Authors Note; Welcome everyone, to my newest attempt at a fic. This story centralizes around a Spartan who you should know, an Admiral of a Carrier at Reach, as well as an ONI spook, and a more-than-battle-ready ODST. Hopefully this fic turns out good, and I hope everyone who reads enjoys. Please R&R. :)

0650 Hours. August 30th, 2552 (UNSC Military Calendar)

UNSC Carrier Beijing, In Orbit Over Reach, Epsilon Eridani System.

"Lieutenant, Status report!"

Vice Admiral Joseph Freeman shouted over to his second-in-command, Commander Richard Jones. Usually, most would've appointed the Beijing's engineering officer, Captain Charlie Walters, but Freeman saw more potential and effort from the Commander.

"Sir! We've taken heavy plasma damage on deck three, Section D through H! Point-Defense-Cannons 6 and 7 are offline! We've also got a VIP package, just picked up via Cargo Bay 7-A, transferring data to your TacPad."

"Shit," Freeman muttered under his breath. "What's the status of our MAC gun?"

"Charging, sir! MAC at seventy-eight percent!"

"As soon as it's ready, fire at will Commander. Co-ordinate fire with Lieutenant Harrison."

"Will do, sir!"

Turning to the main views screen, Freeman observed the situation they were currently caught in. The Covenant fleet had amassed and rushed Reach, forces were crawling all over the planet. The massive Covenant fleet, amassing over three-hundred vessels, smashed through the UNSC opposition, taking out seven of the twenty Super-MAC platforms already. According to reports that had leaked in over FLEETCOM, dozens of the ground-side generators for the MAC guns were already going down, leaving only several still active.

Glancing down at the TacPad, Freeman gasped at the "package" they'd obtained. Last he'd heard, all assets of that type were deployed on the surface, or elsewhere, such as Earth and the other inner colonies. He'd personally seen one in action, and was admittedly anxious to personally see one up close.

"Ensign Green, have the VIP Package brought to the bridge for briefing ASAP. I want it done by you personally."

"Sir, yes, sir," the ensign called over, as he rushed off of the bridge and towards the cargo bays.

Turning back to the screens, Freeman once again focused on the battle at hand. The UNSC fleets were putting up a hell of a fight. Just in his own battle-group, November-One, they'd amassed sixteen confirmed Covenant ships KIA. Regrettably, however, there were only two ships remaining, the Beijing, and the Frigate, Blaze of Glory. The other five ships in the battle-group, another Frigate, three Destroyers, and their Prowler attache, were all destroyed by the vicious Covenant attackers.

A resounding boom echoed throughout the ship as a distinct rumble occurred. Staring out the main window, Freeman watched from his command chair as the single MAC gun fired a round at a Covenant CCS-Battlecruiser. Along with a MAC round from the Blaze of Glory, the rounds punched through the mighty ships shields, and plasma explosions ripples across the metallic purple surface.

"Sir! Confirmed KIA on that Covenant Ship!"

"Good work, Commander. Send our regards to the Blaze of Gloryfor the assist."

"On it, sir!"

Looking out over the battlefield, Freeman shook his head slowly at the graveyard slowly amassing. Over a hundred-and-fifty ships from both sides lay waste in the center of the battlefield and strewn across either side. And more and more of those were piling to be UNSC ships. A small beep came from the Admiral's TacPad; a message from Admiral Freemont.

/File/Incoming/

United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 105003A-3

Encryption Code: White

Public Key: file/ Fleet wide/

From: UNSC/NAVCOM Admiral Roland Freemont

To: ALL UNSC PERSONNEL IN EPSILON ERIDANI

Subject: Emergency Order 105003A-3 ("Fall of Reach")

Classification: OPEN ORDER (FLEETCOM Section One Directive)

Content:

All Vessels in the UNSC Fleet at Reach and in the Epsilon Eridani Fleet; FLEETCOM is ordering a full retreat. The Covenant have overrun all forward positions, and our fleets strength is below one-third strength. Reach has fallen. Enact Cole Protocol, and jump using randomized vectors away from Earth.

I send my best wishes with all of you. I'm currently still in FLEETCOM's Olympus Tower in New Alexandria. I will be seeing Reach till its bitter end. Protect Earth and her colonies. As I stand here beside Rear Admiral Marshall Parker, we congratulate all of you brave soldiers, as well as the fallen.

/End Transmission/File deleted as per order 085243D-1/

Admiral Freeman dropped his head solemnly. Admiral Freemont and he had personally led a battle-group together at Harvest, and again at Jericho VII. The man was a brave one, and he honored and knew he'd remember him. Looking around the bridge, he saw the solemn looks across his crews faces, and couldn't blame them. Especially Commander Jones, born and raised on Reach.

"Ensign Gou, randomize vectors and prepare to jump to Slipspace. We're leaving this fight."

"Affirmative, sir," Gou replied, a distinct tone of regret in her voice.

As the pinpricks of space turned to nothing in front of him, Freeman couldn't help but feel remorse and regret for leaving the battle. As much as he'd like to, the order came down from FLEETCOM, and he couldn't disobey it. Especially with the precious cargo his ship had picked up. As the Slipspace jump was completed, and they drifted in the empty space, a heavy metal footfall was heard entering the bridge, accompanied by quick footsteps.

"Sir!" he heard snapped from Ensign Green, surprise in the man's voice. "Our VIP package, is-"

"I'm aware of our guest, Ensign. Return to your post. Thank you for your assistance."

"Sir, of course, sir."

Facing the space outside, yet to turn to the new arrival. Turning slightly to see the A.I console, he watched as a male, clad in Native American tribal wear, complete with a feather headdress, appeared in a glowing light above the cylindrical console.

"Fenix, bring me up all the information we have on our friend here."

"Already done, Admiral," the A.I curtly replied, data streaming across his figure.

Turning around fully, Admiral Freeman fully observed the guest they'd picked up. Usually, stragglers were very uncommon, especially one floating through open space in the midst of a large battle. Although, Freeman had to admit, he wasn't the least bit surprised, after getting the reports about the Circumference and it's rouge NAV database.

"Sir," the figure spoke up from behind the polarized visor. "I'm James-005, at your service."