Chapter X

—Reach—

1910 Hours, October 7, 2550 (Military Calendar) \
UNSC Prowler Darkened Eclipse, Slipstream Space,
Unknown coordinates in Upsilon Andromedae star
System.

The SPARTAN-III Headhunters of Saber and Sierra Teams felt their stomachs invert as the Darkened Eclipse plunged into normal space. A great shuddered occurred, as if the Prowler than shaken by a young child. The sudden entry into Slipspace in atmosphere raddled the ship throughout transition, nearly buckling the hull. It was worth the risk, for the jump was miniscule. The Prowler exited just a few hundred kilometers from the Covenant-controlled planet. It was possible the Covenant would dispatch special operations squads to track down the human vessel for destruction.

The Spartans of Sierra Team doubted it, however. In case the Covenant knew they had taken anything from that ancient structure, they wouldn't risk destroying it. So the Headhunters, for the most part, took advantage of the down time. Jeremiah removed his SPI helmet, running his hands through his dark, high and tight hair. He looked young in appearance; tanned Caucasian skin, gray eyes, and a light, almost non-existent shaven beard. The Spartan worked his jaw with his hand. It still throbbed from his scuffle with the Elites beneath excavation site. He set his ghostly gaze upon Saber Team, analyzing them before he decided to speak.

"So… what's your story, Spartans?"

Jace quit fiddling with the blood soaked gauze around his arm and met Jeremiah's eyes. Story? If this Spartan wanted a detailed service record then he wouldn't get it. Headhunters weren't at liberty to openly disclose their covert operations, especially those who weren't their CO. Jace, though, was no puppet. He'd been demoted for insubordination early in his career, but he wasn't as disciplined as he was then. He was still young, only twenty years of age.

"We were operating in 16 Cygni before we found ourselves in that Covenant ship after our op went south," the Lieutenant finally answered.

"Inadvertently, right?" Jeremiah questioned, finding it asinine even for a Headhunter to stowaway in an Assault Carrier.

"Not exactly," Jace admitted.

Lukas chuckled lightly in the co-pilot's seat as he relaxed his legs on the console. "That's a new one," he muttered.

Alex cut her eyes at the sniper, hardly finding the matter amusing. She kept her cool, though. They were allies. Headhunters were never truly alone, but you could still feel a measure of loneliness. She remembered the friends she'd made during the SPARTAN-III Program. It was doubtful they were still alive. Alex, like Jace, has taken out of Alpha Company by Lieutenant Commander Kurt Ambrose after she completed specially assigned training missions. Alpha Company, however, was more than likely dead. Operation: PROMETHEUS could be blamed for that.

So the female Spartan broke her silence, now that her adrenaline had returned to their normal levels. "The Covenant… what where they doing on this world?"

Jeremiah and Lukas faced the helmeted Spartan, contemplating whether or not to actually explain their op. But it didn't matter now. There was no commanding officer to keep them in line. Lukas took off his helmet, wiping the dried blood from his nose. Despite being hardened by war, Lukas retained a young appearance. His hair was cut low to the scalp, having just half an inch sprouting up. The most striking feature, however, was his eyes. They were discolored; one blue, one brown.

Lukas scratched his shaven face, staring at Alex now. "They were after this." The Spartan retrieved the disc-like object from his gear, showing it to Saber Team. "It's an alien artifact, I suppose," Lukas continued. "We've been tailing the Covenant across this entire star system. I guess they were digging for stuff like this…" He chuckled again. "…Good thing we found it first, huh?"

Alex went over to where the Spartan sniper was sitting, gingerly plucking the artifact from his fingertips. She formed her mouth to speak, preparing to ask what it was. The Petty Officer held her tongue, though. They probably didn't know what it was, so she didn't ask.

Nearby, Jace looked over the small relic, admiring the liquid crystal in its center. He reached over, taking from Alex to examine it closer. The Lieutenant thumbed its center, causing it to shimmer. A holographic star system blossomed from the center, displaying the same six planets from before. Gradually, the projection began to fade, eventually disappearing back within the relic.

Jace returned the disc to Lukas. "Can you ascertain what star system it's referring to?"

Jeremiah motioned his index finger across his hairline, staring out into the starry abyss. "We don't have the equipment… but ONI does. Lukas, send a priority transmission to our CO. I'll drop a transceiver to speed up the process. It should take twelve hours or so for them to reply. In the meantime, I suggest you get comfortable. I assume you need medical attention, so the med-bay's in back."

"We owe you," Jace beckoned, standing to leave.

Jeremiah gave sliver of emotion, allowing the corner of his mouth to tilt. The Lieutenant and the Petty Officer then exited the bridge, leaving Sierra Team to themselves. When the door had sealed shut, Lukas exhaled as if he was holding his breath. He swiveled around in his seat, pulling up an ONI window. Jeremiah glanced at the screen, curious.

"What are you doing?" he asked, almost in an annoyed tone.

"Accessing their files. I like to know who I'm fighting with," Lukas openly confessed, ignoring the penalties of opening a restricted file.

Being so covert, the personnel files of Spartan Headhunters couldn't even be requested, and if you received a file, black ink smothered everything but the Spartan's name, number, and their company. Jeremiah went over to the console, shutting off the screen where Lukas sat.

"Concentrate on the transmission. You can snoop later."

The Spartan sniper gave Sierra-One a cutting look, but eventually complied and began composing the message.

In the med-bay, Jace had removed the damaged sections of armor around his left bicep. He clinched his jaw as pieces of his skin tore from being melted onto the armor. Alex stood on the other end of the bay, massaging her bruised jaw from where the Hunter had hit her. Those hulking beasts had enough force to kill with a single swipe, so good fortune must've been with her. She looked into the nearby mirror, staring at her own reflection. War had drastically changed her. Even if her mother was alive today, she probably wouldn't be able to recognize her own daughter. The Petty Officer stroked her short hair, sighing with closed eyes.

"It'll grow back," Jace said, stitching his wound close.

Alex turned away from the mirror, watching the Lieutenant finish stitching himself up. He wrapped some more gauze over the wound, securing it tight with tape.

"It's vanity," she summed up, knowing her hair sliced by an energy sword years ago would eventually grow. Hair, though, was the last thing on her mind. "Our ship… do we head back to 16 Cygni for it?"

Jace began reassembling his armor around his arm, shaking his head in the process. "No. That system's probably being patrolled around the clock since our op. It's too hot right now."

Alex didn't like the fact their ship floated on an asteroid in Covenant territory. If they pleased, the aliens could canvas the entire sector looking for the Spartans, possibly locating their ship. Left unattended, the Covenant could break into the ship's mainframe, stealing intel concerning the inner colonies. It was best not to think about it. The Covenant hadn't seen where they landed, so the Corvette was probably safe. And until the UNSC reported back, there was nothing the Spartans could do but wait. In Jace's mind, sleep was the only thing that would satisfy the exhaustion he felt.

"There's nothing more we can do until ONI reports back. If you need me…"

"I'll wake you," Alex interjected, nodding in approval and understanding as Jace left.

The digital clock read 9:27 pm by the time the Lieutenant began to stir. He sluggishly raised himself up off the sturdy cot that had supported his armored body. The Spartan felt nauseated from his elongated slumber. He'd gone without sleep for so long that his body didn't even know what rest felt like. Besides the nausea, though, it felt good to be well rested. He could function now, for he'd been running on auto-pilot. Jace dragged himself away from the cot, forcing himself to walk into the small latrine near the room's exit.

The automated lights flashed on as the Spartan turned on the faucet and shocked his face with cold water. He pulled back from the sink, watching the mixture of blood and water flow down the drain from his gloves. Jace dried his face with a nearby towel, just as Alex entered into the room. He turned to face her.

"I was just coming to get you. ONI just replied. Jeremiah wants us in the bridge," informed the female Headhunter.

The Lieutenant tossed the towel aside, leaving the room to follow his ally. They entered the bridge moments later. Jeremiah and Lukas were already present, standing beside the waiting monitor holding the message.

"You look rested," Lukas commented, admiring Jace's refreshed nature.

"Clean living and a healthy heart, I suppose," he sarcastically replied.

The Warrant Officer gave an acute laugh, while Jeremiah didn't even crack a smile. He retained his serious nature, directing everyone's attention to the transmission. He synced the monitor to a larger display screen. With the peck of a key, the transmission flashed into view.

United Nations Space Command

TRANSMISSION 057826-D4

Encryption Code: Gamma

Public Key: N/A

From: Unknown Source

To: Unknown Recipient

Subject: N/A

Classification: Classified

/start file/

Report to Sword Base. Immediately.

/end file/

Jace's brows wrinkled in confusion. "Is that all?"

"Apparently so," Jeremiah asked, somewhat disappointed himself.

It was no surprise, though. Concerning messages sent over encrypted channels across Covenant territory, ONI never specified much. Their messages were usually brief and direct. This transmission was no different.

"Looks like we're headed to Reach," Lukas said, going over to the Prowler's Slipspace controls. "I'll set the course."

"Must be serious … them pulling us from assignment and all," Alex added.

"Then we'll find out soon enough," Jeremiah answered back, pressing his back against the nearby wall. "It'll be a lengthy trip, probably stretching 'til the end of this month or next month."

Jace crossed his arms across his armored chest, glancing at the transmission one more time. There must've been more to that simple message, and a trip to the powerhouse of the UNSC would explain why. With that, the Lieutenant turned to face Jeremiah, issuing orders.

"Prep the Eclipse to wake us upon re-entry into normal space. I suggest we all get some rest in the cryo-bay."

"Done," Lukas responded, imputing the Prowler's "alarm" setting upon reaching the Epsilon Eridani system.

"Good," Jace vocalized before muttering, "… cause it might be the last sleep we get for a while."

0925 Hours, November 29, 2550 (Military Calendar) /
UNSC Prowler Darkened Eclipse, Epsilon Eridani system,
near planet Reach.

A ripple in normal space occurred as a slipspace portal ripped open. The Prowler was spat out, floating several thousand kilometers from the UNSC's "fortress among the stars." Planet Reach hung beautifully against the empty black sea of stars, a world seemingly untouched by the devastated outer colonies the Covenant ravaged. Reach was untouchable in the eyes of the UNSC, eluding the Covenant's uncanny ability to sniff out human-controlled worlds. It was safe.

Within the Eclipse, its "wake up call" immediately began to sound. The four occupied cryo-chambers were instantly awakened. Each pod hissed open, venting steam-like coolant. Jeremiah was the first rise, followed by Alex, then Lukas and Jace. Alex stumbled out of her pod, coughing up the bronchial surfactant before forcing herself to swallow. She gagged once, eager to rinse her mouth out with water. The stuff still didn't sit well with her, while the three other Spartans around her ignored its horrible taste. The Headhunters quickly shook off the disoriented feeling, moving to exit the cryo-bay. They entered into the bridge soon after as Lukas went over to disengage the auto-pilot. He took control of the vessel, redirecting its course.

Jace stared out the starboard window, staring at the planet. It had been years since he'd visited Sword Base, and that one visit launched him and his ally at the time into a mission that nearly ended in catastrophe. It concluded with Jace being the only survivor, while his comrade had died a horrible death sacrificing himself. The mission: the destruction of a concealed Covenant shipyard preparing to launch an invasion on the outer-colonies. Though the mission was a success, it wouldn't matter. The human-controlled planets the Headhunter fought so hard to defend were glassed months later as he stayed in the infirmary for a solid month. So, from past experiences, Jace wasn't too eager to return to Sword Base.

The Darkened Eclipse broke through the dense cloud cover, descending over the Babd Catha Ice Shelf in Espoz. It wasn't long before the Spartans spotted the base's distinct mountain-like peak of the atrium. Lukas guided the vessel toward the base's personal airfield, decreasing the ship's speed and altitude. When the Prowler had come within two hundred yards of the airfield, a disembodied voice from air control raised them.

"This is Sword Control. Incoming Prowler, indentify yourself."

Jeremiah hit the receiver, replying, "This is the Darkened Eclipse. Clearance code: D2E7S3."

A silence occurred as Sword Control processed the code, eventually responded. "Clearance confirmed. You're clear to land. Welcome to Sword Base."

The Warrant Officer cut the link, taking a seat in the co-pilot's chair as Lukas extended the Prowler's landing gear. Jace and Alex strapped themselves in, watching as the Spartan sniper lined up the Eclipse with the distant airstrip. Humanoid figures could be seen standing in the air tower, remaining attentive at the crafts entering and exiting the field. Security was tight. ONI didn't take chances, keeping strict watch on who they allowed in their facilities. The Prowler soon touched down, rolling to a smooth stop.

There, just beyond the prow of the vessel, a man dressed neatly in his naval uniform made his way toward the ship, escorted by a pair of Marines. He waited patiently before the Prowler. The Spartans made their way through the ship, eventually dropping down onto the airfield. Jeremiah and Lukas went first, informing Saber Team to hang back until all formalities were cleared with their CO.

Commander Robert Vasher watched his Headhunters team approach him. He fixed his piercing dark eyes onto Jeremiah's mangled armor, shaking his head at the sight of it. Sierra Team needed repairs for their armor frequently, and it was costly. But the Commander held out his hand, taking Jeremiah's hand in his.

"Commander," Jeremiah greeted.

Vasher released the Spartan's hand, preferring to skip being pleasant and going straight into business. "Do you have it … the artifact?"

Lukas stepped forward, reaching out to hand the relic to his commanding officer. Vasher received the alien item, sliding it in the center of his pale palm. From what Lukas studied, it seemed all the emotion had been drained from the Commander's face. Either he didn't like what he saw or he was disappointed. Disappointment, though, was far from what Vasher was feeling. When it came to alien artifacts, size didn't matter. Even the tiniest relics held secrets that could be detrimental to humanity, especially if the Covenant got a hold of it.

With that, Vasher carefully tucked the item into a small plastic case. "A job well done, Spartans. If you'll follow me, we had a debriefing scheduled upon your arrival."

"There's something else, sir," Jeremiah spoke up.

Commander Vasher set his polished shoe back on the ground, canceling his momentum. He turned around, his forehead wrinkled with false anticipation.

"During our op, we encountered friendlies," continued Sierra-One.

Vasher squinted, greatly enhancing his crow's feet. "Friendlies? I highly doubt …"

The Commander trailed off as Jace and Alex rounded the Prowler, coming up beside Sierra Team. Vasher cut his eyes at Jeremiah, then at Saber Team, and back.

"You got an Elite back there, too?"

Jeremiah fixed his mouth to retort.

"Nevermind, don't answer that," Vasher replied, staring at Jace and Alex now. "State your name, Spartan?"

Assuming he was speaking to him, Jace answered. "Lieutenant, Junior Grade Jace-A290, sir."

"Petty Officer First Class Alex-A279. Team Saber, sir—Headhunters."

Commander Vasher motioned his index finger across his right eyebrow. Four Spartans, four Headhunters. Never before had the Commander witnessed such a thing. What was more mind twisting was how the Spartans even came into contact with one another. There must've been an assignment error, because Headhunters were never assigned to the same territory unless the situation called for it.

Vasher soon wiped the dumbfounded expression off his face. It might've been interesting, but it wasn't awe inspiring.

"Who's your CO, Lieutenant?" the Commander inquired.

"Lieutenant Commander Jon Nolan, sir."

Vasher twisted his mouth. "Nolan? Ah, hell."

Jace glanced at Alex. It seemed there was a story behind the commander's response. Vasher composed himself, regaining his professional appearance.

"Well, since you aided in the seizure of his relic, I'll have to inform your CO of the debriefing. You're in on this as well."

The Commander turned to walk away, and the Spartans followed. They climbed into the rear of a troop transport Warthog, while the Commander settled in the passenger's seat. The Marine driver started up the engine, speeding down the airfield toward the peaked atrium. It wasn't long before Vasher and the four Spartans entered into the main entrance. The atrium was bright, highlighting the gray toned metal that coated the place. Catwalks crossed overhead, enabling ONI agents to move to and from stations. Agents at the base level looked up from their tasks, watching the four Spartans follow Vasher across the floor.

For some, it was first time they'd ever seen a Spartan. SPARTAN-IIIs were especially a rarity, since the majority of them were wiped out during high-priority ops. Jace, for one, wished they would stop staring. You would think with them being spooks, they'd probably seen plenty of more interesting things than a Spartan. The Lieutenant rolled his eyes at them behind his faceplate, following the Commander into an elevator that soon whisked them up to the higher levels.

Jeremiah opened up a private channel with Jace, silencing his words from the Commander. "Looks like ONI already has something in the works."

Jace kept facing forward. "Don't they always. It's probably only a matter of time until we're face to face with a Covenant armada."

Jeremiah grunted, curious about the Lieutenant's answer. "Sounds like you're speaking from experience."

Jace laughed acutely. "You don't know the half."

The elevator doors parted. Vasher stepped out first, took a right down a short corridor, then stepped inside a conference room. Sensors in the wall's upper corners detected the Commander, turning on the automated lights. The Spartans went inside, examining the bright table in its center. Its outer edges were a smooth rectangle, glowing with sapphire light. Five digital modules were set up around the edges, while a larger screen was displayed on the back wall. There were no chairs.

Vasher motioned toward the exit, instructing the Spartans, "Wait here for a moment." Then he left.

When the ONI brass had vacated the room, the Spartans relaxed. All of them opened up their COMs, but turned off their external speakers. You never knew who was listening, and ONI was notorious for eavesdropping.

"Anyone else saw Vasher's expression when I handed him the relic?" Lukas recalled. "Man nearly had all the blood drained from his face."

"It was like he'd seen something like that before," Jeremiah commented. "It makes you wonder, huh?"

"No, it doesn't," Alex disagreed. "I'm more curious about that star system that artifact highlighted. I doubt its Covenant territory, so who does it belong to?"

Jace shrugged. "If it's not Covenant, then it could belong to another alien civilization. Either way, we'll be … Cut the link. They're coming."

The Spartans silenced their conversation, just as the conference room door swung open. Vasher walked through, followed by Nolan, then someone the Spartans had never seen before. It was a woman; 5'7", dark brunette, brown eyes, and lighty tanned skin. She was of oriental descent from what the Spartans observed, but she also seemed young—a quality that didn't sit well with the IIIs. And from her dress, they could only deduce that she was a scientist of some kind.

All the while, however, Lieutenant Commander Nolan glared at his Spartans. "I'm almost afraid to ask why you're here," he finally said.

Jace turned to him, keeping the explanation to himself. He'd explain later. There, the woman entered further into the room, pushing her oval brimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose. The door closed.

"Spartans, this is Dr. Luka Asari—one of our xenoarchaeologists," Vasher introduced. "She specializes in alien cultures, and studied under Dr. Catherine Halsey. Dr. Asari is a consultant to ONI, and has been given command to oversee your discovery." Vasher gestured out his hand. "Doctor ..."

Dr. Asari walked to the Spartans, greeting them individually with a false smile before she went around to the table. She set the alien artifact down in its center, staring at the Headhunters.

"Now … let's start from the beginning."