Chief was quick to double back to the room with the gravity. Seeing an open side passage, traveled through the halls of the Covenant ship while he engages Grunts and Jackals in the hallways. From how thick the resistance was he was near the area to let the Marines in on the other side...but Cortana decided right now to have a conversation as well while he reloaded his assault rifle...he left a lot of Bodies of dead aliens while he went down the halls.

"So Chief...this girl Ruby, she really is impressive right?" Cortana asked him.

"She is, Ruby is well trained for someone her age, and she took down a sword-wielding Spec Ops Elite alone in close combat. I wouldn't have believed it if I had not witnessed it," Chief answers his A.I. companion.

The Spartan avoids a charged shot from a plasma pistol from a grunt that he then shot down with ease.

"Yes, I've noticed she is very skilled despite her age...and her abilities interest me especially when she left a trail of rose petals on the floor," Cortana said as she continued to talk about the silver eyed girl and what she thought of the child and her unusual abilities.

"Rose...petals?" The Chief asked. Confused by what the A.I said.

"Yes. Ros petals," Cortona confirmed. "When we saw her run at high speed at the wraith, I san Ruby's cloak release a few rose petals. Strange is it not?"

It was. Chief just let the A.I. talk, as much as he liked to admit Ruby ability was strange and impressive. A thought that made him slightly worried about what will happen if ONI comes across her and finds out about her unique speed?

Chief shook his head slightly at that, he knew how they work...and if they got their hands on Ruby and her speed. It could spell doom from for the girl just because she was an unknown to them and ONI did not like unknowns. He did not even want to think of it as he just went on to the other side to engage more covenant so he can unlock the doors.


Back with Ruby, she and the Marines were just waiting right now for the Chief to unlock the doors for them.

Ruby was starting to get bored but forced herself to be aware of her surroundings. Her partner Weiss would never forgive her for such laziness. To help pass the time, the Marines all started talking to her since she had nothing better to do.

"So Ruby where you're from, what's it like?" The Marine asked Ruby curiously.

Ruby had already been asked this by Johnson but didn't go too deep into where she was from or what it was like. She decided it won't hurt to tell someone again.

As soon as Ruby opened her mouth…she stops when the sound of multiple heavy footsteps hitting the floor from where they came from.

"Incoming!" All the Marines had their guns raised, some down in a kneeling or prone position. Ruby aimed her sniper rifle up the ramp as well waiting for what's to come...then an Elite popped from the doorway and threw a plasma grenade at them, the Marines saw it scattered to avoids to the explosion.

One Marine got up...but was met with Hot plasma to the face killing him instantly. The other marines and Ruby took in what little cover they had as more Elites came out and sent a barrage of Plasma fire.

"Shit! were pinned." A female Marine cursed as she takes a quick look to see how many they were attacking, she had wide eyes when she saw that there were three elite Ultras with plasma repeater and needlers hammering at them and a Zealot walking towards them with his sword out. "Oh for fuck sake! Really!?"

Ruby raised her sniper and fired a shot on the Zealot...but the bullet did not kill it when she hit him for the Zealots shields shield held, and the Zealot growl before gripping a plasma rifle and started firing at her which she uses her speed to avoid the plasma.

The Zealot was slightly impressed by this but charged at the girl with its sword raised wanting to finish this quickly. He swung it in a horizontal arc to which Ruby ducked under. She then counters by rolling to the side firing another bullet into the Zealots leg, depleting his shields more but not hurting it. Only making him madder.

The Zealot thrust forward with his sword to which Ruby used her speed to avoid it. He then made multiple slashing at the human but kept dodging. It frustrated him to no end as to how this can be.

With Ruby, she was in trouble. She didn't have Crescent Rose anymore and couldn't fight like she used to in close quarters with these guns. All that was saving her was her speed and proper reactions to the Zealots attacks. She noticed that the Elite Zealot fought with a bit of precision like Weiss and with the strength Pyrrha. It was this that she could predict where he was going to attack next.

'Oh, where are you Chief?' Ruby thought as she closed in with her sniper rifle at the Zealot.


With the Chief. The Chief threw a grenade at the feet of the last cluster enemy Covenant in the cargo bay. This threw them out of their trance, but it was too late. The grenade exploded, killing all but one Grunt, who was then dispatched by with his assault rifle.

"Chief! Elites are engaging the Marines, they won't hold out forever get that door open NOW!"Cortona said as she sent a wave point to the door controls.

Chief ran to the controls and hit the override.


Ruby heard another marine drop down dead, she looks to see that multiple pink Needles sticking out of his chest.

Before more marines could die in this firefight they heard the big door open, Chief had done it and Ruby smiled.

"Come on! Run!" Ruby yelled as she and the Marines ran. But not before did a double kick on the Zealot before disappearing in a burst of petals and headed towards the door.

All the Marines ran for it, follow Ruby throw the door. Ruby then saw one Marine getting shot in the shoulder wounding him. She rushed to his and pulled him in the rest of the way.

"Close the door!" A Marine yells to Chief.

Chief hit the control switch to the door and shuts it fast before the heavy armored elite team could Get through. The remaining Marines there were taking deep breaths, and we're all glad to be alive...well the ones that made it really after that.

"That...was to close." The Sargent said, taking a deep breath. "But we better go...I think sooner or later those...elites will open that door and come at us again."

"One moment, there," Cortona said over the com. "I just hacked the coding for the door and deleted said coding. They won't be able to open it no matter

protocol or pass they use to open it which will buy us time." When she was finished explaining, Chief ripped a panel off done he ripped out and fired a few rounds into a power conduit. "There's also that."


With the Elites on the other side, they tried to enter a code in the door to open it...but it did not work much to the Elite ultra who punched in their access codes annoyance as he Turns to the Zealot.

"They jammed the doors, not even the code is working." The Ultra says to the Zealot that just kept his composer.

"No matter, there are other ways to get to them." The Zealot says as to the Ultra. "Now come we need to cut them off for I believe I know where they're heading."

With that, the Zealot along with the ultras following behind him left to catch up to the human rescue team.


Soon after exiting the Cargo bay and going down some corridors they soon they entered a large hangar, where all hell broke loose.

Ruby ducked as a charged plasma bolt flew over her head. She turned around, saw the Jackal that had shot at her, and returned the favor with a burst of Assault Rifle rounds.

Ruby then fired a long burst at an Elite, only hitting it with half of the shots she had fired, due to the inaccuracy of the Assault Rifle from specific ranges. Ruby hated to admit it, as much as she like weapons, automatic weapons were not her strong suit. This would be a problem she would need to fix.

"When we get back to Alpha Base I'm so going to look into putting a longer barrel on this thing," Ruby muttered.

The Elite snarled at her, firing his weapon at her. She leaped to the side, dodging the plasma shots before firing the remaining bullets in the magazine into the chest of the Elite, finally killing it.

Looking around in the Hanger. The battle ensuring around them had found that numerous hatches all across the bay opened, pouring out additional Covenant troops. Because of that, a dozen firefights had broken out all across the Hangers ground floor between the scattered Marines and Covenant. The wounded and the dead alike began to litter the deck, though there was significantly more Covenant dead than humans.

"We need a way out of this bay now," Ruby heard the Master Chief say from the Com, "or there won't be anyone left to complete the mission."

Then, Ruby's heart wrenched as she heard a bloodcurdling roar from the right. She turned and saw the Marine Sergeant that had been with them, taking on a Hunter alone. He discarded his rifle as it ran out of ammo, and tried to grab his pistol before the Hunter leaped forward and used its shield to tear through his armor.

Ruby looked at the walking pile of worms in anger. She reloaded her rifle and began firing at the Hunter. So did the Chief. Together, they attacked the Hunter from two points, with the Ruby distracting the Hunter, while Chief came in from behind, and tried to put in numerous rounds from the side. The Hunter received multiple wounds to its back before falling over dead.

It was then the second Hunter came at them, it suddenly howled in pain as a grenade detonated from behind it. It crashed to the ground, dead. Both Huntress and Spartan looked at each other, wondering who got the lucky shot, when they heard a cough, and saw the Sargent that got bashed from the first Hunter up on a knee, with his hand outstretched from throwing the frag.

Ruby ran up to the Sargent and helped the man up on his feet. He limped towards them, his free handheld on an open wound on his side, with blood flowing down onto the floor.

With that, the battle in the Hanger was over as the surviving rescue team gathered around the wounded. It was then Cortona opened up the Com.

"Echo 419 this is Cortona, requesting for more Reinforcements." Cortana requested to the pelican pilot.

Everyone thought Cortana was crazy, then Echo419 spoke everyone's thoughts. "Foe Hammer here, Cortana … I read you, but you're inside the ship. I'm not sure I can - "

"That's Crazy!" Ruby cuts in. "If miss pilot comes here she will be shot down!" Ruby says with concern for Echo419 and is not willing to sacrifice someone's life.

"Ruby. I got a plan. Chief the control to the hangers shield is located here. Get to there, bring down the shield so Echo419 can get in and drop off more troops." Cortona said setting a wave point on all their HUDS.

Seeing where it is it was on the level above them on the middle platform.

"Great but how do we get up there? All the doors on this level are locked," One Marine said.

"One moment while I access the Covenant Battle net."

Ruby then had an idea. The platform wasn't that high and could undoubtedly get up there with a little help. "Chief!" Ruby said gaining the super soldier's attention. "Think you're strong enough to hoist me up there?" Ruby pointed to the next level.

Chief tiled his head slightly at the plan Ruby came up with. It took him just a moment to think about what she planned. He was indeed strong enough and nodded his head as he placed his weapon against the wall before cupping his hands together. Ruby than ran at him before putting a foot in the Spartans hands.

The Huntress was then lunched up twenty feet in the air, easily grabbing the ledge and pulled herself up. She then walked over to the controls in question and hit them, dropping the shield to the hanger.

"Cortona to Echo 419, the hanger shield is down were ready for reinforcements and medivac," Cortona said over the Com.

"Roger Cortona, Echo 419 inbound."

"Ok got it!" Cortona proclaimed suddenly as one of the large doors opened up. "The door is open. Everyone should move through now. I can't guarantee that it won't lock when it closes." Ruby saw the remaining Marines and the Chief move through leaving her alone in the hanger. "Ruby stay where you are will be up there with you in a moment."

It was then that a dozen Covenant troops appeared along with another Hunter pair had come through a door.

"Oh no," Ruby said, scared for her life. It was then a pelican came in and it fired its weapons at the enemies inside lots of them did not have enough time to take cover this killed lots of the enemy forces and Echo even fired one missile at the Hunters killing them both. "I really owe her one," Ruby says happily as she watched Echo419 drop off some extra troops. "She's one cool pilot."

It was then the rescue team appeared and brought their wounded up to the Pelican troop bay before flying out of the Hanger and into the night.

With the new Marines merging with the serving rescue team, they now had greater numbers they continue there a way to the prison area to get to Captain Keys all with there weapons loaded.


With The Shipmaster he was walking down the ramp as the elite who he sent to interrogation Keys came back.

"Did you get any information from the Human Major?" The Shipmaster asked the Elite major?

"No." The elite Major says with some annoyance in his voice. "He's very stubborn for a vermin."

Lat 'Ravamee held in some anger as he just walks back up the ramp...unknown to them the group of marines was behind one of the doors of the set leading into, and we're waiting for the Chief to give them the go ahead. The strike team heard the elites talk...but could not understand since they were speaking in there native language.

"Ok...so I assume the yellow ones an important elite?" Ruby asked the Marine next to her as she saw the gold-armored Elite.

The Marine nodded. "Yeah...that's the ships Captain, or the Shipmaster as they are called. He's very important...and if we take him down, it might score us a massive hit on the Covenant forces on the ring."

Chief readied his Plasma rifle, he picked it up earlier after he ran out of ammo in his assault rifle he looks at the crew then. "When I kill one of the elites, attack."

"Yes, sir." They all said silently.

Ruby quickly looked down at her supplies. She was down to two spare clips for her sniper rifle and four for her assault rifle. She also had three frag grenades that one of the wounded marines gave her before being flown out by Foehammer.

It was then Chief threw a plasma grenade.

The Elite Major that talked to the Shipmaster turned to walk down the command ramp...but then a plasma grenade connected to his face. The Shipmaster saw this and kicks the major away from him as he exploded.

The Chief did not mean to get the Major but what's done is done as he and the marines began to shoot the bridge crew in the room. All the Elite's retaliated and fired back, but since they were caught off guard, more then a few were taken down quickly by the group. The rest took what little cover was available and fired back.

Ruby dashed towards the Shipmaster, Lat 'Ravamee as he takes out his energy sword to strike at the fast approaching Rose. Ruby avoids his strike with ease as she pulls out her combat knife and holds it in her left hand while her right carried her assault rifle.

Ruby then fires a few rounds at the Shipmaster before dodging another swipe of the blade of plasma. She then rushed forward and stabbed the elite shipmaster in the leg, breaking the Elites shields. Lat 'Ravamee grunts in pain but recovered and pulls his sword back for a stab at Ruby again, but Ruby avoids being skewered by backing up. The elite then tries to swipe at her legs but she, of course, avoided it again, this time surprising the Elite by vaulting over the Elite and landed behind it. Before Lat 'Ravamee had time to react Ruby jumps on the Elite and stabs him in the neck slicing open his windpipe, killing the Shipmaster within moments as he falls down dead.

Chief saw this after he killed another elite minor. Ruby Rose had just killed the Shipmaster of this Covenant ship. First, she took down the Elite Spec Ops by herself in closer quarters witha sniper rifle, and now she did it again a Covenant Shipmaster with a combat knife.

Shipmasters were individuals among the Covent that have earned their ranks in combat. But this one he seen was more of a command type of enemy since he noted that it's fighting style was a little sloppy then other high ranked Elites the Spartan had killed before, but nonetheless others in the UNSC he knew would be impressed that a 16-year-old managed to kill a shipmaster.

"Area clear sir." A marine said as he walks to the control penal and looks at them.

"This looks like the command center, the captain transponder signal is strong he must be close," Cortana says to Everyone.

One marine walks up the Chief and Ruby. "You two can go on ahead, this is a good area to hold up. Go retrieve the Captain while we stay here."

Ruby heard this of course...but she looks at the Shipmaster she just killed. Looking down at his hand it still clutched at his energy sword, prying it open, she picks it up turned it on.

Now that Ruby wasn't at risk of being killed with it, she had a closer looks at the blade that seemed to be made out of energy and was utterly amazed by it. Turning it back off, she clipped it in her suits belt to hold it...it could come in handy.

"Come on Ruby," Chief said getting Ruby attention as he began to walk down the halls to the prison area. "Get ready to meet the Captain."

Ruby runs next to Chief then and they both head down the halls, soon Ruby Rose will meet the Captain of the ship she was on when before when she first got onto this crazy war.


Note: here's the next chapter hope you all like it.

Also I like to thank Helljumper206 for helping me edit.