Three Centuries ago, three astronauts on mars, made the greatest discovery in human history. First contact with alien life- the Traveler- since that day, humanity entered the Golden Age- a time of wonder. There were advances in technology and medications, people lived longer (about 261 years), the world united under the UEG (United Earth Government), and its military and space exploration force- the UNSC (United Nation Space Command) kept order and peace through out colonized space. There was little need for a military- they only had one type of battlecruiser, the Xelolon- class ship (which looked like giant versions of space shuttles from the 1980's). Until the Covenant arrived.
It was something that humanity wasn't prepared for, they hadn't fought a war in centuries, so the first five years of the Human/Covenant War didn't go so well for the UNSC. After the events on Harvest, the UEG had all colonyships modified into battleships. This even the odds with the Covenant. (The storyline for Halo's 1-4 are the same, except for the type of ships, the UNSC had interstellar warpdrives- with could travel further than the other type of warpdrive. Also the events of Halo 5 never happened.)
Four years after the war ended and there was peace between Humanity and the Covenant races. The Collapse began, everything fell apart as the Darkness swept across the galaxy, whipping the Covenant and Human colonies out. It was unknown how many survivors were left in the galaxy.
UNSC Spirit of Fire
Offical Status: Lost with all hands
2559-28 years since last known contact
All systems on the ship were coming back online," Captain, wake up something has happened" Serina said "The Spirit of Fire is in a situation I… couldn't anticipate, I'm certain Professor Anders would enjoy that little admission, so lets keep this between us shall we" the crew started to wake up," We've been adrift for just over twenty-eight years. I've made quite a few repairs whiles you were sleeping so ship's systems are one-hundred percent. Cryo worked and medstats on all remaining crew are green. As for me, well, regulations are clear of our final dispansation at the end of every AI's seven-year lifespan. I took care of my own arrangements, rather than wake you. I didn't want to… well, I hope you can forgive this final breach of protocol. It was a pleasure and an honor to serve with you, do look after everyone would you. Goodbye Captain. Serina out."
As Captain cutter entered Anders lap, the Professor spoke," I'll need to get down there, immediately of course." "Good morning to you too, Professor" "Sorry, it's just look at it" "What is it. And where are we?" "Uh, no idea. Our astronavagation chart can't pinpoint our location. We're not on the map anymore" "We didn't drift out of the galaxy in twenty-eight years, Professor Scans show that we arrived via… wormhole less than an hour ago(in this universe humans didn't have slipspace technology)." What ever brought here must've open a portal from this end and pulled us in" "Captain Cutter, sir. We're receiving signal from the surface, not UNSC or Covenant" "Signal to location, Lieutenant" when Cutter saw the frequency, it was alien, but not Covenant "Professor, can you figure out where its coming from" the Captain asked, "We don't have surface details yet. Something down there is blocking our scans and without Serina here… but we have a rough location. Should be simple enough to triangulate once we can pick up the signal from the ground." Anders replied "Cutter to Jerome." Reporting Captain" "Prep Spartan Red Team and a small recon squad. Professor Anders will send you coordinates. Find out who's sending that signal. Be on the ground in an hour, travel light." "Understood. Recon only." "Twenty-eight years Professor. Let's see what king of galaxy we woke up to."
What Cutter didn't know, was that his troops were about to enter a war that would determine the fate of an entire race.