1500 Hours, March 3, 2558
Debriefing Chamber, UNSC Tokyo Rules
Location Withheld
/The following is transcript of Office of Naval Intelligence debriefing of Spartan Samantha Cutter regarding fatal altercation at central UNSC research outpost on Forerunner installation "Ark." Transcript is classified EYES ONLY ONI SECTION 3./
/Transcript start/
DO=Debriefing Official
SC=Samantha Cutter
DO: "State your credentials for the record."
SC: "Samantha Cutter, ma'am. Spartan Branch. Formerly Staff Sergeant, UNSC Army. Service number 01544-10497-SC. Enlisted 2543 at..."
DO: "That will do, Spartan. Are you aware of the reason for this debriefing?"
SC: "Only somewhat, ma'am. My understanding is it has some relation to the incident at the Ark."
DO: "You would be correct. As you were a key player in this event, your testimony will be central to our efforts in determining what, if anything, should be done. Now, let's start at the beginning. The late hours of November 19th, 2557."
SC: "Ma'am, is that truly necessa..."
DO: "Absolutely. Now, please, begin."
SC: *sigh* "Ok. November 19th. I arrived at the Ark alongside a small detachment of UNSC and ONI researchers..."
DO: "The allegiance of the researchers is not, to our understanding, relevant to the purpose of this debriefing. Unless you can provide sound reasoning for doing so, Spartan, I recommend you refrain from noting minute details such as these."
SC: "It is my belief that the smaller details could hold some significance, ma'am. And if not, I would still prefer to depict events in as fine a detail as possible. Now, may I continue?"
DO: "Noted. And yes, continue."
SC: "As our transport touched down on the Ark, I gathered up my M6H2 and my BR55. A number of the researchers gave me odd looks over the rifle, which was..."
DO: "Spartan, are you going somewhere with this or simply wasting our time?"
/The record notes that the Spartan shoots a rebellious glare at ONI Agent REDACTED prior to continuing./
SC: "...understandable given that it has been replaced by the BR85. However, a simple glance from me was enough to bring their attention back to the moment as they piled out. We were met by a group of Marines, who I assisted in offloading the supplies we brought with us. Again, strange looks regarding the rifle, but with hints of respect."
DO: "Spartan, I am giving you a direct order to cut out this filler and get to the point."
SC: "If you would allow to continue, ma'am, I was about to get to it. Now, unbeknown to me, there was an ONI operative undercover with these Marines. Agent REDACTED."
DO: "The Office of Naval Intelligence formally requests that you refrain from calling the agent by name. Failure to comply is punishable by anything up to and including court martial. Further mention of the agent will be using the identity the agent was going by on the Ark."
SC: "Understood, ma'am. Now, where was I?"