UNSC Intermission - POST M5

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

UNSCS Iowa

Adrienne listened as the colonel explained a little about himself after her spiel, and she found she was glad to have a commander who was so candid with her - and one she could be candid with as well. She had a similar working relationship with her own XO, Major Cody Ramos, and it made for a much more efficient command pairing that way. It wasn't always that you were tasked to work with someone who was actually pleasant to work with, someone who could be a buddy outside of regular duties, but it was definitely nice when that occurred. Jackson got the sense that Colonel Killinger might be just such a man.


She was contemplating this when a dog approached and nuzzled her hand. Jackson was a little startled at first since she hadn't been expecting the animal, but soon a smile came to her face. The dog then moved away a bit before she was able to reach down and pet him.

"Jackson, meet Axle. He is a German Shepherd and a reason why the morale around here isn't always so...gloomy, I guess," Colonel Killinger said.


"Makes sense, sir." The lieutenant colonel's smile grew wider as she bent down and beckoned Axle over to her again. This time, she was able to get a hand around him and scratched him behind his ears. Then she glanced up at the colonel again. "We've got a dog of our own planetside, down on Reach. She's a black lab named Pepper. My husband gave her to me as a puppy before our twins were born, about six years ago." Adrienne returned her attention to the dog in front of her and scratched his head a second time. "She's part of the family now. They're pretty amazing creatures."

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Iowa
Marathon II Super-Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser

"Makes sense, sir." The lieutenant colonel said with a smile as she petted Axle, before momentarily glancing back at John. "We've got a dog of our own planetside, down on Reach. She's a black lab named Pepper. My husband gave her to me as a puppy before our twins were born, about six years ago. She's part of the family now. They're pretty amazing creatures." She said, resuming scratching the young German Shepherd.

"They truly are," John agreed. "Five hundred years ago they served a similar purpose as they do now, actually. Police dogs used their nose to sniff out potential threats, drugs and what-not. Military dogs sniffed out bombs and provided friends to their handlers. I'm honestly lucky that Admiral Klix allowed Axle onto the Iowa. Axle is family to a lot of Marines on this deck, and is widely known as a silly animal. Stay around long enough and you'll see some amusing stuff." John said.

"I consider Axle a Marine for all intensive purposes. I'm training him in non-lethal and lethal take-downs if the Iowa were to ever be boarded. Obviously he'd be no match for Elites, Brutes... but I think he'd be able to take down a Jackal if he got lucky and surely a Grunt." John said, not bothering to mention the rest of the Covenant species. They'd be to tricky, like the flying Drones and the Hunters.

"Lets switch our focus to Wuu, Jackson. He's one of the more 'troublesome' Marines in the regiment. After that I'll arrange a pelican planet-side so you can visit your family, deal? I've got to go to the surface anyways and promote First Lieutenant Sorelson to Captain, he's earned it after the various years of service he has given the Corps. He's older, fifty two I think, but a significant achievement considering he started from Private." John said.

He grabbed his copy of the Cuu file and opened it to the first page.

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

UNSCS Iowa

Adrienne's interest was piqued when Colonel Killinger said he'd get her a ride planetside after they dealt with the next item on the agenda - some private the senior Marine officer had curiously taken an interest in. Though she was holding a copy of the file in her hand, Jackson was ashamed to admit even to herself that she'd forgotten it was there as she'd petted Axle. She brought the paper up closer to her face - yes, paper - and began reading through it.

By the time she was finished, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson was sure she'd made several expressions of disgust and disbelief while she'd skimmed the reports.

"Jesus," she finally said, still not looking up from the files yet, as though if she glanced away they might disappear. It was just that unbelievable. "I don't even know where to start with this. This kid grew up in a gang environment and was somehow allowed to enlist, he was cited for insubordination, robbery and assault that led to his demotion, and the Corps still didn't give him the boot? And now it looks like he's been involved in some very sketchy circumstances even more recently?"


Jackson shook her head, truly floored that the UNSC had let someone like this into their ranks...and continued to harbor him although he'd either been the instigator or a more-than-suspect peripheral character in numerous crimes ranging from his adolescence up to the present. She could see now why Killinger had taken an interest in him. Adrienne looked up from the file then and glanced at her new CO.

"Colonel, I understand that the law requires we give everyone the benefit of the doubt...but it seems to me like this Private Cuu has gotten away with that kind of thinking for too long. You can only rack up so many convenient coincidences before it starts being anything but." The lieutenant colonel bit her lip. "I'm not saying I've made up my mind already, but if he's truly that much of a danger even to his fellow Marines, you can bet your ass I'd love to take him down through a courts-martial. Sir." 

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathan B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Iowa
Marathon II Super-Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser

"A court martial, hey?" Killinger commented slowly, nodding in thought. "Perhaps. He was only assigned to the fifty first M.A.R a few months ago to participate in the battle on a planet that we've yet to identify, or rather name. I'm giving him one more chance. If he fails it you and I will take him to court martial. We can't have a Marine who doesn't think about the consequences of his actions running around in our ranks. I've already ordered most of the officers to keep their eyes open." Killinger added.

"My most problematic thing with him is his tendencies that have been noticed by superiors. Those tendencies are lack of respect with authority which has lead to him assaulting superior ranking personnel, including an officer. His lack of respect for civilian population, hence his paygrade reduction from Corporal to Private First Class. Others are his neglect to realize the situation and he has a itchy trigger finger. I don't like this man already, and there have been incidents where people have died as a direct result of his actions. The Marine he shot and killed while being held hostage by a brute and the fire that killed Marines as well, and I'm going to be so bold and think that this 'Cross' who was KIA in a building was Cuu's doing too, since he was practically unscratched and the after-action report is sketchy at best..." Killinger said.

"I don't know how this man is still in the Marine Corps, and I certainly don't trust him - but I'm not intimidated by a boy who thinks he knows shit. The man believes his tough looks, physical fitness and other abilities scare away the majority of the officers, but he is mistaken. I'm more afraid of Axle then Cuu." Killinger said. The truth was Killinger could actually bench press the one hundred eighty five pound boy with little effort. Killinger had grown up to be as physically fit as he possible could. For all intensive purposes, Killinger may have been the strongest Marine in the regiment, but he wasn't certain. His 6'5 frame and 240 lb. body was much easier, however, to fill in with muscle than the 5'11 Cuu and Killinger certainly had more mass on his muscles.

"Still, we need a contingency plan."

[Doc the Mother of Dragons]

Cprl. Cortez
New Alexandria, Reach
New Haven Park

Felicia shrugged when he mentioned the vouchers, she hadn't made up her mind wither or not to humor Deker and actually go, but it would be a fun time, she knew that. "Remember when I asked you to 'marry' me?" She laughed and poked him the the stomach, "Yes, I remember, you made me loose a good shot. Who asks someone to marry them in the middle of a fight anyway!?"

[TinCanHitman]

Pvt.Deker Mulquin

New Alexandria, Reach

New Haven Park

Deker chuckled when she poked him, looking down at her "Well, I just felt that it was the best time to ask. That way you didn't pull that thing where you ignore me for weeks while still sitting right next to me, I know your 'thinking' but it all worked out ,eh?" he said remembering the look on her face when he asked her.

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

UNSCS Iowa

"Still, we need a contingency plan," Killinger said.

Adrienne frowned, not at all in agreement with her superior but choosing not to say so. An old saying came to mind as she thought of the situation with Private Cuu: if it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. She related this back to the fact that Cuu had been in too many shady circumstances to truly be innocent of everything Jackson suspected he'd done.

While the colonel conceded this, however, it did not appear that he wanted to do anything hard-hitting about it. Lieutenant Colonel Jackson was still of the mind that the private shouldn't have made it into the Marine Corps in the first place, and should certainly have been dishonorably discharged by now at the least, but it seemed Killinger wished to give him a second chance. Considering what she'd read about Cuu in the files, Jackson wasn't as forgiving, yet she did not impart this to her CO.

"Okay," she said slowly, placing the folder back onto Killinger's desk and taking a step back before folding her arms across her chest. "It sounds like you might already have something in mind, sir."

Because if left up to her, Jackson's "contingency plan" would be giving the out-of-control private a boot up the ass and a ticket home.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Iowa
Marathon II Super-Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser

"It sounds like you might already have something in mind, sir." Jackson said. Killinger did actually have something in mind, and he liked the fact the lieutenant colonel had caught on to it. John sighed and put his folder down. There was only one thing he could do at this point, and that was go to his superiors.

"I don't want him in the field, Jackson, I want him where I can see him... The only problem is I'm also on the field when I am deployed. I don't trust Cuu, I feel - personally - when I look away I'm going to have a friendly barrel pointed at my back with him. I want to take this to our superiors. No court martial, just a dishonorable discharge for what he has done, but at the same time he did reach Corporal before his paygrade deduction in a fairly quick amount of time, meaning he does have some potential... or whomever is promoting him thinks that - which is where my 'second chance' opinion came in." Killinger said, sighing again. "My thoughts are irrelevant in this situation as it isn't up to me ultimately, but if I were a General he wouldn't be in the Marines. I know now I have your support if I decide to put forth a request on his immediate discharge from UNSC Service."

Yes... dishonorable discharge. The man wouldn't get a standard discharge or an honorable discharge with his service record, it would be a total dishonorable discharge. Killinger wondered how no General viewed the file and though 'oh for the love of god' after reading it, especially after evidence that proved him to be the direct cause of killing fellow UNSC Marines. Shaking his head the Colonel stood up. "Well, let's get planet side. You have a family to visit."

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

UNSCS Iowa

There was nothing left to say. The colonel had made up his mind, and a dishonorable discharge it was if Private Cuu screwed up again. Jackson felt the punishment was far less than what the enlistedman deserved, but she understood that it wasn't her call to make, so she let it go.

It was strange. Before this reassignment, the buck had stopped with her in her own battalion. Technically that part hadn't changed; now, though, as regimental XO, in other matters she had to follow the lead of someone else once more. She'd been so used to being in charge herself for so long that it was difficult for her to defer to another officer's judgment now. It was something she'd have to become reaccustomed to with time.

In any case, her mood perked up with Killinger's next words.

"Well, let's get planet side. You have a family to visit."

Lieutenant Colonel Jackson smiled as she gave her superior a slight nod. "Yes, sir."

[BasedGoody]

Barry Barrington
New Alexandria
Hangin'

Barry sighed as he looked around. The battle was over. Not the war, but the battle. He could already feel the tingle of a Covenant attack. He could hear a General say, 'We're shipping out...'. But it's not like that day was today. The Marine leaned back in his chair and lifted up a cigarette to his lips, looking around at his team members. They all had happy looks plastered on their faces. Whether we 'won' or 'lost' they were glad the fighting was over. Barry blew the smoke out and put his feet up on a bench they had set up. They were all sitting outside in the park while other people milled around. 

Barry wore a white t-shirt and black shorts while the others wore similar garb. The feel was of general happiness, and although Barry seemed to be an deep thought he too was partially filled with joy. The day was nice and the group was chatting about playing football. They were also going to head to a diner down the street after. Suddenly Gerald stood up and smacked his hands onto the football yelling about who else wants to be captain. 

"OH. ME!" Barry suddenly joined in. He stood up and grabbed the ball from their Corporal. He pointed out to the PFC. "Mikey! You're on my team!"

"I'll take Donald." Gerald said, chuckling.

"Harry! Let's go!" Barry said, "You guys get ball first." He said, tossing it to Donnie. "Game on!"

[Frazer]

Captain Frazer York

UNSCS Preston

Virtue Class Attack Carrier

Above Reach about to slip space.

"Sir we have an incoming message from the Hibernian. Would you like me to play it through the bridge speakers?" Dean Wilson said as he swirled around on his chair to face Frazer. Who was sat in his chair awaiting the go ahead. Frazer stood up and moved over to the Holo table.

"Play it through Wilson." Wilson nodded to his commanding officer and turned back to his console, pressed and few buttons so that the message played through the speakers.

"UNSCS Preston This is UNSCS Hibernian We are just pulling out of docking bay 7 of repair and refit station, and we are moving to rally with you and the Heavy Feather." Wilson pressed another button.

"Thats it sir." Frazer nodded and saw the frigates blue icon moved closer to the his icon that were separate from the rest. 

"Is the commander ready to slip space sir?" The Preston's executive officer, Tony, asked Frazer. Frazer looked up at Tony and smiled.

"She will be in her own time Commander." As soon as Frazer finished Wilson turned around to face his C.O.

"Another message sir. Playing it through the bridge speakers." Dean then turned and pressed a few buttons to turn on the message. 

"UNSCS Preston, this is UNSCS Hibernian again, we are now in position for slipspace jump and are awaiting your go."

Wilson pressed a button to end the message. Frazer then looked to his crew. "Right lets do this. Wilson send a message to the ships that we are slip spacing now." Frazer paused for a second." Trayner punch it!" The crew nodded and the Navigation officer took the ship into slip space. At the same time Dean was sending a message to the Hibernian and Heavy Feather stating they are slip spacing.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Iowa
Marathon II Super-Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser

"Hanger this is Killinger. I need my pelican prepped and ready to disembark from the Iowa by the time I get down there." Killinger said into his intercomm unit by the door. He, barefoot, stepped into the hall to watch Axle run after a crew-member, who was laughing and playing around with the young pup. He returned to his office, smiled at Jackson and slipped his boots on. He tied them up and stretched his back out.

"I'm getting older," He huffed. "Back isn't as good as it used to be." He added, chuckling. He led the Lieutenant Colonel down the hall almost effortlessly. He'd been up and down the Iowa to many times to count and even on the side of the walls once when the anti gravity panels had failed on this deck for a few hours during a maintenance period.

"How old are your twins, Jackson?" Killinger asked, wondering. She mentioned her family, but never went into detail. He'd understand, too, if she didn't want too. Normally soldiers would avoid talking about there families.

Admiral Eric Klix
UNSCS Kilimanjaro
Marathon Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser

Klix nodded.

"To old friends," He agreed - downing the shot in his glass nearly instantly. He took a drag of his cigar and grinned. "Additionally, perhaps no more of this 'aging' bullshit. I can't stand all these grey hairs atop of my almost bald head." Klix said, chuckling.

"Wait, what hair!" He added, outwardly laughing. He coughed and stopped, rubbing his bald head when the truth sunk in. He was fifty plus years old and just entering the prime of his career with the UNSC Navy as a flag-officer. He had been a full grade Admiral for years, and with improved medical technology a servicemen can effectively serve until they were into their late eighties, compared to the force retired at the age sixty five a few hundred years ago.

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

UNSCS Iowa

Adrienne followed Killinger down the hall to their awaiting Pelican in the hangar bay shortly thereafter. As they walked, her new CO asked, "How old are your twins, Jackson?"

"Five, sir," she answered. "I have a son and a daughter, Evan and Erin." She scratched unconsciously at the side of her head as they strode through the corridors of the ship. "My career was the focal point of my life for a long time, so I'm a little late to the parenting scene. It's been the most challenging but also the most rewarding thing I've ever done."

She didn't say anything more on the subject, since part of it technically wasn't true. She'd had a chance earlier on in life to become a mother as well, but for whatever reason, it hadn't panned out. If she hadn't miscarried all those years ago, when she and Sam had first started trying for a family of their own, they would've had an eleven-year-old son or daughter now, too. And maybe she would've been more partial to having additional children sooner after that. But the loss had been too painful at the time, and had nearly engulfed the two of them for a long while afterward.

Of course, none of these were things she'd ever say aloud, though. They were too personal and the wounds buried too deep and covered up over the years that had passed since. Instead, Adrienne flipped the conversation back to the colonel.

"Sir, if I may...you mentioned earlier that you had a son and daughter as well, all grown up and about to join the Corps. That must be nerve-wracking for you as a parent."

For the life of her, Jackson couldn't fathom having to deal with that with her own small brood. Obviously she loved the Corps herself, and she'd never once regretted her choice in career. But based on all she'd seen and done in the last fifteen years she'd spent as a Marine, she wasn't so sure she'd want either of her kids to endure the same.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Iowa
Marathon II Super-Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser

"Sir, if I may...you mentioned earlier that you had a son and daughter as well, all grown up and about to join the Corps. That must be nerve-wracking for you as a parent." Jackson said. John sighed explosively at the question, startled slightly by how much truth was within the question. He bit his tongue and sighed, quieter this time, again.

"My son, Kyle, is twenty one years old and has just finished officer candidate school. I wake up every morning hoping I don't receive a phone call, email or holomessage saying he was killed in action. He was deployed on the UNSCS 'Calibre', a Paris Class Frigate serving on the front lines with Vice Admiral Jean Mawikizi's fleet. My daughter, Adrianna, is eighteen and was just accepted into OCS... with a little help of course. My kids wanted to 'make their dad' proud, because they realize what I'm giving up in order to literally ensure their survival." Killinger replied. "In the case of Adrianna I can honestly relax a little, but for Kyle I have nothing but fear rolling through my emotions on that extremely plausible casualty report." He added, taking a left down the hall-way. Tears were almost running down his checks, but he held it in with remarkable internal strength.

"I had a good friend once, First Sergeant Ryan Hicks. He joined the Corps with me but opted to go the enlisted route. I didn't see him for twenty years - from 2527 to 2547, but then he was transferred to my unit at the start of 2547 when I was a Major. Forty hours after being transferred into my unit he was killed in action five inches from me." Killinger said, trying to clear his voice from wavering with a sad tone. "Point of the story, no one is invincible. I take his face and replace it with my sons all the time, and I can't help but feel helpless, like I was when Ryan died."

John chuckled slightly though. "If you're wondering, yes, I fathered Kyle when I was twenty, and Adrianna when I was twenty-three. I guess I started young, but the Corps prepared me to be a disciplined presence. I spent most of my early career out on Harvest, serving as a Second and First Lieutenant. By the time I got back Kyle was two... And Adrianna was nothing but a thought. I got a good month on leave though, so I bonded every day I had the chance. Nine months later..." Killinger said with a laugh. "I get an email with a baby's face on it. Cherish the memories, Adrienne, cherish them at all costs."

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

UNSCS Iowa

Jackson listened to her CO's words and nodded with a small smile. "I cherish them every day, sir. More than you know." Her earlier loss made sure she knew how lucky she was to have gotten a second chance with her twins. Before, she'd thrown herself wholeheartedly into her job for years so that she didn't have to feel or think about the miscarriage, but now she worked even harder because she had something tangible to fight for, in addition to her Marines. Part of this she found appropriate to relay to Killinger. 


"Before I had Evan and Erin, I used to fight for abstract things - humanity, the colonies, duty. That sort of thinking pushed me hard and got me far in the Corps early on, but it wasn't until the twins were born that it all coalesced into something much deeper for me, something much more personal. Doing my job took on an entirely new significance because now I'm doing it simply to keep my kids safe, and make sure the Covenant don't come banging on the door while I'm away. I'm doing it to protect my family, and that's not at all the same kind of drive as those other noble but far removed concepts give you. It's fierce and tenacious, and keeps you going long after you should've already given up."


She knew because it was that kind of drive that had earned her her promotion to lieutenant colonel, in the subsequent campaigns she'd been sent on as a major after she'd recuperated from the birth of her twins. Her relentless - and ultimately successful - assaults against the enemy was what had gotten her the silver oak leaf now pinned to her collar.

As they reached the hangar doors, Adrienne let out a sigh and ended with, "I'm also doing this so that my kids don't have to inherit this war themselves. If they come of age and we're still fighting the Covenant, I'll feel like I've failed them. So I know how hard it must be for you to send both of your children into the fight." Softly, she added, "And I'm sorry about your good friend as well, sir. I think a lot of us have been down that road before."

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Iowa
Marathon II Super-Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser

"Before I had Evan and Erin, I used to fight for abstract things - humanity, the colonies, duty. That sort of thinking pushed me hard and got me far in the Corps early on, but it wasn't until the twins were born that it all coalesced into something much deeper for me, something much more personal. Doing my job took on an entirely new significance because now I'm doing it simply to keep my kids safe, and make sure the Covenant don't come banging on the door while I'm away. I'm doing it to protect my family, and that's not at all the same kind of drive as those other noble but far removed concepts give you. It's fierce and tenacious, and keeps you going long after you should've already given up." Jackson said as the duo approached the hanger bay doors. "I'm also doing this so that my kids don't have to inherit this war themselves. If they come of age and we're still fighting the Covenant, I'll feel like I've failed them. So I know how hard it must be for you to send both of your children into the fight... and I'm sorry about your good friend as well, sir. I think a lot of us have been down that road before." Jackson added.

John stopped in his tracks, spun and grabbed the Lieutenant Colonel's shoulder immediately, looking directly into her eyes. He was, obviously, much taller being six-five but he needed to spit what he had on his mind out before Jackson said anything more. Firstly, he understood what she had meant but in this case her feelings needed to be justified in a sense of mediocrity.

"Colonel - don't think that you've failed your kids in any way if we still are fighting this war in twenty years - for it means we have done our job. You're well aware that ONI is only predicting the human race to survive another decade. My kids chose for themselves and I'd be honored to order them into battle, even if it means I stay alive while I watch them... die." He said, letting her shoulder go. "And I would lead there twenty one gun salute with pride." He added.

John nodded as they continued into the hanger bay. A few crewmembers saluted, which was typical for officers with the paygrade of John and Adrienne's. A pelican was prepped on the launch pad with a pilot lazily drinking some form of liquid from a container, but what ever it was John wasn't able to say as the man hid it in his uniform again.

"I fought hard and long to protect my family, Jackson, like you. Trust me when I say you'll end up the proudest parent in the galaxy if they end up joining the UNSC in the end anyways - though your nerves will become fried. My mother always used to tell me, 'Your actions are your personal consequences', and I take that saying everywhere I go. My kids know it, and they are ready. I'm ready for the consequences, for their lives are portions of my action."

Nodded, John sighed. "Sorry for grabbing you."

[Deleted]

ODST Sergeant John Redsont
Reach: Base 75-Alpha

John sat on a bench outside the base and looked up at the sky in deep thought. He spent practically three quarters of his life on earth, so it was bizarre to be on planet so like earth knowing it wasn't. He'd relate the feeling to that of having just moved into a new place and calling it home without it feeling like home. John stared at the sky and listened as someone ruined the peace and quiet with the sound of sniper fire. Caeser approached John and shook his head upon seeing John.

"You know if it rains you're gonna drown."

"Doesn't that happen to turkeys?"

"I've never seen it, maybe it's one of those urban legends?"

Caeser sat down next to John and let out a large sigh, he slouched as he rested his elbows on his knees.

"So Tim and Matt are pissy. To be fair, to be put on guard duty by a rock while our guys are getting their asses kicked is a good reason to be pissy. Even if that wasn't why they're pissy."

John chuckled at that last bit from Caeser. It was true that they were guarding a fall back route, the easily worst place to be on a battlefield, Matt and Tim were angry for other reasons other than being side-lined. Matt felt it as unnecessary to guard the fall back route while Tim wanted to go fight. John almost had to knock Tim out to keep him there though.

"So speaking of Tim, when are you gonna finally put him in his place? He's getting way too riley. He's probably one step away from disobeying an order or getting really out of line."

"And when he does, I'll deal with it."

John said this angrily, dealing with insubordination was one of his duties, but it was one of John's least favorite duties he had. Still, he would do what he had to, he would just hate doing. In an attempt to change the topic, John stood up and stretched.

"Anyway, let's walk around a bit, feeling all stiff sitting here."

He then made his way towards the gun range, maybe he'd get in some practice.

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson, UNSC Marines

UNSCS Iowa

As they boarded the Pelican, Adrienne had to admit she'd never thought of things that way before. It was true that humanity's fate was in no way assured at this point, even for the next few years - they'd be damn lucky if they survived a couple of decades into the future. She'd always seen her kids having to fight eventually as a negative; but Killinger had shown her that ultimately it would be good, because it meant they'd be alive.


She frowned as she digested his words. "I'm sorry, sir. You're right. I hadn't looked at things that way." The lieutenant colonel let out a sigh and rubbed at her temples with one hand. "Like I said, my goal beyond protection was making sure I had a hand in ending this war before my kids could enter it. I didn't register that that would mean in some small way that we'd won by having lasted that long."


Jackson, in many ways hardened over the years by her combat experiences, still felt a jolt of emotion go through her at the implications. Though she hid it well, the feeling remained with her as she spoke again. "My own kids are still very young, sir." She suddenly smiled to herself at the memory. "It wasn't too long ago that they were still in diapers. I guess I just...couldn't ever imagine a life like this for them yet. They'll always be my babies."


The craft roared to life underneath their boots after that, finally taking off. Adrienne leaned back in her seat in the troop bay, relaxing at last. It wouldn't be long now till she saw Evan and Erin again, and Sam. She'd missed them.

"I didn't mean to imply anything about your own children's choice, Colonel. I think they're doing an honorable thing."


Still, she'd suffered enough after her first combat deployment that she knew she'd never wish something like that on anyone else. If the human race could get out of this mess sooner rather than later, she thought, all the better.

[Ward, J.]

Saint Rose Spaceport, Saint Rose,
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach

There were plenty of moments that caused Jonathan Ward to be nervous. In some circumstances it was because of a tough call he'd had to make or some harrowing situation he was involved in where the stakes were set rather high. However, right now, his nervousness wasn't directed towards any job-related thing. Instead, as he maneuvered his way to the front of the transport where the exit was located, he felt nervous because this would be the first time he'd seen his family in a couple years.

Beyond the transport, standing in the hangar, was his wife and parents. As he passed by one of the vessel's portholes, he happened to glance at it and spotted his father wearing dress blues, his uniform cover clasped in his right hand. Jon couldn't help but smile.

When he finally reached the exit hatch, he slowly made his way down the ramp with a noticeable limp. Before his feet had even touched the hangar floor, he was nearly tackled by his wife Charlene. Jon wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed tightly, a huge smile on his face. "God, I missed you."

Charlene tried to pull away some, so he loosened her grip. She took a single step back and looked up at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "Me too, Jon," she said, a smile on her face as tears began to stream down her cheeks.

Jon pulled his wife back into his embrace and stepped to the side to allow others off the transport. Behins Charlene, Ward took notice of a couple figures approaching them. "Welcome back, Jonny," rang the voice of First Sergeant Michael Ward, Jon's father.

"Thanks, dad," Jon started, looking towards his father. "It's good to be back."

After a few minutes of embraces and 'welcome homes', the group turned around and made their way towards the spaceport lobby. According to his mother, the rest of the Ward family was waiting at his house.

He couldn't wait to see them.

[Ward, J.]

Marching down the corridors of Camp Bastion with a slight pep in his step was Sergeant Stone. He'd gotten out of a meeting with a member of the battalion administrative section and been pleasantly informed that the remnants of Oscar Company were being folded into a new unit. Alpha Company of the fifty-first assault regiment. While the staggering casualties of their mission to the, as of yet, still unidentified world had been disheartening - the fact that he would be transferred into a unit mostly filled with veterans of the battle pleased him.

Though, despite their combat experience, he wasn't planning to be easy on them. He'd been well known - infamous, even - for being tough on his men and constantly putting them through refresher training. He demanded that his squad operated like a well oiled machine. The Covenant were tough bastards; however, the Marines were tougher.

Stone persed his lips into a small smile before rounding the corner. He hadn't yet been made aware of who would be in his squad, but he'd made sure to drive the point home that he wanted Corporal Ward as one of his fire team leaders. The man was an able leader and for all intensive purposes was his protégé.

The grizzled sergeant rounded a corner and out a door into the base's courtyard. Epsilon Eridani bathed the world in its glow. There wasn't a cloud as far as the eye could see. Despite the beautiful scene set before him, Jeremiah didn't break stride; he walked across the courtyard with an air of authority about him. It resonated with each step he took.

As he stepped through the threshold of the door into the base's chow hall, he glanced around to find a place to sit. He spotted an open spot and walked over to it, placing his NCO cover in the seat as a means to mark the spot as his.

He then made his way over to the chow line and grabbed a plate. He immediately filled it up with chicken tenders, mashed potatoes with gravy, and green beans. Though the food appeared to be of restaurant quality, he knew not to judge military food by the look of it. If it was one thing the military knew how to do, it was screwing up what would be a typically delicious meal.

Once he'd acquired himself a bottle of water to go along with his meal, he made a beeline for his seat. Stone moved his cover onto the table and set his plate down, anxious to dig in. He glanced to his right and then to his left, happy that the seats were so far vacant. He wasn't much of a conversationlist. A byproduct of not really having much in the sense of friends. Most of the people he'd grown close to were dead. While saddening, it was something he had grown used to and had gotten over.

In fact, despite all the crap he gave the man, Corporal Ward was perhaps the only person he really considered to be a friend anymore. With a barely noticeable sigh, Stone returned his attention to his chow and began eating.

((OOC: If anyone wants to join Stone for character interaction, go for it.))

[David]

Admiral David Vardy
Bridge - UNSCS KILLIMANJARO
Office

Laughing at Klix's bad joke, David sighed and took another sip of his scotch. It had been a draining few weeks and he was more than ready for some chit chat with his old friend.

Soon enough, A few hours had passed and they had polished off not only David's scotch, but also a few bottles of vodka and other assorted liquors. After mumbling a sentence that faintly sounded like "See you later", Klix had stumbled out the door and into the corridor. Looking on, David sighed and slumped over onto his desk. It was good as place to sleep.

Six hours later, David woke up, to the insist buzz of the COMM. "HUH? Wuzzat" he managed to mumble, his tongue feeling like 40 grit sandpaper. He then looked up and immediately regretted it, Daggers of pain stabbing his eyes as he looked into the bright light of the lamp he had left on.

"Admiral? Admiral?" repeated his XO. "Admiral are you ok?"

"Yea… Yea. Im ok." replied the Admiral. "Just… maybe a little too much social time last night."

Janeway chuckled. She knew full well just how much the Admiral enjoyed his…. 'Social time'.

"I don't know how they do it on Reach, but on this ship, we still report for duty on time." Janeway replied, Trying to keep the mirth out of her voice and failing. "Do you need a couple of hours?"

"Maybe just an hour. Enough to swing by sickbay, and then I'll be up." Replied David.

"Understood Admiral. Janeway out" and the COMM clicked off.

Cursing silently under his breath, David didn't like that he had over-indulged. It was the possible prelude to an issue that he hadn't buried and he didn't want to end up like some Admirals. Sauced out of their mind and then re-assigned to a desk job. David was a man of action and he knew that this would not be tolerated behavior.

Shaking his head, He snapped out of his reverie. Self recrimination would come later. Right now, he was needed on the bridge. So David slowly got up from the chair, wincing as his body rebelled at the sudden movement. He then moved stiffly to the bathroom where he stripped down and did his ablutions, before jumping into the shower, Relishing the hot water cascading down his body, He lathered up and washed, then rinsed and hopped out, feeling slightly revived.

After toweling off and putting on a fresh uniform, David then went ahead and strode off to the mess hall, The light not as harsh as it was earlier.

When he arrived, He went straight for the coffee and loaded up on the coffee. Grabbing a large mug, He put three creams, three sugars and then poured in the coffee. The smell was dark and rich. Just the way he liked it. Unlike army coffee, this stuff wasn't overcooked and salty. Nah, He'd rather go without.

After a few sips, David walked to the infirmary and talked to the doctor, Receiving a lecture about how he should have drank water afterwards, But David just waved him away and asked for something for the headache. The doctor had just rolled his eyes and gave him an analgesic.

Now, Pain free, David strode to the bridge, Coffee in hand and looked at Janeway sheepishly. "My apologies Commander. Guess I'm not as young as I once was."

Grinning, Janeway patted him good-naturedly on the shoulder. "It's ok Admiral, We'll skip the court martial this time."

Laughing, David then took his seat and called out "Begin day watch." Then, looking at his side table, He saw a pad that had a letter, addressed to the Admiral. It was from Fleetcomm.

Grabbing the Padd, He then looked the contents over.

To: Admiral David Vardy, Commanding Officer, UNSCS Killimanjaro
From: UNSC FLEETCOMM.
Subject: Captain Brad McCauley

Begin Message:

Admiral, It has come to our attention that Captain Brad McCauley is still unassigned after your last mission. We at Fleetcomm feel that this is a poor oversight on your part and wish for you to rectify this.

To that end, We give you the authority to assign him formally to his ship. Make sure to forward the paper work to us. We'll take care of the rest.

Message ends.

Wincing at the veiled rebuke, David then called up a list of ships in his fleet and checked for the ship he was looking for. The UNSCS Enterprise indeed was still classified as unassigned. How he had missed this, was beyond him.

Stroking his chin, David mulled over how to do this, while looking through Captain McCauleys service in the fleet so far. It was outstanding. He was perfect for command, and scored high on his testing.

Nodding, David then started tapping out a letter on his PADD.

To: Captain Brad McCauley.
From: Admiral David Vardy, Commanding officer. UNSCS Killimanjaro.
Subject: Orders for your immediate consideration.

Captain,

I will be brief. I am apologizing first off, for not officially assigning the Enterprise to you.

To that end, I am asking you to come aboard the UNSCS Killimanjaro and we will officiate the procedure.

Regards,

Admiral David Vardy.

And with that done, David sent the message away and then proceeded onto the next task that never seemed to end, even in dock.

[Deleted]

Captain Brad McCauley
Reach Headquarters

While Brad was sitting in the large mess hall of the headquarters on Reach, he had just finished a letter to his wife, telling her he would visit their oldest twins in the academy later this week during his offtime, and other personal stuff. He didn't like spending his shoreleave on Reach because his family lived on Earth, in his parent's house. He knew from his parents though that shore leave may be a precious thing.

Brad was just going for another cup of coffee when his compad made a distinct clicking sound, which notified him that he had mail. Once he got back at the table and had put the coffee on the table, he sat down and took the pad out to read the mail. Finally, Brad thought once he finished reading it. Finally something. Brad smiled, and when he finished his coffee a few minutes later he stood up and walked to the hangarbay.

Once there, he quickly boarded one of the pelicans that was about to launch for the spacedock. He walked to the cockpit and said "Lieutenant, where are you headed?" The young man explained that he was going for the spacedock, but Brad made him stop at the Kiliminjaro first. Though the pilot grumbled for a few moments, he did as Brad asked, and after a while he landed in one of the hangarbays.

Brad immediately tried to get himself to the bridge, but this proved harder than he thought. Though the routed were all marked, Brad thought he could just do without the routes. Until he got lost. A friendly petty officer helped him, though, and after a while he found himself standing on the Kiliminjaro's bridge, waiting for the admiral.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Pelican; Gamma Five-One
Orbit over Reach

"It's quite beautiful, isn't it, Jackson - Reach." Killinger said as the pelican entered the stratosphere of the most heavily guarded military facility the UNSC has ever known, other than perhaps Earth for this specific war. "Only a short jump from Earth, if this place is ever found it'll give officers like you and I a heart attack." He added, sitting back down as the pelican started to vibrate during the re-entry. It wasn't as violent as last time, he thought to himself.

He looked across from himself, glancing at the Lieutenant Commander. He had to admit, he felt a strange sense of trust in her - the trust you could only, previously to this point, gain if John had seen a soldier in action - a solidity of feelings that placed his life comfortably in her hands if the case where it needed to be arisen from the depths of reality. Killinger was impressed by her file, to be honest, and had seen enough combat footage from his new XO to realize that the Corps had just assigned him a veteran, combat experienced officer who lead her troops the proper way - like a Lieutenant or a Captain on the front lines. He respected that more than ever, because he never let his Captain mentality go.

He produced a TACPAD from his pants cargo pocket and assessed the datanetworks around Reach thanks to his authority as a Colonel within the UNSC Military. What he did, however, was so stereotypical correct for someone with Canadian descendants. He went straight to the GHL (Galaxy Hockey League) website and clicked on the Earth Affiliate, and then clicked their pro rankings. He was pleased to see his Calgary Flames doing well, with a record of 3-0-2 to lead the conference they had been participating in.

He smiled foolishly at the thought of them winning the cup.

[Wax™]

Staff Sergeant Jason M. Bowers

Pelican Gamma-Five-One

In Orbit over Reach

Jason sat hunched over in one of the many seats of the transport Pelican, elbows pressed against his knee's and fingers clasped together, the man was wearing his combat fatigues and hat, his dress neatly ironed and pressed as if he was dressed to impressed, when in reality he was just a neat soldier, he sat in the back right hand corner, at most two seats away from anyone else in the Pelican, trying to gather his thoughts though it was incredibly hard to do when multiple marines and the occasional officer were talking around you, although they were only talking within room volume standards, it was still pretty loud inside this small metal can.

Jason sighed softly to himself and lifted himself up, unclasping his fingers and pressing his back into the Pelican's passenger seat, looking around the inside of the troop bay he observed all the other occupants before sliding his hand into the pocket of his cargo pants, pulling out his TACPAD as he noticed one of the officers pull his own, Jason's however a lot less advanced and up to date, attempting to turn it on the screen at first began to fuzz up and shake, slapping his palm against the side he grumbled.

"Work you piece of shit" He said under his breath in frustration, after a few more whacks the screen came through and was clear.

Finally! Jason thought to himself, now that his TACPAD was working he began using it for the first time in a while for 'civic' matters, going through his 'messages/mail following a link to a flight plan for a commercial space craft, this specific commercial flight was holding carrying his family, his wife and two children, just the thought of seeing them sometime soon brought a massive and bright smile to a face that is usually void of all expression and emotion just another few hours or less and he would be able to see them, after he finished viewing the flight plan he turned off his TACPAD and returned it to the pocket in which he got it from, standing up and stretching his arms out before grabbing one of the nets to steady himself due to the turbulence he decided to take a walk up and down the small bay, stepping over to the officer with the TACPAD out, he looked down out of curiosity.

"Hockey, Sir?" He said with a raised brow, thinking it not the most popular sport at current.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Pelican Gamma Five-One
Descending to Reach.

A Staff Sergeant asked a question, but it went in through one ear and out the other in a matter of seconds as John focused on reading the statistics for his hockey club. He knew what the Sergeant asked, being that he was paying attention to a hockey team - which wasn't exactly the most popular sport around. Instead, sports like the stereotypical football, both versions, had grown since the 20th century. Hockey has barely managed to survive, but it did and now it's thriving over entire worlds. It took a while for them to get teams on other planets, and thus the galaxy hockey league was formed. Unfortunately, with the loss of so many worlds, the sport had been shattered in popularity - much like other sports.

"Yes, Staff Sergeant, I am looking at a hockey team." John replied, using his finger to scroll down the page. "To be specific, the Calgary Flames." He added, looking up at the man. He instantly recognized the Staff Sergeant as the brother of Brendan Bowers, a Sergeant Major within the regiment staff. The Sergeant had also recently been transferred to the 51st Marine Assault Regiment, or 51 MAR, even if he hadn't known it yet. Normally, the UNSC wouldn't allow for family to serve in the same branch, but John knew the Staff Sergeant and Sergeant Major would rarely be in the field together and he had authorized it personally. Hell, John would have had his son join his regiment if he weren't deployed all ready.

"I'm partially Canadian... so I guess it stuck with my family as we grew up from the twentieth century."

[Wax™]

Staff Sergeant Jason M. Bowers
Pelican Gamma-Five-One

Noted what the officer had to say about his Canadian decent and nodded in respect and understanding, stumbling around as the Pelican violently shook due to some turbulence, Jason threw his hand up to grab the netting over his head and balance himself out before looking to the Colonel once more, deciding it probably wasn't the best idea to be standing at this point in flight he took an empty seat next to the Colonel, which would be a lot better than accidentally falling into him in the decent, he was sure the Colonel wouldn't mind his sitting next to him.

"That's like me and my family... We're Australian's from back on Earth, me and my brother play Aussie Rules when we're together... But it's hard when we're both deployed on separate rotations..."

Australian Rules Football like hockey also had a hard time kicking off when the human race expanded throughout the stars, only in the past decade or so was it starting to get popular but only within the inner colonies, unlike most of the other sports which changed their names, Aussie Rules remained AFL, because they could never think of a good enough name that formed decent initials.


"My brother's one of the main reasons I joined the UNSC, other than family tradition... He's a Sergeant Major in some sort of high grade division or some such that houses the "best" marines in the corps." He said rolling his eye's he and his brother always had a bit of a sibling rivalry which followed with them into the UNSC, but he didn't want to let the this thought cloud his mind, he was in a good place and he would be seeing his family soon enough, so best to stay positive.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Pelican Gamma Five-One
Descending...

John smiled at what the Staff Sergeant had to say. He knew exactly who the man was referencing, and what unit as well. While Task Force Seven Seven didn't officially exist anymore, and most of the Marines who had served in it were KIA during the SuperCarrier operation - the remnants of the Task Force were assigned to the '51 MAR'. It was unfortunate, but they had secured a twenty plus kilometer vessel with just over one thousand five hundred men. An impressive victory for the UNSC, but a strategical defeat at the same time. It turned out the carrier was destroyed during the last operation, meaning all the work the Marines had originally done was useless.

"When I was your age, youngster, I was fairly active too. Still am at nearly forty three. I played hockey almost professionally until I decided to serve the UNSC. Would have been the top of my draft class at the age seventeen, probably drafted into one of Reach's hockey teams." John said, smiling at the memories. It was one of the few he cherished, other than his family of course.

John cracked his neck and lazily bumped around as the pelican descended towards Reach's surface, and managed to avoid contact with the Staff Sergeant. John was still tired and his nap he was having, before Jackson arrived for there meeting, wasn't quite long enough - but this was a life of a UNSC Colonel who was in charge of the very unit the rest of the Task Force Seven Seven survivors were assigned too... And a lot more Marines who didn't have Special Forces training that rated above the ODST's.

[Wax™]

Staff Sergeant Jason M. Bowers
Pelican Gamma-Five-One
Descending onto Reach

Jason jumped around his seat as the Pelican bounced around the atmosphere alongside the Colonel, however Jason also managed not to bump into the Colonel, which would have been rather embarrassing, once the turbulence had stopped Jason relaxed and pressed his back into the seat, placing his palms on top of his thighs, he wanted to engage the Colonel in conversation but it seemed rather awkward talking casually to a superior officer except for his father, now with his brother somewhat fresh on his mind, Jason dug his hand back into his pocket and took out his TACPAD, booting it up and opening up his COMM message system.

//MESSAGE: Sergeant Major: B, Bowers: RE-Miss you bro - 5 Days ago
//MESSAGE: Sergeant Major: B, Bowers: RE-Miss you bro - 11 Days ago
//MESSAGE: Sergeant Major: B, Bowers: RE-Miss you bro - 15 Days ago
//MESSAGE: ONI Secretary: Sarah, Bowers: Family Reunion -15 Days ago
//MESSAGE: Sergeant Major: B, Bowers: RE-Miss you bro - 16 Days Ago

Jason frowned, there were no new messages from his brother, but he did say in the last message he would be busy for a good week and may not have time to talk, he was also expecting a message from his father, but being a Major General in the Marine Corps can be very time consuming, but unlike his brother his father wasn't deployed anywhere, he was on Reach in an office on some military base, but Jason couldn't complain at all, that was his job and it wasn't Jason's place to question his father let alone his job.

Jason swiped his hand across the TACPAD getting rid of the screen before turning off his TACPAD and sliding it back into his pocket, he then crossed his feet over by his ankles and his arms over his chest, deciding to just sit back and enjoy the ride down to Reach rather than be tense about it, he looked to the Colonel as if he was about to speak but no actual topic came to mind, instead he just sat rather awkwardly next to the large man.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Pelican Gamma Five-One
Nearing the space-port

"Speak what's on your mind, Staff Sergeant. I'm not exactly on duty anymore anyways. I'm technically on leave as of oh-six-hundred Zulu this morning." Killinger said, as the Staff Sergeant shuffled almost nervously beside him while he read his emails. The man actually had a good idea, so Killinger opened up an application that allowed him to view his personal messages - however he wasn't looking to see if his family had sent him a message, rather than an update.

He had invested roughly fifty thousand credits into the stock market, an attempt to secure his families financial situation for when... or if, rather... he was killed during a deployment. Fifty thousand credits, five hundred years ago, would have been $12, 500 - a rather hefty chunk of money. In a single year John was making 390, 000 credits on his paycheck - roughly $97, 000. Some of that chunk was deployment bonuses, obviously. He didn't quite know his core salary yet, and he wasn't all that interested in it anyways.

Regardless, he had also put one hundred thousand credits into a investment that grew steadily ten percent each year. He had specific instructions not to pull that investment out until John would have been sixty five - where his oldest child would have already been thirty five. The investment had been growing since John was nineteen. It would be a significant chunk of money by the time he was sixty five.

He opened his stock updates folder and looked if there were any new updates in the two companies that he had bought stock from. While 'Misriah Armory' was on the rise, his other stock investment hadn't increased or decreased since he had purchased a stock. It made him wonder if the buildings headquarters had been destroyed in a outer colony world, though this specific company had spread onto seven different worlds all ready.

What caught his mind, however, was his PERSCOMM update. // PERSONNEL COMMAND (1) // displayed next to it. Killinger opened the folder up and was shocked, his eyes immediately glazing over with fear. The unit designation of his sons unit was the topic, with it displaying as 'CALIBER/MAG/2/9' - which was the UNSC Caliber, a Marine Assault Group, Second Battalion - Seventh Marines.

He reluctantly opened the folder and sighed in relief as it was just an update about a promotion of a man in his sons platoon. The man was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant, which surprised John. Gunnery Sergeants were elusive to heavy weapons platoons. As far as he knew, Kyle wasn't a heavy weapons officer. Perhaps who ever was in command of the Caliber's Marine Forces had to reassign his son on a temporary base.

[David]

Admiral David Vardy
Bridge - UNSCS KILLIMANJARO
Doing stuff.

Watching as the lift doors opened, He saw a Captain come strolling out, Looking a little apprehensive as he stood there. Vardy understood. Not everyday you talked with an Admiral.

Getting up, He offered his seat to Chakotay and then walked over to the Captain.

"At ease son, before you sprain something." Said Vardy with a chuckle. "Glad to finally meet you in person." and stuck out his hand.