Gears of War: Dave Carmine's Story

The Op

Once the memorial was over, Rios walked up to me. "im real sorry you had to watch that.... i read your background... You were with omega. i remember, after your sergeants actions everyone in the COG looked up to him. he did kill the locust leader after all." i stood in silence. "ya, i understand, you want to be alone right now.... hard lose...." He walked away. Hoffman walked up to me and handed me a letter with a sorry look on his face. it read:

You have served the COG well. You have provided the COG with a very useful and effective soldier known as, Dave, part of Omega, Rank: Lieutenant, Position: Squad Leader. We regret to inform you that Anthony Carmine, known as your brother, according to our records, was KIA. He was on an op to meet with alpha squad and retrieve a resonator and was shot in the head by an enemy sniper. Pvt. Marcus Fenix, Corporal Dominic Santiago, and Lt. Minh Kim, all were in Delta squad and send their deepest regards.

I was in total shock. having my best friend die, have the memorial for him, and find out my brother was killed, all in 48 hours.... why would i want to live? why do i keep going on, through all the tough shit ive ever seen? because my world needs me. because my brothers and sisters not in arms, everyone known as 'stranded', needed me. because my brothers needed me. because i needed me. I fell to my knees and slouched over. even though i knew i needed to live, it was still a lot to process. Benjamin and Clayton ran to my side. "whats wrong?" they asked "are you ok?" i had to hesitate showing Benjamin the letter because he was the youngest and most innocent of us all, he hasn't really seen much.

I handed the letter to Clayton so he could decide whether or not to show Benjamin. "No..... this cant be true..... this is so wrong, Anthony wouldn't be taken out like that..." and if he meant to say all he did, i dont know, but Benjamin heard that. "what?...... what happened to Anthony?...." a long pause followed as everything sunk in.

Clayton could tell that i didnt want to tell him so he finally spoke up. "Anthony......... Anthony is gone......" Benjamin may be innocent, but he understood that. "NO.NO.NO.NO.NO, HE CAN'T BE DEAD!" he yelled out. "according to command.... he is....." Clayton said softly. the softest I'd ever heard him speak. "Well hopefully all the rest of us make it out of this.... so we can continue living for him." we all agreed and we all went our separate ways.

The next day i woke up to a loud speaker calling for me and the rest of the 1st Battalion. i got up and got suited up and went down. Clayton was not part of 1st battalion, and neither was Benjamin. on the way there though a high ranking official stopped me and said "just so you know, your brother will be getting shipped to Jacinto soon, we dont know when exactly yet, but he will be part of Delta. really just thought you should know." I thought he might've just been crazy. actually deploying Benjamin to a squad? not to be disrespectful but he isn't exactly the most loaded lancer in the crate, if you know what i mean.

But i continued to walk to the meeting hall. once i got there i had to wait for the rest of the battalion. once the room was full, the General started talking. "so. we have a plan. we have to scout the area, which is what Omega is tasked to do, but we are going to head into, thats right, into not passed, enemy lines." the room filled with chatter "we need to get a massive attack on these bastards before they do any more damage. so Omega, you must head into the locust tunnels and give us an all clear. you will not have back up, with or without a request. Youll get further briefing in a bit, the rest of you, if it is all clear we will match into the tunnels, plant charges, and close off the locusts' biggest emergence point. WE WILL GIVEM HELL! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!" the room filled with "SIR, YES SIR!" and we all left the hall. Omega was called to the conference room about an hour later.

-after briefing-

"So we will not have any support?" Ryan asked Rios "none, none at all." "so a three man team is supposed to make it out of there if shit goes sideways?" "guess so" i said "well at least you guys are now part of the most prestiges squad in the COG right now. just reformed, Clayton and Benjamin will not be joining us." "i just cant believe that this op was going to be happening tomorrow morning" exclaimed Rios "i cant believe that we will actually be stepping foot where Mrs.Fenix and her team first went missing years ago." i said "its crazy.... i heard someone's team went missing there as well... hopefully we will be able to give some closure to their families."

Thanks to VictoryCandyStudios i was motivated enough to get this done in 1 day. i was really inspired by what he told me and possible ideas for the book's story line. i must give credit to him for showing me that people do love this book. you guys loving this book is what keeps me writing them so, please, more people comment on how it could be better, how much you love it or how much you hate it, all of those inspire me to do better (yes even if its perfect)

-commander1