Jump 124: Halo UNSC

Jump 124: Halo UNSC

Location: Arcadia, 2525 CE
Age: 26
Identity: Scientist
Drawbacks: [0] First Contact

[Free]      Hacking
[100/1000]  Engineer
[300/1000]  Augmentation
[600/1000]  Erudition
[Free]      Engine Jock
[1000/1000] Augmented
[1000/1300] Item Stipend (+300)
[Free]      SPARTAN Neural Interface
[Free]      Dumb AI
[1200/1300] MJOLNIR Mark V Power Armor
[1250/1300] Armor Import: Praetor Artificer Armor
[1300/1300] Advanced Design: Praetor Mark V Artificer Armor
(300/1000)  Electromagnetic Protection
(500/1000)  Modular Construction
(550/1000)  Customized Shape
(600/1000)  Customized Aesthetics
(Free)      Data Crystal Port
(700/1000)  AI Fork
(1000/1000) Nanotechnology Self-Repair

A scientist seemingly either bribing or blackmailing his way into a position was rare when ONI oversaw the program, but in the case of the SPARTAN-II program it was utterly unheard of, doubly so considering the size of the program's staff. At that time - roughly when first contact with the Covenant occurred - knowledge of the program was was still above top secret, and yet... this individual showed up seemingly out of nowhere, paperwork in hand, on a stealthed ship whose existence was itself classified beyond the point of anyone knowing it existed. Most individuals involved with the program in fact took it in stride, but not Catherine Halsey. The implications were clear, even if the trail wasn't. No, her keen mind would get to the bottom of this mystery, she was after all one who would never leave a stone unturned, and once she knew what was going on, she'd-

"Time travel, Doctor Halsey."
>"What."
"It's the answer that will break your brain the least. I can travel through time, and manipulate my movement through it in the short term."
>"That's completely impossible by our understanding of physics."
"Yet the flash clones of seventy-five children still being viable now is any less impossible? Or your research AI crafting anti-rejection meds tailor made for the program's implants, mere weeks before they're needed?"
>"How did you- no, wrong question. How long have you been doing this?"
"Oh, I've only been in this relative time frame for a week, but I took care of the cloning already. The meds... I haven't done that yet, I need to study those implants first."
>"But we have them."
"First rule of time travel: if you think you understand it, you don't. I'll get it taken care of in between projects, I'm sure you'll find a ton of work for me, judging by what I've seen in the future."
>"This is certainly one of the more bizarre conversations I've had. I assume you've had this conversation with me enough times to tailor your responses."
"Only a half-dozen times or so, to find the most expedient way to explain so you don't indicate to the kids that you're in any sort of distress. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt."
>"If you think that you could hurt them..."
"Doctor, consider the implications of an individual with total control over their personal timeline and the ability to move independently of that timeline within this universe at will."
>"And you're here because..?"
"In the original timeline, you and the kids got a raw deal, not to mention the upcoming war was horrific. We're going to fix that, I'm at your disposal as a scientist on this project, and when it's done I intend to offer you a better retirement than two bullets to the brain."

And so we got to work. I made it very clear that my entire purpose was a matter of dealing with this specific program and advancing its technologies, and any benefits reaped there would only be as a side effect of this program. However, that did leave a whole lot open.
For example, the first thing that had to be addressed was a matter of logistics, and as a result rapid fabrication and reconstruction was a priority. Otherwise, I'd never have been able to advance the iterations of the Mjolnir armor as quickly, nor the further augmentations and replacements the Spartans took on. Oh, sure, it was all still local human science and not fancy Forerunner or Precursor tech. But a properly motivated man, with the experience and abilities I have?

Stronger and lighter armor for armor works everywhere, not just on Mjolnir frames. Man-portable weapons can be scaled to work for tanks and ships. Energy shielding reverse engineered from the Covenant and kicked up beyond what they might have imagined. Compact power sources that can be scaled up, not to mention making manufacturing easy and cheap anywhere. With the right templates, anythingcan be produced, including the exoskeletons that became UNSC standard issue.

The common human soldier quickly became a match for the majority of the Covenant's forces, one on one. But the Spartans? They truly earned the moniker of 'demon' that the Covenant bestowed upon them, a single Spartan able to turn the tide of a skirmish, and more than a few of worked to capture Covenant ships intact.

The fact that the Covenant apparently was in the midst of falling to a civil war as a result of their leaders' decision to persecute the conflict against humanity didn't hurt either - eventually humanity allied with the split faction, or so I hear. Me? I'm just in the labs making more breakthroughs like accidentally stabilizing AIs so they don't develop rampancy.

>"So, what have you got for me today?"
"Mjolnir mark XVIII frames are finalized and ready to roll out. Still having trouble idiot-proofing the railguns for common soldiers, though, so they're stuck with coilguns unless they're going to be hauled by two soldiers."
>"Shame. They're useful."
"No problem for the kids though, they could bench-press a dropship these days."
>"They were able to punch through the bulkheads when they captured the last Covenant ship. Bare handed."
"No kidding? I hadn't realized they got another one. Should provide a few more toys to study, even if the war is otherwise pretty much at the tipping point."
>"So... what now?"
"In general? Most remaining improvements are basically iterative, we've got battle lines and stopped any more worlds from being burnt... with the Covvie civil war, projections are that we should get a peace treaty with the one faction, and the loyalists are going to implode shortly after."
>"And... what of everyone here? I recall a retirement plan mentioned."
"Oh, I figured I'd invite everyone who wants out to my dyson shell when I leave the universe, we've got a few hundred thousand habitable worlds' worth of assorted civilizations on the inner surface, and plenty more unsettled territory up for grabs if anyone wants it."
>"When you leave the universe, what?"
"Oh, right, I forgot I didn't mention I'm more of a ten dimensional being that travels arbitrarily between multiverses."
>"Of course. That makes as much sense as anything. Still, anything's got to be better than the last dyson sphere I saw."
"You're taking this better than expected."
>"Well, you did have a laboratory that was bigger on the inside with thirty of yourself in it, among other things."

But I hear you ask, what of the Flood?

It turns out some Elite, after he'd instigated the civil war, spent most of his time burning them out in secret; only the barest traces were present, outside of Installation 04.

No wonder the ONI were trying to hunt him down.