Epilogue 2, Form Up

Our pods soared towards the ground. I had to keep a close eye on my altitude, if I deployed my chute too early it would tear off, if I do it too late I won't slow down in time. Outside my window I see the other pods. Suddenly one of them explodes, I see a flurry of Shade Turret Anti-Air rounds shoot past us. A few pods go up in flames, these damn things can't fight back, all we can do is move side to side and pray. Finally we reach altitude for chute deployment, I deploy mine and begin maneuvering my pod away from the oncoming fire. I lock in my coordinates and my pod does most of the work, all I have to do is take manual control to avoid The AA Turret. Only a few Clicks left. But suddenly my pod was struck from the back, luckily it was not an AA Turret, but it still knocked me way off course. I grab the control sticks and veer towards the landing zone as hard as I can, it's gonna be a rougher landing than I thought. Only a few seconds till I hit the ground, I brace for impact. I crash hard into the ground, my pod rolls a few times before landing on the door.

"Dammit, just my luck." I swear.

I can't exit the traditional way, what now? But I remember I have a little trick up my sleeve. I unstrap myself and fall on the door, I take out my Energy Sword and carve out the side of the pod, I unclip my Sniper and use it to leverage the pod and flip it over. I press the release buttons and the door of the pod goes flying off. I get out and dust myself off, I check my wrist Tacpad.

"Good, only about a mile off-course, better get moving."

I ran along the desert trail.

Outside Beod, Kinist, January 29 2556, 0925 hours

I continue my trek towards the landing zone when I spot a lone pod, its door is closed and a few Grunts surround it and are mocking the trapped ODST. I sneak up and fire two shots from my magnum, taking out two of the Grunts. The others scrambled away but I filled one of them with bullets and caught the other one and stabbed him. I walked over to the pod and signaled to the ODST inside to get out, he pointed to the left. I looked there and saw the door was melded shut, damn Grunts must have sealed him inside. I told him to stand back as I ignited my sword and slashed the door open. He stumbled out and without a word ran over and grabbed my deactivated sword and began inspecting it.

"Hey! Hey! What the hell are you doing?"

"This is a Sangheili Energy Sword. How did you get this?" He asks eagerly in an Australian accent.

"First things first, who are you?"

"Oh! Sorry, got a bit distracted there. I'm Private Marco Lowery, to who do I owe the pleasure?"

"Gunnery Sergeant Phineas Adams." I respond coldly.

"Wait, Phineas Adams? As in the Swordmaster?!"

"Swordmaster?"

"Yeah, that's what they call you in the Corps, an ODST that rose through the ranks in just 3 years of service who wields an Energy Sword! You're a legend!"

"Ok that's besides the point, what's your specialty Private?"

"Oh! I'm a Covenant specialist."

I pause for a moment, waiting for a longer answer.

"A Covenant what specialist?"

"Anything, weapons, vehicles, language, history. You name it, I know it."

"Ok next question, where is your squad?"

"I'm afraid they're dead sir." he said, the enthusiasm in his voice fading as he said it.

I look at him, he's not much, he has a purple painted chest piece and helmet, he's much shorter than I am as well, but if what he can do what he claims he can, he could be an asset.

"C'mon kid, I'm on my way to meet up with my squad, you can tag along."

"Ok sir!"

Rendezvous Point, Beod, Kinist, January 29 2556, 0940 hours

Marco and I finally met up at the designated zone, the rest of Imp was there as well.

"What took you so long?" asked Declan.

"I got a little turned around, found this guy trapped in his pod by some Grunts." I respond.

"Private Marco Lowery Sir!"

"Two Privates in one day, you gotta be fucking kidding me!" Swore Declan.

"Stow it Lieutenant, we got a mission."

"What is that mission anyway?" inquired Sarah

I set down a small device and a map projects in front of us. I point to a glowing dot on the map.

"This is our destination, the Brutes have set up a base here, we are going to break in and blow the whole place sky high."

"How are we gonna get in?" Asks Micheal.

"There is a back access door, it's decently guarded, but that's no problem for us, I'll provide Sniper cover while you guys get the drop on the apes."

"How do I fit into this sir?" Asked Marco

"You said you're an expert on all things Covenant right? Sarah was gonna get the door open, but it would take a while to get in, with your help it should be a breeze."

The team prepares their weapons. Marco has a BR and silenced Magnum, Sarah has a Shotgun, Declan has an AR, Andre has a SAW, and Micheal has A DMR and a closed weapon case on his back.

"Let's get moving!" I order.