Chapter 37 - Unexpected

Dom and Sophia would go over the things that the clones would do well and the things they needed to work on. The casualties were far too high anytime they fought the Spartan. The Spartans wanted the clones to understand that every plan could be improved. Causalities can be expected but that doesn't mean you cannot find a way to minimize them. Anytime the Clones would fight the Spartans they were experiencing an 80% causality rate. Dom would think back to some of his brothers and sisters that were lost. He didn't wish for the clones to experience the same thing. But he was a soldier and losses were expected.

Diesel explained to Dom the feelings he felt, when they lost the 4th member of Valkyrie Squad to a Covenant Space Cruiser. They were returning from the space station above Reach, when the Covenant appeared in space above. They went to be recorded as MIA but the feelings that Diesel expressed were frightening. All Spartans to him were important, they were his family and he would do everything to protect them.

Dom was the closest thing to Diesel as an actual brother, they both knew each other before they were kidnapped. Everything that happened during the selection process the Doctor took in account. Although Diesel wasn't involved in the other seventy-five the selection process. He still viewed them as family. Dom wanted the clones to evolve from cannon fodder to true warriors. Over the course of the next few weeks. The clones' causality were steadily decreasing as their success rates would increase.

"Captain Rex you and your man have been over performing. Although you have much to improve on, your overall performance has improved. It was good that I choose you as a Captain. Captain Waltz you're still trying to go by the book, and that's costing you a lot of time. You need to expand your field of vision and work towards completing the mission as your priority. During his discussion with both Captains a clone came up to him signaling that a problem may have occurred.

"Commander Dom, sensors have been picking lifeforms after the base. I sent Jack and Lantern out to gather intel. I believe we are being watched sir."

"Do we know by what or by whom?"

"Not yet, they are hiding just outside the sensor range and only appear for a few moments on the radar when they do enter. It's like they are testing out perimeter Sir."

"So whoever we are facing has some sort of intelligence. I thought we were supposed to be on this planet alone. Make sure the men are ready to go at any time just in case. We should keep Jack and Lantern just outside of the radar to make sure nothing sneaks up on us."

A few days have passed and nothing has happened. Dom had the clones proceed as normal but kept at least ten scouts patrolling outside of the radar. Sophia started appearing less during training period and connected her suit to the sensor array to make sure they would be safe. Sadly, all good things must come to an end when Lantern reported that a large number of humanoid creatures were spotted heading in their direction. Dom really didn't want to waste resources on fighting a battle against an unknown enemy that they didn't need to fight. Thanks to the warning he was able to order the retreat of all the men. Eventually, leaving the planet Dom wasn't completely blind to want was happening. He knew Jango lied to him about the planet and expected him to fight the creatures. He was being tested and he didn't like it.

--Jango planet surface--

"It seems they were able to retreat extremely quickly without deaths. He has trained them well, that is surprising. I would have at least figured them getting caught in battle."

"Jango, how did it go? Were you able to get them to fight?"

"No. It seems they retreated immediately before they even entered the perimeter."

"All that work provoking them to attack was for nothing then."

"We have to wait for another chance to kill these Spartans, before they meet up with Diesel. Keep them from contacting each other Jango."

--Sophia and Dom--

"Dom why didn't we just fight them? I figured that would be what you would've wanted to bathe the troops."

"I'm not sure why, but I feel like that's what they wanted us to do. So instead of fighting I choose to retreat. It wasn't a battle that we needed to do or a battle that was required for us. It had to be a trap."

"Trap or not, it's not like it is possible for us to lose. That's not the point, we need to know what we're facing. Remember what Diesel said our first mission is to uncover who is behind the scenes. They are a threat."

"Yes, I know but I've been itching to fight something all this sneaking is unsatisfying."

"Our time will come."