(3rd Pov)
After Alpha Company's departure in late 2536, Camp Currahee was a ghost town. No longer was the 'Grinder' filled with the screams of instructors in the early mornings, nor was the mess hall filled with the usual chats over meals.
For a year there was little to no activity in regard to the training of Spartan-IIIs. Though no one complained about the new peace and quiet. Everyone working in the camp could identify that things just weren't the same without the Spartan's training.
The only semblance of activity in training was the small Spartan-in-training left behind by the first group of Spartan-IIIs. The boy was of course Samson Reese, and while there were no other trainees on Onyx. Sam took full advantage of the extra one on one time with Kurt 0-51 expanding his additional training from Saturdays to every day possible.
He was determined to learn everything he could from Kurt. From strategy and tactics to field aid, Sam's goal was to be an asset in the military no matter the task at hand. If Sam were to summarize the year's worth of training he would describe it as "Fruitful and challenging".
Though Sam fairly often would ask Kurt about Alpha Company's status and more specifically how his fire team was. Often the answer Kurt would give him was an "I don't know", but on some occasions, the news would change with victories over insurrectionists. They both along with Naomi had a meal to celebrate the Spartan-IIIs' victory over New Constantinople.
And so the monotonous life of training alone continued for Samson. Until a very late July report of a battle that took place just 17 light-years out of UNSC-controlled space.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Mc Pov)
"Another day another dollar," I say to no one in particular.
I walk to a particular tree on a hill within the camp, before taking a seat in the shade and pulling out a book. Getting comfortable in my usual spot I look around enjoying the scenery of the camp. Looking at the lake to the side of the compound, the birds chirping, and the flowers blooming.
Admiring the view "To think this planet isn't even real. The Forerunners sure as hell knew how to make it look good." I whisper to myself before looking down at the book in my hands.
Slowly a frown makes its way onto my face as I can't help but think in displeasure 'I hate this fucking book. What uber-important shit do I need to learn about combat that is so well hidden in this novel?'
Continuing to think only negative thoughts about the book. Eventually, a thought came to mind and I let out a small laugh before saying "I wonder if this war wasn't a thing, would Kurt be an English teacher?" I can't help but laugh again attempting to picture the 7-foot 6-inch man marking papers and giving people homework.
Getting back on track I begin to consider the book that I have mostly finished, but can't seem to motivate myself to crawl through the final couple of chapters.
'The Lord of the Flies. I remember in high school of my past life that I told my teacher I would die before I actually read the book.' gaining a wry smile I then think to myself 'Well I guess I was right Mr. Patterson I keep good on my promises.'
I then began reading for all of 10 minutes before-
"Fuck this." I say in annoyance "I wonder what Kurt's doing? I think I will annoy him as penance for telling me to read this book. I know it probably has a super important hidden message that he wants me to find himself, but if that's the case the galaxy was doomed, to begin with." I spoke thinking aloud.
"I mean come on. You can't expect me to read this book and suddenly have enlightenment like a Wuxia protagonist." I finished speaking in a lower tone."At least it wasn't the Catcher in the Rye."
With those words coming out of my mouth I made my way to Kurt's office. Now that Alpha Company is no longer located on Onyx, Kurt spends most of his time in his office. When he isn't training me, and today is one of those days he opted to give me homework by reading this doorstop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Still Mc pov)
Eventually, I was able to make my way to Kurt's office, after a small walk. I walked up to the metal door leading to the room, and it opened after noticing my presence.
'Automatic doors even for offices. Gotta love the future for the small things.'
As I walked into the office, both Naomi and Kurt immediately turned to look at me walking in. I then took a seat beside Naomi facing Kurt and began to notice a tense atmosphere. So I began to look around the scene slightly taking in what might be the cause of such a scene.
For some reason Naomi was in the office with Kurt, 'Strange she almost never talks to Kurt unless it's about the Spartan-III program. Well whatever, maybe it has something to do with those files in her hands.' I thought to myself analyzing any context clues I could pick up.
Back to Kurt, he looked…pale? While Naomi looked like she had just eaten a sour piece of candy.
I thought to myself for a moment and couldn't remember anything bad happening today, or any bad news that would make the both of them look like this.
We continued to sit in silence, 'Well maybe it has something to do with the program. Maybe we got another budget cut.'I think with an internally annoyed look that I did not show to the two people in front of me 'I would have the same looks on my face if that shit happened again. I mean to be Ackerson's 'greatest achievement' he sure finds ways to screw us over.'
Eventually, I bit the bullet in an attempt to clear some of the atmosphere "What's with the looks? You guys look like someone shot your dog, and broke into your home." I say with sarcasm while looking around with a raised eyebrow.
'Uh oh looking at their faces. That was definitely not what I should have said. Well, I live by the sword and will die by the sword, so let's hear what has them in such a mood.'
After breaking the silence. Both of the physical adults of the room shot a glare so mean it would frighten sniper Jackals. I visibly flinched a bit and scrunched up my face confused as to what I said that would warrant such a fierce look.
"Fuuuuu" After glaring at me Naomi eventually let out a deep sigh and looked to Kurt, as if asking for permission. Kurt looked at her thought for half a second looking down, then looked up and nodded giving her the go-ahead.
Naomi takes a moment to collect her thoughts before speaking."Sam 3 days ago on July 27th 90% of Alpha Company was deployed to an asteroid labeled K7-49. The asteroid housed a Covenant shipyard and their mission was to destroy the high-output plasma reactors in order to make the shipyard inoperable. Permanently." she paused.
Even though I now knew why they looked like they did. I was praying that somehow some way the future had changed. That maybe just maybe the wings of my butterfly had picked up enough steam to change the outcome of what I now knew was Operation: Prometheus.
"The mission was a success; the shipyard won't be making any more ships. Because of this we have most likely managed to save all of the Orion colonies for the time being." she paused again.
At this second pause, I got a little annoyed and couldn't help but speak up. "Naomi, stop pausing trying to ease me into what you are trying to say. Just give it to me straight there is no reason to baby me. You haven't treated me like a kid so far, so why are you starting now."
Naomi sighs again and comes clean with the results "Though they accomplished their mission…there were no survivors, all 270 Spartan-III's are classified as M.I.A."
Feeling the complete weight of the statement. I won't lie and say that my blood did not run cold. I began fidgeting with my hands and swiveling my head to look around the room with an array of expressions. Sighing for what seemed like 10 times trying to calm myself down after hearing the information.
"Anything else I need to know?" I say looking away, rapping my fingers on Kurt's desk.
"No, that is all that is listed in the report," Kurt speaks for the first time since I entered the room. His voice sounded a bit hoarse.
"I see…well, I am going to go for a walk," I say while both nodding and sitting up pushing the chair out from under me.
As I got to the door I remembered my original purpose for coming here. I pulled out 'The Lord of the Flies' from my backpack and set it down on Kurt's desk and gave a passing remark.
"This book sucks by the way." with that, I walked out through the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Mc Pov)
May 8, 2542 (time skip of about 5 years)
"Time for the show," I say while preparing my gear for my first mission.
I take a moment to reminisce about training for the past 5 years with Beta Company.
Beta Company's training was much worse than Alpha's. Gone were the days off and the close relationships with Instructors. Training consisted of doing the most brutal exercises known to man in even worse environments. Thank god I was practically in perfect shape after a couple of months of training and was moved to take part in the specializations training.
I wasn't assigned to another fire team when Beta began training. I don't know why, but after that, I was mostly a Lone wolf. Though there were times when I joined up with Beta fireteams for exercises as well as to instruct (Yeah Kurt had me instructing the class sometimes due to my previous training experience. It was nice to know he trusted me enough to do something like that.). I met some of the more famous Spartan-IIIs because of my instructing. I considered myself friends with Catherine B-320, Jonah B-283, and Roland B-210. Mostly because I took time to specifically drill into their head good marksmanship and situational awareness.
(Catherine B-320)
(Jonah B-283 and Roland B-210)
For a time they hated me for singling them out to make them perform said training assignments. As well as the severe punishments of conditioning given to failing said assignments, but I was damn determined to get the lessons through their thick skulls. While the entire time I was clinging to hope that I could change their fates unlike with Alpha Company.
Alpha Company's demise on Operation: Prometheus effectively ended its role as an active fighting force. I never learned if my fellow teammates perished, well if all except for Carter perished. The news of what happened weighed heavily on all present at Camp Currahee some more than others. Kurt seemed to take it the worst. I think he blamed himself for insufficient training that led to their deaths, and no matter what anyone tried to say otherwise it didn't change his mind.
As for me, I eventually got over the news. I can't stay looking at what's already lost, or else I will just continue to lose while living in the past. I doubled down on training, and because of that, I got augmentations much earlier than both the Spartan-IIs and Spartan-IIIs. At age 11 I underwent the augmentation procedure. Everything went according to plan and now here I am a freak of nature.
I am currently 12 and look like I am 17/18, I am 6 foot 9. These drastic physical changes are a result of a combination of things according to Naomi. She said that due to the supplements taken for about 6 years, the drugs administered periodically through training, the augmentations themself, and most importantly my genetics led to what I look like now. I also got my designation B-312 according to what Kurt said I am supposed to just go by the number and not a name. Something to do with orders from command. While I can't change the orders if someone already knew me as Sam you better believe they won't call me B-312. I did find the fact that I took the original Noble 6's place a bit ironic, seeing as anyone given the right motivations and right scenario could play the role.
Anyway after training and augmentations my status currently looks like this:
{Name: Samson Reese}
{Age: 12}
{Sex: Male}
[Status:
Strength: 7
Perception: 8
Endurance: 6.5
Charisma: 6
Intelligence: 8
Agility: 7
Luck: [E-rror value cannot be determined]
Inherent traits:
-Invictus: Once you have the will and an equally hardened resolve you cannot be stopped. You will not break. You will not turn around. You will either achieve your goal or die trying because that is just who you are]
I soon arrive at the armory on the current UNSC ship that I am "loaned" out to. I push the nostalgic thoughts out of my head and center myself.
Readying myself to tear apart anything that gets in the way of me ending this war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soooooo that's it for introductory chapters it's time for WAR!
Hopefully this chapter was good I had a lot I wanted to do but I already said this was the last chapter before his first mission. I should really stop doing that.
Hopefully also the insane growth and such a young age is at least some what understandable. And it doesn't immediately dismantle all of the realism I built up.
I decided to edit the system and take away the skill points because I didn't really like the concept honestly. I updated the chapter that had them and going forward the system will be more to track progress and give a status.
Anyway I don't have much else to say the song of the day is "Disposable Heroes" by Metallica.
Have a good day and I will See You Star Side.