Date: 31st October 2563
Time: 0500
It took the flood forms only two short hours to repair the damaged ship. They would dance around the ship, repair one circuit and then another and then another and soon there were swarms of flood infection forms repairing circuits
"Not bad for two hours work!" Constantine smiled and turned to Leonard whose face looked very neutral but his eyes revealed a soul that had long been extinguished by years of war and death and loss but miraculously had returned in an instant.
"What's wrong Mr Grumpy, ah! Are you upset? Let's get you some hot coco." Constantine let out a little laugh and grew silent when he saw Leonard staring at something down a corridor. Leonard walked towards it and fell on his knees and tears of joy and regret filled his eyes. It was a UNSC cryo tube. He brushed the name plate clear - it read "Miranda Grace Leonard."
"How long did you know?" Leonard said as he turned to Constantine.
"Know what sir?" Constantine whimpered.
"How long did you know she was here?" "Leonard yelled "You read the records, you knew she was here, why didn't you tell me?" Leonard stood up and glared at Constantine and said fiercely, "why wouldn't you tell me?"
"Because she would get in the way of the mission!" Constantine shouted "Her and the rest of the crew."
"What? ... there's more? How many?"
"Two Hundred brave men and women. Ha. Brave … you wouldn't know brave if it stabbed you in the back. Humans … all my life I've tried to become like you, that's all I wanted to do, but all you do is ask questions and tell me to do things that if you weren't to stuck up and stupid you could do for yourself. You know … I've had it up to here with humans!"
"Woh! Take easy" Leonard said trying to calm him down.
"According to your brave and triumphant UNSC high command your amazing skill was the reason for your promotion to captain, but captain if it wasn't for me you and your crew would be dead and you would not be here!"
"I still don't get what this has to do with Miranda and the others?"
An alarm sounded and doors began to close. Constantine's voice became sarcastic and agitated "You still don't get it. Well I'm sure you'll have a very long time to think about it!"
The door in front of Leonard closed and he realised he was in an air lock. The door behind him opened and he was sucked in to space and the huge Covenant vessel shot away into slip space.