Cortana's Covenant
Chapter 1
A/N:This is a promise of things to come, hence the lack of actual characters or plot. However, Chief and Cortana will play important roles in this story, and the events leading up to the story. Special thanks to Bexaday, NightcatMau, sisirongana and DoubleMMia.
The star system known by the name Axiom is a fairly average Sangheili star system. It is home to four planets, each playing a role to the success of the system as a whole. Furthest out from the star Axiom are the two gas giants and their moons, in the millenia-long process of being exploited for helium, hydrogen, and trace gases and metals that are used in tiny quantities, but are required to power UNSC and Covenant warships.
Further into the system is Axiom Secundus, a big brown planet with a tiny moon that is being mined for its metals, with most of that metal being shipped further into Covenant space, but some used for the construction of two large orbital shipyards.
But while there is an abundance of similar planets throughout the galaxy, Axiom has been lucky enough to have Axiom Prime - a beautiful planet right within the habitable zone. Upon the planet's discovery, colonisation was started in record time, and now - six months later - the orbital defenses have already been built, and main infrastructure completed. On many spots of the planet that will not be beach resorts or spas, automated farming machines are already collecting crops.
The capital city had been named Stratos, and encompassed a considerate portion of the shoreline, one of the main tourist attractions on the planet. It also housed local fishermen, farmers, and until the city of Atlas was built, everyone else on Axiom Prime.
The first year of a colony is usually watched over by a small fleet, though with the Sangheili planetary defence force and the newly-built planetary defences, the fleet is no longer needed. The system of Axiom is now fully self-sufficient.
Axiom, Official.