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He'd never realized how ain Of course, now Blue Team was in jeopardy, but that seemed like old times as well He couldn't have asked for better soldiers to be in trouble with

He ran across the field, low and silent, and then jumped into the shaded hollow Tom, Ash, and Mendez crouched next to Kelly, Linda, and Fred They whispered to one another and drew plans in the dirt

Lucy sat quietly next to Dr Halsey, who glanced at Kurt and then went back to her laptop colyphs

The other SPARTAN-IIIs were , presumably on watch

"Glad you ave him an abbreviated salute "Almost had le-beam relay outside and hail the others on patrol"

"Yes, sir" Mendez grabbed a tiny antenna dish

Linda, Kelly, and Fred all turned to Mendez when he said "sir" and then looked at Kurt

Kurt flicked his index finger up, the wait-a-second gesture, and then he turned to Ash

"Private"

"Sir," Ash said, and stood straighter

His hellistened on his head and neck It was a serious breach of coned for extended use, and Tea in the stuff for days

Kurt glanced at the helmet and Ash blanched at his mistake, and immediately slipped it on

Kurt said, "Saber juun on that aulation attention "It was ht time, that the Sentinels were about toposition That's no excuse, sir It won't happen again"

Had Ash sensed so Kurt hadn't? Still, orders had to be followed

"I' on you to keep your team on task and focused We clear?"

"Absolutely clear, sir," Ash replied

Kurt then moved closer to Blue Teaesture ae of the Spartan's tightly restrained eht you were dead," Fred whispered

Kurt clapped Fred on his shoulder as well "There's so much to brief you on The Sentinels, the SPARTAN-IIIs--everything"

Mendez stepped back into the shadows "Single-beam linkup established, sir"

"… Which will have to wait a little longer," Kurt told them

Kurt opened up his TEAMCOM to both Blue and Saber, "We're taking out that Sentinel pair before the next phase of this operation," he said "Ash, take Saber and scout the ravine ahead Find that tunnel you sacked in a few days ago Dante will rig it with two satchel charges We'll lure the Sentinels inside and then, since we can't penetrate their shields, we'll blow the place, and bury theed looks Norave his team an almost imperceptible shake of his head

"What about the overwatch?" Fred asked

"We'll take our best shot at range," Kurt replied "Hit it with two SPNKr h for Linda to penetrate with a few shots"

"What range?" Linda asked

"They never get closer than two kilometers," Kurt said

It wasn't an iet, and trying to cohly iet one step ahead of the enehty-three percent accuracy rating at that range"

"Okay," Kurt told Ash, "go Torab a pair of SPNKr launchers and rendezvous with SPARTAN-058"

His senior NCOs and Ash stood, nodded, and eased out of the hollow

Kurt got green status light across his display He shut down the linked single-beam network

After the SPARTAN-IIIs had left, Kelly said, "Those kids are going to get us killed

They're acting like they have so to prove We could have taken those Sentinels earlier if they fol-lowed the firing order"

Kurt bristled at her words Team Saber were his soldiers and every one of their flaas his fault His anger cooled as quickly as it had coht

In an even voice he told her, "They're not 'kids' They're Spartans"

Kelly crossed her arht want to tell them e've accomplished here"

Kurt nodded and then explained ram, and the creation of Companies Alpha, Beta, and the newly mentations are new," Kurt explained "The SPARTAN-IIIs' norht word--"enhanced in situations of extreives them incredible reserves of endurance and makes them near i theroused

"No one's twitchy," he replied, then fell silent

Kurt knerong Why couldn't he admit it? Was he defensive because he wanted his Spartans to be everything the older Spartans were? Fred, Kelly, and Linda had decades of field experience As the SPARTAN-III CO he had to stay objective

"You're right," Kurt said softly "They are twitchy And green What else could they be?

Fresh out of boot and thrown up against these Sentinels" He looked to Kelly, to Fred, and then to Linda "I need your help to make sure they stay in line… and, if possible, survive this"

Linda and Fred slowly nodded

"Sure thing," Kelly said, uncrossing her arms

Dr Halsey looked up froression enhancement,'" she said "In fact, I have ram, like where is the rest of Gamma Company? And Beta? Or Alpha?"

"Your questions will have to wait, Doctor," Kurt replied "We're running out of tiement with the Sentinels teaches them more Soon on't be able to stop them"

"I must insist," Dr Halsey said Her words were as placid as sh Kurt's helree with Kurt, ht point out, with all due respect, you are not in any position to de in this tactical situation-- especially after you kidnapped Kelly, circumvented the chain of command, and left us in the "

Kelly looked between the web of loyalties

Dr Halsey stood "I have already explained my actions," she said "And the discovery of this new Forerunner technology should outweigh any so-called breach of military protocol that may have been committed"

A frosty silence filled the hollow

Dr Halsey had no official rank, but had alielded considerable influence over her Spartans

That had to end

Kurt valued her scientific expertise and intellect, but he couldn't have her issuing confusing or conflicting orders

"Since you mention protocol…" Kurt deliberately turned his back to her and faced Blue Team "1 want to clarify our chain of coave you coe of all USNC personnel on Onyx"

Kurt activated his friend-or-foe electronic tag, on extreh so they'd pick it up On their displays appeared his green color-coded nia of a UNSC lieutenant cohtened, their involuntary response when in the presence of an officer