Hope Springs Eternal

by Richard Scepton

It's ten years since the frigate Harvest landed and humanity defeated the Abyssals. However, a new threat has risen from outside, and where Harvest landed so many years ago, a Halcyon by the name of UNSC Hope Springs Eternal lands that will change the course of human history...forever.

9. Chapter 9

"Harvest."

"Uh, what?"

"This is Dawn."

Harvest looked up. Dawn was standing there.

"Hi. I've been told that you're coming."

"Kinda."

"So, what?"

"UNSC forces have landed and taken back Arcadia from Fog. The orbiting Fog fleet had been destroyed."

"I thought we've been fighting Covenant."

"War's over."

"Results?"

"UNSC-Sanghellios joint victory."

"And they joined together."

"Forming the OSA."

Harvest nodded.

—

Harvest read through the document on her MacBook. It read:

UNSC Price of Dawn- her limits

Astronomy- Profound

Physics- Varied.

Deep understanding of orbital mechanics. Limited knowledge of quantum physics.

Botany- Trash.

Knows well of commercially farmed crops. Completely blind on all other topics.

Combat experience- Profound.

Ten years of constant combat.

Combat skill- Varied.

Shoots well, hurls grenades like Babe Ruth, is the champ in swordfighting. Knows nothing about spear-throwing.

Also the karate champ.

Flexibility- Depends.

Stubborn, but with rapidly adapting, and unpredictable tactics.

Tactical knowledge- Varied.

Capable of performing tactical maneuvers—and adopting hit-and-run ambush tactics on a solo level.

Unable to lead fleets on large, coordinated tatical maneuvers.

Favorites- Strange.

Fav on cigarettes. Collector of random objects. Enjoys a bottle of brandy every now and then.

Literature- Varied.

Big Sherlock Holmes fan. Likes the Legacy Fleet trilogy. Knows about every mysterious occurrence(MH370, Santiago 513, Pan Am 914, among others).

Author of several mystery novels herself.

She finished typing.

What she didn't know, was that Dawn saw it all.

—

"Heya, Tim."

"Heya, Rich."

"What do you have?"

"Great news. Shanxi has been retaken. You?"

"Arcadia in UNSC hands."

"You're up late."

"It's only three AM."

"You get four hours of sleep a day."

"My job restricts otherwise."

"Mind we meet?"

"Twelve. The Coffee Poriot, ok?"

"Right in the middle of Arcadia?"

"Don't be late."

"Sure. Why?"

"You're the Late God. You're always late."

"Ok ok. See ya."

Richard put down his phone. He stared at his laptop.

He began rattling an email.

Heya, Cole.

Arcadia is in UNSC hands. So good news there. Kind of. I suggest that you get your fleet to Arcadia to protect it. Cuz right now, We have only 2 ODPs online.

Rich

Ps: bring some ODPs too.

He finished typing, and took a sip of his coffee.

He hit send, and then stared at his watch.

"Uh.."

A/N: So Chapter Nine is over.

Hope you liked it!