Ellen Anders
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| Ellen Anders | |
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Female[3] |
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Dark brown[1] |
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Brown[1] |
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Office of Naval Intelligence (civilian consultant)[2] |
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Ph. D |
- "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
- — Anders before interacting with Forerunner technology for the first time.[4]
Professor Ellen Anders (SN: CC-500493[3][2]) is a human civilian researcher with a background in ecophysiology, exobiology, and theoretical xenobiology.[2] She was recruited by Section Three of the Office of Naval Intelligence as a consultant in early 2531, and was part of the crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire at the time of the ship's disappearance in that year.
Biography[edit]
Early life and career[edit]
Ellen Anders was born on the colony of Arcadia. She had a difficult relationship with her mother, seemingly an individual with connections to the Office of Naval Intelligence, who tried to push Anders to use her doctorate to advance her professional career.[5] She apparently studied under Dr. Catherine Halsey (though their relationship was tense) with neither holding the other in a fond regard.[6] Later on in 2550, Halsey would write in her journal that Anders was always "so difficult", but that the professor would be useful for Halsey and Laszlo Sorvad's archaeology of Forerunner sites around the Visegrád region on Reach.[7]
At some point prior to 2531 Anders became engaged to an unknown person. In 2531, she was lecturing on Theoretical Xenobiology at Rishard University. When stopped on the street by a nondescript stranger, she was told that Dr. Halsey had recommended her as a "consultant". Anders told the man that there was some mistake, as she was not on speaking terms with "that woman". Despite her refusal, a car pulled up and the man dragged her in before speeding off. The man and his accomplices - agents for the Office of Naval Intelligence - brought her to an undisclosed location. Anders was furious and demanded to know why she was kidnapped. They showed her classified images of the Covenant on Harvest and snippets of intercepted communications, which referred to the planet as a "Treasure World". This piqued Anders' interest, and she agreed to assist ONI in deciphering the Covenant's motives and nature. She was given "unrestricted" (presumably broad, but limited to her field of study) access to ONI equipment and resources. She then traveled to the Epsilon Indi system aboard an ONI prowler UNSC Last Gleaming, where she reviewed the data on the Covenant. While on board, she determined that, while the Covenant was looking for something, they were also trying to hide something as well.[8] While aboard Last Gleaming Anders complained of the use of the "Doctor" title on her quarters, suspecting that due to it her abduction had likely been done at her mother's behest.[5]
Upon reaching Spirit of Fire, Anders initially mistook the warship for UNSC Prophecy, a Marathon-class heavy cruiser that had been destroyed in a previous battle.[8] While transferring from Last Gleaming to Spirit of Fire, Anders attempted to talk with her Pelican's pilot about Spirit, and was relieved to hear that the ship boasted the best mess hall in the fleet (after being told what a mess was). The Pelican's pilot did not respond much in order to get Anders to stop talking, letting Anders fool herself into believing that military food would be better than it actually was.[9]
Before arriving on the Spirit of Fire, she put in a request for better quarters once aboard and an audience with the captain.
Liberation of Harvest[edit]
- Main article: Harvest campaign
- Cutter: "What made you choose my observation deck as your lab, Professor?"
- Anders: "I like the view. It adds... perspective to my work."
- — Cpt. Cutter and Anders aboard Spirit of Fire
Aboard the Spirit of Fire, Anders was loaned the Observation Deck for a workspace, claiming the view of surrounding space "added perspective to her work". Her assigned minder, Sergeant John Forge, was somewhat less agreeable with her, as the two were basically polar opposites and bickered constantly.[10]
After getting some unexpected readings on an electromagnetic band in Harvest's north pole, Anders requested that a Hornet squadron en route to Rally Point Baker be diverted to investigate. A large Covenant ground force was subsequently discovered, and Sgt. Forge was dispatched to observe further.[11] A structure of unknown origin on the surface, the target of Covenant excavation, drew her attention, and Anders resolved to investigate further in person, despite protests from Forge.