The men finished laughing and continued down the hall. As they reached the end of the corridor, smiles dropped, postures straightened and silence fell over them. Men bustled about running to various battle stations in preparation for the upcoming invasion. Tremors from plasma blasts and the echoes of the MAC gun shook the station.
Buck took the lead placing his hand on a small blue screen that protruded from the tactical room's thick door.
"ID Confirmed: Edward Buck"
Adrian and Bryant followed suit.
"ID Confirmed: Michael Bryant."
"ID Confirmed: Adrian Thomas. Access Denied"
"What? I was told to report he.." Adrian began.
A radio transmission interrupted.
"Adrian Thomas please report to Room 439 for briefing."
"I am to report here under orders by Lord Hood." Adrian protested.
"Lord Hood sent the request himself, now if you please. We don't have time for this." the radio argued back.
"Very well. Gentlemen." Adrian nodded to the two men and departed.
The door slid open and a large screen displayed the Covenant cruiser while several smaller screens broadcasted footage of the infantry invasion. In the center of the room stood Lord Hood, Fleet Admiral of the UNSC. Bryant and Buck greeted the Admiral with a firm salute.
"At ease Troopers," the commanding officer said without turning. He followed the order with a long sigh.
"Today is a day that we have long prepared for but hoped would never come. Humanity has lost world after to the Covenant. Billions dead. Heartless bastards."
The admiral turned to face the two men.
"...but now they've found Earth and if they manage to..nothing will be the same."
He placed a hand on each of the Troopers' shoulders and lowered his voice.
"Don't let them take her from us. Not this time."
"Not a chance in hell sir." Buck replied.
"Sir, no sir." Bryant followed.
Lord Hood turned back to the screens and took his stance as fleet admiral.
"Glad to hear it. I know you're up to the challenge. Today we test the true strength of the ODSTs. Are you..
A crash shook the station. One of the few men facing various monitors around the room spoke up.
"Another boarding party, light infantry, responders already on site."
Lord Hood tried to begin again, but was interrupted by two more arrivals. A woman entered from the same door Bryant and Buck had and another appeared on one of the large screens in the room on the deck of the ship In Amber Clad. The former was outfitted in full ODST combat gear and carried a strange looking helmet that Bryant had never seen before. She stood a few inches shorter than Buck and had her blonde hair tied back in a small ponytail. Buck stiffened at the sight of her. She had a sarcastic confidence to her and also clearly noticed Buck's not-so-subtle shift.
Bryant recognized the other from the recent awards ceremony. She was the daughter of the late Captain Keyes, a war hero in the recent struggles against the Covenant. Bryant had served under him when he was still a Marine although he'd not seen him in the events leading up to his death. He was a tough son of a bitch. Bryant couldn't imagine what could have taken him out. His daughter, who's first name escaped Bryant, had accepted his awards on his behalf along with several accolades of her own. She wore her short brown hair down and had just finished buttoning up her grey suit. She'd clearly had to change from her Navy suit to this attire in a short time.
"I already have a squad on the most recent boarding party." The woman on screen reassured the admiral.
"Let me introduce Captain Veronica Dare and Commander Miranda Keyes. They'll be leading the current mission. Godspeed Helljumpers.
The specifics of the plan left Buck wide-eyed and mouth on the floor, while Bryant agreed that the plan was insane, he also had to do his best to hide his excitement. This would be a drop like no other. Though she did her best, Bryant could detect anticipation in Commander Keyes' eyes as well.
As the lecture came to a close, a transmission cut through the noise. Cortana materialized on a nearby terminal. With the update of a new weakness in the enemy's main ship, Commander Keyes spoke up,
"Cairo, this is In Amber Clad. The carrier's shield is down. I'm in position and ready for immediate assault."
Lord Hood replied, "Negative Commander. Not against a ship that size. Not on your own."
"Sorry to interrupt sir, but you're gonna wanna hear this one." Cortana interjected.
A radio broadcast came through the main speaker.
"Sir permission to leave the station?" A strong and deep voice said.
"For what reason Master Chief?" The admiral inquired.
"To give the Covenant back their bomb." The voice responded
"...Permission granted." The admiral said not smiling, but visibly satisfied.
The radio transmission cut.
"I'm going with him." Cortana said.
"Go." The admiral began, but Cortana had already begun to fade away. The last thing she did before completely disappearing was wink in Bryant's direction.
Damn Spartans. Always showing off.
Bryant chuckled to himself lightly. If anyone was born for the spotlight, it was that guy. Bryant wasn't particularly fond of Spartans, controversy and conflict seemed to surround them, even off the battlefield. He'd heard of their incredible accomplishments though, and was glad they were on the right side. Heroes were in high demand these days.
Lord Hood turned to Commander Keyes, "I want you on his landing coordinates yesterday."
Miranda had already begun to walk toward the door. "We've already got them locked. Johnson! Strap in! We've got a package to pick up!"
"Yes ma'am." The voice came from the same screen the commander had spoken from. Bryant hadn't even noticed one of the most decorated sergeants in the UNSC on screen, leaning against the back wall, smoking one of his iconic thick cigars. Bryant had always wondered how he seemed to have a near endless supply on hand, considering the constant space travel. If they'd been in the same room, and under better circumstances, Bryant would've asked for a picture. The sergeant stepped forward blowing out a a massive cloud of smoke.
"Damn it Johnson how many times do I have to tell you to put that thing out while you're offworld."
"Sorry sir, had 'em imported from Cuba. Seemed like a good time considering."
"Save me one..for after." Lord Hood admitted.
"...And Miranda tell those Longswords to make sure their cameras are rolling. The world needs to see this."
Miranda shot off one last, "Yes sir." before the screen reverted back to various battle updates.
Buck turned to Bryant and the two clasped hands.
"Give 'em hell B."
"Good luck Gunny, give Romeo my best." Bryant replied with a wink.
Buck rolled his eyes and walked away with Captain Dare.
The last thing Bryant heard from Buck before the door shut behind him was his famous battle cry to Alpha 9.
"You know the music, time to dance!"
Lord Hood approached Bryant.
"This op is to remain covert. We set the bar high son, don't disappoint."