Chapter 1

1200 Hours, January 1, 2537 (Military Calendar)

Camp Kirkbride/ Planet CintoIV/ Currently in Training

Andrew squatted behind a large tree trunk holding his SMR (Sub Machine Rifle) at ready. The damn training instructors always enjoyed sticking him and the other ninety-nine 'would be' Spartans over bottomless pits, under heavy stun pellet fire, pinned down under huge boulders, and stopped by booby traps. Well soon they'd be getting the surprise of their lives.

Six pairs of booted feet crossed the grassy clearing, and the trap was sprung. Andrew heaved a single stun grenade into the midst of the instructors and three bodies fell down. Quick as lightning, the trainee jumped out of the underbrush to check the unconscious bodies… they were identified as Evan, Smith, and Cody, fellow trainees, but that meant that someone has their gun sights on them. A splattering of rubber stun bullets sprang out and hit Andrew full on in the chest making him fall to the ground. His entire midsection was numb.

"Cover fire!" Andrew shouted hoarsely. A string of flash bang grenades erupted from the undergrowth and exploded near the source of the fire. With the instructors blinded for the time being, Andrew rushed to his enemy's positions and planted an entire clip of stun rounds into the instructors. Five bodies fell, and Andrew stuck a red 'KIA' flag on each of them. Behind him, two others, Katy and Philip, rushed to the three immobile trainees.

"They're fine." Katy reported as Cameron planted 'KIA' flags on them. "Maybe you should actually see the enemy before you shoot them."

"Sorry, I guess I haven't been paying attention to the chief." Andrew replied. He nudged Evan in the head with his boot, and started off in the opposite direction.

"Yeah, we need to take the fight to the instructors." Cameron said. "Let's give them a little payback." The three trainees disappeared in the jungle canopy.

Moaning and groaning in pain, the one hundred, fifteen year old trainees gathered into the lunch room. After a full night of fighting, and a morning of losing, the 'would be' Spartans sat down and watched the winning instructors chow down on roast chicken, brownies, ice cream, pizza, mangos, apples, and other mouth watering foods.

One more day until the augmentation process, and the trainees were still being starved.

"Well at least we'll be able to get a lot of food to eat before they cut us open." Cody said cheerfully.

"Nah, we can't eat anything for twenty-four hours before the surgery. They don't want any chewed up sandwiches in the way." Monica grumbled. After an hours of watching the instructors gorge ravenously at the food, the trainees headed back to their quarters where they washed of the dirt and sweat that was caked on to their bodies.

"Get some sleep everyone." Andrew yawned. "Besides, it might be good to get some practice in, in case we end up sleeping forever tomorrow…

There… who were they? They seemed to be going through the same thing he was as well. Hmmmm… there, his name is Kyle, and there was Monica sitting next to Katy. Evan is lying unconscious on the floor since he slipped on his own barf. Smith and Cody are laughing at his prone form. Someone is trying to talk to me… Cameron and Philip. What was my name? Drew… A drew… Andrew. Yeah, my name is Andrew. What happened? Augmentation… must be the side effects…

Andrew sat shakily onto a cushioned bench as the rest of the Spartans filed in, slipping and stumbling. Cleaning bots went by mopping up the fluids that many coughed up. If this was being a true Spartan, Andrew didn't like it that much.

"The dizziness and fatigue are just side effects." A nurse said. "Different chemicals have entered your body, and it is just trying to adjust to them. Your bones are reinforced with titanium alloy, all your senses greatly improved. The side effects should wear off in a day of two."

"You are all lucky." The lead instructor added. "Your previous Spartan-IIs had casualties due to the augmentation. You guys got out with zero casualties. Once you all get your armor, you all will be full bred Spartans."

0400 Hours, March 15, 2540 (Military Calendar)

Camp Kirkbride/ Planet CintoIV/ Currently in Training

The armor was shiny, real shiny… and cool looking too. The visor of the new MJOLNIR battle armor was slightly larger, and patches of silver were placed around the suit as well, they housed micro shield generators that allowed the Spartan to activate a strong, but limited overshield. The shoulder plates were a foot long, and the 'power pack' on the back of the armor was roughly a meter high.

"These new MJOLNIR armor systems allow the user to make an overshield as well as a small backup force in case the main shield fails. The suit amplifies sight, strength, smell, speed, and all that good stuff. Injectors in the suit pump bio-foam, wake up stims, etc. With this suit, you're pretty much a walking fortress." A tech announced proudly. Once Andrew put on his teal colored armor, he heard a bloodcurdling scream.

"You bastards! Why is my armor pink!??! I asked for red armor!!!!" Evan shrieked as he shoved a bright pink MJOLNIR helmet into the tech's face pointing wordlessly at it in sheer and uncontrollable anger.

"Sorry!" A technician apologized. "Pink was all we had left!" Andrew chuckled and turned to the rest of the Spartans, who were waiting patiently in rows in their assorted colored armor. One- hundred Spartans… bred for battle and impossible to beat.

"Okay, just in from high command, we're all promoted to Lieutenant, 3rd class. Though, Kyle, Katy, you guys are 2nd class."

"Sweet!" Katy grinned.

"Being the CO of this generation of Spartans, I'm Lieutenant 1st class. If anybody has any objections, let's all hear it now." Andrew said. Everyone remained quiet besides Evan, who was still shrieking his head off.

"No objections? Okay, let's all head on to the UNSC Cruiser: Socrates."