Project Turncoat

The ONI agent turns towards Peck and says “Project Turncoat is top secret. Not a peep goes out to anyone who isn’t read on to the program and has the approval of myself or my superiors. Got it?” A quick yet affirmative “Yes sir” was all Peck responded with. The fourth human got up from his seat and began to stroll around the room as he spoke, Kara and Peck both following with their eyes as he walked around. “Good. This project has been in the works for years now, but it’s been hard to find a way to test any of our prototypes due to a lack of subjects to test it on. The Covenant aren’t usually ones to let themselves be captured or surrender so candidates have been rather slim. We have tested this on captured rebels and other humans, however to a limited degree and in limited numbers, yet it has been successful in the labs and constructed scenarios. What we need is a field test, and now we have the opportunity to perform one.” Peck continues to look at the fourth human and asks “Sir, what is Project Turncoat? What does it have to do with capturing this split jaw instead of shooting it in the skull a few times like we usually do?”

The agent looks back at Peck and says “This project may be our best bet to win the battle for Cico and the rest of Jacinto III if it works the way we hope it will. Hell, it might even significantly impact the rest of this war and turn the tide in our favor.” The fourth human has stopped walking through the room and is now back in front of Kara, who has not broken her rageful gaze the entire time. “Project Turncoat is ONI’s attempt at creating spies within our enemy’s ranks, whether they be human or alien in nature, through the use of mind control. We have tried everything, from **** and chemicals to psychological **** to computer programs and algorithms. You name it, ONI has probably attempted it. Yet the goal of the project never changed. Currently we have a few proven and reliable methods of creating our Turncoats, it’s what we call those who have been successfully tested on. Depending on the method used the Turncoat may act and behave differently, or how they perceive themselves and other things may change drastically due to changes in their mental state. These Turncoats, once created though, collect intelligence on the enemy, conduct sabotage and assination of high important targets, and much more. They can get where our people can’t and complete their objectives with almost zero risk to us. Anything, and I mean anything, that needs to be done will be done no matter how strange or risky it may be or whether they would have never done such things before their conversion. They become completely open to suggestions, prompts, and orders given by their handlers.”

“Let me get this straight, you’ve learned how to mind control humans and aliens and want to use it in a live environment outside the lab. You had me and my team snag this elite so you could have your guinea pig.” “Correct.” “I am assuming since I’m the leader of the team who captured the split jaw I will be the handler and the one directing where this Turncoat goes and what they do, with the purpose being to gather information about how effective the program is when used on space faring genocidal aliens.” “Correct.” Peck pauses for a moment looking down at the ground, Kara assumes the human is silently contemplating all the new information that’s been revealed to him, though she can’t tell through his helmet visor exactly what he is thinking or his reaction to any of this. He looks back up at the agent and says “Alright that can be done. How do we do this?” The fourth human looks back at Peck with a grin and says “Well, we have equipped this room with everything we need to perform whatever method you decide Sergeant Peck. All you need to do is tell me how you would like this elite to be converted.” He opens the case momentarily and grabs a folder with the words “TOP SECRET” written largely on it. “This folder contains the methods of conversion and results of those methods. Have a look.” With that Peck grabs the folder and opens it, reading the contents as the fourth human waits patiently for his decision.

Kara was dumbfounded. Mind control? By the Prophets is such a thing even possible? The Covenant didn’t have something like that despite their obvious technological advantage over the humans, yet apparently here they are discussing it openly in front of their next test subject: her. Whether it was or wasn’t possible Kara didn’t want to find out. Her double hearts were beating loudly and rapidly not entirely out of anger like before but out of anxiety, a bit of fear even. The fear she fet surprised her. Its not everyday a sangheili warrior readily admits weakness such as fear, yet it was becoming more prominent as time passed. All Kara could do was sit and watch as her fate was decided for and sealed by the very imp who captured her.