Author's note: this story is set in a AU with the unsc been in the place of the Systems Alliance, the Halo universe is set six months after the events of requiem in the year 2558, and Mass effect will be set in the year 2183, for simplicity's sake I will refer to the mass effect timeline in human years rather than that of the Citadel.
I do hope you enjoy it, unknowngnome
Disclaimer I own nothing
Halo: A House of Cards
Chapter 1: A startling arrival, an unwelcome truth and the all Seeing Eye
UNSC Infinity
Slip space, in pursuit of the CAS carrier song of retribution
11,000 light years beyond chartered space
Rear admiral Veronica Dare stared at the holographic projection of slip space on the bulkheads that in place of the reinforced combat glass on the bridge of the Infinity.
The void of slip space Veronica found, was disturbingly peaceful, which silently, the only colours which she was capable of viewing. Blue and black seamlessly intertwined with each other and without effort. The emptiness of slip space was the only thing capable of seemingly calming her nerves. The mission which she and her staff had spent months in planning was finally starting to come to fruition.
Operation: BLACK LION which was near edge of success, would see the tattered remnants of Jul Mdama's fleet either captured or destroyed. If the mission succeeded it would signal the end of the storm covenant as a threat to the UNSC and the recovery of both the Janus key and the war criminal Dr Halsey. If it succeeded repercussions of the mission could be equal to the consequences of operation: blind faith, which was responsible to the ending of the Great War.
Initially Admiral Dare had been less than confident when she had proposed the operation to UNSC highcom and ONI. The operation relied on Jul Mdama's greed by presenting him with the one thing that he could never turn down, the second half of the Janus key which was in the possession of the UNSC. The idea was to lure covenant remnant fleet into an ambush, though Veronica had presumed that Jul Mdama experience as a veteran ship master in the Great War would allow him to see straight through the trap.
Though it seemed that the leader of the covenant remnant was becoming desperate. Even though remnant had attacked several UNSC controlled worlds within the past six months with devastating effect most likely with the helping hands of Doctor Halsey. However these raids had consumed vast resources that the remnants fleet simply could not spare, and when the whereabouts of the prize that he so desperately needed he had not surprisingly taken the bait.
Operation Black Lion had begun with the UNSC Infinity sending a general distress call on all frequencies as well as several key leaks of information regarding the location of the Janus key, which had luckily found itself aboard the Infinity. With the intention of attracting the remnant fleet.
The Infinity had found itself in the isolated in the highly dense Helios nine nebula or as it was better known to the sangheili as the scorching ocean nebula due to the bright hazy red that smothered the entire nebula to which it bordered with the covenant separatist territories. The nebula itself had properties which severely limited effective sensor range, as the remnants fleet jumped into the nebula blind they emerged close towards the drifting Infinity, finding the vessel to be easy prey. With the remnant fleet consisting of over 30 vessels including 10 CSS battle cruisers and 2 CAS assault carriers led by the song of retribution.
The vast majority of the fleet was compromised of CSS light cruisers which were well armed but lightly armoured if the loss of shielding occurred. It was speculated that due to the remnant leader having engaged the UNSC Infinity multiple times over the course of the second Battle of requiem and combined the knowledge of Doctor Halsey, he had an intricate idea of the defences of the Infinity and how she could be manipulated and boarded.
Though the remnant fleet had soon found its self in the middle of a textbook UNSC strategy. For the covenant remnant fleet had immediately jumped into a camouflaged nuclear hornet minefield numbering in the hundreds, each capable of crippling and destroying dozens of vessels with a single mine. Which had been meticulously laid hours before by UNSC prowlers with the Infinity directly in the centre of the minefield. With the entire remnant fleet now within the minefield, Captain Lasky of the Infinity immediately ordered the detonation of the minefield destroying 40% of all ships within the minefield, crippling the rest.
Before Jul Mdama, could even calculate or even give the order to regroup what vessels had survived elements of the eighth UNSC fleet comprised of over 100 vessels, the majority being the new strident heavy class frigates and autumn class heavy cruisers. Immediately began their attack from there hiding positions within the nebula completely surrounding remains of the remnant fleet which was incomplete disarray. With the Infinity ceasing its fake distress call, all key combat and critical systems were powered up on a moment's notice with the Infinity moving into the fight or as the Infinity's AI Roland had sarcastically called a good old-fashioned duck Hunt.
The remnant leader ordered any ships that could still engaged to slip space drives were ordered to retreat. With only six vessels capable of jumping out of the nebula including the song of retribution.
Though the retribution had made it out of the nebula intact the vessel had taken a glancing hit from one the UNSC Infinity's Mac Canons causing numerous systems to be damaged beyond repair as well as almost crippling the slip space drive forcing the song of retribution to limp out of the nebula. The song of retribution's slip space drive was failing and with the UNSC Infinity giving pursuit and gaining on the ship, there was very little Mdama could do except run or in a desperate run of vain hope turn and fight the Infinity.
"Roland" Dare immediately snapped around from the combat observation window of the bridge and walked to the central holographic projector of the bridge with the AI's Avatar waiting with anticipation.
" Display current statistics on the interception of the song of retribution and the failure of its slip space drive".
"right away Admiral" the AI replied immediately and two avatars flickered into life and appeared on the opposite sides of the holo projector, the one closest towards the Admiral represented Jul Mdama's crippled ship and the other at the far end of the projector, the Infinity at a steady pace closing in on the limping vessel."
When Mdama's vessel drops out of slip space will be right on top of them in less than 15 minutes and 'then we will be home in tea" the AI sarcastically responded.
"Well you better be buying the cake "the Admiral replied back in a somewhat snarky manner in order to try and calm her nerves and that of the bridge staff. The mood of the entire bridge crew was not particularly helpful as the atmosphere was one of intense focus and nerves resulting in a deathly silence across the entire bridge, one that had emerged ever since they had started to pursue Mdama less than eleven days ago.
"Must admit I'm not a big fan of cake "Captain Lasky interrupted as he and the commander of the Spartan IVs on board the Infinity Sarah Palmer strolled onto the bridge. "Admiral Lasky turned towards Dare and spoke with a stern and confident voice "the Infinity is combat ready I've checked over with the commanders of the battle group and they're ready to deploy strident frigates on a moment's notice, Commander Palmer has 16 Spartan fire teams ready to be deployed as soon as we've crippled the retribution"
"Good, they are aware that they are to seize Doctor Halsey preferably alive but the Janus key comes first. It is likely Mdama and his elite guard will defend it with fanatical devotion and if not their lives, I assure you and your Spartans are not in for an easy ride "Admiral Dare stated with a harsh tone.
"I assure you these fire teams were handpicked by me and will be led by me "interjected Commander Palmer" I can personally vouch for both fire teams majestic and crimson they were both the ones who were able to recover our half of the Janus key and stop the Infinity from plunging into the star with the rest of requiem. Everyone knows the stakes I assure you Admiral. Besides I will be dammed if our dear friend Doctor Catherine Halsey escapes again, not on my watch."
The rear admiral placed both of her hands and the metallic edge of the holo projector and tilted her head down to look at the Avatar representing the retribution and took a deep sigh." Very well "she declared "Captain Lasky I advise you to go to battle stations "with a quieter voice as if the Admiral was thinking out loud "so the game is on".
"Roland declare red five, battle stations "captain Lasky signalled to the AI. In reply the AI gave a quick nod. Immediately red alarms started to flare throughout the vessel as well as Claxton's going off across the entire vessel further adding to the tension. Immediately the bridge which after being deathly quiet sprung into life with crewmembers rushing around to various different consoles bringing up statistical projections of the battle readiness of the Infinity as well as a Madrid of tactical information including engagement zones and effective ranges of both the Infinity and the song of retribution.
While the Infinity's crew were in the final stages of preparing for combat the AI Roland had been keeping an eye on countless systems making sure each was prepared for combat readiness. Almost immediately he picked up a very slight decrease power within the forerunner engines, something which should be impossible. Within microseconds dozens of system diagnostics were conducted on every part of the engine all of which were inconclusive including the ether cores output was running at nearly 99% well within the recommended levels.
Within another 2 microseconds he began running all possible simulations which only one conclusion could be reached something forerunner or unknown origin was starting to pull the ship out of slip space.
" Captain "the AI immediately called out with concern in its voice "the velocity of the vessel is beginning to decrease it is impossible for me to determine the cause, but is likely going to pull us out of slip space, wait a minute that can't be right",
"Sir this wasn't happening seconds ago, output from the ether core has now declined to 80% whatever it is now draining the Infinity of her power, technically this should be impossible captain".
"Roland get me Glassman on the comm and ask him what the hell is "before Lasky could even finish his sentence the Infinity began lurching starboard violently knocking several crewmembers into numerous consoles and onto the floor of the Infinity's bridge causing numerous injuries to which some were critical.
Lasky found himself clinging onto the railing mounted on top of the Helm control trying to rebalance himself. "Roland situation report" the captain found himself shouting as numerous consoles began sparking and shorting out under the strain of the power overload and critical failure of primary and secondary systems.
The Infinity's AI struggling to keep the numerous forerunner systems that were vital to the functioning of the vessel from entering what Roland could best describe as a standby state, which if failed to keep interacting with the human systems on the Infinity would normally leave the vessel completely vulnerable in normal space but if such an event which take place in slip space the results would be catastrophic.
Though there were hundreds if not thousands of fail safes that were designed to stop such a scenario from happening which were put in place in 2553 by the Hurok found on the shield world Trevelyan in order to ensure the efficient and effective merging of human and forerunner technology. Each of these failsafe's had been either been deactivated or removed entirely allowing the forerunner engine components vulnerable to whatever outside source was pulling them out of slip space.
"Captain….. can't keep ….this vessel ….in" the AI struggled to vocalise as its Avatar simply flickered out of life leaving the holo pedestal devoid of the bright yellow light that had once filled it .
"Roland, Roland God dammit" the captain shouted in vain trying to get the AI to respond. Lasky then with great difficulty moved himself behind the helm controls monitors trying to establish some idea of the situation now the AI had seemingly failed under the pressure of the now malfunctioning ship.
Meanwhile the rear admiral had found herself crawling and herself buckling into one of Infinity's bridges many seats, stopping her from being thrown around like a rag doll. Trying to stop herself from being squeezed under the numerous number of Gs' been pulled as well as the malfunctioning anti-grav plates mounted on the floor of the bridge, she barely heard captain Lasky shouting orders over the comm over the entire ship telling all hands to brace for emergency slip space exit.
Though the events that were about to force the Infinity out of slip space made far more dangerous by the deactivation of forerunner technology, the emergency slipstream exiting protocols were infinitely more dangerous. As the ability to fall out of slip space on an unknown vector could very easily lead a star ship dropping out in the middle of a brown dwarf immediately crushing the vessel into a pulp.
Though in this case the protocols not been implemented on the vessel itself but still applied to broad exiting through an uncontrolled vector to which the Admiral thought herself was not going to be a pleasant experience.
As she braced herself a thunderous roar could be heard, signalling that the infinity's slip space had violently ripped a hole back into normal space, the only consoling thought she had was that she was not dead…. Yet.
CAS assault carrier, song of retribution
Unknown slip space vector,
11,000 light years from chartered space
Jul mdama sat quietly of the anti-grav chair as it floated high above the song of retribution's bridge. The bridge was littered with debris that had collapsed from the bridges ceiling. He found himself almost detached from the chaotic buzz below.
The retribution's bridge had two floors with a large ramp suspended from the second floor. Where numerous holographic screens surrounded the ramp allowing a ship master to receive a spectrum of information. The information displayed on the screens were all grim.
Floating on a pedestal in the centre of the ramp was the second half of the Janis Key surrounded by a curved force field almost nigh impenetrable.
Jul has spent the vast majority of his time staring into the key, not that it would gain any him anything. If anything all did was remind him of the humiliating defeat he had over suffered two weeks ago. Though in his sharp and calculating mind he knew that all it was a setback. Though the force he had lost was large, but it could still be recoverable with time. Though it mattered not if the foul humans and their ship were able to capture them.
All they had done since the setback at the scorched sun nebula was run like kin yar. If he could he would order this vessel to drop out of slipstream and fight the humans head-on. But such a move would be vain and hopeless. Even though honour demanded it, it was a fool's move and he would give the humans exactly what they wanted. He would make sure that their grubby little hands would never touch the Janis key even if it meant destroying it. An option that had become ever more likely.
Though he knew he could rebuild, he knew that his ship would be lost. It are taking a glancing hit from one of the Infinity's series 8 Mac cannons. One of the only human weapons during the Great War that a ship master would pause to confront. The weapon should have incinerated the retribution as soon as it touched its shields.
Though thanks to Doctor Halsey's extreme modifications using forerunner hard light technology had managed to soak up the vast majority of kinetic energy that came from the Mac round. It had been in vain as soon as the round had penetrated to shields whatever energy was left had caused vast critical damage to the entire ship. Only the hard light technology had kept this vessel from falling apart and even then it was not enough to save it.
"I do hope you're not sulking like a child madma?"
Jul immediately snapped out of deep thought to turn to the imbecile who would dare speak to him in such manner. Only to find Doctor Catherine Halsey standing at the edge of the ramp. Jul stood up from his anti-gravitational chair towering over the short human. The doctor had a calm arrogance about her, only matched by her supreme confidence. Believing herself to be an equal to the didact's hand.
Normally if this had been any other, they would have found themselves very quickly on the end of Jul's plasma blade. But Doctor Halsey was an annoyance that he would had to tolerate. But her allegiance to the covenant remnant was almost as invaluable as the Janis key itself. Even if her remarks grated on Jul like a snivelling kin yar.
"It seems that your talents Doctor are likely to come to an end "the ship master growled, towering over the human female.
Halsey unfazed by Juls attempted aggression continued on speaking.
"I do hope that you have a better plan considering your lacklustre performance in the last battle, for the ship is about to end up the same as the rest of your fleet." The doctor expressed with confidence.
"The operations of this vessel do not concern you, you had one simple task to which you have failed. It seems my mistrust in humans was rightly placed." The ship master barked back. Stepping off his anti-gravitational chair.
While the confrontation between Jul and Doctor Halsey had been taking place, numerous elites that had been occupying the consoles pressed against the wall of the second floor had gathered round the back of Doctor Halsey listening with an eerie silence.
For the arrival of Doctor Halsey had been a point of tension for the aliens aboard the retribution. Forcing Doctor Halsey to constantly watch her guard in case one of Juls lieutenants tried to remove her head. Only the didact's hand use for the Doctor meant her life had not been ended.
"Your usefulness is proving to be a double-edged sword for you Doctor so I suggest…" As Jul was about to finish his sentence his navigation master on the first floor interrupted." You holiness, sensors have no lock on the pursuing human vessel, it seems to have dropped out of slipstream Sir!"
Jul looked down to the navigation master, not quite believing this sudden turn of events." You are sure navigation master? If you have made a mistake I suggest you quickly rectify it. This vessels state of disrepair will be quick to play tricks on you"
The navigation master still with assurance in his voice replied" I have already checked and diagnosed the sensors they seem to be at full capacity your Holiness, there is no error"
Jul was silent for a moment or two obviously within deep thought. Then suddenly with a boost of confidence in his voice he shouted to his bridge crew to instruct new orders something he had not done for the last two weeks." Communications master are any of our accompanying vessels within communications range? "
The sensor master quickly replied "no sir we have detected none since our departure from the scorched sun nebula."
Jul slammed his fist into the pedestal containing the Janis key." Damnation, prepare to drop us out of..." Before Jul could finish his order a shock wave ruptured through the vessel throwing the majority of the bridge staff onto the floor as explosions ripped apart numerous consoles as plasma conduits ruptured throughout the entire ship.
"Damage report "roared the ship master over the sound of explosions trying to pull himself upright on to the command ramp.
It took a couple of moments before anybody could reply due to their incapacitation." Unknown, ship master most consoles have been destroyed "an elite minor shouted back. Jul gave a deep growl before another explosion forced him to the other edge of the command ramp and almost off the edge.
While the bridge staff had been met with surprise at the numerous explosions that had torn apart the retribution's command centre, Doctor Halsey had found herself a stable position readying herself for the oncoming chaos and destruction.
While the didacts hand had been thrown around the room like a rag doll, Halsey took a chance at the disruption to power systems and confusion of the crew. The power disruption had taken the force shield surrounding the Janis key off-line, leaving the key gently floating round its gravity free environment.
With single rush of adrenaline Halsey took a chance and dashed straight for the pedestal and capturing the key with her synthetic arm. The robotic replacement that she had painfully grafted onto herself in order to compensate for the loss of her left arm after it was shot by the infinities Commander Palmer.
As soon as she placed the Janis key into her accompanying shoulder swung bag carrying most of her irreplaceable equipment she bolted to the elevator directly behind the ship masters command ramp. As she placed her foot inside the elevator another explosion forced her from her feet and slammed her into the back of the elevator with the doors facing the bridge closed and locked in place. Overcoming a moment of dizziness she pressed the holographic interface of the lifts controls to take her to the lower decks.
With the monetary pause of chaos still met with the faint thuds of explosions from all over the ship Doctor Halsey removed her data pad from her shoulder bag. Using the data pad interface control unit, which was designed to allow Halsey to access all manner of alien computers more specifically forerunner and covenant systems it was, like many things in her bag been extremely versatile and irreplaceable. As she connected the cable manually into the holographic interfaces projector she activated the assault carrier's dorsal external cameras. In order to check if the corpse of the vessel had dropped back into real space.
As the Data pads screen lit up with hundreds of stars shining in the distant emptiness of real space, a lush dark green planet quickly came to view of the camera. Doctor Halsey breathed a sigh of relief meaning that her plan may not be in vain after all. Eventually the camera feed blinked out of existence unable to re-establish connection, the elevator came to a stop at the lower levels with the doors opening.
Just as the doors opened and Halsey peered out of the doorway only to find a dozen grunts flailing around scared by the collapsing vessel, they then suddenly stopped, noticing the doctor and began to ready their plasma pistols. The doctor ducked back inside elevator as green plasma bolts slammed into the doorway and the back wall of the elevator leaving large glowing holes dotted in and behind the elevator.
As the grunts kept advancing forward pinning the doctor in her place, one of the grunts prepared a plasma grenade. A sudden explosion came from behind them though not causing them any damage. As a grunts ceased firing to look at the dazzling explosion of light blue and purple ,air suddenly and explosively began to suck out of the breached section sucking them out into the darkness of space.
A few seconds after a bulkhead door swiftly moved into place sealing the breached compartment every pressurising the elevators compartment.
Doctor Halsey had held on to a railing within the elevator desperately trying to cling on as air all around her sucked up to the breach desperately trying to drag the doctor down and out of the breach. As the elevator began to re-pressurise the doctor taking the events as a warning removed a re-breather from out of her bag and placed it over her head with its visor tinted onyx black.
As Doctor Halsey picked herself up she noticed that the closest grunt to the elevator had been cut in half by the bulkhead door leaving only a bulky upper half body. By the corpse of the grunt lay its plasma pistol.
Considering her earlier attack and the sheer fluke of her surviving it she picked up the hefty plasma pistol, it still shone with a green dim light as if unaware and unchanged at thought of its previous owner.
With the doctor now moderately armed and prepared to use the weapon to the best of her ability, she began a quick jog down the purple dimly lit hallway as its light started to flare at the current lack of power.
As she made numerous turns down the lower end of the vessel sparks started to emanate from the lights down the hallway, as well as been accompanied by a vicious grown revealing the stress and tension been felt on the ship's hull.
Explosions could be heard in the distant corridors lighting up the ever growing darkness as well as screens and roars of elites and jackals been crushed by collapsing bulkheads as the ship was now tearing itself apart plummeting towards the planet below.
As Doctor Halsey found that bulkhead doors now sealed her way of to the hangar bay where any chance of acquiring a craft to survive had now dropped. "Dammit" the doctor hissed banging her fist into the door now locked in a hopeless effort to keep the assault carrier together.
When suddenly she came to the realisation that there may be another way off the ship. During the great War she had witnessed as well as heard of the use of the covenants drop pods, whilst slightly more ungainly then the ODST's drop pods they were equipped on most military vessels. As it was located at the lower decks by the hangar where she was currently located.
She again stuck her data pad into an interface, bringing up a map of the local area of the ship and searched for the covenant symbol matching that of a drop pod. Finding it the route to lit up with a light blue line zigzagging down the hallways of the map revealing the fastest route.
As she stumbled down the corridors and finally reached the location the insertion pod launch bay, she found herself unable to stay upright as the ship lurched violently from side to side. Struggling to keep up she found herself standing in the doorway of the launch bay, the room though still intact had numerous bulkheads collapsed on the floor a sure sign that the retribution was falling apart.
As Doctor Halsey entered further within the bay, she looked around the launch bay to her horror she had found that the majority of the insertion pods had been either crushed by falling bulkheads or completely removed from their mounting. As she stood there realising that she would most likely go down with the vessel and that her life may singly be at an end.
A sudden thought and had her mind she didn't need to be away from the ship when it plunged into the planet below she simply needed to survive it. She stumbled through the bay trying to find a dispersion pod which may still be intact as she continued to scan the room for a dispersion would suit plans, she finally came across a pod that had its joints moved so it could no longer be fired from the ship but it was still intact.
Letting go a large sigh she moved over to the pod, hitting the pod's Hatch opening mechanism. The covenant pods canopy moved revealing an oversized chair one obviously built in a style for elite not humans.
As the doctor began to enter the pod, the entire room began to shake violently almost knocking the doctor into the insertion pods entrance. Forcing herself on all fours she began crawling back up to the canopy unable to stand upright. Forcing herself into the seat and fastening herself into it, she pressed the holographic display and without effort the Hatch closed and locked into position.
As the doctor began to relax slightly enormous bump echoed throughout the vessel as well as slamming the doctor nearly out of her seat. It signalled that the retribution had slammed into the atmosphere and was now beginning to break apart, the only thought the echoed through the doctor's brain was the hope that she and the pod she was in would survive.
Thessia, Asari home world, Armali
Athena nebula, parnitha solar system
Outer Council space
"No mother I have made it quite clear"
Matriarch Benezia gritted her teeth, her daughter's 50 year rebellion had weathered poorly on her. It was the first time her daughter had returned to the Athena nebula in over 25 years, and she had not even considered to contact the matriarch and instead headed straight for the Asari colony of sanves to excavate a prothean ruin.
What annoyed the matriarch even more was that the ruin on the colony was worthless, the Asari matriarch's had known about the ruin for almost 1000 years. With it been little more than a shelter with no political or strategic value. But that still wouldn't stop her daughter.
"Surely you are able to spare a week from your work, it is highly important that you are here, people will surely begin to talk if an esteemed matriarch's daughter is not to attend such important conference out of spite. You are only several hours away from Thessia I am sure that ..."
"No mother as I have said we have spent over two years trying to get the right to excavate here as well as a dozen logistical problems, we only have a week at most before this precious ruin is knocked over" liara interrupted.
"If you have nothing else to say then I have to go, goodbye mother"
Liara quickly terminated the comms link, leaving the matriarch staring at the terminal. Her daughter had always been rude but this had taken it to an entirely new level.
She had always put her interests first than before the Asari people. Never understanding what was required of her as a matriarch's daughter.
After a while the matriarch got up out of her desk's chair and moved over to the balcony of the room.
The view overlooked the city of Armali's towering skyscrapers which were few and in between with artificial large lakes seamlessly merged with the city's modern architecture. The evening was present as lightly tinted velvet clouds hang over the sunset.
The matriarch had always enjoyed this view, taking time each day out of her constantly busy schedule of meeting dignitaries and people of note.
Immediately out of nowhere a dark hole ripped its way into existence, hanging in the middle of the horizon. Before the matriarch could even focus her gaze, a huge shockwave followed by a thunderous roar through her across her desk and back into her office.
The matriarch found herself lying on the floor with her desk knocked over with her terminal and numerous folders scattered on the floor she turned to look back at the dark hole only to see that it had a most doubled in size.
"By the goddess "the matriarch whispered to herself trying to comfort herself as she stood up and move back over to the balcony.
As she activated her Omni tool, two of her guards rushed into the room led by her most trusted commando shiala.
"Are you all right my lady?" shiala asked with a worrying tone in her voice.
"Quite thank you, just a bit of shock that is all "the matriarch applied in a calm and flat tone voice in order to portray a sense of confidence in her commandos.
The matriarch immediately turned her attention to this hole in the sky.
As she was about to enquire, a large armoured structure began slowly to emerge from the hole, the structure that began to emerge grew even larger revealing its frontal half. The structure itself gave a large menacing look to it covered in armour with a large industrial look, in many ways it was the opposite of Asari architecture, closer maybe to Turian architecture.
It took the matriarch a few moments to realise that the structure was the ship, far larger than anything the Citadel races could hope ever build, even in many ways dwarfing the destiny Ascension. Though apart from its design the only other things you could glimpse from it was that it was a ship of war.
As soon as the ship had exited the hole it slammed shut as if it had never existed in the first place only leaving the ship slowly gliding through the air. The vessel which now completely dominated the skyline suddenly lit up as what seemed to be yellow coloured energy surrounded the entire vessel flickering constantly, the vessel slowly seemed to tilt down towards the Earth while moving at the same pace.
The matriarch and her guards had simply stood there in complete and utter shock.
"By Athame that should be impossible "one of the guards foist the matriarch's thoughts.
Coming round to senses the matriarch new one thing if this vessel had arrived here than others would surely follow.
"Shiala get me the commander the sixth Fleet, now girl!"
The commando gave a quick bow to matriarch and then quickly activated her Omni tool, looking through her contacts.
The matriarch simply stared at the vessel, knowing that whatever happened now, things had changed.
Earth, Sydney, UNSC high command bravo six
Cinconi office three kilometres underground
Sol system
Srin Osman the commander-in-chief of the office of naval intelligence found herself at her desk with a cup of coffee which had been delivered to her by her personal assistant. Behind her was a holographic representation of Sydney, its famed opera house which had been rebuilt after the war.
It was a bright day and even though the Admiral was 3 km underground protected by numerous layers of A-3 titanium armour it still felt real.
Admiral Osman was in a far better mood than she had been in months. With the war criminal Doctor Halsey who had escaped and allied herself with Jul Madama's covenant finally about to be removed from the equation a large amount of the problems would disappear overnight.
She felt that this day would be an enjoyable one, though one thought had been chewing away at the back of her thoughts, the UNSC Infinity had its course take it within 75 light years of the Athena Nebula. Though such a distance was far apart from each other it was still far too close for Osman's liking.
As she began to take a sip out of her coffee a dozen holographic projections popped up behind her overlaying the Sydney panorama, immediately capturing her attention.
Her AI, BB who had accompanied her the last four years appeared on her desk as a simple black box.
"Admiral as much as you know I hate ruining your morning coffee the slip-space communications beacon CS-091 has just gone off like a fire in a fireworks factory. And you're not going to like what set it off"
"Thank you BB please keep me informed" the admiral replied coldly having a feeling that she knew exactly what was coming.
Placing her drink back down on its saucer, she turned around to view the holographic projections giving of multiple alerts of the human vessel Infinity hovering over Asari city of Armali.
"And there was I thinking today was going to be a good day" the Admiral whispered beneath her breath.
"BB get me the SC controller from section 1, and tell him and I need to have a few words and while you're at it, get me operator CS-08" the Admiral quickly gave out with a controlling demeanour.
"Right away and what of Hood and highcom? They are going to find out pretty quickly what's happened with the Infinity, Battle group Shanghai was only 21 hours behind the Infinity" BB questioned.
"I'll handle them, myself better me than anybody else "the Admiral responded with a sigh.
Osman found herself leaning back in her chair coming up with a dozen ways to control the situation.
Author's note: the planet that Doctor Halsey saw was the Asari colony of sanves.
