Disclaimer: I don't own BSG or Halo (But I will own your but if we meet on Xbox live)
AN: The idea for this story came from a review from VampiricAnt to Bob Regent's story entitled Reunions are A Bitch (Which is one of the best fics on this entire site by the way there are only three that I can think of that are as good). The reviewer commented on how screwed the Colonials would be if they where messing with the UNSC or The United Earth Directorate, and as I know nothing about Star Craft but love Halo. And the fact there is only one good Halo BSG crossover that hasn't been abandoned (that I can find anyway) I decided to go for it. I tried to find a way to make the UNSC the aggressors in this story as the halo books implied they were pre-Covenant War but I really couldn't see them picking a fight with the Covenant baring down on them.
AN2: This will sound weird or at least it does to me but it concerns the Halo timeline. This is after Halo 2 but I am ignoring Halo 3. That is not to say that things like the Ark don't exist only that Halo 2 went differently. Exactly what changed will become clear later on but there was no second battle of Earth and Cortana was not left behind. She the Chief, Keyes, Johnson and several other UNSC personal escaped on the In Amber Clad, after Cortana activated High Charity's self-destruct. I haven't decided if it worked or not so the Flood's appearance later may or may not happen.
Ch.1 Calm Before the Storm
"There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people for a purpose which is unattainable." Howard Zinn 1997
Caprica City Presidential Office
President Richard Adar sat calmly in his padded leather chair his hands folded neatly on top of the near ancient wood desk that had miraculously survived the burning of the presidential residence nearly fifty years ago during the Cylon Revolt; in fact, the Articles of Colonization itself was signed on this very desk. A young blond female aid approached him from the side and applied a layer of makeup powder to Adar's forehead in order to reduce the glare created by the overhead camera lights. As another aid re-polished the bronze insignia of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol to a fine sheen, its brilliant luster creating an angelic halo effect over the darkly dressed president, who was calmly studying the female aid's assets.
"Ten seconds Mr. President," the chief presidential aid announced from across the room causing the aids to scurry away from the President who placed his reading glasses inside a desk draw. The room fell silent as the aid raised his hand and wordlessly began counting down, "Five… four… three… two… one," ending the countdown with a sharp finger point directed towards the president.
"My brothers and sisters," Adar began in a slow calm voice," for nearly five years, I have had the enormous privilege to serve you as president of the Quorum of Twelve. During those five years, we have seen labor strikes that nearly crippled our economy, military spending bills that resulted in the deadlock of our congress, and riots on our beloved world of Sagittaron. However, it is not for a mere internal matter that I appear before you now instead it is to inform you, the Children of Kobol, what is being done about the planet Earth."
"Earth, a planet that has long lived on in our legends as the thirteenth tribe of Kobol. Many have held the belief that it was a mere myth and I admit I was one of those that doubted the lost tribe's existence. Now, however, we know the truth and that is that Earth indeed exists. You all know of the events five months ago when two of our battlestars encountered the Earth built ship identified as In Amber Clad. The crews of the battlestars where rightfully ecstatic about meeting our long lost cousins but," Adar paused and released a deep mournful sigh, "it did not last."
"The crews of the Reliant and Cerberus quickly discovered the existence of the Cylon referred to as Cortana as well as the abomination named Spartan," Adar spat the names out as one would a vile poison as his eyes burned with righteous fury. "Some have argued that the captains of the battlestars should have not fired on the In Amber Clad and instead listened to the Earth's ships explanation for the presence of the abominations on their ship. However while all within the Colonies are entitled to their own opinion we must not allow the ranting of fools to blind us from the truth."
"At first we believed that Earth was actually in league with the Cylons, considering how at ease they were around the abominations, but information from the scout ships we launched beyond the red line to pinpoint the location of Earth has revealed to us the truth and what is that truth you ask? You see during our search for Earth, we discovered… a dead world, the ship that discovered this graveyard reported the residue of large-scale nuclear detonations both in orbit and on the burnt remains of the planet itself."
"Their is no doubt in our minds what occurred. Earth is but one world and no doubt colonized that planet in order to gain badly needed resources to support their people. The extent of this colonization is unknown but it is abundantly clear that the Cylons after their failed attempts to annihilate us discovered this world and destroyed it. Then instead of doing the same to Earth, they enslaved the defenseless people of our sister world and forced them to serve them as slaves. This vile revelation leads to an even more sickening one. The abomination known as Spartan is merely proof that the Cylons has been experimenting with our lost cousins twisting their forms from that that the gods intended them to be."
Adar slammed his fist down onto the desk in barely controlled anger, "THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! As I speak to you a fleet gathers above Picon, the largest we have ever assembled, preparing to rid the planet Earth of the vile Cylon presence! Many of our cousins will lose their lives in this act of liberation but their sacrifice is a necessary one! There is no doubt in my mind that this is the course that the Lords of Kobol wish us to take and when our sister world is freed and we stand together as one people once more we will be able to rid the universe of the Cylon menace forever!
Picon High Orbit
Picon a lush green jungle covered world floated majestically through the abyss of space.
This breathtaking orb was a beacon of life in the wastelands of space and it was above this shining beacon of life that a monstrous beast of steal and flesh prepared to strike forth at those it viewed as its enemy. Nearly five hundred Colonial Battlestars and an unfathomable number of escort ships and support vessels orbited the planet in perfect formation awaiting the order to depart into the void between the stars.
Admiral John Faulknor commanding officer of the invasion fleet resisted the impulse to rub his forehead in irritation as he listened to the presidential speech live over the ships internal speakers. The president had made it abundantly clear that the crews of the invasion fleet heard his every word saying that it was important to fleet moral. Personally, though Faulknor believed that it had more to do with his ego wanting as many people as possible listening to his self-serving speech as possible; only a year into his second term and it looked like he was preparing his reelection speech. An old friend of Faulkner's, William 'Husker' Adama, once commented in passing that the only thing greater than Adar's ego was his stupidity, a sentiment he couldn't agree with more.
Mere seconds after the presidents wrapped up his speech the communication officer announced that Admiral Nagala was hailing the ship asking for Faulknor. Laughing internally at his superior's eagerness to get the mission underway he removed the black handset from its secure holster next to the overhead DRADIS display.
"This is Admiral Faulknor of the Battlestar Executor."
"Admiral this Nagala how are you my old friend," the gruff, but friendly, voice of the highest-ranking member of the Colonial fleet questioned over the headset.
"Fine old friend, and you?"
"No complaints…John it's time."
"I know."
"Admiral Faulknor," Nagala's voice switching from one of a close old friend to one of a strict commanding office that left no room for disobedience. "By order of the President and Quorum of Twelve, whose authority was granted to them by the Lords of Kobol, you are to lead you fleet to the lost colony of Earth and rid it of the Cylon's vile influence. The president has authorized you to use any means at your disposal to fulfill your mission including the use of nuclear ordnances in both orbit and on the ground. Do you understand your orders Admiral Faulknor?"
"Perfectly sir."
"Then may the Lords watch over you and your ships… my old friend."
Admiral Faulknor replaced the handset and looked around the CIC at his officers as their eyes bore into him each one waiting for his orders. "Single the fleet, tell them to break orbit and ready their FTL drives we're going to Earth."
April 20, 2553 (Military Calendar) / Sol System, ONI Ordnance Testing Facility B5D, planet Earth
The Spartan-II program truly began on September 23, 2517 when under Navel Code 45812 seventy-five children, barely six years old, were conscripted into the program. This far-reaching operation included, but was not limited to, training the seventy-five children into the greatest warriors ever seen and the construction of the MJOLNIR Mark IV armor. The entire project was the brainchild of the brilliant Dr. Catherine Halsey who believed that the Spartans would be the only was to prevent full-scale civil war and at the time was of the opinion that for the sake of the many a few needed to be sacrificed.
Blue eyed and black haired Catherine Halsey was without question a child prodigy, with an IQ over 200 she was already working on her second Doctoral Thesis by the age of fifteen. Therefore, it is no surprise that she has become one of the most renowned and powerful members of the ONI (Office of Navel Intelligence). Most of her work for the UNSC was done in a secret underground military facility located on planet Reach codenamed Castle Base. After its destruction at the hands of the Covenant, she was forced to relocate to a new facility. HIGHCOM quickly offered her ONI Ordnance Testing Facility B5D located a mere 200 miles from HIGHCOM's headquarters located in Sydney, Australia giving them easy access to her; something she greatly detested, but she begrudgingly accepted the offer because the complex did provided ample room and resources to continue her research into Covenant, and more recently, Forerunner technology.
Readjusting her glasses Dr. Halsey rechecked the stability of the MJOLNIR Mark VI fusion power unit. Her diagnostic confirming it was operating within acceptable levels she disconnected her laptop from the miniature fusion power plant and placed it on a nearby workbench. Slowly making her way around the massive half-ton Spartan until she was directly in front of him, "how does it feel Fred?" She asked refusing to address them by their serial number that she herself had giving them when they were but six years old.
"Fine Ma'am," Spartan-104 replied over the armors external speakers.
"Then please join the others on the obstacle course Fred," and by obstacle course she meant an endless maze of tripwires, auto turrets, incendiary devices, and anything else that ONI could think up to throw at the Spartans. Fred snapping a quick salute, a feat fraught with danger in armor capable of turning the slightest movements into bone crushing blows, jogged off to join his fellow Spartans who were already learning the eccentricities of their new MJOLNIR armor. Halsey meanwhile made her way from the testing area and after a short elevator ride entered the obstacle course main control room, which allowed her to watch five of her six remaining Spartans unobstructed, through large reinforced observation windows.
After watching them for several minutes, she pulled herself away from the impressive display of speed and power below her and turned towards the other silent occupant in the control room. Master Chief Spartan-117 standing stoically in his new olive green armor watched the mayhem being wrought by his brothers and sisters upon the ONI designed training course. The most decorated solder in UNSC history surviving over 200 different engagements with the Covenant including the horrific battles of Reach, Earth, Installations 04, and 05, Covenant warriors fortunate enough to survive those cataclysmic encounters returned to spread tales an unstoppable armored Demon drenched in the blood and innards of those foolish enough to stand in its way.
"John what are you doing up here? You should be down there running through the training course with the others."
"Ma'am the course is to get us used to the new abilities of the Mark VI, I am already well acquainted with the armor" Spartan-117 replied never turning away from the Spartans below.
Her ageing blue eyes bored into the side of the Spartan's helmet as Dr. Halsey searched its golden reflective visor for any sign of the Spartan's true feelings. "That's merely an excuse John and we both know it. The real reason you're up here is that…" she paused considering her next words very carefully, her voice dropping to a barley audible whisper, "…you're afraid."
The Spartan's head snapped away from the violence below as he brought his full attention to bear on his maker. "Ma'am I'm…" Raising a single wrinkled hand was all that was required of Dr. Halsey to silence the Spartan that towered over her.
"I'm not speaking of the fear a soldier feels on the battlefield when their about to die. I'm talking about your fear of losing them again. I can't even imagine how hurt and lonely you must have felt after Reach, all your brothers and sisters lost to you on that one tragic day. On Halo, you had the mission to distract you from the pain you were feeling, but now you have no enemy bearing down on you to keep you from thinking about the pain you felt that day. You know as well as I that it is only a matter of time before the Covenant's little internal mess gets sorted out and they return to Earth and try to finish what they started over thirty years ago." She returned her attention from him to watching the Spartans below them. "It's true that we could all very well die tomorrow or the day after but John you have been giving a second chance to be with at least some of your family, even if it is only for a short time, are you really going to waste it?"
The control room's occupants fell silent, one thinking the other waiting. A tiny smile graced the doctor's wrinkled face as she felt John move past her as he headed of to join his remaining brethren leaving the doctor alone to her own thoughts. "Enjoy it while you can John there's so little time left for us," she whispered sadly to herself.
The room's holotank sprung to life as a slender blue female avatar with long hair and skin composed of swirling computer code appeared over its crystalline surface. "Ma'am there is a incoming call from the Cair… doctor are you alright?"
Startled the doctor quickly reached up to wipe away the tears forming under her weary blue eyes. "I'm fine Cortana it's just …'sigh' …just that there are so few of my children left."
April 20, 2553 (Military Calendar) / Sol System, Cairo Station UNSCDF-ODA142, Earth Orbit
The bridge of UNSC Cairo Station was truly massive in comparison to the cramped standard bridges of UNSC warships. Its ceiling was composed of massive thirty-inch thick plate glass windows that allowed one an unhindered view into space. Two raised platforms each supporting a pair of AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun turrets overlooked the colossal room providing marine fire teams an elevated position with overlapping fields of fire from which to defend the Bridge from Covenant boarding parties. Over thirty individual combat stations used for information gathering and keeping the UNSC fleet in proper formation, made up the 'rear' portion of the bridge. The forward half was dedicated to a single massive tactile map that keep track of the entire sol system it's information being constantly updated by the rest of the Cairo Bridge crew. It was in front of this massive screen that stood the highest-ranking UNSC officer, Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood.
Admiral Hood meticulously studied the constantly changing status of his fleet, as it protected the last bastion of Humanity, Earth. Only six months ago the Prophet of Regret's near suicidal attack on the Earth defense grid nearly broke the back of what was left of the UNSC navy. Twenty ships, two defense platforms, a major Earth city and its well over a million inhabitants gone in a single bloody day. There was no doubt in Hood's mind that if the Covenant hadn't broken into civil war then Earth would be long gone. Nevertheless, it would only be a matter of time before the Covenant sorted out its internal problems and returned to Earth in full force, whether it was lead by the Elites or the Brutes made little difference to Hood.
Hood hadn't giving up hope yet however as there where several things working is his favor not the least of which was the fact that the Covenant were destroying their own fleets. The hole in the Earth's defensives was also nearly gone now that the replacements for the Malta and Athens, which were destroyed in Regret's attack, where nearly completed. Furthering his hope was the simple fact that finally, after over thirty years of seeing the technologic used against him; the UNSC had pushed aside the final roadblocks that prevented them from shielding their ships as the Covenant did. Over thirty of his capital ships, including four of his seven Marathon-class cruisers, were docked in shipyards located on both Earth and Mars undergoing the badly needed refit. Hood definitely did not enjoy having so many of his ships grounded but without the new shields they may as well have been made of wood when going up against Covenant. All he needed was a little more time and Earth may just have the strength to weather the coming storm. Recently he had been informed that the UEG (United Earth Government) was preparing to send a ambassador to seek aid from Earth's lost colonies. He deeply hopped the contacts would be able to figure out what went wrong five months ago. Although no one in the UEG could seem to find any records of any colonization efforts in that particular region of space, but with so many records lost because of the war little attention was giving to that fact. Suddenly ear-shattering alarms shook the Admiral out of his deliberations.
"Admiral Hood sensor buoy 421 is picking up a massive fleet in sector 61. There are too many ships for the buoy to get an accurate reading on their numbers, but there are at least five hundred capital ships."
"WHAT? Why didn't the slipspace probes of the Democritus detect the Covenant approach?" Hood demanded from his subordinates, horrified at the thought of over five hundred Covenant capital ships bearing down on Earth.
"Sir there was an energy burst when the ships appeared but it does not match those that are giving of when ships exit Shaw-Fujikawa Space. Sir I have just established a link with asteroid mining platform 61, they are aiming their external cameras towards the unknown fleet."
Hood turned towards the tactical screen as it switched to a live feed showing the unknown fleet. As he studied the images he conclude that unless the Covenant had abandoned their oddly purple color scheme and rebuilt the design of their ships from the ground up then this fleet did not come from the Covenant. "Could it be a fleet of refuges from one of destroyed colonies?"
"Sir I believe we know who they are," a strong feminine voice replied from behind the Admiral.
Turning he came face to face with Commander Miranda Keyes daughter of the dead war hero Jacob Keyes. Standing beside her was Sergeant Major Avery Johnson. "Commander, Sergeant you recognize those ships."
"Yes sir," Johnson said, "they're those sissies that tried to blow my ass into space a few months ago they call themselves the Twelve Colonies of Cowbells sir."
"Johnson that's Twelve Colonies of Kobol," Keyes corrected, "Admiral those larger ships are definitely the same type we encountered five months ago.
"Commander Keyes do you think their intentions are hostile?"
"We won't know their intentions until we talk to them but I doubt they would bring that many of their ships just to say hello sir."
"Very well then, Communications single the fleet alert condition one, I want Fleet Admiral Harper to form his battle group around the Cairo. Commander you had better get to your ship."
AN: Thanks for Reading R&R No Flames Please