Author's Note: This chapter was really long, so I'll have to post it in two parts...

Halo Genesis - Part I: The Argo

Chapter 2 – Send Off

0445 Hours, 13 April 2525 (Military Calendar)/

Epsilon Eridani System, Planet Reach high orbit, CMA star dock 001-A

If she could just be there at this moment, that would make his day. It’d probably make hers too. “Please be there, please be there,” Brad whispered to himself as he dialed in his wife’s number.

His hands were shaky as he keyed the chatter. He placed one on the top of the metal frame and squeezed hard while he willed the other to make the call. She had to be there—had to be.

He thought about the upcoming mission, the colony, reasons why contact was lost—just what he was trained to avoid—the downward spiral. But he couldn’t resist it. Had he really even weighed the consequences until now? He let his imagination roam into the negative—into destruction.

What did High Command think this mishap was, a damned ice cream social? Major Commands don’t just fail to report in—especially after an event like meeting aliens.

Why Brad? Why not an entire fleet? What the hell?

In the back of his mind, he knew he felt troubled about the lack of precaution with this situation. Now, it particularly nabbed at him.

The brass still thinks this is just an error.

His internal tirade halted as something else took his mind. The link was queued and transmitting back to New Byzantium—to his wife. She had to be there or else he might not ever hear her voice again.

A few clicks, some noise bursts, and then…relief. “Hello,” a smooth, tender voice answered.

“Baby…baby, it’s me.”

“Brad.”

“Hey, Hun. How are you?”

“I could be better,” she hinted.

“Me too. Definitely me too.”

“Another mission?”

“Yeah…again.”

“I guess I can’t ask, right?”

“As usual,” he said with a desolate laugh. “This is about all we ever talk about, huh?”

“Yeah,” she agreed in a lighthearted tone. “Just be careful like always, Hun.”

“Babe, do you ever regret meeting me…marrying me?”

“What’s going on, baby? I know that voice. What’s up?”

“Nothing. I just…looking back all these years, with me being gone all the time…do you ever wish things were different?”

“No. Brad, listen: I married a military man, who handles his affairs. I knew that the day I met you…and I don’t regret a single day. I want to be married to you when you come back from your mission and I want to be married to you after that. Come home safe. I need you. Vanessa needs you too.”

“How is she since last time we spoke?”

“She’s growing fast and getting heavy so I really need you around,” she finished with a laugh. “Ooooh! I almost forgot! She took her first steps last Friday!”

“Wow.” Brad bent his head to the ground—smiled. Suddenly, his joy faded and the lines of his grin sank back into somber accretion. “I’ve been doing this for too long.”

“I know, Brad…I know. Do your duty, come home safe, and finish out your year. We’ll be waiting like always. Promise me you’ll be safe.”

“I will, baby. I gotta go. The men need me now. I’ll be there soon. And when I get there, I’m gonna hold you both and never let you go—ever.”

“Goodbye. Love you. I’ll be thinking about you. Call when you can.”

“Bye, Love.”

Like the endless vacuum between them, the link faded into nothingness.

Continued...