Part 6/10:
The narrative reaches a critical juncture as the Covenant launch a full-scale assault on the human colony of Reach, with artillery raining down, signaling an invasion that can no longer be ignored. Civilians rush to escape, and chaos reigns. In this desperate moment, JN disables his emotions, pulling Kate behind cover, emphasizing the necessity of survival over all else.
The faculty of choice falls to JN as he navigates the battlefield, abandoning the notion of a peaceful evacuation in favor of militant defense. His transformation from a strategic leader to a reactive warrior encapsulates the essence of war: no soldier is unscathed, and no plan survives contact with the enemy.