Halo: Reach's Promise

An old threat; new front-

   Reach; July 15th 2552-
   "It's either now, or later! You know I'm right, Admiral! They won't give up, we're slowly losing worlds. Who knows how long Reach will last! You know how close...Admiral, my proposal requires a huge risk, but an even bigger reward." Commander Stiler looked over at Admiral Cole with nothing less than determination on his face. Cole knew that he was not going to give up...
"Alright, Commander. What've you got in mind?" The Admiral folded his hands on the table and straightened his back.
There was a knock at the door, and all the higher ups looked quizzically at each other...except Stilner.
"Explain." He ordered the smug-looking Commander.
"Sir, I tasked two Spartans to extract three marines. They must be back." He said the obvious.
"Commander. I want to be very clear to you. I'm not here to play games. I want you to explain why you did it. Not what's going on! Now you will tell me, or I'll discharge you for insubordination. Are we clear!" The Admiral said smartly, wiping the grin off of Stilner's face.
Stilner just gulped and nodded his head.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you. What was that you said?"
"Crystal, sir!" The room went silent.
The Admiral sighed, then said,"Obviously not, son! Didn't I just tell you to tell me why!"
"Sir, I was getting to that! So, I was going to propose an idea I've had for a while. We are unsure of when Reach will be found. They're close, but their scent is off. I set out for a group of highly trained marines to execute an insurrectionists leader. It's been rumored that the Covenant were going to make a deal with them. This is unusual behavior which is in our best interest to interpret that as impatience, desperation, and even their down right last resort! They could have little force left in their fleet. Though, I'd opt the ladder out based on past experiences. Anyway, my point is, if these marines can handle something on the magnitude of executing an innie leader...what's stopping them from dealing with covert ops missions? The Spartans can handle a tag-a-long, they need a last resort anyway. I think we should implement a new buddy system, to preserve more spartan lives. For the greater good, of course. And all due respects, I believe the Spartans will protect the marines from unnecessary death." He finished his speech. Again, the room fell silent.
To be an Admiral, you had to be mean. He didn't get his position saving everything at every opportunity. But this was crazy! Suicidal, even! Did the Commander not know that the marines slowed the Spartans down!?
"We can't do this!"
"Okay. I'm in." Admiral Cole and Admiral Parangosky; CINCO of ONI, said at the same time. CINCONI is a major role, though it is redundant to say it that way, mainly because it stood for "Commander IN Chief of ONI."
The two Admirals stared at each other, and Admiral Cole's Commander, his successor, swore up and down that the two caused even the bravest sangheli to fall upon his own blade if present after the meeting. The staring contest was that intense.
"Parangosky, explain your alliance with this madness!"
"Cole," She said cooly," there's a method to all madness, you just have to look in the right places. I believe that this idea will optimize the ability for ONI and all parts of the UNSC; FLEETCOM, HIGHCOM; everything, Mr.Cole, to benefit from a slower paced op. Only from a few, in the least. Before the whole op is over, we never get to observe their defenses enough. This is the perfect opportunity that this nice young man presents for us." Alot of heads instinctively turned to Cole to see his reaction. He hated to admit it but, she was right. The Spartans either completed the op unnoticed, or completely wiped out, yet it always ended in a "success." Well, as much success as you can consider a team of Spartans dead with one less problem to stop. For the time being.
"Okay...fine. voting will take place three days from now at 1700 hours exact. Don't be late or you're exempt. Dismissed." He ordered. He grabbed his stuff and calmly exited the room. Parangosky shot him a sly smile that said it all; they both knew she had won, again.