The Cole protocol dictates. That all U N S C personnel have to, go to a set destination. Before they can return to Earth, as an effort to keep the Covenant from finding Earth. Since it's location, is humanity's greatest secret. Humanity is already on the brink of extinction. So they wouldn't want Reach Happening again. O Nee pushes the propaganda, that humanity, hold its own, against Covenant forces. But in reality. So civilians, think we're winning, even though we're nearing extinction