_____________________________________
3 years earlier
Reach
Epsilon Training Facility
Corporal Ellen Hawks braced herself in the drop pod. Ten seconds ago she was comfortably stretched out across a bunk on the UNSC Half Way There before a drill was called. Two hundred ODST’s were hot dropped from the ship into unknown territory. They weren’t even told what they were going to do, but that was part of the job.
“Alright marines,” The screen inside her pod flickered and a helmet centered it’s self in the picture. “Welcome to Epsilon, this will be your final test. Beta Platoon is down there, and they’ve been waiting for a rematch after Bravo beat their arses all the way back to Earth. In your pod should be a rife of your usual preference, when you hit planet side, regroup with you squads and move to the marked location on your Heads Up Display. There will be a marker there, pick it up and return it to the rendezvous point. This should be a cake walk for you hell jumpers, good luck, command out.”
Hawks switched on her own comm. “Alright Gamma, use the usual pattern. Patterson, you’re up front, James take rear. I don’t know what Beta has in store for us, but I don’t want you all running in there half cocked. Thirty seconds to impact, prepare to defend your position until the rest of the squad can get to you. Good Luck.” Acknowledgment lights blinked across her display, four in all.
Patterson, James, Kinsley, and Pork made up Gamma squad under Hawks. They were the top ranked ODST squad on the ship, and all expectations were turned to them. This mission had to go off without a hitch.
A timer in the corner of Hawks display ticked down to the second of impact. The pod slammed into the ground, creating a small crater around it. Hawks blew the hatch of and immediately darted for the nearest cover. She watched as Patterson, James, and Kinsley all made their way to her position. So far there was no enemy fire. Suddenly Pork’s indicator flashed red. The squad instantly changed direction and moved toward their comrade.
It didn’t take long to find him. Pork lay clumsily hanging out of his pod. Bright florescent green was splattered across his chest. He’d been hit. Hawks flicked on her comm. “Pork, are you alright?” He didn’t answer, but moved his arm slightly to gesture toward the marker. He’d been shot, his armor had locked up to simulate the numbing effect of being hit by a bullet. Pork wasn’t going anywhere. Hawks shook her head and gestured into the trees. Gamma followed her orders and moved out.
The clearing was blank. The entire forest shook with gunfire, but the clearing was blank. Planted in the center was a plain steel pole with a red flag hanging from the top. It was too easy. “Hey Kinsley, you see anything?”
“Negative Corporal, nothing. You think they all ran after the other squads?”
“Nah, they know us too well to leave it completely unguarded.” James shifted to get a better view. “Theirs something we’re missing.”
“Well, no harm no foal,” Patterson said, moving to stand. “I’m going for it.” Before Hawks could say anything, Patterson was off and sprinting into the clearing. The air buzzed as two forms shot from above the trees.
“***,” Kinsley said, raising his sniper rifle to get a better view. “MAKO drones, two of them. Nasty things, Patterson doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Can you get a shot?” Hawks said quickly, trying to think of a way to save Patterson from humiliation.
“I can get one…”
“Well do it!” Kinsley sighted one of the drones and fired. The pellet struck the shell and the drone veered off, now ‘destroyed’. The second drone swooped in on Patterson, firing at the defenseless marine. Then it too swerved off and flew away. “Nice shot Kinsley.”
“But I didn’t shoot Corporal, Ma’am. I couldn’t even sight it.”
“Then who…” Pork’s status light flickered amber and green. “Well I’ll be, down but not out aye Pork?” The light continued to blink. “Grab the flag Patterson, lets get the hell out of here.”
Two days later
“I’d like to congratulate you again for you victory corporal. You and you team did a stunning job.”
“Thank you commander.” Hawks stood on board the Ares IV station above Reach. Commander John Collins stood next to her. “I couldn’t have done it without my team sir.”
“Of course, and that’s why I’d like to reassign your squad Corporal. I want you on the Pearl Harbor.”
“The Pearl Harbor sir? I thought she was decommissioned ages ago.”
“Oh, she was. But we reactivated her, retrofitted with the latest gear and equipment. She needs a good squad on board to keep the place in one piece. Are you up for it?”
“Of course sir. We’re ready to go anywhere you need us sir.” She turned and stared out into space through a large window. Just beyond it a large ship floated by, obviously old and repaired many times. Painted across the side in large black lettering was the words UNSC Pearl Harbor. She muttered, “I just don’t know if she’s up to the task…”
You get hit with a heavy object.
-2 DXT
-5 STM
-200 INT
You are dead.