Chapter 1

November 11, 2552, 1520 Hours, New Harmony Spaceport, planet Mars

"We need to go, gunny," the pilot called out urgently from the cockpit of the bulky transport craft waiting in the docking bay.

"Has the situation changed from when ye asked me ten minutes ago?" the ODST gunnery sergeant declared in a thick Scottish brogue.

"Well, no," the pilot confessed, "but the Covenant could swoop down on us any second."

"No one is going to 'swoop' down on us. We have top cover an ye have sensors," the senior NCO declared, pointing to the pair of Longsword Starfighters flying lazy circles above and to the Halcyon-class light cruiser above that.

"But what if they've run out of fuel and crashed somewhere?" the exasperated pilot shot back, on the edge of panic.

"Then they would have called to let us know." Gunnery Sergeant Hank MacGregor's dark eyes blazed, "And no one be leaving this dock until then, got me?

To emphasize the point a pair of ODSTs from the Wolverine squad moved to the cockpit area to lend their 'encouragement'.

Hank MacGregor was not about to leave before Spartan Mike B-312 and his team returned. The stocky NCO who was built like a tank and who'd lost his left hand at the battle of Reach had initially accepted the training position with the newly forming Spartan team only weeks earlier as something to keep him busy until he could be reassigned to a combat unit. Like most of his fellow ODSTs he has no love of the Spartan III's. He had no issue with the II's, he'd fought with several and knew their worth but their more mass-produced counterparts he didn't see. To him and the other Hell Jumpers they were a publicity stunt to rally support for the war and the result was less prestige and therefore less funding for the elite Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Corp who'd carried the brunt of the war since it had begun.

He'd been tasked to serve on Lt. Commander Mike Nantz, Mike-B312, the legendary Lone Wolf of Noble Team fame. The Spartan's reputation was well-earned and the pair had hit it off right away but he'd been less thrilled with the others. But once the new team that had been given the nearly-impossible task of replacing Noble he'd begun to not only warm to them but develop a fatherly affection for the teens of the newly minted 'Wolf Pack'.

When Mike had declared his intent of staying behind during the evacuation of Mars after the planet's defenses had collapsed to try to rescue Natalia Misriah, the daughter of billionaire military industrialist Spanner Misriah and a woman who'd captured the Spartan's heart, his team volunteered to stay back and go with him to get her. Without a second thought MacGregor and his Wolverines had done the same thing. Against seemingly impossible odds Mike and his team had rescued the woman and were now enroute to the spaceport.

No, no one was leaving until they returned.

New Harmony was quiet, having been fully evacuated earlier in the day. The UNSC forces had formed a cordon for military and civilian personnel to fall back to the capital city and be evacuated off planet. This was supported by the full remnant of the planet's space fleet. Fortunately the Covenant had seemed uninterested in the evacuation so had put up only token resistance. So now the city was eerily quiet, quiet enough that the sound of an approaching ship could be heard.

"Gunny, Pelican inbound at three o'clock," one the ODSTs on overwatch called out.

All eyes turned in that direction to see the welcome sight of a Pelican drop ship flying towards them. Mike and his team had made it.

"Now ye can get ready," MacGregor told the pilot as the rest of his team cheered.

For Mike-B312 just reaching the city had been a miracle for him, the idea a transport would be there still since they were many hours overdue was something he couldn't even hope for. He knew at some point his luck would run out.

But it appeared it wasn't going to be today.

When he'd determined to risk it all to try to rescue Natalia he never knew what he was getting in to. He'd found her location after she'd been captured by the Covenant at the same time as the evacuation order had been given to quit Mars. Defying a direct order to leave he was prepared to go it alone when his Spartan team, the Wolf Pack, his friend Mel-B252 and even the pilot flying the Pelican all did the same thing and risk their lives not for the woman but for him.

An idea, or more of a thought, had been gnawing at him like termites in wood. For years he'd been the Lone Wolf, a Spartan III killing machine. But then he'd been assigned to Noble Team on Reach and now he had a new team he'd picked, trained and went into combat with. They were a team, they were family and he meant something not only to the woman he'd fallen for but also to these comrades in arms. They'd defied the odds, snuck into the Covenant base at Tricode Village in the Mare Erythraeum province, rescued Natalia and got out. Most were banged and bruised and Adam, his 2ic, was seriously wounded, but all were alive to tell the tale. But the question that had been on his mind since they'd escaped was: was it all worth it if they don't get out?

Coming into view of the New Harmony Spaceport Mike's heart leapt at the sight of a lone transport still on the dock and a group of armor-clad ODSTs ringing it. Steam was coming out of the thrusters showing it was spooling up to leave but it was still there. Despite being overdue by nearly three hours they were still there.

"Guys," Mike called over the comms, "there's still a ship in dock. We're going to get out of here!"

The whoop from the back heard despite the roar of the Pelican's engine as it flared to land told him the message had been received loud and clear.

Minutes later the passengers of the dropship moved towards the transport whose engines were coming to life to take off. Waiting for them was Gunny MacGregor and several of the Wolverines.

"You're late," the ODST NCO deadpanned.

"Yea, sorry gunny," Mike answered, avoiding eye contact, touched anew by what had happened.

"Better late than never lad," MacGregor declared reaching out to shake his hand. Then seeing Natalia who had tears in her eyes and a smile that lit up the pad added, "Good to see you again lass."

Natalia was overcome by the moment as the reality sunk in. She went to the grizzled combat veteran and gave him a crushing hug. "Thank you!"

"All right then, me lass," MacGregor responded to the gesture in embarrassment. "On the transport with ye." Then turning to Mike added, "We had to threaten to shoot the pilot," he said with a shrug, "but after your pilot radioed you were on your way, it wasn't such a bad wait, was it lads?"

"Aye aye," the other ODSTs from the Wolverines responded genuinely.

"Thanks gunny," was all Mike could get out, fearing he'd lose control of his emotions, overwhelmed anew by the scene.

"Ach," MacGregor spat back, embarrassed by his own emotions. "Let's get off this rock."

The transport ship with a frigate as escort broke out of orbit with no trouble. The Covenant had no cordon of any organized sort, seeming to have shifted interest elsewhere and so the passengers could relax for the time being on their return trip to Earth.

Adam was in the ship's infirmary and the doctor had declared he'd be okay given time which allowed the rest of the team to relax.

"Out of the frying pan, into the fire," Matt, the Wolf Pack's assaulter said to no one in particular as the team relaxed in a common area.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Alissa, the team's fiery sniper shot back.

"We're heading to Earth but there's a fight going on there just as bad as this one," the burly teen stated but without aggression," maybe even worse," he added with a shrug.

"Yea, but Earth's different, we can win that one," Terrell, the Wolf Pack's machine gunner, interjected optimistically.

"You want to believe that, go ahead," Matt shot back but without any malice.

"It doesn't matter," Alissa declared.

"Why doesn't it matter?" Maia, the quiet, reflective Spartan, asked genuinely, sitting beside Matt.

"Because we're together and if we're together then whatever happens doesn't matter," the sniper said emphatically. She'd been on her Smoothers, the drugs used to control the mood swings of the mind-enhanced Gamma Company Spartan III's, throughout this mission and no longer felt they were a cage but rather a release so she could be who she was beginning to see she truly was. The aggression was still there, that was natural to her personality, but the anger was gone, replaced with a new resolve that burned hotter than her anger ever had.

Matt snorted but said," You're right." He looked over at Maia and added, "as long as we're together, it doesn't matter. We take it one day at a time, because we're family."

"We're family," Alissa restated.

"We're family," Maia echoed softly.

"We're family, Terrell declared, giving all a friendly hug.

Though Mike hadn't heard the conversation with the rest of the team he knew the sentiment. He and Natalia were alone in another part of the ship after he'd spent time with the other Spartans. The trip back to Earth was long enough so there'd be time for them to debrief. The maturing leader wanted the teens to have time to blow off steam without their commander around; besides, he wanted to spend some time alone with Natalia whose relationship they both were still trying to understand.

For her part Natalia was happy for the quiet time as well. She'd gone from the shock of capture and interrogation to the conviction she was going to die then from the elation of rescue to the horrific realization Mike could have died or been left behind to rescue her. It had been too much, even for the woman used to privilege, to process. So Natalia had been happy to assist Melanie, who's dynamic of relationship with Mike she didn't even want to consider at this point, helping Adam because it kept her busy. Other than several long and overt stares with Mike they'd had no connection during the Pelican ride to New Harmony.

Once away from Mars Maia, the team's communication's expert, had used her skills to set up a relay so Natalia could call her father who likely thought she was dead. While in the end it was only a brief message before the line was severed that would be enough. He knew she was alive. Other than the man who sat beside her the troubled woman only wanted a relationship with her father. For years they'd been distant and she'd not cared. Or so she thought. But the last few months had changed much in Natalia Misriah and now she wanted to have a real father in her life. Maybe that would happen despite the threat of war.

Something good might come out of this whole mess, she thought to herself.

The pair now sat side-by-side alone in an empty briefing room on a bench against the wall. Mike was happy to be out of Mjolnir armor while Natalia was still in her uniform that was showing the wear of the past few days. There'd been few words exchanged since they`d gotten on the last transport out though everyone around them seemed happy they were together despite the effort to get to this point.

Unsure what to say, spontaneously, a more primal instinct took over and as they turned and their eyes locked each hungrily dived towards the other and their lips met in a ravenous kiss. Mouths open and tongues thrashing each seemed to try to consume the other as they almost seemed to battle for supremacy but this was a contest with no losers and both went deeper into the passion they felt and now unleashed. Each grabbed the other, pulling into a tighter embrace seeking to become as one. Neither knew how long they'd been lost in the embrace before they came up for air.

"Phew, you took my breath away," Natalia commented, lightly stroking the scar on his jaw.

"I'm sorry," Mike apologized pulling back as the old insecurity returned.

"No silly, that was a good thing," she replied, sliding over to snuggle in beside him. "Thank you again for coming to save me."

Mike enjoyed the sensation of her toned body tight into his and felt a tingle all over. He sighed in contentment. "I told you, I wouldn't leave you. We've gone through hell to be together. I'd do anything for you."

Natalia's body convulsed as she tried to stifle a sob.

"Are you okay?" Mike asked in near panic reacting to the emotion. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, quite the opposite." The joy-filled yet emotionally raw woman pulled away to turn so he could see her radiant but tear-filled face. "I've never felt so loved or secure before. Please know you mean the world to me and I'd do anything for you too. Anything, I mean it," she emphasized.

"And you're a Misriah so that means something," Mike shot back playfully which caused the passionate woman's eyes to flare.

"You know it!" Natalia responded with conviction but a glowing smile lit up her face.

"I'm just glad we got there in time." Mike's contentment gave way though to a note of regret which caused Natalia to sit up in concern for the man she loved. "I just wish we could have saved the others like Ackerson too."

"Me too," she replied, taking his hand and stroking it comfortingly. "But you did everything you could. It was nearly over for me too."

"I'm glad it wasn't," he replied, enjoying the feeling of her touching his body. "But why were you spared?" he asked, the tactician creeping into the moment.

"I think because I was ONI," the Office of Naval Intelligence officer replied, wincing at the sensation of the Brute's hot breath and spittle on her face as she was interrogated. "They kept asking me about research we were doing but I didn't know anything about it."

"Well thank God for that," Mike said. Seeing her becoming upset by the thought he took her hand into his. "So where do we go from here?"

"I'm not sure, what do you think?" Natalia replied putting her head against his chest, settling down instantly.

"You're the relationship expert, not me," he countered playfully, a dig at her experience relative to his.

"Jerk," she shot back with a laugh, punching him in the arm. "Hardly that as we've seen in the past few months."

"You found me here on Mars and came for me," Mike reminded her of when she'd first angled to travel to the planet after discovering he was alive after the battle for Reach.

"And you came and found me when you'd been ordered not to."

Mike opened his mouth to deny it but she put a finger on his lips to silence him.

"I talked to Gunny MacGregor and he told me everything," Natalia confessed. "And that means everything to me. I don't know what's going to happen when we get back to Earth but I will NEVER allow anything to come between us again and a Misriah never breaks a pledge."

"I can believe it," Mike responded, kissing her red-streaked blond hair. She snuggled tighter into his embrace. "There's a lot of things I can't control but I can control where my heart and focus are and it's fixed on you. We'll just take it one day at a time and enjoy what we have and not stress what we don't."

Despite the ongoing risk of the war the woman felt safe and secure with the man. The fatigue of the past few days and lack of sleep were catching up despite the intimacy of the moment. Her head became heavy and the rhythmic hum of the ship was mesmerizing.

"So what do you think?" Mike asked the woman who was now breathing deeply on his chest. "Tali?" he asked.

The woman was in a deep sleep and snoring slightly.

The power of the simple act was not lost on the Spartan. Natalia Misriah was a fighter and for her to allow herself to be in such a vulnerable state spoke more than her words about how she felt about him.

For Mike Nantz, Mike-B312, the future ahead was scary not just for the war which seemed to have no happy end but also for this relationship. They loved each other but was that enough? What would happen to them? He decided to not worry about that for the moment. They were together and loved each other regardless of what happened. Adam was stabilized and would be okay. The rest of the team were healthy and they'd survived the total conquest of the planet. They were more than just a group of Spartans, they were family; they had each other and knew it. No, this wasn't Reach despite the outcome and he wasn't that man. Things were going to be okay. Making sure Natalia rested comfortably on his chest Mike sighed with a deep contentment, closed him own eyes and allowed sleep to come as well.

The blissful state didn't rest long for the leader with much still on his mind. Suddenly awake, Mike left Natalia sleeping and went to check in on Adam. The blond haired teen seemed to be resting comfortably in the ship's infirmary with the other wounded. Though his injuries were severe he was out of the woods and would live. From there Mike went to where the rest of the team was staying. He quietly entered the room and while the others acknowledged his entrance they continued what they were doing. Matt and Maia talked quietly, Terrell was absently looking out into space through a porthole and Alissa sat cleaning her SRS99 Sniper Rifle. The simple action reminded the Lone Wolf of Jun who would often do the same thing. Thoughts of Noble Team came flooding in and the inevitable comparison and more powerful guilt would overwhelm. He couldn't seem to shake it. Feelings of inadequacy in his role and even as a man haunted him.

Yet despite the darkness of thought, light flooded in as he looked at his team. Less than three months ago they didn't even know each other and now they were a combat-tested unit. No, not Noble, but still a huge cut above the rest. Yet they were more than a team, they were a family. That had been proven when each volunteered to come with him to Tricode Village on a desperate attempt to free Natalia.

He'd been given months to pick and train a new team that was to replace Noble, then it had become weeks and then the war had come to them on their training base on Mars. They'd done well, but would they ever match up to the famous Spartan team? They'd gotten off on the last transport.

Kind of like Reach, Mike thought to himself. This seemed to be becoming a habit. Still, they'd not only rescued the girl but had gotten off. Maybe it was time to stop the Noble Team comparisons and just be who they were meant to be. They'd faced the crucible and proven themselves. Could that be enough for the introspective man?

Now they were heading to Earth. Even using the sublight engines it was a short trip. The Covenant had already attacked so a short turnaround was likely. What would happen when they got there? The issue of Mike's disobeying an order to not go after Natalia hung in the air. Then there was Mel, who while on the transport with them had kept to herself after they'd taken off. His close friend from Camp Currahee had come along on the mission to rescue the billionaire's daughter and Mike's love interest despite not liking her. There would need to be some kind of resolution of the unexplored feelings they'd experience when they were children in training to become Spartans.

Then there was the issue of what would happen to Natalia when they arrived to Earth.

Back home for her, not me, Mike corrected himself. He had no home, his had been glassed years earlier when he was a child and that had brought him voluntarily and eagerly into the Spartans. Would things change between them when she was back in the sphere of her father who'd arranged her premature extraction from Reach or her boss Admiral Parangosky who was always scheming? Yet Mike reminded himself that Natalia had found him on Mars and arranged to go there to find him. No, it was a time to stop doubting.

And that time had run out.

Gazing out a window Mike could see Earth coming into the picture and from the look of it they were going to dock at the Space Elevator at New York City. That made sense since according to what he'd heard the Covenant were attacking already in Africa and Asia while North America had thus far been unscathed. The gigantic space tether reached thousands of kilometers into the air in order that its center of gravity could be at a point of geosynchronous orbit above the city. Indeed it was so high up the city couldn't be seen. Mike only knew it was New York by the continental outline. While Space Elevators varied in size and shape they were all typically composed of the same raw material when built throughout the 24th century. The tethers were essentially meshed together as a complex composite of intertwining nanofibers. These ingredients then formed a series of massive cords and rings several hundred meters wide. They were then bound to a grounded set of polycrete anchors larger than most buildings which would hold the elevator's structure in place while the planet spun on its axis. The zenith of the elevator, commonly known as the "orbital" or "terminus" was then pulled taut by the planet's rotational inertia, sliding into geosynchronous orbit well above the planet.

An incredible wonder of man's ingenuity, Mike thought. The observant Spartan could see the importance of the structure by the two Orbital Defense Platforms that flanked the space tether protecting it with their Mark V Super MAC guns. As if preparing for attack, a host of frigates floated as a picket line beyond the ODPs. There was a time the overt signs of force would have been a comfort to Mike but he'd been on Reach and Mars and saw the reality of what happens when the Covenant attacks. Still, if humanity was going to make a stand, Earth was the place to do it

Guess they're getting ready for an attack, Mike thought to himself as he continued to look out the window of the shuttle they'd been travelling on. He'd not been to Earth in 13 years, since the trip that had so much shaped his life to this day. The last time here he'd been on a school field trip and his family was back home on Kholo being glassed by the Covenant. Afterwards he'd met Colonel James Ackerson and been recruited into the Spartan III program.

So much history, the man who no longer thought of himself as the Lone Wolf mused, time to go and put the past behind and make the most of the time I have.

"Guys, prep to land," Mike called out to his team. "We're here."