Final Goodbyes

Garet stood with the rest of his platoon at the nearby burial grounds. Normally, he would be dressed up in his dress uniform, usually reserved for special occasions. But he had never envisaged standing by the graves of three of his fellow Marines. The sun beat relentlessly on his face as he stared straightforward with his hands at his side.

There were many people gathered at the burial grounds today, everyone there to give a certain gratitude to the men lost in the battle to protect them. The colony chaplain was stood at the head of the graves there to give the final vows of the departed so that they may all pass into their own heavens. Women and children cried some men as well. Few had died in the attack but the feelings of grief and lost were still very strong.

Garet was standing in the front of his platoon, reserved a space for easy dismissal so he could give his short speech that was requested in honour of his friend Damion.

A short time passed and everyone gathered round the five perfectly dug graves and eloquent caskets created for the departed. As well as the three Marines, there were also two colonists who had also been killed. Finally Lieutenant Logan McQueen strode to the front of the group and looked around. With first Lieutenant Floten one of the dead, Logan had assumed command of the Marines and spoke for them.

"Battle…" He began, "….sometimes is as inevitable as death itself, and it is in that time, that true heroes rise to defend and protect those that need it most. Courage is described as 'the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, and pain with firmness and without fear.' Every person here today proved his or her own courage in one form or another. Unfortunately for some paying the ultimate price to do so. Both Marines and Starfleet officers and men are ready to defend the Federation at whatever the price. But as well as our fallen comrades we also have two brave colonists, who laid down their lives to defend what they believed in. We will remember all that died today as heroes of a cause, and let it not be forgotten what they did to protect the needy. My heart goes to all those that were lost and hurt, and may you not be forgotten. To the family and friends of these few, may you remember these people and keep them close forever."

As Logan finished he nodded to a few and stepped back to stand beside the row of Marines. He quickly glanced across at Lieutenant J'ross and Lieutenant Kahfre before turning to looked towards Private Jax, nodding to let him know it was his turn. At this Garet fell out of his platoon and slowly made his way to the front and looked at the graves for a moment and then turned to face the crowd.

"After listening to Lieutenant McQueen, I have a few statements of my own to make. I for one consider myself anything but a hero. I am a soldier, and I was simply doing what I was directed to do. I never second-guessed, I never even thought of doing something other than what I was ordered. I did my job and that was all I could do, and yet it didn't seem enough, for there are now lives that were taken, including one that I could of prevented."

Garet paused, taking a deep breath to calm the emotions that were welling up inside him.

"I met Damion in basic training, and we quickly became friends. Damion was always quiet, kind of shy also, so we connected. Throughout the training he became more of a little brother then a fellow team-mate. Damion was fresh, he was eighteen still when he came out of boot-camp, and just as eager as I to go into battle. What many people don't realise is that battle isn't glamorous, people die and lives are ruined. I lost more than a friend, I lost a part of myself. I use to think that being out in battle was being a hero, which killing another man made you great. Then again I had never lost someone in battle. Damion was a person, a soldier, and most importantly, a friend. I will never forget the times we shared, no matter how brief. As for the family of those that also lost someone, I grieve greatly with you." Jax tried to continue but his eyes started to burn once again so he simply stepped down and steadied himself back into his platoon.

Several member of the colony stepped forward and made their own brief statement and shortly after they had all finished, the chaplain gave the final rights to all those that were lost. As he stepped back, Lieutenant McQueen stepped forward once more.

"Bear Arms." Logan announced. "Fire."

The remaining Marines unshouldered their rifles and aimed into the sky. They fired a twenty-one gun salute, before lowering their rifles once more. After that the bodies were lowered into their graves and everyone passed in silence, standing with their own private struggles and praise. Eventually the group dispersed back to the colony. When everyone was gone Garet walked to the spot of Damion's grave and sat down by it.

He sat there for countless minutes in silence and finally stood up, ready to move on. He began to walk off and looked back one final time to say his final goodbyes to his fallen friend Damion Waynewright.