Author's Note: Sorry for the shortness, I wanted to get this up quickly. Chapters 1 & 2 will be longer. Enjoy the intro.
Halo: Shadows of the Past
Prologue: Why We're Here
"This is fuckin bullshit, why do we have to stay here and play poker with that cheater when those friggen ODST's get to hog all the action." A marine complained. They always complain about this shit.
"Because lets face it marine," I said. "You guys are pansy assed compared to us. This place is to hot for you guys to just wander in like a dumbstruck mental gremlin. We need to clear an LZ for base camp. Which is why we go in with our drop pods, so we don't get shot down in a pelican. This place is crawling with covenant! Also, this planets foliage is so thick a pelican wont land unless we set our charges."
"Yah well fuck you too Corporal." The marine said as he looked back at his cards. I looked back at my sergeant. Sgt O'Bryan was chill, always in for a good laugh and a good time. But when lives were at stake, there is no one you could trust more. The rest of the team were all good friends. Most have spent 5 or so years together in the service of humanity, except for that new sniper, Pfc. Nielson. She usually kept to herself, which is why nobody knew her much. But we all respected her and she respected us, and you can't make fun of her accuracy. She is good. For the rest of us, there was my best buddy Cpl. Sanders, or as everyone calls him, "Colonel Sanders", Pfc. Derdrick the engineer, Pfc Wolfe the medic and Pfc Andrews with the big machine gun.
"So, where the hell are we going now sarge?" Wolfe asked. We had a new mission, new planet, all same old shit we do all the time.
"Apparently we are going to a planet called Herdicious. The info is all in your little wee data packs. Apparently it's very hot with some nice beaches so pack your swim suits." Everyone laughed at that statement, except the marine that was complaining earlier, who let out a small grumble. "We're leaving at 0800 so get ready now."
It was 0740 and I was all decked out in my camo, armor, and equipment. I put on my lucky headband and picked up my helmet, no one puts on their helmets until we get into our drop pods. According to our "wee little data packs", Herdicious was a hot planet. No one would keep their sleeves down after first contact, if we made contact on drop. It was a 50/50 chance. Sometimes they liked to drop us right into it and kill all covenant from inside to out. Others, they gave us a break and dropped us a fair distance away so we could make plans and get ready better.
"Ok boys and girls, this is supposed to be a quick mission, we go in and set charges to clear forest for a base camp. Two, we go out and locate a covenant base which is nearby. We wait till mourning to attack. When we do, we laze the main generator. Then the sky boys will come and blow the shit out of everything. Blowing the generator will cause a huge explosion so don't get close. Three, we hunt down any remaining covenant patrols in the area. Any questions?" The sarge explained with clarity, but Andrews had to be himself and put up his hand.
"Yes Andrews?" O'Bryan said. He knew, hell we all knew, what was coming next, generally.
"Sarge, are we the first humans there? If not, then will there be hot marine chicks going in to garrison the base? And if so, will we have some time off? And-"Andrews looked like he would keep going on and on. But good old Sgt. O'Bryan stopped him dead.
"YES! We are the first humans to set foot. NO you will have no time off." There was a big groan from Derdrick. "Just because I don't like you Andrews." Sarge said. Everyone started to laugh and Andrews had this dumbstruck, what-the-fuck-is-that-about look.
"Well why the hell do you like them more then me?" Andrews asked.
"Cause they don't bitch and groan for what they get." O'Bryan said with a large grin on his face. "Well look at that, 0800, get your helmets on, and into your drop pods. GO GO GO!"