Prologue
I'm not sure how long I've been on this planet; I passed out during the crash. When I awoke, Alex told me he saw the moon go around three times.
''I'm not sure how long that is, but it feels as if a week has passed,'' said Alex, ''I sent a distress signal but I doubt we can expect any help.''
I knew exactly what he meant by that. We came here fleeing the UNSC colony, Harvest once the alien society known as the Covenant attacked. So the UNSC was probably too busy to send a rescue crew for us. One of their cruisers fired at us, and we drifted until we entered the gravity field of this seemingly uninhabited planet.
The only others here with me are my friend Alex, and my girlfriend Sarah. Alex has shaggy brown hair that falls just over the wide-rimmed glasses surrounding his deep green eyes. Sarah has long, silky, blonde hair that falls halfway down her back, and oceanic blue eyes that reflect her fear.
''So you mean to tell me that, until the fighting on Harvest is over, we won't get help?'' said Sarah in disbelief, ''and that's assuming that those aliens don't win.''
''Well, the slipspace drive on our scout ship is fried so there's no chance of getting anywhere within a few months.'' Said Alex. Without our slipspace, we were restricted to regular space travel, which meant that Harvest was at least three months away.
''So I guess we walk until we find some help.'' I said.
We grabbed our stolen BR55's and set out, searching for any hope of escape; we walked for another three planetary rotations.
After the third rotation, Alex noticed something was up.
''Hey, look over there, just on the horizon, where the sun is.''
On the horizon, the rising sun was blurred around the edges. When the figure moved, Alex shot at it, and after the three shots faded, its camouflage generators failed.
An alien standing about two meters tall appeared from nothing. It wore sleek, angular, gray armor and wielded a two-pronged blade that shimmered and cracked with energy. It roared in disgust at being shot at and ran at us, faster than any average human.
''Those are the things from Harvest, get away, run!'' I shouted at the others.
We turned to run. I tripped over a rock and within seconds the creature was upon me.
''Damn it!'' I fired a burst into its chest to see the rounds bounce off a shimmering energy shield that covered its body. It raised its sword and roared.
Just before the sword hit, I saw a flash of green and the alien was tossed to the side. I stood up and saw an olive green suit of armor standing just as tall as the alien with an assault rifle raised.
''Stand up; you have a rifle. Use it.'' Said the green suit. I picked up my rifle and, with the combined firepower of the two of us, the alien's shields dropped and blood began to be shed. After another short burst, the alien roared once more then dropped to the ground.
''Who are you?'' I asked my saviour. He turned, but because of his mirrored visor, I wasn't sure he was looking at me.
''Master Chief Petty Officer S-117, we heard your distress signal; we're taking you to Reach.'' This shocked me; Reach was the UNSC's biggest military stronghold.
''But what about Harvest?'' The Spartan looked at me and removed his helmet; he couldn't have been older than 16.
''Harvest is gone; we're all retreating to Reach.''
''You mean the aliens captured it?''
''No, Harvest is gone, plain gone.''