As i have over 400 hits on this chapter and under 50 for each of the following i'm presuming that my introduction is complete crap (which it probally is) but please, keep on reading and give me your feed back on the story, it does get better you know.

As always the disclaimer goes here:I do not own halo...There, now you happy?

Valiant Spirit

Commander Jack Taylor stood at the bridge of the USNC Valiant Spirit. His pride in his new promotion and assignment was quite evident as he strode over to the navigation.

"Lieutenant Holl have you prepared our jump vectors?" Jack said as he looked over the young officers shoulder.

"Yes Commander, in accordance with the Cole Protocol I have prepared seven random jump vectors before our final jump to Odyssey" replied Lieutenant Demetri Holl without ever talking his eyes off the console in front of him.

"Very good Lieutenant." He walked back to the commander's observation point at the back of the room, " All stations make ready for jump."

"Yes Sir" was the response from the bridge crew in unison.

Jack took this moment to observe his crew in action. Though they where young, he believed that they would all be fine reliable crew. Lieutenant Samantha Landry at Weapons, Lieutenant Rodger Carlson at Helm, Demetri at the Navigation and David Jefferson at Engineering. He watched as each of them ensured that the systems they where in charge of where ready for the jump into slipspace, and felt proud to be in command of such fine Officers.

He was also proud to be in command of such a fine ship. The Valiant Spirit was the most recent ship constructed at Earth since the fall of Reach. It boasted two small mag cannons, which although weaker then the standard mag cannon where able to fire 5 shots in quick succession each, two-hundred and forty-two Archer missiles pods, forty Duel 50mm Chainguns for point defense, and twelve Shiva nuclear warheads. It was 1.5km long and was just as durable as a Marathon cruiser and with a deadlier bite. It is the first in its class and already several Admirals in Fleet Com have been demanding that Valiant class cruisers be mass produced. It houses twelve Pelicans, two Albatross and eight Longswords in two hangers, one on the port side and one on the starboard side of the ship.

For any ground sortie which they might become involved in seven-hundred and fifty marines and one hundred Orbital Drop Ship Troopers (more lovingly known as the Helljumpers) with an assortment of Warthogs of all varieties, Mongooses, 2 Scorpion tanks, 2 Rhino artillery tanks and 6 Sparrow Hawks for close air support. All in all the Valiant Spirit was a ship not to be messed with and the thought of this brought a slight smile to his face.

"Sir all Stations are ready and waiting," Lieutenant Carlson said as he looked up at the commander from his station.

"Good," he said more to himself then the crew as he approached the comm on his chair. "This is Commander Taylor to all hands, I want all non essential crew who are not all ready in cryo to get a move on, and to those who are going to be keeping me company for the next two weeks to brace for the jump to slipspace in five minutes."Turning off the comm he look back to Carlson, "Jump in five".

"Yes Sir."

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My Dearest Joanna,

Our two weeks have passed by rather quickly and with only a few hours until we reach Odyssey, I am glad that nothing major has happened, which left me with some valuable time to wright this. The only real hiccups where Petty Office Hong slipping in the engine room and fracturing his arm, nothing serious mind, but unfortunately he was carrying out a routine inspection of one of the conduits suppling the cryo tubes with power, and inadvertently knocked off twelve pods, so the mess hall was full of some very colourful words at chow time as the Helljumpers told stories about there escapades.

But enough of that how are you. Are the crew of the Raining Night treating you well? I know it can be tough being the new officer on board a ship. It makes me glad that my own crew and I are all new on board. I understand why you turned down my offer for a place here and I am sorry for what I said and I do hope you forgive me for that.

I cannot wait for you response to come and remember, no matter what happens, i will always love you.

Jack.

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"Sir, all crew are thawed and ready and we will be exiting slipspace in five minutes." Carlson said as jack stepped onto the bridge.

"Good, have all final checks been checked and re-checked?"

Jack once again approached the railing at the observation point, he was growing fond of observing all of his young officers at work and was silently thanking the designer who thought of having this elevation.

"Checked, re-checked and then check again for good measure Sir." His bridge officers replied in unison, it was quickly becoming a quirk Jack like.

"Sounded a little bit too rehearsed, but I'll let it slide. This time." He said with a slight grin on his face and although he could not see his crews faces he new that they where all smiling too.

"Sir, exiting in 5,4,3,2,1."

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Auther's Notes:This is my first ever halo fanfic so please be kind. Also your Reviews sustain me, without them i will die. Seriously!