[41 BBT] The Unsung Heroes

[Maverick]

 Adrian Constantinescu had enlisted two years ago, about four years into the Velutarian War. He was selected to become part of a new program. Something about a new Special Force, created by the Regent himself! He and about three hundred other men and women were put in a room. Some had scars across their face while others had tattoos, truly a diverse bunch. They remained quiet for they didn’t know what was going to happen. Soon an old man came in a decorated military uniform. Then he recognised him, it was Marshall von Krassenberg. Krassenberg had survived multiple battles with the advancing Velutarians in the Tozorian Sector no less. Even before the war he was considered to be a hardened veteran. Soon his loud and strong voice began to speak.
 - “Well gentlemen, I believe you have an idea of what is to become of you. You gave yourselves up to be part of a new program. That program is the newly founded Orbital Drop Shock Troop Program. You all have experiences with aerial droppings, which is why you were chosen. Instead of in atmosphere drops, you will be dropped from orbit right into the lines of the enemy. I am sure I don’t need to explain MacArthur’s policies on how to fight the Velutarians. You will become the new reinforcements for our struggling planets as we can’t breach large forces throughout Velutarian blockades. You will be divided into teams of six and will be trained the coming two weeks with your new equipment.”
 Some gasps could be heard. Could they truly receive new weapons? Had the R/D branch finally made a breakthrough they so desperately needed? Krassenberg revealed the image of their new armour and gun.

 - “This is your new armour and your new weapon. Your armour has new technology integrated into it such as an assisting HUD interface and some degree of energy absorption. It also has features which will allow you to survive even the hardships of space. Now we have a war to win and we should get right to it. You will find your new designeted squad in the hall to your left. Dismissed and may God serve you well.”
 Adrian quickly followed the masses and soon found his name on the board. Triton Squad, Gunnery Sergeant …
 Adrian Constantinescu? He wasn’t notified of receiving a promotion? He looked at the other names in his squad. Miguel Ferrero, Octavian Mosley, William McGregor, Yuri Drakhov and Yu Dao. He looked to where he should go now and meet his squad he sure made haste. He entered his designated room and his squad mates were already there. The Hispanic talked.
 - “So you must be our Gunny then?”
 - “I believe so.”
 Their instructor interjected while they talked and asked Adrian to sit down. The small blond woman in front of them began to talk.
 - “Well gentlemen. You are the new Triton Squad. Marshall von Krassenberg has told you that you have two weeks to train. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have any assigned mission. This program was made to bring your new skills to the front as fast as possible. Your mission will be to reinforce an evacuation post on Reach.”
 The Iberian started to talk again. He clearly was unsettled.
 - “On Reach?! What kind of mission is this? A suicide mission?”
 The woman was clearly dissatisfied with the Iberian’s reaction and so was Adrian. They all knew what this program could entail.
 - “Yes, Mr. Ferrero. If you keep your loud mouth on the battlefield so the enemy can hear you cowardly words. We are Terrans for God’s sake and we will act as such. Or would you rather leave those civilians on Reach die? Perhaps you don’t know that 14-year old boys have begun to take arms against the Velutarians on Reach. Because the situations is that dire Mr. Ferrero. You signed up for the job knowing what it would entail. If you wish to leave you can do so now.”
 The whole room looked at him, while he looked ashamed. A few moments passed and the woman continued.
 - “You will drop at Razor’s Edge and from there you will stealthily cross the enemy lines and sabotage the besieging artillery and anti-air. This will create a window in a coordinated effort with naval forces to create a window to evacuate the civilians. You are now part of Operation Salvation. Now let us start you training with your new equipment.”

---

 Two weeks had passed Triton Squad had grown accustomed to their new gear and were amongst the best ODST Squads. They had received a day off yesterday to prepare for Operation Salvation. They had finally gotten the chance to rest after two weeks of everyday hell. They were now forged into a new type of soldiers. They would now prove their worth. Their time would come now.
 The Taskforce of a hundred ships formed a triangle shape to pierce through the Velutarian blockade. They were ready now. Their casualty predictions were high, but they had to save the women and children on Reach or die trying. Admiral Holstein spoke over the comms.
 - “This is Admiral Holstein. We are nearing the Velutarian blockade of Reach. Remember our mission, we are here to save civilians of Reach not for glory. Now let’s get this done. Man your stations and drop pods.”
 The ODST’s went to their drop pods and prepared for any moment now they could be dropped. The fleet surprised the Velutarians and caught them off guard. This worked in the Stoinians’ favour as the first line of ships had succeeded in dropping their drop pods. However what the Stoinians couldn’t know is that a new Velutarian Fleet had just came out of FTL-travel and were now firing from their rear. This ultimately decimated the Stoinian Fleet and they were forced to drop the remaining drop pods even though it would put them of course. Their fate now rested in God’s hands …

[Maverick]

 Adrian or “Gunny” as he was now called, embraced the full shock of entering the atmosphere in his drop pods. Bad luck had struck and they were now falling through a storm. Miguel chattered over the comms as always. He hadn’t lost his talkative character throughout his ODST training. Right before landing they heard about the new Velutarian Fleet and lost contact with the fleet. All support was lost. They now truly were on their own. Then the enormous kick came in. He had landed on the ground. He pushed the buttons to smash his door open and quickly took his SMG engaged his night vision and marched outside.

 All his squad mates had made it safely on the ground. Soon the chatter began by Miguel of course.
 - “Gunny, how the hell are we supposed to find our objective in this storm? Especially now that our support has been obliterated.”
 - “Shut it, Migs! We don’t have time for your chit-chat! Spread out and follow me. It’ll only be a few moment before the Shellheads get our position. Move it! On the double!”
 Triton spread out to ensure they wouldn’t be eliminated all at once if the enemy appeared. Gunny active his HUD and opened the map. He then looked around and found his position on the map. He talked to his squad while running.
 - “All right. Our first objective is to secure a base camp on the other side of the mountain 10 clicks north. Prep yourselves for it will be quite a hike. We’ll move alongside the trees on the left for cover, don’t use your lights just yet.”
 They travelled alongside the trees, but their plan assumed that all ODST’s would make it to their planned droppings. Another cluster of 10 drop pods came their direction. By God! Two drop pods had crashed in each other while mid air. This was a clear sign that their trajectory had gone sour. The Velutarians were coming their way and he wouldn’t leave ODST’s behind.
 - “Migs and Willy, you stay here and provide cover when the Shellheads arrive. The rest with me, we’re going to save those poor souls.”
 Octavian “Mossy” Mosley, Yuri Drakhov, Yu Dao followed him while the other two stayed put. The drop pods had landed about 800 meters from their position into the plain fields. They ran as fast as they could and opened comm channels to coordinate with the confused ODST’s. Six of them answered positively and were ready to go. Gunny checked one of the remaining drop pods, while talking to the new ODST’s.
 - “Gunnery Sergeant Adrian Constantinescu, Triton Squad. So who are you guys?”
 - “Corporal Keith Matthews, Sir. Kilo Squad. Our gunny was amongst the drop pods that crash into each other, Sir.”
 - “Private Harold O’Kilna, Raptor Squad. Me and Trip are the only ones of our squad that made it here, Sir. God damn Shellheads and their reinforcements.”
 - “Private O’Kilna, this Trip?”
 He opened the door and found an unconscious ODST laying there. O’Kilna rushed to him.
 - “Aye Sir. Looks like he’s sleeping again. Just a sec.”
 O’Kilna took Trip’s helmet off and gave him a firm smack on the face. Trip then woke up grabbed his gun and put his helmet back on. Then the shrieking of the Velutarian starfighters could be heard.
 - “Run! Run, to the trees dammit. They’re coming. Migs, give us cover will you.”
 The ODST’s began to ran for their lives while the Velutarians shot at them from the sky. Just 800 meters, they had a good chance of making it all. And just as Gunny thought that, one of Matthews’ men was shot down. Gunny rushed to him. He attached the soldier’s gun to his belt and put him on his shoulders. Migs and Willy had revealed themselves and had thrown the Velutarians off guard creating just enough time for the ODST’s to reach the trees. He put the ODST he carried against a tree and took his helmet off and checked his pulse. Nothing. He closed the body’s eyes and proceeded to do a cross. Then he started to strip of the ammunition off the body.
 - “Mossy and Yu, bury the poor soul. Then set fire to it as is protocol. We can’t afford to let the Velutarians get their hands on any Terran for God’s sake! Corporal Matthews and Private O’Kilna! Report to me.”
 Gunny then proceeded to find out the mission of the other ODST squads. Matthews’ was assigned with destroying the Velutarian comm relays next to their assigned artillery. O’Kilna’s was similar, though they had to destroy the power generators in synchronisation with Matthews. They decided to give up on the power generators as they didn’t have the manpower for all three objectives. As soon as they set fire to the body, they marched onwards to the mountain and set their base camp in a cave. Before the end of his night shift, he saw something cruel. The Velutarians had begun to glass the forest where they had been.

 He then whispered to himself.
 - “By God, will they pay for this.”