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“Their duty record?” Dr. Halsey asked.
“Substandard,” Cortana replied. “They are slow and ineffective in offensive combat. They are somewhatof a joke within the fleet.”
“Perfect,” Dr. Halsey said. “I concur with your final selection recommendation. We will start the refitoperations at once.”
“All we need now,” Cortana said, “is a Captain and crew.”
“Ah yes, the Captain.” Dr. Halsey slid on her glasses. “I have the perfect man for the job. He’s a tacticalgenius. I’ll forward you his CSV, and you can see for yourself.” She transferred the file to Cortana.
Cortana smiled, but it quickly faded. “His maneuvers at Sigma Octanus Four were performed without anonboard AI?”
“His ship left dock without an AI for technical reasons. I believe he has no compunctions about workingwith computers. In fact, it was one of the first refit requests he put in for theIroquois .”
Cortana did not look convinced.
“Besides, he has the most important qualification for this job,” Dr. Halsey said. “The man can keep asecret.”
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
0800 Hours, August 27, 2552 (Military Calendar) /Epsilon Eridani System, FLEETCOM Military Complex, planet Reach
This was the third time John had been in this highly secure briefing room on Reach. The amphitheaterhad an aura of secrecy, as if matters of grave importance had regularly been discussed within its circularwall. Certainly, every time he had been here, his life had changed.
His first time was his indoctrination into the Spartans—a lifetime ago. He recalled with a start howyoung Dr. Halsey had looked then. The second time was when he graduated from the Spartan program,when he had last seen Chief Mendez. He had sat on the bench next to him—where the Chief was sitting
now.
And today? He had a feeling that everything was about to change all over again.
Clustered around him were two dozen Spartans: Fred, Linda, Joshua, James, and many others he had notspoken to for years; constant battle had kept the tight-knit Spartans light-years apart for more than adecade. Dr. Halsey and Captain Keyes entered the chamber.
The Spartans stood at attention and saluted. Keyes returned their salute. “At ease,” he said. He escortedDr. Halsey to the center stage. He sat while she stood at the podium.
“Good evening, Spartans,” she said. “Please take your seats.”
As one, they sat down.
“Assembled here tonight,” she said, “are all surviving Spartans save three, who are otherwise engagedon fields of combat too distant to be easily recalled. In the last decade of combat there have only beenthree KIAs and one Spartan too wounded to continue active duty. You are to be commended for havingthe best operational record of any unit in the fleet.” She paused to look at them. “It is very good to seeyou all again.”
She slipped on her glasses. “Admiral Stanforth has asked me to brief you on the upcoming mission. Dueto its complexity and unusual nature, please disregard your normal protocol and ask any questions youhave during my presentation. Now, on to the business at hand: the Covenant.”