Chapter 26 Summary

The two dozen remaining Spartans and Mendez are assembled in the amphitheater on planet Reach when Dr. Halsey and Captain Keyes come into the room. They are there to brief the Spartans on their next mission. On one screen, the doctor pulls up pictures of the Covenant ships. On another screen, she pulls up the different alien species, including the two new ones discovered during the recent battle.

The doctor explains that the Covenant species are numerous and that are imitative rather than innovative. She explains that each species is able to gather information from the naval ships and databases and then use this information to their advantage. The fact that the Covenant is able to do this at a much faster speed than the USNC is one of the reason it has been so difficult to stop the Covenant. She goes on...