Chapter1

Delta Halo

10.29.2552, after Tartarus dies.

Control Room

Without wasting any time, Commander Keys acted, jumping from platform to platform to finally land on the main level. She ran past the Arbiter to the beam of energy, removing the Icon. The energy beam intensified, and then fired up through the ceiling. After a few seconds, the beam faded away and all was quiet. The Arbiter rose, ignoring the intense pain in his chest, to approach the Commander. He stopped, however, as the console shifted image, becoming a cloud of geometric shapes. The Commander studied it as the Oracle floated down to her, carrying the Johnson.

"What's that?" the Commander questioned the Oracle.

"A beacon," the Oracle answered simply. The Johnson dropped off onto the platform and joined his Commander.

"What's it doing?" she asked.

"Communicating," answered the Oracle, "At super-illuminate speeds, with a frequency of-"

"Communicating with what?" Keys interrupted.

"The… other installations," the Oracle replied, as though surprised that the Human did not know.

"Show me," the Keys commanded.

The Oracle turned to the hologram, interfacing with it. From a storm of geometric shapes, emerged the seven Sacred Rings.

"Fail-safe protocol. In the event of unexpected shut-down, the entire system will move to standby status. All remaining platforms are now ready for remote activation."

"Remote activation?" repeated Keys. "From here?"

"Don't be ridiculous," the Oracle said in a patronizing tone.

"Listen, Tinker belle," Johnson started, "Don't make me-"

The Commander quickly cut him off with a question to the Oracle, "Then where? Where would someone go to activate the other Rings?"

The Oracle looked at them both, apparently baffled at the question. "Why… the Ark… of course," the Oracle finally answered.

"And where, Oracle, is that?" the Arbiter asked, stepping into the group. The Humans stared up at him, perhaps astonished that he had left them alive.

"Scanning," the Oracle intoned as it turned back to the console. The hologram soon changed into a depiction of a galaxy with nine Planets, there was a red dot on the third planet. "Ark detected," announced the Oracle, "Approximately 6,100 light-years from our position."

"My god," the Commander said in a quiet voice. "That's…"

"Earth," finished Johnson

"Attention any UNSC marines, respond, over." said a voice over Keys' radio.

"This is Commander Keys, Cortana is that You?" said Keys.

"Yes, Commander I am in the Covenant Holy City I need immediate evac, there are several enemy AI's in the system, I am doing my best, but I don't know how long I can hold them off."

"We are on our way, ETA half an hour."

"OK"

The Commander pulled out a small purple memory crystal and put it in the Control panel. She typed in some things on the holographic keyboard, then removed the crystal and put in in her pocket.

"Let's go!" she said.

"What did you just do," said Johnson.

"Data files on the Ark" Keys said.

Keys, Johnson, and the Arbiter started for the exit. They were half way there when the oracle said "I wish to accompany you."

"Ok, hurry it up then," said Keys

The four of them headed through the door. They continued down the hallway until they reached the outside. There were loud shots and explosions, they looked down to see an enormous army of flood fighting a squad of about fifty Brutes.

"What should we do?" asked Johnson.

"I don't know" said Keys.

"Look" shouted the Arbiter as he pointed to a group of Vehicles.

There were several warthogs and a tank. They ran to the tank and when they arrived three grunts jumped out from behind the warthogs and prepared to fire but stopped when they saw the Arbiter.

"Hold your fire." he said.

"Yes sir" squeaked the silver armored grunt.

"Can you contact a transport craft" questioned the Arbiter.

"Sir, one is already on its way" Said one of the grunts.

"Good" said the Arbiter