"Project Description:
Elite investigators from the Investigation Department will secretly carry out a capture mission on June 8, 2001, in the main universe, targeting the planet Reach. The department has already pinpointed the location and daily habits of the target, Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, but has yet to determine the exact military base and research facility of the UNSC's Orion Project.
Therefore, the plan is to capture Halsey first and interrogate her to obtain the specific details of the Orion Project. Once the details are acquired, the department will conduct a low-intensity armed raid with a fast in-and-out approach.
{Click to view the full action plan.}
{Attached video.}
{Attached images.}
Report by: Head of Operations, Investigation Department, Ada Wong."
After browsing through the action plan, Samuel Young dismissed the holographic screen with a wave of his hand and pulled up the analysis report on Shield World 0459. As for capturing Halsey, Samuel had no concerns about the Investigation Department making a critical mistake, especially with Ada leading the mission, supported by Leon and Chris.
Two and a half months earlier, when the Pandora shipyard had assembled the latest model of the Stealth-class vessel for Atlas, Ada, Leon, Chris, Fulgrim, and Angron had set out for Reach as planned.
With the latest optical camouflage and stealth coating from the science division, the ship successfully deployed in low orbit around Reach without alerting the UNSC. It safely transported the investigation team and engineering personnel to the surface.
The Stealth-class vessel, also known as the Diana-class—named after the Roman goddess of hunting and the moon—was a project branched off from the Selene and Fides designs early in 2000. Despite the Diana-class being just over 200 meters long and having a full crew capacity of around 1,500, its main armament was reduced, removing the railgun and plasma cannon. However, the hangar space was expanded, allowing it to carry three Silver Gull II transport ships and six Seagull assault boats.
This gave the Diana-class considerable ground deployment capabilities. Additionally, its 12 large vertical missile silos ensured it retained powerful nuclear strike and counter-strike capabilities when necessary.
After some time infiltrating and investigating, using the false identities crafted by Ap, the investigators easily integrated into Reach's local society. Combined with the intelligence provided by Ap, the department successfully tracked Halsey's location, though the ONI's Spartan-II research facility on Reach remained a highly classified secret.
Based on their surveillance, the department believed Halsey had already reached an agreement with ONI and would soon depart to search the UNSC colonies for candidates eligible for genetic enhancement surgery, mostly children aged six to eight. Ada's plan to abduct Halsey was well-considered—once she was in Atlas's hands, they would have direct control over the Spartan-II program.
Samuel simply had to wait for the success of Ada's operation or intervene with a "reset" if unexpected complications arose to ensure the mission's outcome. Once the situation on Reach was settled, Samuel planned to lead the fleet to the edge of the Orion Arm and claim Shield World 0459 as his own.
As he was lost in thought…
Ding-dong~
The office doorbell chimed. Sensing Tina and his sons outside, Samuel deactivated the door lock.
Swish—
"Father!"
As the door slid open, Corax and Mortarion rushed into the office, throwing themselves into Samuel's arms as he sat behind his desk.
"Haha, what's going on today? You two seem unusually lively," Samuel asked, chuckling as he hugged his two sons.
Corax replied, "Father, Lady Losrian said she can have exotic beast cubs brought from Terraira for us!"
"Exotic beast cubs? For you two to raise?" Samuel feigned confusion.
"Yeah, Father! Do you agree?" Mortarion asked, his face full of eager anticipation.
At this moment, Tina stepped forward, standing before the desk with a serene smile, and said, "If His Majesty agrees, I'll carefully select suitable exotic beasts for them. Raising a pet will help them develop responsibility and empathy."
"Indeed." Samuel nodded thoughtfully and looked at his sons on either side of him. "Since things are relatively calm on Harvest right now, how about you two go with Lady Losrian to Terraira yourselves? How does that sound?"
Excited, both Corax and Mortarion nodded vigorously, with no objections whatsoever.
"Gladly," Tina responded with a gentle smile.
"Five days." Samuel stood up with his sons in his arms and gazed down at Tina. "If you leave now, you must return to Harvest in five days. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Tina bowed respectfully.
Samuel was already used to this formality. After all, on Terraira, they regarded him as the "Human Emperor," and there was no need to force a change in their customs. He had simply made slight adjustments to the existing imperial system. In fact, Terraira served as an ideal test ground for "imperial policies," preparing for the future establishment of a human empire.
June 8.
Tianyuan IV Star System.
From a cosmic perspective, Tianyuan IV and the Sun were practically "sisters." Both stars were similar in size and mass, and like the Sun, Tianyuan IV was orbited by several Earth-like planets. However, unlike the Sun's planetary system, only the innermost planet of Tianyuan IV, Tianyuan IV-I, was uninhabitable, resembling Mercury with its lack of a stable atmosphere and extreme temperature fluctuations.
The remaining planets, however, were ideal for human habitation, described as "second homes."
Tianyuan IV-II, orbiting in the second position, was particularly notable. Although not as famous as the vacation paradises and university towns on the planets in the third to sixth orbits, Tianyuan IV-II held significant importance in the Halo universe.
It was Reach.
From afar, the planet, with its striking aurora, appeared surrounded by a "green halo" in its atmosphere. Combined with the blue oceans and thriving land below, Reach seemed even more beautiful than humanity's original homeworld, Earth.
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