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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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[1102 hrs October 26Th,2525 ONI Base Project:Overdrive, Eden.] Eric O'Keefe had been medicated who was resting as the Doc spoke unintelligible words to Gunny. He dozed off into a dream he had before. This was three years ago. He had been tracking a Indie terrorist group who were disliked even by other Rebels. It was his greatest sin yet he felt right at the time doing it. Fading into the dream he relived it. ----------------------------------------------------- [December 23rd 2522,New Hong Kong,Arcadia] Sgt. Eric O'Kife with a Army Ranger team from the 82ND Airborne. Had gotten Intel from UNSC Command that a Indie Terrorist group were going to bomb a target in the city. With his drones Eric had scoured the City then finding them inside a fountain in a park, Another set at a Market place even some inside a gas station near city hall. Lieutenant Kadan was leading this effort. His bomb disposal guy Bobby"Bubba"Linux was inside the gas station defusing the explosives. He defused the one at the park as well. He came out in his bomb suit after twenty minutes giving a thumbs up. O'Kifes Dragonfly's hovered overhead. One picked up signal from a rooftop as some one called in. His Drone amplified that voice to his wrist display. " They just defused our bomb. Yes blow it. Blow it NOW!. I do-" The drone flew over as the man realized he was being monitored now. He ran despite Eric sighing that he was prepared for this. " Well it seems we have one being fallowed by my drone. He is going to blow the market. He has to be one of the terrorist. let him run. My drone will find him. thus leading us to his hideout." Every one nodded piling into two Warthogs one was a passenger model. They arrived at the market square with his other Dragonfly hovering overhead in the Afternoon sun. Two individuals stood at a market door. Same one that was designated by his drone to have explosives. Lt. Kadan shouted over a loud speaker." All Civilians please clear out-" Indies fired at them from both rooftops on either side of the street." Bullets rang off Warthog armor as Indies tried to kill them with high powered rifles. One Ranger took a round to the leg. Indies suddenly appeared with SMGs moving out of the store. Eric was having his drone scan the area for more explosives and hostiles. Leaping out of the hogs except the gunner who was letting them have a storm of lead but even he fell to a well placed rifle shot that went into his helmet killing him instantly. Every one was returning fire now even Eric who fired his SMG at those firing at them. Every one lay flat on the warm asphalt. Beeping showed that the market was wired fully. Suddenly the gunmen disappeared from the roofs. Rangers attended wounded also were checking rooftops. Suddenly the market exploded. Civilians who took cover in buildings were killed as were vendors who were selling fruit or vegetables had taken cover behind there stands. Six shops exploded simultaneously. All sorts of debris traveling at incredible speeds tore through unprotected flesh. Some civilians died instantly others were injured pretty bad. A woman was crossing the street in a pretty sundress who had hid away during the gun battle. She lay dead in the street on a pile of rubble. Wind blew showing blood seeping onto the ground. Eric with the other Rangers had been peppered by debris. There armor saved them from most of it. One ranger was not so lucky as a piece of metal protruded from his right eye socket. It was silent as no Ranger moved yet. Eric got up slowly to his feet. Silence filled the air. Then his ears rang. Walking over to the woman in the sundress seeing her Asian face. He touched her shoulder now noticing that she was dead. They had failed. Yet tears would not bring them back. Eric limped back to see Rangers standing up. Erics voice croaked at his drone gave the Indie terrorist location. " This is Blue two-three. We need Emergency services to our location." He dropped a IR grenade marking there position. Also a smoke grenade. " Also i need-" He coughed a few times." I need air strike at second drones coordinates. Its painting target now." Hearing sirens not far off he took a seat next to Lt. Kadan who was holding his side leaking blood." I have help on the way. Also we are about to torch those Indies." Turning to help Lt. Kadan with medical aid. Kadan had a smile on his face. Longsword blew an apartment building that housed terrorists in the basement. Other innocent people died yet it would all be covered up as it would be reported they were sympathizers. --------------------------------------------------------------- Eric awoke out of the drug filled dream hearing argument near. Lt. Col. Kingston stood with pistol in hand." I am going to get Cort Marshaled Gunnery Sergeant. This is all on my hands. So since you will not hand over the object i have one thing to do." A single shot from a Magnum killed the unstable ONI officer from his own gun who could not cope with his actions. Eric was too doped up to entirely know what was going on but he knew it was bad. It was a stunned silence. Even the Mp's did not expect that kind of sudden change. Eric fell back into a drug induced sleep once again. That dreadful silence once again. [Edited on 12.28.2012 3:00 PM PST]
