Draft #4 Inside a landing craft a squad of marines prepares to enter the atmosphere.

Miller sits next to Romeo and Hopwood. Wilson stands at the end of the trio, holding onto the overhead railing to stay balanced. The ship bucks violently as it hits the atmosphere. Wilson struggles to stay on his feet as the ship continues to rattle. Wilson gives a short talk to the men to scare away their pre-battle jitters. The red light over Wilsons head turns green. Hopwood and Miller get out of their seats, put on air masks, and strap themselves to the overhead railing. The two men grab hold of twin machine guns and kick a lever, opening the side doors of the ship. Outside the landing craft the air is filled with other ships and flak. The machine guns open fire. The landing craft is stifled with the sound of rushing wind, gunfire, and the hum of engines. Several of the other landing craft begin taking fire and are shot down. Wilson shouts over the battle noise, Were going to have to jump. The marines get to their feet and, led by Romeo, they disembark until Wilson and Hopwood remain. Wilson lets Hopwood jump first. The ship is hit and spins out of control toward the ground. Wilson jumps. The ship explodes. Miller hits the ground running, dodges enemy fire, and heads for cover. He crawls to the base of a small hill, on top of the hill is a machine gun nest. Romeo is sitting behind a rock a few feet away. Miller signals Romeo and they chuck a couple grenades to the top of the hill. The hilltop explodes, showering them in dirt. The pair makes their way up to the top of hill and slide into the newly formed crater. A burst of enemy fire forces them to duck for cover. They slide down the hill next to Hopwood. Hopwood tells them that the squad got spread thin when they hit the ground. Miller, Romeo, and Hopwood make their way through the broken terrain. Explosion! Millers world spins. He looks up and sees Romeo trying to gain his feet and then collapse. He sees Hopwood laying motionless a few feet away. He looks up and is hit in the face by a rifle butt. Romeos screams bring Miller to conciseness. He is tied to a chair in the middle of a room that appears to be some sort of bunker. The room spins into focus. Romeo is thrown to the floor next to Millers chair. He is bloody, his fingernails have been torn out, and his eyes are almost completely swollen shut. Miller squints, trying to make out the figures in the shadows. Romeo smiles weakly. A voice comes from the shadows, You will tell me everything I want to know. Dont tell him a thing! A guard kicks Romeo in the stomach. Romeo pukes blood. Miller cries tears of fear. Now, tell me everything you know. Miller looks at Romeo and then lets his head fall. An explosion rocks the cryonic pod chamber. A red light flashes as the pods open. Miller falls to the ground in a wave of slime. He coughs around a mouthful of oxygen and feeding tubes. He pulls the yard or so of disgusting pipes from his throat and pants on the ground. He notices Romeo a few feet from him. He crawls over and checks his vitals. He pulls the tubes from his throat and helps him sit up. Romeo breaths heavily for a few moments as Miller cradles his head in his arms. Miller assists Romeo across the broken terrain. They limp side by side through a forest. Suddenly a marine steps out from the brush to confront them. Realizing who they are he helps them into the woods and takes them to a small camp hidden nearby. The pair warms themselves by a campfire as a small squad enters the far side of the camp. The marine speaks with the leader of the group who then approaches Miller and Romeo. As he enters the light Miller recognizes the man as Wilson. He stands and embraces his friend. They sit down and talk about how it has been almost three years since they dropped onto Odin 6. They sleep. Early the next morning, a battle-scarred marine sits by a radio listening to the static. Suddenly a broken voice comes from the speaker, The heels of Hermes are winged. Repeat. The heels of Hermes

are winged. The marine leaps to his feet and runs to wake Wilson. Miller wakes to see the pair standing discussing this message. A swarm of drop-ships swoop down in unbroken formation, gliding above the planets surface. Wilson steps out from a line of trees and waves his arms at the drop-ships. The ships lower to the ground and land. Hundreds of rag tag soldiers make their way out of the forest. Miller and Wilson help Romeo onto one of the ships. The ship lifts off and Wilson speaks with the pilot. The pilot informs them that they will be moved to a captured fort to be processed and transferred off planet. Romeo lies in a hospital bed. Miller walks into the room and closes the door behind him. Romeo looks up at him, You should ask for a discharge. Miller is taken aback. Romeo insists that it is best for everyone if Miller is not in a situation like that again. Miller retorts that he would be branded a coward and that, No one ever needs to know. Romeo contests that if Miller will not leave he will be forced to say something. Miller breaks down in tears and begs him not to. Romeo accuses him of cowardice. Miller asks him to stop. Romeo shouts it louder. Miller puts his hand over his mouth and tells him again to be quiet. Romeo tries to shout around Millers hand. Millers face is fear stricken. Romeo fights remove his hands. Miller grabs Romeos pillow and covers his face with it. Romeo fights back but Miller presses harder. He is terrified. Romeos movements become jerky and then stop entirely. Miller holds the pillow a moment longer. Realization of what he has just done begins to cross his face. He moves the pillow slowly away from Romeos face. He goes pale and fights back a gag. Romeos face is crushed. Tears come to his eyes. Miller desperately tries to put Romeos face back together. He falls to the floor weeping. Miller opens the door and sees that no one is around and then drags Romeos body into the hall and walks him outside. Out in the middle of a large field Miller digs a hole and places Romeos body in it. He buries the body. He stands there for a moment in silence. He turns and walks away.