****** Downloading…Please stand by… 85%...90%...95%... Download complete Cortana initialized all of her systems and integrated them with the computer she now occupied. The surroundings were completely foreign to her; quite advanced, much more than those of the Halo rings. The system had integrated her into itself, but also kept her intact and a separate entity. She was suddenly dumped into a new area, where a whole universe of information revealed itself. They were all in strange symbols, none of which she understood, although the characters themselves did seem familiar. The surroundings were breathtaking, and for a full cycle Cortana was shocked. She was in the middle of a complex system of moving information, flowing like currents, encompassing large portions of what she could see. Several applications presented themselves to her, all in a way that made it difficult for her to comprehend. Damn, I just need to shut off command control functionality! One of the applications she saw dulled, and—as best as Cortana understood—her thought accomplished what she could not. Without any way of knowing how to discriminate between the different sections of the computer, she would have no clear proof whether she successfully cut Truth off from gaining control of the system. I wish I were back in John’s armor. The world around her suddenly changed to that of a moving, breathing, and very familiar one. She saw Gravemind in the distance, and a huge force of what used to be the Covenant attacking it, as well as Spartans around her. She could only guess where she was. “Bogies, on your left,” she said. Her vision blurred for a moment while the shields were hit by plasma, and the view changed drastically from the attacking battalion to the ground. “Have you blocked access to the controls Cortana? “I believe so. The schematics of this control are completely foreign however, different from anything I’ve ever seen before. It’ll take some time before I can get much access to it myself.” “Understood. Once you find out what this installation’s capable of, inform me. We can use any help available. Where is Kelly?” “Unknown. I have no ability to scan anything, at the moment.” “Fine. Keep me informed. And Cortana?” “Yes?” “Good to have you back. John out.” She felt a sudden joy, and immediately began searching as best she could; the attempt seemed futile. All right, she thought, I should be able to figure this out. The Forerunners were a highly advanced civilization, able to mold time, atoms, and even reality to how they saw fit. So…if they could do such amazing things, then their perception of reality was probably different; more advanced. If that’s true, then maybe they were able to make their computers follow the same protocol. Maybe the Forerunners made their computers work more intelligently than in just two dimensions. Using her full processing power, Cortana’s image of the systems began to change, folding in front of her. The strange symbols started to look more and more familiar. When she finished changing her perspective, the symbols were no longer foreign; they were in English. Looking around her, Cortana was in the middle of more than just a two-dimensional computer system; she was now within a world of three dimensions, with information traveling all around her. This is amazing. Every one of my thoughts has an instant impact on this computer and follows it, and the three-dimensional reality based within this computer shows an intelligence that we wouldn’t accomplish for at least another millennium… No time for this. I have to find out how the battle is going. The wealth of information disappeared, and in its place was a full view of the control room, from the perspective of the console itself. She could make out four battles; the Covenant with their Prophet Truth, somehow not being damaged by one Gravemind; the Arbiter fighting with his battalion against a second Gravemind; the Master Chief fighting with the Spartans and more Preeminent forces against another Gravemind; and a fourth distinct one. Forerunner sentinels attacked the last of the Graveminds, although they weren’t the only ones. The larger enforcers, seen on Delta Halo, also attacked using the rapid firing pulse beams. They surrounded the Gravemind, using their front shields for protection. Two types of sentinels were detected, the standard ones that had been encountered on both Halo rings, and a newer one that only reports from the marines on Delta Halo could account for. They had shields and a more powerful blue laser instead of the traditional orange. Finally, a new mechanical piece of engineering attacked the last Gravemind, one that she had never seen before. It stood approximately ten meters tall and featured no distinct weapons of any sort. It seemed to be a command robot, sending the sentinels and enforcers to the most logical attack vectors. Zooming in on the image, Cortana thought, what is that called? A name quickly appeared over the image: Guardian. The Guardian looked like a larger sentinel: bulky arms and legs, with strange black orbs connecting each limb together, like the joints of a human body. As she wondered about its purpose, a laser shot out of one of them. It struck the Gravemind and left a huge scar in its wake. Cortana wanted to help in some way, go help the Spartans. Go help John. But from the looks of it, the only thing she could do was watch his back, and that was something he could do on his own. She initialized a search for all options, but came up empty handed. Where is 343 Guilty Spark? The bastard of Forerunner technology that almost ended all life had been missing right after the fighting broke out. The screen in front of her shifted to one corner of the massive room. That damned orb floated at the top, near the shadows. It was hiding from the battle, waiting for it to be over. I wonder how strong that material he’s made with is…Half the screen dulled and showed its components, which intrigued her. All right computer, download me into 343 Guilty Spark, upload him here, and give me full control over his protocol. Then don’t allow any of his requests to be met. She could feel herself being pulled back out of the computer’s systems and again was in flux. Downloading…Please stand by… 85%...90%...95%... Download complete The sound of wind passing by faster than it normally should alerted her of an immediate danger: gravity. She quickly searched for some way to access maneuvering controls, but couldn’t find it. Her speed continued to increase until she reached terminal velocity, a term that ill suited her predicament. At ten meters from the ground, Cortana let out an archaic noise, resembling a beeping sound that early computers made because of the lack of speakers, and wished that maneuvering control would magically appear. When they did, she wasted no time, but it was too late. She hit the ground hard, but she was fine. Cortana began to move around slowly, getting some idea of how to fly the contraption. She searched its internal mechanism, propulsion system and schematics. Shocked at what she found, she now knew how to help. Cortana was protected by an impenetrable alloy, which gave her the ability to do as she pleased without fear of termination. She could propel herself at incredible speeds, which gave her an idea. She flung herself with whatever the orb could muster at the nearest Gravemind, penetrating its skin, going right through it and leaving a gaping hole. She was amazed, never believing she could be so destructive on the battlefield with only her functions. It was exhilarating. She found her desired target and took aim.

Chapter 28 1620 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar)/ Forerunner Structure John watched in horror as the ancient figure he had hoped never to see again rose behind the Prophet. The leader of the Flood, Gravemind, an immensely large and powerful foe, stronger than any of the combat forms and quite possibly the most terrifying creature he had ever witnessed, had returned. This was the largest single being ever witnessed by any human. There was no way to measure its height because of its snake-like attributes: no formal body, just an elongated strand of green flesh that didn’t end. Tentacles, too many to count, were ready to strike, although John noticed that they were attached to the main body and did have a limit to their length. “It is time to feed!” the being said and began hammering away at the Prophet, but the shield stopped it. The tentacles moved like the crack of a whip, and the force with which they connected buckled the ground under the Prophet and his forces, driving them from the area. Brutes, Jackals and Drones opened fire on the Flood leader, but nothing seemed to damage it. The Prophet floated deeper into the room as the back ranks of the Preeminent forces were attacked by more Flood. Chatter broke out through the ranks, yelling and screaming. They were being attacked from behind. “Move in and set up a perimeter around the closest pillar!” John made his way there and stole another glance at the Prophet and his followers. If that shield had a limit, then the Prophet would soon be gone. An explosion rumbled from behind. Fire spewed from the entrance as the last of the Preeminent forces exited, followed closely by Flood combat forms. One Hunter hit a combat form, making it fly across the room. Three others took its place. “All Spartans and marines, form up on my position!” John ordered. “Commander, I need you to set up a perimeter around us using the Hunters’ shields to keep the Flood at bay. Get your Elites and Grunts to stay behind them to fight off any of the flying and jumping Flood.” “Yes, this will give us time to form a strategy.” He began communicating through special channels, and they quickly followed his orders. These were truly the best of the Preeminent, and John was glad he knew which side they were on. “All Spartans and marines, reporting!” Commander Keyes looked at John and awaited her orders. Though a higher ranking officer, she knew better. The Master Chief was possibly the best ground fighter in the history of Earth, and she didn’t want to take command over something she knew she couldn’t win. At least with him in charge, they stood a chance. More Spartans suddenly appeared. John had never seen any of them, and the tint of their armor was a shade darker than his own. There were quite a few, with an older Spartan that John remembered. “Kelly reporting with the Spartan III’s, Master Chief! This is Ben, Master Chief of the Spartan III’s; they are under your command as senior officer of the highest rank. What are your orders?” There was confusion among the marines for a few seconds. “We don’t have time for this,” Keyes shouted. She turned to John. “Master Chief, you are hereby promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer of the UNSC. Now, what are your orders?” He immediately recognized the title: a rank used only in wartime, but did not dwell on it for long, as an intense explosion suddenly rocked them. “We’re going to split up into three teams: red team, blue team, and green team. Blue team and green team will take on the Flood leader attacking us from behind, pounding it from the sides, while the Preeminent attack them head on. They’ll play a support for the main force. “Red team will consist of one person, who will infiltrate the control of this facility before the Prophet can reach it and activate this place. It will require someone who can hack into the systems and shut them down, or at least lock them out. And fast.” He knew every Spartan would want that mission, and he wanted it too, but he also knew that he lacked the qualifications for such an objective. “I’ll go,” Kelly said. “Negative. You don’t have the necessary skills to infiltrate the system.” “She doesn’t, but I do.” “Cortana?” “It’s a long shot, but I’m the only one who can make sure the Prophet won’t get in the system.” He thought for a moment and knew she was right. “Fine, make your best speed. Green team will be lead by the Master Chief…” He pointed at Ben. “…and will consist of him and half of the Spartans. I’ll lead blue team and take the rest. Marines, take up secure positions among the Preeminent forces and keep any combat and infection forms off our backs.” Before Kelly ran off, John grabbed her arm. “Where’s Dr. Halsey?” “Don’t worry; she’s in the safest place here.” She pointed to a tall pillar, and he noticed a small indentation in it, where several strands of gray hair could be seen. He nodded to her, then went off to take out the Flood menace. ****** The sinister beast continued its strike against the crystal’s impervious shield, causing Truth to question its intelligence. Perhaps it was simply enraged and wished to dispose of any possible threat, regardless of how unattainable the goal. Or perhaps it was like most of the Flood life forms encountered: it hungered. “Diretrus, split your forces, half to attack this beast, while the rest attacks the enemy from long range. They do not deserve to witness such extravagance.” “As you wish my liege. Jiralhanae and Yamne! Attack the Flood on my command. Kig-Yar, snipe any other opposition. Continue to stay within the confines of the shield. We shall move toward the control, and any left behind will fend for themselves!” A roar came from the Jiralhanae, while the Yamne and Kig-Yar nodded and carried out their orders. The Yamne flew on top of the Jiralhanae, sitting on their shoulders as they prepared to fire at the Flood beast. The damage dealt seemed to be minimal, although the Brute Shot explosives did seem to have more impact on the beast than the plasma pistol fire. Diretrus noticed this and devised a new strategy for his smaller comrades. “Jiralhanae, give all grenades to the Yamne. They will throw them in unison at the beast.” Following his orders, the Yamne threw the plasma grenades at the exact same time, but as soon as they left the energy field, they disappeared in a flash of blue light. Confusion ensued, until an explosion was heard and the ground shook from something huge hitting the ground. A tentacle of the menacing beast. Diretrus struggled to understand what had happened. The beast had caught every plasma grenade with one tentacle as opposed to letting them attach to its main bodily structure, thus sacrificing only that appendage. Ingenious. “Yamne, half of you shall throw at once, the other half after a few moments. Take turns relieving the beast of its only weapons. “Excellency, a Demon is approaching the platform!” Truth turned his hovering seat quickly and craned his neck to find the perpetrator. He saw the Demon running quite fast toward the control; there was no time left. “We move now!” Truth forced his chair to maximum speed, which caused many Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar to fall outside the protective zone. Some Kig-Yar didn’t even notice the change because they were preoccupied, looking through their sniper scopes, their last thoughts only on able-bodied targets. The Flood juggernaut pierced several with one tentacle alone, snapping the vital parts of their anatomy so they would never move again. The Jiralhanae were not so lucky. Almost there…Truth and the Demon approached the console, the Demon arriving first. But the crystal’s energy field had caught the Demon between it and the console, just before it could reach the main control and access it. The Demon resisted and pushed at the field, but to no avail. “Cortana! Download yourself into it now!” What am I hearing? Perhaps it is the Demon who speaks, and this crystal allows me to hear everything the vermin says. “Downloading now.” Downloading? “Hurry up Cortana, I can’t hold on much longer!” As the Demon groaned, Truth began to understand what was occurring. The Demon carries a construct within itself. It cannot be allowed into the core! “Diretrus, kill the Demon!” The Jiralhanae ran over and raised his Brute Shot. Then, grabbing the Demon’s immobile head, he pierced the helmet with the blade and killed it instantly. Did it succeed? “Activate the main mechanism and prepare to―” “Excellency, I have been locked out. Every access panel has been shut down and does not respond.” Rage started to build within Truth, until he let out a scream of defeat that no creature alive had ever heard. “Find a way in there! Rip this entire structure apart if necessary!”

No matter. If the scriptures are true, then I shall soon see the past. Teachings of the holy crystals were found by the Prophets on several worlds that had been investigated, giving the locations of the holy worlds, as well as directions for using the crystals. One had already been lost to the Demons, while only a small portion of the second was left. Truth made sure that the last one was not compromised, and found it before the Demons could. If they had, all may have been lost. Truth marveled at the ignorance of the Humans. They had been unable to grasp the power behind the crystals. Incomprehensible, he thought. But he also thanked the Lords, for if they had used the crystals, he may never have been born. One of the crystals vibrated, and Truth’s eyes widened. “Halt. The opposition lies ahead.” Truth couldn’t explain how he knew this, but the crystal found on Earth had somehow directed him to this conclusion, and he was fully confident in it. “Excellency, are you sure? Perhaps I should send a Drone to investigate?” The commanding Brute, Diretrus, had originally come to Truth to replace Tartarus. To find out whether he was worthy or not, Truth asked one question: “What makes you believe you will fulfill his duties better than he could?” His reply was simple: “Tartarus was a weak fool, who merely found himself at the right place at the right time. His faith stemmed from ignorance and his strength from the Fist of Rukt, which he wielded like a child. Now he has failed, where I will not.” This answer had great meaning to Truth, who agreed that Tartarus’ faith was not from intelligence, and he immediately promoted Diretrus. From then on, everything had moved much more smoothly than he had anticipated. Now, however, was no time to question. “No, Diretrus, they are there. Find a path around them.” Diretrus held an electronic map, programmed by the ship. They had used it to navigate to the control center, and Diretrus tapped it several times. “A new course has been plotted. I will lead the way.” “Excellent. Bring us to it before them, and rewards that cannot be comprehended will be yours.” “Of course, Excellency,” he said, bowing slightly, then running ahead. The rest followed suit. Soon, Truth knew, they would reach their destination. ****** “Oracle,” the Arbiter said, “how soon until we reach the control center?” “We are almost there. Just a little farther.” The Oracle sounded worried, which hadn’t changed from the moment they first encountered the new Demons… Humans. The Arbiter was still adjusting to the change of nomenclature for his old enemies, his new allies. He knew that they were much more powerful than either the Unngoy or Lekgolo, or at least the Humans called Spartans. They had overcome every obstacle placed in front of them…killing the Prophet of Regret even with the Honor Guards present: a dazzling display of tactics and power. A large room appeared in the distance, brightly illuminated: their target. His pace quickened, bringing him to the room first. But awe stopped him, allowing the others to catch up. And when they saw the room, the same feeling overtook them. It was even larger than he had thought. Now inside it, the full depth of the interior overwhelmed him. “Humbling, isn’t it?” “Quite.” Everyone turned to see where the oddly familiar and sinister voice came from and were shocked at what they observed. In a hovering chair sat the Prophet of Truth, surrounded by Jiralhanae, Kig-Yar, and Yamne. Where had they come from? The Preeminent forces opened fire on them, waves of plasma burning the air. It splashed in an odd semicircular path around the foes’ location. After a period long enough to cut through the crust of some planets, the Arbiter ordered them to stop firing. Shocked, the Preeminent forces saw that the Prophet and his minions stood just as before, unscathed, with a strange yellow glow encompassing them. “I’d suggest you forego wasting more ammunition, for nothing will pierce this energy shield. It was built by the Lords who designed this magnificent place.” They watched the Prophet float like a God across the enchanted room. “They call this place the Ark. Do you know why? Because this is the one place our Lords kept sacred from the Flood infestation, the one place they could survive in until the reign of those disgusting beasts ended. So they waited here, for years. Thousands and thousands of years… “But time was against them, just as it is against you now. Because there is nothing that can be done to stop me, as long as I hold this in my possession.” The Prophet displayed a large crystal, about the size of his hand. “Don’t worry, there is no way to reach it unless I deactivate the protective field around me, which I have no intention of doing. The only question on my mind is this: should I allow you all to stay and watch the most glorious of all ceremonies take place, or has becoming traitorous animals taken that honor away from you?” As the Prophet continued his monologue, motion sensors detected movement to the left of the Arbiter. Keeping a steady eye on the Prophet, he quickly glanced over to the position of the movement, which stopped momentarily. A green helmet appeared, followed by a Sangheili’s white helmet, instantly telling him who had arrived. “Believe it or not,” the Prophet continued, “this quandary has been a difficult one, and much time has been spent debating it. However, I do not come unprepared, and have an answer ready for you. Therefore, prepare for the―” A shadow loomed over the Prophet’s head, and when the Arbiter looked at it, memories piled high. How can it be? Halo was destroyed! The Prophet of Truth looked up to see what was happening. “Oh dear,” 343 Guilty Spark said. “I believe it’s started.” Then the Flood came.

No matter. If the scriptures are true, then I shall soon see the past. Teachings of the holy crystals were found by the Prophets on several worlds that had been investigated, giving the locations of the holy worlds, as well as directions for using the crystals. One had already been lost to the Demons, while only a small portion of the second was left. Truth made sure that the last one was not compromised, and found it before the Demons could. If they had, all may have been lost. Truth marveled at the ignorance of the Humans. They had been unable to grasp the power behind the crystals. Incomprehensible, he thought. But he also thanked the Lords, for if they had used the crystals, he may never have been born. One of the crystals vibrated, and Truth’s eyes widened. “Halt. The opposition lies ahead.” Truth couldn’t explain how he knew this, but the crystal found on Earth had somehow directed him to this conclusion, and he was fully confident in it. “Excellency, are you sure? Perhaps I should send a Drone to investigate?” The commanding Brute, Diretrus, had originally come to Truth to replace Tartarus. To find out whether he was worthy or not, Truth asked one question: “What makes you believe you will fulfill his duties better than he could?” His reply was simple: “Tartarus was a weak fool, who merely found himself at the right place at the right time. His faith stemmed from ignorance and his strength from the Fist of Rukt, which he wielded like a child. Now he has failed, where I will not.” This answer had great meaning to Truth, who agreed that Tartarus’ faith was not from intelligence, and he immediately promoted Diretrus. From then on, everything had moved much more smoothly than he had anticipated. Now, however, was no time to question. “No, Diretrus, they are there. Find a path around them.” Diretrus held an electronic map, programmed by the ship. They had used it to navigate to the control center, and Diretrus tapped it several times. “A new course has been plotted. I will lead the way.” “Excellent. Bring us to it before them, and rewards that cannot be comprehended will be yours.” “Of course, Excellency,” he said, bowing slightly, then running ahead. The rest followed suit. Soon, Truth knew, they would reach their destination. ****** “Oracle,” the Arbiter said, “how soon until we reach the control center?” “We are almost there. Just a little farther.” The Oracle sounded worried, which hadn’t changed from the moment they first encountered the new Demons… Humans. The Arbiter was still adjusting to the change of nomenclature for his old enemies, his new allies. He knew that they were much more powerful than either the Unngoy or Lekgolo, or at least the Humans called Spartans. They had overcome every obstacle placed in front of them…killing the Prophet of Regret even with the Honor Guards present: a dazzling display of tactics and power. A large room appeared in the distance, brightly illuminated: their target. His pace quickened, bringing him to the room first. But awe stopped him, allowing the others to catch up. And when they saw the room, the same feeling overtook them. It was even larger than he had thought. Now inside it, the full depth of the interior overwhelmed him. “Humbling, isn’t it?” “Quite.” Everyone turned to see where the oddly familiar and sinister voice came from and were shocked at what they observed. In a hovering chair sat the Prophet of Truth, surrounded by Jiralhanae, Kig-Yar, and Yamne. Where had they come from? The Preeminent forces opened fire on them, waves of plasma burning the air. It splashed in an odd semicircular path around the foes’ location. After a period long enough to cut through the crust of some planets, the Arbiter ordered them to stop firing. Shocked, the Preeminent forces saw that the Prophet and his minions stood just as before, unscathed, with a strange yellow glow encompassing them. “I’d suggest you forego wasting more ammunition, for nothing will pierce this energy shield. It was built by the Lords who designed this magnificent place.” They watched the Prophet float like a God across the enchanted room. “They call this place the Ark. Do you know why? Because this is the one place our Lords kept sacred from the Flood infestation, the one place they could survive in until the reign of those disgusting beasts ended. So they waited here, for years. Thousands and thousands of years… “But time was against them, just as it is against you now. Because there is nothing that can be done to stop me, as long as I hold this in my possession.” The Prophet displayed a large crystal, about the size of his hand. “Don’t worry, there is no way to reach it unless I deactivate the protective field around me, which I have no intention of doing. The only question on my mind is this: should I allow you all to stay and watch the most glorious of all ceremonies take place, or has becoming traitorous animals taken that honor away from you?” As the Prophet continued his monologue, motion sensors detected movement to the left of the Arbiter. Keeping a steady eye on the Prophet, he quickly glanced over to the position of the movement, which stopped momentarily. A green helmet appeared, followed by a Sangheili’s white helmet, instantly telling him who had arrived. “Believe it or not,” the Prophet continued, “this quandary has been a difficult one, and much time has been spent debating it. However, I do not come unprepared, and have an answer ready for you. Therefore, prepare for the―” A shadow loomed over the Prophet’s head, and when the Arbiter looked at it, memories piled high. How can it be? Halo was destroyed! The Prophet of Truth looked up to see what was happening. “Oh dear,” 343 Guilty Spark said. “I believe it’s started.” Then the Flood came.

Chapter 27 1550 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar)/ Unknown Forerunner Structure Johnson? Looking back at the Spartan III’s, Kelly was too shocked to speak. “Hold your fire,” Ben said. “They’re human.” The Spartans leveled their weapons. “Cortana, can you confirm?” “There are several humans, but I also detect a large number of Covenant forces with them. I don’t know what’s going on, but it could be a trap.” “Noted.” Ben asked Kelly, “You know them?” She nodded. “Fine, get up there and find out what’s going on. We’ll cover you and hold here until you give the all clear.” Kelly stood and walked toward the intersection between the two encampments. Golden light shined brightly over the area, illuminating the perimeter. Sergeant A.J. Johnson approached Kelly, who stared in disbelief. In the back of her mind, questions rapidly formed: How did you get here? Did you reach Earth? What happened there? She struggled to keep herself focused. “Glad to see you,” Johnson said as he saluted. She returned it. “Sergeant, what are those Covenant soldiers doing with you? Have you been taken prisoner?” “Not at all, ma’am. We’ve got a truce. And as far as I know, a treaty should have been signed by now. We’re at peace with the Covenant. Or at least a part of them.” His words struck like a bullet. “I know…crazy, ain’t it?” Taking a moment to let it sink in, she realized that there had to be proof. “Cortana, what do you think?” “Bio-spectral analysis shows that he’s telling the truth, but he could be a very good liar. In either case, I doubt he’d want to hide that from you. As for the Covenant making peace, I’d also be skeptical. Nobody starts wars and fights them for over twenty years, then shows up at your front door and decides not to finish the job.” “Agreed.” Kelly studied Johnson. “Can you prove it?” “Indeed, he can.” The deep voice rumbled behind Johnson. A huge shadow approached. It wore a foreign helmet, one Kelly had never seen before. Silver armor reflected light in all directions, completely covering the entire upper body of the Elite. “I am the Arbiter, and these,” he pointed behind him, “are my warriors. We mean no harm, and wish for you to join us.” Kelly stared dubiously at the Elite. “Cortana…?” “I have no idea. All I know is back on Delta Halo, the Covenant were fighting each other. It’s possible this isn’t a ploy.” John would know what to do, she thought. She glanced back at Johnson, who gave her a reassuring nod. Kelly thought for a minute, then said, “All right. Spartans, all clear.” They piled out, their weapons aimed and ready. She looked back at the Arbiter, staring into its large black eyes. An overwhelming feeling of strength seemed to emanate from them, and Kelly knew she made the right choice. Ben approached them, lowering his assault rifle. “I am the Master Chief, leader of this operation.” “Wait, what are you talking about,” Johnson cut in. “The Master Chief is on Earth.” “No sergeant, this is the Master Chief of the Spartan III project.” Dr. Halsey appeared from the shadows with the last of the Spartans. Johnson was stunned. “Don’t worry sergeant, it’ll all be explained in good time. Master Chief, I suggest we make this a walking conversation.” “Agreed. Arbiter, we’ll have to cut introductions short. The Flood have managed to follow us here, and they’re not far behind.” The entire Covenant force came out, all hurrying after another floating orb. A Monitor, like the one Kelly had seen on the Halo ring. This one was blue, and it stopped to look at her and the rest of the Spartans for a moment, then continued on. “Come, if the Flood have followed us here, then two forces will be fighting against us. The Prophets follow our forces as well and cannot be allowed to enter the control center. We must move with haste.” The Arbiter clutched his energy sword. Ben spread his Spartans out. They knew that the Hunters and Grunts would be able to hold off any attack long enough for the Elites and Spartans to give support, so it was in the front where they were needed. “Kelly, stay with Dr. Halsey. Make sure she’s safe.” “Yes sir. Dr. Halsey, if you will…” Kelly led her to the center of the newly formed strike team, where it would hopefully be the safest. ****** Surrounded by Brutes, the normal wonder Truth felt for them was dulled by the magnificence of the crystal. Its power was unmatched; truly the greatest of all the Lords’ creations. Rummaging through the folds of his holy garments, he brought forth a container carrying the remains of the last crystal. The pieces began to brighten, showing a connection they held to each other. Astounding. The shattered crystal carried certain properties that allowed for intensified travel through Slipspace, where the time to destinations did not decrease; it turned back. It enabled the user to go back in time through Slipspace, providing a power like no other. Unfortunately, the Human filth had managed to destroy or otherwise dispose of a large portion of the holy crystal, thus disabling its function and Truth’s original intent.

****** The five Covenant warships were split up, each keeping a good distance from the Black Star. It was not normally the way of Sangheili to withhold themselves from a fight, but more important matters rested upon their shoulders. It was enough that time was being wasted here, instead of being at the Arbiter’s side. The Supreme Commander followed the trajectory of the human ship and saw its desired target. The Faith was not fast enough to keep the humans at bay, and would soon be destroyed. A difficult choice awaited the Commander: allow one of his vessels to perish to possibly save the rest, with no honor, or to attack with all the ships in his command and have a greater chance of death, though an honorable one. There had never been an instance in which his command would cause others to die without honor. Confusion clouded his mind and memories of the past came to him. It had been a long time since such an error had caused him to lose his confidence and strength. The memory of returning home with the mark had caused him to hide in seclusion for far too long. It was his life and the life of his warriors, or their honor and imminent death. His error had cost him the shame to his family. I will not err again. “All vessels, prepare to engage the human ship. Target weapons systems and engines. But destroy it if necessary.” The Faith turned around and opened fire on the Black Star, whose shields blocked the plasma bolt. It then fired a single round that tore through the Faith’s shields and its hull, destroying the vessel. The four others began to converge on the Black Star, which opened fire on them. Blue light streamed from it in a familiar pattern, and when it connected to the shields, the Commander knew why: it resembled their own plasma rifle. The shields of the vessels dropped like those of his own armor against such fire. “Bring us about. Fire volleys from generators one and four.” Plasma filled the sky and found its target, but still couldn’t penetrate its shields. It fired all three of its Mac cannons at the Birthing Soul, which was left dead in space only moments later. Salvos of missiles streaked from the Black Star toward all of the Preeminent vessels, striking them all. The Commander now wondered whether his decision was the right one, but he dismissed it almost immediately. Instead, his thoughts turned toward a successful mission for his new allies. ****** No one had spotted the Spartans yet, and they’d already climbed up eight levels. It was starting to seem more and more like a trap, but remembering Ackerson from the questioning John received after his mission on Côte d’Azur, he surmised that the colonel might still be arrogant enough to make a trap for them on the bridge. Or maybe he figured that he couldn’t stop the Spartans anywhere but the bridge. They continued on, and at the tenth level the motion sensor showed at least ten targets, all patrolling the area. From what John knew, there was no other way around. Pointing at the door leading into the guarded hallway, John glanced at his team and drew a pistol. They all followed suit. He made sure nobody was using the powerful M6D pistol, even though he had it holstered. The M6C was enough for their purposes. As the doors opened, Fred and Will took down the first three guards, aiming only for their gun hands. James and John took two more down, keeping their aim high and away from vitals. But when the marines opened fire, it was with fully automatic weaponry. Jumping for cover, the Spartans took turns placing single shots at any given target. The marines attacked head on. They kept their distance, knowing that hand-to-hand combat would not be as effective as precise aim with the pistols. But there wasn’t time to waste. The Spartans simply ran past them and headed for the elevator to the bridge. They reloaded their pistols as they stepped in. Fred keyed the console, which immediately denied him access to the bridge. He punched more buttons, then gave up and smashed the console. The system’s failsafes started working, elevating the lift. As soon as it reached the top, they found the trap. At least twenty marines leveled SB73’s at the Spartans. Ackerson turned around on the command couch. “Drop your weapons, and you won’t be fired upon.” The Spartans let go of their pistols. But when they hit the ground, they scattered and attacked the marines. James grabbed the closest one and bent her gun in half, then threw her into another. Linda hit and broke one’s femur, then grabbed his gun and fired two rounds into another’s arms. Fred managed to smash two marines into each other and knock them unconscious while head butting another behind him. Will caught a bullet fired at him and threw it into the firing marine’s hand, then stomping on his foot, while using his other hand to squeeze the arm of another marine. John focused on Ackerson, pushing any marines out of his way. A few of them fired at him and dropped his shields. John grabbed the M6D and downed them quickly, then shot a round into Ackerson’s leg. By the time he reached the fallen colonel, the bridge was clear of hostiles; only the original bridge crew was still there. “Open a channel on all F-band frequencies. We have taken the Black Star, and she is non-hostile. I repeat, she is non-hostile. Recall all fighters and cease fire. This ship is now under our control.” “They won’t listen to you, Spartan!” Ackerson tried to get up, but failed and crawled away from John slowly. “This crew is loyal to me and to Earth, not to your treasonous rampage. Three of your ships have already been destroyed.” “Actually sir, you’re wrong.” A marine at the helm walked over to John. “What orders do you have, Master Chief?” “No, no no no no,” Ackerson mumbled, shaking his head. “You’re a treasonous snake too, aren’t you lieutenant? Then you can burn with the rest of them!” He pulled out a pistol and fired, but John got in the way of the bullet, which fell to the ground after hitting his shields. Ackerson kept firing until John was on top of him and grabbed his right hand, which held the gun. John turned his hand around until the gun pointed at Ackerson’s head. Ackerson resisted, but it was no use against the Spartan’s strength. “Give me one good reason you shouldn’t pull this trigger.” “I’m fighting for humanity! The Covenant would never sign a treaty with us! They haven’t accepted a single transmission in over twenty years.” “Wrong. One more chance.” Sweat broke out on Ackerson’s face as he looked around at his bridge crew. “Court martial?” “Good enough. Get him off the bridge and into the brig, lieutenant.” “Right away, sir.” “Report?” “Sir, shields are failing at 17 percent. Engine systems are down to 36 percent, and weapons systems five through eight are down. Fighter squadrons are down 50 percent. And we’ve managed to find the signal sent by the unidentified ship that entered the gravity well.” Unidentified ship? Signal? “Show me.” The screen displayed the Forerunner ship that carried the Prophet of Truth. It entered some portal, then disappeared. “Explanation for the signal.” “Not enough data. We believe it’s how they activated the portal.” “Can we transmit the same signal?” “Yes.” “Do it, and tell the rest of the fleet to follow us in.” “Signal away sir. Plotting course as soon as portal opens.” A few moments later, a magnificent light filled every monitor on the bridge. The vibrant colors astounded them. Linda stood next to John and held on to the handlebar in front of the captain’s chair. “It’s beautiful,” she said. He couldn’t agree more. “Take us in.”

****** “Commander,” the helmsman said, “the vessel is the same one that left when we entered the Holy world’s space.” “Interesting. Keep enough distance from it so they cannot fire upon us. The Humans will arrive momentarily. They must be spoken with before taking action against this new obstacle.” The Supreme Commander scrutinized the unknown vessel but was unable to determine anything. “I have never seen a ship of that classification. Scan it.” “Scanning…Commander,” the helmsman said, “I do not believe our scanners can penetrate its hull. Preliminary scans show nothing. It has set an intercept course for us.” “Match it and keep our distance.” The bridge doors opened and the humans entered. “Do any of you recognize this vessel?” They turned to the view screen and examined it. “Yeah, I’ve seen that ship before,” Helstrum said. “It’s one of ours.” “Excellent. Then you may contact it and inform them of the new treaty.” “Wait,” John cut in, “I’ve never seen that class warship before. What is it?” “I don’t know, sir. When we were out there fighting, a huge EMP blast knocked most of our ships out, and a lot of theirs as well. That ship came out of nowhere and destroyed anything that moved. All we know about it is that it has a Super Mac cannon, three regular Mac cannons, a huge complement of fighters and an array of weaponry that we’ve never seen before.” “This will only help end the struggle faster. Contact them so we may move on.” The Commander input commands on a console near them, then nodded. John stepped forward. “This is Spartan -117 to the UNSC attack ship. Please respond.” A moment of silence ensued, giving the Preeminent ship an eerie feeling, until a response broke through the silence. “This is the Black Star. We have the most advanced warship in existence. I am Colonel Ackerson, and I order your Covenant ships to stand down and be boarded, or be destroyed for crimes against the human race. I repeat, surrender or be destroyed.” John looked at his Spartans and the marines; all were clueless how to respond. The message left them dumbfounded. “Black Star, there is no time for this. The Covenant are going to activate the Ark, and if they do it’ll kill us all. A treaty has been made with a faction of the Covenant, and we are currently at a cease-fire with them. Stand down and do not engage. We will not open fire.” “Then you are traitors! The Covenant attacked Earth, they’re going to activate this ‘Ark’ and you are leading them. You leave me no choice, Spartans. I knew from the start that Dr. Halsey was crazy and couldn’t be trusted. No treaty has been made; you’ve sided with the enemy, seeing that the human race was going to fall. I sentence all traitors and their allies to death for the highest crimes against humanity. May God have mercy on your souls. Open fire when ready.” The crew converged on their consoles, determining possible attack vectors and defensive positions for the fleet. John knew that they desperately needed a plan. “Commander, with the firepower that Helstrum said we had, can these five ships take on the Black Star?” “We lack the necessary information. He stated that more armament was in its arsenal, although they are not known to us.” “Are there boarding ships here?” “Yes, boarding craft are available.” “Stay out of the Black Star’s range. I’ll take one boarding party, and you can send a few others. Cover us with any fighter craft you have. We’ll go in and take control of it.” “Are you sure that is wise? It will be fired upon and possibly destroyed.” “Sounds like they’re going to open fire anyway. Send several decoy boarding craft out; we’ll do the best we can. Try to give us the time we need; we’ll message you when we’re on board.” ****** The last time John had been inside a Covenant boarding craft was back on the Cairo before finding the Delta Halo. And it was only to take out a few targets that he didn’t want the marines to miss, so he didn’t get a good look at it. This was as close up as he’d ever wanted to be. Drifting in space with his four Spartans, John felt uneasy. Being in space with no protection or knowing what was going on was the worst feeling imaginable. A necessary evil, he reminded himself. Each trip like this he’d wished was the last, but it never seemed to be. Looking at his Spartans, he knew that they all thought the same thing. Sending the Seraph fighters to protect only the decoys was a daring move, but he knew if anything attacked their boarding craft, a couple of fighters wouldn’t have helped. He just hoped that they wouldn’t pick up on his plan. Holding state-of-the-art weaponry and more ammunition for this mission than any of them wanted, John tried to think of a way to not kill anyone. All he needed to do was take control of the bridge and force them to stand down, at least for a short time, while the rest of the fleet got into position to board safely and stop any further problems. Maybe only Ackerson felt that the Spartans were traitors, and the rest of the crew was just afraid to disobey his orders. John knew how fear played a large part in any such role, unless the crew was loyal to his cause. But he doubted that, mainly because Ackerson had no proof of what was really happening and was providing his crew with only theories. John had five recorded videos, one from each Spartan’s armor, of the events taking place. They would not reject it. The boarding craft attached itself to the hull and pushed all the relieved Spartans into one another briefly. They quickly cut a hole in the hull of the black ship. No ship ever seen had been painted black, mainly because the UNSC had always wanted ease in viewing their own ships. This, obviously, was the exception to the rule. The cutting tools were standard for any boarding craft, but they didn’t work against the hull of this ship. It finally started to give way when James kicked it, and the rest followed suit. Soon, it was bent in such a way that they were able to pull it out from the middle. Soon it was large enough to fit through, and they piled in. Scanning the interior of the ship showed nothing out of the ordinary. It looked like a standard UNSC warship, although the equipment was definitely upgraded. They were in the air filtration room full of plants. “Looks like we can take a breath of fresh air,” James joked. “Radio silence from here out,” the Master Chief said. “Hand signals only. Fred, Will, you have point. Linda, watch the rear. Let’s go.” As they approached the doorway out, motion sensors detected movement outside. They must be looking for us. But there was only one exit, and they were all too large in their armor to crawl through the air ducts. They waited, and soon there was only one blip on the motion sensor. John decided it was time to go. They crouch walked toward the door, which automatically opened, but none of them left the room. Motion sensors showed the blip moving closer. When John spotted a man peering through, they grabbed him and dragged him inside. “How do we get to the bridge?” “There’s no way I’m telling you traitors!” Linda took a step closer. “Last chance.” He spat on her boot. She grabbed his index finger, breaking it in three places. Will covered his mouth as he screamed. “Now will you tell me, or do I have to make sure that this entire hand will never be used again?” Breathing hard and sweating, the man’s eyes darted left and right, looking for a way out. Linda grabbed another finger. “Go up ten levels and past four doors! There’s an elevator there, but only bridge crew can activate it.” “That’s better.” Linda smiled, then tapped the man on the head with enough force to give him a concussion. He dropped, and Will laid him on the ground. There was no movement outside as they left the room.

Chapter 26 1505 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar)/ Black Star Bridge “Status report!” Colonel Ackerson, in the command couch, utilized every ounce of strength not to explode in rage. “Sir, all systems are functional. Shields are down to 49 percent, and weapons bays two and seven are empty. Structural integrity is down 12 percent on levels thirty-eight through forty, and repairs are underway right now. Three fighter squadrons are down, and there are gaps with four others. Scanners also indicate…something, 30,000 kilometers off the starboard bow.” “I want those shields back to 100 percent immediately, and those fighter squadrons fixed. And whatever that something is, I want to know what.” The brilliant plan to destroy the attacking Covenant fleet was obliterated to hell, and there was nothing he could do about it. Earth was a sitting duck against the Covenant forces. So he did the only thing he could: pursue the Covenant leader and capture it, accomplishing the Spartans’ original mission. The Black Star might have been the most advanced ship in existence, but it still couldn’t take on twenty Covenant warships and frigates, all fully armed and shielded. “I’m sorry sir, whatever it is, our scanners cannot identify it. May I recommend we move in closer to investigate?” “Yes, do it. But don’t compromise the power being put into regenerating the shields.” Not knowing where the hell they were or what this something was only annoyed Ackerson. But he shouldn’t have expected anything less, following the unidentified vessel through Slipspace. “Sir, I’ve found the unidentified ship. It’s…inside that thing.” “I want answers, lieutenant. What the hell is that thing, and can we go after that ship?” “I don’t know sir, to both. Our scanners aren’t sophisticated enough to penetrate it, and with the other ship in there—” “This is the most state of the art vessel ever made, and your telling me that we can’t find out what that thing is?” “I’m afraid so, sir.” “Shield status?” “Sir,” a helmsman said, “we’ve brought it up to 61 percent and holding.” “All right. Follow that ship in. Give me best intercept speed.” Ackerson stared at the spectacle, amazed at what he was seeing. It twisted slowly and bloomed like a flower, over and over. But it suddenly shuddered, and stopped blooming. Its colors seemed to mix together into a warped pigment, and everything was collapsing. “What’s happening?” “Unknown sir.” “Dammit, I want answers! No more ‘unknowns’! I hear one more and I’ll space you myself.” “Sir, it seems to be closing in on itself. Recommend escape vector.” “Negative. Continue on steady course.” The light intensified, until it seemed to retreat from the Black Star. “What’s going on?” “The vortex appears to be moving away from us.” “I can see that! Engineering, give me full power!” “Sir, we’re already pushing this ship’s engines to their max. Any more and they’ll burn up.” Moments later the light disappeared into the blackness of space. Warning lights flickered on and off on the bridge, and alarms sounded. “Sir, a massive gravity well is directly in front of us. If we fall in, we won’t be able to get out.” “Show me on the tactical display.” The Black Star appeared as a black triangle, with a huge circle several hundred kilometers wide representing the gravity well. What the hell is that? “Divert all power to reverse thrusters and give me full burn.” Several g’s forced everyone back out of their seats as the ship pulled back as hard it could. Ackerson heard the groans of several crew members as they were forced into their consoles. “Full starboard thrusters! Bring her about and give me everything you’ve got!” Why must I do everything myself? Damn, I wish I had Araquel to fly this ship, instead of these dimwitted marines. The acceleration eased, and the ship slowed to a static orbit around the gravity well. “Sir, we are clear of danger.” “You have a knack for saying the obvious, you know that? Now, what happened to that light…and the ship?” The bridge crew exchanged quick glances, none of them knowing what to say, but also knowing what not to say. One helmsman faced the colonel. “Sir, I believe the portal closed. Whatever ship that was, it had access into the gravity well, something that we have been unable to find.” Ackerson jumped up off the command couch. “Does everyone here have some reason for only telling me the things I can figure out on my own? Is there a conspiracy to make me feel like a complete idiot? Here’s something I’d like explained. What is that gravity well? Usually, we can see whatever causes such things, but as we can all see, there’s nothing there.” “Sir,” the brave helmsman said, “I believe that it is a black hole. Everything we’re picking up seems to indicate that, although we have no solid proof. It could be anything, but if I had to guess―” “An interesting idea. A black hole…” Ackerson started pacing. “Well, there had to be some way that they got through that portal. Scan on all frequencies possible, search for anything. If this is a black hole, maybe the key to getting inside is still circling it, stuck in its gravitational pull and just waiting to fall in. Let’s grab it before it’s gone.” Everyone began working furiously, eager not to upset the colonel. Just as Ackerson wanted it. Another alarm sounded. “Sir, Slipspace ruptures off the port bow! I read five Covenant warships!” “You.” He pointed to a marine. “Find that frequency. Plot an intercept course and warm up all batteries. Battle stations.” ****** John looked over his Spartans, as well as Commander Keyes and the three marine fighter pilots. For a moment he wondered whether they were prepared for the coming battles, if they could be counted on like his Spartans. Keyes wasn’t in question, although the three others he wasn’t so sure about. Helstrum sat steady, one leg atop the other, watching John. From the look in his eyes, John was sure they could rely on him. The woman, Jan, was shaken up pretty badly. But being stuck out in space with no means of communication or outside help for any period of time was nerve-wracking, to say the least. As long as she held up, there wouldn’t be a problem. Sach worried him. The kid was timid. He might be a good fighter pilot, but John had no idea how he would do on the battlefield. He didn’t have the look of a fighter. The large chamber they sat in was not exactly accommodating. No chairs or beds of any kind, only two benches along the walls that ran perpendicular to the door. Still, the Covenant thought this a high honor. There would be no complaints. “The Covenant that we know of consisting of Elites, Hunters, and Grunts are now to be called the Preeminent, and are allies,” John announced, holding a readout. “Brutes, Jackals, Drones and Prophets will remain the Covenant, and are to be considered hostile. Any Preeminent equipment necessary will be at our disposal. Firing at any Preeminent forces will be considered treason and will be punished by death on sight.” “So no accidental friendly fire. Got it.” Helstrum smiled and didn’t seem to care if anyone laughed. Jan and Sach gave a courtesy chuckle. “The treaty,” John continued, “states that after the Covenant threat is dealt with, the Human race will be given the choice to join the Preeminent. As of now, we are under their protection, but once this is through, we’re either with them or on our own. As a gesture of good will, exchanges in technology, personnel and other things will be allowed. And the list goes on.” John joined his Spartans on a bench, placing the readout next to him. He had only read the summary, and left out the smaller more technical details. “It’s all happening so fast,” Keyes whispered. The rest looked over at her, nodding. “Changes like this are necessary, I guess. For one, I’m thankful.” “Agreed,” James added. He had the most to be thankful for, surviving all this time while everyone else around him died. Even though John may have gone through a more physical hell, it was James who’d endured being alone, failing to save anyone, and suffering the guilt of their deaths. Perhaps he had the more challenging struggle. “So…what happens after all this is through? The war and all?” Helstrum left the question open. The Spartans all thought about it. They’d been trained for war, and all their lives there had been war. But when there was no more fighting…then what? The doors to their room opened and an excited Grunt ran in. “Masters request you at the bridge! Quick, follow!” If they hadn’t just left Slipspace, they would have found humor in the little Grunt. But this was urgent. Something was up.

Chapter 25 1st Age of Rebirth Aboard object believed to be the Ark They walked along a great pathway, the Oracle leading them, and the Arbiter was astonished by the architecture. It was quite like those of both Halos that he had encountered, yet also different. “Oracle, how long until we reach the control room?” “At our current speed, one hour.” “Damn, we’ve already been walking for an hour. Isn’t there some means of transportation throughout this thing?” “Yes, of course there is. Unfortunately, I do not have access to it. And even if I did, it would take the same amount of time to transport all of you to the control center, so it really makes no difference how we arrive.” “How big is this place anyways?” The sergeant wiped his brow. “Using your standard measurement units, the radius of this facility is approximately three kilometers. It is approximately 300…” As the Oracle continued with the description, one of the Sangheili approached the Arbiter and whispered to him. “Just before the portal closed, I registered another vessel behind us, although there wasn’t enough time to determine anything about it.” “Why wasn’t this brought to my attention earlier?” The Arbiter was angry; one of his own Sangheili, handpicked, had delayed offering necessary information. “Excellency, you were discussing important matters with the Oracle, and I dared not interrupt—” Fuming, the Arbiter smashed the Sangheili upside the head, throwing him onto the ground. Everyone stopped, and the downed Sangheili looked up, fearful of whatever lie ahead. “Do not take me for a fool!” The Arbiter activated his energy sword and stood over the fallen Elite. The Humans were concerned. Johnson stepped forward. “What happened, Arbiter?” “This fool failed to mention that another vessel was in our midst just before we docked. We are not alone. I should kill him for his incompetence.” Calming himself, the thoughts started to flow clearer in his mind. “Perhaps he should live to prove himself worthy to be part of the Preeminent.” The Arbiter deactivated his sword. “Oracle, I am positive this ship has entered as well. Is there any way to determine what it is?” “Why, of course,” it chirped happily. “I’ll just scan it from here. One moment please.” Everyone edged closer to the Oracle. “Oh my. It is a master’s ship.” “Then the Prophets are here as well, undoubtedly not far behind us. We must expedite this journey to the control center. They must not be allowed to reach it before us, or the galaxy will be theirs.” ****** Continuing along, the Arbiter was soon sure they were most of the way there. They had increased their speed from before, although the lesser beings, the Lekgolo and Unngoy, had trouble keeping up. The Lekgolo’s large bodies made it more difficult to traverse such long distances, while the Unngoy’s short, stubby legs could not carry the weight of their bodies for long. They had already stopped and waited twice. One of the Zealots was sent ahead to make sure that the area was secure. Without knowing whether the Prophets had caught up with them, or if other beings resided within the great walls, the Arbiter wasn’t about to take any chances. “What’s the matter, Mendez? Put on too much excess baggage in the last couple of months?” Johnson was also sweating. Mendez looked up and raised an eyebrow. “With all due respect, you don’t look so—” “Say it and I’ll make you run back to the ship and double time your ass back here.” The other marines laughed heartily. “I’m sure you don’t want to be remembered as the one marine who was running while the rest of us kicked some serious ass.” ****** A signal broke through, and Ben heard heavy static and loud gunfire. Shotgun shells popped in the background, and inhuman screams broke through the static. “There’s too many of them! Get out of here! Thousands―” The transmission died. The Master Chief immediately readied his firearm. “Taylor, Nick and Sean, take point. We’re going to extract her.” “Wait.” Kelly looked at him. “We can’t save her. Didn’t you hear what she said? There are thousands of them. We don’t have the firepower to fight such a force. Our first priority, as you said before, is to get back to Earth.” Glancing back toward where he had sent Jessica, he shook his head. “Fine, double time the search. The Flood will catch up if we don’t move. Cortana, can you read them on long-range scanners?” “Negative. They were at least fifteen kilometers back, which means that it’ll take them some time to find us if they take the same route we did and we keep moving. But I’ll keep an eye on it.” Ben knew that Dr. Halsey wouldn’t keep up. He looked at Kelly, who understood. “Dr. Halsey, may I?” Halsey nodded; Kelly lifted her off her feet, and the team moved out. A couple of minutes later Cortana said, “Wait, I’m picking up something.” Instinctively, Ben held up a fist and knelt, the rest following suit. He pointed to a few Spartans, who crouch walked around several hallways and took cover, aiming their sniper rifles. Cortana sent the data to the Spartans; the signal was getting stronger. The Spartans at point aimed in the general direction of the targets and waited for them to appear. ****** “Excuse me,” the Oracle said, “but I’m reading multiple life forms approaching us from the―” Three shots rang out, sounding like they’d come from a standard .50 caliber sniper rifle. Ahead, the Zealot jumped for cover. Everyone took firing positions, but hesitated, waiting for the Arbiter’s command. They use Human weapons… “Sergeant, speak to them. They use your weapons, so they must be human. This is not the time or place for battle.” Johnson nodded and turned the corner. “Hey hey hey, let’s back off a bit! We’re friendlies, last I checked!” Suddenly, the Oracle started spinning around, faster than ever before. Back and forth, it finally stopping and facing the Arbiter, who said, “What is it, Oracle?” “They’re here. And the Guardians have been activated. If that isn’t enough, then we are doomed.” Never having heard despair from the Oracle, shock rippled through the Arbiter. Whatever it was, it had scared the Oracle. That was not a good sign.

****** My plan is almost complete. And this feeling, this anticipation for total and never-ending power…it brings me back to my youth. The Prophet of Truth sat upon his lofty floating throne in the bridge of the Forerunner vessel, designated Truth’s Blessing. What better name than that of the leader of the Covenant? “Excellency,” a Brute growled humbly, “we will arrive at the desired coordinates momentarily. Leaving Slipspace…now.” As the view screens were flooded with the white light of the rupture, farther ahead a stranger incident was occurring. The crystal in Truth’s hand began pulsing, emitting much light. “What is that?” “Scanners report a massive gravity well, and something that cannot be determined from this distance. Moving in closer to investigate.” The Forerunner vessel veered closer to the strange light, but neither Truth nor any of the crew aboard felt it accelerate. Some extraordinary system did not allow the crew to not feel the impulse of the vessel, something that Truth had not yet become accustomed to. In time, I suppose. Just as they reached the swirling mass of brilliant light, it began to collapse on itself and pull back. It continued in this fashion until there was no more. “Was an analysis taken?” “Yes Excellency, but I fear it will not be enough. There is no way to explain the portal, although there were readings of an atmosphere within it, and that it was unaffected by the gravity well it came from.” “Is that all?” “Yes, Excellency.” How unfortunate. They do not fully understand the controls of this advanced vessel of our lords. No matter, they will learn in time. “The phenomenon before us, this ‘gravity well,’ is obviously part of a significant area for investigation. Especially if these coordinates were in the computer system. We were meant to find it. Now search for a way to enter, and soon all will be ours.” ****** Running at top speed, Jessica heard the wind passing by her, but she knew it was just her imagination because the Mjolnir armor cut out any sound from the outside unless she chose to hear it. At this speed, the torrent of air against the massive suit would only make her shiver from the harsh sound. Just thinking about it did the trick. It had taken the team of Spartans half an hour to traverse the huge complex to whatever location they were at, so she estimated a few minutes to get back to base camp. Motion sensors picked up contacts—although they didn’t show up as friend or foe—only a hundred meters ahead. She slowed down and raised her assault rifle. There was too much movement. Only seven Spartans had stayed behind, the five injured and two lookouts. She read well over fifty signatures. Just as she opened a channel to the Master Chief, something shoved her hard, almost forcing her to drop her weapon. A huge Flood combat form, larger than any she had ever seen before, paused and studied her. One arm was replaced by several long tentacles, each at least a meter long, one of them sizzling with static. Jessica opened fire and took off the elongated appendage, plus a leg. Her motion sensor displayed more movement behind her. She spun around, her gun poised, and saw the corridor filled with Flood beasts. Movement came from every direction, and from the corner of her eye she spotted Flood forms crawling on the walls, some flying, others jumping from wall to wall. She retreated slowly, but they edged closer. Shadows formed on the ground between her and the Flood, and they stood tall, larger than the Flood. They appeared humanoid. The shadows grew, until four figures emerged from behind two walls. At first the light was at their backs, and all she could see were their dark outlines. When they stepped into the light, Jessica’s eyes widened in disbelief. Dark jade armor reflected off the four beings, the shiny helmets allowing Jessica to see herself. For a split second she hesitated; then, the Flood attacked. Quickly dodging several lunging attackers, she forgot about the figures as she turned and threw the first Flood form back at the others with such force that they exploded in a pool of green ooze. Then she open fire and ran backwards. “There are Flood everywhere! They’ve completely surrounded me and are pouring out of the walls, the ceiling!” The sound of shredder rounds resonated off the walls and her shields dropped quickly. Leaping to the nearest wall for cover, she set the link between her and the other Spartans to stay open. Flood converged on her from every direction. Some flew at her, but Jessica managed to keep a small perimeter around and above her clear. When the main force turned the corner and spotted her, she bolted. Each corridor held more combat forms that she had never seen before, and firing at them seemed to do no good. There were too many. She did everything in her power to lose them, but they were everywhere. Finally, she saw a path that extended as far as she could see and ran for it. The creatures chasing her started to fall behind. She kept running until the lights began to dim. The suit activated its light automatically, but when it did, Jessica understood why the Flood had slowed down: a dead end. Her motion sensor went ballistic as more targets closed in from the front and static came from the rear. There was no escape. She heard the shrieks and screams from the Flood and saw them slowly close in on her; she pulled out her shotgun and pumped the handle.

Chapter 24 1420 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar)/ Onboard unknown Forerunner Structure Looking around at the new surroundings, Kelly could have sworn she was back inside one of Halo’s buildings or underground structures. The resemblance was astonishing, and she would have had trouble believing it if Cortana hadn’t said so herself. Grey walls surrounded the Spartans. Their green armor did not fit with the environment. “Cortana, where are we?” Kelly asked. “Unknown. As far as I can tell, it’s a Forerunner structure, and quite large. We’ll need to check around for more info.” I could have figured that out. Looking back at the rest of the Spartans, she made a mental note of the number of wounded. It seemed strange, but the Spartan IIs never really were wounded. In truth, any damage they received would have killed a normal human, and they would keep fighting on. “Cortana,” Kelly said, her mic muted so only the AI could hear her, “What is the status of the injured Spartans?” “Scanning…unknown. Their life signs are erratic, but their physical condition seems fine, considering the injuries I’ve seen you Spartans endure. Only minor injuries, but something has scrambled them from the inside.” Kelly thought for a moment longer, then shook her head and returned to the task at hand. Cortana added, “I should mention that the Flood do release certain elements into any body that they try to take over, incorporating their genetic makeup into the potential host. Although the parasite Flood form might not survive the process, it may still go on.” “So the injured might turn into Flood?” “There’s no way to know without study, and we don’t have the necessary equipment. But I might suggest leaving them behind. They will slow us down, and if they do end up turning into Flood, we may not be prepared to take them out. This way, one or two Spartans will stay behind and keep an eye on them, and if anything goes wrong, they’ll report back immediately.” Sighing, Kelly agreed. She did not want to inform Ben of this, but as leader of the team, he had to know. The perimeter was secure, which meant that either they’d been teleported in a lucky spot, or that they simply were the only ones here. The Forerunners, as far as she knew, had been dead for over 100,000 years. Returning to the small encampment, Ben approached Kelly. “I’ve got five wounded, all saying that they feel numb in their arms and legs, and can’t move some other parts. Dr. Halsey is giving them a bioscan now, but she says a full analysis won’t be complete for another hour, at least.” “We don’t have that kind of time. Without any intel on whatever this thing is, we can’t just sit around.” “Agreed. But the wounded can’t come with us. I’ll post a few Spartans to stay with them while the rest of us go on reconnaissance.” “Orders, sir?” “For the moment, stay put. We’ll gather our gear and get moving.” As he walked away, Kelly noticed Mark carrying several loads of equipment. “Need a hand?” ****** The corridors were dead silent, but Kelly pocketed the thought as a shiver went up her spine. She heard Cortana say, “It’s eerie how quiet it is here, isn’t it?” “You read my mind. Do me a favor and only tell me the good things from now on.” Cortana imitated a sigh, and quite well too, but Kelly shrugged it off. Two Spartans took the rear, three took point, while the rest made a small circle around the Master Chief, Kelly, and Dr. Halsey. Two more Spartans stayed behind with the wounded. “Master Chief, where exactly did the Spartan III program take place, if I may ask?” Dr. Halsey said. “On Reach,” Ben replied. “Reach? But we were on Reach and had no idea that it was going on.” “As soon as the Spartan II program was finished, we were brought in and trained.” “And who authorized the program?” “Colonel James Ackerson, and we were trained by Chief Petty Officer Mendez, if that was the next question.” “Ackerson…” “Do you know him, Dr. Halsey?” Kelly asked. The name was familiar, but she couldn’t remember from where. “Ackerson is a dog, following the orders of those bastards in ONI section three. They only go around and make trouble for us. They’re the ones who have been at the head of every illegal experiment that the UNSC has preformed in the last fifty years. Even before the Covenant, they were planning to use nerve gas on the pirate factions, just so they would stop. And Ackerson is the one who does their dirty work.” Several Spartans looked at her, probably dismissing the comment. “And now, here we are—” “We were supposed to discuss our mission details only with Colonel Ackerson,” Ben interrupted, “but this turn of events has changed the priorities of the mission. Our main concern should be to find a way off this thing and back to Earth, where we could actually do some good. This place seems like it’s been deserted for some time, and there are no signs of life anywhere. Mark, where’s the status report from blue team?” “We haven’t received it yet, sir.” “Permission to go check it out, Master Chief,” Kelly said. “Permission denied. I want you here. Jessica, go to blue team’s position and send back a signal. It may just be residual interference from the material here. If you get no response in ten seconds, head back double time.” Giving the thumbs up, Jessica ran off and the rest of the Spartans tightened formation. Kelly told Ben, “With all due respect, I am the fastest here. I should go.” “No, Jessica is. I heard that she ran past you when you tried to stop us from activating the ring.” So that’s who it was, she thought, remembering the incident. Well, I guess it makes sense. She’s at least ten years younger than me. “Frank, if there’s something inside these walls blocking our signal, can you disperse the signal so that it travels around them?” “No interference that I know of. We could use some of the cable to carry the signal through the corridors, but I don’t know that we have enough. Nick, any ideas?” “Well, if we set the frequencies of our messages to be at the highest possible for the suits, it would decrease the wavelength and increase the power of the signal, but we would need more power. And we’d need to test it out.” “Sounds like a plan. We’ll try it after we hear from Jessica. Until then, take five everyone.” Kelly inspected the M6D pistol she’d been given with her new armaments, quickly taking it apart and putting it back together again. “Is that what you always do when you have nothing better to do?” Cortana asked sarcastically. “I don’t generally have that luxury. Keep an eye on the motion scanners and on all frequencies. I don’t have a good feeling about this place.” ****** The command staff carried out its orders and the vessel began moving forward, increasing its speed. A tapestry of color and light continued blossoming from the black hole. The Arbiter watched the spectacle with much awe, yet could not comprehend how it was possible. “Wait!” the human named Fazio cried out in a panic. “If we enter the black hole, it’ll kill us all!” The Oracle moved back slightly. “Nonsense. We will be safe through this opening. If necessary, the ship’s personnel may even go through without this vessel, as there is a localized atmosphere in this phenomenon.” “You mean that we wouldn’t need the ship to be out in space? That we could breathe there?” “Marine, have you ever even considered using that grey squishy stuff in between your ears?” Sergeant Johnson was upset. “Or is it falling out of your ears and making you hard of hearing?” “No sir! I heard one hundred percent, sir!” “Oracle, is there a docking station of some sort?” the Arbiter asked. “Yes, there is. If you’d like, I could bring this ship to it and dock it at the first available spot.” “We would be most honored.” The Arbiter pointed at the control ahead of him, where a Zealot seated in it made way for the Oracle. It emitted a paradoxically bright and dull blue light, which connected to the console. The vessel increased its speed and veered farther into the phenomenon, the bridge crew watching its magnificence. Moments later, the Oracle cut off the electrical signal and rose. “A course has been laid in, and I’ve programmed the navigational systems onboard to dock at the first station. We will be arriving in a matter of minutes.” The time passed quickly as everyone continued to stare at the vibrant beauty surrounding them. Before anyone knew it, they had docked, and several stations of the Yielding Righteousness were asking for orders. Moments later the portal closed, leaving them alone at their destination. “Please, let us make our way to the control center.” The Oracle started floating towards the door leading from the bridge, but it didn’t open. Turning, it seemed to be asking for help. “Well?” The Human known as Johnson and another, Glusman, began laughing, although the Oracle’s situation seemed strangely pitiful. The Arbiter knew it was not a laughing matter, although their humor was still not entirely understood. “Come,” he said, “it is time.”

Chapter 23 1405 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar) Onboard Preeminent vessel Destiny “It all started during the battle at Reach,” James said, sparking the memory in every Spartan’s mind. “Captain Keyes had orders to destroy the navigational data on the Circumference, a ship that wasn’t completely destroyed. I’m sure you remember; John, Linda and I went to retrieve it. John was blue leader, Linda was blue one and I was blue two. “I was on demolition detail and was setting the explosives when it happened. I’d just finished setting them when Covenant needlers hit and punctured my jetpack. I was thrust out into space, and lost communication. John remembers.” He did, and the memory was painful, but was not nearly as bad as before. Seeing James now made it almost disappear. “After I was shot out into space, I did everything I could to get back to the hull, but with limited fuel and ammo, it was difficult. I was shot out above the Covenant’s main force, and they fired at me just as I managed to seal my jetpack. I used it as a shield and let it break open again, and it got me to the surface quickly. Clearing the area was easy enough, but I was stuck on the surface with no means to get inside, and no need. I knew that John and Linda were long gone, so my mission was to get back to either Reach or the Pillar of Autumn. Reach was easily 50,000 kilometers away, and the Pillar of Autumn was nowhere to be seen. Scanners couldn’t even pick it up. “The only structure I could see was the Reach station Gamma, so I went there. Found an escape pod aboard, only after searching the entire ship, mind you, and tried to take it back to the Autumn. The only problem was that once I got out into space, there were too many Covenant cruisers around to use anything but passive sensors, which wouldn’t have let me find it. Nevertheless, one ship jumped out and I had a feeling that was it. “Reach was too far with the limited air supply I had available, and the escape pod had been breached, so I couldn’t risk it. Instead, I scanned the debris field, looking for a ship with a working Slipspace drive. The Covenant has a bad habit of not cleaning up after they’ve finished a fight, thankfully. I found one that had survivors, and we managed to barely escape, or so the log states. The only way we could survive a month-long trip through Slipspace with the limited food and water was to put everyone in cryo-tubes. “Unfortunately, we were one short, and we needed a pilot. An officer, Deekes, was persistent in being the one, and I had no choice but agree. We prepared everything and left. “When the program I set finished by sending out a distress signal, my cryo-tube was deactivated and I came to a couple minutes later. After getting out, I noticed a small gravity, maybe a tenth of norm, but better than nothing. But looking into the other cryo-tubes was a shock: they were all dead. I couldn’t understand what had happened, and wondered if I was alive.” James sighed, rested his arms on his lap and looked at the floor. “You have to understand that I was disoriented because of the lack of nutrients, and I wasn’t thinking straight.” He swallowed another mouthful of military rations. It was his fourth package. “I looked in every single one. They were all dead, but still mostly frozen. At least they died in their sleep. “The cockpit door was locked, and I needed to pry it open. I found Deekes’ body. He’d been dead for around a month and a half, and his body had already begun decomposing. But there were also dark bloodstains attached to the walls, and a bunch of bullets littered the floor, along with a gun. Scanning the room showed a small gap in the windshield, and looking closer, it fit the size of the bullets I’d found. He had shot himself. “The atmosphere must have started to vent, slower in our compartment because of the partially sealed door. But because of the energy spent by the atmospheric systems to continue working properly, other systems power was drained, and the air inside the cryo-tubes managed to escape. I only survived because of this.” He tapped on his armor. John watched his and the other Spartans’ faces during the story, and grief came over him. “There was nothing you could have done.” “Maybe. All that I have left from the ship are the names of all the marines in here.” He pointed to his head. “When we get through this we’ll go to the families, let them know what happened.” “No, I’ll go. They were my responsibility, regardless of whether I could have done anything to save them. They were under my command, and I’m to blame for their deaths. I’ll go see the families. I’m sure you’ll all have your hands full anyways.” He stopped chewing and looked up, remembering something. “What happened at Reach?” The remaining Spartans exchanged glances, and John said, “We lost Reach.” James swallowed hard. “So we’re all that’s left?” “No. Dr. Halsey took Kelly before we reached the Cairo space station. We have no idea of her whereabouts.” James shook his head and looked down at his food, no longer hungry. It was an incredible blow to him, all this at once. Reach lost, almost all the Spartans gone, Earth nearly gone, and now a ceasefire and coalition. He still didn’t understand why they’d want to work together with humans if there was nothing left to offer. But that was something for a higher rank to answer. Admiral Hood entered and John instinctively stood straight and saluted. “Admiral on deck!” The rest of the Spartans followed. “At ease. Everything has been arranged, and I’ve got only one thing to give you for this mission. Of course, we never expected the treaty to go so far, but I couldn’t resist it, especially if there could be a possible conflict with other portions of the Covenant that have broken off from the core group.” Another soldier entered, holding something wrapped in a black cloth. He handed it over to Hood, who took the cloth off, revealing the weapon. “Fully automatic shotgun. Twenty rounds per clip, able to hold sixty extra rounds. Won’t ever jam or break down, thanks to some serious engineering done by our boys at R&D back home. There’s a full complement of them. They all come with a full Spartan weapons cache brought over from what we had left on Reach, but I’m sure there’ll be enough for you. Feel free to take whatever you like…we’ve given all the ammo we could spare.” “Thank you sir,” John said as he took the gun and inspected it. He couldn’t find any name or tag. “What’s it called?” “It isn’t. After losing a lot of our tech from the last couple civil wars, our people found a prototype of this, and just finished making it. The recoil is hell, and I figured that there were only a few marines who’d be able to take it. And it’s never actually been used, so maybe the honor of giving it a name can be yours, Master Chief.” “Yes sir. Thank you sir.” The Admiral stood still, hands behind his back, while the others looked over the new gun. “Something else, sir?” “Yes. The terms of the agreement give no indication as to when your mission will be finished. It may be a couple days, weeks, months…even years. And until that mission is fulfilled, there’s nothing I can do about it. If there’s anything I can do…if there’s anyone on Earth you’d like me to give something?” John glanced at James. Spotting a pen and paper on a table nearby, James began writing the names of those marines on the Pelican with him. The rest of the Spartans had declined, but John scribbled a few words on the paper. He handed it over to the Admiral, who examined it briefly and said, “Consider it done.” “Thank you sir.” “Good luck on your journey, all of you.” He shook each Spartan’s hand. “I’ll see you when you get back.” “Lord Hood turned and walked out the door. Another being entered, passing him: the white-armored Elite. “All preparations have been made, and we will depart immediately. Then our journey to the Ark shall begin.”

****** Just crack the hull and break through. Focus. Don’t lose focus. Break through. Slamming against the bulkhead as hard as possible only dented the seemingly living ship, surviving out in the cold of space. Only a minute of air left. The hull started to give way. A crack opened, offering the chance to grab the bulkhead from the inside and pull it off, allowing passage into the beast. He fell in and pressure leaked from the hull, causing the doors ahead to close, but he had jumped through already. They know I’m here. I have to work fast. Taking a breath of fresh air, thoughts began to flow clearer. He caught his bearings, his vision returning to normal, and he saw several Grunts ahead, all walking slowly away from him. He caught up to them and snapped their necks one by one silently, his only thought being whether or not their necks worked the same as humans. They stopped moving, and that was all that mattered. Elites ran in, probably to see what had happened with the bulkhead, and he hid in a dark corner, stealthily departing after they had passed. ****** Commander Keyes? The talks were underway, but John, as well as everyone else in the room, was dumbfounded by the Commander’s presence aboard the Covenant ship. All he knew of her was that she had gone to retrieve the index on Delta Halo. But her being here, in this amount of time? It was possible, but highly improbable. This would be a story for the ages. The only downside was that nobody had the luxury to hear that story, for more important matters ensued. The talks seemed to be going quite well for the UNSC. For humanity. He was in no position to judge; still, it was a relief to know that this wasn’t some trap set for them, to take out the leaders of Earth. Funny, he thought, that our original mission was to do just that. The universe seems to run on irony. Everyone else in the room observed the discussion. Suddenly, an Elite wearing red armor rushed in and was stopped. His message was received by a higher-ranking Elite. The white-armored Elite excused himself from the negotiations and whispered to his underling, although John’s translation system was able to pick up on it. “This meeting was ordained by the Arbiter, and you dare disrupt it with petty matters? You dishonor all Elites, and will be punished for this insubordination. Deal with this problem as you see fit, and do not interrupt again.” “I only concern you with this matter because it has to do with them.” He nodded toward John and the other Spartans. “Another Demon has been spotted on board, and has already killed fifteen of our warriors, as well as many of the lesser ones. I believe these ‘talks’ to be a deception for them to gain control of this vessel.” “Do you have proof of this?” “Only the bodies.” As the white-armored Elite turned away and returned to the talks, John gestured to his Spartans, who were ready for a fight. He had no idea who or what this other ‘Demon’ was, but he wouldn’t let it interfere with the possible survival of the human race. The Elite looked directly at Admiral Hood. “Can you explain this treacherous attack on our vessel?” Lord Hood shook his head. “What do you mean? We haven’t attacked you.” The Elite pointed at John. “One of them has infiltrated this vessel and has killed some of the crew. If it does not stop, you will be killed where you stand, as will your planet.” “Wait!” Hood cried. “There aren’t any more Spartans alive. Whatever is attacking you isn’t one of us!” Desperation showed on the tired man’s face. The Elite continued to glared at him, while others raised their voices. John stepped forward. “Do you know where it is located? “No. It has managed to evade us.” “We will find and take it down. Pull your forces back and seal all areas.” Other Elites protested, but the leader nodded. “Spartans, move out.” The only other Spartan that had survived, he knew, was Kelly, but her whereabouts were unknown. And if it was her, was Dr. Halsey here as well? Heading out the large door, John’s motion detector displayed an irrational character, a static blip that did not register as friend or foe. It went right through his position, cut out momentarily, and then was behind him. The room was tall enough for something to be on the ceiling, and he knew that his motion sensors could not penetrate the floor of the Covenant ship. He had just found his target. Whatever it was, it moved fast. John motioned to his team where the target was. He didn’t want to startle anyone in the room, or alert the intruder that they knew its whereabouts. Then it dropped. “Get down!” he yelled, but the Elites drew their swords and prepared for an attack. John raced toward where it was going to land, tackling the heavy being. The sound of metal on metal, scraping the floor was enough to shake anyone. John was too much in shock to say or do anything. So was his “prisoner”: James.

Chapter 22 1320 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar) Earth space sector 47 En route “Master Chief, your orders are simple. Stand firm and ready. Don’t give them the slightest impression of anything. This needs to go smoothly, or our entire race could be done for.” Admiral Hood’s tone was stern, but John sensed anxiety, even through the radio. “I understand. Sir, what if this is just a plot to lure us in, and kill us while they have the chance? We will be outmanned and outgunned.” The intercom played static for a moment as the first Pelican breached the upper atmosphere. “I’ve thought of that, although the Elites usually have too much pride to resort to such tactics. In my experience, they’d rather die in battle with honor.” “True, but they may see the leaders of Earth as an enormous threat to the completion of their takeover, and getting rid of you might give them the edge they want.” “Perhaps. Or maybe it’s the Spartans they want to eliminate. I guess we should just hope they don’t think like us. Regardless, take a full cache of weapons with you. They might see it as a sign of weakness if we don’t. And if their plans are not up to par with what we agreed on, then let loose on them. But make sure they take the first shot. I don’t want to finish this war because of some misunderstanding. Our history has enough of that as it is. Hood, over and out.” The Spartans looked ready to go through hell, if necessary. They relaxed as best they could, and even though they had trained to be prepared for such situations and to be able to handle any amount of stress, this was different. The actions they took this day could shape the fate of humanity for the rest of time. Or end it. His own thoughts turned back to the old man he’d seen a short time ago, as he pondered exactly what he’d meant. The only thing he had understood was that he didn’t understand at all. He could break more than one stick. So? I can break a lot of sticks, with and without the armor. It makes it easier to break. I couldn’t break the rock without it. What did he mean by breaking sticks? The military academy had classes for understanding cryptic sayings and messages, to search for hidden meanings. This was one class he wished were part of the Spartan program. Taking the memory apart, turning it around, and trying to understand it as best he could only made it harder to grasp, as though the meaning was just within arm’s reach, but elusive. “Chief. Chief!” John shook off his thoughts at the sound of Linda’s voice. “Sleeping on the job again?” “No,” he said. “I was just thinking about what happened past the closed section of highway 21.” “What, with the huge body count you left there?” “No. It’s a long story, but we have time…” ****** The Covenant ship was smaller than any flagship seen before. It still had the same color and look of constant purple in different shades. John had always wondered why everything aboard was purple. Perhaps this was the color of the materials used to build the ship. Then, the idea of using it for its calming effect came to mind, and knowing that the Covenant was a highly spiritual group of races also supported this theory. The landing bay was empty, except for two Elites that John recognized as honor guards. Their bright orange and black suits stood out against the ship. Both wielded energy swords, yet they remained still. Admiral Hood and a few other high-ranking officials exited their Pelican, and the Elites started walking toward a door on the far side of the landing bay. None of the officials were recognized by anyone but Hood, but they were not questioned either. With the situation on Earth, it was likely that they were the replacements for the previous leaders, who had been killed in the conflict. As they walked across the landing bay, John and Will took point in front of Hood and the rest, while Fred and Linda stayed back. This was customary for any meeting between current enemies, although John wasn’t sure how the Covenant would see it. He quickly checked his ammo count and made sure to put his gun on fully automatic. If all hell broke loose, they’d be ready. ****** Panting. Screaming for air. Clawing for just a gasp. The blackness of space gave no warmth. Air tank running low, only a few minutes left. Must reach the ship! Opening eyes. Stars all around, with the sun in view as well, but just another distant star. Only one stuck out: the target. It glowed from the sun’s reflection, but was still too far to reach. To destroy. There must be vengeance, a final act from a fallen race. Nothing could stop him. Stay focused, don’t stop breathing. Just stay awake a minute longer and it will be gone forever. ****** The hallways were like every other Covenant ship he’d ever been on, but John took no notice. Their path had been cleared of all personnel, perhaps as a sign of courtesy, or just for the easy kill. His finger stayed glued to the trigger, and his eyes darted in every direction, scrutinizing any dark spot or corner. He wished Cortana were here. Her input would be invaluable in this situation, as she could get into the Covenant battle net and tell him what the hell was going on. Being blind while surrounded by fire was never John’s idea of a good time. He wondered about Cortana. It wasn’t long since he’d last seen her, but it felt like an eternity. He pushed those thoughts away and focused on the current situation. They took a left on one corridor, then a right on another. More and more doors gave way for the group. The two Elites never looked back. John turned and nodded to Will, who immediately understood what he wanted. If it were a trap, those two would try to cut them down first. A plan formed; there would be no surprises, and definitely no mercy. Another door opened in front of them, leading into a large chamber. Elites clustered about the center of the chamber, all discussing some matter or other. The two honor guards led them toward these Elites, who moved out of the way, allowing the group to pass. One Elite stood out in special white armor. John figured that this one ranked above the rest. Three other Elites also wore a different armor, as well as large headpieces, which reminded him of some kind of antelope’s horns. Their armor was darker than any other in the room, an ominous shade of grey. They stood directly behind the white-armored Elite. “The negotiations,” the Elite said in slow but eloquent English, “will now commence.” “We hope you’ll agree to the deal,” said a dead voice. They were all startled by it, and did not believe it when they saw her. Commander Miranda Keyes.

“If you cannot break it, you may say so.” Well, why not. Picking up the cement block, he focused on breaking it and pushed with all his strength. His face turned red. He held his breath and pushed even harder. It started to crack, then broke in half. “You have a gift which few have been granted,” the old man said, stroking his beard. “The power to break one stick is possessed by all. The power to break many is possessed by few. But the power to break something so strong is something only few have been able to accomplish. As I believe, less than I have counted with my fingers.” “But this is just a physical strength. It doesn’t mean anything for battle.” “Ah, it has everything to do with battle. And with everything else, for that matter. You see, breaking the stick is a challenge to overcome, just like fighting a war. Some are simpler than others. One must always be aware of how many sticks he can break, for if one loses that, then he loses all. “But you can do much more than that. I have seen it. So have you. The enemy force is not simply an enemy, a target. To you, they are a challenge. You know this. There will be others you must deal with, and they will be stronger than the boulder you just broke. This is what makes you special. Remember, the power is not in your muscle or bones, but in your heart, mind, and soul. You have conquered two of these, yet the third keeps you from your potential.” Two Warthogs came up the street, turning John’s attention away from the old man. Will drove one, Linda the other, and Fred was on the turret in Will’s car. “Ready to leave whenever you are, sir.” “All right―” He turned back to the old man and saw him return to the Elite’s body. He was dumbfounded by what had just happened, but shook it off. “Let’s go, we’ve got a cruiser to take down.” As he climbed on the turret, the light from the Covenant’s ship died, and it started to leave its position, rising higher and higher into the sky. “Master Chief, this is comm. HQ. Lord Hood requires you to meet him at coordinates 29344 by 49 as soon as possible.” “HQ, we’re about five minutes away. Stand by, we are en route.” “Understood. Comm. HQ over and out.” “Let’s move out.” ****** “Can you please stop poking the poor thing? Leave the body alone!” The girl looked at her grandfather, both hands on her hips. “Why? I’m curious about it. Why are you so uptight about these things?” “Because we’re standing in the middle of the street poking dead aliens.” “Ah, but you forgot to mention that it is a deserted street.” The girl grew frustrated and she walked around the other side of the carcass and glared at the old man. “Why do you have to be like this? Can’t you just be like every normal grandfather?” “How could you ask such a question? I’m not a normal grandfather. You know that.” “That doesn’t mean you should act ridiculous, poking dead aliens while no one is looking.” “You know how important my work is! What gives you the right to tell me what I can and can’t do?” “Of course, grandfather time, your work is so important…so what? Times change, Gramps! I really just want you to stop doing this stupid stuff and do something productive. Like the old days.” “Like the old days? You know what I did in the old days? More than anyone else on this world, I’ll tell you that. Give me a break, I’ve worked far too long to be told what to do by a youth.” “Humph. Well, if you’re so important, why are you wasting your time poking a dead alien instead of doing something productive?” “I’m taking a 300-year break from all this hard work. Do you have a problem with that?” She sighed. “No, never mind. Just come inside and I’ll make you some tea, Adam.” “I told you never to call me that in public!” “What are you talking about? Oh, you forgot to mention that this is a deserted street.” After she walked off, poking the Elite lost its enjoyment, and he grumbled under his breath. “No respect, no respect.”

John stood up and saw the Covenant cruiser, displayed as Nav point alpha. It consumed the entire sky above the city, giving off only a single light from its grav-lift. Small blue lights seemed to fall out of the sky. First a few, then tens, maybe hundreds, each one probably coming from the ship. They were similar to the plasma fire given off by the Covenant ships, but something made him think differently. Then five of them landed near him. The five objects seemed to be some sort of life pods, like those used by the ODST’s, and each began opening with a rush of air. Two more landed one only ten meters in front of him, another farther to his left. As he watched the closest one, the front shot out only a few meters to his left, leaving an open hatch and an Elite, wearing Black armor he’d only seen once before: on the Pillar of Autumn, just before leaving the first Halo ring. They were the best of the best, their true elite. This one jumped out and shook his head violently, each jaw tendril swishing with the movement. A few more emerged, all holding a small light in their right hand as they looked at the first one, who barked at them. The commanding Elite threw its arm out, and an energy sword came forth from it. The rest followed suit. John pointed both his SMG’s at the Elite, but the sound of others to his right made him look over, his guns still on target. A few started forming a circle around him, and he backed up, knowing that if they completed it, his back would be defenseless. Dropping one SMG, he grabbed a plasma grenade that he’d taken off a dead Brute and activated it, tossing it toward their leader. It quickly moved out of the way, but another Elite behind it was stuck, and exploded, confusing those immediately near it. Taking the opportunity, John fired at the Elites who’d been stunned by the blast and ran at them, dropping one and taking another’s shields down. The other four ran after him, but John was able to fire several bullets in his target’s mouth before its partners could intervene. Turning quickly, he threw his gun hard at another. The force snapped its head back, but the Elite stayed upright. John bent down and grabbed a dropped sword, but an Elite to his right charged and hit him hard, making him drop it. The Elite tried to tackle John but could not overcome his strength and was hit twice; its shields fell. John grabbed its sword arm and made it cut its own throat, then stopped another Elite. He turned the blade fast and the two swords collided, causing his screen to fizzle for a moment, until he took the other Elite’s limp body and smashed it into his attacker, throwing it off. The other two lunged at him together, hoping to catch him off guard. He jumped out of their paths and landed on one’s head, crushing it, then threw his sword at the other, killing it instantly. Only one Elite remained: the leader. It stood and growled at John, then activated a sword, and they circled each other. The Elite moved its free hand slowly toward its back, and John knew it would throw a grenade at him, so he lunged at it. The Elite parried and blocked, but barely kept John at bay. He kept swinging at the Elite, but each attack was fought off. Moving back, the Elite caught John’s sword in between his own, using the space between the two blades. It turned its sword faster than John expected, but he held onto the shaft firmly. Both blades fizzled and warped, something he was unprepared for and had never seen. The Elite threw a plasma grenade at him, and he caught it. The grenade stuck to his hand, and John quickly recalibrated his shields to mass between his hand and the grenade, then pulsed it, shooting it back at the Elite. It exploded on impact. Bent over for a moment, John tried to catch his breath. He saw something in his peripheral vision and dropped the sword, replacing it with his SB73. He aimed directly at another Elite, but this one had its back to him and was running away. Why is it…? Remembering the Covenant battle over Delta Halo and what Lord Hood had said, he leveled his firearm. “Chief, where are you? We cleared out all the wounded and most of the city of Covenant ground forces.” He was glad to hear Fred’s voice. “I’m just outside of the city limits, on interstate 21. Can I get a pickup?” “Roger that. Be there in a few.” The channel closed, and John walked over his SMG and picked it up. It was bent in a way he’d never seen; almost in half, as though he’d grabbed the sides and pulled them both down. Tossing it over his shoulder, he grabbed an energy sword and deactivated it. Hearing a noise behind him, he turned around quickly and saw an old man with a thin white beard in the distance. A younger woman stood beside him. He was poking the body of a fallen Elite with a cane, and it appeared as if the woman wanted him to stop. The old man waved her off as John approached him. “Sir, you shouldn’t be here. It’s not safe. I’ll call for an evac team to pick you up.” “That won’t be necessary.” The old man spoke impeccable English, but with an accent that John had never heard. “Sir, I must insist―” The old man smiled and looked down, and that stopped John. He studied the man, who was not extremely large, though John could see that he was well built, as though his body was thirty years younger than his white hair. He also wore a strange tunic, reminiscent of ancient Chinese garb, but he did not have any Oriental features. He had no distinct features at all. John looked at his face and saw something familiar there. The man spoke: “It is said that one stick is easy to break, but that many are difficult. The more sticks there are, the harder to break.” The old man took one out of a pocket and broke it, then dropped the pieces. He produced a handful, enough to fill his small hands, and attempted to break them, but failed. “Try.” Taking the sticks, John looked at the old man as though he were crazy and crushed them, with little effort. The old man walked over to a large block of cement. “Can you break this?” This is pointless. “Why should I?”

“Clear it out!” The marines moved in and opened fire, the enemy unable to defend themselves in any way. John opened fire on any targets he found, unloading his SMG into them. When the area was secure, he crossed the room and saw an exit on his right, leading out to the building’s far side. He climbed a small ledge of gravel and spotted five Jackals with raised shields, slowly making their way toward him. A Shadow, a Covenant troop transport, moved behind them only twenty meters away. The Jackals hadn’t spotted him, and John dropped his SMG’s, grabbed the SB73 and toggled the scope. He opened fire on the nearest target but missed, hitting the shield instead. They quickly formed a Roman barrier and closed in, raising their shields and firing through slots. Reaching for a grenade, he found only empty space. He fired a few more shots, but their shield structure was impenetrable from his position. The Shadow also opened fire at him, but from the distance it could not pass the gravel barrier as easily as the Jackals. Two Warthogs suddenly drove onto the sidewalk, making road kill of the Jackals. The Shadow kept firing but fled, seeing it was outnumbered. “We could use a gunner, sir!” yelled one of the marines. Leaping toward the opportunity he saw that the drivers and passengers were the same ODST’s he’d flown in with, and gave a quick nod as he grabbed hold of the Gauss cannon on the back. The marine floored it as another Shadow emerged from the right, giving John his first target. Shells burst out of the Gauss cannon and into the heart of the Shadow, while the other Warthog, armed with the M41 LAAG machine gun, unloaded into the other side. The Shadow erupted a few moments later. The two Warthogs drove past the wreckage and turned left on the street, giving everyone a view of the open town. Street signs still hung in normal places, as well as billboard advertisements, one of which resembled the same Warthog they rode in, without the additional armament. “More Shadows, down low!” the marine in the passenger seat yelled. Two more Shadows became visible, both on a landing left of the Warthogs. John opened fire on the nearest one and the shell hit the cockpit, killing the pilot instantly. Another burst tore through its fusion drive, which exploded moments later. The other one continued firing at him and the plasma flared his shields, but didn’t drop them. He fired one shot and hit its backside. “Meet it on the other side.” “You got it Chief!” The other Warthog sailed past them on the street to their left while they continued on, reaching another intersection. Several cars stood in the street and a few Jackals used them as cover. John delivered a shell into one car, exploding it and the other’s behind it, as well as the Jackals. They turned at the intersection and the Shadow came straight for them. John unloaded another two shells into its front, exploding it. The driver turned at the intersection, and several Grunts and Jackals appeared on the street ahead of them. “They’re mine!” the driver yelled as he kicked the clutch and downshifted, slamming on the gas. “Ghosts, making a break for it!” the passenger barked as he spotted two of them. “Quick―” “I’ve got ‘em,” someone shouted from the other Warthog. A machine gun ripped through the back of the Ghost, tearing the Covenant metal. John fired a shell into the other and blew right through it and the pilot. Two more Ghosts came from across the street, firing at the Warthogs. The armored plating deflected the plasma, but started to melt from the intense heat. Neither soldier on the turrets needed a second opinion. They opened fire on both Ghosts, not giving either a chance. Another Shadow appeared, this one heading straight for them. It carried a Ghost in its belly, which John fired at and destroyed, the explosion taking the Shadow down with it. Two more Ghosts came into view, and a shot from the Gauss cannon destroyed one. “That’s one…” said their faithful passenger, watching the other push its turbo jets. The other Warthog drove in from the left and braked right in front of the Ghost, careening it into the air. John shot it in midair. “…that’s two! C’mon, who’s for more?!” And as though the universe heard his plea, several more came toward them, but John kept his cool and fired one shot at a time, not giving a second chance to any of them. Suddenly, a Phantom appeared above the two Warthogs, firing at them from its three turrets. John returned the fire, and each shell that flew into its hull let out a green burst of light, then turned blue. Another Phantom flew ahead and dropped off several large objects, too far ahead for any of them to make out. “Oh crap… Brutes!” They jumped out from the Phantom onto the streets and opened fire on the Warthogs. The first one toppled over from the fire, while John kept them at bay. The Phantom slowed and flew directly overhead, and another Brute landed on the hood of the Warthog. John wanted to fire, but at this range the blast could be lethal to both the driver and passenger. The Brute hit the passenger with such force that John knew they would not survive. It then swung its arm around and took out the driver, causing the car to stop. Jumping out before the Brute could follow, he pulled out his SB73 and ran around the car, then fired two shots directly at where he believed the Brute’s heart would be as he hit it three times in the face with the butt of the gun. It fell hard, but more plasma came from behind him as several Brutes edged closer. John noticed another car, hopefully still in working condition, right near the Brutes. He fired upon it, a bullet breaching the fuel chamber and causing it to explode, throwing the Brutes farther onto the street, where they lay still. Standing in the middle of an intersection was never good, as he remembered from basic training, and he turned right to see if any more Brutes were there. The Phantom overhead didn’t notice him for the moment, but they would in time. Two Ghosts came towards him, both piloted by Brutes. He took out his SMG and opened fire on the first one, but only scratched the front. The second one he deliberately did not fire at, but the pilot did, with all the plasma it had. His shields drained quickly, but when it was close enough, John jumped on the wing, kicked the massive Brute off and took control of the Ghost. The Phantom now noticed him and opened fire. He had to lead it away from where the marines were attacking, at least until they could set up a secure perimeter. He opened fire on the other Phantoms, and they started to follow him. Good, he thought, this will give them the time they need. Turning, John pushed on the turbo jets and rocketed onto a bridge, where two Phantoms and two Ghosts followed closely behind. He silently thanked the Covenant for the fact that the Ghosts could only use their turbo drives when they weren’t shooting, giving him a huge advantage against other Ghosts. Whenever they opened fire, they fell farther behind, and the Phantom turrets’ recycling sequence was too slow to keep up with him. Soon, the bridge started to shake from the misfiring of the Phantoms, making it unstable. The two Phantoms began firing at targets above and ahead of John, hoping they would fall and hit him, allowing them to take out their Demon. A huge electronic billboard loomed ahead and they fired at it, but it collapsed after he passed it. One Phantom tried to cut him off but was hit by the falling billboard, which crushed a section of its hull and turned it upside down. It skidded that way on the hard concrete. The Phantom’s collapse had caused the underground highway ahead to shut down, and John read an electronic signal display just before he entered it. Highway Access Denied; Automated Highway Shutdown. He slammed on the turbo, but smoke from exploded vehicles inside the highway clouded his sight. He switched to infrared and could see the massive doors closing. Bending down, he accelerated as hard as he could, and heard the Ghost whine from the stress. As he reached the doors, the top and bottom of the vehicle hit the closing steel and threw him off, his armor scraping against the ground as he skidded at forty km/h, sending a barrage of sparks through the air. The two Brutes in the Ghosts behind him couldn’t see past the dense smoke and didn’t hear their target’s explosive maneuver. Only when it was too late did either of them notice the closed doors in front of them, and they had no time to stop. The Chief heard two small explosions through the door, penetrating only the seams.

Chapter 21 1230 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar) En route, ETA 2 minutes New Mombasa, East Africa Protectorate “Who was first contact?” The Master Chief held onto a single handlebar, positioned at the hatch of the Pelican, which approached the city. The view would have been terrific had it not been for the huge Covenant ship floating above it, encompassing the entire sky, making the huge city seem like a medieval town. “405th out of Diego Garcia,” the sergeant yelled from the cockpit. He stood over the two pilots, holding onto both of their seats, while the rest of his platoon sat and waited to get back to combat. “But don’t expect a big welcome. The Covenant wiped most of them out before they hit the ground.” The Pelican slowed then veered right, passing tall buildings that rose over the low cloud line. It seemed like the fog was the only thing not affected by the fighting. This gave a small tactical advantage to all of Earth’s forces. Then the Pelican started its descent into the city. Emerging from the small layer of fog, the battered city showed its face, every building carrying some sort of battle wound. Broken windows, bullet and plasma scarring, missing floors. The Pelican soared just fifty feet above the ground, and blue streaks of plasma filled the sky, all fired from inside the city. The Covenant had taken it. Ground forces would have to be taken care of first, before anyone engaged the cruiser. This was a volatile mission. “Mount up, marines! Dust off in twenty!” The Orbital Drop Shock Troops got their gear in order, donning helmets and checking their ammo. They made sure their weapons were in perfect firing order. Some of the buildings still had lights on, meaning there wasn’t enough time to evacuate everyone properly, and that the Covenant controlled the power within the city, but weren’t making any use of it. John knew that this was not a good thing, because there would be civilians present. He glanced back at his team and they all gave a quick thumbs up, registering his thoughts exactly. A small landing pad became visible, a lone marine standing just outside of the landing radius, holding lights to help guide the pilots in. Several tents indicated that they’d been here long enough to set up camp; there were likely wounded inside. First they’d have to find the CO, assess the situation, and work from there. The Pelican descended toward the ground, dust and rubble shooting out from under it. As the wheels touched the ground the sergeant turned to the crew of the Pelican. “Pile out! Go go go!” The five ODST’s moved out as fast as they could. The Spartans followed suit. “I’ll evac the wounded. If you need a hand, Chief, just give us a call.” “Understood. Spartans, get those wounded aboard ASAP.” They sent a unified ‘acknowledged’ signal and jogged down the ramp of the landing platform. Ahead of the Master Chief stood the lone marine, along with a few others who looked like they’d been through hell and back. He walked up to the marine, who held the same weapon as he did, the new SB73. He’d had no chance to try it out yet, but now was his opportunity. “Corporal Perez, A company. CP’s this way,” the marine motioned with his head. Turning and descending the ramp, John followed, setting the new gun to single shot mode. He saw one marine helping another to the landing platform; behind them were two circular tents. He recognized the men as medics, and noticed blood on the ground all around it. “Look, a Spartan,” the wounded one said in disbelief. “I guess the brass do give a -blam!-,” the other muttered. Getting off the ramp, one medic pumped on a marine’s chest, yelling at him to come around, but nothing happened. “C’mon, c’mon!” In the tent on his right, another stood over a marine, putting a needle in his arm. “Stay with me, marine!” The streets were filled with more wounded, although John gave a sigh of relief that blood wasn’t flowing through them. One orange cot held another marine, with a medic kneeling next to him. “I’m calling it. It’s 1300.” “The lieutenant got hit as soon as we dropped in,” the corporal said. “Who’s in charge now?” “Sergeant Tanner. He’s pinned down up front. C’mon,” he waved, “I’ll show you.” They ran through a dark room and up some stairs, where they saw several other marines, all wounded and on their way to the transport. Turning a corner, they heard a chaingun rattling, and stopped. “No no, behind that ST,” one marine shouted to another on the chaingun. “Yeah yeah yeah.” “Three more, coming left!” “I’m running low man!” The corporal stood behind a wall for cover; another marine sat with his back to the battle behind, acting as a liaison for all marines to the front. “Hey Parsons!” “Yeah?” “Is it clear?” Just as he asked, the wall next to Parsons burst in to flames, rubble splintering from the plasma fire. “You tell me!” “Jesus Christ,” Perez mumbled, then turned back to Parsons. “Friendlies, moving out. Covering fire!” They ran out from their cover and onto the balcony, where they saw a huge Covenant turret, less than half a klick from their position. It charged up and fired, but the blast went past the building. Checking the ground, John spotted Grunts running across the street. He toggled his scope and fired off one shot for each, puncturing their heads. After dropping three, he ran toward another ramp, which led to the CP and the street below. “Grunts, down low,” one marine called as he spotted them behind the CP’s position, under the ramp. John looked at them and they opened fire, hitting his shields once as he unclipped a grenade and dropped it. The Grunts ran wildly around to avoid the blast, but were too clumsy. Their bodies hit the ground with a satisfying thud. A far wall produced another Grunt, but aiming quickly, John blew it away without fuss. The marines moved in and made sure the area was clear and made a perimeter. John found the CP lying on a wall near a chaingun, next to a dead marine. Tanner was hit, but not critically. John made his way over and reloaded his weapon. “Damn, am I glad to see you,” he said to the Master Chief. “Never thought we’d get so much attention.” The Covenant plasma turret loaded another charge, and then fired, hitting a nearby building and shaking the ground beneath them. The building hit was the closest one to them. They would be its next target. “We’ve got to take that thing out. Cover me.” John peered over the ledge and saw a five-meter drop. The street was filled with Grunts and Jackals, all heading toward them. Cars littered the streets, as well as telephone booths and other street-legal accessories. They may come in handy. Letting off a few bursts at the enemy, Tanner grabbed the dead marine’s radio. “Tech HQ, this is Sergeant Tanner. I’ve got hostile artillery 200 meters north-northeast of my position. Bring smoke, over!” Some Grunts ran in between several cars, and John unclipped a grenade and threw it at one of the cars, exploding it and the surrounding vehicles as well. More Jackals and Grunts came through the smoke. Setting his gun aside, he grabbed the chaingun and rained bullets on the Jackals. They tried to defend themselves but couldn’t hold their shields up against the torrent of bullets. Blue blood littered the road while more enemies emerged from the collapsed building complex just fifty meters ahead of them. The plasma turret fired again and the heat from the blast scorched his shields. “Dammit HQ, is anybody on this freq?” “Sergeant, this is Major Easley. Hang tight, we’re inbound.” Three Longsword fighters flew overhead with a deafening scream. Each one dropped two bombs on top of the turret, just as it charged to fire. The resulting explosion was as bright as the sun. “Verify delivery of ordinance on target.” “Dead on, Major. Target neutralized.” The Covenant forces stopped coming, and marines ran through the street, stopping any stragglers. Just before John left, the sergeant got up, clutching his left side, and held out his SMG. “Take my weapon. You’ll need it.” Packing away his SB73, he took the sergeant’s and held his own, one in each hand, and ran into the street with the marines. He fired a short burst at a nearby Grunt and Jackal, then headed toward the collapsed building directly ahead. Rubble and concrete blocks littered the streets, giving both cover and a weaving path to follow. The inside of the collapsed building was dark, lit only by the gunfire from both Covenant and UNSC forces. Moving through the wreckage as fast as possible, a small Covenant force had managed to stay secure in an enclosed area, with only one known entrance and exit. He’d just found it. As he turned the corner, plasma fire burst on his shields, barely giving him a moment to find cover. The rest of the marines caught up and, noticing the Spartan, hesitated to enter the enclosure, stopping just short. One pulled out a flash grenade and looked at John, who nodded. “Grenade out! Cover your eyes and ears!” The flash grenade was made to stun the enemy, which gave the opportunity to take them out without producing a major impact on the surrounding environment. Although they were in the ruins of a building, there was still concrete above them, and no one knew how stable it was, or whether it could sustain the blast of the average fragmentation grenade. Three seconds later it detonated, releasing a chemical-induced flash brighter than the sun, and louder than a collision of trains. The Covenant forces, to say the least, were stunned.

Chapter 20 1215 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar) Preeminent Flagship Yielding Righteousness Slipspace The marines walked behind the Arbiter in rows of two. Sergeant Johnson’s face was grim. He couldn’t get used to the fact that he was not on an enemy’s ship. Whenever anything came around a corner, instinct told him to blow their heads off. He came close a few times but the marines stopped him. And every time the Arbiter looked back at the noise, the marines always whistled and looked away from him, pretending not to notice. The different shades of purple annoyed Johnson, as if the Covenant didn’t believe any other color was available for construction. Fazio and Mendez were whispering and snickering to each other, only to be smacked upside their heads. The hand that dealt the blows came from the group’s initial leader, specialist Glusman. Most people still looked at Glusman with some trepidation. After talking to him, Johnson’s view changed completely, seeing him to be an intelligent individual who knew what he was doing, a man who had joined the Corps for all the right reasons. The four marines who were with him on the Covenant ship, with the exception of Glusman, were the greenest soldiers he’d ever seen, but he’d make men out of them yet. A couple Elites walked past the group, pointing at the two now-quiet marines and the one behind them, emitting some strange noise he’d only heard once before, when the Zealots fell over from his “monkey’s uncle” statement. “Come Humans, we are almost at our destination,” The Arbiter said. “Hey light bulb,” Johnson sputtered, “quit hummin’. I can barely hear myself exist.” Still hovering over their heads, the Monitor turned and faced Johnson. “If you don’t mind, please call me by my name. I am 343 Guilty Spark.” “I’ll think about it. In the meantime, be a good lantern and can it.” The two noisy marines broke out in laughter; the other two barely cracked a smile. Guilty Spark 343 sped past Johnson and hovered next to the Arbiter. “These reclaimers are not very friendly. Why was the other sent away?” “The Human needed to leave for the benefit of their species. As for these Humans, they will help us uncover the mystery of the Ark. They have proven to be most necessary for us to understand Forerunner technology.” The flashlight sounded like it sighed, but Johnson knew it didn’t breathe. “Yes, these reclaimers do seem to have an affinity for such things.” Walking through a few more doors, they entered a large room filled with Elites, all fighting with one another. A training room. Hundreds of them wrestled and fired their weapons at targets. The size of the room took Johnson aback; it was so large that the end could not be seen. The Arbiter continued on through, the rest following him after a moment of awe. Every Elite stopped training at the sight of the humans, and stared. The Arbiter also stopped. “Why have you ceased your training? Our next battle may be our last, and you make such idle time?” They started again, but not as focused as before. Johnson could feel their eyes on him. “You must excuse them, for they have not accepted the sudden change in power as quickly as I have. They will in time. Come, we will go to the bridge.” Across the gym the doors in front of them opened and the two marines started snickering again. Johnson looked back and saw one of them flipping off everything in that room. He reached over with an open hand and pummeled the back of the marine’s head with it, making sure he would feel the pain. “Hey Sarge, what was that for?” “Don’t give me none of your lip, marine! You know what you did. Do it again and you’ll have more things to worry about in your sleep than on the battlefield.” Fazio swallowed loudly, while Mendez tried to stifle a laugh. “Don’t think the same doesn’t go for you, princess. When we get back to base camp, it’ll be toothbrush duty for you.” Reaching the bridge a minute later, the Arbiter took the captain’s chair. “Helm, how long until we reach the coordinates the Oracle gave?” The Elite turned his seat and faced the Arbiter, the mildly light room barely illuminating its armor. “In a few moments we will exit Slipspace.” “Excellent. Oracle, what should we expect from the Ark?” “Nothing out of the ordinary. According to protocol, I will have to transmit an encoded signal on a certain frequency to be allowed entrance.” The intertwining web of dimensions opened up and showed normal space, the vessel flowing gently through. The sight was strange and quite unexpected. “There is nothing here. Oracle, are these coordinates correct?” “Of course. This installation is approximately 70,000 kilometers away.” Everyone looked out the view port; Johnson was still confused. The Elites at consoles input data. “Wait a second,” Johnson said, “why aren’t there any stars in that large region directly ahead of us? We did leave Slipspace, didn’t we?” “Arbiter,” a voice came from the helm, “I read a massive gravity well directly ahead of us, larger than anything ever recorded. It is pulling us in slowly, but our distance keeps us safe. Recalibrating to orbit the gravity well.” Glusman scrutinized the view port, putting a hand on his chin. “Is that…a black hole?” 343 Guilty Spark floated over to Glusman and looked at him. “Scanning Human database, registry ‘black hole.’ Why yes, it is. How did you know that?” “I used to be an astronomy junkie, and quite a few ancient scientists and mathematicians theorized their existence. Even proved it mathematically, but we’ve never found one. Except for here, apparently.” The Arbiter rose and turned to Glusman and 343. “What is this ‘black hole’?” Guilty Spark 343 floated a meter forward and its ‘eye’ brightened up. “A black hole is a celestial object with a gravitational field―” “Wait, how long will it take for you to define it?” Glusman asked. “Two minutes and thirty-four seconds.” “That’s what I thought. Arbiter, here’s the short and sweet version: It’s a presence so dense that it remains small, but has a huge gravity. All you need to know is that if we enter the event horizon, we’re all dead. That’s the point in space where, if you pass, nothing will be able to stop the black hole’s gravity from pulling you in.” Nodding, the Arbiter turned back to the view port. “And what of all the stars around it?” “Because of its huge gravity, all the light from the other side that isn’t sucked inside the black hole is bent around it, making it look as though the light surrounds it.” “I understand. Is there a way to know the location of this event horizon you speak of?” “Yeah, I’m sure 343 can calculate it.” “Yes, well, this black hole’s radius indicates that the event horizon is about ten thousand kilometers off this vessel’s bow. Should we pass it, this vessel will be quite devoid of all matter, except for me.” “Huh? How would you survive?” “Quite simply, I myself could be considered a black hole, as you say, although the effects I should have against my surroundings have been neutralized. The material I am made from is known in your language as bisepthexium, which would be on the Humans’ periodic table of elements as number 276. Due to its great mass and density for being a single atom, my creators decided to build me using it, but in great quantities, so they simply used high-pressure systems to create my high-density structure. This required a barrier for my existence to not destroy any other beings, and my creators built within me a self contained rotating magnetic-electric field with an extremely high yield, causing a dispersion of all atoms to be pushed away from me as easily as they are pulled, making equilibrium between me and my surroundings.” Both the humans and Elites looked at one another for a moment with blank faces. Johnson glanced back at the view port. “Right…so how do we get inside?” “That is correct. I will send the frequency now.” They stood and waited; the Arbiter leaned back into his seat. “So, what’s supposed to happen? I mean, for us to know whether or not it worked?” the modest marine asked. “Don’t worry son,” Glusman said, patting his back, “it’ll work. You wait and see.” The helm officer’s console began making noise. “Arbiter, the gravity well is changing. A cataclysm effect seems to be taking place, and we may not be safe at this distance.” “Hold position. We are in noble hands.” Brilliant light came forth from the darkness, overwhelming the bridge crew. The cloud of light continued growing and then burst open, showing a bright but small white light in the very center. The rest of the colors rotated beautifully around it. The Arbiter stood and stepped closer to the view port. “Magnificent, these creations of our lords.”

Chapter 19 1040 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar) Earth space, Sector 39 “‘A revolution awaits…’ Jan, what the hell is that supposed to mean?” Helstrum turned and stared at the blank face of his co-pilot. She shrugged and opened her mouth to answer, but couldn’t think of anything to say. Fleet Admiral Hood’s voice came through again: “Helstrum, is this a two way connection, or are we only receiving?” “Right now, only receiving. I can try to open a frequency to them, if you like.” “Do it. I have a good feeling about this, and it will be the first one I’ve had all day.” “Channel open sir. Whatever you say, they’ll hear you. If you want to hold out for a second, just send the following signal here.” He sent a long and tedious alpha-numeric code. Funny, he thought, I’d always imagined using this for something else. ****** What am I supposed to say? Lord Hood started pacing, knowing that the fate of the planet could rest on his shoulders. He could feel the weight of it all. Stress built up fast, but no solutions came to mind. No one else with any command rank was around, although he doubted they would have a good response. He stared into the deep blue sky. The ground, a scorched battlefield, was not a pretty sight. And before the nukes went off, neither was the sky. But now it was the only peaceful thing around. Even the room he paced in was trashed, electronics lying around, rubble everywhere. The sky was the only place he could turn his eyes toward, the only thing that could lift the burden from his chest, even for a moment. “Covenant fleet, this is Fleet Admiral Hood of the UNSC. As a representative of Earth and the United Nations Space Command, I accept your request and ask to meet to discuss terms of agreement.” A bead of sweat trickled down his neck, soaking his collar. “This is acceptable. In three of your hours, arrive at our vessel orbiting Earth. Further instructions will be given then. But be warned: many of us continue to fight on your world. If they do not engage you, then they are not to be fired upon. If they attack, then they are treasonous and deserve their fate.” Hood sighed in relief and shook his head. “Helstrum, to stay on the safe side, I want you up there. If anything goes wrong, I want them out of our sky. Understood?” “Yes sir. If I may ask, how are you going to get up here? As far as I know, the fighting down there is still pretty intense, and it might be hard to get a lift. If one of us came down and got you, we could make it back in time.” “No, I can’t take that risk. Let’s just say that being high up in the brass does have its advantages. Hood out.” He put a hand to his head and turned to his staff. “Sir, are you all right?” “No, I don’t think I’ll ever be all right. I need a stim pack and some serious coffee. Can you locate the Spartans?” “One moment…we have the Master Chief’s position, as well as the other Spartans. The unregistered ship is also leaving orbit. Orders?” “Do we have any means to take out that vessel?” “No sir, not without the fleet.” “Then we’ll have to let it go. Show me the sectors where we have the most fighting on the tactical display.” He walked over to the blue graph-like monitor, a two-dimensional map of the world appeared, with stars for each city under attack. The larger the star, the greater the attacking force. Most of the stars were evenly sized, but one stuck out like a sore thumb, at least three times the size of any other. “Why is this one so much larger than the rest?” “Sir, there’s a Covenant capital ship orbiting the city. It arrived there only half an hour ago and has been sending a barrage of troops to attack.” How did this one get through? It probably got past that other ship and attacked head on, knowing we’d have nothing to stop it. Time to pull out the ace. “Get the closest Pelican to the Master Chief, and send him over there. I want that ship out of my sky. Then open a link to him; I have a mission for the Spartans.” ****** I’ve failed. John watched the Forerunner ship leave the atmosphere, and there were no UNSC ships to intercept it. No fighters, cruisers, bombers…nothing. It disappeared from his vision, and he could only surmise that it had jumped into Slipspace, knowing full well that it wasn’t coming back. The rest of the Spartans looked at him, awaiting orders. But he was lost in his thoughts about the failed mission. John felt a hand on his shoulder. “There was nothing we could have done,” Linda said. “There’s still work to be done.” Her words rang true in his head, but every atom in him screamed out. Hearing something to his right, John turned like lighting and aimed his SB73 at the head of a Jackal, who lay under rubble, reaching for a plasma pistol. His trigger finger pulsed, ready and waiting to release the burst of bullets into the Jackal’s head. Will walked over and simply kicked the plasma pistol away from the Jackal’s reach. He turned to John, not understanding what the problem was. But the muzzle still pointed at the Jackal’s head, the creature’s bird-like eyes widening in a plea for help. This is the enemy. We must take out the enemy. It’s either them or us. “John, snap out of it. It’s not going anywhere…just let it go.” Linda’s voice echoed in his ears, but his hand refused to give up the target, the enemy. Only then did it hit him what was happening. He turned and punched right through a pile of rubble, further obliterating it. Rage filled his entire being, just for a moment, then died down again. “Master Chief,” came through his internal speakers, “this is Admiral Hood. A Pelican is coming to pick you up. It will take you back to New Mombasa, where a Covenant capital ship is bombarding the city. They need support desperately. I need you to take out that cruiser.” Taking a deep breath, John activated his suit’s communication system and opened a channel. “Understood sir. We’ll take care of it.” “Good. Your ETA will be 90 minutes. The pilots will be rushing it, so hold on tight. One last thing: We may have a possible truce with the Covenant soon, but this ship is one of their rogues. If they don’t fire at you, don’t fire at them. But be careful. They probably know about that and may set a trap. Good luck. Hood out.” As the comm. channel closed, the Pelican came into sight, landing just twenty meters away from them. “Pile in boys and girls; we don’t have any time to spare!” The Spartans looked at each other briefly, curious about the message John had just received, and jogged to the Pelican. It took off quickly, putting at least three g’s on everyone. John sat in thought, as though he were having an out of body experience. What was I thinking? A flashback of the Jackal played in his head, and nothing about it made sense. I would never do anything like that. Would I? What’s wrong with me? The sound of distant voices maintained a strange background hum, although he barely noticed it. As it grew louder, he suddenly snapped back into reality. Picking up his head he saw Fred sitting in front of him, helmet off and eating military rations. He extended a tray to John. “Thanks.” John took the rations and removed his helmet. Never had military rations tasted so good, but, then, it had been some time since he’d eaten anything. Will, who sat at John’s left, asked, “Had a nice nap?” John looked at Will questioningly. “You slept for over an hour.” John looked over but didn’t say anything, just taking another bite of his food. “I think that was a yes,” Fred exclaimed, and they all laughed. “Here’s to us,” Linda said, holding up her last piece of food. “May we live to go on a long vacation, eat decent food, have lots of sleep, and all without ever worrying about the Earth’s safety.” “Amen to that,” they said in unison.

“I’m sure they won’t open fire. But I’ve got it covered.” With those final words the ship raced forward, both pilots far back in their seats. Coming up to the bay, the luminescent purple light filled the interior of Helstrum’s eyes, the strange purple that both soothed, and brought back so many bad memories. The bay was filled to capacity, with Brutes and Elites climbing into their fighter craft. This was his best chance. “Jan, get me the best firing solution to take out these fighters.” He heard her grumble something but let it slide, knowing that what he asked for was crazy. An AI would have trouble with that task, at least for a second or two. He pulled the trigger on the nearest one and took out every third ship he could. The bay was huge, meaning it would be impossible for him to get hit, but there were so many targets to take out that it might be a while. And he wasn’t sure if he had the ammo to take out all targets. Damn. Decisions, decisions. “Don’t worry boss,” Jan said, “you don’t need that firing solution anymore. This baby’s shields just went up. From my calculations, we can unload Fat Man here and take out everything with no worries.” Helstrum turned around in his seat and exclaimed, “Jan, has anyone ever told you you’re beautiful?” “Yes, every day. Now, can we get outta here?” “You got it. Arming warhead…Fire!” The nuke cleared one of his three specialized pods and dropped onto the landing bay. “Tell those pansies we’ve got this one covered, and that if they know what’s good for them, they’ll go bother someone else.” They cleared the bay and went down the hatch again, the automatic timer counting down from thirty. At ten, they reached normal space. At five, they reached the shields and blasted through. Then at one, as both fighters were two klicks away, they felt a ripple through space. “Wait, Slipspace ruptures. Showing on screen.” The computer layout provided an image of an entire sector, where large patches of white light opened up, giving way to the only thing that could ruin his day: more Covenant vessels. “I count twenty of them, all at perfect status and charging their weapons. Damn, what now?” Yeah, what now? Even if that new ship we have is super powerful, it can’t take on another whole fleet. Even with the fighter support, it’s outnumbered in guns at least five to one, if not more. And without the support of other UNSC ships, there would be little chance of us getting through their defenses and planting the nukes. So what do we do? “I’m reading another Slipspace rupture. This ones opening…right in front of the Black Star. Hell, they’re leaving the battle!” “What!” They watched it go through the Slipspace rupture and disappear. “I am really having trouble believing this -blam!-! Ok, here’s the plan! We go in and blow every ship we can. If someone gets a wing clipped, get back to Jan’s fighter and wait there. As soon as the other one of us gets clipped, we’ll set the nukes’ timers for three minutes and fire everything we got. Is that clear?” “But sir, that’s suicide!” “I didn’t ask you to -blam!-! I asked if that was clear!” Jan and Sach were good soldiers; damn fine marines, he knew. They wouldn’t back down. “Sir yes sir! Crystal clear sir!” they said in unison. “That’s what I’m talking about! Now let’s get this show―” “Sir, a Covenant ship just fired on one of its own. It completely obliterated it.” This day is just full of surprises. “Okay, scratch my plan. I have no clue what’s going on. Let’s just sit here and wait for someone to give us the heads up.” “We’ve got an incoming transmission, audio only. It’s from Lord Hood.” “Don’t just sit there. Put him through. Admiral, glad to see you’ve made it out in one piece.” “What’s the situation up there?” “Covenant ships are firing on each other. As far as I know, we’re the only UNSC ships still operational, although there are definitely survivors from the EMP blast.” “Sir,” Jan said, shocked, “we have another incoming transmission. It’s from one of the Covenant ships.” “Patch it through directly to me, Helstrum,” Hood said. “Understood. Stand by.” A feed came through, showing an Elite wearing a highly polished white armor. The screen only showed his face and shoulders as it spoke” “It is time for the light and darkness to realize its true nature, and become one with the source. Time will not allow us much measure, so prepare. A revolution awaits us all.”

Chapter 18 1005 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar)\ New York Outskirts North American Continent “Blue leader, radar’s showing at least fifty targets coming this way,” Fred said. “We won’t be able to take them all on. Not like this.” “Understood. Form up on me.” The Master Chief turned and ran for the exit, traversing several flights of stairs that were part of the abandoned base. They reached the last room, where John stopped and turned back to Will. “Set up charges in this room to detonate for proximity alert. I want this building to collapse right on top of them. Linda, Fred and I will give you cover.” “Right away.” Will pulled his pack off and opened it, revealing four explosives. “Chief, I don’t know if this’ll blow the building. With only four, the stability will be compromised, but it could hold.” “What about if we left the grenades here? They’d explode along with the mines,” Linda said. “No, the grenades don’t have the power to add much to it. And we definitely don’t have enough of them to do the trick.” John turned around. “Will, what about that new weapon of yours? You called it a―” “QQ22? It might work, but I wouldn’t be able to fire it inside, so the only way to do so would be from out there. But finding the point of structural weakness won’t be easy. If I don’t hit that, it won’t fall. Using the Jackhammer might help, but it won’t matter unless we find the weak point.” “That’s better than nothing. Set it up, then get out of there. We’ll position ourselves away from the blast radius in case anything goes wrong.” They ran out of the building and found a secure position. Then they heard a familiar noise: the buzzing sounds of Drones. Green plasma rained down on their position, sending the Spartans scattering in different directions. At least twenty Drones hovered above them. John rolled to his left and fired at the first Drone he saw, then a second. Both fell to the ground with a satisfying thud, but plasma scorched his shields and he was forced to move. The Drones split up to take out the Spartans. John saw Linda having an easy time with her group. She dropped five at a time, each round taking out another target, then helped Fred take out his group. More plasma fell on John’s shields, extinguishing them completely. He dodged the best he could, but there was no cover and little maneuvering room from a target firing from above. He grabbed a grenade, threw it twenty meters ahead, and ran toward it as it exploded into a torrent of dust. John ran right into the cloud. The Drones, unable to see him, fired stray shots amid the large pocket of airborne dust that surrounded him. John activated his thermal sensors and fired back at the Drones, easily taking them out one by one. When the cloud settled, he took out his final target. Will ran out of the building and headed toward the Spartans. “How long until they reach the top?” John asked him through an open comm. channel. “Unknown. I didn’t have time to check how deep they were.” “Fred, take Will’s Jackhammer and aim it wherever you can find an opening. Linda, if anything comes out the front, make sure they don’t get to that ship. Fred, hand me your weapon.” After the exchange of weapons, the entire building shook as the mines exploded, but it remained intact. Fred and Will fired rockets at the building, while John and Linda held their breath for a moment. When the building collapsed, John exhaled. He kept his gun pointed up, ready for any surprises, as did his team. “Standby to confirm kill.” The building continued to collapse for a few seconds longer, falling on top of everything beneath it, hopefully eliminating whatever threat was there. That was too easy. It shouldn’t have been, especially if that was the Prophet. “Are you sure a Prophet was in the center of that large group of Brutes?” “One hundred-ten percent sure. Why?” “Just be ready.” The building, though done imploding, hadn’t landed normally. Rubble had piled up around a concentrated area, which seemed unnatural. Something was supporting the Covenant from within the structure. The heap of rubble started to shift, most pieces falling off. What then followed could hardly be believed by any Spartan. The Brutes continued to move, with some sort of field encircling them. They hurried toward the Forerunner ship, and the Spartans raised their weapons. “Hold your fire. A collapsing building couldn’t break that shield.” He quickly opened a channel to the fleet overhead. “This is Spartan -117. The unidentified Covenant vessel carrying their Prophet cannot be allowed to escape under any circumstances. I repeat, that vessel cannot be allowed to jump out of the system!” ****** “Ulysses fighters 2930487 and 2930857, this is the Black Star. You are ordered to stand down. We’ll take care of everything from here. Return home immediately, you are relieved.” Helstrum shook his head. What the hell? Who do they think they are? I’m the one who’s been out here for God knows how long with my ass on the line! “I don’t want to disappoint you, but I am home and I’m not going anywhere! We’re wearing the same uniform; the same blood runs through us both! So why the hell shouldn’t I be out here fighting for my friggin’ race?” For a moment the channel was quiet, and Helstrum didn’t really care what the new UNSC ship said about it; he wasn’t going anywhere. “You’re given clearance to stay on the battlefield. But everything you see is to be considered classified information, or you may be court marshaled.” “Why don’t you sign me up for that, ’cause I’m looking forward to seeing your ass in court. Helstrum out.” Sighing, he said, “Wow, they sure are stupid.” “You said it boss,” Jan replied. “Let’s get a good look at it before we get back to owning those Covie bastards.” “I’m with you on that one. Full speed!” The Earth seemed to move instead of them, turning faster than its norm, and the large vessel protruding from it was somewhat discernable. The ship appeared almost invisible, painted black so the only way to see it was by looking for the absence of stars. His Ulysses’ HUD displayed it on the tactical display, giving an estimated description of the ship. Approximately four kilometers long, batteries at every hundred meters, five Mac cannons, fifty missile tubes, and a complement of fighters that would normally supply ten UNSC destroyers. And last, a Super Mac Cannon lay in the middle of the vessel, shooting spheres of depleted Uranium. Ship schematics displayed a three-dimensional description of the new vessel, giving it a strange and quite unique look. Wings protruded from many directions, all of which held some weapon or fighter bay. The hull itself seemed too thick to penetrate by conventional means, although that didn’t mean as much against the Covenant, as they fought by unconventional means. There were also other weapons, though all unidentified. “Hey Jan, ever seen one of those before?” “Nope, nothing like that.” She studied the picture. “It kind of reminds me of those Covie plasma rifles, but only by their looks. You don’t think they could have made a larger version of those, do you?” “Nah, it’s too soon. It’ll take at least another five years to come up with that tech.” The Black Star opened fire on the nearest Covenant battle cruiser. A spread of Mac rounds ate through its hull. Helstrum immediately realized that the shields of the remaining Covenant forces were not operational after the EMP blast. The battle cruiser exploded as the four holes in the hull made the ship tear itself inside out. The rest of the Covenant forces were still disoriented from the blast, many of their ships destroyed, the surviving ones in critical condition. Any fighter craft not within their hulls were vaporized instantly, too small to withstand such a blast. This left a clear run to all capital ships, giving Helstrum the opportunity he needed. “Norman, we won’t be able to follow our regular routine. As long as the Covenant’s shields are down, we can’t use the nukes. Not without getting hit by the EMP blast ourselves, as well as that goliath of a ship.” Dammit, why didn’t I think of that? “OK, so we need a new plan,” he continued. “Set scanners to pick up any fluctuations in the shields of all Covenant ships. If any one of them gets those shields back, we’ll put them down.” By the time the words left his mouth, the Black Star let loose its main cannon, firing through the nose of a Covenant capital ship, and right out the end. Helstrum set his Ulysses to fly directly toward a fighter bay. He couldn’t fire the damn nuke, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t go inside and wreak havoc. “Sach, cover me. I’m going in. Want to catch ‘em sleeping.” “Gotcha.” He hit the afterburners and raced toward the nearest target, making a hard turn right into the fighter hatch. He would be sure to get in and out as fast as possible. Being stuck in this tub won’t be much fun if it blows up. “Jan, send a message to our new fleet command. Tell them not to target the ship we’re in.” “Already tried, but there’s no response. They’re on a direct course for it, and they don’t seem to be stopping.” “What the hell. Don’t those beaurocratic sons of -blam!-es ever learn? How much time until they’re in range to make us go to a happier place?” “A few minutes, three at max.” “Then we’re gonna have to get out of here. Give me full power to the engines. Sach, stay back here and make sure none of them get out. If you see those government guys getting ready to fire, get the hell outta here, and make sure you record the mother. I don’t want to be dead meat from my own kind without seeing them fall to the pits of hell soon after.”

“Yes sir!” They hurried to load the weapons into Helstrum’s Ulysses, and he started tapping on the hull. Louder and louder, until he could see the marine refueling it grow annoyed. This made Helstrum smile, until he realized that he was also annoying himself, and stopped. “Yo, commander, when you gonna get done?” Sach yelled from his own fighter craft across the bay. “Any minute now… If you’re ready, get out there and catch up with Jan!” “I dunno, I got a bad feeling about this. Something doesn’t feel right. You know what I mean?” “No, I don’t know what you mean. Now get your ass back out there and make me proud!” “Aww, c’mon sir, I’ll just wait for you to finish.” Helstrum raised his index finger, like that of a father scolding his son. “Boy, don’t give me none of your—” The lights suddenly flickered off, and the fuel stopped pumping. Helstrum found a flashlight, shining it at the refit team. “What the hell! How did the lights go out? Doesn’t this station have backup generators?” “Yes sir, it does. I don’t know what’s wrong.” “I’m guessing the fuel pump is dead. OK, take my flashlight and finish getting that ammo in there. I’m not leaving until I have it, and I’m leaving in two minutes. Sach, warm up your bird and get on the comm. Find out what’s goin’ on.” What could knock out all of the systems aboard this station so easily, yet keep it intact? An EMP blast could do that, but I don’t see how that could have happened. And if it did, only things powered on would be affected, so chances are that the comm. won’t work. “Sir, the comm.’s not working. All I’m getting is static.” Figures. “We probably got hit by an EMP blast, but I don’t have any clue how that may have happened. When you guys finish up with my ship, hit the escape pods. They’ll work. And keep the flashlight.” “Sir, we’re all prep’d up. But the blast doors are closed. You’ll have to break through them, or you won’t be able to get out of here.” “Don’t worry, we’ll get through. Just get to those escape pods.” The five marines on the ground saluted Helstrum, and he returned it. They ran off and he started his Ulysses, giving it a full systems check. “Computer, are there any malfunctions or system errors preventing full power?” “Negative. Vessel fully operational.” Good. Whatever blew out the lights left us intact. Putting on his headset, Helstrum flicked a switch to activate it on his team’s designated frequency. “Hey kid, you ready to get outta here?” “Sure thing boss. But what about Jan? The blast probably wiped out her systems as well.” “We can’t leave her behind. These fighters all have a distress beacon that activates when any system failure occurs. I’ll go and pick her up while you use the grapple to hold her ship in place. Then…we’ll figure out what to do from there. Now take off and follow my lead.” Scrambling off the landing and grabbing the stick, Helstrum veered his ship up and to the left, toward the fighter launch bay. He switched on the ship’s lights and saw the blast doors a couple hundred meters in front of him. He pulled the trigger, let loose a barrage of missiles, and increased his speed. They flew in front of him and exploded on impact. His radar showed one green signature blinking in and out of existence. He increased his speed, and Sach followed. When Jan’s ship came into view, Sach flew ahead and connected his grapple to her ship from the top while Helstrum flew underneath and initiated a connection of the two vessels. The computer’s robotic voice came through his headset: “Connection in three, two, one, ships connected. Please stand by.” He waited for a moment, then a green light blinked on his HUD, and the top of the cockpit opened. Her head peered through. “Took you long enough sir…with all due respect.” “Of course. Now get in the co-pilot seat and set all the warheads to detonate on impact. We’ll have Sach steer your best friend into the biggest Covenant ship we can find, and get it within their shields. That way, we won’t waste any good firepower.” “Umm, sir, without being able to steer that thing, we won’t have the time or ability to bring it inside any capital ship and have enough time to get out. Maybe we should leave it for later?” “That sounds like a plan. Sach, you hear all that?” “Yes sir, dropping off this baby now. I’m reading an energy spike in that Covenant ship at 243 by 184. They’re firing at the Cairo!” “Damn! Full engines! Let’s beat them to the punch!” “Norman,” Jan said, covering her mike, “we won’t have time. If they’re firing now, the Cairo’s a goner. There’s no need to give away our positions or jeopardize our mission by flying in blind.” I hate it when that woman’s right. Damn, too many lives lost already. Now this… “All right, let’s take it nice and slow. We’ll leave the ship here and come back for it when we’re out of ammo. In the meantime, let’s join the battle. Jan, what’s the situation with the fleet?” “Scanning…sir, I think there’s a malfunction with your systems. I read no operational UNSC stations or ships at all. Just us and Sach.” “Wait, you can see Sach on your scan?” “Yeah, it’s weird. I don’t get what’s wrong with this thing. Maybe it’s ’cause we’re so close to him.” “No, its worse than that. The EMP blast that fried your systems must have reached the entire fleet. That means that there could be hundreds, maybe thousands of people stranded out here in space, just waiting to be zapped by those Covie bastards.” “I don’t think so, sir.” “What are you talking about?” “Sir, look at nine ‘o clock, right at the Earth’s edge. Do you see it?” Squinting hard, Helstrum looked at the planet, seeing the faint blue sky from his angle, and noticing a strange object—quite large if he could see it from this distance—coming out from behind the Earth. “Sir, it’s showing as a UNSC ship. But we have no records of it anywhere.” “Well I’ll be damned. I don’t care if I can’t see it, or if I don’t know how big it is or what it looks like; as long as there are humans in there, we’re in business. Let’s move out! This fight isn’t finished yet.”

Chapter 17 1020 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar) Earth Defense Platform Cairo Bridge Staring out at the intense battle before his eyes, Admiral Hood turned to his officers, all sitting at their stations and inputting commands into their consoles. His eyes didn’t hold the same light as when he’d started the battle, his optimism falling away, hope quickly fading. “What is our status compared to that of the Covenant armada?” “Sir, they have six ships for every five of ours. It’s much closer than Cortana originally predicted. We may be able to tip that balance soon.” Optimistic, but unrealistic. Our chances fall with every ship we lose. They continue to send boarding parties to Earth and to the orbital stations as well. How we’ve managed to stay in orbit, I can only guess. But soon they’ll overpower this station, and the others, and the fleet will have no backup. With the number of ships left now, it’s only a matter of time… Lack of sleep and old age had caught up to him, especially on his face, almost looking like that of a wrinkled dog. But nothing, perhaps not even death, could shake his intense focus as he watched the tactical display, showing the entire battle on the two-dimensional board. He searched for a way to bring victory to his people, but with the larger number of Covenant vessels, it seemed impossible. They were outgunned, outmanned, and outclassed. And even if they did win, what about the next armada? Surely the Covenant had more vessels coming. This fight may be in vain. That thought repeated over and over in his head, but his lieutenant’s voice brought him back to reality. “Sir, I’m receiving a level one priority message from ONI central. They’re requesting that you give all command functions over to them.” What are they up to? Hood thought hard. If I refuse, then we fight a losing battle with little hope for victory. And if I give it to them, then who knows what will happen. Maybe they have something that will work. Not like I have much choice though. “Alright, they have full authority over the operation, clearance alpha bravo zulu three six nine. But I want to be informed about any changes. Understood? “Yes sir. Sending message now.” The Cairo fired another round, the huge ball of depleted uranium traveling at four-tenths the speed of light. The thought of it traveling so fast took his mind off the battle for a moment, a moment desperately needed now. According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, the mass of the projectile increased significantly due to the huge velocity, as did the momentum, and thus, the damage. Not only that, but it appeared smaller to anyone watching it, making the target unaware of how truly powerful the blast was. A direct hit was almost a sure-fire guarantee that the target was to be obliterated, or at least that it would not leave the battle without a huge hole in it. “Admiral, encoded messages are being transmitted to all allied vessels. It says to draw the Covenant forces to sectors 21, 24 and 27.” “What? Nothing is in those sectors. Why would they―” The admiral’s brow furrowed. Sectors 21, 24 and 27 were placed off limits during battle preparations. That means they put something there, waiting for the battle to turn ugly, and ONI would come in and save the day. But that would only work if…“Order all ships to avoid those areas immediately! There are nuclear weapons there, and those ships will be damaged or destroyed!” “Sir, we’re being jammed! No communications can be sent.” “What? From where?” “Scanning…” The officer turned to the Admiral, stunned. “Sir, it’s coming from within the Cairo.” Anger twisted the admiral’s face as he walked through the control panel. His officers continued to work at solving whatever problems they were dealing with. All but one. Picking up his pace, Hood reached the man’s console, seeing a dark screen. The officer sat cross-armed, obviously waiting for the Admiral to find him. “Marine, get rid of that jammer!” “I’m afraid he can’t do that, Admiral,” a voice said through the speakers on the control. The familiarity and coolness of it alarmed Hood, and only a single thought came to mind as a face appeared on the screen. “Colonel James Ackerson.” “I’m glad I haven’t been forgotten, even though that’s what you’ve really wanted for quite some time now, I’m sure. Isn’t that correct?” His voice remained calm and steady. “Ackerson, you will not have my fleet destroyed. Not on my watch.” “I’m sorry Admiral, but my hands are tied. You gave over your command functions over to me a minute ago. I’m just following orders directly from my superiors. We’re simply working in the best interest of the human species. I would suggest that you and your crew leave the station while you still have a chance. It will be difficult without any systems functioning.” “When I get my hands on you, I’ll―” “Don’t worry, you won’t. Chances are that ONI will be hailed the victor while you will be honored and forgotten, honorably discharged, and moved to some remote estate where nobody will ever find you. In fact, you should be thanking me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a war to win.” “Ackerson!” But it was too late. The screen faded, removing the image of Ackerson from the space station, possibly for the last time. A headache brewed within the admiral as he thought of anything that would solve this dilemma. But nothing came to him. “I want a way to contact the fleet, and I want it now! If we don’t warn them, they’ll be destroyed, and Earth will be open to a direct attack!” ****** Helstrum stared down at the private refueling his ship and couldn’t help but wonder what the hell was going on outside. The Cairo was still operational, and for the moment that’s all that really mattered. “Hey commander, I’m prep’d and ready!” Jan yelled from across the fighter bay. The sound traveled well without the normal resistance of hundreds of voices and at least 10 other fighters in the bay. “OK, get out there, but don’t stray too far from the barn. We’ll be done before you can have any fun.” “Does this mean I’m not allowed to have any?” “Yup. Just get out there and find some targets for us to shoot at.” Looking again at the private, he hollered, “When’s this puppy gonna be up and running?” “Just give it another five, sir. The ordinance will be here before then.” An awkward silence was momentarily disrupted by Jan’s ship taking off, then returned, this time worse than before. Twiddling his fingers wasn’t cutting it. “So…heard anything from the front?” Helstrum asked the private. “Nope, not yet.” “Got any friends fighting out there?” “Doesn’t everybody?” “How’s your mother doing?” “Sir, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me do my job.” Helstrum didn’t press the issue. The ordinance rolled in on a huge rolling cart, pushed by two more marines. One of them tripped, and the entire stock of munitions began to tip over, with the nukes on top. As one started to slip off, the fallen marine managed to recover and prevent any damage. “Hey, be careful with that! If your not, this whole station’s gonna be very empty, very fast.”

Chapter 16 0940 Hours, October 21, 2552 (Military Calendar) New York Outskirts, North American Continent Pulling Fred to his feet, John returned his smile and asked, “Status?” “Sir, the Covenant have a perimeter around the Prophet, and they just went through the underground area of that base.” He gestured to a building in the distance. Fred keyed his radio. “Blue one and two, meet up at the center and bring along all remaining marines.” John watched Fred look down at the monstrosity that had brought him so close to death. His vitals were within normal parameters; only an increased heart rate. Other than severe burns on his right leg and minor lacerations on both of his arms, he was in good shape. Will and Linda arrived, both pleasantly surprised to see John. Fred looked behind them but saw no marines. Linda shook her head, and they held a moment of silence. “Permission to assume command, blue leader,” John said. Fred looked back at the dead Hunter. “Permission granted, Master Chief.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s good to have you back, John.” “Good to be back.” He faced the trio. “Will, scavenge as many rockets as you can. Linda, grab whatever sniper ammo is available, and get a beam rifle if you need to. Fred, take a crate with the BR55 and SMG ammo, and throw in a bunch of grenades. We’re going after them.” ****** The heavy breathing of two Brutes blared through John’s internal speakers as he and Will snuck down the corridor nearby. Peering around the corner, he inventoried seven Brutes, nine Elites, fourteen Jackals, a pair of Hunters, and around twenty Grunts and Drones. He set his suit’s radio to receive only F-band signals, and the voices of hundreds of Covenant troops came through. About to speak, he stopped himself, remembering that he was on his own and did not have Cortana’s abilities at his disposal. It was strange to not have her presence with him. Recapping the room, a discrepancy fired off warnings in his head. The room was quite large, able to hold a force at least triple the size, yet they all bunched together. Drones covered the ceiling, flying to and fro. Jackals crowded on one side of the room, the opposite wall yielding to the Grunts. But John’s problem with the scene was how the Brutes and Elites stationed themselves on the far sides of the room. The Elites were obviously uncomfortable, standing in silence. They seemed to be watching the room, while the Brutes disregarded protocol and conversed noisily, laughing, grunting, and snorting. The Hunter pair stood in the middle of the room, their massive bodies filling considerable space. A reckless Grunt ran into one Hunter’s leg, and fell backwards. The Hunter took no notice of it, even as the Grunt scampered off. Before John boarded the Forerunner ship, while still on Delta Halo, the Covenant had been in disarray. Different factions fought each other, giving him the impression that there could soon be a civil war within the Covenant. The forces on Earth, however, seemed to be ignorant of what was happening; the tension was still present. He pointed to his gun, to Will’s Jackhammer, then to himself. Will handed his Jackhammer over and hoisted the QQ22 on his shoulder; John did the same with the rocket launcher. He then unclipped a grenade and pointed at it, then to the room. Will grabbed one of his own and gave the thumbs up. John counted down with three fingers. Two, one… John’s speakers played a deep voice, and his armor translated it from a Brute. His gut told him to stop and wait. He’d learned long ago to trust it, as all the Spartans did, and it saved them numerous times in battle. The reaction from one Elite caught his attention. Gesturing for his team to back down, he turned the volume up and listened. “What did you say?” an Elite yelled across the chamber. “See, they have poor hearing as well,” the Brute captain grunted to his group, who broke out into laughter. The Elite, wearing golden armor, approached the center of the room, followed by the other Elites. The Brutes did the same, following their captain as the Hunters stepped out of the way. The two leaders stood only centimeters apart, each trying to stand the other up. The head Brute snorted, “I will rip your head from your body.” “And I will open your chest and take your heart, and you shall watch me crush it in my hand.” Both growled, and John’s finger fell as he flung off the grenade’s safety pin and flung it at the ground only meters from his position. The grenade’s internal countdown mechanism activated, counting down from three. At two seconds, the noise from the ricochet registered among several Jackals and Grunts, who looked about to find the source. At one second all Covenant forces became alert to the possible danger, except the Brutes and Elite. The explosion propelled the Elites and Brutes across the room, killing many instantly. John rushed in and fired a rocket at the confused Jackals. Will unleashed two bursts of radiation, scattering the Drones and hitting a Hunter. The sound of two rifles came from down the corridor, dropping more Drones and the other Hunter. Grunts yelled in fear and ran, one in circles, until John took them out with his second rocket. Will let out another burst toward the Elites, disintegrating one and killing anything that stood too close to it. John dropped his Jackhammer and pulled out his BR55, only to see Will fly across the room and crack a self portrait into a wall. Turning, he saw three berserking Brutes. They charged at him, but two tripped over themselves as the deafening sound of .70 caliber bullets rose. Only one continued its pursuit as John clutched a plasma grenade from his belt and activated it behind his back. He dropped his gun and bent his knees, putting most of his weight on his right leg. When the Brute was a meter away, he pushed off of his right foot and flung himself into the air, sticking the grenade onto his adversary’s snout. It shrieked as John leaped for cover. The Brute grabbed at it, trying to rip it off, yet time showed no pity. Pinkish blood exploded around the room as the Spartans regrouped. Will extracted himself from the wall and picked up his QQ22, then joined his team. Fred and Linda stared uneasily at him. “You all right?” Fred asked. Will ran his hand along the fist-shaped depression in his armor’s chest plate and looked at the wall. “Perfect. Just wondering which dent made more damage.” Linda chuckled and Fred pat him on the back. “Will,” John said, “your vitals are sporadic.” John knew his Spartans wouldn’t lie to him, let alone about something this important. “Suit malfunction?” “Probably. Internal systems show normal, but the suit-to-suit transmitter may be damaged.” “We’ll worry about that later. Let’s keep―” He stopped mid-sentence, feeling the floor vibrate just before his shield fully regenerated. John held up a fist for his team to wait, and he checked the seismic activity. It tripled, and was growing. “They’re coming!” Fred exclaimed. John felt a twinge of anticipation. “Then let’s roll out the welcome wagon.”

He’d never seen so many in his life. His long-range sensors were full with red blips, and he turned it off because it would be useless against the amount of Covenant he was about to face. “Turn off your friend or foe tags. Let’s make sure they can’t tell who we are unless they see us. “Marines, do not open fire until the Prophet has exited its ship and I give the signal. I want all of you to take out anything that stands in front of it, and make way for Blue two’s sniper fire. All marines with Jackhammers, do not waste your rockets. Only fire when ordered by Blue one. From now on, we’ll be on radio silence. Once that ship’s down, open the gates of hell on them.” Dozens more dropships came into view, and all forms of Covenant troops were on the ground. Looking through a crack in the wall, he saw hundreds gathering. Scout groups ran through areas he and the others had been in only moments before, scurrying around bodies of both Covenant and humans alike. Scanning the sky for the ship with the Master Chief, with John, he soon spotted the small triangular vessel. But he couldn’t worry about that now; he needed to focus on getting that Prophet. He restarted his motion sensor and set it to a ten-meter radius. Immediately he saw yellow dots all around the perimeter, meaning the enemy was below his position, on the bottom level of the base. There was only one way to reach him, since he’d gotten rid of all ladders: a narrow passageway about five meters away. His gun pointed toward the passageway and he felt the ground shake, which had to be the vessel landing. Closing a fist and holding it in the air, he alerted his team to wait, not knowing how long it would take to flush the Prophet out, or whether it was even coming at all. A single yellow blip on his radar circled the perimeter of the base twice now, and was coming back to the open side. Fred checked his gun quickly and saw the ammo was full. Damn glad for these explosive rounds. Suddenly, six more blips came into view, all approaching him. He pawed a grenade but kept a steady hand on the SB73, pointed at the head of anything that would walk through. They started closing in on him. Nine meters, seven meters. Looking through the scope, he stayed cool, not flinching a muscle. An orange fin popped into sight. The head of the short Grunt appeared, but it had no time to react before three bullets pieced its skull and its entire methane-filled suit erupted, incinerating all behind it. Three teams of Elites, Jackals, and Grunts headed toward that same opening, now littered with the burning carcasses of their comrades. They came in standard formation: Jackals wielding energy shields in front, Grunts and Elites behind. The size of the passageway would force them to change their formation, but to Fred, they were just as cooked as the previous squad. When they were eight meters in, he tossed two grenades and enlarged the body pile. As the plasma grenades detonated, he knew the danger was gone. Beyond them, a large cluster of Brutes stood in an odd formation, all huddled close to one another, as though they were making a perimeter around… Fred lobbed two fragmentation grenades at the Brutes. One bounced on the ground and exploded, killing a few, and the other ricocheted off a helmet, then another, and detonated above them. Immediately, four rockets fired on that position, as well as a number of sniper rounds. The Brutes moved quickly, and with their great height blocked any possible view of the Prophet. They headed straight for the base. Standing, Fred dropped his rifle, activated two plasma grenades and threw both, decapitating two Brutes. But they kept up a steady pace, and even the third and fourth barrage of rockets didn’t slow them. Hearing marines scream, Fred scoped a Jackal sniper and took it out, then another, then four more. His role shifted to support; he needed those marines more than ever, but he wasn’t sure if any were left. The Brutes were only 15 meters from the base now; Fred knew he had to get out. The surrounding area, however, wasn’t any safer. With the number of Covenant snipers in the area, it was a wonder that any of them were still alive. With that, he decided on the only way he could go. Right into the middle of it. Recalibrating his shields to work only above his knees and his gun to single-shot bursts, he retreated to the far wall, then ran toward the edge. He reached top speed, and jumped. Just before hitting the ground, he set his shields only to the soles of his feet, making him practically levitate. This let him move as though on a frictionless surface, and he wouldn’t slow down until he hit something or he fell over. Both of which would likely mean he was dead. Hurrying through the middle of the battlefield, he fired a round at another Jackal wielding a beam rifle. Plasma streaked past him, missing due to his intense speed. He took out one after another, none expecting to see anything move so fast. After eliminating at least seventeen Jackals, one directly in front of him shot at his foot. Almost losing his balance and his gun, Fred twisted toward the Jackal and shot off its head. More shots came from behind, and on one leg he turned again and responded. Only then did he stop with a sudden thud, cracking the bones in his neck and back. A massive blue arm grasped him, cut off his breathing and held him there. As his vision clouded, the stranglehold eased and Fred fell to the ground, gasping for air. He looked up to find his savior, only to see a blurry image eclipsing the sun. “How can I help, Blue leader?”