Chapter 1: Welcome to Angel Squad

Hey guys! This is my very first novel so constructive criticism, advice or even novel ideas. I'll accept anything you have to offer!

Some say history is written by the victor… that is the biggest lie ever told to man. We were told the war would be won so long as we kept fighting, and our reward was watching a world go up in flames. Reach was a war we could never have won, thrown against impossible odds while giving false hope to those who truly believed we could stop the Covenant. No one was safe from the slaughter… men, women, children, marines, Spartans, it didn't matter; they were all lambs at the slaughter.

Some survived, scarred by watching a whole world be glassed by the covenant fleet wishing they were consumed by the terror which claimed their home… But this war would make even the cockiest, headstrong and hostile men learn that in war, we are all brothers.

Welcome to Reach.

July 21th, 2552

Ryan walked through the halls of the Pillar of Autumn, avoiding the collection of engineers and marines as he made his way down to the weight room. Although they usually moved out of his way seeing the "Hell Jumpers" tattoo he has on his left shoulder, it was nice being recognized. People fear ODST's for good reason, dropping out of a pod at atmospheric levels straight into a hot zone automatically made you badass, crazy and respected. Most of the ODST's are hot headed and cocky, even towards the Spartans, which most say are "Just a bunch of steroid babies putting on a show". They never liked anyone who took the spotlight away from them.

Inside was his squad of five other ODST's, Butch, Hammer, Red, Snow and Cross. Butch and Hammer we're brothers, twins actually, born from New Harmony. Both being 6'4, buzz cut dark brown hair wide jaws, green eyes, round skulls and an attitude like their shoe sizes, no one is sure if even elites would want to go toe to toe with these crazy bastards who usually packed heavy weapons and had tongues sharp enough to insult even Cross himself. Red was the sniper, silent and deadly, New Mombasa, Earth. He was dark skinned with short cut hair like all Jumpers. Made him all the easier to make fun of. Except it's probably not a good idea to do it at a distance. Snow was a funny mix of what most ODST's only wish for. Firstly, she was a woman; probably one of the only female hell jumper to exist. Secondly, she's attractive, with her shoulder length blonde hair, narrow chin and overall long face with high risen cheeks and blue eyes. Most guys would hit on her, but she reminded Hammer with a swift kick in the balls telling him she wasn't a softy that needed protection. Finally is Cross, who not even his squad knows a lot about other than he is straight orders keep-mouths-shut-when-ordered kind of guy. His so called secrets have secrets, all of which hide under that melon-like bald head of his and his beady grey eyes. Even Ryan wonders how many secrets will spill out if his head got cracked open.

Looking at his squad members all ready to go, Ryan approached the 5 chatting hell jumpers, taking off his jacket revealing his muscle shirt and well toned muscles underneath while Butch look up with a smile. "What took you so long to get here bed wetter?"

Ryan looked at Butch like he wanted to shoot the smug look of that assholes face. That nickname was given to him after his first drop in a pod. The air brake had only worked for a few seconds before breaking off, the pod hitting the ground too fast and knocking him unconscious. When he had woken up in the med bay, his squad had told him that right before his pod must have hit the ground he must have pissed himself before getting knocked out. Not a single day went by when he wasn't reminded by Butch or Hammer.

Snow looked over at Butch, seemingly how she usually loved to insult the two brutes. "You know, last time I heard you screamed the whole way down on your first."

Butch gave her a glare and bared teeth like he was some sort of rabid dog. "You better keep your mouth shut you little…"

Cross shot a look over at Butch and Snow with his small, beady, deathly eyes. "Lock it down, both of you," His tone dropped to show how pissed off he was "Or do I have to end it myself?"

Butch and Snow look over at Cross and went to attention standing and immediately replied. "No sir!"

Cross rolled his eyes before standing to head to the mess hall. "Good, if I have to do it again, I'll hand your asses to the Covenant myself."

After finally walking out, Snow looked like she was going to hit someone, most likely Butch, and everyone sat silently while Ryan walked over and looked back over his shoulder. "What the fuck is his problem?"

Snow simply shook her head, "Honestly…" She let out a puff of air and brushed some of her long blonde hair out of her face. "I haven't got a clue, maybe it's because he's spent so much time sitting on his ass."

As long as he had been with him, Ryan didn't quite understand Cross, hell, no one did. He always seemed to be uptight, biting at heads whenever they had a little fight between them like he wanted everything to be quiet. Everyone was on edge because of the recent attacks. Colonies being wiped out one by one is like doomsday marked on a calendar. And all they could do was sit on their asses and wait for Hell to come jumping on them. Ryan knew it, Snow knew it, and everyone knew it was only time until the Covenant showed up.

Hammer had already been on the bench press lifting 250 pounds while the argument was going on and finally set the bar down and sat up. "All I know is I can't wait until they show up. Fighting brutes is better than listening to marines complaining about how shitty the food taste." Hammer always thought everyone should be as tough as him, so marines didn't exactly like him being around.

Red looked over from the wall he was leaning against, his brown skin and short hair making him nearly unnoticeable. "Oh yeah," He piped up with a laugh. "Gives me an excuse to shoot grunts, love watching those little prick's heads explode."

Ryan looked at his squad while curling with a 60 pound dumbbell, listening to the conversation while they did their workouts talking about what they would do when the covenant shows up. They always did this to keep their morals up and in order to keep their cocky as Hell attitudes. After their workouts they walked to their bunks and laughed before they went to their rooms to get a good rest for the next day. Ryan sat at the terminal and went through the menus until he turned on the camera and started the recording.

"Hey little sis, It's Ryan. Sorry I won't be home for your birthday this year, I know I promised but they got me working until next year. I sent you a present though, should arrive a day or two after your special day. Wish I could see you growing up; see how much of a big girl you're becoming… I miss you Lindsay… I miss mom and dad… I'm sorry I couldn't be home this time…" Ryan sniffed a little before rubbing his eyes before laughing sadly. "Making me cry thinking about just how long I've been gone... I tried sis, I begged them to let me come home and how much it would mean to you but…" Ryan's voice began to crack and a single tear rolled down his face as he tried to keep himself composed. "I love you sis, promise I'll be home as soon as I can."

With that he closed the screen and laid his head on the desk, feeling pain leech at his body with every tear that rolled down his face, making a small pool on the desk. He finally sat up a made a quiet sob, going over to his bed and laying quietly, laying in the darkness hoping he would eventually fall into a peaceful and quiet sleep in order to take away the pain.

So that was chapter one of Angels of Reach! Please review and if you see any mistakes, tell me and I will fix them A.S.A.P.! I will release more chapters for you to read soon enough!