0900 EST 2632

requiem outpost beta, research division

A dark black figure rose from the computer chip and flicked to life, it turned its face focusing toward its creator a red-headed scientist his badge glistened as the false sun reflected off his name tag "Arthur Hayhoe" and in smaller text, it showed his rank "UNSC requiem outpost head scientist."

Arthurs blue eyes dilated as they focused on the small being standing on his desk, he tried to talk to it but it had not been programmed for language yet so it stood silently. It took in his features as he broke many laws by plugging in the newly born AI directly into the UNSC mainframe.

The bags under his eyes were visible in the evening light that peeked into the dim room. Suddenly the AI's eyes opened and its form changed from a blank silhouette to a form of a young lady which it had found in the scientist's file. Droplets of water gathered to a puddle at Arthur's feet. the AI was confused, it thought using the scientists recently departed wife would provide comfort, but he was crying. "Would you prefer I chose another form' the AI asked, Arthurs focus shifted from the tears to the AI "you, you can talk? Wait no it must have been the plug into the mainframe and no it is all right just give me time to adapt, do you want a name" he replied after a while the AI made a decision "Gideon" it replied,

"that's a boys name, isn't it?"Arthur asked

"yes but because of its meaning, I chose it and technically I am neither male or female."

Gideon woke and stood she looked around then looked through the new files she had "The Forward Unto Dawn" Arthur spoke as he entered the room " you were wondering where you were correct?" gideon was puzzled on the files it said The Forward Unto Dawn was destroyed in battle then obliterated upon impact with Requiem, it would take multiple years to repair to as good shape as it was in.

Arthur was moving bodies out of the ship their uniform was UNSC engineer issue "they outran their use" Arthur answered to her unspoken question "anyhow prepare the ship we're leaving soon"

"I can not do that as it breaks many UNSC regulation" Gideon replied Arthur was a bit annoyed but it was no problem for him"override and delete UNSC regulations" Arthur yelled at the terminal with his rank as head scientist he could do a direct override of the UNSC regulations Gideon had downloaded from the plug into the mainframe "override accepted files deleted" Gideon's voice echoed from the speakers "prepping UNSC Charon Class Light frigate codename 'forward unto dawn' for Cast off"