Location: UNSC Never Forget - Training Room
Date: May 22, 2534
Time: 0630 Hours
The clink of weights and the hum of machinery filled the air, a rhythm that seemed to match the steady beat of my heart. I had been back on my feet for a few days now, gradually easing back into the routine of training, but every step I took felt like I was walking on thin ice.
I could still feel the echo of the injury in my side. The dull ache that flared up if I pushed too hard. It wasn't enough to stop me, but it was a reminder of how close I had come to the edge.
"Don't push yourself too hard," Alice's voice broke through the steady sounds of the gym.
I glanced over to where she was leaning against one of the weight racks, her arms crossed as she watched me from across the room. She had been keeping a close eye on me ever since I got back on my feet, though she never said it outright. I knew she was worried, even if she wouldn't admit it.
"I'm fine," I replied, though my tone was a bit sharper than I intended. I wasn't angry at her, just frustrated. Frustrated with myself. With how weak I still felt.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Sure you are."
I sighed, setting down the weights and wiping the sweat from my brow. The truth was, I wasn't fine. I was still working through it—physically and mentally. But Alice knew that already. She always knew.
"You don't have to do this alone, Cass," she said softly, stepping closer. "You've been through a lot. It's okay to take your time."
I looked at her, meeting her gaze. There was something in her eyes—something more than just concern. She cared. Not just because we were fireteam leaders, not just because we were ODSTs, but because of everything we'd been through together.
"I know," I muttered, my voice softening. "I just… don't want to slow anyone down."
"You won't," she replied, her tone firm. "We'll get through this. Together."
Her words settled over me, grounding me in a way that nothing else had since I'd come back from the brink. I nodded, the tension in my shoulders easing just a little. Alice had a way of making things feel less heavy, even when everything around us was crumbling.
"Thanks," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
She smiled, a small but genuine smile, and for a moment, the weight of the war didn't seem so crushing.
Location: UNSC Never Forget - Briefing Room
Date: May 22, 2534
Time: 0800 Hours
We gathered in the briefing room once again, the squad seated around the central table as Doss stood at the front, outlining our next mission. The atmosphere was tense, but there was a familiar rhythm to it. We were used to this by now—the constant deployments, the never-ending cycle of combat.
But for me, things felt different. The weight of what had happened on the last mission still hung over me, even as I tried to focus on the task ahead. I had nearly died. I had faced the darkness, and somehow, I had come back.
But I wasn't sure how many more times I could do it.
"Intel suggests the Covenant has fortified this sector," Doss was saying, pointing to a holo-map of our next target. "We'll be dropping in under heavy fire, so be prepared for resistance. Our objective is to take out their anti-air batteries and secure an evac route for the civilian transports."
I nodded along with the rest of the squad, my mind going through the motions. It was a straightforward mission, but in this war, nothing was ever as simple as it seemed.
Alice sat beside me, her focus locked on the map, but I could feel her awareness of me, her presence grounding me in the moment. She had been like that ever since I got back—there, without needing to say much, always a steady presence at my side.
"We'll split into two fireteams," Doss continued. "Cass, you and Alice will take Alpha Team. I'll lead Bravo. We hit the batteries simultaneously, then regroup at the extraction point."
I glanced at Alice, who gave me a small nod. We had been leading missions together for months now, but this one felt different. There was a weight to it, an unspoken understanding between us that went beyond the usual camaraderie. We had saved each other's lives. We had faced death together.
And somehow, we had come out stronger on the other side.
Location: Covenant Occupied Zone - Drop Point
Date: May 23, 2534
Time: 0430 Hours
The descent into the Covenant-occupied zone was fast and brutal. The drop pods shook violently as we broke through the atmosphere, the heat of reentry searing against the outer hull. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline surging through me as we hurtled toward the ground.
I had done this dozens of times before, but it never got any easier. The moments before impact were always the worst—the waiting, the anticipation, the knowledge that we were about to be thrown into the thick of it.
The impact came hard, the force of the landing rattling my bones as the pod slammed into the ground. I gripped my rifle, my breathing steady as I waited for the pod's hatch to open.
And then, with a hiss of hydraulics, the hatch blew open, and I was on the ground, boots hitting the dirt as I moved into formation with Alpha Team.
"Move out!" Alice called, her voice sharp and steady over the comms.
We advanced quickly, our weapons raised as we pushed through the rocky terrain toward the Covenant anti-air batteries. The sky above us was filled with plasma fire, the sound of distant explosions echoing across the battlefield.
My side ached, a dull reminder of the injury that had nearly taken me out, but I pushed it aside. There was no room for hesitation here. We had a job to do.
"Cass, we've got movement on the ridge!" Alice's voice crackled through my comms.
I glanced up, spotting the shimmer of energy shields as a group of Elites moved into position on the high ground. They were preparing to fire, their plasma rifles glowing in the dim light.
"Take cover!" I shouted, ducking behind a nearby rock as plasma bolts rained down around us.
The squad reacted quickly, spreading out and returning fire with disciplined precision. The Elites were strong, but we had the advantage of surprise. I squeezed off a few rounds from my rifle, dropping one of the Elites before it could get a shot off.
"Barnes, on the launcher!" Alice ordered, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Barnes moved into position, the M41 SPNKR already in her hands as she lined up the shot. The rocket streaked through the air, hitting the ridge with a thunderous explosion that sent debris flying in all directions.
The Elites were down, but I knew this was only the beginning.
"Keep moving!" I called, signaling for the squad to advance.
We pressed forward, pushing through the smoke and debris as we closed in on the Covenant anti-air battery. The massive structure loomed ahead, its energy cannons crackling with power as they fired into the sky, targeting UNSC air support.
"We need to take that thing offline," Alice said, her voice grim.
I nodded, moving toward the base of the battery. The Covenant forces were scrambling now, caught off guard by our assault, but they wouldn't stay disorganized for long.
"Barnes, plant the charges!" I ordered, covering her as she moved to the base of the battery.
The seconds stretched on, each one feeling like an eternity as Barnes set the charges, her hands moving quickly over the device. The air was thick with the smell of burning plasma, the sound of gunfire echoing around us.
"Charges set!" Barnes called, her voice tense. "Ready to blow on your mark, Sergeant."
"Fall back to a safe distance," I ordered, pulling the squad back behind cover.
We hunkered down, waiting for the signal to detonate. The tension was thick, the sound of the battery still firing into the sky a constant reminder of how much was riding on this mission.
"Detonate," I said, my voice calm.
A split second later, the charges exploded, the shockwave rippling through the ground as the Covenant anti-air battery was reduced to rubble. The cannons fell silent, the sky clearing as UNSC air support swooped in to secure the area.
"We did it," Alice muttered, her voice filled with a mix of relief and exhaustion.
I nodded, the adrenaline still surging through me. Another mission completed. Another step forward.
This was one of hundreds of ongoing conflicts, and my story another to the thousands.
The only thing I knew for sure was that I would not be there to see it end, but I hope she would be…
Fin.