Tides of Change

[Jeremy Hunter]

Overwatch Plaza
Akhataten City
New Award Ceremony


The Plaza was filled, most of the occupants standing in neat rows at attention. The winds had died down for once, a calm, clear day for the ceremony. It had been a somewhat rushed affair, one of Golanski's ideas; Jeremy Hunter was one of the few agents left from the original Nomad War, and one of the longest serving Agents still breathing. Golanski had decided, in memoriam of his achievements and longevity of service, to name the newest high mark of service.

Hunter's Service Mark.

Jeremy had returned from his position in Coronado, from his planning and wars and some of the blackest ops Liberty would ever imagine. But today, it was fanfare. Flattery. His family sat in the few rows of chairs offered, his wife, his wards. His kids. The only ones who he lacked was his mother. Sitting there, not at all caring that he was dressed normally, and not in uniform...well, he hated it. He was a warrior, not a politician. His ways of words worked, but he preferred action. Action that was marred with bureaucracy. Fiddling with his PDA, little care for what transpired, he only seemed to pay attention near the end of the speeches. Standing and finally accepting the award, he stood before the podium...then removed about five pieces of paper.
"Anyone else wishing to give me a speech?" He asked, before tossing them aside. He hated being told what to say. It was his life. No one elses.

"Hero is a name given to the dead. We can have hero complexes, messiah complexes, and wish to be a hero. But the real heroes are those who never made it back. Those who gave the ultimate price for humanity. This award can mean many things. Maybe, it means I am a coward." He paused. "It does not matter how long your service is. It does not matter your birth, your creed, your beliefs or your choices . This is the defining moment of the Order. Do not look to have a service award. Look to having a normal life. A farm. A company. A small shop. This award is sorrow. It means we have not won." He paused. "It means you survived a long war. A sorrowful war. It means humanity is ever endangered. I implore everyone listening, to take this to heart.

These awards only mean we have not won. It means we still are fighting."

That was when the sounds of launchers roared. From rooftop lanced missiles, aiming for the stage. Jeremy looked up, and reacted; hands thrown out, Michael and the front rows were thrown...but the missiles struck. The stage was torn apart. Michal Golanski was thrown on the heels of the explosions.

The rest of the Overwatch General Assembly, and Admiral Jeremy Hunter, we're engulfed a gout of fire and shrapnel.