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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
0810 hours, August 30,2552 (Military Calendar)\Epsilon
Eridani system, ONI underground facility, planet Reach.
Dr. Halsey studied the five Spartans in the hallway and pushed
her antique glasses farther up the ridge of her nose. Despite
everything their presence here meant—Reach invaded, their mis-
sion to find the Covenant leadership compromised, everything
she had worked for now in jeopardy—she was still pleased to see
them. She steeled herself, though; an emotional outburst wouldn't
be understood, or appreciated, by her Spartans.
"Come in," she said briskly. "And hurry. From the sounds of
things upstairs we haven't much time."
The Spartans stood there a moment—undoubtedly communi-
cating with one another through a mixture of externally silent
COM channels and minute body language. She noticed the tick
of a finger, the slight nod of a head. They then moved together,
picked up their equipment, and walked through the threshold of
the vault.
Dr. Halsey greeted them as they passed her. "It's good to see
you, Fred."
"Ma'am," Fred replied. "Good to see you, too."
She noted that Kelly's movements were off, a little sluggish.
She was hurt, as were the rest of them, now that she saw them up
close. "Kelly."
"Doctor Halsey." She reached out and gave her hand a slight
squeeze of greeting.
"Isaac."
"Doctor."
"Vinh."