The slow clunk of boots on a metal floor got progressively louder. The man was tired and having not slept in 90 hours hadnt helped either, His short-cut white hair betrayed his age of twenty-five. He quickly puched his code into the key-pad. The magnetically powered door slid open, The young woman at the station closest to the door was the first to notice.

"Captain on deck!" she said authoritatively

The others were quick to rise.

"As you were" he said before sitting in the Captains chair.

He had never really gotten used to having men and women ten to fifteen years older than him salute him. He leaned back for a moment then snapped back, no rest for the wicked he thought drowsily.

His name was Captain Alton Ravencraft of UNSC naval forces. He began to look about the bridge and his crew on deck. Lieutenant Marget Krenzki was his Engineering officer, Lt. Joselyn Annarino was his Science officer. They both had sharp features and short brown hair, Like sisters he thought. Ali Moheb was his navigation officer, he had the appearance of a middle eastern man, but he never said which country. Napoleon Hilbrand was his defense and ship to ship combat officer he was twenty years Ravencraft's senior, he sported buzzcut salt and pepper colored hair, and features chiseled from stone. and finally Aaron Reis ("reese" he had said on numerous occasions) was his first mate, he had a short haircut with strawberry-blond hair, and a face that was "easy on the eyes" according to a female naval officer.

"Anything on radar?" Alton asked casually

"No, but fifty reported sightings, two of which are plausible" said Reis

Alton walked over to the board on the wall of the bridge "Where?"

"Ummm...let's see. Biko and Emerald cove"

The holo-chart read simply "Sierra 117 probabilities"

Alton entered the information, this made fifteen possible locations of the location of Sierra 117. The war had effectively ended one year ago and a search had begun in earnest about 4 months ago.

"Prep the slipspace drive." Ravencraft said

"Aye sir" Krenzki replied

***********

The ship had finally arrived after two weeks, much faster than it would've been before or during the war. The alliance with the Sangheili had really payed off. The technology exchanged had led to economic and scientific booms for both races. They had barely had time to recover from cryo-sleep when the proximity alarm sounded out. He was at the bridge when Reis called the report.

"Reporting a slipspace rupture, outline matches known Covenant Loyalist vessels" he said a tone of urgency in his voice.

"Charge MAC guns, arm Archer pods 1-20, Krenzki give me 100% engine."

"Aye sir" called out Hilbrand

"Answering 100% forward" said Krenzki.

Then out of the slipspace rupture came a Covenant Frigate, The computer identified it as the Twilight Compunction- Status unknown, thought intact. The UNSC Three for the Money might be able to win this fight she was a veteran destroyer with experienced crew.

"Sir both MAC guns are primed, sir!" said Hilbrand almost excitedly. "and pods 1-20 are heated up."

"Get me firing solutions, ASAP!"

The covenant frigate had just noticed the Human ship, and began to turn charging plasma torpedoes.

"Sir, seraph fighters are deployed coming in at intercepting angles!"

and thats when things went to hell...