Earth, Sol System, Aboard the UNSC Infinity: February 6, 2558

6 Months After New Phoenix Incident

Earth. The home planet for the human race, victim of another attack from another alien race that had it out for humans.

Had one would say, since the attack was thwarted and the leader of said race seemingly killed by none other than the Master Chief, hero and savior of the human race who many thought perished on following the premature Halo activation on the Ark. Though this information has been kept from the public for the time being, courtesy of ONI, many member of the UNSC have been discussing the Spartan II's return.

In one of Infinity's many hanger bays, a former ODST now Spartan IV lead on a railing along a high up walkway. The Spartan wore his custom MJOLNIR GEN2 armor; a Recon helmet with a "Legendary" colored visor, a Mk VI chest and forearms, War Master shoulders, and XG-89 Narrow legs guards. His armor color was pure silver.

He took off his Recon helmet, tucked it under his arm and stared at the glorious blue planet, thinking back on the events that happened six months prior. "Prometheans eh?" He mumbled, silently wishing he did something to help the Chief prevent the attack. Despite the Spartan II's successful efforts, the citizens of New Phoenix were "composed" by the vengeful Ur-Didact. All that remained of them are shiny ash piles that showed where they once stood.

He clenched his fist, if that bastard wasn't already dead he would have gladly killed him for what he did. 'Than again, from the reports these Prometheans could control space to a degree, warping where ever they wished. So who could say that the Didact is dead? Its doubtful he survived a nuke but...' He scratched his head in annoyance. 'So many goddamn uncertainties. Blasted Forerunners and their technological achievements.'

"Something on your mind friend?" Said a familiar voice coming behind him. The Spartan smiled. "Can't be." He turned around. Sure enough, it was who he though: His old friend David. "David!" He threw out his arms and hugged the man, it had been years since they last meet. Back in his old ODST days, he fought along side this man in many great battles. All of their meetings on the battlefield where coincidental though, since David was a Marine, or former Marine given his recent growth spurt and current uniform.

He let go of David and took a few steps back, giving the man some space. "How are you mate?" David shrugged. "Can't complain, especially since they excepted me into the IVs. Better paygrade, better armor, better things for me to go 'boom' with, what more can you ask for?"

"A girlfriend who wouldn't leave you after she knows your true personality?"

David roared in laughter, the man when through more girlfriends than one could ever hope to get a winning lotto ticket. "That's true, that is very true." He calmed down, wiping a tear from his eye. "You always knew how to make a guy laugh Joe."

Joe smiled and shrugged. "Tis what I do." David walked pasted him and leaned on the railing with his arms crossed. "Nice view. Hard to believe she was attacked recently." Joe half turned toward his friend, looked at the Earth one again and nodded. "So how was augmentation?"

"Eh," David flexed his shoulders. "Not as bad as everyone says they are. At least not as bad as they where for the II's. How long you been a IV anyway?" Joe fully turned his body toward the Earth, he shifted his weight between his feet. "About 3 months, saw a little Innie action here and there, but nothing special." David nodded. "I see, so what's this Spartan team we're being put in? Any idea what that's about?"

"The higher-ups aboard Infinity like organizing Spartans into fireteams or so I'm told. Ours is designated Crimson, a brand new team on its debut tore of duty." David push off the railing, turned to Joe and raised his eyebrow. "Wait for real? Just picking five Spartans at random and putting them into a team? Isn't that a little odd?" Joe meet David's gaze. "Four in our case, and yeah it is a bit odd, but from what I know the members of the team are some of the most promising Spartan IV's from this batch." It took Joe a few moments before he realized David didn't fully understand what he meant. "From our latest recruits, such as yourself Dave."

David responded in an 'Ah' followed by a few nods. "Know anything about the other two member of our team?" "Actually, I do." Joe pushed off the railing, using the movement as a way to stretch his arms. "One's named Josh, he's former ODST like me but we never meet. The other is former Army, a miss Brittany." He turned an squinted his eyes at David. "Don't get any ideas mate. I don't need her to be freaked out by you attempts to, as you say, 'get it on'." David laughed. "No promises but I'll try."

A few moments of silence past between the two before he asked another question. "How do you know this stuff anyway?" Joe chuckled. "Well rank has its privileges, I'm a Captain now." David immediately sapped to and saluted him. "Sir!" He shouted.

Joe returned the salute. "As you were," David compiled. "I see that I wasn't the only one to be promoted." Joe continued. "Warrant Officer eh? What you specialize in?-No don't tell me. Explosives, am I right?" David nodded. "Yes sir. My one and true military profession. Except shooting things."

Joe smiled. "Ah no mate, that a prerequisite. You need to shoot things to be in the military." David smiled, setting up for one of their old inside jokes. "Even forklift drivers?" "Especially forklift drivers!" The two laughed at the old joke, both forgot what the mean for the joke was but gladly use it anyway.

A few minutes past as the two turned their attention to the going on's of the hanger bay. So many crew running around checking equipment, moving ordnance and other gear, and so on and so on. Another Pelican dropship landed in the bay, dropping off five other Spartans- you could tell from the height and uniform they wore, since half of said uniform was the gel layer of the MJOLNIR armor.

Joe noticed that Spartan Palmer, the Commander of all the Spartan IVs on Infinity approached the group. He nudged David with his shoulder and pointed her out. Together they looked on as one of the group walked up to her. Neither could hear what he said but Joe could guess, given the man's body language.

"That little lady there is Commander Palmer. Our new boss." Joe said. "And by the looks of it, that guy tried to pull a 'you' on her." David chuckled. "That's why I never hit on CO's. Always ends the same way, one big explosion." He opened his hand and made a "boom" sound. The two remain quiet as they watched the commander and the group of IVs leave.

"Maybe I should try the red-head?" David nudged his shoulder into Joe's chest. "No problem if she's not on our team right Captain?" Joe gently pushed him aside, a little more so than he wanted given that he was still in his armor. "Go for it if you want, but from the looks of her she's Archadian. If she is careful, she'll kick your ass." David chuckled. "I'll be sure to do that."

Joe nodded. "Well I'll see you at orientation tonight." He put his helmet back on. "Be sure to make a good first impression for the team." He turned around and began to walk down the hallway when David called out to him. "Any particular reason you're in your Spartan armor? Another privilege of rank?"

Joe turned his head back. "Well yes but not the reason why. Its an old habit I picked up in the Covenant war. Be prepared for anything right?" David shrugged. "I guess, if you look at it from paranoia stand point." Joe waved him off and continued to walk down the hall.

'I don't expect him to understand.' He thought as he recoiled that one "battle" long ago, more like a slaughter than anything else. Joe was the survivor of one of the Covenants attempts to board a UNSC ship and steal data from it. A move they did periodically throughout the war in the hopes of gaining the location of humanities homeworld. Completely caught by surprise, almost half the crew was wiped out before reaching a weapon. It was luck, pure luck and the timely arrival of a UNSC fleet that they managed to drive the bastards off the ship.

Ever since, he wore his ODST armor whenever he was aboard a ship. Even if he was ordered to take it off by the Captain or some other officer. Hell, if it wasn't the drastic state of the war he would have been court-martialed long ago...that and for his ONI ties. Joe was one of ONI's chosen ODST operatives, the only difference in uniform was a Recon helmet instead of the standard ODST one. The missions he went on behalf of ONI ranged from leading a squad to destroy sensitive data or assassinate a particular "High Value Target" to undercover ops, usually among Insurrectionist populations.

'Which is the reason why I can keep my "non-regulation" hairstyle.' He smiled, even though ONI gave him a pink slip for working ops for them, they granted him certain privileges for 'old times sake.' One of which was his current hairstyle, civilian standard short hair with a long 'flip' down the right side of his face that stretched down to his chin. One had to appreciate how ONI rewarded their agents for a job well done, despite their whole "Military Mafia" reputation.

A few hours later...(Spartan Joe's POV)

Spartan orientation for the new arrivals on Infinity was held. All the IVs aboard, both the 'old breed' and the new gathered in one of the ship's assembly rooms, had the feel of a gym though. It started off with a greeting from the ship's captain Tom Lasky, followed by a greeting from the ship A.I Roland. Both stated that Infinity was heading out to a Forerunner planet called Requiem and that we would be the decisive players on the ground. Captain Lasky finished by thanking us for coming aboard and saying that he looked forward to each and everyone of our successes.

After he left, Commander Palmer took over, stating the expectations of being a Spartan and what SHE EXPECTED out of each and everyone of us. Then, she filled us in on what to expect on Requiem, just encase anyone didn't read the memo. *cough* David. *cough* *cough*

We'll be fight both the Covenant faction known as Storm and the new Promethean race who were working together for one reason or another. "Our main objective is to establish research bases on planet seeing as Science team always like to poke at every shiny object they can fine." Commander Palmer joked, pausing for a few moments so the Spartans can let out some laughs. "Unfortunately for us, this planet is full of them." She continued. "And full of Covies and Prometheans, which is why we're here. To clear it out so the eggheads can work undisturbed to their little hearts content."

The rest of the orientation was "meet and greet" or more like "show and stare" as Palmer and Roland took turns calling Spartans to the stage, announcing to the world which fireteam they were. I learned that the group David and I watched earlier were called "Majestic", a fireteam I've heard of before but with a new member: Spartan Thorne. I made a note of this team, as I had a feeling we would be working close together in the upcoming campaign.

Soon enough, my team was called to the stage. Many Spartans look at me with curiosity, as I still had my armor on. Commander Palmer seemed to ignore this, either cause she knew the reason why I was allowed to or decided to let it go just this once. I looked at my fellow teammates Josh and Brittany. Josh had that look that most ODST have after a few drops and came to respect him instantly, though we never meet anyone brave enough to drop into orbit in that glorified trash can straight into hell was my brother.

Brittany had a smile on her face, like she was proud she was here, as a Spartan. I didn't blame her, most of the new arrivals had that same look on their face. That, and she was Army. The Army didn't get as much credit as they deserve for their role in the Covenant war, especially on Reach. So she had the right to be proud for her acceptance into the IVs.

After what seemed to be an eternity, orientation ended. I didn't quite remember the rest of it as I dozed off, another advantage of being allowed to wear my armor, but from what I heard Palmer gave an inspirational speech. I didn't ask for the details.

Each team was asked to "spend time together" since we'd all be launching straight into enemy territory in the morning. We(Crimson Team) gathered in the mess hall, figured it was a chance to break the ice AND eat at the same time. Despite my earlier warnings, David did his usually first impression routine, making a fool of himself. This however, had the opposite effect on Josh and Brittany than I expected.

Brittany was one of those people who'd get along with most people, she'll fit right in with David's madness and my controlled madness.

Josh was like David and me...well more like me; he could tell when it was proper to be a goof and when to be serious. Later, David and him were at ends with each other over some stupid reason I didn't really catch, but it turned into one of those "who was the better man" contests as each tried to show off to the other. It started by doing ridiculous stunts and tricks like walking on their hands and balancing trays on their noise with a fork. All in good fun till an officer yelled at them.

After that, they told of their past 'acts of valor' in the war. Josh had survived more crazy battles than I though(before reading his file that its), as he fought on Paris IV, Reach, Tribute, and Earth. He was lucky to make it out of each alive.

"I fought hand to hand with a Brute Chieftain!" David boasted this old story I was all to familiar with. "Tried as he might, the beast couldn't hit me with his hammer! For I was too fast for him!" I smirked. "OR it was the fact that I kept shooting the hammer every time it was about to hit you, diverting it so it wouldn't hit that ugly mug of yours."

David gave me a look like I just took all the fun out of him. "Captain, why did you have to ruin it? I almost made Josh here admit I'm better than him!" "Yeah, the only thing your better than me at is babbling." Josh said with a smirk. "And explosives." I added, patting David on his shoulder. "Dave here is an artist when it comes to explosions."

David smiled, giving me a thumb up for the "bragging rights" I just gave him. He turned back to Josh and told him about his work with explosions. Eventually, Brittany and Josh came to realize something about David. To never trust him with explosives and expect what normally happens to happen.

The rest of the night we shared stories of our past experiences, I of course had to withhold all the classified ops I did as an ONI agent, but it was enough to impress. Before it grew too late, we bid each other goodnight and headed to our respected bunks. "Looks like we'll make a great team after all." I muttered to myself as I made my way to my room.

When I arrived, I was a bit surprised to find that Josh and two member from Majestic team shared the same room as me. Not that the room couldn't compensate for all of us since it was twice the size of a normal room Military personal usually sleep in.

Our roommates from Majestic were Anthony Madsen, a sniper like myself, and new addition Gabriel Thorne. We engaged in some minor small talk (favorite weapon, how long have you been a Spartan, what kind of girls you like, that sort of talk) before hitting the sack.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day.