On March 4, 2601, Airman Basic Thomas Locke's container where he was in cryosleep opened out of nowhere. He was located on an unknown island near Antarctica, all by himself. Thomas saw that there was a RMC39 Anti-Vehicle Boat inside on the island said to himself, "Hm, I'll use whatever this thing is."

He entered it and then started sailing away from the island. While he was sailing away, an unknown being to him appeared and looked at him and Thomas turned his head and stared at him and they asked, "Who are you?"

Thomas answered, "Uh, I'm Thomas Locke. You?"

The unknown being to him answered, "Woceus, a Jiralhanae."

Thomas asked, "What the hell is a Jiralhanae?"

Woceus answered, "A being that used to be a part of the Covenant."

Thomas said, "Never heard of it."

Woceus asked, "What era are you from?"

Thomas asked, "What are you talking about?"

Woceus answered, "This is 2601."

Thomas heard that and said, "Huh? 2601? Seriously?"

Woceus asked, "Where have you been?"

Thomas answered, "Inside of the UNSC Bark in cryosleep."

Woceus asked, "How'd you find the UNSC's Rattlesnake."

Thomas answered, "As soon as I walked out of the UNSC Bark, I saw it. How'd you find it?"

Woceus answered, "I've been sleeping in it."

Thomas said, "I see."

Woceus aimed his Type-25 Carbine at him and said, "Turn the Rattlesnake around."

Thomas looked at him and then kicked the gun out of his hands and then it flew to the other side of the ship and Woceus saw that and then swung at Thomas, but he ducked and Thomas swung at him and hit his armor, but nothing happened and Woceus laughed and said, "You are too weak to defeat me without a weapon."

Woceus slammed his two fists into the back of his head and Thomas collapsed and grunted and Woceus was about to grab his Carbine, but Thomas crawled toward it and grabbed it before he did and started shooting at him and Woceus collapsed and then Thomas sighed and walked back to the deck and grabbed the radio and said, "UNSC HQ or whatever you call yourself now, this is Airman Basic Thomas Locke from the UNSC Bark. Does anyone copy?"

Woceus heard that and then stood up slowly and then a soldier from HQ said, "This is HQ, please repeat what ship you were from, Airman Basic Locke?"

Thomas answered, "The UNSC Bark. Why?"

The soldier answered, "The UNSC Bark disappeared without a trace 437 years ago."

Thomas said, "Huh, so we really are in the year 2601?"

Woceus smiled and the soldier answered, "Yes. Please wait a moment."

Thomas said, "Sure thing."

Thomas shot Woceus in the head one last time and said, "Stay dead this time."

He continued to shoot him in the head and then the soldier appeared and said, "Airman Basic Locke, where is the UNSC Bark?"

Thomas answered, "On an island near Antarctica, I believe. I don't know exactly where though."

The soldier asked, "Where are you headed?"

Thomas answered, "According to my radar, I should be arriving at Australia soon. Sydney, Australia."

The soldier said, "Alright. There will be soldiers awaiting your arrival."

Thomas said, "OK."

The soldier looked at his CO and nodded and then he said, "Hm, this should be good."

Thomas saw the docks and then sailed there and a group of military soldiers appeared and Thomas stopped it by the docks and a soldier said, "Sir, we located the ship with Airman Basic Locke on it."

Thomas turned around and lifted Woceus up and got off of the Rattlesnake and asked, "What the hell is a Rattlesnake?"

The soldier answered, "You were just using it. Who is this?"

Thomas answered, "Woceus, a Jiralhanae who tried killing me."

The soldiers heard that and then said, "Enter the Warthog. Our CO would like a word with you."

Thomas said, "With pleasure."

They put Thomas into the Warthog and then put Woceus in the trunk and then entered the Warthog and took off to the base of operations. 10 minutes later, the Warthog arrived and then Thomas stepped out and said, "Alright. This is HQ."

They answered, "Yes, have you ever been here?"

Thomas answered, "Nope. I was on Earth my entire life."

A soldier walked out and then asked, "How was your trip here, Airman Basic Locke?"

Thomas answered, "Not too bad."

Thomas walked to the trunk and opened it up and grabbed Woceus' corpse and the soldier asked, "Where'd you find that?"

Thomas answered, "I killed it on my way here, sir."

He asked, "How'd you do that?"

Thomas answered, "His weapon."

He said, "Well, I'm Captain Martin Jacobs. General Dixon is waiting for you."

Thomas said, "OK."

Thomas entered the base and then Martin took him to General Veronica Dixon's Office and as soon as he entered it, Martin said, "Here he is, ma'am."

Veronica said, "Thank you. Have a seat, Locke."

Thomas sat down and then put Woceus next to him and then Veronica said, "So you defeated a Jiralhanae all by yourself. Just like a Spartan."

Thomas asked, "What the hell is a Spartan?"

Veronica answered, "Of course you wouldn't know. You've been in cryosleep for 437 years."

Thomas said, "Yep."

Veronica said, "Spartans are super soldiers that help fight against the threats in the universe. They saved us so many times that I can't even count anymore."

Thomas smiled and said, "I see. By the way, he mentioned his name. Woceus. Do you know anything about him?"

Veronica heard that and said, "Close the door, Locke."

Thomas heard that and did and sat back down and Veronica said, "Yeah, we know of him. He's one of the many commanders of the Covenant. And you are saying that you killed him."

Thomas answered, "Yes, with his own weapon."

He took it out and Veronica said, "Yep, that's his weapon. A Carbine."

Thomas said, "I see."

Veronica said, "You really are stronger than an Airman Basic."

Martin said, "Ma'am, you got a call on line 1."

Veronica said, "Hold up."

Thomas said, "Do whatever you need to."

Veronica picked up the phone and hit 1 and said, "This is General Dixon of HQ."

The Committee members said, "Airman Basic Thomas Locke is changing from Air Force to Navy. His rank will be Vice Admiral. And he'll be captaining the brand new UNSC ship that was just created."

Veronica heard that and asked, "When will this be happening?"

They answered, "Today."

Veronica asked, "When?"

They answered, "Oh, 1500 hours. Every soldier going on to the ship will be there to meet him. And his right hand man. Don't be late. It's an Infinity-class supercarrier known as the UNSC Life of Eternity. Don't tell him. It'll be a surprise. Plus, we heard that he defeated one of the commanders of the Covenant. Is that true?"

Veronica said, "Yessir. It is true. Is that all?"

They answered, "Yes. Continue your meeting with him."

Veronica said, "Understood."

They hung up and Veronica looked at Thomas and said, "Alright, let's get back to where we left off."

Thomas said, "We were talking about me being stronger than a Airman Basic."

Veronica said, "Ah yes, why is that?"

Thomas answered, "I've trained to become a soldier when I was young. My father trained me harshly and my mother trained me in different ways. Harsh, normal, and slow. Everyday, even when I was in pain, I still practiced with them."

Veronica said, "I see. What time is it?"

Thomas looked at his watch and saw that it was broken and sighed and tossed it into the garbage and said, "OK."

Veronica said, "Oh shit, it's 1430 hours. We need to get to the station. A new ship was just built. Follow me."

Thomas said, "Yes ma'am."

Thomas stood up and then Veronica said, "We'll take care of the Jiralhanae."

Thomas heard that and then walked away and Veronica opened the door and said, "Captain Jacobs, have his body delivered to the station. Where the new ship is being introduced."

Martin said, "Yes ma'am."

Thomas and Veronica entered a Warthog and said, "To the station."

The driver said, "Yes ma'am."

They took off and then Martin said, "We'll be dropping this on the stage when she gives the signal."

They said, "Understood."

As soon as the Warthog arrived, it was 1459 Hours and they ran to the stage and Thomas wasn't out of breath, but she was and said, "OK. Made it just on time."

Thomas heard that and then asked, "Wait, why am I up here?"

Veronica answered, "You'll see."

Everyone looked at Thomas' uniform and then asked, "Isn't that the first uniform of the UNSC Air Force? Why is he wearing it? It's so old school."

Thomas answered, "I just woke up from a 437 year cryosleep. Nice to meet you all."

Veronica said, "Don't underestimate the old uniform. It didn't stop him from defeating one of the commanders of the Covenant army."

Everyone heard that and then Veronica nodded and then Martin said, "Drop it."

They did and the body of Woceus appeared hanging from a rope and Thomas saw that and said, "Oh, he's here."

Veronica said, "Told you that we had it covered."

Everyone heard that and saw Woceus and started chattering and then Veronica said, "Airman Basic Thomas Locke, we hereby strip you from your Air Force status and we're putting you into the Navy as a Vice Admiral."

Thomas heard that and said, "You gotta be kidding me."

Veronica said, "Not at all. And you'll be the CO of the ship. Captain Vernon Rivers will help you as your right-hand man. Come on up here, Captain Rivers."

Vernon walked up the stairs and nodded and said, "Congrats sir."

Thomas said, "Thank you."

The AI for the ship, Zarina said, "Don't forget about me."

Thomas heard that and said, "She sounds Italian."

Vernon said, "You can tell from just listening to her voice."

Thomas answered, "No, I could tell by her accent."

Vernon said, "Oh, that's what I meant to say."

Zarina said, "Yessir. I am Italian. Zarina is my name. It'll be nice to serve under you, sir."

Thomas said, "Now, what if I decline on commanding this ship?"

Veronica answered, "We'll strip you from all of your ranks and you'll be discharged for good. And never enter the UNSC again."

Thomas smiled and said, "Sounds like fun. I'll take my chances."

Veronica heard that and looked at him and Vernon said, "You really are crazy."

Everyone looked at him and then Thomas turned around and Veronica asked, "What's wrong?"

Thomas answered, "Nothing. I'm just looking at the image of what I missed out on for 437 years."

Veronica said, "Lower the tarp."

Thomas heard that and then the tarp flew up and then the ship appeared and Veronica said, "Meet the UNSC Life of Eternity."

Thomas looked at it and said, "Oh that's a beautiful ship."

Vernon asked, "Do you change your mind?"

Thomas answered, "I'm afraid so."

Vernon smiled and Veronica placed the paperwork on the stand and then said, "Sign it to make it official."

Thomas stepped forward and then looked at them and Veronica looked at them signed it and Veronica said, "Well now, you'll be commanding a total of 25698 men and women. It's a 5992.3 metres (19659.8 ft.) in length. 937.4 metres (3075.5 ft) in width. And height is 1104.7 metres (3624.3 ft). It's bigger than the UNSC Infinity, so take care of her, Vice Admiral Locke."

Thomas said, "Understood, ma'am."

He looked at them all and Veronica backed up and Thomas said, "Good evening everyone. Starting today, I, Vice Admiral Locke, will be your commanding officer and Captain Rivers here is second-in-command. Whatever we say goes. May anything unfortunate happen to us during our battle against the Covenant, we will do whatever it takes to counter them. It is our duty to fight alongside other units and to fight with our hearts content to protect our homes, our friends, our families, our country, and our universe from these threats. If you believe in my cause, follow me and we'll succeed in defeating the Covenant."

Everyone started cheering and then Thomas smiled and then turned around and his smile went away and said, "Save me please."

Vernon laughed and said, "You have no idea what you are doing."

Thomas answered, "Nope. I only pilot Pelicans. Not a damn spaceship."

Vernon said, "Don't worry. You'll get used to it."

Thomas looked at him and said, "I probably will."

Vernon walked forward and said, "I'm Captain Rivers, like the Vice Admiral said. I'm his right-hand man and I'm also second-in-command. Zarina here will be joining us on our journey across the universe to protect the civilians of the colonies we care about. And like he said, we're fighting with our hearts content to protect our homes, our friends, our families, our country, and our universe from these threats. If we all want to succeed in becoming the best soldier that you could be, joining the UNSC was the best choice. Welcome to our crew, the UNSC Life of Eternity."

Thomas smiled and everyone started cheering and then her phone rang and Veronica picked up and said, "Hello."

The Committee members said, "Please put Locke on the phone."

Veronica said, "Yessir."

She handed the phone to him and said, "It's for you."

Thomas put it by his ear and said, "Hello."

They said, "Good speech for a person that has no idea what he's doing."

Thomas said, "Thank you, sir. How may I help you today?"

They said, "Well, you already got promoted. You got your own ship. You got your own crew. Now you are about to get your very first mission. But first, have everyone enter your ship."

Thomas said, "Captain Rivers."

Vernon turned around and said, "Yessir."

Thomas said, "Have everyone get the ship. You take lead. I gotta take this call."

Vernon said, "Yessir."

He turned around and said, "Everyone, let's get on to the UNSC Life of Eternity. Our CO has to take a call before he gets on to the ship."

Everyone heard that and started running to their stations and then Thomas said, "Alright, the mission."

They said, "We got a distress call from Rizoran-III. We'd like you to check it out."

Thomas said, "Yessir."

They said, "Good luck."

Thomas said, "Thank you."

They hung up and Thomas handed her the phone and grabbed Zarina's chip and said, "He forgot all about you, Zarina."

Zarina said, "He sure is mean."

Thomas smiled and said, "Hell, we just started together. Don't be saying such things just yet."

Zarina said, "Sorry sir."

Thomas said, "Don't be."

Thomas appeared on the ship and walked toward the bridge and said, "Holy shit this is some advanced technology."

Everyone laughed and said, "Yes it is."

Thomas put her into the terminal and said, "Alright. We have a mission to do everyone. We are to head to Rizoran-III. There was a distress call there and we're to investigate it."