Kapitel 1: Rookie
Location: UNSC Never Forget, Low Orbit around Arcadia
Space System: Procyon System
Date: March 3, 2531
Time: 0430 Hours
I didn't expect my first drop to feel like this. Everyone warned me about the adrenaline, the gut-punch of nerves, but no one said anything about the waiting. The way it drags on, like the hours are stretching just to mess with you. The SOEIV pod is right in front of me, ready for the insertion, and all I can do is sit here and stare at it. Fifteen minutes to go, and I'm already wishing we were on the ground.
Beta Four's been prepping for the mission since zero-three-hundred, but for me, it feels like I've been waiting for this moment since I joined the squad three days ago. They're an experienced team—at least, what's left of them are. I'm the new guy, replacing someone who didn't make it. A rookie, fresh out of ODST training, with two years of hard-earned scars and calluses from drill instructors barking in my face. But this? This is the real deal.
They say the first drop's the hardest. I've been telling myself that over and over, like it's going to help. I'm not convinced.
Location: UNSC Never Forget, Armory
Date: March 3, 2531
Time: 0440 Hours
I'm not sure how the rest of Beta Four does this. Everyone else looks… normal. Or at least used to it. Fumble's over in the corner, leaning against a crate, talking to Doc and adjusting the grip on his M41 SPNKR like he's tuning up an old car. Allen is off to the side, going over the briefing with the Captain one more time, even though we all know it by heart by now. And then there's Slink.
She's not far from me, checking her MA5C. Efficient, quiet, barely acknowledging anyone else. It's like nothing ever phases her. They warned me about her before I came aboard the Never Forget. Corporal Alice Miller, demolition expert, the one they call "Slinky" because she's always out front, pushing ahead in every drill and mission. She's the kind of soldier who doesn't wait for anyone. If you fall behind, that's your problem.
I'm checking the optics on my M392 when she finally makes her way over.
"You know that scope ain't gonna save you, right?" Her voice is cool, with just a hint of Southern in it. She gives me a look like she's seen my type a thousand times.
I keep my face steady. "Not planning on missing."
She gives me a small, almost amused smirk. "Let's hope not. Just don't freeze up when the shooting starts. We ain't got time to babysit."
It's a test, I can tell. She doesn't trust me yet, and why would she? I'm the replacement for a soldier they lost not long ago. I can feel her eyes on me, evaluating whether I'm going to be a liability when things get hot. I nod, not letting her see the churn in my gut.
"Understood," I say, returning my focus to my gear. I'm not about to let her think I'm scared, even though I kind of am. My two years of training didn't prepare me for this kind of scrutiny. In the field, it's different. You're either in or out, and right now, I'm not sure where I stand with her.
She doesn't say anything else, just nods and moves on to finish her prep. I'm left there wondering if I've passed whatever test she had for me.
Location: UNSC Never Forget, Drop Bay
Date: March 3, 2531
Time: 0450 Hours
Staff Sergeant Jon Allen calls us together. He's like a father figure to the squad—everyone knows it. He's been in the war since the Second Battle of Harvest, longer than most of us have even been alive, and it shows in the way he handles himself. Calm, controlled, always thinking two steps ahead. He's lost a lot of soldiers over the years, and somehow, that makes him even more determined to keep the rest of us alive.
The mission is simple, at least on paper. Drop to Arcadia, secure the politician and his family, extract them, and bring them back to the Never Forget. The Covenant is already on the ground, so we know it won't go as smoothly as the briefing suggests. But that's the job. We're ODST—shock troopers. We're supposed to expect chaos.
We gather around Allen, helmets off for the last bit of breathing room before the drop. He speaks in his usual, measured tone, no hint of nerves.
"You've all got your orders. We hit the ground running, secure the target, and extract ASAP. No deviations unless I say so. Stick together, watch each other's backs."
His eyes flick to me for a second before moving on. I feel the weight of that glance—he's still not sure about me either.
"You've all seen action before," he continues, "except for Casper. First drop, huh?"
I nod. "Yes, sir."
"Listen up, Rookie," Ramirez pipes in, "just don't do what I did on my first drop, alright? No flashbangs this time." He grins, and there's a ripple of chuckles from the others.
Allen gives Ramirez a sidelong look. "I'd rather not see a repeat of that, Sergeant. Let's keep this one clean."
The rest of the team's talking, prepping gear, going through their final checks. I catch Ramirez out of the corner of my eye—he's heading my way. He's always cracking jokes, but I can tell he's serious underneath. He cares about this team, about me, like I'm a little brother he wants to keep out of trouble.
He claps me on the shoulder. "Don't sweat it, Junior. You'll be fine. Just stick close and remember—if things go bad, follow me. I've been through worse."
"Right," I say, offering a half-smile. It's reassuring, even though I can't shake the nerves entirely.
Location: UNSC Never Forget, Drop Bay
Date: March 3, 2531
Time: 0455 Hours
The countdown begins. I'm in my SOEIV, the harness tight across my chest. My helmet's on now, HUD glowing faintly as the drop timer ticks down in front of me. The pod is cramped, my legs locked in place, arms braced. There's no turning back now. Once that door slams shut, it's just me and the ground rushing up to meet us.
The light flickers to red. Five minutes to drop.
Ramirez gives me a thumbs-up through his pod's viewport. I nod back, trying not to let my fingers tremble as I grip the controls. My mind runs over the briefing one last time: secure the target, extract, get out. Straightforward, right? Except nothing ever goes as planned.
I close my eyes for a second, blocking out the noise, the vibration of the pod as the engines hum to life. It's almost time.
Location: Arcadia Atmosphere
Date: March 3, 2531
Time: 0500 Hours
The lurch hits hard as the SOEIV detaches from the Never Forget and drops into Arcadia's atmosphere. My stomach flips as gravity pulls me down, and I'm hurtling through the upper atmosphere at breakneck speed. The roar of the pod fills my ears, drowning out everything else. My heart slams against my ribs as I grip the controls tighter.
The HUD shows our trajectory—straight down into the heat of it. My breathing's heavy, and I force myself to focus. Just like in training. This is what we do. ODST.
But nothing about this feels like training. This is real. And we're not alone out here.
The others' pods are in formation with mine, spaced out just enough to avoid collision, but close enough that I can still see Slink's pod not far from mine. She's cool as ever, her pod descending without a hitch.
I swallow hard as the first turbulence hits. The ground's getting closer, fast. My heart's pounding, hands trembling slightly as the pod shakes violently around me. I can hear the faint chatter over the comms—Allen giving commands, Ramirez making some wisecrack I can't quite make out. I focus on my breathing, trying to keep steady.
The countdown to impact begins, and I brace myself for the jolt.
Five… four… three… two…
Impact.
The pod slams into the ground, and everything goes black for half a second as the force knocks the wind out of me. My hands shake as I fumble for the release, the door blowing off with a hiss of pressurized air.
I stagger out, boots hitting the dirt, my rifle already up. The rest of Beta Four is landing, their pods deploying in sync around me. Slink's the first to emerge, already moving, her rifle scanning the perimeter. Ramirez isn't far behind, his M41 SPNKR at the ready.
The air is hot and thick with smoke. We've landed just outside the city, near the extraction point. The buildings loom in the distance, half of them crumbling under Covenant fire. I can hear the distant whine of Banshees, the rumble of Wraiths somewhere beyond the horizon.
Allen's voice crackles in my earpiece. "Beta Four, form up. Stay sharp. Let's get this done clean."
I fall into formation, Ramirez at my side, Slink taking point with Allen just behind her. Doc brings up the rear, her rifle sweeping the ground behind us.
We're moving now, heading into the heart of the city. The extraction point is just a few clicks away, but I can already tell—this is going to get ugly.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein