Chapter 1

Alex looked around the briefing hall. It wasn't much of a hall really, he thought it looked more like a room, but the sign above the door said hall so, he thought hall. He had been in the marines for a couple years now, but he had never done more than sit on some safe cozy outpost. Why? He sighed. Well because his COs were afraid that of anything happened to him, his parents would bury them so low they would never get out of the dirt. See, his parents were rather famous in the military. His dad was fleet admiral John Edwards of the navy, while his mom was general Jess Edwards of the marines. Basically this meant he was bored. He'd been looking for something serious for a while now. He had begged his dad, and he finally sent him here, to an outer colony world.
Well he could hardly complain that it was safe and cozy, it was on the edge of known space and therefore, rather dangerous. Collosus IV was along the edge of UNSC space. It wasn't too small with a population of 3 million, but it was still smaller than he was used to. The population was split almost evenly between 3 cities, Oceanus, Hyperion, and Mintriz. When he was being shuttled down to the planet a very helpful ensign had filled him in on where the names came from. He found out the first two were old Greek Titans, and the other 1 was from some native religion to the planet. All of the cities were on the planet's only continent, and Oceanus was the only coastal city. Hyperion was the capitol, and that is where he had been shuttled to. He was immediately sent to the UNSC's local garrison, and brought to this briefing room.
"Hey!" someone called to him, interrupting his thoughts. He looked over his shoulder to see a kid about his age, twenty-two, come over. He had dark brown hair and very defined hazel eyes. Alex thought that was interesting, their hair color was about the same, but Alex's eyes were a rather light brown. Their heights were similar too, Alex was around 5' 8' and the other kid looked maybe an inch or two shorter.
"You know what we're here for?" When Alex shook his head to that the boy rolled his eyes and stuck out his hand.
"Well I don't either. My name's Sean by the way, Sean Barret." Alex shook his hand. "My name's Alex, nice to meet you." Sean paused for a second, wondering why the name sounded familiar, and he looked like he almost got it when the door opened again.
Alex thought the guy that stepped through looked like a bodybuilder on steroids, he had regulation-cut black hair and he was wearing black sunglasses. He had a typical marine training uniform on and it looked as though he was quite used to it. The man glanced at them then went and sat to their right and a little down the hall.
As Sean made some comment under his breath about him Alex realized something, Sean's hair was long! Long as in a bit curly and definitely over military limit. He was about to ask him about it when the door opened again. He didn't even bother to look back at whoever it was this time until Sean whistled, it wasn't the whistle that bothered Alex it was the way he did it, wait it couldn't be. He turned around and sure enough, there was a girl standing in the doorway.
She had interesting reddish brown hair tied up in a ponytail. She was wearing regulation field sniper outfit and the look she gave Sean when he whistled would've sent a lion running. He even jerked back a bit in his seat. She went and sat on the left back side of them, putting Alex and Sean right between her and the muscleman.
Sean leaned down and whispered to him "Well talk about a cold reception jeaz, what's with these guys?"
Alex just nodded to that, he was still thinking about Sean's hair. Alex was about to comment on it, when the door opened behind the podium. The man that stepped through immediately reminded Alex of the ONI members that talked to dad occasionally back home.
Slick black hair, taylor made suit and a certain something else about him. He stepped up to the podium in the front and said

"Welcome everyone. I'm glad you could be here with your busy schedules."

Sean snorted at that. Alex was about to ask why, but the man continued.

"You are probably wondering why you are here."

Sean interrupted him jumping up out of his seat. "You bet I am! You guys dragged me out of my house back on Earth, and then took me here! To an outer colony no less!" He said the last with scorn, like it was something vulgar. "I sure as **** want to know why!"

The man sighed, "Yes I know Sean, but please listen for now." Sean sat down, obviously not satisfied.
"Right well, let's continue. You have all been brought here for a reason, maybe because you're the best at what you do, he glanced at Sean, who reddened a bit.
"Or because you were highly recommended by your superiors." He glanced at the girl, who in turn simply looked back at him.
He was about to continue when the man to their right interrupted him, speaking for the first time. "That still doesn't explain why we are on the fringe of civilization sir." He said it respectfully, but his voice wasn't what Alex expected. He'd expected something deep and intimidating, but it was more, well normal. He could even picture him cracking a joke.
"I'm getting to that." the man said impatiently, "Listen. As I said you are all here for a reason, and as you all probably know for various different reasons." Sean reddened again "An alien race called 'The Covenant' has destroyed Harvest, as well as the warships we sent to investigate it when contact failed. They have also stated that they intend to wipe out us, as in, the human race because they believe it is 'The will of the gods'."
Alex nodded, he had heard from his father already. The girl and the guy with them also nodded, Sean just sat still looking at the man.
"Your squad's job will be, he cleared his throat, to infiltrate a covenant base, gather information about this 'Covenant' and bring it back home to UNSC hands."