Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base, Virek
Date and Time: May 21, 2553 – 1930 Hours
We were so close.
The battle outside the command post had been fierce, and Kane was finally in custody, but the feeling of victory barely had time to settle before everything went sideways. Two squads of turncoats moved in from the shadows, surrounding us in a tight perimeter. Their weapons were trained on us before we even had a chance to react.
Now, we're standing here, hands raised, weapons at our feet, while their leader steps forward with a grin that makes my skin crawl.
"You put up a good fight," he says, his voice dripping with condescension as he paces in front of us. "But this is where it ends. You've been a thorn in our side for far too long."
I grit my teeth, keeping my eyes forward. Santiago, Dash, and O'Neill are beside me, their faces hard with anger and frustration. We're outnumbered, and I can feel the tension in the air. This isn't just a stand-off—it's an execution waiting to happen.
The turncoat leader smirks, clearly enjoying the power he holds over us. "You really thought you could stop us? That your little battalion could make a difference?" He shakes his head, chuckling under his breath. "The URF is just the beginning. The colonies are rising, and soon, there won't be a UNSC left to fight for."
He steps closer, looking me directly in the eye. "But don't worry—you won't live long enough to see it."
I can feel my pulse pounding in my ears as he continues his monologue, going on about how the URF is destined to overthrow the UNSC and how we were fools to stand against them. It's the typical bad guy speech, but I'm not really listening. My mind is racing, trying to figure out a way out of this. But with our weapons on the ground and the turncoats surrounding us, there's no clear path to escape.
And then he gives the order.
"Execute them," the leader says, waving his hand casually. "Let's finish this."
The turncoats raise their rifles, and I brace myself for the worst. But just as they're about to pull the trigger, the air explodes with the unmistakable sound of heavy weapons fire.
Before I can even react, the turncoats around us are cut down by a hail of bullets, their bodies dropping to the ground in an instant. I glance up in shock, just in time to see a Spartan IV fireteam charge in from the side, their MJOLNIR Helljumper armor gleaming in the fading light.
They move with precision and speed, taking out the remaining turncoats before they even have a chance to react. It's over in seconds.
I can barely process what just happened before one of the Spartans—their leader—steps forward, his visor reflecting the dim light from the burning wreckage around us.
"Daniel Woods, Spartan IV," he says, his voice deep and authoritative. "You can relax now. We've got it covered."
I blink, still trying to catch my breath. "You… you saved us?"
He hesitates for a second, then nods, though there's a reluctance in his tone. "Yeah. But don't get too comfortable. We were watching you for a while. You and your team were the perfect bait."
"What?" Santiago blurts out, his voice full of disbelief. "You used us as bait?"
Woods crosses his arms, clearly unfazed by Santiago's reaction. "It was the quickest way to draw out the remaining turncoats. We knew they were going to make a move, and you were in the right place at the right time. Rather than chase them down, we let them come to you."
I feel a surge of frustration, but I force it down. They used us as bait—set us up to be executed—but in the end, they saved our lives. It's hard to be angry when the alternative was death.
"Look, I get it," Woods continues, his tone slightly softer now. "You're pissed. But we needed to end this quickly, and this was the most efficient way. Besides," he adds, glancing at the fallen turncoats, "you held your own. You've got nothing to be ashamed of."
The other Spartans regroup behind him, their weapons at the ready, scanning the area for any remaining threats. The battle is winding down, but the tension is still high.
"You and your team performed well," Woods says, turning his attention back to me. "And I'll be forwarding a recommendation to the Spartan Branch for recruitment consideration."
I raise an eyebrow, surprised. "Recruitment? For the Spartan program?"
He nods. "Based on what I've seen, you and your team have potential. But don't get too excited just yet. It's not up to me. I'm just a regular Spartan. I'll put in the request, but it'll be up to the higher-ups to decide whether or not they want to bring you in."
I exchange a glance with Santiago, who looks just as surprised as I feel. Becoming a Spartan isn't something that happens every day. It's a commitment, a transformation, and for Marines like us, it's a life-changing opportunity.
Before I can respond, Woods cuts in. "It'll probably take a while before they make any decisions. A year, maybe more. There are other priorities right now. But when the time comes, don't be surprised if you get the call."
A year from now, the war might be over—or it might be worse. But knowing that we're being considered for the Spartan IV program is something that sticks with me. It's an opportunity. A future.
For now, though, there's still a lot of work to do.
Woods turns to leave, but before he goes, he glances back at me. "Good work out there. You handled yourselves well. We'll see what the future holds."
With that, the Spartans move off, their armor gleaming in the fading light as they disappear into the shadows of the base.
For a moment, I just stand there, trying to process everything that just happened. The battle, the betrayal, the Spartans… it's a lot to take in.
"Bait, huh?" Santiago mutters, shaking his head. "Well, at least we're still breathing."
I nod, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Yeah. That's something."
We gather our weapons, the weight of the day finally starting to sink in. The base is secure, Kane is in custody, and the URF is on the run. But there's still a lot left to do—and a lot more to come.
As we head back toward the command post, the thought lingers in the back of my mind: the Spartan IV program. It's a future I never expected, but now it's a possibility.
And that changes everything.