The two ODSTs were flying, side-by-side. Broadswords fully rearmed, complete with HAVOC tactical nukes. “I pray we never have to use such firepower,” the Rookie commented.
“I pity anyone who stands against us. Do you have that Forerunner teleporter with you?” Joe asked.
“Yes, this should come in handy. Too bad it's the only prototype. Push the big button, and you're back on the Victory,” The Rookie said.
The Broadswords maintained their high orbit until they got a distress call, “The city is being overrun! We need air support!” It sounded like Kraut, one of their squadmates. “Kraut, what are you doing there? You are supposed to be defending the embassy!” Joe said.
“Joe, I saw people getting hurt, so I helped out. Now are you going to help us, or leave us to die for our country?” Kraut countered. The two pilots fire-walled their throttles. “Help inbound, just hang in there!” Joe yelled, “Rookie, we'll divide their forces by drawing their attention via low-level flyover. I'll pull vertical, while you bring them past the minimum safe distance by going over the mountain the city rests on. You're on your own once we split.”
“Let's do this,” the Rookie said solemnly.
The Broadswords streaked down, well past Mach 5, and at treetop level, pulled out for the flyover. The tremendous boom drew the attention of the entire city, and all of the Changelings gave chase. Joe pulled up, the Changelings easily following in his slipstream. The Rookie rolled right and gave it full pitch, to place the mountain between him and the Changelings. The Rookie's maneuver bled off too much speed, and the Changelings started tearing apart his aircraft. The Rookie hit the minimum safe distance, and pulled the yellow handle by his crotch; the ejector handle. His Broadsword crashed in front of him as his reentry pack slowed his descent. The Rookie landed amongst the wreckage, and he grabbed the HAVOK. In the distance, amongst the attacking Changelings, he saw Queen Chrysalis. He ignited his jetpack, and charged at her, the desire to end this invasion prevalent in his eyes and heart. In flight, he grabbed the queen, and continued onward, away from the relieved royal city. His jetpack sputtered, and he brought the queen down with him. The thousands of Changelings giving hot pursuit to defend their queen. The two impacted the ground, and slid away from eachother like rag dolls. The Rookie tried to stand, but his knees buckled under the Changeling's relentless attacks. He drew the one weapon he still had, the HAVOK. He pulled the arming pin, and slammed the detonator down. In a bright flash, the queen, the Rookie, and the Changelings were gone.
Joe continued his ascent, even after seeing the nuclear blast behind him. Once in low orbit, Joe set the timed fuses on the Medusa missiles, and ejected. As he drifted through space, the fastest Changelings were still gripping onto the unoccupied Broadsword, only to be vaporized 15 seconds later. Joe promptly drew his two SMGs and took aim at the remaining threats. Apparently Changelings are immune to atmospheric discrepancies, such as air. Making sure his movements would be countered with his EVA systems, Joe took aim. The rounds could hardly be heard in the thin, almost-entirely Hydrogen atmosphere of 150,000 ft. 120 rounds later, there were several fallen Changelings, but this battle was far from over. Joe tossed his now-empty SMGs, and drew the Energy Sword he 'requisitioned' on Requiem. EVA thrusters burning, Joe charged the Changeling threat. The zero-G environment made Joe start to realize the value of EVA combat training. Joe saw a Changeling take aim with a spell he wasn't familiar with. Joe let the Changeling fire unmolested, only for him to draw his Hardlight Shield moments before impact, deflecting the attack.
It seemed like hours later, but Joe had finally defeated the last Changeling. He reoriented himself and used his own jetpack to begin his atmospheric reentry. Like a comet, Joe sped down to the blast site he witnessed earlier. At 2,000 ft, he reversed and activated his reentry pack. Upon landing, Joe was greeted by nothing. His Geiger-counter remained silent, as is characteristic of a HAVOK detonation. “Nothing but dust and echoes...” Joe muttered to himself, looking for his lost squadmate. He found ground-zero; a charred, scorched crater of earth that marked where the Rookie had been.
Remembering something, Joe radioed the Victory, “Victory, do you read me. I need to know where the Rookie is. He detonated his HAVOK here on the ground.” There was no response. “Victory, do you read me?” Nothing. “I guess a one of those Changelings got in a lucky hit...” Joe commented to himself.
Joe looked to his right, and was greeted with what was left of the scorched forest. He turned left, only to find a pile of molten slag that was the Rookie's Broadsword. Joe looked down, only to find the crunching glass beneath his boots. He looked skyward, and saw nothing but open sky. However, he saw something more. Something no one else would have seen. He saw hope.
Joe turned 180 degrees, and ran back to Canterlot. He needed to guarantee the rest his squads' safety. Once there, Celestia greeted him amongst the wreckage and his squad. Joe popped a brisk salute towards the princess, but kept his stride toward his squad. Everyone was accounted for... except the Rookie. Joe turned to face the princess, not knowing if all the windows being shattered was due to the flyover, or the nuke (he would put his money on the latter). The grizzled sergeant stood at attention infront of the royal princess. No number of battles could ever prepare a man of any degree of veterancy, for review by the admiralty, or in this case, the princesses. Joe rarely used nukes due to the inevitable admiralty review and the ensuing logistical paperwork, but he would have to cover for the Rookie one last time. Joe's patience grew thin (which is very hard to do), and he started the conversation.
“I apologize for our actions in the defense of your people, or at least for acting without your orders. The Broadsword flyover was my idea, but the second blast was the Rookie's own independent action. He detonated a HAVOK-class nuclear device past the minimum safe distance from Canterlot, in order to liberate the city from its invaders. I take full responsibility for the Rookie's actions, as he is now to be assumed KIA until further investigations yield otherwise,” Joe said, no noticeable falter in his voice. If he didn't have the polarization on his visor maxed, they would of seen the tears of remorse streaming down his face. The princess responded, “I understand that extraordinary times call for extraordinary action, but the amount of damage caused may have exceeded the amount of destruction that would have otherwise been caused.”
“We've built it before, and we'll build it again,” Joe responded.
“I could revoke my permission to grant the embassy that you are residing at currently,” Celestia countered.
“There was a great man from hundreds of years ago. That man said this: 'There are no great men. Just great challenges which ordinary men, out of necessity, are forced by circumstances to meet.' That man went on to win the Second World War alongside his brothers in arms. Though it bears no significance here, his name was Admiral William F. 'Bull' Halsey. I will stand fast to his claims, because they have held fast to the test of time. He said that prior to the conclusion of the war, which lasted three more years, and has been proven again and again in all following wars and domestic disputes. The Rookie is a great man, and he went to the point of no return. They say Marines never die, they just go to Hell and regroup, but we are the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. We are ODST. We jump, feet first, into Hell and have returned on all endeavors. If you banish or exile us, we will remember such an action when you ask for our help. Punish the grunts, and we'll punish you through the act of not acting. Take these words to heart,” Joe responded, his voice refortified.
“I am not here to spread ill will, but I came here to commend you and your squad for responding to the call of duty, even if it was intended for somepony else. We may not be standing here if it were not for your intrepid actions,” the princess told Joe.
“I still intend to stand by my prior claims; we will treat you better than you treat us. Also, thank you, but our actions were not intrepid. They were courageous. Intrepidity, bravery, and fearlessness are all demonstrated in actions that are done with the lack of fear, but courage may be the same action, only it is done in spite of your fears. If someone tells you they aren't afraid to die, they're lying. Everypony is afraid of death. Though the line of courage is drawn at the point of being okay with dying. The Rookie and I knew that our own well-being was secondary to that of the ponies in Canterlot. If their safety meant us dying, we were okay with it, as long as their safety was insured. There is no way to control life and death in war. That is controlled by luck,” Joe responded with sincerity.
“We already have crews rebuilding, but I would like for you to find the Rookie. I would like to thank him personally,” Celestia responded, unknowingly.
“Celestia, a HAVOK nuke produces temperatures 50 times greater than the sun. Seeing the destroyed Broadsword, I knew he had to detonate it manually. If he was there, he would have been vaporized in the blast. This has happened before in our history. It is... tough to deal with, because you don't even have a body to bury. The heroes would live on in memory alone, maybe a memorial would be erected in their honor, but either way, they are gone. There is nothing you can do to bring them back,” Joe informed.
A loud boom could be heard overhead. Everyone looked up, and saw a lone SOEIV drop-pod descending. The pod crashed next to the group, who were awe struck at its occupant. The Rookie stepped out, “Did you miss me?”