The year is 2553, the Covenant is showing signs of collapse; the Prophets are unable to keep the 'Elites' and the 'Brutes' from each other's throats. Meanwhile, a band of Covenant renegades create the 305th Drop Jet Platoon, scorned by their new brethren, and given the worst assignments, they never fail to deliver. This is their story.

First LieutenantKartek Kalimee viewed the assembled troops. He and his executive officer, Hogart Hakimee, in their Olive-drab armor, the seven Grunts, their breather masks and olive armor shining; and the twenty-four Jackals, their silver shields differentiating them from the enemy.

The UNSC cruiser Enkidu was in orbit around Cartairus, in the Tantalus system. A fierce battling was raging below the ship, one Kalimee and the 305th would soon join.

Kalimee tightened his grip on the plasma rifle he clutched in his right hand. He was asking a lot of them, everything in fact. He had descended to the surface in tiny pods before, he had done it at Reach, and the human homeworld "Erth." His subordinates however, were still fairly new to the idea.

"Jackals," he began. "Grunts, meet me here in six units. Arm for the journey."

Kalimee and Hakimee walked down a few corridors, Human crewman and Marine eyeing them strangely, to the arms locker. In addition to his plasma rifle, Kalimee grabbed a Human BR55 "Battle Rifle" and six fragmentation grenades he attached to a utility belt the Humans had given him. Hakimee chose an S2 AM Sniper rifle, and two SMGs. The Grunts and Jackals all grabbed plasma pistols.

Five and a half units later the 305th assembled in the corridor known by the Humans as "Hell's Waiting Room." Along the corridor were the one-man Human Entry Vehicles that would take them to the surface of Cartairus, provided they live of course, Kalimee had lost more than one comrade to the fiery atmosphere's of Reach and Erth.

"305th, this is the Captain," a wall-mounted speaker said. "Enter your pods and launch as soon as possible. The 305th silently walked to the airlocks.

Kalimee entered his pod, started a thirty second timer, and sat down. Like all of his species, Kalimee was approximately eight and a half feet tall, it was very cramped in the ERV, he was forced into a fetal position.

Ten seconds. Kalimee strapped himself in. He placed his weapons into the weapons locker and braced for the sudden acceleration. The pod jolted, and he was off.

In compliance with UNSC protocols, Kalimee's pod fired its small rockets three seconds before the rest. He was a leader. As the ERV dropped, the military AI the command pod was equipped with activated.

"Good morning Lieutenant," the AI named "Norman" said quietly. The AI's holographic form appeared at the miniature holopanel. Norman, named after the 20th Century General "Stormin" Norman Swartzkof, he wore military fatigues with the silver stars of a general.

"The Captain neglected to fully brief me again," Kalimee croaked. The AI grimaced.

"I'm uploading the coordinates to your neural interface," the AI spoke, biting his holographic lip. An orange triangle appeared on the Heads Up Display of Kalimee's helmet. "A Covenant Destroyer broke through our defensive line a few days ago and deposited a flight of Seraphs, secure or destroy."

"Any idea what we're up against?" Kalimee asked.

"Preliminary scans are inconclusive," the AI replied. "Most likely a battalion or two of troops, maybe a Wraith or two." Kalimee swore under his breath, but he had no time to reply, the pod entered the atmosphere and Norman's hologram faded away as the temperature of the pod's interior exceeded one hundred degrees. A few seconds later the outer "shell" of the pod broke away, revealing a cage of superheated metal. Kalimee's shields flared as the main chute deployed. Kalimee had a good clear view of the countryside. Cartairus' landscape was lush and green, with fertile valleys and forest, plus a nearby river runing through the valley adjacent to the dropzone.