The long wait before the plunge
July 21st 2552, four days before the Fall of Reach.
Remote mountain camp site next to lake Illmina, designated Lost Harbor.
A pelican flew in early in the morning carrying a few crates of food and ammo, alongside its sole passanger Spartan Jacob, the morning air was fresh and relaxing, as the pelican touched down to deliver its contents the few soldiers who where stationed at this base took notice as the back ramp dropped, certainly they where shocked to see a Spartan step out of the aircraft and they simply kept staring but turned their heads when they could feel him look their way ¨..Great..more of the silent welcome again...¨ Jacob thought to himself cracking his neck a little after the long flight, as the pelican was unloaded he headed for the command building, the outpost wasn't very big for a military camp, a few buildings and workshops, barracks and radio transponders where mostly all of it with the exception of the docks which was its most otustanding feature.
Stepping inside Jacob was greeted to the sight of several officers standing around a holo map, his presence didn't go unoticed ¨Ah welcome Spartan!¨ a rather cheerful voice rang from the opposite side of the holo board, a woman of what looked like British descent hailed him and immideatly headed over to shake his hand, Jacob was careful not to crush her hand as he was considerably larger than her ¨Spartan 0709, reporting for duty Ma'm¨ he replied to her as he shook her hand ¨Welcome to Lost Harbor Spartan Jacob, we have anticipated your arrival here for some time now, I am Captain Linda Caldwell pleased to meet you, hopefully we can co-operate well together¨ she said with a smile, the two other officers who where men didn't greet him so openly or friendly, it just went to a simple nod and grunt from both of them.
¨Perhaps Ma'm but.. and I hope I am not overstepping here I was kind of promised a solo position by Doctor Halsey¨ he said and Captain Caldwell nodded ¨Aye yes that was true but it seems Doctor Halsey has been overuled by Lord Hood, it was by his orders that you be stationed here¨ she replied and a sign of discomfort appeared on Jacobs face though hidden by his helmet ¨...I see Ma'm, I understand¨ he said shortly, Captain Caldwell went oer to the holo board and opened a file ¨Though your personel file is heavily censored I was given clearance to view the true full file by Lord Hood as I got news of your re-assignement to us here, you have a record of going rogue, ignoring orders from officers and walking headlong into what people would call a suicide meat grinder instead of retreating when told to, I heard the story of what happened on Revenant station, I hope something like that will not happen here, do you understand Sergeant?¨ she explained to him, he simply nodded.
A couple of hours later after a long debriefing he emerged from the command building and headed for what would be his new bunk house, he was set up in waht looked like an old farm house, he remembered vaguely one he had seen before on Earth but this one was worn and run down, he stepped up unto the porch and the planks creaked and cracked beneath him as he walked carefully, opening the rickety door he found the house mostly covered in vines ¨Well I best get to work then¨ he said to himself and sat his stuff down in the corner, he started to work on removing the vines and other plant material from the old livingroom, he continued to work late into the evening and had gotten all the plant material out before starting to reinforce the old floor ¨It ain't gonna be perfect but atleast it will work¨ it was an odd skill for a Spartan to have but then again he had always been an odd ball amongst all of his siblings, he had always respected the ordinary man and the hard work he put into each day, it was something that garnered him wierd looks and comments from others.
As he finished putting up his bunk it was allready late in the evening, many of the soldiers on the base where still up and enjoyed a quiet game of cards, some of them would sit and discuss the new arrival ¨So what do you think of the freak that arrived today?¨ one said ¨You shouldn't talk like that man, they say Spartans can rip an Elite in two with their bare hands¨ another one said shaking until the last one spit on the ground ¨Well have you two heard the story about this guy, supposedly he was responsible for that massacre on Revenant, two entier covenant squads of Elite Zealots wiped out in a few minutes, they even said he did it after ignoring orders to retreat, real wild card that one¨ he said chuckling to himself but stiffend up after he heard a familiar voice behind himself ¨Ahem and what are we discussing here gentlemen?¨ Captain Caldwell asked ¨N-nothing sir!¨ they all said and stood up saluting ¨Good, while they may be different I believe Spartans are our best hope for surviving the Covenant, after Harvest and the rest...we need heroes men, now get some sleep¨ she said and walked off to her quarters, leaving the soldiers to pick up their stuff and head to their bunks.
Jacob lay in his bunk and thought to himself ¨Tomorow is another day, prehaps this won't be so bad afterall..¨ he thought as he fel asleep, but what would he think at what lay ahead..
To be continued...