A Tribute to the Fallen
Posted By: llamaboy<llamaboy225@yahoo.com>
Date: 16 October 2007, 7:09 pm
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December 24,2550
UNSC Pillar of Autumn
Serial-Number 97636/72638
Dear Miranda,
Its been two years since Ive been able to see you. Our CO says that we aren't supposed to send any messages to Earth from our location. Ive given this letter to Mark before we left for Reach, and I hope it arrives in time for the holidays. I can't say much more for fear that it might fall into the Covenant's hands but I can say this, Ive applied for my own vessel and should receive an answer within the next week or so. Please try to write back whenever you can.
LUV YA,
Mike
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(Three Months later)
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March 16,2551
FFG-219 Royal Sovreign
Serial-Number 63748/27453
The room was silent. No trumpets playing. No crowds cheering. It looked no better than a graveyard.The Marines that made it back from Artifact "Halo" looked as if they're lives were lost with their brothers in arms aboard the Autumn. They were the lucky ones. They were the ones that made it home. Seven men... Of 3000 soldiers and sailors aboard the Autumn, were lucky enough to make it home...I was lucky enough to make it home...
When we were on "Halo", our CO asked me to do something for him. "If I dont make it off this ring, tell my family that I love them." Thats when he handed me a folded note with the name "Keyes" on it. I made a promise to him. I made a promise to nearly 100 men and women, that I would tell their families of what happened to them. I couldnt do it, the thought of it sent chills down my spine. I had to tell the Keyes family of what had happened... I needed to tell them...
Because of the prior events, I was given two weeks leave to calm down. I used this time to speak with the families of my closest friends and tell them exactly what they told me. It was a chilly Friday night. I had arrived at a small house on a plateau overlooking all of the surrounding snow-covered land. Tree tops covered with snow as far as the eye can see. I was shaking. Not because of the cold, freezing air, but the thought of handing a folded flag to Keyes' daughter who has just lost her mother in a car accident. Just as I was about to ring the door-bell a red car slowly approached the house and parked in the drive-way covered in about of foot of snow.
The car door slowly creeked open and a young woman with jet-black hair and green eyes got out of the car and curiously examined me for about a minute when she finally fell to her knees with tears swelling up in her eyes...
I'll never forget that day for as long as I live...
I helped her to her feet and walked her inside to the living room. She cried for about an hour and I almost teared up with her. She asked me if I was there when he died. I didnt say a word, instead I handed her the note that Captain Keyes gave me.
"Dear Miranda,
If you are reading this note then I have died in service to the UNSC and to Earth. Just remember that I will always love you and your mother, and that I died protecting you and everything you hold dear. Make sure you look after your brother Mark and keep him out of trouble.
Remember to let Fluffy out every couple of hours, and watch out for that one fox that keeps annoying the neighbors. I hope that your career as a UNSC officer goes smoothly and pray for a swift ending of the war...."
She stopped reading, wiped the tears off her face, and continued reading.
"so that no more young men and women have to die for Earth.
Oh, and one more thing, You remember that room next to the closet. Look in the second drawer on the right.
Captain Jacob Keyes"
She put the letter on the counter, took off her jacket, and started to make her way up the stairs, down the hallway, and into a room next to a closet. On the far side of the room sat an antique oak desk. Upon opening the drawer a small smile came across her face. She put her hand in the drawer and pulled out a picture of her father, her mother and herself on their first camping trip nearly twenty years ago. She was shocked to see this picture because it showed the three of them so young. She took the picture, and placed it back in the drawer, closed it, and left the room. As soon as she got downstairs the phone started to ring. It was FLEETCOM. We were ordered to return to our ships and prepare to get under way, A Covenant fleet had arrived at Earth.
Commodore Valois
Sol Defence Group 3/A-5
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