Editing Melissa McKay

By August of 2552, McKay had reached the rank of First Lieutenant in the [[UNSC Marine Corps]], commanding [[B Company (Pillar of Autumn)|B Company]] of the ODST [[battalion]] assigned to the ''Pillar of Autumn'' - as per [[Operation: RED FLAG]]. Following the vessel's arrival at the mysterious [[Installation 04]], McKay took part in the [[Battle over Installation 04|defense against the boarding actions]] taken by the [[Covenant]] against the ship, helping defend the ship's experimental power plant along with the other ODSTs. During the fighting she took a wound to her bicep, damaging the ODST tattoo she had there. The ODSTs were then ordered by Major Silva to abandon ship, and McKay led her [[platoon]] to their [[drop pod]]s.<ref name="flood1">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 1</ref>

McKay and the majority of her 130-person company successfully made landfall on the ring, with the Lieutenant making landfall half a kilometre from the designated landfall beacon. She was able to rendezvous with Major Silva by the time a temporary base of operations was set up, and was briefed on the plan established by him and [[Wellsley]]; McKay was ordered to take her company of ODSTs to the butte now designated [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]] and ascend the cliffs to attack the Covenant occupiers from below, while Silva's forces inserted from above via [[D77 Pelican|Pelican]] dropship. McKay spent the entire night marching her troops across the plains to the foot of the base, before beginning her attack. B Company ascended the butte via a narrow winding path while taking grenade and plasma fire from above.<ref name="flood2">''Halo: The Flood'', Chapter 2</ref> The resistance began to slack as the Pelicans began their air attack, and eventually the company found themselves at an entrance to the structure. McKay fired an [[M41 SPNKR]] rocket launcher into the breach to clear out any resistance, before entering the base unchallenged. Her company met Major Silva on the landing pads with the confirmation that Alpha Base now belonged to the UNSC.<ref name="flood3">''Halo: The Flood'', Chapter 3</ref>

With the Master Chief deployed to ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' to rescue Captain [[Jacob Keyes]], McKay was ordered to the downed ''Pillar of Autumn'' to raid the cruiser for supplies. They deployed in the night of September 19, with the darkness and the rain masking the movements of the Pelicans and troops from the Covenant occupiers of the crash site.{{Ref/Reuse|flood3}} In the dawn hours of September 20, the company attacked the Covenant defenders - now-weary from their night shifts - and began to eliminate the defenders. The battle took several hours, though eventually McKay's forces were able to push the Covenant out of the ship or lock them in non-essential sections. For several hours, the ODSTs loaded up [[Warthog]]s and [[Scorpion]] tanks before preparing to make their way back to Alpha Base. Due to the limited amount of personnel, McKay and her platoon leaders were to join the action as drivers or gunners.<ref>''Halo: The Flood'', Chapter 4</ref><ref>''Halo: The Flood'', Chapter 5</ref> The Lieutenant split the force up into three temporary platoons, with McKay leading Third Platoon - tasked with defending the other Warthogs and tanks from [[Ghost]]s and infantry. The convoy was attacked by [[Noga 'Putumee]], who had concealed three [[Wraith]]s and several [[Banshee]]s in the hills ahead, and began to fire down on the UNSC ground force. The convoy attack ultimately succeeded however, with McKay's forces bringing much-needed supplies back to Alpha Base.<ref name="flood6">''Halo: The Flood'', Chapter 6</ref><ref name="CFRaven">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/thats-so-raven ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - That's So Raven]</ref>

In addition to being the Battalion's Executive Officer, she personally commanded a company of some 130 [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] aboard the ''Autumn''.<ref name ="Flood58"/> Her [[platoon]] Commanders were [[Second Lieutenant]]s [[Dalu]] and [[Oros]]. However, Dalu was later reassigned as the Company Supply Officer and his billet was taken by [[Master Sergeant]] [[Lister (Marine)|Lister]].