Board Thread:Role Playing/@comment-11055585-20170108185707/@comment-24852191-20170511175704


 * Once the explosive yield subsides, the Hansgraf's engines and weapon systems are restored. She returns to the combined UNSC/Imperial/Covenant fleet near the moon. Damage control parties are hard at work cutting and welding bulkheads. Other teams are tasked with putting out fires and discarding the hundreds of bodies of dead Zorath clones. I sit in the captain's mess, sipping some wine that I took from storage. I drink it straight from the bottle. Captain Stephans walks in with a data pad in his hand. He salutes me when he enters the door.

Stephans: Admiral?


 * I don't respond. I just chug the last bit of wine and drop the bottle on the floor. Stephans sighs and walks towards me.

Stephans: Admiral, here is the battle report. As flag officer, your signature is required.


 * I sigh heavily and take the data pad from his hand and look at it. I scowl.

Me: 1,997. 1,997 confirmed Zorath kills and we suffered 67,973 casualties.


 * I drop the pad on the table.

Me: All that, and for what?

Stephans: We succeeded in stopping Zorath.

Me: Yes, but at what cost. That's, at most, 67,973 families that will never see their loved ones drawing breath again. I knew I shouldn't have left the battle to plead with the Empire and the Remant to aid in fighting Zorath.

Stephans: It was for a good cause.

Me: Cause? What cause? This isn't even our universe!

Stephans: Sir, with respect I think your tired.

Me: That's an understatement.


 * I look away and out the window toards Earth. I start crying.

Me: You know, he was the first Guardian we made contact with?

Stephans: Who sir?

Me: Phoenix.