Disclaimer: I do not own Halo. All rights reserved to 343 Industry.
Chapter 1: Six
He was on his last mission with a team of marines that he knew well. He was a good leader but always preferred the front line, taking on the enemy with his own hands, normally by himself. He was a Spartan III, equipped with MJOLNIR armour and a standard issue M392 Designated Marksman Rifle and M6G Magnum pistol. He was a genetically enhanced cybernetic super-soldier, one of few since the arrival of the Covenant, a group of multiple alien species who see humanity as heretics to their religion. They have made short work of most of the human's military and space ships, reducing the human fleet to only a few ships scattered throughout the colonies. The Spartan had a name and a call-sign, but he was just called in to replace a fallen Spartan from NOBLE team who gave his life to destroy a Covenant carrier in a suicide run, just as he was shipping out. His marines, in reference to his soon-to-be role, now referred to him as 'Noble Six' or shortened, 'Six.' It was a term he would have to get used to, he thought as he stared out at the rapidly shrinking planet through the window.
"Hm…" mused one of the marines by the name of Sherman. "I wonder what the rest of NOBLE Team is like."
"I heard that they work fluidly and strike with power and efficiency." said another as he slid a cloth down his dismantled rifle. Dirt and impurities dropped to the ground, revealing the letters etched into the scope: 'property of Brandeis, u touch u die.' "It could just be rumours, but I heard they've got a woman in there."
"Hey!" retorted another marine, a woman named Springett who had flowing brown hair and bright emerald eyes that shone in the night. "What have you got against women, huh?!"
"Nothing! I was just…sayin'…eheheheheheh, uh…"
"I heard that they're some of the best Spartans around," interrupted Sherman, deflating the rising tension like a pin through a balloon. "All of them have great field records. Or so I've heard."
"He's right though, they do have a female Spartan in NOBLE team." said a large, bulky and shaven marine named Logan, who was sitting opposite Sherman "Think her name was Kat or something like that. Medical file from that last mission said she got a cybernetic right arm."
"As if they weren't robotic enough…" came a muffled reply from a small man named Wallace, who flicked his finger towards Six. If Six noticed, he didn't respond.
Six kept his mouth shut through the conversation. It was as if speaking was a capital offence in the military. But then again, one did not become one of the world's hyperlethal Spartan by engaging in a friendly conversation with a passer-by.
"Alright everybody," came a voice through the comlink "we're dropping you in ODST-style, so we'll let you know when you need to get to the drop pods. Riley out."
"Sir, this is going to be a long trip. We might as well take leave," said another marine named Clegg who'd just walked up to Six "no point staying here. Know what I mean?"
The Six rubbed his neck, his palm brushing on the UNSC tattoo. A present from the Chief.
"Fine," he said simply, advancing to his post
The marine smiled smugly. "Quiet as always."