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"No, Lieutenant Norravitational fields would distort and collapse the Shaw-Fujikawa event horizon

With the Covenant's Slipspace reatly increased resolution I was able to co," he whispered

"Goddaed on the rim of her cap

"It worked," the Master Chief told them "For now, that's all that nore the ineer attached to his back "We have to plan our next ree, Chief," Lieutenant Haverson said

"Thethat matters now"

The Chief squared hi

Haverson held up his hands "I acknowledge that you have tactical co of the brass and ONI Section Three You'll get no arguinal mission has just been superseded by the discovery of the technology on this ship We should scrub your ht back to Earth"

"What's this other mission?" Locklear asked, his voice suspicious

Haverson shrugged "I see no reason to keep this information classified at this point Tell him, Chief"

The Master Chief didn't like how Haverson "acceded" to his tactical cohly classified e secure frohts pulsed around the room's perimeter "It is now Go ahead, Chief"

"My teaht of his fellow Spartans stopped him cold For all he knew they were all dead He pushed that to the back of his mind, however, and continued

"Our mission was to capture a Covenant ship, infiltrate Covenant-controlled space, and capture one of their leaders

Command hoped they could use this to force the Covenant into a cease-fire and negotiations"

No one said a word

Finally, Locklear snorted and rolled his eyes "Typical Navy suicideshot, but we had a chance We have a better chance now that we have this ship"

"Excuseit in her hands "You're not suggesting that you're going to continue that half-assed op, are you? We barely survived four days of hell It was a ot away from Reach, survived the Covenant on Halo not to mention the Flood"

"I have a duty to complete my mission," the Master Chief told her "I'll do it with or without your help There's more at stake than our individual discomfort--even our lives"

"We're not Spartans," Haverson said "We're not trained for your kind of mission"

That was certainly true They weren't Spartans John's teaive up But as he scanned their weary faces, he had to acknowledge that they weren't ready for this eant stepped forward and said, "You still want to go, I got your back, Chief"

John nodded, but he saw the exhaustion even in the Sergeant's dark eyes There were limits to what any soldier, even a hard- core Marine like Johnson, could endure And as iven only a week ago, felt as if they'd been issued a lifetiroup before continuing

"What's on this ship," Haverson said, "can save the huoal of your mission? Let's return to Earth and let the Admiralty decide No one would question your decision to clarify your orders given the circumstances--" He paused, then added, "and the loss of your entire team"

Haverson's expression was carefully neutral, but the Chief still bristled at the further mention of his team--and at the at- te Fred, Kelly, and the others to the surface of Reach, thinking that he, Linda, and Ja on the "hard" mission

"Listen to the El-Tee," Locklear said "We deliver a little soheads and maybe buy some shore leave I vote for that plan" He saluted Haverson "Hell yeah!"

"This isn't a deerous

Locklear twitched but didn't back down "Yeah, maybe it isn't,"

he said, "but last time I checked, I take my orders froeant scowled at the ODST and ether, Marine," he barked, "or the Chief'11 reach down and pull you inside out by your cornhole And that'll be a sweet, sweet onna do to you"

Locklear conteeant's words and the Master Chief's silence He looked to Polaski and then to Haverson

Polaski stared at the Marine ide eyes, then turned away

Haverson gave hihed, eased his stance, and dropped his gaze

"Man, I really, really hate this shit"

"I hate to interrupt," Cortana said, "but I findwith the Lieutenant"

The Chief clicked on a private COM channel "Explain, Cor- tana I thought ourout now?"

"I'iven when the UNSC had a fleet, and when Reach was still an intact ed"

The Master Chief couldn't disagree hat she was say- ingbut there was soht that Cortanafrom him

"We have intact ship-scale plasies," Cortana continued "Iine if every ship could maneuver with pinpoint precision in Slipspace" She paused

"The UNSC could be just as effective in space as you are in ground engagements We could actually win this war"

The Master Chief frowned He didn't like the Lieutenant's or Cortana's argu his mission was unthinkable He had always finished what he started, and he'd alon

As a professional soldier, John was ready to give up anything for victory--his personal comfort, his friends, his own life if that's what it took--but he'd never considered that he'd have to sacrifice his dignity and pride as well for the greater good

He sighed and nodded "Very well, Lieutenant Haverson

We'll do it your way I hereby relinquish my tactical command"