//2552, 20TH OCTOBER, 0900 HOURS

IN ORBIT AROUND EARTH

NEAR CAIRO STATION//

Captain Barton scrutinized the holographic map displaying the battlefield. The Covenant was really starting to tear into Earth's last defence. Although, there were some hope. The 3:1 loss ratio that usually applied to naval space combat didn't apply here. The Brute ship commanders had surprisingly little knowledge in tactical manoeuvring compared to the Elites. UNSC were able to outmanoeuvre the Brutes in larger proportion than in previous battles, but we were losing. And this was our last stand.

Captain Barton checked the status report one last time. MAC gun; offline. Archer pods; destroyed, and with most of the lower decks venting atmosphere, King Leonidas wasn't a ship in battle condition. However, the reactor and engines were intact, therefore, with full manoeuvrability, the captain had designated the ship to act as a mobile field hospital. Areas had been cleared in the ship to make room for everyone in need of medical help. They received wounded from every nearby ship.

"Sir," shouted the COM officer, "Incoming transmission, priority Alpha. It's from the Admiral."

United Nation Space Command Priority Transmission

FLASH 1123V-01

ENCRYPTION CODE : BLACK

FROM: FLEET ADMIRAL TERRENCE HOOD

TO: CAPTAIN BARTON (UNSC KING LEONIDAS)

Captain,

I am hereby transferring a unit from 7th Battalion. You are to proceed to quadrant 15-Z where you are to drop off the ODST unit to planet surface. After planet insertion you will stand-by at current position, support planetary forces in any way possible and wait for new directive. UNSC Say My Name will assist you in case of an escalation in surface combat.

/End Transmission