Operation: HOT GATES

UNSC PRIORITY TRANSMISSION 1132267/SIERRA-PAPA-OSCAR-PAPA-SIERRA
ENCRYPTION CODE: 
RED MERCURY                                              
FROM: 
Codename: PALADIN
TO: 
Codename: OZYMANDIAS
SENT: 
18.09.2549 / ε Eridani FTL-COMSAT 1132267/ALPHA
RECEIVED: 
24.10.2549 / Sol FTL-COMSAT 4786493/FOXTROT
SUBJECT: 
Operation: HOT GATES (proposal)
DOCUMENTATION: 
Project TEMERITY; Project EXCALIBUR; Project NOVA; Operation HELLSCAPE; CAA File 
ALPHA CANIS MINORIS/MINORCA; {Excerpt} UNSC UniCom/NavCom Field Manual (2548 
edition); Recommended Personnel Roster.
CLASSIFICATION: 
TOP SECRET / NOVEMBER BLACK (BGX Directive)
SECURITY OVERRIDE: 
GAMMA-III
GHOST SEVER FILE PROTOCOL (EXACTION): 
TRUE
AI-TOUCH PROTOCOL: 
FALSE
              
// START FILE //
Please forgive the additional security measures. It’s a little something we’ve 
borrowed from EXCALIBUR to prevent unauthorised access. From what TEMERITY have 
been able to scrape together, we’ve been able to assemble a limited look at 
potential Covenant electronic warfare capability, and while the Covenant seem to 
have hardware that’s well advanced beyond ours their software is, frankly, less 
than impressive. Their understanding of logarithms in particular leaves much to 
be desired. For the present, it seems, the greatest threats to UNSC security are 
the internal ones, like this Ackerson, and even his pettiness isn’t enough to 
jeopardise our projects. I dare say he’ll eventually find a way around our 
security measures, but by then we’ll have BLACK WIDOW online. I’ve been told it 
is unbreakable, but if it isn’t then it comes damn close. I don’t recommend 
pressing charges – Section Zero is running at least three separate 
investigations on the man, all for much worse offences. Besides, his Special 
Warfare projects are too valuable…for the moment.
I understand why my initial proposal for THERMOPYLAE was denied, but this 
submission differs substantially in many places from the previous draft, and 
I’ve had the resources and time of TEMERITY to help me with accuracy and 
content. Likewise, I have no doubt it will require at least some alterations in 
the future, and have taken pains to accommodate any modifications that are 
necessary, making it compatible with the overall intent of the operation. For 
background reading purposes, I have enclosed relevant files on subjects that I 
have limited time to go into, such as outlines of TEMRITY and EXCALIBUR, a 
status update from [ULYSSES] at NOVA, and background information on the Procyon 
system. These will be deleted after viewing this document, so please do so while 
reading this document first. As per standard procedure, they have been edited 
for brevity and relevance – full reports are available from ONI Section III at 
your request if needed.
 
1.     BACKGROUND
2.    PROPOSAL
Since the beginning of this war against the Covenant for the survival of the 
human race, the UNSC has faced an enemy that is both technologically and 
numerically superior. On the ground, military victories are made possible by our 
superior grasp and implementation of tactical and strategic manoeuvres, as well 
as intimate understanding of the local terrain and infrastructure. In orbit, 
victories have been made possible only by overwhelming numbers, and have been 
the deciding factor in nearly every UNSC-Covenant engagement throughout this 
war. With the Covenant’s offensive and defensive superiority in space combat, 
the UNSC has been unable to hold onto the Outer Colonies, the last of which was 
conquered in 2531, and has been steadily losing ground among the Inner Colonies 
since then, despite attempts to confuse and misdirect the Covenant. Victories 
have been small and rare, and defeats all too common.
These events have, in turn, had a devastating impact on morale, among both the 
military and civilian populations, exacerbated by the UNSC’s strict control of 
interstellar communications channels and news outlets. While the general 
populace believes the situation for the UNSC is bad, they have no idea just how 
dire the situation is for humanity as a whole. At the same time, the Covenant is 
slowly conquering and glassing the remaining colonies left to humanity. Projects 
TEMERITY, EXCALIBUR and NOVA are developing equipment intended to at least level 
the playing field in combat against the Covenant, but the implementation of this 
equipment will not be fast, and time must be bought, time which we may not have, 
during which the UNSC will lose civilian and military personnel to the Covenant. 
The last chance the UNSC – and humanity – has is a victory, stalling the 
Covenant long enough for some of these technologies to be introduced among the 
defence forces and to have an effect. Such a victory can also be used as a major 
propaganda victory by the Office of Naval Intelligence.
To achieve these goals, I propose Operation HOT GATES.
While the Covenant attacked Arcadia in 2531, and then returned to finally 
conquer the planet in 2542, intercepted communications transmissions from the 
time indicate a total ignorance of the existence of Minorca, the second colony 
in the star system. This ignorance has persisted until earlier this year, when 
the Covenant invaded the Delta Pavonis system, attacking the asteroid colonies 
and establishing several dig sites. During the UNSC counter-offensive 
(Operation: HELLSCAPE), a number of alien artefacts of non-Covenant origin were 
recovered from these dig sites, with astrological locations inscribed on them. 
Many of the locations have been previously visited by the Covenant, either in 
Covenant territory or during their conquest of the Outer Colonies. Alpha Canis 
Minoris is among these locations, and it is reasonable to assume that, since the 
Covenant found nothing on Arcadia during 2531 and 2542, they will return to the 
star system to conduct a more thorough search for whatever artefacts they are 
searching for. Recently intercepted communications, courtesy of Operation 
HYPODERMIC, have confirmed Covenant interest in the system, and indications are 
that a small fleet is being assembled to spearhead the investigation. 
Preliminary projections ONI estimate force readiness within the next year, 
during either the second or third quarters.
I propose that Minorca is the ideal ambush location against a Covenant invading 
force. It possesses all factors necessary for such an operation; we know that 
the Covenant intends to deploy a force there, and we know approximately when; we 
have the advantage of local navigational data that is unavailable to the 
Covenant, detailing the astrography for exploitation; the location itself 
prohibits effective Covenant assault, forcing them into a position of 
vulnerability; and the position is sufficiently important enough to the Covenant 
that they will persist in their assault, allowing prolonged exploitation.
Minorca is surrounded by an asteroid belt, mostly consisting of magnetised 
ferrous material, emitting an electromagnetic field that interferes with 
electronic systems. Access to Minorca is enabled only by a narrow tunnel, the 
Juno Corridor, passing through the debris of the asteroid belt - it was this 
corridor that initially prevented large-scale colonisation. This tunnel serves 
two major advantages for a UNSC defending force: firstly, it forces the Covenant 
through this electromagnetic field, interfering with their slipstream drives, 
energy shields and weaponry; secondly, it forces the Covenant force into a tight 
bottleneck, limiting the number of warships they can present at a time 
regardless of total force strength. These forces, rendered vulnerable by their 
of temporary lack of shields and weaponry, can be quickly dispatched by a UNSC 
ambush force located well outside of the EM field for as long as personnel and 
equipment are available. ONI estimates more than 34% casualties for the Covenant 
in the initial salvo, with more ships able to be destroyed as they enter our 
firing range. It is likely that at least some Covenant warships will be able to 
break through, raising their shields and activating their weapons once out of 
range of the Juno Corridor, but these can be dealt with by the UNSC’s 
overwhelming numerical superiority.
ONI also estimates that the Covenant will be able to deploy a significant 
planetary invasion force via dropship or insertion pod, in order to secure 
whatever relics they believe to be located on Minorca. Even these forces serve 
to further draw the Covenant into HOT GATES – committing a sizeable ground force 
to a potentially lucrative discovery, the Covenant will be obliged to support 
this effort with further materiel and personnel, sending a follow-up force to 
reinforce their Minorca attack force within a few weeks or months. Efforts must 
thus be taken to reinforce our own position, with additional ships and personnel 
– while the Covenant will be expecting the ambush, they will have no way to 
gauge our force strength. This pattern of reinforcement and engagement can be 
repeated ad infinitum – the Juno Corridor ensures that the Covenant force will 
always be vulnerable, and tightly concentrated enough for UNSC firepower to 
wreak devastating damage.
There are other factors that will allow a UNSC force an unprecedented advantage, 
not least of which are the products of Projects TEMERITY, EXCALIBUR and NOVA. 
TEMERITY has experience in recovering and studying Covenant equipment, an 
opportunity that HOT GATES is not intended to produce but is nevertheless a 
beneficial by-product. At the same time, developments by EXCALIBUR are intended 
to begin to enter military service within the next three years, and initial 
production models and prototypes have proven effective, especially the 
improvements it has produced for UNSC Navy warships, especially the range of 
electronic warfare, conventional and nuclear missiles that have already been 
introduced in a limited capacity. Their deployment at Minorca should both 
improve the UNSC’s effectiveness in combat, and be an unexpected obstacle to the 
Covenant.
This campaign is imagined as a primarily naval one, perhaps necessarily, but the 
battle for the planet’s surface is also an integral factor in its success. 
Firstly, committing ground forces to the campaign obliges the Covenant to 
resupply, support and/or recover these forces, forcing them to send a second 
force to be engaged by the naval force stationed around the exit of the Juno 
Corridor. Secondly, Covenant forces possess detection technology used in the 
recovery of alien artefacts that are not available to the UNSC. While ONI knows 
that there are valuable relics on Minorca, all geological, topographic, and 
other studies have produced no evidence as to their locations. With the ground 
force pinpointing the location of the relics, an interception force can be sent 
to eliminate the Covenant occupiers and recover these relics for the UNSC. 
Presumably, these relics will then be examined and studied by Project TEMERITY 
for any further advantage that can be gained.
2.1.    
Aims:
HOT GATES is intended to achieve a number of high-impact objectives designed to 
weaken the Covenant military offensive against the UNSC and to strengthen the 
UNSC’s defensive position, buying further time.
1.)     To force the 
Covenant into a long-term engagement, that will divert vital resources and 
personnel from their conquest of other colonies, slowing their rate of conquest.
2.)     To force the 
Covenant into a combat theatre where the UNSC forces are in a highly defensible 
position, and in which the attacking Covenant forces are sufficiently weakened 
to bring the two sides to at least combat parity.
3.)     To deploy 
technologies co-developed by Projects TEMERITY and EXCALIBUR on the battlefield, 
demonstrating their effectiveness in combat.
4.)     To provide 
an effective psychological blow against the Covenant’s morale with a major 
military defeat, and to boost the morale of humanity with a major military 
victory.
Each of these aims, on its own, is sufficient reason to warrant at least 
consideration. The advance of the Covenant has been slowed by the implementation 
of the Cole Protocol, and the introduction of EXCALIBUR equipment will hopefully 
improve the UNSC’s ability to fight the Covenant, but it will still take time 
that we do not have. By forcing the Covenant to commit to a prolonged campaign 
at Minorca, we force them to divert resources, materiel and personnel that would 
otherwise be spent searching for our remaining Inner Colonies. The situation of 
Minorca means that the planet allows a defending force an overwhelming 
advantage, regardless of the Covenant’s technological superiority, giving the 
UNSC better odds in one battle than it has had at any point throughout this war. 
Such a victory, on such a scale, would be a significant propaganda victory, 
improving morale not only on the home front but among the rank and file as well, 
and if we are lucky it will have a debilitating effect on Covenant morale as 
well.
The exact method this operation will take has been expressly designed for 
modularity and flexibility, able to accommodate new occurrences and new mission 
parameters.
2.2.    
Method:
Phase Zero: Operation: PUNCTURE 
- Phase Zero consists of a number of Prowler-type ships deployed into 
Shaw-Fujikawa Space and Covenant territory, broadcasting semi-encrypted 
transmissions near points known to be near Covenant interception outposts. These 
broadcasts are to contain falsified stellar cartography details, troop 
movements, and increase in what the Covenant considers to be “relics”. All of 
these are to give the false impression that the UNSC has discovered a 
significant xenoarcheological site on a world that is easily accessible, and is 
present only in limited numbers. With such false information, the initial 
Covenant force will expect to run into a small protection force and plan 
accordingly.
Phase One: FORTIFICATION 
– the establishment of a defence group over and on Minorca prior to the arrival 
of the Covenant is paramount. Orbital element possessed positional advantages 
that can be exploited – the bottleneck created by the Juno Corridor, as well as 
the orbit of Juno itself providing cover directly in front of the corridor 
opening, or even serving as a base of fire for Orbital Defence Platforms and 
moon-based mass drivers, coilguns and railguns. Orbital element is recommended 
to consist predominantly of heavy warships, with a number of support ships to 
assist the ground engagement as needed. Ground element is recommended to consist 
of several divisions of combined UNCC Army and Marine Corps infantry and cavalry 
units, Air Force aerial support, and Naval logistical support units. 
Introduction of EXCALIBUR equipment among ground forces, and refitting of naval 
element with improvements, to improve the effectiveness of the units and 
field-test the equipment.
Phase Two: CONFRONTATION 
– initial engagement with the Covenant. Using the element of surprise, local 
astrological hazards, and newly deployed technologies, victory is calculated to 
be 78% likely, far higher than any other campaign.
Phase Three: ENGAGEMENT 
– prolonged engagement. Covenant forces must be permitted to land on the planet, 
in order for the Covenant to committing itself to supporting them. By drawing 
their military attention to Minorca, where UNSC defenders hold a defensible 
position better than any other in past battles, the Covenant should expend 
supplies, equipment and personnel that would otherwise be used elsewhere. This 
phase consists of both orbital and planetary theatres of combat, and with the 
latter will consist of infantry, armoured and aerial engagements with Covenant 
planetary forces. Established colonial infrastructure should prove relatively 
easy to militarise, including establishment of firebases and command posts. The 
planet’s only city, New London, can serve as the UNSC’s link to orbital forces, 
serving as both headquarters for regional commanding officers and as a 
spaceport. Space Elevator may still function. This phase obviously cannot be 
kept up indefinitely, but leads to Phase IV.
Phase IV: SCORCHED EARTH 
– withdrawal. This stage of Operation: HOT GATES is to be enacted in the event 
of a UNSC withdrawal from the planet, either due to overwhelming Covenant forces 
or because FLEETCOM has ordered a withdrawal for some other reason. After the 
planet has been evacuated and the fleet deployed to Earth, a NOVA Bomb is to be 
launched and detonated to destroy the planet. The launch of the NOVA bomb serves 
three purposes – firstly, it denies the Covenant a potentially valuable 
resource, the relics beneath Minorca’s surface. Secondly, it annihilates any 
remaining Covenant forces, including orbiting warships.
The destruction of a planet to deny it to the enemy may seem like an extreme 
measure, but it is no less than what the Covenant are doing to our own worlds. 
It is true that the worlds themselves still remain, but the orbital plasma 
bombardment has destroyed their surfaces and allowed their atmosphere to escape 
into space, rendering them uninhabitable and unable to be terraformed. For all 
intents and purposes, they may as well have been destroyed. My discussions with 
ULYSSES have informed me that ONI had intended to deploy the NOVA against 
Covenant targets, using it to bring the Covenant to the negotiating table – I 
have always expressed my reservations of such a plan, especially in the 
implementation phase and in its effects. The defence networks of past targets, 
like 51 Pegasi d, or Sierra/Juliet-Echo-72627664b, preclude the NOVA even 
reaching the planet unless through a massive invasion to support it. Even if a 
successful detonation can be achieved, and a Covenant world destroyed, there is 
no guarantee that they will recognise it as a threat – our early assassination 
operations against Prophet targets was meant to make them more cautious, and 
instead enraged them, accelerating their push into the colonies. The destruction 
of a planet may only have a similar effect. I feel that using the NOVA in a 
“scorched earth” capacity is a more likely and beneficial use of such firepower. 
ULYSSES assured me that his department is about to conduct a test detonation at 
the OSIRIS-II Test Site, and a full demonstration of the weapon’s effectiveness 
will be proven.
 
3.     REQUIREMENTS
3.1.    
SECRECY
Security for an operation on this scale is paramount, and must be maintained at 
all costs. We’ve already noted leaks within some of the upper echelons of 
CENTCOM and HIGHCOM, resulting in Insurrectionist sympathisers transmitting 
classified material to insurrectionist paramilitary groups or even the civilian 
media. In the latter case, the PR disaster we had trying to fix the damage they 
did on the Coral Incident tied up ONI Section II for months, a successful 
distraction tactic. In the former, it resulted in Covenant forces intercepting 
coordinates for no less than four Outer Colonies, and the deaths of seven 
millions, most of whom were ironically pro-Insurrectionist. I don’t know if the 
Insurrection is still a force to be reckoned with anymore – I leave that to 
others. We haven’t been back to Minorca since 2542, though, and there is the 
possibility that an Insurrectionist force has used it, or is still using it. It 
may even have been resettled by rogue colonists, who have historically not taken 
kindly to the arrival of UNSC management.
Personnel rosters for UNSC Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps personnel 
involved should be deemed CLASSIFIED, codeword clearance “CHIHUAHUA FIFTEEN.” 
Material on Projects TEMERITY and EXCALIBUR is already classified TOP SECRET – 
NOVEMBER BLACK, a state that I have no intention of altering, but material on 
the Procyon system, Arcadia, Minorca, and other planets, planetoids and 
satellites in the system should also be classified TOP SECRET. We cannot afford 
for this information to reach the Covenant – even if they only had a rough 
overview of the tactical situation, it would still change the probability of 
victory drastically. At worst, they might devise calculations to bypass the Juno 
Corridor entirely, removing any advantage that would be gained by using the 
bottleneck.
MIL.VIR.3442A “WIDOW-MAKER” has proven its ability to safely, securely, and 
secretly delete relevant files, removing all links and erasing   . MIL.VIR.4425X 
“BLACK-WIDOW” is scheduled to come online soon, using a semi-sapient matrix to 
prevent remote infiltration and provide dynamic and adaptive responses to 
threats. Naturally, I recommend that these two programs be implemented to ensure 
the security of Operation: HOT GATES, working in tandem.
3.2.    
PERSONNEL
o    
Space Forces
§  
Combat Element: 
Given the average number of Covenant ships deployed in attacks on low-priority 
targets, a force of approximately a dozen warships should be sufficient to deal 
with the initial exploratory element. A second combat element will be deployed, 
probably within a few weeks, but more likely between one and two months after 
this to respond, ready to engage the original force – by which point we must 
have quadrupled our defence fleet. After this point, the number of ships the 
Covenant sends is irrelevant – as long as the UNSC defence fleet maintains a 
steady supply of ammunition, fuel, and supplies for personnel, we can hold them 
off indefinitely, exploiting the Juno Corridor as a bottleneck rendering them 
vulnerable. If available, I would recommend the 30th Fleet – they 
just had the Aeneas assigned to them from EXCALIBUR, and VOLUND’s boys have 
wanted to introduce their improvements on a larger scale. Using them in HOT 
GATES will not only improve our combat effectiveness (VOLUND tells me by 300%), 
but will also serve as a field test for further introduction throughout the 
fleet.
§  
Orbital Support Element: 
Providing the ground combat element with fire support from orbit, I recommend 
THORWS equipped ships and at least two Prowlers to establish an intelligence 
gathering satellite network and to coordinate its dissemination. The ONI 
presence will also be used if UNSC forces manage to discover anything of 
interest on the planet – if we can capture it, ONI can analyse it. If we can’t, 
then it should be destroyed by orbital bombardment. If it can be arranged, and 
if they can be spared, I would also ask for at least a pair of Orbital Defence 
Platforms, equipped with the new Mk. XX “Super” MAC systems that the Reach 
Orbital Defence Grid is using.
§  
Resupply Element: 
For such a long-term campaign, the supply chain for involved personnel will be 
long and complex – ammunition, fuel, food and water for the ships and ground 
forces. The Juno Corridor will be blocked off, but measures can be taken – 
Admiral Cole left a lot behind when he disappeared, and his Slipspace 
calculations. Tinuviel tells me she can reverse-extrapolate a set of 
high-precision Slipspace jumps, bringing the supply convoy within the asteroid 
belt, completely bypassing the Juno Corridor – she also tells me that it will 
take some time for a ship to enter Slipspace this way. I also recommend 
stockpiling as many supplies as we can before hand, in the event that this 
method should fail, at least enough to supply an evacuation and withdrawal. See 
below for further details.
o    
Planetary Forces
§  
Infantry/Cavalry: 
engaging Covenant forces, occupying strategic points and recapturing those 
captured by the enemy. I recommend the 427th to take part – I had 
some good experienced with them during my days in VAJRA-I. Given the size of the 
planet, the sparse colonial infrastructure, and the density of the jungle, I 
recommend seven Army or Marine Corps divisions, with perhaps another two on 
standby on Reach if needed.
§  
Marine: 
with the extensive orbital presence, I doubt that any terrestrial “wet” Navy 
forces are needed. Perhaps a handful of aircraft carriers, or some amphibious 
assault craft, but no battleships or destroyers – if the Covenant wants to take 
the fight to the water, then we can use our aerial forces. If that fails, then 
orbital bombardment is always available.
§  
Aerial: 
I recommend at least three divisions of Army or Air Force gunships and close 
attack aircraft, a division of dropships or utility helicopters (I would very 
much like to see the Falcon in action), two divisions of Naval dropships for 
logistics support, as well as another division of reconnaissance aircraft. While 
the SPYSAT network laid by the Prowlers will be useful, getting a close-in look 
at anything of interest will provide us with better intelligence.
§  
Special Forces: 
I don’t know about the Army, but Marine Special Forces would be an asset in this 
theatre – given the unpredictable nature of the ground campaign compared to the 
orbital campaign, its best to plan ahead before you need it. ODST forces should 
also be available from orbital launch platforms, either via troopship or 
frigate, further improving our flexible response options. There’s also the 506th 
ODST Force Recon Battalion – besides being an independent and self-sufficient 
force, they have experience in artefact recovery, either Covenant wreckage and 
debris or “other” kinds of valuable field assets. ORPHEUS tells me that he can 
have a few S-II and III teams ready if we require them, and I would certainly 
feel safer with them available – I’m not entirely sure about the quality of the 
III’s, but the II’s, I am assured, are fully operational and equipped. VOLUND 
over in TEMERITY tells me he’s worked with Indigo Team before, so that is always 
a plus.
3.3.    
LOGISTICS
Given the sheer number of personnel required to take part, as well as the 
duration this operation is intended to extend through, keeping our ground and 
orbital forces fully supplied will be a monumental task. Naturally, the 
difficulties presented by Minorca – namely the Juno Corridor – are as much a 
hindrance to our own forces as they are to the Covenant – keeping a supply route 
through the Corridor would render our own weaknesses vulnerable to Covenant 
exploitation. At the same time, however, VOLUND informs me that improvements to 
the Shaw-Fujikawa drives are scheduled to be introduced soon, dramatically 
improving both transit duration through, and accuracy of entry and exit into, 
Shaw-Fujikawa Space. If we are to make full use of this opportunity, then these 
improvements may need to be hastened and introduced to our fleet sooner than 
previously scheduled – with such accuracy, it may be possible to make an 
in-system jump within the asteroid field, bypassing the Corridor 
completely. Naturally, this is precisely what we want to prevent the Covenant 
from achieving, but they do not have the advantage of quantum sensor outposts in 
the system, or detailed astrographical charts to plot courses. With the constant 
interaction of the debris field, making a jump would more likely than not simply 
land a ship between two colliding asteroids, or in a shower of shrapnel 
inflicting catastrophic damage. Our own ships, however, can enter the system at 
the points I have indicated on the PROCYON starchart attached to the Minorca 
file.
o    
Orbital: 
at least fifty medium- or heavy-tonnage freighters for external resupply, with 
frigate or destroyer escorts in the event of Covenant attack during resupply. 
These resupply operations can be staggered to minimise the risk of Covenant 
attack while they are present, but combat elements should be on alert during 
their presence nevertheless. I would also recommend keeping at least one Repair 
Ship close, allowing local forces to restore combat effectiveness relatively 
quickly after repelling a Covenant attack.
o    
Planetary: 
supply storage facilities should be constructed months in advance, with 
significant stockpiles present already. If the resupply element is compromised 
in any way, the ground forces will need supplies enough for a planetary 
evacuation effort. Additional hydroponics and water refinery facilities should 
be established as well, to minimise our dependence on resupply efforts and to 
bolster our ability to remain semi-autonomous. Ammunition storehouses for the 
warships in orbit, as well as maintenance staff for mechanised cavalry, 
aircraft, and starship repair and upkeep should be present as well.
3.4.    
COOPERATION
The importance of HOT GATES' success will require the cooperation of a number of 
necessary projects, in terms of equipment and personnel. Naturally, I have asked 
the individual Project leaders their thoughts – their discretion, I believe, is 
beyond doubt. Project outlines are available at the start of the brief, and I 
trust that you have already read them. HEPHAESTUS has assured me that mutual 
cooperation is in both of our best interests, and is eager to use the resources 
at my disposal to implement his upgrades. The Aeneas has been a successful test 
case, and he’d like to have a lot more successes. Wouldn’t we all? VOLUND also 
assures me that his cooperation will be total – the opportunity to study 
unprecedented amounts of alien technology was quite a tempting lure. I have 
already been able to make extensive use of his resources in setting out this 
mission brief, especially in terms of logistics and astrography. ULYSSES has 
proven more troublesome – I think he has doubts about our chances of success. I 
only had time (and information available) to provide a rough outline, and from 
that even I wouldn’t give us a snowballs chance. But once I can show him the 
proper mission brief, I think he’ll come around – it means accelerating his own 
project, something that everyone wants. Even if the Covenant manage to 
eventually break through our defences and glass the planet, it may prove a 
tactical defeat but a strategic victory – accelerating the introduction of so 
much equipment and testing them in the field will still buy us months, perhaps 
years if Section III has its calculations correct.
 
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