Chapter 37

Axel and Battlegroup Tango were bestowed with prestigious medals for their heroic efforts in the perilous evacuation of Harvest, a mission that saved the lives of approximately 300,000 souls from being at the mercy of the Covenant. Among Axel's numerous accolades were the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, and a coveted Gold Star. Each member of his crew, hailing from various branches of service, was also recognized for their gallantry, with honors such as the Legion of Merit, Marine Service Cross, Air Force Service Cross, Navy Service Cross, and more.

Battlegroup Yankee was also given their own medals and such for their contribution in the battle and efforts in evacuating Harvest. They were also the ones who took the most casualties because of their lack of energy shields which had become a hot topic within the UNSC security council as energy shields on ship's proved it's ability to save lives and preserve the ship.

The grand ceremony, held in utmost secrecy on Algolis, remained hidden from the public, a testament to the clandestine nature of their valiant endeavors. In this momentous occasion, every member of Battlegroup Tango reveled in the privilege of serving under Axel's indomitable leadership, guiding them unerringly to triumph amidst the chaos of battle.

For those newer recruits who had joined after Axel's earlier deployments to the outer colonies, they considered themselves lucky to be part of such a monumental undertaking. Though still relatively green, they had proven their mettle under fire from the Covenant, executing their duties with unwavering dedication.

Amidst the jubilation of being decorated for his unwavering bravery, Axel received another momentous piece of news from Catherine - she was pregnant. While not entirely unexpected, this revelation filled Axel's heart with an overwhelming surge of joy and affection. Catherine, too, beamed with happiness as she witnessed the loving glimmer in Axel's eyes upon hearing her proclamation.

Already content by Axel's earlier display of affection towards her, Catherine now found herself even more elated by the prospect of becoming a mother. Yet, intertwined with her joy was an undeniable curiosity about the sudden appearance of the Covenant. Throughout centuries, humanity had never encountered extraterrestrial beings; thus, the arrival of these hostile aliens was a profound and perplexing development.

Unable to quell her inquisitive nature, Catherine couldn't help but ponder the stark dissimilarity between Covenant genetics and the composition of the human genome. The enigma of their existence ignited within her a desire to unravel the secrets behind this alien species and comprehend the implications it held for humanity's future.

Meanwhile, Admiral Axel found himself grappling with a similar surge of curiosity, albeit with a more strategic focus rather than scientific inquiry. His mind was consumed by the pressing matters at hand – the meticulous preparations for future engagements, ensuring that every ship under his command was adequately equipped to deal with the relentless onslaught of the Covenant, and readying his crew for the arduous battles that lay ahead.

Within the UNSC, military strategists pored over the data from the initial skirmish, desperately seeking patterns in the enemy's attack formations. Intelligence officers tirelessly worked to unravel fragments of the Covenant's communications intercepted during the chaotic fray. The UNSC Security Council remained resolute in their pursuit of comprehending the Covenant's tactics, communications, and weaponry, yearning to secure a triumphant victory in their next encounter.

In the midst of this fervent quest for knowledge, Axel tirelessly labored to improve his battlegroup's armaments and defenses, drawing inspiration from the invaluable data gleaned during their first harrowing clash with the Covenant. Avia had meticulously scanned the Covenant vessels during the battle, unveiling an energy source unlike anything humanity had ever seen.

To unlock its secrets and forge something even more formidable, Axel knew he had to disable a Covenant ship, board it, and get control of it to study it's technology once the battle is over. If he could secure an intact vessel from the Covenant, he could delve deep into their technological marvels and birth his own iteration for the UNSC's advantage.

In the meantime Axel worked on his own projects. The UNSC security Council had started implementing some of the technology that Axel had created including the new standard infantry armor, ODST armor, and energy shields for UNSC ships. Axel hadn't created the Mark II energy shields yet so they had to use the current version which was good enough to keep a ship alive in battle but it could not take that many hits from Covenant weaponry.

So for the next few months that is exactly what he did, through trial and error and multiple tests Axel sought to create the improved energy shields before the next battle.

Over these Months a massive UNSC fleet had assembled above Reach. Each ship was being retrofitted with a Warp Drive for those that didn't have it and energy shields. Admiral Cole was selected to lead the fleet to retake Harvest, while Axel and Battlegroup Tango was ordered to join the fleet when that time comes.

As Axel delved deeper into his research and development efforts, the tension within the UNSC continued to mount. The data from the first battle showed just how superior the Covenant technology was compared to UNSC technology. Still everybody worked tirelessly towards enhancing their defensive capabilities and strategic advantage. The UNSC security council used the excuse of a fleet overhaul project to explain the massive fleet gathering over Reach.

Months had passed in a blur of activity and anticipation as Axel oversaw the integration of the new Mark II energy shields onto each ship in his battlegroup. The hum of machinery and the scent of metal filled the air as technicians worked around the clock to ensure that every vessel in the battlegroup was equipped with the latest advancements in energy shield technology.

Finally, the day arrived when the UNSC fleet above Reach was fully prepared for the impending mission to retake Harvest. Axel stood on the bridge of his flagship, the UNSC Leviathan, surrounded by his dedicated crew. They had been preparing for this next encounter with the Covenant over the past few months.

With a deep breath, Axel gave the command for Battlegroup Tango to join Admiral Cole's fleet in their journey towards victory. The thrum of engines reverberated through the ship as they set course, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them in their quest to push back the Covenant threat and reclaim Harvest.

As Battlegroup Tango jumped to warp speed, Axel's mind was focused and resolute, his heart filled with unwavering resolve to defeat the Covenant in this second battle. While he never said it out loud, it was safe to say that thus far he had been steering the fate humanity towards one of victory, and he would stop at nothing to secure a future where Human's prevailed against the Covenant.

Once his battlegroup arrived all ship's had lined up with Admiral Cole's fleet and plotted their course for harvest.

And so, with courage in their hearts and determination in their souls, Axel and Admiral Cole's fleet went forth towards an uncertain but promising destiny, united in purpose and bound by duty to protect all that they held dear.