The barracks were quieter than I expected. With the war raging outside, you'd think everyone would be on edge, but here? The ODSTs were tough as nails, sure, but they knew how to decompress. There were a few hushed conversations, the scrape of armor being adjusted, the faint hum of gear being maintained. It reminded me of home… well, what used to be home.
I sat on one of the bunks, shotgun leaning against my leg, helmet off. Ruby, Jaune, and the others had scattered, each of them tending to their own pre-battle rituals. Yang was sitting a few beds over, going through some MRE packs like she was looking for treasure.
"You ever tried these before?" Yang asked, waving a sealed pouch in my direction.
I gave her a shrug. "Back in the Frontier, rations weren't much better."
She smirked, ripping open the pack with a confidence that suggested this wasn't her first tango with military cuisine. "Well, I can promise you this: they still suck."
"Hey!" Nora's voice rang out from the other side of the room, holding up her own MRE with triumph. "Found one of the chocolate pudding packs. Best thing we've got around here!"
Objective Update: Bond with the Team.
Ruby and Jaune were both off to the side, checking their weapons. Ruby handled her BR55 battle rifle with almost childlike enthusiasm, like she couldn't wait to use it. Jaune was more methodical, taking his time with each piece of his gear. I could tell that despite his more laid-back attitude earlier, he took this fight seriously.
As I watched them, that strange sense of belonging crept up on me again. It had been a long time since I had fought side by side with anyone I could call a friend. And though I didn't know these people well, they had already proved their worth in the field.
New Dialogue Option: Talk with Jaune about Tomorrow's Mission.
I got up, walking over to where Jaune was sitting. "You seem pretty calm about tomorrow."
Jaune glanced up, a small smile on his face. "You get used to it after a while. It's not the first time we've been in over our heads."
I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "You mean charging into an enemy forward base with just a handful of troops isn't normal for you?"
Jaune chuckled, shaking his head. "Believe it or not, we've been in worse situations. But we've always pulled through. It's about trust, you know? If you trust the people next to you, you can handle just about anything."
I nodded slowly. Trust. That was something I hadn't thought much about in a while. In the Frontier, trust was a luxury. People died too fast to rely on anyone but yourself. But here? I could feel it. These ODSTs were more than just soldiers—they were a family.
New Skill Unlocked: Squad Cohesion
Description: The more you trust and fight with your squad, the better your overall combat efficiency. Improves teamwork-based tactics.
"I'll keep that in mind," I said, offering a small grin. "Just don't get too comfortable. The Covenant won't make it easy."
Jaune's smile didn't falter. "Wouldn't expect them to."
A few hours later, the base was quiet, save for the low hum of equipment and the distant thrum of gunships patrolling the skies. I lay back on my bunk, helmet resting beside me, eyes staring up at the metal ceiling. The uneasy calm before a storm.
Sleep wasn't going to come easy. Too much on my mind. The mission ahead. This war I'd been thrown into. The people I was slowly learning to trust. And then there was that old part of me—the part that was still Jasper Spears, the Pilot from the Frontier, a long way from home.
Objective Update: Rest Before the Assault.
But before I could close my eyes, the door to the barracks slid open with a soft hiss. Ruby stood in the doorway, her red cloak gone but her ever-present enthusiasm still intact.
"Mind if I sit?" she asked, nodding toward the empty bunk next to me.
"Go ahead."
She sat down, setting her rifle on her lap. For a moment, she just fiddled with it, turning the safety on and off like she was distracting herself. It was a familiar sight. Even the most experienced soldiers got jittery before a big mission.
"Can't sleep?" I asked.
Ruby shook her head, a small grin on her face. "Nah. Too excited. I've always been like this before a big fight."
"You've done this a lot, haven't you?"
Her grin softened into something more thoughtful. "Yeah… We've been fighting since we were kids. Sometimes it feels like it's all we know."
I nodded, understanding all too well. "It's not easy. But we get through it."
Ruby looked up at me, her silver eyes studying me for a second. "What about you, Hawk? What's your story? I mean, really? You're not like anyone I've met."
I hesitated. The whole "different galaxy" story wasn't exactly something that rolled off the tongue. But Ruby had been open with me, and I could tell she wasn't just asking out of curiosity. She wanted to know the person behind the helmet.
New Dialogue Option: Reveal the Truth About Your Past.
"I was a Pilot," I said after a moment. "Not from here. Not even from this universe, really. I fought in a war a lot like this one, on the other side of the stars. Different enemies, different weapons, but the same kind of fight. I lost my squad, got caught up in some kind of interdimensional rift, and ended up here."
Ruby blinked, her eyes wide. "Wow. That's… I mean, that's insane."
"Yeah. Tell me about it."
She gave me a long look, then smiled. "Well, you ended up in the right place. We've all got weird stories here."
Squad Affinity Increased: Ruby Rose
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Guess I'm not the only one with a crazy backstory then."
Ruby stood up, picking up her rifle. "Not by a long shot. Get some rest, Hawk. We'll need you sharp tomorrow."
She left before I could respond, the door sliding shut behind her. I lay back again, closing my eyes this time, feeling a little more at ease.
New Objective: Assault the Covenant Forward Base.
Tomorrow was going to be hell. But I wasn't fighting alone anymore.
And maybe, just maybe, Jasper Spears still had something left to fight for.