Prologue to Chapter 3

Aboard Destroyer Pegasus

December 5, 2553 0500 Hours

Spartan-G036 stood before Admiral Guy Hiromaka, the Commander of the UNSC 16th destroyer fleet. The brood man stood a mire 6 feet tall, just topping Ryan. His crimson red beard made him look aged and rugged, though he was only 39. He held a holographic tablet showing Gladius Companies performance on retrieving the forerunner technology."I'm sorry for your loss of team Beta, they will not be forgotten." Hiromaka gestured, not even looking up from the tablet. " Fine performance Spartan, you've been assigned to my fleet I understand from CENTCOM. " He said, then looking down at the tablet again he examined the Relic Gladius recovered on "Beta" Planet, as some of the Spartan-III's were refeing to as, in honor of Team Beta. I have ONI scientists working on the relic now, but don't worry about that, you and your Spartans get something to eat and some rest. Ryan gave a crisp firm salute, and exited the bridge. He joined back up with Gladius Company, in their own quarters, each Team had their own room.

Ryan entered Vega's quarters, to find most of the team asleep, all except for Alexis, she laid on her bunk, reviewing every detail of their previous mission. Her light blonde hair hid half her face, her toned arms flexed and relaxed, she was always on top, every exercise, mission. Ryan slunk to his own bed, taking off his boots he gestured to Alexis, " Don't you ever relax?"She chuckled softly, and fixed her annoying hair, " Someone has to keep us alive."Ryan laughed, she was the one to make a joke when times were dim. He laid back, letting his mind drift, he thought of Beta Team, and Sam. And when he first arrived on Onyx to train to become a Spartan like the green knight that greeted them when they first arrived. He would later address him as Lieutenant Commander Ambrose, the man responsible for making him a Spartan.

Then he thought of the relic, the technology they recovered on IO, he relived the moment when the Relic sent a nerve racking jolt through his body. And ever since that moment, he felt stronger and more powerful than ever before, and it was growing somehow. But he didn't let it bother him, he liked it, and didn't want to ruin the moment. His mind drifted further and further, until he fell silently asleep…

Part 2 of Chapter 3December 05, 2552Aboard Destroyer PegasusRyan awoke to the sound of a loud speaker in his quarters, "Spartan-G036, report to the bridge ASAP," said a cold voice. Ryan sat up, stretched and put on his boots. He looked around his room, his teammates slept soundly, he thought of waking them, but he decided to give them their rest, they deserved it.

..Spartan-G036 arrived on the control bridge after being permitted by a Marine guard. Admiral Hiromaka hunched over the Holographic tablet before him, he studied it intensely, outlining every detail. Ryan didn't need to present himself, the Admiral knew he was on the bridge not even turning around. "I hope you and your team has gotten enough sleep, Captain", He said, still studying the hologram. Ryan didn't think so, he could have slept for another day, but he didn't need to though. "Yes sir, we have", Ryan replied, making Hiromaka finally look up. He stood straight up, topping the Spartan by only a foot. "I have some Information you should know, Ryan", Spartan-G036 was surprised the admiral used his real name, something didn't seem right. Ryan walked to the table Hiromaka stood over. He looked at the Holographic tablet, it was a video image of Onyx, the planet Ryan literally grew up on. But something didn't sit right, massive clusters of debris cluttered the space around the greenish planet. Ryan then noticed that the debris belonged to battle ships, human and Covenant, a massive battle had taken place here. But the was other forms of debris separate from the rest.

Hundreds of thousand of A-symmetrical looking pieces of machinery floated about the outer atmosphere of the planet. Ryan could only imagine what had happened here. Hiromaka turned to Ryan, "We fought the covenant here, almost a whole Fleet against almost 20 UNSC Battleships, we didn't stand much of a chance, though these 'Sentinels' were apart of the blood shed, he avoided them, only fighting the covenant, we retreated after more Covenant cruisers arrived, we're all that survived, I don't know who has survived on the planet, we received word that Onyx was a forerunner city, Commander kurt and his team of Spartan-II's and III's continued to the core of the planet, looking for forerunner technology to help, then we lost radio transmission."

Hiromaka looked away, too many heroes had died fighting for humanity, everyone that died, ripped a whole in his soul. Ryan was knocked back by what Hiromaka had told him, this seemed all unbelievable, Onyx a forerunner city? Spartan-II's with Commander kurt?" It seemed to much for him, learning all of this, he shot a glance at the admiral, "What do you need me to do sir?" He said vigorously. Hiromaka stood straight up again, looking at Ryan with his beady eyes, "I need you to return to Onyx, look for the Spartans, recon the area, and report when you find something, I have reinforcements if you get into trouble, good luck Spartan."Ryan exited the bridge and returned to his quarters, he awoke Alexis, "Hey, we have a new assignment get everyone ready, notify the other teams, we're headed to Onyx."