Retribution

Prologue

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3. . .2. . .1. . .The clamps holding the SOEIV (Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle) released, charges blew, accelerating the drop pod toward the planet's atmosphere. The human strapped inside kept an eye on the control panel-green across the board. So far. He offered up a silent prayer to the Gods that this jump would be his last.

Busted down to corporal, former SAS soldier Ian Graham thought about all that could go wrong this jump, hoping for the millionth time it would. He'd already paid his debt to humanity. No way home, and no home or anyone waiting at the end of this mission. At the time, joining the Helljumpers was a good idea.

Col. Mitchell was assigned to one of the battle groups. He wasn't allowed access to which ship. Maj. Lennox was in the UNSC Army, fighting the Covenant on the ground; Epps went AWOL and rumor had it he had joined the insurgents. Col. Carter was working for ONI and he knew they had their claws in Dr. Jackson, which was why he hadn't heard from him in months.

Closing his eyes as the pod dropped through the atmosphere, Graham began his internal countdown, praying he wouldn't live to see the ground.