The sounds of boots chatter fills the mess. The members of the U.N.S.C. Saratoga take time to relax and get their fill. But not all of them are happy. What is left of the 67 ODST Drop Battalion have their heads hung low and their plates still full. Out of 800 Helljumpers only 13 of them came back.
They are all that remains of a once proud unit. From Alpha Company only Lance Corporal Miguel Ruiz Jr survived. Out of Beta 1st Lt Cody Yukon and Staff Sergeant James William Carter made it out. Charlie Company was wiped to the last man. Out of Delta Captain Tagia Kagami, Warrant Officer Kelly Jennings, Corporal Richard White, and Private Franklin Tomos made it. All of Echo and Foxtrot were wiped out. Out of Golf Major Tom Dillenger, 2nd Lt Dylan Fowler, Gunnery Sergeant Jack Michaels, Corporal Will Trak, Lance Corporal Jasmine Pine, and Private First Class Victor Davis.
Each of them had a different taste of combat. Miguel's Company was the first to be deployed they where pinned down an hour in. Beta was miss dropped a click north into enemy territory. Charlie was cut down before they hit the ground. Delta had the job of taking a enemy outpost. Echo and Foxtrot where overran by the enemy during Evac. Golf was dropped in a less heated area of the battle. But all came back with some type of wound.
The Ship is inbound to pick up some replacements. Each survivor is being promoted one Rank. Most of the replacements are fresh out of boot. While some of the officers are battle hardened. No matter what The 67th will never be the same again.
The comrades they lost. The friends they watched die. The people they have come to trust the most in this world. Are now gone. They only have each now. They have to carry on the legacy of those they lost. Miguel has be strong even though the last threads of his family has cut. His younger brother was killed. Along with Miguel's wife. Miguel's wife was killed in her pod when it hit ground. While Miguel held his brother as he was choking to death on his own blood. 1st Lt Cody Yukon lost his his whole squad. A unit he has been with since boot. Each member he watched as they died. Staff Sergeant James William Carter was forced to put his best friend out if his misery. Every one else lost friend lovers and siblings in that battle.
None of them escaped. Without losing someone they hold to them. Each one them blame themselves. Either wishing that it was them who died. Or beating up over the mistakes that cost them so many of their friends life's. Miguel gets up and storms off. Heading to the training room to let off his pent up feelings.
Miguel starts beating on the punching bag hanging in the middle of the room. "Why why did it have to be them. Why not me." Miguel says each word is emphasized by a loud smacking sound as his fist hits the bag. Miguel falls to his knees sobbing. Each sob carries the weight of a man who has lost every one he has held dear to him. "I swear I will kill every covie mother fucker. I encounter on the battlefield. THIS I SWEAR." Miguel shouts in a furious tone.
As Miguel is having a emotional break down. The rest of the 67th sit there with heads hung low. Private Franklin Tomos stares at his tray. Franklin is a lanky young man with a head of blond hair with a red stripe in it. He has mouse like features that have given him his nickname of Rat. But he can't stop thinking about every thing that has happened in the last twenty four hours. All the blood and death that transpired in those bloody twenty four hours. The screams of his fellow ODSTs as they where mowed down by Covenant needler and plasma fire. As Elites and Brutes charged them cutting them down by the droves. The horror of seeing your closest friends cut in half by energy swords. Or seeing them crushed by Gravity hammers as blood sprays all over your armor. The smell of burning flesh and scorched and burning armor. The gore as your best friend is bisected by a Elite. With his blood spraying all over you. Franklin shakes his head trying to push the nightmarish memory out of his head. Franklin puts his head in his hands and starts to weep. Everyone else around the table just sit there with their eyes cast down. They grip their knees with each sound Franklin makes.
Later
Miguel tosses and turns in his cot. The faces of the dead haunting him blaming him for their death.
FlashBack
Miguel runs behind cover as plasma impacts against the wall. The distinctive sound of MA5.s being fired back in retaliation. Miguel looks over to see his younger brother popped out of cover firing his MA5B Assault Rifle in burst at the enemy. Miguel leans around the corner and fires off a few pot shots from his pistols trying to get the enemy to go back into cover. Miguel hears his brother say "Shit i'm ou." The sound of body hitting the floor and a gurgling sound reach Miguel's ears. Miguel turns to see his brother on the ground with a Needler round in his throat. Miguel immediately throws his pistol on the ground and comes to his brother's side. Miguel rips the needler out of his brother's throat and tosses it away. Miguel press a hand to the wound trying to stem the blood flow. While saying over and over again. "Stay with me Christian. Come on eyes on me you're going to be fine." Miguel says knowing that it's a lie. "MEDIC I MEED A MEDIC OVER HERE." Miguel uses his other hand to rip off his brother's helmet to reveal a young man with some baby fat still on his cheeks. Who has hazel eyes chestnut Brown hair. Blood flows from Christian's mouth on to his chin. Bubbles of blood come from his lips. Miguel keeps pressure on the wound while trying everything in his power to keep him awake. But it's not to be. Christian eyes start to dull and his breathing stops. Miguel starts to cry and cradles Christian's body with his brother's head in his lap. Miguel looks down at the bloody form of his brother. His mind is suddenly assaulted by memories of the past.
"Big Brother look what I drew." Christian says as he runs inside the house after getting out of school. Miguel looks down at the drawing and sees it's a drawing of him. "Look it's you. The reason I drew you is because you are the best older brother a boy could ask for." Christian gives a smile. Another memory hits him.
"So I hear you joined the U.N.S.C." Christian says as he looks at his older brother with his bag over his shoulder. "Yep I am following in dad's footsteps. But hey don't you worry big brother will be back before you know it." Christian looks at Miguel before grinning "I'll hold you to that big brother."
FLASHBACK END
Miguel shoots straight up breathing heavily. Sweat covers him from head to toe. Miguel starts to silently cry.
