A UNSC ship exited slip space in orbit around the planet Xalen. The planet was glassed partially a month prior. The Covenant however, went planet side before they completed the job. The newly arriving UNSC ship launched several pelican drop ships, laden with marine recovery teams. Inside one of these drop ships, was Stephen Arken, ten years before becoming General. As the Covenant ship noticed the Frigate, they swung around the planet, charging up their deadly plasma torpedoes. The UNSC ship was also turning, facing where it came from. It would retreat, leading the Covenant away then rendezvous with the recovery team in a few days. The glow of plasma traveled along the hull of the Covenant cruiser, giving off a dull red light. The plasma shots left the ship and arced towards the UNSC ship. They ripped through several drop ships, vaporizing those inside with only faint screams of terror and brief pain over the COM links. The remaining shots careened into the UNSC ship's right side, damaging it severely, melting large portions of the hull away. As the Covenant ships began to charge their second volley, the UNSC ship vanished into a pinpoint of light, then away all together, leaving behind charred slag and corpses. The Covenant, not willing to let their game escape, followed the ship into slipspace.
A great heart fall befell the soldiers in the Pelican with Stephen. Their plan for escape was ruined at this point, if not destroyed. The remaining drop ships rocked back and forth as they descended into the atmosphere. Stephen was gripping his seat and assult rifle with fear, he hated the transition from space to planet, too many things had to be one hundred percent.
"Scared Stephen?" a voice shouted to him over the roar of the heat. The voice belonged to a friend of Stephen's. He had greasy black hair and simple green eyes. He was of Mexican heritage on his mother's side. He and Stephen enlisted in the UNSC at the same time, just before the Covenant attack. This led to their friendship. His name was SamuÄl. You will each be given a glance at the object now."
A screen winked on in the front of the drop ship's passenger area. The device displayed was quite small, but very important without question or The UNSC wouldn't divert forces to the half glassed planet in this losing war. The CO continued. "And marines; keep your heads down. We don't want to be seen." The ship landed on a flat piece of land in a demolished city. "Stephen, SamuÄl; scout ahead for us. Let's go marines!"
Stephen and SamuÄl jumped out of the Pelican. "Lock and load Sam!" "Right behind you."