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Present Darkness, Epilogue
Posted By: russ687<russ687@hotmail.com>
Date: 9 January 2005, 8:54 AM
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Epilogue
Marked for Life
1110 hours, November 28, 2552 (Military Calendar)
UNSC Carrier Stanton Bay
Near UNSC Forward Operating Station, Marylhurst System
Admiral McCrea and Captain Warren stepped off the Pelican and into one of the Docking Bays of the large carrier. The two officers had refrained from talking aboard the entire transport time from their own ship to the Stanton Bay. The operation of a week ago was deemed a success, and the word was spread across the Chain of Command, prompting quick replies of congratulations from various commanders and officials.
Even from those currently engaged in combat.
The operation, despite its proclaimed success, felt somewhat wrong for the two commanders. They had heard many myths about what had conspired on the surface, and they were now going to find out the actual truth. After jumping to slipspace from around Red Dawn, they had heard many stories.
They were quickly escorted down the ship's long corridors until they entered a conference room, several men waiting inside. The two officers immediately recognized the uniforms, and the patches on them. Helljumpers. The elite troops of the Marine Corps, and the primary driving force behind their operation. These soldiers deserved their undivided attention.
Warren motioned for the three Marines on the other side of the room to sit down at the table, and took his own seat only after they did. He noticed that one of the soldiers was on crutches, his leg in a brace to promote the steroid's healing process of the wound. A man worthy of the Purple Heart.
"Well," McCrea started. "It's nice to finally meet you Marines. I'm under the impression you have some vital information for us that can confirm some of our initial...assumptions."
The one Marine wearing both the ODST Patch and the Force Recon emblem spoke up first; yet a third patch depicting his proficiency as a sniper. "The rumors you may have heard on the surface are true. There are, in fact, biologically enhanced Covenant; and they offer a far greater threat then you can imagine."
McCrea sat up straighter as the confirmation came through. So it wasn't all worthless talk. The Marines had seen this foe, and they were important enough to merit Nodern's ill-fated meeting of a week ago. "Tell me, how did all this conspire?"
The sniper began, his voice steady, but the emotions obvious. "I was one of the first three teams to hit the surface, well before anyone else. I was able to see the entire initial deployment of the operation, and I can say we ran into problems.
"Aside from the fact that nearly half of the Drop Shock's were killed within the first ten minutes of battle, and there were multiple problems throughout, something occurred on that planet far more important then the mistakes we made."
The sniper stiffened a little. "We linked up with a Squad from a downed Pelican shortly into the operation, and subsequently discovered those enhanced Covenant creatures; possibly the greatest threat to the UNSC at this time."
There was a short pause. The Force Recon Sniper continued after letting it sink in.
"We encountered those biologically enhanced Covenant sub-species under hostile conditions in the forest's of the AO. They were in the form of Jackals, extremely fast, and even somewhat intelligent. We further discovered an entry point to an underground facility. The facility was definitely Covenant in origin, and was the harboring and enhancement location of this altered beings. It was completely by accident, but upon discovery, we came to the conclusion that this was the initial breach location of this enhanced creatures, and that they had overpowered the Covenant, eventually making their way to the surface."
McCrea turned to Warren. "So the aerial reconnaissance reports were true. Colonel Nodern was going to tell us in person before his untimely end."
Warren nodded, then beckoned for the sniper to continue.
"That discovery," an ODST said, taking over the conversation. "Prompted a member from my Battalion Executive Staff..."
"...Major Jody Foster." Warren finished the sentence. "We know."
"Yes, sir. Major Foster and his team were supposedly tasked with gaining more intelligence on these enhanced Covenant beings, and was killed in a firefight between us and some ONI hit team-"
"What?" McCrea interrupted, the revelation bringing a thought to his mind. "We had ONI operatives on that operation?"
"Apparently so," the Marine continued. "The firefight resulted with the death of every last one of them, one man from our own Squad, and Major Foster."
Warren snapped a look at McCrea, having the same thought. "An ONI hit team? Nodern had information of those beings, and that was what he was coming to tell us. They murdered him to prevent the information from reaching us..." His voice trailed off.
McCrea let his head drop and brought a hand to his forehead. This all went on under their noses.
"Those ONI men didn't expect us to show up, however," the ODST continued. "We also knew of the Covenant biologically enhanced beings, and that is what Major Foster was supposed to bring back to you. They didn't count on us, and that is the only reason why you're hearing this right now." The soldier paused for a second. "We lost good men down there so you could know this."
McCrea and Warren fell silent. They had been so out of touch with the surface operation that this all slipped them by, resulting in the death of one of their best Battalion Commanders, along with men on the ground.
"This information will be processed and the situation will be tended to," McCrea said finally, confusion and the feeling of betrayal easily noticeable on his face. "I can't believe I never suspect that ONI Major..."
"Seven Marines voluntarily stayed behind on that planet so we could get this word out to you," the third Marine said, gripping his crutches.
Warren looked back with a hard gaze, a hint of surprise in his voice. "We left men alive on that planet?"
The three ODSTs nodded in unison.
"This information was worth them giving up their lives," the Force Recon Sniper said. "Don't make their sacrifice in vain."
Warren looked over at McCrea. Could they have known? Could they have stopped this? "Admiral, we have lots of work to do."
The two officers stood and looked at the Marines. These soldiers had dedicated their lives to fighting this war, and the Marines they had left on the surface actually gave their lives for it. This information was more important then they had initially thought, and this threat, now confirmed by these three survivors of the operation, wouldn't be ignored anymore.
Action would be taken.
"Remember," The sniper said as they turned to leave. The two officers stopped and looked back, reverence clear on their faces. They had commanded a strategically successful operation against the Covenant. They had done everything correctly "by-the-book," but those officers knew full and well their shortcomings. They now had something to work for.
"Remember the sacrifices of those men."
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