Chapter 1
As I wake the memory fades away.
The movement returned to my body as the frost of the Cryo-tube melted away.
It has been nearly five years since this planet fell to the Covenant.
I pulled the manual release handle (I surely would have forgotten having done it 9 times if Arc hadn't reminded me).
I turn my head and the device was still sitting next to me.
I glanced to the console in the center of the room.
The Glowing red Holographic sphere burst and from it emerged tiny red Holographic man, dressed in a suit.
This was my AI, Arc.
"Multiple energy signatures have just fallen from lower orbit, sir."
"Meteor's… or anything worth waking me up for?"
"Twenty-three of the objects reflect human anatomy… another couple hundred appear to be bits of machinery."
"How?"
"Unknown, Sir"
"Well, I certainly doubted something when they said you were a 'smart' AI."
I grab my Magnum, slid in a fresh magazine, and started towards the console to pull Arc.
I felt the familiar freezing in my head, a sure sign that his chip plugged into my helmet without problems.
I grabbed the base of my neck to warm it and said "Lets go check this out.".
"Sir, a further scan indicates that every one of them has an active UNSC IFF tag. Interesting."
I equipped a jet-pack off the wall, adjusted it slightly, and gave it a point-eight second long thrust, enough to propel me through the underground network of anti-gravity tunnels.
I pushed off of the circular walls to adjust my course when necessary, and batted away floating pieces of debris.
The tunnels lacked gravity because in the early months of my time here, I set an artificial gravity generator in reverse to ease travel through the Labyrinth.
"They've hit the Surface. They're all conscious and alive, only minimal injuries and a few broken bones.
As i reached the main computer bank i went to the main terminal and pushed the distress signal icon.
"This is Spartan 088. S.O.S. Our location is the Anti-Gravity research station in Sector 8. Please respond."
"The signal got through but I doubt they can understand it. No clear transmission here. WOuld you like for me to set a waypoint for them on the entrance?"
"Do it."