*Blasts of some wierd M-23 Katana/M90 CAWS shotgun hybrid* BACK, WRITERS BLOCK MONSTERS! BACK! *Slaughters the last of the ones holed up in this chapter*

ALRIGHTY THEN! That's right, folks: It's been a long time coming...and the tables' turned around! Heheheheh...I have NOT abandoned this story: in fact, I got a sequel and the sequel's sequel all lined up, and are already trying to figure out how they'll go...Anyways, time for a new chapter for, what is apparently, my most popular story (besides Reapers of Zero, which has less favorites but more follows)...

Anyways, ONTO THE REVIEWS:

Kinunatzs: The whole thing with Harbinger learning the worth of Organics and this being his redemption is actually why he uses pure organics in his new army: these organics, in the war between his forces and theirs, managed to hold him off long enough for the cycles to be ended by Shepard. He still has husks, but his partner's...squeamishness towards turning Covenant troops into husks means he's not gonna be turning his clones into husks anytime soon (unless they're KIA)...There's gonna be more to the whole "organics over husks" thing, but...well...spoilers...

Phant0m5: Ugh, that's a lot to go through...Anyways, let's get started...

For the whole thing with Humanity, that could easily be seen as the earliest stages of Harbinger's emotions coming out, with a showing of, as you state in your "it could still work" tag at the end, some kind of obsession over humanity's role in this whole thing, via Shepard. Of course, since Shepard is human, it's easy to see what Harbinger may be thinking at this point: "If humanity is capable of producing heroes like this..."...

As for the "Alternate Reality" thing...I will concede that I may have messed up there: it's merely that several of the crossover fanfics I read prior to writing this depicted humanity as the only ones to have thought up alternate universes. That may have...affected my view there...

The Joining: Sorry, was having issues writing this...I tend to get...quite the writer's block when trying to write stuff, ESPECIALLY when MORE ideas just keep COMING!

Now, it's time for...

Priority: Green Hills

5/25/2551

It's been months since Harvest was liberated from the Covenant, and the survivors moved to Arcadia. During that time, Harbingers forces got to work terraforming Harvest, while multiple ships began scanning the surface, to determine if the fertile soil was intact enough to be used for agriculture once more. Recently, the affirmative was confirmed, and the factories on Arcadia began to add agricultural equipment to the list of stuff they were to construct, although military supplies were already on their way.

During this, Harbinger's cloning program continued on schedule. Now, the Reaper Armada's forces consist of Krogan, Vorcha, Rachni, Salarians, and Batarians, with the Drell on their way, along with Humans and Turians, who'd been produced in small batches alongside the other races.

At the same time, Harbinger began constructing more Geth, and began researching synthetic platforms used by humans in his universe: many were deployed against the Reapers, and some were captured, deactivated, and disassembled.

Another, more gruesome, project he was working on was the Reaper he was working on. The Reaper was based off of the corpses of Unggoy killed during the Battle of Harvest, both in space and on ground. There were just enough to make the Reaper (Harbinger STILL didn't know how the Covenant could have so many Unggoy in one place), and Harbinger was using them all, being careful to keep Seraphea far from the Reaper Construction Facility, due to her attitude for how Reapers were created. That was part of why she didn't know the second Reaper Harbinger was designing for a "special purpose", using waste organic material obtained from failed human clones from the cloning program. He hoped this would be less morally ambiguous to the AI: she WOULD be working with this particular Reaper QUITE frequently when it is done...

When it came to ships, Harbinger was ensuring he had enough vessels for his forces: scavenged Covenant and UNSC vessels from various different battlefields in nearby regions were recovered, and modified: the UNSC vessels were the most modified, with better armor, more potent missiles, and various energy weapons intermingled with its mass driver-based point defense. The Covenant ships also needed retrofitting, as they also had plenty of their own flaws. However, their shipbuilding was going according to plan: with the new set of resources and more viable power systems, Harbinger commissioned the construction of more 'Dreadnought'-scale starships, primarily due to them barely stacking up to 'cruiser' strength in thus universe. He still built cruisers and frigates, but he had to make special care as to make them viable in this universe's battles, especially when what he knew as a 'cruiser' was now a frigate, and what he knew as a 'frigate' was barely a corvette.

Finally, he looked over the civilians rescued from Harvest: while many are readying to return to Harvest, due to it having been recovered from its demolished state, some of them decided to remain safe on Arcadia. One group of civilians that had gained special attention from Harbinger was the Haleys, a group of 4 siblings, orphaned, who were rescued by the Turian 1st Orbital Drop Legion. They were staying on Arcadia, and they interested Harbinger greatly: from his scans, all 4 humans showed variations in their genetic markers: they were completely human, sure, but...there was more to them...like some kind of genetic indoctrination...no, indoctrination was improper: they still had their minds, only they now...had commands...in them...yes, that's what the gene's were: subconscious commands. Harbinger worked to translate them, and quickly discovered what they were: This was what marked the Reclaimers the Librarian mentioned. He soon found that the code was present in all humans of this universe, but these particular kids seemed to have a strengthened version of it. None of these kids would likely be the Reclaimer the Librarian mentioned, but they would still be useful in unlocking any Forerunner technology Harbinger's forces discover. Maybe...

"No."

"I am uncertain as to why you would say that," the Reaper said to the AI, who spoke seemingly randomly.

"I've been watching you watch those kids. Whatever you're planning, keep them out of it," Seraphea sternly said.

"Are you even aware of my train of thought? What I have discovered of them?"

"No, and I really don't care to, other than to know "Why them?"..."

Harbinger said nothing, but sent Seraphea the information he was currently working with. After she read it and fell silent, Harbinger asked, "Do you now understand?"

"Barely," Seraphea huffed, "I still don't get "Why them?" entirely, though..."

"They are young: their minds, malleable. They can handle adapting to the truth better than their adult counterparts, and we could use this boon. While we possess the ability to reproduce Forerunner technology, the ability to access what is already here will both allow us a means to supply humanity and deny the Covenant the relics. Now, do you understand?" After some silence, Harbinger added "It was to be optional to them anyways, not a requirement."

Seraphea sighed, after some thought, and groaned, "Alright...but I'll be watching...so don't put up any firewalls..."

"You will not require digital transportation..."

Seraphea did the AI equivalent of widening her eyes. "Do you mean that...?"

"Your mobile platform is complete."

6/01/2551

Over the next week, Harbinger had been working with Seraphea, adapting to her new mobile platform, getting a feel for it, as well as learning how to use an Omni-Tool, specifically, the Reaper-designed Dark Sage-class Omni-Tool. The Platform was more advanced than anything used by either the races from Harbinger's universe or those in this universe, possessing near-flawless synthetic flesh, high-durability light alloy bones, and various other features to make the platform seem like a normal human, in terms of appearance, but in fact possess extreme augmentations that would allow it to easily overpower a Sangheili, or even fight a Mgalekgolo to a stand-still.

This platform, Harbinger took some information from, and, once finished, began operating to create his own, knowing he'd need a humanoid avatar with which to operate from at some point: he doubted the UNSC had a conference room large enough to fit a 2000+ meter tall metal cuttlefish.

However, soon, ships reported attacks by Covenant raiders that threatened to disrupt trade between Harvest and Arcadia. Research of the colonized planets in the area concluded that the attacks were coming from the planets Green Hills, Biko, and Draco III. Therefore, a battleplan was drawn: capture Green Hills, to use as a staging area for a simultaneous strike against Biko and Draco III.

The fleet readied itself over Arcadia, prepared to attack the planet. Aboard Harbinger, Seraphea's synthetic body stood. She was busy putting on a suit of replicated and enhanced Cerberus Spirit Armor, with the Cerberus symbol replaced with that of a symbol that resembled a black/red gradient Reaper, without the limbs and tentacles, and with the glowing areas removed, leaving the shapes that remain behind.

She also looked over her armaments: all of them were prototype Reaper/Forerunner Weapons, specifically a Reaper-designed Sniper Rifle, the Crossbow; a Reaper Shotgun, the Broadsword; and a Reaper Heavy Pistol, the Stiletto. All 3 utilized the same mechanics as various Reaper and Forerunner weapons, only compressed into a infantry-scale weapon: the Crossbow propelled a liquid metal stream at the target, cork-screwing so it stays compressed together and on target; the Broadsword releases a cluster of particle beams, that fly everywhere in front of the shooter. The Stiletto fires a shot of hard light at the foe, and works as a side-arm weapon. She also possesses a Monomolecular Blade, essentially, an extremely sharp sword, this one made with an exceptionally tough metal that can handle Energy Sword strikes with ease.

Seraphea looked around her, and was uncomfortable with the squad she was leading, which primarily consisted of Turian Marauder Husks with a pair of Brute Husks for support, and a squad of Kig-Yar Pawn Husks. Their team was, predominantly, stealth, but with heavy support. Harbinger assured her that the team was under control, although that's not what bothered her: the soldiers were mainly a reminder of the horror Harbinger used to be, and it made Seraphea a little fearful. However, she remained resolute in her decision: that wasn't Harbinger anymore, and now, he was trying to help.

"Prepare. We are about to depart." It was Harbinger, announcing that they were preparing to leave.

Seraphea readied herself: it was almost time for battle.

6/02/2551

The Covenant-occupied world of Green Hills. Once one of many UNSC agricultural worlds, now a glassed wasteland held by the Covenant. The Covenant had begun building orbital defenses and construction facilities: its position made it an ideal staging area to strike at the New Reaper Armada's twin planets, Arcadia and Harvest. However, construction wasn't fast enough...the Reaper Forces arrived before they were full ready to hold their ground.

First came a wave of Turian vessels, whose mass drivers and Magnetohydrodynamic Cannons shredded the enemy carrier support, as the captured Covenant CSO-class Supercarrier, outfitted as a Planetary Invasion Craft, shot straight towards the planet.

The Salvaged UNSC ships lined up and began firing their MAC Guns at the Covenant Forces, the enhancements made to the guns allowing them to shred both shield and armor without resistance. The Salvaged Covenant Ships split into two groups, one of which headed towards the planet, while the other opened fire with their new main weapons, Energy Projector-style weapons using augmented Forerunner Particle Beam technology, mixed with Mass Effect Generators, resulting in a potent Particle Stream composing of very-heavy elements capable of punching through almost any armor. And punch through it they did. Harbinger watched in amusement, as he passed a Salvaged CCS-class Battlecruiser gut and bisect a CAS-class Assault Carrier, from bow to stern.

As that occurred, Harbinger joined the Planetary Invasion Force, and made his way planetside. As he approached, reports of Covenant Anti-Air guns harassing the Invasion Force reached him. He hailed the enemy defenses, as he neared visual range of one gun cluster.

"You are vermin. You prolong the inevitable." He then began to charge his main guns. "I will show you true power. Embrace perfection."

As soon as he said that, he fired, his Magnetohydrodynamic Cannons strafing their guns, while his Particle Beams struck the defenses' power generator. Several gun clusters went dark as their central power generator went out, allowing the Invasion Force to land. He personally was landing some distance from what appeared to be some kind of prison, dropping off Seraphea and her strike force.

Immediately, the force moved into the forests that remained standing around the Covenant Base. As they neared, it began to get readily apparent that the battle, while far from here, was sapping up the troops and resources: they didn't even have the people to set up proper patrols. Soon, the group reached the prison, and, thanks to a Marauder with a breaching charge, they made it inside.

Once there, they moved throughout the facility, their mission: investigate the prison, look for intel, and see if there are any Human survivors. However, once they entered one room...well, if Seraphea was not a synthetic, she'd be throwing up right now...

Various human entrails lay scattered all over the room, as though a wild beast had been let loose in a cell full of prisoners. Then, Seraphea remembered what the Covenant sometimes did to human prisoners...and that only made her platform simulate a stronger feeling of being sick.

"Disgusting..." Seraphea heard a voice to her side say, revealing itself to be one of the Marauders from her group. "This is what they do to their prisoners?" the Turian husk said. It then clenched its fist, a very...emotional...gesture for what are supposed to be drones. "These bastards are gonna pay!" Seraphea shot the husk a confused look. The husk noticed. "...What?"

"Uhm...how are you...I thought...that-"

"We were mindless drones? Only the Covenant Husks are: we husks from the other universe were given new minds when we arrived here. While the originals to have had that happen to them were...incapacitated...with the revelation of what they become, the rest of us were conditioned to be used to it..."

"I...see...Either way, I agree with you...I knew the Covenant did stuff like this, but...to see the results first hand-" she kicked something...and she could swear she almost actually vomited when she saw it was the arm of a little kid, left there after the rest of the poor child was mercilessly devoured by, from the bite marks, what appeared to be a Kig-Yar. "Just...disgusting..."

One of the Kig-Yar Husks suddenly sparked with orange lightning, and Harbinger spoke. "That is why we're here...to put an end to all this...But...until then, in the field...This is what you face."

Seraphea couldn't vomit, but she could certainly shed tears, as she crouched there, next to the child's arm, a child who would never see adulthood. She then clenched her eyes shut, and with a determined expression, rose. "Then let's end this...As long as we hold true...Nothing stands against us."

"Well said, Seraphea..." Harbinger states, before releasing control of the Pawn.

Seraphea walks towards the door of the cell, looks back at the child's arm...and turns back to the door, leaving, her team following. "Let's show these...bastards...true power..."

The strike force continued through the facility, but soon, the inevitable occurred and they encountered a patrol. Fortunately, the patrol didn't get an alarm out, and was swiftly annihilated. As they continued, they managed to find a terminal, and, using her hacking suites, Seraphea managed to hack in. She sifted through the information...and soon found information of a group of prisoners in a nearby cell block, still alive...but slated for 'execution' within the hour.

"Wha-ah..." She hacked the sensors, to get a good look at the prisoners...

...Non-combatants, mostly children, with a few adult and teenaged women and men...with Covenant already gathering outside the cell.

Seraphea hissed. "Not this time..." She pulled out her Monomolecular Blade and Stiletto Pistol. Using her teams' Tactical Cloak, they stealthed their way past surrounding Covenant forces, making a beeline for the prison cell. Soon, they were outside the cell, and a Jiralhanae had entered the cell, looking over the humans there. Then, a Kig-Yar pointed out, the Jiralhanae nodded...and grabbed the arm of a lone girl, around 13 or so in age, and dragged her to the waiting, ravenous horde. Seraphea saw red. "Engage!" she called, and her forces attacked: the Pawns and Marauders charged forward, the Unggoy and Kig-Yar caught off-guard by the attack. A pair of Hunters joined the fray, but were attacked by the group's Brutes.

The Jiralhanae took outs its Brute Shot, and prepared to execute the prisoners, starting with the girl...but Seraphea got their first: she punched the Jiralhanae's weapon, knocking it to the side, and caught the Jiralhanae's fist, as it tried to punch her. The alien paused, shocked that what appeared to be a mere human catching its fist, as Seraphea unleased a punch onto the side of its head. A sickening crunch sounded, as the skull caved under the fist.

The 2 Jiralhanae Bodyguards roared in rage, and charged the life-like android, who effortlessly took them down, spin-kicking one in the forehead, before turning around and kneeing the second one in the groin, before elbowing the back of its skull when it doubled over in pain. She then turned towards the humans in the cell. They were all staring at her in shock and fear. 'Oh, right...' she realized, before looking around, checking to see if the Covenant forces were all dead, before removing her helmet. Fortunately, she looked extremely life-like, to the point where it'd take a sensor scan to reveal her Synthetic nature. Otherwise, it was near-impossible to NOT mistake her for a human. That was good, because seeing a (supposedly) human face among the rescuers seemed to calm some of the people down. "I am Seraphea of the New Reaper Armada. We've come to take Green Hills from the Covenant and liberate the captured people here!" she declared. She then turned to the others in her team. "The element of surprise is probably gone now. Spread out and search for additional survivors. If they're human, get them to the extraction point. If they're Covenant...give 'em hell..."

The team roared in response and spread out, to follow the mission goals. Seraphea turned back to the humans, especially the girl, who she helped to her feet. "Come on, let's get you somewhere safe..."

12/27/2551

Thanks to Seraphea's leadership in the field, and the success of the space fleet, Green Hills was successfully taken the name of the Armada. Harbinger, in the end, allowed the humans they rescued a chance to return to the UNSC, as long as they kept the knowledge of the Armada mostly hidden. In the end, the rescued civilians that returned to the UNSC only acknowledged that 'an unknown faction with advanced technology', presumably a 'Covenant Splinter Group' (Harbinger actually seemed amused by this), freed them, explaining the stripped-down SBV-class Heavy Corvette they returned in. While this Corvette did little to advance the UNSC's technological base, the returned civilians did a bit to improve morale, with news of a rogue Covenant Force freeing humans and letting them return home spreading.

During this time, the New Reaper Armada began to expand to the planets Biko and Draco III, following the success at Green Hills, and performing just as well.

Upon returning from Arcadia, Seraphea took in the young teenager whose planned 'execution' spurred her into action. Harbinger was amused by this, and did nothing to stop it.

After taking those two worlds, knowledge of several minor worlds within the Armada's space came to light, and as such, the Armada expanded, taking these worlds, allowing them expand, and colonize multiple more worlds. Many of these worlds became mining colonies, factories, shipyards, and, for a couple remote worlds, Reaper production plants. Three months later, the Armada numbered almost 45 worlds, with 5 major shipyards, not including the capital, centered at Arcadia.

By this time, the 3 siblings were joined by other humans, both adult and child, in a new order in the Armada, called the Order of Reclamation, a group designated for the research and retrieval of Forerunner artifacts. Seraphea predominantly oversaw the order, Harbinger agreeing to this so as to ensure the order remained 'humane'...

By this point, all expansion was ended, and Harbinger began organizing his forces for what they would do, while they built up their forces. The Batarians, who by this time, had a good-sized colony going, would begin producing raiding parties, designed to raid Covenant Military Supply Lines. In the meantime, Special Operations groups from the other races would begin striking blows at Covenant facilities, deep in Covenant-controlled territory. While this did little to slow the Covenant Advance, it DID slow the rate at which the UNSC lost military assets.

Finally, though, 6 and a half months after the battle at Green Hills, Harbinger's greatest asset has finished: the Unggoy Reaper.

"It is finished," Harbinger announced, "Arise, Imperius!"

The Reaper's lights went on, and, in the enclosed, pressurized environment of the Reaper Production Facility, the Reaper's foghorn-like 'roar' echoed through the whole facility.

Well, that's that. And, again, I'm sorry for how long it took to get this chapter written. However, due to some planning, it might not be too much longer that we arrive at Reach, which is when the action will pick up, and, hopefully, when chapters will begin coming out more...frequently.

Oh, also, I will be referring to Covenant Races by their Covenant Names from here-on-out, due to some of them (*coughBrutescough*) share their human names with the names of some Husk types.

Finally, the Unggoy Reaper's name is based off of the highest-ranked Unggoy from Halo 4, the "Unggoy Imperial"...so...yeah...