Chapter 1

ODST Lieutenant James Taylor was sitting in a grey room in a starship. It was fairly large, holding about 10 ODST'S and another 10 Elites.

Sangheili, He mentally corrected himself. He was about 26, with a weak chin, hazel eyes , and thick black hair. He didn't look like a badass, that's for sure. Then there was another thing.

He didn't have the slightest clue what the hell he was doing here.

A Special Operations Elite, clad in black armor, came to the center of the room, accompanied by another ODST. Rather than the angular armor of normal Sangheili, it was curved, smooth, assault armor. It held the mandibles instead of letting them hang loose. It is so fearsome, that they weren't allowed in the covenant.

The ODST took of his helmet. She, actually, a tall woman with dark brown hair and fierce black eyes looked upon him.

"My name is Major Jane Dawson. You can refer to me is Major Dawson, Dawson, or whatever the hell you like."

Lieutenant Taylor promptly commenced to nap. Dawson's eye sneaked upon him.

"Wake up, Soldier" said a voice, deep and reverberating. It was the Sangheili

The Lieutenant opened his eyes and looked

"Thank you SpecOps Domo 'Dosam," said the Major.

The Major walked towards a screen on the wall and pushed a button beside it. A picture of a familiar ship, or rather, half of one, floated on the screen.

"This was the last seen half of the Forward unto Dawn. The one containing the Master Chief." She then switched the screen to a vaporized familiar structure.

It was the portal that would lead to the ark.

"Currently, we are in orbit above this portal. In two hours we are going to send a group of approximately 10,000 Sangheilli officers, and 20,000 Marines, 200 of them being us, the ODST's. Our mission: to find the Master Chief,"

There were several cheers throughout the room, and even Dawson cracked a smile.

It was quickly replaced with a look of solemnity. She switched the picture on the screen to what appeared to be a dark blue planet.

"This, is the nearest planet to the Ark. We theorize that if that half of the ship was to crash into any planet, it would be this one."

She turned off the screen. "Now, men" she said "We don't know what is on that planet, it could be anything from master chief to The Covenant, and maybe, god forbid, the flood. So be prepared. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am!" shouted the crew, Taylor included.

"Alright, now be back here by 1500 hours!"

The congregation split, and headed their separate ways.

A black man walked beside Taylor. He was taller than him, and more muscular.

"Hello, Lieutenant"

"Afternoon Captain Sykes." replied Taylor. Captain Caleb Sykes was like a brother to him. He was funny, yet serious all at once. He was the type of ODST who you would expect smoking a cigarette while shooting the brains out of a brute.

"Waddya think your going to take for weapons, James?" This would normally insult Taylor, as being the rookie of the ODST's, he found it condescending behavior to be called by given names.

"Eh, I dunno cap'n. Maybe a Battle Rifle and a SMG?"

The Captain laughed. "I always go for a SOCOM magnum, and couple it with an MA5C assault rifle."

"Doesn't the SOCOM magnum suck? The only reason it's suppressible is because it's so damn weak!" chuckled Taylor

With this they entered the weapons locker.

The lieutenant picked out an M7 caseless SMG and popped a magazine on the top. He cocked the handle and holstered it. He then slammed a mag into the Br55 Battle rifle. He checked the sight and watched the Captain load a mag into the MA5C, and slam a clip into the pistol.

Now they were ready.