Welcome to The Storm. This is basically a Marine-centric RP set in the events of Halo: Reach. This is predominantly fighting to survive and exploring the trauma and heroics that comes with it - you are going to die in the end. But at least you'd be fighting to save as much as possible. IMHO, this is a different take from most of the other ones which encourage you to be the superhero. This is a tragedy, not a space opera. A new take on an old idea. This here is the OOC, where discussion takes place. If you're wondering where the OP went, check the IC tab.

To keep the RP kind of centralized, you're going to be in and around the New Alexandria area, playing a variety of characters to explore a lot of the aspects involved with such a siege. Now, as for rules I'm not putting many out. Stick to the lore and don't do anything that's outside the boundaries of reality or the lore. You're also not a Spartan, meaning that you're not going to take on four Hunters and live to tell the tale. I'm also going to look down on "elite" stuff like ODSTs because I want to preserve the desperation of the situation - ODSTs might be too well-trained and able to kick ass more than what fits the theme here. Other than that, I don't really care. Do as much violence and swearing as you want.

Character sheets are simple, because I'm a nice guy. I won't waste your time on inane details like their favorite ice cream flavor because that's explored in character during the posts:

Name:
Occupation: (Here would just be something like "Marine Corpsman" or "Army Grenadier")
Bio: (Make it detailed. Tell us about them. I don't want to do a minimum length but I'm sure you guys'll know how to handle it. However, being concise is a good trait as well. Find that balance.)

Characters:

For reference:

Name: Abdulahim "Abdi" Hassan
Occupation: Army Marksman
Bio: Abdi Hassan was born to a family of accountants in Berbera in Somalia, Earth - the youngest of three boys (the elder two being twins four years older than him.) From an early age he learned to sail alongside his father in the calm seas off the coast, developing an affinity for the activity that would continue into his later years. By the age of ten, his parents had managed to settle themselves in well in the Berbera financial community, eventually owning a modest house on the ocean and allowing Abdi to go to one of the better schools in the city. With all signs pointing for Abdi to go into college and study business like his parents, he managed to perform well in his mathematics and management classes until his eldest brothers had both been conscripted and sent alongside a MEU onboard a destroyer somewhere in the galaxy. With the sudden realization that the government needed more men, Abdi began to forget about finance and started to focus more on current events. He began to realize that he was going to be conscripted sooner or later.

When he finished his schooling, Abdi's 18th birthday would mark the beginning of his entrance into the conscription lottery. Not satisfied to wait until his number was called, Abdi convinced his parents to let him enlist on his own - after all, the rumor was that volunteers would get better privileges and a career path waiting for them. And so the day after his birthday, he walked down to the recruiter's office in the city and wrote his name down. A week later, he was flown to Johannesburg for Basic Recruit Training (Africa.) There, Abdi managed to perform to the standards expected of him, but with one exception: he was a born marksman. Passing the test with flying colors, Abdi was marked for Advanced Combat Designated Marksman School, where he spent a week after Infantry School learning to operate the UNSC's M392 DMR rifle, with which he would be equipped with during his stint as squad marksman. In addition, familiarity with the BR55 rifle used by the Marine Corps was taught. With that training, he was shipped to Reach to reinforce the military forces there.

For two years, he drilled and trained for combat, but nothing happened. He was promoted to Specialist in the Spring of 2552, and continued his routine of training for a war that would certainly be coming. Despite his inability to leave the planet, he still maintained contact with his family and his brothers - who turned out to be guarding fuel refineries around a classified gas giant - and believed that maybe the war wasn't so desperate after all. At the time of the invasion, he was assigned to the 41st Reach BCT stationed at Ft. Árpád just kilometers east of New Alexandria.

If I may, I would like to play from the stratigical view of a Colonel. His story will be no less bleak than the foot soldiers, and his end no more glorified. If needs be I can provide general naration of NPC troop movements in and around the combat zones.

If this is incompatiable with what you want your game to play like, then I'll reroll into a lowly foot soldier. Going to sleep now though, so you wont hear from me in a good few hours.

Name: Kaj Erlend Raske
Occupation: Colonel // 53rd Static Infantry Division
Bio: Kaj was a man born of Reach; born of one of humanity's greatest military assets. His father and mother both served the UNSC before their untimely demise at the Second Battle of Harvest. Before them, his grandfather and grandmother too served the UNSC, though they made it to an honourable retirement. Yes, Colonel Kaj Erlend Raske of the 53rd Static Infantry Division is a military man through both blood and conscience.
He is however untested, alongside many of the army's home-grown senior officers. Whenever a planet's orbital defences would fall, then the attacking Covenant fleet would glass what UNSC ground forces may have been present. This act of perceived cowardice has blunted Kaj's pride, because even though he has risen through the ranks of the UNSC army with startling efficiency, he knows, alongside many others, that he'll probably never see true combat. No, the first sign of combat he'll see will be bright stars up in the night sky, getting larger and larger with each passing second until there is a terrible rumble followed by a searing heat. His uniform, so splendid and prestigious, would melt to his flesh and he would die in horrible anguish alongside his helpless men.
The UNSC Army was an impotent force in The Great War, and Kaj knew it through and through. However, it was on the wishes of his father that he not take up the family's banner and join the marines, and though Kaj came to see this as his father's pitiful attempt to protect him from the apparent inevitable, he would fulfil his duty with impeccable professionalism.
8,000 men stand at his command; 6,000 of them combat troops. He is a soldier's General, and is not prone to the snobbery displayed by others that occupy his station. Every night, at 20:00 local time, he walks amongst his men. They know his face, and they know his spirit. He pursues the welfare of his troops with fevered ferocity; punishing officers and NCOs mercilessly alike for neglecting to enforce simple hygiene tasks, and stands chest to chest with those of higher rank that would defy his men what they deserve.
When the Covenant come for Reach, and he knows like many other senior officers that they will, he will be at forefront of his men. He will be with them in the trenches, and he will be with them at the Covenant's landing grounds. It is an officer's duty to lead from the front, no matter his rank, and come what may, he will do exactly that.

You're good, except for one small thing:

SyrianHamster said punishing officers and NCOs mercilessly alike for neglecting to enforce simple hygiene tasks

Unpossible! First Sergeants are relentless in their pursuance of the grooming standard! :P

Haha!

Um, I've got a question: When does this RP start? I know we're based at the New Alexandria area, but like you said it doesn't come under siege until halfway through the Covenant's assault. Do we go through a period of preperation whilst the Covenant advance upon the city? Or are we starting in the midst of the action?

I think there are skirmishes along the outskirts and surrounding regions.