...Since the battle for Idenion, the UNSC and the Blue Sangheili had largely reclaimed most of the Iruiru province, the Red Army falling back to other territories and digging into them... The ferocious war on Sanghelios would rage on, but success seemed to be in sight nonetheless.
Major Jessie Reyes stood at a platform, holding her hands behind her back as she and several other soldiers were being awarded medals for their accomplishments. She stood and waited until General Raul Perez stood before her and presented her medal, then they gave each other a salute.
Later on, after the ceremony, Reyes was on the UNSC Eclipse, coming towards Earth. She walked into the office of Perez on the ship, and she stood holding her hands behind her back as she found Perez himself watching the news on a screen, featuring Rachel Suzuki.
"...The discovery of the massacre was shocking to the UNSC soldiers who unearthed it," Suzuki said, "Sources have alleged the incident to have been perpetrated by soldiers under the command of a Captain Elias Salazar. Salazar is officially reported missing, but rumored sources have stated that he was killed in the struggle for Idenion. His second in command, a Spartan known as Gabriel, was apprehended and brought in for questioning. He and several others have been charged and are awaiting court martial."
Perez shut off the screen, then turned and faced, "I had a feeling something was off with that man... Major Reyes, I hope you'll be able to enjoy your shore leave once we get back to Earth."
"I'll try my best, sir." Reyes responded.
"Speak freely, Major." Perez said.
"...I'm just," Reyes stated, "...I've been thinking about Eric... He's been gone for over a couple months, and I've just been wondering if the search parties in Galimun have found anything."
"...We've found nothing," Perez said, "Commander Tyler told us he saw them at Voi, but he went through another portal... Whether that portal sent him back to Galimun or somewhere else, I don't know... I hate to say it, Jessica, but... Eric and his men might be long gone."
"...I... I understand, General." Reyes replied with a glum feeling.
With that, Reyes exited the office and went back to her barracks, still worried for Hinson and having only the thought of reuniting with her step daughter left to comfort her.
The Eclipse eventually came to Earth itself, landing at a military airfield on the planet. With that, the many soldiers stepped out, so Reyes walked out with them, walking across and exiting the airfield.
However, as she was leaving the air field, Reyes found a woman, Gallagher's wife, Amanda. Reyes and Amanda walked towards each other, both looking at each other with sadness... Reyes then gave Amanda a deep hug in an apologetic manner.
...Kliefen's ship was gone... Kliefen was gone... Girov... That's all Hinson was thinking...
Since coming through the portal from the Keyship that brought them back to Genesis Installation II, Hinson and his men, Virum, Hiller, McGinley and Kimball, remained on the planet, the men keeping largely to themselves due to their entirely isolated state... Since they were missing and isolated, the men all decided to make their home by the crashed Phantom that brought them here, which had crashed right next to the U-boat and was still pouring out with the massive amounts of jewels from their raid in Galimun.
Hinson himself was on the deck of the U-Boat, feeling a bit frustrated as he attempted to operate a radio, while Hiller, McGinley and Kimball were by the Phantom, talking about whatever was on their minds.
"No, it's some serious bullshit," McGinley said to the others, "Why is it that whenever World War II is concerned, the bad guys are always only the Nazis, it's always them. The Imperial Japs were also evil genocidal mass murderers, so people should be making them the bad guys much more often."
"Entertainment industry never wants to try anything really new," Hiller said, "Just give us the same ideas."
"What, are you planning on making movies with your millions?" Kimball asked.
"We could," Hiller said, then pointed to the jewels pouring out of the Phantom, "If we die out here, at least we'll die rich, that's something."
As their talking went on, Hinson grew increasingly frustrated with the radio, speaking into it, "This is Captain Eric J. Hinson of the 86th Airborne Shock Battalion, does any one read me?!"
...And there was still nothing. In response, Hinson slammed his fist in aggravation on the table holding the radio, then he got back up, rubbed the back of his neck and then stepped down from the U-Boat, walking to a very short distance away from the crash site and then sitting down on a rock, his hands clasping the sides of his head.
Hinson remained there for a moment, eventually taking out the photograph of him and Davy from his back pack and looking at the photo. "...I'd better get Yom Kippur off for all this." Hinson said to himself, but then he was soon joined by another figure, that of Kori Virum.
"...Are you all right, Eric?" Virum asked.
"...No," Hinson replied, "We're stuck here, and Vanya... Vanya's gone."
"...Can I ask something," Virum spoke, to which Hinson nodded, "...Vanya said that we're all that you both have left... What did he mean by that?"
"...We both had very similar... Situations," Hinson said, looking at the photo of him and Davy, "...Except for my men, Davy here is all I really have left... Ever since my wife and son died."
Hinson and Virum remained very somber, but that was when Exhilarant Witness hovered in near them and she spoke, "...I'm really sorry... Really, I am."
"It's nothing to worry about, Witness." Hinson responded.
"...No... It is," Witness said, "This isn't your responsibility, getting off of Genesis... You helped me, you saved your friends. This should be my thing to take care of... All that's left for you is to get home."
Hinson looked at the photo for a bit more, then he started getting a determined look as he put the photo back into his back pack and stood back up and said, "...Then let's get to work then... I'm not going to give up on these men."
Hinson started walking back to the crash site to get back on the radio, feeling more determined now.
...I won't give up on them, Hinson thought, ...I will get them home... Just as Girov would have wanted.