Among The Stars

Behind me, I could hear the tell-tale rustling of my undersuit, the noise so faint yet audible, as the material was pulled down a few inches. I welcomed the touch of cold air against the expanse of my bare skin, breathing in with pleasure at how the slight chill instantly cooled my burning body. God, it wasn’t exactly easy – not to mention a bit uncomfortable – when you’re fighting on a planet’s surface dressed in a titanium and ceramic composite armour plating which made up the ODST Battle Dress Uniform.

Warm callused hands gently caressed my right shoulder blade, the movements fleeting and accurate in the examination of that precise area. It didn’t last long, and when the male medic shuffled into my line of vision I searched his face for any clues, hints as to whether the unreleased news was good or bad.

“The skin seems a bit inflamed, but then again that’s perfectly normal when it comes to minor plasma burns,” he told me, professional yet very friendly in his demeanour. He gave me a small smile, shaking his head. “You’re very lucky that the Jackal didn’t release a fully overcharged shot with his pistol – that would have stung like a little bitch.”

I chuckled, ignoring the dull ache shooting through my exhausted limbs when I jumped down from the cot, thereafter retrieving my helmet and casually placing the bulky sphere underneath the crook of my arm. I couldn’t help but to think of the shock mixed with terror plastered on the Jackal’s hideous bird/reptile face as he tightened his grip on his curricular fluorescent turquoise shield the moment I turned around and trained my DMR on the bastard. One shot to the creature’s exposed foot was enough to send him staggering with a pained shrill cry, the side and front of his body unguarded. Another bullet, this time in the head, and he was ultimately down for the count.

“So it’s nothing serious, am I right?”

“Correct. However I would advise you to keep an eye on it in the meantime. If you notice it’s getting worse or if you’re experiencing feelings of discomfort, come back to the medical bay and I’ll do something for you. Other than that, you’re free to go, Private Hargove.”

Before heading out I thanked the medic, appreciating everything he’d done for me. At least I got the brief check-up over and done with, so that was something off my chest. I ventured down a series of long, long winding corridors, passing by various members of the ship’s staff as well as my fellow Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. Quiet murmurs swarmed around me, my ears picking up meshed-up exclamations of glee from a squad of five soldiers, some of them fist-pumping and a few hearty slaps on the back thrown in the fray.

No doubt there was an invisible vibrant buzz floating here onboard UNSC Icarus. Each and every one of us had the right – no, the privilege – to relax and feel optimistic now that we had the taste of triumph in our mouths. We prevailed against the Covenant, an alien leadership made up of an alliance of species hell-bent on the genocide of human beings across the outer and inner colonies in the name of their devout religion.

This time they discovered the existence of human life on an unknown small planet situated outside the Beta Hydri System, which was about twenty four point four light years away from Earth. Luckily before they burned the planet’s surface to a crisp, the process known as glassing, we engaged the enemy head on with a reasonable amount of UNSC frigates. The six man squad I’m currently in, with the aid of other squads, were launched into orbit, crashing down onto the world’s terrain in our drop pods in order to secure the perimeter and annihilate hostile forces.

Needless to say it was the first ever official mission I had undertook as a rookie. My other teammates had more experience than me when it came to combat, so you can imagine I more or less had a lot to prove despite the extensive training I had as both a Marine and an ODST – each lasting six months, overall spanning over a duration of a year.

When my comrades discovered that I was seventeen years old they failed to disguise their shocked reactions. At that moment of time I didn’t know why they were taken back with my age until I was told the truth – it turned out it was extremely rare that someone so young like me to enrol in the United Nations Space Command.

Then again, I think with my father being the Chairman played quite a massive part in my being successfully recruited. Sure, it did work entirely in my favour but I didn’t want to be treated as anyone special. I didn’t want anyone to think of me as far more superior than them during my future years of service.

I had a far greater aim in life; my desire is to build matching wings of the strongest steel I could get my hands upon in the hopes of soaring. Yes, soaring through the many galaxies and the planetary systems, no matter how vast they are. Just the mere thought of blending in among the dazzling beauty of constellations filled me with fierce courage and determination.

It made me proud of who I was as a person, an honourable soldier, to protect humanity from the raging onslaught of the Covenant. We’ve been condemned by them so many times, starting with the destruction of my home planet of Harvest when I was no more than four years old.

I pushed all traces of thought back to the back of my head as soon as I noticed my boss, Sergeant Buck, rushing towards me. Why was he looking so serious, so concerned?

“Rosa, come! The Covenant has tracked us down and is rapidly closing in,” he exclaimed. “Prepare for another battle, trooper!”