Chapter 24

Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Barracks

Date: January 16, 2533

Time: 0400 Hours

The barracks were buzzing with pre-mission tension, the familiar hum of soldiers preparing for deployment. Bravo Fireteam and Alpha Fireteam were gearing up, checking and double-checking their weapons and armor. The room was filled with the clatter of gear, the low murmur of conversation, and the steady beat of nerves that always accompanied the moments before a drop.

I sat on the edge of my bunk, tightening the straps on my armor, my mind already running through the mission details. Hit the Covenant supply line, disrupt their logistics, and get out. Simple enough on paper, but I knew better than to expect things to go smoothly. They rarely did.

Across the room, Alice was briefing her fireteam, her voice calm but firm. She had grown into her role as a leader, and it showed. The rookies under her command respected her, not just for her combat skills but for the way she handled herself under pressure. She was always in control, even when the situation was spiraling into chaos.

I finished adjusting my gear and stood up, glancing at Sam as she moved between the two fireteams, checking medical supplies and making sure everyone was set. She caught my eye for a brief moment, offering a small nod before turning back to her work. The unspoken understanding between us was still there, but today, the mission was front and center.

"Cass," Alice called out, her voice cutting through the noise. "You good?"

I nodded, grabbing my rifle and slinging it over my shoulder. "Yeah. All set."

She gave me a quick once-over, her sharp eyes scanning my gear to make sure everything was in order. Alice had always been like that—detail-oriented, never leaving anything to chance. It was one of the reasons she was such a good leader.

"Good," she said, satisfied. "We've got this."

I could hear the confidence in her voice, and it was infectious. We had trained for this. The rookies had trained for this. Whatever the Covenant threw at us, we'd be ready.

I made my way over to Bravo Fireteam, checking in with the rookies. Private Silva was nervously adjusting his helmet, while Corporal Barnes stood quietly beside him, her expression calm but focused. They were both solid soldiers, but I could see the tension in their eyes—the anticipation of what was coming.

"Everyone ready?" I asked, my voice steady as I looked them over.

Silva gave a quick nod, though his hands were still fidgeting with his gear. "Ready as we'll ever be, Sergeant."

Barnes just nodded, her grip tight on her rifle. She was quiet, but I knew she was reliable. When things got tough, she'd be there.

"Remember your training," I said, my tone firm but calm. "Stick together, watch each other's backs, and we'll make it through this."

They both nodded, the weight of my words settling over them.

Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Drop Bay

Date: January 16, 2533

Time: 0430 Hours

The drop bay was a hive of activity as we boarded the Pelican for our mission. The massive hangar doors stood open, revealing the early morning sky outside, still dark and dotted with stars. The Pelican's engines hummed steadily, ready to take us into the fray.

Doss was already on board, standing by the hatch as we filed in. His hard gaze swept over each of us, assessing our readiness with the same no-nonsense attitude he always had. He didn't say much—he didn't have to. His presence alone was enough to keep the fireteams focused.

As I took my seat beside Alice, I glanced over at Sam, who was sitting across from me, her medkit secured beside her. She caught my eye again, and this time there was something unspoken in the way she looked at me—a reminder, maybe, that we had each other's backs, no matter what.

I gave her a small nod, and she returned it before turning her attention to her gear. It was a subtle exchange, but it was enough.

Doss's voice cut through the tension as the Pelican's ramp closed behind us. "All right, listen up. This mission is a simple strike and disrupt op, but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy. The Covenant's logistics hub is heavily fortified, and we're going in fast. We hit them hard, we cripple their supply line, and we get the hell out. No heroics. We do this by the book."

He glanced between Alice and me, his expression hard. "Sergeants, your fireteams are counting on you. Lead them right."

We both nodded, the weight of his words settling over us. This was our mission now, and it was on us to bring everyone back.

Location: In Transit - Pelican Dropship

Date: January 16, 2533

Time: 0445 Hours

The Pelican rumbled as it ascended, the vibrations pulsing through the hull. I sat in silence, my thoughts racing as I mentally prepared for what was coming. The rookies were quiet too, the nervous energy from earlier replaced by the calm focus that always came before a drop.

Alice sat beside me, her helmet in her lap, her eyes closed. I knew she wasn't sleeping—just centering herself, like she always did. I could feel the same tension in her that I felt in myself. She was ready, but that didn't make it any easier.

Sam was checking her medkit again, her brow furrowed in concentration. She was always meticulous when it came to her gear, but I knew it was more than that. It was her way of keeping her mind steady, her way of preparing for the chaos we were about to step into.

As we neared the drop point, Doss stood and made his way to the front of the Pelican. "Five minutes to insertion," he called, his voice loud enough to cut through the steady hum of the engines. "Check your gear and get ready."

I took a deep breath, adjusting my helmet as I glanced over at Alice. She opened her eyes, giving me a small, determined nod.

"Let's make it count, Cass," she said quietly, her voice filled with that familiar fire.

I nodded back, the weight of the mission settling on my shoulders. "Yeah. Let's do this."

The Pelican's ramp began to lower, revealing the dark terrain below, illuminated only by the dim glow of the early morning sky. The Covenant's logistics hub was somewhere down there, hidden in the shadows, waiting for us to strike.

As we stood and moved toward the ramp, ready to drop into the heart of the enemy's operations, I felt a familiar hand brush against mine—Sam, offering a subtle, silent reassurance before the storm.

"We've got this, Cass," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the roar of the engines.

I glanced at her, the weight of her words grounding me. "Yeah," I said, my voice steady. "We do."

And then, with the rush of wind and the jolt of adrenaline that always came with a drop, we were in freefall, plunging into the darkness below.