UNSC Infinity, Hanger Bay February 10, 2558 Late in the Afternoon
By the time Crimson Team's Pelican dropship entered one of the UNSC Infinity's hanger bays, Commander Palmer had already spent several minutes waiting for them.
She casually walked by as the four Spartans walked off the ship.
"Crimson, I heard from Miller you bright a present with you?"
Joe was the first out, he held out his captured sniper rifle.
"Oh you shouldn't have." Palmer teased before lightly smacking the weapon aside.
Joe let out an amused hump has he continued onward. Brittany followed behind with a wide smirk on her face.
"You're gonna like this commander." Josh said, giving a dramatic side bow as he moved down the ramp.
David hopped onto the ramp, giving an ecstatic Tada! pose before moving aside, revealing the rectangular Forerunner device.
Commander Palmer moved over to get a better look at the device, smiling.
"Nice one Crimson." She said. "Science will be glad, and maybe this will keep them off my back for a few days."
"All in a days work commander." Spartan Joe replied.
Before Palmer or anyone could add anything, Roland called the commander over the comms, reporting that Majestic team would be arriving soon.
"Understood Roland." The commander replied, she nodded at Crimson Team. "You're relieved Crimson, get some rest."
As Crimson Team maneuvered towards one of the pathways leading to the armor bay, several scientists in their white coats and masks rushed by. Obviously, they are eager to begin studying the artifact they just brought in.
Josh and David moved ahead of their team mates as Brittany twirled around to watch the scientists strap equipment on the mysterious rectangle to make in mobile.
Joe slowed down, turning to see what Brittany was currently interested in.
"It's in good hands." He said in a simple way to assure her that only those handpicked by ONI themselves would ever go near anything the UNSC own that was Forerunner.
"I don't doubt it," Brittany replied. "Just curious if the thing will react when the start moving it."
"It didn't when we threw it on." Joe answered with a shrug.
"True," Brittany said with a chuckle, glancing at her squad leader for a moment. "but that doesn't mean much. Forerunner tech tends to have a will of its own."
She paused for a moment before adding.
"I'd like to stay until they move it out of the bay. In case something happens."
Joe nodded in response, silently agreeing with her logic and deciding to stay as well.
As she spoke, the Pelican dropship caring Majestic team entered the hanger bay.
Commander Palmer walked alongside Majestic's Pelican.
"Majestic."
Madsen grunted in response, holding his wounded arm. Grant walked by with a quick glance.
Behind the tough Arcanian woman hovered Hoya strapped in a stretcher.
"Hoya?" Palmer glanced with a hint of concern.
Hoya looked back up at the veteran Spartan.
"Gonna take a lot more than this to kill me commander."
Palmer stopped, saying nothing as Spartan Throne passed her by.
"Hey." Palmer called out to Demarco, once he grew near.
"Commander."
"What happened to Hoya?"
"Hoya happened to Hoya." Demarco replied, moving his arm for added effect. "He followed orders and-...He'll be fine."
Commander Palmer blinked, she didn't like the Spartan's attitude.
"Armor bay's waiting team leader."
Demarco glanced at the Spartan commander then headed off.
"Commander." Spartan Thorne called over his shoulder. "What's that?"
The latter was watching a team of scientist roll out the artifact Crimson Team took from their last mission.
"Crimson Team scored the first grab." Palmer replied, walking to Throne's side.
"Whatever it is, it got the eggheads all tingly."
The wheel attachments suddenly slid off the device. It glowed, for a few seconds at first than pulsed without warning, sending a wave of orange-like energy from the artifact.
"What the hell." Palmer whispered as power slowly began to drain from their surroundings.
Not only the lights, but everything else on the Infinity's main power grid began to fail ship wide, even the artificial gravity.
Everyone not in a magnetized suit or anything not magnetized in general began to float upward.
Using the magnetized functions of her suit, Palmer walked toward the Forerunner artifact.
"Roland. What is this damn thing?" She said aloud.
"Unknown Spartan."
Commander Palmer frowned, then an idea formed into her head.
She ran over to the device, giving it a good, strong kick.
The light faded upon impact, simultaneously restoring power through the ship except for the lights in that particular hanger bay.
Gravity returned so suddenly that it caught many off guard, slamming equipment and personal unto the floor.
The Spartans Throne, Joe and Brittany rushed to help those in the hanger bay pined by various items or simply needed help standing up straight.
A few minutes passed before Captain Laskey accompanied by Henry Glassmen arrived at the hanger bay.
"Status update Sarah." The captain said as the two of then neared the artifact.
"Further attempts at..physical persuasion haven't had much effect. She stuck fast."
Palmer glanced at Glassmen, the latter staring at her intently.
"She's all your's doc." She said with a nod.
Slowly, Dr. Glassmen approached the device, now vaguely glowing and apparently simulating slipspace along the surface of it's body.
He paced half way around the artifact before daring to touch it. The device glowed around the point he interacted with, causing the man to pull his hand back.
Seeing that nothing exploded yet, Glassmen pressed his hand forward touching another part. This time, the artifact sent out a small pulse of light along it's body.
Smiling, Dr. Glassmen hoped over to another side of the artifiact.
"Hey, look at this." He said, touching the device one more.
This time, it let out a stronger pulse of orange light.
"This is amazing." Dr. Glassmen said, gazing at his glowing hand. "I never seen anything like this."
"Dr. Glassmen!" Laskey shouted suddenly.
The scientist turned, only realizing why the captain shouted as he faced the man. His body began to glow, envelope actually, by the orange light.
"Captain?" Glassmen nervously said, holding his hand out to Laskey.
Captain Laskey grabbed it, trying to pull him away as the artifact now began to pull Glassmen into a hole formed from light energy.
"TOM!" Palmer yelled, tackling Laskey aside and leaving Glassmen to his fate.
Letting out a digitized sounding cry for help, the artifact seemingly absorbed the civilian doctor as Palmer, Laskey, and everyone else nearby watched in silent horror.
Brittany gasped, having witness the entire thing.
"What the fuck just happened?" She cursed.
Spartan Joe took a single step forward, shacking his head side to side.
"Goddamn Forerunners and their damn technological magic."
Yo everyone! Been a long time since I updated eh? Well I blame my other two main projects, work and tech school for that.
Anyway, I was in a Halo mood recently so I decided to type this entry up fast.
That said, this isn't an indication that I will be focusing on this story as of yet. Personally, I would like to finish with one of my other stories before I bring this one back into the fold.
And honestly, I've been debating on folding this into another Halo story I've been crafting ideas with for some time.
Either way, hope you enjoy this small entry and look forward to what comes in the future!
