The Composer

Chapter one: The Arrival

March 2552, Ivanoff Research Station; Khaphrae system

UNSC Infinity slowly inched toward a massive asteroid belt. The hangar bay of the ship opened up and three pelicans exited, shooting straight into the asteroid belt. Because within these rocks one of ONI's secret bases called Ivanoff is located. It was placed here shortly after the discovery of Installation 03. It was a home base for chief scientists and archaeologists to dig into the secrets of installation 03. However, it was also completely equipped for battle with HAVOK nukes, Mantis Mech, MAC, Broadswords and Pelicans. It had round the clock protection from the UNSC marines, because ONI did not want any mishaps here.

"Just look at that," Simon wondered as he peeked through the pelican's window. "Halo; so glorious." The other three ODSTs took a peek after seeing Simon's awe struck face.

"She's a beauty," George accepted without even looking out. He was too busy polishing his M395 Designated Marksman Rifle. Simon bummed him over his shoulder, "You are not looking," he complained. George glared at him for a second and returned his attention back to his rifle.

Clara was not impressed with the view. She felt something very ominous about the ring. Handy caught Clara's troubled look and asked, "Not fancy enough?"

Clara shot a look back at Handy, wondering what he was asking about. Then she realized Handy was staring at her. Damn it, Clara cursed. This is what she hated about Handy, he was too observant. "I see only death in it," Clara said and turned away. "It is ominous!"

"Fair enough," Handy said with a smile and turned his attention toward the ring because he was thinking the same thing.

Taylor was watching his new squad closely trying to figure out whether they were as good as his previous team mates, who were like his family. However, he lost them, every single one of them. He led them to death. At that moment he wished he was dead with them.

"Hey Sarge," Simon called out, interrupting Taylor's thought. "What do you think about Halo?"

Taylor looked up and took a glance at the Halo that was looming out in the dark space, dwarfing every single thing around it, even the UNSC's biggest warship, Infinity, looked like a speck of dust next to it. This was not his first rodeo to Halo. He was one of the few marines who landed in Delta Halo with Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson through 'In Amber Clad', went through hell and returned back to earth. So he knew what exactly he was looking into. In spite of all the dread within, it did look mighty to him. When Simon saw that Taylor was not going or not willing to answer back he just shrugged his shoulder and turned back to sightseeing.

The pelican corrected its course due to the incoming asteroids in its path, and soon the Halo was shadowed behind huge asteroid rocks. The pelican dipped and rolled in order to avoid the incoming rocks. Yet little debris escaped the pilot's skillful maneuver and bumped the pelican's nose and bounced off giving a thumping noise within.

"Approaching the station in five," the pilot of Pelican-099 announced.

Taylor, the squad leader of ODST Alpha, got up and said, "Get ready ladies. We are approaching the station. Our mission is simple, round up with the other squads and we are gonna march into that Halo. We are here for a search and rescue mission, not for the guard duty. So look alive. The moment our mission gets over, we are flying back home. Are you with me?" he finished.

"Sir, yes Sir," the four man squad replied back in unison as they got their gears together.

The station was placed right in middle of the Asteroid belt, which was revolving around the Halo and it's threshold planet. Ivanoff was sitting on top of the biggest rock among the pile, completely camouflaged from a weary eye. The pelican made its final course corrections as it came closer to the station. The other two pelicans were following its trail, so the pilot had to be precise in his course or it could be a disaster.

"This is Pelican-099 approaching the station, with Pelican-075 and Pelican-089. Permission to enter the station," the pilot radioed in.

"Green light Pelican-099, you are free to land on Bay 6, 075 you can land on Bay 7 and 089 on Bay 8," the radio echoed.

"Copy that," the Pelican-099 pilot said and angled his bird for the final landing. The hangar bay was eight hundred meters away and the bay doors silently opened up. Once the pelican reached five hundred meters the pilot let go of the thruster and gently swooped into the bay. All three pelicans landed together and the bay doors slowly sealed back.

"Successful touch down, you are clear to exit," the pilot announced to his passenger.

Taylor punched the pelican door controls and the door slowly hissed open and formed a ramp as the ODST squad marched out.

"This place is bigger than I thought," Simon said as he exited the pelican first followed by George, Clara, Handy and finally Taylor.

"Corporeal, you have a big mouth," George commented for which Clara chuckled and Handy nodded in agreement. The Alpha squad exited the pelican and formed a line in front of their Sergeant who waited for the Bravo and Charlie team to assemble. Once all the three teams assembled on the Hanger bay they marched to the station's HQ lead by Taylor.

"Welcome to your new home," Captain Hickory Jonah said as all the three 'special' ODST squads assembled. "Thanks for the accepting my special invite," Captain teased. "You are here for a special mission. Some of my high profile Doctors went missing on a special site in the Installation 03. I have sent all my marines down there under my command, but they were spread too thin. So I needed you, the ODSTs, best of the best. And Captain Thomas Lasky was grateful enough to lend you to me, temporarily," he said with a crooked smile, which made Taylor uneasy. Something about Captain Jonah was off.

"So I want you all to take some rest, and first thing in the morning you will be taken to the site," he finished. "You are now dismissed." The marines gave a salute, turned and exited the HQ.

"Sergeant Taylor one moment," Captain Jonah said. The Alpha squad hesitated for a second, then they kept marching out. Taylor turned back, "Sir?"

Captain Jonah slowly walked around Taylor as if he was inspecting him, with the same crooked smile that made Taylor uneasy and said, "Impressive record you have Sergeant; Discovery in Installation 04, African Portal mission, all good stuff, except the last mission."

The mention of his last mission stung Taylor like a bee sting. He straightened a bit and looked into the Captain's eyes. It somehow matched with Clara's Halo description 'Ominous'.

"Sir," Taylor began, but was interrupted by Jonah. "I think it will be only wise if you just lead the Alpha squad you rode in with. I will assign one of my boys for the Bravo and Charlie squads. One baby step at a time," he mocked. "Is it clear, son?" Jonah asked.

"Yes sir," Taylor said in a calm voice. "Anything else, sir?"

"Please go and meet Dr. Sandra Tillson. You will be led to her by the station's AI. Tillson will brief you on the missing persons profile and the site they were digging. You may go now," Jonah said and turned his back to Taylor. Taylor saluted and exited feeling hurt. It was his mistake for what happened. His squad obeyed and followed his fatal orders. He wished once more that he was dead with his team mates.

'If only' he wondered and walked towards Dr. Sandra Tillson's lab.