1826 hours, January 17th, 2544 (Military Calander)\
UNSC The Alexandria, Slipspace.
Ensign Richard Lash watched a group of surgeons work on a wounded marine, trying to sew up one of the many wounds he had sustained in the ground battle. He stood just outside med-bay four, which was in the medical wing of the ship. Watching through the three-inch-thick glass was an experience that Lash did not want to see again, but it was Captain Browning's orders. He wanted the entire bridge crew to see what happened- the horrors of the war.
Sergeant Major Robert Redford stepped up next to Lash, a frown on his face. "That boy, Dane, was one of the best driver's I've ever seen. Could take a Warthog through a river and through an alleyway only an inch wider than the 'hog itself and come out without even a knick in the paintjob." he said, and turned to Lash. "Have you heard anything from the Captain? When we're getting to wherever we're going?"
Lash shrugged. The Cole Protocol, an order designated by the UNSC HIGHCOM, or High Command, said that every ship fleeing from a combat zone must first plot a point to a completely random, unknown vector before plotting a jump to a Human controlled system. It was an order that hoped to make sure that Covenant forces following them could not find new systems, where the humans were still alive on planets. The ship was currently in it's random jump, and according to the captain, "We'll be there in approximately fifteen minutes, as long as everything goes to plan."
"Great," Redford replied, and turned to limp out of the room, and through a nearby door.
Lash watched the man go, and remembered what had happened at the end of the Miradiem battle. Lash and the rest of the bridge crew were all huddled around a few monitors, which showed images and live video feeds that were being captured by some of the planet's satellites, as well as some drones that the ship had sent out.
The dropships had gone to the intersection in question, just as a few Wraith tanks had fired their main cannons. One of the dropships was hit, and had crashed to the ground, exploded, and killed all on board as well as a few of the people. The other Pelican landed, and two of the Spartans had gone to help the wounded and civilians on first, then they carried in an unconscious Spartan, and the dropship left. The third dropship landed, picked up the last Spartan, as well as the last few Marines, and managed to get out before it was hit. A few minutes later, the ships were on board, and The Alexandria jumped to a random vector.
Redford had been on the second Pelican, and had jumped out and killed three Grunts and two Jackals before being picked up and thrown in by the last Spartan. Redford had been shot twice in the leg, and the doctors guessed that he would walk with a limp for the rest of his life. He was a hero, and would be getting his sixth Purple Heart ribbon when they got back to Reach.
In Miradiem, they had rescued a total of twenty six people, including that of two flights of Pelicans that had bugged out earlier on in the fight. They had dropped in almost two hundred Marines and had returned with less than 50. In Blaire, they had rescued a total of one hundred and ninety, and had put in almost two hundred Marines, and had come back with a hundred. Out of all the other cities on the single continent of Miridem, they had rescued two hundred civilians and had lost fifty Marines. Out of the five hundred Marines that had been put on the ship when they left Reach, they were coming back with a bit over two hundred, but had also picked up a hundred from other ships' loadouts.
The Alexandria was the only UNSC ship returning from the Battle of Miridem.
* * *
Jake opened his eyes to see a bright light hovering a few meters above him, a lamp embedded into the cieling. He moved his right hand, and a moment later he saw a face appear in his vision. It was Anton. "Jake! You're awake!" he said. "Y'know, you really should stop getting knocked out so much. Seems to happen a lot."
Jake forced a smile. They were in some Medical room, probably a recovery room. Neither of them wore their Mjolnir suits, and both looked like professional, giant body builders. Anton wore a suit and tie, along with a Navy hat. On his suit were various ribbons and medals, all from the missions that he had carried out on various battlefields around the galaxy. Jake looked past him and saw Emma and Danial standing in the room, by the door, both wearing similar uniforms. Sheila was nowhere to be seen.
Jake smiled at them both, happy to see them after the successful mission. But the fact that Sheila wasn't there was a nagging fact in the back of his mind, and he wondered why all were dressed up like they were going to a service funeral.
The realization hit him like a tidal wave.
"I'm...I'm sorry." Anton started. Jake grabbed his hand and squeezed as hard as he could.
"Where's Sheila?" Jake asked, his eyes burning with fury.
Tears began to form in Anton's eyes, and he squeezed Jake's hand. "...She's dead." He whispered. The tears fell down his cheeks. "Jake, Sheila's dead."
