UNSC Ivanoff station, orbiting Installation 03, April 2553

Deep within the orbital research facility, the great Dr. Catherine Halsey sat in a dark windowless room. The source of light hung from the ceiling. Its artificial rays shine over her, revealing her grey hair and wrinkled skin. Her blue eyes stared into space, seeming tired and unamused. Ever since the war ended Halsey was questioned non-stop by nose UNSC and ONI personnel. Each one was eager to break her will to obtain her secrets. Unfortunate for them Halsey was as frail as she appeared. She thought back to how she ended up in this predicament.

Halsey, Chief Mendez, and the surviving Spartans were rescued from onyx, but Halsey was immediately arrested as a war criminal by Captain Serin Osman under CINCONI Admiral Margaret Parangosky's orders, for "committing acts likely to aid the enemy". She stole ONI Chiroptera-class stealth vessel, kidnapping Kelly-087 in the process. Halsey also told Lord Hood to send more Spartans to the forerunner shield world, all with the sole intention of hiding in the shield world until the war was over. But the war only followed them there. The Onyx conflict, a bloody battle that claimed the life of two of her Spartans, Will, and Kurt.

Even though Halsey had provided the UNSC with new Forerunner technology as promised, the circumstances conveniently allowed Parangosky to finally carry out her vendetta against the good doctor. The old hag personally interrogated her, accusing Halsey of not informing her of the use of flash clones at the onset of the SPARTAN-II program. As far as the public was concerned, Halsey was killed during the Fall of Reach until Parangosky, or her successor, Admiral Osman, decided otherwise.

"Tell me about the children...Dr. Halsey?"

Halsey turned her head towards the source. The voice came from her newest interrogator. On the other side of the table sat a man framed in shadow. Which made his appearance impossible to distinguish. Only his pale hands and grey uniform sleeves were visible. He never gave his name, nor did she care.

"You already know everything," she said in an even tone.

"You kidnapped them."

"Children's minds are more easily accepting of indoctrination, their bodies more adaptable to augmentation. The result was the ultimate soldier." Halsey countered."And because of our success, when the Covenant invaded, we were ready."

"Dr. Halsey, you're bending history for your favor and you know it. You developed the Spartans to crush the insurrection, not to fight the Covenant." The interrogator fired back as he stood to his feet.

"When one human world after another fell...When my Spartans were all that stood between humanity and extinction...Nobody was concerned over why they were originally built."

"So you feel in the end that your choices were justified?"

The elderly woman sat forward calmly, clasping her hands."My work saved the human race." she answered proudly.

Her profound answer took him by surprise. After a few seconds asked another question."Do you think the Spartans' lack of basic humanity helped?" he queried.

Halsey looked at him worriedly as the interrogator, backed away from the table."What are you after? The others before you were Naval Intelligence but you - you're something else."

He ignored her question and spoke."Records show Spartans routinely exhibited mildly sociopathic tendencies, difficulty with socialization. Furthermore..."

"The records show efficient behavior operating in hazardous situations. I supplied the tools to maintain that efficiency." Halsey said in a matter of fact tone.

"Do you believe the Master Chief succeeded because he was, at his core, broken?"

"What does John have to do with this? You want to replace him."

"The Master Chief is dead." He stated bluntly.

"His file reads 'missing in action'."

"Samuel-034, Malcolm-059, Anton-044, Grace-093, Li-008, William-043, Daisy-023, Solomon-069, Arthur-079, and Kurt-053," The interrogator watched as her shoulders lowered with each name listed. "Catherine? Spartans never die?"

"Your mistake is seeing Spartans as military hardware. My Spartans are humanity's next step..."Halsey stood up from her chair in determination. "Our destiny as a species. Do not underestimate them. But most of all, do not underestimate...him."