ONI Officer: "And just why did take your battle group to Chi Rho? You had strict orders to stay by Tribute, and the planet was glassed nearly 10 years ago."
Harper: "We intercepted a faint transmission somewhere in August of 2544, I believe the twenty-third. A Corporal Mendoza stated that they were still fighting in the planet, legitimately in the planet, and if anyone can hear him, they need help fast. He said more, but we couldn't make it out over the sounds of automatic fire."
ONI Officer: "Could of easily been an echo."
Harper: "No, the transmission was cut off abruptly, we determined it was a live signal."
ONI Officer: "Deductive reasoning doesn't compare over facts, like how just because a signal cuts off, it doesn't mean it's a live one."
Harper: "Doesn't matter. I took my battle group there, engaged the enemy, and saved those guys stuck under the surface."
ONI Officer: "Doesn't matter? You could of lost your whole damn fleet, and left Tribute open to the Covenant, I'd say it does matter!"
Harper: "There was no time for them if the transmission was live, and I didn't waste any time waiting for the chain of command to take a few weeks to send a scout. We were the closest, and we went in."
ONI Officer: "Your recklessness got the better of you, and your fleet wouldn't of won that battle. It was a 1:1 ratio, and you wouldn't of lived past the second torpedo salvo."
Harper: "But the brave actions of the frigate
Fallen Grace and her crew changed that. They sacrificed themselves so we could have a chance to save the boys under the surface, and the fact that you guys haven't awarded them, or the guys of Chi Rho disgusts me."
ONI Officer: "They will be rewarded in due time. But you, you are extremely lucky. You have only been demoted and relocated to the Home Fleet. If it were up to me, I would have you hanged for disobeying direct orders, but the upper ranks thinks we need to keep all the experienced captains we have left. You disobey orders again, I'll personally cut off your head."