Journal of Sally Acorn
Date: November 2nd, 3234
Entry Made 1434 (2:34 PM)

Dear Journal,

...I've just looked at the incident report. I was very disappointed. I'm not angry, just disappointed.

Lieutenant Vennettilli didn't strike me as the kind of man that would attack another serviceman, but according to the report, that's exactly what happened.

Two days ago, I received a report that while on the transport back to Earth, Vennettilli was confronted by a Mobian naval officer who was on loan to the Yellowstone, the craft that carried the relieved Marines from Hyperia.

The naval officer was named Harold the Meerkat, ranked Petty Officer 2nd Class in the Royal Navy and was originally stationed aboard the Alexander II*. According to the log, Harold made accusations that Vennettilli had racist thoughts against the Mobians, and predictably, the Lieutenant countered that argument.

In the months that I knew him, I've never known Christopher to be a racist, so I'm effectively calling bullshit on that accusation. That in mind, it seems likely that Harold was just having a bad day and needed to project his anger on the closest possible source, which just happened to be Vennettilli.

Although the Human was a bit annoyed by this, he didn't attack Harold then, oh no. After seeing that his plan to enrage the Human officer failed, Harold started to pick out physical features he thought was humorous. First it started with his nose, and then his hair, and then his thumb.

Still, it was no good, and the Lieutenant just sat there solemnly.

At this point, I was wondering to myself why Chris couldn't have just pulled rank and ordered Harold to bugger off, but things turned out this way.

So in a fit of rage, he called Chris a coward. That got him to stand up and face down Harold. Vennettilli was a full head taller than the Petty Officer, and his deep green eyes must have caused some discomfort in the annoying one. Some witnesses claim they heard something along the lines of, "I have seen more combat and more death than you ever have in your life. I've walked to death's door and back and witnessed the cruelty of the Human race first hand. You'd better fuck off and not mess with me again."

Harold then made a quip about his mother. His dead mother. The Lieutenant made sure Harold knew that when he grabbed the meerkat's collar.

His response? "She was better off."

That's when Chris slammed Harold's head onto the table and threw him to the ground. According to the security feed, enlisted troopers gathered around the duo and started shouting 'FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT' over and over again, as well as fanning the fight on, such as this little gem:

(Speaker identified as Chief Petty Officer Liam O'Brien**): "Kick his head off, LT! Make 'im wish he never got on two legs!"

Despite Harold's bigotry and flapping maw, he had a glass jaw. I recognize some of the moves the Lieutenant used because they were the same he used on me back on the Flying Factory. The fight raged on for fifteen solid minutes while a solid wall of people blocked any of the officers from getting to the center of the fight. They ran around the outside of the mass of men trying to find a passage in, all the while shouting threats of demotions, brig time, as well as court martials.

Of course nobody listened. They were too pre-occupied watching the fight. It was one-sided to the point where it was ridiculous. Harold threw punches, but the Human kept on blocking and countering them. I saw hand to hand combat moves that I hadn't even considered once. Then I had to remember, I was learned martial arts; the art of self defence. Christopher learned to fight like a Marine; fighting to kill.

With a leg sweep, he put the meerkat on his back and put a boot on his chest. The others cheered, and some even passed money to each other. For a moment, Christopher stood triumphant, arms outstretched to receive applause as a humiliated Mobian lay under his boot. Then, in a move that surprised everyone, he stepped off the naval officer and extended a hand to him. A few faux-sweet 'aaaaw's were given by the crowd, but it was clear that they didn't see the end of the fight.

Thank. God.

The officers were able to scream at the lollygaggers and make them go back to stuffing their faces, whereas the XO on the ship, Full Lieutenant Matt Bernard Burns*** came storming into the mess hall. Here's the recorded conversation.

(BURNS) What the HELL just went on here?

(CHRIS) We... had a little scuffle.

(BURNS) That's not what the security chief told me! You almost beat the hell out of this guy!

(CHRIS) He had a long day, and he didn't mean anything he did. I'm not going to press any charges against him.

(HAROLD) What?

(BURNS) Charges on him? No. Charges on you? Absolutely. You engaged in an armed attack against Petty Officer Harold here. You injured him! Look at the way he's standing! You probably fractured his knee!

(CHRIS) I understand sir. We were both out of line.

(BURNS) Damn right you were both out of line! I will be filing a formal incident report with your CO on Tuesday!

(CHRIS) Technically I have no CO.

(BURNS) Excuse me?

(CHRIS) I have no commanding officer. I'm part of a team that exists outside of the formal chain of command called Omega Squad.

(BURNS) Who runs this outfit? [I could tell he had no idea what Christopher was talking about]

(CHRIS) Princess Sally Acorn of Knothole.

(HAROLD) The Princess is your CO?

(BURNS) She's a military officer?

(CHRIS) Our command is a bit unique. In combat situations, I am the senior officer and have years more combat experience than her. In a tactical or diplomatic situation, she has the final say.

(BURNS) Well, I do know her father is a king, and she will be receiving my report in great deal. You shouldn't have thrown that punch. You're in trouble.

(CHRIS) Please... I technically stole a jet and flew it into a combat situation and got off scot-free. You think a fight is going to stay on my file?

[Burns' eyes nearly popped out of his head! Oh God, I wish I could rewind that bit over and over!]

(BURNS) You... you stole... my report will be out this Tuesday! I don't care if your CO is Jesus Christ himself! You are confined to quarters for the duration of this trip! No cold storage for you!

(CHRIS) Yes sir, Lieutenant. I understand.

[Burns left after this and Chris turned to Harold, who had a black eye and a bit of blood coming from his nose]

(CHRIS) You alright?

(HAROLD) I'll be fine. Why did you help me up?

(CHRIS) You seem like a nice guy.

(HAROLD) But... you're a Human!

(CHRIS) I hope you're not putting us on the same page as Overlanders.

(HAROLD) You know about the Overlanders?

(CHRIS) Oh yeah. An old man nearly kicked my ass until I showed him I wasn't.****

(HAROLD) Hah! No kidding?

(HAROLD) Listen, I'm sorry for what I said. About your mother I mean.

(CHRIS) Forget it. Just shut up and don't mention it to me again.

(HAROLD) Believe me, I won't.

(CHRIS) Let me buy you a drink. It's the least I can do.

(HAROLD) Thanks man.

You know what the funny thing is? I won't put any crimes on Vennettilli. Regardless of who threw the first punch, I need him. He is one of the best soldiers I've seen and he has an acceptance of other races which was WAY more than we ever got from the Overlanders. He seemed to have a bit of an ego when he bragged about his crimes when he took that Longsword up, on my permission, I might add.

He's been out there for too long. Knuckles is getting lonely back in the pyramid. While I will not press charges, he will be getting the express ticket back to Earth. He is to accept no missions unless I directly authorize it, and he will not leave that pyramid unless I directly authorize it!

I've been giving the Human a lot of special treatment. Granted, he is a valuable asset to Omega, but he is not a Freedom Fighter, and I have to make him realize that I am still the boss around here.

I've also glanced at the day. I meet with the Other Sally in 18 days. I'm nervous, as she wants to see the Human to ask him something. Why couldn't they ask Andsworth, or Denheart when he was there in the first place? Why does she want to see this Human in particular?

And why the Humans at all? I thought Humans were extinct on their Mobius!

I... I need to lie down for a little while. There's just been so much going on that I'm getting a headache.

::END ENTRY::

* The Alexander II was a UNSC Frigate that was given to the Mobians as a gift.
**This is a shout out to Chief O'Brien, a character from Star Trek TNG as well as DS9
***This is a shout out to Bernie Burns, the co-creator of Red vs. Blue
****The old man mentioned here refers back to Chris' trip in Reoh where an old man attacked him with a cane.