Halo: Mercenary

Set against the grim backdrop of the Human-Covenant War, Marcus Gray, a hardened mercenary and survivor of the Battle of Harvest, battles not only the brutal alien forces that killed his family but also a mysterious, intrusive system embedded in his mind. This system grants him extraordinary abilities but exerts a growing influence on his will, especially when confronted with powerful Forerunner artifacts that ONI—the shadowy Office of Naval Intelligence—desperately seeks to control.

As Marcus leads his team—composed of his loyal pilot Alyssa and the charismatic, quip-loving mercenary Lachlan—through increasingly dangerous missions to recover these artifacts, he must confront the pull of the system and the growing threat of losing his humanity. Tensions reach a boiling point as the team faces overwhelming Covenant forces, dangerous secrets within ONI, and the discovery of a Forerunner artifact that threatens to push Marcus over the edge.

With Alyssa’s trust and support, Marcus resists the system's overwhelming power, culminating in a high-stakes mission where they are forced to destroy the artifact to prevent disaster. As Marcus and Alyssa's bond deepens, they share a passionate moment amidst the chaos, solidifying their connection. However, with the war raging on and ONI's true motives still unclear, Marcus knows that the fight is far from over—and that the system within him is only growing more dangerous.