Orbital Drop Shock Troopers

The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (or ODSTs for short) are a special forces unit of the UNSC Marine Corps. Barring the personnel of the SPARTAN programs, ODSTs are the best troops available to the UNSC.

History
ODSTs were operating as early as 2525. The expectations on ODST units made them all-volunteer outfits, with some outsiders regarding such volunteers as 'crazy'. By 2552 their strength had swelled to a number of divisions in an attempt to fill the demands of the Human-Covenant War. Some actively participated in training the SPARTAN-IIs, and the efficancy of that program was demonstrated when a single SPARTAN-II killed three ODSTs during an exercise. These fatalities resulted in some enmity between the two groups of elite soldiers. Friction was heightened by the stunning success of the SPARTAN-II program, whose members proceeded to accumulate more confirmed kills than "any three divisions of ODSTs."

Operations
When assaulting a planetary target from orbit ODSTs were trained to employ 'unorthodox' means of insertion. Those requiring stealth could be accomplished by 'jumping' from an orbiting ship and using a parachute once within the atmosphere. However, their hallmark method was in the form of Human Entry Vehicles, a particularly hazardous means of reentry.

Similar to regular marines, the ODSTs maintain units of varying strength aboard many UNSC vessels and installations. ODST units were present aboard the UNSC Atlas, the UNSC In Amber Clad, the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and Cairo Station.

Equipment
In addition to using standard marine equipment, ODSTs were issued with a special issue combat dress. They will usually use the standard weapons of the UNSC, particularly Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles, and SMGs, although there has been evidence that they can also use Sniper Rifles, Rocket Launchers, and Dual Magnums. ODSTS will often use any Covenant weapon available, due to the fact that they cannot carry much spare ammo, and seem very proficent with the Carbine. ODSTs prize the M6D Pistol for its power and accuracy and its compact size, and will try to acquire one as often as possible. Thye also carry Combat Knives as a secondary weapon.

Notable Actions
ODSTs were embarked on the UNSC Pillar of Autumn when she discovered Alpha Halo. An ODST group led by Major Antonio Silva was later instrumental in frustrating Covenant attempts to purge the ring-world of the Pillar of Autumn's survivors.

Members of the 7th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Battalion would later drop from UNSC In Amber Clad onto Delta Halo.

List of ODSTs
Sorted by rank, then alphabetically if rank is unknown.
 * Major Antonio Silva : KIA
 * First Lieutenant Melissa McKay : KIA
 * Second Lieutenant Dalu : KIA
 * Second Lieutenant Oros : KIA
 * Master Sergeant Lister : KIA
 * Company Sergeant Tink Carter : MIA
 * Gunnery Sergeant Pete Stacker :MIA
 * Gunnery Sergeant Waller : MIA
 * Private Butkis : MIA
 * Private Jones : MIA
 * Private O'Brian : KIA
 * Sergeant Corly : KIA
 * Sergeant Parker : MIA
 * Corporal Locklear : KIA
 * Lance Corporal "Snaky" Jones : KIA
 * Private First Class Hosky : KIA
 * Private Marie Postly : KIA
 * Private Satha : MIA
 * Al-Thani : KIA
 * Dawkins : KIA
 * "Doc" Valdez : MIA
 * Murphy : MIA
 * Suzuki : KIA
 * Yutrzenika : MIA

ODST Units

 * 105th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Division
 * 7th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Battalion

Images
 Image:Char odst.jpg|Orbital Drop Shock Troopers Image:ODST Trooper.PNG Image:ODST-Battle-Rifle.jpg Image:ODST snipe u.jpg Image:ODSTbattlerifle.JPG|A pair of ODSTs attack on Delta Halo. Image:ODST1 u.jpg|A modded picture of an ODST on Lockout. Image:Odst_in_warthog.jpg|Two ODSTs in a Warthog driven by the Master Chief. Image:MC and ODSTs.jpg|Two ODSTs and the Master Chief ready for battle. 