ABOARD THE APOLLO

The UNSC Apollo was a marvelous ship. It was the prestige of ONI stealth intelligence coupled with just enough military power to subdue even the largest of foes; even if only for enough time to escape. The stealth capabilities were at peak condition with the ability to be completely controlled with a smart AI. This allowed the small number of whomever was involved in the operation to be aware and no one else. Safe for the cabinet at the top of ONI and whoever was involved in the operation the rest was silence. No one knew of it and ONI planned to keep it that way. In atmosphere, when docked, it looked like a sleek black missile in waiting. It was in space that its true capabilities took form. When the stealth cloak was activated it was non-existent amongst the stars. If you were to have looked very hard, and for some time, you just may have noticed the slight shimmer in the darkness as something flew by the stars. Inside, however, was an entirely different story. A story that spoke opposites. Safe for the docking bay and the bridge of the ship, amongst other rooms, the walls and floors were of a solid clean white with blue streaming lights that ran along the corners  of the hallways where floor and wall would meet. It almost seemed comparable to the medical cleanliness of a hospital interior. It was only in the docking bay and bridge command that gray, grated  floors were once again met with solid steel walls devoid of any markings safe for ONI insignia. Bridge command was a large open room with screens and monitors on desks positioned around the edge, and in the center, a table with a platform, that lit up the otherwise dark room thanks to the large open windows looking out into the vastness of space.

From up above, ship hovering in stasis, Victoria looked like a sea of beautiful greens in a mix of deep blues. Vast forests collided with ocean fronts. There was no such thing as ice caps or gaping deserts here to mar the rest of the natural beauty. Not a single trace of brown from so high up above. It was beautiful as it turned in the glittering sea of black. In fact it was the only thing noticeable within the whole 111 Tauri system. The world reminded him of home, a home that was currently many light-years away. The armored warrior was ready to return.

It was here that SPARTAN-311 found Orpheus waiting. Having taken the single Pelican he used to descend, he arrived back inside the ship The bridge was dark. Screens flickered monitoring whatever activity Orpheus had decided most precedent. The stars were beautiful to watch from the bridge though. They glowed like bright white Christmas ornaments hung from trees at night. Not more than a second had he entered when Orpheus appeared on his small central platform peering from under his hood to greet him. Those blue eyes felt like they pierced right through him. He was eerie, but he was safe.

"You have it, Spartan?" he spoke.
"Right here" he nodded reading for it. 311 pulled the chip from the back of his helmet and inserted at the base of Orpheus' platform. "Was there ever a doubt?"
There was a chuckle in response from beneath the cloak as several seconds passed. Good work Spartan. I will immediately begin decoding this. I have already set course back for planet Reach. In the meantime I suggest you find food and rest. It won't be long before we are home," Orpheus turned to face away and then vanished from his pedestal. The A.I. had always been cold that way.

He could feel the ship begin to turn and move under his feet and all around him. Orpheus must really be in a hurry he thought. He stood to watch the stars turning, or rather him turning about them,  as they faded from screen only to find more nebula's about in the vastness of space. He turned and left the room. Yep that's Orpheus, he thought, still creepy and short for words. He headed to the cryo-chamber where he would rest until awakened. This was the part that was always most unsettling to him; leaving himself in a state of condition where his only reliance was a single artificial intelligence to make sure he stayed alive and made it home. He thought of his last breaths being left in the hands of malfunctioning wires while he died unknowingly in the deep drifts of planetary travel. Space was unsettling It was on foot with dirt and rock underneath him that he felt secure. He had no control up here.

He stepped into the chamber room. There sat at least two dozen cryo-beds laid against the walls diagonally aligned in two rows; across from each other on each side of the room. He worked on disassembling his armor stripping down to bare skin and setting it in place on the racks built to support it. He stared at the armor for a moment which glared back at him. Even in the darkness of the chamber, alone with the few beds glowing in that warmly greeting with blue lights resonating for him to rest in, he felt as if the armor was alive staring back at him. The golden visor reflected the few blue lights that heated the otherwise chilly room. It was magnificent. He remembered the day he had been given his set of MJOLNIR MARK IV armor. It had been an experience unlike anything he had ever known before. Now he felt almost inferior; lost without all of its amplified nuances. He was of course far more capable than any human without the suit, still, against the Covenant, it served as a lifeline. A reminder of all he had persevered and accomplished. He turned away to the long dining-room-like table in the center of the long room amidst the two rows and took a swallow of the container which sat on it. It was filled with a vile taste, but he knew it was necessary to sustain the long journey. It was filled with all the vitamins and nutrients he would need. Raising the sickly, little vile SPARTAN-311 swallowed the goo as quick as he could. His face grimaced for a moment from the aftertaste as he made sure there was nothing left. Then, with his hands grasping to support, he laid himself as gently as he could in the bed. Steam and gas shot out and the glass case above closed over him.