Location: EARTH, Kenyan port of New Mombasa' UNSC frigate 'The Orion's fate'
Timestamp: October 20th 2552. 04:13
Unit ID: Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (Male, 19, 6'5'') Corporal.
Status: eagerly awaiting his drop.
The troopers were all surrounding a large Holo-table inside the ready room. The city of New Mombasa appeared in a bright blue hologram, and the prophet of Regret's assualt carrier which orbited the city appeared in a bright purple in Earth's low orbit.
''Pft!.. ok but why only one carrier?'' one of the troopers asked. The squad leader glanced from the other side of the holo-table over at him.
''Well.. it broke past the UNSC's defenses. And our navy was sweet enough to leave this one for us. We just need to wait for the all clear from the other squads onboard the frigate.'' She explained.
The Trooper sighed quietly as he sat down in his chair.
''It shouldn't be long before the covies get reinforced ya know...'' he said before hanging his head low and the entire squad, including the captain looked at him.
"You sure a battalion will be enough ma'am?'' he said looking up at her worried.
The other odst troopers from the armoury section of the ready room turned their helmets over to him. The captain glanced over at the other ODSTs from around the room then spoke out loud.
''And what makes you say that corporal?'' she said cocking a eyebrow.
''Because it wasn't enough on Reach! Not even for a Spartan!'' He shouted.
''Corporal! Lock it down!' I thought you couldn't wait for the drop to the Assualt Carrier.'' She said angered.
Much as he disagreed with this mission's plan, she was right.. he needed to try to calm down and act accordingly. All the other ODSTs in the room continued to prepare themselves for the mission, and after looking around at his fellow squad members he realised that maybe he shouldn't be worrying about them so much, after all this wasn't Reach and these weren't marines, no! these were Orbital Drop Shock Troopers! The elite! What could they face that they haven't before!?
''Sorry captain, you.. you're right, it's just i-''
But before he could finish his sentence sirens and lights begin to flare inside the ready room. The captain then grabs her M90 shotgun and then her helmet, putting it over her head and signals the other three troopers that stood around the holo-table to walk past the corporal. the Captain however, stopped next to him and layed her hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes through her helmets dark black faceplate. The corporal was still hanging his head low, not from shame, but from thinking so hard. The Captain watched his face as it began to grow tight with thought as his eyes squinted. she then shook her trooper's shoulder to try and get his attention but to no avail.
''Corporal?'' She said nudging his shoulder a second time.
''Yo! Corporal!'' She shouted from her helmet's voice com looking up at him. She then smacked the side of her helmet twice. ''ugh! Is this thing even on? son of a-'' she said quietly through her com before taking her helmet off examining it, but as she checked for any damages done to her Purple lined helmet She started to hear the corporal begin to chuckle. She then looked back up at him only to see him trying his best not to laugh as he pulled his face from her view.
''You could hear me couldn't you...'' she said unamused.
''no ma'am, It's just i couldn't help but think of our combat drop on Reach.'' he said.
''Well, next time I ask you a question you respond! Is that Understood!?'' She said as she poked the side of his head.
''hm.. yes ma'am, I understand.'' he said calmly before grabbing his gear and walked towards the armory's weapon rack. He grabbed a silenced M7 SMG and a Assault rifle then started making his way to his pod with his fellow 'hell jumpers' jokingly nudging each other while walking. When he got to his pod he began to examine his weapon, smacking in a fresh clip of ammunition and clipping on a suppressor then a 2x reflex sight. The pod itself was angular. Approximately nine feet in length, Within it was a crash seat, communications gear, numerous equipment racks, and a rudimentary control system, single entry and escape hatch to burst out.
The Corporal attaches his gun to his pod's weapon rack and puts on his helmet and then positions himself on the pod's seat.
The pod's hatch closes, and the platform from which all the pods are hanging descends into the launch bay. The pod's screens flicker with static as the platform comes to a stop, and Captain Veronica Dare and some unfamiliar ODST appear on screen and talk over the com. After the leading squad reports the current situation to the others teams pods, a countdown sound begins to beep before all pods drop away from the ship.
All pods where now in free fall from the frigate 'Orion's fate'. The corporal grabbed both control sticks inside the pod and closed his eyes, since this was his favorite part of the mission. The drop itself was always bumpy, like a ride in an amusement park. Although The corporal didn't really trust the drop pods at first. he grew to enjoy them over his squads past missions back on Reach and other planets. Both covenant and rebels, although he prefers to fight the covenant instead of his own species, he has been forced to kill insurrectionists in the past. The corporal opened his eyes quickly in surprise to see the expansive view of low earth orbit. The new Mombasa space elevator was surrounded by several destroyed UNSC ships. Thick cloud layers covered the view of the city below, and the pods pass close near to the destroyed Charon-class light frigates during their freefall to the enemy ship.
''Hey, Captain!'' The Corporal said to his squad leader's pod.
''What is it trooper?'' She quickly replied.
''I have a question ma'am, and it's related to our current situation''
''Aaand? she said waiting.
''Well.. what if the covenant have anti-aircraft guns to use against our pods? how can we be sure that they haven't already detected us?'' He waited a moment for her reply.
''Corporal.. if defensive anti-aircraft is present it is almost a mathematical certainty that some pods will be lost. Besides, I wouldn't worry sense each pod loss only results in one death rather then a full unit.'' she said.