Log Archive/Ares Logs

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Laszlo's Journal
WELL, WE'VE GOT THE KIDS GATHERED NOW. I'LL HAVE TO SPEAK TO THEM SOON. TELL THEM THEY'RE SOON-TO-SPARTANS. AND THAT THEY CAN NEVER, EVER, RETURN TO THEIR RESPECTIVE HOMES. SOME ARE VENGEFUL ORPHANS, SO THEY DON'T MIND; THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO RETURN TO ANYWAY. I ADMIRE SUCH RESOLVE IN SO SMALL CHILDREN; I COULD NEVER BE THAT STRONG. BUT THE ONES WHO DID HAVE A HOME, THOSE WHO LIVED A HAPPY LIFE...I DON'T KNOW, IT FEELS LIKE I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE SHOT THEM IN THE KNEECAPS. I KNOW IT'S NECESSARY, BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HELP MY CONSCIENCE. I'LL STILL TRAIN THEM ALL OF COURSE - BUT I DON'T HAVE TO LIKE DOING IT.

I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH ON THEM ALL, AND I FROWN ON THE NEW PARAMETERS RICH APPROVED FOR THE ENLISTMENT; ONLY 20% (10 CANDIDATES) OF THE 50 REMAINING CANDIDATES ARE OF GENETIC STOCK VERY CLOSE TO OR NEAR-EQUIVALENT TO MINE AND THE OTHER IIs - OF WHICH ONLY 4%, TWO PEOPLE, ARE ACTUALLY TRULY EQUAL. THEN THERE'S THE IN-BETWEENS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE IT (42%), AND LASTLY THE RANDOM ONES RICH APPROVED SIMPLY TO FILL UP THE ROSTER. IF IT'S TRUE WHAT I HEAR ABOUT THAT WE HAVE TO RELY ON OLDER AUGMENTATION PRODCEDURES...IT WON'T BE PRETTY.

I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO DO MY PART OF THE JOB AS WELL AS POSSIBLE, THEN HOPE FOR THE BEST. THOUGH THAT'S EASIER SAID AND DONE.

AND I SHOULD REALLY TELL RICH'S INVESTIGATORS TO FRACKIN' PROOFREAD WHAT THEY WRITE DOWN. THERE'S ERRORS ALL OVER THE ROSTER; THEY MIXED UP [343]'S (NEED TO NOTE SOMEWHERE THAT SHE'S ONE OF "THE TWO") AND [358]'S NUMBER TAGS, AND SOMEHOW WROTE DOWN THE FORMER'S NAME AS A MALE NAME. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE WORK IN [ONI]. THEN THERE WAS ALSO THE MISTAKE OF WRITING [338]'S (SECOND OF "THE TWO") TAG AS "038", NOT TO MENTION THAT THEY FORGOT TO ADD A LOT OF INTEL ABOUT HIM. IT JUST PISSES ME OFF IS ALL.

WELL, IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR ME TO GET GOING NOW, SO I SHOULD STOP WRITING NOW.

AUGUST 5TH, 2540

WELL, I MET THEM ALLRIGHT. I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT I EXPECTED TO FEEL LIKE, STANDING BEFORE THEM, TALKING TO THEM; I'M NOT THE GUY TO STEP UP AND CLAIM A LEADER POSITION JUST BECAUSE I CAN, ALWAYS TRIED TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT, LET OTHERS MORE CAPABLE AND SHOWING MORE WILLINGNESS FOR IT DO IT. WELL, I CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN, BUT WHEN I SAW THEM, I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK OF MY FRIENDS. IT ALL REMINDED ME SO MUCH ABOUT THE DAY WHEN DOC HALSEY TOLD ALL OF US THAT WE WERE NOW SPARTANS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THIS TIME AROUND WAS THAT CONSIDERABLY MORE OF THESE RECRUITS LOOKED RATHER PLEASED TO BE THERE - THOSE WHO HAD VOLUNTEERED AFTER LOSING EVERYTHING THEY CHERISHED. BUT THE OTHERS, THEY WERE THE SAME...

AFTER GIVING THEM THE RUNDOWN I HAD DEAN SEND THEM INTO BED, TEAM-WISE - IT'S SOMETHING HALSEY DIDN'T TRY ON THE FIRST DAY, BUT I HOPE IT'LL LET THEM OVERCOME THEIR RESPECTIVE PAIN TOGETHER, AND IF THEY DON'T GET ALONG AT ALL, WE REDO THE TEAMS. DEAN'S A DECENT SORT; REMINDS ME OF CHIEF MENDEZ. I THINK I'LL PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR HIM WITH COLONEL STANDOFF, JUST TO MAKE SURE HE STAYS WITH US UNTIL THE PROGRAM'S OVER, RATHER THAN UNTIL ONI DECIDES HE'S "NEEDED" ON THE FRONT AND WE GET SOME ROOKIE FROM DI ACADEMY. RESPONSIBILITY SITS PRIMARILY WITH ME, BUT I STILL NEED AS MUCH HELP AS I CAN GET.

TODAY I'LL HAVE DEAN RUN THE RECRUITS AROUND THE COMPOUND, JUST LIKE ME AND THE OTHERS WAY BACK, FOLLOWED BY PUSH-UPS, SIT-UPS ETC. THEN SOME REST, FOLLOWED BY STUDIES WITH THE AI "AVALANCHE" (I ASKED FOR A NEWER AI WHO WON'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED MID-PROGRAM, BUT RICH DIDN'T CARE). WRAPPING THINGS UP WITH "THE PLAYGROUND" - TO TEACH THOSE TEAM-HATERS A LESSON - AND DINNER TO ALL BUT THE TEAM WHO COMES IN LAST (THE COOKS ARE MAKING MIRACULOUS FOOD CONSIDERING HOW ONI CUT BACK ON THEIR BUDGET, I HAVE TO THANK THEM FOR THAT SOMEDAY). IT'S MOSTLY SHAMELESS IMITATION OF HALSEY'S TRAINING, I KNOW, BUT I WAS TOLD TO USE MY OWN EXPERIENCE, AND THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY EXPERIENCE I HAVE. I'LL STUDY SOME NEWER TRAINING THEORIES ON THE NET LATER, THOUGH, TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY. MAYBE COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW THAT'S BETTER THAN WHAT I WENT THROUGH.

AUGUST 6TH, 2540

2540
I MENTIONED YESTERDAY THAT WHEN I ENTERED THE BARRACKS I FOUND I'D BEEN TRANSFERRED, BUT TODAY I FOUND OUT THE REAL DETAILS. AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. I'M REALLY STARTING TO REGRET THAT SCIENCE DEGREE, AND AM SORELY REGRETTING MY LAST PROMOTION. ONI'S ENROLLED ME INTO SOME TOP SECRET PROJECT OF THEIRS, ARES, AND I'VE BEEN GETTING THE WHOLE BREIFING. LOOKS LIKE THINGS WITH COVENANT ARE EVEN WORSE THAN WE'VE BEEN TOLD, AND, PREDICTABLY, THAT MEANS ONI'S LOOKING FOR A MAGIC BULLET. APPARENTLY, ALOT OF BRASS THINK THAT BULLET IS THE SPARTANS--EXCUSE, ME, THE SIERRAS. THEY'VE APPROVED ANOTHER PROJECT, AND GUESS WHO THEY PICKED TO LEAD IT. THEY SAY THESE SPARTANS ARE OUR LAST, BEST HOPE, AND WHILE I DOUBT IT'S TRUE, I KNOW I'M NEEDED. I'VE AGREED, AND THEY'RE TRANSFERRING ME TO THE PROWLER DESCENT INTO DARKNESS TO SEARCH OUT THE CANDIDATES. I HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD WHO THEY ARE, BUT I'VE GOT TOP SECURITY CLEARANCE NOW, AND I'VE LOOKED INTO THE ORIGINAL CHARLIE ONE SIERRAS. I CAN GUESS WHATS NEXT.

WE'RE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT THE FIRST PLANET ON THE FIFTH, SO THAT MEANS CRYO ISN'T NECCESSARY. I'M STUCK IN A SHIP FULL OF SPOOKS FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE, AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE SECRET. IT'S ALREADY IRRITATING ME, BUT IF THATS WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN THE WAR, IT'S A SACRIFICE I'LL HAVE TO MAKE. I JUST HOPE I DON'T SCREW THIS UP.

MARCH 2ND, 2540

HARD TO BELIEVE OVER A MONTH HAS PASSED SINCE I STARTED THIS INFERNAL ASSIGNMENT. IF I‘D KNOWN ALL THIS WOULD FOLLOW, I WOULD NEVER HAVE ACCEPTED. I‘M STILL LEARNING TO USE MY NEW, VERY EXPANSIVE SET OF SECURITY CLEARANCES, AND ONI ISN‘T BEING VERY FREE WITH INFORMATION, BUT I‘VE LEARNED ENOUGH. THESE KIDS AREN‘T GOING TO LIVE HAPPY LIVES, ANY OF THEM. I‘M SETTING THEM UP FOR A LIFE OF PAIN JUST BY TALKING TO THEM. MY SUPERIORS, WHOEVER THEY ARE, TELL ME IT HAS TO BE DONE FOR OUR SURVIVAL. EVEN IF IT‘S TRUE, ITS STILL A TERRIBLE RESPONSIBILITY.

I‘VE BEEN MEETING WITH CANDIATES ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, TRYING TO GET TO AS MANY OF THEM AS I CAN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE COVENANT CONTINUE TO ENCROACH ON OUR TERRITORY, AND WE‘VE ALREADY LOST SEVERAL CANDIDATES TO RAIDS AND ATTACKS. IF WE DON’T HURRY, THERE WON’T BE ANYONE LEFT FOR THE PROGRAM. WE’VE BEEN HOPSCOTCHING FROM PLANET TO PLANET, AND LUCKILY MOST OF THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN CLUSTERED IN NEARBY SYSTEMS.

THE COVENANT IS ADVANCING RAPIDLY THROUGH THIS SECTOR, AND THERE AREN‘T ENOUGH FORCES HERE TO DEFEND IT. WE‘VE ALREADY HAD TO DODGE AROUND COVENANT PATROLS, AND WE‘VE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS ON THE SURFACE AS WELL. ONI SAYS WE CAN‘T TAKE ANY CANDIDATES WITH US RIGHT NOW, BUT I’VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE ONBOARD INTELLIGENCE PERSONEL THAT IF ANY OF THE CANDIDATES ARE IN DANGER, WE’LL BE EXTRACTING THEM IMMEDIATELY. I’M NOT LETTING THE COVENANT GET TO ONE OF OUR KIDS WHEN WE CAN SAVE THEM JUST AS EASILY.

APRIL 3RD, 2540

TODAY WE HAD OUR CLOSEST RUN IN YET WITH THE COVENANT. WE WERE INTERVIEWING ONE OF THE CANDIDATES---[S-347], JENNIFER (I JUST CAN’T BRING MYSELF TO CALL THEM “TEST SUBJECTS”---HALSEY MUST HAVE BEEN DEAD INSIDE TO DO THAT---I’M NOT THAT FAR GONE YET)---WHEN THE ALIENS LAUNCHED A SURPRISE ATTACK. TWO CRUISERS SLIPPED IN SYSTEM STRAIGHT UNDER THE ORBITAL DEFENSES AND IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHED TROOPS. PURE PANIC ENGULFED THE ENTIRE CITY. THEY LED THEIR ATTACK WITH BANSHEES, BUT IT WASN’T LONG BEFORE THEIR DROPSHIPS ENTERED THE MIX. WE HAD TO GRAB [S-347] THEN AND THERE, STRAIGHT OUT OF HOMEROOM---HER PARENTS ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BIG BIGSHOTS, SO WE CLAIMED WE WERE MILITARY AND GOT MANAGED TO GET AWAY WITH IT. I CHECKED THE LIST, AND HER PARENTS MADE IT OUT ALIVE---BUT THE REST OF THE CLASS DIDN’T, SO THE PARENTS WILL LIKELY BELIEVE SHE WAS KILLED WITH THE REST. I FEEL AWFUL ABOUT IT, BUT FROM WHAT I’VE READ OF THE CHARLIES ONES, WE MAY ACTUALLY BE SPARING THEM SOME PAIN. FLASH CLONE DECAY ISN’T PRETTY.

[S-347] IS STILL IN SHOCK, SO WE’VE GOT HER SEDATED AND WILL LIKELY PLACE HER IN CRYO FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP. SHE WAS A REAL FIRECRACKER WHEN I INTERVIEWED HER AT THE SCHOOL, WITH A BIT OF A MOUTH AND A BIG EGO FOR A SIX YEAR OLD. MONEY BREEDS IT, APPARENTLY. WHO KNOWS IF SHE’LL STILL HAVE IT WHEN SHE WAKES UP, BUT AT LEAST SHE’S MOTIVATED NOW. IT’S THE ONLY GOOD THING I’VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND IN THIS WHOLE DAMN AFFAIR. MY ACTIONS ARE IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION OF ONI’S ORDERS, BUT I DON’T THINK THE SPOOKS WILL TOUCH ME, AND EVEN IF THEY DO, I DON’T CARE. I SAVED A LIFE TODAY, AND THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS. IT FEELS GOOD TO HAVE SOMETHING POSITIVE AGAINST THE UNRELENTING NEGATIVE OF THIS POSTING.

APRIL 23RD, 2540

CANDIDATE EXAMINATIONS CONTINUE AT BREAKNECK SPEED, AND I ABSOLUTELY HATE TO SAY IT, BUT I THINK I’M GETTING USED TO IT. WE’VE HAD TO EXTRACT ANOTHER CANDIDATE SINCE [S-347], AND MY SUPERIORS ARE PISSED, BUT SOME TOP SHOT BY THE NAME OF NOVEMBER ROMEO HAS KEPT THEM AT BAY. I DON’T KNOW WHO HE IS, BUT HE’S GOT TO HAVE SOME CLOUT TO PULL THIS OFF. I’M STARTING TO GRASP THE BASICS OF THIS POLITICAL STUFF, BUT IT’S A BIG TRANSITION FOR A GROUND POUNDER LIKE ME. IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME. HOPEFULLY I CAN KEEP SOME ALLIES LIKE HIM TO HELP MAKE UP FOR MY SHORTCOMINGS.

I INTERVIEWED ANOTHER CANDIDATE TODAY, AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE HIS BIRTHDAY. IT WAS A WEIRD AND FRIGHTENING DISCONNECTION; HE WAS IN THE MIDST OF A PARTY (ALBEIT A SOMEWHAT STRUGGLING ONE---HIS PARENTS ARE NOT THE MOST FORTUNATE) AND THERE I WAS, PLOTTING TO TAKE HIM AWAY. AS IF I DIDN’T FEEL TERRIBLE ENOUGH. LOGISTICALLY, IT WAS AN ANNOYING INTERRUPTION, PUTTING US BEHIND SCHEDULE, BUT THAT WAS HARDLY MY BIGGEST CONCERN. I WISH I’D NEVER AGREED TO THIS DAMN JOB.

THE CANDIDATE I TALKED TO, HOWEVER, WAS INTERESTING. FROM THE MOMENT I MET HIM (NOT WHEN I SAW HIM BLOWING OUT HIS CANDLES, BUT WHEN I ACTUALLY MANAGED TO SPEAK WITH HIM), HE SEEMED…DIFFERENT. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIM I COULD JUST SENSE. HE’S GOING TO BE GOOD. THERE ARE SOME DEFINITE PHSYICAL TEST THAT SHOWED HE HAS STRONG POTENTIAL---HE’S SMART, CREATIVE, AND HAS DEXTERITY SCORES THAT ARE NEARLY OFF THE CHARTS---BUT THERES MORE. HE SEEMS INNATELY DIFFERENT. I’VE NOTICED THIS BEFORE, IN SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES, BUT IT WAS ESPECIALLY CLEAR IN HIM. I’VE SENT A QUERY TO ONI ABOUT HIM, EVEN THOUGH I’M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT HIM. HOPEFULLY I WON’T SOUND LIKE A CRAZY PERSON, ASKING ABOUT A KID FOR NO REASON AT ALL.

MAY 14TH, 2540

I KEEP FINDING OUT MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND THE MORE I FIND OUT, THE LESS I LIKE IT. THAT SAME NOVEMBER ROMEO HAS BEEN SLOWLY UPDATING ME WITH INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE PROGRAM, THOUGH I’M FORCED TO FILL IN A LOT OF THE BLANKS THROUGH MY OWN SEARCHES IN MY SPARE TIME (WHAT LITTLE I HAVE OF IT, ANYWAY). THE COVENANT, OF COURSE, CONTINUE THEIR ATTACKS; WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE AUGUSTUS SYSTEM AFTER THEIR ASSUALT LAST APRIL IS NOW A BURNING BALL OF GLASS. WE LOST THREE CANDIDATES IN THAT LAST RAID, AND ANOTHER ONE IS MISSING. I DOUBT WE’LL HAVE MORE THAN FIFTY CANDIDATES FOR THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, AT THIS RATE. I GUESS WE’LL HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE LEFT.

IN THE MEANTIME, I’M INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES AS FAST AS I CAN. THE INTERVIEWS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A FORMALITY NOW---WE’RE TAKING EVERYONE WE CAN GET, EVEN THOSE WHO LIKELY CAN’T CUT IT---BUT ONI INSISTS. MORE OF THEIR DAMN BUCREATIC BULLSHIT. AS IF THIS WHOLE THING WASN’T ALREADY BAD ENOUGH. AT LEAST THE CANDIDATE SELECTION PROCESS IS ALMOST OVER. MAYBE I’LL FEEL BETTER THEN. IT’S A SLIM HOPE, BUT I NEED SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO.

ON AN UNRELATED NOTE, I WAS INTERVIEWING ANOTHER CANDIDATE TODAY AND HAD THE SAME ODD EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH [S-338]. HER TAG NUMBERS WERE CONFUSING---OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO HER AS BOTH 343 AND 358, AND EVEN MIXED UP HER GENDER A FEW TIMES---BUT I COULD SENSE SOMETHING ABOUT HER, JUST LIKE THE OTHER. THERE’S SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING SPECIAL, THAT I CAN’T QUITE PUT MY FINGER ON. HER FAMILY IS SLOWLY FRAGMENTING, SO WE MAY ACTUALLY BE DOING HER A FAVOR BY GIVING HER A WAY OUT, BUT SOMEHOW, ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT WHEN I’M REVIEWING HER IS THAT ODD FEELING (AND I‘M ALSO ADMITTEDLY A LITTLE DISTRACTED BY HER APPARENT LOVE OF FIRE---SHE HAD TWO SEPARATE LIGHTERS OUT WHEN I VISITED---MAYBE SHE‘LL TAKE A LIKING TO THE M7057). LIKE THE OTHER, SHE’S GOT ALL THE PHYSICAL INDICATORS OF STRONG POTENTIAL, BUT I’M SURE I’M SENSING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. ONI HAS YET TO REPLY TO MY QUERY, SO I’M EAGERLY AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE.

MAY 27TH, 2540

TODAY I GAVE THE ORDER. THE “RECRUITMENT” AGENTS HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED, AND THEY’RE DUE BACK HER IN A FEW WEEKS. IT’S SO ODD, TO SURREAL, EVEN NOW. I CAN’T GET PAST HOW EASY IT WAS, HOW NATURAL. ONE ORDER AND DOZENS OF KIDS ARE TAKEN FROM THEIR PARENTS, DOZENS OF OTHERS ABDUCTED FROM ORPHANAGES. IT’S FRIGHTENING AND DISTURBING AT THE SAME TIME. I ALWAYS HEARD THE STORIES ABOUT ONI’S SHADOW OPS, BUT NEVER REALLY BELIEVED THEM. EVERYTHING AFTER THIS WILL BE SEEN IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT FOR ME.

I ALSO MET THE CANDIDATE’S PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR, A MAN BY THE NAME OF LASZLO. ITS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT HE’S A SIERRA---OFFICAL DOCUMENTS CONSISTENTLY REFER TO HIM AS LIMA-108, AND HE‘S GOT AN AURA OF DEADLINESS ABOUT HIM---BUT I’M STILL AT A LOSS FOR WHERE HE CAME FROM. HE SEEMS TO OLD TO BE A THREE OR A CHARLIE TWO, BUT I’VE STUDIED THE RANKS OF THE CHARLIE ONES AND HAVEN’T FOUND A TRACE OF HIM. I’M STILL LEARNING TO USE MY NEW CLEARANCES, SO MAYBE I’LL MAKE PROGRESS YET. AT ANY RATE, HE SEEMS KNOWLEDGEABLE AND I BELIEVE HE’LL BE AN EXCELLENT TEACHER. FROM OUR BRIEF CONVERSATION, HE SEEMS LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER. MAYBE I’VE FINALLY GOT AN ALLY TO RELY ON.

ONI HAS REBUFFED MY QUERY, SO IT LOOKS LIKE I’M GOING HAVE TO DO THE RESEARCH MYSELF. I’VE GOT PLENTY OF DOWN TIME TO ANALYZE THE CANDIDATES GENETIC PRINTS, BUT I’M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR. HOPEFULLY INSPIRATION WILL STRIKE. IF NOT, PERHAPS THIS LASZLO FELLOW WILL BE ABLE TO HELP ME. IF HE’S CLOAKED IN SECRECY ENOUGH THAT I’M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING OUT HIS ORIGINS, HE SHOULD BE AT LEAST PASSINGLY FAMILIAR WITH THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. HE MAY HAVE SOME CONTACTS I CAN BORROW. I HAVE A FEELING THIS JOB WON’T BE PLEASANT IN THE SLIGHTEST.

JULY 22ND, 2540

THE CANDIDATES ARE DUE IN IN A FEW DAYS, AND THE WHOLE COMPLEX IS IN A FERMENT. I DIDN’T REALIZE WE HAD SO MANY PERSONEL. IT FEELS LIKE EVERYONES IN A RUSH TO GET THINGS READY; SO MUCH FOR PLANNING AHEAD. THE GUILT FROM THE ABUDCTION IS STILL SINKING IN, AND I’M HAVING A HARD TIME SLEEPING. THERE’S NOTHING TO DISTRACT ME, AND EVERY PREPARATION WE MAKE IS AN UNWELCOME REMINDER OF THE ABDUCTION AND FLASH CLONES. HOPEFULLY THE ARRIVAL OF THE TRAINEES WILL GIVE ME SOMETHING ELSE TO FOCUS ON.

I’VE BEEN TRYING TO THINK UP A WAY TO APPROACH LASZLO AND ASK ABOUT HIS ORIGINS, BUT I’M STILL WONDERING WHICH THINGS ARE TABOO AND WHICH AREN’T. I DON’T THINK I’M USUALLY THE ONE TO WORRY ABOUT OFFENDING PEOPLE, BUT HE SEEMS LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER AND, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON’T THINK PISSING HIM OFF WILL HELP ME MUCH. I’VE ALREADY GOT ONI STONEWALLING ME, AND ALIENATING HIM SOUNDS LIKE A BAD IDEA.

SPEAKING OF BEING STONEWALLED, ONI HAS FOLLOWED UP ON THEIR REBUFF. APPARENTLY ONE OF THEIR WATCHDOG PROGRAMS CAUGHT ME SNOOPING AROUND THE GENETIC PROFILES OF OUR CANDIDATES, AND SOME SPOOK CONNECTED THE DOTS. THEY SENT A CEASE AND DESIST MESSAGE EXPLICITILY ORDERING ME TO DISCONTINUE MY LITTLE INVESTIGATION. NOT THAT I INTEND TO OBEY IT (WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO, SEND ME TO THE FRONT?), BUT I FOUND IT INSIGHTFUL. THEY DIDN’T SEEM TO CARE WHEN I WAS POKING AROUND THEIR PREDISPOSED GENETIC TRAITS OR WHEN I WAS CHECKING TO SEE WHICH DISEASES THEY‘RE MOST LIKELY TO ACQUIRE, BUT I IMMEDIATELY GOT THEIR ATTENTION WHEN I OPENED THE LOG OF THEIR GENETIC MATCH TO THE ORIGINAL CLASS. THAT’S TO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE. AND THAT’S INFORMATION RIGHT THERE.

JULY 29TH, 2540

SUCCESS…IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT. I FINALLY KNOW WHAT ONI WAS HIDING, AND IT’S ILLUMINATING. THE KEY TO THE DIFFERENCE IN [S-343] AND [S-338] IS IN THEIR MATCH TO THE ORIGINAL CHARLIE ONES---AND THE LACK OF A MATCH IN THE OTHERS. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS, IN RETROSPECT, AND I CAN’T BELIEVE I DIDN’T CATCH IT UNTIL NOW. IT’S NOT THAT THE TWO OF THEM DON’T MATCH---IT’S THAT THEY’RE THE ONLY ONES THAT DO. THE GENETIC MATCHES---THE PERCENT OF GENES THAT MATCH THE ORIGINAL GENETIC GUIDELINES SET BY HALSEY---ARE DRASTICALLY OUT OF SYNC. ONLY 10% ARE CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL GENETIC STOCK, AND ONLY [S-338] AND [S-343] ARE REALLY EQUAL. 42% POSSESS 75% OR LOWER OF THE NEEDED GENE SEQUENCES. AND THE REMAINING 48% ARE JUST RANDOM KIDS THROWN IN BY SECTION THREE!

I’M STILL LEARNING ABOUT THE AUGMENTATION PROCEDURES, WHICH WILL LIKELY BE FROM THE OLDER SET BECAUSE OF FUNDING (OR LACK THEROF), BUT I KNOW ENOUGH. ONI ISN’T JUST SKIMPING ON SOME LITTLE DETAIL; THIS IS BIG. WITH THOSE KINDS OF SCORES, WE’RE GOING TO END UP LOSING SCORES OF TRAINEES IN AUGMENTATION, AND FIELD SUB-PAR SPARTANS AMONG THOSE WHO SURVIVE. THE ORIGINAL CHARLIE ONES SUSTAINED 56% LOSSES, WITH THE CORRECT GENETIC CODE. I THOUGHT I KNEW ALL THE TERRIBLE THINGS THERE WERE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. I GUESS I WAS WRONG.

THIS IS TOO MUCH TO KEEP TO MYSELF, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. THE DI HERE, DEAN JACKSON, IS A GOOD MARINE BUT DOESN’T HAVE ANY SORT OF CLOUT AT ALL. NOVEMBER ROMEO---WHO I NOW STRONGLY SUSPECT TO BE REAR ADMIRAL NED RICH, COMMANDER OF THE COVERT OPERATIONS GROUP, WHICH IS CONTROLLING THIS PROJECT---IS IN ALL LIKLIEHOOD FULLY AWARE OF THE RISKS. HE MIGHT HAVE EVEN GREENLIT THE PROGRAM. THERES ONLY ONE OPTION LEFT I CAN THINK OF. I’VE SENT AN ANYOMYOUS MESSAGE TO LASZLO, INDICATING THAT HE SHOULD CHECK INTO THE GENETIC MATCHES A LITTLE MORE THOROUGHLY.

IF I CAN’T FIND AN ALLY IN HIM, THEN I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’M GOING TO TURN TO NEXT.

AUGUST 2ND, 2540

LASZLO RESPONDED TO MY MESSAGE TODAY. HE DIDN’T INDICATE HOW HE TRACED THE MESSAGE, BUT HE DEFINITELY INTERESTING THINGS TO SAY. A LOT OF IT I SUSPECTED, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE NEW. ABOVE ALL, HE STRESSED THAT, DESPITE WHATEVER REASON THEY CHOSE ME FOR, ONI STILL DON’T TRUST ME. THAT WASN’T ANY SURPRISE, BUT IT WAS A SURPRISE TO FIND OUT NOVEMBER ROMEO---DEFINITELY RICH, ACCORDING TO LASZLO---IS BEHIND MOST OF THIS PROJECT. DETAILS BEYOND THAT WERE NOT DISCLOSED. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT I MIGHT WANT TO SECURE MY DATA ENTRIES; APPARENTLY, ONI’S SPY PROGRAMS ARE OPERATING WITHIN THE PROJECT’S INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY. I’M NOT MUCH OF A TECHY AND NOT REALLY ONE FOR THIS SUBTERFUGE STUFF, BUT I’LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.

TRAINING STARTED IN EARNEST YESTERDAY, AFTER LASZLO MET WITH THE CANDIDATES THE DAY BEFORE. I CONTEMPLATED PLAYING THE ROLE OF HALSEY AND SHOWING UP TO HELP WITH THE INTRODUCTION, BUT I DECIDED LASZLO COULD HANDLE IT. ONI CURRENTLY HAS ME DOING LOGISTICAL WORK, ORGANZINING THE PROJECT, AND I CERTAINLY HOPE IT’S JUST PLACEHOLDER WORK TO GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO. IF I END UP WORKING AS SOME SORT OF TASKMASKER, I’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FORGIVE MYSELF FOR LEAVING THE FRONT LINES.

IT SEEMS ODD THAT IT’S SETTING IN SO LATE, BUT I’M STARTING TO MISS MY TROOPS. MY DETACHMENT HERE IS COMPLETE; I KNOW NO ONE, AND MY ONLY CONNECTION WITH ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SOME SHADOWY SIERRA THAT I CAN’T TRACE. I FEEL WRONG COMPLAINING, BECAUSE IT’S A JUST PENANCE FOR ALL THAT I’VE DONE---YET I CAN’T HELP IT. THE WORLD SEEMS TO HAVE DISTORTED COMPLETELY OUT OF RECOGNITION OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I DID TO GET THIS POSTING, BUT I SINCERELY, SINCERELY WISH I HADN’T DONE IT.

AUGUST 7TH, 2540

TRAINING IS GOING WELL, AND OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, MY ANXIETY HAS STARTED TO WANE. I LET IT, BECAUSE I STILL HAVE A JOB TO DO, HOWEVER MUCH I DESPISE IT, AND MOPING AROUND WON’T HELP IT. TODAY A REPORT CAME IN, HOWEVER, THAT SENT ME STRAIGHT BACK. RICH’S FIELD TEAMS HAVE MADE A POINT TO OBSERVE THE CANDIDATES’ REPLACEMENTS (THE FLASH CLONES ONI EMPLOYED), AND THEY SENT IN THEIR FIRST OBSERVATIONS TODAY. I’VE READ PLENTY ABOUT METABOLITIC DECAY, AND I STILL REMEMBER DOING TEST LABS ON RATS AT UNIVERSITY. I THOUGHT I WAS READY, EVEN KNOWING HOW BAD IT WAS. BUT THE FLASH CLONE DECAY REALLY IS TERRIBLE. SIX REPLACEMENTS HAVE ALREADY SECCUMBED; FIVE FROM SIMPLE DECAY, AND ANOTHER FROM AN INFECTION AGGRAVATED BY THE DRASTICALLY LOWER IMMUNE SYSTEM.

THE THING THAT DID ME IN WAS THE PICTURES. THE FIELD TEAMS TOOK GREAT CARE TO…DOCUMENT THE SCENE, AND I DIDN’T REALIZE HOW TERRIBLE THINGS REALLY WERE UNTIL I OPENED THE FIRST ONE. AFTER THAT, I COULDN’T STOP MYSELF. EACH ONE WAS WORST THAN THE NEXT---BUT I HAD TO LOOK. I WAS RESPONSIBLE. I FEEL CONSUMED WITH GUILT. IT’S ONE THING TO SHOOT AN INSURRECTIONIST WITH A GUN TO YOU, BUT KILLING CHILDREN---AND THAT’S WITHOUT A DOUBT WHAT I’VE HELPED DO, AS SURE AS IF I SHOT THEM DEAD---IS ANOTHER MATTER ENTIRELY. MY THOUGHTS FEEL LIKE THEY’RE UNRAVELING. I HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE BEFORE I DRIVE MYSELF MAD.

THE WORST PART ABOUT IT ALL IS THAT THE CANDIDATES ARE REALLY STARTING TO EXCEL. IT’S BEEN BARELY OVER A WEEK, SO IT’S DIFFICULT TO COMPARE THEIR PROGRESS TO THE ORIGINAL CLASS, BUT THEY’RE ALL SHOWING EXCEPTIONAL TEAMWORK AND STRENGTH OF WILL. MOST ARE NO MORE THAN SIX OR SEVEN, BUT THEY’RE PUSHING ON WITH THE TRAINING AND WORKING EXCEPTIONALLY HARD. LASZLO IS QUITE DEFINITELY A GOOD TEACHER; HE KNOWS HOW TO MOTIVATE THESE CHILDREN BETTER THAN I COULD IN A MILLION YEARS. HE’S FOLLOWING HALSEY’S EXAMPLE FAIRLY CLOSELY, BUT HAS ALSO MADE A FEW CHANGES, WHICH SEEM TO BE WORKING OUT WELL. HE CHOSE TO SORT THE RECRUITS INTO TEAMS IMMEDIETLY, RATHER THAN TOO WAIT, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY FORMED THEIR OWN FAMILIES WITHIN THEIR SQUADS. THEY STILL WORK WELL WITH THE OTHER RECRUITS, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE HELPING THEM COPE WITH ALL THE CHANGES---THEY’RE HOLDING EACH OTHER TOGETHER, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

AUGUST 17TH, 2540

WE HAD OUR FIRST ESCAPE ATTEMPT TODAY, AND DAMNED IF IT WASN’T CRAFTY. ONE OF THE MORE “INDEPDENT” SQUADS, CRIMSON (THEY’VE ALL GOT LOUD MOUTHS AND A PENCHANT FOR DISOBEYING PRACTICALLY EVERYONE), MADE AN ATTEMPT TO SLIP AWAY FROM THE COMPLEX. I NEVER REALIZED SIX YEAR OLDS COULD BE SO INTUITIVE, BUT I’M LEARNING QUICKLY THAT THESE KIDS AREN’T YOUR AVERAGE KINDERGARTENERS. (EVEN IF THEY’RE NOT QUITE UP TO HALSEY’S STANDARDS). WHILE TWO OF THEM ([S-311] AND [S-341]) STAGED A DISTRACTION IN THE MESS HALL, [S-319] HACKED OUR BASE SYSTEMS AND KEYED A FIRE ALARM. IN THE SHEER PANDAMONIUM, THE OTHER TWO, [S-303] AND [S-327], INFILTRATED THE BASE SECURITY STATION, KILLED THE CAMERA SYSTEM, AND APPARENTLY PROCURED RADIO DEVICES. THE FIVE OF THEM ALL HEADED FOR THE SURFACE VIA SERVICE TUNNELS, AND IF IT WASN’T FOR SOME QUICK THINKING ON LASZLO’S PART (CALLING IN A PELICAN SEARCH IN THE EXACT RIGHT AREA---LIKE HE HAD EXPERIENCE SNEAKING OUT!) THEY PROBABLY WOULD’VE SLIPPED AWAY.

I GUESS I SHOULDN’T BE SURPRISED, GIVEN THE RECORD OF CLASS ONE GROUPS LIKE GRAY TEAM AND TEAM BLACK, BUT THE SHEER PLANNING OF IT ALL TOOK ME ABACK. NO ONE IN THE TEAM IS OLDER THAN SIX AND A HALF, YET THEY HAD THE WHOLE PLAN MEMORISED, TIMED EXACTLY, AND WELL THOUGHT OUT BEFORE HAND. WHEN LASZLO CAUGHT THEM, HE CONFISCATED ALMOST A MONTHS WORTH OF DRY RATIONS, SURVIVAL GEAR, AND WEAPONS THAT THEY’D SMUGGLED OUT OF STORAGE OVER THE PAST MONTH---ALL THE WHILE MANIPULATING THE RECORD MANIFEST TO COVER THEIR TRACKS. NONE OF THEM HAVE STEPPED FORWARD AS THE LEADER, AND I HEARD SOME OF THE DI’S STARTED A (DISCRETE) POOL TRYING TO GUESS WHO THE GURU WAS. JACKSON HAS HIS MONEY ON [S-319], WHILE MOST OF THE OTHERS ARE HIGHLIGHTING [S-311] DUE TO HER HIGH IQ SCORES. I’VE NOTICED WITH DISTINCT INTEREST THAT LASZLO DOESN’T HAVE A BET PLACED (PERSONALLY, I DON’T KNOW THEM WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE A WAGER---BUT WOULD PUT MONEY ON [S-341], JUST BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE).

IF THERES ANY BRIGHTSIDE IN THIS---BESIDES GIVING OUR SECURITY TEAM A LIST OF A FEW DOZEN IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE---IT’S THAT IT’S HELPED DISTRACT ME SOMEWHAT. IT’S HARD TO BE CONSUMED WITH GUILT WHEN YOUR BUSY SWEARING AT A DI AND SEARCHING FOR MISSING RECRUITS. I THINK THAT’S THE CLOSEST THING I’LL FIND TO A SOLUTION: THROW MYSELF INTO THE PROGRAM AND DO MY ABSOLUTE BEST TO HELP TRAIN THESE KIDS. IT’S TOO LATE TO SAVE THE CLONES, OR TO UNDUE THE DAMAGE I’VE DONE TO THEIR LIVES…BUT I CAN TRY AND MINIMIZE IT, AND HELP THEM TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. THAT’S THE HOPE, ANWAY.

NOVEMBER 9TH, 2540

TRAINING IS ON SCHEDULE, AND FOR THE MOST PART, THERE AREN’T MANY SURPRISES. LASZLO IS HOLDING FAIRLY TRUE TO HALSEY’S MODEL, AND IS REPLICATING HER WORK WELL (PERHAPS BETTER, GIVEN THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATE’S WORKING WITH). I’VE BEEN DOING MY BEST TO HELP WITH THE TRAINING, AND WHILE THE DI’S ARE ALL MUCH BETTER QUALIFIED TO TEACH, I DO WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP PLAN THE TRAINING AND ORGANIZE THINGS. IT’S A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES JUST TO FIND WORK, AND THAT FEELS DOWNRIGHT WRONG. THE LIST OF PLANET’S LOST TO THE COVENANT IS GROWING EVERY MONTH, AND SITTING IN A CHAIR, DOING NOTHING DEFINITELY DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH ME.

NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM, THOUGH. THE FIRST WAVE OF CANDIDATE PROGRESS REPORTS ARE IN, AND THEY’RE WELL AHEAD OF THE PROJECTED EXPECTATIONS---EVEN THE RANDOM ONES WE PICKED UP OFF THE STREET. ONI ANAYLYSTS (AND MY OWN INDEPDENT PROJECTIONS) PREDICTED WE’D BE SEEING APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE ORIGINAL CHARLIE ONE PERFORMANCE BY NOW, BUT THE CANDIDATES ARE STILL MATCHING THEM FAIRLY CLOSE. A FEW ARE AS LOW AS 95%, BUT THEY’RE BEING BUOYED BY A LARGE CROP OF RECRUITS THAT ARE MATCHING THEM EXACTLY---[S-338], [S-343], AND [S-341] IN PARTICULAR. THE FORMER ARE EVEN SURPASSING SOME OF THE LESS PROFICIENT CHARLIE ONE CANDIDATES.

I HAD A MINOR ALTERCATION WITH AN ONI AGENT EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN HE TRIED TO TAKE SOME OF THE CANDIDATES FOR “TESTING” WITHOUT ASKING ME OR LASZLO, AND IT TOOK SOME SERIOUS SMOOTH TALK BY RICH TO CALM DOWN THE ONI BRASS. I’M STARTING TO GET THE FEELING AGAIN THAT I’M NOT WELCOME HERE, AND I’M WATCHING MY BACK. I’VE ACTUALLY STARTED GETTING COMFORTABLE HERE (THESE RECRUITS ARE REMARKABLY INNOCENT FOR ALL THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH, AND BEING AROUND THEM TENDS TO PUT ME A LITTLE TOO MUCH AT EASE), AND IT’S HARDER AND HARDER TO STAY VIGILIANT. I KNOW I HAVE TO, BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY’RE ON MY SIDE, I KNOW ONI IS DEFINITELY NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THESE KIDS. AND IF THEY’RE NOT, THAT MEANS I HAVE TOO.

DECEMBER 22ND, 2540

2541
WE WANTED TO HAVE OUR TEAM LEADER ROSTER UP A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS INTO TRAINING, AND WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO THAT DEADLINE. THE CHARLIE ONES DIDN’T REALLY TAKE ON A DEFINITIVE COMMAND STRUCTURE UNTIL BASICALLY 2 YEARS INTO THEIR TRAINING, BUT LASZLO’S MORE FOCUSED TEAM BUILDING HAS HEIGHTENED THE NEED FOR ORGANIZED LEADERSHIP. PICKING LEADERS IS HARD, BECAUSE IT’S STILL EARLY, AND SOME OF OUR BEST CANDIDATES COULD BE LATE BLOOMERS, BUT I FEEL FAIRLY CONFIDENT IN OUR CHOICES (THEY CAN ALL BE MODIFIED, IF NEED BE, AS WELL).

AS IT STANDS, WE’VE GOT DEFINITE LEADERS FOR SEVEN TEAMS, WITH LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR THE OTHER THREE. OUR CRITERIA WAS BASED ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, BUT NAMELY ON THE CANDIDATE’S COMBAT ABILITIES AND LEADERSHIP TALENT. A FEW WERE OBVIOUS---LIKE [S-338] FOR TAN, [S-341] FOR CRIMSON (WHO I‘M NOW CONVINCED, BY THE WAY, MASTERMINDED THEIR FAILED ESCAPE ATTEMPT 5 MONTHS AGO), [S-312] FOR SILVER, AND [S-309] FOR TURQUOISE---BUT THERE WERE PLENTY OF DIFFICULT ONES TOO. SCARLET, OLIVE, AND CYAN WERE ALL NAILBITERS (WE ENDED UP CHOOSING [S-356] FOR SCARLET, [S-316] FOR OLIVE, AND [S-314] FOR CYAN---[S-343] WAS CONSIDERED, BECAUSE SHE’S THE MOST CAPABLE MEMBER IN THE WHOLE TEAM, BUT [S-314] IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN KEEP THEM IN LINE.)

AS FOR THE THREE SQUADS LEFT LEADERLESS (ORANGE, GOLD, AND VIOLET), WE’RE STILL DELIBERATING. LASZLO MOSTLY HAS YET TO IDENTIFY A REALLY SOLID, STAND OUT LEADER IN VIOLET AND ORANGE, AND IS WAITING TO SEE IF ANYTHING DEVELOPS. GOLD ON THE OTHER HAND, IS TRICKY. NEITHE ME NOR LASZLO CAN REALLY DECIDE; WE’VE GOT TWO CANDIDATES PRIME FOR A LEADERSHIP ROLE ([S-363] AND [S-347]), BUT THEY BOTH HAVE DISTINCT TALENTS AND WEAKNESSES; [S-363] ISN’T NEARLY AS TACTICALLY ADEPT AS [S-347], BUT HE’S MODEST, CAUTIONAIRY, AND HAS A TALENT FOR MAKING HIS TEAM WORK SEAMLESSLY WELL TOGETHER. [S-347], BY CONTRAST, HAS ALL THE NECESSARY TACTICAL ABILITIES (AND THEN SOME) BUT LACKS A MORE PERSONAL TOUCH---LIKE I NOTED WHEN WE PICKED HER UP, SHE’S GOT A BIG HEAD AND IS A BIT OF A HELLCAT; THE SQUAD FINDS HER ABRADING AT TIMES. WE’RE TRYING HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WE’LL PUT IN COMMAND, BUT IT’S DEFINITLEY A PROCESS.

MARCH 25TH, 2541

2542
TODAY IS THE ANNIVERSARY. TWO YEARS; 730 DAYS OF TRAINING, STRUGGLES, MISHAPS, AND SUCCESSES. 104 WEEKS OF GUILT AND ANXIETY. IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE SO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED. FEEL’S LIKE YESTERDAY THAT I WAS INTERVIEWING THE KIDS FOR POTENTIAL (NOT THAT THOSE INTERVIEWS DID ANYTHING MORE THAN WASTE TIME IN THE LONG RUN). IT’S FUNNY; SOME THINGS STICK WITH YOU NO MATTER WHAT. WHEN I WAKE UP ON MY BIRTHDAY, IT TAKES AN AUTO-REMINDER TO MAKE ME REALIZE, AND I’D HAVE TO LOOK IN MY JOURNAL TO FIND THE ANNIVERSARY OF MY FIRST DAY OF COMPANY TRAINING. YET THE MOMENT I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE DATE MEANT. FUNNY, REALLY.

FOR A WHILE, I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO REMEMBERED, BUT APPARENTLY THE SIGNIFICANCE WAS NOT LOST ON LASZLO EITHER. HE TOOK THE RECRUITS OUT TODAY FOR A RECREATION OF A FIELD TEST HIS GROUP WENT THROUGH WHEN THEY WERE CANDIDATES---THE INFAMOUS “LOST IN THE WOODS” DEBACLE THAT ENDED IN [S-117] BEING MADE THEIR LEADER. WE DON’T REALLY HAVE LEADERS LIKE THAT IN THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE MORE TIGHT-KNIT TEAMGROUPS, SO THEIR PERFORMANCE WILL CERTAINLY BE INTERESTING---BUT SOMEHOW I FIND IT EQUALLY FASCINATING THAT LASZLO THOUGHT ABOUT THE ANNIVERSARY ENOUGH TO PLAN THIS TRAINING OP SPECIFICALLY FOR IT.

HE LEFT WITH THE CANDIDATES ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, AND THE FACILITY IS UNUSUALLY QUIET. I HAVE MORE TIME TO SIT AND THINK THEN I’VE HAD IN MONTHS. SO MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND NONE OF IT MAKES SENSE, EVEN NOW. I REALLY WONDER IF I’LL EVER GET OVER ROLE IN THIS; IN SOME WAYS, I REALY DON’T WANT TOO. LASZLO WILL BE BACK IN A FEW HOURS, AND WE’LL HAVE A FEW MORE AFTER THAT BEFORE THE CANDIDATES FIND THEIR WAY BACK (IF PRIOR EXAMPLES HOLD TRUE). MAYBE I’LL FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN TRAINING. IT’S BEEN TWO YEARS, AND I STILL HARDLY KNOW THE MAN. MAYBE IT’S TIME THAT CHANGED.

AUGUST 6TH, 2542

2543
WHILE LASZLO HAS INTRODUCED SOME MINOR VARIATIONS AND CHANGES INTO THE TRAINING REGIMEN (SOME OF WHICH HAVE HAD MORE PROFOUND EFFECTS THAN EXPECTED---THE EARLY TEAM FORMATION IN PARTICULAR), WE ARE, IN GENERAL, TRYING TO STAY TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL METHODS USED BY HALSEY AND MENDEZ. YET SOMETIMES, WE PRODUCE VASTLY DIFFERENT RESULTS---EVEN USING THE SAME METHODOLIGIES AND PROCEDURES. CASE IN POINT IS THE SPECIALIZATION WE’RE SEEING IN THE CANDIDATES---OR LACK OF IT, AS THE CASE MAY BE, IN OTHERS---AND WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD PROMOTE IT.

HALSEY, TO BE CLEAR, DID NOT PROMOTE SPECIALIZATION. FOR SUCH A BRILLIANT WOMAN (BRILLIANT IN MIND, OBVIOUSLY, NOT IN SOUL) SHE HAD A STRANGE AVOIDANCE OF WHAT CONVENTIONAL MILITARY LOGIC DICTATES TO BE GOOD IDEAS. CANDIDATE SPECIALIZATION IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS. HALSEY SEEMED TO WANT THE CANDIDATES TO ALL BE CARBON COPIES, EQUALLY CAPABLE IN ALL AREAS---WITHOUT DISTINCT SKILL SETS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS DIDN’T END UP BEING THE CASE; [S-058] MORPHED INTO THE GROUP’S FOREMOST SHARPSHOOTER, [S-104] THEIR CQB EXPERT, [S-008] THEIR EVA SPECIALIST, [S-044] THEIR SCOUT, [S-052] THEIR SUPPORT SPECIALIST, [S-042] THEIR EXPLOSIVE EXPERT---BUT IT CERTAINLY WAS NEVER HER INTENTION.

OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS KIND OF SPECIALIZATION HAS BEEN NON-COMMITAL, UP TO THIS POINT. LASZLO HIMSELF HAS DISTINCT SPECIALTIES, (MOST NOTABLY IN THE AREA OF ENGINEERING, SHARPSHOOTING, PILOTING, AND MEDICINE---OR SO HIS CSV SAYS) YET SEEM’S HESITANT TO STRAY TO FAR FROM HALSEY’S MODEL (HE DOESN’T SEEM TO REALIZE THAT HIS IDEAS ARE JUST AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER, THAN HERS) AND HAS THUS REMAINED AMBIGOUS. THIS HAS WORKED WELL ENOUGH SO FAR, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, FATE SEEMS LIKE IT’S ABOUT TO FORCE OUR HAND. THE CANDIDATES ARE ALREADY BRANCHING OUT AND TAKING INTEREST IN SPECIFIC FIELDS, AND HAVE THEMSELVES INQUIRED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SPECIALIST TRAINING. [S-338], [S-317], AND [S-343] IN PARTICULAR ARE VOCAL SUPPORTERS OF ADDITIONAL OPTIONS (THOUGH 343 ASKED FOR TRAINING WITH THE FLAMETHROWER, SO I DON’T KNOW IF HUMORING HER IS WISE).

AT ANY RATE, IT’S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION.

MAY 23RD, 2543

THE WORLD RARELY COOPERATES TOTALLY WITH OUR PLANS, BUT IT STILL SEEMS LIKE WE DO OCCASIONALLY GET THOSE DAYS WHEN THINGS JUST GO TO TOTAL RATSHIT AND EVERYTHING STARTS FALLING APART. FOR ME, THOSE DAYS USED TO BE STRAIGHT FORWARD AND COUNTERABLE; BATTLES THAT GOT MESSY (WHERE OUR OPTIONS WERE ALL STRAIGHTFORWARD AND SIMPLE) OR, IF I WAS REALLY UNLUCKY, AN ARGUMENT WITH WOMAN (WHERE MY SOLUTION WAS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT SOME HEAVY DRINKING). NOWADAYS, NONE OF MY CRISES ARE EVER SO OBVIOUS---OR SO EASILY FIXED.

MY CURRENT ONES ARE SUBLTE AND DEVIOUS; THEY SNEAK UP ON ME AND ENTHRALL ME IN ALL KINDS OF TORMENTS. I HAVE A HARD TIME TAKING A LOT OF THEM SERIOUSLY SOMETIMES, BECAUSE MILITARY POLITICS JUST DOESN’T HAVE THE SAME SENSE OF DANGER AS A WARZONE---BUT THEY’RE JUST AS DEADLY IN THEIR OWN WAY. AND THE WORST PART IS THAT WHILE MY OLD CONFLICTS USED TO JUST INVOLVE ME, THESE NEW ONE’S ARE ALMOST NEVER ABOUT ME---AND IT MAKES THE SITUATION A HUNDRED TIMES MORE COMPLICATED, AT LEAST IN MY MIND.

THE ONE CURRENTLY CONFOUNDING ME IS FUNDING. RICH WENT TO A LOT OF WORK IN THE BEGINNING TO GATHER THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAM, AND THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ENOUGH STORED UP IN THE COFFERS TO LAST US THROUGH TRAINING, AUGMENTATION, AND DEPLOYMENT. JUST BARELY ENOUGH, BUT ENOUGH NONETHELESS. PROBLEM IS, ONI’S PRESSED FOR CASH, AND RICH HAS KEPT THE PROJECT SEALED SO TIGHT THAT MOST OF THE AGENCY DOESN’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE DOING. COMPARTMENTILIZATION AND ALL THAT CRAP. NOW ONI IS DRAWING FUNDS FROM ANOTHER APPARENT “BLACK HOLE” PROJECT---US. THEY DON’T KNOW WHY WE NEED THE MONEY, AND WE SURE AS HELL CAN’T TELL THEM. RICH IS MOVING FAST TO REALLOCATE OUR REMAINING STOCKPILES, BUT WE’RE STILL GOING TO TURN UP SHORT, AND THAT MEANS ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CUT. WITH THE ALREADY LOW SURVIVAL RATES, THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE.

I THINK IT’S HIGH TIME I DID SOME REAL WORK AROUND HERE. THIS IS AS GOOD A PLACE TO START AS ANY.

JUNE 9TH, 2543

2544
TRAINING IS GETTING MORE AND MORE INTENSE EACH MONTH, AND THE STRESS IS STARTING TO SHOW. I HAVE TO TRUST LASZLO KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING, BUT IT’S WORRYING NONETHELESS. IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, WE’VE HAD A HALF DOZEN BROKEN BONES, CONCUSSIONS, AND CLOSE CALLS WITH WEAPONS; SMALLER INJURIES HAPPEN ALMOST DAILY. LASZLO SAYS THEY’LL BE ABLE TO COPE, SO I’LL GIVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT (HE WENT THROUGH IT ALL, AND KNOWS MORE ABOUT THEIR SITUATION THAN ME).

THE STRAIN IS ALREADY STARTING TO SHOW, HOWEVER. THE CANDIDATES WITH THE HIGHER GENETIC MATCHES ARE RACING AHEAD WITH EXEMPLARY SCORES, OUTPACING THEIR FELLOWS. THE WEAKER CANDIDATES ARE BEING SLOWLY LEFT BEHIND, AT LEAST PERFORMANCE WISE. THEIR TEAM DYANMIC IS AS STRONG AS EVER, A FORCE UNTO ITSELF. THEY’RE CLOSER THAN FAMILY; A TIGHT KNIT GROUP THAT WATCHES EACH OTHER’S BACK CONSTANTLY. JUST LOOKING AT THEM MAKES ME JEALOUS. THAT KIND OF ASSURANCE WOULD BE MORE HELPFUL THAN I CAN DESCRIBE.

THERE ARE A FEW NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS, OF COURSE, MOST PRESSINGLY BEING SCARLET TEAM. [S-347] REALLY DOESN’T FIT IN WITH THEM, AND IT SHOWS. THEY SQUABBLE DAILY, SHE UNDERMINES [S-363]’S AUTHORITY, AND SPENDS MOST OF HER FREE TIME WITH SCARLET TEAM (THAT IN ITSELF SET’S OFF ALARM BELLS---THE BAD SIDE OF THE HEAVY EMPHASIS ON SQUAD DYNAMICS IS THAT IT’S MADE THEM A LOT LESS INCLUSIVE THAN THE CHARLIE ONES, SO INTER-SQUAD MINGLING IS A TOUCHY AFFAIR). IT WILL HOPEFULLY ALL SETTLE DOWN IN A FEW YEARS WHEN THEY GROW OUT OF IT, BUT UNTIL THEN, IT WILL MAKE FOR SOME TRYING TIMES.

JANUARY 12TH, 2544

WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I DISCOVERED I HAD GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS WAITING FOR ME. THE GOOD NEWS: I STILL HAVE A JOB, NO ONE DIED (THAT I KNOW), AND I’M NOT BEING PULLED FROM THE PROJECT. ALSO, NOT BEING EXECUTED. ALWAYS A GOOD THING (AND I SAY THAT IN FULL SERIOUSNESS). BAD NEWS: RICH FOUND OUT ABOUT MY “FUNDRAISING SCHEMES”, AND IS NOTHAPPY. LET ME CLARIFY: HE’S NOT ANGRY THAT I STOLE MONEY FROM OTHER PROJECTS; HE’S ANGRY BECAUSE I ACCIDENTALLY STOLE SOME FROM HIS.

NAMES ARE UNIMPORTANT (AND LIKELY TO CAUSE MORE TROUBLE THAN THEIR WORTH), BUT SUFFICE TO SAY HE WAS LOOKING THROUGH HIS BUDGET ROSTER AND NOTICED A PRECIPITOUS DROP IN FUNDING FOR ONE OF HIS “TOP SECRET” WARFIGHTING PROGRAMS. THAT, COUPLED, WITH MY RECENT REPORT ON “AN UNEXPECTED REVENUE AMENDMENT” SET OFF ALARM BELLS IN HIS HEAD, AND HE WAS QUICK TO MAKE THE CONNECTION. HIS MESSAGE WAS SHORT AND TO THE POINT: GET THE MONEY BACK, OR THE WHOLE PROGRAM IS BEING SMASHED AND YOUR GETTING DROPPED.

HE’S PROBABLY BLUFFING (WE’RE FOUR YEARS INTO TRAINING---HE’S NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO WASTE ALL THAT MONEY) BUT I FOLLOWED THE ORDER ANYWAY. ALL FUNDS HAVE BEEN RETUNRED TO HIM…OR AT LEAST, THE FUNDST THAT CAME FROM HIM. I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE THE ONE TO STEAL MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT, BUT I GUESS DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES. I’M NOT SHORTSIDING OUR RECRUITS, NO MATTER WHAT. I’VE BEGUN COVERTLY DRAWING FUNDING FROM A DOZEN MORE CIVILIAN BRANCHES (IN SMALLER AMOUNTS THIS TIME---NO NEED TO REPEAT PAST MISTAKES), AND THE MONEY TO REPLACE OUR LOSSES IS ALREADY COMING IN. WE STILL WON’T HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE LATEST AUGMENTS OR---GOD FORBID---MJOLNIR; BUT IT’S BETTER THAN NOTHING.

DECEMBER 19TH, 2544

2545
WE’VE GOT A HALF DOZEN INTERNAL TRAINING OPERATIONS, PROJECTS, AND EVALUATIONS GOING, AND I FEEL LIKE MY HEAD’S ON A SWIVEL. FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY, I SPENT MY TIME CALCULATING AUGMENTATION SUCCESS/FAILURE RATES; AFTER THAT, I ASSISTED IN ONE OF THE MARKSMANSHIP LESSONS. WE’VE RARELY HAD SO MUCH GOING ON AT ONCE, AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, IT’S A LITTLE DISTRACING. I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE I USED TO COPE WITH THE CHAOS OF OPEN BATTLFIELDS WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A HEADACHE, BUT NOW I CAN’T EVEN KEEP TRACK OF A FEW RANDOM PROGRAMS. MAYBE I’M GETTING OLD.

IT DOESN’T HELP THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN CRASHING IN ON THEMSELVES LATELY. RICH HAS BEEN GETTING ALL OVER ME ABOUT SOME OF MY “LESS THAN LEGAL” EXTRA FUNDRAISING SCHEMES. LASZLO’S CRYPTIC COMMENTS ABOUT HIS PAST ARE CONFUSING AND WORRYING. LYLA’S BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY, A NONE TO WELCOME REMINDER OF EVERYTHING I LEFT BEHIND. AND SOME BASTARD ONI AGENT HAS BEEN “ASSESSING THE CONDITION” OF THE CANDIDATES; SNOOPING AROUND THE FACILITY, LOOKING FOR DIRT ON THE PROJECT (OR ME, OR LAZ, OR DEAN…)

NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THE CANDIDATES ARE STARTING TO ACT OUT (OR, ACT OUT AS MUCH AS A BUNCH OF HIGHLY REGIMENTED SOLDIERS IN TRAINING DO). PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW DESTRUCTIVE TEENAGERS CAN BE, AND I CAN BARELY CONTAIN MY TERROR AT WHAT THEY’LL BE LIKE ONCE THEY HIT PUBERTY. THE DIFFERENCE IN STANDARDS BETWEEN THE CHARLIE ONES AND OUR CHARLIE THREES IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE APPARENT. THEY’RE STILL KEEPING PACE (OR CLOSE TO IT---AN AVERAGE OF 93% COMPARITIVE SCORES) WITH THE CHARLIE ONES, STUDY AND SKILL WISE, BUT THEY’RE EXUDING TWO OR THREE TIMES AS MUCH BULLSHIT FACTOR---BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, AS THE SPOOKS CALL THEM. JUST THE OTHER DAY, 311 HACKED OUR SECURITY SYSTEM, AND UPLOADED A VIRUS THAT REPLACED THE “TOP SECRET” STAMP ON ALL OVER OUR LETTERS WITH AN EMBLEM OF A GRUNT’S HEAD EXPLODING INTO CONFETTI. IT’S AMUSING, BUT IT’S NOT THE KIND OF EXAMPLE WE WANT THEM TO SET.

MAY 14TH, 2545

WE’VE BEEN HAVING SOME SERIOUS TEAMWORK ISSUES WITH [S-347] AND [S-363], AND TODAY THINGS FINALLY CAME TO A HEAD. I HAVEN’T PUT ANYTHING DOWN ABOUT IT, BECAUSE (AS I GUESS IS LIKELY APPARENT) I HAVEN’T HAD MUCH TIME TO WRITE ANYTHING, BUT THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY WORTH MENTIONING. FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, [S-347] AND [S-363] (WHO’VE ALWAYS HAD A TENSE RELATIONSHIP) HAVE BEEN HAVE A COVERT LITTLE POWER STRUGGLE, WITH 347 ATTEMPTING TO USURP HIS POSITION AS SQUAD LEADER. IT’S TRIVIAL AND POINTLESS---OR AT LEAST, I THINK IT IS---BUT THAT ISN’T STOPPING THEM.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS BEEN BREWING, BUT WHAT’S SURPRISING IS THAT IT ACTUALLY CLOSELY MIRRORED A PROBLEM THE CHARLIE ONES HAD---SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN [S-144] AND [S-077]. DURING A TRAINING SKIRMISH, WE PAIRED GOLD AND SCARLET TEAMS AGAINST CRIMSON AND CYAN, GIVING EACH AN OBJECTIVE TO ACCOMPLISH. CRIMSON AND CYAN WERE SUPPOSED TO ESCORT A PACKAGE (PLAYED BY ONE OF THE DI’S) TO AN EZ, AND GOLD AND CRIMSON WERE SUPPOSED TO STOP THEM. 347 CAME UP WITH AN AMBUSH PLAN THAT CAUGHT CRIMSON ALMOST PERFECTLY OFF GUARD, BUT CYAN COUNTERED AND CUT SCARLET OFF FROM GOLD---WITH 347 TRAPPED WITH SCARLET. SCARLET’S OWN LEADER (351) PANICKED AND GOT HIT, SO SHE TOOK CONTROL OF THEM.

AS THIS WAS HAPPENING, HOWEVER, CRIMSON REGROUPED AND MADE A BEELINE FOR THE PICKUP ZONE. 363 GAVE THE ORDER TO PURSUE, BREAKING THE PLAN, AND MANAGED TO GET IN FRONT OF THEM AND DRIVE THEM BACK INTO A CROSSFIRE WITH SCARLET. SCARLET AND GOLD PULLED IT OUT BY THE SKIN OF THEIR TEETH, BUT THE MOMENT THE SHOOTING STOPPED, 347 WENT OFF ON 363---AND IN THE RESULTING STRUGGLE, THEY BOTH ENDED UP IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE. AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, GOLD RALLIED AROUND 363, WHILE SCARLET MADE A SHOW OF SUPPORTING 347. TO CUT STRAIGHT TO THE POINT, WE HAD NO CHOIC BUT TO SEPARATE THEM, AND, UNDER LASZLO’S DIRECTION, WE PLACED 347 IN SCARLET. THE MOMENT WE DID, 351 OFFERED HER THE ROLE OF SQUAD LEADER. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE’RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THEM VERY, VERY CLOSELY.

JUNE 16TH, 2545

GOLD TEAM IS USUALLY THE BEST BEHAVED OF THE BUNCH (ANTICS WITH 347 NOTWITHSTANDING), BUT WE’VE BEEN HAVING ALL SORTS OF ISSUES WITH THEM LATELY. IT’S STEMMING, NATURALLY, FROM THE RECENT TRANSFER; AFTER WE ROTATED 347 INTO SCARLET TEAM, WE WERE FACED WITH SIX PEOPLE IN SCARLET, AND FOUR IN GOLD. WE DIDN’T WANT TO TAKE ONE OF THE SCARLET MEMBERS AND PUT THEM IN GOLD, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE ASKING FOR TROUBLE, SO INSTEAD, WE DECIDED TO SHIFT THE RANKS AROUND. ANYTHING LIKE THIS IS TRICKY, BECAUSE THE SQUADS HAVE ALL BEEN TOGETHER SINCE INDUCTION DAY, BUT IT’S NECCESSARY AS WELL. BESIDES THE THRASHING WE’D GET FROM ONI, WE CAN’T AFFORD TO UPSET THE TEAM DYNAMIC BY HAVING UNEVEN SQUADS.

SOME OF THE CANDIDATES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE THAN OTHERS, SO NATURALLY WE LOOKED AT THEM FIRST. ANYONE GOOD AT HANDLING CHANGE OR SOCIALABLE WAS FAVORABLE, BUT WE ALSO WANTED SOMEONE RELATIVELY MILD, TO HELP CALM THINGS DOWN. FOR TAKING ONE OUT OF SCARLET, THIS WAS AN EASY PICK; 366 IS BY FAR ONE THE MOST EASYGOING OF THE TEAM, SO WE WERE QUICK TO TAKE HIM AND SEND HIM TO ANOTHER SQUAD. PICKING THE NEXT PERSON WAS A BIT HARDER; IT WAS A CHALLENGE TO FIND AN INCLUSIVE, WELL ADJUSTED SQUAD MEMBER WHO WASN’T A SQUAD LEADER. IN THE END, WE DECIDED TO GRAB 333 OUT OF OLIVE AND PLACE HIM IN GOLD (PUTTING 366 INTO HIS OLD SLOT). WE CHOSE HIM FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS; ONE, WHILE HE DOESN’T HANDLE CHANGE WELL, HE’S FAIRLY AMIABLE, AND TWO, HE IS AT A ROUGHLY SIMILAR LEVEL TO 366 IN TERMS OF ABILITY---IT WILL MAKE THE TRANSITION FOR OLIVE MUCH EASIER TO HAVE SOMEONE SIMILARILY TALENTED TAKING 333’S OLD SPOT.

SO, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SCARLET AND OLIVE ARE BOTH STILL VERY STABLE. OLIVE IS TAKING THE CHANGE IN STRIDE, AND SCARLET, QUITE FRANKLY, IS ACTUALLY PLEASED---THEY’VE ALWAYS LIKED 347 (SOMETHING I CAN’T QUITE UNDERSTAND). UNFORTUNATELY, SUCH STABILITY ISN’T PRESENT EVERYWHERE. GOLD IS FEELING THE CHANGE QUITE HEAVILY, AND ARE SUFFERING FOR IT. THROUGHOUT TRAINING, THEY’VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST SQUADS, AND HAVE CONSISTENLY RANKED HIGHEST IN TEAM COHESION DUE TO 363’S LEADERSHIP. THEY HAD THEIR DYNAMIC DOWN TO AN EXACT SCIENCE, HOWEVER, AND 333 IS A WRENCH IN THE WORKS FOR THEM. WHILE THEY’VE MAINTAINED THE SAME COMBAT SCORES, THEY’VE DROPPED IN THE OVERALL STANDINGS TO 9TH, THANKS TO A DROP IN THEIR COORDINATION STATISTICS. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE TO GET THEIR TEAM COORDINATED AGAIN, AND WHILE I’M QUITE CERTAIN 363 WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT---HE HAS AN AFFINITY FOR BUILDING TEAMS---I’M NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.

JULY 6TH, 2545

2546
WE FINALLY HIT PHASE THREE OF THE TRAINING TODAY, AND THINGS ARE LOOKING UP. THE CANDIDATES ARE SURGING AHEAD, AND WE ARE IDENTIFYING OUR TOP INDIVIDUALS WITH MUCH GREATER CERTAINITY. SOME ARE SURPRISES, OTHERS ARE EASIER TO EXPECT. THEY’RE ALL DOING WELL---GOLD IN PARTICULAR HAS SHOWN MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, FINALLY RECOVERING FROM THE TRANSFER A YEAR AGO---AND THE STAFF SEEMS PLEASED WITH THEIR PROGRESS. IT’S ALL GOOD NEWS, IN GENERAL; THE NEXT STAGE OF TRAINING WILL LAST ONLY TWO YEARS, BUT WILL BE CRITICAL TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT. HAVING THEM ENTER AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME WILL BE CRITICAL. THEIR RELATIVE SKILL TO THE ORIGINAL CLASS I’S IS HOVERING AT 90% FOR THE GROUP, AND AT 100% FOR A FEW SELECT INDIVIDUALS---MUCH BETTER THAN ANTICIPATED BY ONI.

THE 100% CANDIDATES, ARE, BY AN LARGE, MOSTLY THOSE WITH GENETIC PROFILES EQAUL OR VERY NEARLY EQUAL THE ORIGINALS. 338 AND 343, WHO HAVE CONSISTENTLY PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE OUR BEST OPERATORS, ARE MATCHING THE ORIGINAL II’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLY CLOSE. THREE OTHERS---341, 309, AND 324---ARE FOLLOWING A HAIR BEHIND, NIPPING AT THEIR HEELS. THEIR PARTICULAR SPECIALTIES ARE SHINING THROUGH CLEARLY NOW; 338 HAS EVOLVED INTO THE BEST SNIPER IN THE GROUP, KEEPING PACE WITH HOW [S-058] DID AT HIS AGE; 343, 309, AND 324 ARE EXPERTS IN CLOSE QUARTERS, WITH 343 A BIT FARTHER AHEAD BECAUSE OF MORE VARIED SKILLS, AND 341 IS PROVING TO BE LIKELY THE MOST ADAPTABLE OF THEM ALL---THOUGH NOT AS POLISHED IN ANY ONE FIELD AS ANY OF THEM, HE’S GOOD WITH PRACTICALLY ANYTHING.

MOST OF OUR OTHER STRONG CANDIDATES---311, 319, 363, 347, 351, 356, 332, 329, 314, 349, TO JUST NAME A FEW---ARE DOING STRONG AS WELL, PERFECTING A VARIED ARRAY OF TALENTS. THE “LESSER” CANDIDATES ARE NOTABLY LESS SPECIALIZED, BUT THEY’RE STILL PASSABLE IN ALL OF THE NECESSARY FIELDS. THE DIFFERENCES WILL LIKELY WIDEN ONCE THE NEW TRAINING REGIME GOES INTO FULL GEAR, BUT THE DI’S ARE PREDICTING THAT THE WEAKER CANDIDATES WILL KEEP UP OUT OF RAW DETERMINATION---WHILE IT’S TRUE THAT A LOT OF THE CANDIDATES ARE OF VASTLY LOWER GENETIC QUALITY THAN THE ORIGINAL CHARLIE ONES, THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME FIERCE WILLPOWER.

JULY 8TH, 2546

I’VE BEEN FEELING INCREASINGLY LIKE THE PROJECT IS UNDER ASSAULT FROM THE OUTSIDE, EVER SINCE THE MONEY RAID THREE YEARS AGO. I FEEL CRAZY EVEN WRITING IT (LET ALONE SAYING IT ALOUD---I DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE DI’S WOULD SAY IF THEY HEARD ME), BUT I’M FEELING MORE AND MORE LIKE I’M BEHIND ENEMY LINES. WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED HERE…IT WASN’T COMFORTING (FOR DAMN SURE) BUT AT LEAST I FELT LIKE I WAS ON THE SAME SIDE AS MOST OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME (EXCEPT FOR THE SPOOKS---NEVER TRUSTED THEM).

NOW THINGS FEEL LIKE A CONSTANT GAME OF CHESS; I MAKE A MOVE, AND MY UNSEEN OPPONENTS MAKE ONE TO COUNTER IT. I DON’T KNOW WHO THEY ARE---ONI UPPER ECHELON, NAVSPECWAR, RICH’S LAPDOGS, OR GOD KNOWS WHO ELSE---BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMEONE ELSE WORKING AGAINST ME. SUBTLE, LITTLE THINGS; LISTENING DEVICES IN MY ROOM WITHOUT REASON, OBSCURE DATA INTRUSIONS, PSEDUO SPY STUFF LIKE THAT. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, OR WHY THEY WANT IT, BUT I CAN’T BE SURE OF ANYTHING.

DID THE OTHER PROGRAM’S GO THROUGH THIS KIND OF THING? I CAN’T BE THE ONLY ONE. HALSEY LIKELY DID, BUT A LOT OF THE HAZING PROBABLY WAS A RESULT OF HER CIVILIAN STATUS. THE CHARLIE TWO’S WERE RUN THROUGH CLEANLY AND EFFICIENTLY; I DOUBT THEY DID. AND SPARTAN-III….WELL, I KNOW IT EXISTS, BUT BEYOND THAT, IT’S A MYSTERY. ACKERSON’S RUNNING IT, SO IT’S GOT HEAVY HITTERS TO BACK IT UP, BUT ALSO A LOT OF ENEMIES. MAYBE I SHOULDN’T HAVE TRIED SO HARD TO PISS ONI OFF IN THE EARLY DAYS. THINGS MIGHT BE SIMPLER NOW.

NOVEMBER 13TH, 2546

2547
I RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY FROM LYLA. I THOUGHT IT WAS A MISTAKE AT FIRST, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY THAT SHE COULD HAVE KNOWN MY LOCATION, BUT APPARENTLY ADMIRAL RICH HAD IT FORWARDED TO ME ON HIS PERSONAL ORDERS. THAT ALONE WAS SURPRISING. BUT IT WASN’T THE ONLY UNEXPECTED TWIST. IT WAS A SHOCK TO HEAR FROM HER AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, BUT THAT WAS HARDLY THE BIGGEST SURPRISE.

THE LETTER IS A WILL.

THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD HAVE KNOWN, BUT SHE WAS ON SKOPJE TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN IT FELL. SHE WAS ON THE SURFACE WHEN IT WAS GLASSED; COMPANY RECORDS, WHICH I ACCESSED WITH THE HELP OF SOME OF ONI’S INFILTRATION SOFTWARE, REVEAL SHE WAS WORKING UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT, SCRAMBLING TO SEND AS MUCH DATA ON HER WEAPONS PROJECTS AS SHE COULD TO THEIR ORBITING TRANSPORT BEFORE THE COVENANT REACHED HER. I CAN’T BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE SURREAL FEELINGS I FELT WHEN I READ ABOUT IT. IT’S BEEN YEARS, BUT SOMEHOW…I DON’T KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT IT DEFINITELY WAS NEVER THAT THINGS WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

THE MESSAGE IS A SHORT ONE, JUST A LIST OF A FEW SMALL TRINKETS SHE WANTED TO BE SENT TO ME IN THE EVENT OF HER DEATH. A FEW MOMENTOS OF THE TRIP, A STACK OF HOLO-STILLS---EMPTY, POINTLESS THINGS. BUT THERES ALSO AN ATTACHMENT, A TEXT FILE WITHOUT A NAME, ACCOMPANYING IT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS, THOUGH A DOZEN OBVIOUS SUGGESTIONS SPRING TO MIND. I’M OVERWHELMED WITH CURIOSITY.

BUT I CAN’T OPEN IT.

JUNE 28TH, 2547

SOME UPSTART DI SENT ME A COMMINQUE TWO DAYS AGO, REQUESTING A REPRIMAND OF LASZLO---BECAUSE HE WAS, AND I QUOTE, “PUSHING [THE RECRUITS] TO HARD, TO FAST”. NOT A FAN OF THE GUY (HE THINKS HE’S THE SHIT BECAUSE HE WORKED ON BETA COMPANY, DESPITE THE WILDLY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES), AND I WAS HALFWAY INTO A RESPONSE TELLING HIM WHERE TO SHOVE HIS OPINION WHEN SECTION THREE INTERCEPTED THE MESSAGE AND PUT HIM UP FOR IMMEDIATE PYSCHIATRIC REVIEW, IN PREPARATION FOR IMMEDIATELY DROPPING HIM FROM THE PROGRAM.

MY FRIEND ADMIRAL RICH GAVE ME SOME BACKUP ON THIS ONE (I’M FULLY CONVINCED HE’S PLAYING BOTH ME AND SECTION III OFF EACH OTHER), AND WE MANAGED TO KEEP THEM FROM DROPPING LAZ FROM THE PROGRAM. THE PANEL OF SHRINKS COULDN’T BE AVOIDED, THOUGH, AND NOW I’VE GOT LASZLO BREATHING DOWN MY NECK TOO. I’M REALLY NOT CUT OUT FOR ALL THIS FAUX-POLITICAL BULLSHIT. I’VE SENT A MESSAGE TO LASZLO EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM, AND HOPEFULLY HE’LL LISTEN. I’VE GOT FEW ENOUGH FRIENDS HERE ALREADY. IF I LOSE ENOUGHER ONE, IT MAKES LIFE JUST THAT MUCH HARDER.

OH, AND DEAN INFORMS ME THAT 363 AND 347 JUST GOT THEMSELVES INTO A FIGHT…AGAIN. THE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN THE WHOLE UNIT ARE GROWING WORSE BY THE DAY, BUT THOSE TWO ARE GETTING TO BE A REAL HAZARD. DEAN AND THREE OTHER DI’S MANAGED TO CONTAIN THEIR SQUABBLE WITHOUT LASZLO’S HELP, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. TRANSFERRING THEM TWO YEARS AGO APPARENTLY HASN’T DONE ANY GOOD.

SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2547

MY DISCRETE “DISCUSSIONS” WITH LAZ CONTINUE WITH FREQUENCY. IT’S FUNNY; AFTER ALMOST SEVEN YEARS OF SILENCE, THE MOMENT WE START TALKING ABOUT THINGS SERIOUSLY, WE HIT IT OFF. I THINK I’VE LEARNED MORE ABOUT ONI, THE CHALRIE ONES, AND THE BRASS IN THE LAST MONTH THAN IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. LASZLO WAS NO RANDOM RECRUIT LIKE HE; HE’S TOP NOTCH ALL THE WAY, SCARILY INTELLIGENT AND FULLY IMMERSED IN THE BLACK OPS CULTURE. I’M WISHING DEARLY THAT I’D HAVE TRIED HARDER EARLY TO ESTABLISH CONTACT. WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CHANGE THINGS, GENUINELY IMPROVE THE ODDS, INSTEAD OF ENACTING LAST RESORT MEASURES LIKE WE ARE NOW.

AMONG THE WEALTH OF THINGS WE’VE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, A FEW KEY NUGGETS OF RELEVANT INFORMATION PEEK OUT. ONE, IS THAT RKD IS GOING TO BE PITCHING THEIR NEWEST SUIT OF POWER ARMOR, WHICH WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A REPRESENATIVE THERE TO OBSERVE. SECOND IS THAT LASZLO HAS CONSIDERABLY LOWER CLEARANCES THAN ME, BUT KNOWS HOW TO USE HIS MUCH BETTER. HE’S GIVEN ME MORE THAN ONE LEAD THAT TURNED UP INTERESTING INFORMATION (CASE IN POINT: HE MENTIONED A SUBSECTION OF SECTION III, BETA-5, IN PASSING, AND JUST THAT ONE LITTLE PROMPT HELPED ME REFINE MY SEARCH; FROM JUST THAT ONE CLUE, I MANAGED TO FIND CSV’S ON TWO SEPARATE SPECIAL FORCES UNITS---NOBLE AND HEADHUNTER---WHICH ARE ALMOST DEFINITELY SIERRAS).

BESIDES THE CSVS I TURNED UP, LAZ HAS BEEN EQUALLY HELPFUL IN LOOKING NAVSPECWAR. HE’S DONE SOME “DIGGING” AS HE CALLS, IT AND TURNED UP AN ADDITONAL THREE SIERRA TEAMS---MAYBE MORE---ALL WITHOUT CLEAR ORIGINS. I GUESS THE LAST PART ISN’T SURPRSING, GIVEN THE SECRECY THAT SURROUNDS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, BUT IT’S STILL A BIT DISQUIETING. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT ONI THINKS OF US; OUR CLASSIFICATION AND SECRECY ISN’T NEARLY AS GOOD, SO OUR RELATIVE VALUE, COMPARED TO THE OTHER SIERRA GROUPS, IS SUSPICIOUS. AND GIVEN HOW CALLOUSLY ONI WASTED SIX HUNDRED SIERRA THREES---TOP CLASSIFIED, HIGH VALUE PROGRAMS---I’M ALMOST AFRAID TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY’LL DEPLOY OUR SQUADS.

SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2547

I’M BEGINNING TO SERIOUSLY WONDER WHAT ONI’S INTRUSION SOFTWARE CAN PICK UP. LASZLO’S BEEN WATCHING THE NETWORK TIGHT, AND SAYS DATA TRAFIC INCURSIONS HAVE SPIKED SINCE WE STARTED OUR COVERT CORRESPONDENCE. WE’RE IN THE DEAD CENTER OF THE CURRENT TRAINING PHASE, SO IT’S NOT RELATED TO THAT. ME AND LAZ ARE THE CAUSE, WITHOUT A DOUBT. THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER THE INCREASED TRAFIC IS COMING FROM THEM TRYING TO BREAK OUR CODED SECTIONS…OR WHETHER THEY’VE ALREADY BROKEN IT AND ARE COMPILING EVIDENCE AGAINST US.

MY ACTUAL HANDS-ON WORK ON THE PROJECT HAS BEEN THINNING SINCE IN-SUIT TRAINING BEGAN, BECAUSE THIINGS ARE SO MUCH MORE TECHNICAL AND DANGEROUS---AND, AS 341 MIGHT DELICATELY PUT IT, I’M GODDAMN OLD. LUCKILY, ONI HAS BEEN COMPENSATING WITH MORE WORK ON THE PLANNING STAGES; NO BREAKS IN THE CARDS FOR ME, I GUESS. THEY’VE GOT A WHOLE LIST OF PLANNING AND ORGANIZING THEY WANT DONE, AND MIND NUMBING AS IT IS, AT LEAST IT KEEPS ME OCCUPIED.

THEIR CURRENT DEMAND IS AN IN-DEPTH DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE (READ: RECOMMENDATION) FOR THE CHARLIE THREE SQUADS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING AUGMENTATION. I KEEP TELLING THEM IT’S TOO EARLY SO START PLANNING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS; WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE WAR WILL LOOK LIKE A YEAR FROM NOW, WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TEAM’S WILL MAKE IT THROUGH AUGMENTATION, AND WE HAVE NO DATA TO CORRESPOND THE TWO---BUT THEY DON’T LISTEN. TO HUMOR THEM, I’VE BEEN READING UP ON THE CURRENT THEATRES OF THE WAR, MAKING NOTES AND TRYING TO PREDICT WHERE IT’LL SPREAD NEXT. NICE, TIDY LISTS AND CHARTS FOR THEM TO FOAM OVER, WHILE ME AND LASZLO TAKE CAR OF THE REAL MATTERS BEHIND THE SCENES.

OCTOBER 15TH, 2547

2548
WHEN I LOGGED ON TODAY TO MY CONSOLE, I WAS GREETED WITH A MESSAGE FROM LASZLO ABOUT DATA TAMPERING AND INTRUSION. NOT REALLY AN ORIGINAL TOPIC; ONI HAS BEEN SCOURING OR DATA RECORDS SINCE THE START OF THE PROJECT, LOOKING FOR ANY DIRT ON US THEY CAN FIND. WHAT MADE TODAY UNUSUAL, HOWEVER, WERE TWO THINGS: ONE, THE INTRUSION WAS SUCCESSFUL, AND TWO, THE INTRUSION DID NOT COME FROM ONI, RICH, OR ANY OF THE OTHER MEN IN BLACK. INSTEAD, IT CAME FROM WITHIN THE COMPOUND ITSELF---AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT FROM WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE CANDIDATES.

RIGHT NOW, LASZLO IS RUNNING COVERT DAMAGE PATROL AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, THE INTERLOPERS GOT ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM SOMETIME DURING THE ARMORY INSPECTION (WHERE THE CANDIDATES WERE ALL OFF DUTY, AND ME AND LASZLO WERE BOTH STUCK IN THE AFT SECTION OF THE BASE) AND COPIED EVERYTHING. NOT JUST THE NORMAL BASE FILES; EVERYTHING. CLASSIFIED ONI INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS, ME AND LAZ’S SECRET CORRESPONDENCE, EVEN MY PERSOANL JOURNAL. MUCH OF IT IS ENCRYPTED…BUT LASZLO HASN’T BEEN ABLE TO TRACE THE HACK, AND ANYONE GOOD ENOUGH BREAK INTO OUR SYSTEM, COPY EVERYTHING, AND LEAVE WITHOUT A TRACE WOULD BREAK THROUGH THE ENCRYPTION IN A BREEZE.

ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF TRAINEES POSSESS THE COMPUTER EXPERTISE TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A FEAT, BUT THE PROBLEM NOW IS EVIDENCE. EVEN IS LASZLO MANAGES TO TRACE THEM (UNLIKELY) THEY’LL PROBABLY HAVE IT STORED SOMEWHERE SECURE---OR BETTER YET, THEY MIGHT HAVE JUST COMMITED THE INFORMATION TO MEMORY AND WIPED IT. I’VE ALREADY GOT A FEW SUSPECTS IN MY MIND (319, 311, AND 341 ARE TOPPING THAT LIST) BUT I DOUBT IT’LL DO MUCH GOOD. WE’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO PIN IT ON THEM. AND EVEN IF WE DID, THEN WHAT? BOOT THEM FROM THE PROGRAM? RICH WOULD NEVER ALLOW IT, NOT AFTER THE MONEY THEY’VE SUNK INTO THEIR TRAINING. AND THUS, I’VE DECIDED TO HAVE LASZLO CALL OFF HIS INVESTIGATION AND FOCUS SOLEY ON REPAIRING ANY DAMAGE THEY MIGHT HAVE CAUSED (THOUGH THEY DON’T APPEAR TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING BUT COPY DOWN DATA).

THERE’S TOO MUCH ELSE GOING ON TOO WASTE OUR TIME CHASING GHOSTS. IF THEY WANT INFORMATION, SO BE IT. MAYBE IT’LL HELP THEM UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING…AND IF NOT, WE’LL BE READY.

JANUARY 17TH, 2548

LASZLO AND ME BOTH WANTED TO PATTERN OUR FINAL HONOR’S EXERCISE AFTER THE SIERRA-IIIS AND CONDUCT THEM AFTER AUGMENTATION, BUT LIKELY WON’T BE A POSSIBILITY. ONI HASN’T SAID ANYTHING EITHER WAY, BUT THEY’LL LIKELY WANT TO DEPLOY THE NEW SQUADS AS FAST AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE AFTER AUGMENTATION. ME AND LASZLO ARE ALREADY DOING WHAT WE CAN TO HELP EASE THAT QUICK TRANSITION---AND THE CEREMONY IS ONE OF SEVERAL OF OUR MEASURES.

THE CEREMONY IS BASED OFF THE ORIGINAL THREE MODEL, BUT WE’VE MADE SOME CHANGES TO HELP ACCOMMODATE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE PROJECTS. FOR ONE, WE DECIDED TO ENROLL ALL OF THEM INTO IT, INSTEAD OF JUST THREE SQUADS; REASONS ABOUND, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE WE CAN’T REALLY DECIDE WHO TO CUT---AND BECAUSE IT’LL BE HELPFUL TO SEE THEM ALL IN A SERIOUS, FULL ACTION SCENARIO, WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER. MOST OF THE OTHER DIFFERENCES STEM FROM THAT; A BIGGER AREA (10 SQUARE KILOMETERS, AS OPPOSED TO 3), MORE DI’S, AND GREATER WEAPON SELECTION (TO HELP FULLY REPLICATE THEIR LIKELY FIELD CONDITIONS).

THE RESULTS, AS THEY WERE, WEREN’T WHOLLY UNSURPRSING, BUT DID INCLUDE A FEW SMALL SHOCKS. CONTRARY TO MY EXPECTATIONS, NEITHER TAN, CYAN, OR CRIMSON WON---DESPITE THEIR DRASTICALLY HIGHER GENETIC MATCHES. IN THE END, GOLD TEAM ACTUALLY WON; THEY KILLED OFF TWO TEAMS ON THEIR OWN (SCARLET AND SILVER), THEN CAME OUT ON TOP WHEN THEY RAN INTO TAN, CYAN, AND CRIMSON---SIMOULTANEOUSLY. TAN PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE WON, BUT 338 OVERESTIMATED HIS TEAMATES---OR HE DEPLOYED THEM LIKE HE WOULD HAVE HIMSELF---AND THEY GOT INTO SITUATIONS TO DEEP EVEN FOR THEM. THE FINAL STANDINGS WERE GOLD, TAN, CRIMSON, CYAN, SCARLET, ORANGE, TURQUOISE, VIOLET, SILVER, AND FINALLY, OLIVE---BUT THE REAL CONTEST WAS BETWEEN THE TOP FOUR. WE WERE UNABLE TO SECURE THE HAYABUSA PROTOTYPES LIKE WE’D HOPED, SO WE HAVE NO REWARD FOR THEM ASIDE FROM BRAGGING RIGHTS---BUT FOR US, THE REWARD IS SEEING WHICH GROUPS ARE READY AND WHICH ONES STILL NEED WORK. NOW ALL WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS GETTING THEM READY IN TIME.

MAY 28TH, 2548

LIKE I’VE SAID BEFORE, IT CAN BE AN INTERESTING AND FUNNY TEST TO SEE WHAT STICKS WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS, AND WHAT DOESN’T. IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE THE IMPORTANT THINGS; YOUR FIRST KISS, FIRST BIG SUCCESS AT LIFE, THE DAY YOU GRADUATE COLLEGE, WHATEVER; THINGS THAT WILL HELP YOU THROUGH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. MEMORIES TO CHERISH. YET THAT ISN’T REALLY THE WAY IT WORKS. THE GOOD STUFF NEVER STAYS WITH YOU; IT’S FLEETING, TRANSIENT; EVANESCENT. THE HARDER WE TRY TO HOLD ONTO OUR GOOD MEMORIES, THE QUICKER THEY FALL AWAY. AND AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, THE OPPOSITE HOLDS TRUE OF OUR NEGATIVE MEMORIES; THEY SIMMER, HAUNT US NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE WISH WE COULD LEAVE THEM BEHIND.

SOME DAYS I FEEL LIKE ALL I HAVE LEFT IS THE BAD MEMORIES. THE REASON IS ALWAYS VARIED, NEVER THE SAME, BUT THE FEELING IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS CONSISTENT. YET THOSE BAD MEMORIES CAN SOMETIMES BE HELPFUL; THEY CAN TEACH US THINGS, KEEP US FROM REPEATING OUR PAST MISTAKES…SO FOR ALL THE PAIN THEY CAUSE, THEY HAVE SOME SLIGHT, FEEBLE REDEEMING VALUE. THAT SEEMS TO BE MY CASE TODAY. I NEVER ENJOYED THE MANDATORY PYSCHE COURSES DURING TRAINING; MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE I LOOKED DOWN ON IT AS PSEDU-PYSHIC BULLSHIT, OR MAYBE BECAUSE IT CUT TO CLOSE TO HOME. THIS LATE IN THE GAME, THE REASON DOESN’T REALLY MATTER. BECAUSE OF THAT, IT IS, IRONICALLY ENOUGH, KEPT WITH ME FOR ALL THESE YEARS. IN PARTICULAR, THE LESSONS OF THE STAGES OF GRIEF NEVER SAT WELL WITH ME, AND ARE SOME OF MY CLEAREST MEMORIES.

IT’S ODD, BUT THEY’VE NEVER REALLY FELT RELEVANT TO ME BEFORE. I’VE SEEN PLENTY OF COMBAT, AND GOD KNOW’S I’VE WATCHED PEOPLE KILLED, FRIENDS AND BUDDIES AND OTHER SOLDIERS JUST LIKE ME, CUT DOWN BY FATE OR CHANCE OR BLIND, RANDOM LUCK. BUT THERE’S SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING THAT BUOYS YOU UP WHEN YOU LOSE PEOPLE IN THE FIELD. MAYBE IT’S JUST A SUBCONSCIUS ACCEPTANCE OF IT ALL, AN INNER UNDERSTANDING THAT DEATH IN COMBAT IS INEVITABLE. MAYBE IT’S JUST THAT THE BONDS AREN’T AS STRONG. I DON’T KNOW; BUT WHATEVER IT IS, IT’S NOT THE SAME. NOT THE SAME AS WHAT I’M FEELING NOW; NOT AT ALL. I FINALLY UNDERSTAND, AND AT LAST, THOSE LESSONS ALL THOSE YEARS AGO ARE RELEVANT.

I DON’T NEED TO SAY WHY. LIKE I SAID, OUR WORST MEMORIES ARE ALWAYS THE ONES THAT LINGER LONGEST.

AND TODAY IS A DAY I’LL NEVER FORGET.

JULY 25TH, 2548

OUR EMOTIONS ARE STRANGE, MONSTROUS THINGS. SOMETIMES THEY CHOOSE THE MOST BIZARRE, RANDOM MOMENTS TO AMBUSH US; OTHER TIMES, THEY’RE PREDICTALBE AND OBVIOUS. AND IN THE LAST MONTH SINCE AUGMENTATION, I’VE COME TO FEEL THE SHEER POWER OF THEM MORE STRONGLY THAN I’VE HAD SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PROJECT. IT’S BEEN A ROLLER COASTER RIDE OF A MONTH; RECOVERING FROM THE BLOWS DEALT TO US AT AUGMENTATION, REORGANZING THE REMAINING TEAMS, AND HELPING THE SPARTANS COME TO TERMS WITH THE CHANGES IN THEIR LIFE, BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL.

TODAY MARKS AND END TO ALL OF THAT. THE FIRST SQAUD, GOLD TEAM, IS DEPARTING FOR THE FIELD TODAY. BARELY A MONTH OF RECOVERY, AND THEY’RE ON THEIR WAY TO SOME DISTANT BATTLEGROUND, NEWLY MINTED, AND READY TO DO THEIR PART. IT’S INSPIRING TO WITNESS, EVEN IF THEY DON’T THINK SO. EIGHT YEARS OF TORTUOUS TRAINING, AUGMENTATION THAT WASTED ALMOST HALF THEIR NUMBER, EQUIPPED WITH EQUIPMENT THEY KNOW IS INFERIOR, LIKELY TO BE SENT ON MISSIONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE SUICIDAL, AND STILL STAYING LOYAL, HOLDING TRUE. THE PRIDE WITHIN OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY OF DRILL INSTRUCTORS AND COVERT OPERATIONS AGENTS IS UNDENIABLE.

EVEN PRIDE IN THEM, HOWEVER, DOESN’T OUTWEIGH MY MISGIVINGS. THEY MAY ACCEPT THEIR FATE WITH STOIC COURAGE, BUT AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED, I DO NOT. MORE THAN ONE ELEMENT OF THE DEPLOYMENT STINKS. THE TIMETABLE (SIX MONTHS LESS RECOVERY/RETRAINING TIME THAN THE CHARLIE ONES). THE THEATRES OF DEPLOYMENT (DANGEROUS, HIGH RISK ZONES WHERE THEY HAVE JUST AS MUCH OF A CHANCE OF BEING GLASSED FROM ORBIT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO FIGHT BACK AS THEY DO BEING ABLE TO DO DAMAGE TO THE ENEMY). THEIR LEADERSHIP (FOR NOW, ALL OF THEM ARE UNDER COMMAND OF RANKING NAVAL OFFICERS---NO DEDICATED SPECIAL FORCES COMMANDERS, JUST ADMIRALS AND GENERALS FIGHTING THE MAINLINE WAR). SOME OF IT’S LIKELY TO CHANGE; OTHER PARTS MAY NOT. ALL I KNOW IS THAT NONE OF IT BODES WELL. AND SO DESPITE ONI’S ATTEMPT TO TRANSFER ME TO A NEW PROJECT, I’VE USED WHAT LITTLE CLOUT WITH ADMIRAL RICH THAT I HAVE LEFT AND ENSURED THAT I BE KEPT ON WITH THE PROGRAM, TO DO MY BEST TO DEAL WITH ANY PROBLEMS THAT CROP UP.

AUGUST 25TH, 2548

THE LAST OF THE SPARTANS LEFT TODAY, SHIPPED OUT FOR DEPLOYMENT. LEAVING ALONG WITH THEM IS LAZ; WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM ALL EIGHT YEARS, AND NOW THAT TRAINING IS COMPLETE, THEY’RE REPURPOSING HIM FOR OTHER DUTIES. HE THINKS HE’S GOING BACK TO THE FRONTLINE, AND I WISHED HIM LUCK, IN CASE HE’S RIGHT. IT SEEMS A LITTLE ODD TO WAIT TO SHIP OUT THE LAST SQUAD UNTIL THIS LATE, BUT I GUESS THEY WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE NEEDED. KIND OF FUNNY, ACTUALLY, IN A PERVERSE SORT OF WAY; ONI RUSHES TO GET THEM OUT INTO THE FIELD, CUTTIN THEIR RECOVERY TIME IN HALF (OR MORE ACCURATELY, INTO A SEVENTH), AND THEY END UP WAITING AROUND ANYWAY.

THE GOODBYES HAVE GOTTEN EASIER, BEING SO FREQUENT, BUT I CAN’T SHAKE THE FEELING THAT SOMETHING IS MISSING. THE FACILITY FEELS EMPTY; THE CANDIDATES ARE GONE, AND THE SMALL ARMY OF DI’S AND TRAINERS ARE PACKING THEIR BAGS, PREPARING TO BE SHIPPED OUT TO THE FRONT OR TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PROJECTS. I HEAR A LOT OF THEM WILL BE GOING TO HELP WITH SIERRA-THREE. I WISH THEM LUCK WITH THAT. I WOULDN’T TOUCH THAT PROGRAM UNDER THREAT OF DEATH. THE DILEMMAS I FACED HERE WERE BAD ENOUGH; I DON’T KNOW IF I COULD TAKE TRAINING A WHOLE 300 SPARTANS TO USE AS SUICIDE SOLDIERS.

AND SPEAKING OF SUICIDAL, THE FIRST COMBAT REPORT CAME IN TODAY. TAN TEAM, OUR THIRD SQUAD TO DEPLOY, WERE THE FIRST TO SEE COMBAT. OPERATION: APOLLO; KNOWN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC (WELL, THE MILITARY PUBLIC) AS THE DEFENSE OF THE ATLAS MOONS. THE RANKING ADMIRAL PUT THEM IN CHARGE OF THE DEFENSE OF ONE OF THE PLANETARY GUNS, AND THOUGH THE GENERATOR FELL, THEY DID END UP PROVING THEIR MERIT. WHEN THE COVENANT FLEET ENDED UP---INEVITBABLY---CREAMING THE UNSC FLEET, 338 & COMPANY VOLUNTEERED FOR A DANGEROUS RESCUE MISSION; HEADING STRAIGHT INTO ENEMY TERRITORY, THEY HELPED PULL AN ENTIRE COMBAT COMPANY OF MARINES OUT OF THE FIRE. IT WON’T SET OFF ANY MEDIA FIRESTORMS, BUT IT’S PROOF THAT THEY DEFINITEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, CONTACT WAS LOST WITH CYAN TEAM EARLY THIS MORNING. NO ONE HAS A CLUE WHAT’S HAPPENING. FOR NOW, ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT FOR THEM TO REESTABLISH COMMS.

SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2548

IT’S NOT EXACTLY AN ORIGINAL PROCESS, BUT WHEN EXAMINING THE WORLD AROUND YOU, I FIND THAT SOMETIMES LACK OF INFORMATION CAN BE KNOWLEDGE UNTO ITSELF. CHECKING OVER THE CANDIDATE ROSTER TODAY TO EXAMINE THEIR NEW DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE, I NOTICED A PAIR OF DISTURBING, ALARMING DISRECPANCIES, BOTH RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES ACCOUNTED FOR. 343 AND 324, FROM CYAN AND ORANGE TEAM, HAVE BOTH GONE MISSING. NOT MISSING IN ACTION: MISSING FROM MY REGISTER OF SPARTANS. LAST ORDERS REDACTED, STATUS REPORTS WIPED, WHERABOUTS UNKNOWN. OFF THE GRID. 343 DISSAPEARED RIGHT AFTER THE PANEL OF PYSCHE JUDGES CLEARED HER FOR DUTY, AND 324’S ENTIRE CSV IS NOW CLASSIFIED WELL ABOVE MY GRADE---ALL I CAN TELL IS THAT THE REST OF HIS TEAM IS KIA AND THAT HE’S GONE.

I’VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE I COULD THINK OF, CHECKED EVERY CONNECTION I KNOW, AND HAVE FOUND NOTHING. COMPLICATING MATTER’S IS ONI; AFTER ALL THE STUNTS I PULLED DURING RECRUITING, AND GIVEN MY DECISION TO STAY WITH THE PROGRAM, THEY DON’T TRUST ME AT ALL. THEY’RE WATCHING ME CLOSELY (I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT COMPUTERS TO RECOGNIZE TERMINAL HACKS WHEN I SEE THEM) AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHO COULD BE BEHIND THEIR ABDUCTION---MEANING I HAVE TO WATCH MY BACK AND PLAY THINGS COOL UNTIL I KNOW WHATS GOING ON. WITH ONI, IT’S ALWAYS FEINTS, TRICKS, AND DOUBLE DEALS; LOOK INTO THE WRONG AREA, AND YOU MIGHT WAKE UP TO A SECTION 0 ASSASSIN KNOCKING ON YOUR FRONT DOOR.

BESIDES THE ANXIETY OF THING THINGS I MENTIONED ABOVE, THE THOUGHT OF A POTENTIAL ABDUCTION IS WORRYING FOR A NUMBER OF OTHER REASONS. I’M WELL AWARE OF THE BLACK HOLE THE CHARLIE ONE ROSTER TURNED INTO ONCE THEY WERE DEPLOYED, AND I’VE HEARD RUMORS ABOUT THE MISSING OPERATORS THAT MAKE MY SKIN CRAWL. LASZLO HIMSELF IS ONE OF THOSE “MISSING OPERATORS”---UNKNOWN TO HALSEY OR ANY OF THE OTHER SPARTANS, AND THE THING’S HE’S TOLD ME HE’S HAD TO DO…WELL, THEY’RE NOT PRETTY. SO I’M GOING TO KEEP LOOKING (DIG DEEPER USING THOSE HANDY OLD CLEARANCE CODES THAT ONI SEEMS TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THEY GAVE ME) AND LOOK FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD LEAD ME BACK TO THEM. HALSEY MAY HAVE BEEN OBLVIOUS TO THE TRICKS ONI PULLED ON HER CONCERNING HER SPARTANS, BUT I CERTAINLY AM NOT GOING TO BE. THEY MAY HAVE TAKEN MY COMPANY FROM ME EIGHT YEARS AGO, BUT THESE KIDS ARE MY TROOPS NOW---AND I’VE GOT A DUTY TO THEM.

OCTOBER 3RD, 2548

2549
IF THERE’S ONE THING I’VE LEARNED IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST NINE YEARS, IT’S THAT UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE---KNOWING THEM, ANALYZING THEIR MOTIVES, BEING READY FOR THEIR NEXT MOVE---IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF FIGHTING. THERE ARE MANY METHODS OF GOING ABOUT THIS---LOGIC, INTUITION, WHATEVER---BUT THE ONE I THINK WORKS THE BEST, AND MOST CONSISTENTLY, IS TO JUST TRUST YOUR GUT. PEOPLE LIKE TO CREATE FALSE PERSONAS, ENJOY HIDING THEIR TRUE SELVES TO GET THE UPPER HAND. THEY THROW OUT CHAFFE, FAUX DETAILS TO THROW YOU OFF, TO MAKE YOU THINK THEY’RE SOMETHING THEY’RE NOT. YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LOOK PAST THE FLUFF, THE FLAK, AND SPOT THE TRUE PEOPLE.

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF PEOPLE ARE MORE ACCURATE THAN WE THINK. AND CASE IN POINT IS CRIMSON TEAM---ROGER-341, JAMES-319, AND MICA-311. AS I’VE TALKED ABOUT, I’VE BEEN SUSPICIOUS OF THEM ALL ALONG---EVERYONE HAS. EVEN LAZ (WHO I NEED TO CHECK UP ON, BY THE WAY), WHO TOOK A SHINE TO THEM, ADMITTED THEY WERE A BUNCH OF UNDERHANDED AND MISCHEVIOUS BASTARDS; JUST AS LIKELY TO STEAL AND OBJECTIVE AND SELL IT AS THEY ARE TO BLOW IT UP. THEY DID LITTLE TO TRY AND DISPEL THAT IMAGE---THEY’VE ALWAYS FLAUNTED THEIR INDEPENDENCE---AND I NEVER, FOR A MOMENT, THOUGHT THEY TRUSTED ANYONE IN THE PROGRAM (EXCEPT FOR MAYBE LAZ). AS IT WORKS OUT, I WAS NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT. THERES NO DOUBT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY’RE DECEITFUL…BUT I GUESS THEY TRUSTED ME MORE THAN THEY LET ON.

EARLY TODAY, I RECEIVED A HEAVILY ENCRYPTED MESSAGE FROM THEM, ASKING FOR SOME VERY…TOUCHY ASSISTANCE. IN THEIR BLUNT COMMINQUE, THEY TOLD ME, FLAT OUT, THAT THEY’D STOLEN THREE SETS OF PROTOTYPE, HIGHLY CLASSIFIED MJOLNIR SUITS (EQUIPPED WITH SHEILDS!) AND MADE OFF WITH THEM---WHEN THEIR MISSION WAS TO DESTROY THEM OUT RIGHT. THEY DIDN’T EXPLAIN THEMSELVES, OR APOLOGIZE, OR DO ANY OF THE NORMAL THINGS PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY COMMIT A CRIME---THEY JUST ASKED ME FOR HELP IN COVERING IT UP. THEY WANT ME TO INTERCEPT THEIR AFTER ACTION REPORT BEFORE IT REACHES ONI, EDIT IT, AND REMOVE ALL TRACES OF THEIR THEFT. ILLEGAL IN GOD KNOWS HOW MANY WAYS; IMMORAL AND DANGEROUS IN JUST AS MANY. ANY SANE PERSON WOULD REPORT THEM AND BE CLEAR OF THE WHOLE PROBLEM.

I’VE ALREADY SEIZED THE MESSAGE AND BEGUN THE REDACTION.

AUGUST 19TH, 2549

PARIS IV SEEMS TO BE ATTRACTING SPARTANS TO IT LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAME; AS OF RIGHT NOW, CRIMSON IS CURRENTLY ON DEPLOYMENT, AND A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF CLASS I SPARTANS ARE ALREADY ENGAGED THERE. I’D BE WILLING TO BET THERES MORE---MAYBE FROM THOSE SWG-3 TEAMS, MAYBE NOT---EVEN WITHOUT CONCRETE PROOF. AND TO TOP THINGS OFF, ANOTHER ONE OF OUR TEAMS IS THERE TOO---TURQUOISE. I’VE BEEN UNABLE TO SUPPOR THEM MUCH SO FAR (MY ATTENTION HAS BEEN MOSTLY FIXED ON REDACTING CRIMSON’S REPORTS FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND THE OTHERS TEAMS ARE BEING NEGLECTED BECAUSE OF IT) BUT I SEEM TO FINALLY BE GETTING MY CHANCE. AS THEIR DEPLOYMENT DRAGS OUT, I’M GETTING MORE AND MORE OPPERTUNITIES TO FINALLY DO THEM SOME GOOD.

LET ME GO BACK. TURQUOISE, OUT OF EVERYONE, HAS BEEN THERE THE LONGEST; THE BRASS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYING THEM ALL OVER THE FRONT FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, USING THEM TO HIT ALL SORTS OF COVENANT TARGETS IN THE SYSTEM. THINGS WENT VERY BADLY ON ONE OF THE MISSIONS, RESULTING IN ALL OF THEIR BACKUP (SEVERAL PLATOONS OF ODSTS) BEING WIPED OUT, AS WELL AS OLIVIA BEING KILLED. I HAVE NO TIME TO MOURN HER, BUT I KNOW IT’S A ROTTEN SHAME; ON THAT KIND OF MISSION, THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD TEN TIMES AS MUCH BACKUP; THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMMITED TO THAT AREA IF ONI COULDN’T SUPPORT THEM.

AT ANY RATE, THEY’RE WORKING HARD ON THE SURFACE, AND DOING VERY WELL, BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO FALL APART ON THE OTHER AREAS OF THE PLANET REGARDLESS. I FOUND OUT THE BRASS WASN’T GOING TO COMMIT ANY AIR ASSETS TO THEM, SO I’VE REQUISITIONED AS MANY AIR SUPPORT UNITS AS I CAN TO BE SENT TO THEIR LOCATION, IN CASE THINGS GO BADLY. THERE ARE ENOUGH REINFORCEMENTS TO EVACUATE THEM, IF NOTHING ELSE. IT’S A RISK FOR ME TO MEDDLE SO BLATANTLY IN NAVY AFFAIRS, BUT IT’S ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN. WITH ANY LUCK THEY WON’T NEED IT (IT WOULD TAKE A SCARAB TO EVEN PUT A DENT IN THEIR DEFENSIVE LINE) BUT JUST IN CASE, THEY’RE READY.

DECEMBER 26TH, 2549

2550
MY JOB, WHICH HAS NEVER HAD THE MOST CONCRETE DEFINITION, SEEM’S TO BE FLIP FLOPPING ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. SOMETIME’S I’M SMOOTH TALKING RICH TO KEEP HIM FROM FREAKING OUT ABOUT TAN’S SUICIDAL ANTICS; AT OTHERS, I’M TRYING TO KEEP THE ADMIRALS IN CHECK AND MAKE SURE THEY DON’T WASTE OUR KIDS. AND NOW, THANK’S TO CRIMSON, I ALSO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME INTERCEPTING AND REDACTING MESSAGES CONCERNING THEM---SOWING THE SEEDS OF DISCOURSE, COVERING UP ANY ILLEGAL ACTIONS THEY TAKE, AND GENERALLY ACTING LIKE A LUNATIC. YET EVEN THOUGH MY JOB CHANGES ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, I STILL FIND SURPRISES SOMETIMES.

AS I WAS READING CRIMSON’S LAST DEPLOYMENT LOG---IF I’M REDACTING AND INTERCEPTING IT ANYWAY, I MIGHT AS WELL KNOW WHAT THEY’RE UP TOO---I NOTICED A REFERENCE TO ANOTHER GROUP OF SPARTANS IN THEIR REPORT. THE DETAILS WERE NATURALLY SPARSE (MICA-311 NEVER GIVE’S ONI ANY MORE INFROMATION THAN SHE HAS TOO), THEY DIRECTLY REFERENCED A SIERRA GROUP I HADN’T HEARD OF YET---HERALD. I’LL BE ASKING THEM ABOUT THEM WHENEVER I GET THE CHANCE, BUT OFF THE GRID SIERRAS ARE ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME---I’M STILL LOOKING FOR RACHEL-343 AND BALDUIN-324, AFTER ALL---AND I’VE DECIDED TO DIG UP WHAT I CAN WHILE I WAIT.

WHILE I HAVEN’T HAD TIME TO DO ANY SERIOUS DIGGING YET, I HAVE LEARNED ONE BIT OF CRUCIAL INFORMATION ALREADY. IN THEIR REPORT, CRIMSON LEFT A COVERT MESSAGE THAT I’M SURE THEY INTENDED FOR ME. CRIMSON CALLED THEM, TO QUOTE THEM “NOT YOUR USUAL SWG-3 DIPSHITS”---MEANING, IF I’M CORRECT, NOT RELATED TO ANY OF THE SIERRA TEAM’S ME AND LAZ DISCOVERED THREE YEARS AGO. WHILE ME AND LASZLO NEVER SHARED OUR FINDING’S WITH ANY OF THE RECRUITS, IT’S ALMOST A SURE BET THAT THEY WERE BEHIND THE DATA HACK IN 2548, AND THAT MEAN’S THEY KNOW PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM I DO. IF I’M RIGHT (AND I THINK I AM), THEN THAT OPENS UP ANOTHER HOST OF NEW QUESTIONS; IF BOTH SWG-3 AND SWG-4 HAVE LOOSE SPARTANS RUNNING AROUND, WHO IS TO SAY THAT THERE AREN’T EVEN MORE, WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED?

MAY 25TH, 2550

TWO YEARS AGO TODAY, WE DEPLOYED OUR SQUADS INTO THE FIELD. GOLD FIRST, THEN SCARLET, THEN TAN…ON AND ON UNTIL EVERYONE WAS SERVING. 30 CANDIDATES; KIDS I’D KNOWN SINCE THEY WERE LITTLE, STILL PRACTICALLY CHILDREN, DEPLOYED TO THE FRONTLINE. IT’D BE NICE IF I COULD TELL MYSELF THAT WE DIDN’T KNOW HOW BAD THINGS WOULD BE, BUT THAT WOULD BE A LIE. WE KNEW DAMN WELL WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT KIND OF LOSSES THEY WOULD INCUR. AND IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS, WE DID IT ANYWAY. TO SAY THAT I WAS FULLY PREPARED FOR THINGS, HOWEVER, WOULD BE AND EVEN GREATER LIE. NOTHING CAN TRULY PREPARE YOU FOR THIS. NOTHING AT ALL.

6 SPARTANS. THAT’S HOW MANY WE’VE LOST SO FAR. THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO COMPLETE TEAMS, MANY KILLED ON STUPID AND RISKY ASSIGNMENT. LUCY-329; KILLED WHEN THE BRASS DEPLOYED THEIR TEAM SOLO FOR A RECON JOB THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE JUST AS WELL WITH AERIAL ASSETS. GREGORY-314 & DOMINIC-334, KILLED ON A DAMN INSURRECITONIST OP. OLIVIA-361, MASSACRED BY A COMMANDO UNIT WHEN THE ADMIRALTY THOUGHT A SINGLE PLATOON OF ODSTS WAS ADEQUATE BACKUP FOR A HOSTILE BOARDING ACTION. AND FINALLY, KAITO-339 AND CECILIA-307, WHOSE DEATHS ARE SHROUDED IN AS MUCH MYSTERY AS BALDUIN-324’S CURRENT ACTIONS.

IT’S A DAMN ROTTEN WASTE. WE KNEW WE’D TAKEN CASUALTIES---WITH THE INFERIOR AUGMENTS, SPI ARMOR, AND SHORTENED RECOVERY TRAINING, IT WAS ALWAYS A MATTER OF WHEN, RATHER THAN IF---AND I WAS PREPARED (OR, AS PREPARED AS YOU CAN EVER BE) FOR THE WORST. BUT I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR WATCHING THEM BE USED STUPIDLY---AS MUCH AS I EXPECTED THEM TOO---BECAUSE DEEP DOWN, I REALLY HOPED WE WERE BETTER THAN THAT. NOT US THE PROGRAM, US THE UNSC---THE BRASS, ONI, EVERYONE. AND SO IT HURTS EVEN WORSE THAN IF WE’D LOST THEM IN OTHER WAYS---BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO THE PAIN OF THE LOSS, SOMETHING ELSE IS GONE: FAITH.

AUGUST 25TH, 2550

I CAUGHT THE FIRST HINT OF RACHEL’S WHEREABOUTS IN MONTHS TODAY, WHILE I WAS PERUSING THROUGH ONI’S ARCHIVES. WITH ALL THE SQUADS DEPLOYED, AND CRIMSON STILL ON ASSIGNMENT, THERE’S PRECIOUS LITTLE FOR ME TO DO. I’VE GOTTEN USED TO HAVING TO PIECE THINGS TOGETHER FROM MINUTE CLUES AND OBSCURE DETAILS, BUT THIS ONCE HAS BEEN BLISSFULLY STRAIGHTFORWARD---FOR ONI, THAT IS. AND NOT ONLY WAS IT FAIRLY EASY TO FIND---EASY, IF RANDOM---BUT IT CONTAINS A FAIR AMOUNT OF ACTUAL, CONCRETE INFORMATION, ALLOWING FOR MORE CERTAINTY THAN MY USUAL EDUCATED GUESSWORK.

I THOUGHT THE TRAIL HAD GONE COLD, BUT I CAUGHT A VERY LUCKY BREAK. A FEW YEARS AGO, DURING OUR PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE, ME AND LASZLO UNCOVERED RECORDS INDICATING THE EXISTENCE OF NUMEROUS “OFF THE GRID” SPARTAN TEAMS---TEAMS OF MIXED AND MATCHED RECRUITS, DRAWN FROM A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, REPURPOSED AS DISCREET AND EFFECTIVE ONI INFILTRATION SQUADS. CHIEF ON THE LIST WAS A MULTI-PURPOSE TEAM IDENTIFIED AS NOBLE, WHICH HAD AN EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE CSV AND APPEARED TO BE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF URBAN HOLLAND. FOR SOME TIME, ME AND LAZ ENTERTAINED THE NOTION OF SIPHONING OFF A FEW RECRUITS INTO HIS TEAM (GET THEM INTO REAL SPECIAL OPS GROUPS, WITH FULL ARMOR SYSTEMS) BUT WE ULTIMATELY HAD TO SCRATCH THE IDEA WHEN WE FAILED TO ESTABLISH SOLID COMMUNICATION TIES (AND WHEN RICH DECIDED HE WOULD LET THE MAINLINE BRASS PLAY DEPLOY OUR SQUADS, RATHER THAN DEDICATED NAVSPECWAR UNITS).

RECENTLY THOUGH, I HAD MY INTEREST PIQUED WHEN I SPOTTED AN OBSCURE REFERENCE TO NOBLE IN ONE OF RICH’S COMMINQUES (WHICH I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUPPOSED TO SEE). NOT MUCH, JUST A FOOTNOTE ON A LONG, BORING ACTION REPORT. I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT, AND USING A FEW OF THE TRICKS I PICKED UP FROM LAZ, MANAGED TO CRACK A FEW SELECT PORTIONS OF THEIR SECURITY. ANYWAY, I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH THEIR DEPLOYMENT RECORD (DID I MENTION IT WAS IMPRESSIVE?) AND SPOTTED SOMETHING OF DIRECT INTEREST TO ME. AS IT TURNS OUT, DURING A CERTAIN OPERATION: SWEEPING STRIKE, A PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD OF SPECIAL FORCES OPERATOR BY THE NAME OF RACHEL HAWKE WAS USED AS THOM-293’S TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT. BESIDES THE NAME SIMILARITIES, THE ATTACHED AFTER ACTION REPORT INDICATED THAT THIS RACHEL OPERATED IN A MANNER ALMOST EXACTLY IDENTICAL TO OUR RACHEL-343...AND THAT’S ONE COINCIDENCE TOO MANY.

NOBLE’S RECORDS INDICATE SHE WAS TRANSFERRED OUT MONTHS AGO, BUT IT’S THE BEST LEAD I’VE HAD IN YEARS. IT GIVE’S ME A SPRINGBOARD, AT ANY RATE. NOW IF I COULD ONLY FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO BALDUIN.

NOVEMBER 9TH, 2550

2551
TODAY TAN TEAM RETURNED FROM THE OPERATION: PHILOSOPHER CAMPAIGN, MARKING THEIR FIRST TIME RETURNING TO EPSILON ERIDANUS IN OVER TEN MONTHS. THEY DID WELL; THEY KEPT THE COVENANT AT BAY ON ARISTOTLE II, USING SOME “FREE” NUKES TO GOOD EFFECT (THEIR ACTIONS RESULTED IN 90% EVACUATION RATES, INSTEAD OF A PROJECTED 65%), TRICKED THE ENEMY FLEET AWAY FROM THE PLANET, AND FINALLY PIONEERED A STRATEGY THAT KEPT THE COVENANT TIED UP EVEN LONGER ON ARISTOTLE I.  I WAS HOPING TO GET A CHANCE TO SEE THEM WHEN THEY CAME IN; FROM WHAT I’VE HEARD, CONNOR AND MELLISSA AREN’T TAKING LUCY’S DEATH LAST YEAR TOO WELL. IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT A SQUAD GETS SHUTTLED THROUGH, AND I HAVE AN ODDLY ANXIOUS FEELING TO SEE THEM AGAIN AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME.

BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE, HOWEVER, THEY WENT OF THE GRID AND DISAPEARED. I CHECKED ON THEM AS COVERTLY AS I COULD, WITH MEMORIES OF RACHEL AND BALDUIN’S DISSAPEARANCE SWIRLING AROUND IN MY HEAD. THANKFULLY, I MANAGED TO CATCH A TRACE OF THEIR WHERABOUTS: THEY MADE AN APOINTMENT WITH NONE OTHER THAN ADMIRAL HOOD, GOING OVER RICH’S HEAD AND REPORTING STRAIGHT TO THE HIGH ADMIRAL. I JUST FOUND AT THE REASON FOR THEIR LITTLE “SURPRISE VISIT”, AND THINGS MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE NOW.

AS IT TURNS OUT, TAN TEAM HAVE BEEN BUSY LITTLE SPARTANS. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THEIR MEETING WITH HOOD GOT OUT, I RECEIVED A PERSONAL CALL FROM HIM---ROUTED DIRECTLY TO ME, INTENDED DIRECTLY FOR ME. TURNS OUT, THE THREE OF THEM CAME UP WITH AN IDEA FOR AN OFFENSIVE BEHIND COVENANT LINES; A SPECIAL FORCES VENTURE DESIGNED TO DISRUPT THE ENEMY. HOOD WANTED TO MY OPINION ON THEIR ABILITIES; HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE WASN’T GETTING HIMSELF INTO SOMETHING DUMB. OUT OF ALL THE ARES SQUADS, TAN HAVE BUILT THEIR REPUTATION THE BEST---DIVING COVENANT DESTROYERS INTO ENEMY FLEETS, DEVISING CRUISER KILLING PLANS, AND TAKING OUT ENTIRE REBEL BASES DOES THAT---BUT IT’S STILL ALL WORD OF MOUTH. HE MANAGED TO FIND OUT I WAS THEIR FORMER TRAINING COORDINATOR (DON’T ASK ME HOW) AND WANTED DIRECT CONFIRMATION THAT THEY REALLY WERE ALL THAT THEY’D BEEN MADE OUT TO BE.

YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS WHAT MY ANSWER WAS.

JANUARY 13TH, 2551

WE ALWAYS REALIZED THAT HIDING OUR SPARTAN TEAMS FROM THE BRASS WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE---PEOPLE NOTICE SIERRAS, ESPECIALLY ONES AS INDEPENDENT AND UNPREDICTABLE AS OURS---BUT WE SEEM TO HAVE GIVEN UP THE ENTIRE PRETEXT NOW. ASIDE FROM THE REDACTION OF CRIMSON’S COMBAT REPORTS, MUCH OF OUR WORK IS NOW RELATIVELY OPEN (IN THE SENSE THAT THE HIGHER UPS KNOW ABOUT IT, ANYWAY). IF IT ISN’T TAN DRIVING A COVENANT SHIP STRAIGHT INTO AN ENEMY FLEET, OR DIRECTLY APPROACHING LORD HOOD, THEN IT’S TURQUOISE, BLOWING UP A COVENANT SCARAB RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CIVILIAN CITY, RIGHT UNDER THE EYE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. STILL, EVEN GIVEN ALL THAT’S HAPPENED AND OUR VASTLY REVAMPED STATE OF SECRECY, IT’S STILL SURPRISING TO HEAR ABOUT OUR TEAMS IN THE FIELD FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE.

TURNS OUT SILVER TEAM, WHO’VE BEEN PLAYING THINGS PRETTY QUIETLY UP UNTIL NOW, MANAGED TO SNAG SOME OF THE SPOTLIGHT FOR THEMSELVES (ALBEIT BY ACCIDENT) AND DRAW SOME ATTENTION. AFTER THE FLAGSHIP OF THE FLEET THEY WERE GUARDING WAS BOARDED, THEY ACTED AS PART OF A GROUP OF REINFORCEMENTS, LANDING ABOARD IT DURING A FIERCE BATTLE AND HELPING TO RETAKE THE SHIP. WHILE THEY WERE AT IT, THEY CAME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH SEVERAL VERY HIGH RANKING MEMBERS OF THE ADMIRALTY---AND BY “DIRECT CONTACT”, I MEAN, THEY SAVED THEIR ASSES FROM GETTING BLOWN TO HELL. THE BRASS WEREN’T EXACTLY THRILLED TO FIND OUT THEY’D HAD A SPARTAN IN THEIR FLEET AND NOT KNOWN ABOUT IT (ONI WAS JUST USING THE FLEET AS A STAGING GROUND FOR THEIR OWN MISSIONS INVOLVING SILVER) BUT THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED BY SILVER’S ABILITIES.

I HAVEN’T HAD MUCH FOCUS TO SPARE ON THE OTHER SQUADS, BECAUSE I’VE BEEN TOO BUSY DEALING WITH TAN’S NEW OPERATION AND THE EVER PRESENT NEED TO REDACT ANYTHING INVOLVING CRIMSON, AND I’M REGRETTING IT. SILVER WAS NEVER OUR STRONGEST TEAM, DESPITE SOME REALLY GOOD MEMBERS---RICKY AND TUCK ARE BOTH EXCELLENT---BUT THEY’VE REALLY COME INTO THEIR OWN OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. THEIR PERFORMING EXTREMELY WELL, AND SEEM TO BE SHAKING OFF THE POST AUGMENTATION JITTERS FINALLY. JUST RECENTLY THEY COMPLETED AN OPERATION ON TAIDAN, RECOVERING OLD UNSC EQUIPMENT, AND MANAGED TO BLOW UP A FEW COVENANT CRUISERS ALONG THEIR WAY---WITHOUT BACKUP OF ANY KIND. DURING TRAINING, ME AND LASZLO ALWAYS WORRIED SO MUCH ABOUT RICKY; HE WAS VULNERABLE, EVEN WEAK MINDED. IT’S GOOD TO SEE HIM DOING SO WELL.

FEBRUARY 9TH, 2551

TODAY I TOOK A BREAK FROM MY BUSY SCHEDULE OF REDACTING CRIMSON’S EVER MORE FLASHY COMBAT REPORTS AND COVERTLY MARSHALLING SUPPORT FOR TAN’S OPERATION: OFFENSIVE MEASURES IDEA TO CHECK UP ON AN OLD FRIEND. GIVEN THAT I DON’T HAVE MANY OF THOSE, AND TAKING MY CIRCUMSTANCES INTO ACCOUNT, YOU SHOULD BE UNSURPRISED TO KNOW THAT IT WAS LASZLO (WHY AM I TALKING IN SECOND PERSON? I’M WRITING A JOURNAL!). I’VE HEARD PRECIOUS LITTLE OF HIS ACTIONS SINCE HE LEFT THE PROGRAM IN 2548, BUT I GOT A RARE BREAK AND MANAGED TO PICK UP WORD THAT HE’S GEARING UP TO HEAD OUT FOR NEW JERUSALEM. THANKFULLY, THAT LITTLE NUGGET OF INFORMATION WAS JUST ENOUGH TO GET ME A COMM CODE, AND I MANAGED TO GET A FULLY ENCRYPTED MESSAGE OFF, IN SPITE OF ALL OF ONI’S SECURITY MEASURES.

IT WAS NOTHING MUCH, JUST IDLE SMALL TALK. I’LL HAVE TO TEST THE WATER’S, JUST TO MAKE SURE HE’S FREE TO ANSWER. A FEW BITS OF COMPLAINING ABOUT RICH’S HEAVY-HANDED MANAGEMENT, AND LOTS OF STATUS REPORTS ON THE ARES TEAMS---ALONG WITH AFTER ACTION REPORTS ON THE CASUALTIES. I THOUGHT ABOUT SLIPPING IN SOME REFERENCES TO RACHEL, BUT THOUGHT BETTER OF IT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO SET ONI OFF, AND THAT’S A PRETTY SENSITIVE TOPIC. NO NEED TO FLIRT WITH DANGER.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF ONI WILL LET HIM ANSWER, AND EVEN THEN, I DON’T KNOW IF HE’LL HAVE TIME BEFORE HE’S DEPLOYED. MY CONTACT’S TIP OFF DIDN’T INCLUDE A VERY SPECIFIC TIMETABLE, SO IT’S ALL GUESSWORK. FOR ALL I KNOW, HE COULD HAVE ALREADY LEFT; ON THE FLIP SIDE, HE COULD BE IN PORT FOR ANOTHER MONTH (THOUGH IF THAT’S THE CASE, I’D BET MONEY ON THEM PUTTING HIM INTO CRYO TO PASS THE TIME---THEY DO IT OFTEN ENOUGH TO OUR CLASS III TEAMS). REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HE MANAGES TO GET A RESPONSE OFF, IT’S STILL NICE TO KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE PROJECT ARE STILL OUT THERE. I HAVEN’T SEEN ANYONE FROM THE PROGRAM, IN PERSON, SINCE THE LAST SQUAD LEFT. IT’S NICE TO KNOW I STILL HAVE SOME FRIENDS LEFT.

MARCH 15TH, 2551

LASZLO REPLIED TO MY MESSAGE TODAY; YOU CAN’T IMAGINE HOW SURPRISED I WAS WHEN, MIDWAY THROUGH REDACTING CRIMSON’S LATEST BATTLE REPORT, THE ALERT POPPEPD UP. I’D FIGURED IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS, IF HE ANSWERED AT ALL. IT WAS BRIEF, AND I’M SURE ONI WAS STARING OVER HIS SHOULDER AS HE WROTE IT, BUT IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR FROM HIM. DIDN’T INCLUDE ANYTHING ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS OR LOCATION, BUT THEN I HARDLY EXPECTED IT TOO. MOSTLY JUST INQUIRING AS TO HOW I’D GOTTEN A HOLD OF HIM (I MAY CONVIENIENTLY SKIP OVER THAT), HOW I’VE BEEN, AND OF COURSE, HOW OUR SPARTANS ARE DOING.

I DON’T LIKE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS, SO INFORMING HIM OF THE CASUALTY LIST WAS DIFFICULT, TO SAY THE LEAST. I ATTACHED FIELD REPORTS ON ALL THE CANDIDATES, ALONG WITH THEIR EVER GROWING CSV’S---MIGHT AS WELL INCLUDE THE GOOD NEWS ALONGSIDE THE BAD. I DON’T KNOW HOW HE’LL REACT, THOUGH I KNOW I WOULDN’T WANT TO BE HIM; HEARING ABOUT THE DEATHS OF SO MANY CLOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THE BLUE IS A MILLION TIMES WORSE THAN READING ABOUT THEM IN A FIELD REPORT, WHEN YOU ALREADY KNEW THE RISKS AND HAD A CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE.

WHEN HE’LL GET IT IS ANYONE’S GUESS, BECAUSE HIS DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE IS A BLACK HOLE, BUT AT LEAST IT’S OUT NOW. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH ONI’S CENSORS WILL LET THROUGH, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH NOTHING IN THERE IS CLASSIFIED (OR CLASSIFIED BEYOND WHERE HE’D KNOW IT) THEY’RE GROWING MORE PARANOID BY THE DAY. I WOULND’T BE SURPRISED IF THEY CUT OUT THE WHOLE MESSAGE AND JUST INCLUDED THE HEADER. HOPEFULLY THEY’LL DO US ALL SOME FAVOR’S AND ACT INTELLIGENTLY FOR ONCE. IT’D BE A NICE CHANGE OF PACE.

MARCH 24TH, 2551

NO OFFICIAL WORD ON THE OUTCOME OF OFFENSIVE MEASURES III YET, THOUGH I’VE HEARD WHISPERS OF A SUCCESS (ALBEIT A COSTLY ONE); ALL THE SANCTIONED CHANNELS ARE SAYING IS THAT THE OPERAITON HAS DEFINITELY BEGUN. HOWEVER, I HAVE OTHER, MUCH MORE IMPORTANT NEWS. FINALLY, AFTER TWO YEARS, IT APPEARS AS IF OUR LITTLE GAME IS UP. ADMIRAL RICH KNOW’S ABOUT CRIMSON’S “LIBERATION” OF THE MJOLNIR PROTOTYPES ON ALGOLIS, AND IS NONE TOO PLEASED.

THE LEAK, IRONICALLY ENOUGH, COMES FROM ANOTHER CHARLIE THREE TEAM, SCARLET. CRIMSON AND SCARLET ENDED UP PULLING A JOINT OP ON SARGASSO---AN UNINTENTIONAL ONE, I MIGHT ADD---AND SCARLET ENDED UP COMPLAINING TO RICH ABOUT CRIMSON GETTING FULL SPEC ARMOR WHEN THEY DIDN’T. I TRIED MY BEST TO REDACT IT, BUT IT’S HARD TO HIDE A DIRECT INQUIRY LIKE THAT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, RICH IS PISSED THAT THEY STOLE IT AND EVEN MORE PISSED THAT I’VE HIDDEN IT FROM HIM FOR SO LONG. I’M UNDER NO FALSE PRETENSES ABOUT HIS ABILITIES, HOWEVER, AND I’VE MADE EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS IN CASE HE GET’S ULTERIOR IDEAS.

WITH ANY LUCK, HOWEVER, I WON’T NEED THEM. I’VE ALREADY MESSAGED HIM, AND WHILE I HASTEN TO CALL IT BLACKMAIL…IT DEFINITELY IS A THREAT. EFFECTIVELY, I POINTED OUT THAT IF HE WERE TO COME AFTER ME---SEND A HIT SQUAD, KNOCK ME FROM THE PROGRAM, TRANSFER ME TO THE FIELD, WHATEVER---HE’D BE INVITING SOME VERY UGLY CONSEQUENCES. FOR ONE, I POINTED OUT CRIMSON HAS BECOME RATHER ATTACHED TO ME (WHICH, ODDLY ENOUGH, IS PROBABLY TRUE), AND ARE NATURALLY INQUISITIVE---MEANING THAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO ME, THEY WOULD UNDOUBTLEY HEAR ABOUT IT AND RESPOND IN KIND. TO HELP CEMENT MY POSITION (IN CASE THE THREAT OF THREE ANGRY, INSUBORDINATE, FULLY ARMORED SPARTANS WASN’T ENOUGH), I REFERENCED THE EXISTENCE OF A DEAD DROP LETTER, PROGRAMMED TO BE SENT IN THE EVENT OF MY DEATH OF ADMIRAL HOOD (WHOSE BECOME AN UNLIKELY ALLY THANKS TO TAN)…WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST.

LASZLO WOULD BE PROUD. TURNS OUT THAT WHEN I BUILD UP ENOUGH DISLIKE FOR SOMEONE OVER ENOUGH TIME, I CAN HOLD MY OWN AT THIS POLITICS STUFF TOO.

JUNE 5TH, 2551

2552
OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS OF DEPLOYMENT, WE’VE HAD OUR FAILURES AND SUCCESSES. VICTORIES, DEFEATS, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. WE’VE LOST COMRADES, BUT THEIR SACRIFICES HAVE NEVER BEEN IN VAIN. THE DEATHS HAVE ALWAYS MEANT SOMETHING, ALWAYS MATTERED, ALWAYS WORKED TO HELP FURTHER SOME GREATER CAUSE, SOME LARGER GOAL. SO WHILE WE’VE LOST SPARTANS---ENTIRE TEAMS, SOMETIMES---WE’VE ALWAYS HAD THAT SLIGHT REASSURANCE THAT THEY DIED FOR A REASON. THIS SMALL COMFORT, HOWEVER, HAS NOW LEFT US AS WELL.

EARLY THIS AFTERNOON I RECEIVED A HEAVILY ENCRYPTED CONTACT REPORT---WELL PAST THE POINT OF PARANOIA---FROM RICH HIMSELF. FOR MY EYES ONLY, SECRET ABOVE EVEN THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT STAFF. IT CONTAINED A RECORD OF THE FINAL MOMENTS OF NO LESS THAN SIX OR OUR CLASS THREE OPERATORS---ALL OF WHOM, AS OF THIS MOMENT, ARE DEAD. NOT LONE MEMBERS FROM MIXED UNITS---TWO COMPLETE SQUADS. RICHARD, LUCIUS, TUCK, MICHAEL, JENNIFER, AND ARNOLD---ALL GONE. BUT WORSE THAN THE LOSS, HOWEVER, IS THE MANNER IN WHICH IT TOOK PLACE. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, TUCK AND LUCIUS WERE KILLED ON MARCH 8TH (FOR WHICH I RECEIVED NO NOTICE), AND RICHARD SUBSEQUENTLY WENT, TO PUT THINGS SIMPLY, CRAZY. ATTACKED A FULL UNSC FIREBASE, DETONATING ONE OF THE ON BASE NUCLEAR REACTORS AND KILLING OVER 400 PERSONNEL. IN THE AFTERMATH, HE FLED THE PLANET, APPARENTLY GOING INTO HIDING.

RICH APPARENTLY WANTED AN “IN HOUSE” SOLUTION, AND, WITHOUT INFORMING ME, CALLED GOLD AND SCARLET AWAY FROM THE FRONT TO TRACK HIM DOWN. PITTING BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER…SHAMEFUL, EVEN FOR HIM. THEY FOUND HIM SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND WERE SENT IN TO CAPTURE HIM FOR “TRIAL”. RICHARD REALLY HAD LOST HIS MIND, HOWEVER, AND CAUGHT SCARLET IN AN AMBUSH---KILLING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. GOLD ARRIVED A SHORT TIME LATER AND HAD BETTER LUCK, CATCHING AND WOUNDING HIM---BUT THEN, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, AND “UNKNOWN AGENT” ENTERED THE FRAY AND PUT A SNIPER ROUND STRAIGHT THROUGH RICHARD’S VISOR. GOLD PURSUED, TO NO AVAIL.

WE KNEW WE WERE INVITING TROUBLE BY FIELDING SOMEONE AS UNSTABLE AS RICKY…BUT NEVER IN MY DARKEST NIGHTMARE DID I IMAGINE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

APRIL 7TH, 2552

OFFICIAL ONI INQUIRY HAS YIELDED NOTHING ON THE IDENTITY OF RICHARD’S KILLER (NOT THAT I EXPECTED IT TOO---I LEARNED THAT LESSON TWELVE YEARS AGO), AND THAT MEANS THAT ONCE AGAIN, I’M ON MY OWN. I’VE ALREADY BEGUN MY INVESTIGATION---DISCREETLY, I MIGHT ADD---AND HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO EVER RELEVANT PROJECT I CAN THINK OF (GOSSAMER, INDIGO, BLACK, S-III, AND OF COURSE, ANYTHING WITH SECTION 0’S STAMP OF APPROVAL ON IT) LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OF VALUE. I’VE GOT LITTLE YET, BUT I’M WORKING MY LEADS TO TRY AND FIND WHATEVER TRACE I CAN. WHATEVER HE DID, RICHARD WAS STILL A SPARTAN---AND HIS DEATH IS NOT GOING TO BECOME ANOTHER BLACK HOLE IN ONI’S PROJECT REPORTS.

OBVIOUSLY, I’M INVESTIGATING THE CONCRETE, DEFINITIVELY KNOWN DETAILS FIRST. I CONTACTED GOLD, OFF THE GRID, AND SENT A REQUEST FOR A FULL DETAIL MISSION REPORT---NOT THE BUTCHERED ONE RICH HAD THEM SEND TO ONI, THE REAL DETAILS OF THE MISSION. THEY RESPONDED WITHIN A DAY; THEY’RE JUST AS SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THE EVENT AS I AM AND SEEM TO HAVE BECOME PARANOID OVERNIGHT. THERE’S PLENTY OF INFORMATION IN IT TO START ME OFF; BULLET CALIBER (A 14.5MM, FIRED FROM A UNSC STANDARD ISSUE SNIPER RIFLE; INTERPRETABLE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS), DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSASSIN (CLOAKING TECHNOLOGY; FAR MORE USEFUL, BECAUSE ONLY UPPER ECHELON ONI WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT KIND OF HARDWARE), AND MOST NOTABLY, OPERATOR SKILL---REMAINING NOT ONLY COMPLETELY UNDETECTED THROUGHOUT THE FIREFIGHT, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO SLIP AWAY FROM THREE FULLY ALERT SPARTANS.

A LOT OF THIS IS CONTRADICTORY, AND THAT’S A MAJOR PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE CAMO TECH POINTS, OBVIOUSLY, TO SPARTAN-III OR ONE OF IT’S SUBSIDARIES; BUT AS MUCH AS I WANT TO STAY CAUTIOUS AND NOT GET COCKY, OUR TEAM’S ARE BETTER TRAINED THAN THE IIIS---THEY’D CATCH A THREE TRYING TO GET AWAY. THEREFORE, I’M LEFT WITHOUT ANY LIKELY PERPETRATORS---NOT A GOOD POSITION TO BE IN WHEN TRYING TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. EVEN IF ONI STONEWALLS ME COMPLETELY, HOWEVER, I’M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP. EVEN IF IT TAKES YEARS, I’M GOING TO FIND OUT WHO DID THIS, AND I’M GOING TO HAVE THEM FILLETED. RICHARD IS DEAD BECAUSE SOME ONI ASSASSIN PUT A BULLET IN HIS BRAIN---AFTER GOLD HAD ALREADY APREHENDED HIM. THAT WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED.

APRIL 12TH, 2552

AS IF THINGS NEEDED MORE FUEL THROWN ON THE FIRE, TODAY CONNOR ARRIVED IN SYSTEM. MELLISA WAS KILLED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, DURING THE BATTLE OF NEW DAMASCUS; CONNOR NARROWLY ESCAPED WITH HIS OWN LIFE. I HADN’T HEARD ABOUT THE LOSS UNTIL TODAY, AND IT WAS FAR TO LATE BY THEN. I ALWAYS KNEW CONNOR WAS TOO CLOSE TO HIS TEAMATES, AND HIS ACTIONS TODAY WERE A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS. WHEN HE ARRIVED ON REACH AND WAS TAKEN OUT OF CRYO, MELLISSA’S DEATH HIT HIM HARD. HE SNAPPED AT HIS COMMANDER DURING HIS DEBRIEFING, GETTING ANGRY ENOUGH THAT THEY HAD TO CALL IN ODST’S TO RESTRAIN HIM (NOT THAT THEY HAD MUCH SUCCESS---SOMEONE LIKE CONNOR VERSUS UNAUGMENTED HUMANS IS HARDLY A FAIR FIGHT).

GIVEN THE EVENTS OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS, ONI IS UNDERSTANDABLY WARY OF ANY POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE SPARTANS, AND RICH IS ALREADY CALLING FOR A BOARD OF REVIEW ON HIS CONDUCT. HE’S NOT LIKELY TO HAVE A STRONG CASE, EITHER; I REVIEWED THE LOGS, AND HE IS VERY, VERY UPSET; A QUICK NEURAL SCAN INDICATED A LIKELY ONSET OF DEPRESSION, WHICH OF COURSE, DOESN’T BODE WELL. BEST CASE SCENARIO IS BEING PUT IN A DESK JOB, OR ON A PROWLER ON A REMOTE PATROL ROUTE; AT WORST, HE COULD BE THROWN IN JAIL FOR ASSAULTING AN OFFICER. THEY’RE NOT LIKELY TO GIVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, EITHER; THE MEMORY OF RICHARD’S SNAP IS TOO FRESH IN THEIR MINDS.

I’VE HEARD THAT HE’S BEEN REVIEWED WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE, AND ONI IS KEEP HIM UNDER TIGHT WRAPS. THEY’RE NOT LETTING ME SEE HIM, OR EVEN TALK TO HIM; THEY’RE PROBABLY AFRAID I WOULD GIVE AWAY THEIR INVESTIGATION (THEY WOULDN’T BE FAR FROM THE TRUTH, EITHER). THEY’RE ALSO HIDING HIM AMAZINGLY WELL; I ONLY KNOW WHERE HE IS BECAUSE OF A FEW CHATTY MEMBERS OF HIS CONTAINMENT TEAM, AND THE BRASS HAS ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE WHAT’S GOING ON (HIS LOCAL COMMANDER, ADMIRAL ULRICH VIEZCHER, IS BEING VERY PUBLIC ABOUT HIS ATTEMPTS TO GET HIM BACK, AND I GOT A CALL FROM ADMIRAL HOOD’S AIDE TELLING ME THAT THE ADMIRAL HIMSELF WANTS TO KNOW WHERE HE IS). I CAN’T BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW HE FEELS; HIS FAMILY GONE, HIS CONFIDENCE BROKEN, AND HIS SUPERIORS SUSPICIOUS. LORD KNOWS HE’S GOING TO HAVE A ROUGH COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND WORST OF ALL, I’M AFRAID THAT THERES LITTLE I CAN DO TO HELP HIM.

APRIL 30TH, 2552

WITH ALL THE CASUALTIES WE’VE INCURRED OF LATE (OUT OF 30 CANDIDATES FIELDED, WE HAVE LOST ALMOST HALF), EVEN ONI IS TAKING NOTICE. HOWEVER STUPID THEY ACT MOST OF THE TIME, THEY DO HAVE OCCASSIONAL MOMENTS OF INTELLIGENCE, AND I GOT AN ORDER TODAY THAT I SWEAR IS THE FIRST ONE I’VE BEEN HAPPY TO FOLLOW SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM. ONI IS REQUESTING ME TO LOOK INTO WAYS OF IMPROVING THE SURVIVABILITY OF OUR SPARTANS IN THE FIELD---SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE THREE YEARS AGO. THEY SENT ME A MESSAGE SAYING THAT THEY “REALIZE I MAY HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED”, THOUGH WITHOUT A DOUBT, IT’S JUST TO INDULGE ME TO WORK HARDER FOR THEM.

IT’S A WASTED EFFORT, HOWEVER. I’M NOT GOING TO BE DOING IT FOR THEM---I’M DOING IT FOR OUR KIDS IN THE FIELD, HOWEVER FEW OF THEM ARE LEFT. MY FIRST ORDER OF BUISNESS, OF COURSE, IS TO KEEP THINGS PRACTICAL; MJOLNIR MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY OF KEEPING THEM ALIVE (CRIMSON HAS ALL BUT PROVED THAT) BUT ONI, OF COURSE, WILL NEVER SPRING FOR IT. INSTEAD, I WANT TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE, AT LEAST AT FIRST. BETTER UPLINK MODULES FOR THEIR SPI SUITS. IMPROVED HUD RECOGNITION SOFTWARE. MOTION TRACKERS THAT ARE UP TO MJOLNIR SPEC. LIGHTER MATERIALS, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXPERIMENTAL AV-CAM GEAR. HUD SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE WEAPON SYSTEMS (PARTICULARRILY FOR ARNOLD). SIMPLE, CHEAP STUFF THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WITHOUT BREAKING THE BUDGET.

ONCE WE HAVE UPGRADES LIKE THOSE IN PLACE HOWEVER…I’M GOING TO KEEP GOING AS FAR AS ONI WILL LET ME. ARMOR ENHANCEMENTS, ENERGY SHIELDS, STRONGER MATERIALS. HAYABUSA SUITS, IF I CAN GET THE FUNDS AND GET RKD TO LOWER THE PRICE. ALL THE MEASURES THAT ME AND LAZ WANTED TO IMPLEMENT BUT COULDN’T, REALIZED AT LAST. ONI MIGHT SHOOT IT DOWN, BUT I CAN PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE FOR THAT. I’M BUILDING A TIMETABLE CONCURRENTLY ALONGSIDE MY LIST OF UPGRADES, AND WITH ANY LUCK, THEY’LL BE READY WITHIN A YEARS TIME.

MAY 12TH, 2552

GOLD WAS IN SYSTEM A FEW DAYS AGO FOR AN EQUIPMENT PICKUP, SO I TOOK MY CHANCE AND ARRANGED A MEETING WITH THEM. COVERT MESSAGES, HOWEVER, USEFUL, CAN ONLY GO SO FAR, AND I’LL ADMIT THAT I ALSO WANTED TO SEE THEM---THOUGH WHETHER THAT WAS TO ANALYZE THEIR MENTAL STATE OR ASSUAGE MY OWN I CAN’T SAY. I WENT BEHIND RICH’S BACK A LITTLE BIT, FORMULATING A COVIENIENT COVER STORY, AND MANAGED TO GET THE EQUIPMENT PICKUP CHANGED FROM REACH TO TANTALUS. AFTER THAT, IT WAS EASY WORK MAKING CONTACT WITH THEM.

THEY SEEMED SURPRISED---PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT SUSPICIOUS---WITH MY METHODS, THOUGH THEY DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING. I KEPT A LOT FROM THEM ALL DURING TRAINING, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH WAS MY DARKER SIDE; THEY KNEW THE STERN, DISCIPLINED, REGIMENTED COLONEL STANDOFF, NOT THE ONE WHO DISOBEYED ONI’S ORDERS AND WENT BEHIND THEIR BACK ON A REGULAR BASIS. GOLD WAS ALWAYS ONE OF OUR FEW “WELL BEHAVED” TEAMS; CONFIDENT, INTERNALLY COHERENT, (ASIDE FROM THAT DEAL WITH SCARLET), WELL ADJUSTED, RULE OBEYING KIDS WHO DID THINGS BY THE BOOK, AND DID THEM WELL. IT’S TRUE THEY HAD SOME EGO PROBLEMS, BUT IT WAS NEVER A HINDRANCE LIKE IT WAS FOR JENNIFER AND HER TEAM. OUT OF EVERYONE, THEY ALWAYS BELIEVED MOST STRONGLY IN THEIR MISSION, MOST READILY ACCEPTED THEIR CALLING. ALWAYS HAD SUCH HIGH CONFIDENCE IN THE UNSC AND ONI.

THEY’RE NOT THAT TEAM ANYMORE, HOWEVER. THEY’VE ALL CHANGED, PERHAPS FOR THE BETTER, PERHAPS NOT. THEY’RE SUSPICIOUS OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ONI (JACKY IN PARTICULAR LOOKED DOWNRIGHT HOSTILE TO THEIR LOCAL ONI CONTROLLER), AND LOOK WORN DOWN. THEIR CONFIDENCE IS SHAKEN, AND FROM WHAT I’VE HEARD, THEY’VE BEEN ACTING UP MORE AND MORE; MOUTHING OFF, GETTING RILED UP, ACTING ALMOST AS UNDICISPLINED AS CRIMSON. SOME OF IT’S NATURAL COMBAT STRESS, BUT MUCH OF IT IS A REACTION TO RICKY’S DEATH. THEY CALMED DOWN A LITTLE BIT AS WE TALKED, BUT THEY SEEMED SUSPICIOUS EVEN OF ME (WHICH HURT A LOT MORE THAN I’D THOUGHT IT WOULD). WE TALKED FOR A FEW HOURS, BUT THEY DIDN’T SEEM EAGER TO SHARE ANY NEW INFORMATION ABOUT RICHARD’S DEATH. STILL, EVEN IF I’M NO CLOSER TO TRACKING DOWN RICKY’S KILLER, IT’S HELPFUL REGARDLESS. IT NEVER HURTS TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON INSIDE YOUR TROOP’S HEADS.

MAY 19TH, 2552

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE HAD TO WRITE IN WEEKS, THANKS TO A SUDDEN AND SLIGHTLY CONFUSING BREAK IN THE ACTION; FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, LITERALLY NONE OF OUR SQUADS IS CURRENTLY COMMITTED TO ACTIVE COMBAT. GOLD IS OUT ON PATROL, NOT CURRENTLY ENGAGED, CONNOR IS, OF COURSE, STUCK ABOARD AN ONI PROWLER, OLIVE IS RETURNING FROM THEIR DEPLOYMENT ON BULGARIA II, CRIMSON ARE ON THEIR WAY BACK FROM SIGMA OCTANUS,AND TURQOISE IS CURRENTLY BETWEEN MISSIONS, WAITING FOR ORDERS. IT’S BEING MADE WEIRDER BY A SUDDEN DROP IN ONI HARRASSMENT; THEY SEEM PREOCCUPIED WITH SOMETHING ELSE, THOUGH I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT.

FREE TIME IS A LUXURY I CAN RARELY AFFORD, BUT I HARDLY REMEMBER WHAT TO DO WITH IT NOW ANYWAY. MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES I USED TO SPEND MY TIME ON SEEM POINTLESS NOW; INSTEAD, I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME THINKING. AND GIVEN TIME ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS, I SEE THE REASON WHY ONI KEEPS ME WORKING SO HARD ALL THE TIME. BEING ALONE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS IS DANGEROUS….FOR THEM. IN MY SPARE TIME, I WAS AMUSING MYSELF GOING OVER THE CSVS FROM OUR SQUADS, AND CAME ACROSS THE REPORT OF CRIMSON TEAM’S ENGAGEMENT ON CORAL. I’D NEVER PAID A WHOLE LOT OF ATTENTION TO IT BEFORE, LOOKING AT IT ONLY LONG ENOUGH TO REDACT ANY MENTION OF CRIMSON’S MJOLNIR, BUT THIS TIME I PAID A CLOSER EYE. I LOOKED UP THEIR MISSION; RETRIEVE CLASSIFIED “ARCHEOLOGICAL DATA” FROM AN ONI COMPLEX AND EXFIL. NOT TOO BAD OF A MISSION…EXCEPT THAT THEY WERE DEPLOYED AGAINST COVENANT FORCES TO A PLANET UNDER DIRECT SIEGE, WITHOUT DEFENSES, LIKELY TO BE GLASSED.

THAT SET OFF ALARM BELLS, AND I CHECKED THE REPORT ON SIGMA OCTANUS, WHICH JUSST CAME IN. TURNS OUT, THEY HAD A SIMILAR MISSION PROFILE; THEY WERE DEPLOYED TO THE PLANET WITH AN UNSECURED ORBITAL FRONT, WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY TURNED UGLY. ALL TO “DISTRACT AND SUPPORT LOCAL UNSC FORCES” AKA, RUN A DISTRACTION FOR THE CLASS I SPARTANS ON THE GROUND. I LOOKED INTO THE OTHER SQUAD CSV, AND NOTICED AN ALARMINGLY SIMILAR TREND; GOLD TEAM SENT TO INVESTIGATE SOME SORT OF “ALIEN COMPLEX”---A NEAR SUICIDE MISSION---IN 2550. TURQUOISE, DISPATCHED BY THEMSELVES TO HAT-YAI, TO DESTROY ANOTHER ONE. I CAN’T BELIEVE I DIDN’T NOTICE THIS UNTIL NOW.

ONI IS USING MY SPARTANS AS PRIVATE GRIM REAPERS TO PROTECT THEIR CLASSIFIED STORAGE FACILITIES. IT’S THE ONLY EXPLANATION.

JULY 26TH, 2552

CRIMSON ARE DUE IN TOMMOROW FROM THEIR DEPLOYMENT ON SIGMA OCTANUS. I’M STILL WAITING TO DEBRIEF THEM PERSONALLY, BUT I FINALLY GOT SOME INFORMATION ON THEIR PEFORMANCE; FROM WHAT I’VE HEARD, IT DIDN’T GO WELL. CRIMSON LOCATED A CONTINGENT OF COVENANT TROOPS HEADING FOR THE NEARBY MARINE STAGING GROUND, AND MOVED TO INTERCEPT. THEY UNDERESTIMATED THE SIZE OF THE FORCE, HOWEVER, AND GOT HIT HARD DURING THEIR ESCAPE; JAMES WAS CRITICALLY WOUNDED, AND WHILE THEY MANAGED TO EVACUATE HIM, HE’LL BE DOWN FOR TWO MONTHS AT THE MINIMUM. ONI’S CONTACT REPORT OBVIOUSLY DIDN’T PAY ANY MIND TO ROGER OR MICA’S MENTAL STATE, SO THAT’S THE FIRST THING I’LL CHECK ON WHEN THEY GET BACK. IF THERE’S ANYTHING I’VE LEARNED THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE WAR, IT’S THAT THESE TEAMS ARE VERY VULNERABLE WHEN THEY TAKE LOSSES.

STILL, IT’LL BE NICE TO HAVE THEM HOME AGAIN, IF ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE. GOLD’S STAY WAS NICE, HOWEVER BRIEF IT WAS. IT WILL ALSO GIVE ME A WELCOME CHANCE TO TALK TO ROGER ABOUT SOME MORE DELICATE MATTERS OFF THE RADIO. PRINCIPAL AMONG THIS IS MY RECENT SUCCESSES IN PENETRATING MJOLNIR’S SECURITY---THANKS IN LARGE PART TO LASZLO’S OLD INFILTRATION ROUTINE---AND THE THINGS I’VE FOUND OUT ABOUT THEIR SUITS. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, I’VE BEEN DOING MY BEST TO BREAK INTO HALSEY’S MJOLNIR FILES (ALONGSIDE THE FILES OF SOME OF ONI’S OTHER POWERED ARMOR SYSTEMS) AND I’VE HAD SOME STRIKING SUCCESSES. THE FACT THAT IT’S ALL STOLEN DOESN’T BOTHER ME MUCH ANYMORE. ANYTHING TO TAKE CARE OF MY SPARTANS IS A PRICE WORTH PAYING.

CRIMSON’S VISIT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SIMPLE BRIEFING AND RESUPPLY, BUT NOW IT’S TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING OF A TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE. I RECENTLY UNCOVERED FILES ON A PROJECT ONI’S RECENTLY BEEN FIELD TESTING WITH NOBLE TEAM, SPECIALIZED ARMOR ENHANCEMENTS---COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN IN THE FIELD AS “ARMOR ABILITIES”. FUTHERMORE, I’VE MANAGED TO GRAB FRAGMENTS OF DATA ON THEM---ENOUGH TO FASHION OUR OWN VARIANTS. I’VE GOT ONE OF OUR FEW REMAINING ENGINEER TEAMS WORKING ON THEM AT THE MOMENT, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY BE READY BY THE 9TH. IF ALL GOES WELL, WE’LL BE ABLE TO EQUIP CRIMSON WITH OUR CURRENT PROTOTYPE---THE ACTIVE CAMOFLAGE VARIANT) BEFORE THEY SHIP OUT, AND SIGNIFICANTLY BOOST THEIR CHANCES.

AUGUST 6TH, 2552

SOMETIMES THE DAY SURPRISES YOU IN LITTLE WAYS, AND AT OTHER TIMES, THE DAILY SHOCKS ARE FAR MORE EXPANSIVE. MY AGENDA, THIS MORNING, WAS TO MEET UP WITH CRIMSON AND GIVE THEM THEIR FINAL BRIEFING BEFORE THEY SHIPPED OUT FOR THEIR COVERT OP ON NEW JERUSALEM. JUST A SIMPLE SHUTTLE RIDE FROM THE BASE TO OUR LIASON OFFICE ON REACH, WHERE I’D GIVE THEM WHAT LITTLE INTEL WE HAVE ON THE PLACE AND ANSWER ANY OF THEIR QUESTIONS. WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, HOWEVER, WAS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.

ONI’S BEEN KEEPING IT QUIET FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS, BUT TODAY IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO HIDE. THE COVENANT ARE ON REACH, IN FORCE. IT’S SURREAL JUST WRITING THE WORDS; REACH IS REALLY OUR LAST TRUE SAFE HAVEN, OUR ONLY REMAINING FORTRESS WORLD. THE THOUGHT THAT THEY ARE THERE---AND EVEN MORE, THAT THEY’VE BEEN THERE FOR SOME TIME---SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE. THAT SENTIMENT WILL PASS QUICKLY, I HOPE, BUT THAT’S LIKELY TO BE ABOUT THE ONLY THING. THE COVENANT FORCE HAS, SO FAR, BEEN REVEALED TO BE FAIRLY SMALL, BUT NO ONE THINKS THAT’S GOING TO LAST; THE COVENANT NEVER DO ANYTHING BY HALF MEASURES.

WHAT LITTLE I’VE GATHERED ON THE SITUATION INDICATES THAT THE ARMY (SUPPLEMENTED BY THE NAVY AND NONE OTHER THAN THE NOBLE TEAM ME AND LAZ DISCOVERED) WILL BE LAUNCHING A FULL SCALE ASSAULT ON THE ENEMY WITHIN HOURS. FROM WHAT I’VE HEARD, THE COVENANT HAVE DEPLOYED SEVERAL CLOAKING SHIELDS, WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST TARGET. THEY’RE KEEPING THINGS COVERT, TO BOTH FOOL THE COVENANT AND KEEP THINGS CONTAINED ON THE SURFACE, BUT I’VE GOT ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO PICK OUT SOMETHING THIS BIG. CRIMSON IS BEING ROPED IN, AS WELL---THOUGH I HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING, AS OF YET, ON THEIR ROLE.

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT IS ANYONES GUESS.

AUGUST 12TH, 2552

THINGS ARE HAPPENING FAST ON REACH, AND WE’RE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO TRY AND DO ANYTHING WE CAN. ORBITAL CAMERAS SHOW ENTIRE AREAS OF THE SURFACE ABLAZE; AFTER THE ASSAULT ON VIERY BEGAN TO TURN UGLY FOR THE COVENANT, THEY AMBUSHED US WITH A CLOAKED SUPERCARRIER AND BROUGHT THE HAMMER DOWN HARD. NOBLE TEAM (THEY’RE TAKING A CENTER ROLE IN THE ACTION, CONVIENIENTLY GRABBING THE SPOTLIGHT AWAY FROM THE OTHER SPARTAN TEAMS) DESTROYED IT WITH SOME SORT OF SLIPSPACE BOMB, SPARING THE SURFACE FROM TOTAL ANNIHILATION, BUT A FULL COVENANT FLEET ARRIVED SOON AFTER. IT’S LARGE, BUT HAS SO FAR KEPT IT’S DISTANCE (MAYBE IT FEARS THE S-MAC PLATFORMS?). MORE AND MORE COVENANT ARE DEPLOYING TO THE SURFACE THOUGH (NO ONE KNOWS HOW, JUST THAT THEY ARE), AND PRACTICALLY THE WHOLE FLEET IS BEING RECALLED.

AS FAR AS OUR SIDE GOES, THINGS ARE HEATING UP AS WELL. NONE OF OUR OTHER TEAMS HAVE ARRIVED YET, BUT LAST I HEARD, CRIMSON WAS HELPING STAGE A RE-TAKING OF THE SABRE FACILITIES, NOW UNDER FIRM COVENANT CONTROL. A SUICIDE MISSION FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN SPARTANS; CHANCY, EVEN THEN. I MONITOR THEM WHENEVER I CAN. MEANWHILE, CONNOR IS STILL OUT OF TOUCH---RICH HAS HIM UNDER CAREFUL WATCH ON ONE OF HIS PROWELRS---AND GOLD IS OUT OF CONTACT, MAROONED ON REGENT. TURQUOISE IS INBOUND, BUT LIKELY WON’T ARRIVE UNTIL THE 29TH. WE’RE SPREAD DANGEROUSLY THIN OVER THE GALAXY, EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN PROGRAM. WE’VE LITERALLY GOT ONLY 2 SPARTANS LEFT TO DEFEND THE PLANET.

NOT THAT THERES ANY SHORTAGE OF SPARTANS, THOUGH. HALSEY’S SPARTANS HAVE ARRIVED IN SYSTEM FROM DEPLOYMENT’S THROUGHOUT THE GALAXY, THIRTY OF THEM IN ALL, THOUGH THEY’RE BEING KEPT OUT OF THE FIGHT BY HIGHCOMM, WHO ARE FOCUSING THEM SOLEY ON OPERATION: RED FLAG---HALSEY’S LAST DITCH ATTEMPT TO WIN THE WAR. MEANWHILE, I’M HEARING RUMORS OF TEAMS LIKE ECHO, GAUNTLET, AND RED BEING PREPARED, UNDER DIRECT ORDERS FROM HIGHCOM. IT’S ALL SHAPING UP TO BE ONE HELL OF A BIG FIGHT, AND I’M NOT SURE WHEN I’LL GET THE CHANCE TO WRITE AGAIN (IF EVER). I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD MAKE THE MOST OF IT NOW, IN CASE I DON’T HAVE A CHANCE LATER, BUT THERE’S NO TIME FOR IT.

AUGUST 17TH, 2552

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I’VE HAD A MOMENT TO MYSELF---AND IT’LL PROBABLY BE A LONG TIME FOLLOWING THIS---SO I FEEL I SHOULD USE THIS QUIET MOMENT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE I LAST WROTE, THAT IT’S HARD TO REMEMBER IT ALL. OBVIOUSLY, REACH FELL, FOLLOWED IN QUICK SUCCESSION BY THE OTHER, SMALLER COLONIES IN EPSILON ERIDANUS. TANTALUS WAS THE LAST TO GET HIT, SO I GOT TO WATCH IT ALL---NOT THAT I REALLY WANTED TOO, OF COURSE. I DOUBT I’LL FORGET IT, SO IT SEEMS POINTLESS WRITING IT DOWN, BUT JUST IN CASE MY MEMORY GOES THIRTY YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, I’M GOING TO POINT OUT THAT ROGER AND MICA ACTUALLY CAME BACK FOR ME---FOUGHT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE COVENANT INVASION FORCE TO GET ME OUT OF THE PROJECT HQ. APPARENTLY, THEY LIKE ME MORE THAN I THOUGHT.

WE’RE ALL CURRENTLY ABOARD A CIVILIAN FREIGHT, RETREATING BACK TO EARTH. WE’RE DUE IN IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT THERE ARE NO CRYO TUBES ABOARD (ALL THE LEFTOVER SPACE WAS DEVOTED TO REFUGEES), SO WE’RE AWAKE FOR THE WHOLE TRIP. IT’S A CHANCE TO CATCH UP ON THINGS I’VE FALLEN BEHIND IN---LIKE THIS JOURNAL---SO I DON’T WANT TO COMPLAIN…BUT IT IS VERY CROWDED. THERE’S MORE STRANGERS ON THIS SHIP THAN I’VE SEEN IN YEARS; TO BE HONEST, IT’S A LITTLE OVERWHELMING AFTER MY SECLUSION IN THE PROJECT HQ.

MOOD ON THE SHIP IS PRETTY SOMBER, THOUGH I GUESS IT COULD BE WORSE. REACH WAS OUR LAST BASTION, OUR FORTRESS WORLD. IT REPRESENTED ONE OF THE LAST SOLIDS LEFT IN OUR EXISTENCE. WITH IT GONE, PEOPLE AREN’T THE SAME. ABOUT THE ONLY PERSON WHO DOESN’T SEEM AFFECTED IS ROGER; EVEN MICA IS DOWN. BEFORE MY TRANSCEIVER GOT HIT, I HEARD MOST OF THE CLASS ONES HAD BEEN DEPLOYED TO THE SURFACE, AND KILLED IN A FRIENDLY MAC STRIKE (TALK ABOUT A DAMN SHAME)---SO THE LOSSES WEREN’T JUST STANDARD MILITARY. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL CLEAR UP WHEN WE GET TO EARTH.

SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2552

NEVER IMAGINED THAT I’D SAY THIS, BUT I THINK I’M ACTUALLY STARTING TO MISS OLD ADMIRAL RICH. DESPITE BEING A DEATH DEALING, BACKSTABBING BASTARD, HE HAD HIS MOMENTS (AND, AS FAR AS I COULD EVER TELL, NO LOVE FOR SPOOKS). IN THE AFTERMATH OF CONNOR’S MENTAL BREAKDOWN AND CRIMSON’S NONE TO SUBTLE ESCAPE FROM EPSILON ERIDANUS (TO SAY NOTHING OF RICHARD), I’VE BEEN FIELDING AN ARRAY OF DIFFICULT QUESTIONS FROM ALL MANNER OF PEOPLE WITHIN ONI. I NEVER REALLY REALIZED HOW MUCH RICH DEFLECTED AWAY FROM ME; WITH HIM GONE, THE FLOODGATES HAVE COME CRASHING OPEN, AND EVERYTHING IS OPEN SEASON.

HE MAY HAVE BEEN A LOUSY OLD BASTARD, BUT SOMETIMES YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE SOMEONE UNTIL THEIR GONE. LORD HOOD IS PESTERING ME WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF MY ARES TEAMS; MEMBER’S OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE ARE DEMANDING THAT CRIMSON RETURN THEIR EXPERIMENTAL ARMOR PROTOTYPES. AND ALL THE WHILE, I’VE GOT ANONYMOUS ONI AGENTS BREATHING DOWN MY NECK AND WATCHING ME LIKE A HAWK TO MAKE SURE I DON’T DISCLOSE ANYTHING DAMAGING. FOR NOW, I’M STUCK STALLING THEM, WAITING UNTIL A BETTER PLAN PRESENTS ITSELF---OR UNTIL FATE OFFERS A CONVIENIENT WAY OUT OF THINGS (NOT THAT THAT’S LIKELY, OF COURSE).

THE STRAIN IS BEING MADE SOMEWHAT EASIER BY THE ARRIVAL OF A FEW CHOICE DISTRACTIONS, THOUGH HOW LONG THEY’LL KEEP THINGS AT BAY IS DEBATABLE. [S-117] AND COMPANY ARRIVED IN SYSTEM A FEW WEEKS AGO IN A REPAIRED DESTROYER (APPARENTLY SALVAGED FROM REACH’S ORBIT) AND IT SEEMS AS IF EVERYONE AND THEIR BROTHER AT ONI ARE TRIPPING OVER EACH OTHER TRYING TO DEBRIEF THEM FIRST (AND FIND OUT WHERE THE CHARLIE ONES HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS). THE TURMOIL IS SERVING AS A USEFUL DISTRACTION, THOUGH IT’S PROBABLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY DEBRIEF HIM AND REALIZE HIS STORY IS PROBABLY JUST SOME UNEVENTFUL, PATIENT ESCAPE---IT’S NOT LIKE ANY OF THEM COULD HAVE GOTTEN UP TO ANY REAL TROUBLE ANYWAY (RELATIVE TO SPARTAN STANDARDS, I MEAN).

OCTOBER 17TH, 2552

I’LL PROBABLY HAVE TO EDIT THIS LATER TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE MORE ORGANIZED, BUT FOR NOW I’LL SETTLE WITH JUST GETTING THE INFROMATION WRITTEN DOWN. THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO QUICKLY TO DESCRIBE IN FULL DETAIL, AND THE CONFUSION RIGHT NOW IS WORSE THAN ANY FOG OF WAR. TWO DAYS AGO, THE NOW INFAMOUS [S-117] LANDED IN AFRICA AND SPEARHEADED AN ASSAULT ON VOI, PUSHING THE COVENANT BACK TO SOME SORT OF ANCIENT ALIEN ARTIFACT---APPARENTLY CREATED BY A LONG DEAD RACE CALLED THE “FORERUNNERS”. CRIMSON TRIED TO LINK UP WITH THE ASSAULT, APPARENTLY (WHICH WAS ABOUT THE TIME I LOST TRACK OF THEM), BUT WERE SHOT DOWN EN ROUTE AND HAD TO PROCEED ON FOOT. THAT’S NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING OF IT, HOWEVER; TO MAKE THINGS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED, THERES APPARENTLY BEEN SORT OF SCHISM IN THE COVENANT RANKS, WITH THE BRUTES USURPING THE ELITES, AND WE’RE NOW ALLIES WITH THEM---AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS.

MEANWHILE, I’VE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP TABS ON BATTLES IN DOZENS OF DIFFERENT HOTSPOTS ACROSS THE PLANET, IN PARTICULAR WHERE MY CLASS III’S ARE DEPLOYED. THE BATTLE IN GENERAL IS WINDING DOWN, SINCE THE MAJORITY OF THE COVENANT FORCES LEFT IN THE PORTAL (SHIT, DID I FORGET TO MENTION THAT? RIGHT.  THAT “FORERUNNER” ARTIFACT LINKED TO SOME SORT OF SLIPSPACES PORTAL, WHICH THE COVENANT ACTIVATED AND ENTERED, HEADING TO GOD KNOW’S WHERE.) BUT THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF ACTION TO GO AROUND/  TURQUOISE IS STILL FINISHING UP IN TOKYO, CRIMSON IS, AS MENTIONED, MOPPING THINGS UP IN VOI, AND GOLD IS HARRASSING ENEMY SUPPLY LINES IN WASHINGTON. THAT’S TO SAY NOTHING OF RACHEL AND BALDUIN---I FINALLY FOUND THEM!---WHO ARE OPERATING IN SOME SORT OF MIXED SPARTAN UNIT, WINTER TEAM, AND WORKING ALONGISIDE LASZLO (WHOSE HERE TOO; IT’S ALMOST A REUNION). I’M NOT GETTING MUCH INFORMATION ON THEM, AND DON’T HAVE TIME TO GO DIGGING, BUT IT’S ENOUGH FOR NOW TO KNOW THEY’RE STILL ALIVE (LASZLO BEING WITH THEM HELPS TOO).

I’M CURRENTLY HELPING COORDINATE OFFENSIVES ON THE SURFACE, BUT I’VE BEEN CONTACTED BY LORD HOOD AND ASKED TO WORK AS HIS LIASON WITH ROGER & MICA; AFTER HIS EXPERIENCES WITH TAN TEAM, HE’S VERY EAGER TO HAVE MORE ARES OPERATORS UNDER HIS COMMAND. HE WANTS TO PAIR THEM WITH A GROUP OF SPECIAL FORCES ELITES (I WON’T EVEN START ON THE SURREALITY) AND HAVE ME COORDINATE A JOINT MISSION TO LIBERATE MARS. I’M STALLING ON THAT UNTIL JAMES FINISHES HIS TREATMENT (WHICH WILL BE ONLY A FEW DAYS), SO THAT WE CAN SEND THE TEAM IN AT FULL STRENGTH. IF HOOD DOESN’T LISTEN, I MAY JUST TELL HIM TO SHOVE IT; THIS LATE INTO THE WAR, I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT REGULATIONS, AND I’M NOT GETTING ANY MORE OF MY KIDS KILLED ON STUPID MISSIONS.

NOVEMBER 19TH, 2552

2553
IT’S OVER. I KEEP REPEATING THE WORDS TO MYSELF, JUST TO MAKE SURE I’M NOT DREAMING, BECAUSE THE WAR HAS DOMINATED PRACTICALLY MY ENTIRE LIFE, BUT IT REALLY IS FINISHED. AS OF FOUR DAYS AGO, THE COVENANT IS NO MORE. WITH THE HELP OF THE ELITES, WE PUSHED BACK THE BRUTES ALL THE WAY TO THEIR HOME PLANET, AND ANNIHILATED THEIR REMAINING FORCES. IT’S UNREAL, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE; YET IT IS. AFTER OVER 28 YEARS, THE WAR IS FINALLY FINISHED. WE WON. IN MERE MONTHS SINCE REACH, WHICH SEEMED SO DEVASTATING, THE SIDES HAVE FLIPPED AND WE HAVE ACHIEVED THE IMPOSSIBLE.

FOR ME, THE END OF THE WAR IS FAR MORE PERSONAL THAN I COULD HAVE IMAGINED, AND WHAT SHOULD BE A HAPPY DAY IS CLOUDED BY DARKER EVENTS. DURING THE BATTLE, MICA AND JAMES WERE BOTH KILLED IN A BRUTE AMBUSH; ROGER IS NOW THE ONLY REMAINING MEMBER OF CRIMSON, AND IS SET ON LEAVING THE SERVICE (ONI WILL TRY TO STOP HIM OF COURSE---TRY BEING THE KEY WORD THERE). LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, THE DEATHS OF HIS TEAM ARE EFFECTING ROGER STRONGLY---NO SURPRISE, BUT STILL PAINFUL IN IT’S OWN UNIQUE WAY.

IT’S NOT JUST CRIMSON, THOUGH; THE ENTIRE ROSTER HAS BEEN SHREADED, AND NOW ONLY A HANDFUL OF OUR SPARTANS REMAIN. RACHEL, BALDUIN, ADAM, LUCIA, MATHEW, JACKY, MASON, AND ROGER. CONNOR IS ALIVE AS WELL, BUT SERIOUSLY WOUNDED; HE COMPLETED ONI’S SUICIDE MISSION, BUT NEARLY KILLED HIMSELF IN THE PROCESS, DETONATING A COVENANT REACTOR PRACTICALLY ON TOP OF HIMSELF. EIGHT SPARTANS REMAING FROM A CLASS OF 50. EACH DEATH, IN SOME WAY, PARTIALLY MY FAULT.

WE MAY HAVE WON THE WAR, BUT NOT WITHOUT A PRICE.

MARCH 3RD, 2553

2554
IT’S HARDLY BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE WAR ENDED, BUT THE GALAXY, IN LARGE PART, SEEMS TO HAVE MOVED ON. WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED ON RE-TERAFORMING REACH AND A DOZEN OTHER COLONIES, THE UEG IS GIVING OUT MASSIVE CONTRACTS TO HELP RESTORE THE ECONOMY, AND THE MILITARY HAS BEEN REDUCED TO RUN AND GUN FIGHTS WITH PIRATES AND REBUILDING WORK. I’M STILL HAUNTED BY THE GHOSTS OF EVERYONE LOST, ENOUGH THAT IT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE GALAXY IS MOVING ON. CONNOR IS TAKING A WELL DESERVED BREAK AND WORKING AS A SNIPER INSTRUCTOR FOR THE MARINES, GOLD TEAM IS COMBATING KIG-YAR RAIDERS ON THE EDGES OF OUR SPACE, ADAM AND LUCIA ARE BUSY ON PHOENIX, AND RACHEL AND BALDUIN ARE FOLLOWING LASZLO AROUND, TAGGING ALONG WITH HIM ON MISSIONS.

ROGER IN PARTICULAR SEEMS TO HAVE REINVENTED HIMSELF. OUT OF EVERYONE, I THINK HE HAS IT MOST DIFFICULT, BECAUSE HIS CASUALTIES WERE SO RECENT, BUT HE SEEMS TO BE PUSHING THROUGH THE GRIEF MUCH BETTER THAN MANY OF THE OTHERS DID---WITH AN EYE ON RACHEL AND CONNOR IN PARTICULAR. HE’S WORKING AS A MERCENARY NOW, AND HAS STARTED HIS OWN COMPANY TO SUPPORT HIM. HE’S PARTNERED HIMSELF WITH AN ELITE---EXCUSE ME, SANGHEILI---NAMED SUNEF MHACKPHISTHO, A FORMER HONOR GUARD HE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE AT DOISAC, AND I HEAR HE EVEN WENT BACK TO ALGOLIS AND GRABBED A SUIT OF MJOLNIR THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND WHEN THEY EVACUATED THE PLANET. NOT EXACTLY CONVENTIONAL, BUT THE NEW JOB CERTAINLY SEEMS TO FIT HIM. I TOLD LASZLO, AND HE DIDN’T FIND IT SURPRISING IN THE SLIGHTEST.

AND SPEAKING OF LASZLO, I FIGURE I SHOULD MENTION THAT I TALKED TO HIM AS WELL, IF I WANT TO FINISH THIS RECAP OFF RIGHT. WE BUMPED INTO EACH OTHER WHILE HE WAS IN BETWEEN DEPLOYMENTS, AND IT WAS QUITE THE EXPERIENCE TO TALK TO HIM AND HIS TWO YOUNG SIDEKICKS AGAIN. THEY WERE TALKING OF JOINING OPERATION: SAVIOR, TO HELP LOOK FOR JOHN-117. I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED, TO BE HONEST; LASZLO SAID THAT HE’D NEVER BEEN GREAT FRIENDS WITH HIM, AND HAD HAD A HARD TIME IDENTIFYING WITH “HALSEY’S FAVORITES”, LIKE HIM. WHEN I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT, HE WASN’T VERY CLEAR ON HIS REASONS. HE MENTIONED THAT HE WANTED TO STICK WITH THE OTHER SPARTANS OF HIS CLASS (PARTICULARRILY [S-012], WHO WAS APPARENTLY ONE OF HIS CLOSE FRIENDS), BUT I CAN’T HELP WONDERING IF HE REALLY KNOWS. THEN AGAIN, I COULD BE PROJECTING MY OWN DOUBTS ONTO HIM; I’VE ALWAYS GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT. REGARDLESS OF HIS REASONS, WHEN WE SAID GOODBYE, I REALIZE IT WAS LIKELY FOR GOOD; THEY’LL SPEND MUCH OF THEIR TIME IN CRYO, AND THE SEARCH COULD GO ON FOR DECADES. IT’S HARD TO THINK ABOUT, BUT I’LL LIKELY BE DEAD BY THE TIME HE COMES BACK. IT’S AN ODD FEELING, BUT I FEEL MYSELF WONDERING ABOUT SUCH THINGS MORE AND MORE. THAT’S A SIGN THAT I’M GETTING OLD, IF NOTHING ELSE.

MARCH 19TH, 2554

2559
VERY FEW ASPECTS OF MY OLD LIFE REMAIN INTACT, THESE DAYS. THE SHARP, PIERCING FOCUS THAT I HAD DURING THE WAR IS GONE, REPLACED BY A HOLLOW SENSE OF PURPOSELESSNESS. THE CLASS IIIS ARE GONE NOW, MOST OUT OF CONTACT FOR YEARS. LASZLO, RACHEL, BALDUIN, AND GOLD TEAM ARE OUT THERE SEARCHING FOR [S-117], SOMEWHERE AMONG THE STARS. I DOUBT I’LL EVER SEE THEM AGAIN, TO BE HONEST. CONNOR IS STILL TEACHING MARINE SNIPERS, AND WE HAVEN’T TALKED IN YEARS. HE SEEMS PERMANENTLY DAMAGED BY THE LOSSES HE’S SUSTAINED. ADAM AND LUCIA HAVE DROPPED OUT OF CONTACT WITH ME, AS WELL; THEY’RE OFF ON MISSIONS, NOW A WELL KNOWN AND RENOWNED GROUP OF OPERATORS, NO LONGER SHROUDED IN A CLOAK OF SECRECY. THEY’RE ALL GONE, AND IT’S HARD TO STAY FOCUSED. AFTER TRAINING STARTED, SUPPORTING THEM BECAME MY WORLD; NOW THAT THEY’RE OFF ON THEIR OWN, I FEEL OUT EMPTY.

I’VE NEVER FELT THIS KIND OF DISORIENTATION BEFORE, BUT IT’S PLAGUED ME SINCE THE WAR ENDED. WHEN I WAS A SOLDIER, THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME CLEAR OBJECTIVE, SOME LARGER GOAL---AND OF COURSE, WHEN THE COVENANT ARRIVED, THAT GOAL BECAME EVEN MORE DEFINED. ONI HAS ME IN DEAD END, POINTLESS JOB---THEIR WAY OF GETTING BACK AT ME AFTER ALL THE YEARS OF HEADACHE I CAUSED THEM. I GUESS I CAN’T BLAME THEM, EVEN IF IT MAKES ME MISERABLE. GIVEN ALL OF THAT, I FEEL ALMOST NOSTALGIC ANNOUNCING WHAT THIS ENTRY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT: MY LAST TIE TO THE PROGRAM, THE MISSING ASSASSIN WHO MURDERED RICKY, IS NOW NO LONGER SO MISSING. IN FACT, HE’S MORE THAN JUST AN ONI ASSASSIN. HE’S A SPARTAN. [S-144].

NOT JUST ANY SPARTAN, EITHER. HIS NAME IS LEONID, AND HE WAS LASZLO’S TEAMATE DURING TRAINING. HE WAS ABDUCTED FROM THE RANKS OF THE CLASS I’S BY SECTION 0 JUST LIKE LASZLO WAS BY ADMIRAL RICH; HE’S WORKED AS THEIR ASSASSIN SINCE HIS TRAINING, KILLING ANYONE THEY DIDN’T LIKE (OR WERE AFRAID OF)---LIKE RICKY. LIKE ALL THE SPARTANS, THE SECRECY OF HIS STATUS HAS FADED SINCE THE END OF THE WAR (THE REASON I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE---HE WAS MENTIONED IN A SECTION III BRIEFING I INTERCEPTED, AND I DID RESEARCH ON HIM). I’M NOT SURE WHAT TO THINK, OR DO. IF I’D KNOWN THIS EIGHT YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY GONE HUNTING FOR HIM. BUT NOW…I DON’T KNOW. MAYBE THE FIGHT HAS GONE OUT OF ME.

OCTOBER 18TH, 2559

SECRET CORRESPONDENCE 3CLK-7MXJ
ENRYPTION CODE: FOXTROT-12

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: LT (0-3) ALPHA YANKEE 

TO: CPT (0-6) GOLF SIERRA 

'''SUBJECT: TONE THINGS DOWN '''

I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HATE COMPLAINING, BUT SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE ABOUT LIMA-108. HE MAY THINK THE RECRUITS CAN TAKE IT, BUT HE’S PUSHING THEM TOO HARD, TOO FAST. THEY’RE GOING TO SNAP, AND THEN THEY’LL BE USELESS FOR THE PROGRAM AND FOR THE WAR. HE SEEMS TO THINK THAT THEY’RE EQUAL TO THE OLD CLASS I AND IIS, AND HE’S BADLY MISTAKEN ON BOTH COUNTS. THEY’RE GOOD, REALLY, REALLY GOOD, BUT NOT THAT GOOD. ALMOST NO ONE IS. THERES A FEW EXCEPTIONS, A FEW LIKE CHARLIE HOTEL WOULD HAVE PICKED, BUT THEY’RE THE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE RULE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STOP HIM. I KNOW HE THINKS HES DOING WHAT’S BEST, BUT HE’S GOING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE. BELIEVE ME. I DID MY TIME ON III AND I KNOW WHAT KIDS LIKE THESE CAN TAKE. IT’S TOO MUCH. MAKE HIM TONE THINGS DOWN, OR I WILL.

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

SECRET CORRESPONDENCE 3CLK-6CGS
ENRYPTION CODE: DELTA-29

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: CPT (0-3) LIMA KILO 

TO: COL (0-6) GOLF SIERRA 

'''SUBJECT: PROJECT ARES '''

SIR, IT'S ME AGAIN. TRAINING IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY NOW. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY MISTAKE OF PUSHING THE RECRUITS TOO FAR; I GUESS SOME PART OF ME JUST ASSUMED THAT "IF THEY'RE TOUGH ENOUGH, THEY WON'T FAIL WHAT'S YET TO COME". THAT JUDGEMENT WAS IN ERROR. SO YOU CAN GET THAT PSYCHE EVALUATION PANEL OFF OF ME NOW. THERE'S NO NEED FOR A PREMATURELY EARLY EXAMINATION.

ANYWAY, TRAINING IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND THEY'RE ALL DOING WELL. WHAT WORRIES ME IS THE AUGMENTATION PROCEDURES COMING UP LATER NEXT YEAR. WHY DO WE HAVE TO RELY ON SUCH OUTDATED PROCEDURES? ME TRAINING THESE RECRUITS RISK OF BEING ALL FOR NOTHING IF WE DON'T USE THE NEW ADVANCED ONES; NEW SPARTANS WON'T HELP IF THEY'RE DEAD OR IRREPAIRABLY WOUNDED. I UNDERWENT THOSE PROCEDURES, SO I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I WAS CLOSER THAN YOU'D THINK TO DYING (CARDIAC VOLUME INCREASE ISN'T SOMETHING TO JOKE ABOUT, AND THAT'S COMING FROM ME, THE CLOWN OF THE II PROGRAM). THESE ARE MY MEN, AND I REFUSE TO LET THEM ALL DIE BECAUSE OF ONI BULLSHIT.

AND NOT JUST THE AUGMENTATIONS; WHAT'S THIS CRAP ABOUT "SEMI-POWERED INFILTRATION (SPI) ARMOR"? I TESTED IT BACK IN 2532, AND IT'S NOT SPARTAN-CLASS GEAR; AT MOST, IT'S ONI TRYING TO CUT THE COST OF EVERYTHING AT THE EXPENSE OF QUALITY. THEY WON'T SURVIVE FOR LONG OUT THERE WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S TRUE WHAT I HEAR THAT THEY'LL ALL BE SPLIT UP TEAM-WISE AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE UNSC COMMAND CHAIN ("TO PREVENT ALL UNITS FROM PERISHING AT ONCE"). USING MY ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM'S FILES, I FOUND THAT YOU ALL WERE NEGOTIATING A DEAL WITH RKD, THE DEVELOPERS OF THE HAYABUSA SUIT. IT HURTS THAT WE DIDN'T PURSUE THAT - SURE, IT LOOKS KINDA RIDICULOUS AND YOU SEE LITTLE WITH THE TINY VISOR, BUT AT LEAST IT'S AN EXCELLENT AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL SUIT. THE SPI IS JUST A FANCY ODST ARMOR WITH CHAMELEON CAPABILITIES THAT HARDLY WORK.

AND PLEASE, SIR, DON'T JUST REPLY WITH A "THERE'S NO MONEY AVAILABLE"; I WANT A REASON FOR WHY THAT'S SO. YOU'D THINK THERE WERE OTHER SPARTAN PROGRAMS GOING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY THAT SUCK UP ALL THE FUNDING LIKE A SPONGE. RICH AND THE REST OF ONI WANTS THEIR MAGICAL BULLET - BUT IT WON'T WORK IF THAT BULLET CAN'T ACTUALLY HIT THE ENEMY.

PS: HAVE SOMEBODY MONITOR [341]. I CAN'T PUT MY FINGER ON IT, BUT HE SEEMS TO BE HOMESICK, OR MAYBE JUST ADVENTEROUS, I DON'T KNOW; HE DOES SEEM LIKE HE ISN'T AS DEDICATED TO THE PROGRAM AS HE SHOULD. MIGHT BE MY IMAGINATION, OF COURSE, BUT FOR ONCE I'D LIKE NOT TO BE LAZY ABOUT THE MATTER AND BE A STEP AHEAD. JUST IN CASE.

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: YORK-DELTA-24

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: COL (0-6) GOLF SIERRA 

TO: CPT (0-3) LIMA KILO 

'''SUBJECT: RE: PROJECT ARES '''

I'M SORRY ABOUT THE PYSCHE PANNEL, BUT BELIEVE ME, IT WASN'T MY IDEA. ONI'S BEEN WATCHING US CLOSELY, BUT I HADN'T REALIZED HOW CLOSE UNTIL THEY INTERCEPTED A MESSAGE FROM ONE OF MY DIS AND WENT OVER MY HEAD. HE WAS THREATENING TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS, BUT SECTION III GOT THERE FIRST. IT WAS A HELL OF A TIME KEEPING THEM FROM DROPPING YOU FROM THE PROGRAM. THEY REALLY DON’T TRUST YOU. I’D BE VERY, VERY INTERESTED TO FND OUT WHY.

I’M GLAD TO HEAR THE TRAINING IS GOING WELL, BUT YOUR CONCERNS, UNFORTUNAELY, ARE OUT OF MY CONTROL. AS MUCH AS YOU HATE IT, THE PROBLEM INEVITABLY COMES DOWN TO FUNDING. I’VE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN---AND I MEAN EVERYTHING; STRIPMINING REBEL BANK ACCOUNTS, FALSE CHARITY CAUSES, EVEN BORDERLINE FRAUD---TO GET THE MONEY, AND I SIMPLY CAN’T. BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF THE PROCEDURES AND HAVE MY OWN TORMENT’S ABOUT THEM, MY OWN GUILT. YOU MAY BE THE ONE TRAINING THEM, BUT I WAS ONE WHO HAD TO SELECT THEM, AND APPROVE THE ORDER TO HAVE SOME OF THEM KIDNAPPED.

AND BELIEVE ME, I’VE TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET THEM OUTFITTED AS PROPER SPARTANS. BUT THE MONEY SIMPLY ISN’T THERE. RKD WANTED TOO MUCH FOR THE SUITS, AND LORD KNOWS MJOLNIR IS TOO EXPENSIVE. THE CURRENT SUIT COSTS MORE THAN AN ENTIRE BATTLEGROUP AND IT’S HARD TO HIDE THAT KIND OF MONEY WHEN THE WAR IS PRACTICALLY ON ERINDANUS’S DOORSTEP. WE JUST LOST THE ENTIRE STALLION AND NAPOLEON SYSTEMS LAST YEAR, AND THE COVENANT AREN’T SLOWING DOWN. SPI ISN’T GOOD---BUT IT’S ALL WE HAVE. THE MONEY HAS ALL BUT DRIED UP. MOST OF OUR DIS, MEDICS, AND SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING PRO BONO, AND THOSE THAT AREN’T HAVE PAYCHECKS THE SIZE OF A FRY COOKS. IT’S COME DOWN TO EITHER THE AUGMENTS OR HAYABUSA, AND THAT CHOICE IS ALL TO CLEAR.

THERES MORE HERE AT WORK THAN YOU KNOW, AND I SUSPECT THERE EVEN MORE THAN I DO. ONI’S OPERATIONS ARE A BLACK HOLE, WITH NO ANSWERS FOR ANYONE. I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM ANY OTHER HIGH PRIORITY SIERRA PROGRAMS, BUT THEIR EXISTENCE WOULDN’T SURPRISE ME. I’VE HEARD WHISPERS OF A THIRD SIERRA THREE CLASS, AND YOU KNOW HOW ACKERSON LOVE TO SUCK UP FUNDING. ONI DROPPED ME INTO THIS JOB FOR REASONS I MAY NEVER TOTALLY GRASP, BUT I’M THE ONE KEEPING IT AFLOAT NOW. I CAN’T PERFORM MIRACLES.

AS FOR [S-341], I’LL HAVE A LITTLE CHAT WITH HIM AND ORDER DELTA JULIET TO KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON HIM. WE ALWAYS KNEW WE MIGHT GET ONE OR TWO CANDIDATES WHO WERE A LITTLE MORE “INDEPENDENT” THAN THE REST. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MAKE YOUR SUSPICIONS GROW, KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON HIM. AUGMENTATION IS COMING UP, AND THERES SOME EVIDENCE THAT [S-023], [S-122], [S-141], [S-052] AND [S-003] (ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ONI’S INABILITY TO KEEP THEIR TAGS STRAIGHT) MIGHT HAVE HAD THEIR MENTAL PROCESSES INTERRUPTED BY IT. THE AUGMENTATION PROCEDURES ARE NEVER AS LINEAR AS WE THINK; THERE ARE ALWAYS UNEXPECTED SIDE AFFECTS.

P.S. ONE OF THE DI’S MENTIONED THAT THE RIVALRY BETWEEN TAN AND GOLD MAY BE GETTING OUT OF HAND. COULD YOU LOOK INTO THIS, IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME? I DON’T WANT ANOTHER [S-144]/[S-077] INCIDENT HAPPENING DURING OUR TRAINING. PARALLEL TRAINING REGIMES COULD VERY WELL PRODUCE PARALELL PROBLMES.

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: VICTOR-DELTA-25

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: CPT (0-3) LIMA KILO 

TO: COL (0-6) GOLF SIERRA 

'''SUBJECT: RE: RE: PROJECT ARES '''

I GUESS SO; IF ONI DISCOVERS THAT YOU LOOK IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION THEY START CHECKING IF YOU'RE MESSED UP IN THE HEAD. THEN AGAIN, I MIGHT BE A BIT HARDER TO PREDICT THAN OTHER IIs, WHAT WITH ME BEING ONE OF THE LEAST INDOCTRINATED OF US ALL. GUESS I SHOULD'VE EXPECTED RICH TO ACT THAT WAY. I'M AFRAID I CAN'T DISCUSS WITH YOU WHY THEY DON'T TRUST ME (IN THE CASE THEY'D INTERCEPT THIS MESSAGE TOO), I'M SORRY. EVEN MORE SO SINCE YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW OFFICERS I ACTUALLY LIKE. I MEAN, NOT IN THAT WAY - THERE'S SOME GOOD-LOOKING NURSES STATIONED NOT FAR FROM MY QUARTERS FOR THAT...ER, SORRY, ACCIDENTALLY TURNED BACK TO MY OLD SELF. WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I HOPE. MOVING ALONG...

IT STILL PISSES ME OFF, THAT ONI WON'T GIVE WHAT WE REALLY NEED, WHETHER IT BE BETTER PROCEDURES OR SUITS. AND IT MAKES ME WISH EVEN MORE THAT I WASN'T AN ONI AGENT. BUT MOST OF ALL, IT REMINDS ME OF THE OTHER IIs - MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AT MOMENTS LIKE THIS, WHEN I TRAIN THESE RECRUITS OR PONDER ON THEIR FATES, I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THEM. HOW I MISS THEM. [012]. [062]. [051]. CHARLIE HOTEL. FOXTROT MIKE. HELL, I EVEN MISS THE BASTARD [144]. AND HE SPENT MUCH OF HIS TIME FORCING HIMSELF NOT TO BEAT MY FACE IN. I KEEP SEEING ALL OF THEIR FACES IN THESE RECRUITS; EVERY TIME [338] MAKES AN EXTRAORDINARY HEADSHOT, I THINK OF [058]. EVERY TIME I LOOK AT [343] I SEE [087]'S FIREY WILLPOWER IN HER EYES. AND THEN I START THINKING ABOUT THE ONES WHO NEVER MADE IT. I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN. SURELY YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT? BUT I AGREE, IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING, FIX THE PROCEDURES; WE'LL JUST HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT THEY CAN WORK IN THOSE SUITS.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE:____|BUT I MIGHT CHECK BACK WITH RKD, THEIR COMPLETED PROTOTYPES. OFF THE GRID, OFF COURSE. MAYBE WE COULD ARRANGE FOR BETTER EQUIPMENT FOR AT LEAST ONE TEAM.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

YES, I REMEMBER ACKERSON; HE AND DOC'S ALWAYS COMPETED FOR FUNDING. WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF HE HAS SOMETHING RUNNING. BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT HE'D HAVE TWO ONGOING PROGRAMS AT ONCE ON HIS OWN; HE'S THE TYPE TO PUT EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE ONE PROJECT PERFECT (OR AT LEAST PERFECT ENOUGH FOR HIS SUPERIORS SO HE GETS HIS MONEY, THE SNAKE). CAN'T BELIEVE I'D SAY THIS, BUT MAYBE IT'D HAVE BEEN GOOD TO HAVE HIM ON THE PROJECT - SOMEHOW HE ALWAYS SEEM TO GET THE MONEY REGARDLESS OF THE PROJECTS HE NEED THEM FOR, UNLESS THEY CONFLICT DIRECTLY WITH HALSEY'S. BTW, IT'S A SHAME YOU CAN'T DO MIRACLES; IT'D BE VERY CONVENIENT :D

I'LL DO WHAT I CAN. HE'S ONE OF OUR PRECIOUS "CHOSEN" TOO, YOU KNOW. AT LEAST HE DOESN'T SEEM AS WEAK-MINDED AS [312] (I'VE ALREADY UNDERTAKEN EFFORTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HIM, JUST SO HE DOESN'T SNAP IN THE FIELD; I'LL INFORM YOU IF I NEED MORE ASSETS FOR IT).

I ALWAYS JUST SAW THE GOLD/TAN RIVALRY LIKE FRIENDLY COMPETITION, BUT MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT. I'LL TALK TO THEM ONE BY ONE TO CALM THEM DOWN.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|MAYBE, IF WE GET OUR HANDS ON BETTER SUITS, WE SHOULD LET THE COMPETITION FOR TOP HONORS AT THE END OF TRAINING DETERMINE WHICH TEAM GETS THEM? I DON'T LIKE THAT SUGGESTION MYSELF, AS I DON'T TAKE FAVORITES, BUT I'M 100% SURE THAT WE CAN'T AQUIRE MORE ARMORS THAN THAT, SO WE'LL HAVE TO DETERMINE IT SOMEHOW. OR MAYBE I SHOULDN'T EXPECT YOU TO BE IN ON THIS WITH ME? OH, WELL, I'LL TRY IT WHETHER I HAVE YOUR APPROVAL OR NOT, SO I MAY AS WELL ASK YOU TO HELP ME. TAKE IT AS MY WAY OF SAYING "I TRUST YOU, SIR".|ENCRYPTER SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: WHISKY-MIKE-26

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: COL (0-6) GOLF SIERRA 

TO: CPT (0-3) LIMA KILO 

'''SUBJECT: RE: RE: RE; PROJECT ARES '''

YOUR ONLY TOO RIGHT ABOUT THE SPOOKS, BUT THERES NOT MUCH WE CAN DO EXCEPT TRY TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE. I’VE DONE MY BEST TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE DI’S TO LET YOU WORK, BUT WHO KNOWS IF IT WILL TURN OUT SUCCESSFUL. AS FOR RICH, YOU HAVE MUCH MORE EXPERIENCE WITH HIM THAN I DO, SO I’LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT. AS FOR THE TRUST PROBLEMS, I’M SURE IT WILL MAKE FOR A VERY INTERESTING STORY OVER DRINKS SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD IN THE FUTURE (THAT IS, IF WE HAVE A FUTURE). .|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|STILL KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE DI’S, THOUGH, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS---I’M CONVINCED ONI HAS THEIR RANKS INFILTRATED COMPLETELY.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

AS FOR ONI’S EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS, I HAVE TO AGREE. THE AUGMENTATION PROCEDURES FOR THE SIERRA THREES ARE A HUNDRED TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT ONI ABSOLUTELY REFUSES TO SPRING FOR THE COST. IT’S SHORTSIDED AND DAMNED FOOLISH---FROM A FISCAL POINT OF VIEW, THEY’RE ACTUALLY GOING TO LOSE MONEY WITH THE OLDER PROCEDURES, BECAUSE OF THE INEVITABLE LOSS OF CANDIDATES---BUT THEY WON’T BUDGE. I’LL DO MY BEST, BUT I’M AFRAID ME MAY HAVE TO START PLANNING FOR THE WORST. BY MY PROJECTIONS, WE MAY BE FACING UP TO 50% LOSSES (MORE OPTIMISTIC PROJECTIONS PLACE LOSSES BETWEEN 35-45%, BUT AS LONG AS WE’RE BEING CYNICAL, WE MIGHT AS WELL GO ALL THE WAY), AND IT IS POSSIBLE ONI WON’T BE ABLE TO FUND US. UNLESS WE RECEIVE SOME SORT OF MAJOR WINDFALL, VERY SOON, WE’RE OUT OF LUCK. I DON’T LIKE IT ANY MORE THAN YOU DO, BUT WITHOUT AUGMENTATIONS, THEY’LL BE EVEN LESS LIKELY TO SURVIVE.

AS FOR THE SPI SUITS, I’M WONDERING IF WE SHOULD START TRAINING ON THEM SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THE SIERRA THREES HAVE SHOWN GOOD RESULTS WITH EARLY EXPOSURE TO THEIR ARMOR SYSTEMS, AND THEY’VE BEEN PROVEN TO BE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE--WHEN THEY’RE NOT BEING WASTED ON SUICIDE MISSIONS. SPI IS CHEAP, AND WE’LL BE NEEDING THE SUITS ANYWAY, SO I SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROCURE THEM IMMEDIATELY, IF YOU SO CHOOSE. IN THE END, I’LL DEFER THE CHOICE TO YOU; YOU’RE THE EXPERT, AND I’M JUST THE GRUNT WHO GOT STUCK IN THE COMMAND SEAT. |ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE:____|ANYTHING YOU CAN GET WOULD BE CRITICAL. LIKE YOU SAID, KEEP IT OFF THE GRID, BUT IF A CHANCE PRESENTS ITSELF, GO FOR IT. EVEN IF THERE ARE RISKS. IF ONI FINDS OUT, I CAN PROBABLY GET AWAY WITH IT---I‘VE BEEN BREAKING THEIR RULES SINCE THE START OF THE PROJECT---AND THOSE SPARTANS NEED THE GEAR TOO MUCH TO PASS IT UP. IF WORSTS COMES TO WORST, I CAN ALWAYS TAKE THE FALL. I CAN LIVE WITH A DEAD END CAREER, BUT I CAN‘T LIVE WITH SENDING OUT MY TROOPS UNPREPARED.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

AS FOR ACKERSON, DID THEY REALLY? I NEVER MET EITHER OF THEM, BUT I’VE HEARD PLENTY OF STORIES SINCE JOINING THE PROGRAM. SOME OF THE OLDER DI’S ARE VERY CHATTY. IF HE’S AS GOOD AT GATHERING FUNDS AS YOU SAY HE IS, THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE HIM ON THE PROJECT---BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON’T THINK I COULD LIVE WITH ANOTHER SPOOK IN MY LIFE. I’VE GOT ENOUGH ALREADY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS FOR TWO PROGRAMS, I CAN’T BE SURE. I KNOW FOR A FACT HE’S IN CHARGE OF SIERRA THREE (HIGH LEVEL CLASSIFICATIONS ARE GREAT, IF SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO USE FOR A NEANDERTHAL LIKE ME), WHICH WOULD FILL THE ONE PROJECT QUOTA, BUT I’VE ALSO FOUND TRACES OF SOMETHING REFFERED TO AS “HEADHUNTER”. ONI’S PROJECT ROSTER, IS, LIKE I’VE MENTIONED, A BLACK HOLE, SO I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING ELSE, (AND LIKELY NEVER WILL). |ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE:____|IF YOU COULD SHED ANY LIGHT ON THE SITUATION, I‘D BE VERY INTERESTED.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUT WITH HIM, THEN. I’M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT [S-312], BUT THERES LITTLE I CAN DO. I READ THE LATEST PSYCHE REPORT AND IT DOESN’T LOOK GOOD. HE’S GOT THE SAME ATTACHMENT PROBLEMS AS SOME OF THE OTHERS ([S-338] AND [S-343] ARE PARTICULAR OFFENDERS, THOUGH [S-343] IS CONSIDERABLY HARDER TO READ) BUT THEY ARE MORE LOCALIZED, MORE EXTREME, AND POTENTIALLY MORE DANGEROUS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT RESOURCES I’LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, BUT I’LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN.

ITS NOT THAT I THINK THE EXACT PARRALLEL WILL HAPPEN---A FISTFIGHT BETWEEN TWO TRAINEES---BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT AFTER TRAINING. MISTRUST LIKE THAT CAN FESTER AND GROW, IF LEFT ALONE. WE AREN’T PLANNING TO DEPLOY THEM ALL TOGETHER, BUT IF THEY HAPPEN TO RUN INTO EACH OTHER ON THE FIELD, THEY’LL NEED TO BE ABLE TO COOPERATE. |ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|I DON’T LIKE THE IDEA OF PITTING THE RECRUITS AGAINST EACH OTHER EITHER, BUT I CAN‘T ARGUE WITH IT‘ LOGIC. THE BEST TEAM SHOULD DEFINITELY RECEIVE THE BEST GEAR (IF WE CAN GET IT, THAT IS). WORK YOUR CONTACTS, AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO. I‘M NOT GOING TO TAKE A PASSIVE DENIAL STRATEGY OUT OF THIS; IF WE‘RE DOING IT, I‘M IN. IF THESE KIDS CAN GO THROUGH HELL FOR MY SAKE, I CAN RETURN THE FAVOR A LITTLE BIT.|ENCRYPTER SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: MIKE-MIKE-NOVEMBER

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

TO: C0L (0-6) <font color=White>GOLF SIERRA 

'''SUBJECT: RE: RE: RE: RE; PROJECT ARES '''

DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE, NOT YET ANYWAY. WE HAVE SOMETHING THE COVENANT DON'T HAVE - SPARTANs. WE'LL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS, AND 500 YEARS FROM NOW, ALL THIS WILL BE TOLD TO A HALF-SLEEPING CLASS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN BY A BORING HISTORY TEACHER. SO ALL WE CAN DO IS HAVE FAITH. AND YOU BETTER MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME CREDS TO BUY US DRINKS (A SPARTAN'S SALARY IS ABOUT AS GREAT AS A BONOBO CHIMPANZEE'S). <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE___|OH, I WILL, NO NEED TO WORRY.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

ON THE AUGMENTATIONS, I USUALLY PREFER NOT TO BE CYNICAL (I'D DARE SAY I WAS THE MOST OPTIMISTIC OF THE CHARLIE ONES), BUT THIS IS A SUBJECT WHERE I MAKE AN EXCEPTION. I'LL DO MY BEST TOO, PULL ANY FAVORS I HAVE AND CHECK MY CONTACTS TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO, BUT IT'D NEED NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE TO PAY OFF. ANYWAY, I HAVE A FEELING WE NEED TO DROP THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC NOW, ONE OF THE DIs DROPPED A SUBTLE HINT AT LUNCH BREAK EARLIER TODAY THAT IT'S A SENSITIVE TOPIC; WE SHOULDN'T ANGER THE SPOOKS TOO BADLY THIS LATE INTO WAR, AIGHT? <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_______|BUT MAN, SOME OF THESE DAYS I REALLY WISH I GOT TO KICK SOME OF THOSE GUYS IN THE GROIN, GROUND POUNDER STYLE. JUST ONCE, AND I'D BE HAPPY.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

YEAH, GET THE SUITS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; IF THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO USE THEM, WE MIGHT AS WELL MAKE SURE THEY BECOME ONE WITH IT BY GIVING THEM SOME MONTHS OF IN-SUIT TRAINING. RICH WOULDN'T HAVE ANY REASON TO COMPLAIN, IN FACT HE'LL PROBABLY ASSUME THAT IT'LL SPEED UP THE PROJECT'S COMPLETION. AND THANKS FOR PLACING YOUR FAITH IN ME LIKE THIS; YOU MAY BE A GRUNT, BUT YOU'RE AN OKAY GRUNT. NOT TO MENTION IT'S A PLUS THAT YOU'RE NOT CARRYING METHANE REBREATHERS UNLIKE OUR ALIEN FRIENDS. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE:_______|OOH, ANOTHER RULEBREAKER. FASCINATING. BUT I PREFER TO GET AWAY WITH RULEBREAKING (NOT THAT WE'RE TECHNICALLY BREAKING ANY RULES - THEY HAVEN'T SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN US FROM CHECKING UP RKD'S ARMOR SYSTEMS. I PREFER TO CALL IT "STRETCHING THE RULES"), SO I'LL BE CAREFUL. I'VE ALREADY MANAGED TO LEARN SOME THINGS THOUGH; TURNS OUT RKD DISASSEMBLED AT LEAST ONE OF THEIR PREVIOUS PROTOTYPES FOR PARTS, PROBABLY ONE OR TWO MORE TOO. BUT THEY HAVE A CONFERENCE BOOKED WITH THE ORDNANCE COMMITTEE. IF IT ISN'T TO SHOW OFF THEIR LATEST PROTOTYPE, I'LL EAT MY MJOLNIR. I'VE PULLED FAVORS WITHIN HIGHCOM TO GET A COUPLE OF CONTACTS INTO THE COMMITTEE BEFORE THAT CONFERENCE, SO WITH ANY LUCK WE CAN PROCURE IT. BUT THAT'S JUST ONE SUIT. I'LL KEEP MY EYES OPEN FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES (AS SOON AS I'VE FOUND A WAY TO GET PAST KALMIYA WITHOUT HER NOTICING, I'LL BE ABLE TO RECOVER DATA ON PROJECT MJOLNIR - EASIER SAID THAN DONE AS SHE WAS MADE FROM HALSEY'S BRAIN).|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

TRUE, I WOULDN'T WANT HIM IN MY LIFE EITHER; HE'S ABOUT AS SPOOKY AS SPOOKS COME. HARD TO BELIEVE HE WAS ONCE A GROUND POUNDER LIKE YOU. AS FOR HEADHUNTER, THAT'S SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT (NOR AM I MEANT TO KNOW, I'LL BET). <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE:______|SADLY, I HAVE FEWER CLEARANCES THAN YOU, AND MY CONTACTS IN BETA-5 AREN'T CHATTY. HEADHUNTER HAS BEEN MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES THOUGH, AS HAS AN ENIGMATIC FELLA KNOWN AS DRACULA THAT ACKERSON DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW ABOUT. THEN THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED NOBLE (SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED TO SPECWARCOM - IT HAS FAR LESS CLEARANCES THAN ONI UNITS, SO MAYBE YOU COULD TAKE A PEEK?), WHICH MAY ALSO BE CONNECTED TO HEADHUNTER SOMEHOW. THEN THERE'S SOMEBODY CALLED AMBROSE. WOULD YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM THAN ME? I HAVE A FEELING HE'S NOT REALLY PART OF LOGISTICS COMMAND AS HIS RECORD SAYS HE IS.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

343 IS A FIREY ONE, TRUE (LITERALLY SOMETIMES - I CAUGHT HER THE OTHER DAY PICKPOCKETING A LIGHTER OFF ONE OF THE DIs). BUT I THINK SHE WON'T BE ANY REAL TROUBLE. BUT I'M KEEPING EYES AND EARS OPEN AS ALWAYS, JUST IN CASE. THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING ALL THESE YEARS IN COVERT OPS HAVE TAUGHT ME; TO ALWAYS BE VIGILANT.

YEAH, COOPERATION IS VITAL. WITH THEIR LACKING EQUIPMENT, THEY'LL NEED IT EVEN MORE THAN ME AND THE OTHER CHARLIE ONES. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|THANKS FOR BACKING ME. I WAS AFRAID FOR A MOMENT I WOULD HAVE ALL THE EXCITEMENT FOR MYSELF. OH, WELL, WE'LL DO OUR BEST RIGHT? EVEN IF WE DO GET CAUGHT AND END OUR DAYS POLISHING SHOES ON THE STREETS OF A BACKWATER PLANET LIKE MINISTER. OR, WELL, YOU'D END UP LIKE THAT; I'M A SUPERSOLDIER, SO I'M PRETTY VALUABLE. AT MOST, I GUESS I'D END UP WITH A CAT-2 COMMISSION AND START PUSHING PAPERS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: CHARLIE-TANGO-ROMEO

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: COL (0-6) <font color=White>GAMMA SIERRA 

TO: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

'''SUBJECT: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE; PROJECT ARES '''

I ADMIRE YOUR OPTIMISM, CAPTAIN. I WORRY EVERY DAY ABOUT THIS DAMN WAR, ABOUT THE COVENANT. HOW SOON BEFORE THEY’RE AT REACH, AT EARTH? HOW SOON UNTIL WE’VE REALLY GOT OUR BACK AGAINST THE WALL? I CAN’T ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, AND IT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT. THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, AFTER THE WAR, IS A LUXURY I DON’T HAVE. I GUESS WHEN YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE, YOU TEND TO VIEW THE WORLD FROM A BRIGHTER POINT OF VIEW. OR MAYBE YOUR JUST CHEERY. (THOUGH YOU’VE ALSO GOT TO WONDER, DID SCHOOLCHILDREN 500 YEARS AGO EVER DREAM SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN?). I KNOW NO ONE FIFTY YEARS AGO COULD. AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF BORED SCHOOLCHILRDEN? I THOUGHT YOU SIERRA’S WERE ALL MODEL STUDENTS!

MAYBE YOUR GOOD NOT TO GET TOO CYNICAL, BUT THESE DAYS I JUST CAN’T HELP IT. IF IT’S NOT THE INTEL REPORTS ON OUR LATEST COLONY LOST, IT’S THE DAMN DREAMS I KEEP HAVING OF THE TRAINEES WHEN I FIRST PICKED THEM. UNSURPRISINGLY, MY DREAMS CONVIENTELY IGNORE ALL THE EASY CHOICES---TAKING THE KIDS FROM ABUSIVE FAMILIES OR HELLHOLE ORPHANAGES---AND CONTINOUSLY REPLAY THE IMAGES OF THE HAPPY, SMILING FAMILIES. I KNOW YOU CHARLIE ONES ARE ALL DEVOTED TO HALSEY, BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I HATE HER. I WISH SHE’D NEVER DREAMT UP THE IDEA OF THIS PROGRAM, SO THEY WOULDN’T HAVE CHOSEN ME. IT’S SELFISH AND TERRIBLE, BUT I CAN’T HELP IT. I GUESS I’LL LEAVE OPTIMISM FOR YOU, AND CYNICISM FOR ME. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|THE GROIN, SON? AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A GROUNDPOUNDER? THAT’S A WOMANS PUNCH, MY BOY. GO FOR THE JAW. IT AIN’T BUILT FOR LATERAL IMPACT.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

AS FOR THE SUITS, I’M ALREADY ON IT. RICH IS BEING A LITTLE FINICKY, BUT HE SHOULD COME THROUGH. IT’S NOT LIKE IT’S SOME UNEXPECTED EXPENSE; WE ALREADY KNEW AND ACCOUNTED FOR THE PRICE OF THE SUITS (WHICH, REALY, IS PRACTICALLY NONEXISTENT). HOPEFULLY, THE ORDER SHOULD BE IN WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|I PREFER TO CALL IT AS IT IS, BUT I GUESS YOUR TECHNICALLY RIGHT. EVEN SO, IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME I’VE GONE AGAINST ONI ON THIS PROJECT. DID YOU KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS INITIALLY INTERVIEWING THE CANDIDATES, THEY FORBID ME FROM TAKING ANY OF THEM ON THE SPOT, EVEN IF THEY WERE IN CRITICAL DANGER? DAMNED BURCREATIC BASTARDS. YOU CAN GUESS HOW LONG THAT RULE LASTED. AS FOR THE CONFERENCE, I‘LL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPORT ON THAT. EVEN IF WE CAN ONLY GET ONE SUIT, IT‘S STILL BETTER THAN NOTHING. IT MIGHT PRESENT A CHALLENGE FOR A TEAM DYNAMIC, WITH ONE MEMBER GETTING AN ADVANCED SUIT AND THE REST BEING STUCK WITH SPI, BUT IT‘S BETTER THAN NOTHING. AS FOR KALMIYA, HOW DOES THAT ONE WORK? I THOUGHT THE AI PROCESS DESTROYED THE HOST BRAIN.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

HARD TO BELIEVE INDEED. ONE OF MY OLD CO’S SERVED WITH HIM BACK DURING TREBUCHET, SAID HE WAS AS GOOD OF A SOLDIER AS IT COMES. I WONDER WHAT CHANGED. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|I DID SOME DIGGING, AND FOUND A FEW INTERESTING DETAILS. THAT BETA-5 CLUE HELPED A LOT---SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO REFINE A SEARCH. AT ANY RATE, I FOUND A FEW REPORTS ON HEADHUNTER, AND WHILE THEY DIDN’T MENTION ORIGIN, THEY DID LIST AN EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE CSV. IF I WERE TO TAKE A WILD GUESS, I’D SAY SIERRAS. PROBLEM IS, I DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHERE THEY CAME FROM. EVERYTHING ELSE IS LOCKED DOWN TOO TIGHT FOR EVEN ME. AS FOR DRACULA, I CAME UP EMPTY. THERE WERE A FEW FILES FLOATING AROUND, BUT THEY’D ALL BEEN WIPED. I COULDN’T EVEN BEGIN TO TRACK THAT DOWN. NOBLE, THOUGH, IS A DIFFERENT STORY. YOUR RIGHT ABOUT NAVSPECWAR; THEIR CLASSIFICATIONS REALLY AREN’T AS GOOD. I MANAGED TO SNAG A UNIT ROSTER, AND THEY’RE DEFINITELY SIERRAS. THEIR TAGS ARE HIGHER THAN NORMAL, THOUGH, SO THEY’RE EITHER S-III’S OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT ENTIRELY. AGAIN, NO INFORMATION ON THEIR ORIGINS, JUST A ROSTER AND A CSV. AND JUST TO HUMOR YOU, I DID A SEARCH ON AMBROSE AND MANAGED TO DIG SOME STUFF UP ON HIM TOO. NOT MUCH, BUT HIS NAME IS DEFINITELY “KURT AMBROSE” AND HE’S GOT A FILE THAT’S SO REDACTED IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE SPILLED A BUCKET OF PAINT ON IT.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

THE LIGHTER DOESN’T SURPRISE ME. DID YOU KNOW SHE WAS ACTUALLY PLAYING WITH TWO OF THEM WHEN I INTERVIEWED HER? THE WAY SHE WAS LIGHTING THINGS UP, I WAS AFRAID SHE’D BURN DOWN THE WHOLE BUILDING. AS FOR VIGILANCE AND COOPERATION, I HAVE TO AGREE ON BOTH COUNTS. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|I DID SHOE SHINING LONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT, THOUGH. THE REAL QUESTION IS WHETHER YOU COULD DEAL WITH BEING STUCK AT A DESK.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: JOKER-BRAVO-KILO-NOVEMBER

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

TO: C0L (0-6) <font color=White>GAMMA SIERRA 

'''SUBJECT: PROJECT ARES, PART 2 '''

MY, AREN'T YOU LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE? LET ME ASK YOU THIS; WOULD YOU RATHER DIE CONSTANTLY WORRIED, UNABLE TO SLEEP BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN, OR DIE WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE, KNOWING AND ACCEPTING THAT YOU'VE DONE YOUR BEST TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE, REGARDLESS OF HOW SHORT THAT LIFE WAS? THINK ON THAT - YOU MIGHT START AGREEING WITH ME THEN. (WELL, SCIENCE FICTION WAS SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE AT THAT TIME, I IMAGINE THERE'D BE DREAMING). AND YES, SIERRAS ARE MODEL STUDENTS. DOESN'T MEAN EVERYBODY WANTS TO ACT LIKE IT (AKA ME). THOUGH I CAN HONESTLY SAY I DO MY BEST AT BEING HUMBLE, IT'S HARD NOT TO STICK OUT WHEN YOU HAVE 168 IQ AND LEARNED HOW TO BREAK INTO YOUR PA'S PASSWORD-PROTECTED TITANIUM SAFE AT AGE FIVE.

PUT IT BEHIND YOU; THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO, JUST AS I COULDN'T PREVENT MY OWN KIDNAPPING. BUT WHO SAID ALL CHARLIE ONES ARE ALL DEVOTED TO HALSEY? I KNOW THAT I'M NOT A FAN. MAYBE IT'S NOT AS BAD NOW AS AFTER MY CONSCRIPTION, BUT I CAN'T SAY I REALLY LIKE HER EVEN NOW. I DO REGRET BREAKING HER NOSE AND LIP AND GIVING HER BLACK EYES EARLY IN TRAINING, THOUGH. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_____|YOU'VE NOT SEEN MANY WOMEN PUNCH, I SEE. YOU SHOULD MEET WITH A FEMALE SPARTAN SOMETIME, AND THEN PRAISE INNIES RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER - JUST FOR THE EXPERIENCE, OF COURSE!|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

<font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_________|AS FOR MY HISTORY WITH HALSEY (I IMAGINE YOU'RE PRETTY CURIOUS NOW), HERE'S THE DEAL; MUM TAUGHT HER AT UNIVERSITY (YSIONRIS JEROMI WASN'T THE ONLY ONE TO TEACH HER, SEE), AND THE TWO WERE ON FRIENDLY TERMS, SO WHEN SHE CAME OVER ONE DAY, I NATURALLY TREATED HER AS WELL AS ANY OTHER FRIEND OF MY MUM'S. I IMAGINE YOU CAN GUESS WHAT I FELT WHEN I WAS ABDUCTED [X] WEEKS LATER AND THEN LEARNED IT WAS THAT VERY SAME PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. SO, ONE DAY, I ENTERED HER OFFICE ALONE AND SIMPLY WENT BERSERK, UNTIL MENDEZ AND TWO DIS ARRIVED AND SUBDUED ME. I'D ELABORATE FURTHER ON THE SUBJECT IF I WAS PROUD OF IT, WHICH I'M NOT.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

GOOD, I JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THE IMPENDING SHIPMENT. THE RECRUITS ARE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THEIR IN-SUIT TRAINING SO SOON, THOUGH I'M UNSURE IF IT'S BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF RECEIVING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, OR JUST BECAUSE IT'LL LET THEM USE GREATER AMOUNT OF FORCE IN THE EXCERCISES. I'LL HAZARD A GUESS AND SAY IT'S A LITTLE OF BOTH. HOW ABOUT YOU? <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_______|JESUS, IT'S A GOT THING YOU DEFIED THAT; GOD KNOWS, THERE'S FEW ENOUGH CANDIDATES AS IT IS. AS FOR KALMIYA, I IMAGINE HALSEY FLASH-CLONED HER BRAIN AND CREATED THE AI THAT WAY. IT'S POSSIBLE TO USE, BUT IN MOST CASES INEFFICIENT, AS MOST BRAINS DON'T SURVIVE THE PROCESS LONG ENOUGH TO CREATE AIS FROM THEM. BY THE WAY, I GOT PAST HER SOMETIME AGO, AND I MANAGED TO TAG A FEW SUITS GOING TO ALGOLIS. I'LL TRY TO KEEP A TAB ON THOSE, THEY COULD PROVE USEFUL.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

MAYBE IT STARTED LIKE YOU? GREW COMFORTABLE WITH THE NEW ROLE OVER TIME? IF SO, YOU SHOULD WATCH OUT SO YOU DON'T END UP THE SAME. OF COURSE, HE COULD'VE BEEN LIKE THAT FROM THE START, BUT DIDN'T GET TO SHOW IT UNTIL HIS ONI ENLISTMENT. I FIND IT CURIOUS THAT HE'S STILL MARRIED - HE DOESN'T SEEM THE TYPE WHO WOULD TAKE DAYS OFF TO BE WITH THE WIFE OR HESITATE TO ASSIGN FAMILY MEMBERS TO SUICIDE MISSIONS. SPEAKING OF WHICH, I NEVER ASKED, YOU GOT FAMILY YOURSELF? <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_____|IF IT'S RELATED TO S-III, I THINK HEADHUNTER'S SIERRAS TOO. AND NOBLE SEEMS INTERESTING, I'LL HAVE TO KEEP IT IN MIND (THERE'S A CHANCE WE COULD FUNNEL ONE OR TWO OF OUR SPARTANS TO IT - RATHER THAT THAN THAN HAVING THEM END UP AS ANOTHER GENERATION OF RICH'S LEONIDAN GRIM REAPERS). AND THANKS FOR THE INTEL ON AMBROSE. IT'S A FUNNY THING; I ONCE KNEW SOMEBODY NAMED KURT, A CHARLIE ONE LIKE MYSELF. GOOD MAN, A LITTLE LIKE MYSELF IN HIS RESPECT FOR NON-SPARTAN PERSONNEL AND HABIT TO MAKE FRIENDS. WISH HE STILL LIVED.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

YEAH, I KNEW THAT, READ IT IN HER PSYCHE PROFILE. I NOTIFIED THE PSYCHOLOGISTS ABOUT THIS RECENT INCIDENT. OF COURSE, IF WE LET THEM DECIDE WHO'RE FIT FOR DUTY OR NOT, WE'D BE DOWN TO A DOZEN CANDIDATES. I WON'T CHOP HER FROM THE ROSTER FOR THAT - SHE HASN'T CAUSED ANY INCIDENTS SO FAR, NO REASON SHE WOULD NOW. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_____|YEAH, THAT ANSWER'S SIMPLE; I COULDN'T. I'M NOT SITTING ON MY ASS AND LETTING OTHERS FIGHT FOR ME. WHICH IS WHY I'LL NEVER HAVE A NORMAL FAMILY, I GUESS. NO KISSING A WIFE GOODBYE BEFORE HEADING OFF TO WORK, TEACHING THE FIRST KID TO WALK OR WRITING A WILL FOR MY CHILDREN ON MY DEATHBED FOR ME. I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO SETTLE FOR HOPING FOR A REAL FUNERAL WITH AN ACTUAL TOMBSTONE.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: CHARLIE-BRAVO-LIMA-JULIET

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: COL (0-6) <font color=White>GAMMA SIERRA 

TO: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

'''SUBJECT:RE PROJECT ARES, PART 2 '''

WELL, YOU’VE GOT A BIT OF A POINT THERE, BUT TRY AS I MIGHT, YOUR OPTIMISM ELUDES ME. I’VE BEEN DOING THIS JOB FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS, AND I’LL TELL YOU THAT WHEN I JOINED THE MILITARY, I NEVER PLANNED ON RECRUITING LITTLE KIDS TO BE HIGH TECH CHILD SOLDIERS, AND NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE THE LIST OF PEOPLE AND PLANETS I KNOW SHRINK DAILY AS THEY WERE KILLED AND DESTROYED. IT WEIGHS ON ME, HOWEVER MUCH I WANT IT NOT TOO. AND I GUESS YOUR RIGHT ABOUT THE PEOPLE BACK THEN. IF THEY WEREN’T BASKING IN THEIR OWN HUBRIS, THEY WERE SPENDING ALL THEIR TIME IN LEISURE. AND DIDN’T YOU KNOW IQ SCORES ARE COMPLETELY OVERRATED? ALL THAT PLACEMENT VARIATION AND CRAP.

I KNOW, MENTALLY, THAT YOUR RIGHT ABOUT PUTTING IT BEHIND ME, BUT IT’S STILL DIFFICULT. THIS JOB ISN’T HELPING ANY. AUGMENTATIONS ARE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER AND WE ALL KNOW THE PROBABILITIES. I LOOK AT THESE KIDS AND WONDER WHO WILL BE LEFT IN A YEARS TIME, OR TWO. ITS DIFFICULT. I KNOW YOU STRUGGLE WITH IT TOO, SO I DON’T HAVE TO REMIND YOU, BUT ITS DIFFERENT SOMEHOW WHEN YOU WERE THE ONE WHO SELECTED THEM. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|SOUNDS LIKE A ENAMORING, EXCELLENT CHARACTER BUILDING EXPERIENCE. SOMEHOW, THOUGH, I THINK I‘LL PASS|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

AND I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE SUITS, JUST TO HOPE IT’LL IMPROVE SURVIVABILITY. THE SIERRA THREES WHO DID LIVE PRACTICE WITH THEIR SPI BEFORE DEPLOYMENT ALL SEEMED TO HAVE DONE BETTER ONCE LIVE INTO THE FIELD, SO AT LEAST OUR KIDS WILL HAVE SOMETHING GOING FOR THEM, EVEN IF FATE HAS TURNED AGAINST THEM. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|YES, I RECKON IT WAS. NOT LIKE I HAD ANY CHOICE, THOUGH. WHATEVER ONI SAID, I COULDN‘T JUST SIT AROUND AND WATCH THEM DIE, COULD I? AND BY SUITS, YOU DON‘T MEAN MJOLNIR, DO YOU? WE CAN‘T BE THAT LUCKY, NOT AFTER ALL THIS, CAN WE?|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

AS FOR ACKERSON, I CAN HONESTLY SAY I DON’T KNOW. MAYBE HE WAS A GOOD SOLDIER WHO GOT ROPED INTO THE WRONG CROWD; MAYBE HE WAS A BAD ONE ALL ALONG AND JUST NEEDED AN EXCUSE. AS FOR HIS WIFE, I COULDN’T SPECULATE. IN RESPONSE TO BOTH QUESTIONS, I’M NOT MARRIED AND THE MILITARY HAS TAKEN ANY CHANCE OF THAT. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|I CAN‘T ARGUE WITH YOUR LOGIC, WHAT WITH THEIR CLOSE LINK TO BETA-5 AND S-III. AS FOR NOBLE, I‘LL SEE WHAT I CAN DIG UP. MORE BACKUP FOR OUR KIDS CAN NEVER BE A BAD THING. I‘M SORRY TO REMIND YOU ABOUT KURT, THOUGH. HE WENT DOWN DURING DEEP SPACE RECON, DIDN‘T HE? TERRIBLE WASTE, IF YOU ASK ME.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

AS FOR [S-343], I’M INCLINED TO AGREE. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO AXE ANYONE ELSE FROM THE LIST (AND IF WE WERE TO CUT HER, WE’D HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT MOST OF THESE KIDS AREN’T CUT OUT FOR THIS---347’S DANGEROUSLY SELF ABSORBED, 341’S INSUBORDINATE, 332 IS A FLIRT (OF ALL THINGS), AND A HALF DOZEN OTHERS HAVE DEPRESSION, ANGER, AND TRAUMATIC DISORDERS FROM THE LOSS OF THEIR FAMILIES). <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|AND YOU CALL ME THE CYNICAL ONE? I CAN‘T IMAGINE A LIFE BEYOND THE WAR; YOU CAN‘T IMAGINE ONE WITHOUT WAR AT ALL.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: GOLF-MIKE-BRAVO-ALPHA

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

TO: C0L (0-6) <font color=White>GAMMA SIERRA 

'''SUBJECT: RE: RE: PROJECT ARES, PART 2 '''

LIFE NEVER GOES AS EXPECTED; IF YOU BUILD UP LONG-RANGE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT LIFE WILL BE, YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. ONLY WAY TO AVOID THIS? GET RID OF EXPECTATIONS, AND JUST GO WITH THE FLOW AT ALL TIMES. NOW, ABOUT THE IQ THING, NOW THAT MY PHISOPICAL STATEMENT OF THE WEEK IS OUT OF THE WAY; JUST BECAUSE IT'S OVERRATED IT DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T HAVE ITS USES. 'SIDES, I WAS JUST POINTING I OUT I'VE GOT A FAIR BIT OF INTELLIGENCE (HARD TO BELIEVE, I KNOW). <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_____|IF IT'S ANY CONSOLATION, YOU'RE LUCKY NOT TO BE WITH COVERT OPS; THE MISSIONS I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ARE SOMETIMES DIRTIER THAN ANY COVENANT ATTACK. FOR EXAMPLE, I'M CERTAIN THAT YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO HOLD CHILDREN HOSTAGE SIMPLY TO MAKE SURE THEIR INNIE PARENT(S) AGREE TO A TRUCE WITH THE UNSC. OR KILL ASTRONAVIGATORS THAT JUST BLESSED YOUR ARRIVAL AND BEGGED YOU TO SAVE THEM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T FALL INTO ENEMY HANDS.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

OH, AND MOST OF THE CANDIDATEST HAVE HAD A COUPLE SESSIONS WITH THE SUITS NOW. MOST OF THEM WERE IN GOOD SPIRITS - NOT 343, THOUGH. SHE DECIDED TO CALL IT GARBAGE AFTER MAKING A DENT IN 347's HARNESS WITH HER UNARMED HAND. BUT COME TO THINK OF IT, IT MIGHT'VE JUST BEEN BECAUSE SHE BROKE HER KNUCKLE IN DOING SO. SHE HAD TO SKIP TWO HOURS OF TRAINING TO FIX IT (TO 347's DELIGHT). OTHERWISE IT WENT WELL; I'M PROUD OF HOW FAST THEY'RE ADAPTING TO IT (AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE 341, 311, 319, 327 AND 303 STARTING A SCAVENGER HUNT FOR TECH TO UPGRADE THE SUITS WITH: THEY'RE SO ADORABLE - MISCHIEVOUS, BUT ADORABLE - AREN'T THEY? LIKE PUPPIES, OR INFANTS). <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE________|I'M POSITIVE; MJOLNIR ARMOR. BUT I'VE ONLY MANAGED TO TAG THEM - I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHORT OF THE SECURITY COMMITTEE OR DIRECTOR PARANGOSKY HAS ENOUGH CLOUT TO GET THE SUITS OUT OF STORAGE. AND ALGOLIS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR VERY SECURE FACILITIES (I HAVE FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE TO PROVE IT). BUT IN CASE THE COVENANT FIND THE PLANET, IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO EXTRACT THEM AFTER SECURITY'S DOWN AND BEFORE THE COVENANT GET TO THEM; ENSURING THEY DON'T GET WASTED.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

YOU REALLY SHOULD FIND YOURSELF A WOMAN; I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT SOME KISSING WOULD DO YOU GOOD. AT LEAST IT'D BE BETTER THAN BUYING SUCH SERVICES ON THE BROTHEL ON GILGAMESH. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|YES, IT'S A WASTE. IT'D HAVE BEEN BETTER IF HE LIVED AND WAS THE ONE CHOSEN TO TRAIN THESE KIDS INSTEAD OF ME; HE WAS A NATURAL LEADER. BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO DO ABOUT THAT NOW; I'LL HONOR HIM AND ALL THE OTHER FALLEN SPARTANS IN MY OWN WAY. SPEAKING OF SIERRAS, ADDITIONAL DIGGING INTO SPECWARCOM GROUP THREE DATABASES SHOW THAT NOBLE ISN'T THE ONLY "SPECIAL" TEAM OF OPERATORS; THERE'S ALSO UNITS CALLED [ROYAL], [GAUNTLET] AND [ECHO], MAYBE MORE THAN THAT. WHAT'S MORE IS THAT THE GROUP'S CO IS URBAN HOLLAND - I THINK YOU'RE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT HE'S A LEGEND IN SPECWARCOM. I'M NOT SURPRISED HE'S BEEN CHOSEN TO COMMAND SIERRA UNITS (MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER ASSIGNING ONE OR TWO OF THE ARES TEAMS TO HIS COMMAND? I'D SLEEP BETTER KNOWING HE'S ONE OF THE OFFICERS COMMANDING MY MEN).|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

AS FOR THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR "ISSUES", YOU SAID IT. AND CUT 332 SOME SLACK; I THINK SHE PICKED IT UP FROM ME. AND AS I SAID ABOVE, 341 IS ADORABLE - WHEN HE ISN'T RUNNING HIS MOUTH LIKE CRAZY. 347 WORRIES ME, THOUGH; ARROGANCE NEVER GETS YOU FAR IN THIS LINE OF WORK. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE____________|ACTUALLY, THAT'S VERY OPTIMISTIC THINKING FOR A SPARTAN. AND BESIDES, I DO A LOT OF IMAGINING; IT'S JUST THAT I CAN'T MAKE MYSELF LIVE PEACEFULLY WHILE THERE'S OTHERS THAT DON'T AND NEED MY HELP. WERE IT NOT FOR THAT, I MAY HAVE DEFECTED YEARS AGO - I HONESTLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE UNSC (TREASON AS IT IS TO SAY THAT THESE DAYS, AT LEAST IF YOU'RE EMPLOYED WITH SECTION THREE), LET ALONE ONI. WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS MY FAMILY, MY COMRADES AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T FEND FOR THEMSELVES. CALL ME TRAITOR IF YOU WANT, BUT THAT'S HOW IT IS.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: NOVEMBER-BRAVO-INDIGO-LIMA

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: COL (0-6) <font color=White>GAMMA SIERRA 

TO: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

'''SUBJECT: RE: RE: RE: PROJECT ARES, PART 2 '''

YOUR RIGHT ON THAT ONE, FRIEND. LIFE IS NEVER NEAT AND TIDY. I’VE LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY THESE PAST FEW YEARS, AND THE THINGS I’VE DONE HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY TAME…WELL, BY ONI STANDARDS AT LEAST. EVEN SO, I CAN’T HELP REMEMBERING BETTER DAYS. EVERYTHING USED TO MAKE SENSE, HAVE AN ORDER, WE ALL USED TO HAVE A FUTURE. AND THAT’S A PROSPECT THAT’S SHRINKING QUICKER THAN MY HAIRLINE. AND DON’T TUTE YOUR OWN HORN TO MUCH, SON. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR 168 IQ SCORE. I’LL KEEP MY THREE SCIENCE DEGREES. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_____|IF THAT‘S SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER, THEN I THINK YOU NEED TO REEVALUATE YOUR METHODS. YOU WILL DEFINITELY NOT MAKE OUTSTANDING MORALE LIFTER OF THE YEAR WITH THOSE KINDS OF EXAMPLES. I DO THANK GOD EVERY DAY THOUGH I NEVER ENDED UP IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS. I DON‘T LIKE IT, BUT I‘M NOT SURE I COULD SLOT SOMEONE IN THE COLD LIKE THAT, EVEN IF I WANTED TO.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

GOOD TO KNOW THEY’LL TOLERATE IT. THAT’S ONE BURDEN LIFTED, IF ONLY A LITTLE. AND DID ANYTHING PROVOKE 343? OR DID SHE JUST GO OFF ON 347? (NOT THAT’D I’D BLAME HER; I TRY TO STAY PRETTY NEUTRAL AND STAY FAIR, BUT THAT GIRL REALLY IS A HANDFUL---I’D REGRET GIVING HER A TEAM, IF SHE WASN’T SO DAMNED TALENTED) BESIDES THE ONES YOU NAMED (OUR CREAM OF THE CROP), HOW ARE THE OTHERS HOLDING UP WITH IT? I’M GETTING VERY WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THEM. THE DISBARITIES IN THEIR GENETIC MATCHUP ARE REALLY STARTING TO BECOME MORE APPARENT (YOUR PROBABLY ALREADY AWARE, BUT I SAW THAT 338’S PROFICIENCY WITH SNIPER WEAPONRY IS EXPONTENTIALLY BETTER THAN ARE WEAKER RECRUITS, 343 IS MATCHING THAT WITH CLOSE COMBAT, AND 341---WELL, HE MAY BE A LITTLE SHIT, BUT HE’S GOOD WITH EVERYTHING). I DON’T WANT KIDS FALLING BEHIND. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE________|THAT WILL BE ONE INTERESTING MISSION THEN, FOR WHOEVER IS NEAREST. I WOULDN‘T BE JEALOUS OF ANYONE TRYING TO GRAB CLASSIFIED TECH IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INVASION (THOUGH I GUESS THE ENGINEERS END UP DOING THAT EVERY TIME THE COVENANT ATTACK, COUNTING THE COLE PROTOCOL AND EVERYTHING). I GUESS THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER WE TELL THE RECRUITS ABOUT IT OR JUST MAKE NOTE OF IT FOR USE LATER.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

FIND MYSELF A WOMAN? THERE’S AN IDEA, IF I EVER HEARD ONE. TELL YOU WHAT: YOU SET IT UP, AND I’LL GLADLY OBLIGE IN SOME LATE NIGHT ROMANCE (AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BROTHEL’S, ANYWAY?)<font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|THAT‘S THE NATURE OF WAR I GUESS. SOME OF US GET GRAND, HEROIC DEATHS, AND THE REST OF US END UP BEING SLOTTED BECAUSE OF BAD LUCK AND RANDOM CHANCE. AND I THINK YOU DISCREDIT YOURSELF TO MUCH. THE RECRUITS REALLY DO LOOK UP TO YOU AND RESPECT YOU, AND THAT SAYS A LOT. I‘M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL. I‘VE READ THE FILES ON SOME OF THE OTHER CHARLIE ONES, AND THERES MORE THAN A FEW I‘M GLAD I DON‘T HAVE TO WORK WITH. I READ UP ON A FEW (013 AND 144), AND I SWEAR I WOULD SHOOT MYSELF IF I HAD TO WORK WITH THOSE KINDS OF NUTTERS. AND GOOD WORK FINDING THOSE OTHER GROUPS; IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME HOW (WITH SECURITY CLEARANCES WELL BELOW MY OWN) YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO FIND THESE SO EASILY. AND YES, I KNOW ABOUT HOLLAND. HE DEFINITELY SEEMS THE TYPE TO RUN A CONTINGENT OF SIERRAS. IF WE CAN SWING IT, I DON’T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH MAKING CONTACT WITH HIM. WORK YOUR CONTACTS, AND I’LL WORK ON THE BRASS.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

I’M SURE HALSEY WOULD BE SHITTING BRICKS IF SHE KNEW ONE OF HER SPARTANS WAS SUCH A BAD INFLUENCE ON THE YOUTH. WHO’D HAVE THOUGHT THAT A SIERRA IN TRAINING WOULD PICK UP SLEAZY HABITS---FROM ANOTHER SPARTAN. AND 341, ADORABLE? REALLY SON? YOU REALLY DO LIKE CRIMSON, DON’T YOU? (AS FOR 347, I’M GOING TO ENROLE HER IN SOME COUNSELING SESSIONS TO HOPEFULLY IRON THAT OUT. OUR TEAM LEADERS CAN’T AFFORD TO BE ARROGANT; WITH ALL THEIR INHERENT DISADVANTAGES, THEY’LL END UP GETTING THEIR PEOPLE KILLED. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE____________|I HOPE YOUR NOT OFFENDED, BUT YOU REALLY DO PUZZLE ME. ONE SECOND YOU ACT LIKE A NORMAL PERSON, INDEPENDENT AND SOVREGIN, AND THE NEXT YOU ACCEPT YOUR FATE LIKE IT‘S SET IN STONE. WE LIVE IN VERY DIFFERENT WORLDS (AS IF IT NEEDED POINTING OUT). AND I‘M NOT GOING TO TURN YOU INTO SECTION 0, DON’T WORRY. I‘VE GOT NO LOVE FOR ONI, AND THE ONLY REASON I‘M HERE IS BECAUSE IT‘S MY DUTY. YOUR NO MORE OF A TRAITOR THAN I AM (AND PROBABLY LESS OF ONE THAN 341).|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: INDIGO-INDIGO-SIERRA-NOVEMBER-ALPHA

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

TO: COL (0-6) <font color=White>GAMMA SIERRA 

'''SUBJECT: RE: RE: RE: RE: PROJECT ARES, PART 2 '''

OH, CHEER UP; DON'T YOU KNOW THERE'S WIGS IN CASE YOU RUN OUT OF HAIR? THOUGH IN ALL HONESTY, WE ARE LOSING TERRITORY, THAT WE CAN BOTH AGREE ON. WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE MORE. IF THESE TRAINEES - NO, SOLDIERS, THEY'VE COME THAT FAR BY NOW - CAN ACHIEVE THAT, THEN IT'LL BE WORTH IT (REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU AND I WILL FEEL ABOUT THE LOSSES). IF THEY CAN'T...THEN AT LEAST I'LL KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF HELL TO EXPECT ONCE I DIE (I ASSUME YOU'VE READ DANTE? 9 CIRCLES OF HELL AND ALL THAT). AND WELL, IQ'S PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY MEASURE I'M ALLOWED TO HAVE, SEEING AS I CAN'T TAKE DEGREES LIKE YOU <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE____|MAKES ME WONDER WHAT I'D BE IF I HADN'T BEEN RECRUITED. A MASTER THIEF (ROBBING THE UEG GOLD RESERVE CLEAN AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT SEEMS EASY TO ME COMPARED TO FIGHTING A WAR AGAINST GENOCIDAL ALIENS)? A CAA INVESTIGATOR (DETECTIVE WORK SOUNDS FUN, AT LEAST IF YOU GO BY WHAT YOU SEE IN THE VIDS)? A MARINE (SERVING LIKE I DO NOW, JUST WITH MORE FREEDOM)? AN AIRMAN (PUTTING THOSE PILOT SKILLS TO GOOD USE)? WHAT DO YOU THINK? OH, AND I GUESS I SUCK AT CHEERING PEOPLE UP, BUT YOU HAVE TO ADMIT IT COULD ALL BE A WHOLE LOT WORSE.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|.

I'M CERTAIN 347 WAS PLAYING UP THE ME, MYSELF AND MY AWESOMENESS FOR SOME TIME, BUT I HAVEN'T BOTHERED INVESTIGATING IT. I PREFERRED TO KEEP THE DI'S SHARP ON OTHER MATTERS, AND I WANTED THE SUIT TRAINING UNDERWAY IMMEDIATELY. AND THE OTHERS? MOSTLY THEY DO WELL, THEY KEEP UP AND STAY STRONG, BUT...IT'S VISIBLE IT TAKES MORE EFFORT. I'M AFRAID SOME OF THEM MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING (I ORDERED SOME STIMS INTO THOSE CANDIDATES' MEALS FOR SOME TIME TO COME - THEY NEED TO KEEP FIGHTING IF THEY'RE TO STAND A CHANCE). BUT MOSTLY, THEY'RE DOING WELL (BALDUIN IN PARTICULAR IS A FIGHTER - HE'S NOT CREAM OF THE CROP, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN SUCH WILLPOWER ANYWHERE; HAD HE HAD RACHEL'S GENETIC MAKEUP, HE WOULD BE NUMBER ONE, NO QUESTION. TOO BAD HIS GENES ARE AGAINST HIM). DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH; THEY'RE NOT FALLING BEHIND. NOT IF I CAN HELP IT. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_________|YOU WANT MY OPINION? TELL CRIMSON, BUT ONLY IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE SECTOR AND THE WINTER CONTINGENCY IS DECLARED. NONE OF THE OTHER TEAMS WOULD AGREE TO THEFT (RACHEL MIGHT, BUT SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT ALONE), AND IF TOO MANY KNEW ABOUT IT...I DON'T WANT TO GET ANY OF THE KIDS IN TROUBLE. SUCH INFORMATION COULD PROVE CATASTROPHIC, EVEN TO SIERRAS.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

REALLY? WELL, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A FAIR AMOUNT OF LOVELY LADIES THROUGHOUT MY CAREER (COVERT OPS GET YOU INTO CONTACT WITH CIVILIANS MORE OFTEN THAN YOU'D THINK <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE____|- EVERY OPERATIVE'S AUTHORIZED TO SET UP HIS OWN NETWORK OF CONTACTS AS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE OUR MISSIONS, THUS HOW I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT ALL THIS INTEL I'VE SHARED WITH YOU (PEOPLE DO TELL YOU MORE THAN YOU'D IMAGINE WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, TOTE A GUN IN THEIR FACES OR GET THEM BETWEEN THE SHEETS)|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END| ), SOME OF THEM WHO'S BOUND TO CONSIDER YOU. THERE'S THE GOVERNOR OF HARMONY, CONSTANTINA LORRAINE, SHE OWES ME ONE (I SAVED HER FROM AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT BACK IN '26; THE INNIES THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILD, EVEN NOW - WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF THEY HIT A RELAY AND STOLE FREIGHTERS ONE OF THESE DAYS), AND BETTER YET; SHE HAS A THING FOR GUYS IN UNIFORM (NOT THAT I'M, UH, SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OR ANYTHING). BUT IF YOU CAN'T WAIT (OR ORDER A TRIP TO HARMONY), I MIGHT ALSO RECOMMEND DOCTOR STROUD, EYE CANDY AND THE BOSS OF OUR NURSE CONTINGENT (HEARD SHE CAN'T HAVE KIDS, SO THERE'S NO CHANCE OF ANY EMBARRASSING SIDE-EFFECTS OCCURRING BECAUSE OF A PASSIONATE LIAISON - BUT WOOING SHOULD BE DONE TACTFULLY; SHE LOST HER HUSBAND, ONE SERGEANT MARCUS PHOENIX ON SERA BACK IN '45). I COULD GO ON, IF YOU LIKE, ASSUMING YOU WEREN'T JUST FOOLING ME AROUND. (AS FOR MY BROTHEL EXPERIENCE, IT'S RATHER INDIRECT, REALLY; I WAS DISPATCHED TO GILGAMESH TO TAKE OUT AN INNIE LEADER WHO WAS TAKING OVER THE PLANET'S CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD FROM THE SYNDICATES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY RULED (BACKED BY ONI, BELIEVE IT OR NOT; APPARENTLY IN RETURN FOR AID IN ROOTING OUT THE REBELS). EVERYTHING DIDN'T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN AND I HAD TO CHASE HIM THROUGH HALF THE TOWN - INCLUDING THE BROTHEL. WHILE PASSING THROUGH THAT PLACE, I ALSO SAVED AN, ERR, EMPLOYEE FROM AN OVERLY ROWDY "CUSTOMER". THINGS WORKED OUT; I GOT THE INNIE, THE "EMPLOYEE" SHOWED HER APPRECIATION IN A RATHER UNORTHODOX MANNER, AND I GOT SOME FIRST-HAND VISUALS ON WHAT A BROTHEL IS LIKE.) <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_____|THANKS, BUT IT'S STILL A MATTER OF FACT; OTHERS COULD HAVE DONE THIS BETTER THAN ME. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BUT I KINDA MISS THOSE NUTTERS. LEONID MORE SO, PROBABLY; HE WAS AT LEAST ON MY TEAM, AND I'M NOT SURE I CAN FULLY APPRECIATE A PERSON WHO WAS ONE OF HALSEY'S FAVORITES.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT HALSEY WOULD THINK ABOUT HOW I TREAT THESE KIDS (WOULD PROBABLY MAKE ACKERSON PROUD BY SAYING THAT, ASSUMING HE WOULD GET TO HEAR IT OR EVEN KNOW OF MY EXISTENCE). AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "SLEAZY HABITS"? FLIRTING AND SEDUCTION HAS FAR MORE USES THAN YOU THINK ON ANTI-INNIE OPS (NOW IF ONLY IT WORKED AS WELL ON THE COVENANT...). AND YES, I'M TOTALLY SERIOUS; CRIMSON'S ADORABLE. I MEAN, WHO CAN'T SEE THAT? <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE____________|NOT OFFENDED AT ALL. I AM INDEPENDENT AND SOVEREIGN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S FACT AND WHAT'S NOT. HOW I WILL END UP IS A FACT; NO AMOUNT OF CHEERFULNESS WILL EVER CHANGE THAT, ONLY MAKE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT. BUT THING IS THAT I WANT TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT, THUS MY HOPING AND DREAMING. AND AWW, HERE I WAS HALF-HOPING YOU WOULD HAND ME OVER; IT'D HAVE BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE IF I COULD'VE INTERCEPTED YOUR COMMUNIQUÉ TO S-0 BEFORE IT REACHED THEM OR NOT.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: YANKEE-ALPHA-MIKE

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: COL (0-6) <font color=White>GAMMA SIERRA 

TO: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

'''SUBJECT: PROJECT ARES, PART 3 '''

A WIG? HA, I’D SOONER GO BALD THAN RESORT TO THAT, SON. I MIGHT LOOK GOOD WITH A DOME JOB. GETTING SERIOUS, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM ISN’T JUST THAT WE’RE LOSING TERRITORY OR HAVING OUR FLEETS, DESTROYED, IT’S THAT IT’S HAPPENING WITHOUT ANY SOLUTION IN SIGHT. AS GOOD AS THEY ARE, OUR YOUNG SOLDIERS ARE STILL JUST STOPGAP METHODS, DESPERATE SOLUTIONS TO HOLD THE COVENANT OFF AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. OUR SPARTANS COULD BEAT THE COVENANT IN EVERY BATTLE, TAKE NO LOSSES EVER, AND WE’D STILL LOSE. THAT’S WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT; THE REALIZATION THAT WE NEED A TOTAL GAME CHANGER IF WE’RE GOING TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF BEATING THEM BACK. AND I NEVER CARED MUCH FOR DANTE, REALLY. CHAUCER WAS MORE OF MY FORTE. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE____|IT‘S A GOOD QUESTION, FOR SURE. I ASK MYSELF SOMETHING SIMILAR ALL THE TIME; WHAT WOULD OUR SPARTANS HAVE BECOME, HAD WE NOT DONE WHAT WE‘D DONE TO THEM? IT‘S AN UGLY TRUTH THAT A LOT OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THE COVENANT…BUT WE DREW FROM INNER COLONIES, AS WELL AS THE PERIPHERY. MAYBE 338 WOULD HAVE BEEN A DOCTOR. OR 349 A POLITICIAN. OR 329 A HOLOVID STAR. ALL WHAT IF‘S, THAT ARE NEVER GOING TO COME TRUE.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|.

ALRIGHT THEN, I’LL TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT ON IT. MY COUNSELORS ARE REPORTING A FEW SMALL SUCCESSES---ALONGSIDE A LOT OF CHALLENGES---SO I’LL LET THEM DEAL WITH IT FOR NOW. AND THAT’S GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE OTHER TRAINEES. SOUND’S LIKE YOU HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL---THOUGH IF YOU NEED HELP WITH ANYTHING, JUST GIVE ME A NOTICE AND I’LL DO WHATEVER YOU NEED---MY WORKLOAD IS STILL VERY LIGHT, GIVEN THE STRAIN EVERYONE ELSE IS UNDER. I FEEL A LITTLE GUILTY TAKING BREAKS WHEN THE DI’S ARE GOING AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET THEM READY FOR AUGMENTATION. I REALLY HATE GETTING OLD. I TRIED TO HELP OUT WITH THE IN-SUIT TRAINING (AS I’M SURE DEAN TOLD YOU) AND GOT MY ASS HANDED TO ME BY SEVERAL OF THE TRAINEES. I HAVEN’T GONE NEAR THE SUITS SINCE; I FEEL PRETTY DAMN USELESS, TO TELL THE TRUTH. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_________|THANK YOU, BUT THE ONLY PROBLEM I SEE IS CONTACTING THEM. I‘M STILL NOT SURE ONI WILL KEEP ME ON WITH THE PROJECT AFTET IT‘S CONCLUSION---THAT‘S ONE I‘M GOING OT HAVE TO FIGHT WITH RICH ABOUT. AND IF I‘M NOT IN A POSITION TO CONTACT THEM, THERE‘S NO WAY I‘LL BE ABLE TO TELL THEM (THOUGH, KNOWING 341, THEY MIGHT JUST GO FOR IT ON THEIR OWN)|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

GIVEN THE CHOICES, PERHAPS NOT. I DON’T THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD WORK OUT TO WELL (I WON’T BE BOOKING ANY TRIPS OUT SYSTEM FOR A LONG WHILE, I THINK) AND I DON’T THINK I’D BE COMFORTABLE “WOOING” NURSE STROUD---BEYOND THE OBVIOUS DIFFICULTIES, I HAVE A THING ABOUT WIDOWS. I DON’T FEEL LIKE THAT’S REALLY MY PLACE. SO MAYBE I’LL REWORD THINGS; IF YOU GET ME A NICE, UNCOMPLICATED WOMAN (A MISNOMER, I KNOW) I’LL BE SURE TO OBLIGE YOU. AND I’D NEVER HAVE EXPECTED IT, BUT I GUESS YOU PROBABLY KNOW MORE ABOUT BROTHELS THAN I DO---I NEVER WAS THE KIND TO FREQUENT THEM, IF YOU CATCH MY MEANING. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE_____|IF YOU SAY SO, I GUESS. ALL I KNOW IS THAT YOU‘RE A MUCH BETTER TEACHER THAN I‘LL EVER BE, AND THAT THE KIDS RESPECT YOU. OTHER‘S MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE IT BETTER, BUT THAT‘S TRUE FOR EVERYTHING, ISN‘T IT? JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE IS POTENTIALLY BETTER DOESN‘T MEAN YOUR NOT GOOD AT IT. AND I‘M SORRY, I FORGOT THAT YOU WERE IN BROWN WITH 144. I DIDN’T MEAN TO DREDGE ANY BAD MEMORIES UP. AND THAT‘S ANOTHER REASON WHY I DON‘T LIKE HALSEY---PICKING FAVORITES I NO WAY TO TRAIN SOLDIERS. |ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

HOW VERY INDEPDENDENT OF YOU. I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO, JUST TO SEE THE LOOK ON HER FACE WHEN SHE HEARD ABOUT IT. A NASTY SHOCK OR TWO WOULD DO HER SOME GOOD. AND DO YOU WANT ACKERSON TO KNOW OF YOUR EXISTENCE? IF I WERE A SIERRA OPERATING “OFF THE GRID”, SO TO SPEAK, THE LAST THING I’D WANT IS TO HAVE HIM CRAWLING ALL OVER ME. HE’D PROBABLY END UP TRADING YOU LIKE A DAMNED PRIZE TO GET HIMSELF A PROMOTION OR HELP SUPPORT ONE OF HIS PROJECTS. AS FOR MY DEFINITION OF “SLEAZY”, I GUESS I’M A BIT OLD FASHIONED. YOU YOUNGSTERS AND YOUR “FREE LOVE” WHILE ON DEPLOYMENT DON’T DO ANYTHIG BUT BEFUDDLE ME. AND I’LL TELL YOU WHO CAN’T SEE CRIMSON AS ADORABLE: ME. WHEN I GOT CREAMED THE OTHER DAY IN THE SUIT TRAINING, 319 MADE A JOKE I’D RATHER NOT REPEAT THAT GOT THE WHOLE ROOM LAUGHING AT MY EXPENSE. CALL ME PRIDEFUL, BUT I DON’T PARTICULARRILY LIKE BEING MADE A FOOL OF---BY 15 YEAR OLDS. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE____________|AH, GOOD TO HEAR YOUR NOT TO TOUCHY. WOULDN‘T WANT TO BRUISE YOUR EGO, WOULD I? I ADMIRE YOUR CLARITY, BECAUSE YOU SEEM TO UNDERSTAND YOURSELF MUCH BETTER THAN I DO. I DON‘T KNOW WHAT I‘M FEELING HALF THE TIME ANYMORE. AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU CAN REALLY INTERCEPT MESSAGES LIKE THAT, WOULD YOU MIND TUTORING A CERTAIN INQUISITIVE MIND? I CAN SEE A FEW HELPFUL USES FOR SUCH A SKILL.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

ENRYPTION CODE: INDIGO-INDIGO-SIERRA-NOVEMBER-ALPHA

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: CPT (0-3) <font color=White>LIMA KILO 

TO: COL (0-6) <font color=White>GAMMA SIERRA 

'''SUBJECT: RE: PROJECT ARES, PART 3 '''

I GUESS 18TH CENTURY ARISTOCRAT WIGS AREN'T YOUR THING, THEN? SAD, I THINK YOU'D A LOOK GOOD IN ONE. AND IF WE NEED A GAMECHANGER SO BADLY, WE JUST HAVE TO WORK TOWARDS FINDING ONE, RIGHT? IN THE MEANTIME, TAKE UP PAINTING LIKE I DO; IF YOU'RE FEELING DOWN, JUST DRAW SOMETHING SAD. THEN SELL IT AND EARN A FEW BUCKS! I COULD TEACH YOU, IF YOU LIKE - I'M AN EXCELLENT PAINTER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE___|IN FACT, ONE OF MY WORKS WAS AUCTIONED OFF RECENTLY (BY A MIDDLE-HAND, A FRIEND OF MINE, OBVIOUSLY) TO SOME RICH COLLECTOR ON BETA GABRIEL FOR A WHOOPING 10,000 cR. I'M NOT KEEPING THAT FOR MYSELF, OBVIOUSLY; I USED 11% TO COMPENSATE SOME OF MY CONTACTS FOR THE RISKS I'VE PUT THEM THROUGH, THE REST I TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT (SURPRISED TO SEE A BONUS TO YOUR PAYCHECK? SO SORRY TO TELL YOU IT WASN'T BECAUSE YOU WERE VOTED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH). IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I TRUST YOU TO SPEND IT WELL; IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO INSTALL MAJOR UPGRADES INTO THE SPI SUITS OR ANYTHING, BUT MAYBE SOME NEW MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND SUCH?|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

YEAH, DEAN TOLD ME; WISH I HAD BEEN THERE. I'D WELCOME SEEING A SUPERIOR OFFICER GETTING HIS ASS WHOPPED ANYDAY. BUT REMEMBER THAT YOU AIN'T A SPARTAN, SO DON'T FEEL BAD FOR LOSING TO THEM, SUPERIOR ARMOR OR NOT. THY ARMOR DOSETH NOT MAKETH THY WARRIOR, POETICALLY SPOKEN. DAMN, THAT REMINDED ME OF JUSTIN (A FELLOW SIERRA). HEH, WE CALLED HIM "THE POETIC SPARTAN". OR AT LEAST I AND HIS TEAMMATES DID. <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE__________|YOU'VE GOT MY SUPPORT TO STAY, LITTLE AS THAT MAY BE. AND YES, COMMUNICATION MIGHT BE A PROBLEM, BUT LIKE YOU SAID THERE'S ALSO A BIG CHANCE THEY MANAGE IT ON THEIR OWN. ONLY TIME WILL TELL, I GUESS.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

HMM, GOOD POINT; COME TO THINK OF IT, IT'D BE HARD TO FILE A DIVORCE AGAINST THE GOVERNOR WITHOUT YOU GOING BANKRUPT. AND I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT WIDOWS (I DON'T AGREE, THOUGH; AS I SEE IT, SOME COMFORT COULD DO THEM GOOD, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THEIR GRIEF). BUT DON'T WORRY, I'VE GOT MORE (AND CLOSER TO YOUR REWORDED SPECIFICS). ROSALINDA WHITTLESEY - A RATHER UNCOMPLICATED PIOUS CATHOLIC, THOUGH PRAYS A LITTLE TOO MUCH FOR MY TASTE (MIGHT BE A TURN-ON FOR YOU, THOUGH, WHO KNOWS?); JENDAYI AGAHOWA - A REALLY NICE LADY FROM NEW MOMBASA WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT (DISLIKES THE COMMISSIONER - KINSLER - QUITE A BIT); TANISHA DZIEDZIC - A POPULAR ARMY CAPTAIN BRIEFLY (AND AGAINST HER WISHES) ENLISTED BY ONI FOR LIAISON PURPOSES (MIGHT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, RIGHT?). JUST GIVE A WINK IF YOU WANT MORE (OR MEANS OF CONTACT IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ONE OF THE ABOVE). <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE______|IT'S ALLRIGHT. HE ACTED A BIT BETTER WHEN HE WAS IN BROWN; TO PLEASE MENDEZ, NO DOUBT. THAT MAN WAS THE ONLY PERSON LEO EVER RESPECTED. WE ALL RESPECTED HIM. EVEN ME. AND YOU MAY NOT WANT TO BELIEVE IT, BUT GROWING STRONGER ATTACHMENT TO SOME INDIVIDUALS THAN TO OTHERS IS SOMETHING WE DO SUBCONSCIOUSLY. WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WE DON'T ACT ON THOSE EMOTIONS, OR AT LEAST LIMIT THE OCCASSIONS WE DO SO. YOU KNOW I LIKE ROGER, CONNOR, RACHEL AND BALDUIN A LOT. WHAT I HAVEN'T DONE IS GIVE THEM SPECIAL TREATMENT. HALSEY'S PICKS TURNED OUT GOOD, NO DENYING THAT (JOHN WAS INDEED THE BEST CHOICE FOR LEADER, AND THOUGH AJAX COULD HAVE GONE BADLY, HE ENDED UP ALRIGHT), BUT I DIDN'T TAKE THAT RISK WITH THESE CANDIDATES. AND I DON'T REGRET THAT DECISION (LET'S FACE IT; IT'D HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF I MADE RACHEL LEADER OF THE WHOLE CONTINGENT).|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

YEAH, YOU ARE OLD-FASHIONED. BUT GIVEN YOUR BALDING SCALP, I'LL CUT YOU SOME SLACK. AND YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN TO LAUGH WITH THEM; DON'T LET YOURSELF BE LAUGHED AT, THEN THEY'LL JUST LOSE RESPECT FOR YOU. THEY PLANTED A SIGNAL ROCKET INSIDE MY ROOM TWO YEARS BACK, YOU DIDN'T SEE ME HIDING IN THE CORNER OUT OF SHAME AFTER IT BLEW AND SET MY UNIFORM ON FIRE (THOUGH I DID GET SWEET VENGEANCE BY MAKING DEAN RUN THEM ALL DAY LONG IN THE CAVES OUTSIDE THE BASE RATHER THAN THE FIELDS INSIDE). <font color=Red>|ENCRYPTED SECTION: CODE____________|SURE, I CAN TEACH YOU. I'VE ATTACHED INSTRUCTIONS TO THIS MESSAGE. I'D BE WATCHING AND HELPING YOU LEARN IT PERSONALLY, BUT SOMEHOW I DON'T IMAGINE RICH WOULD AGREE TO ME TUTORING YOU IN POTENTIALLY "DANGEROUS" TALENTS.|ENCRYPTED SECTION: END|

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

SECRET CORRESPONDENCE S5P01-CNR38
ENRYPTION CODE: OCTOBER

PUBLIC KEY: N/A

FROM: GEN (0-10) <font color=White>CHARLIE BRAVO 

TO: CPT (0-6) <font color=White>SEAHAWK 

SUBJECT: MORE OPERATIVES

HAWK, I’LL BE BRIEF. AS YOUR UNDOUBTLEY WELL AWARE, WE’RE FACED WITH A MAJOR HURDLE FOR OUR PROGRAM. OPERATIVE 144 HAS APPARENTLY BEEN DEPLOYED ONE TO MANY TIMES, AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF ONI ARE STARTING TO GET SUSPICIOUS. WE MAY HAVE NO MORE THAN A FEW MORE YEARS BEFORE THEY GET THEIR HANDS ON HIM, AND ONCE THEY DO, WE’RE UNLIKELY TO SEE HIM AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND SECTION III HAS COOPERATED IN THE PAST, BUT TIMES ARE CHANGING, AND LEADERS ARE STEPPING DOWN AND BEING REPLACED WITH NEW ONES WHOSE MEMORY ISN’T QUITE SO LONG.

OPERATIVE 144 HAS BEEN INVALUABLE FOR OUR OPERATIONS OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS, AND HAS CONSISTENTLY OUTPEFORMED ALL OF OUR OTHER AGENTS, AND WITHOUT HIM WE WILL HAVE A MUCH HARDER TIME PERFORMING SOME OF OUR MORE SENSIVTIVE MISSIONS. EVEN THE NEW TYPE 23 DRONES WON‘T BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE SLACK. WE NEED ANOTHER SIERRA TO REPLACE HIM, WHICH MEANS EXTRACTING ONE FROM CURRENT OPERATIONS. I REVIEWED SOME OLD LOGS AND FOUND MIKE ALPHA CONSCRIPTED YOU FOR THE ORIGINAL EXTRACTION OF 144 EXTRACTION. WELL, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, I’LL BE NEEDING YOUR SERVICES ONCE AGAIN.

ONE OF OUR FIELD AGENTS, KILO TANGO, HAS BEEN OBSERVING SEVERAL CANDIDATES FOR A FEW YEARS, AND BELIEVES SHE’S FOUND ONE. HE’S NOT A II, BUT HE’S CLOSE ENOUGH, AND HE’S GOT MORE CURRENT COMBAT EXPERIENCE THAN MANY OF THEM. WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT HE’S AN EXCELLENT SNIPER AND A WILLINGINESS TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. HE’S GOT A BIT OF A CONSCIENCE PROBLEM, BUT WE’LL WORK AROUND THAT.

WE NEED THE OPERATIVE QUICKLY, SO DEPLOY ASAP AND BRING HIM IN. KILO TANGO CONFIRMS HE’S JUST FINISHED WITH HIS TOUR IN THE OP: ERIDANUS CAMPAIGN, SO THE SOONER YOU CAN GRAB HIM, THE LESS LIKELY IT IS THAT ANOTHER ELEMENT OF ONI WILL GET TO HIM FIRST. SECTION I HAS BEEN SNIFFING AROUND, AND I DON’T WANT A POTENTIAL OPERATIVE SNATCHED BY THE GEEK SQUAD. GET THIS DONE.

//PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE//

<font color=White>SPARTAN-343
(as of January 1, 2587) RACHEL

LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE
 * FULL NAME: HAWKE, RACHEL
 * SERVICE #: S-343


 * UNIT:


 * COVOPGRU/ARES DETACHMENT/CYAN TEAM (FORMER)
 * BETA-5/HEADHUNTER/RESERVE TEAM WINTER - SPECWARCOM/GROUP FIVE/WINTER (CURRENT)
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: ACTIVE

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: F
 * BIRTPLACE: PINE MOUNTAIN, KHOLO
 * BIRTH DATE: 07/01/2535

CRUDE AND BRUTAL, BUT EXTREMELY EFFICIENT. VERY ANALYTICAL AND EXCELLENT AT IMPROVISATION (CLAIMS OF WHIPPING JACKAL ATTACKERS WITH A LOOSE PYTHON SNAKE SUCCESSFULLY CONFIRMED). TENDS TO FORGET MILITARY BEHAVIORAL PROTOCOLS (INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL UNKNOWN - THE FORMER SEEMS MOST LIKELY, BASED ON AI SCANS), BUT IS AT THE SAME TIME A HIGHLY CAPABLE SOLDIER. MAY BE THE BEST OF THE ARES SOLDIERS (TIE WITH [S-338] AND [S-341]).

COMMENTS:

HAS AN ODD FASCINATION WITH FIRE (THREE KNOWN THERAPY SESSIONS AGAINST PYROMANIA SO FAR). POSSIBLE RESURGENCY OF PYROMANIC SYMPTOMS EXPECTED EVENTUALLY. OCASSIONALLY FLIRTATIOUS BEHAVIOR AROUND MALE JUNIOR OFFICERS (BREACHES OF FRATERNIZATION PROTOCOLS SO FAR UNCONFIRMED).

NOTE(S):

RECOMMEND CONTINUED WATCH IN CASE OF PYROMANIC RESURGENCY. ALSO MAKE NOTE UNIQUE GENETIC PATTERN; SHE APPEARS, ALONG WITH ONE OTHER CANDIDATE, TO HAVE THE FULL GENETIC MARKERS FOR OPTIMUM SPARTANS

<font color=White>SPARTAN-338
(as of January 1, 2587) CONNOR

LIEUTENANT
 * FULL NAME: RILEY, CONNOR
 * SERVICE #: S-338


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/TAN TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: CLASSIFIED

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: APHRODITE, TITAN-II
 * BIRTH DATE: 14/5/2534

SMART, FAST, AND TOUGH WITH VARIED ARRAY OF SKILLSETS. CAPABLE LEADER WITH A NATURAL ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH SUBORDINATES AND STRONG TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC INSIGHT. EMPHASIZES DEEPLY WITH SUBORDINATES AND SUPERIORS ALIKE. CRACK SHOT WITH A SNIPER RIFLE, BUT ALSO PASSABLY PROFIECIENT IN CLOSE QUARTERS. OPTIMISTIC NO MATTER THE SITUATION, BUT NEVER ATTEMPTS TO BE COMICAL. SERIOUS IN COMBAT, BUT RELAXES WELL OFF DUTY. VERY AMIABLE. SKILLED AT LEADING BUT EQUALLY CONTENT TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE COMMAND.

COMMENTS:

STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH TEAMATES CAN SOMETIMES PROVE PROBLEMATIC, AS HE CAN BECOME EMOTIONALLY OVERRELIANT ON OTHERS, SOMETIMES WITH DISASTOROUS CONSEQUENCES. OCCASSIONALLY EXPRESSES DOUBT IN HIS OWN TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC INSIGHT DESPITE STRENGTH, DUE TO SEVERAL FAILED OPERATIONS. HISTORY OF ANGER, DEPRESSION, AND ISOLATION ISSUES, ALL IN RESPONSE TO LOSS OF TEAMATE. STRONG SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG. HAS HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH TAKING ISSUES PERSONALLY.

NOTE(S):

RECOMMEND SCREENING FOR MENTAL ISSUES IN THE CASE OF FAILED MISSIONS, OR SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS THAT RESULT IN FRIENDLY CASUALTIES. ALSO MAKE NOTE UNIQUE GENETIC PATTERN; HE APPEARS, ALONG WITH ONE OTHER CANDIDATE, TO HAVE THE FULL GENETIC MARKERS FOR OPTIMUM SPARTANS

<font color=White>SPARTAN-363
(as of January 1, 2587) MATHEW

MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
 * FULL NAME: BROOKS, MATHEW
 * SERVICE #: S-363


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/GOLD TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: ACTIVE

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: COLTON, STALLION-IV
 * BIRTH DATE: 9/11/2534

HIGHLY SKILLED FIGHTER AND COMMANDER, WITH AN EYE FOR TACTICS AND A STRONG WILL. VERY STUBBORN. VERY PROFESSIONAL IN AND OUT OF COMBAT, BUT WITH A BIT OF A TEMPER PROBLEM. CAN TRANSLATE INTO ATTITUDE ISSUES. DISLIKES SECRECY AND PREFERS OPEN ASSIGNMENTS. GOOD AT THINKING ON HIS FEET, BUT BETTER EXECUTING CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED PLANS. ALSO HAS A STRONG AVERSION TO GOSSIP, EVEN FOR A SPARTAN. EXCELLENT AT EVALUATING PEOPLE. DEVISES PLANS THAT PLAY VERY WELL TO THE STRENGTH’S OF HIS TEAMS, EVEN ON THE FLY. DIEHARD LOYALTY TO HIS SQUAD SURPASSED ONLY BY LOYALTY TO UNSC

COMMENTS:

LONG CAREER OF SUCCESSFUL SERVICE AGAINST LONG ODDS HAD MADE HIM SOMEWHAT ARROGANT, AS WITH THE REST OF HIS SQUAD, MADE WORSE BY HIS OWN NATURAL STUBBORNESS. THIS OCCASSIONALLY PROMPTS ATTITUDE PROBLEMS, ALSO MADE WORSE BY HIS TEMPER PROBLEM. MANAGES TO KEEP THESE ISSUES OFF THE BATTLEFIELD, BUT THEY WILL OCCASSIONALLY REAR THEIR HEAD DURING DOWN TIME.

NOTE(S):

VERY SUSPICIOUS OF ONI, PARTICULARILLY SECTION III, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE [S-312] INCIDENT, THOUGH LESS SO THAN HIS SUBORDINATES. CONFIDENCE IN UNSC STILL HIGH, BUT DISTRUSTS NAVAL INTELLIGENCE IN PARTICULAR.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-359
(as of January 1, 2587) JACKY

SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
 * FULL NAME: DAVIS, JACKY
 * SERVICE #: S-359


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/GOLD TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: ACTIVE

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: F
 * BIRTHPLACE: HERSHIRE, NEW LONDON
 * BIRTH DATE: 6/22/2534

OUTSPOKEN AND OPINIONATED WITH AN EYE FOR DETAIL. VERY PRECISE. HAS VERY CLEAR OPINIONS AND ISN’T AFRAID TO SHARE THEM. NOT MUCH OF A TACTICIAN, BUT IS ODDLY PERCEPTIVE OF OVERALL STRATEGIC OVERVIEWS. KEEN INTEREST IN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN POLITICS. EXCELS AT CLOSE QUARTERS, ESPECIALLY AT REMAINING UNDETECTED. ABILITY TO MAKE USE OF HER SPI ARMOR IS ALMOST SUPERNATURAL. UTTERLY RUTHLESS IN COMBAT, BUT KEEPS A TIGHT REIN ON HER EMOTIONS. ALSO AN EXCEELENT ACTOR.

COMMENTS:

SOMEWHAT ARROGANT, MUCH LIKE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF GOLD. SOMETIMES HAS TROUBLE CONNECTING WITH OTHER PERSONNEL, ESPECIALLY OTHER SIERRAS, BECAUSE OF ARROGANCE AND HER OUTSPOKEN NATURE.

NOTE(S):

HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS OF ONI IN THE AFTERMATH OF [S-312] INCIDENT, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF PARANOIA. STILL CONFIDENT IN NAVY AND MAINLINE UNSC, BUT IS OUTWARDLY HOSTILE TO AGENCY MEMBERS. RECOMMEND KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON HER IN CASE SUSPICIONS TURN INTO SOMETHING MORE.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-317
(as of January 1, 2587) MASON

SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
 * FULL NAME: TRIBBLE, MASON
 * SERVICE #: S-317


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/GOLD TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: ACTIVE

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: SYDNEY, EARTH
 * BIRTH DATE: 11/11/2534

UNOBTRUSIVE AND UNASSUMMING; A CRACK SHOT WITH A SNIPER RIFLE, THOUGH DEFINITELY NOT THE BEST OF THE SIERRA CHALRIE III’S. TALKATIVE AND JOKEFUL DURING OPERATIONS, EVEN MORE SO OFF DUTY. GOLD SEEMS USED TO IT; OTHER OPERATORS HAVE COMMENTED DISFAVORLABLY ON IT. NOT MUCH MORE TO SAY; HE’S A DEDICATED TEAM MEMBER WITH AN EXCELLENT MARKSMAN ABILITY. SOLID UNDER FIRE, BUT STILL PREFERS TO HANG BACK OUT OF COMBAT. INTERESTS SEEM LIMITED TO WEAPONS AND HIS TEAM.

COMMENTS:

A LITTLE COCKY, JUST LIKE THE REST OF GOLD, BUT AT LEAST HE HAS THE STONES TO BACK IT UP. KEEPS HIS ARROGANCE IN LINE BETTER THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS, HOWEVER; HE CAN APPRECIATE TALENT, AND ACKNOWLEDGES SUPERIOR ABILITIES.

NOTE(S):

MORE THAN ANY OF THE REST OF GOLD, STILL SEEMS TROUBLED BY THE [S-312] INCIDENT. BLAMES HIMSELF FOR THE “FAILURE” OF THE MISSION, AND FOR LETTING THE ASSASSIN ESCAPE. THE FACT HE COULD HAVE DONE NOTHING NEVER SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURRED TO HIM. MISTRUSTFUL OF ONI, BUT NOT NEARLY TO THE DEGREE OF THE OTHERS.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-312
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) RICHARD

PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS
 * FULL NAME: GRIFFON, RICHARD
 * SERVICE #: S-312


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/SILVER TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS:<font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: TRANQUILITY, NEW HARMONY
 * BIRTH DATE: 2/3/2534

QUICK ON HIS FEET, WITH A KNACK FOR QUICKLY COMING UP WITH PLANS. EXCELLENT AT AMBUSHING THE ENEMY, BUT NOT SO SKILLED AT DETECTING OR EVADING ENEMY AMBUSHES. CAPABLE AT MEDIUM RANGE, BUT PREFERS CLOSE QUARTERS. JOKATIVE AND SEEMINGLY LIGHTHEARTED DURING TRAINING, BUT HAS SINCE TURNED MUCH MORE SERIOUS. UTTERLY DEVOTED TO HIS TEAM, AND VERY CAPABLE OF LEADING THEM. VERY SKILLED WITH EXPLOSIVES, ESPECIALLY IN SURPRISE ATTACKS.

COMMENTS:

[S-312] IS A FORMIDABLE OPERATOR, BUT CAN BE VERY GULLIBLE AND IS QUICK TO ANGER, BE IT RATIONAL OR IRRATIONAL. DEVOTION TO HIS TEAM IS COMPLETE, AND HIS LOYALTY TO THEM BY FAR EXCEEDS HID LOYALTY TO THE UNSC. PREFERENCE FOR AMBUSHES AND CLOSE QUARTERS MAKES HIM SOMEWHAT PREDICTABLE, IF CONSISTENT, BUT HIS TEAM MEMBERS MANAGE TO BALANCE OUT HIS WEAKNESSES, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

NOTE(S):

TURNED UP MULTIPLE PROBLEMS DURING HIS LAST PYSCHE EVALUATION, INCLUDING POSSIBLE EARLY INDICATORS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA. FOLLOW UP PYSCHE EXAM CHANCES OF IT DEVELOPING FULLY ARE MINIMAL, UNLESS SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC OCCURS. RECOMMENDATION: KEEP AN EYE ON HIM, BUT DEPLOY HIS TEAM ANYWAY. WE NEED THESE KIDS IN THE FIELD NO MATTER WHAT.

POST-OP REPORT:

DURING A ROUTINE PATROL IN TROY-II’S BADLANDS, A COVENANT AMBUSH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF [S-364] AND [S-326]. THE RESULTING MENTAL TRAUMA BADLY DAMAGED RICHARD’S PYSCHE, AND AFTER ESCAPING THE COVENANT FORCES, HE RETALIATED AND SINGLE HANDEDLY DESTROYED THE NEARBY FIREBASE BRAVO, RESULTING IN NEARLY 400 UNSC CASUALTIES. GOLD TEAM WAS DEPLOYED TO RECOVER HIM FOR TRIAL, BUT AN UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL ELIMINATED HIM BEFORE HE COULD BE CAPTURED. (FULL AFTER ACTION REPORT ATTACHED)

<font color=White>SPARTAN-364
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) LUCIUS

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS
 * FULL NAME: DRAKE, LUCIUS
 * SERVICE #: S-364


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/SILVER TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS:<font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: INSTANBUL, EARTH
 * BIRTH DATE: 2/4/2534

QUIET, CONFIDENT, FOCUSED AND TOUGH. EXCELLENT DEXTERITY AND VERY PRECISE, AT LEAST WITH HIS MOVEMENTS. PREFERS BIG GUNS---ANYTHING ABOVE .50 CAL AND HE’S ALL OVER IT, BUT DOESN’T HAVE MUCH USE FOR SMALLER ARMS. BIG BORE GUNS ARE HIS SPECIALTY, WHETHER THEY BE TURRETS, GAUSS CANNONS, AUTO CANNONS OR SNIPER RIFLES. VERY QUIET OFF DUTY, BUT IS FAIRLY APPROACHABLE. RELAXED, IF A BIT QUIET. EXCELLENT AT GUERRILLA WARFARE, AND DOESN’T LIKE TO STAY PUT FOR VERY LONG.

COMMENTS:

DIFFICULT TO EXAMINE. [S-364] TENDS TO KEEP TO HIMSELF, AND LIMITS HIS INTERACTION WITH OTHER SIERRAS, EVEN AMONG HIS OWN TEAM. HIS PREFERENCE FOR HEAVY DUTY WEAPONRY REMAINS NO MATTER WHO THE ENEMY IS, SO FIELDING HIM AGAINST INSURGENTS CAN BE TRICKY.

NOTE(S):

UNLIKE OTHER GROUPS, WE CAN’T ROTATE SIERRA’S IN AND OUT OF CHARLIE THREE TEAMS, SO WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO MANUALLY LIMIT [S-364]’S EXPOSURE TO INSURGENTS AND STEALTH OPS.

POST-OP REPORT:

DURING A ROUTINE PATROL IN TROY-II’S BADLANDS DURING THE COVENANT SIEGE OF THE SYSTEM, AN ENEMY SNIPER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE SILVER TEAM’S M12 LRV AND CALL IN FOR SUPPORT. IN THE RESULTING AMBUSH, [S-364] WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WITH AN ENEMY TYPE-50 SRS AND WAS IMMEDIATELY KILLED. (FULL AFTER ACTION REPORT ATTACHED)

<font color=White>SPARTAN-326
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) TUCK

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS
 * FULL NAME: HOLMER, TUCK
 * SERVICE #: S-326


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/SILVER TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS:<font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: F
 * BIRTHPLACE: PYRTH, ARCADIA
 * BIRTH DATE: 1/19/2534

DEPENDABLE, LOYAL, AND TOUGH; A MODEL SOLDIER AND A NEAR PEFECT SPARTAN. CAREFREE AND CHEERY IN AND OUT OF COMBAT, AND MAKES FREQUENT JOKES. LIKE [S-312], SHE PREFERS CLOSE QUARTERS, BUT IS EQUALLY CAPABLE AT MIDRANGE. IN COMBAT, SHE LIKES TO KEEP MOVING; UNLIKE [S-312] OR [S-364], SHE DOESN’T LIKE TO GET BOGGED DOWN SETTING UP AN AMBUSH OR ATTACK THE ENEMY GUERILLA STYLE, BUT INSTEAD PREFERS TO TAKE THE FIGHT STRAIGHT TO THEM. SMALL AND SOMEWHAT DIMINUTIVE, BUT ENORMOUSLY STRONG FOR HER SIZE. ALSO VERY AGILE.

COMMENTS:

NOT MUCH TO NOTE ABOUT [S-326]. SHE’S VERY DEDICATED TO HER TEAM LEADER AND TO THE UNSC, IS CONFIDENT IN HER ABILITIES, AND IS FAIRLY ONE SIDED. SHE CAN GET INTO TROUBLE OCCASSIONALLY DURING COMBAT BECAUSE OF HER TENDENCY TO ATTACK THE ENEMY HEAD-ON WITHOUT A PLAN, BUT THERE’S A REASON [S-312] IS THE LEADER INSTEAD OF HER. NOT THE MOST CREATIVE OF INDIVIDUALS, BUT SHE HAS EXCELLENT INSTINCTS THAT, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, PREVAIL OVER THE CAREFUL PLANS OF SOME OF THE OTHER TEAMS.

NOTE(S):

MAKE A NOTE TO RECHECK HER GENETIC STRUCTURE. THE INITIAL SCAN INDICATES SHE ONLY HAS A 13% COMPATIBILITY WITH THE ORIGINAL CHARLIE ONE PARAMETERS, BUT IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT SOMEONE WITH SUCH A LOW PERCENTAGE WOULD BOTH SURVIVE AUGMENTATION AND PROVE TO BE SUCH A STRONG OPERATIVE. I’VE TAKEN A LOOK INTO HER ENLISTMENT REPORT, AND IT APPEARS SHE’S ONE OF RICH’S “RANDOM RECRUITS”. HOW LUCKY WOULD IT BE TO FIND A CHARLIE ONE WORTHY RECRUIT IN THE LEFTOVER’S PILE?

POST-OP REPORT:

WHILE ON A ROUTINE PATROL IN THE AFTERMATH OF A MAJOR SKIRMISH AT TROY-II, RESIDUAL COVENANT ELEMENTS LOCATED AND BEGAN TRACKING SILVER TEAM’S M12 LRV. THE OVERWORKED AND OVERTASKED SATTELLITE CONTROLLER MISSED THE SMALL GROUP, AND IN THE RESULTING AMBUSH, [S-364] WAS IMMEDIATELY ELIMINATED. [S-312] AND [S-326] RETREATED TO THE COVER OF A NEARBY BUILDING, BUT HOSTILE GROUND ELEMENTS LOCATED THEM AND ATTACKED THEIR POSITION. [S-326] WAS STUCK BY AN ENEMY TYPE-1 APG, AND DOVE INTO THE MIDST OF THE HOSTILE SQUAD, SACRIFICING HERSELF TO ALLOW [S-312] TO ESCAPE. (FULL AFTER ACTION REPORT ATTACHED)

<font color=White>SPARTAN-329
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) LUCY

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS
 * FULL NAME: MOORE, LUCY
 * SERVICE #: S-329


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/TAN TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS:<font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: F
 * BIRTHPLACE: DENVER, EARTH
 * BIRTH DATE: 5/19/2534

KIND, SENSITIVE, AND CHEERY. AS CLOSE TO A “SWEETHEART” AS YOUR GOING TO FIND IN A UNIT OF GENETICALLY AUGMENTED SUPERSOLDIERS. GOOD AT CONNECTING WITH OTHERS AND MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE PART OF THE TEAM. IMPACT ON MAINLINE REMARKABLY POSITIVE; CHEERY AND CALM DEMEANOR HAS SHOWN TO QUICKLY AND CONSISTENTLY I MPROVE MORALE. BESIDES USE AS A MOBILE MORALE BOOST, HER SKILLS AT ELECTRONIC WARFARE AND MIDRANGE COMBAT ARE CONSIDERABLE, AND HER TRACKING ABILITIES RIVAL THOSE OF THE BEST OF THE SIERRA CHARLIE ONES. ALSO HAS AN AVID INTEREST IN NAVAL TACTICS; HER SCORES FOR EXO-ATMOSPHERIC SHIP TO SHIP COMBAT RIVAL OR SURPASS MANY OCS TRAINEES, DESPITE NO FORMAL NAVAL TRAINING.

COMMENTS:

[S-329] IS WITHOUT A DOUBT ONE OF THE MOST SKILLED OPERATORS IN THE ARES PROGRAM, WITH HIGH SCORES IN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. HER ‘WEAKER’ AREAS ARE OFTEN MUCH MORE DEVELOPED THAN THE SPECIFIC SPECIALTIES OF OTHER CHARLIE THREES. UNFORTUNATELY, HER CREATIVE ABILITIES SUFFER WHILE UNDER FIRE, LIMITING HER ABILITY TO QUICKLY REACT TO NEW TACTICAL DEVELOPMENTS DURING COMBAT. SHE HAS ALSO DISPLAYED PROBLEMS WITH BECOMING TO ENGROSSED IN COMPLICATED TASKS, LEADING TO DANGEROUS DROPS IN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. HER COMPASSION CAN ALSO IMPACT HER IN THE AFTERMATH OF MISSIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN LARGE AMOUNTS OF FRIENDLY CASUALTIES ARE SUSTAINED OR HER UNIT IS DEPLOYED AGAINST REBELS; SHE NEVER FAILS TO GET THE JOB DONE, BUT SHE HAS EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE AFTER THE FACT.

NOTE(S):

RECOMMEND KEEPING AN EYE ON HER INTERACTION WITH [S-338]. PYSCHE REVIEWS INDICATE SHE HARBORS A BIT OF A CRUSH ON HIM, AND THOUGH HE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE AWARE AS OF YET, THE LAST THING WE NEED IN THAT UNIT IS POSSIBLE FRATERNIZATION.

POST-OP REPORT:

DURING OPERATION: WET FEET, TAN TEAM WAS DEPLOYED TO NEW AUSTRALIA ALONGSIDE THE 19TH MARINE AMPHIBIOUS ON AN INTELLIGENCE GATHERING MISSION. WHILE SCOUTING FOR THE ENEMY COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTER, HOSTILE REINFORCEMENTS WERE ALERTED TO THEIR PRESENCE AND ATTACKED. [S-338] ASSIGNED [S-329] TO DESTABILIZE THE NEARBY HYDROGEN FUEL STORAGE CONTAINERS TO CAUSE A DISTRACTION. [S-329] COMPLETED THE OBJECTIVE, BUT HER ESCAPE WAS BLOCKED BY ENEMY FORCES AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO REGROUP WITH THE REST OF HER TEAM. DESPITE OVERWHELMING ODDS, SHE MANAGED TO STAGE A LAST STAND LONG ENOUGH FOR THE OVERLOAD CYCLE TO COMPLETE AND THE FUEL TO DETONATE. |(FULL AFTER ACTION REPORT ATTACHED)

<font color=White>SPARTAN-332
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) MELLISSA

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS
 * FULL NAME: YANDRALL, MELLISSA
 * SERVICE #: S-332


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/TAN TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS:<font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: F
 * BIRTHPLACE: NOVIA CITY, ATLAS MOONS
 * BIRTH DATE: 11/2/2534

INTELLIGENT, CREATIVE, AND ALMOST ABSURDLY DEADLY. EXCELLENT MIND FOR LOGISTICS AND STRATEGY, AND SOME OF HER IDEAS HAVE PROMPTED SERIOUS EXAMINATIONS OF CURRENT NAVAL PRACTICES. WORKS WELL WITH MAINLINE PERSONNEL, JUST LIKE THE REST OF TAN, BUT ALSO SEEMS TO DELIBERATELY DISTANCE HERSELF FROM THEM. EXCELLENT AT CLOSE QUARTERS, BUT REAL TALENTS LIE IN EVA WARFARE. HIGH SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND LIGHTNING FAST REFLEXES MAKE HER A VALUABLE ASSET IN ANY EXO ENGAGEMENT. VERY SERIOUS IN COMBAT, AND HIGHLY INDEPENDENT; USED TO GETTING HER WAY AND ACTS LIKE IT. ALSO A DECENT PILOT; VERY PROFICIENT IN UNSC SPACE AND AIR VEHICLES ALONG WITH SEVERAL COVENANT ONES AS WELL.

COMMENTS:

WHILE [S-332] IS GOOD AT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE BIG PICTURE, SMALLER DETAILS CAN BE HARDER FOR HER. SHE IS CONSIDERABLY LESS PROFICIENT IN SMALL UNIT TACTICS THAN SHE IS WITH STRATEGY AND SHE WILL EVEN OCCASSIONALY OVERLOOK MINOR DETAILS. EMOTIONAL DETACHMENT AND INDEPDENCE CAN ALSO MAKE HER A BIT HARD TO ORDER AROUND; THE BRASS HAS HAD THEIR FAIR SHARE OF STRUGGLES WITH HER AND EVEN [S-338] CAN HAVE PROBLEMS. LIKE [S-338], SHE TAKES THE WAR VERY PERSONALLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERMATH OF [S-329]’S DEATH. SHE HAS ALSO BEEN NOTED ACTING A BIT TO FLIRTATIOUSLY WITH MEN (WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF [S-338]) THOUGH THIS SEEMS TO BE JUST ANOTHER METHOD OF MANIPULATING SITUATIONS TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS.

NOTE(S):

DURING A RANDOM MEDICAL SCAN IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE HOPEFUL INCIDENT, [S-332] TESTED POSITIVE FOR A PAIR OF TYPE-3 STDS. HER ENHANCED IMMUNE SYSTEM HAS RENDERED THEM HARMLESS, BUT SHE HAS AN ANNUAL MEDICAL CHECKUP RAPIDLY APPROACHING AND SMUDGING IT ISN’T AN OPTION. IF THESE DISEASES ARE PRESENT WHEN SHE IS EXAMINED, IT MIGHT RAISE SOME UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS. RECOMMENDATION: START HER ON THE STRONGEST AB’S AVAILABLE AND HEAD THIS PROBLEM OFF BEFORE IT SNOWBALLS.

POST-OP REPORT:

DURING OPERATION: SANDBOX, [S-338] AND [S-332] WERE ASSIGNED TO DEFEND THE POWER GENERATOR FOR THE PLANET’S ORBITAL MAC CANNON. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY HOLDING THE ENEMY AT BAY HOWEVER, A COVENANT CRUISER ENTERED THE ATMOSPHERE AND PREPARED TO GLASS ONE OF THE PLANET’S MAJOR CITIES. TAN TEAM, HOPING TO BOARD THE SHIP, ABANDONED THEIR POST AND HEADED FOR IT’S POSITION. HOWEVER, BEFORE THEIR COULD COMPLETE THEIR PLAN, THE ENEMY DETECTED THEM AND CONSEQUENTLY SHOT THEM DOWN. TAN TEAM MANAGED TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL CRASH LANDING IN THE CITY, BUT ENEMY FIRE BADLY INJURED [S-332] AND SHE VOLUNTEERED TO STAY BEHIND TO SLOW THE ENEMY DOWN, ALLOWING [S-338] TO ESCAPE.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-347
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) JENNIFER

PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS
 * FULL NAME: GUMP, JENNIFER
 * SERVICE #: S-347


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/SCARLET TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS:<font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: F
 * BIRTHPLACE: REMINGTON, NEW LONDON
 * BIRTH DATE: 9/3/2534

CONFIDENT, DEADLY, AND HIGHLY SKILLED AT MIDRANGE COMBAT. ABILITY TO AIM ACCURATELY ON THE MOVE IS NEAR PERFECT, EVEN UNDER HIGH STRESS OR FROM A FAST MOVING VEHICLE. DOESN’T HAVE THE PATIENCE FOR LONG RANGE COMBAT, OR THE REFLEXES TO EXCEL IN CLOSE, BUT IS PASSABLY PROFICIENT IN BOTH. EXCELLENT SOLDIER WITH A STRONG WORK ETHIC THAT HAS ALLOWED HER TO EXCEL DESPITE A LOWER GENETIC MATCH THAN MANY OF THE OTHER CHARLIE THREES. TACTICAL ABILITY, HOWEVER, BLOWS HER ALREADY CONSIDERALE STRENGTHS OUT OF THE WATER. EXCELLENT STRATEGIST WITH A KNACK FOR FINDING AND EXPLOITING STRESS POINTS IN BATTLE OR ENEMY FORMATIONS, BUT ALMOST MORE USEFUL FOR HER ABILITY TO FLIP HER VIEWPOINT AND EXAMINE THE SITUATION FROM THE ENEMY’S POINT OF VIEW. EXCELS AT OPEN COMBAT DURING LARGE, CHAOTIC BATTLES.

COMMENTS:

WOULD BE THE BEST COMMANDER IN THE WHOLE PROGRAM IF SHE WASN’T SO DAMN EGOTISTICAL. ARROGANCE, A BIG HEAD, AND AN EVEN BIGGER MOUTH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR HER, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE SCARLET WAS DEPLOYED. THE CHARLIE THREE SQUADS NO THE ODDS THEY’RE UP AGAINST, SO IT’S NO SURPRISE THE EFFECTIVE ONES GET A LITTLE SELF ABSORBED. A DAMN SHAME THOUGH, BECAUSE HER EGO CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR HER TO INTERACT WITH OTHER PERSONNEL; MAINLINE TROOPS ARE INTIMIDATED, OTHER SIERRA’S FIND HER ANTAGONIZING, AND EVEN HER OWN TEAM CAN FIND HER GRATING. IT CAN ALSO PROVE DANGEROUS DURING COMBAT, AS WELL; JENNY’S OVERCONFIDENCE HAS GOTTEN SCARLET INTO MORE THAN ONE TOUGH SPOT BEFORE, AND WHILE THEY’VE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF MOST OF THEM SO FAR, THEY’RE LUCK WILL ONLY LAST SO LONG.

NOTE(S):

[S-347] HAS BEEN NOTED FOR HER DIFFICULTY INTERACTING WITH OTHER SIERRAS, BUT HER RELATIONS WITH [S-341], [S-343], [S-338], [S-363], AND [S-312] ARE PARTICULARILLY STRAINED. THIS PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY PREVALENT IN HER RELATIONSHIP WITH [S-363], HER OLD TEAM LEADER, WHO WE HAD TO TRANSFER EARLY ON BECAUSE OF INTERNAL DIFFICULTIES. MAKE SURE SHE ISN’T DEPLOYED ANYWHERE NEAR THEM IF YOU CAN.

POST-OP REPORT:

AFTER [S-312] WENT ROGUE AND WAS TRACKED TO THE LAMBDA SERPENTIS SYSTEM, THE LOCAL MARINE OUTPOST WAS PUT ON HIGH ALERT AND ALL AVAILABLE CHARLIE THREE TEAMS WITHIN A TWO WEEK RADIUS WERE SCRAMBLED. GOLD, OLIVE, AND SCARLET TEAMS WERE CONTACTED, BUT OLIVE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ONGOING SCATHING OF THE CHINESE SECTOR AND WAS UNABLE TO RESPOND. SCARLET REACHED THE TARGET SYSTEM SEVERAL HOURS AHEAD OF GOLD, AND DEPLOYED TO THE SURFACE IMMEDIATELY. THEY PROCEDED TO HEAD DIRECTLY TO [S-312]’S LAST KNOWN POSITION, WITHOUT WAITING FOR GOLD TO REINFORCE THEM. AFTER MAKING AN INITIAL SWEEP OF THE AREA WITH NO RESULTS, [S-347] ALLOWED HER TEAM TO SEPARATE AND WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD WHEN [S-312] AMBUSHED [S-356]. IN THE RESULTING SKIRMISH, SHE ORDERED A RETREAT BUT PLAYED STRAIGHT INTO [S-312]’S PLANS, ALLOWING HIM TO COMPLETE HIS AMBUSH AND ELIMINATE HER TEAM.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-356
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) MICHAEL

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS
 * FULL NAME: SMITH, MICHAEL
 * SERVICE #: S-356


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/SCARLET TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS:<font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: TRANQUILITY, LUNA
 * BIRTH DATE: 7/7/2534

GOOD WITH A SUBMACHINEGUN IN A CROWD OF ENEMIES, BUT BETTER WITH A SHOTGUN PUMPING BUCKSHOT INTO THE ENEMY AT POINT BLANK. CLOSE QUARTERS SPECIALIST WHO FOUND A LOVE OF ADRENALINE SOAKED CQB COMBAT AS A YOUNGSTER AND HAS MOLDED THAT LOVE INTO A TALENT FOR SHORT RANGE WEAPONS THAT BORDERS ON ARTISTRY. REGIMENTED WITH A FIERCE DEVOTION TO HIS SQUAD. NOT THE BEST TACTICIAN OR STRATEGIST, WITH LOW SCORES ON HIS CREATIVITY TESTS, BUT GOOD AT FOLLOWING ORDERS AND EVEN BETTER AT INSTICTIVELY COUNTERING THE ENEMY. VERY BOLD, WITH UNFALTERING COURAGE; WHEN OTHERS STEP BACK, HE STEPS FORWARD. VERY ARTICULATE, THOUGH HIS EXPLANATIONS CAN BE OVERLY VERBOSE AT TIMES.

COMMENTS:

EXCELLENT AT CLOSE QUARTERS, WITH A FRACTIONAL REACTION TIME AND NERVES OF STEEL, BUT HAS DIFFICULTY AT LONGER RANGES. AIM IS TERRIBLE (BY SIERRA STANDARDS) AT A DISTANCE, AND [S-347] SEEMS TO DELIBERATELY RETRICT HIM TO CLOSE QUARTERS AS A WAY TO COUNTER THIS. THE SUCCESS OF THIS STRATEGY SO FAR IS DEBATABLE, BUT THEY’RE ALL STILL ALIVE, SO THAT HAS TO COUNT FOR SOMETHING. DESPITE HIS REGIMENTED NATURE, HE HAS A BIT OF A MOUTH AND AN EGO PROBLEM, WITH A SARCASTIC, BITING WIT. HE CAN ALSO TAKE HIS BOLD BEHAVIOR TOO FAR, AS WELL; HE HAS A TENDENCY TO PLUNGE HEADFIRST INTO THE THICK OF THINGS WITHOU THINKING, WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN MADE WORSE BY HIS GROWING EGO. COMMUNICATING WITH HIM HAS ALSO BEEN NOTED AS BEING A LABORIOUS AFFAIR, THANKS TO HIS OVERLY VERBOSE NATURE.

NOTE(S):

MAKE A NOTE TO CHECK [S-356]’S PERSONAL LOCKER THE NEXT TIME HE’S OUT ON DEPLOYMENT. MARINE TEAMS HAVE REPORTED HIM TAKING PERSONAL MEMENTOS OFF ENEMY COMBATANTS, AND WHILE NO ACTUAL EVIDENCE HAS BEEN DISCOVERED, WE’RE NOT ARMY AND WE CAN’T GET AWAY WITH THAT KIND OF THING, SO IT’S WORTH LOOKING INTO.

POST-OP REPORT:

AFTER [S-312] WENT ROGUE AND FLED TO THE LAMBDA SERPENTIS SYSTEM, SCARLET TEAM WAS ASSIGNED, ALONGSIDE GOLD TEAM, TO TRACK HIM DOWN AND RECOVER HIM FOR TRIAL. DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION, SCARLET DECIDED TO PURSUE [S-312] WITHOUT WAITING FOR BACKUP, AND MADE A FULL SWEEP OF HIS LAST KNOWN POSITION WITHOUT ANY CONTACT. ASSUMING [S-312] TO BE GONE, [S-356] WENT OFF ON HIS OWN FOR ONE LAST LOOK AROUND BEFORE GOLD’S ARRIVAL AND WAS LURED INTO A MINEFIELD BY THE ROGUE OPERATOR. HE WAS ELIMINATED BEFORE HE COULD ESCAPE THE TRAP.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-351
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) ARNOLD

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS
 * FULL NAME: QUAID, ARNOLD
 * SERVICE #: S-351


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/SCARLET TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS:<font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: LAS ANGELES, EARTH
 * BIRTH DATE: 7/4/2534

STRONG, CONFIDENT, PROUD AND BRUTAL. NATURALLY GOOD FIGHTER WITH AN AFFINITY FOR DESTRUCTION---EXPLOSIVES AND HEAVY WEAPONS ARE HIS SPECIALTY. PREFERS BRUTE FORCE IN COMBAT, AIMING FOR THE MAXIMUM DAMAGE INFLICTED ON THE ENEMY. EVEN HIS OWN CUSTOM EXPLOSIVES ARE USUALLY OVERKILL; IF THE JOB NEEDS A TEN STRENGTH CHARGE, YOU CAN COUNT ON HIM TO FASHION A FIFTEEN STRENGTH ONE. DECENTLY CAPABLE AT CLOSE RANGE BECAUSE OF HER SHEER STRENGTH, BUT MORE AGILE OPPONENTS CAN EASILY GET AROUND HIM AND HIS ABILITIES AT MID AND LONG RANGE ARE MUCH WEAKER. PREFERS BIG BATTLES WHERE HE CAN BRING HIS TALENTS TO USE, AND DISLIKES SLOWER PACED OR MORE “SUBTLE” MISSIONS. FAIRLY SERIOUS IN COMBAT, THOUGH NOT THE MOST PROFESSIONAL. KNOWN TO BE VOCAL WITH HIS OPINIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING DEPLOYMENT.

COMMENTS:

UNUSUAL FOR A SIERRA, [S-351] IS SOMEWHAT LAZY. MOST THINGS COME NATURALLY FOR HIM, WHICH, COUPLED WITH A NEARLY FLAWLESS DEPLOYMENT RECORD, HAS ACCENTED THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION TO THIS, HE HAS ALSO HAD OCCASSIONAL PROBLEMS WITH OVERESTIMATING THE ENEMY, CREATING A POOR ENVIRONMENT FOR MORALE. WHILE A HEALTHY CAUTION IS GOOD, [S-351] SOMETIMES TAKES IT TOO FAR AND PANICS IN BAD SITUATIONS. DEPLOYMENT ALONGSIDE MARINES CAN BE PROBLEMATIC, BECAUSE THE COMMON TROOPS DON’T NEED THEIR MORALE ANY LOWER THAN IT ALREADY IS, AND A PESSIMISTIC SIERRA IS A SERIOUS DOWNER. ALSO NOTE THAT HE HAS A TENDENCY TO EMPLOY OVER DRAMATIC FLOURISHES DURING COMBAT; THESE OVER THE TOP ANTICS, LIKE HIS STUNT WITH DUAL M19’S, CAN PUT THE UNIT IN UNNECCESSARY DANGER FOR LITTLE TO NO EXTRA BENEFIT. CONSIDERED TO BE A SORT OF SIMPLETON BY MANY OF THE OTHER SIERRA TEAMS---AND HIS BRUTAL TENDENCIES DON’T HELP HIS REPUTATION ANY.

NOTE(S):

[S-351] REQUESTED A HUD UPGRADE FOR HIS SPI ARMOR IN LATE NOVEMBER, AND IT CERTAINLY IS AN INTERESTING ONE. SINCE AUGMENTATION, HE’S DEVELOPED A HABIT OF DUAL-WIELDING M19 AND M41 LAUNCHERS IN COMBAT---AND ISN’T BAD AT ITBUT THE CURRENT SUIT CAN’T TRACK TWO WEAPON’S SIMOULTANEOUSLY, MUCH LESS TWO ROCKET LAUNCHERS. A FULL UNIT UPGRADE PROBABLY ISN’T POSSIBLE, BUT [S-351] HAS PROVEN TIME AND AGAIN THAT HE’S VERY GOOD WITH HIS EXPLOSIVES, AND I THINK THE POTENTIAL GAIN IS GOOD ENOUGH TO WARRANT SUCH AN UPGRADE.

POST-OP REPORT:

IN THE AFTERMATH OF [S-312]’S BREAKDOWN, [S-351] AND THE REST OF SCARLET WERE DISPATCHED, ALONGSIDE GOLD TEAM, TO THE LAMBDA SERPENTIS SYSTEM TO RECOVER HIM. DURING DEPLOYMENT, SCARLET DECIDED TO PRESS ON WITHOUT GOLD AND WAS AMBUSHED BY [S-312]. [S-356] WAS LURED INTO A MINEFIELD AND KILLED, AND [S-347] ORDERED AN IMMEDIATE RETREAT. [S-351] PANICKED AND DISTRACTED HIS TEAMATE, AND IN THE CONFUSION, [S-312] WAS ABLE TO GET THE DROP ON [S-351] AND ELIMINATE HIM.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-341
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) ROGER

LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE
 * FULL NAME: MONTEVADO, ROGER
 * SERVICE #: S-341


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/CRIMSON TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: ACTIVE

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: KENT SPRINGS, MIRIDEM
 * BIRTH DATE: 5/4/2534

JACK OF ALL TRADES WHO EXCELS AT EVERYTHING FROM CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT TO LONG RANGE SHOOTOUTS. PREFERS NOT TO GET BOGGED DOWN SPECIALIZING TOO MUCH IN ONE FIELD, THOUGH HE DOES HAVE AN APPARENT LOVE OF KNIVES AND SEEMS TO OPERATE ESPECIALLY WELL AT MIDRANGE. BIT OF A DAREDEVIL. DIRECT AND OBVIOUS, IN BOTH HIS INTERACTION WITH OTHERS AND HIS TACTICS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. NOT MUCH OF A PEOPLE PERSON; SARCASTIC WITH A BITING TONGUE, RECEPTIVE ONLY TOO HIS TEAM AND A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, AND SEEMINGLY INDIFFERENT TO THE REST OF HUMANITY.

COMMENTS:

EXTREMELY INDEPENDENT AND SOMEWHAT SELF SERVING. COMPLETELY LOYAL TO HIS SQUAD, BUT INDIFFERENT TO THE COMMON PEOPLE. NOT ABOVE BREAKING REGS OR PERFORMING (MILDLY) ILLEGAL ACTIONS, AS LONG AS IT HELPS HIS SQUAD. A BIT VAIN AS WELL; TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN HIS PERSONAL APPERANCE. GRIM SENSE OF HUMOR AND SARCASTIC STREAK PRESENTS ITSELF AS MOSTLY HARMLESS IN REGARDS TO HIS TEAM, BUT HIS RUDE BEHAVIOR CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTY FIELDING HIM ALONGSIDE OTHER UNITS

NOTE(S):

KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON [S-341] TO WATCH FOR SIGNS OF INSUBORDINATION AND LOYALTY SUSPICIONS. HE’S VERY RATIONAL AND REALIZES THAT IT’S THE MOST LOGICAL THING TO HELP HUMANITY, AND HIS CONNECTION WITH HIS SQUAD SEALS THE DEAL, BUT IF EITHER IS LOST HIS LOYALTY COULD BE IN SERIOUS QUESTION. APPEARS TO HARBOR A BIT OF A RESENTMENT TOWARDS ONI FOR HIS INDUCTION INTO ARES, AND THAT’S NOT THE GREATEST FOUNDATION FOR STRONG LOYALTIES.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-319
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) JAMES

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS
 * FULL NAME: KIM, JAMES
 * SERVICE #: S-319


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/CRIMSON TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: <font color=Red> KIA

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: KARNAK, DRACO III
 * BIRTH DATE: 2/19/2534

PLEASANT MANNERED, ENGAGING, AND COMICAL. GOOD AT MOVING STEALTHILY, AND AN EXPERT HACKER, BUT ALSO AN EXCELLENT DEMOLITIONS EXPERT AND A LOVER OF EXPLOSIVES. GOOD WITH ANYTHING THAT GOES BOOM; ROCKETS, MINES, GRENADES, IED’S, YOU NAME IT, HE LIKES IT. BIT CHATTY DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND A STEREOTYPICAL JOKER, BUT HIS HUMOR IS MORE VALUABLE FOR MORALE PURPOSES THAN IT IS DETRIMENTAL FOR IT’S DISTRACTION. PREFERS CLOSE RANGE COMBAT, AND SPECIALIZES IN ASSAULT RIFLES, SHOTGUNS, AND KNIVES WHEN NOT ACTING AS A DESIGNATED EXPLOSIVES TECHNICIAN.

COMMENTS:

CHATTER CAN BE DISTRACTING AT TIMES, AND A LITTLE UNPROFESSIONAL, THOUGH OF NO REAL SERIOUS WORRY. SOMETIMES A LITTLE TO EAGER OR IMPATIENT; HE HAS A BIT OF A TENDENCY TO CHARGE HEADLONG WITHOUT MUCH THOUGHT FOR THE ODDS.

NOTE(S):

MAKE A NOTE TO WATCH FOR SIGNS OF DEPRESSION. HE’D HARDLY SEEM TO BE THE TYPE, BUT HIS LAST PYSCHE REVIEW WAS INCONCLUSIVE AND IT IS POSSIBLE, HOWEVER UNLIKELY, THAT HIS CHEERY DISPOSITION MIGHT BE AN ACT TO HIDE HIS TROUBLES FROM HIS SQUAD.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-311
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) MICA

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS
 * FULL NAME: HELENA, MICA
 * SERVICE #: S-311


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/CRIMSON TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: Active

PERFORMANCE:
 * GENDER: F
 * BIRTHPLACE: PONDEROSA, ARISTOTLE I
 * BIRTH DATE: 10/14/2534

QUICK THINKER AND EXPERT SHOT WITH A SNIPER RIFLE. EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT, WITH IQ SCORES HIGHER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE PROGEAM. TACTICAL ABILITY NOT OVERLY STRONG, BUT EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT IN OTHER FIELDS, WITH A PARTICULAR KNACK FOR THEORETICAL XENOBIOLOGY. SKILLS WITH A SNIPER LESS SPECTACULAR THAN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PROGRAM, BUT WITH THE TRADEOFF OF MORE ADVANCED ABILITIES AT TRACKING, PILOTING, COMMUNCATIONS, AND BATTLEFIELD MEDICINE. NOT A JOKER LIKE [S-319], BUT DEFINITELY LOOKS ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE AND COMES UP WITH A FEW OF HER OWN WISE CRACKS.

COMMENTS:

VERY CONFIDENT IN HER ABILITIES AND HER SQUAD, BUT SHARES THE SAME VAGUELY EXCLUSIONAIRY OUTLOOK, THOUGH SHE DEFINITELY HAS A BROADER VIEW THAN [S-341]. CAN BE A BIT BY THE BOOK AND FORMAL AT TIMES, BUT ALSO HARBORS A TEMPER AND KNOWS HOW TO NURSE A GRUDGE. FIERY AND A BIT OF A HELLCAT, WHEN SHE LETS HER DISCIPLINE DOWN ENOUGH TO LET IT OUT. REPORTS OF MUTILATED ENEMY COMBATANTS AT DRACO III HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AND ARE A PRIME EXAMPLE.

NOTE(S):

HARBORS AN INTENSE DISLIKE FOR SCARLET TEAM, BUT MANAGES TO KEEP IT MOSTLY UNDER WRAPS, UNLIKE HER SUPERIOR. STILL, RECOMMEND WATCHING HER INTERACTION WITH THEM.

<font color=White>SPARTAN-309
(archived for use in investigation, as of January 1, 2587) ADAM

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
 * FULL NAME: SNOW, ADAM
 * SERVICE #: S-309


 * UNIT: NAVSPECWAR/ARES DETACHMENT/TURQUOISE TEAM
 * ENLISTMENT DATE: CLASSIFIED
 * LOCATION: CLASSIFIED
 * STATUS: ACTIVE


 * GENDER: M
 * BIRTHPLACE: NEW ALEXANDRIA, REACH
 * BIRTH DATE: 06/11/2536

PERFORMANCE:

VERY STRONG AND FAST, HIGHLY SKILLED IN CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT. IGNORES MILITARY PROTOCOLS AGAINST REBELS (PUNISHED FOR CURBSTOMPING A WOUNDED REBEL AND THE REBEL MEDIC THAT WAS TREATING HIM, STRANGLING A REBEL THAT HAD ALREADY SURRENDERED, WAVING THE HEAD OF A REBEL DURING A COMBAT MISSION AND GORING THE EYES OUT OF A CAPTURED REBEL THAT MADE A FAILED ESCAPE ATTEMPT ALL IN ONE MISSION). OFTEN GETS INTO THE THICK OF THINGS, AMBUSHES STRONGER ENEMIES IN CLOSE RANGE.

COMMENTS:

HAS TERRIBLE AIM (FOR A SIERRA), COMPARABLE TO THE AVERAGE MARINE MARKSMAN. HOWEVER, HIS TACTICS OF AMBUSHING STRONGER ENEMIES AT CLOSE RANGE WITH HIS SHOTGUN IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN URBAN COMBAT, AS EVIDENCED BY ACTION ON PARIS IV, REACH AND SOL.
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