Chapter 5 - Profectionem:
December 27th, 2543 (18:41 Hours – Military Calendar)
Sol System, Earth
Orbital Defense Platform "Nassau Station", In geosynchronous orbit above the Caribbean Sea
:********:
Earth looked unimaginably different from orbit. Space offered an entirely new perspective on viewing the big blue and green globe so many called home. It all looked like an artist's masterpiece amidst a starry canvas. Duncan never had the chance to see it like this before since this was his first-time off world.
He sat on the lip of one of the large windows encircling Nassau Station's waiting room. Like himself, the 161 other graduates of Class 207 mulled about in their crisp ceremonial uniforms. A sea of white caps and pants, black jackets and boots washed around the main floor as men and women talked with friends and shared laughs over memories of training. It was a sobering sight, especially thanks to the clock mounted to the far wall displaying a countdown to the graduation ceremony. Only 1 and a half hours remained before the big show. To add to that, Unit Selection was about to take place.
But Duncan didn't care about all that. He hadn't even stayed with his team who were probably mingling with the others. Something drew him away to the window on the upper level alone. He had been staring out at the islands of the Caribbean and the tip of Florida for twenty minutes straight. It wasn't the beautiful scenery that captured him, however. Rather, it was a deep and undeniable sixth sense that told him to take in as much of the sight of Earth as he could, because he wouldn't be seeing it for a long time.
Footsteps came up behind him. In the window's faint reflection, he saw O'Reilly standing beside him looking worried.
"Are you good, lad?"
Duncan hadn't realized the face he was making until O'Reilly pointed it out. He looked tired, as if he had just fought a battle. Truth be told he had within himself. It was the final duel between what he knew he was leaving behind here and what he knew he would be heading into; one life sacrificed for another. The image of Noah in Erica's womb went through his mind again, as well as the promise made in their apartment.
Ironclad resolve won out. Duncan took a deep breath and exhaled. His frame straightened and his face glowed with a renewed confidence.
"Yeah." He said, giving his friend an honest smile. "I'm good. You?"
O'Reilly huffed with satisfaction at seeing his demeanor change. "Good to go. I can't believe Dalton had us suit up a whole four hours before the bloody ceremony. I mean, we look great but these things are tight." He tugged at his stiff collar for emphasis.
"Amen to that." Duncan sighed. He looked again through the window. "Hey, you should be able to see Ireland in about an hour from here by the way."
"Nah, I'm good." O'Reilly said vehemently.
"Why, you don't want to see your own home before you leave?"
"Remember those stories I told you back in First Selection?"
Duncan thought it over and nodded.
"Well." O'Reilly said. "All of that was in Ireland, in my hometown alone. And I'd rather not give them the faintest chance of making an attempt on my life before the Covenant do."
Duncan looked at him sideways. "Riley…we're in space."
O'Reilly laughed. "Yeah, I thought I was safe when I was far away too. But keep in mind Sunny Jim that you're always the most vulnerable where you think you're the safest. My exes taught me that one and now I'm teaching it to you."
Duncan was incredulous.
Commotion on the ground floor got their attention. Their fellow classmen started heading towards the large rectangular screen on the far wall which had recently come online.
"It's starting." O'Reilly said, swallowing hard.
As most of the class drained away, Duncan spotted Cosmo and Stanton lagging behind. The former shouted to them over the noise. "You guys comin' or what!?"
Stanton did the same. "Hurry up before we miss it!
Duncan heard the excitement in their voices and felt his own adrenaline coursing through his veins. He rushed down the stairs with O'Reilly trailing him. They joined Cosmo and Stanton on the ground floor and ran to the back of the crowd.
All eyes were on the large rectangular screen mounted just beneath the graduation countdown. It spent several seconds warming up. As it did, the collective heartbeat of Class 207 rose until no one in the room could hear anything beyond the one-two rhythm pounding in their own throats. Many classmen broke into sweats despite the chilly air condition of the room.
Then everyone went quiet at the screen's doorbell-like chime. Information appeared row by row and line by line, unfolding for a full minute before it showed the entirety of Class 207's deployment orders. The names of all 162 graduates appeared in 6 columns of 27 names each. Beside each name was the ODST Battalion they were assigned to, as well as the name, vessel classification, arrival and departure time of the ship transporting them to their new assignments.
Murmurings arose as everyone searched for their name. Excited shouts of joy rang across the room as the graduates celebrated themselves and each other at finding their information. Many fireteams cried in a mix of joy and sadness at the fact that while they were shipping out, they would no longer be together.
Cosmo found his name in the 3rd column. He was assigned to 9th Battalion.
Stanton was in the 2nd column. He was assigned to the 15th Battalion.
Duncan had been searching for his name when O'Reilly pointed out his own in the 1st column. He was assigned to the 7th Shock Troops Battalion under the 105th Division. The 7th was a veteran battalion, and one Duncan knew well. He knew it because it was his Father's unit.
Duncan had been about to congratulate him when Stanton cut him off, planting a hand on his shoulder and pointing to the board. "There you are, D." He followed his finger and spotted his name in the 5th column. He saw '10th Battalion' next to it and the UNSC Stalwart Class Light Frigate 'Achilles'. He was still excited, but not as much as he could have been. In reality he had secretly hoped to be assigned to the 7th. He had wanted to for years thanks to all the stories his Father had told him. Now what?
O'Reilly was one of the few that he had told about that, and he noticed the half-smile on his friend's face. He quickly planted a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "They'll need you in the 10th D, I'm sure of it."
Duncan nodded. Now wasn't the time to feel down, he realized. They had all managed to pass through a Special Forces training program that spent several months putting them through the closest real-world iteration of Dante's Inferno. They had made it, and he wasn't about to let anything ruin that.
"And you better sharpen up." Duncan said, turning to O'Reilly. "Because the 7th's no joke man."
"I'll keep that in mind."
They were both caught off guard as Cosmo laid his arms over their shoulders. "Alright Leprechaun, City-Boy, it looks like this is it for us." He pretended to cry and his Southern drawl came out. "I'll admit I didn't like either one of you at first. But you know what, you grew on me. We'll be partin' ways from here. I can at least take the time to say it's been an honor training with you folks, and as much an honor to graduate with you."
"Sure thing, cowboy." Duncan snickered, shrugging him off.
Stanton joined in too. "Let's make sure to stay in contact, guys. I'll have to remind you to do it yourselves since I won't be there to wipe you or give you your bottles. Oh, and most importantly, don't die if you can help it."
That earned a laugh out of all four of them.
"Sure man." Duncan said. He felt bravado rising up in his chest as he joked. "But I'm making it spectacular if I go out first."
"Feet First." O'Reilly hinted.
That brought another round of laughter from them that joined in with the chorus of mirth resounding across Class 207 and echoing through Nassau Station.
:********:
"How can you tell someone their life expectancy will drop from 70 years to 7 months with just signing a set of recruitment papers, then 7 seconds after that when somebody else pushes a button. That idea wouldn't sell too well with most aspiring Helljumpers, would it?"
Staff Sergeant Atell struggled to find an answer to the latest of the Lieutenant Colonel's moral quandaries. As usual it came only after a deep soul search on the spot.
"Well, if they can't live with the facts then they're not really Helljumper material, sir."
From where he leaned over the railings, Lieutenant Colonel Garrison peered over his shoulder at him and raised an eyebrow.
"You sure are of the crazier variety, aren't you, Staff Sergeant?"
"I'm a Shock Trooper aren't I, sir?"
"Fair enough."
The Staff noted that Garrison didn't look his age of 57. It only partially showed in the wrinkles on his strong jawed face and the white, buzz-cut hair on his head. Otherwise, his Athlenian build betrayed no sign of the wear and tear of time. That was simply how ODSTs aged, the Staff figured, and it came as a subtle relief to himself since he was already in his early 30s. That meant he might still look good in his 60s, if he made it that far anyway.
They both stood on one of the balconies overlooking the waiting room. Wearing standard UNSC issue fatigues, they didn't particularly stand out to the crowd of soon to be ODSTs celebrating below. But they hadn't wanted to stand out, merely to observe as Garrison put it.
A week earlier, the Staff had simply hoped to run the personnel acquisition run on his own with the few of his team he had brought over. He wanted to finish the job quickly, get in and get out. He had avoided this duty for as long as he could because he hated having to 'meet and greet' so many new faces. He dodged it up until the point that his platoon captain ordered him to do it this go-around.
What was unusual was that while most commissioned officers tended to leave the job to NCOs like himself, the Lieutenant Colonel was different. On a number of runs he would insist on being a bystander, explaining that he wanted to personally welcome the persons that would be working under his command.
This time, however, was different. This time Garrison seemed to be looking for someone as his eyes patiently scanned the graduates.
"We're getting 30 new ODSTs from this batch, is that right Staff?" Garrison asked.
The Staff checked his data pad, pressed the folder labeled 'C-207' and scrolled through the personnel files inside. "That's right sir."
Garrison rubbed the back of his neck. "We should be getting about a hundred more between the groups coming from the Beta Hyrdi and Alcides systems. But those numbers will be hard to parcel out between the companies, and I know I'll catch hell for it if the CO's feel slighted again."
"It's all about immediate need, isn't it, sir?" The Staff asked. "Supply and demand?"
"No." Garrison replied. "It's about predicting whose going out next for what operation, and how many they'll need to get the job done." He exhaled again. "I've been doing this since this whole thing started and I can say this much: predicting the future's never been my strong suit."
"Is it anyone's, sir?"
"You make a good point, Staff Sergeant."
Garrison stared off into the crowd for a moment then came back. "Your platoon needs at least one new trooper, isn't that right?"
"Yes sir."
Garrison looked back at him and gave a resigned smile. "Try to make this one last, would you?"
"I'll try my best, sir." The Staff replied curtly. He thought better of it, however. "I just wish I could say the same for the rest of my team."
:********:
Erica sat in one of the rows closest to the front stage within Nassau Station's main atrium. Around her, at least a thousand of the friends, family and loved ones of those in Class 207 sat waiting for the ceremony. Like herself, they had to take commercial shuttles to reach Nassau Station. While the closeness of the gathering was claustrophobia-inducing, she knew there was no helping it. She just had to put up with it until Duncan came out.
She felt someone tap her on her shoulder and turned to them. It was Rick. He had accompanied her from Chicago to attend the ceremony. While she had come in a bright yellow dress, he came in his regular recruiter's uniform. He wanted to see his nephew graduate just as badly as she did and she saw it in his eyes: a Father-like pride.
"You okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
He pointed to her stomach which had visibly grown over the last few months. "What about Noah, is he being rowdy in there?"
Erica rested a hand on her abdomen and lovingly caressed it. "No, he's usually more active when there's loud noises."
"Which means you better get ready for when the class comes in." Rick chuckled under his breath.
Erica laughed too. "Yeah, I-"
She stopped when the doors at the front of the atrium opened. Over the course of several minutes, military and naval officers stepped in and began lining the front seats reserved for them. Then the Drill Instructors strode in and stood in a long line on one side of the stage. A man whose leader-like baring told her that it was the Head Instructor Duncan had told her about strode onto the platform and took the podium.
He looked out across the gathering and spoke into the microphone. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the graduation ceremony of Class 207." His British-accented voice seemed to boom even without the mike.
Erica winced at the feeling of Noah kicking on the inside. "Well he's up." She lamented.
Dalton continued. "I know you've been waiting for this moment just as long as we have. You will be excited to know that all 162 of them are ready. Ready to stand on the frontlines with their fellow soldiers. Ready to drop behind enemy lines and deal serious damage to the Covenant threat descending on humanity."
A heaviness seemed to descend on the room at the mention of the Covenant. Dalton noticed it and pressed in. "I'm not here to talk forever. I don't have the time and I doubt you good people do either. And the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers about to enter this room certainly don't, which is why they will be shipping out later today to their assigned units. Then to the war.
No one knows what lies ahead for these troopers, whether it be life or death. But today belongs to them and them alone. They have survived the worst beatings I and my Instructor staff could dish out, and I can personally promise you that they are stubborn hellcats who deserve every last bit of praise they're about to receive. Everyone, please join me in giving a warm welcome to the graduating Class 207."
At his word, reveille music played over the PA systems. Hundreds within the audience got to their feet as the doors at the front of the hall opened again. Class 207 marched through in single file, maintaining discipline even as the audience cheered them on. They filed into a section of seating reserved for them at the front and filled it row by row.
Erica and Rick were both looking for Duncan. Erica was the first to spot him and cheered his name. Rick did the same. Even though he didn't hear them, they would rather fill the room with their support than remain silent on his big day, one that was decades in the making.
There were several tables on the stage with scores of certificates on them. One by one, Head Instructor Dalton called up the graduates in alphabetical order, handing them their certificate and shaking hands in turn. With each repetition a new ODST was born.
Then it was Duncan's turn. His limbs felt shaky, his mouth dry and his head swirled, but he got out of his seat and strode onto the stage without betraying a hint of nervousness. Dalton gave him a firm handshake and handed over his certificate. "Well done, son." He said proudly. "Make us just as proud out there as you did here."
"Thank you, sir. Will do."
Now came the hard part. Duncan headed down the stage where the drill instructors were lined up. He shook their hands one after another. It was almost surreal seeing the faces that threatened to kill him if he didn't get to the end of a course suddenly cordial and wishing him well.
Duncan noticed the last person on the line long before he reached him. When he did, he shook Mahoney's hand with an equal measure of apprehension and respect. On one hand he was the second drill instructor that had most gone out of his way to make life hell for him and many others, outdone only by Dalton himself. On the other hand, he was by extension one of the most responsible for molding Duncan into who he was today. Fear and respect melded together with Mahoney.
Duncan must not have realized how long he was shaking his hand because Mahoney grasped his tighter and gave him a nefarious grin. "Hurry it up Iris. You're holding up the line."
The ODST swallowed and let the man's hand go, nodding off to him before returning to his seat.
The rest of the ceremony passed in a similar fashion. Duncan cheered for each of his teammates and others he knew. The entire thing lasted a full hour, then Dalton began the dismissal.
"Class 207, you are hereby certified as bone-crushing, neck snapping warriors sent from on high to blow away every extraterrestrial threat that ever sought to so much as spit in humanity's direction. Now, ODSTs, go and fulfill the oath you swore to Earth and all her colonies. Class 207, you are dismissed."
At those words, the entire class stood as one and threw their caps into the air. Cheers resonated across the room among the ODSTs and audience alike while caps rained down and applause thundered.
With the ceremony over, the crowds mingled with their uniformed loved ones. Cosmo and Stanton found their folks, and even O'Reilly found his. But Duncan had a harder time navigating through the large gathering to find his own.
Thankfully, they found him first. A hand rested on his shoulder and turned him around. His Uncle Rick's smiling face was a welcomed sight and the two embraced each other.
"Great job, D." Rick said, looking him over. "You remind me of myself way back in the day…as well as you know who. Congratulations."
To Duncan, the commendation was the culmination of years of hoping. Today, it wasn't a dream. It was his reality. "Thanks, Uncs. Guess I finally pulled it off."
"Hello, Private Iris." A woman's voice too familiar for words said playfully from behind him. He couldn't resist the smile that danced onto his face upon turning to see Erica, mirroring his expression. While she already looked beautiful, he was speechless at seeing her in her yellow dress that brought out her green eyes and sunray like hair. This was the first time he had seen her in almost half a year and already she had knocked him off his feet.
He felt something wash over him at seeing her growing stomach. Noah was here too; it was a family reunion as much as it was an introduction.
Duncan wasted no time embracing her, holding her close. She held onto him, feeling his warmth after so long spent apart. Duncan looked on her with loving eyes. "How do I look?"
She cocked her head to the side and examined him with a desirous gaze. "I like it."
She placed two fingers on his lapel and walked it up to his chin. "You know I happen to have a thing for men in uniform. So how does it feel being an ODST?"
Duncan's smile widened. "Something like this." He leaned in, so did she, and they kissed. They enjoyed the other, sharing in the sweet taste of years of dreaming finally fulfilled. At length they pulled away for air.
"If that's how it feels," Erica giggled. "Maybe I should be an ODST too."
"I know your dad wouldn't mind that." Duncan chided. "I guess he's still planetside?"
Erica sighed. "He wanted to attend but he was still caught up. Told me to send you his love for him."
"He told you to kiss me?" Duncan asked. "That's weird but tell him I don't mind him sending some more."
Erica chuckled and shook her head. Then as one their attention shifted to her stomach. "Want to give Noah a few words before you ship out? It'll be nice for him to hear his Father's voice close up."
Duncan nodded. They found a set of seats and Duncan leaned down to speak to his unborn child. He lightly rasped his knuckles on Erica's stomach. "Hey, guy, you better be listening up in there."
Erica rolled her eyes. "Oh boy."
"Hurry up and get out of my wife. It's not like you're paying rent or anything." He stopped to laugh with her a bit before continuing, his tone gentler this time. "…Now listen Noah, I'll be gone for a little while so I'm gonna need you to hold down the fort for me, alright trooper? When you come out here you may have to grow up fast. I may not be there every day to see the amazing thing's you'll do. But just wait for me." He rested his hand on her stomach. "I'll be home soon, okay bud?"
Erica flinched. "I-, I think he's…."
Beneath his hand, Duncan felt something move. Erica pulled the upper part of her dress up to see her bare skin. Both of them were surprised to see the imprint of a hand pushing on the inside of her. Duncan felt something shift in his own soul, a paternal connection he never knew he had. He placed his own hand against Noah's. He never knew he could smile so much as he and Erica laughed in astonishment.
The sweetness of life, Duncan thought.
"How about a picture?"
Rick was standing a few feet away with a phone in hand. The two looked at each other and nodded in agreement. "Sure."
Rick snapped off a few good photos, one of a number taking place across the room. They did silly poses and memorable ones, all of which they would use to remember this moment.
At one-point Duncan had Erica hold his certificate for him then picked her up without warning and held her in both arms, no easy feat considering she was pregnant. She quickly caught on to his idea and held up the certificate, both of them smiling as Rick took the picture. In the last one, Duncan and Erica shared one last kiss as he held her in his arms.
:********:
The UNSC Achilles would be taking off from Nassau Station in ten minutes and Duncan found himself running with his duffel bag.
Earlier in the day, he said goodbye to Erica and his Uncle as they left for Earth. He had taken some pictures with fireteam Charlie and their families. Then the whole thing was over. People were shuttling back home and most of the ODSTs had also left on earlier transports taking them to their assignments.
Duncan saw Stanton and Cosmo off as they left on separate ships.
Now it was his and O'Reilly's turn. Since the latter was leaving sooner, Duncan chose to accompany him to the terminal where the UNSC Bunker Hill was waiting. By the time they got there, the ODST Sergeant in charge of overseeing the new enlisted was calling out names.
"Guess this is it." Duncan said, holding out a hand.
"I guess it is." O'Reilly agreed and shook it. "I'll keep in touch. You take care of yourself, D."
"And you find yourself a girl, Riley."
O'Reilly arched a brow at him.
Duncan shrugged. "Same difference."
O'Reilly cackled. Then the Sergeant said his name.
"That's me." He walked backwards towards the gathering. "Who knows, D. Maybe I'll find myself a real beauty in the 7th."
"Hope she doesn't try to shoot you."
"No worries. If she doesn't try for at least 3 months then I'll know she's the one."
The two chuckled as they parted ways. Duncan watched him register with the Drill Sergeant before being allowed into the docking umbilical leading to the Bunker Hill. O'Reilly looked back one last time and raised a fist into the air. Duncan did the same. Then the Irishman was gone.
With only a few more minutes to spare for himself, Duncan double-timed it across Nassau Station.
He reached the terminal for the Achilles with just three minutes to spare. The last several graduates apparently assigned to the 10th were registering with an ODST in UNSC Regs. The man had his dark hair in a crew cut and he almost looked too gentleman like to be a Helljumper. The long scar running from his left ear, along the side of his face to his neck told him otherwise. The grim death glare that he wore suggested he really didn't want to be here.
Duncan was about to walk over when he caught sight of two others standing off near the umbilical. One was a woman, a redhead with piercing green eyes whose hair was left in shortcut bangs while the excess was tied into a ponytail at the back of her head. She was strikingly beautiful, so much so that Duncan was tempted to go back and get O'Reilly, maybe play wingman for his friend. He might've done so were it not for her tell-tale scowl that told anyone nearby to back off less they wanted to be fresh meat.
But that didn't seem to register with everyone, not for the man standing next to her. Duncan honestly thought he looked more like a teenaged high schooler. His curly hair faded along the sides and ended in an arrowhead at the base of his skull. Surprisingly, he looked sturdy enough to be an ODST. Maybe he was just baby faced. Either way he didn't look threatened by his redheaded friend at all. He was enthusiastically talking to her, but she didn't seem to care. Rather, she was staring predatorily at the new arrivals, probably sizing them up. Then she zeroed in on Duncan and her eyes narrowed.
Duncan quickly averted his gaze. He headed over to the man taking register just as he finished with the last ODST. He glanced at Duncan, then turned away.
"That's everyone. Nova, Zack, let's go." At his word, the two standing at the umbilical nodded and headed inside.
Confusion hit Duncan like a sucker punch. "Sir?"
The ODST turned back to him, looked at his pad and shook his head. "Sorry friend, that's everyone. Unless somehow you're-"
"You can let him on, Staff Sergeant."
Duncan and the Staff turned to the old but strong-looking man who had been standing on the sidelines the whole time. He walked over, eyeing Duncan like a rifleman inspecting his newest weapon. He stretched out a hand.
"Nice to meet you trooper. It seems you're in need of some help."
Duncan could tell from the air he exuded that he had to be an officer. He struggled between saluting and shaking his hand and decided to do the latter to stave off an already awkward situation.
"Yes sir. I was assigned to the 10th. They told me I was on the Achilles."
The Staff spoke up. "Sir, that's the wrong unit and the wrong ship details. No wonder he's not on our list."
"No worries." The older man assured him. He rested a hand on Duncan's shoulder and looked back to the Staff. "Can't you double check the list onboard?"
While Duncan was confused beyond belief, a look of understanding dawned on the Staff. "Yes sir."
"Good." He pointed Duncan towards the umbilical. "Come onboard son. We'll settle the problem inside."
Duncan glanced between the two men. Still confused, he decided it would be easier if he had their help, and hopefully they would manage it before the ship took off. Plus, he'd rather not get on anyone's bad side by disobeying a direct order from a superior. He followed them out of Nassau Station, through the umbilical docking tube and into a hallway on the Achilles' upper decks.
The Staff ran through the list of personnel on his data pad. After a few minutes, the search turned up empty.
"It's no good." The Staff said. "We're missing a man. But as far as I can tell, there's no Duncan Iris here. The guy we're looking for is a…James O'Reilly."
The realization clicked in Duncan's mind. "That's my friend. He just went onboard the Bunker Hill with the 7th Battalion."
The Staff's brow furrowed and he looked at the officer who was rubbing his chin contemplatively. The former refocused on Duncan, as if trying to blink away his confusion. Before he could ask the question on his mind, emergency lights went off and alarms blared rhythmically. An automated woman's voice spoke on repeat over the ship's comms. "Ship separating from external dock A. All crew and personnel please clear the corresponding terminal."
Duncan stiffened. "I've got to go, sir. I might miss my ship."
He was about to move when the officer held up a hand. "No need. You're on the right ship son."
Duncan was never able to contest what he said. He looked through a viewing window to see the umbilical retreating from the Achilles and back into Nassau Station's dock. A moment later the ship's thrusters began pushing it away. They were headed towards open space.
Duncan felt his mouth go dry and something heavy settle in his stomach. He turned back to the officer but the man was already walking off.
"Welcome to the 7th, Private." He said and continued on his way.
Another wave of confusion flooded over the young ODST. Then exhilaration. A question formed on his lips and seemed to speak of its own volition.
"…You guys…are the 7th?"
The Staff nodded.
What felt like an eternity was actually several seconds for Duncan as he tried to process the new information. Outside he could see Nassau Station and Earth's surface growing further and further away. A large, blackish blue void suddenly opened up ahead of the Achilles, the darkness of slipstream space. It swallowed the vessel whole, causing the image of his homeworld to disappear behind a curtain of darkness.
Duncan's fingers fumbled with the rock in his pocket. The words came under his breath as a childlike excitement overtook him. "I guess I made it, dad."
Then he remembered that he wasn't alone. He looked to the Staff who was staring right back at him. He seemed suspicious of him, and likely this whole situation.
Duncan knew he would have to figure out what all this meant for his assignment to the 10th, or for O'Reilly, when another question came to mind, one he realized was about to become extremely important.
The Staff didn't give him the chance to ask it however as he walked off, following in the officer's direction.
"Excuse me Staff Sergeant?" Duncan asked, running after him. "Where are we going exactly?"
Profectionem - Departure