"An analysis of the damage indicates that the origin of the foreign object is the carrier we were destroying. It seems one of the turrets blew off of the mount and made a direct collision course with our command deck. It's lucky you were on the pelican rather than the bridge, no sensors were able to pick up the object before it collided." Quick said gently, the news upsetting the commander greatly.
"I see. It isn't your fault Quick it's just." He sighs heavily. "It should have been me in that bridge. If it were me then the ones who aren't here anymore would be here. We lost enough on the field and..." He trails off. The make shift office in cargo weaved a much lonelier atmosphere. Paired with the loss it seemed that the quiet was like an ambush. With all the losses the team has already sustained, who would be next? Where could it even be at?
"Commander, I've sent all available analysis data to everyone authorized to view it. Spartan Jorge himself has dispatched a couple new Spartans to link up with us and join our operations. It seems that stopping a fleet like that, even at the losses we sustained, has caught positive attention from ONI and UNSC together." The AI spoke up again.
"Thanks Quick. That'll be all" Commander Kibbles says, dismissing him with a nod. The AI nods back and his hologram disappears from the table.
Kibbles leaves his cargo box office and walks back to the vehicle bay, which seems to be most of the teams favourite standing around spot. Not that Kibbles minds, as long as everyone gets what they need done. As the commander comes into view everyone stands up to attention.
"At ease, no need to be so jumpy." He says softly, his ire from earlier having disappeared on leaving his office.
"Always eager to show respect sir" Lieutenant Dragon says, leaning back against the cockpit of the pelican.
"Right, well I have new to bear so I'm going to need all of your attention. The object launching into the bridge, the analysis has been processed. Spartan Bronana was the only survivor. When the bridge nearly instantly depressurized he was on the opposite side of the door when it slammed shut to preserve the rest of our ship. All systems launched into auto mode and the ship just maintained its place in space. The rest of our crew were nearly instantly killed." The commander says coldly, his voice shaking a little as he spoke.
"Commander..." Spartan Icecold says.
"Just, try not to blame yourselves, try to keep a strong stomach if you decide to read the analysis, and prepare for the new arrivals that will be here soon. We all need to cool down from this, take a little bit of time, and be ready for the next assignment. You can go back to what you were doing. Dragon, make sure to inform your team about you deem you need to tell them, Icecold please inform our team as well. I have many calls I need to make to ensure our frigate will be able to have a command deck." Commander says. The air hanging around everyone seems too heavy to breath through. Shrimp and Scourge stand back while Dragon and Icecold nod.
"Yes sir" Both Spartans say together.
Kibbles leaves and disappears around a corner to do as he spoke earlier.
"If you read that like I did First Sergeant, I think the commander blames himself. For all of it." Dragon says directly, her shoulders relaxing now that the commander is out.
"For sure, anyone in a position like his would be committing mental suicide. A fresh spartan who's seen 2 deployment, making commander for a brand new kind of Team and sustaining heavy losses like we just did. He's a spartan but we're more than just metal, especially us III's." Icecold says while his brain runs circles.
"Can you just make sure the commander is okay? That last thing we need is to bury our Leadership." Dragon asks softly.
"I'll see to it." He says simply. They continue on talking about random things that keep their minds off of their losses. Sharing each other's distractions.
"Spartan, you forced a fleet to surrender with just 3 frigates and 2 assault pelicans. Even if it was only a rogue fleet, you still did it! I only dream of the successes you will have in the future" Some admiral is tell the Commander.
"Yes sir. With all respect I need to know what I need to do to get my Frigate repaired and functioning again." The Commander says respectfully.
"Right, of course. We already sent a couple wreckers to clear the damages. The Bridge will be fixed in about 2 weeks. Until then take a pelican down to your counter part. With a fleet now in range, there won't be anything else you need to worry about until your frigate is fixed. You have a vacation by the looks of it." He says with a chuckle. "Just get the after action reports, list of total damages, and anything else concerning sent to central and we'll be good to go"
"Yes sir" Kibble says, standing at attention.
"And Spartan. Good job out there" The screen goes dark on the admirals final words.
"Vacation huh?" Kibbles says gently. He doubts with everything that happened he'll get much of one. "We'll have to see I guess."
YOU ARE READING
Team Winter: After Wars
ActionThe Human Covenant war was considered over. It was only radical groups left prowling and hunting. So why did ONI put together a Joint Force Operation? Worse yet, It seems to be Half Spartans? What are they expecting on a colony world such as Sargass...
