Dig In: The Jericho VII Conflict

by Papa John

Written in 2006, "Dig In" tells the story of a squad of regular Marines struggling to fulfill their duty in the face of death. It tells a mature story. It tells a story no one has ever read before.

11. Epilogue

Dig In: The Jericho VII Conflict by Papa John

Epilogue

Excerpt from Eric Nylund's Fall of Reach; Page 8.

The view screens showed stars and Jericho VII's four silver moons. At extreme range, a small constellation of stars drifted closer.

The Captain waved the Chief closer as he stared at the cluster of stars—the rest of the battlegroup. "It's happening again."

"Request permission to remain on the bridge, sir," the Chief said. "I… want to see it this time, sir."

The Captain hung his head, looking weary. He glanced at the Master Chief with haunted eyes. "Very well, Chief. After all you've been through to save Jericho Seven, we owe you that. We're only thirty million kilometers out-system, though, not half as far as I'd like to be." He turned to the NAV Officer. "Bearing one two zero. Prepare our exit vector."

He turned to face the Chief. "We'll stay to watch…but if those bastards so much as twitch in our direction, we're jumping the hell out of here."

"Understood, sir. Thank you."

Resolute's engines rumbled and the ship moved off.

Three dozen Covenant ships—big ones, destroyers and cruisers—winked into view in the system. They were sleek, looking more like sharks than starcraft. Their lateral lines brightened with plasma—then discharged and rained fire down upon Jericho VII.

The Chief watched for an hour and didn't move a muscle.

The planet's lakes, rivers, and oceans vaporized. By tomorrow, the atmosphere would boil away, too. Fields and forests were glassy smooth and glowing red-hot in patches.

Where there had once been a paradise, only hell remained.

…