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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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[0912 hrs October 26Th, Waycrest Academy, Eden] Gunnery Sergeant Brandon"Loud"Shale had been in the marines for nearly sixteen years. He had seen many good soldiers fall in battle. It wore on him that Sgt. Green was killed in that last heated battle. Even if he was an army puke, he was Wolf Pack. A valued member who did impress Gunny even if he did not admit it. This would make number four in this unit. He had been with the 17Th ODST before Wolf Pack. He joined the war effort on the Indies for payback when some of his family got killed on Arcadia. They bombed a Mag Lev train in a terrorist act. It claimed the lives of nearly sixty people. His uncle and aunt died in that crash with his cousins. He figured that making a difference would be getting on the front lines. Not many were his size. It took the big men to use the big guns. Yet today he had seen more dead then his entire military career. These alien butchering bastards killed allot of people. It made him think about what was important in his life. He had a wife who became estranged. They met on a cruise liner. They both hit it off pretty well. A secretary for some corporation who still believed in such things as having a human to talk to not some computer. She moved up the ranks over the years as his career became a wedge between them both. He could not open up to her about what he did. It drove her crazy that he was away all the time. The worst was the danger he was in that his wife sort of knew about. They had not lived together for years but he did make the effort to write the kids and talk to her. Hardest thing was when he was on leave. How his kids had grown. It was difficult to be called away all the time but he could not simply just leave the Core. Few more years in he could retire. Yet that seemed distant with this new war. He had been lucky so far not to dig his own grave. Die on some distant world. One thing he did promise is to send these alien scumbags to an early grave. He would not allow them to hurt his family. Most of all take any more of his people with out a fight. The door opened in the North Entrance to a well designed Courtyard. Far in the distance was the raging fires of once a human town. A Hornet spun out of control then crashed. Phase two forces must have arrived. He spotted a Warthog driving around with marines pushing back enemy forces. Bodies lay all around the Courtyard. Mostly enemies with marines or ODSTs. Looking to his left were the 25Th ODST sat in the shade of the door. What was left of them. " We took the field Gunny." Gunnery Sergeant Shale Knelt down looking at the Injured S.Sgt Rogers who was being tended by a fellow ODST. " You did good trooper." She weakly smiled before life faded from her eyes. Sergeant Valentine put a hand on the remaining ODST. " We are going to need wheels." L.C. Hernandez radioed out. Looking at the carnage." This is Wolf Pack Six. Any one reading me ?." " Copy Wolf Pack Six. This is Voodoo zero six six. One of our Pelicans are down. Charlie team is finishing up with enemy survivors. We will drop 'Hogs then pick up wounded." Brandon took Rodgers dog tag with a sullen face. He hated to see good soldiers die but he knew she did not do so in vain. He took the disk with her final farewell letter from Rogers hand. He stood up looking around at the field closer. Brass was laying all over. It glittered like reflective snow. Enemy had used light attack vehicles. Even some kind of shock troops that looked like apes. " Charlie four to Wolf Pack over." L.C. Replied squatting down to take off S.Sgt. Rodgers helmet closing her eyes. Standing up now." This is Wolf Pack Six i read." " Something is jamming our signal. Delta Able is unaware of our progress. We have a Vulture on station. Two Hornets with my platoon holding here. Echos seem intent on taking this area. " We lost a Pelican with about half my platoon. This seemed to be a large scout force. Orders ?" Lieutenant Commander Hernandez looked up into the blue sky. " I copy. Pull those men out. We are heading to Objective Bravo. I want ground troops to pull back. This enemy seems intent on Package. We will take hogs then get objective clear. I am sending a Civilian your way." " Roger that. We will send our 'Hog to pick her up. Charlie four out." Three Pelicans Hovered down into the Courtyard dropping off Warthogs. Two were standard varity with chain guns. Last one was a Gauss Hog that Gunny got on the turret. every one took a hog even the three remaining ODSTs joined them as well. Charlies Warthog picked up Dr. Bryce who was taken to the Pelican LZ sixty meters away. She with the marines were flown to safety. ODST drove Gunny with Liz. while P.O. 1st class Casanova was driving L.C. Hernandez. S.Sgt O'Kife,Sgt. Valentine and a ODST were all in the last 'Hog. They waited till the Pelicans took off covering them. Then roared off towards objective Bravo. Gunny could see Voodoo Zero Six Six engaging some enemy aircraft. Ships flew past the Gunship with it's Hornet escort that were too busy to engage the Y shaped ships. Three Drop Ships sped past to deploy troops at the science ward. It was time to get loud. Gunny had some avenging to do for humanity. Especially Mean who he was joking with before they assaulted the vault. Focusing his sights he hit the pedals moving the turret. Squeezing the grips letting a Gauss round fly in anger at some set up gun emplacement. [Edited on 12.09.2012 1:16 PM PST]
