Prologue
The sky was dark and cloudy, filled with smoke from Jacinto's continuing collapse. Why has Jacinto been sunk – Did COG forces fail it? Did the government fail it? Or was it a plot to end the grub invasion once and for all? Jacinto had become unlivable and more work than the coalition could handle. COG forces had been severely depleted and on the verge of becoming unable to defend its land and its people. What do the grubs really want? When will they finally be at peace? Was it their plan to sink Jacinto from the beginning of the invasion?
Marcus sits and wonders why has all of this happened? En route on Delta's King Raven to a land of new beginnings, he has plenty of time to reflect on the events in his mind. Dom and Carlos are passed out in the rear of the chopper while Baird and Bernie are disputing what life will become. Cole Train has hitched a ride on Alpha's bird with Anya and Colonel Hoffman. Chairman Prescott has successfully evaded the collapse per Control, but his exact whereabouts is uncertain.
Sergeant Fenix, while looking out of the King Ravens open doors, sees the evacuation in progress. King Ravens fill the sky with thundering booms as their wings spin at incredible velocities. Flying high above the water that is enveloping Jacinto, boats of all kinds are seen fleeing. Marcus notices a yacht above all other flotations and thinks to himself how anyone can still be harboring this massive vessel through all the destruction Jacinto has seen. If he could only get his hands on the captain of that boat, Marcus would teach him a lesson for not attempting to pickup any of the less fortunate floating in the water around them. What a shame...what would Prescott have said about this?
Nearly out of ammo, Marcus sets his Lancer down beside him. With the blades dull and rusting, the trigger sticky with grub guts, and the scope completely destroyed, Marcus figures its useful life is almost expired. But with the Locust Horde destroyed and Jacinto sinking, he may never need to pick up this rifle bayonet ever again.
Thinking back to his times in the Royal Tyran Infantry with Carlos, Marcus remembers training as a young soldier to protect and serve his country from the uncertain future. He was cocky, yet confident. Carlos had been by his side since they were young kids talking of the time they would become soldiers in the fight for survival should war ever break out. Marcus had his eye on a pretty, young military daughter of the Stroud family. Anya was her name and she was destined to be Marcus' wife, or so he thought. Then, his mind was on becoming a man, not a husband, and certainly not a father.
Gunshots from passing by Ravens brought Marcus back to the evacuation at hand. What went wrong with my dreams and where did life go? Where did the grubs come from and why did he feel he was constantly at odds with them? What do the grubs want? He wishes Colonel Hoffman could provide more answers, but maybe he doesn't have them.
How do I fit into this picture? I wish Anya was here...