ME: Based on the Dear Chairman/Dear Director letters from RVB.

FROM: Admiral Margaret Orlenda Parangosky (UNSC Service Number 00230-00923-MP), Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence

TO: Doctor Catherine Elizabeth Halsey (Civilian Consultant 409871), Chief Scientist of the Office of Naval Intelligence

SUBJECT: Yourself

Dear Doctor,

We've worked together for a long time since before the Covenant. When I was a recently-promoted Rear Admiral and commander of Section Two's Special Projects Division, you had just initiated SPARTAN-II.

Don't think you got this letter because of the dozens of parents you bereaved-ultimately, I too was involved and thus it would be somewhat hypocritical, I suppose, to send you to Nuremberg. But the only real reason neither of us are facing a war-crimes tribunal is that the rebels haven't won-why wasn't Truman executed for Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

No, this is about far more recent transgressions.

You abducted SPARTAN-087 and went to Onyx before tricking Hood in dispatching Blue Team for reinforcements when in reality you planned to hide out the war.

That is absolutely despicable. I don't care if Jesus showed up because of you, you not only abandoned humanity but flat-out stole extremely valuable and scare UNSC assets.

Therefore, by the power invested in me as CINCONI, sanctioned by the Emergency War Powers Act of 2525, I hereby relieve you of your position as Chief Scientist effectively immediately. Additionally, an ONI unit answering directly to me has been dispatched to place you under arrest. The rest of the Security Council approves. You will be subject to indefinite detainment without trial-if you dare complain, think of the seventy-five children robbed of their youth under SPARTAN-II. None of those boys and girls lifted a finger against humankind.

I hope you understand this was all done to get results, Catherine. I refuse to be that petty. If I were you, I'd enjoy a last cup of coffee-Mocha isn't served at Midnight for inmates.

Sincerely,

Admiral Margaret Orlenda Parangosky, Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence

FROM: Doctor Catherine Elizabeth Halsey (Civilian Consultant 409871), Chief Scientist of the Office of Naval Intelligence

TO: Admiral Margaret Orlenda Parangosky (UNSC Service Number 00230-00923-MP), Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence

SUBJECT: RE: Yourself

Dear Admiral,

I am disappointed by your decision to press charges, but I am not surprised. My only hope is that the courts will see the matters different than you have-if I ever see a courtroom.

I took Kelly and the rest of my Spartans to save them. You see, I believed we couldn't win the war. Even now, whatever passes for peace will be very delicate on a good day. And I do not deny that I deserve some punishment for what happened to all of my Spartans.

I regret many things, but what I most regret is being unable to do anything for my Spartans in custody. My only wish is that they be protected and cared for-I know they're warriors, but please do what you can, Margaret. We both owe them that much at the very least.

So you send your troops. They won't find themselves a fight. They'll only find an old woman. An old woman tired, but satisfied she did her duty both to her species and to her Spartans. An old woman weary from a mind more filled with memory and facts than it is with hope.

Sincerely yours,

Doctor Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, soon-to-be-former Chief Scientist of the Office of Naval Intelligence

ME: How was that guys?