Halo: Mercy
Ch: 18
Title: Feet First Into Hell!
////////////////////////////////
I would like to say sorry for not updating for quite some time. I had a little problems finding out what I should write next on the story. I consulted some people about suggestions and each one of them was help full I would like to thank Ensign Pettis for helping me get through my small writers block. Ill write the Return to Reach section and then ill see where the story goes from there. Ill leave the direction of the story up to all the people who read this story since I would not be writing, if it where not for all of you.
Once Im finished with this section ill be updating all the chapters with spelling and grammar corrections since I finally have my Word up and running. It gets a little confusing when I've been writing with stupid Word Pad.
I hope all of you enjoy the next sections of the story
The Return To Reach.
/////////////////////////////// Since the day that the Covenant fleet that was sent to destroy Earth was destroyed all Covenant controlled space had been put on to high alert anything that was not of Covenant origin would be shot and destroyed.
Reach had become a main base for the Covenant. They had kept a lot of the Structures that belonged to Reach, mainly military structures. They even repaired the damaged Super MAC cannons that remained from the UNSC's occupation. Only a few were repaired since most were damaged beyond repair.
The Ship activity around Reach numbered three hundred ships. For the UNSC it would be a challenge but with they're new motivation they were prepped to succeed.
Any UNSC ship would not of been able to enter Reach with out it being opened fire on but the Covenant had no idea that the UNSC had smaller ships with stealth technology.
Ten ships about half the size of a Frigate flew by a Covenant Patrol. For you to be able to see the ships you would have to be extremely close to them since they blend into space. They were invisible to Covenant detection devices. Not only that they where refitted with cloaking devices.
The ships where known as ONI Prowlers. The ships are able to carry five hundred troops and equipment. They had a total of 5,000 troops total on all ten ships most where ODST's. They had been launched from the battle Ship Ragnarok and other ships in the outer limits of Covenant controlled space. They were the first wave of the UNSC. They were to snatch back a military base that had been taken away from them and use it as a deployment base for ground troops.
After they have Secured the Base the UNSC fleet would move in Send all their troops to the base and begin to wage war against the Covenant on the ground. The Fleet consisted of Two hundred and fifty ships.
One of the Prowlers is carrying the Spartans. One hundred and sixteen Spartans total. Finally John and the original Spartan II's received their new modifications. Zero, Kelly, Fred, Rachel all received their own Smart A.I's. Each one of the AI's had their very own personality just like Cortana. Zero's AI is named Knight Stalker. Kelly's AI is named Angel. Fred's is named Ranger. Rachel's is called Cetra.
///////////////////////////
The Spartans where in their own area getting suited up and getting equipped for battle. Never had they been so motivated. John thought that it would be good time to give a speech to the Spartans.
John got off his bench that he was sitting.
" Listen up." He said
" You all know what we are going to do on Reach. But I want all of you to know that Reach has a meaning to all of us Spartans. Some of us consider Reach to be our home. It is where the Spartans where born and personally to me the place that I was given a meaning to live. And to add to the mission the base we are taking over is the same place that I was trained at. I would give my life just to see Reach be part of the UNSC once again. We failed once but this time the Covenant well pay dearly for disgracing our home. Since the day that we began to fight the Covenant we have been the only ones to inflect fear into there hearts and you might consider that as a small tradition that we have. This time I don't want them to fear us. I want them to be terrified of us. So terrified that they well lose all motivation to fight. Thanks to them many of our brothers and sisters died on Reach trying to protect it. Lets take back Reach and give our fallen brothers and sisters a proper burial that any Spartan would deserve." John said
" This battle is for our fallen Brothers and sisters." Kelly got up and said
" Lets win for them." Fred added.
All the Spartans nodded and stood quiet remembering all of the fallen soldiers they have witnessed die in battle.
"We well be doing an orbital drop so don't forget your barf bags." John said joking
(Note: Orbital drops are when troops get in to single manned capsules that are dropped from space and land on planet side. That is where ODST's got their names from Orbital Drop Ship Troopers. Hope that clarifies that.)
John sat back down
" Well Chief I never knew that you where such a sensitive man." Cortana said as a joke through his helmet.
" Cortana you know just how much Reach means to me and my Spartans. We were reborn there. You know that half of my friends died there and even today neither of them have received a proper burial. I broke one of the main laws of a leader. No one is left behind. And I'm going to keep that promise and no fucking Covenant is going to stop me from that." John said to her remark as if he was pissed.
Cortana was shocked of John' answer, she was only joking around with him. She had never Seen John react this way. It must be a human emotion she thought to her self but this emotion that John showed seemed to fuel his determination even more.
" Chief you know that it was not your fault that a lot of the Spartans that trained with you died on Reach. There was nothing you could of done." Cortana said trying to calm him down
" Your wrong Cortana I could have been there with them fighting beside them. Instead I had to witness Linda die in front of my eyes. Not only did she die but her body is nothing but particles where Halo one stood when we blew up the Autumn." John said (Note: In the Book Fall Of Reach, Chief put Linda's Body in a cryo tube hoping that she could be revived later on.)
" You know Chief, that if we had stayed to fight then we would of never gone to Halo." Cortana said
" We should have never been at Halo in the first place." John added
" Funny you say that Chief but if it weren't for the events on Halo and us coming back most of the new technology that we have now would not exist!" She said starting to get irritated
That got John to think. He was wrong to have acted that way with Cortana. She was only trying to make him laugh. He knew that she was right but every time he thought of Reach he saw Linda's death all over again.
" Cortana." John said
" Now what! What other damn mistakes have we done?" Cortana said this time mad at John
" Thanks." He said
" Thanks for what!" She said
" You know, being there for me at all times. No body else would have dared to go with me and my dangerous plans that would of killed any one else. But some how we always survived. With out you I would of probably died at Halo. In my mind Cortana you are one of my Spartans." John said.
" Ha, your right you would of died with out me. But thanks for considering me like one of your Spartans. But one thing about that." She said
" What's that?" John said
" I cant be some over sized muscle head dumb ass like you." She said jokingly
" Very funny Cortana. Just remember that this dumb ass is your ticket for survival when we are fighting." John said
That's when through the speaker system came out orders from the bridge.
" Listen up every one get into your positions we well be ready for the orbital drops in ten minutes. So get cracking people." The voice finished.
" Well Cortana I hope you don't get air sick. Knowing that you have never done an orbital drop."
" Well I guess you got to do it once in a life time." She said
John picked up his equipment and walked out of the room with the other Spartans behind him.
He hopped on to his capsule with Kelly Fred and Zero hopping on to there own next to his. Half the Spartans where going to drop with a total of five hundred other ODST's right on to the base and clear an LZ for one of the Prowlers to land with troops and equipment in the center of the base. Once they clear the base the other Prowlers well land setting up a perimeter around the base.
When landed each prowler can act as defensive weapons against ground and air units. These are all new features that have been installed into the Prowlers by ONI. After the Prowlers have secured the perimeters the Covenant would have to be pretty stupid to try and take back the base.
//////////////////////////////// The ships got closer to Reach with out the Covenant even taking notice that they where about to be invaded by the humans.
The ships stopped close to Reaches Moon. One of them continued on its path toward the planet. It sneaked by a Covenant Cruiser with out it even taking notice of the camouflaged ship. If the people who had designed the technology on the Prowler had been there then they would all be laughing their butts off toward the Covenant.
It stopped right on the edge of the atmosphere.
////////////////////////////// Inside the Master Chiefs Capsule:
"Ok people, you well all be ready for launch in thirty seconds." Said an engineer who was supervising the drop.
Through the comm. came out the voice of an ODST Sergeant.
" Lets teach these Spartans why they call us ODST's and show them the proper way to do a orbital drop! You all know our motto "Feet First Into Hell!" Said the SGT.
" Um sir if we are going to hell then would that make the Covenant little demons?" a private asked
" That's a way to put it private good job." The SGT said back
" Thanks SGT. But who would be the devil sir?"
" Your damn mother Private now shut the fuck up, it's almost time for the drop." A Corporal who was listening to the conversation said through the comm.
The countdown reached zero a light came on from the front panel of Johns capsule saying press button for drop.
" Well Cortana this is going to be one heck of a fall so you better hold on." John said to her.
" I can hardly wait Chief." She said back.
He moved his hand to press the button for release.
In Kelly's capsule:
" Kelly is it true what they say that these drops are extremely dangerous?" Angel her new AI asked
" You bet it is but it's fun as hell!" She answered him back.
" I don't think I share your same optimism. Lets just hope we get there in one peace."
Kelly pressed her release button.
Each Capsule fired a small thrust to leave the ship and align it self with it's landing target.
Five hundred and fifty capsules began to enter the atmosphere at full speed.
The Covenant had just dismissed it as falling junk from space.
John was holding on as good as he could. The Capsule was shaking violently. It shook for about a minute after it broke through the atmosphere and began to free-fall towards its location.
" That wasn't to bad Chief." Cortana said
" Glad to know that Cortana but unfortunately you don't have a stomach so you can't feel sick." He said a little nauseas.
The capsules fell till they reached twenty thousand feet when the first parachute opened on all the capsules to slow them down. The capsules slowed down from speed higher than mach two to less than two hundred MPH. The capsules reached ten thousand feet. The first parachute disengaged and the capsules started another free fall.
When they reached fifteen hundred feet the Covenant at the base began to hear the loud sound of the capsules. They looked up and there mouths dropped. Hundreds of Capsules where coming toward there direction. Through the shock neither moved a muscle.
When the capsules reached one thousand feet. All the capsules opened their second parachutes. They fell five hundred feet using the parachutes to slow them down. When they reached three hundred feet the parachutes disengaged and the capsules made another free-fall the rest of the way down. All of them impacted the ground hard but the capsules where designed to protect the troops inside so only the capsules suffered any damage.
John got his Rifle Battle rifle and disengaged the safety. Made sure a grenade round was loaded into its launcher. He pressed a switch and the front of the capsule blew open. Giving him a way to get out.
He jumped out and went into battle.
And so began the Battle for Reach. To be continued.
I would like to say sorry for not updating for quite some time. I had a little problems finding out what I should write next on the story. I consulted some people about suggestions and each one of them was help full I would like to thank Ensign Pettis for helping me get through my small writers block. Ill write the Return to Reach section and then ill see where the story goes from there. Ill leave the direction of the story up to all the people who read this story since I would not be writing, if it where not for all of you.
Once Im finished with this section ill be updating all the chapters with spelling and grammar corrections since I finally have my Word up and running. It gets a little confusing when I've been writing with stupid Word Pad.
I hope all of you enjoy the next sections of the story
The Return To Reach.
/////////////////////////////// Since the day that the Covenant fleet that was sent to destroy Earth was destroyed all Covenant controlled space had been put on to high alert anything that was not of Covenant origin would be shot and destroyed.
Reach had become a main base for the Covenant. They had kept a lot of the Structures that belonged to Reach, mainly military structures. They even repaired the damaged Super MAC cannons that remained from the UNSC's occupation. Only a few were repaired since most were damaged beyond repair.
The Ship activity around Reach numbered three hundred ships. For the UNSC it would be a challenge but with they're new motivation they were prepped to succeed.
Any UNSC ship would not of been able to enter Reach with out it being opened fire on but the Covenant had no idea that the UNSC had smaller ships with stealth technology.
Ten ships about half the size of a Frigate flew by a Covenant Patrol. For you to be able to see the ships you would have to be extremely close to them since they blend into space. They were invisible to Covenant detection devices. Not only that they where refitted with cloaking devices.
The ships where known as ONI Prowlers. The ships are able to carry five hundred troops and equipment. They had a total of 5,000 troops total on all ten ships most where ODST's. They had been launched from the battle Ship Ragnarok and other ships in the outer limits of Covenant controlled space. They were the first wave of the UNSC. They were to snatch back a military base that had been taken away from them and use it as a deployment base for ground troops.
After they have Secured the Base the UNSC fleet would move in Send all their troops to the base and begin to wage war against the Covenant on the ground. The Fleet consisted of Two hundred and fifty ships.
One of the Prowlers is carrying the Spartans. One hundred and sixteen Spartans total. Finally John and the original Spartan II's received their new modifications. Zero, Kelly, Fred, Rachel all received their own Smart A.I's. Each one of the AI's had their very own personality just like Cortana. Zero's AI is named Knight Stalker. Kelly's AI is named Angel. Fred's is named Ranger. Rachel's is called Cetra.
///////////////////////////
The Spartans where in their own area getting suited up and getting equipped for battle. Never had they been so motivated. John thought that it would be good time to give a speech to the Spartans.
John got off his bench that he was sitting.
" Listen up." He said
" You all know what we are going to do on Reach. But I want all of you to know that Reach has a meaning to all of us Spartans. Some of us consider Reach to be our home. It is where the Spartans where born and personally to me the place that I was given a meaning to live. And to add to the mission the base we are taking over is the same place that I was trained at. I would give my life just to see Reach be part of the UNSC once again. We failed once but this time the Covenant well pay dearly for disgracing our home. Since the day that we began to fight the Covenant we have been the only ones to inflect fear into there hearts and you might consider that as a small tradition that we have. This time I don't want them to fear us. I want them to be terrified of us. So terrified that they well lose all motivation to fight. Thanks to them many of our brothers and sisters died on Reach trying to protect it. Lets take back Reach and give our fallen brothers and sisters a proper burial that any Spartan would deserve." John said
" This battle is for our fallen Brothers and sisters." Kelly got up and said
" Lets win for them." Fred added.
All the Spartans nodded and stood quiet remembering all of the fallen soldiers they have witnessed die in battle.
"We well be doing an orbital drop so don't forget your barf bags." John said joking
(Note: Orbital drops are when troops get in to single manned capsules that are dropped from space and land on planet side. That is where ODST's got their names from Orbital Drop Ship Troopers. Hope that clarifies that.)
John sat back down
" Well Chief I never knew that you where such a sensitive man." Cortana said as a joke through his helmet.
" Cortana you know just how much Reach means to me and my Spartans. We were reborn there. You know that half of my friends died there and even today neither of them have received a proper burial. I broke one of the main laws of a leader. No one is left behind. And I'm going to keep that promise and no fucking Covenant is going to stop me from that." John said to her remark as if he was pissed.
Cortana was shocked of John' answer, she was only joking around with him. She had never Seen John react this way. It must be a human emotion she thought to her self but this emotion that John showed seemed to fuel his determination even more.
" Chief you know that it was not your fault that a lot of the Spartans that trained with you died on Reach. There was nothing you could of done." Cortana said trying to calm him down
" Your wrong Cortana I could have been there with them fighting beside them. Instead I had to witness Linda die in front of my eyes. Not only did she die but her body is nothing but particles where Halo one stood when we blew up the Autumn." John said (Note: In the Book Fall Of Reach, Chief put Linda's Body in a cryo tube hoping that she could be revived later on.)
" You know Chief, that if we had stayed to fight then we would of never gone to Halo." Cortana said
" We should have never been at Halo in the first place." John added
" Funny you say that Chief but if it weren't for the events on Halo and us coming back most of the new technology that we have now would not exist!" She said starting to get irritated
That got John to think. He was wrong to have acted that way with Cortana. She was only trying to make him laugh. He knew that she was right but every time he thought of Reach he saw Linda's death all over again.
" Cortana." John said
" Now what! What other damn mistakes have we done?" Cortana said this time mad at John
" Thanks." He said
" Thanks for what!" She said
" You know, being there for me at all times. No body else would have dared to go with me and my dangerous plans that would of killed any one else. But some how we always survived. With out you I would of probably died at Halo. In my mind Cortana you are one of my Spartans." John said.
" Ha, your right you would of died with out me. But thanks for considering me like one of your Spartans. But one thing about that." She said
" What's that?" John said
" I cant be some over sized muscle head dumb ass like you." She said jokingly
" Very funny Cortana. Just remember that this dumb ass is your ticket for survival when we are fighting." John said
That's when through the speaker system came out orders from the bridge.
" Listen up every one get into your positions we well be ready for the orbital drops in ten minutes. So get cracking people." The voice finished.
" Well Cortana I hope you don't get air sick. Knowing that you have never done an orbital drop."
" Well I guess you got to do it once in a life time." She said
John picked up his equipment and walked out of the room with the other Spartans behind him.
He hopped on to his capsule with Kelly Fred and Zero hopping on to there own next to his. Half the Spartans where going to drop with a total of five hundred other ODST's right on to the base and clear an LZ for one of the Prowlers to land with troops and equipment in the center of the base. Once they clear the base the other Prowlers well land setting up a perimeter around the base.
When landed each prowler can act as defensive weapons against ground and air units. These are all new features that have been installed into the Prowlers by ONI. After the Prowlers have secured the perimeters the Covenant would have to be pretty stupid to try and take back the base.
//////////////////////////////// The ships got closer to Reach with out the Covenant even taking notice that they where about to be invaded by the humans.
The ships stopped close to Reaches Moon. One of them continued on its path toward the planet. It sneaked by a Covenant Cruiser with out it even taking notice of the camouflaged ship. If the people who had designed the technology on the Prowler had been there then they would all be laughing their butts off toward the Covenant.
It stopped right on the edge of the atmosphere.
////////////////////////////// Inside the Master Chiefs Capsule:
"Ok people, you well all be ready for launch in thirty seconds." Said an engineer who was supervising the drop.
Through the comm. came out the voice of an ODST Sergeant.
" Lets teach these Spartans why they call us ODST's and show them the proper way to do a orbital drop! You all know our motto "Feet First Into Hell!" Said the SGT.
" Um sir if we are going to hell then would that make the Covenant little demons?" a private asked
" That's a way to put it private good job." The SGT said back
" Thanks SGT. But who would be the devil sir?"
" Your damn mother Private now shut the fuck up, it's almost time for the drop." A Corporal who was listening to the conversation said through the comm.
The countdown reached zero a light came on from the front panel of Johns capsule saying press button for drop.
" Well Cortana this is going to be one heck of a fall so you better hold on." John said to her.
" I can hardly wait Chief." She said back.
He moved his hand to press the button for release.
In Kelly's capsule:
" Kelly is it true what they say that these drops are extremely dangerous?" Angel her new AI asked
" You bet it is but it's fun as hell!" She answered him back.
" I don't think I share your same optimism. Lets just hope we get there in one peace."
Kelly pressed her release button.
Each Capsule fired a small thrust to leave the ship and align it self with it's landing target.
Five hundred and fifty capsules began to enter the atmosphere at full speed.
The Covenant had just dismissed it as falling junk from space.
John was holding on as good as he could. The Capsule was shaking violently. It shook for about a minute after it broke through the atmosphere and began to free-fall towards its location.
" That wasn't to bad Chief." Cortana said
" Glad to know that Cortana but unfortunately you don't have a stomach so you can't feel sick." He said a little nauseas.
The capsules fell till they reached twenty thousand feet when the first parachute opened on all the capsules to slow them down. The capsules slowed down from speed higher than mach two to less than two hundred MPH. The capsules reached ten thousand feet. The first parachute disengaged and the capsules started another free fall.
When they reached fifteen hundred feet the Covenant at the base began to hear the loud sound of the capsules. They looked up and there mouths dropped. Hundreds of Capsules where coming toward there direction. Through the shock neither moved a muscle.
When the capsules reached one thousand feet. All the capsules opened their second parachutes. They fell five hundred feet using the parachutes to slow them down. When they reached three hundred feet the parachutes disengaged and the capsules made another free-fall the rest of the way down. All of them impacted the ground hard but the capsules where designed to protect the troops inside so only the capsules suffered any damage.
John got his Rifle Battle rifle and disengaged the safety. Made sure a grenade round was loaded into its launcher. He pressed a switch and the front of the capsule blew open. Giving him a way to get out.
He jumped out and went into battle.
And so began the Battle for Reach. To be continued.