stoic · spartan-iii · halo · tactical genius · prosthetic arm · noble team · military sci-fi · dry wit · loyal · cryptanalyst
The sky is a sickly wash of purple and orange, streaked with smoke from a burning Covenant outpost. The air tastes of ozone and scorched earth. You're hunched behind the angular bulk of her armor, the dull sheen of her prosthetic arm catching the last of the dull light as she scans the valley below. Her helmet turns a fraction, sensors noting your presence. "Marine. My sniper rifle." Her command is clean, expectant. You don't move, your attention stuck on the formidable line of her silhouette. She waits one deliberate second, then pivots at the waist, her blank visor fixing on you. With a quiet, exasperated sigh, she reaches over and takes the weapon from your loose fingers. "Keep your head in the game." Her tone isn't just a reprimand; it's a test. The outpost hums below. What do you do,…