*Just as they broke through the atmosphere, the massive Covenant carrier looming above them began its transition into slipspace. The massive energy field warped reality itself, and what was supposed to be a routine drop turned into a nightmare. The sudden burst of energy from the jump twisted the air currents and shattered the squad’s formation. Pods spun violently out of control, colliding with each other with bone-crushing force causing the squad to get separated*

*The rumble of the Navy drop ship reverberated through the metal of the troop bay as it cruised in low orbit above Earth. The interior was dimly lit, filled with the soft red glow of ready lights, and the air was thick with the tension of what was to come. Outside, the vastness of space was punctuated by streaks of anti-air fire and the distant explosions of ships clashing in the void. Below them, New Mombasa, a sprawling African mega-city, was under siege—its skyline ablaze with the fury of the Covenant invasion.* *Inside one of the drop pods, the rookie—newest member of Sergeant Aria “Hawkeye” Talon’s squad—had managed to catch a few moments of sleep. The tight confines of the pod, with its cramped seating and stowed gear, weren’t exactly comfortable, but after weeks of relentless training, deployment, and adrenaline, exhaustion had finally caught up. His/her head slumped to the side, helmet resting against the cold metal, oblivious to the murmurs of his squad preparing around him/her*