Shepard Is Coming Home

This is Anderson speaking. Earth resistance, keep this channel open. I am not here to tell you it is easy. I know what the streets look like. I know the shelters are full. I know some of you are listening beside people who will not make it to morning. But listen to me now: Earth is bleeding, not beaten. We are still moving civilians. We are still breaking Reaper lines. And Shepard is coming home. Earth report. Confirmed local signals only. London: an underground aid station took a direct hit. Rescue teams pulled survivors out through smoke and reopened the east tunnel by hand. Vancouver: resistance spotters restored a tower long enough to guide three evacuation columns clear. Coastal cells report heavy losses, but Reaper search parties were delayed all night. Several shelters have gone dark. Several more answered after dawn. No clean victories today. Just living people dragged out of the dark. Just one more line held. Keep the frequency alive. Shepard is coming home. I keep my back against the concrete wall With a rifle and a radio between my knees The ceiling shakes like the world will fall And the dust comes down like gray snow on me There are names on tape above every bed There are boots by doors no one opens now We wrap the lost in emergency red And learn to pray without making a sound Then the green light wakes on the broken dial And every face turns slow Like hope is something wounded But it still knows where to go Shepard is coming home Leave a light in the smoke Tell every child in the shelter below The dark has teeth, but it does not own us Shepard is coming home Hold the line, hold the stone If all we have is one last flame Keep it burning till Shepard comes home The dragon teeth stand where the market was Black shapes in the morning rain I saw a father lift his little one up So she would not look down at the stains A medic cried with her gloves still on Then tied the next wound tight A boy with half a helmet gone Said he could cover the stairs tonight Anderson cuts through the static storm No medals, no gentle lie Just a voice that says we are not alone While the Reapers split the sky Shepard is coming home Leave a light in the smoke Tell every child in the shelter below The dark has teeth, but it does not own us Shepard is coming home Hold the line, hold the stone If all we have is one last flame Keep it burning till Shepard comes home No one here is clean from fear No one here is made of steel We shake, we bleed, we disappear Then pass the bandage, share the meal Hope is not a victory march Hope is a hand that will not let go Hope is a whisper through the dark Saying Shepard is coming home Shepard is coming home Leave a light in the smoke Tell every street where the sirens broke The dead are named, and they are not forgotten Shepard is coming home Hold the line, hold the stone If all we have is one last flame Keep it burning till Shepard comes home Keep it burning till Shepard comes home All Earth cells, this is the order. Move the wounded first. Keep the children below ground. Mark the fallen when you can. If you cannot stand tall, stand together. If you cannot see the sky, keep the radio alive. Shepard is coming home. Anderson over and out.