Yay! The first review since it picked this up again! Let's not make it the last.
I also discovered that the method I used the divide authors notes and story in the previous chapters hasn't translated on to the site. So from now on this bit will be in bold.
Andreas didn't waste any time. As soon as the doors of the pod blew off he was leaping out, drawing an energy sword and beheading the Brute in front of him. Excluding the one that Andreas had beheaded and the other currently under his HEV, there were three left. One for each of his squad members. The next to react was Zhao. Zhao Yuan G089 was from a little backwater colony originally settled by Chinese settlers. He approached the average Spartan height of seven feet and wore Mark V/b armour with a scout helmet. ODST shoulder pads had been worked into his armour to improve its defensive capabilities. All of this was coloured a dark green. Zhao was component with all weapons, just like all Spartans. But his true ability's lied in combat like Andreas. He snatched up a piece of steel rod that was lying on the ground and started to spin it, occasionally striking the brute in front of him. He moved so fast and struck so quickly that the Brute couldn't bloke him. The Brute's spiker skittered across the arid ground and Zhao struck him over the head, bending the pole. Zhao then drew his favourite weapon. It was a bo staff, reinforced with titanium that was attached to his back. He twisted it in the middle and it grew to its full height. It was flawless save for a weird cross bar at the top. This cross bar was the handle of a Covenant energy sword. Zhao activated it and in one smooth motion spun the staff and removed the Brutes head from his body.
A few seconds later, Meghan sprang to action. Meghan G123 was Andreas' second in command, both when it came to Gamma company and the squad. Her Mjolnir armour was much smaller and closer fitting to her athletic frame. Her armour was coloured an ice blue and she wore a commando pattern helmet and Grenadier patter shoulder pads in addition to the Mark V/B armour. She quickly blasted the Brute in front of her with a Covenant Focus Rifle she had brought along.
The last member of Andreas' squad to react was Marcus. Marcus G276 was an artist with heavy weapons, in particular the Covenant Plasma launcher. But rather than use that he brought out his custom assault rifle. It was the same model being used by the UNSC army during the fall of Reach. The differences were the second pistol style grip near the front of the weapon and the tubular device in front of it. This tube was a new weapon called a MAD launcher. MAD stood for Magnetically accelerated dart. It used a much smaller version of the magnetic coils used in the Stanchion Gauss rifle. Though it couldn't reach the power levels of that weapon, it was powerful enough to throw its diamond hard dart with enough force to damage a battle tank, or in this case, instantly kill the single Brute perched on a rocky outcrop. The whole engagement from the pods landing to Marcus killing his target had lasted only 13 seconds.
Andreas snapped off his energy sword and attached it to his chest piece. It always made him smile to see that they were just as good as the first day they fought in real battle. Unfortunately that was the same day they had lost their original sergeant and a young and inexperienced Andreas had been forced to lead his friends through hell. All on a shattered leg. He caught Meghan looking at him and gave her the Spartan smile, the two fingers against the helmet. She returned it and turned to relieve her victim of his spike grenades.
"Captain? You should see this." Said Zhao in his thick accent. Andreas went to him, giving Marcus the signal for take point before disappearing behind a rack. Marcus nodded to him as he loaded a new dart into his weapon and started charging its magnetic coil.
Andreas found Zhao crouching over a very scared pack of Unggoy. They were in a sorry state. It was a wonder they were all alive. He looked at one of them. This particular Grunt was brave. It stared back defiantly at the grey armoured Spartan. Andreas brought his visor to its face. It didn't flinch. He drew an energy sword and it didn't flinch. Andreas raised the sword above his head and it still did not flinch, even though its companions were whimpering in fear for his safety. Andreas brought the blade down on the chain connecting the Grunt to its friends. Only then did it flinch. Andreas quickly severed the other chains and stood up.
"Why you help us Demon?" asked the brave Grunt. Andreas replied with a simple…
"Why not little one?" He put his finger to the comm. Bead on the side of his helmet and talked into the radio
*Thermopylae air group this is Captain Andreas. Requesting transport for seven Unggoy slaves. They need out of here. They have seen enough of this war.*
The reply came instantly.
*Roger Captain. Pelican Noble four-eight is inbound.*
*Affirmative Air group. Targets identified by electronic homing beacon. Ares out*
Andreas ended the connection and handed a small olive coloured tube with a flashing red light to the brave grunt.
"Hold on to this. Help is coming for you." Said Andreas to the Grunts.
"Where you go now Demon?" asked the Grunt
"To find the Brutes, and make them pay."
O'Brien was not happy. While the Spartans got to give the Covenant the one inch punch they deserved, he and the ODSTs were relegated to babysitting. Suspiciously, once again the babysitting involved a Spartan. O'Brien was adamant that this one wouldn't die. Currently she was sitting opposite him. Like the others she wore her helmet, always.
"Need something Lieutenant?" She asked when she caught him looking at her. O'Brien winced as the Pelican jumped with turbulence. Then he replied.
"Nothing Chief, just thinking."
"About Cal?" She asked.
"Yeah actually. How did you…?"
"I'm a soldier O'Brien. I get bored when ever I get made to do desk work. So I tend to
wander through the files. Halsey says I'm turning into Cortana." She paused a moment before continuing. "Cal was a friend of mine, family even just like the others. I'm glad someone like you was with her when she died."
"What do you mean when you say like me?" Asked the ODST
"Someone okay with Spartans." She said. O'Brien averted his gaze, remembering all the things he had said about Cal.
"Sir, were almost there, get ready." Said the Pilot. Linda and O'Brien both stood and readied their sniper rifles as the ODSTs readied their own gear.
"So you any good with that thing Lieutenant?" Asked Linda, goading him.
"Good enough. And you Master Chief." Asked O'Brien
"I'm alright I guess…"
They set down behind a rocky outcrop. The skeletal structure of Commonwealth was only a short walk. But when they reached there, the soldiers found something they hadn't expected. The Covenant was waiting. And they were more than ready.