Chapter 1: Freedom

Captain Rogers gripped the armrests of his command seat in impatience as the crew began the countdown procedures for a Slipspace jump. Normally, powering up the drives and plotting course would only take a few seconds, but the Freedom was a new and untested ship in so many ways, and there were certain protocols that needed to be followed.

As he understood it, the Freedom was the pinnacle of Human ship engineering, combining the advanced technology of the Covenant with good old fashioned Human know-how and improvisation. Though most of the ship's technology was Human-based, nearly 40 of the ship's systems consisted of Covenant technology salvaged from captured or destroyed Covenant equipment. Some of this technology included shield projectors, improved Slipspace drives, more accurate navigation equipment, and artificial gravity.

Weapons-wise, the Freedom was a powerhouse. It had three heavy MAC cannons, hundreds of 150mm autocannons, dozens of brand new gauss turrets, and a revolutionary particle beam weapons system. After studying Covenant weapons systems, scientists figured out how to control and manipulate energy using magnetic fields. Unfortunately, plasma energy just wasn't very compatible with nuclear reactors, so the designers instead opted for what could basically be summed up as an "ion cannon". They build a giant magnetic tube and coiled it into the shape of a double helix, making it small enough to fit within the confines of a ship hull. The tube basically accelerated ions to near lightspeeds and smashed them together, creating huge amounts of energy. Special turrets were placed at several points along the helix, and used magnetic fields to focus all of that energy into a coherent beam. Field tests showed that it could quickly carve up large meteors like a turkey in Thanksgiving, but it was yet to proved against actual ships.

The Freedom was also basically the size of a UNSC carrier, which allowed it to carry a large complement of troops and craft. It carried three squadrons of Longswords, six Pelicans, and a small army of Marines and vehicles.

Rogers felt confident in the Freedom's ability to lay down some serious hurt on the Covenant, but his biggest concern was the fact that so many of the ships critical systems were new and untested. With the recall order, there was no time to take the ship through proper field trials and tests, so anything could happen.

"Slipspace drives powered, coordinates locked." Joshua announced. "All nonessential crew have been safely locked in cryo-sleep. Reactors running at peak efficiency. Slipspace jump in five, four, three, two, one."

The Freedom suddenly bucked and rattled as it entered the event horizon. Like loyal pets, the Valiant and Fidelity followed close behind.

"ETA on our first waypoint is approximately twelve hours. Would you like to take advantage of the ship's cryo facilities?"

Rogers shook his head. "I'd rather be on the bridge."

"As you wish, sir."

Rogers keyed the comm system. "Engines, report your status."

"Performance was excellent, sir." The engineer on the other end replied, "The drives did exactly what we wanted them to do. Efficiency, however, is another matter. The drives used 500 more energy than they were supposed to. We've had to shut down some nonessential systems. We're doing our best to fix it, but we'll probably have to stop for repairs once we reach the first jump point."

Rogers sighed. "Inform me anything else goes wrong. Bridge out."

"Problem, sir?" Joshua queried.

"Just hoping things won't turn out any worse than they are already."

"Would you like to play a game to pass the time? I've programmed over 700 different games and I am-"

"No thanks, Joshua." Rogers got up from his seat. "I'll be in my quarters. Lieutenant Sink has command of the bridge."

Security Station D7

"Well well, what do we have here?" Paccone sat down, sipping a cup of coffee and catching a hostile glare from Karla. "I thought you would've been in cryo-sleep along with the rest of guys."

"The only way they're going to get me in one of those ice-coffins is by shoving my dead, bullet-ridden corpse in there." Karla replied, reading a book.

"Ouch, girl! I was only asking." Paccone leaned back on his chair threw his empty cup at a trash bin and missed. "Man, my aim is pretty crappy today."

"Your aim is always crappy." Karla grunted, still not looking up from the book she was reading. "Like that time you missed that Wraith tank."

"Hey, it was a pretty far shot!" Paccone replied defensively.

"The Wraith was immobilized, and its side was facing us. Only a blind, or incredibly inept, guy can miss something like that."

"At least that Jackhammer had a second rocket."

Karla snorted. "The reason why they made it carry two rockets is because of people like you."

"Sheesh." Paccone rolled his eyes. "Why do you have to be such a bitch?"

"Thank you, I try very hard. Now kindly leave before I introduce my new plasma sword to your face."

"You're so high-strung." Paccone smirked. "Since when was the last time you-"

"Oh no." Karla finally put her book down. "I know where you're going with this. Don't you even dare think about asking that question unless you're prepared for pain and suffering on a scale that you cannot possibly comprehend."

"Just answer the question, Kare, or I'll keep bothering you about it."

Karla's eye twitched at the mention of her much-hated nickname, and mentally reminded herself to kill Paccone when nobody was looking.

"Not since we last broke up." She sighed.

"I knew it." Paccone grinned. "A couple of years is a loooong time to go without-"

"Just shutup while you're ahead, Ron." Karla started reading her book again. "I don't want to explain to Captain Rogers how and why somebody managed to shove himself out of an airlock."

"Fine." Paccone glumly began glancing at security screens, and noticed that Karla was paying particular attention to a certain one.

"Interested in what your little sister does in her spare time?" Paccone mused. "Nervous that she and Private Carter there will get all touchy touchy with each other?"

"I just want to make sure that that kid doesn't break her heart." Karla said without even looking at him.

C Deck

"Are you sure you're supposed to be up and walking around like this?" Leo asked, "I mean, with all those wounds and all-"

"Leo, despite what you think, I'm perfectly okay." Sam smiled. "What's wrong with you, anyway? You sound like you just tried to shoot me or something!"

Leo blanched, "No, of course not! What gave you that idea?" He was still unwilling to tell her the truth of what happened in the past few days.

Sam shrugged, and abandoned the previous question. "Anyway, what do you want to do to pass the time? I heard a lot of stories of how dull Slipspace can be."

"Why didn't you just get into a cryotube?"

Sam frowned and start mussing Leo's hair with her uninjured arm. "Helloooo, anybody remember that I suffer from a little thing called 'claustrophobia' aka, the fear of confined spaces?"

"I tend to forget that, especially when you're blowing the heads off of Covvies."

"Ugh, it's been forever since I've gone on one of out little hunts!" Sam pouted.

"Hey, how about we go to the range and shoot some stuff?" Leo asked.

"Boy, you sure know how to woo a girl." Sam grinned sarcastically.

Firing Range

In order for Marines to stay in tip top fighting shape, most UNSC troop carrying ships had some kind of training facility for troops to drill and practice. The Freedom was on the cutting edge, featuring a full scale firing range as well as simulated holo-training rooms. The ship's armories also sported a full complement of weapons of almost every imaginable type, letting almost any Marine divulge in his or her little fantasies.

"That is so sweet." Sam hugged her old sniper rifle as if it were a boyfriend she hadn't seen in years. "You actually went back to find it?"

Leo smiled. "Only the best for Eagle Eyes."

"Thanks." Sam kissed Leo lightly on the cheek. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Leo was suddenly glad Sam was busy sighting her scope, since he was now as red as a beet.

Security Station D7

"You've got to admit, they make a cute couple." Paccone snickered.

"I blame you and your shoddy disciplinary skills." Karla sighed.

Firing Range

Leo watched as Sam put round after round into the distant paper target at the end of the range. Like all targets, this one had a rough silhouette of a human to encourage better shot placement. After Sam was finished firing, she hit a switch that activated the winch system to pull the target in.

"You know," Leo said, looking at the target, "You're actually supposed to be aiming for stuff like vital organs."

"Come on." Sam laughed. "You're saying that isn't a vital organ?"

"I- I'm not even going to debate with you about that." Leo turned away.

"Well, look at it this way." Sam grinned and pointed to the target, where all of the bullet holes were placed on, or perilously close to, the silhouette's crotch area. "Even if he survives that, lets just say that he won't be all too happy with the state of things."