PROLOGUE

0800 Hours, December 17, 2514(Military Calendar)

/Epsilon Eridani System, planet Reach

UNSC Priority Transmission

076452B-74

Encryption Code: Red

Public Key: file/access Delta

From: ONI Section Three

To: Dr. Catherine Halsey M.D., Ph.D., Civilian

Consultant (CIN: 10141-026-SRB4695)

Subject: SPARTAN/Approval

Classification: Restricted

Start File/

Dr. Halsey,

Project SPARTAN green lighted. Any recruit you request will be yours.

CHAPTER ONE

1700 Hours December 17, 2524 (Military Calendar)

Epsilon Eridani System, ONI Medical Facility, in

Orbit around Planet Reach

The medical bays doors opened, and Dr. Catherine Halsey walked into the room. She was wearing a tailored lab coat, with her hair was in a tight bun; in her hand she carried a small data pad. There were twenty modified Cryopods connected to various tubes and sensors. The Doctor's heels clicked loudly on the tile floor as she walked towards the pods. The man in the pod on the far left stumbled out and fell on his hands and knees, his head was shaved bald, but the short stubble growing was a distinct brown. His physique was perfect, "Good" she said to her self as she turned to face him.

The man started to choke and his hands slipped. He fell on his face and started vomiting, he seemed to have no control over his body, and was now twitching rapidly. The technicians around started to come to his aid, but Dr. Halsey held them back with a wave of her hand. She watched as his shaking slowed, and he managed to wipe off his mouth.

"Congratulations, Lieutenant," she said to him, seemingly pleased, "You're the only survivor." As she said this he twisted his neck upward and looked at her, then rest his head on the vomit-strewn floor, and slipped into unconsciousness.

0800 Hours December 27, 2524 (Military Calendar)

Epsilon Eridani System, Hawthorne Medical Facility,

Planet Reach

First Lieutenant Matthew Simmons awoke on a hospital bed. His vision was blurred, but he could see that he was hooked up to several machines and I.V.s. Outside the room's window was Dr. Halsey conversing with another doctor. Simmons marveled at her intelligence, she was the reason he agreed to be in this program at all. The woman was brilliant, and there was something unexplainable that attracted Simmons to her. His thoughts were interrupted by Halsey's entrance.

" How are you Lieutenant?" She asked.

"Fine," he replied. They both new this was a lie, Simmons was in immense pain, his bones ached, all his muscles seemed torn, and he could barely move.

" Of course you are," she said mockingly, " You have been given command of an ODST Platoon on Richter VII, I think you will enjoy it." Simmons knew that would be trouble. Orbital Drop Shock Troopers were the finest units the Marines had, and they didn't take to kindly to fresh meat, either. But what had Halsey said? If he survived the augmentation, which he did, he would be physically altered to have "physical prowess to the likes of which he could not imagine". Being hardly able to move, though, was something he could imagine.

" You will make a full recovery within the week, then you will be transferred to Richter VII aboard the destroyer Cherokee" Halsey told him.

" A week!" Simmons shouted, Halsey was not startled at all, " I'm not waiting a week," he told her, as he pulled the I.V.s from his arms, unconnected the machines, and stood up.

" I would really advise more rest," Halsey told him.

" And I would really advise you stow it ma'am, I'm leaving."

" Doctor's orders," she said Defiantly

" You're a civilian, I am a Marine," he told her as he strode out of the room

" You may be a Marine," Dr. Halsey said softly " but more importantly, you're a Spartan."