Life. That's what we were trained to protect. We were but simple orphans. Kids who had no one. We had no families, no homes, nothing… but each other. When I was brought here to Onyx I finally found where I belonged, amongst my brothers and sisters.

Life meant the human race. Protect the human race. Kill the Covenant. Simple? No. Protect Earth and her colonies from the alien collective known as the Covenant. We were trained. We were augmented. We are the human races shield. They are the sword.

Life. They are life are they not? But last time I checked humans had five fingers and didn't breathe methane.

Life. Was I not alive? I was a simple orphan, in a rundown orphanage on Harvest. Before the Covenant, I wished for a mother. I wished for a father. I wished for a home. God works in mysterious ways.

Life. I got my wish. I would fight those who threatened the ones I cared for. That was when Oni found me. I had just killed my first Sangheili. He destroyed the closest thing to a picture perfect family I had.

Life. They saw the carnage. They saw the lifeless bodies of my fellow orphans. They saw the corpse of the red and gold Sangheili. I stood over him. The knife covered in purple blood.

Life. I had taken life. Life had taken what I cared for most. I was brought to Onyx to start my training. Spartan. Trained from a young age to fight. Trained to kill. Trained to take a life.

Life. I was told I was here to protect it. I was told I was to not think twice about taking it. I was trained to be the best. I was the first. The first of Alpha Company. The first Spartan III.

Life. I was given life when I was born. I took life when I was three. I began a new life on Onyx. I would be trained to take life. And I would give up my life to protect life.

Life. For those who couldn't be here with me. I shall give my life to take theirs. I am a Spartan. Not just any Spartan.

"I am Spartan A001, Devon". Life "I am a Spartan III" life "And I will give my life to protect theirs."