Author's Note: I finally finished writing the story yesterday, so I'll continue with the quick updates. Hope you like it, and please continue to review! Reviews are awesome ;-) Peace!

Chapter Twenty-Four: Stunned Silence

2302 Hours, February 16, 2552. UNSC Roosevelt Air Base, Skagen, Denmark. "The Home Front," Planet Earth. Day One of the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV

Deep in the Inner Colonies of human-occupied space, the central hub of the entire United Nations Space Command could be seen as a magnificent blue and white sphere. On its surface, billions of humans, plants, and animals inhabited various parts of the globe, though now there were more humans and buildings than anything else. Still, First Lieutenant Brandon Heat loved being on planet Earth.

Ever since his squadron had arrived here in Denmark three days ago, Heat couldn't get over this place. Having been born on Tribute, far in the Outer Colony worlds, coming to Earth had always been a dream of his. And now, at twenty-five, his dream had finally come true.

Though not necessarily the way he'd imagined.

When he'd been a boy of about seven, Brandon became interested in the human homeworld. He'd gone through this phase after a particularly exciting segment in school was dedicated to Earth; ever since then, he'd started reading bookchips, viewing images, and watching vids. Back then, he'd thought his first trip to Earth would come at a time when the Covenant War was long over, and he'd figured on spending several years there researching for a book he'd one day write. He wasn't sure at the time what form the book would take, be it a novel, an encyclopedia, or a complete history of the planet, but he knew it would be something worthy of his passion.

Unfortunately, the Covenant War continued to rage throughout Brandon's childhood and teenage years. Now in early adulthood, Brandon still felt as if the war was dragging by, occupying all the time he could be spending doing what he'd always wanted to do. He was proud and glad that he was serving in the UNSC Marines and helping to bring the war to an end, but he certainly would have much rather the war end sooner than later.

Don't complain so much, Brandon told himself. You're alive, and you're finally on Earth. Be thankful you have that much.

The first lieutenant's thoughts and musings continued circulating in his mind until something caught his attention.

"---policy. In other news, UNSC forces have won a key battle in the Heath system today, declaring that an operation to take over a large Covenant base in the desert succeeded. Casualties were high on the human side, but paled in comparison to the amount of aliens that were destroyed in the decisive human victory."

Brandon suddenly sat up straight in the couch he'd been slouching in. He looked across the recreation room at his squadron's pilots and then glared in the direction of the holoscreen.

"Hey! What'd you guys turn that thing on for?" the lieutenant bellowed.

A few of his aircraft techs flinched at the tone of his voice, but his fellow pilots were quick to respond.

"We want to hear what's going on, Scholar," Pete Hinders replied.

"Can't all be bookworms, Heat! I'm curious to see if we're actually winnin' this thing or if we're just training to get added to the KIA list," Kit Thompson answered.

Brandon grumbled and resumed slouching in his seat. He knew his buddies were just teasing him in a friendly way, but he was upset that he had come into a quiet room to think only to find it being blasted by a loud anchorman.

"Just keep it down, would ya!" Brandon called.

"Sure thing, Scholar!" Hinders said, laughing.

Lieutenant Heat silently grinned at his nickname and picked up his datapad. He wanted to finish documenting his first few days on Earth.

"---on High Com said today that the war effort is quote 'heading in the right direction' and that humanity may soon be quote 'out of the woods' if this keeps up."

Unable to concentrate, Brandon sighed and looked back at the holoscreen. Most of the men in the rec room had now gathered around it, wanting to see if they'd hear any news about campaigns their loved ones might be in. Brandon had already found out about the death of two of his previous girlfriends that way, which was why he hated the holoscreen so much.

Still, he turned around on the couch so that he could face it. Though he wouldn't admit it, he was just as curious about what the anchorman had to say as anyone else.

Continuing the discussion about various campaigns, the anchorman was happily announcing several victories when he put a finger to his ear. In a matter of seconds, his expression and tone changed.

Now somber, the anchorman sighed. "I'm sorry to report that although we have had many triumphs today, I have just received word of devastating news."

All sounds in the rec room vanished. Men and women who weren't even paying attention before suddenly turned to face the holoscreen. Brandon leaned over the back of the couch, straining to hear the silence on the screen.

"Just two hours ago at nine p.m. Earth time, and early this morning Sigma Octanus Four time, the Covenant invaded the planet with their fleets. Unfortunately, Sigma Octanus Four was subsequently glassed from orbit before human forces could repel the Covenant attack. Millions of people, including many members of the UNSC armed forces, have been killed in this awful turn of events."

After the announcement, someone put the holoscreen on mute.

For a few minutes it seemed like no one in the room even dared to breathe. Just like that, another human planet had been utterly obliterated by the Covenant, with no warning at all. Glassed from orbit, the anchorman had said; the planet had been so bombarded by Covenant plasma from their ships that the whole thing was nothing but infertile wasteland now. Cities had been leveled, people killed, vegetation boiled, and soil ravaged. The pilots knew, understood, and had seen this for themselves in the past.

But that wasn't why the room was so quiet.

All eyes suddenly focused on Brandon, and he became horribly aware of the only pilot in the squadron who was missing from the room. His own wingmate, combat partner, and best friend, as it so happened.

Lieutenant Heat ran a hand through his cropped brown hair, eyes wide. "Oh, my God," he whispered, staring at the ground. "I have to tell Willis." Knowing all eyes were on him, Brandon finally looked up at the others and spoke louder. "I have to tell Willis his wife is dead."