Kapitel 47: After Action
Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base, Virek
Date and Time: May 21, 2553 – 2030 Hours
The night settles in, casting a dark shadow over the base. The fires have mostly died down, but the damage is still fresh. The URF has retreated, and the base feels eerily quiet after the chaos of the battle. We're still reeling from what happened—the betrayal, the fighting, and the unexpected intervention of the Spartan IV fireteam.
As we make our way back to the command post, the exhaustion hits me like a ton of bricks. My body aches from the day's events, but it's not just the physical toll that's wearing me down. It's the weight of everything we've been through.
Santiago walks beside me, his face grim but thoughtful. He's usually the first to crack a joke after a mission, but tonight, even he's quiet.
"You think the war's really going to end?" Santiago finally asks, breaking the silence.
I glance at him, surprised by the question. "What do you mean?"
He shrugs, keeping his gaze on the path ahead. "I mean, look at this. The war's supposed to be over, right? We beat the Covenant, but here we are, fighting our own people. Doesn't feel like peace to me."
I don't know what to say. He's not wrong. The war with the Covenant may have ended, but now we're caught in a new kind of conflict—one that's tearing humanity apart from the inside.
"Yeah," I mutter, running a hand through my hair. "It's not what I expected either. But we've still got a job to do. As long as there's a fight, we'll keep going."
He nods, though I can tell the uncertainty is still there. We've seen a lot in the past few days, and I can't blame him for wondering where this is all headed.
When we reach the command post, the atmosphere is tense. The officers are huddled around the holo-map, discussing what comes next. There's relief in the air—Kane is in custody, the URF forces have retreated, and the base is secure. But there's also a sense of unease. The turncoats within the battalion have shaken everyone's trust, and no one knows for sure who they can rely on anymore.
Lieutenant Baird catches sight of us as we approach. Her face is set in that same determined expression, but there's an edge of weariness to her as well.
"Good work today," she says, her voice firm but quiet. "We couldn't have done this without you."
I nod, feeling the weight of her words, but the truth is, I don't feel like we've accomplished much. The base may be secure, but the war feels far from over.
"Any word on what's next?" I ask, glancing at the map.
She shakes her head. "For now, we regroup. The URF may have pulled back, but they're not gone. They'll come again, and when they do, we'll be ready."
Her words hang in the air, a reminder that this isn't the end of the fight. But before I can respond, the door opens, and Emily steps in. Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, everything else fades away.
She walks over, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "I heard what happened," she says quietly, glancing at the others. "Are you okay?"
I nod, though the exhaustion is clear in my voice. "We made it. Thanks to the Spartans."
Her eyes widen slightly at the mention of the Spartans, but she doesn't press the issue. Instead, she gives me a small, grateful smile. "I'm glad you're safe."
For a moment, the chaos of the day melts away, and it's just the two of us. There's still so much to figure out, so much that's uncertain, but right now, I'm just glad we're both here.
"I'll be fine," I say softly, reaching out to touch her arm. "We'll figure this out. Together."
She nods, her smile growing a little brighter. "Yeah. Together."
As the moment passes, I turn back to the others. Santiago, Dash, and O'Neill are watching with amused smirks, but they don't say anything. For once, I'm grateful for their silence.
"Alright, enough standing around," I say, clapping my hands together. "Let's get some rest. We've earned it."
We head back to the barracks, the tension slowly easing as we settle in for the night. It's not over—far from it—but at least for now, we have a moment to breathe.
As I lay back on my bunk, staring up at the ceiling, my thoughts drift to everything that's happened. Kane is in custody, the URF has been pushed back, and the Spartan IV fireteam saved our lives. And then there's the recommendation from Daniel Woods—the possibility that one day, we might be called to join the Spartan IV program.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein