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For the hell of war

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Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

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Base Camp
I sat outside my tent and stared into the fire. I was still covered in blood from the invasion. The images of men burning and screaming were burned into my eyes. Some of the strongest men I ever met were crying- holding on to what remaining limbs they had left, trying to stop the bleeding and keeping their insides well- inside. I stood up and walked over to a small pond full of algae and dipped my hands in the cold water, and rubbed them together to try and get some of the blood off. I splashed some onto my face; trying to forget what I saw. I heard leaves rustling to my right and jumped, pulling out my dagger, ready to kill an unknown assailant. I relaxed when I saw it was Macmillian.
Macmillian- You okay?
Blackburn- They don't know what it's like. They don't want to know. We'll come home, and they will pretend everything is okay. They will ask: Why did you do it? Why did you sign up? Did you think you were gonna be a hero or somethin'?
Macmillian- They will never understand what we've been through. It will be okay.
Blackburn- And you know what? When they ask I won't say anything. Not a goddamn word. They won't understand.
I stood up to leave.
Captain Loko- Blackburn! Follow me. I have another assignment for you.

06-Feb-2009 22:24:21 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:42:05 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

Posts: 3,099 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
High Value Targets
Captain Loko- So, you all understand what's at stake, right?
Me and seventeen other marines- Yes sir.
Right. Once again I manage to find myself embarking on a suicide mission. At least this time there is something in it for me- I might be able to find Sullivan. I pray that he is alive, or if not alive, at least his body in a condition to be returned to his family. Our primary target was a large rectangular building with very few windows on the second floor. Our objective was to storm the building just north of the distilleries, verify the the enemy colonel and eliminate hostiles,rescue any P.O.W's, grab any documents, and get the hell out.
We crept through the hard ground for thirty minutes, dodging between clumps of trees in order to evade enemy patrols. After a few minutes, I then saw the dark outline of the building.
Ezsay- I don't honestly see how we can get in. Should we go around the other side.
Sure enough, there were several guards standing at the entrance. I'm glad we decided to bring explosive fire runes.
Loko- Hey Blackburn! You've had some experience with these runes, why don't you just throw one at those guards?
I held the cold rune in my warm hand. Images flashed in my mind's eye of men burning and screaming in agony; the fire would not be put out by rolling on the ground or jumping in water. In other words, they were worse than dead. I primed it by pressing my thumb against the fire symbol that was on the center face on the rune. It glowed where my thumb touched it, indicating that it was ready. The guards must have noticed, as they turned their heads and pointed in my direction.
Loko- Blackburn! What are you waiting for? THROW IT!
I hurled it at the guards. It made contact with the guard's face who pointed at me. The explosion lit up our faces, and it blasted the door (and part of the wall) to pieces. We didn't need a door after all.

07-Feb-2009 04:32:58 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:41:35 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

Posts: 3,099 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Loko- Ezsay, Blackburn, and you four, come with me and go left! The rest of you go right and eliminate any hostiles you come across!
We ran inside the building and to the left. Already I could here men scrambling to grab their armor and weapons. I could hear sergeants trying to organize their squads. We ran up a flight of stairs, with Captain Loko in the lead. I counted the steps, not realizing what I was doing. A man ran out at the top of the stairs, and threw a spear at us. It missed, ricocheting off the walls. Loko pulled out his crossbow and fired. The bolt went through his neck and into the wall, his blood spraying the walls. He discarded it and we followed him to the top, peeking his head around the right corner and running to the left. We followed, and he held out his hand to motion for us to stop and me to come forward.
Loko- Do you think you can handle having your crossbow ready to fire when I open this door?
Blackburn- Yeah I think I can.
I got on the right side of the door. He mouthed one and put his hand on the doorknob. He mouthed two and turned it. He shouted THREE! and pushed it in. I pivoted to the left and saw four men at a square table. The man on the left leaned forward, his head in front of the man behind him. I made my shot, pulling the trigger and watching the bolt travel to his head. It went through and into the head of the man behind him, pieces of brain and bone flying to the wall. The other men stormed in, and the remaining men surrendered, including our HVT.
Loko- Alright men good work. The other squad is securing the rest of the building. We need to find any prisoners that are held here. Ezsay, you take point.
Ezsay- Yes sir, I wont let you down.
He looked outside the threshold, and motioned for us to follow him to the left. We ran down a hall to the left, and took a flight of stairs longer than the one we used to climb up. We were going to the basement.

07-Feb-2009 04:33:04 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:41:06 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

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Fallen Comrades
We bolted through the basements, looking at the empty jail cells. It seemed as though they had been evacuated in a hurry. There was a bulletin bored at the end of the hall, tacks littering the floor as papers had been ripped from it so that nothing would remain. There was a single paper under the table-written in code. We would have our code breakers figure it out later. A sudden explosion above our heads told us we had to leave with our arms and legs still in tact.
Loko- I'm going in front. Private White, cover our backs. Ezsay and Blackburn behind me.
We ran through the building, up one flight of stairs, and pieces of men littered the ground. I saw a marine with an arrow sticking out of his chest, his eyes staring up the next flight of stairs, as if he was warning us of what was to come.
Loko- Blackburn, take his dog tags. I won't let him become an unknown soldier.
I saw his dog tags and did a double take. They were Corporal Seil's. (Read the first page)
I never expected someone I knew as my best friend to be dead.
Loko- Blackburn hurry up! We are LEAVING!
Blackburn- Yeah, okay...
I fell back into formation, and we started up the stairs. I went forward two steps and it happened. An enemy jumped out with a bow, and fired it. All of the sudden something heavy fell past me down the stairs. I pulled a hatchet from side and charged the man. His eyes were wide as he motioned to notch his bow again. I swung the axe high above my head, and brought it down between his shoulder and his neck. I jerked it out as he began to fall, and struck him again in the neck. I pulled it out and hacked his chest to pieces, covering me head to foot in gore.
Ezsay- Blackburn you killed him! Help me with the Captain!

07-Feb-2009 04:33:12 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:40:34 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

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I rushed down the stairs to help. Blood was pouring out of where the arrow was.
Blackburn- Everyone we need to get out of here! Ezsay help me carry him out of here!!
I grabbed his arm and put it around my shoulders, Ezsay following my lead. I led them out of the building and through the open yard.
Blackburn- It's going to be okay Loko, hang in there. Stay with me!
Loko- Blackburn....Please....tell-
Blackburn- You aren't going to die! You can tell them what you want when we get the hell out of here!
I hated saying those last words. I was lying to him-and I was lying to myself. I listened to his frail, irregular breaths become softer, and the time between breaths became longer and longer. Our base was within sight as he tried one more time to talk to me.
Loko- Blackburn.....it's not your....fault....Tell my kids....I'm sorry.....for not being there.....
My blue eyes looked into his green, and I saw the years of war that he had been through. I saw, that even in his last moments of life, he still had the look of a fearless soldier. I also saw the years he missed with his wife and children, and the time he would never spend to make up for it.
He stopped breathing, and his eyes stared into the night sky, and even the wind was still as if it too had felt the sorrow of his death.

07-Feb-2009 04:33:20 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:39:49 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

Posts: 3,099 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Loko's Funeral
Blackburn's speech
"Captain Loko was a brave soldier. He was a fearless man, a born leader, and he would give his own life to save a fellow comrade. He would never leave a man behind, and whevever faced in a situation when he had to choose between himself and another, he chose the other. He did not die in vain, but in valor. This is how he would have wanted to die, dying for what he believed in, fighting for what is right. He did not fear death, but sought it out, challenging fate, pushing the limits to complete the objective. He was the best man a man could be. He couldn't be there for his family, so he made sure they were safe. He wanted little, only one thing, but it was the thing that would never happen- he wanted to see the end of war, the end of a terrible thing. He wanted to make a difference, and he wanted to show the world what war does. War is wonderful for those who have yet to experience it, and when they do, they change. Captain Loko wanted to see the end of it more than me, more than anyone else. He had his wish granted; he saw the end of war. But his wish came for a terrible price- for only the dead have seen the end of war."
Tears swam in my eyes as I finished my sentance.
Lancaster's speech
"Captain Loko paid the ultimate price for wanting peace and trying to rescue captured soldiers. It is because of his willingness to die for brothers and battle and the will to stop at nothing to rescue a fellow soldier that he is awarded with the UNSC's highest honor- the Medal of Honor."
°l||l° Captain Loko °l||l°
Three hours later
Oonkeebaa- Blackburn. Are you going to be okay?
Blackburn- Yeah...I'll be fine.
I turned to leave, thinking about what I said. How could this happen? The man who deserved the world and got little in return.

07-Feb-2009 04:33:28 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:38:45 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
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Oss Spy

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Blackburn's Journal
I'm at the end of my rope. I can't take anymore war. When I signed up, all I wanted to do was just fight. But after seeing all that blood, it's just not what I wanted. I know we need to destroy the Covenant, but this...too many men have already died. One man killed is too much. I lost Loko, a brave commander and leader. In the few minutes I knew him, he was like my best friend. He refused to let us fall behind. He just had to search the base for other P.O.W.'s, and that killed him. He died because of he had one of the best traits in the world. He never even got to see his little girl grow up. At least I am on leave for a week tomorrow, but it won't be the same without someone to share the happiness with.

07-Feb-2009 04:33:37 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:38:17 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

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I stepped off the ship and onto the dock. I was so happy to be close to my home again. I took a deep breath and smelled the sea, and it was wonderful. I waited by the fishing shop while our luggage was being unloaded. I had three bags, which were given to me first.
Blackburn- So do I just go home?
Sailor- Unless you want to stick around and watch us unload everyone else's luggage.
I couldn't wait to see my wife and children, and I left.
I walked along that same dusty road home, carrying my bags, two hung on each shoulder and one in my hand. I couldn’t wait to show them what I looked like. I was wearing a tight fitting brown shirt that showed off the muscles in my chest, and loose black pants (the UNSC standard casuals). My normally long blonde hair was now short, but I was impressed with myself- I did look amazing. The small house soon came into sight. The yard was a little over grown, but that was okay- I would take care of it later. As I got closer, I noticed something odd about the building. The windows were closed, and it was the middle of the summer. The yard was even worse up close than it appeared, and a fine layer of dust seemed to coat everything. I opened the door, and I saw a letter on the table. The letter read:

07-Feb-2009 04:33:53 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:37:45 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

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Dear Vincent,
I love you with all my heart, I truly, truly do. But I am sorry I left. I fell in love with a naval officer while you were gone, and he took my heart. I took our daughter with me. We have moved away to the Seers Village, so don’t bother to come looking for me. It pains me to have to tell you this way, but you just weren’t here for me. I’ve been so lonely and I need a man in our life and our daughter needed a father. I already have the divorce papers filled out; all you need to do is sign and take it to the Duke. I have left you some furniture and money. I really am sorry that I left you, but I could not take being so alone for much longer.
Love always,
Trish
Silent tears fell from my face as I read the letter. 'Nothing is worth anything anymore,' I said to myself.
I walked outside to the castle, climed the stairs to the top, and looked at the place I once called home.

07-Feb-2009 04:34:03 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:37:18 by Oss Spy

Oss Spy
Jan Member 2022

Oss Spy

Posts: 3,099 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Present day
"Did you hear about what happened?"
"Yeah, I never would have believed it."
"He was my friend...I wonder why he did it."
"He seemed so happy when we were talking. Well it seems like the happiest people must have real demons inside."
"I never would have thought Blackburn would have killed himself."

07-Feb-2009 04:34:11 - Last edited on 26-Apr-2009 01:36:58 by Oss Spy

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