Editing 21st Space Assault Battalion

{{Era|UNSC|HCW}}
{{Military infobox
|name=21st Space Assault Battalion
|image=
|formed=
|affiliation=[[Unified Earth Government]]
|branch=[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
|type=[[Special operations]] capable
|role= Assaults
|size=Around 800 personnel
|nicknames= Black Daggers
|battles=
*[[Battle of Biko]]
*[[Operation: SILENT STORM]]
|commanders= [[Marmon Crowther|Colonel Crowther]]
}}

The '''21st Space Assault Battalion''' ('''21st SAB/ODST'''), also known as the '''Black Daggers''', is a veteran [[battalion]] of the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]],<ref name="SS" /> a [[special operations]] capable reconnaissance force of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]].

==History==
The Black Daggers have a long history of [[Insurrection|combating]] [[Insurrectionist]]s.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS5|HSS|Chapter 5}}

In [[2526]] they were assigned to [[Captain]] [[Halima Ascot]]'s [[Task Force Yama]] for the duration of [[Operation: SILENT STORM]], a mission with the goal to stealthily board and destroy as many [[Covenant]] vessels as possible and buy time for [[Human|humanity]]. At this time, the battalion was led by [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]]. Although Captain Ascot had full authority over the task force, once the ODSTs and the complement of twelve [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans]] were deployed, full command would transfer to Colonel Crowther. During the slipspace journey to [[Biko]], [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]] began working with the Black Daggers as they trained against the Spartans. At first, the marines proved to be no match for the Spartans, but that all changed when Johnson introduced some new, unorthodox strategies. He began spending the "lives" of his men like coins, buying opportunities to deal hard blows to the Spartans. This was a tactic that no sane UNSC commander would utilize except in the more dire circumstances, but it was one that the Covenant was known to use often. While the Spartans continued to outclass the individual ODSTs, victory was no longer certain when facing large numbers who now knew how to coordinate an effective assault. Four days into the training, Colonel Crowther had the entire battalion of Black Daggers gather to be briefed on his plan to board and destroy Covenant vessels. The Spartans would be split up, with each of the twelve being assigned to a single platoon. They would be the ones carrying the nukes. However, [[John-117]] disagreed with this plan and Johnson backed him up. Ultimately the plan would change to one more suited to the Spartans' skills.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS5}}

They first [[Battle of Seoba|saw action]] in an abandoned ice quarry on the [[Seoba|third moon]] of Biko. Initially the Black Daggers took heavy losses as they were unaware the position was occupied by Insurrectionists, who were prepared for an insertion, albeit they expected one from the [[Covenant]]. Eventually, however, they managed to successfully take the Quarry. 

When the Covenant arrived, the Battalion was evacuated in the Prowlers.<ref name="SS">'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'''</ref>

After Operation: SILENT STORM, the remaining members of the battalion were dispersed to train other units. As a result, during [[Operation: OBLIVION]], Admiral Cole didn't have anyone available to send with [[Blue Team]] and instead had to rely on regular infantry Marines.<ref>'''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''', ''page 64''</ref>
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==Personnel==
*[[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]] - Battalion CO - KIA
*[[Captain]] [[Zelos Cuvier]] - Alpha Company CO - KIA
*[[Lieutenant]] [[Nelly Hamm]] - Alpha Company, First Platoon CO (Later Captain, Cuvier's replacement)
*[[Lieutenant]] [[Nolan Connor]] - Alpha Company, First Platoon CO (Hamm's replacement)

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Orbital Drop Shock Trooper units]]