Chapter 12

Prepare to Drop

September 18, 2554

03:17 Hours, Earth Time

Ship: Midnight Enforcer;

ODST Spec Ops Unit, November Six, aka Nova Team

Status: Preparing to Drop

Location: Earth's Orbit, Sol System

[Play Halo 3: ODST Deference for Darkness Extended Theme on You Tube]

'I remember the most beautiful little girl, Caucasian I believe she had brilliant brown hair and the most beautiful hazel green eye in the galaxy...I sold her off just like the rest.' suddenly an image of a smiling prepubescent Kristen Chambers in chains flashes before his eyes.

Lt. Miles wakes up in a cold sweat with the words of Dexen racing thru his head no less, "Crazy Bastard." The lieutenant says to himself. He turns to look at the clock beside him noticing the time only to be about 0315. More than anything he wanted to go back to sleep,but whether it was because of the crazy dream he just had or the fact that he was feeling anxious about the upcoming mission he wasn't sure. But, he had decide it was a bit of both. Reluctantly he got up, put his combat armor on and began to move around the ship only to found Chamber already hard at work making preparations for the mission. She was already suited up in her ODST armor, going over the little mission details that were left with Lucy. She was so into her work that she didn't notice his approach.

"Morning." He said in a soft voice. The sound of his voice cause Chambers to do a very noticeable jump before turning her eyes to meet his.

"Commander! Shit!" her voice jumped, "I wasn't expecting you to be up for like another hour."

"I could say the same to you." the lieutenant said, "Anything you wanna tell me?"

"Well as your SNCOIC I thought it would be in my best interest to go above and beyond the call of duty."Chambers continued, "Is what I'd would like to say, but if I'm being completely honest I promised Lucy I'd help her fill in the gaps for the today's mission."

"Unlike a certain someone." Lucy mummered under her breath. Chambers quickly shushed her.

Lt. Miles pretended he didn't hear anything and continued, "Ya know, seeing as your up so early I'm gonna go on a long shot and bet you've eaten anything yet. Care to join me?"

"I would commander." Chambers huffed, "But I really should help Lucy finish up here before anything."

"Exactly." Lucy said without thinking, only for her to see the lieutenant motion for her to cut Chambers some slack, "I mean, It'll be fine you've done more than enough Staff Sergeant."

"Well if you're sure."

"Positive. I'd go to but I can only consume things that come in bytes."

"Oookay." Chambers replies with reluctance as she takes off. "You heard her Commander guess I'm free to go."

I can only consume things that come in bytes Lucy thinks to herself could I have been anymore awkward. She hears someone that manages to bring a smile to her face.

It was Lt. Miles, "Hey Lucy thanks for the assist. I owe you one."

In the Chow Hall

"Thanks for the rescue I didn't think she'd ever let up" Chambers says while placing food onto her tray.

"Not a problem."Lt. Miles smiled as they made their way to their seats. "Food taste better with good company anyhow. Chambers, Havoc have you heard anything about sense we left?"

"Nothing too interesting." Chambers replies, "Only that some people have been there so long that can't remember which colony they're from, and others have no home to return to because of the war."

"I see." the lieutenant replied not getting the exposition that he wanted. "Before we touched down have you ever been their before, to Havoc I mean."

Chambers shoots the lieutenant a sly smirk, "Well seeing as Havoc was pretty much a one way trip, can't say that I have."

"And, you're from Reach correct?"

"Born and raised. Never knew my parents tho, I was raised by my aunt and uncle." Chambers smiles, "But, you already knew that. If you're still not sure your more than welcomed to check my dossier."

"That won't be necessary. Its just something that bastard Dexen did, guess got under my skin more than I thought."

"What'd he do exactly?"

"He..." Lt. Miles started, "You know what, its not important right now, I need you to keep your mind on the mission, we can talk about it after, if your your still interested."

"Rogar that Commander. I'm still starved, so if it's okay with you... hell even if it isn't."

[Play Halo 3 ODST OST Asphalt And Ablution Theme on You Tube]

Mission will commence at 0500, I repeat Mission will commence at 0500.

A somber mood is in the air, the dull lite room is kept is fulled with echos of light from the many monitors and the troopers gather around a 3-Dimensional map of their next battleground.

"There's some serious fireworks going off down there." Moreno exclaims, "Hope they don't mind a few party crashers."

"And I hope they do." Holden smiles.

"Getting dropped behind enemy lines again..." Chambers mutters, "Can't say I'm too excited about that."

"We need to rendezvous with Armin as quickly as possible." Radd stated in a way that left no room for debate.

"I know..." Chamber started after a moment of thought, "But this is so..."

"I'm sorry I'm pushing you all so hard." Lucy voice echoed from a nearby terminal, "But I assure you the plan I came up with fits perfectly into the mission perimeters the commander gave me... almost."

"Its not a problem." Radd stated as he did before, "We knew what we were getting ourselves into."

Lucy gave him a cocky smile,"You're tough."

"I never desired to be weak."

Just then a yellow blinking light filled the room accompanied by a loud but stern alarm. Lt. Miles exclaims entering the room, "You know the music, time to dance."

The troopers slowly make there way to the armory located beside the drop bay, as if they were each saving a portion of there strength for the upcoming firefights. Chambers moves to pick up her helmet off the deck before moving on. Holden secures Charity into his drop pod. Moreno, who was the first to make it to the armory, claims his coveted sniper rifle. Radd simply watches and waits from the seclusion of his pod, although his face was concealed there was no doubt that he was using his usual melancholy disposition.

Without warning the yellow light of the briefing room began to shine a bright red, the alarm rang with even more intensity than before.

"Ay Dios Mio!" Moreno mummered.

"Lucy Status?" Lt. Miles shouted.

"Give me two seconds."

"You've got one"

"Right! No pressure or anything," Lucy replies as finally gets her thoughts together, "Covenant Carrier coming out of Slipspace"

"Sam hill!" Holden yelled.

"How Close?" Chambers yells.

Quickly Lucy pulls up an image on the 3-Dimensional map of their ship and that of the carrier on a collusion course. "That close! T minus 90 seconds til impact! If we move now we can save my baby I mean the ship!"

"Damn it."Chambers whispers under her breathe, "We're almost above our drop window if we move now we might never get another shot!"

"What's more important your mission or the ship?!" Lucy added.

"Its your call Commander." Chamber exclaimed.

"Gideon, Holden, Radd and I are jumping right now drop window or not!" the lieutenant began to shout. "Moreno and Chambers after you secure the ship then I want you to rendezvous with the local military forces and await further instructions. "

"Rogar that commander!" Chambers saluted, "You heard the man, lets move! Okay Lucy it's time to put that cloaking system you won't shut up about to good use."

the next thing the lieutenant know he was experiencing the oh too familiar feeling of free fall as he pod haul thru the lower atmosphere towards the awaiting hellhole below. The mission was already a mess, he was dropping sooner than he was suppose to an unknown destination. Despite all this the lieutenant still managed to crack a smile, he had spoke without thinking and acted without hesitation. He almost sounded like he knew what he was doing.

Over the radio one of his comrades raged "What the hell are the Covenant doing here?"