Well, so far I've gotten fairly positive reviews (All three/four of them), so I'm going to respond to them

saboteur: Thanks for the encouragement, and on your comment on the trailer, I was kind of already leaning away from the Valkyria Chronicles idea. I know that it isn't going to be a three part "Arc" like the Malevolence was in Clone Wars, but are you sure you don't want the RvB Crossover, where Sarge refers to everything like it's World War II ( Calling the Darcsens Jews, referring to Prince Maximillion as Hitler, and calling the Valkof a Wonder Waffle, while also saying he is related to Tank Dempsey of Nazi Zombies). Please review again and tell me as "It is time for you to do what has to be done and live up to your family name and face Full Life Consequences" to slightly misquote John Freeman.

Just a Crazy-Man: thanks, I'm glad you think so.

Spartan Commando: You may not realize it, but you may have just saved this fic. You see I suffer from what could be considered the writing equivalent of ADD. Rather than not knowing how to continue/create a story like with writers block, I get so many ideas that I can't focus. I was going to post an update saying sorry and go and write another story to flush it out of my system, but seeing your comment has reinvigorated me. So thanks. Also, I like your story idea and say go for it.

I would just like to make it clear that due to renovations at my school, I'm getting Monday off, so that is my hopeful deadline. Anyway thanks for all the reviews.

We Now Return to Altered Universe….

"Sir" CT-21-0408, better known as Echo, asked his commanding officer "Why are we so worried about a counterattack? The Covenant Fleet is gone and…"

"The remaining ground forces are going to make a beeline to sites of religious importance" Captain Rex Interrupted "this base happens to be at the top of the list due to some data that Dr Halsey had regarding artifact dig sites."

Now it made sense, the Covenant were a people united by religion, and they swore to that religion fiercely. With most of their command structure gone, their religious convictions now held priority, and where else to go but a location where they could find out where their gods artifact lie.

Meanwhile Fives, or CT-27-5555 if you want to be formal, was on the comms with UNSC command.

"I understand that there aren't many units to go around" He argued "But this task force was only equipped to retake Sword, not fight of every Zealot left on this rock."

"I know that trooper" the officer replied "Our forces are stretched thin, and there aren't any units close by to assist."

"Ok, what DO you have!"

"I'm sending some Sparrowhawks from Castle, but it will take awhile before they get here, besides, isn't the 501st supposed to specialize in Ops where the odds are against them?"

"Understood, Fives out."

Several dropships touched down, delivering Proton Cannons that were critical to the 501st's plan.

"Alright everyone." Commander Cody called everyone to attention "Right now were standing on ground zero for Covenant troop deployments. The good news is they don't care about us and rather will be trying to infiltrate Sword on order to recover Dr Halsey's data. Our job is to blow up every dropship they send our way, and when they realize that the flak is to heavy and try and take our guns out, I need every one of you ready to fight, do you read me?

"Sir yes Sir." the troopers replied.

As the troopers went to set up defensive positions and gunners got into their proton cannons, Cody's Comm beeped.

"Sir" Cody's longtime scout Boil yelled "the first dropships on in sight."

XXX

Inside Sword base things were going relatively well. Noble and Delta had cleared the interior of hostiles and proceeded to discover A) Dr Halsey was alive, and a bit surprised at the Republic's intervention, B) she had a massive hidden underground Ops center in Sword, and C) the center happened to be right next to the artifact that the Covenant had been looking for. Expectedly, this did not make Sev very happy.

"Commander" Jun stated "I'm seeing turrets set up in defensive positions."

"Someone was expecting trouble." Boss remarked

Sev Replied in his usual manner "More like asking for it." in reference to the massive alien… thing that was protruding from the cavern walls.

"No time for small talk." Carter intervened "we need those turrets up, the Covenant will be swarming us any minute now!"

They nine man unit fanned out, getting all the turrets turned on and setting themselves in a defensible position. Fixer and Kat were behind the others to provide medical assistance during battle, Sev and Jun were both in sniping positions, Scorch and Emile were manning turrets, while Carter, Six, and Boss were ready to support with their weapons of choice (A DMR, MA37, and DC-17 respectively).

The distinct sound of a Phantom's engine echoed through the cavern, the battle was on!

XXX

The Master Chief was still a bit shocked at the turn of events, not that it showed. The Republic finally stepping in to aid the UNSC directly, risking their own safety in the process, and the return of the UNSC's famous Admiral Cole. It was so perfect it seemed like propaganda, but Chief had seen the Covenant retreat himself, so he knew it was real.

Of course those on the ground knew the word perfect didn't really apply. Good or great maybe, but not perfect. Which was the very reason that Master Chief wanted to get back into the fight. Even with James missing and Linda in surgery, not to mention the beating that Fred's team took, the Spartans knew that Reach needed them!

"So why haven't we been deployed yet?" the Chief growled.

"Patience Chief" General Kenobi replied "I understand you are eager to defend your home, but we can't simply throw you into battle without proper planning."

"I know Sir, it's just…" Chief struggled to find the right words to voice his thoughts.

"I understand Chief" Kenobi continued "This Planet is your home, and you want to defend it like anyone would should their world come under attack."

"Thanks Sir" the Chief replied "Sorry for my outburst"

The General smiled "That is alright Chief, besides, someone is here to see you who I'm sure you'll be glad to see"

A door opened and a man walked in "You called, General?" he asked.

The Master Chief whirled around the second he heard the mans voice, wishing to visually assure what his ears had heard. Sure enough, standing their in heavily modified Grenadier Armor was Spartan-052. Jorge.

XXX

Cody's Proton Cannons took down Phantom after Phantom, but there was no end in sight to their numbers. Even worse was the fact that many Phantoms were coming in at different directions, allowing them to bypass the Clones completely and the Proton Cannons had already gone through half their ammo.

"Sir!" Boil yelled over the Com "The enemy is preparing to land troops outside the complex!"

"Understood trooper, Fall back" Cody said, before turning to Rex

"Rex" Cody said "We need to set up a defensive position outside the base"

"Right" Rex replied, before turning to his men

"Boomer! Kano!" He called "Front and center!"

The two sergeants rushed to Rex's position where they stood at attention

"The Covenant are landing outside, and are going to try and breach sword from the ground" Rex told them "I need you to to set up a perimeter with our remaining tanks."

"Copy that Sir" Kano replied "I won't let you down"

"I'll get the tanks ready sir" Boomer replied

XXX

Well there you have it be sure to review and… Holy crud it's past midnight. Time really does fly. Anyway thanks again to those who have reviewed (Especially you Spartan Commando, Savior of Christmas) I hope to get this chapter up on New Years Eve (Read Tomorrow/Today if you want to get technical).

PS: I just got the new Lego Star Wars Clone trooper Battle pack and the V-Wing Starfighter, and they are AWESOME!

(Update) Upon being lured in by the promise of ten thousand credits for beating Reach on Heroic by a weekly challenge (Which finally got me the ODST Shoulder pad) I did so, and in the process realized that there was a bunch of stuff that I should have put into Halsey's lad section that I forgot, so Chapter three may be late)

"Update 2" Well there goes the whole added dialogue, but I've decided to take the first part of Chap 3 and add it to the end of this, to make the chapters more equal in length. I also forgot that there were no Hunters in "The Package" that happened in "Sword Base"