Sitrep 5 ¦ Video (backdated to late Dec. 25)
[When the feed comes on, it shows Steve in full dress uniform, looking fatigued. He forgets for a moment what he wanted to say - rather, how he wanted to say it.]
It seems like a lot of us got... unpleasant surprises, this holiday. [Silence. Then,] I'm... I don't know how many of you are familiar with the history of Earth as I know it, but I come from a time when the whole world was at war. It touched all of us, one way or another. Doesn't matter if you serve in the military or not, we all... feel it. Felt it. Everyone knew the world was tearing itself to pieces and sometimes it felt like there was nothing we could do to stop it.
That's how I spent my last Christmas. For me it wasn't that long ago. A few months. [There's another long pause while he stares downward, clearly elsewhere. That last party, forced out of reviewing maps and learning new codes to revel in the holiday in the broken, vibrant, proud city of London.] I know it isn't easy to forget the ugly things, no matter the season. But if there's someone here you care about - someone here you love - be with them. Set aside whatever cruel gifts this place decided to use to mock you and just go be with the people you love. Comfort them, if that's all you can do. Comfort each other. This place might do its best to tear us to pieces, but we can't let it. No matter what.
It seems like a lot of us got... unpleasant surprises, this holiday. [Silence. Then,] I'm... I don't know how many of you are familiar with the history of Earth as I know it, but I come from a time when the whole world was at war. It touched all of us, one way or another. Doesn't matter if you serve in the military or not, we all... feel it. Felt it. Everyone knew the world was tearing itself to pieces and sometimes it felt like there was nothing we could do to stop it.
That's how I spent my last Christmas. For me it wasn't that long ago. A few months. [There's another long pause while he stares downward, clearly elsewhere. That last party, forced out of reviewing maps and learning new codes to revel in the holiday in the broken, vibrant, proud city of London.] I know it isn't easy to forget the ugly things, no matter the season. But if there's someone here you care about - someone here you love - be with them. Set aside whatever cruel gifts this place decided to use to mock you and just go be with the people you love. Comfort them, if that's all you can do. Comfort each other. This place might do its best to tear us to pieces, but we can't let it. No matter what.