1924 hours, October 17, 2552 (revised date Military Calendar)/Athens Orbital Mac Cannon, in orbit around earth.

Log 1, Capt. Matthew Jacobson.

During a conflict on Sigmus Octanous I was critically injured beyond the ability to serve as a marine combatant. Afterward I went to OCC to study how to become a ship captain. I graduated and am now the captain of the Leviathan, one of the best ships in the UNSC. I have docked with the Athens to speak with Admiral Stanford. I'm not quite sure, but I think something is going on. Something big.

End Log.

Captain Matt Jacobson got up from Cyro sleep. His eyes were groggy and he felt a stinging burning felling across his body. A technician walked up to him.

"Captain, please swallow and spit", he said in a monotone voice.

Jacobson took a deep breath, swallowed and spit. A string of flem-like fluid spewed out of his mouth.

"Yuck", he said as he gagged, "You guys think you would of found a better way by now."

"Sorry sir, resources are limited."

Jacobson got up and walked to the locker room. His replacement leg hissed at each step. He opened his locker and pulled out his uniform. He got dressed and walked down to the docking bay. On the way he followed security protocol, which took him about an hour.

After he passed the security measures he walked into the Athens and to the bridge. He found Admiral Stanford staring out at Earth. Jacobson walked up to him.

"Beautiful isn't it?" the Admiral said.

Jacobson responded, "Yes sir, its wonderful."

The Admiral turned around and faced Jacobson. His face stiffened. Then he spoke.

"Captain, I'm not sure how long Earth will last"

"What do you mean? ", Jacobson asked.

Stanford frowned, "Spartan 117 returned with information regarding the Covenant's future attacks."

"And", the Captain asked impatiently.

"And they found us, Jacobson, they bloody found us."

Jacobson flinched. All these years they guarded a secret so precious, so important and now it was out. The Covenant juggernaut was now heading toward Earth.

The Captain responded, "No"

"Yes", Stanford replied, "And it is only a matter of time till they show up."

Jacobson only stood there taking in what he just heard. The Covenant were going to attack Earth. They were going to wipe out the human race. The Admiral turned around again.

"Dismissed"

"Yes sir"

Jacobson walked out of the room and to his cabin.

1924 hours, October 21, 2552 (revised date Military Calendar)/Athens Orbital Mac Cannon, in orbit around earth.

An alarm rang throughout the ship and echoed through the corridors. A man yelled over the speakers.

"Covenant ships are in the kill zone. All captains to their ships, boarding craft closing in. Marines, prepare to repel boarders."

The Captain got up, slipped his boots on, grabbed his M6C personal side arm and ran out. A rumble shook the ship as the Mac cannon fire its first round. The man yelled over the speakers again.

"Covenant have boarded the station. All personal to deck seven, all Captains must get to their ships."

Jacobson stormed down the corridors towards the docking bay. As he turned the corner he heard the high-pitched bark of a grunt. Jacobson pulled out his M6C and fired three shots. The grunt screamed and landed in a pool of blue blood. He took a moment to reload his weapon when he heard something behind him running. He turned around to see an angry elite charging at him. He jumped out of the way, just barley avoiding the elites plasma rifle as it slammed into the wall, denting it. The elite was now even more angered. He ran toward Jacobson and kicked him up against the wall. The elite then pulled out his plasma rifle and leveled it at his face. Jacobson closed his eyes. The elite smirked until he heard someone yell.

"OPEN FIRE"

The staccato burst of six battle rifles echoed across the room. The elite's shields flared to life and died out. Purple blood splattered out of the elites chest as it fell to the ground. A man walked over to Jacobson and helped him up.

"Are you okay, sir?"

The man was about six feet tall and had a pale face. His face had a 5 o clock shadow and his dark brown hair was a mess under his Sergeants cap.

"I'm fine. Who are you?"

The man gave a crisp salute and replied, "I am Sergeant James McClau, 43rd infantry division, " he pointed at the other five soldiers. "These are my marines. We will help as best as we can "

Jacobson answered, "I need to get to the docking bay."

The Sergeant turned around and looked at his men who were just standing there.

"Well, this ain't no tea party, you heard what the man said", he yelled out.

The Marines replied in unison, "Sir, yes sir."

Jacobson followed McClau and his marines down the wrecked corridors. On the way they met some resistance. However, resistance started to fade away little by little. Jacobson thought about this. Were the Covenant retreating. No that's impossible. Not that quickly. The Covenant always had a surprise waiting for them. The finally made it to the docking bay. The two large doors opened and the Leviathan came into view as well as one elite and four grunts. The men opened fire. The elite was caught of guard and soon fell to the automatic fire. The three grunts scattered. Two of the grunts were shot down, but one managed to get a lucky shot at one of the marines. The bolt of plasma hit him square in the chest. He fell down and started to scream.

"O MY GOD, IT BURNS, IT BURNS, OH MY GOD, AHH."

Sergeant McClau turned around and shot the grunt square in the face. Its head erupted into a display of brain and blood.

Get him into the ship find medical attention." he yelled out.

Two marines picked the man up and ran toward the Leviathan. The Sergeant and the Captain ran into the Leviathan.

Jacobson ran toward the bridge. His bridge crew was sitting in their spots waiting for orders.

"Fire thrusters at full speed. Set a course for the nearest Covenant ship." Jacobson barked out.

"Aye, sir"

The Leviathan burst out of the Athens docking bay and flew toward a ship near the Cairo.

"Get a firing solution for the MAC guns and warm the Archer missile pods." he yelled out."

Jacobson heard an incoming message.

"I can't believe it, they're retreating. We won."

"Get our camera on the Athens."

Jacobson watched as the Covenant boarding craft fled from the Athens.

It couldn't have been that easy, he thought.

The Captain watched as a flash came from inside the Athens and engulfed it in a ball of flames. Debris flew through space. Jacobson stared out into. He had gotten off alive when others had to hold the line. He couldn't help feel sorry for all the lives on the station that had just vanished. His sorrow turned into anger. The Covenant have had it too good for too long.

"Prepare Archer missiles on starboard side. Release the safety lock on both MAC guns. Plot a course toward that ship and wait for my order to fire."

The Leviathan's thruster lit up with fire and sped toward the Covenant ship. The ship took no notice of the human vessel speeding towards it.

Jacobson yelled, "FIRE, send them all to HELL."

The entire Archer pods on the starboard side of the ship fired. Streaks of smoke closed in on their target. The two Mac guns fired afterward. The ship's shields glistened a silver color and then faded away. A few Archer missiles hit the ship and blew a hole through some of its turrets. The Leviathan continued speeding toward it at full speed.

Jacobson yelled out another order, "RUN THEM OVER."

The Leviathan struck the ships middle and cut right through it. The whole ship rumbled and shook. Jacobson lost his balance. The momentum forced the smaller Covenant ship to split into two pieces. Atmosphere vented out of the two pieces.

"Damage report"

"Sir decks D through F have been breached. I'm sealing them off."

Another message rang through the radio.

"This is In Amber Clad we are taking the fight to the surface. Requesting back up."

Jacobson spoke back, "This is Leviathan. We are on our way.