I took my position behind 7 other marines, waiting my turn to get the hell out. My head swam at the thoughts of my brothers, and that all they mean to the world is two little numbers added to the total dead. That's all it means to people, two numbers, and if I died? One more number on the total dead, no name, no burial place. In war, you only remember the heroes.
15 minutes later, on the bus to the hotel.
The bus jumped at each small crack we hit on the long way to New York. I was sitting alone in the back in the almost empty bus. Two marines sitting in front of me talking about them in impossible odds, with no hope, but somehow winning. I silently stared at the many buildings destroyed by the pointless war, the workers desperately working through the rain to get the buildings up.
Flash back…
The sounds of close explosions were mixed with the warthogs and gun fire.
"All right… easy …" a noncom said, approaching our lead vehicle eyes on a piece of paper
"All three vehicles right here sir." Our captain said, taking the smoke out of his mouth.
"Scout the villages about three clicks from here, good luck Sgt."
"Finally, an easy job, get your asses ready marines! And prepare to spread the love of god." He said, answered by hurrahs.
I was support; I sat next to the driver, giving directions and tactical data. We were in Northern Europe uh… Poland I think.
The day was marvelous, the sun shining on our dirty uniforms, overworked and battered. My comrades and me were set up to do a recon mission, and give reports of the disappearance of squad green six.
"The last transmission was… "Their blowing us away, their blowing us away, fall back"". I relayed to the captain of our group, who just shrugged and gunned it.
"Well the Covenant are about to have the furry of god against them, also now as the UNMS marine core!"
"Hurrah!"
About three minutes latter an old sign appeared.
"Take a left, here." I said, pointing to roads that lead into an abandoned village.
"This looks like my hometown." Our Sgt. Said.
Then, passing the first houses, the whine of ghost was right behind us.
"Well Sgt., our friends our here." I said, giving an unsure smile.
"Shit! Marine, get them of our back!" our Sgt. Said, turning wildly dogging the covenant.
"Command, this is easy, were under attack by multiple covenant forces." I informed, getting my SMG ready.
"Roger recon." The voice crackled back.
Our three warthogs charged through the village, with no room for error.
I started firing short bursts at the oncoming hostiles, carful to save ammo.
"Six ghosts on our tail sir, and one banshee." I said, reloading my rifle, "think we can take them."
Our gunner scored a direct hit on the banshee which went spiraling down onto an old house.
"Keep firing up there! Uh-oh"
"What?" I said, wondering what my captain meant, "Whoa". In front of us was a Covenant blockade, behind us, the pursuers, the only way was a small ally to the right.
"Hold on to your lunch Marines! Here we go!" our captain said, turning hard to the right. I signaled the other warthogs to follow us on our little detour.
"Oh lord up high." Our captain said, noticing the dead end.
"Great diving captain." I said.
"Shut the hell up; get that machine gun out, Martin! Ammo!"
"You got it Sarge!"
"Arrows! Ammo and weapons!"
"Yes sir!"
"Sir Were surrounded!" the frantic soldier said.
"Into that building! Defensive positions now!"
"Oh lord this is the end."
Martin smashed the door open, letting the 9 Marines in the house. We scrambled up the cottage; the lifelessness of the place was starting. The good part, it was a very good defensive position, and we had three MG's, two AT, and a whole lot of ammo.
"Arrows, Kane, Martin, Mg's on the second floor, shoot every sub human bitch that tries to touch our new home."
"The rest of you upstairs, cover the windows or the stairs, Ben, have an AT ready."
"Yes Sgt."
"One word of advice, don't miss."
We ran to our positions, my head throbbing, and setting up our Mg's loading our weapons all at once, rushing to cover
The windows, focusing our sights to the only place they could come.
"This is easy company, we are surrounded, we need reinforcements, air force whatever. Over." Our radio man franticly said over and over into the radio, breaking the silence.
Two doves settled on a nearby rooftop, and crows circled over head, the sun, blocked by the clouds
Then the whistle blew. A hearty war cry from the Covenant erupted as they charged forward, in a straight line.
"Open fire! Fire!"
Our machine guns spat out rounds after round of fire upon the Covenant storm, and
"Die! Die! Die!"
"Nock, nock, the Covenant are home!"
"Shit, there at the door, cover us!"
The Covenant broke through the door, clearing the downstairs first.
"Arrows, blow e'm to hell." Our Sarge said.
I pushed the red button on the detonator, hearing the explosion downstairs, and screams from the Covenant downstairs.
My machine gun was too hot to touch, but I kept firing, sweeping the wave after wave of the enemy.
"How many dead or wounded men!" our Sgt. Asked.
"Johnson is dead, Martian is wounded but still manning his post, and I think Kenny is hit."
"Well, notify your next of kin comrades, but let's make them remember our name."
End of flash back…
A sudden bump woke me from my doze. I regained focus and looked at New York, the place where I hoped to start a new life.
"I hope my family is happy to have me back."
"No one does."
"Aww shut the hell up."
Came chatter from the men in front of me.
We started on the empty bridge, our lights cutting into the light. The old bus silently playing old songs on the radio, men slowly taping to the beat and bobbing their heads.
15 minutes latter…
The bus finally ended its long journey, stopping in the middle of the main part of the city, towering high above us, so far we could not see the top. The darkness lay like a blanket over the city… but the city is restless, workers were bustling about rebuilding destroyed buildings, working day and night, regardless of weather.
"This is your stop men, the noncom will direct you inside." The driver said, still focused on the TV.
The dozen men in the bus started to pile out to the soft drizzle of the night, no moon shown tonight, but blackness.
"This way, papers in hand, come on."
I readily got my papers out, looking over it and the picture of me, before the whole mess. I looked so happy, cheerful, optimistic, and brave. I shook my head at those years, years of blind partrinisom and courage. Men falsely led into battle with the idea they would become heroes. People would die, men, friends, brothers, but not them, they would live on and bury the dead, but not die.
"Next comrade, don't hold up the line please." Our noncom said to me, inpatient of my delay.
"Oh… yeah, sorry sir, my bad sir." I apologized, throwing the papers on his desk.
"Alright, Steven Arrows… wait… you're housing the Elite huh? Can't say I envy you. But you do get a bigger room."
"Yes sir."
"3rd floor, second door on the right, here are the keys… don't lose it." He finished, waving on the next in line.
I started up the ugly stairs, repeating the directions to myself. Finally getting to the door.
I stopped in front of it.
"Well, this is my new home…" I said to myself, finally opening the door. I kept my expectations low, and by-golly, it was lower. The room was small, a dirty bed facing the bed and two other small rooms. The room smelt like urine, and the other room held a bed and a fridge. The last room was a storage room, with a small desk and a single light.
"Well, better then the trenches." I said, throwing my bags to the floor. A note was on the desk, I slowly picked up the paper, blowing off the dust.
"A welcome home party will be tonight. It will be at 1:00 am. Wear what you want."
I thought about it, I was tired, but I wanted to keep my promise to my brothers… the only thing I could do for them now…
