The warthog rockets over the rough terrain, making light bounce off of my MK V helmet. Noble Six, that's who I am now. The marine shifts uncomfortably as I flip the helmet around and put it on. We give hope that the Covenant threat can be defeated, but we still scare the marines up close. A pair of Falcons flies overhead heading towards the small base in the distance. I close my eyes briefly and remember what I know about Noble Team. Noble One: Carter, Noble Two: Kat, Noble Three: Jun, Noble Four: Emile, Noble Five: Jorge. Counted almost as a suicide squad, the Noble Team is known for completing suicide missions with minimal casualties and maximum success. Opening my eyes I look around at the base. It truly is small. It could be moved by two Falcons and half a day. Jumping from the warthog, I walk towards the building, ignoring the Spartan loading ammo into his sniper rifle.
"Contact with Visegrád Relay was lost last night. All signals flatlined at twenty-six hundred hours," says Colonel Urban Holland from a comm link inside the building. "I responded with trooper fire teams, which have since been declared MIA."
"And now you're sending us," deadpans a Spartan inside the building.
"The Office of Naval Intelligence believes deployment of a Spartan team is a gross misallocation of valuable resources. I disagree." Moving to step into the building, I'm stopped by a mechanical arm. Probably Kat, noble Two.
"Commander," says a female voice. Definitely Kat.
"So that's our new Six," says a big man with a typical Reach accent, noble Five, Jorge.
"Kat, you read her files," asks the Spartan in blue, noble One, Carter.
"Only the parts that weren't covered in black inc," affirms Kat.
"Anyone claim responsibility," asks Carter as he turns back to the screen.
"ONI thinks it might be the local insurrection. Five months ago, they pulled a similar job on Harmony. Hit a relay to take out our eyes and ears, then stole two freighters from dry-dock. That cannot happen here. Reach is too damn important. I want that relay back online, Noble One," orders Colonel Holland.
"Sir," confirms Carter, "consider it done."
"Then I'll see you on the other side, Holland Out."
"Lieutenant," asks Carter.
"Commander," I respond, before adding, "sir."
"I'm Carter, Noble Team's leader. That's Kat, Noble Two, Emile and Jorge, Four and Five. You're riding with me, Noble Six," he starts as we walk from the buildings towards the falcons. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Lieutenant. You're stepping into some shoes the rest of the squad would rather leave unfilled. Me, I'm just happy to have Noble back up to full strength. Just one thing. I've seen your file. Even the parts the ONI censors didn't want me to. I'm glad to have your skill set, but we're a team. That lone wolf stuff stays behind. Clear?"
"Got it sir," I say while stepping into the falcon.
"Good. Welcome to Reach," he says, also stepping into the helicopter and signalling for take off. I was on Reach, and I was part of the famous Noble team. It's a far cry from my previous deployments but I'll try and prove my worthiness of the post. If only I could get my sister deployed here, except for what she is. Sister is the wrong word. She's not even human, she's Sangheili. If I can convince ONI, I can convince Carter.