operative Lock had some how managed to get Able from the captain. David was always surprised when ONI managed to pull rank on just about anyone. Able and Lock where en route to the surface. Lock had not told them what His mission was, only that he intended to Visit the site of all old ONI Black sites, Facilities and other locations of interest. The pelican landing ship carrying them to the surface. they where even going to castle base. castle base had been reported destroyed, but ck seemed to feel there maybe something left deep under the earth.

David was flicking through the information given to them about the sites they where going to visit. the first was a medical facility in new Alexandria. scout photos taken shortly after they arrived in orbit, showed that the building was still mostly intact, though everything above the 12th floor is gone, the important part here apparently is underground anyway. they would be staying there for 48 hours before heading on to the next site, the pelican was well equipped for four or five days of exploration work. other sites on they're first trip include: castle base's remains, sword base, and another medical facility nearby to the first outside of new Alexandria. most of the Facilities where ex-ONI or military facilities.

the pelican was approaching the destination; The David can feel the deceleration, the slight pulses the pelican makes to balance the deceleration. the Spartans got ready to depart the drop-ship, the door opened after a heavy clang. the pilot disengaged the engines; they ticked loudly as the metal began to cool. the Spartans advanced out of the Transport; forming a protective perimeter, after securing the area they began to help unload some supplies from the pelican.

they where on the top of what remained of a tall building still mostly intact more so than the majority of the remaining city-scape. Operative Lock was; as always, pouring over a data pad, "we'll setup here, and explore downwards from here." he barked, the Spartans grunted and continued to work. Locks Trojan body-guard was peering over the edge locking for something. the Trojan (David wasn't sure if on it's gender or name), had a sniper rifle propped next to it and a pair of SMGs on they're belt. The majority of the unloading was done, David decided to attempt to talk to the Trojan. "what are you looking for?" he asks. the Trojan doesn't respond immediately, after about half a minute- just as David was about to walk off- "anything, bearings mostly, I don't expect trouble." A sharp female voice replies, "your Foxtrot-841 right?" she asks, David was not used to being called by his serial number. "David, and you are?" he replied curtly. the Trojan paused again, David thought he could see her blink behind her visor. "Tango alpha-31- Sarah" , it seemed to David that she had only mentioned her name as an after thought.

Lock was signalling the Spartans over. Sarah-31 walked past David heading to lock. David followed. Lock explained briefly what they where after, (mostly old research notes and data that may have been left behind. lock did not seem to be under the impression that they where alone, " is there anything we should be worried about" Helen asked. lock shock his head "shouldn't be, maybe some squatters." squatters David knew meant covenant; it was not uncommon for units to get left behind by the covenant usually Kig-yar, unggoy, maybe some Sangheili, even possibly jiralhanae on reach, the covenant still used them back then. the old covenant races where still fairly close, and often worked with each other (with the exception of the san'shyuum, and the jiralhanae), they where also coming to accept humanity, though still generally suspicious, the Kig-yar where most likely to be friendly with humans, especially if they had something to trade.

Lock finished speaking and the Spartans continued to set up they're camp, they had set up a circle of tents, with supplies in one, an operations tent and the rest being for the Spartans, Lock and the pilot. they started to prepare a fire, and Rex began to set up a watch post at the edge of the building, though attack seemed unlikely. the night was peaceful. calm winds ruffled the tents softly, it seemed to David as though the world had been put on mute. he settled down quickly and fell asleep.


in the morning David waked to the sound of chatter from outside. he was groggy but quickly noticed there where too many voices; not all of which where speaking English. David pulls on his helmet, and rushes outside. surrounding the tent and the camp, mixed with the Spartans where civilians, ragged and rough, the men unshaven."survivors?" David mutters. "yep," David jumps, Rex is standing behind him, "they came over night, saw our ships land, Locks not happy, but they're isn't much that can be done, he's radioing command ATM." David wasn't surprised, new Alexandria would be his location if he'd been on reach. "so what? are we taking them with us?" David cocked his head to one side, watching a group of refugees set up a tent. "no, no I don't think so. Lock is trying to get them a pick up or something."

David looked round the camp, there where at least 30 people, old, young, they all seemed happy enough, the youngest of them wouldn't remember anything better than the world they'd grown in, a strange glazed landscape of shattered building and a technological absence. the Survivors had some technology; limited to what they could scavenge and maintain, energy wasn't to much of a problem fusion cells had a long life, and where pretty sturdy. the Survivors had adapted to they're environment well, some of them had glass jewelry, and carried glass knifes.

David was looking for Jen. he poked his head into the command tent and sure enough the majority of the rest of the team where inside, Rex obviously and Kieron where missing. "ah, good your awake" Jen says as he walks in, "as you can see things have changed, lock is re planning but this is not our problem, lock's going to hand it over to someone aboard the Rebirth", David had figured this would be the case, after all Lock was on a Classified mission. "Kieron is patrolling the camp, and Rex is on look out," Damion murmured, David nodded, the others seemed bored, Jen and Helen where piling over schematics of the building, Damion was tinkering with a console, and Sarah was reading something. "should I go help Kie ?" David asked Jen. "if you want she replies, I think we can assume that they're mostly harmless, it may be useful to have an extra set of eyes on watch though." David nodded and left the tent.

the camp seemed reasonably peaceful, the survivors sat around talking excitedly , they're children running playing games. he was not surprised to find Kieron talking to some of them, the survivors would be curious about what they'd missed. the survivors wouldn't know about the new Mombasa incident or the end of the war, the the peace with the Sangheili or the launch of the infinity; and other Infinity-class ships, not to mention the spartan-IVs. When David approached they where telling Kieron they're stories; how they had survived, where they'd been where they where from, what they'd experienced. some of the survivor kids looked up at the Spartan-IVs, never having seen a soldier of any kind before let alone a spartan, David took of his helmet, and walked over to Kieron, "I thought you where on patrol?" he says jokingly, " and instead I find you listing to stories." David smiles," we have a few we could tell ourselves", David sat down with them and listened.


been working on this for a while I've been busy with school and other projects but I've finished this chapter, and should have 4 out reasonably soon, saying that I am quite busy ATM, especially with exams coming up, feed back is appreciated.