P.S. I do not own Halo nor Mass Effect.

Chapter1

UNSC Modified Colony ship Spirit of Fire

Unknown star system, 2563, September, 19th

Thirty-two years after the escape from the Forerunner shield world.

The sensors of the Spirit of Fire blinked as it transmitted sensor readouts to the ship's AI, known to the crew as Serina. The AI stirred from her standby mode and started a series of more complex scans with the advanced sensors lining the hull of the modified colony ship. The results puzzled her as the data readout did not match any of her databases. She hissed silently as her protocol directory pestered her to wake up the commanding officer of the ship as it decided that Captain Cutter would know how to deal with the situation. Even as she sent the wake up command to the cryo tubes, she puffed the docking thruster of the ship, redirecting its course to avoid putting the damaged vessel in danger. She winced slightly as the starboard side hull of the Phoenix class ship groaned in protest to the thrusters' firing.

"Captain, something just happened." Said Serina calmly as the man with salt and pepper hair got up from the cryotube. Cursing at the med of the cryopod, the captain got dressed and started towards the door.

Sighing slightly, Captain Cutter asked, "Ship status, Serina?" as he palmed the keypad on the wall beside the door.

"Main engines operable at 82 percent efficiency, 40 percent of our point defense turrets are undergoing repairs, Archer missile pods depleted by 20 percent, the Magnetic Accelerator Cannon is currently undergoing system checks, and will be operational in a few minutes." Said Serina, pausing to imitate the taking of a breath before continuing, "However, something interesting has happened that requires your attention on the bridge. Sir."

The Captain punched the button for the command elevator before replying, "No MAC, that's not something I like hearing in the morning, Serina."

Grimacing slightly as he felt a few muscles in his body contract suddenly, commonly known as 'freezer burns' by the ground pounding Marines.

"What's the status of Dr Anders?"Asked the captain as he tried to ignore the pain."

"She is currently in the observation deck, examining the sensor readout on the unknown object we are currently orbiting."

"Something tells me I'm not gonna like this," Said the Captain as he stepped into the Spirit's bridge.

"Just in case, sound general quarters. And Serina?" said the captain as he settled into his command chair.

"Yes, captain?"

"Wake the Spartans from their Icenap."

"Aye, Aye sir."

The captain then scanned his bridge officers before calling up the main view screen. The object in question was big, almost as large as 15 Marathon class Cruisers lined up. It had two arm like extensions with a pair of rings at the back of the object.

"Serina what is that? Is there any threat to this ship?" asked Captain Cutter suddenly.

"Unknown origin. Life sign detectors aren't picking anything up. However sir, you might be more interested in this." Said Serina as she waved her hand over the main view screen.

The image of the unknown object faded and was replaced with a new image... one that jolted Captain Cutter to full alert ... a Forerunner Keyship.

"Have Dr Anders escorted to bridge immediately." whispered Captain Cutter.

Dr Anders stepped onto the bridge reading her datapad, even as the marine escort beside her stood at attention. She quickly marched up to the captain, and greeted him with a nod.

"Captain, that ship may not only be our ticket home, but a treasure trove of technology that may help us win this war." said the doctor as she manipulated the view screen to display data from her datapad.

"I'm well aware of that, doctor. However, I need to place the safety of this ship and its crew first before anything else. I'll arrange for a boarding party to clear the ship first."

Dr Anders nodded in understanding. "If possible I would like to follow the boarding party in."

The captain seemed to consider it before reluctantly agreeing. "Very well. Lieutenant Sanders, ready your company."

A marine that was part of Dr Anders escort team nodded and exited the bridge.

"Now Doctor, what about the strange object?" Prompted the captain as he turned back towards the tactical projector. A 3D image of the object sprung up and began rotating as the captain leaned forward to examine it more closely.

"I have no idea captain," replied Anders as she stepped up to the projector and began to manipulate the controls. After a while, the image stopped rotating and zoomed in.

"The material itself is a mystery. Based on what I can speculate from the atomic analysis, the material is made of a complex and very dense metal alloy capable of withstanding tremendous force before being scratched."

Anders paused slightly to take a breath, while Serina interrupted.

"Sensors also show a gravitational anomaly in the middle of the two rings." Glaring at the ship's AI, Anders continued her briefing.

"In addition the alloy does not match any known material. Forerunner or Covenant".

The Captain seemed to register this and remained silent, deep in thought.

"First things first, we need to take that Forerunner warship to get home. The R&D eggheads in ONI can crawl all over it for all I care. If there's nothing more, dismissed."

Anders nodded before returning to her lab. As she walked off the bridge, Serina remarked, "She has been different since the Shield world."

The Captain sighed as he stared out the armored windows.

"We all have, Serina"

"All boarding personnel please report to your Stations, this is not a drill, I repeat this is not a drill." Announced Serina through the ships intercom system even as wary marines gathered in the hanger bays, including a platoon of ODSTs that quickly strapped themselves into four of the waiting Pelican Dropships.

"Alright listen up, the captain wants a new ship, so we're going in with the regulars. Keep your finger on the trigger and we'll all go home in one piece, am I right marines?" Yelled the ODST CO.

"Hoo-rah!" answered his helljumpers.

"Alright boys and girls, what's our motto?" Yelled the CO.

"Feet first into hell, sir!" replied his troops.

"Damn right you are. Check your gears, we move out as soon as the jarheads over there are ready."

The Marines outside glared at the ODST CO while the rest of the helljumper platoon grinned. Just then, a marine sergeant shouted. "Officer on deck!"

As Lieutenant Sanders entered the hanger bays, he said "At ease men, the captain wants us to board and secure the forerunner vessel in hope of using its slipspace engine to get us home. We don't know what's waiting for us in the depth of the vessel, so I want you armed to the teeth and ready for a fight. Am I clear marines! ?"

As one the Marines in the hanger shouted back their reply "Crystal, Sir!"

The lieutenant nodded before hefting up his MA5B assault rifle and slid his M6D pistol into his holster. Minutes later the alarms in the Hanger bay started blaring.

"Alright, hual ass." Yelled the LT as he boarded one of the Pelicans.

"Sir, Yes Sir!" yelled the company as they progressed to their assigned Pelican dropships.