[center][img]https://www.pngkey.com/png/full/391-3919368_file-unsc-symbol-logo-halo-wars-the-great.png[/img][/center] [center][h2]UNSC [i]Unbroken Hope[/i][/h2][/center] [h3]1530 Hours, April 16th 2550 (Military Calendar) / Unknown system, Unknown sector, en-route to the Glasgow[/h3] Interacting with: [?] "Three....Two.....One.... All hands brace!" Issac called out as the crew reflexively gripped onto anything bolted down. Everyone was tense- since this was the first test-fire of the Slipspace Drive since hitting the anomaly. As per the destination solution's accuracy, no anomalies were detected this time around. Hydrogen particulate glared a brilliant white as streaks of passing stars zeroed out into tiny pinpricks of glistening light. When the jump completed, the ventral and side engines rotated the ship to turn around; the crew sighing in relief as the mining station was a kilometer behind them. With the test a success for the engine, they knew they'd have to wait for the official upgrade to be able to travel further with the fleet. "Issac, get Leon up here. Tell him to assemble a fireteam- we don't need a whole task force for this. And inform Amir we're going to need a pilot for transport." Issac nodded, saluting as he vanished into the bridge. Marcus stood up from his command chair, rolling his shoulders and cracking his back as he broke into a series of stretches. Not before long, the bridge access door beeped twice before sliding open- with Leon and five other ODST's filing into the room, all wearing their battle armor and weapons. "Gentlemen, good to see you. While I personally have not received any orders nor communications from the rest of the fleet, I've taken it upon myself to do some research. The planet you'll be heading to is Coruscant. Once home to Republic forces at its capital, the demise of the faction exposed its corruption, and the Empire soon took its place. I'm sending you to the Glasgow, as our ship is not capable of reaching that destination. You'll be going in via Pelican for this one. Any questions?" Marcus concluded his speech, and every operator looked at one another before turning to Leon, who rolled his eyes and raised his hand before placing it back at his side. "ROE? Objective?" Marcus nodded, clearing his throat before speaking up. "Return-Fire only. While it is certainly going to draw attention with the Pelican and your armor, I expect that, should your hand be forced, you can deal with the threat quickly. Better to be armed and armored than not and risk getting captured. Your objective is Recon of the Capital and On-Site-Procurement of anything of interest. Data files, documents, schematics- anything of use, Since this 'Empire' is at the beck and call of someone called Palpatine. Whether or not he's related to Anubis, Just don't get caught, understood?" Leon nodded; a flicker of a smile flashing across his face as he internalized his excitement of this mission. Clicking his heels together and straightening up, he along with the rest of his fireteam snapped a salute to Marcus, who returned it as they then exited the Bridge. Marcus pivoted on his foot and strode back to his chair, speaking up. "Issac, pull up the main display and ensure everyone's helmet-cam and VISR is working properly. UNICOM-NAVCOM channels are to be opened and monitored." The white hologram nodded, snapping into a salute as he vanished into the bridge. At the center of the room was a wall that had a thick pane of glass over it; the glass powering up with a flash of light before sectioning into six equal windows of blackness before materializing into the separate video feeds of the Helijumpers. In the lower right corner of each was a separate panel dedicated to the monitoring of each user's vitals, as well as their MOS. As the team made their way to the hangar bay, they boarded the Pelican and sat in the troop bay as they secured themselves to the inside of the craft. Marcus spoke loud enough for the panel to register speech, and instantly, his voice was relayed to the inside of all six helmets. "Your callsign for this op is Sentinel 1-1, Leon. Synchronize to acknowledge." Leon's speaker was silent, but as soon as the green authentication message came through to the panel, he spoke back to Marcus. "Sync'd, Sir." Marcus nodded. The pilot was seen giving the thumbs-up from the cockpit of the dropship; the door sealing and the cabin pressurizing as the massive engines of the Pelican whirred to life as a dull drone captured by Leon's helmet. Suddenly, all six cameras briefly emitted static as the craft lurched upward and forwards; the ventral hangar bay opening as the Pelican flew out of the airlock. Once within a safe distance, the dropship gunned all four engines and the VTOL was now flying toward the biggest mass of lights not too far from the center of the planet. Marcus stood feet from the panel as he called out. "How are things looking?" "Systems are good, no interference with the VISR. Beyond that, it'd a bit of a bumpy ride." "That's what she sai-" "Can it, Martinez. Sorry, Sir." Marcus smirked and shook his head. "No problem; I was once around the bunch in my time. For this op, extraction will be on standby should problems arise. Get in, get out, and don't overstay your welcome." "Sentinel 1-1 copies all; out." Marcus estimated that it would take another fifteen minutes before they would arrive on the ship. Once that happened, theye'd be out of range. He could only hope whoever or whatever was down there was amicable to diplomacy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- SENTINEL 1-1; GLASGOW ------------------------------------------------------------------------- It had been a day since the Pelican boarded the Glasgow, and the team had little issues adjusting to the presence of being onboard another ship. In a way, the architectural design reminded them of the UNSC's Orbital Defense Platform interiors. Spacious, dull-colored and comfortable. Hell, anything was better on a ship than a glassed cityscape. The seven men sat at one of the mess tables, bantering among themselves and mostly chastising the pilot. The pilot's name was Liam; a red-headed Scotsman who wasn't afraid to fight fire with fire; the ODST's liked the flyboy already. "So Liam- is this thing about the Navy true? Nibbling on appetizers while they fly from place to place, basking in air-conditioned comfort? I didn't see a tray of cocktail shrimp and feel any breezes when we were on route to the Glasgow." Leon joked, making Liam roll his eyes. "Ay, get tha' aloot. Sorreh ta say, but us pilots dun git ta chow down while flyin'. Health hazard." Leon gave the pilot a look of indignation. "Health hazard? As if flying is more dangerous than dropping into a hot zone with nothing but a pod that can malfunction at any point during the drop? I want a refund." Liam snorted, then spoke up with mock agitation of his own. "Lad, Yer bum's oot the windae. 'magine this aye? Yer flyin' inta 'Ell itself, dodgin' anti-aircraft fire goin' aboot a hunnred in-free tryin' ta not get shot up. Suddenly ya hear gaggin' from tha' back, and yer co-pilot fookin' bokes all o'er tha' goddamn back o'yer heid! Tha's a right scunner, it is." Leon broke into a hardy laugh as his men roared in kind, with Liam chuckling soon after. Upon recovering, he spoke up again. "Earned me wings, tha' one did. Still gettin' surrehs from ma pilot 'eretime I pass him by. E's here, too. Back on tha' [i]Hoop[/i] because I didn't trust him fer this one." Leon snorted, nodding. "With a stomach like that, who would?" The alarm blared as a notable lurch was felt, prompting the team to get up. "Well, looks like this is it. Helmets and gear; people. Liam, if they're landing, you're coming with if the Pelican isn't used. You got a PDW?" The Scotsman nodded, then tapped his right hip where an M7 SMG was holstered. "Alright; everyone on me. Let's go find the rest of the squads." Leon and his team made their way out of the messhall and to the assembly point, with Liam tagging behind. Although they had an extra gun, the Scotsman was a flyboy. A Marine pilot, but not as experienced as them. Perhaps he'd give him the benefit of the doubt if things went south, and made a mental note to ensure Liam's protection at all cost. After all, he was their ride home after all was said and done.