Chapter 4: Something out of the blue

Since the well earned sleep after getting back on board the UNSC Gorgon, all non essential personnel had been ordered to be put into Cryo, to conserve the rather limited rations that were on board until we reached our next destination.

The destination in question was going to be a small colony far away from Earth where i was originally destined to be, but because we now had to try and prevent the Covenant from finding the home land Earth, we had to keep bouncing from colony to colony. I was in no doubt that at the rate things were going we would soon be at Earth making a last stand but hopefully that wouldn't be for a few years yet.

Cryo for all intents and purposes is brilliant but as i was finding out, when you are awoken from it, you really don't feel like you have slept at all. I'd been in and out of Cryo 3 times in the last 4 weeks, as i was needed for various things, including at last some training. There had been a squad of ODST's board the Gorgon from the space station, and had been ordered to train me up with all their knowledge, it was evident i wasn't going to get to an actual training base, so it had been decided that the paper work would be filled in and that i would achieve my grades here.

Most of the training had been done in the firing range, which was now manned by a 3 man team, 2 guards and 1 guy who sanctioned the use of weapons, luckily for me all 3 of them were as laid back as the old guy who used to be there. Anyway, i'd come on leaps and bounds and was now equal if not outdoing a few members of the ODST squad, the Sergeant of the ODST's had trained me well, even he had admitted that i would probably exceed the levels he could teach.

Being in Cryo again right now, nothing really mattered, i'd changed the atmospherics of my Cryo-pod courtesy of the A.I. i'd helped transport from the station, though she was now back in my damn helmet again, thankfully she didn't seem like the usual A.I. and actually aided me an awful lot by scanning the area for enemies and such things, plus we would also chat as if we were friends, though i had looked a complete fool when i'd not changed to private comm and the others heard me talking to myself even though i wasn't.

Still i'd learnt a lot from her, including some rather classified information, she had confirmed what Spartans were and also, she had shown me images and such on the HUD of my helmet, i was in awe of them. If anything would save us from extinction these things would certainly put up the biggest fight and surprise those scummy aliens.

I was jolted from my Cryo slumber, rather unexpectedly, my eyes were blurry and my hearing muffled a bit, i could make out someone talking to me but as of yet i hadn't been able to wake myself up enough to understand a word they had said.

I was splashed with a face full of water, and that was it i was up.

"Come on dude get the heck up, Jesus anyone with erectile dysfunction gets up quicker than you!" It was Kez.

"Oi you cheeky sod, i was quite happily sleeping there, and that is the worst comparison i have ever heard" i hastily replied.

"Yeah well, Captain wants us on the bridge as and when you are ready, so get dressed, i don't think he will appreciate seeing your trouser snake roaming freely" Kez said making me realise i was indeed naked.

"Well that may be so but why the heck were you looking? Coming out the closet are we?" i joked.

"Fuck off!" He said whilst laughing and turning around "i'll meet you outside, hurry up though"

I jumped out of my pod, and went round to the cupboard to the right of it, inside was my black combat under suit, all clean and ironed nicely. I couldn't help but love walking around in this, i'd be lieing if i said i hated the attention it brought me, especially from the ladies on board.

All dressed and suited i stretched a little and clicked my neck, that felt amazingly good, i then re attached the holster to my leg and clipped my handgun into it, i'd now got weapons clearance so didn't have to worry anymore. I then turned and headed towards the door out of the Cryo bay.

Kez was leaning against the wall opposite the door, looking bored as ever, one thing i also noticed was the ship must've been being repaired because it was looking alot better on the inside every time i was awoken.

"Come on then sleeping beauty, to the bridge we go" Kez said in a cheesy soft tone.

I followed him without replying to his comment, i was still waking up i guess, Cryo really did take it out of you for some reason. We continued down the long corridor, headed for a lift that would take us up to the main lobby where we had made a last stand when we were last on board the ship.

In his usual fashion, Kez hit our floors button then proceeded to press a load of others, i'm pretty sure by now someone must of cottoned on to him doing this at least i thought the A.I. would of stopped this by now. Regardless it always left a grin on his face knowing he was about to fuck up someones day with his antics.

The lift reached the lobby and we stepped on out, and headed round to the bridge, everything had been repaired up here, it looked as though nothing had happened, although from the outlay of the ship on the consoles there were still large chunks of the ship missing.

"Ah gentleman, thanks for coming" The Captain said as we walked into the bridge.

He finished talking to one of the pilots at the front console, and then came over to us, we Saluted before signalled for us to be at ease.

"Now, we have had news through, i'm afraid not good news at that, but i have to inform you, the Covenant fleet have entered the system with Jericho VII in it, luckily the UNSC command had prepared for this and there is a fleet of UNSC ships there defending it, but unfortunately the Covenant have managed to land on the Jericho and well all hell has broken loose." The Captain explained, as he did so i felt myself drain of any colour, all i could think about was my family back there.

"Sir, is, is my family okay?" i eventually managed to get out.

"We don't know, im sorry to say, evacuation isn't the simplest of tasks and right now all that's happened is civilians have been chucked on evac ships in no specific order, but i will notify you as soon as we know you have my word." The Captain replied.

"On another note, i have to inform you that you have no passed and completed your training, UNSC Command has pushed through all the paper work and you are now officially an ODST, and in light of the previous enemy encounters, you are being given the rank of Sergeant." He said with praise.

"Sir, Thank you!" i replied, delighted at this bit of news.

"That's not all, Staff Sergeant Kezlowski here has also been through his ODST training and will join you, however we won't be assigning you to another ODST unit, you will perform as a 2 man infiltration and scout team as and when we need you, unfortunately this means we will probably lose you off of the UNSC Gorgon, but we haven't had the details through yet, for now enjoy yourselves we won't be in the next system for another 48 hours" The Captain said saluting us and heading back to the pilots.

We headed back out of the bridge, heading for the mess hall, i was starving to say the least, and was just begging for some food.

"How come you didn't tell me you were becoming an ODST?" i questioned Kez.

"Well i wanted to surprise you" He chuckled.

"Yeah yeah that's right because you just want to impress me and try and get in my pants" i joked.

"For the last time i'm not gay!" he exclaimed.

"Never said you were but i haven't seen you hook up with any girls yet" i teased him.

"I'm not great with that stuff, not for lack of trying though" he replied.

"Well you better try harder then hadn't you?" i said, smiling cheekily.

He just shot me a look, and then laughed. We were about to get in the lift when some Naval engineer come out in a huff.

"Whats up fella?" i asked as he walked past us as we stepped in.

"Some frickin jerk, sent me up and down the god damn ship, i have serious Intel here for the Captain and if i find who did that to me i will bloody well murder them!" the young guy exclaimed.

"Hey, i know who it was..." Kez retorted.

"who?" the guy asked.

"Me!" Kez exclaimed as the lift doors closed just in time to stop the guy getting back at Kez.

I was roaring with laughter next to him and he too soon burst out laughing, it wasn't really funny, not if you are the person that gets the tour courtesy of Kez, but for us it was.

The lift reached main lobby below, and we stepped out, this time i quickly hit all the buttons as we stepped out, making Kez laugh and then high five me. We began walking again towards the Mess Hall, it wasn't far but being so hungry every step seemed like it was to far. Finally we made it there, and surprisingly the place had barely anyone in there, i figured this was due to a lot of people being in Cryo.

I went to the serving desk absolutely starving, luckily Chef Chuck was behind it and he always allowed me double rations.

"Hit me up with a double again Chuck" i said to him.

"Sure thing man!" he replied and slapped double everything onto my plate almost letting it spill over the sides.

"Thanks buddy" i said as i took the plate from him and headed to the tables, i noticed my sister was sitting at the far table next to the windows with some guy, i decided i'd leave them be rather than join them and sat down a few seats away.

Kez soon joined me, and we both tucked into our meals, needless to say it tasted like heaven, even though ship food was not something to be admired, but when you have been without for a while or what seemed a while then well anything tasted like heaven.

I had just cleaned my plate of food, when Kez decided to say something to me.

"Hey whats the story then with your sis and that fella over there?" he asked giving a slight nod in the direction of them.

"You know, i'm not entirely sure mate, could be the guy she is with or it could be just a friend, i really don't know" i replied not really phased.

"Ah okay, just curious" Kez said before finishing his meal.

"Kez you ain't hitting on my sister are you?" i asked.

"Well, no, but that said no offence to you bro but she is kinda hot" he replied, looking a tad nervous of saying what he had.

"Each to their own, bare in mind, i will kill you if you hurt her, and besides i don't even know if the guy shes with is even still alive." i replied warning him.

"Don't worry man i wouldn't do anything unless i knew she was single and into me" He said reassuring me.

I gave him a weird look and stood up, and dropped my plate on the pile of other dirty ones, and headed on out. Kez remained and went over to the tv and sofas in one of the corners and sat down and watched the latest news. I was headed for the firing range, so i decided i would head back to our room and grab my armour and guns.

One thing i loved was the new weapons i had been given, i'd received a brand spanking new Silenced SMG with a more powerful shot and enhanced range, it also featured an adjustable stock and less recoil. It was amazing what the UNSC techs could do! I'd also been supplied with a Battle Rifle as well with enhancements on it to, and i'd been provided with a 50cal Sniper Rifle, also featuring a few enhancements. My hand gun was a new version of the Desert Eagle variety but featured a full 18 bullet clip, reduced recoil and enhanced sights. No Covenant bastard would be fucking with me anytime soon i thought to myself.

I had also been given the new spec ODST Armour, it was beautiful and much more robust, also lighter as well, i really didn't know how they had managed to make it stronger as well as lighter, i'd had a white stripe painted down the middle of the Black helmet and had a few white highlights on the rest of the black armour, it looked mighty good. The Environment system had also been enhanced, and my helmet allowed for better vision with an enhanced night time view HUD.

I had however been told i was the only soldier able to carry an A.I. in my helmet, well apart from the Spartans that i had been informed of courtesy of Chrystal the A.I. in my helmet.

I was all suited, and headed on down to the firing range, nothing like shooting Covenant targets to unleash a bit of pent up anger, it'd also help take my mind off of what was happening back home on Jericho, although me and my father didn't get along i didn't wish anything like that upon him. My mother thankfully was on Earth so she was definitely safe for the time being.

I got into the lift which led down to the firing range in the bottom of the ship, it was there in a flash, as i got out i put my helmet on and the systems environment system pressurised and adapted to the surroundings, my HUD also came online and soon enough Chrystal was also awake.

I swiped my personnel card and the new thicker door to the armoury and firing range opened.

It was deserted, i looked around and wondered where on earth the armoury staff were, seemed like it must've been a quiet day and they had bumped off early. I helped myself to a load of ammo in some crates and pushed a button and let myself into the firing range, as usual i made my way to the far range, so i could utilise my sniper rifle as well.

Sure enough the range was definitely empty so it was just me all on my own. I set the ammo down on the desk thing, and also plonked my guns down as well, it looked amazing a stack load of ammo and then all my weapons laid down next to them.

I spent hours just firing and firing destroying targets with ease, i could now hit a grunt target with the sniper rifle from the furthest distance straight in between the eyes, i had finally become something of a very highly skilled marksman, i had Kez and the ODST Sergeant to thank for that. I continued rattling off bullets, Chrystal praising me and oooing and ahhhing at various shots, she seemed to be enjoying herself, i definitely was. We took a break and i perched on a seat that was down there.

We chatted for ages, i told her about the stuff that was happening on Jericho, she seemed sympathetic even though she was an A.I. but it was much appreciated. She said she would keep tabs on the system and see if she could locate my father at all as and when she could get access to such parts of the system, she wasn't fully synced with the systems here on the Gorgon, mainly because the ship had its own A.I. built into it.

After the little break i collected a load more ammo clips and then began rattling off rounds yet again. I decided to experiment with the new explosive ammo, against the stronger targets and i must say they packed a hell of a punch, they destroyed the metal targets with ease, so i looked forward to using these on the battle field if circumstances permitted of course.

Whilst i fired away with various guns and different ammo types a group of rangers had come in and set up shop a few sections down, i ignored them mostly and just rattled away, hitting each and every target with supreme accuracy. I could tell they were watching me, and that they were slightly in awe at what i was doing, i decided i'd show off and set up a target at the furthest distance and instead of the sniper rifle i'd shoot it with the Battle Rifle. Aiming down range i wasn't sure if it would reach so to compensate i aimed higher allowing for bullet drop, i shot and destroyed its head with an explosive round. There were some claps and few exclamations as if to say is this guy for real.

In fairness they weren't bad shots themselves, they were easily rattling away through targets themselves though not as accurate as me, but still any hit is a hit as long as it seriously maimed its target or killed it.

I took another breather and got a drink from the vending machine behind me, good old fashioned Coca Cola, a drink that had lasted since god knows when! and it tasted mighty good to. I sat down again in my firing section out of sight of the rangers and chatted to Chrystal again, she seemed a little pre-occupied though so i soon started shooting again.

I remained there for another 3 hours and saw on the tally next to me that i had rattled through 782 targets with a hit ratio of 99%, chuffed with this i decided that would be it and i returned to my quarters.

I returned to hear some noises i really didn't want to, seemed Kez had worked his magic on some lass at last, thank god i thought it might calm him down a little. I managed to sneak in without actually seeing anything and place my weapons down in the small room where we now kept our weapons, unfortunately i dropped an ammo clip and it made a loud clonk on the metal floor, i heard them notice in the room next door and quickly turned on the lights.

I emerged and what i saw was well something i hadn't thought i would see. It wasn't just any girl but it was my sister Kelly with him both with the covers up to their necks.

"Steve! I'm sorry!" She said thinking i was gonna go on a rage.

"Seriously, its okay, but i thought you were bloody well engaged or married?" i questioned.

"I was, a while ago i just hadn't got rid of the ring, he has been dead for over a year, he was killed in one of the first Covenant attacks" she said, trying to not make Kez feel like crap.

"Listen, Kez i already told you what i think, so you better as hell make sure you look after her, anyway i will leave you guys to it, think i don't want to be around for this" i chuckled and headed out.

I was slightly in shock as to what i had seen back there but i shrugged it off it was up to them what they wanted to do, as long as she didn't get hurt in the process.

I decided i'd go check out the observation deck and see what was happening in the various colonies, i knew Jericho was under attack but i wanted to see the situation elsewhere.

I soon arrived there, i was still suited in my armour so i could chat to Chrystal, i think she appreciated the company and me getting her out and about, if she was human we may well of been a couple by now, but that's just how things go.

I was again the only person there, so i had the freedom of the main console, i flagged up all known conflicts as of the current time, and i was surprised, 3 different colonies were waging a battle, a losing battle at that, the system with Jericho in was the strongest one of the 3 thank god, so there was some hope. I noticed a system blacked out on the system and decided to bring it up. The place in question was a place called Harvest, it been completely wiped out, classed as glassed, basically what the Covenant do is use some particle beam and literally wipe any living thing out below on the planet.

It was pretty grim some of the details so i left it be, there was way to many similarities between what had happened there to what was going on in 3 different places right now.

"Chrystal, do you reckon we can win this war?" i asked.

"It all depends on how well the UNSC troops are prepared" She replied.

"No seriously what are the odds?" i asked again.

"The odds are highly in favour of the Covenant forces at the moment, but that could change with what ONI have going on, but what it is i can't access" she said.

"Well i hope they get their arses in gear, there's only so much we can do" i said whilst walking out of the observation deck.

i had about 24 hours now until we reached the system we were headed for, apparently it was the Ambassador System, though it was relatively minor, only 2 planets or rather small moons occupied here. Still hopefully the Covenant forces hadn't located it yet.

"Sergeant Hill, please report to the bridge, Thank you" some Navy person spoke out over the ships comms.

What could they want now? i thought, it certainly wasn't that we were under attack, so god knows, could be my first assignment or that i was being transferred to another ship. Guess i would find out soon enough.

I reached the bridge and the Captain was comfortable in his chair sipping a hot mug of Coffee.

"Sir" i said saluting him as i did so.

"At ease Sergeant, I've got your first assignment, it would seem you will be remaining with us until we reach Earth whenever that is" he said "Now, we have had some trouble with various UNSC military objects going missing in the system we are approaching, a defected bunch of civilians who for some reason are worshipping the Covenant forces, sort of like a cult. Its came to our attention they have acquired some valuable UNSC material on various systems they have stolen as well as a few vehicles, we need you to go in with Staff Sergeant Kezlowski and Lieutenant Hill"

"Why my sister if you don't mind me asking sir?" i asked.

"Because shes the only one who knows to work some of the equipment, we need it wiped and we need it destroyed. There is one piece of material so to speak that we need retrieving, mainly for its data, its a Pelican, that has served for us before it has in its systems recordings and archives of pretty much everything, these can't be wiped or destroyed without being plugged into the UNSC mainframe unfortunately you can't do this locally and will need to get the Pelican back here on board. You cannot fail this do you understand?" the Captain demanded.

"Yes Sir!" i said loud and clear.

"Excellent, you are in charge for this operation Sergeant, you are in a very privileged position right now, so saddle up we are ahead of schedule and will be there within the hour, time is of the essence" The Captain said.

We saluted each other and i headed back to the quarters, i just hoped they had both got it out of their systems and were finished.

I reached them in no time, and thankfully they were both dressed sat on the sofa drinking some tea.

"Right guys... hang on is that my Tea i brought with me?... never mind, we have an assignment!" i said rather more proudly than i should of.

"Oh shall i leave you to it?" Kelly asked.

"No no, you are in on this one to, we have to locate, wipe and destroy various UNSC material that these Covenant cult worshippers have stolen, and then rescue a Pelican which for some reason can't be wiped unless its on board. Apparently you, Kelly, are the only one who knows how to do all the stuff to the stuff we have to destroy." i explained.

"Excellent, this sounds like just the stuff we were trained for, lets get suited up" Kez said excited.

"Yes lets, well i am already, but anyway don't wet your pants in anticipation, the shit could hit the fan yet, as it usually does" i said "Kelly there is some armour being brought down for you to, and you are being provided with an assault rifle, but we don't expect you to get involved in the gun fights its purely for self defence if it comes to it."

"Okay, that's fine by me, i'm not trained to much for combat" she said.

The armour arrived and so did her weapons and soon enough we were all suited up and ready to go. We headed down to Bay 1, where we had planted the bomb on the Covenant transport ship, and boarded the waiting Pelican drop ship.

All we had to do now was wait until we were in orbit and we would be on our way to our first official assignment, nerves were high, but we felt quietly confident as this didn't involve Covenant.

"Pelican Zulu, you are a go" the Captains voice said over the comms, and sure enough we headed out of Bay 1 towards the larger inhabited moon, weather was hot, so i had prepared my climate suit for it, or rather Chrystal had. Now we had just a short trip to the small city of Ohio Independence, and it would begin...