ONI O.R.B.I.T. Facility

Current [Operation D.A.R.K.] Briefing

"Welcome to ONI Re-Briefing Internal Training facility" a robotic voice chimed in the elevator. "You are expected on the top floor"

It was three months since Mike had found Will Holliman in the wasteland. Three months since Gunnery Sgt. Kingston, the UNSC, and all of Humanity's worst fears had come true: the Covenant were back.

At least now we'll get some action! Mike thought, trying to reassure himself. As the elevator hit the top floor, he was greeted by an ONI official.

"Sgt. Kingston? Nice to meet you, sir."

"Likewise, ma'am"

They shook hands. Farther out on the lobby, four Marines stood, waiting for the briefing to begin. Mike recognized Will, but the others were all from different Squads. One of them looked more preoccupied with the actual station than the briefing.

"Okay everyone, let's start with introductions. First off, we have your Sergeant, Michael Kingston."

"Good to meet you, sir" said one of the Marines, stepping forward to shake his hand. He was wearing ONI Security armor.

Always the elitists, ONI. Mike thought to himself while observing the Marine.

"That's Parke Aiken, your data and communications specialist" the official pointed out.

"Probably bugged, so ONI'll get all the credit" another Marine mentioned, just loud enough for the others to hear.

"That's your armor and heavy weapons specialist, Gunter Truman. He can get… irritated" the official added, trying not to get a fight started.

"Well I'm sure as hell gonna get 'irritated' when I'm reassigned 'cuz the UNSC is still scared of the Covenant!"

Mike decided he'd had enough out this soldier.

"Shut your mouth, that's an order! If you'd been enlisted during the Covenant wars, you'd be damned scared of the scared of the Covenant, too! I don't care if you like it, but you have been reassigned for this Operation. Now quit whinin' or go home."

After the brief outburst, the introductions continued.

"You already know Will; he'll be your sniper and reconnaissance. And finally, your pilot and technician is Robert Greene" she finished, pointing over to a Marine in E.V.A. armor, checking out an exhaust fume.

"Call me Robbie" he mumbled from under the pipe. Lifting his head out from under it, he added "Amazing exhaust system. Hmmm… Anyway, what does DARK stand for?"

"Defense And Reconnaissance: Kingston" Parke chirped, as if set to autopilot.

Now I know why I'm here Mike thought to himself with a smile.

"How did you know?" Robbie asked back. He obviously hadn't heard much of the conversation.

"Well, maybe you'd know, if you were PAYING ATTENTION" Parke snapped back.

"Hey, shut it, both of you!" Will yelled. It surprised most of them that he'd gotten angry after staying silent most of the briefing. "We have more important things to worry about than your attention spans!"

"Like what?" Gunter asked snidely.

"Like what this Operation is about" Mike cut in. Will's right, let's get on with the briefing"

"Okay, the main purpose of Operation D.A.R.K. is—"

WARNING! WARNING! INTRUDERS IN THE DOCKING BAYS. ALL PERSONNEL TO COMBAT READY STATIONS.

"Damn! Covenant attacks already?" Mike couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Okay Marines, load your weapons. Prepare for-

"No! You have to get back to Earth. Death or capture of any Operative is totally unacceptable." The official began loading a pistol. "There are ODST drop pods in the hangar. Go!"

"We can't just leave you all here" Mike argued. "We'll stay and-

"No, she's right" Parke broke in. "The best thing for us to do is to go prepare defenses on Earth."

"Alright then, to the hangar Marines. Move it!" Mike yelled, loading an SMG.

As they were running through the halls, Parke helped show them to the hangar.

"Should be straight ahead, down one floor!" He advised. All around them, explosions were ripping apart walls. Up ahead, they came to a shaft to the lower floor. On the other side, a Marine was taking cover from some Elites

"Major! Up above! More of the Heretics!" one of them yelled out.

"Destroy them!" the Major yelled, firing his weapon at Mike.

"Behind those boxes! Get to cover!" Mike yelled, diving behind the nearby crates. The others did the same.

"There's no other way to the hangar!" Robbie pointed, showing the hallway to be caved in. "What do we do?"

"Backlash clear!" Gunter instructed. "You're goin' back to planet Jackass!" he yelled, hefting a rocket launcher, and fired. After a large explosion, Will looked out to see that the Elite's bodies blown back 20 feet away.

"We're clear" he said, running and jumping the small gap, headed to the hangar. The others followed.

"Not bad for a first day, huh?" Robbie remarked, stepping into the drop pod.

"We'll see."