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This topic has moved here: Subject: [Story] Memoirs of an ODST (Part 36 available!) ~ 20/09
  • Subject: [Story] Memoirs of an ODST (Part 36 available!) ~ 20/09
Subject: [Story] Memoirs of an ODST (Part 36 available!) ~ 20/09

"No; Shut up. Now come on, I'm hungry, let's go follow that Johnson guy. Mains, would you hurry back and fetch Ras for me? Keep a pistol trained on him at all times."

"Right sir." Mains replied, saluting. He ran back towards the elevator.


Mains went to go fetch him. As for what happens next; stay tuned.

  • 09.22.2009 2:08 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Memoirs of an ODST (Part 37 available!) ~ 22/09

Now that Johnson's here, they've got nothing to worry about.

Great chapter!

  • 09.23.2009 2:27 AM PDT

Posted by: Dropship dude
No, acnboy. Spartain Ken 15 is a lesser being. Much like the bacteria that lives in your shi­t.
Posted by: mike120593
My shi­t bacteria takes offense to that comparison.

Don't make me lel. You won't like me when I lel.

Hehe, I love Rook. 12th century was awesome.
Though I do wonder how Ras got that rank, surrendering so easily.

  • 09.23.2009 6:08 AM PDT

Born into a noble family, like most high ranking Elites.

  • 09.23.2009 6:44 AM PDT

Part 38 - I know what the troopers like...

"I'm sitting next to an Elite, and he's not dead. Can someone tell me why?" Staff Sergeant Johnson demanded, looking suspiciously at the manacled Ras Mai'ee bound next to him. We'd finally been able to get him proper handcuffs. Ras didn't seem to appreciate the sentiment.

"He's a prisoner of war Johnson - can I call you Avery?" Blade began, cutting off, Johnson shook his head, and Blade grunted unpleasantly, "well, whatever. Anyway, I don't kill POWs, especially when they've been co-operative. I didn't do it in the Insurrectionist war, and I won't do it now. Besides, he could still be useful."

I looked around the small room we were in. It was hard to remember that we were in the middle of a hot zone when we were sitting in cushy chairs, and drinking Coffee.

"What's the plan sir? Every moment we waste is a moment the Covenant spend trying to gain access to the systems." I asked Blade, worried.

"You're right. We've rested long enough, we've gotta blow this place so high, it will knock on heavens door before falling back down to hell. Johnson, I advise you tell your men to exit the building, the way we came is clear. You should go too." Blade nodded, standing up.

"Rested long enough? Blade, we've been here for fifteen minutes." Rook protested.

"That's fifteen minutes too long!" Blade barked, and Rook instantly shrunk back. We sighed, and stood up. Ras looked at us curiously.

"What do we do with the split chin?" Switch asked, "it really would be easier to kill him Blade, maybe this once we should do away with the concept of fairness."

"No, I gave my word to him that as long as he did what we said, he'd survive. He's complied, and so he'll get passage out of here." Blade snapped back.

"Yeah, but how? I'm no more endeared to killing...Ras in cold blood than you sir, but we can't take him with us to set up the bomb. He'll be dead weight." I reminded the squad leader, who turned to Johnson.

"Could you escort him out? Drag him up to a cliff or something, and light a flare. The Covenant'll find him soon after." The ODST Staff Sergeant asked of Avery, who thought.

"I don't know if I can do that Blade. I mean, who knows how many humans he'll kill in the future?"

"We're living in the present Johnson, so just listen to me please? Just take him out of this dome, and then dump him, alive. That's all you need to do." Blade pleaded back.

"Well I'm not taking him." Johnson stated with a finality to his voice. Blade's shoulders dropped.

"Why not?"

"Because," Avery began to say, "I'm not leaving right now. I'm gonna escort you ladies to wherever you need to go. My Junior Sergeant can evac the rest, and take the Elite with him."

What the hell was a Junior Sergeant? It sounded made up. I didn't comment on it, Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson looked to be the sort of man who would kick my ass even quicker than Blade.

"Serious? It's gonna be dangerous Johnson." Blade warned, and the marine Staff Sergeant frowned.

"I can handle a helluva lot more than you and your little troop of girl scouts can Blade. Don't worry about me, I'll be the one watching your back."

"Cocky bastard. All right Sergeant, you seem crazy enough to come with us. I just hope you've got the balls too." The ODST Sergeant shook the hand of the marine Sergeant in agreement.

"Damn straight. Now what are your men like? They ain't gonna cry when a Grunt shouts 'boo' are they?"

"Don't you worry about my men; finest ODSTs I've ever worked with." I felt a slight satisfaction as Blade said that. I guess we weren't that useless after all."

"I hope so." Johnson grunted, and then turned around, "hey, Drake! Get your ass over here, I've got a job for you!"

A man in a Sergeant cap like the one Johnson wore came over, wearing thick black sunglasses, and smoking a Sweet Williams. Was there a rule in the Sergeant handbook which demanded that you had to be stereotypical?

"What is it Johnson?" Drake asked wearily.

"That's Staff Sergeant Johnson; sir." Avery reprimanded, and the other Sergeant sighed.

"Whatever you want sir. I'm really tired, and I've got a bunch of equally tired marines behind me. I don't know how the heck you keep going sir, but we're shattered." Drake explained.

"Well you'd better tell those boys to keelhaul some serious ass, because I, and this fine squad of troopers, are going to level it to the ground. You hearin' me soldier?" Johnson instructed, his voice raising, as well as his body. Wow, he was pretty tall. Looked to be around 6"5. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was a Spartan.

"Serious sir? For Christ's sake, is there anything else you need me to do?" Drake uttered in resignation.

"Since you're offering, yeah. I want you to take that Elite out of this place, through the bubble shield outside, leave him on a cliff, and light a flare."

"You want me to escort an Elite out? I've got a half loaded pistol at my belt sir, I'm sure I can spare one bullet on the bastard."

"No, he's not to be killed marine." Blade ordered, standing up. Drake stared at the ODST with scorn.

"Where do you get off ordering me around trooper?" Drake asked impudently.

"Because I'm a Staff Sergeant, and you're not. And if I find out that you haven't complied with Johnson's order, a court martial will be the least of your worries. Understand?"

"Right sirs, I here you." Drake replied bitterly, and then muttered under his breath, "-blam!-s."

"What was that Drake? You wanted to say something to me?" Johnson called after him, and Drake shook his head, grabbed Ras roughly, and walked him back towards the marines, talking to one. I saw one give us the evil eye.

"Charming fellow." Mains commented brightly.

"Ignore him, it's not his fault really. He's tired; we all are. Been holed up here for days." Johnson told the Irish ODST, who nodded sympathetically.

"Well, that's everything wrapped up nicely. Grab your gear people, and let's move out. Johnson, you want to take command on this mission?" Blade questioned politely, although I knew he hated it when someone else ordered him around.

"Nah, this is your op trooper. You're in charge." Avery Johnson replied, loading what I guessed to be an MA5K Carbine.

"Thanks. Alright marines, you get ready to move out of the base. Get as far away from it as you can." Blade shouted at the worn out soldiers.

"What about you guys? You got an escape plan?" an unknown private called back.

"We'll improvise, don't worry about us. See you on the other side boys. Oorah."

Our squad and Johnson left the room, ready to follow out the Cole Protocol.

[Edited on 09.27.2009 1:17 PM PDT]

  • 09.27.2009 1:15 PM PDT

Posted by: Dropship dude
No, acnboy. Spartain Ken 15 is a lesser being. Much like the bacteria that lives in your shi­t.
Posted by: mike120593
My shi­t bacteria takes offense to that comparison.

Don't make me lel. You won't like me when I lel.

A bit short, but that can be forgiven considering ODST.

  • 09.28.2009 1:44 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] Memoirs of an ODST (Part 38 available!) ~ 27/09

Yeah, it's just setting the scene for the next part really.

[Edited on 09.28.2009 4:25 AM PDT]

  • 09.28.2009 4:23 AM PDT

Posted by: Dropship dude
No, acnboy. Spartain Ken 15 is a lesser being. Much like the bacteria that lives in your shi­t.
Posted by: mike120593
My shi­t bacteria takes offense to that comparison.

Don't make me lel. You won't like me when I lel.

Hmmm.. my Heroic member status has been going on and off for the last month or so, I am not happy.

  • 09.28.2009 5:09 AM PDT

Well according to a script, you only post 3 times a day on average, per 300 posts Random. So; that would explain it.

Part Eight of True Sangheili is up.

  • 09.28.2009 12:07 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

"they're everywhere!"

i like the way that you've personalised the ODSTs. it's a great back story.

how do you convert text from a word format to the forums? i always get an error message

  • 09.28.2009 1:13 PM PDT

i like it wolver fresh off a ban its nice to see this

  • 09.29.2009 4:33 PM PDT

"We are the next generation of soldiers, an A.I built for war. We battle the darkness for humanity. We are the Caedus A.I"

Something tells me the marines are going to kill Ras.

  • 10.02.2009 2:42 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Memoirs of an ODST (Part 34 up 29/08!)

I can haz ur mumz

Too long, Now if you don't mind, Ima go watch sum seXxay pr0nz

  • 10.02.2009 6:14 PM PDT

Here it is. The finale of book one. My first completed fan fiction...I'm so proud. To all those who have read, and stuck with the series, thank you. Without you, I'd never have been able to do this.

Part 39 - Where heroes fall

The Elevator door opened, and we raised our guns, in preparation to fire. I sighed in relief; no one was there. Blade spoke over the secure intercom.

"We need two people to stay here, cover our retreat. Any volunteers?" the weathered ODST asked, and we all looked amongst one another.

"Well; I need to arm the bomb, so I've got to go with you sir." Switch told us, and we nodded. He was the only one with the skills necessary to rig the explosives.

"Ah hell, I'll stay with the FNG." Rook said, indicating Mains as well, who looked taken aback. Blade gave the two a pat on the pack.

"Good stuff you two. Don't let anyone near this elevator, it's our only way out." Blade stressed, repeating the words several times. "We'll meet back up with you soon. Stay frosty."

And so, leaving Rook and Mains behind, we proceeded down the rough, irregular tunnel; Blade, Switch, Sergeant Johnson and I. At a signal, we fanned out in standard UNSC marine formation, Blade up front, Johnson and Switch three metres behind them, and I a further three metres back, sniper in hand.

We were all officially in the hot zone now, with caution being the priority over speed. One careless action could cost them all their lives.

"Do you think the Covenant could be waiting for us?" I whispered, as we approached a sealed blast door. Blade indicated for Switch to hack it open before replying.

"If there's one thing I've learned about the Covenant lad, it's that they never expect the obvious." Blade lectured, and I nodded, reassured. At that moment, the blast door unsealed, lights flickering from red to green, and the heavy steel slid aside.

As it turned out, the Covenant were waiting for us, but they certainly weren't ready for us. They were sat inside a room, weapons holstered at their hip. As one, we all fired, at the various Grunts, Jackals and Elites. The fight would have been over there and then had it not been for the Jackal shields and Elite energy shields. As it was, we only wiped out half the enemy force. The other half were still standing, weakened but not beaten, and now they had draw out their weapons.

We immediately flew into cover, I posted myself behind the concrete of the blast door doorway, and felt Johnson take up post next to me. He stood a full head taller than myself. On the other side of the doorway, Switch and Blade took cover. I could hear the Covenant preparing to search for us, and dug out a plasma grenade from my belt, priming it. The flashing lights of the grenade activated with an eerie screech. I chucked the plasma ball overhead, where it landed in the centre of a doorway, just as an Elite was about to walk through it. The Elite jumped back, but not far enough.

"Look out, grenade--" was all the blue armoured alien was able to say, before the grenade exploded in a cloud of plasma, sending the Elite flying past us, where it hit the floor, dead. We took advantage of the turmoil to storm into the room and clear out the rest of the Covenant. I caught a black Elite with it's shields down, holding no weapon in it's hand. As it tried to lunge at me, and take me down with it's large, tapered hands, I quickly removed my machete from it's holster and drove the large knife into the alien's stomach, felling it. After a few moments of frenzied fighting, the room was clear. I wiped my blade on the dead Elite's leg, and the purple blood of the alien slid off sickeningly.

We decided to take a quick breather in the small room, it looked to be around five metres by six metres. I sat down in one of the chairs, rolling a Grunt corpse of it first. The rest of the small team did the same, Johnson bringing out a cigar. He turned to Switch.

"What about you trooper, fancy a Sweet Williams?" Johnson asked, and the ODST Techie shrugged.

"Yeah, sure why not? You got a light--" Switch began, before Blade knocked the cigar Johnson had passed out of the shocked trooper's hand. The tobacco stick landed in a pile of Elite blood.

"None of my soldiers are gonna smoke on duty." Blade growled, and Switch nodded meekly, although I could tell he was rolling his eyes or scowling inside his mirrored helmet. Johnson wore the ghost of a smile on his face, looking at Blade with a sceptical expression. The ODST scowled loudly, and stood up.

"Enough resting, we've got a job to do." Blade ordered, and we all sighed, reluctantly standing up. "Switch, unseal the other door."

"It's kind of hard to do this without a laptop." Switch grumbled, bringing out a screw driver and preparing to unseal the metal hatch covering the override command board by the electronically sealed door.

"When I joined the corps, we didn't have any fancy shmancy--" Johnson began to say inspiringly in response to Switch's complaint, before Blade cut him off.

"Just hush it Sergeant." the ODST ordered, despite the two men both being the same rank. Johnson turned away, and it was his turn to scowl. A few seconds later, and the lights on the door changed to green, indicating we could move forward.
Twenty or so metres in, the ravaged corridor turned sharply to the right, and Blade held a hand up, indicating for the team to hold. He posted himself at the corner, peeking a head around. All seemed to be clear, for he gave a signal for us to move forward.

Beyond the corner, the passage went on for another hundred yards or so before we encountered yet another locked blast door; locked. Blade stopped outside it.

"If the Covenant are locking doors behind them, they must have codes. Reckon they've got help from a prisoner?" I remarked, and Blade folded his arms speculatively whilst Switch got to work hacking the door terminal.

"It's possible, but our priority here is to destroy this centre, so the Covenant can't get their hands on the data. Everything else, including rescuing a possible hostage, is a secondary objective." he instructed firmly, and I nodded. "Get ready to flash and smash."

The door slid open, and I and Blade chucked in two flash grenades, where they bounced on the floor of the larger room twice before detonating, blinding anyone on the other side. We charged in, only to find the room empty, save for a pile of UNSC marine corpses.

"Bummer." Johnson said, striding in the room. "Guess the Covenant all further down the road."

"Too right. Take some ammo; these people won't be needing it where they are." Blade intoned, indicating the human corpses. It felt disgusting to be touching to cold, clammy bodies of the marines to merely loot some ammo, but I cheered up slightly when I found a human sniper rifle, and a battle rifle too, the latter of which I was still a little unsure with, but fairly competent.

The door on the other side of the room was already open, or rather, blown off it's hinges. Evidently, we were drawing closer to the main data centre, and the last bastion of humans in the building.

I proceeded down the dark corridor, the lights were out and I considered switching my VISR mode on. I decided against it; it was still temperamental and I didn't want to risk it malfunctioning in a fight.

The squad moved up ahead of me, in the same formation. We soon reached another blast door; this one the biggest yet. A pile of marines were lain down by the door, blood on their shirts. Whist Switch worked on overriding the lock; Blade and Johnson checked the pulses of the marines. They shook their heads: they were dead. I grimaced, and waited patiently for Switch to finish hacking the door, walking up to it, intending to be the first one in.

It opened, and suddenly, a pistol was pointed at my head. A human pistol. I blinked, and looked at the wielder, and gasped.

"Michael?" I questioned, frowning. The Spartan realised who we were, and lowered his weapon, looking over my shoulder. He ushered us all inside, and then hit a button, sealing the door once again. Fin and James were standing around in the background, dragging Covenant corpses off to the side, and dragging marine corpses out of site too. What were they doing?

"It's good to see you troopers. We could do with a bit of help." Michael told us. Blade shoved past me.

"How did you get in here before us?" Blade questioned of the Spartan, who shrugged in his one ton armour.

"We came up from the sewers underneath. Got the jump on the Covenant who were trying to hack the terminals. CCTV shows more are on the way; so we're planning a little ambush for them." Michael informed us, pointing a thumb back at Fin and James.

  • 10.09.2009 9:52 AM PDT

"Ah, I see; you're gonna make the Covenant believe that they're the first ones to arrive. Nice. Where's the bomb?" Switch asked, and Michael turned around, indicating a huge explosive device.

"It's right there. The marines got killed before they could arm it, and the Covenant were disassembling it when we arrived. Fin managed to piece it back together, and arm it. We were about to leave when we saw those Covenant approaching. They should be here in a few moments." the Spartan replied, turning around and ordering Fin and James to hide. Blade told us three to do likewise. I crept up a flight of stairs, taking cover behind a computer terminal on the third floor of the huge data centre. I poked the barrel of my sniper rifle between a gap in the terminal, ready to fire. The others took up similar positions.

Less than three minutes later, a horde of Covenant entered the room from the same blast door we'd entered. I felt my heart constrict; if we'd been any slower moving towards the data centre, that huge convoy would have caught up with us.

There seemed to be around thirty, at first estimate. Five of them were Elites, the rest Grunts and Jackals. The lead Elite wearing gold seemed to sneer as he entered the room, oblivious to our presence up high.

"Huragok! Scour these terminals for intelligence on the infidels!" the Elite ordered, and three floating gas bags glided towards the computers, working on them with tentacles. Michael's voice spoke over the secure communication link.

"Don't worry, those are just tourist information terminals about Harvest. There's nothing about the other colonies or Earth in them. Those files are stored in the computers on the fourth floor." the Spartan assured us, and we nodded.

"When do we open fire?" I asked, finger resting lightly on the trigger. I had my scope trained on the head of the golden Elite.

"Not yet. I've set some charges beneath the carpet in the middle, wait until they walk onto it." Fin replied back, surprising me. He very rarely, if ever, spoke.

"Affirmative." I replied, waiting, breathing. Then trouble started. One of the Grunts shrieked, and it dragged out the body of a dead Elite. Crap.

"We're not alone in this chamber! Stay sharp warriors!" the golden Elite cried, looking around warily.

"Ah, hell..." Fin muttered, before I heard the click of a switch over the link. Suddenly, the ground in the middle of the room ripped itself to pieces, taking out multifarious Grunts who had been unlucky enough to stand on what was now essentially a crater. I guess that meant our cover was blown. I aimed my sniper at the head of the Elite, and fired. The bullet flew towards the alien, but with lightning fast reactions, the Elite sidestepped out of the way in time. I fired a few more shots, but the Elite was onto me now, and evaded the .50 calibre shots with ease. The Covenant Warrior then fired his own rifle up to where I was hiding, and I jumped back with a curse as the terminal I was hiding behind melted, along with the barrel of my sniper. I tossed the now useless weapon aside, drawing out my battle rifle.

The rest of my squad leaped into action, standing up and firing upon the Covenant forces below. I began to run, cursing again and again as the golden Elite, or Zealot as they were named, kept firing at my, missing by inches.

"Spartans, take out that Elite!" I ordered, despite the fact they were a higher rank than me. They didn't seem to mind though, for the three dropped down three floors to the ground like fallen angels, landing right in front of the startled Zealot. There were a blur of hand to hand combat, and when the Spartans drew away, the Elite was on the floor, it's neck snapped. I sighed in relief.

The rest of the Covenant, angered by the loss of the leader, pressed forward, and we fell back a little bit, taking cover behind whatever we could find. I found myself next to a panting Blade.

"You all right son?" the ODST Staff Sergeant asked me, firing his battle rifle over the top of the steel crate we were cowering behind. I dug a fragmentary grenade out from my belt, pulled the pin, and threw. A moment later the small grenade exploded, taking out three shield gauntlet wearing Jackals.

"Just peachy sir." I grinned. We seemed to be winning the battle. Until two pairs of Hunters stormed into the room. One of the giant beasts fired it's weapon at the crate we were hiding behind, turning it into ash. Blade was thrown to the floor by the blast. I lifted him up, and intended to take him towards another crate.

Before I could though, the worst thing that could have possibly happened, happened. A Jackal sniper was up on the fifth floor on the other side of the room. It had me in it's sights, and was about to fire. There was no where to take cover. The Jackal squeezed the trigger of the sniper, and time went slowly.

I saw the finger of the bony Jackal press down on the trigger, saw the end of the beam rifle expand due to heat and shoot out a beam of energy. The snaking trail of plasma flew towards me, aimed at my beating heart. Suddenly, Blade pushed me out of the way, and stumbled into the shot. I cried out in horror as the plasma stream entered Blade's chest, and emerged out of the other side. The ODST Staff Sergeant collapsed to his knees. The Jackal raised the sniper again, intending to finish Blade off. I felt a rush of adrenalin, and managed to bring out my Battle rifle, loosing a round. The impossible shot careered into the side of the Avian creature's small head, and it fell to the floor forty feet below with a squawk. I threw the rifle aside, running over to the bleeding Blade.

"Blade? Blade! Answer me!" I cried, lifting up the downed squad leader. I ripped Blade's helmet off, and winced when he coughed blood into my visor. I set to work taking the rest of the ODST Staff Sergeant's chest armour off, and felt dread as I saw a dark circle of red blossom on his white tee-shirt. Blade was breathing heavily, a wild look in his eye.

"Lad...biofoam..." Was all Blade croaked, coughing up more blood. I cursed, knowing I should have thought of that before. I reached down to my belt, and drew out the small canister, squirting the healing foam into Blade's wound. The ODST began to breathe lighter, and sat up. He was still coughing up blood however. Around me, the battle was over, all the Covenant dead.

"Blade, hold on. We're getting you out of here, you'll be fine." I assured the ODST leader, who shook his head, an amused smile on his lips.

  • 10.09.2009 9:53 AM PDT

"No...no I won't. I'm dying, Archer. Don't pretend otherwise." Blade told me, suddenly wheezing. Hot tears leaked from my eyes, splashing onto Blade's chest.

"We can get you to a hospital, we can--" I wailed frantically, knowing deep down it wasn't going to happen. I broke off, weeping.

"It's okay lad; I'm not afraid to die. Set me down...by the bomb." Blade instructed me, and I followed out the request, lifting Blade up. Blood leaked onto my armour, I didn't care. The rest of my squad, the Spartans and Johnson then noticed what happened.

"Oh my God, Sarge! Are you all right?" Switch cried out, running down the steps. I nodded sadly.

"What does it look like genius?" Blade said sarcastically, although a look of happiness was on his face.

"He got shot by a Jackal. The shot punctured his heart. He's...dying." I told the ODST Techie, who for once had nothing to say. I reached the bomb, and set Blade down against it. The ODST Staff Sergeant smiled, wheezing.

"Holy crap. Blade, we need to get you out." Johnson said, and Blade shook his head.

"There's no point Johnson. I'm gonna die in ten minutes." Blade told the marine Staff Sergeant, who shook his head, and apologised for Blade.

"I don't mean to seem heartless here, but more Covenant are on their way, with a huge army of over 100. We need to blow this place up." Fin called down from the terminal he was on.

"Toss me the detonator Fin." Blade ordered the Spartan, who hesitated.

"...What?" Fin asked, confused.

"I want to see the look on the Covenant's face when they get blasted into smithereens. All of you, get going. I want to go out with a bang." Blade told Fin, who tossed the detonator for the bomb down. I caught it, and passed it gently to Blade.

"Blade, I-- you can't stay here." Switch insisted, his visor depolarising to reveal a look of uneasiness on his face. Blade frowned.

"I can stay where I want Switch. Now get going; all of you. Except for Farm Bo-- Archer. I need to speak to him. He'll catch up to you." Blade commanded, and everyone hesitated. "Now!"

Reluctantly, the others left the room, heading through the blast door. Blade chuckled, and sighed at the same time. He turned to me.

"I want you to lead the squad son." Blade told me, ripping the Staff Sergeant lapel from his shoulder and pressing it into my hand. I blinked.

"Me? But...I'm not experienced enough." I protested.

"Archer, you're a damn good ODST. Switch doesn't have a commanding bone in his body, Rook wouldn't handle authority well, and Mains...well, I don't fully trust Mains. You're the best man for the job, a brilliant soldier and leader. Just like your father was." Blade told me, and my mouth opened in shock.

"My father? What do you mean--" I was cut off as I heard growls from underneath me. Blade started at me.

"That'll be the Covenant. Go son, there's no sense in you dying now. Talk to Admiral Cole, he'll tell you everything. Now go! And keep the squad together." Blade ordered me, and I didn't move, reluctant. I could hear the Covenant drawing closer though, and realised Blade was right; there was no sense in us both dying.

"Blade, you've been like a father to me...thank you." I whispered, turning my back on the dying ODST, who grinned.

"No son, thank you, for filing the void left when my son died. These past few months with you have been some of the happiest of my life. Give Cole my regards, would you? Now go. You've got five minutes to leave." Blade replied, and I felt my eyes grow wet. I shook my head, and moved towards the exit, where the others were waiting. The three Spartans were stood by a wall. Rook and Mains had rejoined us.

"He was a good man." Rook breathed, his voice cracking. He then turned to the Spartans. "We need to leave, before this whole place goes up in smoke."

The Spartans nodded, and, as one, smashed against the concrete wall, breaking through it to the outside. We ran, putting distance between us, and the soon to be destroyed commerce centre.

He was a good man. Rook had said. Yeah; he was. One of the best.

***************

In the data centre, Blade sat by the bomb, laughing as the waves of Covenant walked up the stairs arrogantly. An Elite ordained in golden armour with silver t-blam!-s stood over him.

"Not so fast, Elite. I've got this detonator on a spring mechanism. If I release it, the bomb behind me goes boom." Blade warned, and the Elite drew back from him, a wary look on his face.

"Human...do not be so hasty. You are injured, we can heal you if you release that device to us." the Zealot bargained slowly. Blade laughed, struggling to his feet. The others should be out by now. Time to have some fun.

"Lying bastards. You'd take the detonator and kill me. No deal. Now all of you, drop your weapons!" Blade ordered, enjoying the power he held thoroughly. The room was suddenly filled with the sound of over a hundred Covenant weapons hitting the floor. Blade took a deep breath, and began to walk painfully.

"The Covenant killed my sister. You killed my friend. You killed marines under my command. And I swear to God, you will not kill me." Blade promised, holding the detonator up high.

"And when you bastards arrive the gates of hell...tell ol' Lucifer that Richard 'Blade' Cole was the one who sent you." the ODST growled, releasing his grip. The Covenant horde cried out in fear as the detonator crashed to the ground. Blade collapsed to the floor, content. He heard a surging noise behind him, and then saw a rush of white light, followed by inexplicable heat. There was no pain. Only satisfaction, in knowing he'd dealt a blow to the Covenant, even in death. And knowing that he'd left his squad in the hands of a capable soldier.

  • 10.09.2009 9:53 AM PDT

EPILOGUE

Two weeks later, Reach cemetery for fallen soldiers.

The rain bounced off my black umbrella as it fell, adding to the already depressing mood as the casket was lowered into the grave. Of course, the coffin contained no body; it was just a symbol. I stood by watching in my black funeral suit, shivering, but not because of the cold.

The casket hit the floor of the grave, and the undertakers began to fill it in, whilst the Roman Catholic priest taking precedence over the funeral closed the bible he held. I turned around, tears running freely down my cheeks. I was not ashamed of them.

Eventually, everyone fanned out of the cemetery; most of the people random marines and navy crew, who had never even seen Blade before. The only ones who remained were I, Switch, Rook, and Mains. Sergeant Johnson had wanted to come, but hadn't been able to get leave from duty. And so, us four ODSTs stood there in the rain, silent and mourning. Rook was the first to speak.

"Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I need a drink. Something strong." the young ODST told us, and we all agreed on that.

"You coming Sarge?" Switch asked me. Me. The new Staff Sergeant of our little squad. Of course, it was highly unorthodox for one as young and green as me to become such a high rank, but being friends with the now Admiral Cole how it's advantages.

"I'll catch up. I just want to stay here...for a little bit." I replied, and the rest of my squad nodded, walking off in the distance towards the venue of the funeral wake. I stood beside the grave on my lonesome, lowering my umbrella and allowing the rain to soak me.

I hard footsteps sound behind me, walking towards the grave. I turned around and saw a man in a thick long coat walking towards the grave.

"Admiral Cole." I noted with surprise, saluting. The Admiral nodded, and lay down a bunch of flowers on Blade's newly dug grave. I hadn't spoken to Cole at all really since Blade had destroyed the commerce centre; he'd been busy fighting the Covenant still at Harvest. I was surprised he'd managed to get off duty. "What are you doing here?"

Cole sighed, and stood next to me, staring at the grave sadly.

"I've come to pay my last respects to my brother." the Admiral told me, and the implications of that hit home. His brother?

"You mean Blade was your--?" I asked, and Cole answered before I finished the question.

"Yeah, my younger brother. We both enlisted in the UNSC at the same time. He went in the corps, I went in the Navy. Richard 'Blade' Cole, my ODST brother." the Admiral explained.

"Wow. That's a big surprise. How come he was only a Staff Sergeant if you were his brother, a Vice Admiral?" I questioned, confused.

"Oh, I asked him dozens of times if he wanted to be a higher rank; he was certainly eligible for it. But he didn't want to, said he preferred commanding a single squad to an entire battalion." Cole replied, sadly.

"I can understand that. Sir, can I ask you something?" I remembered what Blade has said to me before ordering me to leave him.

"Fire away son." the Admiral intoned, not taking his eyes of the grave.

"Back in the commerce centre...before he...you know; Blade said I was as good an ODST as my father had been. What did he mean?" I questioned. That was something I was really confused about. As far as I had known, my Dad had been a banker all his life. Cole blinked in surprise, and for the first time turned to face me.

"He told you that?" I nodded. Cole ran a hand across his face, sighing once again. "Well then, I'd advise you to sit down, but you'd just get your ass wet, so I won't. Just prepare yourself for a shock."

"You see, your Father used to be in Blade's squad. They were as thick as thieves. Your Dad was his second, they named him Eagle, because of his prowess with a sniper...like you. Eventually, your Father retired, much to Blade's upset. Said he wanted to start a family with someone, said he was tired of the fighting, of the killing. He met my sister, and Blade's, at his retirement party. They got on rather well, and were married within the year. Eventually, they had you. " Cole told me, and I was speechless as the words sunk in. My Mom had been Blade's sister? That meant...

"Blade was my Uncle?" I asked, horror and pride dawning upon me. Cole nodded, a grim look on his face.

"He was. I'm your Uncle too, actually; come to think of it." the Admiral added as an afterthought, looking at me as if I was a different person.

"Uncle Admiral Cole...wow." I said bluntly, staring once again at the grave. Another thought came to me.

"Blade was at Harvest when the Covenant attacked. Was that a coincidence?" I asked, and Cole shook his head.

"No, he was there to visit your Mother and Father; for the first time in nearly 12 years. He hadn't seen you since you were 3 years old. Told me he got a shock when he saw the name you wrote down on the enlistment sheet later."

"Why didn't he tell me I was his Nephew?" I asked, dismayed.

"Maybe he never got around to telling you. Maybe he was afraid you'd become too attached, and it's never good for an ODST to become attached. Whatever the reason, I'm sure he still loved you son." Cole told me, putting a warm arm around my shoulder.

"Now, I don't know about you, but I think we should get out of this rain, and go have a drink together, Uncle and Nephew bonding time eh? I'll introduce you to the other officers." Cole told me, and I nodded mutely, too stunned to protest. I thought I was all alone in the world. Turns out I wasn't after all. And even if Cole wasn't there, I'd still have my squad.

Life wasn't so bad after all. I took one last look at Blade's grave as we walked away through the marshy field down towards the distant town. I then took a silent vow.

I'll avenge you Blade. The Covenant won't win. I'll make sure of it.

************

Covenant Cruiser Eternal Sundance.

"The humans destroyed the centre, noble one." the Sangheili Major reported, kneeling down. The Imperial Admiral Xytan wheeled around angrily.

"Destroyed? Did any within the centre survive?" Xytan asked, folding his arms.

"Two, noble one. Protected from the blast, by a prototype bubble shield. Only one is Sangheili." the Major told the Imperial Admiral, who nodded.

"Bring them both here."

Thus ends book one of Memoirs of an ODST

  • 10.09.2009 9:55 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

So it's finally finished, well, your draft is finally finished. There's some grammar to mop up my boy, but let's cut to the chase.

That was fantastic, even though you told me months back Blade was going to die I still felt it a complete surprise.
Archer's little revalation at the end was some great writing, and Adm. Cole certainly was characterized nicely.

But the ending... Well, two survivors but only 1 is Sangheili. I sense that Blade isn't fully gone yet...

Great job, remember all those months ago when you began?

  • 10.09.2009 10:22 AM PDT

Yeah, I was so crap.

XD

Now I have an interesting decision. Do I post Book II in this thread when I get around to writing it, or do I make a new thread, and thus dominate the top forum topics sidebar?

:P

  • 10.09.2009 12:33 PM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

I reccomend starting a new topic. It will mean easier access, unless you wish to do the post-link to it in a seperate category in the OP.

  • 10.09.2009 2:14 PM PDT
Subject: halo 3:recon- the prologue....written in first person!!
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  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I really suggest Rookie, He could be the same from new mombassa because he was a newbie, so Rookie could it be.
Posted by: Wolverfrog
thanks, does anyone want to suggest a codename for the character. as someone previously mentioned, i seem to be using to words 'son' and 'kid' a little too much

  • 10.09.2009 4:10 PM PDT

Posted by: Reverance 7
I really suggest Rookie, He could be the same from new mombassa because he was a newbie, so Rookie could it be.
Posted by: Wolverfrog
thanks, does anyone want to suggest a codename for the character. as someone previously mentioned, i seem to be using to words 'son' and 'kid' a little too much


Thanks for the input, but, uh, that post is nearly a year old. Book I has been completed. Keep reading, you're nearly there!

:P

  • 10.09.2009 4:14 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Memoirs of an ODST (Part 39 + Epilogue available!) ~ 09/10

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

One Sangheili? ONE SANGHEILI! That means that the other has to be either blade or, um, a Grunt! You sicko, Wolvers! You ended this magnificent story with a cliffhanger that leaves me hungry for more!

I hate you!

:D, kidding, kidding, but on a serious note, this is one of the best fanfictions out there. The changes your character (Farm boy...later Archer) goes through from start to finish are stunning and really get me; you have a whole lot of twists to toss into the fray,and...and...

Your battle scenes...they are kick-ass. You said you were bad at them! LAIR!

9.9/10, simply because you left me hanging and now I won't be able to sleep tonight without dreaming up a sequel.

Sincerely but still with fury toward your cliffhanger,

~Murph~

P.S: LOL,'halo 3: recon- the prologue...written in first person!!' I LMAO! This fanfic has made you a different person...and improved your grammar!

[Edited on 10.09.2009 6:23 PM PDT]

  • 10.09.2009 6:23 PM PDT

Posted by: Dropship dude
No, acnboy. Spartain Ken 15 is a lesser being. Much like the bacteria that lives in your shi­t.
Posted by: mike120593
My shi­t bacteria takes offense to that comparison.

Don't make me lel. You won't like me when I lel.

It's... all over. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (overdramatic)

I remember you first starting out, I was only reading Max's story, then I got hooked on this, then Insurrection, then True Sanghelli... there is so much more to come! Time to dominate the Top Forum topics!

My only criticism is that Archer becoming the new leader is slightly cliched, but that doesnt matter, 9.5/10!

And yeah, I do remember what this was originally called, Halo 3: Recon - written in first person! LOL, how far fanfics have come... Looks like Tehface is gonna be a major player in this as well.

One last thing, keep going with Insurrection! Finish it before Book II of Memoirs please!

  • 10.09.2009 7:47 PM PDT

The Hybrid a FanFic by Tehface

"Look for the signs, the keepers of the flame. They will lead you to war, and perhaps, to victory."

Looking back at Memoirs, it's interesting to look at the beginning and see how your writing has changed! An excellent story that I enjoyed thoroughly.

How many Books of Memoirs will there be?
And yes do finish Insurrection first! :P

I give it a 9.9 1/2 (Overall little to no grammatical errors, and there aren't Oprah Winfrey sized holes in the plot. Just Awesome!)

On a side note, I'm surprised Random thinks me a "major player"
Thanks!

  • 10.09.2009 9:57 PM PDT