Replacements

Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Outer Colony World

Date: January 15, 2533

Time: 1600 Hours

A year and a half had passed since we lost Allen and Fumble. A lot had changed in that time—new faces, new missions, new scars. But some things had stayed the same. The war against the Covenant raged on, and Beta Four kept fighting, day after day, mission after mission.

The squad had been rebuilt, reshaped into something new. Gunnery Sergeant Steven Doss had taken over as our squad leader not long after Allen's death. He was a hard-ass, no doubt about it—strict, disciplined, always pushing us to be better—but there was something beneath that tough exterior. He cared about the squad, even if he didn't always show it. It took a while to get used to him, but in time, we came to respect him. He wasn't Allen, but he didn't try to be. He was his own leader.

Then there were the rookies. Eight of them, fresh out of ODST training, assigned to Beta Four over the course of the year. Each one had their own personality, their own quirks, and their own stories. Some were cocky, eager to prove themselves. Others were quiet, still adjusting to the reality of war. But all of them were under our command now—split between Alice and me, as we had both been promoted to Sergeants and made fireteam leaders.

Alice led Alpha Fireteam, and I led Bravo Fireteam. Four rookies each. We trained them, fought beside them, and tried our best to keep them alive. It wasn't easy—nothing in the ODST was—but we did what we could. And through it all, Sam (still "Doc" to most of us) remained the glue that held us together, moving between fireteams as needed, always there to patch us up when things went sideways.

Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Briefing Room

Date: January 15, 2533

Time: 1630 Hours

I sat in the briefing room, waiting for Doss to arrive. Alice was across the table from me, her helmet resting beside her, a look of quiet focus on her face. She had grown into her role as a fireteam leader, though she still had that rebellious spark in her—always pushing the limits, always making sure we didn't get too comfortable. It had served her well in the field. Her fireteam respected her, even if they didn't always like the way she pushed them.

As for me, being promoted to Sergeant and leading Bravo Fireteam felt like stepping into a new world. I had always been a soldier, following orders, doing what needed to be done. But now, I was the one giving orders. It was strange at first, but over time, I grew into it. I had to.

"Another day, another op," Alice said, breaking the silence. "You ready, Cass?"

I shrugged, offering her a small grin. "As ready as I'll ever be."

She smirked, leaning back in her chair. "You know, leading your own fireteam suits you. You've come a long way since Rookie."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Yeah, well, I've had some good teachers."

Before Alice could respond, the door slid open, and Doss strode in, his presence commanding as always. He wore his authority like armor, but there was no denying his experience. He had been in the ODST longer than any of us, and it showed in the way he carried himself.

"All right, people," Doss said, his voice firm as he took his place at the head of the table. "We've got another mission, and this one's going to test everything we've been working on. I hope your fireteams are ready."

He glanced between Alice and me, his eyes sharp. "Sergeants, this is your show. You lead them, you bring them back. Understood?"

We both nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. It wasn't the first time Doss had handed us the reins, but it never got any easier. The responsibility, the pressure—it was always there, hanging over us like a shadow.

"Good," Doss continued. "We've got intel on a Covenant supply line that's fueling their operations in this sector. Your job is to drop in, disrupt their logistics, and get out. Simple, but not easy. You'll be working with limited support, so it's up to you and your fireteams to get the job done."

I glanced at Alice, who met my gaze with a steady nod. We had been through enough together to know what to expect. This wasn't going to be a walk in the park.

"We deploy at 0400," Doss finished, his eyes narrowing. "Get your fireteams prepped. Dismissed."

Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Bravo Fireteam Barracks

Date: January 15, 2533

Time: 1700 Hours

Back in the barracks, I stood in front of Bravo Fireteam—my fireteam. The rookies were gathered around, their faces a mix of anticipation and nervous energy. They had been with us long enough to know the reality of what we were facing, but they still had that edge of excitement, that need to prove themselves.

"All right, listen up," I said, my voice steady as I looked over the group. "We've got a mission tomorrow, and it's going to be tough. But we've trained for this. You've trained for this. We go in, we hit the Covenant hard, and we get out. Simple as that."

One of the rookies, Private Silva, spoke up, his voice full of confidence. "We'll show them, Sergeant. They won't know what hit 'em."

I gave him a small nod, appreciating the enthusiasm. But I knew better than to let them get cocky. "Just remember, this isn't a game. Stay sharp, stay with your fireteam, and we'll all come back in one piece. Got it?"

They nodded, the tension in the room easing slightly as they settled into their gear. I felt a strange sense of pride as I watched them—these soldiers, these rookies, were my responsibility now. And I wasn't going to let them down.

As I moved to check my own gear, Sam entered the barracks, her medkit slung over her shoulder as she approached me. She gave me a small smile, her eyes tired but full of the quiet determination I had come to expect from her.

"Ready for tomorrow?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Yeah," I replied, glancing at my rifle before meeting her eyes. "As ready as I'll ever be."

She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Good. Just remember—you're not in this alone, Cass. We've got your back."

I gave her a small smile in return, the weight of her words settling over me like a blanket. I wasn't alone. Not anymore.