A/N: This is a rewrite of the original two chapters I wrote a while ago. I liked the story idea but not its execution. Therefore I found it to be necessary to be rewritten as the other one was too fast pace for my personal liking. If you have read the original, please let me know if you prefer this new version or the old one.

Chapter 1

"Lost"

1300 hours February 17, 2554 (Military Calendar)

Sol System, Earth

Commander Terris stood in the command bridge waiting for authorization to make the jump into slip-space. He reviewed the course that they would take to get to the planet of New Haven since this route was entirely new and not logged in the data banks of the UNSC Astro-navigation charts. Terris found that this route would be the fastest in getting them to the planet compared to the traditional route. He was in command of the UNSC Avalanche, a Strident-Class Heavy Frigate. Unlike the previous Paris-Class Frigates, the Strident Class had better armor and it also possessed shields.

"Jeremiah, How much do I have to spend standing around here?" Terris asked.

Jeremiah Materialized in the A.I holo-projection table. He wore an American Army dress uniform from the Second World War. The color the A.I was blue, like the majority of the A.I in service with the UNSC Navy.

"Commander, the station reports that they're almost finished, they just need to log in the course in their records," Jeremiah responded.

Terris let out a large exhale venting his frustration. The station had been reviewing his planned course for three-hours now. The A.I reassured him that the station has to track the movement of every ship that enters and leaves the Sol System. But this did little to comfort the officer. He was grinding his teeth together when Ensign James one of the ships' crew members called him.

"Commander, the station has given us the green light to make the jump sir," Ensign James said.

"About time" Terris retorted. "Proceed to make the Jump Ensign."

"Aye, sir."

Ensign James activated the slip-space drive. A black portal with a blue outline was punched open in front of the ship. The ship entered it This was how they entered the slip-space stream. Now all they had to do was wait as they made their way to New Haven.

[_]

February 19th, 2554

1300 hours

Slip Stream en route to New Haven

Commander Terris was sitting down in his command chair. He was reading one of the many entry logs about New Haven although he really did not want to. Terris tried to force himself to read the log but could not find the enough determination to do so. He finally gave up and powered down his tablet. He set his tablet aside and proceeded to watch as the crew continued doing their jobs. The command bridge was quiet and inactive. Peace and Tranquility Terris thought as he leaned his head back against his the tranquil peace wouldn't last as the ship was violently shaken and the orange emergency lights in the bridge started to go buzz irk. Terris was caught disorientated.

"Jeremiah, what is going on?" Terris demanded.

"I don't know sir, this is very unusual."

The slip-space portal then opened spitting the Avalanche back into normal space. Terris was rocked forward from his chair almost falling on the deck of the command bridge.

"What's going on, why did we exit slip space?" Terris continued.

"Sorry sir, the navigation computer went haywire and forced us to make an exit" James responded.

"Can you get us back on course ensign?"

" Not until reheat the system sir, the engine cores have spun to zero"

"Alright then do it," Terris ordered. James nodded in acknowledgment, he spun back to face the terminal in front of him. Terris took a deep breath and moment to think. Jeremiah caught the attention of the commander when he found him or rather it staring at the commander. "What is it, Jeremiah?" The commander asked the A.I

"Sir, our sensors have detected a large planet approximately a thousand kilometers in front of us". The commander looked out the from the command bridge's frontal view port. Terris examined the planet the best he could from this distance. It had a green-brownish pigmentation to it with large clouds in the atmosphere, the largest of which was the northern most point of the planet. Terris didn't know where North and South lied on this planet so, until he could figure it out, he would have to use Earth's directional sense to make the comparisons.

"Jeremiah, where exactly are we located?" Terris catechized.

"Our astro-navigation computer is unable to pinpoint our exact location sir."

"So you're telling me we're lost?"

"That could be a possibility, sir." Jeremiah ended.

Terris listened to the words of the A.I carefully. He looked down to the gray-metallic deck of the command bridge as he started thinking of the next course of action. The UNSC did have protocol what steps to take if the commanding of the ship should take if they would someone leave the boundaries of the known galaxy. He just thought that such protocol would never be put to use.

"Jeremiah, what information do you have on the planet in front of us?"

"Well the planet does have a breathable atmosphere, and it also has surfaced."

"Well, that does it then. Given the certain circumstances that we have found ourselves, I see no alternative but to activate Naval Protocol 13-bravo until friendly units can come to our rescue. I'll bring the ship down to the atmosphere but before I can that, I need eyes on the ground. Jeremiah, call the lieutenant colonel to the bridge, tell him that I need his assistance. "

[_]

Lt. Colonel Ferrando was in his quarters. He was studying the battle plan that he had made before they had left Earth on the upcoming offensive in New Haven. Ferrando was in the middle of making adjustments the battle plans when the ships onboard A.I Jeremiah materialized himself in his room.

"Sir" The A.I called to Ferrando.

The Colonel took a moment before turning to face the A.I. His face only illuminated by the blue light that his computer monitor was outputting.

"Mr. Jeremiah." He addressed the A.I "I hope you have one hell of a good reason to interrupt me while I'm working"

"It was not my intentions sir to interrupt you in the middle of your work, but the commander instructed me to inform you that he requires your presence in the bridge, he told me to let you know that he requires your assistance."

Ferrando took the A.I's words into consideration. He wondered as to what the commander wanted help in seeing as how it had just been two days since the ship departed from Earth.

"Did he tell you what he needed help in?"

"Sir, I just working with what information the commander has provided me. I'm sorry."

Ferrando took a deep breath in frustration. He turned his head to face his computer monitor thinking if he should take the word of the A.I or just wait until Terris opted to call him directly. He thought for a few moments more before concluding that it be best

"Jeremiah" He started " Tell the commander that I'll be on my way."

"Yes, sir," Jeremiah replied

"But before you go, please tell the commander to summon me. Directly. I don't like to make assumptions."

"I'll make sure he receives your message, sir."

"Thank you" Ferrando finished

Jeremiah gave a slight to the Lt. Colonel before dematerializing

After the A.I had left, Ferrando proceeds to the door. The door automatically slid open revealing a hall way that was void almost any life. He walked out and turned to the left towards the elevator that would take him to one of the upper levels. Where then he could proceed to the bridge. Ferrando never did go to the upper levels of the ships often times he rather remains close to where his troops were. The only times he would be seen in the upper levels of the is when he went to go eat in the mess hall or go to the medical bay. But this was a different situation because now a naval officer had requested his help. He wondered what Terris required help that would necessitate for him to come to the bridge personally. He now was at the entrance of the elevator. He pressed a panel button to call it down to his level. Ferrando waited for two minutes before the elevator reached his level. The doors slid open revealing the elevator to empty.

Perfect He thought to himself. The entered the carriage where it would take him to the main level of the ship from there he could continue his small journey to the command bridge and hopefully get it over with fast and finish where he had left off.

[_]

Commander Terris was pacing himself around the command bridge. His cadence was slow and calm with his hands on his back. However, this was just a façade as he was extremely nervous. The idea of being lost had haunted the commander since the start of his navy career: and now it was a reality. As commander Terris was about to finish his full turn around the bridge when the elevator door opened. In it was a man in with a long sleeve Khaki dress shirt and tie completed with green trousers.

" Ferrando" Terris started. "I'm Glad you were able to make it."

"Well, I couldn't pass your plea for help" Ferrando added.

He continued to the center holo-table where the commander was standing at one end with the A.I. Ferrando stopped at the opposite end of the table.

"Right. Well, now that you here are I think it's time that Jeremiah briefed you on our...peculiar situation."

"Lay it on me," Ferrando said directing his attention to the A.I"

"As of 1300 hours earth standard time, the Avalanche is lost with all hands." Jeremiah then motions his hand and brings up a planet projected onto the holo- table. "As the avalanche re-entered normal space, we came across the planet you see displayed in front of you."

Ferrando examined the projected planet the best he could. The projection appeared more like a blue sphere with a planet like features crudely drawn on it. "Is it possible that I could get a live feed on the planet?" He asked.

Jeremiah nodded and with a motion of his hand he got rid of the projection of the planet and replaced it with a live footage of the planet. Although it wasn't in a 3d projection anymore, it didn't bother Ferrando. He was only concerned about getting a visualization of the planet. "What information do you have on this planet?"

"That's why we called you here, the only information we possess is what we were able to gather from up here. We don't possess any knowledge of the surface itself. That's why we need you to send a team down to find out exactly what's on the surface."

"Do you plan on bringing the ship down the atmosphere commander?"

"Yes, I require that you send a team down to the surface of the planet as I have decided to activate Naval Protocol 13-Bravo. Jeremiah, please explain to Ferrando what this protocol states."

Jeremiah gave a nod to the commander, he then directed his attention towards Ferrando. "Sir, Protocol 13 Bravo states that In the event of a ship losing communications with all friendly assists, it is to remain stationary and transmit encrypted distress signals on all known UNSC Channels. The ship is to avoid any and all contact with vessels that do not match any UNSC IFF signals for the duration of this protocol being active. The commanding officer of the vessel will do their best to mask any and all signatures until being able to re-establish communications with friendly forces."

"It's a rather short protocol don't you think." Ferrando said in a sarcastic manner.

"Well, it's just a summary of the entire protocol," Jeremiah responded.

"I can send you a copy of the entire protocol if you wish Colonel." Terris interjected

"Perhaps later commander. However, what you could do is forward this information to Captain Edwards with instructions to prepare a team for a drop" Ferrando answered.

"Yes, sir will do." Jeremiah responded.

Any suggestions and criticism is welcomed as it helps me grow as writer and will also help enrich the story