trucker." However, Cutter’s time piloting colony ships, though monotonous, eventually led to his command of the UNSC Glasgow and later caught command's attention after an incident with Insurrectionists. His father’s approval finally came when he toured the Spirit of Fire with Cutter, acknowledging that Cutter’s mother would have been proud.

Cutter sighs and tells Serina that tomorrow will be a long day.

Appearances[edit]

Characters

Species

Organizations

Locations

Vehicles

Technology and equipment

Miscellaneous



Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide, p.20

v • d • e
 
Halo Wars Official Strategy Guide short stories
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