Journey's of an ODST
Part 1: Beginnings of Change
It was dark outside, but the nights sky was clear of any clouds, different galaxies could be made out, sparkling like precious jewels.
It was a sight to behold that was for sure, a sight i wouldn't see much more of if i was lucky, whilst the place had somewhat of an attraction to it, living in one of the outer colonies that wasn't that big got boring fast, the only options we had after school was to work in agriculture or work in factories.
Of course i'd opted for the 3rd option and enlist in some department of the UNSC, i wasn't sure what yet, but i knew that's where i wanted to be.
Rumour had it that we were winning a war, i wanted in on that, heck people thought i was crazy for it, though maybe i was crazy? Ah well they could think what they wanted.
Just over 4 hours until i would be meeting with the enlistment officers, and i just couldn't sleep, i'm not sure whether it was nerves or excitement.
Without much thought i dozed off, dreaming about what i would be doing when i got out there.
4 Hours later:
"Bleep Bleep Bleep" the alarm clock screamed out.
I hit it and it went silent, but i was wide awake, surprisingly for me anyway, i slipped out of bed and went and got ready. My dad was already calling after me downstairs as i hopped in my boots.
"Coming!" i Shouted, whilst stumbling out my bedroom door.
By the time i had gotten downstairs, he was already waiting in the car, that stern miserable look he always had plastered on his face. He wasn't best pleased about me going into the forces, but in fairness what father would? He would get over it in time though, at least that's what i kept telling myself.
The car journey to city hall wasn't the most pleasant one, we mostly sat in silence and when one of us did talk it was brief and to the point, god i wouldn't miss this.
My father had been like this ever since him and my mother split up 3 years ago, but it was his own doing, he kept disappearing as soon as times got tough, and well i don't know the full story but i think it ended up with him apparently seeing some other woman, but as i say i don't know for sure. Regardless all he did was moan at me and complain whenever i was in sight, so heading off to the UNSC forces was ideal, i'd make something of myself and not only that i'd be away from him.
He pulled in, rather sharply at that, outside the city hall, posters emblazoned outside of it all about UNSC recruitment.
"Right, here you are, i expect i may or may not see you in a little bit" he abruptly said.
"Yeah thanks for the lift, i will phone you when i can to let you know whats happening" i replied swiftly, whilst hurrying out the car.
I shut the door behind me and he drove off, further into town, no doubt to spend another day boozing with his friends, so i highly doubted i would in fact see him again, at least not until late.
I headed up the steps and into the hall, recruitment officers sat behind desks, amazingly hardly anyone else was there apart from them. Each one in their uniforms, Navy, Marines, Army, Rangers and a general enquiries desk with just a UNSC informant sat behind it, looking rather bored.
A man dressed in camo approached me from the left, startling me at first, but i soon settled when he turned to talk to me.
"So son, what are you looking for with us today?" He asked me, quite nicely for a man who was 6 foot something and built like an ox.
"Well, i'm not really to sure, i know the UNSC is where i want to be but what section i haven't decided yet." i answered trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible.
"Well lets have a chat and see what we can come up with, yeah?" The man asked. "I'm Staff Sergeant Mike Ferrow, i used to be active in the Rangers, but my battle time has come and gone, now i'm here to recruit fresh blood, so you say you don't know what you want to do? Well are you looking to be involved in ground battle or air and space?"
"Definitely ground battle sir, i don't think i'm cut out for flying and being in charge of all that stuff." I replied, starting to think now.
"Well, that's the Navy out the way, there's a few things i can suggest, for pure kick-ass ability, Rangers all the way, for general fighting on the ground the Army is your friend, for venturing out in vehicles and the like Marines is a good option or... no no." He stopped himself.
"They all sound good sir, but whats the or, you were going to suggest something, i'm keen to be on the ground but the 3 there, i dunno something just doesn't attract me to them." I replied, trying to provoke an answer as to what else the man was suggesting.
"Well, there is another option" He said cutting down to a whisper and taking me to one side, "Its an elite group of men, very few make it through the training, but if its what you want then i can put in a good word and application."
"I'm interested please do tell me what it is sir" i replied also whispering.
We stopped talking as a cleaner barged out the room to the right of us, obviously a room used for conferences of some sort. She ambled aimlessly around us, obviously trying to nosey in on what we discussed. Staff Sergeant Ferrow gave her a look that would probably kill someone, and she quickly hurried off into an elevator to clean the higher floors.
"Where was i? ah yes, well i'm sure you know your stuff about the UNSC, now the branch i have in mind, as i said very few ever make it, but i think its what you want and need, they are the ODST's" he told me, seeming rather keen himself.
"ODST's!" i exclaimed, a lot louder than i intended
"Shhh, keep it down, them schmucks in there, well lets say, they don't exactly like the ODST's mainly for the fact they are much better soldiers than them, never known why, i respect them, on the battlefield you pray for them to jump down with you" He said sort of veering into his own dream world.
"Sir, you really think it could be what i need?" i questioned, wanting to be sure about this.
"Indeed i do son, now whats your name you haven't said?" he asked back
"Hill, Steve Hill, Sir" i answered.
"Excellent, a pleasure to meet you Mr Hill, you and me may well be seeing a lot more of each other" He said offering his hand.
We shook hands and i then proceeded to fill in the appropriate paper work in private with Ferrows. All done i was told to head home and i would be collected in 3 hours and leave for a UNSC Pelican which would transfer me to a frigate above the planet, from there i was told i would head to a training base set up on Earth.
3 hours! could you believe that, i knew i'd be gone soon, but i expected like a week or so, not 3 hours, damn they must've been keen to get me on board.
Whilst i walked to the nearest shuttle station to get a shuttle home, i rang my father, useless as ever it went to voicemail, so i left him a message saying what had happened and how i was leaving i also left my goodbye's on there to, he would be too drunk by the time i was leaving to realise anyway.
Unlike the journey there, the Shuttle ride home was rather more pleasant, not just because 3 beautiful girls had sat down in front of me and blushing as i checked them out, but also because soon i would be one of the most elite soldiers there is!
I dreamt of becoming a hero, and now i was on my way there, i smiled to myself feeling somewhat content for the first time since my mother and father had been together.
I rushed around my room, packing all the things i could into my 2 duffel bags, one had clothes in and the other contained more clothes as well as my personal memoirs of home.
"Right, all done" i said to myself.
"Sir?" a voice called out from downstairs.
oops, i must've left the front door open. I hurried downstairs to be greeted by a UNSC messenger dressed smartly in his dark green suit with a few medals also on his jacket. He was a rather young looking man, no scars of any note on his face, he had short military hair and looked rather nervous.
"Mr Hill i presume?" he questioned
"Yes that's me" i replied
"Excellent, i'm Private Andy Marshall, i'm your transport to the Pelican, oh and I've been given this which you must go and put on now" He said handing over the black combat trousers, boots, and long sleeved combat shirt, all emblazoned in places with UNSC in white.
"Right, well if you want to wait down here while i get suited and booted" i said showing him the sofa just across.
He did so, closing the front door behind him.
Meanwhile i ran upstairs, and took off the smart clothes i had put on, i jumped into my new combat outfit, it smelt of new fabric but damn it looked good, how on earth did they know my size though? The combat trousers even came with a black combat belt that completed the look, whilst the combat shirt hugged my torso showing the vague outlines of my muscle toned body underneath.
Happy with everything i grabbed my 2 duffel bags and took one last look at my room, the room that i had lived in for the 16 and a bit years of my life, just turning 17 i cant say i wasn't a bit glum at saying goodbye but this was a new chapter in my life and i certainly wasn't gonna give up on it now.
I headed downstairs, and saw Private Marshall already waiting at the front door.
"I'll take them Sir" the Private said, reaching out and taking the bags.
For a weedy looking young man he didn't have any trouble carrying my belongings.
I followed him out, and locked the house behind me, and then proceeded to the vehicle, the car in question was a UNSC Warthog, but without the big gun on the back it was just a transport version.
I strapped myself in, and he started the old girl up, I've never felt as if such a thing had so much power in it as this, i also couldn't help thinking if i would get a go in the combat version of one to!
We shifted off and left behind all i had known, a feeling of optimism washed over me as we headed down the road, i noticed that not many cars on the road sat in front of us but they rather let us past almost immediately such was the intimidating nature of the Warthog.
We came off the freeway and headed through the city, we were headed for a small UNSC outpost which was here, Fort Unicorn, why it was called that i don't know but still.
As we drove slower through the busy city streets, people turned and looked at that beast of a car. I felt like the cool guy from a movie casually sitting there with my shades on that the Private had just given me.
We continued on our way through the city, the Skyscrapers on both sides of the street making us feel small and insignificant, whilst also towering over almost every other building in the city, this city in question being New New Jersey though how it was a city i don't know as for the name, don't ask, whoever names the places weren't very original to say the least.
We made a left into a quieter road, ahead of us was Fort Unicorn, UNSC sign emblazoned across a bridge before the guard gates.
As we approached, the guard at the gate gave a nod to Private Marshall and shot me a look, he must've guessed i was in for ODST related stuff as i was in an all black outfit. I gave him an eat shit grin.
Private Marshall must've realised cos he chuckled to himself as i gave the guy that grin. Now inside however, the place was bustling, a group of Soldiers were practising marching drills to the left near the flag pole and some sort of hut, to the right there were 2 landing pads, with 2 Pelicans docked, one ready and waiting for me, the other sitting empty and having maintenance performed on it.
Ahead and slightly left was the Barracks, 2 buildings painted in dark green, across and to the right was the main buildings where all the officers and commanders were stationed, and situated right next to them was a tiny "Reception" building where we were headed.
We pulled up and Private Marshall instructed me to go inside and he would sort out my baggage. I did as asked and went in, i noticed on the door as i entered, the small plaque on the outside it read "Welcome to Fort Unicorn, New New Jersey, Jericho VII" Jericho VII being the planet we were on.
Inside was a small entrance room, a desk was stationed directly ahead, made of marble, in silver lettering across it was as usual UNSC, sat behind it was a pretty looking woman, she was Ensign Jennifer Brogan, from what her name plaque said.
"How may i help you sir?" she asked still not looking up from some forms she was completing.
"I'm here for transportation for ODST training." I replied confidently
With this she looked up quickly, looking me up and down, somewhat shocked, do they not get many ODST trainee's i thought to myself.
"Well its a pleasure to meet you, you must be Steve Hill" she said standing up and offering me a hand.
"Please just call me Steve" i said shaking hands.
"Can't say we get many of your type through here, last one was 2 years ago just as i first started here" she informed me walking round the desk.
"Well what can i say i'm just something special" i said making the poor girl blush.
"Follow me" she gestured opening a door to the side "The Captain wishes to talk to you before you leave." she directed me through to the Captains office.
she knocked twice and a stern voice replied "Enter" she opened the door and we went inside.
"Sir, this is the ODST trainee Mr Hill" she said politely and informatively.
The captain spun round in his chair to face us.
"Excellent, that will be all Ensign Brogan" he directed.
She saluted and gave me one last look before leaving and closing the office door.
"Mr Hill, please take a seat" He gestured showing me a seat in front of his desk with his hand. I did so and got comfy.
"Now i hear you are to head off for specialist training or so i have been informed, i must say i don't get many opportunities to meet people who enter for this such as yourself." he explained "But anyway lets get to the reason for this chat, i have been instructed by my commanders back at HQ, that you will be transferred to a training base on Earth, this means you will be subjected to the highest possible training that we currently provide, or rather the ODST's provide. I am here to provide you with this and this"
He handed over my new set of Dog Tags, inscribed with nothing but my name and birth date, and a combat knife, also inscribed with my name and also the letters UNSC above it.
"These serve a purpose i guarantee you, the tags to identify you should anything happen and the knife well, you can guess what that's used for." he informed me.
"Thank you, Sir" i answered.
"Now Pilot Yakov will be taking you from here, to the UNSC Gorgon, its a frigate class, and as of current is transporting recruits such as yourself across the various colonies to their training camps, your journey will take just over 4 weeks, that is all i have for you, good luck Mr Hill" the captain said.
"Thank you sir" i replied, i gave him a salute just like the young Ensign had done, after all i was technically a soldier now.
I turned and left the office closing the door behind me and made my back down the corridor to the reception, Ensign Brogan saw me coming through the glass window in the door, and got back up to come see me.
"Your transport is waiting" she said and directed me out the main entrance and the landing pad.
Leaning against the nearest one was the pilot who would be flying me up, Yakov, he looked of a sort of middle eastern decent with his darkened skin tone, he coolly watched me approach noting the black outfit.
He said nothing as i got into the seating bay of the ship, i took a seat nearest the exit hatch at the end, my bags obviously stored somewhere nearby.
He climbed in and we began our ascent, i'd never flown before so this was also something new to me, it gave me a funny feeling but i soon settled and enjoyed the ride, the back hatch began to close as we climbed higher and higher, soon even those huge skyscrapers became little specs below, all the cars so small like tiny dots moving around.
From up here i could see the nearby shoreline of the city and the turquoise of the ocean, ah i hadn't actually ventured to the sea in ages, and nor would i get a chance now i thought to myself, as i did the ship jolted a bit as we began to push through the planets atmosphere, a momentary feeling of being light before the ships gravity cut in and made me sink back into my chair properly.
"Hey buddy, wanna pop into the cockpit a moment?" a thick accent stated over the ships comms.
i unstrapped and walked down the ship to the cockpits door, it slid open and i looked in amazement, the once night sky to me was there all around me, it looked stunning, slightly to the left was Jericho which also looked beautiful from out here, ahead of us a tiny dot at the moment was the UNSC Gorgon.
"Beauty of a sight ain't it?" Yakov asked.
"Like you wouldn't believe!" i exclaimed back
"Tell me, whats a young guy like u doing in heading for ODST?" Yakov asked me
"The challenge of being the best there is, you know of any ODST's?" i asked back
"nah haven't even known any trainee's before, you sir are my first, anyway u better take a seat we will be docking in no time" Yakov directed.
I headed back to my seat and strapped back in, i took a moment to sit and think to myself and what i was leaving behind. My father wouldn't care, and my mother well i don't even hear from her so she would still be oblivious to my whereabouts, i spose really i should inform her but when or how i would i wasn't decided on, i also had a sister, Kelly, who was actually already in the Navy stationed on some repair station near Reach, my dad was disgusted at her choice and had disowned her and then there was my older brother, Mark, he was 5 years older than me and had entered into running his own business, but unknowingly to my parents he had enlisted in the Rangers and been off fighting with the UNSC for the last 3 years. He always was a tough bastard, nice enough if hes your friend and what not, but if you got on the wrong side of him he would knock you block off, he was even better built than me and also taller, me a mere 5ft 8" and he was 6ft 2".
Sure enough as Yakov said, we began docking procedures, we would be docking in Bay 3 apparently. A simple hover dock with an air lock for quick drop offs, it made it easier than entering the fully fledged Bays where the ships own Pelican fleets were stored.
We Docked with a bit of a thud, i swear i heard Yakov curse, but it could of been just me, he exited to cockpit and got my bags out of the storage cell, he tossed them over to me.
"This is where we say our goodbyes kid, who knows maybe we will see each other around" he said as he slapped me on the back and went straight back into the cockpit.
Not one for goodbye's i thought judging by how quickly he left back to his seat, the hatched hissed and lowered allowing me to see the docking bay entrance for the first time, a porter took my bags and i followed him into the ship, the doors behind closing and locking so the Pelican could leave.
Well here i was, the UNSC Gorgon, my home for the next 4 weeks.