Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 463: Cerberus Spec Ops

Jace walked around and onto the Nero Hawk. When he walked up he walked over to a spot where someone had already set down his gear. He had sent someone ahead of time to drop it off.

"Who was that Colonel?" K asked nonchalantly.

"An old friend. She worked on the creation of the Nero Hawk and wanted to deliver it personally." Jace answered as he began grabbing his own gear. He saw as Ulin out of the corner of his eye made a face before fixing her expression. She probably realized that Jace was intentionally concealing her identity.

"What are we doing?" Rook asked as he finished his own set up. It was the first time Jace was seeing him without Infantry armor. He had a few noticeable scars from his time being held by vampires.

"I am flying the ship and you are assisting me. As soon as the wave rider engine is activated I will disclose the relevant information." Jace answered as he moved to the cockpit of the ship. There was the pilot and copilot seat and then six seats behind those seats.

Eight people in total were coming on this mission. Jace, who was the informal mission commander. Charlie, who he specifically picked as a medical officer in case of injury. Then there was the newly formed Spec Ops team for Cerberus. Ulin was the Captain in charge of the Spec Ops team. Then there were her subordinates.

K, she has a cover identity but they already know she is a spy set from the Union. Rook, Jace assigned him so he could get experience since he was earmarked for promotions to a higher rank, he and Ulin were the same rank but following the success of this mission she would be promoted.

Then there was Bella West, an engineer from the New Republic. She had been in several combat missions on the Kitinol border. During the invasion her ship was one of the few that stayed at the border to keep the bugs in line.

Asher is an accer from the Victorium. He was a specialist in stealth and hand to hand combat. He was something called an odd species because he was genetically engineered with a combination between a mar'talic and an accer.

The last member of Ulin's spec ops team is actually a recent transfer from MILD. Nulltone, an android with an ability to interface with most known technologies. He was originally from The Rogue Metal Legion but had developed combat capabilities over time and had applied for a transfer to Jace's unit which was permitted.

"This is one beautiful ship. If she had consciousness I would ask for her wig in marriage." Nulltone's voice was monotone as he spoke. So the joke fell flat for a moment. "Was my joke in poor taste?"

"No, but it lacked the emotion necessary for them to realize that it was a joke." Jace informed him as he began switching through the controls and closing the ship. While he looked through the datapad of information that Hielo handed him. "There are some emotion modulators that Solisa and Cain use. Ask them about it when we get back."

"I will sir." Nulltone answered.

"That was a joke?" Rook asked in bewilderment. Then he shook his head. "By the way, about the Spectre Program. Was it originally branched off of the Tartarus Program." Rook asked as Jace powered on the Nero Hawk.

The powering up sequence of the ship was almost an inaudible hum. As it powered up the lights inside the ship lit up and lit the cabin with a low blue glow. "Yes and no. The former Emperor liked to hide things he found important. So the 'advanced' group from the Tartarus Program was actually just the Spectre Program, not even the participants knew until we left."

"Oh… how are participants picked?" Rook asked as he sent an encoded transmission to the control center which had a few people. They were waiting for the signal to start venting oxygen from the chamber. They were in an older hangar that had not yet been updated with the atmospheric barriers. So they had to go through a half an hour process of departing the station.

"It depended heavily on loyalty, age, and how far their system has been completed. They wanted to see how far it could be taken. They had already developed the ability to create Praetorians. Which is a subrace of humans that is basically superior in several aspects. But they wanted to see if there is another route to advancing our race. Apparently it is possible if you achieve more in your younger years. So we pushed the envelope until the system started converting our bodies into a new race called Spectres." Jace explained to Rook, it was not as secret. Just incredibly difficult and could not be achieved with the use of drugs or enhancement procedures. He knew because MILD had already tried those methods.

Rook nodded his head side to side. "I suppose that is why during my last year at the academy they picked up our physical training. Some of my fellow students collapsed or went unconscious from the training."

Asher grunted from behind them. "In the Victorium, we focus on our mental training during class. Tactics, strategies, as well as other basic and important information. We usually spend our free time doing physical training if we want to join the military or a militia."

"That was not an option in the Vexical Empire. Service was required for most with a sufficient nanosystem. Those who tested out or who did not have a nanosystem were not required but found it more difficult to find work." Charlie began explaining.

"What a strange concept." Asher clicked his tongue a few times but it sounded a bit like the mar'talic throat clicking that Jace had heard before. "Is that unique to the Vexical Empire?"

"Nope." Bella cut in. She shrugged, "sorry but I am a bit of a history buff." She then looked at Asher. "The idea of required military or government service is a concept that goes all the way back to when humans were only a single planet species. Although, it was more heavily used in countries that were either constantly at war or lacked another form of discipline."

"Intriguing…" Asher grunted out.

"I believe Miss Bella will get along well with Colonel Jace. He too is a buff of history with a heavy understanding of mythologies and researching the lost era." Nulltone informed them quickly. "Although-"

Jace coughed to interrupt Nulltone. "Maybe wait until you have emotional settings before making jokes." The others blinked and looked at Nulltone before looking at Jace. He shrugged, "he was going to make a joke about my habit of sleeping with various women." Jace informed them.

"So… we may not be able to talk about the mission itself. But surely we can talk about what kind of threats that may pop up during our mission or even possible enemies." K pointed out as she leaned to the side. Their fixed chairs made it difficult to look behind themselves but she was in the farthest back seat and Jace could just barely see her out of the corner of his eye.

"Several possible enemies. Mercenaries, rogue military remnants, Union remnants, criminal groups, spies, foreign military groups, and even a few that should be allies. We will see what happens, but outside of the people in this ship. Do not trust anyone." Jace told them as Nero Hawk began floating as he retracted the landing gears and activated the hovertech that was built into the hull.

Ulin grunted as she looked at him with a glare. He looked back and waved his hand so she would speak. "Do I just need to follow your lead? Or are you in command of the entire team?"

"Follow my lead and adapt your tactics as needed. You are in charge of your team. Charlie will mostly just be on the ship unless I order otherwise. She is here because your team does not yet have a designated person with first aid training. Although, I did see that you are going to force K to undergo the training." Jace explained as he went through the pre-flight checklist of items. Testing the sensors and emergency capabilities of the Nero Hawk.

"Y'know, what did the robot say to its crush?" Nulltone asked. Causing even Jace to freeze in his chair and turn to look at him.

"Nulltone, are you just looking up jokes?" Bella asked.

"Research shows that laughter is the best way to loosen up and familiarize a team with each other." Nulltone told her. Then held up a robotic hand and pointed upward. "The robot said 'I like you a bot!'"

Jace turned his attention back to the preflight checklist. Deciding to just ignore the awkward silence that followed.

Then Asher spoke up. "Why do hummingbirds hum?"

Jace sighed as he looked over at Ulin who was looking straight forward and not reacting at all. Not even to stop them from telling species specific jokes. "I do not know but do you know how many humans it takes to change a bulb?"