2 days later...

The UNSC decided the next course of action was to send Noble team to Sword base to meet with Dr. Halsey, the creator of the Spartan 2 program. But because most of the team were Spartan 3's (except Jorge who was a Spartan 2, and Caboose who wasn't even a Spartan and only looked like one because of the armor). When they arrived at Noble base to meet with Halsey, she was less than friendly with them, especially after Carter tried to tell her what happened at the Visegrad relay.

"Commander, I already read the report and I don't need you to tell me what happened. What I do need is..." She then saw Jorge. "Jorge. It's been too long."

Jorge took off her helmet and his embarrassment was obvious from his blush. "Ma'am."

"What have you done with my armor?" Halsey asked unimpressed.

"Just some, uh, additions I've made" Jorge replied, showing off how colourful and bulky it was when compared to the rest of Noble team.

"I see." Halsey replied, before turning her attention to Caboose. "And what's your name?"

"I'm Caboose." He replied.

Carter felt suspicious immediately. That wasn't his name on his file! While the others had not been able to get their hands on the uncensored file on Noble Six like he had (thanks to a friend in ONI). Either the file was lying, or Caboose wasn't the real Noble Six. I will get to the bottom of this! He thought, but kept it to himself to avoid distractions to focus on much more important things.

Meanwhile, Halsey was studying Caboose, He didn't move or act like any other Spartans, not even the offensive Spartan 3's. She decided to figure investigate him later so she turned back to Carter. "Visegrad Relay; it's data center was home to one of my xenoarchaeologists, Professor Laszlo Sorvad; perhaps you could shed some light on his death?"

"If he was a civilian male in his mid-60's, then he died with a Covenant energy sword through his abdomen" Carter recalled, they had found the bodies of many civilians after they took care of the Covenant.

Halsey nodded.

"We found your scientist's daughter, ma'am, she was hiding in the-" Jorge began, but got cut off by Halsey.

"Irrelevant." She said.

Catherine interjected. "Professor Sorvad's final entry in his field notes made reference to a 'latchkey' discovery."

"'Latchkey'... not a word he would use lightly. So let's hope that the data module you stole contains it." Halsey revealed.

Catherine cursed. While she was splicing into the main overland bundle to get Carter a direct line to Colonel Holland, she had come across a data module, which she had stolen without anyone's knowledge.

"Before you ask," Halsey continued, "I was alerted the moment you attempted to access it's contents, as I am with any unauthorized tap. I could send you to the brig for interfering with my work!"

"Maybe you'd like to join her," Carter smugly commented.

Halsey was annoyed. "I'm sorry?"

"We're currently under planetary directive Winter Contingency; I'm sure you know the punishment for civilian interference with a SPARTAN deployment." Carter continued to smugly comment.

Halsey could not deal with the sight of Spartan 3's anymore than she had to, so she decided to not bother commenting on it and instead gave Noble team their next mission. "Two weeks ago, contact with the sizable population of the Viery Territory was lost. Go investigate."

Carter was just glad to get away from the deliberate hostility of Halsey. "Let's move, Noble Team."

As they left, Caboose waved goodbye to Halsey and Jorge looked at Halsey. "Ma'am?"

"That...will be all, Jorge." Halsey said.

Jorge nodded and as he followed the other while putting on his helmet, he thought about Caboose waving and smiled. I think I'm going to like this guy!