100-Challenge

prompt 001. Introduction

Title: Kathleen


She stood still as the technicians worked on her armor. The steel black plates were scarred from years of combat. Plasma had burned away the paint in places, leaving the black armor spotted with darker black. There were scratches here and there showing the olive green that lay under the black paint. She could vividly remember how her armor had received each and every scratch and burn. Shots from plasma pistols, blades of brute shots, spike grenades. Each had left a mark to remind her of what she faced every mission.

The technicians finished and she moved off down the hallway. Soldiers moved aside for her, stared in surprise at the sight of a Spartan. At seven feet in her armor she was something out of the ordinary.

"Where are my soldiers?" She turned, moved out of the building, and stopped as a line of warthogs passed down the road.

"They are in the training grounds, where else?" a female voice rang through the radio of her helmet, almost inside her head. Maria may not be a smart AI but Maria was enough for her team.

She made her way across the base till she could see the training grounds. She watched as the squad of soldiers ran through the obstacle course. They tackled each obstacle with ease, jumping over walls, climbing ropes and nets, crawling under barbed wire, and running across graveled ground. She didn't move any closer to them, only watched. They were her soldiers, and although they had finished their daily training three hours ago, they were still hard at work. She smiled to herself, proud of their dedication. She turned around and moved back toward the barrack building. She quickly ducked out of the way and into the shadows of a structure as a warthog moved past. She watched as the vehicle, and the three Spartans in it passed by, unaware of her presence. Once they'd passed she moved back out into the path. She hated to hide from them, but orders were orders, and good soldiers didn't go against orders.

She made her way into the barracks and moved to her own cot. The Sergeant sat down, removing her helmet. She stared down at the reflective faceplate and frowned to herself. Her blue eyes looked over at the cot next to hers, and the helmet that sat on the soldier's pillow. The ODST helmet seemed to be staring at her, watching her. She glanced back down at the Mark VI helmet in her hands. She huffed and tossed the helmet to the side. She ran a hand through her short blond hair as she took a deep breath. The marine stood up and moved over to her locker. She opened it and stared in at the clothing inside. They were all barely used and almost brand new. She was hardly ever out of her armor any more. Her hand reached out, lightly running a finger over the name tag on the breast of the shirt. It was her name, though the number lost to her. Only the officers called her by her number, her soldiers only called her by her name, or by "Sarge".

There was a beeping at the other end of the room and she shut the locker, moving over to the terminal. She hit the reply button and spoke. "Sergeant Major Kathleen-113, reporting. What do you have for me?"