"Spartan A001 you're assigned to Ion team."
They called me. Colonel Ackerson points at me then at the D77-TC. I walked towards the troop carrier. It had something different about it. It had blue markings on the hull. I took my seat then drew my M45 TS and held it at the ready.
"Spartan A002 you're assigned-".
I decide not to listen about the others. Just listen for my own.
"Spartan A008 you're assigned to Ion team."
A008, Jacky. She isn't the best Spartan III. She was barely able to complete a kilometer sprint in less than five minutes. But then again her technical skills have proven to be her strong point. But as long as she points her gun at the enemy and not at me, then im good. She took up the seat across from me. We were both silent. We both wanted to know the same thing.
"Spartan A032 you're with Ion team."
A032, Edger. He was, as far as I could tell, anyone's best friend. Well anyone except the Covenant. His Operator had lines on the side. From what I could tell that's how many of us died during augmentation. He is sentimental. He entered the pelican and offering his hand. The both of us just stared at it for a few seconds the returned our heads to see the mass of Spartans. Edger then pulled his hand back seeing no one would return his friendly gesture.
"Spartan A045 you're with Ion team."
A045, Mclease. He's a hotshot alright. Either it's because his ancestors were disgruntled sailors… or it's because he has thirty pounds of explosives on his back. Either way as long as he can kill the Covenant and not kill us in the process then im alright with sharing a pelican with him. He takes the seat opposite from Edger, which so happens to be next to me.
"Spartan A083 you're the last of Ion team so get in the hell in that pelican."
Last? Well it seems were a team of five.
A083, Mario. He's more of an assault specialist than a sniper. But seeing we don't need to snipe anyone on our first mission. I'll make an exception. Mario took up the seat next to Edger. I don't blame him the moment he got on the pelican Mclease took the pin out of a grenade then quickly put the pin back in.
A female voice went over the inter com, "Alright Spartans im your pilot."She didn't really sound enthusiastic, but im sure ten years of war would do that to you. "You swabies can call me Hocus and until I land on solid ground I'll be the closest thing to a god you know, enjoy the flight."
'Ok. Note to self Hocus is crazy'.
"Alright Ion here's the objective" I spoke up "the planet were nearing is third in the leading human resources miners. If it was to fall food, water, and material supplies would be cut by a fourth. It doesn't seem much but there's also a human population of over seven billion."
I didn't need to see their faces I could already see their expressions of terror. No not terror. Terror is produced from fear. Spartans don't fear. Any trace of fear disappeared with our old lives.
"We've all seen the holo vids" I yelled bring the rest of my team back to reality. "We know what the Covenant will do once they enter New Constantinople's atmosphere. So Vice admiral Whitcomb will keep them off of us until we land. And when we land expect all kinds of hell to break loose."
I brought my shotgun out to make sure it was loaded. The rest of Ion did the same. I had a shotgun. Jacky had an assault rifle. Edger had a designated marksman rifle. Mclease had an assault rifle. And Mario had two sub machine guns. Mclease then took the pin out of the same grenade then put it back in.
"For the love of god Mclease stop doing that you're making me paranoid" yelled Mario.
"Hey I like the noise it makes" said Mclease while pulling the pin out again and then putting it back in.
Mario was about to retort when the pelican rocked. The intercom then went on. "Alright Spartans we're on our way down now, but if you got anything you guys want to say just in case we get blown up then go ahead" said Hocus. I could tell she was holding back the urge to laugh.
"Ok then," Mario began to ramble "Mclease you're a jerk who's just begging to die, while for the rest of you I don't know you guys that well."
"Mario, the hell man we all are in the same dam company what do you mean you don't know us" said Edger.
"Oh shut up Edger cant you tell he's joking" said Jacky.
"Well sorry I don't really get jokes" replied Edger.
"It's alright edger not everyone has a sense of- Will you stop doing that!" We all turned to see Mclease put the pin back into his grenade.
So these were who I'd be stuck with till I died. A possibly suicidal maniac, an over active jokester, a sentimental best friend, and honestly i don't know enough about Jacky.
The intercom rang again. "Alright were approaching the LZ now enjoy your stay cause I sure as hell aint" said Hocus with every trace of humor gone.
The back of the pelican opened we all peered out to see plasma and bullets being sent in every direction. A pelican behind us took three plasma mortar rounds before dropping. The Spartans onboard jumped off the pelican and onto a rooftop.
"Alright you swabies the LZs to hot im not going to be able to land your all going to have to jump" said Hocus over the intercom.
We all got out of our seats, weapons in hand. The courtyard that was our LZ was littered with bodies, both human and covenant. We were coming in close to the ground and as team leader im first. We were close. Then a mortar round hit the side of the pelican. Throwing me and Jacky out of the pelican.