Part 2

Boot Camp

"Move faster! You'd all probably be dead if the Humans were really chasing you!" the Elite Major in crimson armor shouted. 4 years has passed since Vrawl 'Faldaree was released from the hospital and he signed up for this boot camp 1 standard year ago. His foot struck something hard and he tripped. Darn. Shouldn't have thought too much. He scrambled to his feet and sprinted across the last few meters of the obstacle course.

The Major gave them a short break after everyone was done with the obstacle course.

"I want you all to be at attention by the time your break is up. Understood?"

The Major asked.

"Yes Major!" the other trainees replied.

Vrawl looked around for his friend, T'ras Q'urone. As soon as they signed up, they were grouped into different patrols. His patrol happened to be different from his childhood friend.

"Hey. You okay?"

Vrawl turned to look at the source of the voice.

"It's nothing Grath. Just thinking."

Grath Ju'ldraas was his best friend in his patrol. Yes, he knew all the men of his 6 Sangheili strong patrol but he looked to Grath as a role model. Grath came from a noble family, yet all his life he had never used his nobility to even the slightest advantage. He even joined the special-ops training program. Yes, this was the Spec-Ops Boot Camp.

"Everybody, the Major is coming in 1 minute, quickly, get to attention!" an anonymous Sangheili shouted.

When the Major came back, his facial expressions showed visible distress. Vrawl wondered what was the cause.

"As we all know, even before the war with the Humans re-emerged, The Arbiter and his fleet have been going around the universe searching for, and destroying any remaining Halos he can find. And we are all also aware that a fleet of Humans were assigned to help him."

Panic struck Vrawl. Was the Arbiter dead? If so, the snobby High Sangheili Council would continue ruling.

"We have received a distress signal from one of the Halos several weeks ago, the first signal made to us since the Humans and our brothers, on the 2nd Installation, opened fire at each other more than 5 years ago. The first few batches of Spec-Ops we sent did not come back. So, we deduced that strength lies in numbers, at least for this mission, and we are sending ALL Spec-Ops to Installation 2. Though it is sudden, this mission has to be a success. Any questions?"

Immediately, many hands raised simultaneously.

One asked:"When do we go?"

"In 12 standard hours"

Another asked:"Will we be rearranged into new patrols?"

"Yes"

Another piped up:"What are we gonn-"

"That will be enough questions!" the Major shouted.

"Think through your question and find if it is important or not. If it is, come to my office later." And with that, he left.

The smell of plasma discharge filled the air. The practice room was filled with Spec-Ops trainees checking their aim. Vrawl had always been an accurate soldier. Though he should be practicing, he thought he'd be better off watching Grath practice.

"Did you see that? I scored 10 points for that shot alone!" Grath exclaimed.

Vrawl smiled to himself. 10 points, though the maximum number, was not a hard thing to get. Well, at least for myself. There was still 7 standard hours left. He rest his head back and let his thoughts drift off. Man, I haven't seen T'ras for quite some time now. I don't even remember his patrol. But we'll all get our patrols changed anyway. I wonder what fighting the Humans will be like? Maybe I should have asked my dad. He fought them in the war.

"ATTENTION ALL SPECIAL OPERATIONS SANGHEILI. WAIT OUTSIDE THE DROPSHIP BAY NOW. I REPEAT, ALL SPECIAL OPERATIONS SANGHEILI, PLEASE WAIT OUTSIDE THE DROPSHIP BAY."

Vrawl awakened from his short sleep. He looked around. The practice range was virtually empty and it seems Grath left without him. He probably didn't wanna wake me up. Vrawl thought as he rushed into the Dropship bay.

As Vrawl stood at attention, the Major was reading the names of who belonged in whose patrol. "Vrawl! Grath! Kra'art! Sul'art! T'ras! You have been assigned to Shadow Patrol, recognized as the best Patrol amongst all present Patrols.". Vrawl didn't catch the rest of the briefing. T'ras? Here? Finally after spending so much time away from T'ras, Vrawl could finally see him again!

"T'rovile is on charge of Dark Patrol and Kra'art is the leader of Shadow Patrol. Ok that's it, everyone in the phantom!" the Major shouted.

Vrawl had already been expecting the worst, but what will happen on Halo would be worse than Hell.