AU: Yes, I know this chapter is somewhat short, but it's sort of an introductory chapter of sorts…
Chapter 3: Mail Call
Reach
This was ONI Installation 536 located on Reach. For Maya and her NavSpecWar team, this was home in between missions, and thankfully, there weren't very many of them. The base was pretty standard, with bunkers, hangars, fixed defenses, and a full complement of Marines. But since this was also an ONI owned and run base, it also had a certain level of creature comforts not seen in normal Marine bases, such as more private rooms, larger recreational areas, and more downtime in which to use them.
From Maya's original squad of twelve men, six were left. It was also to the point where none of them really used their real names during duty, as most of them used self appointed callsigns to protect their identities. Maya's callsign was Longbow, for her skill with a rifle and her tendency to do most of the killing. There was also Cutter, the demo expert, Wonder Boy, the techie, Jonesin and Audie, your bread and butter special forces, Maverick, the headcase, and Wolfman, the team leader. All had their individual skills and personalities, and they were like family to each other. Also, Wolfman always had to give his customary speech after every successful mission.
"People, I would like to commend Longbow here for being the crack shot she always is…"
"You're damn right."
"…And for the rest of you who also did your individual duties. Because of our successful mission, ONI has seen fit to actually give us our mail for once."
He smiled at the collective cheers of his squad.
"That's right. You can find what you need at the postal station, and by UNSC regulation, I have to remind you to fill our your wills, which most of you slackers still haven't gotten around to doing."
As Maya walked back from the post station, she sifted though the disks she had received while she was gone. Most of them were either bills, or junk mail. Some things just never changed. What she was really looking for, though, was a small data disk from her husband and two daughters.
Maya smiled as she recalled how she met Edward Wellings, under quite odd circumstances. It was several years back during a shore leave on Reach. On leave, there were certain kinds of UNSC etiquette to be followed. Officers stuck with officers, enlisted men with other enlisted men, and generally, it was better for the Marines and Navy people to stay out of the same city. To combat this, a lot of businesses and bars that catered to UNSC personnel strictly enforced the "no rank" policy. Any UNSC officer or enlisted man had to take off all rank badges, stripes, medals, or any other decoration that would declare their status, and deactivate their IFF tags if they wanted to get service. It was because of that Maya had no way of knowing her future husband was a Navy captain, and he had no idea she was a black ops agent for ONI.
Maya wasn't quite sure what their two daughters Karla and Samantha would become, though even at their young age, both girls seemed to show an extreme interest in the Marines they saw from the surrounding bases. No surprise to that.
It was at that moment Audie burst in, out of breath.
"New mission. We have to get to the briefing room. Now."