Halo:Feet First

Halo Feet First 2

2

0832 hours July 24 2552 (Military Calender)

/Epsilon Eridani System. Planet Reach

UNSC Pelican Drop Ship Exodus

Two kilometers south of UNSC training facility.

"First Sergeant, have we been ordered to commence evacuations?" Locklear asked, looking out of the open troop bay door.

"No,we haven't been ordered to do anything. For now we are gonna sit our asses at Manassas and wait."

"Sir,do we know exactly who it was that found the Covenant?"

"No word on that yet son, just a group of Spartans, " Landing said,biting back a tone.

Harald didn't press the matter much further. He stopped to think about his aunt and uncle who lived in Manassas. A lot of the other recr...marines here had family on Reach. He hoped he would at least be able to get his family off planet safely.

The pelican jerked lightly as it began to descend. The landing pad below held four other pelicans which held the rest of Locklear's platoon and one other. The rest drove the transport hogs and would arrive in a few minutes.

The pelican's crew chief waded through the large group of marines to the open end of the blood tray. Seconds before touching down, he began yelling, "Get your asses off my dropship,let's go,let's go,let's go!"

Everyone filed out in a line and regrouped with their platoon mates. They all snapped to attention as if waiting for an order.

"At ease, take a little time to call your families,if you got any on Reach, I'm sure evac orders will come soon."

The whole platoon let out a sigh of relief and dispersed. Harald made his way to the nearest vid station, hoping his Aunt Patrice would answer. He dialed her home vid station, it rang several times.

"Hello?" his Uncle David answered.

"Hi uncle,how's everything?"

"Well I'll be...Harald is that you. Fist time we've heard from you in two months."

Harald frowned,"Yeah,sorry about that,but I'm a private in the UNSC Marine Corps as of today."

"Is that so? I'm proud of ya boy. Me and your aunt are doin pretty good. Business us pickin up at the store and I got a job fastening 70mm's to the D77's down at the UNSC naval yard."

"That sounds exciting...have you heard?"

"Winter Contingency,I know. Pat's all worked up about it,but it's just one of the governments ploys to scare us, keep us in line."

"No Uncle David,it's not. The Covenant are here,my company was running the Crucible today,but they stopped it in the middle. You guys have to get off Reach," the private replied with anger in his voice. Meloncoly and fear found its way in too.

"Harald,we aren't leaving,we have too much at stake here and we are going to protect it as long as we can."

"You can't protect it,that's why we're here."

"I said no,and that's final..."

Harald shifted in his seat,"At least promise me if things get too dangerous,you'll get out while you can."

"Harald...of course. I have no intention on dying here."

"Good,I love you uncle. Tell Aunt Patrice I love her too.