0850 HOURS, SEPTEMBER 17, 2553 (MILITARY CALENDAR) \ ABOARD ORBITAL STATION CAIRO IN STATIONARY ORBIT OVER EGYPT \ CONFERENCE ROOM

There they all stood in a straight and even row, the Spartans who had shut down the Covenant Loyalist's operations and guaranteed there would be no return. They had all recovered physically, including Kate's leg due to the medication use to speed heal, but not so much emotionally. Among them was the Arbiter, and next to him stood Shola, freshly refilled with methane. In front of them stood Lord Hood. "I would like to congratulate you all on a job well done. You two especially." He said going over to the aliens. "Arbiter, Shola, you both have led your species to freedom from the ranks of the Covenant forces, and for that I congratulate and sincerely thank you both." He said as he presented a medal to them both.

"What more can I say about you Spartans that hasn't been said a hundred times already?" He asked as he walked over to them. "You all have shown bravery, valor, and duty in your campaign to protect humanity. While you may have suffered to get here, I doubt any of you have any regrets about how it turned out." He stopped as he reached the Master Chief at the end of the line. "May I see your report Chief?" He asked as it scrolled across his eyes through his implants. It stopped at casualties. "So I see." He said as he shook his head.

"I am deeply sorry for the loss of your fellow Spartan Chief, all of you, between Reach, and now this, it's a damn shame that so many of you lost your lives for this war." He said, his tone matching how he felt as Kate could be seen with her head hanging down. She looked down at her helmet as she could see Sean's face grinning back at her. Dr. Halsey then appeared as the doors parted to welcome her in. "Dr. Halsey, what can I do for you?" Hood asked her.

"One thing, correct that report." She said as another figure stood in the doorway. He was bandaged up around most of his body, using crutches to walk, and a massive scar across his chest, but he still smiled through it all. "Don't think you could get rid of me just by filing me under KIA guys." Everyone instantly warmed up as they saw their friend alive as Kate rushed over to him and hugged him tightly. "Kate, bones, broken, hug not helping." He struggled to say through lack of breath as she released him. "Thank y-" He tried to say as he found her lips pressed against his.

"Don't scare me like that again." She told him through tears as she embraced him again.

In the back of the room, both AIs looked on at the scene and smiled. "Isn't that nice Rick? I always enjoy a happy ending."