Chapter 3
Farewell to a Friend
17:00 Hours, January 13, 1999 (Military Calendar)/ Fort Halo, Location Sicily.
Evelyn stood at attention with the rest of her squad in their brand new black dress blues. Considering everything they lacked at the moment, she did admit that X-Com had a very attractive uniform. She stood tall and straight with Sumie at her left and Spencer to her right. They made a perfect line as a casket lay in the middle of the hanger. The casket was made of Italian oak and had a long black flag strewn across it with a yellow X in the middle. On the left corner of the flag was the red white and blue of the American flag sewn right on to the X-Com flag. Colonel James then marched out front of Alpha squad, each move, each face was crisp and cracked with the sound of thunder. He stopped when he was centered just in front of them. Than a squad USMC marine honor guards pick up the casket and carry it aboard the Skyranger. Colonel James then stands rigid and shouts.
"Squad, ten-hut!" They all stand straighter. "Present arms!" The Colonels words were electric as the whole squad saluted their fallen comrade. Two of the marines then take the X-Com flag and fold it tightly. They then take an American flag and strew it across the casket. So to keep the secrecy of the organization. The Colonel then tensed up. "Order arms!" He shouts with passion. The whole squad brings their hand down in perfect unison. Good bye Tom. Sorry I did not know you as well as I could have. Maybe its better that I didn't. Evelyn's thoughts slowly go numb as the Skyranger takes off and flies out of the roof hatch. The Colonel then pulls an about face.
"Squad listen up!" He shouts as a man wearing an X-Com dress uniform walks out holding a box. "Sarah Croft!" He shouts.
"Yes sir!" She replies as she falls out and marches just as crisply as the Colonel did a moment ago.
"Due to your excellent leadership, you have been promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Congratulations." Colonel James hands her the chevrons. Sarah nodded even though she did not agree. She did not deserve this promotion. One of her soldiers died and the other is out of action for a month. Get well soon Louis. She thinks to herself as she returns to the formation.
"The following have been promoted to the rank of Squaddie. When your name is called please come grab your chevrons. Meranda, Evelyn, and Louis who could not be here today because of his wounds." He finishes as Meranda and Evelyn accept their ranks. They fall back in line and are dismissed. Evelyn looks at her new ranks before leaving the hanger. She has had enough mourning for one day. Sarah waited till the hanger was clear before she went up to the Colonel.
"Colonel. I don't feel like I deserve this sir, one of my men is dead and the other is in critical condition. You should pick someone else." She says while offering him the ranks, he looks at them then gestures her to follow him.
"Listen, the hardest part of command is losing soldiers. You will lose people as a commander and it will hurt. But you must remember that the mission comes first and that your may and will have to spend the lives of your men to achieve the mission. But never ever waste their lives. So the decision that you must make is weather you are wasting your men's lives or spending them. Sleep well Sergeant." The Colonel says with a weak smile. Sarah was stunned but quickly said.
"Yes sir!" She now suffered in her own mind wondering if Tom's life was spent or wasted. How many more lives must I spend?