1000 Hours, May 17, 2523 (Military Calendar)
Sol System, Planet Earth, Quantico Marine Academy
Second Lieutenant Matthew Simmons sat on a low, stone wall as he watched the Academy's freshman walk to their classes. He was playing chess with his best friend, Amacus Ermo. Amacus had been top in their class at everything; no one could beat him. Except at fencing, Amacus was good, but Simmons was the best, he knew his way around a sword. Of course this meant nothing to the professors at the Academy. Amacus was still considered the best recruit since Admiral Cole. Simmons wondered why he had agreed to play chess with Amacus, because he always lost. Simmons looked down at the board, it was made of marble, and the pieces were pure gold. The set had been Amacus' graduation present, whereas Simmons was given nothing. He didn't care; his parents were the reason he was a UNSC Marine. They were the reason his brother was a pilot. They had both wanted to get away.
Simmons surveyed the board. He moved his knight to take Amacus' bishop. "Check," he said, satisfied with the move. Amacus smiled, and then moved his rook and took the knight.
" Checkmate," he said with a smile. Simmons let out an explicative that caught the attention of the passerby. He looked away from them and at the board. He tried to figure out a move to escape, but there was none. Simmons had not even seen that rook. Amacus laughed at Simmons feeble attempts to find a move.
" You may think its funny, but one day I'll be better than you at something," Simmons told him, but he didn't believe it. Amacus put the pieces away and folded up the board. He placed the set in his bag and they walked to the mess hall.
Simmons grabbed his meal and sat down at an available table. Amacus arrived a short time later. Simmons looked over Amacus' shoulder. There was a girl at the table over; she had long black hair, and emerald eyes. Amacus turned around to see what Simmons was looking at. When he saw the girl he smiled and turned to Simmons,
" Thoughts like that will get you in trouble, my friend," he said warningly. A boy sat down next to the girl and she kissed him. Simmons looked away from the site.
" You're right," he said, resisting the temptation to look at the girl.
" And would you mind telling me when I'm not, because I am clueless as to when that might be," Amacus joked.
" My guess would be never," Simmons told him.
A man sat down next to Amacus at the table, "Amacus, Simmons," he said, they both nodded to him. It was Fred Peterson, an Ensign in the navy.
" Just thought I'd drop by before I was deployed," he told them.
"What ship are you going out on?" Simmons asked.
" The Cherokee," he told him.
"Well I hope we see you soon," Amacus said to him. Fred looked at his watch and rushed off. Simmons finished his meal and scanned the mess hall. The girl was gone, and her friend was sitting alone. Simmons noticed a woman walking toward their table. There was something unexplainable about her that attracted Simmons. She had an aura of brilliance. She stopped two feet from their table, and Amacus looked at her, Simmons thought he noticed they same look in his eye from he had earlier, when looking at the girl behind him.
"Hello," the woman said to them, Simmons instantly knew he would like this woman, "My name is Doctor Catherine Halsey,"