A/N: Okay; before everyone kills me for starting a new story, this one will not be updated weekly. It's going to be random updates so... Mostly a fun little side protect for me as I love reading Halo (Read all the books and like reading the wiki) and decided to tie in some RWBY with it using the characters in the Halo Universe. The time period we jump in at in this story is a couple of days before the planet Reach plunged into war with the Covenant.

This will feature RWBY characters (almost all of them) but mainly focus on Cinder's ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) team. So CRME + N and RWBY will be the "main" characters so to speak. Anyways... This will be as realistic-ly close to the HALO story and timeline as possible. I seriously have multiple wikis up as I type this. Although I am bound to make some mistakes, so please forgive me. Also will mention these chapters will most likely not be any longer than 3 - 4 thousand words in length.

Also I noticed for you RWBY yuri fans out there; I did tag this as Falling Petals and Freezerburn. This is basically the end game ships, but the beginning ones won't be these. Also big note that romance won't be a major thing in this story; so no awesome smex scenes... Maybe? We'll see. Anyways this will be an emotional story of loss and dealings with it as well as major battles against the Covenant.

Anyways enough talking; read on and enjoy!

July 22, 2552

Aboard UNSC Beacon's Legacy

-16:44-

"So… We're really getting replacements, huh?"

First Lieutenant Cinder Fall looked over from where she sat; atop of one of the many weapon's crates in the small locker room, and at her second in command. Gunnery Sergeant Torchwick. Currently he was laying on the floor with his back against his locker, in a seemingly relaxed posture. The man's most distinguishable feature; his bright orange hair still not in military regulation as his bangs were covering up his right green eye. He was dressed in the standard ODST BDUs like everyone else in the room; save his helmet which lay next to him.

Exhaling to herself, Cinder glanced around the room solemnly towards the rest of its occupants who all wore a similar expression to her own, tired. There was Sergeant Tukson "Doc" her team's corpsman. The oldest out of everyone in the squad, Cinder knew he had seen the most bloodshed and death out of them all. His jet black hair was kept in strict military regulation and his hazel eyes were always narrowed as if he were annoyed. On the team's off time he usually had his head in a book, staying quiet unless he was needed. Despite his severe detached attitude towards talking with the others as he kept to himself, Lieutenant Fall wouldn't trade him for a dozen other corpsmen. Tukson was truly one of the best medics she had ever seen; placing his life on the line to ensure everyone and anyone a chance at living once wounded.

To Tukson's left was a dark skinned girl with mint green short hair. Lance Corporal Emerald Sustrai; better known as the unit's sniper. LCPL. Sustrai's skill with the SRS 99 Anti-Material sniper rifle was unmatched, she truly was one of a kind with the weapon; and Cinder very rarely gave out compliments. Once Sustrai's blood red eyes were homed in on you with that massive weapon; your life was over. Despite being known as the team's sniper though; Cinder knew her as something more; her lover. It had only started about a month ago, but L.T. Fall couldn't deny the girl's attractiveness, and after a particularly savage mission dealing with insurrectionists and the alien covenant at the same time; Cinder and Emerald found solace in each other. It wasn't long for the both of them to indulge in the more physical aspects of a relationship. In this line of work, she knew it was better to live everyday as your last; but personal feelings aside; Fall would rather no one else be her eyes from above than LCPL. Sustrai.

Looking over towards a man with short silver hair was Private First Class Mercury Black. He had his gray eyes focused on cleaning his M45 Tactical Shotgun. The man was loud, talkative, sarcastic, a smartass, and extremely dependable. Being the unit's newest addition to the team made it seem like he was trying extra hard to prove himself. He was the group's close quarter's combat specialist. Armed with his shotgun; he was usually the first one in a room and the last one out. Although Cinder sometimes couldn't stand the man's arrogant attitude she knew he was capable of doing his job. Hell; all of her men and women could; that's why she led them. Although PFC. Black's demeanor was similar to Gunnery Sergeant Torchwick's own, the two of them always seemed to butt heads. Minus all the internal bickering though, when it was time to gear up and go out on missions; it was strictly business.

Last but certainly not least in the room was a girl much shorter than the rest of L.T. Fall's group. Corporal Neopolitan; or Neo for short. CPL. Neo was Cinder's heavy weapons specialist; and a damned good one at that. Armed with the group's M41 SSR MAV/AW rocket launcher that almost stood as tall as the girl herself; her aim was always true when a covenant vehicle needed to be blown up. Despite the girl's odd appearance; with her long wavy brown hair having unnatural pink streaks in it, the same with her eye color with her left one being brown and the other pink; she was the happy one of the group as she liked to say. It was quite true though; especially with what happened in the previous missions, the girl's bubbly personality seemed to always keep the group's morale from dipping into dangerous levels. Her extremely short stature almost made it look as if she were a child clad in a battle scarred soldier's armor. Even right now, CPL. Neo was trying to fix her BDU's sleeves from covering her small hands as she tucked the excess of the sleeves into her gloves. Seeing it almost caused Cinder to chuckle; it reminded her of the first time she had seen Neo fire off a rocket from her launcher. The recoil sent the girl flat on her butt a couple feet away.

Once more looking over her squad mates; these men and women whose lives she had complete responsibility for, Lieutenant Fall felt a smirk tug at her usually impassive lips. She had led her team on countless death defying missions and trusted every single one of them with her life, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. They were truly the best of the best and she wouldn't change a damned thing about it.

Until she had received word from Captain Ozpin; who was in command of the very vessel she was on right now; a Charon-class light frigate named Beacon's Legacy. The vessel was docking on Reach and should arrive in a few hours for some much needed R&R plus resupply. It was also there that apparently Cinder's squad was getting replacements. Four brand new Orbital Drop Shock Troopers; fresh out of ODST training. Although they'd be a welcome addition to her; they'd have to earn her respect on the battlefield. No ODST soldier was green behind the ears but that didn't mean she'd welcome them with open arms.

Including the four new recruits she would be in command of the largest ODST combat team she had ever heard of; bumping the usual six man team to an astounding ten man squad. She had no idea why she was getting so many new replacements but if they proved to be competent, all was fine by her. This news she had received; she had spilled to the rest of her soldiers.

As she knew; she led a highly trained group of ODST. All outfitted with the UNSC's best gear and equipment for the task and second to none; except maybe the super soldier Spartans. Remembering the first time she had witnessed one of those freaks sent an odd shiver down her spine before she shook her head and stood up slowly; earning her everyone's attention in the small locker room they shared together.

"You heard right, we're getting four new replacements once we land on Reach." Cinder confirmed her voice weary. "On Reach we'll be resupplied and be able to catch our breath for a bit before we head back out, so make the most of it; it'll probably be the last break we get in a long while." She finished as she watched everyone's expression remain neutral, except Neo's who wore her energetic smile.

Walking over to her own locker to shed off and store her ODST uniform and helmet though, a sudden blare sounded off in the room before the speakers activated.

"First Lieutenant Fall; report to the bridge immediately." The ship's AI alerted before falling silent.

Cinder let her shoulders droop half an inch as she only placed her helmet in the locker before locking it up and turning to leave the room; on her way to head back the way she had come just a half hour prior.

"I'll be back. Roman make sure everything gets done then release them until we get to Reach." Cinder ordered sternly without so much as looking back as she exited the room to begin her long trek towards the front of the ship.

Once the automatic sliding doors closed behind her, the ODST squad leader turned left down the silver metallic hallway towards where she was hailed. As the raven haired woman walked past dozens of others shuffling about and saluting her, the solemn woman closed her bright amber eyes and pondered as to what Captain Ozpin could want with her yet again.

They had gone over what was required of her and her squad on Reach and how long the ship's retrofit and resupply would take; nothing too major given what they were usually used to. But to call the squad leader of the only ODST unit on this ship for yet another talk was a little odd to her. She was in command of a small detachment of ODSTs from the 105th Shock Trooper Division. It was a battalion sized element of near almost fifteen to twenty thousand shock troopers that were reassigned to various places and outposts. Personally, Lieutenant Fall didn't think there was a better breed of Hell jumpers out there. Although the 105th as a whole was infamous for their brutality; Cinder ensured that her squad would uphold the professionalism that was expected of her and her soldiers.

Rounding the final corridor in the massive maze of hallways and corridors on the Vessel, the exhausted woman finally spotted the entrance towards the vessel's bridge. The doorway was flanked by two UNSC marines who held their MA37 assault rifles at the low ready as if expecting trouble. At the sight of her though, the two young looking male marines saluted before she walked inside the bridge's entrance and was greeted by the sight of a silver room lined with countless computer screens along with a wide view of space from the windows. Ignoring the countless naval personnel who were attending their duties on keeping Beacon's Legacy up to standards, Lieutenant Fall marched towards where she spotted the Captain of the frigate.

As she neared the man; who had his back towards her, Cinder took note of his dark gray naval uniform. He kept it in crisp and perfect detail along with his posture. Cinder could not remember a time in which she had seen the middle aged stoic and affable man ever slouch in his stance or duties as the commanding officer aboard Beacon's Legacy. Although he was Navy and Cinder was a Marine; Captain Ozpin had earned her respect for the countless decisions he has made throughout their campaigns together. He was no ODST but he had to mindset to make a damned fine one in her eyes.

Stopping just short of the Captain, Cinder saluted the slightly taller man and decided to make her presence known.

"Lieutenant Fall; reporting as ordered, sir." Cinder announced evenly as she stood up straight and held her salute, watching Ozpin turn around and return it.

"At ease, Lieutenant." Ozpin replied back, dropping his own salute to which Cinder dropped hers right after. "Do you know why I called you back up here?" He then asked as tiredly as the raven haired woman felt.

Cinder shook her head no as she peered into Ozpin's brown eyes. She took note of the severe bags under them as well as his tousled gray hair looking as if he hadn't had a good night's rest in days. She watched him smile humorlessly as he turned back around and peered outside the massive windows that overlooked the empty space in front of them. Cinder relaxed her stance and walked to the left of the man before also indulging in the sight before her.

She looked out towards the millions of twinkling stars and empty blackness. Behind the majestic view though she knew what lie hidden in the shadows of space. The alien covenant; a conglomerate of different species of aliens who wanted nothing more than to exterminate the human race for reasons unknown. It's been a long and bloody war and coupled with the insurrectionists that still lingered around; it didn't take a genius to figure out that the UNSC was losing.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Cinder refocused her attention to the man on her right and wasn't sure if he was speaking to her or to himself, so she remained quiet.

"It seems as if our time on Reach is going to be extended a bit." Captain Ozpin continued, clasping his hands behind his back as he spoke in a low voice. "I just received a communiqué from Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb about lending some of our best troops for some kind of operation."

Cinder raised an eyebrow at that, slightly annoyed.

"With all due respect sir, couldn't the Vice Admiral use… oh, maybe the countless other soldiers on Reach? Why is he requesting help from us?" Cinder countered, her tone clipped and bristling with annoyance at what she knew what was about to be in store for her and her unit.

Captain Ozpin smiled once more at her small outburst and nodded his head slowly as if agreeing with what the ODST squad leader was saying but then sighed heavily. "Trust me, I've no idea what is on the man's mind. It was way above my pay grade he informed me when I asked. I am just letting you know in advance that you will be… on loan to someone serving under him most likely once we touch down on Reach."

Almost immediately, Cinder felt the entire last whole weeks of fatigue hit her then and there. She let her body slouch over a bit and huffed in anger but kept her emotions mostly in check.

"Well so much for a break." She finally uttered before allowing herself to be briefed. "So I'm guessing my Hell jumpers and I are the only ones being sent there? Any ETA on the mission length or any kind of objective?"

She watched Ozpin slowly shake his head. "Like I said, the man told me absolutely nothing. Only the bare minimum which was that he needed the best of any incoming vessels on their way to Reach for an Op. They'd be briefed once they touched down."

Cinder smiled humorlessly. It almost sounded like an ONI spook brief. She had dealings with ONI before and would rather stay as far away as she could from dealing with them ever again. Ever since she was involved with the SPARTAN-I program later known as the ORION Project; she saw the full extent of the lies covered in lies with dealing with the Office of Naval Intelligence. In fact she was wearier of them than the Covenant. At least you knew who the enemies were in the Covenant… In ONI you had no idea until it was too late.

Feeling herself growing tired and already not looking forward to having to inform her squad that their small break was cancelled, Cinder had one final question for the Captain though.

"About the replacements I'm supposed to be getting once we hit Reach; am I still receiving them?" She asked, half expecting that to be denied as well.

Ozpin hummed affirmation then though, much to Cinder's surprise. "Yes, the four new recruits are still being transferred to your unit. They should be waiting to be briefed by you once we touch down." Ozpin replied as he took out a small silver flask from his coat pocket.

Cinder watched the older man uncork the small bottle before taking a long swig from it and placing it back into a hidden coat pocket on his uniform. She had seen him drink from it before, but even after every time she watched him drink she was surprised. Cinder thought the man would have more self-control than that, but she knew the war changed people. And maybe that was his way with dealing with death and loss.

"Oh yes." The Captain then perked up as if remembering something. "I actually received the dossiers on your recruits if you want them?" He asked slyly to which Cinder nodded her head. She was slightly curious as to whom she would be receiving under her command and it couldn't hurt to read up on their files before she met them.

"Keith!" Ozpin half shouted. "Transfer the dossiers on the four new ODST soldiers we're picking up on Reach for the L.T. and transfer them to her quarters."

"Already done, sir." The male AI voice sounded through the speakers in a monotone. "Anything else?"

"That'll be all." Ozpin replied to the computer generated voice. "I'll see you when we reach… Reach, Lieutenant." He then said to Cinder in an almost apologetic voice to which she nodded to.

As she turned on her heel to leave she heard the older man mutter one last thing before she left the room however.

"I'm sorry."

She paused for half a second, but decided against responding. She left the bridge and exited through the double sliding doors. Her mood which was already not the greatest to begin with took a serious hit at hearing about her new mission to which she had no idea about, under new leadership whom she had no idea who it would be, and the briefing of four new soldiers who had no idea on how she operated. The only silver lining in this would possibly be that she would be able to try out new tactics with an over-bolstered squad of ten.

Rounding another corner still deep in thought though, the ODST squad leader bumped right into a shorter boy who seemed to be in a hurry somewhere. She watched as he fell backwards on his butt as they walked into each other and couldn't help but scoff at him. She barely felt a thing in her armor as he collided with her but watching him hit the ground with only just bumping into her made her already think the guy was pathetic.

"Watch where the hell you're going next time, moron." Cinder sneered as she looked down at the blonde boy who was now getting up, brushing himself off.

He was dressed in the standard olive green marine uniform and had short blonde hair. Once he stood up straight though she noticed his dark blue eyes widen once he became aware of whom he had run into.

"W- Whoa! You're an ODST! T- That's awesome!" The boy exclaimed with an almost childish glee to which Cinder felt herself grinding her teeth at. It seemed like he noticed as his mood turned serious suddenly though. "S- Sorry miss…" He began as he looked towards her chest plate for a name but then stood up straight and snapped off a salute once he realized he was speaking to an officer.

"M- My mistake Lieutenant! I wasn't paying attention t- to where I was going!" He then shouted.

Shaking her head and brushing past the boy, she looked at his nametag and spotted his name and rank. Private Arc. Ignoring the boy's salute she continued onwards towards her single barracks room. Walking through the corridors for another five minutes she arrived at the hallway that she and her unit had claimed for their own. It consisted of six rooms; three on each wall in the corridor. All of them were shared between the members of her team except her own which was the most far left one; right before their locker room and SOEIV bay which housed the drop pods used by her team.

Walking straight into her own room and past the sliding metallic door, she wasn't the least bit surprised to see Emerald sitting on her bunk looking back at her with a devious smile on her lips. She wore a black tee-shirt that had their unit's motto plastered on the front "Jump Feet First Into Hell!" and gray work out shorts.

Cinder sighed before stepping inside, letting the door close behind her and walked over to the other side of her small room towards her desk and where her computer was. She could see the Lance Corporal eyeing her with pleading eyes as if wanting attention but for now she ignored her. She knew that the ship's AI; Keith would have sent the dossiers to her personal terminal and as she booted it up, she could see she had five waiting messages for her. Four from the AI containing the information on the new recruits and one from Captain Ozpin probably no doubt just about what they had gone over.

She read the title of each of the dossiers and took note of their names. She could hear Emerald walking over to her and felt the girl's warm and inviting fingers at her shoulders. Instantly she felt her upper body melt into the girl's touch as she massaged her stiff shoulders.

"Come on, Cinder. Let's relax before we get to Reach." Emerald cooed in a lustful manner.

Cinder only allowed the girl to call her by her first name while they were alone and being intimate. Although she really liked the girl, she opted to keep their relationship mostly a secret. She was sure most if not all of her squaddies knew of the forbidden bonding the girls did but if they were aware they had never said anything to her about it. She didn't choose or pick favorites however during missions. It was all business, but while alone… She couldn't help but give in to her desires for the dark skinned girl.

But for now, she'd have to decline. She wouldn't inform the girl about the change of plans for once they hit Reach, but she wanted to read up on these new recruits.

"Not now, Sustrai. I just got the dossiers on our new incoming ODSTs and I want to go through them before we arrive at Reach."

She could feel the disappointment even from the girl's hands as the massage became less lively but she heard the girl accept her decision behind her.

"Okay…"

Cinder frowned a bit but decided to click on the first file which brought up a picture of a young looking girl with dark red hair and silver eyes as she gave whoever took the picture a small smile; revealing a perfect line of white teeth. Cinder had to admit the girl was quite attractive though.

Her name was Ruby Rose, a Lance Corporal and veteran of a few battles against the Covenant; which included the Battle of Ariel. She served as her old unit's marksman before attending sniper school and then ODST combat jump schooling and graduating with stunning marks.

"Not bad." Cinder heard Emerald comment as she closed Ruby's file and opened the next one.

The next dossier was of a blonde haired girl who wore a cocky grin and had light purple irises. She too was decent looking and Cinder couldn't help but notice the fierce determination in her eyes. Her name was Yang Xiao Long, a Private First Class. Cinder noticed that the girl had actually participated in the same exact battles as the previous girl; Ruby Rose. They even were in the same unit; Yang served as the squad's explosives specialist. She and Ruby Rose attended and graduated ODST schooling on the same date. She chalked it up as the two were close and most likely knew each other; not a bad thing.

The third file was of a serious looking girl with jet black hair and piercing golden eyes. She almost looked as if she had seen her fair share of death and war to which Cinder could respect. Her file was surprisingly tame. One odd note on her file though hinted that the girl was caught for hacking into classified files on more than one occasion which earned her disciplinary action and a demotion early on in her military career. Private Blake Belladonna; despite the obvious negative marks, the girl seemed like she could be an asset to Cinder, if she could listen and follow orders.

The final dossier was of another female; named Weiss Schnee. Seeing her last name though caused Cinder to cock her head in thought.

"Schnee… Schnee…? Where have I heard that name before?" She asked loudly, more to herself than to Emerald.

"Rear Admiral William Schnee?" Emerald asked, to which Cinder finally put two and two together. If this girl was related to a Rear Admiral… She was more than curious as to what she was doing transferring to an ODST unit as an enlisted soldier.

Lance Corporal Weiss Schnee had long white hair that flowed behind her with cold looking ice blue eyes. The girl also had a prominent scar that ran along left eye. Despite being well connected it seemed as if the girl had fought in a few bloody battles; some even Cinder herself had participated in. The girl had notes that showed she was highly intelligent but also slightly a bit of a rebel. This could explain as to why she had signed up in the marines as enlisted instead of following in her father's footsteps. Cinder hoped that she wouldn't receive any flak for being in command of this girl who had ties to an Admiral. She couldn't wait to hear the backstory on that little elephant in the room when it presented itself.

Leaning back in her chair now, she closed her eyes as she felt Emerald pick up the pace in massaging her back. Judging from the records of these four new girls; they seemed as if they would fit right into her little squad. Not like they would have a choice however, it seemed as if Cinder's crew was going to be dropped right into what she could already tell would be a long and grueling Op.

Allowing herself to fully relax at the mercy of Emerald's hands, it wasn't long until Cinder felt the woman begin kissing on her neck and unfastening the straps and latches of her armor. With her eyes still closed though First Lieutenant Cinder Fall sighed inwardly at the news she would have to tell her squad soon. But for now she was going to allow herself to get some much needed relaxation.

Tomorrow was sure going to be an interesting day.