Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Fight or Die. Enjoy the 2000-Word chapter. I don't own Halo, 343 and Microsoft do.

(Earth, 2552 October 20th.)

Sergeant Major Leonardo 'Leo' Carson continued running as the other figure chased the ODST.

He fired a round from his M-392 DMR as the other being towered over the ODST.

It was a Jiralhanae Chieftain… Holding a T-2 Hammer.

Better known as a Brute Chieftain hefting a Gravity Hammer which Leo knew would kill him from a single hit and he didn't have the ammo to kill the alien warrior.

Leo still raised his weapon, he wouldn't die on his home… Not to the Covenant… And not like this.

That was when 2 shots rang out and the Brute blinked before Leo looked up to see a pair of shell cases from where the Brute had been shot from.

He looked around, the hill where he and his team had been landed hadn't been in an area where that shot could be made.

"Leo, you good!? We still have that Covenant staging area to clear out!"

Leo heard as he climbed to his feet and reloaded his weapon, hidden sniper or not, he still had a job to do.

He left the small graveyard of Covenant and UNSC soldiers… As grizzly as it was, they still had a war to win… And he'd be damned if he lost his home to the blasted Covenant.

That was 4 years ago… And much had changed.

(2557, Forward onto Dawn, Paris-class Heavy Frigate.)

Cortana looked at the 2 figures onboard the aft section of Forward onto Dawn.

John-117 and Linda-058… Two of the only Spartans… Spartan- IIs left.

She remembered when Linda had arrived for the final battle, Fred had ordered her to stay behind as he, Kelly and a few others… Actually, she didn't remember that operation, but she guessed John would need support, Linda had stayed because she was ordered to… And her contribution to the final battle couldn't be overstated.

The sniper was such a mystery to her…. Quiet, ruthless, Zen like…. cold, aggressive, self-centered, a monster…

Why was she thinking this? She was about to send out another mayday call when she got reports of sensor trips from what was left of Dawn.

She hovered her fingers over the controls to cryo, she hesitated before pressing down on the controls as she saw the ice on both cryo capsules thawed.

"Wake up, John…."

Cortana whispered as Linda woke up and pushed open her cryo-pod, her ARGUS-Class armor was interesting and shone even in the low light.

"Cortana? What's going on, are we back in UNSC Space?"

Linda asked as the AI was about to speak when John opened his cyropod as Cortana turned her attention to John.

Linda got her answer in the form of sensor warnings, they wouldn't be going off unless there was danger.

That meant they weren't free from danger and there was still a threat to take care of.

She reached for her SRS-99-S5 AM Sniper Nornfang and found both the Sniper and her M6H Magnum weren't present, she cursed.

Still, weapons would and could be made available…. She was a Spartan, as was John.

She was pulled from her thoughts by a hand motion from John, they needed to move, she nodded and left with John.

(Infinity Class-Supercarrier UNSC Infinity.)

The massive Supercarrier was the pride of the UNSC Navy, at least from what Leo could see, the soldier paced back and forth, he looked behind him as the UNSC Speeding Bullet was preparing to depart.

The Paris Class-Heavy Frigate was going to be scouting ahead for UNSC Infinity which would be departing 30 minutes after the frigate did.

Leo patted his M6H2 Tactical Magnum, it was time to get suited up, he and his team would be the first boots on the ground when they arrived and he couldn't wait to be deployed.

After all, it would make them the first Spartan-IVs to be deployed on a mission since… The Raid on the UNSC Infinity.

"Specter, get suited up, we're on the first Pelican off this boat when we get there!"

Leo ordered as he heard a dozen or so comments or so before he turned and looked at the case which contained his Gen-2 Mjolnir Armor.

Little did he, nor the Spartans lightyears away know what would be happening soon.

And they wouldn't be ready.

Author notes

Phew, first chapter done! I know it isn't perfect, first chapters aren't my thing! As for the back and forth? It was to set up the cast…. I got inspired to write this chapter after seeing Linda's upcoming comic! I also want to point out Linda has a major role in the story… Next chapter will be on next Thursday. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!