Ethereal Squad / Echo Squad

Ethereal Squad / Echo-8 was a specialized team within the UNSC Marines Orbital Drop Shock Troopers under the command of Staff Sergeant Chandler. Over the course of the Human-Covenant War Ethereal Squad become well known within brass as a team capable of getting the job done against all odds. Often compared to Spartan III's in the regimented training and cohesiveness of their unit Ethereal Squad was similarly pitted against multiple 'suicide missions. 
== Operational History ==
=== Battle of Cascade, Mindoro Capitol City ===
Towards the closing of the Human-Covenant War Ethereal was being pulled back inward and was temporarily stationed aboard a Halberd-Class Destroyer which had acted as the escape craft from their last operation. Refueling and replenishing at Cascade when the Covenant arrived. 
With Ethereal planet-side when the enemy arrived they fought their way through light initial landing parties on orders to use the Space elevator to return to the UNSC fleet overhead in preparation for an ODST insertion into an ORS-Heavy Cruiser. Against Ethereal Team's wishes the team followed orders and were on the elevator when it came crashing down. Ethereal Squad was scattered and teamed up with local Marine forces to lead a mass evacuation in order for the UNSC to engage in a mass counter offensive invasion of the city through air superiority. Cascade was eventually successfully defended and Ethereal Squad was reunited thereafter with the exception of LCCPL Beard who was killed in the collapse of the Space Tether.
=== Battle for Earth, South American Campaign ===
==== Macapa-Brazil ====
In 2552 when the Covenant finally arrived at Earth it was not in a typical invasion pattern. It wasn't until after the initial fleet lead by the Hierarch Regret would be reinforced by Hierarch Truth and spread the invasion beyond the boarders of Eastern Africa. 
Ethereal Squad was deployed to Macapa Space Tether located in equatorial Brazil. The defense of the space tether was vital for evacuations to be successful. Eventually being torn down by Covenant forces the city was left in turmoil as UNSC forces scattered and prepared to launch a nuke into the city. Ethereal squad cut off from communications funneled as many civilians out of the city as possible while combatting Covenant forces. Once communications were restored Ethereal partnered up with other surviving UNSC forces still in the city and lead a large scale offensive against Covenant landing sites in order to initiate a game of cat and mouse, funneling as many covenant forces into the soon to be impact site. 
Once within the kill box Ethereal and the surviving Marine forces fled underground and used the cities metro-rail to escape the city prior to a nuclear air strike on the city. 
== Echo-8 Roster ==
Name 	Specialty 	Status/Notes
Marcus Chandler, Staff Sargent	Leader/Designated Rifleman 	2552: Requisitioned to lead ONI team X-Ray 7
2554: Selected to join the Spartan IV program leading Fireteam Thermal.
2558: Stationed Spartan Commander/XO aboard the UNSC Deliverance.
Luke Brantree, Sargent 	Close Quarters Combat Specialist	KIA Battle of Earth 2552
Benjamin Hutton, Corporal 	Sniper/Medic 	2552: Requisitioned by ONI for clandestine operations
2554: Selected to join the Spartan IV Program within Fireteam Thermal
Timothy Beard, Lance Corporal 	Rifleman 	KIA Battle of Cascade 2552
Anna C. River, Lance Corporal 	Explosives and Demolition Expert	2552: Requisitioned to ONI team X-Ray 7
2554: Selected to join Spartan IV Program within Fireteam Thermal
Category:UNSC
Category:Human-Covenant War
Category:UNSC Units