Events:
- Infantry scientists invent a new type of laser weapon. It is effective, however, it is large, bulky, and costly. Thus, only a limited amount of these weapons are created.
- The SPARTAN-II Program suffers it's first casualty, when Carris-137 accidentally kills a handler during training.
- Captain Alexander, the last civilian captain of UNSC Spirit of Fire, retires from active duty at the conclusion of the Verent mission. The ship is requisitioned by the UNSC and scheduled for refit.
- Spirit of Fire completes an extensive refit at the Reach orbital shipyards before entering active military duty as a ground support vessel, initially detailed with providing ground support for Operation TREBUCHET.
