0500 Hours, August 29, 2552
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach
"Every soldier has one wish, that wish is to die a soldier's death. To die on the battlefield defending his country, or to die defending his fellow soldier. Sergeant Ivan Valderenko, a.k.a 'Crazy Ivan' will be remembered as one of the best and last Ranger's to ever fight and die in combat. His death will not be in vain. His death will be avenged with the entire annihilation of the Covenant and all those who make it."
Perez finished his Sergeant's eulogy and stepped away from his former commanding officer's grave. The twenty one gun salute boomed and echoed across the open field. Perez stared at the other people at the funeral, a few of the men from Sigma Octanus, Shaunter, and surprisingly enough, two of the Spartan's that had saved him and Michael.
Shaunter looked over at Perez and nodded grimly. They had lost one of their own and it had hit them hard. They had fought for Earth fiercely ever since their indoctrination into the UNSC last year. They knew they would probably die sooner or later but, they thought it would come later rather than sooner.
"I guess we're all that's left." Shaunter whispered.
"I guess so." Perez agreed.
The two Rangers had been on Reach for three days now and they enjoyed it for the most part. They got to get acquainted with some of the Marines here, and they even trained with the ODST's. For the most part Perez and Shaunter were one hundred percent UNSC. But their uniforms still had the Ranger insignia custom stitched on their uniforms.
"I wonder what we're gonna do after this." Shaunter wondered.
"I heard that we're going on a special ops mission with the Pillar of Autumn. Some kind of infiltration mission. We're goin with the Spartans." Perez said.
"I'm glad those guys on our side." Shaunter said admiringly
"I know, they know when to fight, not chicken out and run away." Perez said looking at the sky.
"I didn't run away! I told, I fell back to get a good shot on my rifle." Shaunter yelled.
"But you were on the gun which would've worked just fine." Perez countered.
"Sure, I would've killed him and you too." Shaunter said defensively.
"Whatever, let's go do some target practice. I figured out how to link a scope onto my rifle and I want to test it out." Shaunter said.
Perez thought a moment, "Now that you mention it, I've wanted to try out one of those MA5B's the Marines carry. It looks like it can pack a punch."
"What, and get rid of you M-16?"
"Hell no, as long as those MA5B clips still fit, I'm still gonna use it." Perez said glancing up at a passing jet.
"I still say it's a lucky coincidence those guns shoot the same size bullets and are the same size as our clips." Shaunter replied.
"I know, all of our other guns have to have ammo special ordered; especially the .50 ammo for your sniper rifle." Perez said as they entered their weapons locker.
The two Rangers took their weapons and cleaned them. They walked to the shooting range, which was surprisingly empty.
"I wonder where everyone is." Perez wondered.
"Maybe they have some sort of special drill goin on." Shaunter offered.
"Whatever, more room for us." Perez said sliding a clip into an MA5B and chambering a round.
Both soldiers fired at cardboard targets for about an hour when they heard a Warthog drive by. The driver was a tall pale man. He stared straight ahead. The two soldiers shared a shrug then continued shooting.
After a few hours Corporal Perez stopped firing.
"Ok 'mano, I'm done. I cant feel my shoulder anymore."
Shaunter finished off a cardboard target with four bullets that made a neat little hole in the middle.
"Me too, besides, I'm out of ammo."
As they walked back toward their weapons bunkers they heard a low rumble. Perez looked up and saw a jet thunder by. A few minutes later they heard cannon fire, followed by could only be the sound of a missile detonation.
"I wonder what they're up to today." Perez wondered out loud.
"Dunno, but whatever it is, it sounds like fun." Shaunter joked.
As they walked Perez stared at down at the MA5B in his hands.
"Remember when war was easy? When all you had to do was shoot one guy with one, maybe two shots and that was it. Remember when we didn't have to worry about space battles and the destruction of the human race?"
Shaunter looked up at the sky thoughtfully, "Yeah, this new war kind of makes our old job seem boring."
"We're the last two of our kind too. But it took 'em a year to do it. Lets see this one through to the end. No more dead Rangers, deal?" Perez held out his hand.
"Deal." Said Shaunter taking it.
The deal was sealed but both Rangers knew that it wouldn't last. For a solder, death was inevitable, but at least they would go down fighting.
0500 Hours, August 29, 2552
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach
"Well I just got our orders, we, along with several Marine and ODST divisions are to board the Halcyon class cruiser The Pillar of Autumn. We are to provide support the Spartans on an infiltration mission." Perez finished reading the orders off to Shaunter.
"Gee Corporal, I didn't realize this was a formal debriefing." Shaunter said with a snicker.
"Seeing that we are going to be going on an extended mission, we're either going to have make our own company or pick a division to join." Perez continued reading the orders.
"Well we could always join the ODST's. Those guys are pretty good." Shaunter suggested.
Perez nodded, "Ok, I'll talk with the ODST commander and see if we could join."
"He better let us. We could kick any of those guys' asses." Shaunter said darkly.
0900 Hours, August 29, 2552
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach
"Well it's done. We're part of the 22nd ODST division. Get your stuff together, we load up now."
0400 Hours, August 30, 2552
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach
Perez and Shaunter loaded the last of their equipment except for their rifles on the last shuttle carrying supplies up to the Autumn. Perez had a sinking sensation that something was wrong though. Something was going to happen, he just couldn't figure out what.
This wasn't the first time he'd felt it. Once when he was seven there was burglar outside his house with a gun. At first no one believed him but a loud crash and shattering glass had proved him right. But the most recent time was when he was ambushed in Iraq.
"You okay man? You've been pretty quiet the last coupla hours." Shaunter asked.
Perez shook his head, "I just got a funny feeling is all."
Shaunter laughed, "You're just bein paranoid."
0447 Hours, August 30, 2552
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach
Perez couldn't believe the message. He reread it four times just to make sure.
"I cant believeā¦it's not right." He said in slight shock.
They were sitting around the mess hall waiting to be shuttled the Autumn on the last Pelican out.
"What's up sir?" asked a nearby Private.
"Everybody lock and load! Go to defensive positions and be ready to fight off enemy attacks! Move it people!" Perez shouted.
Shaunter walked up to Perez as the Helljumpers ran toward makeshift defensive positions.
"Whats up man?" he asked.
Perez looked up at the sky, right now it was so calm, but that was going to change.
"Reach is under attack."
