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Halo 2: ODST Chronicles by Giovanni A. Bryden
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Halo 2: ODST Chronicles
Date: 2 May 2004, 7:59 PM
"Wake the hell up, Gio. Those cans of petrol arent gonna move themselves..." Lance Corporal Chris Ramirez' voice hit me like a shot of tequila to an 11-year old boy: Strong, and Vomit Inducing."Your lucky Im half asleep Chris" I slowly but surely, got up out of my bunk, and proceeded down the hall to the lavatory. It had been a tough week. Just 3 days earlier, we had gotten word that the Covenant had launched an attack on earth. Every infantry unit in the vicinity had been massed to one specific location. New Mombassa. It was only a matter of time before Id end up there too. Sure, i was a confident, well-built young man of 21, but when it came to fighting the covenant, nothing was guaranteed. "What time is it?" I mumbled as i brushed my teeth. "630" Chris said, after a short pause. "I think we're gettin outfitted today, looks like we'll be sent out earlier than we thought..." I finished cleaning up and walked back to my bunk. I reached under the bed and pulled out a pair of boots, and a black vest. Inside the boots were 3 dog tags. I looked at them, and remembered my fallen comrades. The expression of sadness soon left my face, and i was serious once more. I put on my vest, and walked out. The peculiar clink of my dogtags breaking the silence of the now empty Halls of the dormitory.
I got to the Armory just in time to see Chris quickly disassemble, clean, and assemble his trusty MV Battle Rifle. I scoff, and walk past him "Yeah, but can you fire that thing?" He looked down at his rifle and smiled. We both knew that when it came to marksmanship, we were unsurpassed. I walked down to my locker, and grabbed my rifle. On my way out, i grabbed my helmet. I am Sargeant Giovanni Bryden...Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.
LC Ramirez finished cleaning his rifle. He picked up his helmet and walked out. It was a cool day, and a slight patch of fog covered the training areas, and obstacle courses that surrounded the camp. He walked towards the briefing room. As he entered, he saw many familiar faces. LC Keithly, a sturdy young man who he had met when he was a student, stood towards the exit and smoked his cigar. Sgt. Bryden, his squad leader stood up front next to CPO Tucker. Chris took his seat and made himself comfortable. He had a feeling that what he and his team were about to hear would not be pleasant.
"Achilles, bring up the battlefield hologram of New Mombassa" The AI Construct was Impressive. He resembled the great Achilles himself. The seemingly unstoppable warrior who battled against the armies of Troy. As if by some invisible force, a holographic map flooded the room. I could feel the spirits of my teammates fall as they saw the great monuments that dotted the city in flames. The city was destroyed. Sgt. Bryden cleared his throat, and soon, all eyes were on him. He spoke in a comforting voice, a harsh contrast of his usual self. "New Mombassa, once seen as a worldwide capital of commerce, now lies in ruin. I fear that now that the city has fallen, the covenant will use it as an entry point for their ground forces to reach other parts of the continent." He began to speak firmly, and without emotion "We will drop in in 2 teams. Black team, consisting of LC Ramirez, LC Keithley, Corp. Chavez, LC Bertier, LC Berroa, and WepSpecs Johnson, Browne, and Cardenas, Will come with me. The Rest of you (Red Team) Will be under the command of Lieutenant Buckman, who is joining us from The UNSC Academy on Cape Horn. Suit up Troopers, Rendezvous at the dock in 40"
I left the briefing room with a satisfied feeling. I knew his Troopers wouldnt let him down. They were after all, the "Death's Fist", the most notorious group of ODST's that no one knew. We Kicked ass And asked questions later. But even for us, it wouldnt be an easy task. But we were gonna try. We would fight till every last one of those Covie bastards was dead. I sat down on my bunk and took a picture out of my pocket. I stared at it for a good long time, and put it back in. I put on my helmet, Locked and Loaded, and went to the docks.
Halo 2: ODST Chronicles (Pt. II)
Date: 7 May 2004, 3:54 AM
HALO 2: ODST CHRONICLES PT. II------------------------------
(Read the first part first Fool!)
The Docking Bay or "docks" as everyone in the regiment called them, were buzzing with movement. Pelicans were being outfitted and the sound of commands cut through the air like a searing knife. I of course, headed straight towards LC Ramirez. "I see you finally finished cleaning your gun..." I told him, in a monotone yet warm tone of voice. "He held up the pistol, turned it sideways and used the reflection on the handle as a mirror and combed his hair. Chris was always the flashy one. Ever since we were in the academy, he would always be the one showing off his squeaky clean apparel, something that was seen as a luxury by the other recruits. But he always seemed to find the time. "Yeah, and i still managed to get here before you, Sarge" He said mockingly. I gave a quick smile. "Get your ass in Corporal...Troopers, report in, and find yourselves a comfortable seat...Its gonna be a bumpy ride." I sat down near the pilot and strapped myself in. I looked across me into the helmet of one of my troopers. I saw my reflection: a tanned, worn leather face, bags forming under my eyes. Seemed like i was aging rapidly for someone who was only in his early twenties.I rubbed my stubble beard and sank into a deep sleep. Probably the last time I'd rest without worry.
"ETA 12 Minutes Sarge, Entering New Mombassa Airspace, Saddle up team!" said Ramirez. He sounded a lot like me when i barked out commands, and personally, it scared me. The last thing i wanted was another person barking orders. I couldnt stand following orders. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked around the pelican. Everything seemed stable, Heart Rates were a bit above Normal, Adrenaline was setting in. But that soon changed.
The Pilot yelled, "Incoming fire, Executing evasive maneuvers!", and everyone in the unit reacted in unison, they were well trained in situations like these and they moved almost automatically. "Alright troopers! Feet First into Hell! Get ready to make a quick entry... 9.8 meters per second quick." I made my way to the back of the pelican and opened the bay. I looked over at chris and he nodded. "Go! Go! Go!" I was the third one out, right in front of Ramirez. I looked at my heads up display and saw NAV Points, representing the intended drop zone, and a few teammates. I leaned forward and picked up speed, Skimming past the 2 other troopers in front of me. If there was anything down there, i wanted to know.
The Whole drop felt like an hour. After making as many drops as I do, time just slows down. 8 seconds had passed. Then i felt a burning sensation, and the hairs on my body stood up. I looked all around and then met what could have easily been my death. Before thinking i rolled to the right and flew right past the plasma bolt, mere meters from being burned alive by the white hot blob. I started spinning out of control, and came to just in time to see the bolt meet its intended target. Pelican 134-I. Transport to 17 other troopers, who because of the Storm of hellfire being launched into the air, could not escape the Pelican until it was too late.
3 NAV Points left. Ramirez, Keithley, and I. "Troopers, report in. Gimme a damage report, ASAP". I clicked the channel and listened in for a response."Ramirez Reporting In, No damage suffered here Sarge." I let out a sigh of relief, at least he was alright. I carefully walked and met up with Chris. Keithley had yet to respond. A few minutes later, his vitals flatlined. I pulled up the Roster. Of the 24 troopers. Troopers i had led into battle. Troopers i had shared living quarters with. My teammates...my brothers...my friends... Then, the many hours of combat experience kicked in, and the tear I had shed quickly dried up. Ramirez locked and loaded his rifle. I looked at my HUD. "Alright, 5 clicks Northwest. Lets get moving..." A few paces through some buildings, charred and twisted metal portruding like the skeleton of an animal, sticking out of its mangled body. "You're not gonna like this...But i see 2 brutes around this corner. Get ready." I backed up against the wall and used the corner as cover. I jumped out and squeezed the trigger.
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