UNSCDF2 Chapter 3- Restless Passion

San Francisco, California, USA

UNSC San Francisco Outpost

April 2, 2001

1300 Local Time

            Captain Zyrok looked out of the rear of the Pelican as it descended onto a platform. Beside the platform were seven marines lined up in an organized fashion to greet them. As the Pelican shut off its engines, Zyrok waved at his marines to exit out first. He stood up slowly and examined his new body armor. High Command had issued him a special type of armor called the “Exterminator Mesh GT”. The armor was lightweight and durable. On top of that, the armor covered the body from the neck to the shins.

            “All set sir.” a young marine with stubble exited out the cockpit followed by another young marine.

            “Foo, get Pruett and line up outside with the others.” Zyrok spoke to his marines.

            “Understood. Pruett, let’s go.” Foo turned around and waved at the marine behind him.

            Zyrok watched as Echo Squad formed a single file directly adjacent to the other marines.

            “Ready Zyrok?” a woman exited the cockpit wearing the same armor as Zyrok greeted him.

            “I’m always ready Forester.” Zyrok joked.

            “Nice to see your enthusiasm.” Forester laughed.

            Zyrok watched as Forester removed her helmet and decided to do the same as well. Zyrok walked out of the Pelican and was greeted by a female lieutenant.

            “Second Lieutenant Jenny Frederick reporting in with Jackal Squadron, sir.” the Lieutenant saluted.

            “At ease Lieutenant.” Zyrok smiled.

            Forester stood behind Zyrok as he looked at Jackal Squadron. Zyrok looked shyly at Frederick as he was drawn by her appearance. He wished he had his helmet on to hide his face.

            “Meet Echo Squad.” Zyrok pointed at his men.

            Frederick turned to look at his men and face Forester.

            “Ma’am, Jackal Squadron welcomes High Command.” Frederick saluted crisply.

            “19^th Battalion transferred from Australia. I’ve heard you’re the best reconnaissance team.” Forester saluted back.

            “That’s correct ma’am.” Frederick replied smoothly.

            “Australia…” Zyrok overheard the country being mentioned and thought to himself quietly.

            Zyrok zoned out into thought as he remembered Sarah and his pursuit to find her. This was probably the closest encounter with Australians in his UNSC career. He knew one thing was certain. This was a military battalion and Sarah would not be here. She would still be in some UNSC Outpost in New South Wales, Australia.

            “Sir?” Frederick interrupted Zyrok’s deep thought.

            “Huh?” Zyrok snapped to reality.

            “Let’s head inside.” Frederick pointed at the marines disassembling and heading towards a building with Forester trailing behind.

            “Oh.” Zyrok looked around and only saw Frederick standing beside him.

            “You alright sir?” Frederick asked with concern.

            “I’m fine, thanks. Oh, there’s no need to address me with a sir. Just call me Zyrok.” Zyrok smiled.

            “Okay.” Frederick nodded and waved at Zyrok to follow.

            “So, how long have you been here?” Zyrok asked.

            “Do you mean in the UNSC or here as in the USA?” Frederick looked at Zyrok.

            “USA.” Zyrok specified.

            “Since 1999, why do you ask?” Frederick responded.

            “I’m just interested. So you’ve been assisting with the American battalion?” Zyrok concluded.

            “Pretty much.” Frederick nodded.

            “I head the Aussies are tough.” Zyrok commented.

            “You bet.” Frederick laughed.

            “Guess my assumptions were correct.” Zyrok rubbed his chin.

            “Do you come from an Australian background?” Frederick asked.

            “Um…no.” Zyrok thought about Sarah for a brief moment.

            “It’s just that you seem to be particularly interested with our culture. The Americans here think they own everything.” Frederick explained.

            “Well it’s safe to say I’m Canadian eh?” Zyrok joked.

            “Hahaha.” Frederick laughed at Zyrok’s joke.

            “No joke, I’m a Canadian.” Zyrok smiled.

            “Oh Zyrok, you’re funny. I haven’t seen an officer with a sense of humor these days.” Frederick grinned at Zyrok.

            “When we get the time, I’ll you about how my UNSC career began.” Zyrok opened the doors to the building.

            “Oh, we’ve got plenty of time to talk in Afghanistan.” Frederick smiled as she walked inside.

            “I see our men are interacting well.” Zyrok watched as his marines joked around with Jackal Squadron.

            “Let me tell you my squad. That’s Staff Sergeant Hank Williams sitting at the end of the table next to Sergeant Elizabeth May. Oh, the big looking fellow, that’s Lance Corporal Charles Robertson sitting adjacent to Private Steve Christopher. The other two sitting beside your marines are Corporal Michael Cookson and Lance Corporal Jonathan Green.” Frederick pointed.

            “Ok, my turn. Funny thing is, there’s always a big fellow in a team. Anyways, the big guy there is Sergeant Major Fred Casey sitting beside my two pilots, Lance Corporal Brandon Foo and Lance Corporal Brandon Pruett. The marine with a rifle slung to his back, that’s Corporal Mark Taylor, he’s a great marksman. Sitting beside your marines and talking to Cookson is Private Aaron Nevarez and Lance Corporal Joshua Schmidt. And I’m Captain Zyrok.” Zyrok pointed at his men and then pointed at his chest.

            Frederick laughed at the last comment Zyrok made and pointed at a table to sit.

            “Everything fine?” Forester walked up to Zyrok and grabbed a seat beside him.

            “Yup.” Zyrok nodded with a smile.

            “Zyrok, we’ll need to eat quickly. We’ll be departing in less than fifteen minutes.” Frederick looked at her watch.

            The three officers sat together at the table munching away their meal quickly.

            “So how are we getting there?” Frederick interrupted as she looked at Zyrok eating.

            “Oh, we’re going to attach a troop pod to our Pelican.” Zyrok spoke after he swallowed.

            “Speaking of which…” Forester stood up.

            “Yeah, let Foo and Pruett get the aircraft prepped.” Zyrok nodded.

            “I’ll go let them know.” Forester nodded and walked off.

            Zyrok watched as Forester approached his pilots and then watched Foo and Pruett rushed out of the building. Forester walked back swiftly and sat down.

            “All set.” Forester smiled.

            Zyrok watched as a marine bearing the rank of Corporal approached his table of marines. Casey pointed the marine towards them and the marine jogged towards them.

            “Excuse me sir, ma’am.” the Corporal saluted.

            “What can I do for you Corporal…Milo?” Zyrok looked at his name stenciled on his shirt.

            Frederick looked at Zyrok coolly as he interacted with the marine. Usually, officers don’t like to be bothered during their personal time, but Zyrok didn’t seem to mind at all.

            “Sir, Sergeant Major Casey over there said that you folks worked alongside my brother?” Milo asked.

            “Hmm, you name rings a bell.” Zyrok scratched his head.

            “Oh, Corporal Jason Milo.” Forester pitched in.

            “Where is he?” Milo asked.

            “Look Corporal, Jason was a great man. I don’t know how to tell you this.” Forester spoke solemnly.

            “What? What do you mean by that?” Milo’s expression turned to sadness.

            “I could say that his sacrifice saved the team.” Forester replied.

            Zyrok stood up from his seat and offered it to Milo.

            “Take a seat son. Lieutenant Forester was there when all hell broke loose down at Fort Calhoun.” Zyrok patted Milo.

            Frederick watched as Zyrok stood beside Forester as she detailed the events prior to Jason’s sacrifice. Milo wiped his wet eyes and looked at Forester.

            “I’m sorry.” Zyrok spoke apologetically.

            “His death was not in vain. In fact, he inspired us all with his last words.” Forester replied.

            “What did he say?” Milo spoke quietly.

            “UNSC.” Forester looked at Milo.

            “Thank you for this news.” Milo stood up.

            “If there’s anything we could do for you, let us know.” Zyrok added.

            “Thank you sir, ma’am. That would be all.” Milo saluted and walked off.

            Zyrok looked at his watch and widened his eyes.

            “Oh, we have to go now.” Zyrok exclaimed.

            The officers stood up and exited the building. Zyrok watched as Echo Squad and Jackal Squadron got on the Pelican.

            “Come on Zyrok.” Casey waved at the officers.

            “Saved you a seat.” Taylor patted a seat beside him next to the opening.

            “Thanks.” Zyrok sat down.

            “I know you like to look out.” Taylor smiled.

            “I’ll take the cockpit seats.” Forester walked past Zyrok.

            Zyrok watched as Forester entered the cockpit and then turned to look at Frederick.

            “Over here Lieutenant.” Williams called from the rear.

            Frederick walked past Zyrok and nodded her head slightly. Zyrok nodded back with a grin and watched Frederick settled down on her seat.

            “Alright marines, fasten your seatbelts, we’re dusting off.” Pruett called out from the cockpit.

            As the Pelican slowly ascended into the air, Zyrok looked outwards at the people walking by. There were civilians walking about and marines patrolling. What caught Zyrok’s eye was a gorgeous looking blonde that stood motionless looking at their Pelican. As the Pelican blew gusts of hot air to the ground, the girl’s hair fluttered so beautifully. Suddenly it dawned on Zyrok, that girl looked a lot like Sarah. As Zyrok rummaged around his armor to find the photo of Sarah he had kept with him all those years looking for her, the Pelican had reached sufficient altitude and the girl was no longer in view. He sighed with disappointment as the Pelican hatch closed.

            “It can’t be…she’s in Australia.” Zyrok closed his eyes as he reassured himself.

            For now, Zyrok would need his rest. He will ask members from Jackal Squadron later in Afghanistan if they had seen Sarah during the time they were deployed in Australia.