1930 hours, July 28th, 2542 [MILITARY CALENDAR]\ ORTZ system, above planet Mephis, Aboard UNSC space station Hretred

I watch with an unsettling numbness as four coffins are launched into space and drift further and further away.

We found out a few days after waking up from the augmentations that Red team didn't make it. The augmentations killed them all. It was grave news, and offsetting. But not upsetting. We had different things to worry about at the time. Such as the fact that Parkson hasn't said a word since he woke up from the table, and that Kia hasn't been herself.

We all made it out unscathed, but weaker then we have ever been. Even more so then before we started training. We are told that this is normal, and we will be stronger when we fully recover. The recovery time is predicted to be at least two months. But until then, we are given large meals and nutrient injections as well as light exercise to keep the extra weight off. The thing I think is the most off-setting is that we almost never see Hokai anymore. He used to always be there, towering over us and screaming in our ears. As much as I hated it, I grew used to it. It was normal, even.

A month comes and goes, and we are given smaller rations. The nutrient injections stop and we are allowed more free time as our bodies begin to adjust to their new and improved shells.

I don't like this, something seems off. As if they're preparing us for something big. They're keeping us in the dark, which is equally disturbing. But whatever comes next i'm sure we're ready for. We're a team now and we do everything together. But I'm still not sure why they haven't chosen a squad leader yet. 211 would be perfect for the role. Brave, confident, strong. What is Hokai planning?

One day in the gym, I sit on one of the benches after doing some speed punches on the punching bags and take out Hokai's blade. The blade is curved at the end and graphite black. The steel is slightly dull. I need to sharpen it. The blade has five serrated edges near the hilt. The hilt has golden swirls that dance all around it.

My head jerks up as I hear someone enter the room. A squad of ODST's strides inside. They look puffed up and arrogant. Typical ODST's. But they're looking for a fight, and they're in the way of me and the door. I'll have to try and get past them without trouble.

I calmly set down my weights and sheath my blade and then begin walking towards the door. But as soon as I near it, the ODST group moves to intercept me.

There are four ODST's in the squad. One's six feet tall and muscular. His neck muscles bulge out of his tanktop. The ODST helljumper tattoo is seared onto his left arm. The other three ODST's look large and strong as well.

I continue on my path to the door but the largest ODST steps in my way and shoves me back hard, his expression spins a tale of arrogance.

"I don't want any trouble," I say calmly. "Oh yeah, meat?" The biggest one shouts at my face. He's stepped close to me so that he's not two inches from my face. He reminds me of Hokai, and how he used to do this. It makes me angry, and I want to punch him. But he might be a superior officer. And he is, after all, a personnel in the UNSC.

I keep my temper in check and try to brush past them. But the biggest ODST grabs me by the shoulders and attempts to shove me again.

Time seems to speed up as my body reacts on its own.

I grab the biggest ODST by his arms and jerk them downwards. By doing so, I dodge the blow of the first ODST who reacted quickest. I shove the ODST back by slamming my body weight into him and driving my elbow into his lower intestines. Something gives as my elbow slams into his skin, and the ODST collapses in a heap, hacking up blood.

His team reacts violently, one grabbing a steel rod. I side-step his attack and drive my elbow into the back of his neck and take a step back then kick him into the others. They fall from the force, the furthest away slamming into the wall. But once they come back i'm more then ready to fight as they gave me too much time to recover.

I grab a dumbell and chuck it at the nearest ODST, using the distraction to run off of the nearest wall and push off of my heel. I drive into the third ODST and knock him down, knocking him out by slamming his head into the wall.

I climb off of the downed ODST and ease into a warrior's stance, legs spread and arms up and ready. The remaining ODST has a metal rod in his hands, hesitating. He glances at the nearby door, then back at me. I know he's going to run. I won't stop him.

But that's when Hokai steps into the room.

His cropped red hair is peppered with grey and black and his eyes look older then before. But despite his apparent aging, his body is still that of a hardened soldier. Rock hard chest and bulging muscles with prominent veins.

"Spartan, stand down!" Hokai barks.

I instantly snap into attention, heels together and arms held to my sides. "Sir!" I say, snapping a salute.

"Marine, get out of here," Hokai says to the ODST who does a double-take towards me. "He's...one of them!" The ODST hisses before taking off.

"At ease," Hokai says, stepping into the room. "Spartan, mind telling me what you were doing?" But this time It's not his usual scorning tone that signals punishment. It's more like...he was expecting it. "Sir, i was defending myself, sir!" I say. "Yes. I was afraid of that," he says with a heavy sigh."Sir?" I ask, watching him as he comes to stand in front of me. "You and your team are being moved to Pikran 3 ASAP. Pack your belongings, Spartan, and meet me at the hanger for dust-off in one hour," He says.

I furrow my brow, then my eyes widen in surprise. I don't say anything as he leaves, I'm too shocked to even move. I had just been promoted to squad leader. Blue Team is now my team.

I tell the others to pack and they pack swiftly. No one needs to say it, we all know that i've been promoted. The immediate change is startling. How they act in general is obviously different then before we had a leader. Now they are more serious, straighter and they hold themselves differently, they respect me more then before. 211 isn't bitter about it at all. In fact, he respects Hokai's decision and likes it, from my understanding.

We march to the hanger, duffle bags in tow. We meet Hokai in one of the assigned transport pelicans and are told to get seated. We do so and harnesses fall over our chests. "It's a three hour ride to the Pikran system, and another hour to Pikran 3. This is your first space ride, that you can remember of course. Nausea is normal, but if you puke you will regret it. See you there, Spartans," Hokai says and the pelican's ramp closes, leaving us in silent darkness.

A soft red light illuminates the carrier as the Pilot lifts the ship up and out of the hanger. I count down the minutes silently, and there's a shift in the air as the artificial oxygen comes online and we exit the hanger. There are view ports behind each of the seats, and we crane our heads to look down at Mephis, our home. We watch as it slowly drifts out of view before the pilot activates the thrusters and the planet suddenly snaps out of view, never to return.