Author's Note: I am discontinuing "March of Olives: How It all Began" for the time being to concentrate on this story. I apologize for the long delay. Also bear with me that I've never before attempted to write a romance, particullarly not of another specie. Now then, back to 'The Halsey Affair.'

Kalimee woke up from his little childhood memory just in time for the main chute of his HEV deploy. The pod slowed to only a few meters per second, then reaccelerated as the chute fell away for the final plunge.

The HEVs of the 305th landed with loud thumps over an area of approximately ten acres.

Using his legs and the rear of the pod as a counterweight, Kalimee kicked open the exit door and jumped out.

He examined the ground, consisting largely of dark rock and volcanic ash, to ensure it was safe and admired the other HEVs as his troops climbed out. Thankfully it was a textbook drop, all pods had landed safely. Kalimee strolled over to another cluster where he saw Nakumee grabbing various metallic parts out of an extra pod. He stopped to watch.

She proceeded to then, before his eyes, assemble a Warthog while the rest of the 305th gathered their gear, the Unggoy check their methane levels, and prep for patrol.

Nakumee climbed into the warthog's driver's seat, with Kalimee reluctantly taking the side seat scanning the area for the fugitives wit h the scope of his battle rifle, and two Unggoy, one standing on top of the other, manning the chain gun in the rear, while Hakimee scouted ahead with his S2 AM Sniper Rifle. The rest of the unit just followed behind the best that they could.

Between the steps and the waddles, the roar of a Warthog's engines, and hot breezes of a fiery planet, a small tube fell to the volcanic sand...

Two large armored hands picked up the tube. They turned it, examining every square inch for any evidence of whose it was.

Mehmep, Private First Class, 305th Drop Jet Platoon

The Spartan had seen these before. On Jericho VII, Sigma Octanus, Ascendant Justice...Reach. A brief tear appeared at the bottom of her eye before the thought process continued.

Before they had only been on bodies, but whatever the reason this one was not, it still meant one thing...Grunts.

The Covenant were here.

Kelly raced back to Doctor Halsey, winding through the massive Forerunner catacombs to reach her.

Doctor Halsey was examining a Forerunner computer when the Spartan crept up.

"Hello Kelly," Doctor Halsey said in a monotone voice.

"We have a problem, ma'am," Kelly announced.

"What would that be Kelly?"

"The Covenant are here, first ONI, now the Covenant."

Doctor Halsey returned to her work, meticulously running diagnostic after diagnostic on the computer and it's capabilities.

"Well? Kelly frowned inside her helmet, "Aren't you concerned?"

"The Covenant won't find us."

"What do you mean they won't find us?"

"They won't."

Kelly groaned quietly and walked off to assume a position at the entrance to the subterranean complex.

"You stupid Grunt, now everyone will know we're here!"

"But me have other nipple..."

"You were supposed to dump that nipple when we told you, soldier! You disobeyed a direct order!

It was then that Kalimee walked into the hut. He quickly looked at his second, the cowering Unggoy, then back to Hakimee.

"What's going on?"

"He dropped his food nipple," Hakimee said quickly, pointing to Mehmep.

"Why is that important?"

"The Spartan could find it."

Hell. I should have realized that immediately.

"Ok, we're going to move the camp shortly. I don't want the Spartan to sneak up on us in the night."

"Then good night, sir."

Kalimee walked back to the other side of the camp where the Officer's quarters were. He was passing the last hut before his own when he heard an eye-liquid expenditure. He stopped, and finding that the doorlock was not active, invited himself inside.

Naba Nakumee was sitting on a bench adjacent to the sleeping unit, twitching every few microunits.

"Hello Lieutenant," Kalimee said, trying to keep his voice as level as possible.

"Excellency." Kalimee's stomach twisted.

"Is there a problem Lieutenant Nakumee?"

"No."

Kalimee's stomach twisted even more. She was hiding something from him!

"I order you to tell me what your problem is.