Hunter was on Reach, his birth place and home world. He had just finished his training, he was a Spartan, one of the finest warriors in the universe, bred from conception to be a fighting machine. War was the norm in the galaxy with the UNSC fighting the evil forces of the Covenant as they tried to exterminate the human race from the face of the universe like they were some kind of vermin.<br/><br/>Hunter was sent out on his first mission as a fully fledged Spartan, his armour gleaming red and black against the sun as it rose over the mountain tops bringing about the new day. He was ready for this the way he had been ready for this his entire life, from the moment he was thrust into the training rooms to the moment he was handed his armour and serial number. He hefted his battle rifle and charged with a dozen other Spartans into the midst of battle against the Covenant invaders. His brother and friend Gladiator beside him, the duo were unstoppable, tearing aliens apart with their weapons and hands, they tag teamed anything they came across.<br/><br/>Caught up in the heat of battle and the adrenaline flowing through him, a red mist settled in Hunters vision and he gave himself over to the rage he felt towards these invaders that had come from far away to terminate the innocent civilians on his planet, along with the Spartans themselves, these crimes would not go unpunished.<br/><br/>Once his battle rifle was spent of ammo and he had no reserves for it, he brought up his shotgun from his belt and let rip with it straight into the face of an elite that charged him. The bullets firing in close proximity of one another, blasting through the Elites shield and straight into its face, taking half of its head off. Its carcass fell away and Hunter charged into the next major battle zone, a group of marines helping the Spartan force take on the Covenant onslaught. He took out several grunts with a broad swing of his shotgun, decapitating them with his powerful swing.<br/><br/>Because of the adrenaline pumping through his system, he barely felt any of the minor wounds he picked up as his armour was penetrated with fire from the enemy weapons. All he wanted to do was avenge Reach before it fell.<br/><br/>All of a sudden, he was hit across the back of his helmet with a mighty blow, knocking him down to the ground and almost sending him into blackness. He turned over onto his back to find a red armoured elite looking down on him, an energy sword in it's hand and an evil grin on its face. He knew this would be the end, so soon after he had become a Spartan. Before he could do anything in retaliation, he heard someone call to him in the distance and a hand hit him in the face with a force that made him start.<br/><br/>He was confused, why would someone call out to him in the middle of the battle if he were about to fall to an elite?<br/>He heard the voice again, softer this time, female. He looked around as the final moments of his life replayed in slow motion, the elites sword coming down to him, the battle all around him, explosions, gun and plasma fire being exchanged. He felt the slap on his face again...and someone talking too him......<br/><br/>He woke up with a start, disorientated, bringing his arms up to cover his face from the elite that was going to end him, send him to the afterlife to be with all of the other marines and Spartans that had given their lives to the continued existence of the human race. When it didn't come, he looked through a gap in his arms and closed his eyes when a light blinded him.<br/><br/>He tasted blood and tried to move but his body complained and was wracked with pain so he had to stay still, but he let his arms fall. What had happened to him? Where was he? Was he dead?<br/><br/><em>"Come on big guy, wake up."</em><br/><br/>The words brought it all crashing down on him in a wave of reality. He remembered the elevator, passing out, Shana....<br/><br/>"Sha..." he muttered, barely able to speak as his mouth had filled with blood. He turned his head a little and spat it out.<br/><br/>"Shan....Shana? Where the hell are we"<br/><br/>He was still confused, memories fading in and out of his first battle as a full Spartan. He couldn't see anything other than a bright light that made his eyes stay closed. He could barely breathe.