Hello again.

I know its been awhile.

Ready to get back to work?

See you star-side, SPARTAN.

[}{]

Maddie "The Viper" Harper

August 13th, 2552

[}{]

14:43 Hours, Local Time.

As we approached the launch facility, a sense of unease permeated the air. The facility stood proud on the edge of a vast lake, its towering structure casting a long shadow on the murky waters below. Overcast skies reflected the ever-present pressure that pulled the atmosphere tight around us. Already, we could see that reflected in the faces of the soldiers protecting the base. A mix of anticipation and dread plastered their faces as they prepared for the imminent battle looming before them. Mikaela's eyes were filled with trepidation, as the young woman stepped onto the facility grounds, her face etched with a combination of fear and determination. The weight of her emotions was mirrored in her faltering steps, her body seemingly burdened by the gravity of her new reality. Without her partner, without friends, and in the face of the forthcoming ordeal, Mikaela looked as ragged and as tired as I did.

We were not alone in this; our fragile states of mind were shared by the entire staff, whose own fears and uncertainties danced precariously on the edges of their consciousness. A pair of marines approached us, their fingers hovering near the triggers of their rifles.

"Halt!" the shorter one said, "Identify yourself!"

I raised my hands, nudging Mikaela to do the same. "I am Captain Madeleine Harper, ONI Beta-7 division. I'm requesting permission to enter the base."

He looked to his partner, who put a finger to his earpiece and called it in. The conversation was short and he looked to his fellow guard and nodded. With a sullen nod, the guard who spoke turned to me and shouted:
"Permission granted, Captain. Welcome to the Farkas Launch Facility."

We followed them and as we drew nearer to the heart of the facility, an ominous silence enveloped the area, broken only by the distant lapping of waves against the lake's shore. The staff moved with a sense of urgency, their every action accompanied by an air of quiet desperation. People in lab coats carried sandbags and a man in a suit pushed a row of gurney's inside the facilities doors. The guards told us to follow him, the control room would be near the med bay. My arrival seemed to make the mood worse as they saw my uniform and the steel insignia that adorned it. Inside the facility, corridors echoed with the sound of hushed whispers and hurried footsteps, an orchestra of apprehension painting the scene.

From a distance, the lake had appeared serene, its surface reflecting the dark and murky hues of the sky. Yet, beneath this fragile facade, the base was awash with commotion. Each face knew what approached. In this stage of the war, the reaper's tax was an ever present threat and he had come to collect his due from these people. Despite their fragility, there was a glimmer of courage in their eyes, as if they had stepped into a realm where bravery and despair existed side by side, fueling their passion for life and daring death to come for them.

Each room we passed seemed alive with anticipation, the tension building in the chests, tummy's and faces of those who had called this base home. Faces etched with lines of worry cast long shadows in the dimly-lit hallways, the weight of responsibility bearing down on their weary shoulders. Like us, these individuals, bonded by a shared purpose, yearned for a moment of respite from the tumultuous sea of emotions threatening to drown them.

They won't hold out.

As the final preparations were made, a quiet hush fell over the launch facility. Much of the staff stood in unison, their collective gaze focused on the distant horizon, where the impending battle awaited. A storm of emotions swirled around the facility, echoing the storm brewing in the skies above. It was a battle not only against external forces, but also the internal demons that threatened to shatter their resolve.

In the face of adversity, the emotionally fragile young women and the staff chose to place their faith in one another. Bound by a shared experience, they found strength in each other's presence, forging an unbreakable bond that would serve as their anchor amidst the tempest that lay ahead. With heavy hearts and unwavering determination, they solemnly awaited the call to action, knowing that their fate and the fate of those they held dear hung precariously in the balance.

The doors bolted open, the facility running at optimum efficiency as we entered. "Don't be scared, let me do the talking."

"I'm not scared" she lied, well aware of the encroaching Covenant forces, "but we're going to be long gone before the covenant arrive, right?"

I stopped and took her by the collar into an adjacent room, "Do not talk about leaving. We will get out, you have my word. These people don't have our luxuries, okay? There's no free ride for them, there's only what's coming and hoping to survive it."

Mikaela composed herself, nodding as I released her from my Viper-like grip. "Alright, I get it." she said, trying to save face, "Base could do with some tunes, though."

She hummed another ancient song as we moved through the base to its beating heart. The doors to the control room were already open and I was surprised to see the absence of the base's senior leadership.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, approaching a small young woman in a lab coat.

"Just took the last ride out with our handler" she replied with a thick accent.

"Are you in charge?"

She laughed, "Not supposed to be, I'm the Gunnery chief for the Savannah. Technically, I shouldn't be here but you know how it is. I was consulting on the Sabre Program, we wanted to see if we could put our new prototype D.E.B.W on the Sabre."

"D.E.B.W?"

"Directed Energy Beam Weapon." she grinned, "Or Debwa for short."

Mikalea snorted at that but I wasn't amused. "I heard this place has a ship we can use for localised data transfer."

"That modified condor just left with our heads of staff, if that's what you're asking."

"Shit." I sighed, "that complicates things. Looks like we're sticking around a bit longer than we'd hoped." I said to Mikaela, who simply shrugged as she perched herself on a workbench.

"If its any consolation, the soldiers could do with a rescuer." the woman said, brightly.

"I need comms access."

"If you stay."

"I-"but I paused, seeing in Mikalea's features a strange hope. I saw in her eyes and her brows, an eagerness for the fight. It was a chance to see what the legendary Viper could do.

I hated it. I hated the way she deified me, I hated that I was another legend come to save everyone and yet…

Maybe you could save them…

I blinked.

It was possible, of course. I could lure Nico and the others back here as reinforcements, use Parangosky and Agent Belloc's assets to secure as many of the personnel here as possible. It wouldn't be much but it would be a start.

Maybe it is time to start pushing back.

"I've been out of contact since Szurdock Ridge, let me get in touch with my people and I'll see what I can do. What's the make-up of your staff?"

The woman beamed, "Half are naval staff, scientists, engineers, programmers. A lot of the work here is off-grid, given how unpopular the Sabre Program is with the public."

"And the rest?"

"Elements from…" she racked her brain, "the 113th Guards Rifles, UNSC Army."

"Alright, I can't promise anything but I will try."

This was my chance to wring out the rot. To purge from my reputation, among these few souls, the idea that I am only a sword for Parangosky to swing. Throughout my career, short as it may be, the one knack I know that I possess is an uncanny ability to inspire. Now, much of that is predicated on my reputation but that reputation is built on my own exploits. I've been here before, I've faced worse. Here, on this lake, I can right a wrong or two, and lay the foundations of a new state if I can convince Mikaela and the people here that I truly do fight for my truth.

The woman nodded as I stiffened, my resolve as sharp as my shooting as she pointed to a sealed room nearby. I thanked her and entered, removing my helmet, coloured like a roman emperor, and smiled.

"Captain Van Graff, come in. This is Viper-actual." I said, trying to find Ollie out there in the skies.

Shortly, a familiar face appeared on screen. "I see you got my care package."

"Thankfully, I haven't needed it yet."

"The girl?"

"Cooperating but our exfil is gone."

"You're stuck there?"

"Yeah, need to you extract my brother, tell Katya, Jack, and Belloc to meet me here."

"Am I sendin' him back to Fenrir?"

"No, hold on to him, he would never sit out a fight like this and he's safe with you. Plus, he trusts James, for some reason so ypu can give me an idea of their intentions. I'll need overwatch ASAP, too. We've got another siege on our hands."

"Cap'n, Ma'am, are you sure this is necessary, we won't have much time to pull this off. Besides, I don't like playing spy."

"I'm not asking you to tell me anything other than his thoughts and feelings, Preston is my brother and regardless of his feelings towards me he won't put anything ahead of my safety."

"And the siege? Are we sure we have time for this?"

"Ad-hoc is the only way we can play this. Things have changed and we need to move faster, there's a lot of brainpower here that ARC DREAM could use, and ONI cut and run so it's just all sitting here, begging for us to intervene."

"What's got you all fired up?"

"That'll have to wait for our next debriefing aboard the Fenrir."

"Got it, I'll get Aegis on station, between them and Savannah, we should have this base secure."

"Thanks, Ollie. I'll keep in touch."

"You got this, Maddie."

I cut the line and nodded, letting out an anxious sigh as I returned to the room, where several waiting faces looked eagerly towards me.

"I gathered the Battalion CO and the Company commanders." The little woman said, "I'm Vallette Savatier, if you wanted to know."

I smiled, "It's good to meet you, Valette, we're all going to become very close over the next few hours. Where's the tannoy?"

"You want to address the base?"

I nodded, stepping up to the console and pressing the broadcast button. With resolution in my heart and fire in my eyes, I dared the hordes to try and take this base. I couldn't win a war but I could win this battle.

"Here we stand, on the precipice of adversity, ready to face an unforgiving foe. You thought yourselves cut-off and alone. I am not your saviour, I am not an angel come to deliver you, nor am I of the spineless chain of command that left you here alone. I am the Viper and I kill covenant.

In this moment of looming danger, I find myself cautiously hopeful, for an opportunity has presented itself, an opportunity to bloody their bastard noses when the chaos comes for us.

You see, my friends, trust is a fragile and precious thing, and it is not easily won amidst the darkness of war. As an agent of Parangosky, I know that well… But before the drums of battle begin to sound, we have a chance to forge a connection, to build bridges with those who stand by our side.

I know, the skepticism gnawed at my heart once, as well. Can trust truly be found in the midst of gunfire, plasma and artillery tearing through the skies? Together, we can forge a trust that can anchor us amidst the storm, a trust that can guide our decisions amidst the chaos and bloodshed.

So, I approach this opportunity with cautious steps, for I am all too aware of the treacherous currents that run parallel to hope. I will not let fear bind my resolve, nor will I let it erode the possibility of unity before the hordes come for us.

I will extend myself, I will lend you my strength and my experience, and I will die by your side if needs be. You know my story, let me prove its veracity. Together, we lucky few will emerge victorious, spurred on by the glorious dead who delivered our survival. Behind every face and every weapon-wielding hand lies a song, a reason, and perhaps, even a future.

May our actions be guided by wisdom, empathy, and an unwavering sense of purpose. And if, against all odds, we prevail, perhaps we shall forge a shield or Aegis against the monsters we were abandoned to defend against.

Tonight, as we brace ourselves for what may come, I stand still, stalwart as you are. Let the bastards come."

I clicked the line dead and a silence descended over the facility. At the door, a guard tried to take a peek at me from his post, unaware that the Viper had slithered amongst them.

"Will you throw words at the covenant when they come?" the Major asked, raising his brow.

"On the contrary, you are very lucky." I replied, grinning, "I have assets far better suited to the defence of this facility than the Sabre's. As we speak, live sat-feed is pouring in from a number of assets under my command. Whatever is coming our way, we will know everything about them and what they're going to do before we do."

"Intel doesn't matter if they can take the casualties."

"We'll have firepower, if we can buy ourselves time. My fleet just lost a ship and are regrouping, I can get at least one on station but that will take time because they can only move once the UNSC forces who were fighting at Szurdok Ridge are safe."

"So its a long-shot."

I nodded, "It was always going to be…"

"So, where do we start?" he replied, understanding perfectly the situation we found ourselves in.

"I'll set you a line to my intel guy, he'll help us set out our defences. The main thrust of their attack will come from the main approach over the mountains, which will make our defence easier. You have three companies, take two into the mountains, leave half of the third here and use the other half to secure your retreat back here for when the time comes."

"When?" asked a young looking Captain, "not if?"

"New?" I asked, approaching him.

"battlefield commission, Ma'am."

"It'll be a near-run thing," I said, quoting an ancient general, "but some of us will make it, and that's what matters." I put a hand on his shoulders, feeling his ragged breathing through my fingers.

"I'll prep the men to move out, is our only fallback this base?"

"Yes." I replied, without hesitation. "Either we all make it, or we make them pay for a scorched hole in the mountainside."

"Ooh-fuckin'-rah" the Major replied, cocking his rifle.

"Let's get it done."

[}{]

Aurelien "Ollie" Van Graff

August 13th, 2552

[}{]

16:25 Hours, Local Time.

"That's what she said," I shrugged, "I brought you three a hog so you can get there before that army shows up.

"We'll need-"

"A fugitive?" I laughed, "I don't think so Agent Belloc. Captain Harper was crystal clear on this order."

The Viper's brother gingerly hopped up the ramp as the Winter buzzed ready to leave, Parangosky's spook scowled at his target, his finger twitching as he was about to move out of sight.

"Head north, Farkas lake. She's taken control of a facility there and she wants us to extract some assets for ARC DREAM. Nice and simple."

"I wouldn't call arriving before a siege simple, Ollie."

"Well you will have plenty of time to decide what you want to call it on your way there." I said dismissively, "James?" I shouted, "get us airborne, we have a covenant army to thin out."

Nico seethed silently below us as we rose high into hte sky. I could see Katya and Jack smiling as Nico looked up at us with tiny smiles hidden from his view. As the bay doors sealed shut, I laughed to myself at the exchange. As I settled into my seat, Preston looked at me with a raised brow.

"Dude really wants you dead" I said, answering his unvoiced question, "you Harper's are all trouble, you know that?"

"We do," he said, a little grin appeared on his face, "some more than others, though."

"You can say that again," James added, sighing. "Alex wants us to provide real time analysis of the battle, he can send airstrikes but that will burn through the Aegis' reserves. After that, he won't be of much use unless we can get your guy to supply us some ammo."

'My Guy' was the strange woman aboard the Fenrir and that ancient Ancilla: Tuk. I knew they couldn't fabricate enough ammunition aboard the Fenrir to restock the Aegis so instead, they would do all they could to defend us before saving the last of their ammunition for any escape attempt we might have to make. After making the rounds for Alex, delivering a team he'd located in New Alexandria back to the Aegis for ARC DREAM, I could finally return to the covenant horde that approached the launch facility.

In the vast expanse of the Epsilon Eridani system, where the enemy lay cloaked in shadows, I was navigating the controls of a top-secret spacecraft. With a moment of pause, experienced as the engines blasted and purred amongst the beauty of space, I set aside my unwavering focus and nerves of steel, taking a moment to enjoy the direction that my life was leading. I was a pilot for a potentially rebel cell of earths most dangerous organisation and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't love that.

I embarked on that perilous mission: to gather crucial intelligence on an impending attack on my new friends by an alien horde. They were poised to descend upon the secret mountain research facility concealed within the folds of Reach's rugged terrain. As the Winter hurtled through the twinkling starry abyss, I gazed at the holographic display before me. Complex algorithms and intricate systems danced across the screen, providing me with real-time information about the enemy's movements, strengths, and weaknesses. Years of training and intensive preparation had, by this point, honed my skills to perfection. As much as I could never have called it, I were the ideal pilot for this clandestine operation.

I approached the secret mountain research facility, feeling the weight of the world upon my shoulders. This mountain stronghold is no ordinary installation; it shelters the invaluable knowledge and groundbreaking technology conceived by some of the brightest minds on the planet. Luckily for them, it is also fiercely protected by a legendary war hero, Captain Madeleine Harper, whose accolades and courage have become the stuff of legends.

I descended through Reach's atmosphere, my engines humming with purpose and resilience. Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead, it had been an excruciatingly long couple of days but I carefully completed my manoeuvres through the maze of jagged peaks and perilous weather conditions that ran parallel to the alien advance. The heroism of the pilots and scientists stationed at the mountain research facility could be spare for another time and I found myself joyous that the Viper had decided to plant her flag here. A fire within me, further igniting my determination, spurred me back to the battlefield to gather the information needed to ensure my friends survival.

It were nestled amidst towering peaks but the secret mountain research facility came into view regardless. Its fortified walls exude an air of invincibility, but even the bravest souls stationed within could not ignore the impending danger. With superior alien forces closing in, they were bracing themselves for an inevitable clash. I could hear their anticipation through the spacecraft's comm channel, their desperation urging me to press on with unyielding resolve. The voice of a trained trooper had been replaced by some civilian contractor with a cool enough head to communicate with me.

I engaged the Winter's stealth protocols, causing the spacecraft to reduce its various thermal and data-based signatures to an absolute minimum, evading detection from the approaching covenant forces. Sneaking through the enemy's perimeter undetected was easy in the Winter, akin to a ghost weaving through the halls of an empty home. Each piece of intelligence I gathered was shared with the mountain research facility, Aegis, and Fenrir, the collective hopes of the Viper's charges fuelled my drive to ensure their survival against this merciless alien onslaught.

In the face of impending doom, I channelled the spirit of the legendary Viper, whose name is whispered in awe throughout the remains of the human empire. It is the indomitable will of heroes, past and present, that unite in this crucial moment of humanity's history. With determination burning in my eyes, I continued this game for hours, my heart heavy with the knowledge that I bore the fate of the launch facility and the survival of hundreds of lives in my hands.

"They're about two clicks out from the far side of the mountain," I said, notifying Maddie of the impending threat.

"Roger that, Ollie." came her reply, "by the way, I hope this information is good because I found a long lost friend of yours."

I searched my brain for who it might be.

"Gunnery Chief Savatier said you better get us out, or she'll kill you."

[}{]

Maddie "The Viper" Harper

August 13th, 2552

[}{]

18:31 Hours, Local Time.

"Did you see how happy he was to see me?" Valette asked, handing me a sandbag.

I nodded, placing it atop the parapet outside the base's beachfront entrance. "He was very happy, I might have said giddy if the man was capable of it."

"Of course he can be giddy. He's like a kid when it comes to flying." she paused, biting her lip, "he always did find joy in simplicity."

"So, the pair of you are friends?" I asked, noting the apparent age difference between the two.

She nodded, "Ollie was an outsider from day one back in the academy, his past as a pirate made him stand out. Not everyone's rep can follow them positively." she said, looking pointedly at me. "Pretty much all of our crew were expendaple in some way."

"I suppose that's why we get on," I mused to myself, laying a bucket of water near an old machine gun we'd put on the outer perimeter. "ONI didn't exactly let me define my own legacy… and I'm definitely expendable. That much is clear."

"Do you think ONI is trying to change you?" she replied, gauging me, thoughtfully.

"You mean just me or Ollie, too?"

She shifted uneasily but nodded with a confidence that revealed her trepidation as fake.

I sighed, looking to the sky as more clouds gathered, "almost definitely. Her assets are all brilliant, that's why she picked them. I don't think there's a single person within three degrees of separation that she hasn't influenced in some way. I feel like I'm reaching a point where one of us has to bend."

"I'm sensing a 'but?', there."

"It comes at a price to us. There's no autonomy, everything you do is watched, you're slowly and unwillingly separated from your friends and family. It's your freedom for power. True power."

"after you left us to speak… I might have mentioned Drake to him."

My mouth dried up a little, "he was your handler, right?"

She nodded.

"What did you think of him?"

"He's an interesting man, very quiet… very capable. Scared the staff here to death with all his brooding. Ollie did mention something interesting though, he said he passed away?"

"He died on Ballast in a terror bombing that he probably knew about" I sighed, "wasn't peaceful but it was quick."

"I have security footage, if you want to say goodbye properly. I learned… er, at the academy, that you don't always get a chance to say goodbye to those that look after you when you serve."

My anger burned, Drake had known all along about the Gaes, trying to keep me away from it whilst keeping them away from me and ARC DREAM. Still, running from my problems had only ever made things worse.

Which is why, as I nodded at the young Gunnery Chief, I found myself trying something new.

"He told you about my past?" I asked, noting Mikaela as he ears seemed to twitch at the subject.

"His friend James did, he said you'd look after me. He said you looked after him on Skopje."

"I'll try my best," I replied, warm at the idea that James still harboured anything for me other than bile.

"Then we'll all be fine, won't we?" she added with a pained grin. "Come on, let me show you the footage."

Within minutes, we were adjacent to the control room, in the sealed security area. Valette accessed the base's files using a security card and buzzed up the footage she mentioned. She backed away into the shadows as the screen burst with the video feed and began to play:

It was a simple video, of Drake as I had always known him. The five years between Skopje and Maeridian was on his face, carved into the wrinkles that had begun to play at his brow and smile. He was as slick and as oily as ever, his salt and pepper hair twinkled in the light picked up by the camera feed. Yet he remained imperious, a looming shadow that was perfectly suited to the dark halls of military bases.

Something was amiss though.

It took a moment, but as he turned to look upon the Sabre, I saw a scar on his forehead that I had never seen before. It ran down his face and over his eye, fresh with stitches. My head reeled, trying to workout when he could have gotten that scar.

And how he could have hidden it.

"I've had everything transferred from this facility to Aegis Fate" Valette said, nervously, "the transfer was completed about ten minutes ago so if we get out of here you can review it properly."

I touched the faint scar hidden around my eye, where the Zealot Erun had sliced my vision in half.

He's an interesting man.

That's what she'd said.

"He's… an interesting man." I said, aloud.

He IS.

I stood there, frozen in shock as the truth unravelled before my eyes. The thought of betrayal had never crossed my mind, not even in my darkest nightmares. Yet here I stood, in the dimly lit room, facing the harsh reality that everything I believed in had been shattered. Drake wasn't a victim of the Valterri's nefarious plot he used it. He knew it was coming and he used it to sever ties with me.

"He.. is." Valette said, softly. "wait, when did you think he died?" Mikaela looked on with wide eyes from the door where she stood, wringing her hands nervously as her eyes darted from one screen to another and back to me.

Agent Drake, my mentor, and the one whom I had looked up to with unwavering trust, was far from the hero I had once seen him as. The pain of this revelation clutched at my heart like a snake, curled about its prey, threatening to suffocate the very essence of my being.

The Viper, that was the name they gave me in the media for my feats of heroism and bravery. A name bestowed upon me after countless missions accomplished with precision and an unfathomable sense of duty. I had fought side by side with Agent Drake, thinking we shared a bond that could never be broken. Yet, as the dust still settled from the ruin of our disastrous mission on the planet of Ballast, the truth emerged like a venomous serpent rearing its head. The failure, the loss of lives that haunted my dreams, had not been solely my failure. The one I had admired had masterfully orchestrated this catastrophe using the fate of a world to mask his escape.

Maggie.

Ana.

Duggan.

George…

How could I have been so ignorant? How had I fallen into the clutches of his deceit for so long? My mind raced, grasping at the fragments of reality that shattered like glass. Agent Drake, once a symbol of loyalty and honour, now only embodied the darkest part of my nightmares. I thought I had an understanding with Parangosky, I thought she knew what interfering with my family would mean.

Some lines cannot be crossed.

Mikaela, who continued to peek in through the doorway, saw me at my lowest, and her gaze stuck like barbs in my brain. He had faked his own death, leaving me to shoulder the burden of my loss, to bear the weight of my perceived failures. The realisation hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless and disoriented. My trust, my faith in him and ONI, had been nothing more than a cruel charade.

The walls seemed to close in around me as the gravity of the situation sank in. The sorrow mingled with anger, churning within me, bound to erupt like a snatching reptile. How could he have done this? After all that we had been through? How could he have betrayed me and everything I fought for?

In that moment, standing in the ghostly silence of my shattered world, I silently vowed to commit upon ONI the greatest revenge. The Viper, a beast of their creation, would not rest until Agent Drake, Agent Belloc, and Parangosky paid for their treacherous actions. The fire of vengeance ignited within me, replacing the naive trust that had once fueled my every step. I would not only be a thorn in their side forever, a silent watchman feeding the public the truth but I would live, and I would live well.

As I walked away from that room, from the shattered remnants of my obliterated notions of trust, I knew that the path ahead would be dangerous. But I refused to be defeated. The Viper would rise from the ashes of betrayal, stronger and deadlier than ever before. All with the singular focus in mind to build a better future for humankind, and eradicate the endless cycles of betrayal and murder left in the wake of Naval Intelligence.

The UEG and the UNSC had built a frayed leash for their attack dogs and I would rein them in.

I stood inside the command centre, my heart pounding with anticipation and fear. The holo-table before me displayed a detailed layout of our mountain top defences - a formidable, if ad-hoc, line of barricades, trenches, and artillery cannons. The atmosphere crackled with tension as we awaited the arrival of the enemy.

As I moved to the rear of the base, I looked out the reinforced windows, I could see our troops anxiously manning their posts, ready for the impending onslaught. In the distance, a jagged mountain peak rose, casting an ominous shadow over our position.

Suddenly, the air filled with an eerie silence. It was as if the world was holding its breath. The tide washed, the wind hummed in a lull, and the birds fled. But just as quickly, that stillness was shattered by the thunderous roar of alien engines. From the dark abyss of the sky, their sleek, metallic crafts descended upon us, their presence invoking a mixture of awe and terror.

As the first alien vessels broke through the cloud cover, our anti-aircraft guns sprang into action. Streams of tracer fire lit up the sky, the air filled with the sound of heavy artillery and the symphony of explosions. I watched as our brave gunners unleashed a desperate barrage against the encroaching enemy, trying to hold back the inevitable.

The holographic display on the holo-table mirrored the chaos unfolding outside. Blue blips representing our defences fired, while red dots representing the alien spacecraft swarmed with relentless determination. The commanders shouted orders, their voices barely audible over the deafening barrage.

Despite our ferocious counterattack, the enemy's alien technology was far superior. Their energy shields shimmered as our projectiles impacted, barely leaving a scratch. It was a sight that struck fear into the hearts of our soldiers, yet they fought on. With each passing moment, the gravity of the situation became clearer - the survival of our outpost teetered on a knife's edge.

Though the alien bombardment threatened to crush our defences, hope still flickered within my heart. For amidst the chaos, I saw the unwavering determination of our troops. The men and women under my command fought with an indomitable spirit, a refusal to yield to the forces that sought to strip away our freedom.

As the holo-table continued to project the battle unfolding before us, the room reverberated with the intensity of the clash. We were but a small outpost, but in that moment, we stood as a symbol of resistance against the encroaching alien forces. We would fight until the bitter end, for the lives of our comrades, and for the future of our planet.

So, I initially dropped this because I came up with an idea for my first original novel. It's going well, very fun to write. The world is amazingly fun but I've been struggling with characters and motivation. By chance, a friend of mine told me they were writing fanfiction and I came back here out of curiosity.

Reading your thoughts on my writing made me smile and, given the cliffhanger I left you all on, I felt I owed it to you all and to finish the series. I know its been nearly five years or so since this tale began but I had a great arc planned for our intrepid hero. Its going to get REAL good, I promise.

So bear with me, I'll try and do my utmost for you all.