Author's Note: Just wanted to say thanks to everybody for sticking with this. I'm sorry my updates have been so sporadic with this fic. But, I'm definitely still on board. :)

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Six: Next Steps

0750 Hours, July 20, 2561. Vettel Keep, Qivro, Planet Sanghelios. Day Eighteen of the Enemy of My Enemy

" - that's where we should focus our efforts," Mark was saying as we stood over the holomap in our makeshift regimental CP, back at the keep. "The Prometheans aren't going to be a problem anymore. They've been wiped out. We need to switch gears and go for - "

On the other side of the table, Cal shook his head. "Sir, respectfully, I disagree. The intel we've collected the last couple days - "

" - is pretty clear, Commander. And if we're really still on the fence about it..." He gestured to me. "Then I'll defer to my sister."

The conversation stopped just as I was downing one of the pills Reynolds had given me to combat my body's aversion to Sanghelios. Mouth full of water, I swallowed quickly and made a face as I felt the pill slide down my throat at an awkward angle.

Mark folded his arms across his chest and sighed. "Maybe...we'll get back to her."

"No," I croaked. I cleared my throat before going on. "I see what both of you are saying, but I've made my decision." I took a step closer towards the map. "We know the Elites are fighting a civil war right now. But so far, we've seen no signs of it here. I'm not going to worry about an internal struggle that may or may not be happening around us. I think the clearest threat, however many were killed in our last outing, will still be the rebs. They're cornered now and all alone. I don't think we need to fear their numbers, but I do fear their determination, and the fact that they're likely more than willing to claw their way out. I'm expecting guerilla-style hits to start hampering our movements. So, to that end - "

My big brother held up a hand. "Nat, I'm sorry. But if I'm being honest, I think you're both just wanting to hunt after Laraza for personal reasons. And I get it - I do. I want that fucker to pay for what he did to you. But I've been here longer than you both, and I'm telling you, the civil war is here, and we are going to start to feel it. Whether or not you choose to take my advice on that is, well, up to you."

In a move that surprised me, Mark abruptly walked out then, leaving just me and Lloyd behind, at a loss.

I let out a frustrated sigh and shut down the holomap before us. Then I leaned my hands against the edge. "I'm sorry about that, Cal. My brother - "

"It's okay, ma'am. Really. I understand. Commander Cooper is more embroiled in the Sangheili side of things. You and I are focused on the rebels. Either way, I'm not worried you'll make the wrong choice."

I nodded, finding his words to be just the spirit boost I needed. "Thanks, Cal."

"No problem, ma'am." The ONI officer glanced uncertainly at the entrance. "I'm guessing the meeting's over now?"

"Yeah. We'll...have to come back to this."

Lloyd met my gaze. "Then I have some news for you, Colonel. About the message."

I'd tried my best to keep Ethan's odd text out of my mind while I waited for the results, but the fact that the info was finally here was more than I'd hoped for. I couldn't hide my eager interest. "Well?"

Cal's face broke into a grin. "You called it, ma'am. That message was not sent from Lieutenant Ackerson. I have proof, and hopefully it'll let you off the hook with Major Hawk."

"How did you - "

"I saw how distraught you were when you came to me about this. I figured something major had to have happened between you two, and this was the common factor." He gave a small wave of his hand. "Anyway, when you're ready, let me know and I can show him. There's no way that message is authentic."

I felt like even more tension and stress that had been absolutely heaped on my shoulders lately lifted. Maybe Willis would still be upset at me. Maybe he wouldn't believe it, or maybe he was done with the charades by now and just wanted out. Just wanted our marriage to be over. But I had hope now, more than before, and for a moment that was all I could focus on.

Cal waited. "I see you're not asking me the bigger question here."

"What?" I said it like I'd just come out of a daze.

To Lloyd's credit, he didn't roll his eyes and remained patient. "If it wasn't Ackerson who sent it, then who did?"

"Oh. Right. So who was it? Were you able to find out?"

"The answer...may or may not surprise you, ma'am. After much digging, I was able to find that the text originated from none other than Sofía Laraza."

I couldn't get the news out of my head. The relief was instant - I'd been right, and that meant Willis and I now had a chance. But hearing about the true source of "Ethan's" message was still tough.

"How, Caleb?" I asked my friend. "I can only imagine the kind of skills that would require. To mirror an authentic UNSC user? And an ONI operative, no less?"

Lloyd nodded. "It's sophisticated, all right. Took a while to crack. Whatever else we think about Laraza's girl, she's smart and an extraordinary hacker." He met my gaze again. "That'll complicate things. We need to make HighCom aware of this, and make sure all our channels are secure from now on."

I answered in the affirmative but said nothing else. I didn't know what else to say.

Just when we thought one large problem had been solved, more appeared to take its place already.

Later in the day I called my battalion commanders to a briefing. Willis included. I wasn't at all sure how that was going to go, but I figured I'd try talking to him alone after the meeting was over. It'd been days since he'd given up on us, and we were a few out from our big op at the portal site now as well. That was the last time we'd spoken - and even then, only in an official capacity.

"I wanted to check in with you after the op, and let you know I've decided on our next steps," I said to everyone once the senior officers had gathered. "Firstly, I want to thank you all for the part you played in getting the portal site shut down. What we pulled off was...truly amazing. It's a big weight off our shoulders, and an enormous blow to the rebel presence here." I paused to fold my arms across my chest. "That said, the Insurgents' leader, Javier Laraza, is still at large, as is most of his newly arrived unit. I want to maintain our roving patrols outside the keep now for that reason alone - let's not let our guard down just yet.

"As for what's happening with the Sangheili, I'm told things might be heating up soon in that direction as well." As I said this, I made eye contact with my brother. I needed him to know I'd heard what he'd said, and that I took it seriously, but it wasn't going to change the decision I'd made. "We will continue to keep an ear to the ground in that regard, and I will be speaking with Torran and Sennu later on that matter. For now, however, I want to focus our efforts on finding and eliminating the remaining rebels - namely, the general and his daughter." I glanced over at Caleb. "ONI is looking into the matter. They'll be harder to find now that much of their main force is gone, but I expect small-scale attacks to bring them forward soon. As soon as they do, or we find other evidence of their location, we'll be going after them. Any questions?"

"What's the timetable on this, ma'am?" my XO asked.

"As long as it takes or until the brass recalls us." I put my hands on my hips. "We're in the endgame now, and I plan to see this through."

Someone in the back cleared their throat. "So you have our ground troops running patrol and the spooks collecting info on our enemies. What do you want us to do, exactly, in the meantime?"

It was the first time I'd even seen Willis in days, let alone heard him speak to me. I took it in stride in front of the others and gave him a slight nod.

"That's a fair question. Your pilots will remain on standby until needed. Likely, that'll be for recon from here on out, but maybe more if things get wild." I swallowed discreetly, then said, "And I wanted to thank you and your flyboys specifically for the job well done at the site, Hawk. Everything went exactly as planned, which might just be the first time in my whole damn career I can say that." I upturned a corner of my lips as I said it, and got a few chuckles out of the other officers. Willis's face, however, remained impassive.

"One last thing before I let you all go. It's come to my attention that the Insurgents left have a very skilled hacker in their midst. Laraza's daughter, in fact. It seems she's been able to get into our systems and produce some very convincing messages, indistinguishable on the surface from real ones from real servicepeople." I looked pointedly at my husband, and for a moment, thought I saw a flash of surprise in his hazel eyes that was gone again a second later. "So, we'll be keeping a sharp eye on all incoming UNSC network texts from now on. If you ever receive orders from anyone - including High Command or myself - that seem suspicious, please check in with me in person about it. Door's always open.

"That is all. Dismissed."

I waited for my senior command to file out of the CP before I tried to go catch Willis. As he'd been standing near the back for the duration, however, he'd been one of the first out, and now that I left the tent, he was nowhere to be found.

I couldn't help the sudden lump that formed in my throat at seeing he was gone. Even with the news that our message system had been compromised, he still had nothing to say to me. I felt the prick of tears behind my eyes, but I quickly shook my head to get rid of them. There'd be time for that later, in private. Not now.

"Colonel Cooper?"

I turned and almost chuckled at my damn luck. Murphy was standing behind me.

I folded my arms across my chest again, the amusement fading as I braced myself for whatever he had to say. "Yes, Major. What can I do for you?"

Astonishment didn't begin to describe what I felt when he stuck out his hand.

"I just wanted to say, ma'am, that what you pulled off at the portal site the other day was...nothing short of magic. Thank you, Colonel, for having me take part."

"I, uh..." I was left utterly speechless. I didn't even take his hand and shake it yet. I just stared.

Murphy seemed to understand my hesitation, but kept his hand where it was. "Your personal life is yours, ma'am. I still don't agree with it, but as a field officer, I haven't seen many like you in my time. I can't doubt that side of you any longer."

Though still at a loss, I finally stuck out my own hand and shook his.

"Thank you, Jack. That means more than you know."