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11/9/2012 1:19:36 AM
64
The Man Who Sang to the Stars
[May 2ND, 2554, Earth, Norfolk UNSC Naval Academy]
Major Eric "Smooth" O'Kife just finished teaching these young naval cadets on photographic intelligence. They were eager young minds who had been taking his Introduction to Electronic Surveillance 101.
This course educates the student on devices from a lapel cam to Drones. Useful applications in collecting intelligence and how to gather useful nuggets of intelligence.
Students filed out of the class room as the class was concluded for today.
Clearing up his notes on his holo display at his desk. He looked up to see Samantha Bright one of his top students." Sir that was quite informative today. I learned a great deal about how even with the best equipment it still comes down to the human factor."
Eric smiled at the young woman who was a lovely young brunette. " I related it back to World War Two when they did not have computers yet were able to get air recon over targets. In those days a pilot had to fly a mission to take the pictures. Later it developed into spy planes that were useful in the Cuban Missile Crisis and Even During the Vietnam Conflict. If you look it up you can find out how we got to drones and satellites but yes there is still a human factor in this."
Samantha shook her head yes at him. Excitement in her voice." I shall look that up sir. Thank you." She curtly left his classroom as he returned to clearing up his notes.
Stepping out of the class room he ran into the Commandant of the Academy. Who was making his rounds. He stopped to chat with Eric for a moment." Major i am glad i ran into you. I hope you have been treated well. Navy is not used to seeing Air Force personnel but you come highly recommended. The Covenant War has left us short handed."
Eric simply nodded at the true statement having lost too many good friends to the Alien Menace that was thankfully over." I am glad to be here sir. I accepted due to the fact my experience might rub off on these young minds. I accepted this position due to shortages all over and it i am proud to help out." This Made the Commandant smile.
" Good..good" Patting Eric on the shoulder." We should have a drink in the next staff meeting. I need to take care of a few things but we desperately need ten more of you but i will take what i can get so we can get these cadets graduated. Tell you more later keep up the good work." Patting Eric once again on the shoulder the Commandant walked on down the hall.
Exiting the building Eric did seem a bit out of place but his record shows he was willing to work with any one who worked with him. He headed back to his officer billet. It was a single house on a simple street. Military housing still was on the base yet he knew he would have to do "Paperwork" from his terminal inside.
He got into his car driveing off looking at the main building and its parade ground. Not to mention it's wet navy docks. Seamen have trained here for many years. He left the parking lot heading home.
After parking his car Eric entering his house. His loyal companion was a six month old Golden Retriever named George. Who bounded over to give him puppy kisses when he bent down to pet the dog. Passing his small Living room that lead to his kitchen he sat down opening his computer interface then petting George who was so happy to see him.
Giving George his favorite bone the dog happily chewed on it. Eric turned to do a few hours of work. He created a lesson plan for next week. George waged his tail before whimpering he was hungry.
Eric stood up feeding his loyal companion in his small kitchen. Giving George a pat on the head Eric looked outside to see that night had fallen.
Walking over to a worn guitar case. He took out his guitar from a case that was sitting on a couch. It had a blue finish yet was a familiar brand. Grabbing a few beers he headed out back. Carrying the instrument into his back yard,Plugging in his guitar to his set up.
It was a clear night with the stars shining bright. He left the sliding glass door open for George to come out if he wanted. Sitting down on a pre placed chair Eric began to play the blues.
It seemed as if time melted everything away. Even the crisp night air did not bother him. Twenty years of war faded from mind as he sang to the stars.
[Edited on 11.08.2012 5:29 PM PST]
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Doctor Witherspoon returned to his colleagues where they assisted in helping the others as they packed. Mainly Dr. Weatherspoon. Liz with Eric help were both working on the Zeus. It had impressive armament. Yet it was lacking being a hand me down to fix up. Still in the Experimental stages.It had a bug that would shut down the system if you did not fallow the start up procedure properly. Other minor issues as well. A single 25mm ALIM Gauss Cannon in its right arm gave it the firepower of a Warthog with a hand held turret M247H Heavy machine gun. Zeus had one hand yet put it to good use. It also had additional armor that reinforced the chest shoulders with some reinforced joint protection. Dr. Whitherspoon was going over the systems with them as Liz tested systems out. She even was able to climb inside to get a feel for it stomping about. While she was doing that Eric turned to the Doctor who was busy at a computer terminal. " So Doctor. I am puzzled as to why we are risking our lives for all of this including one puzzle box. Is it worth that much to the UNSC to decipher it all ?" Doctor Weatherspoon turned to face him. " It was an important discovery yet it was kept secret until the powers that be needed us to decipher what it was. We still do not understand it or what else it holds but these were inside when it was breached for information." " It has been here for years as we have studied it. Some unknown reason we think is genetic is that we humans can read it or use it. I came into this project late so i do not know what took place before." "Just to get this little bit took about twenty years. We have no idea why it radiates an organic field but it somehow must be tied to some one." "They brought us that suit on the monitor." Doctor Weatherspoon pointed at the security monitor above his head." We knew that were not alone so they wanted to use what we have learned with the tech we have." Turning to look Eric in the eye. " It helped us make MOJLINIR a reality." Eric was confused." What do you mean they ?" With fear in his eyes Dr. Weatherspoon said shaking his head." ONI " " They were mapping our genetic structure long before but the tech was not there. This was not the first discovery. Yet it yielded more answers that allowed us to understand more." " ONI with UNSC support has several operations like this one. ORION project then came the Spartan II project. Our research helped with all of this. So-" Liz had been testing systems. Then she parked it. Climbing out of the Cockpit. " -we barely understand it all its like trying to teach a person used to Algebra, Trigonometry. Very complex." Doctor Weather Spoon smiled at Liz. " All systems are go except the targeting data seems off. You two might want to take a look." Doctor Weatherspoon walked looking about carefully. Taking his clipboard in hand he left Liz and Eric alone. Liz was a quiet person yet her eyes sparkled with questions. They both went to go see this strange suit. It was quarantine kind of glass that was shatter proof. Probably even bullet proof. They went back to work for a while when Lt. Col. Kingston who had a small British accent at times when he talked. Walked over to speak with Eric. "I need to speak with you privately." They both headed to his office where he closed the door. " Now do you have it on your person ?" Eric was a little off guard but answered to the best of his abilities." Have what sir ?" " The Artifact. Do not be coy with me." Kingston's eyes narrowed like he was looking into Eric's soul." Sir we are here to get you out then get back to our mission. I am not going to discuss our objectives at this time." Both locked eyes in a fierce contest of wills. " You listen to me. Listen good. Air Force Intel should not be handling this. I will order you to hand it over if you do not." Lt. Col. Kingston voice was desperate having a chill to it." Shaking his head no. Eric refused " Sir i will not obey that order."Pulling out his pistol Kingston stood up pointing it at Erics head. Having left his helmet behind Eric would be killed instantly. " Then under section three article seven of the code of military justice. UNSC personnel who willfully disobey a direct order from a superior officer are in violation of the UNSC military code of conduct." " Will be detained until a hearing of your peers can be convened. Under the articles of the UNSC. So give it to me or i will arrest you. If you resist i will shoot you right here." It was a set up. Two Mp's came in as he had a button to call them Kingston probably did." Sir ?" Pointing his pistol at Eric."Take his wepons lock him in the cold room." "If he does not tell us where the artifact is we leave him here. I will not have some one else undermining ONI operations. He might even get us all in trouble if you know what i mean Sergeant." Looking at one Mp who said nothing back. "Search him then throw him inside." Eric was briskly searched yielding nothing. Just a empty box it really ticked off the Marine Mp's who beat him till he passed out. Awakening to a freezing room he tried to get up. He hid it on his grenade launcher that was laying with his pack that was far away through meters of concrete. His head throbbed taking allot of blows. Knowing that he would never be able to get through the door into the Zeus hangar where his gear lay. It was silent as he heard a lift. He could only pray that Gunny or some one else would look for him. They wanted what every one else did. Yet Eric was the key to this as he could only wait to see what will happen. He had questions of his own that would probably never be answered. This felt bigger than him. Biggest question was why him ? [Edited on 12.18.2012 1:34 AM PST]
