Chapter 3
One and half weeks later, the UNSC ship Arrowhead arrived in the Zypher sector. In the dead center of the sector was a star slightly larger then our own, Sylvan, and circling around it was a ring. The ring was just far away enough so it wasn't affected by Sylvan's gravity and heat. And, upon closer inspection, bodies of water, glaciers, forests and plains were dotted all along the inner part of the ring. It was so beautiful and yet so deadly. The Arrowhead made contact with the other ship in this sector, the Powatan, and were told the Spartan team who resided in this ship had already left for the Super Halo. Bryan, his team and 21 ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, but also known as 'Helljumpers') prepared for their descent to the Super Halo's surface. In the main launch bay, all the Spartan's loaded into a Pelican, except for Bryan, who was heading towards the Pelican at Aida's urging. But Bryan spotted an ODST heading for the launch bay next door. He was easy to spot thanks to his black armor and the T shaped visor on his helmet. Bryan stopped him. "Where are you going? All the Pelicans are here." "I'm going to the ODST launch bay. We're going down feet first!" The black clad trooper replied, saluting "Only the best, go the ODST way, sir!" "Oh, really? Stay here for a minute corporal." Bryan ordered as he headed back to the Pelican full of Spartans. "Spartans! Out of the Pelican, let's go!" Bryan yelled over the roar of the Pelican's engines. The Spartans obeyed instantly, though a little confused. The Spartans followed Bryan back to the Corporal's position. "Lead on corporal." Bryan ordered to the surprised Helljumper.
The Corporal led the Spartans to the ODST launch bay. It was a long hall with catwalks between rows of small one-man HEV, or Human Entry Vehicle pods, which looked a lot like coffins with ammo pouches and survival gear strapped to the inside. The marines called this room 'Hell's waiting room'. Almost all of the pods were full, except for four pods at the end of the hall, but a group of ODST was heading towards the remaining pods and the Spartans were too far away to get there in time. Or so it appeared. Bryan bolted towards the group with the speed of a large cat, a red blur to the naked eye. The other Spartans quickly followed suit instantly, keeping pace only a foot and a half behind, and leaving a surprised ODST corporal very confused as to where they were. Bryan appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, in between the Helljumpers and the pods. The rest of his squad soon followed. The ODST were surprised so thoroughly that one black-clad warrior jumped backwards a whole foot and bumped into an occupied pod. "We need these HEVs." Bryan said matter-of-factly, the lead ODST stepped forward. "You can't just take our rides! How are we gonna get down?" The leader objected, indicating to his troops. "There's still one Pelican left in the other launch bay. Plus, I'm the superior officer soldier, what ever I say goes." Bryan said calmly, though rather irritated, indicating to the rank on his chest, which read 'Senior Chief Petty Officer'. All the other Spartans were CPO Second Classes. The ODSTs realized this, stood up straight and saluted, "Sorry sir. We'll go find that Pelican." They left without another word.
"Think you were hard enough on him?" Aida asked in his head. Bryan chose not to answer and addressed the Spartans. "Pick a pod and let's go!" Every one scrambled with amazing speed towards a pod, got in and sealed it. Soon, everyone, including the ODST, were all in their own HEVs and the tech crew, who were double-checking the HEVs thrusters, had left. Suddenly Justin piped up on the COM. "Please put your seats and tray tables in their upright and locked positions. Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times and, most important of all, hold onto your helmet!" Then the room vented its atmosphere and the large clamps connecting the HEVs to the Arrowhead let the pods fall, one by one.
Bryan shifted in his small pod. It wasn't quite built for his size, but it beat going down in a Pelican any Covenant fool with a gun could shoot at. As the group of pods fell into the Super Halo's atmosphere, the pods inside began to heat up very fast. But thanks to the gel layer in Bryan's Mjolnir Mark VII, he still felt slightly cool, yet not cold. When they were about 30,000 feet up and doing eight Gees, small thrusters activated and slowed them down just enough so they weren't killed on impact. The pods fell one by one and Bryan's teeth shook when he impacted, then Bryan's pod door blew opened and he jumped out and drew his shotgun, ready to take on the Super Halo's challenges.