Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Miranda Colony
Date: April 11, 2533
Time: 0700 Hours
The morning after the battle felt like waking up in a different world. The smoke had cleared, and the gunfire had faded into memory, but the weight of everything that had happened was still heavy on my shoulders. The colony of Miranda was scarred, but it had survived. We had survived.
I sat on the edge of a makeshift barricade, watching the activity around the base as UNSC personnel worked to secure the area. Engineers and medics moved between the wounded, stabilizing the defensive positions we had fought so hard to hold. The civilians were long gone, evacuated safely off-world. Now it was just us, the soldiers who had bled and fought to make that happen.
Alice came up beside me, her expression unreadable as she leaned against the barricade, arms crossed. "Quiet morning after all that, huh?"
I nodded, still staring out at the distant horizon. The quiet was welcome, but it felt strange. Like we were just waiting for the next storm to hit.
"We held the line," I said after a moment. "But barely."
"Barely is still enough," she replied, glancing at me. "We did what we came to do. They're safe because of us."
I nodded again, but I could feel the exhaustion creeping in—the kind of weariness that ran deeper than just physical fatigue. The kind that came from weeks, months, of nonstop fighting. I wasn't alone in that feeling; I could see it in Alice's eyes, in the way she carried herself, in the way the rookies moved around the base. We were all tired.
"Doss wants us to gear up for a debrief in an hour," she added. "And then we'll be prepping for whatever comes next."
I grimaced, the thought of diving straight into another mission so soon after the last one making my stomach churn. But that was the reality of the war. No breaks. No time to stop and breathe. The Covenant didn't rest, and neither could we.
"I'll be ready," I muttered, standing and dusting off my armor.
Before I could say more, my datapad buzzed in my pack. I fished it out, the familiar tug of hope pulling at me as I unlocked the screen. It was a message from Sam.
Hey. Just heard about Miranda. Glad you made it through. Things are quiet here, but I've been thinking about you a lot. Miss you. Let's talk when you get a chance.
Love, Sam.
I stared at the message for a moment, my heart tightening in my chest. I missed her too, more than I could put into words. But the distance between us wasn't something that could be bridged with messages. The war had a way of making everything feel further apart, even when you were just a few words away.
"You okay?" Alice asked, her voice softer now.
"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile. "Just… thinking."
She didn't press me on it, just gave me a knowing look. "We'll get through it. Whatever happens next, we'll handle it."
I nodded, but I wasn't so sure. The war had already taken so much from us, and the weight of what was still to come felt heavier every day.
Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Command Center
Date: April 11, 2533
Time: 0800 Hours
The debrief was as straightforward as expected. Doss walked us through the mission, highlighting what had gone right and what we could have done better. He didn't mince words, but there was an underlying tone of respect in his voice. We'd held the line. We'd done what the UNSC had asked of us.
"Covenant forces have pulled back for now, but they'll be back," Doss said, his eyes sweeping over the squad as we gathered around the holomap. "Our job is to make sure the next time they hit Miranda, we're ready."
The map flickered, showing a detailed scan of the colony and the surrounding areas. "We've got intel on a Covenant supply route running through this sector. Our next mission is to disrupt that supply line. We'll be deploying tomorrow at 0400."
A murmur ran through the squad. We'd just finished one mission, and now we were heading straight into the next. But no one complained. We couldn't afford to.
"Alice, Cass," Doss said, his eyes locking on the two of us. "Your fireteams will be leading the charge. We'll be operating with minimal support, so it's up to you to get the job done."
I nodded, the weight of leadership settling over me again. I had been leading Bravo Fireteam for months now, but it never got any easier. Every mission felt like a test, and the stakes were always high.
"Understood, Gunny," I said, my voice steady.
"Good," he replied, turning back to the map. "Gear up and get your teams ready. This is going to be a tough one."
Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Barracks
Date: April 11, 2533
Time: 1300 Hours
Back in the barracks, the rookies were gearing up for the next mission. I could see the fatigue in their faces, but they were holding it together. We'd trained them well, and they were starting to understand what it meant to be an ODST—what it meant to be an Imp.
I couldn't help but smile at that thought. The nickname had stuck. Ever since that crazy moment on Miranda when I had caught that spike grenade, the squad had started referring to themselves as Imps. It was a badge of honor now, a reminder that we could do the impossible.
As I prepped my gear, my mind drifted back to Sam. I hadn't responded to her message yet. I wasn't sure what to say. The distance between us felt like it was growing every day, and I didn't know how to bridge that gap. I missed her, but the war demanded all of my attention.
I took a deep breath, pulling out my datapad and typing a quick reply.
Hey. I miss you too. Things are rough out here, but we're getting through it. I'll try to call when I can, but right now, I've got to focus on the mission. Be safe. Love you.
Cass.
I stared at the message for a moment before sending it, the familiar ache settling in my chest. I wanted more than anything to be with her, to not have to worry about the next mission, the next fight. But that wasn't my reality. Not yet.
"Cass," Alice called from across the room, her voice breaking through my thoughts. "You ready?"
I stood, shouldering my gear. "Yeah. Let's do this."