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“I had extremely specific orders, sir,” the Master Chief said without hesitating. “Orders that camedirectly from NavSpecWep, Section Three.”
“Section Three,” the woman muttered, “which is ONI . . . it figures.”
The old man in the darkness chuckled. The faint glow of a cigar tip flared near his voice, then faded.“Are you insinuating, Master Chief,” the older man said, “that the destruction of all this ‘evidence,’ asmy colleges would call it, happened becausethey ordered it?”
There was no good answer to that question. Whatever the Master Chief said was sure to irritate someonehere.
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“No, sir. I am simply stating that the destruction—of anything, including any ‘evidence’—is a directresult of the detonation of a nuclear weapon. In full compliance with my orders. Sir.”
The first man whispered, “Jesus . . . what do you expect from one of Dr. Halsey’s windup toy soldiers?”
“That’s quite enough, Colonel!” the older man snapped. “This man has earned the right to somecourtesy . . . even from you.”
The older man lowered his voice. “Master Chief, thank you. We’re finished here, I think. We may wishto recall you later . . . but for now, you are dismissed. You are to treat all information you have heard orseen at this debriefing as classified.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Master Chief saluted, spun on his heel, and marched to the exit.
The double doors opened and then sealed behind him. He exhaled. It felt like he was being evac’d fromthe battlefield. He reminded himself that these last few steps were often the most dangerous.
“I hope they treated you well . . . or at least decently.”
Dr. Halsey sat in an overstuffed chair. She wore a long gray skirt that matched her hair. She rose andtook his hand and gave it a small squeeze.
The Master Chief snapped to attention. “Ma’am, a pleasure to see you again.”
“How are you, Master Chief?” she asked. She stared pointedly at the hand pressed to his forehead in atight salute. Slowly, he dropped his hand.
She smiled. Unlike everyone else, who greeted the Master Chief and stared at his uniform, medals,ribbons, or the Spartan insignia, Dr. Halsey stared into his eyes. And she never saluted. John had nevergotten used to that.
“I’m fine, ma’am,” he said. “We won at Sigma Octanus. It was good to have a complete victory.”
“Indeed it was.” She paused and glanced about. “How would you like to have another victory?” shewhispered. “The biggest we’ve ever had?”
“Of course, ma’am,” he said with no hesitation.
“I was counting on you to say that, Master Chief. We’ll be speaking soon.” She turned to the Military
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Police attendant waiting at the entrance to the lounge. “Open these damn doors, soldier. Let’s get thisover with.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the MP said.
The doors swung inward.
She stopped and said to the Master Chief, “I’ll be speaking to you and the other Spartans, soon.” Shethen entered the darkened chamber and the doors sealed behind her.