Corporal Ross looked up as the Briefing began; moving to regroup with the rest of the detachment. Naturally, ONI had to come in last-second and throw a big ol' surprise in everyone's faces. The covenant force didn't look too large. Sure, Ghost was outnumbered, but grunts and Jackals could barely stand up to an ODST.
Those Elites would be a problem, though. If battle-experience had taught him anything, the Covenant would have at least one attached to each squad. 
At least, in theory. 
But what about those smaller groups? There were two "blips" on their own, and a group of three just down the street. Sniper teams, maybe? Could be something worse.
Well, as long as nobody ran into a group of three Elites without the entire squad backing them up, everyone should hopefully be making it back home in one piece.
Hopefully.

Atmospheric winds was a little frightening though. Nobody wanted to be on their own, especially the rookies. Some of the senior members might be able to tank it through, but the last thing this squad needed was six more deaths. 

Patrick slid his helmet on and shouldered his weapon, letting his HUD update itself as the visor tinted to it's usual blue. It didn't take that long of a walk to reach the drop pods, and soon he was standing in front of his own. He looked around the room to his fellow Ghosts and propped himself up against the wall next to his pod, speaking to nobody in particular.

"So, does anybody find it a bit odd that an AI is able to defect? Don't they have protocols against this or something?"