Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN 117-John, a legend among humans, a fierce myth to the Marines he once fought with, now presumed dead and the only thing he left to the universe was mangled covenant bodies. Awoken on a burning ship, the pillar of autumn, as it hurtled through space after escaping reach with the only Spartan believed to be left alive, covenant boarded and began killing everyone they could find. Escaping while his commander crashed the pillar of autumn onto a nearby ring shaped world, he and Cortana an advanced AI capable of unlimited intelligence, discovered that it wasn't a planet, but an instillation used to eradicate all sentient life in the universe. All this was done to stop the spread of a life form that could decimate the entire universe and every sign of life in it. The flood. The name was an apt description because like a flood they travelled, unstoppable, consuming everything in its path. Chief managed to avert the covenants plans to activate the station, and also eliminate the immediate flood threat by overloading the pillar of autumns main reactors and destroying the artificial planet, along with everything on it. This earned him the respect and admiration of many of his peers, elevating him to an almost god like status.
A year passed, and the war between the covenant and the UNSC still raged. The chief returns to earth, boarding one of the three hundred space defense stations that orbited it. With Sergeant Major Johnson by his side he received a hero's welcome. Clad in his Mark IV suit, the chief loomed over everyone, the green giant he was. He turned to Johnson "you told me there wasn't going to be any cameras" for once emotion coming into master chiefs voice. He looked down at the black man that had become the closest friend he probably had, ever. Johnson looked up at him, wearing the white regalia reserved for special occasions, and simply said "You told me you were going to wear something nice!" they walked down a gang way, marines in the hundreds overlooking them and applauding. "Folks need hero's Chief, to give them hope." He took of the white hat he was wearing, uncomfortable in anything that wasn't his combat uniform, and ran a hand over his head "So smile would ya? While we still got something to smile about" he replaced his hat and walked through the automatic doors that opened upon his presence, the chief in silent tow.
They entered a gigantic room, with people covering every balcony available, applauding as both made their way up the stairs to the commander, saluting as they came to a halt at the of the stairs, commander returning it in kind. The aging man smiled and said "Gentlemen, were lucky to have you back" before he could continue any further, a major behind him came and whispered something into his ear, commander nodded and turned to a podium next to them "Go ahead Cortana". A woman appeared on the podium, no higher than a foot and covered in purple runes, a holographic projection of life but a personality and intelligence to surpass many who lived today. She stood with a hand on her hip "Another whisper sir, near Io, we have probes en-route" she said in a pleasant voice, although a bored one. Commander nodded once again and turned to the chief and the sergeant. "I apologize but were going to have to make this quick" he turned once again to pick up the medals that the major offered him. Cortana looked up at the chief, and smiled, her personality once returning to her, "You look nice" she remarked, her smile turning a little cheeky.
"Thanks" said the chief and Johnson at the same time, both then giving each other a look.
"Sergeant Major Johnson, the commonial cross is awarded for singular acts of daring and devotion." He pinned the medal onto Johnson's blazer, he swelled with so much pride that if his chest stuck out anymore he probably would have taken off. Wasn't long after that that the station was attacked, covenant boarding ships managed to infiltrate nearly every station dropping off powerful bombs that easily ripped them apart. Only a few were activated, the chief disarming one and in an unbelievable act managed to push the deactivated bomb through space and onto a covenant capital cruiser, him following closely behind. He activated it and pushed himself away, the explosion rocketing him towards sergeant major Johnson's ship, landing with a deep thud on the hull. The Sergeant looked up, smiled and said "For a brick, he flew pretty good!"
Earth was attacked, a whole city disappearing in an instant due to a slipspace jump done by a covenant capital ship. The chief's ship followed. They came upon a new Halo, later fount to be one of seven installations through the galaxy. It nearly became activated, although the index needed was captured at last minute, disabling the firing. But the station had put the other installations on standby, able to be remotely activated by a place called the Ark, location currently unknown. Chief is currently aboard a covenant ship heading for earth.
After abandoning the ship in orbit, he hits the ground roughly going the same speed as a space ship reentering orbit and smashed into the ground, a crater forming around him. Marines and the arbiter, an elite that revolted along with others against the covenant, fount him and assumed him dead. He survived, and while defending earth against the covenant forces, the aliens discover a huge forerunner structure under the African desert and the prophets begin trying to activate it, presumably this must be the Ark. A huge offence is mounted, but to no avail, the structure is activated and a portal is opened above it, chief's ship just managing to make it through before it closed. They get sent to the Ark, and after fighting their way inside through countless enemies, the arbiter and the chief find Miranda keyes, daughter of the famous commander keyes that helped destroy the first Halo, killed by the prophet of truth and sergeant Johnson being forced to activate the rings. They discover that a new Halo has been built to replace the one destroyed by the chief year ago. After killing the prophet of truth, they flee to the new Halo, knowing this was the only way to stop the flood that had landed on earth and was spreading rapidly. They decide to activate the new Halo, one that was not yet linked to the others, so deploying it would not cause the entire population to crumble. They fight their way to the control room, the arbiter and chief entering. However guilty spark 343, a keeper droid, attempts to stop them, saying that activating the ring would prove too much for the rings current condition and cause it to rupture. The spark lands a mortal wound on the sergeant, and after the chief destroys it he runs to the sergeant's body, dropping to his knees as he does. He turns the man onto his back, and says "I'm getting you out of here"
The man smiles and coughs, blood being pushed out of his mouth. "Forget it, I'm finished" he grabs the chief's hand "don't you ever leave her, never leave her." He pauses for a bit and looks at the chief, he smiles again. "Send me out, with a bang" his head falls back, eye closing as his last breath leaves his body. His hand falls from the chief's grasp, leaving cortana's chip in it. He walks slowly over to the control panel and puts Cortana close to, she jumps to the panel, materializing, and whispers to the chief "I am so sorry". She turns, knowing her words won't help, and activates the ark, turning around and touches the chief's hand, returning to her data disk. He pushed the disk into his helmet, Cortana linking with his suit. Taking one last look at the sergeant he turns and begins the run away as a massive shaft of light emerges. The arbiter and the chief hijack a warthog, and race to a close by UNSC frigate. They manage to launch themselves onto it, and activate the ship. The arbiter moves to the cockpit, the chief stays. As the portal stays open to earth the arbiter's half of the ship manages to make it through and crashes to earth. The chiefs half doesn't, and gets flung into space.
"Chief!"
John-117 looked around, his eyesight foggy and disorientated. His head felt like it has been stamped on by something huge. Repeatedly.
"Chief!"
He lifted his head up and saw a dark corridor stretching out before him. He felt the familiar sense of weightlessness that anti gravity brings.
"Oh thank god" Cortana's voice rang through his helmet, relief evident in her voice. It quickly turned to sadness though "I thought I'd lost you." John paused slightly, wondering if he should reply. He chose not to and instead put on his head light beams, the corridor in front of him suddenly brightening up. He grabbed onto a beam that was protruding from the wall, and pulled himself forward floating gently toward the front of the ship. "We made it through" said Cortana, her voice a welcome break to the silence. John looked out at the blankness of space, where the rest of the ship should be. "Well, most of us did anyway" said Cortana, giving a fake little laugh. "The portal closed on us as we passed through, the ring wasn't able to support it anymore and it cut us clean in half." John turned around, leaving the stars behind and headed into the ship. After ten minutes of searching he fount what he was looking for, the cryogenic chambers. "But you did it. Truth. The covenant. The flood. It's finished" He loaded Cortana into a podium, her image appearing and lighting up the surrounding area, turning off his head lights he hung onto the podium, his body floating horizontal in space.
"It's finished" repeated John, seeming a little dejected. He looked at Cortana one last time, before pushing himself away toward the cryopod. He placed his assault rifle in the holding place next to the chamber, before slowly lowering himself in. "I'll drop a beacon" came Cortana's voice "but it'll be a while before anyone finds us." John lay back in the pod, making sure he was strapped in. "years even" finished Cortana, looking down. John took one last look at Cortana before the lid slowly started to close. "I'll miss you" she said, quickly, almost as if before her mind had chance to stop her. Chief watched her as the lid closed, and just before it did, he said "Wake me, when you need me" Cortana looked up in shock, before bowing her head once more. The lid finally closed, chief's eyes never leaving her as the cryo chamber kicked in freezing him instantly. The last thing he saw was Cortana, hugging herself.
This is where the story of master chief now continues.