A/N: This is my 1st story so don't expect too much out of me… yet.

Halo: A Sniper's Story

Chapter One

The Pillar of Autumn

Thump. Thump. Thump.

That sound was constant to the interior on the surface of Reach as the last remaining survivors fled to the Pelicans, among whom was a young Marine Corporal by the name of Jason Santos.

He could feel the intense heat coming from the plasma torpedoes that were landing, even though they were landing some 15miles away. As the last of the marines in his squad were strapped into the Pelican he looked out of the bay doors. All he saw fire then ash, and then just glass, he cursed as he though of all the marines in the other squads that weren't so lucky. The glassing of Reach had begun about 10 minutes ago, once the airfields and other top priority facilities had been destroyed the Covenant armada that was in orbit around reach moved on to the smaller, harder to find Marine encampments.

Just 6 years before his birth, humanity had been having its ass given to it on a golden platter just about every battle. The only battles that they had won were because either the covenant in charge made a huge mistake, which didn't happen often, or from the tactics of the Commanders of the UNSC's Fleet. Commanders like Captain Keyes and others like him, have helped win hopeless naval engagements be using only the craziest tactics ever conceived… but then again the covenant had the technology and numbers on their side.

"How much longer until we will reach the Autumn?" Jason asked the pilot.

"Will you just shut up and pull that tin can of a helmet over your head, I can't answer questions and dodge plasma torpedoes at the same time!" The pilot responded.

Jason chose not to respond, knowing that he would be saying the same thing if he was the pilot and some Marine corporal was nagging him with questions. He took his helmet off and looked around the cargo bay of the Pelican, most of the other members of his squad were either sleeping or trying to get some sleep. He decided to do the same.

The Pelican touch down, jerking him awake. He looked around and found his spotter, Private Kelly, in line to get out of the pelican bay doors,

"Why didn't you wake me up before we landed?" Jason asked.

"Sorry man you looked like you needed the rest so I just though that I shouldn't wake you up." Kelly replied

Reaching down he realized that his weapon wasn't with him.

"Where's me sniper rifle?" Jason asked in alarm.

"Oh, I toke the liberty of putting it into the storage lockers by the cockpit." Kelly said.

Private James Kelly was the best spotter Jason had ever had or known, and didn't feel worried about it like he would have if any other Marine picked up his sniper rifle without asking. After getting his SR2-AM Sniper and personal MA5B out of the pelican he looked around and was just gong to the armory to put his weapons away when Lieutenant Jacobs, his squad leader yelled,

"Captain on deck!"

Out of reflex everyone and anyone stopped what they were doing and saluted. After a while everyone realized it was Captain Keyes, who some how had walked into the center of them all without anyone noticing.

He caught sight of the Captain just as Keyes looked over at him, seemingly admiring his SR2-AM sniper rifle.

"What's your name Corporal?"

"Jason Santos, Sir, Baker Company."

The Captain nodded and looked at Jason's sniper rifle again.

"Do you always keep your weapons in that condition, corporal?"

"No sir..., I just wanted it to look like I was doing something."

He realized only to late that Lieutenant Jacobs was glaring at him in surprise and anger, as if to say "way to go ". Tense moments past, and Jason realized that if Keyes toke the joke the wrong way there would be some big problems. Suddenly Keyes burst out laughing, after 10 seconds but what seemed like an eternity to Jason, Keyes nodded again and told them to get some rest while they could. After dropping off his SR2-AM, but keeping his MA5B with him just in case he started looking for a place to sack out. None of the men in his squad had been assigned quarters so Jason just walked into the nearest empty room, dropping his MA5B at the door and flopped on the bed without a second thought.

The sharp sound of Plasma hitting the Autumn woke Jason up. Jumping off of the bed, and grabbing his MA5B he raced down to the armory. Realizing he didn't have time to find his SR2-AM he simply grabbed a few clips for his MA5B, 5 clips for his pistol and 4 frags. Then racing down the hallway in the direction of the sounds of battle. He hadn't been on a UNSC Cruiser sense he was shipped out from basic and quickly got lost.

He turned to his left and saw the flashes of gunfire and plasma and sprinted towards it. Jason soon found that the Marines there were from his own first squad. Looking to kill some covenant s for what they did to reach he quickly toke a frag from his belt, primed it, then flung it at the nearest elite. At first the elite didn't notice the small explosive device at his feet, and saw it only seconds to late. Jason grinned at the gruesome effects of his frag, the elite roared as the grenade exploded and sent bits of molten metal through its shields and into the soft flesh behind it as its blood was splattered all over its fellow covenant. Having no more leader the grunts either fled or were killed by the marines withering fire. Soon the all clear was sounded Jason and the rest of the marines moved down the hallway when over the communication system came the voice of Captain Keyes.

"All hands head for the nearest lifeboats. Combat teams Alpha- Sierra, repel boarders until life boats are away!"

All eyes looked to Lieutenant Jacobs as he looked at the ships schematics.

"There, hallway 12C has a lifeboat waiting. All right people lets get moving, 12C is about a 5 minute walk from here. Corporal Santos, you take point. Yell if you see anything."

Jason knew that Lieutenant Jacobs was getting back at him for what he said to Captain Keyes in the hangers.

"Sir yes Sir" was all he could say.