The Second Atlas Battle

by Nickos101

Several years after the Covenant was repelled in the Seige of the Atlas Moons, they are back. A single human frigate, the TESTEMANT OF MANKIND, equiped with a few hundred marines, a platoon of ODST, and a decent armoury, are sent to defend the planet.

3. ODST Heaven

ORBIT OF ATLAS

0903 LOCAL TIME

ONBOARD UNSC FRIGATE TESTAMENT OF MANKIND

Corporal Wallace Cochrane and his ODST squadron strode into the armoury and couldn't help but smile. Arranged neatly in rows were multiples of just about every weapon the UNSC had to offer. Sniper rifles, M19 Rocket launchers, SMG's, you name it, it was probably there. Allowing him and his men a few moments of soldierly ecstasy, he spoke with a huge grin. 'Guys, you know your specialties. Arm up, and get ready to rock 'n' roll.'

Three of the ODST's were impressive marksmen, and instantly grabbed a sniper rifle each, and stuffed huge amounts of ammo into their packs. Two followed this up with a battle rifle for a secondary, while the third opted for a scoped SMG.

Cochrane had a short look around and finally settled on a M6 Galilean Nonlinear Rifle, more commonly known as the SPARTAN Laser. One of his men, a huge guy known only as 'Rocko', looked at the weapon and said 'You sure you wanna carry something that's affiliated with those tin can soldiers?

Rocko was referring to the SPARTAN-II's, an elite group of soldiers that most ODST's hated as a group, though they respected the SPARTAN fighting ability.

Cochrane smiled. 'You ever seen one of these babies shoot?' he asked Rocko, who had by now picked up a rocket launcher and a shotgun. Rocko shook his head. 'Thought not.' Cochrane answered. 'This thing'll take a Wraith out in one shot. Hell, it might even take out a Phantom!'

Rocko thought about the two Covenant vehicles, then whistled, impressed. 'Point taken. But I'll stick with good ol' Bessie here.'

Sure enough, Rocko had already christened his rocket launcher and scratched the name 'Bessie' onto the side with his combat knife. Cochrane laughed and picked up a few spare power coils for the Laser, then grabbed himself an assault rifle. Following the rest of the ODST's who had picked their weapons, he grabbed a handful of grenades and headed down to the SOEIV (Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle) or Drop-pod bay.

Once there, he loaded his weapons into the holders on one of the open pods, so all he needed to do was hop in and he'd be ready for insertion. He placed his equipment pack in there too; if he was somewhere else on the frigate he wanted to be able to run fast to the pods. Then he marched up the bridge to speak with the Captain.

On arrival he crisply saluted and said simply 'ODST's prepped and ready for insertion sir!'

Captain Holwerda nodded. 'Good work Corporal. You and your men should rest up while you can.'

Cochrane saluted again and strode off to let his men know. Then he walked back to the barracks and let himself sleep.