Author's note: Honestly, after writing 8,000 plus words, I thought I could use a departure from the standard storytelling. So, here's what I want you as readers to do: take a picture of the battle of Garo Gnezdo from an aerial view. Imagine it as a VR experience. Now, zoom in specifically on the fighting along the main road. Freeze frame, bullets flying around, soldiers screaming, fighting, dying, etc. Now put yourself in the middle of the fight, in this frozen picture, walking around like it's a museum. Got it? Good, let's begin.

Garo Gnezdo

You read and listen to tales of battles, glorious and disastrous, fair and bloody, inspiring and destroying. These are tales; made to fit the whims of historians, news agencies, authors, and storytellers. So, what is a battle really? Past what you read, and what you hear, and what doctored footage you see, what is a battle really? The broad answer is very, very, very simple: it's a fight for life. I say broad answer, because it's more complex on the individual level. Everyone has their own reasons for being in a battle, whether they be public or private, which makes it a more interesting dynamic. Still curious? Perfect, let's dive in.

To analyze the motivations of the soldiers in a battle, first look at the motivations of the commanders. In this battle, the motivations for one side are simple: The UNSC seeks to eliminate a threat to them in an unknown galaxy. The resistance fighters want freedom from an oppressive crime lord that seems to have no real reason for being there. The other side, under Baroness Tasva, are there for an agenda that they are not aware of. They are merely a sign of what is to come, waiting for the call to act. So, let's delve deeper into the battle. Hmm…let's take these fine fellows here. These are a squad of guards for the Baroness. Why them and not the UNSC and Resistance you ask? Two things: one, even bad guys have good intentions and are in the wrong place, secondly, everyone seems to do the good guys, so to hell with it.

Let's look at…the human female first. The name isn't important, it's why she's here that's important. If you look at this woman, you can glean some things from her physical appearance. She's very pale, which in this frozen climate is normal, but it's paler than normal. She's missing the lining in on her right arm, leaving her army exposed. On the pale skin, there are small little prick marks, indicative of drug use, but none are recent, indicating she's recovering. Look back to her face and see the wrinkles on her forehead, telling of the scowling and frowning she's done. A business woman in the past, perhaps, or a harsh mother, or even a strict school teacher? In fact, she is a mother, but the wrinkles are not in anger or disappointment, but are of sadness. Look at her posture; bent over slightly, hunched, unbalance, telling of a lack of confidence of self-esteem. This comes from her numerous abusive ex-lovers and her failures as a mother. But look back to her face once more and observe her expression. Tell me what you see…yes indeed. That is not the face of mourning, of self-pity, or woe. That face shows confidence, anger, and determination. Now why is she here you ask, despite everything she has been through. To this woman, she's a part of something greater than anything she was a part of in her past; a true family, harsh as it can be, but uplifting. That is why she is here. What will happen to her, you ask? She'll live, find her true calling on this planet and help build and create a strong community. Not all who fight on the wrong side will fall for it today.

Now let's look at the Iridonian. Strong, willful, the makings of a great soldier. So why does he fight with scum and work for filth like Tasva and Shorv? Simple: he needs credits. It was a decent paying job guarding a backwater planet, so he took it. Why does he need the credits? Look a little closer at his face. It is not twisted in rage, wrinkled with fear, but a mask of calm concentration. This Iridonian was once a businessman, a very good one at that. He lost everything in what seemed to be a solid business venture. However, no one told him he would be pissing off a Hutt crime lord. So, the Hutt took his business, his property, and his family, and told him to pay off what was owed if he wanted it back. This Iridonian will live as well, although whether or not he pays off his debt is up to his next boss.

Look at the human man next to him…yes the one who is pissing his pants, you child. Take this seriously, we are looking at the lives of others. This man is, as his pants indicate, a coward. All his life, he has run, taken the easy route, and avoided confrontation. He has never dealt with hardship in his life, nor does he wish to. He cannot run from this battle, he cannot hide from the bullets, the explosions, nor the screams. This will be the one thing he couldn't get away from. He will die, but he will not be missed by anyone that knew him.

Look at the Quarren barking orders. Observe his stance, his posture, how he carries himself. This one is a leader, yet an overconfident one. Successes against the resistance have made this squad leader think he is indestructible. His whole life has given credence to his arrogance; born into a soft life, tired of it, and then ran off for a harder one. He won time and time again, seeding the belief of overconfidence. Arrogance grants few friends, and this Quarren has none. His squad will not mourn his passing, nor celebrate his triumph.

Tired of the bad guys, are you? Fine, we can do that. And don't touch anything, as tempting as it is. Altering the path of a bullet, even if it seems harmless, can ricochet and kill someone.

Now, let's look at this one, right here, the Reaper. This one is Sergeant Vantress, a success in everyone's eyes. Well, except his own. He once was a brother to two others, one elder and the other younger. His home was ravaged by the Covenant, he was put on one ship, the older brother on another and the younger one on another. No matter what Vantress tried, he could not find his brothers. The sole survivor of his family, Vantress fights for the lost.

The Wookie next to him is the eldest of two brothers, but youngest of those fighting in Garo Gnezdo. His face is a painting of rage and pain for his lost brother. Tasva, in an attempt to subdue the mutinous Wookies on her planet, threatened to kill every Wookie child on the planet. The Wookies refused and the threat became a promise. Of the four hundred Wookies on the planet, ninety of them were children. Now, there are three hundred ten Wookies on the planet. So why does he fight? Simple: vengeance.

What about the marine behind them, holding his shoulder? This one survived three battles with the Covenant since his enlistment over two years ago. He's seen three worlds burn, three worlds he fought to protect, three worlds he's lost friends on. He fights with the souls of all he's lost on his shoulders, and they drive him forward into battle.

So, know you've seen the motivations and lives of the fighters. Now, it is time to go. Yes, I don't want to go either, but one must not linger long in a single moment, lest we lose sight of the world around us. Take my hand, and let us watch.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Author's Note: Was that good? Let me know so. Anyways, zoom out from the battlefield, and unfreeze the picture. It's time to finish this.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bullets sang as they flew through the air, blaster bolts hissed and sizzled as they shot towards their targets, explosions racked the ground and shook the air, screams punctured the roar of battle, and sweat poured down the skin of every being in the city of Garo Gnezdo, despite the bitter cold. A Scorpion tank rumbled up the main street, its machine gunner firing away, suppressing anyone who might harm the tank. The driver turned the turret at a barricade and fired. The shell emitted a short, yet high pitched scream as it flew, then impacted. The barricade, and the two squads of guards behind them, exploded, shards of permacrete showering like a deadly rain down upon the ground.

"Second squad, push forward! First squad, cover fire, go go!" A lieutenant barked at his soldiers. The marine squad, ten total, rushed forward, covered by their comrades behind them. A repeating blaster cannon opened fire on the rushing soldiers, a shower of red bolts raining down upon them. Two fell, one went down screaming and yelling, the other fell to the ground, silent and unmoving. The other eight dove for cover.

"Sir, we can't push forward with that thing on us!" The squad sergeant yelled into his radio. As he spoke, a black blur appeared behind the gun emplacement. There were three guards behind the gun. One flew off the platform the gun was on, another slumped over the edge, neck at an odd angle, while the third flopped dead, head crushed in. Spartan B-01 turned the gun away from the marines and opened fire. The marines, the fire lifted from them, moved forward again. Two men went back for their fallen comrades, moving the dead body to the side of the road in cover and taking the injured marine back to a medic, who tended to the soldier. Blaster bolts hissed around the Spartan as he turned the blaster cannon on the enemy. Soon, the blaster shots became more accurate, forcing the Spartan to move. The Spartan moved off the platform as his shields finally snapped. One bolt caught him on the shoulder, melting and warping his shoulder armor, causing the Spartan to grunt in annoyance. He took cover behind the Scorpion tank as it rumbled up the street. They weren't that far from Tasva's hall, but resistance had increased significantly. There was three times the resistance here than anywhere else in the city, increasing casualties.

"Reaper 1-1, this is Captain Wright, how copy, over?" Captain Wright asked over the radio.

"Wright, this is Reaper 1-1, I read you. We've encountered heavy resistance near the objective, over."

"Reaper 1-1, acknowledged. Prepare for CAS (Close-Air-Support), out." The radio went silent.

"Reaper 1-1 to all UNSC forces, hold position. CAS en route." 01 ordered. At once, the allied assault came to a halt. The guards took this as a sign to attack, rising and moving from their cover to press their supposed advantage. Then, the air began to shake. The guards looked around as they ran, searching for the source. Then there was a flash of grey in the air, and a roar like thunder. The advancing guards were shredded as the GA-TL Longsword fighters swept across the sky. A pair of missiles demolished the final barricade, which guarded the approach the Tasva's hall. Few survived the inferno. "Reaper 1-1 to UNSC forces, resume assault. This is the final push; don't relent!" The Scorpion that 01 was taking cover behind rumbled forward. 01, his shield's now fully charged, moved out from cover. He raised his shotgun, prepared to deal with any threat before him. Instead, every surviving enemy soldier threw down their weapons and surrendered.

"Well god-damn! I wish the Covenant was this easy!" A marine said happily.

"Lieutenant!" 01 called to a marine lieutenant.

"Sir?"

"Your platoon is in charge of EPW (Enemy Prisoner of War), get to it!"

"Sir yes sir!" The marines went forward, weapons raised.

"We surrender! We ain't getting paid enough for this!" A guard yelled. 01 shook his head in disgust at the mercenary guard. He beckoned for the Scorpion to move forward, and it rumbled behind him as we marched towards the hall. Smoke rose through the air, carrying the stench of the dead and dying, blood and burnt flesh, gun and blaster smoke. On that day, the mercenaries that surrendered were glad they did. Many shake to think of what would've become of them had they not surrendered to the black armor giant that strode the smoke of war. 01 turned his head. Three mercenaries, weapons discarded, were helping some of their injured comrades. They all gaped at the Spartan, a titan on the battlefield.

"What is that?" One of them whispered. No one answered as 01 turned his head away. The doors to the hall suddenly swung open and out stepped a group of thirty, all armed to the teeth. Yet, they made no move to raise their weapons. Instead, they parted for a small woman in official looking clothes. She was middle-aged, gray hair streaking her blonde hair, and she carried herself high. 01 stopped, and so did the Scorpion and marines behind him.

"I assume you are Baroness Tasva?" 01 asked, his shotgun held low, relaxed. The woman nodded.

"I am. And you are?"

"Spartan B-001. Are you here to surrender?"

"I am. It is clear that this is no longer a winnable battle. I submit to whatever terms you require of me."

"I believe I speak for my superiors when I say there will be no terms." 01 stated. Tasva nodded. She pressed a button on her wrist.

"This is Tasva to all forces. Stand down, we've lost." She said. 01 nodded and turned on his radio.

"Reaper 1-1 to Captain Wright, enemy has surrendered, over."

"Reaper 1-1, hold her until I arrive." Wright ordered.

"Copy that, Reaper 1-1 out." 01 shut down his radio. "I'm going to have to ask your guards to disarm, Baroness."

"Of course." Tasva waved her hand, and her guards dropped their weapons on the ground. 01 beckoned with his hand and marines came forward, policing up their weapons.

"You could've saved yourself a lot of trouble by just surrendering." 01 said. "We had your city surrounded, and even if we decided not to risk an assault, we could've blasted your city from orbit. So why fight?" Tasva scoffed.

"Do you even know who I work for?" She asked. "Lord Shorv would have my head on a platter in his hall if I surrendered without a fight. This was saving face." 01 maintained his composure, but deep down, he raged at this woman. She threw away lives, to save face?! That was disgusting. A moment later, a Pelican landed, and the three UNSC leaders, along with the six town leaders liberated from Tasva's mercenaries.

"Sir." 01 said.

"Good work, Spartan. We'll take it from here. Go deal with Tano and her friend." Wright ordered. 01 saluted and walked away. "So, you're the Baroness we've heard so much about?"

"I am. You must be the captain of that hulk floating outside my city." Tasva retorted.

"That hulk destroyed thirteen ships on its own and landed a small army on your planet. I think you owe that ship some respect." Wright countered.

"Indeed." Tasva said. "So, what do you intend to do with me?"

"To start with, I want to know everything you know about your boss Shorv and his organization. Then, we turn you over to the people of Kvaiias for their punishment." Wright said. Tasva shook her head.

"I will not-"

"Baroness, you did agree to unconditional surrender." Wright said. Tasva went pale.

"I'll tell you nothing!"

"Not willingly, but we have our own ways." Wright motioned and three marines marched forward, seized Tasva, and hauled her, kicking and screaming, onto the Pelican. It lifted off as soon as the three were secure.

"And what of us?" Tasva's security chief asked.

"You work for us now." One of the town leaders said. "You'll be our muscle, our workers, whatever we say, you do. Clear?"

"Clear." The security chief answered.

"I had to talk them out of killing you." Wright said. "Don't waste this chance." The security chief nodded. "Now, can we get access to Tasva's files?"

"Of course, right this way."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

01 found Ashoka and Jauu sitting near a group of Warthogs, guarded by his Reapers. Their guns were not pointed at Ashoka, she had proven a friend to them. They were all aimed at Jauu's elongated head, which was no longer covered by his helmet. His dark eyes glittered in the night light, yet there was none of the hate and malice that 01 had seen in other Elites.

"They causing trouble, Vantress?" He asked as he approached.

"No, sir, but we're waiting for split face here to make a move." The sergeant replied.

"And you will get none, Imp." The Elite replied.

"The hell did you just call me?" Vantress asked.

"An Imp. A lesser demon." Jauu replied.

"Uh…"

"It is a complement, human." Vantress looked at his CO.

"Jauu, is it?" 01 asked.

"It is, Demon." Jauu replied.

"Alright, Jauu, explain to me how you got here." 01 said.

"I have a ship, a scout-science vessel." Jauu answered.

"Where is it?" 01 asked.

"There is a large cave in the side of a mountain two hundred kilometers from here. I can show you the way." Jauu offered.

"Like we'd trust a hinge-head to lead us into a trap." One of the Reapers snarled.

"It is no trap, Imp." Jauu said. "I am alone."

"They trusted one Elite with a whole ship?" 01 asked.

"No, they trusted twelve of us…now there is one." Jauu said. 01 looked to Ashoka.

"He's telling the truth." She said. The ODSTs turned to 01.

"Keep them here. I'll be back." 01 ordered. He spun on his heel and went back to Tasva's hall. He watched as soldiers, of the UNSC and the resistance, haul bodies off the road, some into waiting Warthogs or speeders, others into burning piles, and others still to be looted by civilians and soldiers. The captured mercenaries sat in groups, unarmed but not bound, smoking, drinking, eating, and talking. Everyone, except for the UNSC soldiers, gaped at 01 as he passed. He was used to it; during several points in his career, he had worked alongside UNSC soldiers publicly, earning him the awe of the civilian populace as he passed. At first, the stares and the gaping mouths were all unwelcome and unwanted, now they were part of the job. When he arrived at the hall, it was now the HQ of the UNSC forces on the planet. Aides and officers scuttled about, carrying information and orders. 01 navigated the moving mass easily and pushed open the doors to what he assumed were Tasva's office. He was correct as Wright, Swedeen, and Bryant all stood around a terminal with a former mercenary officer.

"Learn anything from our prisoner?" Wright asked as 01 entered.

"He has a ship planet side." 01 said.

"And?"

"He's alone. There were more of them, but he refused to say anything further."

"And we trust him?" Bryant asked skeptically.

"Tano says he's telling the truth." 01 answered.

"And we can trust her?" Bryant asked again.

"I do, sir." Bryant scoffed.

"I'd trust the Spartan, Lieutenant Colonel." Wright said, and his voice brokered no further argument. The LTC nodded and said nothing further. "What do you need?"

"I need a Falcon and a pair of Hornets to get to the Elite's ship." 01 said.

"That's a lot of firepower." Wright stated.

"Better overkill then underkill, sir." 01 replied. Wright nodded.

"Take 'em, and bring us back a Covie ship." He said. 01 saluted and left the room. He went back through the buzzing main hall, through the lingering smoke of the battlefield, and the awe of those who and never seen the Spartan. When he return to his soldiers, they had relaxed somewhat, but their guns were still, in some manner, pointed at Jauu.

"You're going to take us to your ship." 01 declared. "Can you walk." In response, Jauu stood, somewhat shakily, to his full height. "Tough bastard." 01 muttered to himself. He beckoned to the ODSTs and they followed him. They moved, with Tano and Jauu in the center of them, to the gates, where the requested Falcon and Hornets had landed.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would fly in one of those." Jauu said as they approached.

"How many of us thought we'd ever fly in a Falcon with an Elite?" Specialist Bane replied. Jauu chuckled, but said no more. Six of the ODSTs split off to the Hornets, the Marine pilots being replaced with the Reapers. The remaining four, 01, Jauu and Tano sat down in the Falcon, 01 facing the two prisoners, an ODST on either side and Sergeant Vantress on his left. Another two Reapers sat themselves down in the gun turrets. 01 pounded on the Falcon's hull and it lifted off.

"The coordinates are: Longitude 43.82, Latitude 21.89." Jauu said.

"How do you know human mapping?" Private White asked.

"I am an infiltrator, it is my job to learn such things." Jauu replied.

"And what we learn when you break into your computers on your ship?" Vantress asked.

"Everything you want to learn that I can give." Jauu replied. "And you'll not need to break them open."

"Why are you helping us?" 01 asked. "You never fully explained that to me."

"Because, the war we fight, your species' extermination? A farce made by cowards who want to preserve their power." Jauu answered angrily.

"You'll have to elaborate." 01 said. Jauu nodded.

"The Covenant is based around the belief of a Great Journey, made once before by our gods, your Forerunners as your scientific community calls them. We search for their great Halos, massive rings in space to commence our journey. Select few ships within the Covenant are fitted with Luminaries, devices that find Forerunner relics. There were twelve of us when our journey began, a scout ship fitted with a Luminary. We were sent to scout out the reaches of this unknown galaxy, to map and to find relics…we were a year into our journey, when we stumbled upon an alien ship. What we…initially believed was that the ship was filled with relics of the Forerunners. We destroyed their engines and boarded the ship, and found it filled with humans. We slaughtered them, sweeping aside any and all resistance we encountered, but we found no relics. I was ordered back to the ship to consult the Luminary. The number of relic signatures had dropped significantly since our boarding, like the relics were attached to the humans. Then I heard my brother's kill a group of humans and I watched three of the relic glyphs disappear from the Luminary."

"Why are we listed as relics to reclaim?" 01 asked.

"That is origin of the Human-Covenant War, human: a misreading of holy glyphs. What we believed to say 'reclaim' really meant 'Reclaimer'." Jauu said.

"How do you know this?" 01 asked.

"Among my kind, I was a devout one, keen on studying our religion. I learned to read the glyphs…which could be considered heresy to some." Jauu replied. 01 nodded.

"What happened next?" Jauu shook his head.

"I told the leading Zealot of what had just occurred and what I now believed. He declared me to a be a heretic, without honor, for question the will of our Prophets. He said that once he was finished on the ship, he would come to kill me. What he was relying on was my Sangheili honor to meet my eleven comrades in battle. Instead, I waited until they entered the airlock, separated our ship from the human one, and vented the airlock's atmosphere into space." Ashoka watched her friend tell his story with sad eyes. "Their bodies remained in the airlock for a time, before I burnt them and released their ashes into space. Then I boarded the human ship and downloaded everything they had on this galaxy, wanting to know what to expect in my travels."

"So why come here?" Ashoka asked. Jauu swiveled his head toward her from the Spartan.

"I was adrift for many days, studying this galaxy. In my studies, I came across Naraka Shorv and his criminal empire, Kvaiias appearing in my study of him. I decided that my atonement for the wrongs I have done in my life should start with him and dismantling his empire. Kvaiias was the first step."

"What was your plan?" 01 asked. Jauu chuckled.

"I am a Spec Ops, Demon. I am an infiltrator, marksman, swordsman, assassin, saboteur, warrior, and instigator. I would have worked from the shadows to destroy the leadership on this planet." The Elite answered.

"So, what changed?" Ashoka asked.

"My first week there I did reconnaissance on the planet, scouting out the capital and the towns. It was during my recon trips that I found you. I watched what appeared to me a girl make an oppressed people believe in themselves and convince them to fight. You garnered my respect."

"And that made you want to work with me?"

"Yes." Jauu nodded. "I was curious and I developed an admiration."

"Oh…thank you." Ashoka blushed slightly.

"What was your plan afterwards, originally?" 01 pressed.

"There are other planets that I would've moved onto, continuing in much the same way I intended to do here. When I joined with Ashoka, I intended to follow her."

"And now?" Jauu looked at 01, and the two warriors stared each other down.

"I am your prisoner…but I would join you, if you would have me." The ODSTs all looked at 01, who looked at Jauu. After a long moment, he nodded slowly.

"You sure, boss?" Bane asked.

"I am, though I'm sure Wright and Bryant would agree with me." 01 said.

"What about the major?"

"The major trusts me more than he trusts the captain and the LTC, he'll accept my judgement."

"What if the captain tries to overrule you?" Vantress asked. 01 looked at the Reaper Sergeant.

"He can't."

"What?"

"This is an ONI approved, funded, and created task force. I am ONI's official liaison between them and the Hidden Cities captains. Therefore, as ONI's official representative in their own project, I technically outrank everyone here." 01 explained. "So, if the captain tries to overrule me, I pull ONI protocol."

"Sir…that's fucking cold." Vantress replied. 01 nodded.

"The games of the cloak and dagger usually are." The Spartan said.

"So, you would have me?" Jauu asked.

"I would, on my terms." 01 answered.

"Name them."

"You answer to me, and me alone unless I otherwise specify. You will be attached to my ODST unit, the Reapers and will serve as one of them unless I say otherwise. You will not take liberties with my orders or the orders of those I place above you, and you will not kill humans unless attacked by them." 01 said firmly.

"I can do that." Jauu replied, equally as firm.

"Can you is not the question, Blava', will you is the question." 01 replied. "And you'll need a unique call sign, something that distinguishes you from the human ODSTs…Grim will do."

"Grim…I like it." Jauu said. "Grim it is." 01 extended his hand.

"Welcome to the Reapers." Jauu cocked his head at the extended hand, like a confused dog, then reached out and grasped the extended hand.

"Thank you, Demon." Jauu said.

"Approaching coordinates." The pilot said. The Falcon slowed and descended until it was in front of a mountain, covered in a sheet of ice. "Sir, there's no cave."

"Fire your weapon at the ice sheet." Jauu said.

"Sir?"

"Do it." 01 ordered. The pilot complied and fired a burst from the Falcon's nose gun. The bullets slammed into the ice sheet, sending a massive spider web crack through the sheet. A moment later, the ice sheet broke apart and fell to the snowy ground below, revealing a large cave opening. Inside, landing gear planted firmly on the cold stone, was Jauu's ship. Like most Covenant ships, it had the purple, pink, and blue colors and the organic flow of the hull. It looked like an enlarged whale to the human soldiers.

"The Devout Penance." Jauu announced. The Falcon and Hornets flew slowly into the caves and landed. Jauu was the first to dismount, taking long strides to the ship. As he approached, a gangway descended from the ship and a door opened. And, much to the shock of the ODSTs and Ashoka, and the annoyance of 01, a pair of Engineers floated from the ship. "Greetings, friends." Jauu said as the floating squids came to a halt next to the Elite.

"You could've told me about them." 01 said. Jauu, realizing his blunder, nodded.

"Apologies, Lighter than Most and Heavier than All are no threats. I did not consider to mention them." The Elite apologized. 01 nodded.

"This'll help convince the captain to let me keep you on, though. A pair of insanely curious, tech savvy floating squids, plus an Elite willing to work with us and his ship? You've made a sweet deal for yourself." The Spartan said. Unarmed, he approached the two Engineers. "What did you call them?"

"Lighter than Most and Heavier than All. Huragok name their offspring after how they float." Jauu answered. The Engineers, curiosity intrigued, floated to the Spartan. 01, in response, upholstered his Magnum and SMG, flipped them so the grips faced away from him, and offered them to the floating aliens. The pair of Engineers eagerly took the weapons, disassembled them, and then reassembled them within the course of five seconds. They handed the weapons back, which 01 accepted.

"Any idea what they just did?" 01 asked, examining the weapons.

"Most likely improved their fire rate and accuracy." Jauu answered. He waved his hand at the ship.

"Clever things." 01 said. His radio crackled at that moment.

"Reaper 1-1, this is Wright, come in, over." Wright's voice said.

"Wright, this is Reaper 1-1, I read you, over."

"Reaper 1-1, have you reached the Elite's ship?"

"I have, sir. We have two Engineers here as well."

"Really? Well those will be useful. Take care of the Elite and get that ship back to the El Dorado."

"Sir, I disagree with that decision."

"What did you say, Spartan?"

"Sir, I believe that the Elite is an asset we can't turn down. He willingly gave us his ship, two Engineers, and he's offered his services as a soldier to us."

"So we're taking on Elite mercenaries now?"

"He'd be serving with the Reapers, taking orders from me and whoever I place above him." Silence met 01's reply. "Sir, we have an ex-Covenant soldier, who is willing to work for us. Think of all the insight we could get on the workings of the Covenant!" Wright sighed.

"On your head be the consequences, Spartan." Wright said reluctantly.

"Understood sir."

"Get that ship back here. Wright out." The radio clicked off, and 01 sighed in relief.

"Well Grim, looks like the captain wants you too." The Spartan said. Jauu nodded. "Now, I assume you know how to fly this thing?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

UNSC El Dorado

Wright watched as the Elite's ship, the Devout Penance, fit into one of the secondary cargo hangers. It was a snug fit, but it fit nonetheless. In the hanger, UNSC crew men and Reaper ODSTs scurried back and forth, directed by the Elite, Jauu Blava, or Grim as the Spartan had nicknamed him. The captain shook his head. He couldn't believe he was allowing this, but since the Spartan thought he'd be important, he went with it. He had better soldier instincts then the captain did. As he thought, Wright's radio buzzed.

"Sir, everyone's here." His first officer said.

"I'm on my way." Wright answered. As he the radio went silent, Wright turned to the nearest elevator and proceeded to the conference room. When he arrived, all the commanding officers, plus 01 and Ashoka Tano, were in attendance. "Apologies for the wait, let's begin." Wright said, taking his seat. "Ms. Tano, I believe you promised us an explanation."

"I did." Ashoka stood. "For those who don't know me, my name is Ashoka Tano, and I am a former Jedi and former commander in the Grand Army of the Republic."

"Can you explain what the Republic is?" Wright asked.

"The Galactic Republic is a conglomeration of species brought together by the Senate and a Supreme Chancellor. It is the most prominent governing body in the galaxy."

"I assume that there is another?" Bryant asked. Ashoka nodded.

"The Confederacy of Independent Systems, more commonly referred to as the Separatists. They have their own senate, and are led by Count Dooku. They were at war with the Republic for three years."

"I assume it was a war for their independence?" Bryant asked.

"Dooku hired an assassin to kill one of our senators, violated armament restrictions set up several companies, and tried to assassinate one of our Jedi." Ashoka answered.

"Explain to me what these Jedi are." 01 said from his leaning position on the wall.

"In the galaxy, there is the Force, a living energy that connects all living things. There is a light side and a dark side, and the Jedi are servants of the light. We are Force Sensitive, meaning we can manipulate the Force should we need to. Jedi, as light side users, are peacekeepers for the Republic and leaders in times of war."

"Let's go back to your service history." Wright said. "You're only seventeen, correct?"

"I am, closer to eighteen now, but still, yes."

"Why were you given command at such a young age?"

"You assume that young Jedi are released upon the galaxy with no experience past what we've already trained. Padawans, which is what I was before leaving, are assigned to Jedi Knights or Masters to learn from them. My master, Anakin Skywalker, led our 501st Legion in battle, so I had plenty of frontline experience with him."

"This Grand Army you have," Swedeen said, "what is it like?"

"The GAR is manned primarily by clones." The eyes in the room widened.

"Stop!" Wright said abruptly. "You have clones as soldiers? What did these Separatists fight with?"

"Battle droids." Ashoka replied. "Would you rather fight alongside men who come from the same genetic material and yet still have individuality, or fight alongside mindless droids?"

"Point made." Wright said. "What's the current galactic situation?"

"There is a ceasefire between the CIS and the Republic right now, but there's also a proxy war occurring. Ex-Separatist generals were forced to run when the Republic demanded their arrest, taking with them fleets of ships and hundreds of thousands of battle droids. Naraka Shorv is one such general, he just had an empire before this."

"And we just took a piece out of it." Wright leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in front of him. He shook his head. "My God, what have we gotten ourselves into?"

"Permission to speak, sir?" 01 asked, standing up from his position on the wall.

"Granted."

"Sir, I believe we should focus on establishing ourselves a base in this galaxy from which we can search for the rest of our group and any other UNSC ships that have ended up here." Wright turned his head to the Spartan, then he nodded.

"Yes…a base of operations that we can turn into a settlement for stranded UNSC ships."

"What about the rest of the galaxy?" Swedeen asked.

"We interact only as necessary." 01 suggested. "There's no need to become entangled in galactic politics we don't understand." The door to the conference room slid open.

"I'm afraid you already have." Jauu said as he walked inside. Everyone, except 01 and Wright, jumped out of their seats. The Elite ignored the gasps, half-shouts, and stares and tossed a small, circular device onto the conference table. It activated and an image of a tall, muscular bald man appeared. "Naraka Shorv."

"My name is Lord Naraka Shorv, leader of the Rim Runner Pirate empire. Recently, an unknown group has attacked one of my investments on the planet Kvaiias." An image of the El Dorado appeared and slowly spun in place. "These interlopers will not be tolerated in my empire. They will be punished accordingly. To any who find these meddlers, a hundred thousand credits to the ones who come in with reliable information! Half a million to those who bring me one of them!" Images of marines, ODSTs, and even a running image of 01 appeared one after another. "And one million credits go to anyone who brings my Ashoka Tano, former Jedi and Republic general, dead or alive!" Ashoka's image briefly floated in a circle before Shorv reappeared. "My investments will not be disrupted or destroyed by anyone! If they wish war, they shall have one!" The message ended.

"Well…shit." Wright said.

"It's clear that our presence in this galaxy is not as secret as we want it to be." Bryant said. He eyed Jauu nervously.

"Thank you, Grim, you are dismissed." 01 said. The Elite bowed his head and left the room.

"So, now what?" Swedeen said.

"Simple." 01 said. Everyone looked to him. "It's clear we'll never be safe with Shorv looking for us. So we destroy him and his holdings."

"We still need a base." Swedeen said.

"No, we don't." Wright said, leaning forward in his chair. "We need allies; planets we can stop at, rest, repair, and rearm."

"And all the while we search for our brothers and sisters that might be stuck here with us." Bryant said.

"What about engagements? We can't win prolonged space battles or ground engagements." Swedeen said.

"Then we wage guerilla warfare." 01 said. "A smaller force defeat the larger force with small bites at key positions. The Reapers and ODSTs serve as the chipping force, the marines serve as the hammer to smash everything to bits."

"This can work." Wright said. Everyone around the table nodded. "One last question, Ms. Tano. You've been an invaluable asset to us since we've met you. Would you join us?" Ashoka thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"I have my own path to walk, and this is not it." She said. Wright nodded in understanding. "I can, however, give some contacts if you ever need to get out of a tight spot."

"That would be greatly appreciated." Wright said. Silence dominated the room for a moment.

"Sir…what if we encounter the Covenant in force?" Bryant asked. Wright looked up at his marine commander.

"Then we fight them with everything we have. If we can board a ship and take whatever data and weapons we can, we'll do it. No more running, no more burning planets to cover our retreat, no more defensive battles. Here, we are the hunters, the aggressors, the predators." Wright said defiantly. The UNSC members all nodded their affirmation. "Are well all in agreement on what must be done?"

"Aye!"

"Then let's get to it."

Act 1

Part 1: The UNSC El Dorado

End

Act 1

Part 2: Courscant and Nar Shaddaa

Author's Note: Ta-da! So, now that we have this out of the way and the rest of the UNSC plot generally set up, it's time to go back to what I set up in Padawans and Proposals. Also, go check out the Dark Souls 3 fanfic I just posted. I decided I'd enjoy Dark Souls 3 more single person focused narrative then another large-scale story like XCOM. Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed, and I'll see ya soon!