Author's Note: Here's the sequel to my story "The Invasion of Earth", and the concluding installment of the Cooper trilogy. To all the readers, old and new, welcome. To those of you who haven't read my previous two stories, "The Battle of Sigma Octanus IV" and "The Invasion of Earth", I highly recommend you read those first so you can fully understand this one. As usual, I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO HALO/HALO 2/HALO 3 OR ANY OF THE BOOKS, only the regular consumer copies. I'm just writing a fanfic based off the Halo universe (although my characters are my own). Also, following the tradition of my previous stories, the setting/times/dates may be slightly AU, so don't freak over it. ;-)

Like its predecessors, this story is rated T but tends to toe the line with M for language, violence, blood, gore, and some suggestive/sexual content (not graphic).

Hope you enjoy, and please review!

WARNING! TOP SECRET! EYES ONLY!

SCANNING IN PROGRESS…

…CLEARANCE GRANTED

//TO: Major Benjamin Phillips, Commanding Officer 102nd Force Action Battalion, 603rd Special Infantry Regiment, UNSC Marine Corps

FROM: Brigadier General Ryan McCardor, Commandant UNSC Military Base SA1, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. South American Theater Headquarters, UNSC Marine Corps

SUBJECT: FILE ENCRYPTED

MESSAGE:

Major Phillips,

We've received word recently of a number of devastating Covenant attacks near our biggest cities. The alien bastards seem awfully jumpy from what we've seen so far, and we think they might be gearing up for something big---maybe even a simultaneous attack on our main bases. In the interest of remaining vigilant and prepared, I have provided for countermeasures: calling in available units as reinforcements and stocking up on all military supplies. If something does go down, we want to be ready, and have the necessary manpower immediately at our disposal to mount a defense.

I understand your men have already performed a mission of great importance for the Office of Naval Intelligence in Western Europe, and have discovered some form of new extraterrestrial parasite there. With your battalion's expertise, I hope to gain further insight into our own problem.

General Ryan S. McCardor, Commandant UNSC SA1

//END MESSAGE//