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Description

(I wanted to make a disclaimer regarding the content you're about to see and read, considering the nature of events surrounding this year. My cowriters and I had these themes and plot lines in mind before many horrible events transpired this year but even in the wake of actions that we don't condone or agree with in REAL life, please understand that this is a work of fiction and that we are telling a STORY. The events that happen to the characters involved are meant as a way to tell a story through their emotions, thoughts, and reactions. Ironically it was in mind before this year but even then, it's a way to reflect on the things that have happened and to show character growth through the characters we have created and how we choose to reflect on personal growth in the real world.)

{-Personal log, LCpl Judas T. Morrison. Date Log Created: June 22nd 2548}

This one...is going to be tough. It's been two days since we completed that mission. I don't want to talk about this. I don't want to relive it. I've done that plenty of times already and it's only been 48 hours. I...don't really have a choice though. God, I just keep staring at the screen and not knowing what to write. It's been 15 minutes since I opened this log and we've gotten nowhere. I...guess the fact I'm even able to write this at all is a blessing. I'll just try to start from the beginning.
  When we first arrived at the HVI's location, we thought it was going to be an easy grab but it turns out that our HVI was having a little retreat with his second family. What a surprise that was. Dirty bastard was clearly not on the up and up, putting us in a precarious situation. The Sergeant told him how his other family had already been picked up and he didn't seem to like that. Neither did his second wife. A decent amount of arguing ensued, most of which was the Sergeant trying to get them to shut up. I remember hearing a kid crying from the other room at all the shouting and someone shut him in the room until things could get sorted. Except...they really just got worse.
  We got a transmission warning us of a Covenant fleet arriving in orbit. Corporal Al-Fulani was ordered to set up a secure zone on the roof of the building so that we could exfil easily and smoothly. Sandover was going to join her soon once the HVI was secured. Everything fell into place for me now. It all made sense for the rush-and-hush evacuation of military officials and the HVI pickup that was supposed to go smoothly. Someone knew this was going to happen. Someone sent us here on the premise that everything was going to be fine and dandy, then ripped that right out from under us. I know there's no use trying to find the right person to be pissed at but it really fucking sucks. Ugh. I'm getting off-track but I can't lie about my frustration.
  Anyway, back to the point. It's just a bit hard to focus. I was angry. I was confused. I was scared. I had no idea if we were going to get cut off and left to die now that almost everyone important had been secured. Who were we but four soldiers and some corporate figurehead. No one was going to come save us. The guy was frantic about a lot of stuff; rambling and raving and wanting to get out of there. His wife didn't want to be left behind but obviously her presence was going to cause problems for us and Mr. Business. To make matters worse, the Covenant jammed communications. We were dead in the water. The Sergeant immediately tasked Lance Corporal Vega and I with sorting out the situation while she went to the roof to join Corporal Al-Fulani in securing a landing zone. If they could signal the Pelican, Vega and I could get the HVI and be behind them in a flash. It didn't happen that way obviously, or I wouldn't be writing this.
  The wife was hysterical after Sandover made it clear that the Covenant were invading and she wasn't on the priority list for getting out alive. After that, Sandover was gone and the two of us were left to deal with things. Vega had to wrestle the guy to get him to cooperate. Dunno why he put up such a fuss. It wasn't like he had another ride off-planet. Lucky me, I had to deal with a crazy woman screaming in my face and assaulting me as Vega hauled the guy off with little success. I guess he did care for this family too despite whatever drama had happened in his life. Not really important to this story though. What happened next…I really hoped they wouldn't make me recall again. This is like the fourth time. No. Fifth? I don't know anymore. But, out with it I guess.
I could only take so much. I was distraught we'd been lied to. I was still upset about the previous operation and just everything I'd been going through since joining the ODST program. The Covenant showing up again only made things worse. I was scared. Frustrated. And I had a lady that wanted me dead for not taking her with us. Everything happened so fast that I don't remember much of what she was yelling at me during those few minutes. But finally something snapped. She wouldn't back off. She wouldn't shut up. She wouldn’t stop hitting me. She just...wouldn't. And here we are now. I killed a civilian. I killed a civilian and now I have to live with that for the rest of my life.

Description

(I wanted to make a disclaimer regarding the content you're about to see and read, considering the nature of events surrounding this year. My cowriters and I had these themes and plot lines in mind before many horrible events transpired this year but even in the wake of actions that we don't condone or agree with in REAL life, please understand that this is a work of fiction and that we are telling a STORY. The events that happen to the characters involved are meant as a way to tell a story through their emotions, thoughts, and reactions. Ironically it was in mind before this year but even then, it's a way to reflect on the things that have happened and to show character growth through the characters we have created and how we choose to reflect on personal growth in the real world.)

{-Personal log, LCpl Judas T. Morrison. Date Log Created: June 22nd 2548}

This one...is going to be tough. It's been two days since we completed that mission. I don't want to talk about this. I don't want to relive it. I've done that plenty of times already and it's only been 48 hours. I...don't really have a choice though. God, I just keep staring at the screen and not knowing what to write. It's been 15 minutes since I opened this log and we've gotten nowhere. I...guess the fact I'm even able to write this at all is a blessing. I'll just try to start from the beginning.
  When we first arrived at the HVI's location, we thought it was going to be an easy grab but it turns out that our HVI was having a little retreat with his second family. What a surprise that was. Dirty bastard was clearly not on the up and up, putting us in a precarious situation. The Sergeant told him how his other family had already been picked up and he didn't seem to like that. Neither did his second wife. A decent amount of arguing ensued, most of which was the Sergeant trying to get them to shut up. I remember hearing a kid crying from the other room at all the shouting and someone shut him in the room until things could get sorted. Except...they really just got worse.
  We got a transmission warning us of a Covenant fleet arriving in orbit. Corporal Al-Fulani was ordered to set up a secure zone on the roof of the building so that we could exfil easily and smoothly. Sandover was going to join her soon once the HVI was secured. Everything fell into place for me now. It all made sense for the rush-and-hush evacuation of military officials and the HVI pickup that was supposed to go smoothly. Someone knew this was going to happen. Someone sent us here on the premise that everything was going to be fine and dandy, then ripped that right out from under us. I know there's no use trying to find the right person to be pissed at but it really fucking sucks. Ugh. I'm getting off-track but I can't lie about my frustration.
  Anyway, back to the point. It's just a bit hard to focus. I was angry. I was confused. I was scared. I had no idea if we were going to get cut off and left to die now that almost everyone important had been secured. Who were we but four soldiers and some corporate figurehead. No one was going to come save us. The guy was frantic about a lot of stuff; rambling and raving and wanting to get out of there. His wife didn't want to be left behind but obviously her presence was going to cause problems for us and Mr. Business. To make matters worse, the Covenant jammed communications. We were dead in the water. The Sergeant immediately tasked Lance Corporal Vega and I with sorting out the situation while she went to the roof to join Corporal Al-Fulani in securing a landing zone. If they could signal the Pelican, Vega and I could get the HVI and be behind them in a flash. It didn't happen that way obviously, or I wouldn't be writing this.
  The wife was hysterical after Sandover made it clear that the Covenant were invading and she wasn't on the priority list for getting out alive. After that, Sandover was gone and the two of us were left to deal with things. Vega had to wrestle the guy to get him to cooperate. Dunno why he put up such a fuss. It wasn't like he had another ride off-planet. Lucky me, I had to deal with a crazy woman screaming in my face and assaulting me as Vega hauled the guy off with little success. I guess he did care for this family too despite whatever drama had happened in his life. Not really important to this story though. What happened next…I really hoped they wouldn't make me recall again. This is like the fourth time. No. Fifth? I don't know anymore. But, out with it I guess.
I could only take so much. I was distraught we'd been lied to. I was still upset about the previous operation and just everything I'd been going through since joining the ODST program. The Covenant showing up again only made things worse. I was scared. Frustrated. And I had a lady that wanted me dead for not taking her with us. Everything happened so fast that I don't remember much of what she was yelling at me during those few minutes. But finally something snapped. She wouldn't back off. She wouldn't shut up. She wouldn’t stop hitting me. She just...wouldn't. And here we are now. I killed a civilian. I killed a civilian and now I have to live with that for the rest of my life.