When Leanne got home, she threw the car keys onto the kitchen counter. She wasn't all to happy about what happened at HQ, but at least it wasn't all bad since Ike sort of cheered her up, which she doubted was possible after her revelation. But wanting to get over it, she picked up computer tablet and turned it to the news section to see if anything new was going on. But the usual Rebel movement and lame reality show ads, it was quite bland, at least she thought so until she hit a significant article.
'Spartan III Beta Program Launched', it was just a boring explanation of what it meant and what happens to the volunteers, but then she read the list of recruits.
"Peter Vangarson.... Lawrence Chinroah.... Kenna Ragarston.... Al Na--"
She froze... she remembered who's name that was, and looked at a picture on her wall. It was a polaroid of Leanne and her old friends. Besides Alex, Brandon, and Maya, Al was the youngest, being 15 when she left for the academy.
"Why would he do that?" She said aloud. "He's skinnier than a sniper barrel, how could he go and get himself killed?"
But, then again, it could be some other Al, but then she read the ACTUAL name pronunciation, and her shoulders drooped. No one else has that name, like, ANYWHERE. But, she just went to the next topic, relieved to see a gif of Chef Ramsey the 43rd yelling some pun about bad food at a cook. Leanne turned it again, and looked at a picture of a burning neighborhood.
'Rebels, again.' she thought. But Leanne peered closer at the picture and realized something horrifying... it was HER old neighborhood. Above the article, the title read *Attack on Arcadian Town, Evacuations Begun*. And the topic was fresh, only a few hours ago it was posted.
"Probably what the squad was talking about." She muttered to herself... interrupted when her phone rang. She picked it up and read the contact. 'Unknown' it said, but Leanne asnwered it anyway.
"Hello?" She asked.
"ODST Trooper Designation 137, Echo Squad Leanne Xandrovic?" The man on the line asked, in return.
"Uh... yeah." She answered. "Who is this?"
"That is not important, but I've heard about your falling out with your squad from one of the recruits... heard it was pretty rough." The man answered.
"Sure." She told him. "Why did you call?"
"I have positions open in my platoon... and seeing as you're not too fond of yours, I would like to extend an invitation for you to join us." He informed.
Leanne thought, obviously skeptical, not wanting to trust a random caller but hating her crew, she hesitantly agreed to meet the guy on the details at the tether.
"Alright." The man said. "I'll see you then." And hung up.
.....
The caller got up from his seat and dialed a number on his phone again.
"Hello." A gruff voice said.
"She's thinking about it." He told the other. "Meeting her tomorrow."
"Good, tell me her answer after." The other man said back.
"I will." The first said. "What's the plan for the Evacs, though?"
"Set, but we'll import more squads later." The other replied. "Gannon out."
....