"Alert, Alert abandon ship, please proceed to the escape pods."

Alarms go off as a ship located next a planet rages in flames. In the midst of the explosions and flames, a lone Spartan in green and black armor runs through the ship searching. The Spartan ran through the halls looking around desperately. The metal suit clang against the floor and made a disturbing scratching noise. Like nails on a chalkboard, the sounded wounded the man's ears. The fire and ash were destroying the ship slowly. It had already been to late to save the ship, the only thing left to do was abandon it. An explosion went of to his left blind siding him, the metal man stumbled to the ground, catching his breath he got up and continued running.

Minute after minute the metal man ran through the halls of the ship. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he almost passed the control room. The room was engulfed in flames. The metal man starred at the room in horror by the destruction. Their charred, ash covered bodies laid limp next to the consoles, they once had lives, families, children, now they were reduce to nothing but corpses. His hand reached to the side of his helmet and pressed a button, "Delta team, I've arrived in the control room. The main console is destroyed and the crew is... the ship's done for." The man stood silent for a few seconds hearing only static before he heard a comrade respond.

"Alright, if that's the case we should probably abandon ship. All the escape pods have been launched though so the only way is to jump off the ship with thrusters equipped." The green and black Spartan took his hand off his helmet and looked behind himself. I have a bad feeling that this won't end well.

"Sir are you still there."

Still in his train of thought he ignored what his comrade had said and proceeded to exit the torn apart command room. As the Spartan exited the room a figure emerges from the fire. Ash and blood covered sand colored armor.

The Spartan found himself once again running through the fire filled hallway of the ship. Someone bombed the Diamond of Iris. I have a good idea on who did this. The rooms that he passed were wrought with flames and dead bodies of U.N.S.C marines. After running for a little bit he arrived at an opening at the side of the ship. There next to the opening were 3 Spartans and a marine equipping thrusters. The first Spartan was male, he wearing all blue MK VI Mjolnir armor. The second Spartan was female, she wearing blue and silver Air Assault armor. The third Spartan was also female, she was wearing green and silver Air Assault armor. The marine was male and he was wearing standard blue U.N.S.C Battle Uniform with a blue EOD helmet.

"Sir we're ready to leave" The marine sounded very worried. The Rookie Marine was ready today but fear still seeped into his mind, everyone could see it. The blue Air Assault Spartan put her armor plated hand on the rookies shoulder

"It's okay, there's no need to hide your fear from us. It's your enemy you shouldn't show fear to."

The armored maiden took her hand off the Marines should and walked toward the opening, looking out she saw that the ship was finally in atmosphere.

"About time we left."

The MK VI Spartan spoke with a much focused tone. It was no mystery that the ship would be no more than pile of burnt scrap metal within a few hours.

"Your right. I'm staying behind though. I need to make sure that our guest doesn't survive this."

The green and silver Spartan turned her head towards the Captain in a very shocked manner.

"We can't leave you behind. What if... what if you don't make it out before the ship crashes? What if he kills you?"

The Captain griped her shoulders. His brown eyes pierced through the visor and met with her emerald green eyes. The look meant reassurances.

"You and I both know that I have been through worse. Don't worry I will make it out… for both of us."

The two starred into each others eyes for what seemed like a millennia. The other three were checking their jet-packs to make sure that they were fully fueled. The two Spartans were also making sure that the Rookies jet-pack was correctly put on.

"Alright we are all good to go. Let's go you love birds." The two were completely unfazed by the blue Mark VI Spartans words.

"You have to go." The Captain said to the female Spartan.

He let go of her hands and saluted to the girl. There was only one thing left to do for the team. Abandon Ship. The first one to jump out of the opening was the blue and silver female Spartan. She fell through the air with grace as she fell in a sky diving position. She kept her arms, legs, and body straight so the she could slow herself down. The next to jump was the Rookie so that if he went to fast the blue and silver female Spartan would slow him down. The third one to jump was the blue male Spartan, he fell in the skydiving position, carefully watching the Rookie. Though he turned around in midair and looked at the ship clearly in flames. He still did not see the last Spartan that should have jumped by now. Where is she?

The girl grabbed his hand one more time and tilted her helmet up so that her nose and lips were exposed. The Captain did the same as their lips connected. There was a moment of silence as the two warriors embraced. But the moment was broken by the Captain as he pushed her away and said his farewell.

"Remember this. If I don't make it out-"

"You will make it out!"

He gave her a look and then continued. "If I don't, please take care of little Gena for me, no matter what happens."

The girl looked at her commanding officer.

"I promise."

She turned towards the hatched and quickly looked behind her to see the Spartan facing a figure silhouetted in the fire. She fell out of the hatch backwards and stared at the now crispy ship. But after three minutes she spotted two figures battling in midair. One of them was the Captain and the other was covered in ash so it was hard to make it out.

The two struggled, each was trying to gain the upper hand but both were so tired.

"It sucks doesn't it? Having to leave the woman you love and not even being able to witness your child's birth because you're going to be dead within a few minutes." The man taunted him.

It was very clear that this man wanted him to die. The man punched the Spartan in the face multiple times with his plated gloves. He then reached for his throat and started to choke him. The Spartan reached into his built in pistol holster and pulled a heavily modified magnum. "If I die I'm taking you with me." With a pull of a trigger there was a flash of light and then an explosion.

The Captain was falling head first towards the ocean. His armor, ripped to shreds and the helmet barely holding together. All he could think was his child growing up without her father. All the times she would have with only her mother. Hopefully she won't join the U.N.S.C.. With his sudden realization of the situation at hand, the Spartan whispered to himself

"My name is John Rainson, and I'm about to die."