Spartan Commander Sarah Palmer POV. Hangar Bay, UNSC Infinity.

Commander Palmer was not overly surprised when the unknown figures suddenly materialized out of thin air and rallied around the artifact. Her training, coupled with the fact that she was working with ancient technology had made her expect something like this. What she was surprised about was that the unknown figures looked very similar to humans, and that their technology, while obviously showing off a mix of power and style, also didn't look that far off from UNSC BDUs. This just begged the question: Who were they dealing with?

These thoughts were of many that went through the Spartan Commander's mind as she kept her dual Magnums on two of the unknowns. Lasky, after hailing Roland, had drawn his sidearm as well, aiming at another one of them. Despite hailing Roland though, it would be at least several minutes before a fire team could make its way down to their location, leaving anything to chance. The aliens, if that was what they really were, had also aimed their weapons at the small UNSC group, fingers on their respective triggers.

It was a miracle that no one had fired yet on the other group. It was a tense standoff, though, with the only reason the Spartans hadn't fired being that two of the most important officials onboard the Infinity were right in the middle of it all, unarmored and one of them being unarmed. To start a firefight would mean near certain death for Halsey, and Lasky would most likely be severely hurt, even with his Captain's BDU on. No, fighting would have to be avoided at all costs.

Palmer used this time (which for her, though not long in reality, lasted a lifetime) to analyze their weapons and armor to a greater extent. The unknowns had dark black and grey armor, which looked like it could shrug off most small arms fire to a moderate extent. On each of their chests rested a chest-plate depicting an eagle holding an unknown symbol in its hands, possibly of an unknown group, or organization. Palmer made a note to herself to investigate that later. Looking on, she also noticed that their arms were covered by dull grey guard pieces, as were their legs, and were covered head to toe by a black covering that showed no skin whatsoever. Sarah further made note of the black shoulder pauldrons that each of the opposing soldiers wore on their left, depicting triple red lines running vertically down along with that strange symbol. One in particular had a prominent pauldron that literally stood out among the others. Its combat suit was also slightly different from the others in that it was thinners, and seemed to be a bit more polished, or well done. 'Possibly a higher ranking official?' Palmer thought internally. Most interesting, however, were their faces, or rather, what covered them. A black face mask left nothing exposed, and, with only two holes for eyes that were completely dark and steel helmets covering the rest up, there was a feeling of coldness, and a lack of humanity among those that stood across from Palmer, that almost felt like looking at a machine.

Shrugging it off, Palmer returned her focus to the present, only having mulled over her previous thoughts for mere moments. Neither group had decided to make any contact with the other, both only deciding to observe the other. That was, until, one of the unknowns decided to speak up.

Kurt Meyer POV.

Kurt was positively dumbstruck at the situation that he, along with his men, were currently in. After temporarily blacking out, both Kurt and his men had reawakened to the frantic shouts and scuffles of the people across from them trying to understand just what the hell had happened. Instantly, the squad's weapons had been snapped up to meet the soldiers opposite of Kurt's group. Since then, his men had been talking quietly over their coms and not making any movements besides the occasional repositioning of a foot or so.

They also made their personal observations of the people across from them, including three heavily armed soldiers without helmets on, betraying their shock and confusion when the former Reich soldiers had first dropped in. Other than that, Kurt's squad were busying themselves by trying to understand what exactly they had just gone through. After making sure that his external speakers were nullified, Conrad became the first to comment on their predicament.

"What the hell was that all about?!" Conrad hissed vehemently. "One minute, we're standing all fine and peachy in the outpost, and then that artifact went up like a Roman Candle. Where in God's gracious name are we?!" Mathias, the sniper, was notably calmer in his response. "Well, I think it's fairly obvious that we landed in a place that has humans in it. Also, this does not support the fact that we have died and gone to the afterlife, as surely it would be better than...this."

Mathias paused, presumably to look at his surroundings through a side camera. "I don't know where we are, but deducing from the clues and environment around, I'd wager that we aren't in France anymore. Rather obvious, I know, but that's all, I can gather at this time." Kurt was about to respond, when an idea formed within him. It would be a way to possibly ease the situation and maybe even gather more information as to where they were. Speaking quietly, Kurt responded with, "Good observations, but we're going to need to know who exactly we're dealing with here." If the team wasn't listening before, they certainly we're now. "I'm going to make contact with them."

The coms fell silent for a moment before Kurt continued. "We are obviously on their grounds here, so we can expect reinforcements to arrive at any given moment. Things would only get more ugly from there, and this may be our only chance to talk to some in a position of power. You all know who I'm talking about." Indeed the squad had, for they had noticed (besides the heavily armed and armored soldiers) the man in the broad center in a somewhat regal attire. "That must be a high ranking officer, if not their commander. There's no other way to go about doing this."

Once again, silence ruled over the squad communications, before Steiner piped up, saying, "If things take a turn for the worst, sir, we have your back." The others gave their assent as well, leaving Kurt to do what had to be done. 'Well,' Kurt thought, 'here goes nothing.' And he turned on his external speaker.

Doctor Catherine Halsey POV.

When the unknown started to talk, Halsey was more than surprised when the being spoke not only in a very human voice, but also in a language that, though having been dead for multiple centuries, was once used by members of the human race, that language being German. Though no one of the other group had moved, Halsey could tell that the one speaking was one with a more ornate pauldron who was standing at the front of his group through the inclination of his head. The voice sounded between twenty to thirty years old, but held a certain degree of roughness to it. Roughness that belonged to a soldier.

The soldier had only spoken a small sentence, but Halsey, though not fluent in German, knew that only she understood he was speaking German. "Lasky," she hurriedly said, "that's a human language!" The others simply stood in mild shock (though it quickly wore off) but mainly confusion, with their grips tightening on their respective weapons, now eying the soldier who had spoken . Lasky frowned, saying, "Hello?" The unknown soldier merely tilted his head slightly sideways before respnding, "Hallo?"

Then, without warning Halsey stepped forward, in front of the group of Spartans. Instantly, the opposing squad trained their weapons on Halsey and Palmer reached out to try and pull her back in, saying, "Doc! Get behind us, or else-" However, Halsey defiantly stood her ground, stepping out of Palmers reach, and held her hands up slightly so that the soldier in front of her could see. The soldier noticeably tensed up, but relaxed slightly when he saw what Halsey was trying to do. "Hallo," Halsey responded, her eyes never leaving the dark holes that formed the soldiers eyes, unnerving as they were.

He merely nodded slightly, and then slowly pointed a finger towards her, saying, "Deutsch?" Halsey shook her head slightly, with her hands still held out, and silently marveled at the fact that she was making history as she spoke. Then, she took a finger and, ever so slowly, repeated the process the soldier did, instead asking, "English?" Silence filled the Hagar as the soldier merely shifted onto his side. Halsey, fearing that she might not be able to make the soldier talk, was about to try a different approach when, all of a sudden, the soldier in question could be heard clearing his voice.

"Yes, Ma'am," he responded, with a slight accent to his words. "I believe that we got off to the wrong start." Lowering his weapon all the way, the soldier held out a hand, intending for Halsey to shake it. His tone staying neutral, he stated, "Commander Kurt Meyer, at your service." Halsey was about to let out a sigh of relief, until she heard the hangar entrance door opening behind her group. She turned around just as one of the marine fire teams Roland had sent in entered into the hangar area-and opened fire on Kurt.

Author's Note: And that is chapter three, done and dusted. I'm so happy to finally be writing this, as I've had this idea in mind for a while now. Support is appreciated, anything at all, even criticism! Feel free to show it however, you want, and, in the meantime, se you next chapter everyone.