Kyle's POV

Present

As my body was hurled towards the front of the ship, the scenery flew by too fast for me to react. I was going to continue to fall until I hit something, and I could only think one thought. Crap, This is gonna hurt. Then I closed my eyes and braced for impact.

I rammed into the rail that the Captain would stand behind to view the scenery with my back, knocking the breath out of me. Then, stunned, I fell through the rails, faintly trying to grasp the rail as I began wheezing to get my breath back, but it slipped through my fingers.

My fall was slowed slightly as the ship tilted slightly upward and I hit the floor. I finally gasped as my breath returned to me and coughed as I sat up to get my bearings again. I continued to head towards the front of the ship at an alarming speed as I slid across the floor. I looked toward the out the front window, horrified to see that it was becoming an orange color and I could feel the heat radiating from it as we entered the planet's atmosphere without our shields.

I laid back down onto my stomach to try and slow myself with the increased surface area, grabbing at the floor all around me, my hands sliding on the floor, barely slowing me down. Even bracing my shoes against the floor barely reduced my speed. No no no no, come on, there must be something I can grab! I started to panic. It had only been a few seconds since I had begun falling, but every second felt like a full minute with the adrenaline pumping through me.

Suddenly there was a sharp screeching sound above me. I looked up as a panel flew towards me that had detached from the ceiling. I quickly rolled aside as it struck the floor next to me and left a dent in the metal. I looked back up, yes! There was a wire that had fallen from the same place and it was sliding towards me at a slightly faster pace than I was falling, thanks partially to my efforts to slow my fall. Screams still present in my ears, I grabbed it, closing my eyes and bracing myself for my arms to be yanked sharply as the wire would abruptly stop my fall. It didn't come. I opened my eyes, surprised as I kept sliding. The wire was still unfurling from the ceiling. There were more yells throughout the ship as it gained speed through the atmosphere. I began sweating as I neared the scalding front window, which had turned a blinding white.

If I hit the window, I would be burned badly, if not killed by the intense heat. I looked up at the ceiling where the cord was coming out of and suddenly my arms nearly tore out of their sockets as the cord pulled taut. I gritted my teeth in pain and couldn't hold back a shout as pain exploded in my shoulders.

I desperately grabbed the cord, looking at how close I was to a very painful death. The glass was a mere two meters away from the edge of my now-very hot army boots that had actually begun to melt and bubble. If my skin had touched the glass, I shuddered at the thought of what might have happened to me. I could feel burns starting on my legs, possibly blistering. Phew, that was one lucky save. I looked around and then quickly averted my eyes as I saw several people who had not been so lucky below me. I quickly started pulling myself up the cord, groaning as the pain in my shoulders started up again. The slope of the ship had lessened as I got about halfway up and the heat from the front window began to lessen. Sunlight now lit up the interior as the light from reentry faded.

People were starting to get up and using the rails to start taking and giving out orders. My struggle to get up the cord was lessened as I felt myself moving faster. I looked up and saw that a few people had seen my struggle and were helping me. I finally made my way to the main rail, the people who had helped me pull myself up now assisted me in hoisting myself through the rails. I sat there shaking as I came to think about my close encounter with death once again. I can't believe I almost died, and was lucky enough to grab the wire when there were people that weren't so fortunate. The three people that had helped me up then lifted me to my feet and, making sure I wasn't in immediate mortal peril, ran off to their respective responsibilities.

I stood unsteadily and lifted up a pant leg, dismayed to see first and second degree burns on them. Captain Del'Rio was currently transmitting over the radio, "we are without power, and on a collision course with an unidentified forerunner planet," The floor began leveling off even more after this statement, enough to walk on.

I started running towards the door despite my pain. Healing my legs would have to wait, and honestly speaking my injuries weren't as bad as they could have been. I left the command room and took off towards my quarters. I have to get to my armor! I was almost there when there was a huge shake, that continued for nearly a minute. I caught myself against a railing as I was pulled towards the front of the ship again, barely able to hang on. The shaking finally stopped and immediately a departure alarm went off and a call for battle stations was announced over the speakers.

What! Well I will not be caught armor-less when we are under attack. I regained my footing and booked it as fast as my legs would allow and ran into my quarters, quickly donning my armor. My heads-up display, called a HUD lit up, the holographic screen showing full grenades and shield. I quickly ran out, satisfied. I should check out that departure, I thought, and made my way into the vehicle docking bay. I was met with a flurry of commotion, and people shoved me as they ran past. Someone briefing a nearby squad said that there was going to be a scouting run to see if they could find more info about the planet. Are they crazy, we're under attack!

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A random soldier came up and grabbed me by the arm. "Come one, we gotta get on the Pelican before it leaves!" He said and pulled me aboard. "Wait! What's going on, the Infinity can't protect us while its under attack!" I said franticly.

"Captain Del'Rio's orders, the pelican should be fine. We are sitting in the passenger part of it." He responded and we boarded. Here we go...I guess. I strapped myself in and the pelican rose and went out. Out the back window of the small rectangle room, I could see the closest covenant to us being destroyed by the now-grounded Infinity. Go Infinity I silently cheered.

Though my celebration was short-lived. The infinity was being over-run. As I watched, the AA guns went offline and the pelican we were on became the covenant's new target. Crap, the guns were our only hope! There was a beam sound. I looked out the window and saw a Banshee hovering just outside the window, a flying thing that looks like two fat flat Popsicle sticks stuck together with a small rounded cockpit and two long wings with light beams on the ends. It's cannon was powering up, turning green.

"Banshee!" I shouted and hit the deck. The others followed suit and there was an ear-splitting explosion. Glass and metal shards exploded around us, scraping my helmet and I squinted my eyes shut. What have we gotten ourselves into? I opened my eyes and saw half the people around me not moving. The person in charge was scrambling for a weapon. I looked around and found mine on the floor next to me. Grabbing it, I fired at the open back if the banshee that had begun to turn away, killing the elite inside. The banshee spiraled out of sight.

One down, a few dozen to go. I gritted my teeth, man, this is not my day.

The floor tipped slightly as the pelican lost an engine. Not this again! I just got off a crashed ship. What do I do! I looked around, there! A parachute! Next to a crate in the back of this too-small carrier. Man I have really begun to hate the design of this pelican.

I ran over and put it on quickly, annoyed at the amount of equipment that I had to move to get it free. The Banshees were coming back. Opening the hatch at the back of the room, as the hole in the side was too small to jump out of without getting caught on debris, I saw the ground flying by way too fast. Someone shouted, "Brace for impact!" Holy Crap! I tried to jump as we hit the ground and I felt myself flying though the air. I pulled my chute but it was definitely too late for that. Then it all went black.

Steele's POV

1 year from present

"Wait. Augmentations? Don't they start next month?" I questioned. I didn't know if I should be excited or not. "The genetic enhancements, and yes, but for you it's finally time. It will start tomorrow. " he responded.

"Um, ok. Sir, where do I go?" I stuttered, for once at a loss for words. "Here." He said and reached into his pocket in his black coat, pulling out a chip. "You'll need this for later augmentations but most of the special ones are done by doctors. You already know everything else so just relax, I'm sure everything will be fine." He shrugged and handed it to me. I looked at it. It was small, square, and mostly green. I put it in the pocket of my standard gray coat. "You are dismissed Petty Officer. Oh, and someone else will take over your duties until you have recovered, so don't worry about training the cadets for now."

"Yes sir." I replied and walked out. Relax? I've never relaxed in my life! I don't even know how to relax! I walked along the hall, absorbed in my thoughts, but then someone bumped into me, hard. I fell and the person in a commander's uniform said a quick sorry before running to the room I just exited.

That was rude. What's the hurry anyway? I picked myself up, dusting off my uniform. What is he doing? I looked back and saw the Sergeant Major step out. A few words were exchanged and the Major's face turned from confusion to worry. He spoke to the commander again and hurried inside. Then the commander quickly ran the other way.

Hmm, what's he up to? I took a step forward. Wait! What am I doing! I shouldn't get involved with something I'm not a part of. I stepped back. Well, on the other hand, I've got nothing to do the rest of the afternoon. My mind battled with it for a moment. Welllll...yeah, I'm going. I hurried down the hallway where he had disappeared. Turning right, I caught a glimpse of him entering one of the rooms along the wall. I quickly ran to the room and laid back flat against the wall next to the door. I leaned closer to the opening to try and catch the conversation.

"to be done, we needed the reinforcements. The covenant have broken through, another month and we will be done for." A deep voice said, closer to the door. A slightly gravely voice said, "Well have you spoken to the Major? We need his conformation on the arrival in a month of the squad of ...Spartans?... What were they again?" I leaned closer. "It's the-" I lost my balance as I leaned a bit too far and fell over a bit, stomping my foot down to keep my balance/keep me from falling across the door which made a small noise.

"Who's there?!" The deeper voice called sternly. Crap. I quietly stepped into the room next to me on my other side and closed the door. Pressing my ear to it, I could hear the sound of boots pacing around. It was most likely them looking for me. I heard a, "Look down there." And the footsteps faded. Phew, that was close. I sighed and opened the door slightly, looking out. Coast clear. I stepped out and walked calmly back to my quarters. I passed the a guy running down the hall, looking around, and I openly watched him, looking inconspicuous. I made to my quarters and slumped in my chair.

Never doing that again. So Spartans are coming to help us? Or something like that. Why have they kept the Covenant breakthrough from me. I am an officer now after all. But maybe right now this stuff is only for the higher ranks. Next time though, I'm staying out of it. I shouldn't have snuck around and tried to eavesdrop on their conversation in the first place, and knowing what I know now hasn't changed anything anyway. I looked at my watch. 1800 hours. I could get extra sleep tonight. He did say to relax. I changed into my white and gray night-clothes and got in my bed.

Staring up at the UNSC motto, I could almost imagine myself as a full spartan. Maybe someday.