Halo: Twenty Miles Below

Old Dog Same Tricks

[August 30th, 2552]_ START_JOURNAL_ENTRY-BEGIN?_Y/N=Y_GO.

"Taking you out of the SPARTAN-II program just after your injections was nowhere near easy Gavin, but for the task at the moment, we're putting you into prototype SPARTAN-III armor for now... Hm, someone's been tampering with my Spartans... How rude. I have no idea what this SPARTAN-III nonsense is about." Doctor Halsey mumbled to Gavin, not looking away from the tablet in hand. The deck was dark, but the windows that covered the floors and walls allowed for light to emit from the planet below, which illuminated light off of its sun. Gavin had only seen Reach on a couple of hostage missions in the past, dealing with Insurrectionists. He's never encountered a single Covenant bastard, let alone seen a Covenant Cruiser. Or worse, a glassing, but he's seen what glassing can do to homeworlds.

Halsey glanced at Gavin, standing there listening to her in his combat ready uniform. "I'm giving you a test run for your new armor in about..." Halsey walked to a nearby desk and picked up a clipboard. She glared at it for a second. "...7 hours." Gavin looked around the room. Cables were laid down and tangled everywhere, with desktops that were off, but still emitted some form of light. He wasn't fond of the atmosphere. Doctor Halsey walked over to Gavin, and held his hand; Two times wider than hers. She looked up at the 7"2 SPARTAN-II before her. "Gavin... I've only seen clips from ONI of what you're capable of, especially when dealing with Insurrectionists. Except this is different. You will encounter Covenant for the first time. I know for a fact however, that you've seen the aftermath of a Covenant Glassing...and what it did to your home planet Harvest." Gavin tensed up, remembering the death count displayed on the big screen in the mess hall onboard the Armstrong when it happened. He snapped out of it, and focused back onto Halsey. Halsey continued, "But I do know you have more than just potential. Head to your cabin Gavin, I'll have an officer escort you to the Landing Bay when ready. Get some rest." The elevator ride down to his cabin was uncomfortably cold with anxiety.