The Fire and the Flames
¨We knew the day would come. They found our fortress among the stars. The Covenant came to Reach. They burned the planet, killing millions, and when Reach fell...there was nothing left between them and Earth, but you survived and carried on the fight for our survival.¨
July 20th 2552, five days before the Fall of Reach began, the UNSC Winter's Grasp came out of slip space above the planet Reach, carrying the usual payload of supplies and new prototype weapons for testing on the planet.
¨All hands on deck and prepeare for atmospheric entry, we are coming in for landing in ten minutes¨ Captain Daniels ordered on the bridge, everyone scurried in an orderly fashion to their posts, the ship began its descent ¨Send a mesage to Swordbase that we are incoming and ready to dock, Private Johnson, go tell him to get ready¨ he ordered ¨Yes sir!¨ Johnson replied with a salute, heading to the crews quarters.
In his room he sat, going over his MA37, making sure everything is as it should be as someone knocks on the door ¨Excuse me Sergeant, but we are coming in for landing in about seven minutes, the Captain has requested your presence¨ he heard from outside as he stood up, his armor and weapons all ready to go ¨I'll be up in a few¨ he answered as he strapped his rifle to his back, stretching a little before heading out the door and up to the bridge.
¨Ah Spartan Jacob, glad you could make it, we are nearly to the planets surface, I have been informed to send you directly to Doctor Halsey as soon as we land¨, the name made Jacob look the Captain in the eyes through his helmet, it took a few seconds before he responded ¨Understood Sir¨ he replied, a short salute followed ¨Don't look so mellow son, I am sure it's only a journey recap, just wonder what she will think about the changes you made to her armor¨ the Captain chuckled a little.
Jacob was wearing pretty standard Mark IV armor, but he had his colored black, along with a pletora of hidden knives around the armor ¨I am sure she will give me a mouthfull as she always does sir¨ he said.
The ship continued a steady descent, Jacob drifted off into his thoughts, he remembered every battle he had been in since his ¨Conscription¨ into the Spartan II program, all the lives and comrades lost, he squeezed his hands at the thought, out of all the Spartans that survived the augmentation, he was perhaps the worst of them, Halsey had never looked or spoken to him favorably once, even so his siblings always backed him up, especially Kelly and Linda.
As the ship came into the docking station he snapped back into reality, giving the Captain and the crew a salute before he dissembarked, heading towards the labs and the scolding he was sure he would get ¨If only the others where here...*sigh*¨ he thought as he walked on his way.
As he entered the Swordbase facility he could allready feel the soldiers and personels eyes fall on him, he could make out some small talk between some of them ¨Isn't that the psycho that charged headfirst into that Covenant supply escort on his own?¨ one woman said to another ¨Yes that's him, they say he did it all armed only with a pistol and a knife, leaving nothing alive...I wonder why they keep someone as crazy as him arou-..¨ she was cut off by a guard hushing them quietly as Jacob looked over at them, but he shrugged it off and kept going upstairs ¨People are as friendly as ever I see...¨ he thought to himself as he reached the Lab door, he braced himself for what was to come, speaking with his ¨Mother¨ was never an easy affair.
The door opened and he stepped inside, behind a glass wall she stood with her back turned to him ¨Spartan 0709 reporting for debriefing¨ he said crossing his arms and watching for a response, she didn't even turn to face him ¨About time Jacob, you are late as ever...if only you where more like John and th-..¨ she was immideatly cut off by an angry remark ¨Don't start with that shit again Mom, John was always your favorite, you always looked at him and the others as your little perfect children, we have not seen each other for years and you start off with that?! Oh I know why, I was always the one you despised, so I never understood why you even had me around for the program even...¨ he stopped himself from saying anything more, she didn't turn or say anything.
He removed his helmet to reveal his face, he had brown hair and a rough looking beard, a few scars also littered his face, one streaked across his right eye, having scrapped across his eye lid and down his cheek ¨You won't even look at me anymore, even after everything I have done for humanity!¨ he yelled one again in an angry voice, still she did not turn around ¨...That will be all then Jacob, I have arranged a station for you here on Reach, solo as you prefer..¨ she said in a controlled voice, Jacob headed off and out of the room, putting his helmet back on, storming off.
¨Doctor Halsey was it necessary to handle it like that?¨ the resident AI asked her ¨...He never needed me, he is strong and self-sufficient, but I have always looked out for him, even if he does not know it himself¨ she responds, heading deeper into the lab again.
To be continued...