7th Shock Troops Battalion

The 7th Shock Troops Battalion is a UNSC Marine Corps Shock Infantry battalion, that served during the Human-Covenant War. They are a subordinate unit to the 105th ODST Division.

Legacy
One of the most famed and veteran units of the UNSC Marine Corps, the 7th Shock Battalion served in some of the most climatic and legendary battles during the latter part of the Human-Covenant War. The 7th Battalion fought alongside Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 during most of 2552, until the end of the war in late 2552. Men and women from this battalion were also some of the first Humans to travel outside of the Milky Way Galaxy, during the Battle of Installation 00.

During the Battle of Earth, the 7th Shock Troops Battalion put up a stiff resistance against Covenant assault forces. Overall, the defense of Earth was one of the largest campaigns the ODST's endured during the Human-Covenant War.

Mombasa and Installation 05
Marines of the Seventh Shock Troops Battalion would conduct air assault operations during the opening phases of the ground war at Mombasa, where the troopers battled in the streets before reinforcements from the would arrive. Later, additional forces from the would arrive in HEV's to assault the Prophet of Regret's Flagship directly. Most of the bulk of the reinforcements were killed when the Assault Carrier entered slipspace, though some Marine Shock Troops were able to survive the slipspace rift, and engage hostile Covenant forces.

Members, from First Platoon of an unidentified company would later drop from the In Amber Clad onto Installation 05 during the operation to capture the Prophet of Regret. They then cleared a landing zone so that a Warthog could be deployed for John-117. Most of these troopers would perish during the initial campaign against the Covenant, and only a handful would escape back to Earth with Commander Keyes.

End of the War
During the Battle of Cleveland in November 2552, a squadron of AV-14 Hornets provided a platform for Shock Troops to rescue civilians held inside of a stadium. They fastroped from the Hornets, and dispatched the enemy forces within the stadium in seconds. Minutes later, infantry forces helped the Shock Troops eliminate ground forces occupying land in the older part of town.

The 7th Battalion fought during the last battle of the Human-Covenant War, and arguably, one of the largest. Unlike their previous excursions unto the Halo rings, the men and women of the 7th battalion would be exclusively used for air assaults. One such assault happened during a mission to destroy numerous Anti-Aircraft Artillery platforms overlooking a desert sea. These AAA guns were later destroyed by the shock troops, and allowed the to successfully land near the cartographer building. During the last battle of the Ark Campaign, and the last of the war, Shock troops were again airlifted into combat. This time, they punched holes in Covenant armored and artillery positions. They assisted MCPO John-117 and SgtMaj Johnson in shutting down the shield generator stations, protecting the Citadel; during which, the Sangheili carrier Shadow of Intent provided air cover, and distracted enemy forces from the joint Human-Sangheili offensive, by firing on the shield with their plasma torpedoes. After their primary objective was complete, allied forces then proceeded to enter the citadel canyon with an armored push on the ground, consisting of Human and Sangheili infantry forces and M808B Scorpion's, and covered by AV-14 Hornets in the air.

Trivia

 * The name of the Battalion is another possible reference to 7.
 * The 7th Shock Troops Battalion was first mentioned in the Art of Halo book, released alongside Halo 2. The patch was intended to be used on the Battle Dress and Working uniforms of the Marines of the 7th Battalion on the.