Author's Note: Well, here, as promised, is the start of the fifth story in the Cooper series. A special welcome to readers old and new!
For those who are not familiar with my stories, here's some disclaimers before I start:
1) I DO NOT OWN Halo, the franchise/the books/the games/other media. I'm just writing a story based off this universe. And, like with the previous installments in the series, times/dates/settings may be slightly AU. This story in particular will be diverging liberally from main canon at times, but I promise it'll still be very recognizably Halo. ;)
2) Also like its predecessors, this story is rated T but tends to toe the line with M for language, violence, blood, gore, and some suggestive/sexual content (not graphic). You have been warned.
3) While it is not strictly necessary to read the other Cooper stories to understand this one, it is highly recommended. The fics in this series have built off one another and you'll miss a lot of the character development/story progression if you choose to start here. In particular with this fifth story, it begins immediately following the events of story four, "The New Age of Warfare". So at the very least, I recommend reading the last few chapters of that before you dive into this one. If you're not sure what order the stories go in, I have them numbered in chronological order on my profile page.
Other than that, enjoy! I really hope you like it, and please let me know what you think. :)
Intro: No Rest for the Wicked
WARNING! TOP SECRET! EYES ONLY!
SCANNING IN PROGRESS…
…CLEARANCE GRANTED
/TO: Captain Daniel G. Rhodes, Commanding Officer UNSC Transport vessel Suave Affair, UNSC Navy
FROM: Rear Admiral Sarah Dartmouth, Commandant UNSC Concord Naval Air Base NA6, Pensacola, Florida, United States. North American Territory, UNSC Navy
SUBJECT: FILE ENCRYPTED
MESSAGE:
Captain Rhodes,
We have received your packet concerning updates on the ongoing mission on the surface of Khan. After careful review of the after-action reports from all the senior ground officers and pilots, as well as reports from yourself and your senior shipboard crew, HighCom has agreed to grant me permission to send you another friendly ship from our home fleet to the Outer Colonies as reinforcement. This includes a fresh complement of Navy crewmen and Marines, as well as additional supplies, vehicles, and ordnance.
As per usual, the voyage will take around three weeks to complete. As I'm writing this message following your mention of a gutsy ground assault against an unprecedented high number of Remnant forces, which I have no doubt is currently underway, I realize the reinforcements may not be there in time to help with present operations. However, as you mentioned that the ground command team has plans to go after the Storm on an island off the coast following this assault - should our Marines succeed in defeating the aliens on the mainland - the ship I'm sending out now should be able to reach you in time to aid in combat there.
I only hope the reinforcements don't arrive too late. Please keep me apprised of the situation, as the brass are very interested in seeing the outcome of events on Khan.
Take care.
Rear Admiral Sarah Dartmouth, Commandant UNSC NA6
/END MESSAGE/
