Chapter 1

The punishment? Or something more?

Jace Evans, normal looking soldier for the ODST's was about 6'2, buzzed hair cut, and the ODST tattoo on his right arm. Most Soldiers called them typical ass wipes, and most where, but not this squad. No this squad was the best, the best at assault, stealth, and of course a good ole fashion fist fight. Well that's what it seemed to Jace as he walked into the mess hall on the ship USS. Annilator, to him this was a job nothing more. Jace grabbed the typical grub that the cooks called food, Jace sometimes asked himself if the covenant would even eat this... Jace looked around for an empty seat and saw a wave from a fellow soldier. He knew the guy, his name was Luther, Jace had not figured out his last name yet but it was private to him so Jace never pestered.

"Hey Jace lookin for a seat?" Luther semi yelled over the chatter of plates, silver ware and soldiers. Jace walked over and sat down beside Luther.

"Thanks for the seat." Luther looked up from his plate.

"Oh yeah no problem." Jace dug into his food, the taste of grease went right into his stomach.

"Ugh... When are the cooks going to get real food?" Luther laughed.

"Well when they do call me and I'll be the first to eat it." Luther laughed some more but went back to his grub.

While Jace and Luther talked a bit more while eating they did not see Sergeant Slay walk up behind them.

"Evans! Luther!" Jace and Luther snapped up at attention.

"Sir!" They cried in unified order. The sarge smiled.

"At ease, you two have been assigned guard duty for are pets in cell 5-7." They groaned..." Cut the chatter. Now in 1 hour I want to see you down their fully geared. You hear me?" Jace sighed.

"We hear you sir!" They unified again.

"Good" The sarge said as he walked off.

"Who did we piss off to get guard duty?" Asked Jace, Luther just shrugged.

One hour later the two soldiers reported at cells 5-6. The other guards left laughing to themselves. "God these guys smell! Why can't I just shove my gun up his ass and pull the trigger?"

Asked Luther. Jace sighed he also hated the smell.

"Because they might have some info we could use." Jace looked into the cells, and saw two jackals, and an Elite who was pacing back and forth through his cell. Jace commented to himself how ugly the Elites were when they did not wear armor. Luther and Jace continued just chatting a bit, and received the occasional radio from the sarge checking to make sure they where there. Hours later Luther had fallen asleep at the desk while Jace was writing a letter back home wishing his family could see space as he was. Jace mumbled to himself.

"Why did I choose this dump for a job?"

Jace mumbled as he leaned back into his chair and fell asleep.

Jace woke up hearing the Jackals and Elite talking to each other. Jace stood up and stretched, grabbing his battle rifle he walked over to the cage. The covenant where still talking, which seemed odd to Jace as they usually kept quiet.

"Hey you three shut up!" Jace yelled but received nothing, not even a stare. Jace took out a card key, swiped it in the lock and punched in the override code. The doors open and Jace walked in Battle rifle at shoulder level.

"Hey! I said shut up." Jace swung his rifle butt at the Elite but it right through the Elite, and the Elite shimmered. It was a hologram.

"Shit!!" Jace looked over to where Luther was, he was sprawled on the ground with a nice sized welt on his face. Jace ran over got on his knees and shook him.

"Luther wake up! We got trouble!" Luther opened his eyes

"Huh?" Jace stood up.

"Shit.." Jace grabbed for the radio that was on the desk but only found pieces of it.

"Oh SHIT!" Jace yelled, he was in so much trouble now... Jace spoke into the short-range helmet COM.

"This is Jace Evans we have a security breach. Hostiles are armed with a BR55 battle rifle, be warned these are from security Cells 5-7" Jace ended the transmission. Surely someone heard that, Jace picked up Luther and headed for the door. They left the security room and headed for the medical station. Jace did not stand around long but headed out to the control deck to warn the captain what was going on. On the way there he came across the sarge.

"What the Hell! Did you do?!" Jace stuttered. "Nothing sir. Luther fell asleep, and I did also. When I woke up they were gone and Luther out cold." The sarge shook his head.

"Damn! Well report this to the captain ASAP!" Jace ran off to the control deck.

Jace arrived at the control decks moments later, out of breath and a bit sweaty.

"Damn.." Jace muttered under his breath, then he entered the control deck. Eyes were on him like he was going to his death, but the truth was they had a very strict captain who did not tolerate ignorance. Jace walked up to the captain and snapped to attention, saluting at the sane time.

"Corporal Jace Evans reporting as ordered sir!" The captain did not turn around.

"At ease soldier" Jace relaxed a little if you called it relaxing. Then the captain turned around to show his face.

"What do you think you did?" Jace was about to answer but the captain cut him off.

"No! I do not want to hear your answer. Instead I want you to listen… I Have read your BIO, it shows your are a good soldier, and whatnot, but this little accident will have your military career removed rig…."

The control deck shook violently.

"Status report!" The captain barked. A nervous Lt. Looked up from the computer.

"Sir a covenant battle cruiser at attack speed firing in are direction. They seemed to have just jumped out of Slip space and they seem to be locked on a private transmission out of are ship."

The captain turned around and glared at Jace.

"Prepare the MAC cannons, I want them charged to full, and you." He said referring to Jace.

"I want you to track down those covenant aboard my ship and kill them now!" Jace saluted and ran off.

"What a day.." He mumbled while he ran for the lower decks.