8,076
edits
James Cutter: Difference between revisions
→A new enemy
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 89: | Line 89: | ||
On March 28, [[2559]], just over twenty-eight years since entering cryostasis, Captain Cutter was awakened to the voice of [[Serina]]. She had initiated her own final dispensation more than twenty-two years earlier, but she had left behind some automated protocols to awaken the crew in in response to certain contingencies. She also had recorded a farewell message for Cutter in particular. In it, she stated that it had been a pleasure to serve with him and asked that he look after everyone for her. After dressing collecting his thoughts, Cutter made his way to the observation deck, where he found professor Anders already present. Outside, an enormous [[Installation 00|concave superstructure]] with eight petals, covered in landmasses and oceans, stretched out before them. Cutter greeted Anders, who was flush with the excitement of discovery and already making plans for landing on the surface beneath them. The captain asked if she had any insight concerning what it was or where they were, but all Anders could confirm was that they had left the [[Milky Way galaxy]] behind for the gulf of intergalactic space. Cutter brought up a records of the ''Spirit of Fire'''s sensors, which revealed they had dropped out of slipspace less than an hour ago. Without a slipspace drive of its own, Anders concluded that something had opened some sort of [[portal|slipspace corridor]] and pulled them in from this side. Just then, word came from the bridge that a UNSC signal was transmitting from the surface. Cutter directed it to be played for him, but was told that it couldn't be decrypted with their outdated codes. Its very existence excited Cutter, however, because to him it meant that the UNSC was still in the fight or had perhaps even beat the Covenant. Something else was blocking Anders' surface scans of the huge structure's topography, but she could pinpoint the general location for the signal. Cutter decided to send the three Spartans of [[Red Team]] to investigate. He contacted Jerome-092 with orders to be ready for reconnaissance within the hour. As a pelican ferried Red Team to the ground, Cutter followed up with the professor to ascertain whether the signal's location could be named with any more precision. She had narrowed it down to a small sector where other recon teams were currently investigating. She also had found what looked like a [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost|UNSC research outpost]] and again expressed a desire to do some exploring herself. Cutter told her that without Serina, he needed her to remain on the ship, and told Jerome to make contact with whomever was signaling to them as soon as possible. As the Spartans drew nearer to the source, Cutter notified Jerome of a portal like those that existed on the artificial planet in 2531 which they could use to get closer easily. He also told him that he had ordered the other forces to hang back and cover their exit while they sought out answers.<ref ="Signal">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level ''[[The Signal]]''</ref> | On March 28, [[2559]], just over twenty-eight years since entering cryostasis, Captain Cutter was awakened to the voice of [[Serina]]. She had initiated her own final dispensation more than twenty-two years earlier, but she had left behind some automated protocols to awaken the crew in in response to certain contingencies. She also had recorded a farewell message for Cutter in particular. In it, she stated that it had been a pleasure to serve with him and asked that he look after everyone for her. After dressing collecting his thoughts, Cutter made his way to the observation deck, where he found professor Anders already present. Outside, an enormous [[Installation 00|concave superstructure]] with eight petals, covered in landmasses and oceans, stretched out before them. Cutter greeted Anders, who was flush with the excitement of discovery and already making plans for landing on the surface beneath them. The captain asked if she had any insight concerning what it was or where they were, but all Anders could confirm was that they had left the [[Milky Way galaxy]] behind for the gulf of intergalactic space. Cutter brought up a records of the ''Spirit of Fire'''s sensors, which revealed they had dropped out of slipspace less than an hour ago. Without a slipspace drive of its own, Anders concluded that something had opened some sort of [[portal|slipspace corridor]] and pulled them in from this side. Just then, word came from the bridge that a UNSC signal was transmitting from the surface. Cutter directed it to be played for him, but was told that it couldn't be decrypted with their outdated codes. Its very existence excited Cutter, however, because to him it meant that the UNSC was still in the fight or had perhaps even beat the Covenant. Something else was blocking Anders' surface scans of the huge structure's topography, but she could pinpoint the general location for the signal. Cutter decided to send the three Spartans of [[Red Team]] to investigate. He contacted Jerome-092 with orders to be ready for reconnaissance within the hour. As a pelican ferried Red Team to the ground, Cutter followed up with the professor to ascertain whether the signal's location could be named with any more precision. She had narrowed it down to a small sector where other recon teams were currently investigating. She also had found what looked like a [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost|UNSC research outpost]] and again expressed a desire to do some exploring herself. Cutter told her that without Serina, he needed her to remain on the ship, and told Jerome to make contact with whomever was signaling to them as soon as possible. As the Spartans drew nearer to the source, Cutter notified Jerome of a portal like those that existed on the artificial planet in 2531 which they could use to get closer easily. He also told him that he had ordered the other forces to hang back and cover their exit while they sought out answers.<ref ="Signal">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level ''[[The Signal]]''</ref> | ||
[[File:HW2-Isabel&Co-02.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Captain Cutter and Jerome-092 listen to Isabel relay the history of Atriox.]] | [[File:HW2-Isabel&Co-02.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Captain Cutter and Jerome-092 listen to Isabel relay the history of Atriox.]] | ||
The three Spartans entered the [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost]] but when they emerged, they were calling for an evac and were reporting a casualty. Jerome personally requested air support on their location and trailing north in order to strike their pursuers. Cutter affirmed his understanding an authorized [[Archer missile]]s to be fired. Using an [[M12 Warthog LRV]], Jerome and a wounded [[Douglas-042]] were able to make it to a waiting pelican for transport back to the ''Spirit of Fire''. [[Alice-130]] stayed behind to cover their retreat. ''En route'', Captain Cutter let Jerome know that he had a medical team standing by to receive Douglas and he that he wanted a full report from both Jerome and [[Isabel|an A.I.]] he had retrieved from the research outpost.<ref ="Signal"/> Once on the bridge, Jerome slotted the [[data crystal chip]] of the A.I., named [[Isabel]], into a [[holotable]]. Jerome introduced her to the captain, but she reported that she already knew who he was, since he and his crew had supposedly been lost with all hands decades ago. Cutter requested information regarding what had just happenned on the surface. The A.I. was silent at first, but with some urging she indulged Cutter's questioning and told of him that five months ago, a portal that connected this location, named the Ark, to [[Earth]], had shut down. She also told of how a month after that a [[Banished|fearsome faction]] of [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]] led by a Jiralhanae named [[Atriox]] had arrived and [[Attack on Installation 00|slaughtered]] everyone here. After explaining who Atriox was and what they were up against should they remain here at the Ark, Isabel urged a retreat, not knowing that the ship lacked any means of slipspace travel. In response, Cutter launched into an inspirational speech to the bridge crew wherein he appealed to the loss they were all feeling after waking up to find twenty-eight years had gone by, their shared sense of duty, the fact that he considered them all family, and the necessity of stopping a monster like Atriox from acquiring anything powerful he could threaten the galaxy with. Even Isabel was stirred by the speech and agreed to his plan to fight this faction, known as the [[Banished]]. Cutter figured the best way to start would be to hit Atriox's chain of command. Isabel informed him of a Banished salvage operation overseen by [[Decimus]], one of Atriox's lieutenants and the Brute that had led the attack on her outpost. The captain resolved to strike the Banished with a surprise attack, move south to establish a base, and then from there launch an attack on Decimus' operation. In the meantime, he told professor [[Ellen Anders|Anders]] that it would be her job to start looking for a way to send word home to the UNSC about their situation.<ref name="ANE"/> | The three Spartans entered the [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost]] but when they emerged, they were calling for an evac and were reporting a casualty. Jerome personally requested air support on their location and trailing north in order to strike their pursuers. Cutter affirmed his understanding an authorized [[Archer missile]]s to be fired. Using an [[M12 Warthog LRV]], Jerome and a wounded [[Douglas-042]] were able to make it to a waiting pelican for transport back to the ''Spirit of Fire''. [[Alice-130]] stayed behind to cover their retreat. ''En route'', Captain Cutter let Jerome know that he had a medical team standing by to receive Douglas and he that he wanted a full report from both Jerome and [[Isabel|an A.I.]] he had retrieved from the research outpost.<ref="Signal"/> Once on the bridge, Jerome slotted the [[data crystal chip]] of the A.I., named [[Isabel]], into a [[holotable]]. Jerome introduced her to the captain, but she reported that she already knew who he was, since he and his crew had supposedly been lost with all hands decades ago. Cutter requested information regarding what had just happenned on the surface. The A.I. was silent at first, but with some urging she indulged Cutter's questioning and told of him that five months ago, a portal that connected this location, named the Ark, to [[Earth]], had shut down. She also told of how a month after that a [[Banished|fearsome faction]] of [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]] led by a Jiralhanae named [[Atriox]] had arrived and [[Attack on Installation 00|slaughtered]] everyone here. After explaining who Atriox was and what they were up against should they remain here at the Ark, Isabel urged a retreat, not knowing that the ship lacked any means of slipspace travel. In response, Cutter launched into an inspirational speech to the bridge crew wherein he appealed to the loss they were all feeling after waking up to find twenty-eight years had gone by, their shared sense of duty, the fact that he considered them all family, and the necessity of stopping a monster like Atriox from acquiring anything powerful he could threaten the galaxy with. Even Isabel was stirred by the speech and agreed to his plan to fight this faction, known as the [[Banished]]. Cutter figured the best way to start would be to hit Atriox's chain of command. Isabel informed him of a Banished salvage operation overseen by [[Decimus]], one of Atriox's lieutenants and the Brute that had led the attack on her outpost. The captain resolved to strike the Banished with a surprise attack, move south to establish a base, and then from there launch an attack on Decimus' operation. In the meantime, he told professor [[Ellen Anders|Anders]] that it would be her job to start looking for a way to send word home to the UNSC about their situation.<ref name="ANE"/> | ||
[[File:Cutterspeech.png|thumb|left|300px|Captain Cutter stirs his underlings to take the fight to the Banished.]] | [[File:Cutterspeech.png|thumb|left|300px|Captain Cutter stirs his underlings to take the fight to the Banished.]] | ||
Two pelicans dropped off Jerome and several squads of marines. The entire group, designated [[Strike One]], was directed by Captain Cutter from the ''Spirit of Fire'' as it made its way toward a Banished camp. After clearing the camp, Cutter had two squads of [[Hellbringers]] sent to reinforce them before they moved on to another area where the Banished had troops garrisoned. He encouraged the marines and Jerome to salvage whatever they could from the Banished and also sent some Warthogs to help them scout ahead as they came nearer to the locus of Decimus' operation. Cutter also offered tactical advice, such as telling the troops when to flank and when to take cover behind structures. Once a Banished base was discovered, he recommended that the Hellbringers use their [[M7057 flamethrower]]s to burn it down. Once it had been eliminated, Cutter oversaw the placement of their own [[firebase]], dropped in piecemeal by [[D81-LRT Condor]]s, overtop the burnt-out wreckage. Isabel at this point said that she was picking up something being broadcast to all Banished channels and Cutter had her translate it for them. They had apparently gotten [[Decimus]]' attention. Cutter told her to keep intercepting his communications and worked with Jerome to oversee the further buildup of the base. Suddenly, a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} appeared and Cutter had barely enough time to warn his troops on the ground before one of its [[pulse laser turret]]s bombarded their position. After moving out once more, the captain told the marines to secure power nodes when they chanced across them in order to starve Decimus of energy and and bolster their own supply. At last, Decimus' main base was reached. Cutter advised the liberal use of grenades and once again shouted for his forces to scatter when the carrier prepared to fire on them. Decimus, who had been present in the fight, eventually retreated through a portal and the carrier also relented, leaving the salvage operation to the marines. Cutter sent orders to search what remained for anything that could aid them.<ref name="ANE"/> | Two pelicans dropped off Jerome and several squads of marines. The entire group, designated [[Strike One]], was directed by Captain Cutter from the ''Spirit of Fire'' as it made its way toward a Banished camp. After clearing the camp, Cutter had two squads of [[Hellbringers]] sent to reinforce them before they moved on to another area where the Banished had troops garrisoned. He encouraged the marines and Jerome to salvage whatever they could from the Banished and also sent some Warthogs to help them scout ahead as they came nearer to the locus of Decimus' operation. Cutter also offered tactical advice, such as telling the troops when to flank and when to take cover behind structures. Once a Banished base was discovered, he recommended that the Hellbringers use their [[M7057 flamethrower]]s to burn it down. Once it had been eliminated, Cutter oversaw the placement of their own [[firebase]], dropped in piecemeal by [[D81-LRT Condor]]s, overtop the burnt-out wreckage. Isabel at this point said that she was picking up something being broadcast to all Banished channels and Cutter had her translate it for them. They had apparently gotten [[Decimus]]' attention. Cutter told her to keep intercepting his communications and worked with Jerome to oversee the further buildup of the base. Suddenly, a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} appeared and Cutter had barely enough time to warn his troops on the ground before one of its [[pulse laser turret]]s bombarded their position. After moving out once more, the captain told the marines to secure power nodes when they chanced across them in order to starve Decimus of energy and and bolster their own supply. At last, Decimus' main base was reached. Cutter advised the liberal use of grenades and once again shouted for his forces to scatter when the carrier prepared to fire on them. Decimus, who had been present in the fight, eventually retreated through a portal and the carrier also relented, leaving the salvage operation to the marines. Cutter sent orders to search what remained for anything that could aid them.<ref name="ANE"/> | ||