Ellen Anders

"Forge doesn't think it's safe for you to go down there yet. He's quite insistent."

- Captain James Cutter

"I can be quite insistent too, Captain. I can take care of myself."

- Anders

Professor Ellen Anders was a civilian researcher. Intelligent (with an IQ of 180) and fiercely opposed to the Covenant, she focused more on assisting mankind's survival than gaining a sense of grandeur. She was the type of person who hated disorder and was clean and organized. By extension, she also had the habit of solving unfinished jigsaw puzzles.

Biography
Stationed aboard the during the Second Battle of Harvest, Anders was granted her own quarters, the view of surrounding space "adding perspective to her work." Sergeant John Forge being assigned as a bodyguard was not as agreeable to her however, due to his excessive foul language and gruff demenour. She apparently studied under Doctor Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, and their relationship is tense, neither holding the other in a fond regard.

After getting some unexpected readings on an EM band in Harvest's north pole, Anders requested that a Hornet squadron en route to Rally Point Baker divert to investigate. A large force of Elites was found, Forge dispatched to investigate. In the process, an unknown relic on the surface had been detected along with numerous Covenant forces in the vicinity. Anders resolved to head down to investigate, despite protests from Forge. . Captain Cutter agreed to the mission, but ordered that Anders be extracted should there be any sign of danger. However, in the end, she still had to be rescued from a Covenant outpost. .

Before departing Harvest, Anders sent her father an analysis of Homer's Odyssey that slipped past ONI censors, informing him on what the UNSC had discovered.

Over the course of the Spirit of Fire's travels, Anders softened towards Forge, especially after noticing how much he cared for those around him.

Hero Unit
Anders' in-game abilities have been confirmed: she functions as an "engineer" type unit on the battlefield, capable of reducing by half time and cost for the research for upgradements for units. She is able to call in a Cryo Bomb strike and to upgrade Hornets into Hawks. Also she can deploy the Gremlin on the battlefield.