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A/N: This story expounds upon the mission of Delta Squad, after they assisted Lord Shepard and exfiltrated the Noverian capital.
Imperial Glory one-shots: Noveria: Assault on Research Station Gullova.
Excerpt from the official Delta Squad reports.
Warhawk-07/02/12, Lucorro Valley region, near Research station Gullova. May 7th, 2193.
"Bio weapons? The idiots were working on bio weapons?." Colonel Alan Avante-Gotha asked.
Agent Mallene Calis nodded, "I know. They were attempting to replicate Imperial Nanites as well, but failed miserably, now the entire facility is infected."
"And you expect us to go in there?" PFC Largo Turner asked in disbelief.
"We have to pull Dr. Qian out. He might be a lowborn but he has the same knowledge of Imperial Genetics as a Noble. We believe he is at the forefront of one of Cerberus' projects, creating a bio weapon that is capable of killing Gene-boosted and Noble-Born Imperials. We have to know how far along they are, and get a sample of the weapon." Agent Calis explained.
"We'll keep our filters at maximum, stay sealed once we reach the facility. Agent Calis, you'll have to remain here while we infiltrate." Alan ordered.
She nodded, "Understood. I don't have a hardcopy of the installation schematics but I do have them memorized. I'll guide you through the facility over the comms."
The comm rang out, "This is Aurora one niner delta, we have confirmation of heavy AAA surrounding the facility. They look dug in, not permanent structures. Requesting orders."
Alan hit his own comm, "This is Delta Leader, one niner delta, are any of your flight carrying Lorrick Missiles?"
"That is a negative Delta Leader, loadout is standard." Aurora 19D replied.
Alan looked over at the Asari, "Can the facility withstand an orbital strike?"
She shook her head, "Not a chance."
Alan swore, then hit his comm again, "Alright niner delta flight, no choice. Hit them with your Lasereyes."
"Affirmative Colonel. Niner delta flight are making our run now." The Aurora Pilot replied before closing the channel.
"4 minutes to the facility." The Pilot of the Warhawk announced.
Alan's comm beeped again, "This is Navy Lambda two five, Arrow one to Delta Leader, we are 2 minutes from mission area and have been tasked to assist you."
"Hold niner delta flight. Lambda two five, what is your payload?" Alan replied.
"We're carrying GA4s and Mk28s." The Heavy Bomber replied.
"Bingo. Lambda two five, make a run on the station, drop a nuke then take up a holding position." Alan ordered.
"Niner delta flight is aborting run, moving for CAP. On standby." The Auroras announced.
"Lambda two five. Affirmative Delta Leader, TTT is 40 seconds, let it rain!" The Arrow informed.
Agent Calis was shaking her head, "No, the facility isn't hardened for a nuclear strike!"
"You haven't been with Intelligence long have you? White Nukes are a Terran specialty, Neutron Munitions. The radiation can penetrate class-4 RAD shielding and dissipates in less than a minute." Alan replied.
"Oh. I should have known that. I am new at this." She said, abit timidly.
"And they sent you into the pit that is Noveria? Who did you piss off further up the chain of command." Alan commented, then checking his timer, "We'll be dropping in about two minutes. Delta Squad, final check." He ordered, unhooking his harness and rising.
First Lieutenant Catherine Quintane checked her SFAW coupling and PGU, "Heavy Weapons ready and able."
"Marksman, secured for close quarters." Gunnery Sergeant Kelly Volkov stated as she checked over her SFMC.
Corporal Lewis Gaston slid a reaction pack into the flamepod of his SFHC, "Demolitions ready."
"CQB ready to roll." PFC George Phillips replied as he finished checking his SFMC.
PFC Largo Turner checked the indicator on her 'King Cobra', "Medic and Tech at 100%."
Alan grinned in his helmet as they went through their practiced routine. He turned his attentions to his own equipment. The Warhawk that had picked them up had a supply of ShadowWorks SF series weapons on board, not a one had passed up a chance to grab them.
He had picked up an SFMC, the photon carbine would be most effective in the tight quarters of the research facility. He had four reaction packs for the flamepod, all his secondary weapons and two packs of grenades.
Alan's comm went off again. "This is Lambda two five, we have delivered a package of canned sunshine to Station Gullova. Anti air guns are silent. Repeat, AA has been neutralized. You are clear for insertion."
"Nice one Lambda two five, remain on station." Alan ordered, walking toward the back of the Warhawk and hitting the ramp controls. "Agent Calis, I suggest you head to the cockpit with the pilots. you're not sealed for NBC like we are."
The Asari agent nodded, "By your orders. Be careful Marines."
"Let's go Marines, last one down buys the drinks." Alan announced, jumping.
He hit the ground softly, his descent eased with his biotics. Quintane and Volkov hit the ground next, followed by Gaston, Phillips, and Turner.
"Field Marshall to Delta Squad, check in." Colonel Avante-Gotha's comm rang out.
"We're on the ground." He replied, checking his equipment, "We have a good uplink, data is streaming."
"Good. The 'Fafnir' is in the air and will coordinate from here on out. The 'Interdictor' is in position. As soon as you pull Qian out and exfiltrate they'll raze the entire valley. Ghost Division is preparing to head out, we're hitting the Coldova compound, Cerberus is making their last stand there. We just got word from the Inquisition, the administrator of Gullova is a Salarian named Anoleis, there's a 60,000 Thaler bounty on his corpse. Bring me the head." Field Marshall Avante-Gotha ordered.
"On a platter or in a bag Father?" Alan asked.
"Either one. He tried to sabotage several Imperial AI matrices. If you have the time, make it painful. Field Marshall out." Benjamin Avante-Gotha finished as the channel closed.
"Alright squad, small addition to our plans. We're getting the head of this facility's administrator as well, a Salarian. There's a 10,000 Thaler cut in it for each of us." Alan announced.
"Easy money. Let's make with the killing." George Phillips stated.
"Enough for a very nice stay in a much warmer place after this operation perhaps?" Kelly Volkov said with a hint of suggestion.
"Get your mind back in the game Sergeant, you can flirt with the Colonel after the op." Catherine Quintane admonished.
Alan smirked, "Alright, setting waypoint to the entrance, scatter and stagger. Let's go." He ordered, as the squad broke apart, running toward the corner of the small building.
"There's the entrance." Kelly announced.
Alan moved toward it, "The Mk28 might not have penetrated the building, watch for fire. Quintane, you and me in first."
She nodded, moving closer to the door, SFAW at the ready.
Phillips cursed, "It's hardened, I can't get a read on the interior."
Gaston moved forward, pulling a charge from his satchel and starting to set it.
Alan hit his comm, "Agent Calis, we're about to breach the facility. Once we get inside where do we go?"
"You need to get to level 2 to get anywhere. There's a single lift just off from the entrance that will take you there. I'm trying to scratch up override codes for the facility, but I'm not having much luck." She answered.
"Keep trying." Alan replied. Gaston had the charge set already, nodding to the Colonel that he could detonate when ready.
Alan looked over at Catherine, she was in position and ready. He held a hand up, then brought it down toward the door. Gaston detonated the Infernium charge, the door being vaporized in an instant.
Alan was through first, seeing a pair of armored Exo-Geni security waiting for them. He fired a long burst, killing both of them before they could react.
"Clear." Catherine announced as she scanned the area.
Alan motioned the rest of the squad inside as he surveyed the room. Bare walls and floor, white metal everywhere, a single exit to the right, looked like a lift entrance.
"There it is. Everyone doublecheck your filters." He ordered.
Largo looked over her omni-tool display, "We're good to go sir."
"Let's move." Alan replied, heading for the lift.
Level 2, Station Gullova.
"Jamming detected." Quintane announced as the lift descended.
Alan looked at his HUD, checking his shields. "Phillips, on point with me. Quintane, cover our rear."
"Aff." She replied, checking the output on her SFAW.
The doors slid open, Alan and Phillips charged out. The corridor went forward and to their left, no signs of activity.
"Agent Calis, copy?" Alan asked over the comm.
"Have copy Colonel, reading your position through the interference. Go left." Calis replied.
Alan moved along the wall, hugging the left while Phillips took the right. The rest of the squad moved behind them.
"Movement around the next corner." Phillips stated.
Alan knew to trust the man's instincts. "Largo, flash." He ordered over their comms.
PFC Turner pulled a black ball off of her belt,depressing the button on top before tossing it around the corner.
Their helmets automatically filtered the blast of light and sound. As soon as it went off Alan and Phillips moved around the corner, seeing the three lowborn fall to the floor.
Alan brought up a file on his HUD, "None of them are Qian. Gaston, Phillips take care of them." He ordered.
As the pair of Vanguards took to their work, back on the Warhawk Agent Calis was running through the plans in her mind, "You are closer to the Administrator's Office, it's on your level. He might know where Qian is."
"Got it. Can you upload a waypoint?" Alan responded.
"Negative. Keep moving along the corridor until you reach unit 14, that's the office." She replied.
Alan looked over. The bodies were stacked out of the way, their throats slit. "Let's move." He ordered.
40 feet down the corridor they found unit 14. Gaston and Phillips took positions to the right. Alan held up his hand, three fingers, then two, then one. He charged his biotics, sending the thin metal door flying, rushing in behind it.
Shots rang out against his barrier from a M/A pistol. He ignored them, jumping and kicking the large desk over onto the figure, the weapon hitting the wall as the Salarian was pinned to the ground.
Alan checked his HUD, it was definitely Anoleis, "I have some questions, you have some answers. Shall we trade?"
"You'll get nothing out of me Imperial." Anoleis spit back.
"You can either cooperate and die quickly, and relatively painlessly, or we can do this the hard way." Alan replied.
The Salarian remained silent as Phillips moved the desk off him.
Alan walked over, tossing his Carbine to Quintane and pulling a dagger, "Guess we do this the fun way. Volkov, what did I start with last time, the liver or the gollad?"
"The liver." She replied.
"Gollad it is then." Alan stated, moving toward the Salarian.
"Wait! There's a bounty on my head, I'm not a fool. But perhaps you would be open to a different offer? I can double whatever money you'd get from the bounty, triple it even. No, more! 100,000 Thalers for each of you and I walk out of here." Anoleis said.
Alan turned back to his squad, nodding his head slightly, "Half up front, and you tell me where Qian is."
"Deal. Qian is secured in his Lab on level 7, in my desk is the master keycard for the facility. The NHC's accounts have been seized, but I keep my personal funds in an Asari bank." Anoleis slowly rose, pulling a datapad out of his pocket, handing it to Alan, "This is the account info and passcodes for one of my accounts holding just over a quarter million Imperial Thalers. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to secure alternate transportation."
"Well, the account checks out, I am very surprised. Kill him." Alan ordered.
Phillips grabbed the Salarian by the throat, forcing him against the wall as he unsheathed his gauntlet blade.
"We had a deal!" Anoleis managed to screech out.
Alan snorted, "You're a traitor, I'm under no obligation to follow through on any agreement. Take his head and put it in a satchel."
He turned then, the scream of the Salarian died in a second. Alan hit his comm, "Agent Calis, we've neutralized Administrator Anoleis and have the location of Qian. He's in his secured lab on level 7, we have a master keycard."
"Excellent Colonel, the inner lift is a bit further in the facility, it will take you straight to level 7. There's an AT-22/H inbound for retrieval. ETA is 14 minutes." Calis responded.
An AT-22/H was a hazmat control rated Osprey, "Good. We should be out of here within half an hour. Avante-Gotha out." He finished, turning back toward his squad he saw Phillips rifling through the desk, pulling out the keycard.
"Good work. Move out." He ordered, taking his SFMC back from Quintane.
Level 7, Station Gullova.
The lift doors opened, and they immediately began to take fire from M/A and pulse weapons. Alan and Quintane jumped infront of the rest, taking the shots with their barriers and heavy armor, returning fire with energy and photon blasts.
Several Geth and Cerberus were set up behind a crude fortification further down the hall, firing constantly at them. Quintane pulled the forward trigger on her weapon, sending a plasma rocket into the group, annihilating them.
"Good work." Alan said, "One way in, let's go." He ordered.
"Oh son of a bitch." Phillips blurted out.
Alan turned back, "What's.. oh frak." One of the panels on the CQB specialist's armor was almost shredded from the M/A fire, his nanites had taken care of the damage quickly but he wasn't sealed anymore.
Largo was checking him over in an instant. She looked up from her scanner, "There's foreign matter in the wound, I think it's the virus, it's airborne."
"You feel anything yet Phillips?" Alan asked.
"No sir, I- AHHH!" The man collapsed mid-sentence, "Spoke too soon, my nanites aren't working against it."
Alan cursed silently, "Volkov, Largo, stay here with him, cover the lift. The rest of us need to get to Qian now." He ordered, already moving.
He hit his comm, "Agent Calis, have copy?" Silence greeted him. "We're too far down. Let's go."
They moved past the broken fortifications, the corridor curved off to the right as they moved, finally coming to a sealed doorway.
Alan moved to the panel, sliding the keycard over it. The door unsealed, opening. Immediately Pulse and M/A fire poured out.
"Looks like they're expecting us." Gaston quipped.
"Shouldn't disappoint them." Catherine replied, priming a flash grenade before tossing it through the doorway.
"Hit it." Alan ordered as soon as it went off, already moving.
"Oh Gods, this is painful. It feels like my organs are being chewed on." Phillips groaned out.
"That's a pretty good comparison. It's blocking the medicine from reaching your pain receptors." Largo said looking at her scanner, "This was designed to be a ridiculously horrible way to die. That Qian is one sick son of a bitch."
Kelly Volkov kept watching out for any activity. The fact she could do nothing to help her squadmate was eating at her, but she knew not nearly as much as it was eating at Largo, "Alan will be back with a cure, and then we'll put the bastard in the ground."
"Agh." Phillips moaned, "Can I be the one to kill him?"
"We'll see. Now don't talk anymore, you've got plenty of fight left in you. I'm gonna try giving you a boost of short life nanites, if they flood your system they might be able to do something." Largo stated.
Phillips watched as the Medic manipulated her omni-tool, directing his suit to inject it's entire reserve of nanites into his bloodstream, "You don't sound too confident Doc."
She looked at him, "You'll live. Because if you die on my watch, I'll kill you. Now shut up."
Kelly sighed to herself, 'Alan better move fast.'
Alan ducked behind a crate, seeing Catherine do the same on the other side of the corridor. Plasma bursts were sizzling past them as the defenders kept firing.
His comm flipped on, "What do you think Alan, chance a rocket?" His second asked.
"We can't take the risk Qian or a cure is there with them. You have another flash grenade?" Alan asked.
"We already tried that, they're sealed." Catherine replied.
"Just toss it." He ordered.
She nodded at him, pulling her last flash grenade and tossing it toward the defenders.
Alan counted a microsecond on his neural net before jumping up, Catherine following his lead as the grenade went off.
He didn't think, just reacted, snapping off shots insanely fast. The three armored Cerberus soldiers weren't fast enough, two of them falling from the fire and the last one diving for cover. Catherine hit him with a energy burst, neutralizing the final one.
Alan moved forward, kneeling as he came up to where Gaston fell. "Dead. We should have known the fetchers would have decent weapons this far in."
He rose, looking around the room, it was obviously a laboratory, unmarred by weapon fire. No other exits, "Doctor Qian, you've got nowhere to run. My orders are to bring you in alive, make this easy on both of us."
Catherine gestured to their left as she spotted movement behind a desk there.
A gray haired, scarred lowborn stood, "I thought you'd get past my guards, the Empire would only send the best after me."
Alan let our a roar, charging the man. He grabbed the traitor, pulling the man into the air from behind the desk and threw him against the wall. There was an audible snap as one of Qian's arms broke and he let out a cry.
"There'd better be a frakking cure for the virus you've engineered, or I will forget my orders." He threatened.
Qian whimpered, feeling the full force of the half-Krogan's fury, "Over there, the cabinet. The red vial is a cure."
Alan cocked his head, motioning for Catherine to check it out.
She slung her SFAW, moving to check the cabinet. She pulled a small red vial out of the small refrigeration unit, "Well there's a red vial, if he's telling the truth."
"Is your main data-core down here?" Alan demanded.
"Yes." Qian replied, "My desk, the data-core is in the top drawer."
Alan checked the drawer, it was indeed. He pulled it out, setting it into his satchel, "You were prepared for this."
"I knew Cerberus would not be able to hold against an Imperial force. I am willing to bargain my knowledge for my life and a pardon. Your superiors will be interested in the offer I know." Qian explained.
He growled again, taking a bit of satisfaction from seeing the man cower. "Get moving, we're going to link up with the rest of my squad. And keep your damn mouth shut." Alan ordered.
As they approached the lift Alan saw Kelly and Largo standing at the ready. Phillips was propped against the wall, his HUD showed no sign of life. The slight nod Largo gave as they moved closer confirmed his fear.
"What happened?" He asked.
Largo looked down at the floor, "I tried to slow it, I tried to.. I flooded his system with Medical Nanites. I thought it would help him fight the virus, but it didn't. I killed him."
"You couldn't know what would happen Marine, don't blame yourself." Catherine stated.
"Yes, that would only accelerate my strain. Oh it worked so perfectly." Qian said smugly.
Alan roared, slamming the man back against the wall and unsheathing his gauntlet blade, pressing it against Qian's throat, "Two good men are dead you bastard, give me a single reason to keep you alive."
"Because your superiors want me alive." Qian replied.
Alan's eyes weren't just flashing red by this point, they were glowing, as were the rest of the squads, "Maybe I forget my orders, maybe I go mad for a second. Or maybe you had a change of heart at the last second, maybe you pull a weapon, try to fight. You think a single one of my people wouldn't back me up?" He asked, crushing the man's unbroken arm in his grip.
Qian was in incredible pain, but was able to keep a smug look on his ugly visage, "You won't do that. I know you won't. You know why? Because you're a good soldier, a Noble. You won't disobey orders like that."
Alan closed his eyes, sheathing his gauntlet blade before pulling his arm back and ramming his fist into the lowborns face. He let the unconscious form drop to the floor. He turned, "Kelly, carry him." He ordered.
She nodded, slinging the body over her shoulder before they all filed into the lift.
Catherine wanted to ask if he was alright, but she knew better than to speak at a time like this. Alan had the combined tempers of his Krogan mother and Noble father, she had seen him pull a Iyegi apart with his bare hands when he was in a berserker rage.
Kelly watched as Alan checked his SFMC. She didn't envy his position for an instant, but one thing the lowborn bastard had been right about, he was a good soldier, he would follow orders even if they killed him, physically or personally. He had led Delta Squad for 11 years. She had been with him for 9 of those, and they had never lost a man. Now on this god's forsaken world they had lost two.
Alan's comm beeped as they ascended, "Colonel Avante-Gotha, please respond."
He hit his comm, "Agent Calis, we've secured the data-core, a vial of antidote, and Qian. We're on our way up."
"That is wonderful news Colonel, Osprey 02/112/12-H is waiting just outside the entrance. They're ready for you." Mallene Calis informed.
"Good, we'll be there shortly. Avante-Gotha out." Alan said, closing the comm.
Alan saw the landed Osprey as they exited the building. He waved at the cockpit, making his way toward the open bay door, his squad following.
As they entered he motioned for Volkov to strap Qian in, staying near the ramp he grabbed a bar to stabilize himself, hitting his comm, "Take off pilot. Leave the ramp down, move us to a safe distance." He ordered.
"Aff Colonel." The pilot responded, the Osprey rising and moving a second after.
As the transport moved to a safe distance Catherine and Kelly moved toward him. Kelly spoke first, "Are you alright Alan?"
"No." He answered simply, hitting his comm again, "Pilot, this is good. Order the Interdictor to begin bombardment, my authority."
After a moment, "Interdictor acknowledges." The pilot responded.
Largo moved to stand beside the three near the still open ramp.
The four remaining members of Delta Squad watched as the huge shells impacted the valley, the anti-matter vaporizing acres of ground at a time. 20 shells landed before the bombardment ceased, the entire area was molten, the valley almost half a mile deeper now.
Not enough though. Alan hit his comm, "Lambda two five, you still in the area?"
The Heavy Bomber replied instantly, "Damn straight Delta leader, whatcha need?"
"Drop a resonance bomb, crack the tectonic plate open then drop the rest of your white nukes. Wipe this place from the chapter of history." Alan ordered.
"Affirmative Delta leader, making our run. Arrow out." The pilot responded.
Alan switched his comm, "Pilot, close the ramp and begin decontamination, get us back to the Fafnir."
"Affirmative Colonel." The Osprey pilot replied as the ramp began to close.
The Colonel moved into the Osprey, taking a seat and waiting for the decon to start spraying into the chamber.
Private Quarters, IMA 'Fafnir', LZ-1, Noveria. May 9th, 2193.
Alan figured that was as good a place as any to finish his report. The report was the easy part of everything he supposed. The debriefing, the letters he had written to Gaston and Phillips' Houses, that hadn't been enjoyable.
Atleast Gaston had died in battle, the plasma bursts had killed him quickly. Phillips.. that was not a death fitting for a Terran, any warrior. He was a damn good man though, even if he didn't make it to Valhalla he would receive a hero's welcome in Elysium.
He transferred the report from his Neural Net to his terminal then got up, moving to his bunk. He had never lost a man before, let alone two on the same op. Writing the letters to their families had almost killed him, putting in the request for post-mortem commendations hadn't been any easier.
Delta Squad had often been spoke of in hushed whispers, a few daring to openly say they were blessed, invincible. They wouldn't be saying that now.
The door panel beeped then, interrupting his thoughts. He rose quickly, "Come in."
He expected to see Catherine or Kelly, maybe even Largo coming in. Instead he was greeted by the sight of Field Marshall Avante-Gotha, still in his field armor.
"Father." He greeted.
"Son." The elder Gotha replied, walking into the room, "Ghost Division just got back from Coldova, they put up a hell of a fight. I heard what happened at Gullova. I'm sorry son. I wish I could tell you the secret of how to handle losing members of your pack, but I sure as hell don't know it."
Alan nodded, "It's alright Father, thanks anyway. The only thing that's gonna help is when I see the bastard that caused all this dead."
Benjamin's face took on a weary look, "Yeah, that's the other reason I'm here. Agent uh.. Calis, I think? The Asari that was with you, she asked me to come talk to you as soon as I got here. I think she's got a bit of a crush on you son. But um... They're not going to kill Qian."
Alan's blood turned cold, "Please tell me that's a horrible attempt at a joke."
"I wish I could tell you that Alan, but they're keeping him around for the time being. They think he can help them figure out Ceberus' next move." The Field Marshall explained.
'One.. two.. three.. not helping.' Alan thought before turning and smashing a fist into the wall, leaving a mark in the durasteel.
Benjamin cringed, Alan would be feeling that after the adrenaline left, he knew that all too well. "Now son, calm down-"
"Frag that! I want him dead, even if I have to do it myself." Alan said angrily, ready to rush out of the room.
Benjamin sighed, "Son, I understand. It's hard to lose one of your people like that, but the man is brilliant. I understand why the Inquisition is doing what they're doing. We keep him around, we can maybe figure out Cerberus' next move. Atleast in the Bio-warfare department. In the long run, it'll save a lot of lives."
Alan's eyes were glowing red with rage, "Phillips died, he died horribly, he died from a frakking disease, not in battle! Qian should suffer for his part in it. He should be tortured for years."
He sighed, calming himself before continuing, "Father, I can't do this anymore. I can't ignore what happened and go on like a good little soldier, not after this. They're insulting the name and memory of a good man, a damn good man. I thought they might pull something like this. I already wrote up.. I'm turning in my resignation once the war's over. I'm sorry, I've let you down."
Benjamin shook his head, "Son, you'll never disappoint me or let me down. Just wait, you don't have to leave the forces. I've watched you grow far past the role you're in, I've seen what your superiors say about you. You're the best damn Force Recon Marine that's ever been produced. Don't throw away your career, I know it's hard, but sometimes we have to make the hard choices."
Alan understood the truth of his Father's words, but they didn't do anything to calm his roiling emotions, "I know Father, but.. I need some time. As soon as the war's over I need to take a break, get away from all this, think about my future."
Benjamin moved forward, hugging his boy, "Alright son. Why don't you go to Korko, visit your Mother, decide what you want to do. The Empire'll survive a little while without you. Once you figure out whether you can take doing this again, I'll have something for you. Okay?"
"Alright Father. I need to go tell my pack the news. Why don't we meet tonight, it's been awhile since we've talked much, maybe we could get a HyperComm shunt to Korko, let Mother know of the situation." Alan suggested.
"It sounds like a plan son, I'll bring the whiskey, the good stuff, you're gonna need it." Benjamin told him.
Alan untangled himself, heading for the door. "Alan." His Father called to him just before he hit the door panel.
He turned back, "Yes Father?"
"I meant what I said. You'll never disappoint me or your Mother. You're a good soldier, you're a good warrior, you're a good Terran. I'm proud of you boy, always have been. This just makes me prouder, you're close enough to your squad that it hurts, it hurts bad. That's a good thing, that's what makes us, us." Benjamin finished.
Somehow, that helped. Alan felt a little better, "Thank you Father." He managed to produce a slight smile.
"Go see to your people, I'll call you once I get the shunt lined up." Benjamin ordered.
Alan snapped off a salute, "Jawohl, Field Marshall." He said before turning and walking out with a purpose.
The End.