Prologue
Time Unknown, Area Unknown, October 27, 2010
"GET DOWN!" Brian yells. He ducks his head below a large rock just as a plasma grenade explodes on the other side. He looks at his friend, Kat, on his left, and nods. She sets the timer for 20 minutes and starts the countdown.
"LET'S MOVE OUT!" Brian yells again. He and his four-person team fire off a few more rounds at their foreign enemy on the other side before turning tail and evacuating.
The group makes their way to an extended platform over a canyon, where they will be picked up. Within seconds, a T-shaped drop ship approaches, lands at the end of the platform, and lowers its rear ramp just as James and Henry manage to close the large, ancient steel doors. As they make their way to the drop ship, sounds of plasma fire can be heard striking the door.
Suddenly, the door is shaken off its mount and slams to the ground. Four Sangheili stand tall where the door once stood, one with a sort of an energy blade and the others with plasma rifles. As James and Henry enter the drop ship, Kat, who is falling behind, stumbles and trips. Brian immediately stops and goes to rescue his friend.
As they near the ramp, the aliens come nearer, Brian turns around and provides suppressing fire for Kat, who boards the ship. Once Brian turns around, the Sangheili fire several shots and impact him on the back when he is only a few feet from the ramp. Kat rushes to pick him up, but is held back by Henry.
"Seventeen minutes till the bomb goes off!" yells James, looking at his TACPAD. "We can't get him!"
"But we have to!" Kat pleads. "He's our friend!"
"James is right, Kat, we don't have time," Henry says.
"It's all right, go on without me," says Brian weakly, adding sarcastically, "Just remember that I want a statue dedicated for me back at home." Smiling, he looks at his friend one last time, with tears running down his cheek. He turns around and starts firing back at the aliens. The ramp on the drop ship rises and the trio is whisked away toward the vessel waiting in orbit.
"Incoming message," says the pilot, en route to the vessel. The speakers in the transport fill with static and are soon replaced by Brian's voice.
"Hey guys," says Brian. "I would just like to say that it's been an honor working with you. James, you are now in charge of Delta Company. Henry, you are a great friend and an awesome tactician. Keep up the good work, and I give you Déjà, my A.I. and my computer. Kat…" Brian hesitates for a moment. "Kat, you really changed my life and I want to say that… geez, I wonder why we always save this for the end… anyway, I wanted to say that…I love you…I always have. I was going to tell you after we were done with this mess but I guess I can't anymore. Finally, I will miss you guys—" Static cuts off the rest of the message as the ship enters the hangar. Kat sits in her seat with her head in her hands, crying over the loss of a great friend. Several seconds later, the planet below the space vessel explodes into dust cloud and debris.