The next day, July 25, 2552, at 8:37 a.m., in the Noble Team camp, Colonel Carter, Noble One's leader, had gotten up promptly at six, completed morning training, and eaten breakfast. After reporting the events at Visegrád Relay and the battle in detail the previous night, and thoroughly explaining the reason for the top-priority "Winter Contingency" alert, he contacted their commanding officer, Colonel Holland, once again.
"..."
"Carter, I don't have much time. Is there anything else important?"
Clearly, Colonel Holland looked busy during the video call. He seemed a little surprised—and rather impatient—that Carter, the leader of Noble Team, had contacted him again so early in the morning.
"Reporting, sir!"
"I just wanted to ask about the little girl 'survivor' we brought back yesterday afternoon. You've read our report, right? I wanted to know what you plan to do with her."
To be honest, Carter had mixed feelings about the innocent, gifted little girl. They had brought her back from Visegrád Relay the day before, and after spending time with her, he seemed to have grown fond of the girl who had helped them so much. He also felt a growing pang of sympathy for her and wanted to get her to her parents or relatives as soon as possible, far away from the brutal war and suffering that no child her age should have to endure.
War was cruel and merciless. Thinking about the training he himself had endured as a Spartan-III, service number A259, and then about the war with the Covenant over the years—and the little girl's clear, bright eyes—had finally prompted him to call Colonel Holland.
"Make arrangements?"
"Sorry, Noble One, but how exactly do you expect us to make arrangements for her?"
Colonel Holland paused on the screen. When he heard that this was