Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo - MechWarrior/BattleTech - Mass Effect crossover. I apologize for not updating on Friday as I normally do. I was getting ready for a weekend long vacation with some of my relatives, and the dryer was temporarily out of service due to a worn out bearing. Thank you for your patience, and I hope to see you in later chapters. As always, leave a review and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Halo, MechWarrior/BattleTech or Mass Effect franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Game Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, Electronic Arts, BioWare, FASA Corporation, FASA Interactive, Catalyst Game Labs and Piranha Games Inc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or artists.


UNSC Pillar of Autumn II

Shield World Requiem

June 15th, 2576

Whew, what a day, Keyes thought as he looked over the AAR (After Action Report) as well as the BDA (Battle Damage Assessment) report that had been conducted just after the battle. According to the military personnel on the ground, the Forerunner Combat Drones had been particularly dangerous during the fight, since they had no idea as to what their true capabilities were. Fortunately, they had managed to quickly determine each drone's weakness, and were able to exploit them. The AAR indicated that Gauss weapons were the least effective against the Forerunner Combat Drones, while Laser and Plasma weapons were the most effective.

There was one thing that made Keyes happy, however, and that was they had managed to reestablish COM's with the Infinity. It had taken Lee roughly three hours to determine how to send signals through Requiem's outer shell, as the large amounts of Forerunner Alloy had interfered with communications. Most of that time was spent determining what was causing the interference, with the last twenty minutes being spent remodulating communications in order to get through the outer shell. Fortunately, the C-HPG onboard the Autumn II had been quickly reconfigured, allowing for FTL communications through the outer layer of Requiem. Once they broke through, Keyes had requested immediate reinforcements in order to secure the Shield World from the Storm Covenant. That request had been answered, and the reinforcements were expected to arrive in just five minutes.

Now, the aging UNSC Captain was preparing himself to meet his very first Forerunner. I must admit, he thought, I'm surprised that the Forerunners are still around. Most scientists think that they were wiped out by the Halo Array when it was activated. I can't imagine the thoughts going through the head of the poor bastard that activated the Array. He knew it was a decision that would've ripped him apart, which was why he was thankful he didn't have to make that choice to begin with.

A moment later, Lee came up on the holoprojector on the Bridge. "Sir, you appear to be stressed," the AI observed. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine," Keyes replied, rubbing his face with a hand. "It's just an adrenaline crash from the fight we had with the Storm Covenant, as well as one of the few Forerunners that are still alive and well. I must admit, that Didact must be quite spry to be able to pull off an attack like that." Looking at Lee, he asked, "What's the status of the Compact Memory Core we stored Earth's location in?"

"Intact," Lee replied. "The Elementals assigned to it had to deal with a number of incursions in their area. My analysis indicates that the Prometheans, what the Forerunner's Combat Drones are called, were attempting to gain access to the device. Thanks to the Elementals, they were unable to gain access to the C-MC and even if they did, they would have to perform a hardwired link to the device. They are designed not to be accessible via wireless methods."

Keyes sighed with relief when he heard that. "At least the enemy doesn't know Earth's location," he breathed. "What about Chief and the others?"

"They are arriving onboard the Autumn II soon," Lee replied. "Clan 'MechWarrior Alex Wolverine is currently in the MedBay due to injuries suffered during combat. Apparently, the Prometheans used a powerful anti-tank weapon in an attempt to kill him. He survived, but he has minor to moderate injuries and he's been barred from combat for the next four hours, after which he'll be combat ready."

"That's good to hear," Keyes nodded. "Still, if the Prometheans are going to be using such weaponry against us, we'll have to be careful from here on out." Clearing his throat, he said, "Carry on with your duties, Lee. Inform me of when our guest arrives onboard the 'Ship. I'll be in my Captains Quarters, getting ready for the occasion. Do what you can to make him feel at home." With that, Keyes left for his Quarters, while Lee went to work ensuring that their guest would be comfortable once he was onboard the WarShip.

. . .

The silence onboard the Pelican-III was palpable as the VTOL flew onward towards the Autumn II. Inside the troop bay, Chief was checking over his armor to make sure it hadn't been too badly damaged during the fight, with Linda and the others going through similar checks. Nearby, the IsoDidact simply sat, or rather hovered, calmly in what he could tell was deep meditation. Now that they were out of combat, the IsoDidact's face was once more visible, and it was the very image of peace and contemplation.

He had to admit, he was curious about the Forerunners, more so now that they had a living example before them. Chief knew that any scientists that heard about the IsoDidact were probably going to be tripping over their own feet just to have an interview, or to perform experiments if the IsoDidact consented. A number of historians and linguists would also be anxious to meet him as well, as there was little that was known about the Forerunner's history, and deciphering the language would be just as critical as well. He was about to return to his normal duties when he heard the IsoDidact say, "You're curious as to my culture, yes?" Chief merely replied with a nod, to which the IsoDidact smiled, though it was so slight that it might as well have been invisible. "That is understandable. None of your kind today know of our people, or our culture. When we arrive at our destination, I will do what I can to satisfy your curiosity."

"That would be nice," Cortana admitted. "There's so much that we don't know about the Fore… er… your kind. For a long time, we thought your species was extinct, that you had been, somehow, wiped out by the Halo Array."

"A reasonable assumption, ancilla," the IsoDidact nodded, "and a mostly correct one. Most members of my species were outside of the Shield Worlds when the Halo Array was fired. Some, however, survived and left the galaxy, with some taking up a more primitive existence. Others have, like myself, have survived to this day, and have been steadily rebuilding my species in another galaxy. It is a difficult task, though. My species, known as the Ecumene, were once a populous and proud species; now, we're but a mere shadow of our former selves, but that is probably for the best."

"Why," Cortana asked.

"When we are onboard, you will understand."

"I see." After a moment, she asked, "Why did you call me an 'ancilla?' What does that mean?"

"It is my people's word for an AI," the IsoDidact replied. "Just as you call your ancilla's 'Artifical Intelligences,' while the Star League calls their ancilla's 'Neural Intelligences.' They are names for the same thing: a machine that has the ability to think for itself and to feel emotions." Cortana had to admit, that was actually quite a logical way to see that topic. Any hopes of a further conversation, however, were banished when they flew into one of the Hangar Bays onboard the Autumn II. There was a slight thump as the Pelican-III came to rest on the deck of the Hangar Bay, with the loading ramp/Troop Bay door lowered, allowing Chief and the others to step outside.

Looking around, Chief felt a sense of comfort, which he knew was just a physiological and psychological reaction to being somewhere familiar. All around himself, he could see personnel going to work on various AeroSpace Fighters. Engineers floated around in the air above them, and were busy helping the technicians inside replace armor plating, repair damaged components as well as rearm any ASF's that had depleted their munitions, partially and otherwise. As he looked around, the IsoDidact walked out, coming to a stop next to him. "Ah, I see the Huragok have survived to this day."

"You know about them," Chief asked.

"Yes," the IsoDidact nodded. "My people created them to repair and maintain our structures, while improving them at the same time. It's gratifying to see that our creations have withstood the countless eons and millennia." As soon as he said this, one of the Huragok floated down to them, with the alien's eyes staring at the IsoDidact. Apparently, Huragok could also pass down memories of past incidents, as the Huragok in question floated over and gently wrapped it's tentacles around the IsoDidact, a happy trilling sound coming from it. The IsoDidact merely smiled before returning the embrace, with the two hugging for a few seconds before parting ways.

"You know that Engineer," Linda asked.

"No," the IsoDidact replied, "but I did know it's ancestor. The Huragok transfer copies of their memories to their children when they create them, with most of those copied memories being stored in a part of their minds for future events. That one, Perfectly Balanced, held the memories of one of it's ancestors. It's ancestor, Almost Too Light, was responsible for maintaining my armor."

"Really," Cortana remarked. "That's amazing!"

"It is," the IsoDidact beamed. "It's heartwarming to know that, even after our long absence, our creations still remember us, and fondly so. If only the same could be said about the others…" He trailed off a moment later, a wistful, almost sad, expression on his face. A moment later, though, he perked up, saying, "Still, let's not focus too much on the past. We must focus on what we can do now, not on what has happened or will happen."

"Agreed," Chief nodded. Keying his COM, he said, "Sierra-117 to Captain Keyes. We have the HVI on board and we are ready for further orders."

"Understood," Keyes replied. "Bring the HVI to the Bridge. We'll have our meeting with him there. Keyes out."

"Aye, sir," Chief replied. Closing the COM, he turned to the IsoDidact and said, "Sir, my orders are to escort you to the Bridge. If you could come with me…"

"Say no more," the IsoDidact replied, as he willingly began to follow Chief towards a gravity lift that would take them to the deck where the Bridge was at. Stepping inside, they traveled upwards to the deck where the Bridge was located at, with the team moving through the hallways, which were fulled with UNSC and SLDF personnel that were busy guarding and/or maintaining the ship. After turning down a series of corridors and hallways, they reached the bridge.

Keyes was already present, and was talking with Lasky via the C-HPG that was installed onboard the Autumn II. The man looked tired, though that was probably due to the firefight they had with the Storm Covenant just minutes earlier. While Chief didn't hear what Keyes was saying at first, he did guess what the conversation was about: how to get out of Requiem while trapping the UrDidact inside of it. Keyes was about to reply to something Lasky said when he spotted Chief and the IsoDidact. "Ah, I see that you've brought our guest onboard. Thank you, Chief. Get yourself some rest; you've earned it. I'll speak with the guest of honor."

"Yes, sir," Chief nodded. Saluting Keyes, he turned and left for the Crew Quarters, while the IsoDidact remained where he stood.

Looking up at the IsoDidact, Keyes said, "Welcome onboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn II. My name is Captain Jacob Keyes, and I'm the CO of the ship. It's good to have you here. I just wish it were under better circumstances."

"I understand," the IsoDidact nodded, "and I appreciate your hospitality. I am the IsoDidact. To my people, I am known as Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting, but you can call me the IsoDidact if you wish."

"Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting," Keyes asked, confused.

"That is how people in my species are named," the IsoDidact explained.

"I see," Keyes nodded. "Interesting naming convention. We'll have to find some time to sit down and share more about our people over a cup of coffee. Right now, though, we're faced with a conundrum."

"Let me guess: how to escape the Shield World while trapping the UrDidact inside of it."

"How'd you know?"

"I overheard your conversation with your fellow captain. When you have good ears like I do, wear a Combat Skin like mine, and are trained in the ways of war, you have to become skilled at picking out the slightest sounds. After all, one sound can be enough to tell you if you're meeting a friend, or a foe. In addition, it's a question that I have asked myself many times once I became a guardian of this place."

While he appeared to be calm outside, Keyes was deeply impressed and surprised on the inside. "I see," he remarked. "That's exactly what Captain Lasky and I were discussing. If you could share any information on that topic, that would be deeply appreciated."

"And I will," the IsoDidact nodded. Looking at Lasky, he said, "Greetings, Captain Lasky. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."

"And mine as well," Lasky nodded. "To be honest, I never thought I'd meet a living example of your species. We all thought you'd died out over a hundred thousand years ago."

"A reasonable assumption, given our lack of activity," the IsoDidact replied. "My species never really died out. Most were killed when the Halo Array activated, but many members of my kind fled the galaxy, and settled in another one." Clearing his throat, he said, "With your permission, Captain Lasky, I would like to link my Combat Skin with the computer systems of the Autumn II. If you permit me to, I can share valuable information on Requiem, as well as how to escape without releasing the UrDidact, the one that attacked the ship I am on."

There were a few seconds of silence as Lasky contemplated the IsoDidact's request. While it was clear that the IsoDidact was part of a foreign power, Lasky knew that refusing his request was probably both insulting and stupid. A moment later, he said, "Permission granted. Just remain out of classified information and we'll be fine."

"Thank you," the Isodidact nodded. Closing his eyes, he concentrated as parts of his armor began to shift and change, with a few components floating over to various dataports on the table before changing shape, allowing the IsoDidact to link his armor with the holo-table. A few seconds later, a 3D holographic scale model of Requiem cam up over the holo-table, with various lines of Forerunner script floating around it. "Ah, my apologies," the IsoDidact frowned when he opened his eyes to seek Keye's confused expression. "It's easy to forget that you do not know my people's language." Moments later, the Forerunner script morphed into English words and sentences. "That's better," he beamed. Rotating the hologram around, he said, "The only way to leave Requiem is through one of ten gravity well portals built into the outer skin of Requiem. To exit Requiem without tearing your ship apart, you need to temporarily deactivate one of an equivalent number of Gravity Well Generators, which will allow your ship to escape." A moment later, a 3D hologram of one such Gravity Well Generator appeared.

"Huh," Keyes remarked. "It looks like a giant sculpture of a building that I know of. It doesn't look anything like a Gravity Well Generator."

"My people were known for building structures that looked like works of art," the IsoDidact explained. "The Builders, of which I was, and still am, a member of, were known for crafting elegant and beautiful structures. The Shield Worlds, Fortress Worlds, Lesser Ark and Greater Ark were considered to be their greatest works of art, though in a lethal sense." Refocusing on the hologram, he said, "The Gravity Well Generators were designed as a means of preventing the UrDidact from escaping Requiem, though at the cost of trapping anyone that was with him in here as well."

"Is that how you came to be in there," Lasky asked.

"Yes," the IsoDidact nodded, "though that was part of the arrangement that I made with the Ecumene that you would call the 'Librarian.' While she was distressed that I would be trapped in there, I told her I made that choice, and I was fine with living with that decision. It helps that I know how he thinks as well."

"How so," Lasky asked innocently.

"Because, in a way, I am the UrDidact."

When the IsoDidact said this, the room fell silent, so much so that one could hear a pin drop. Keyes and Lasky both looked at the IsoDidact with a mixture of surprise and worry. "What do you mean," Lasky asked, wondering if his decision was a bad one.

"What I mean is that I am the UrDidact, but I'm not him at the same time as well," the IsoDidact explained. "Tell me, Lasky. Have you had people that seem to have multiple personalities, even though they are the same person?"

There was some silence before Lasky said, "Y-yes. We call it Multiple Personality Disorder. It's a psychological condition where someone has multiple personalities, with each one having different behaviors and actions. Why do you ask?"

"Because the UrDidact did something similar with me," the IsoDidact explained. "In our society, we could alter our bodies and minds as we saw fit, with many becoming specialized for various parts of society. You could say that our society relied on a caste system, which we call the Rate system. I was born as a Builder, the most powerful caste of my people. The UrDidact was a member of the Warrior-Servant Rate, which was our species equivalent of your UNSC. When I was becoming older, however, he used a similar method of modification to embed a copy of his personality and memories into me, effectively allowing me to become a Didact, which is the equivalent of your rank of General. He also altered my body to more closely emulate his."

"So, he used a memory imprint process to make you into a copy of him," Lasky asked. "A military leader?"

"Yes," the IsoDidact replied. "It was a measure he took so that, in the event he was killed, our people's military wouldn't be left without a leader. During the Flood Wars, of which I was a part of, that part of his personality reigned supreme, but as time passed, his personality and mine began to meld together into a single whole, with parts of my normal personality coming to the fore. By the time the Halo Array was fired, my personality was a near-perfect composition of his and mine. Today, most of my personality has returned, though the UrDidact's imprint has tempered the more… negative aspects of my original personality."

"I see," Keyes remarked. "If that's the case, though, then why are you helping us?"

"Because I want to see your species succeed," the IsoDidact replied. "During the Flood Wars, the UrDidact's mind was infected with a powerful disease the Flood created, known as the Logic Plague. Over time, his mind was twisted by the Logic Plague, as he was driven into insanity by the horrors of the Flood. In addition, he hated your species with a passion like no other, and wanted it destroyed. Given his actions today, it is evident that he has not recovered from his insanity and has not changed his ways. He will attempt to bring ruin and destruction to your kind, a fate that I do not want to be visited upon your species. I might've been in his place once, but I will never be like him in the end. That much you can take comfort in."

At that outburst, Keyes held up his hands in a placating manner. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I wasn't trying to make you upset. I just wanted to understand." He prepared himself for a lecture or some form of chastisement.

His worries were unfounded, however, as the IsoDidact sighed and said, "No. Keyes. It is I that should be asking for your pardon. The memories of that time are still quite strong and vivid, despite the hundreds of millennia that have passed. It was a dark… and horrible time, and I haven't emerged from it unscathed."

"I know what you mean," Keyes nodded. "It's alright. I've had a few incidents that I would very much like to forget."

"I don't mean to be rude, but we need to focus on what we were talking about," Lasky interrupted.

"Yes, you are correct," the IsoDidact nodded. "We cannot focus on the past. We must focus on what we can do now." Looking at the hologram being displayed, he said, "Getting to the Gravity Well Generators will not be easy, however. To protect them from any invasion, we built a series of Particle Cannons around each Generator. Given that they were used by the Warriors of my people, the UrDidact will have unrestricted access to them, and might attempt to use them to hamper your means of escape until he has the location of your homeworld."

"You're the same rank," Lasky observed. "Can't you override his actions?"

"An astute observation, Lasky," the IsoDidact nodded. "While you are not able to access all of the functions on Requiem, I can. When we approach the Particle Cannons, I will use my authority to override the UrDidact's tampering, which will allow your ship safe passage to the Generator. Once you have arrived there, I will temporarily deactivate the Gravity Well Generator and allow your ship to escape."

"What about you," Lasky asked. "Won't you be trapped in there?"

"Normally, I would," the IsoDidact nodded, "but I can program the system to allow me to leave, while ensuring that the UrDidact is trapped in Requiem. Besides, I have grown tired of living inside a Shield World with a war criminal. It will be refreshing to visit Ere-Tyrenne once again. I made a number of friends with your kind before the Flood Wars."

"I see," Lasky nodded. "Thank you for this information. We'll hash out the final details a little later. In the meantime, you can take a tour of the ship if you like. I know that Cortana expressed an interest in you while we were talking with each other."

"That I will," the IsoDidact nodded. "I intend to learn of how your species has changed. I am also curious about the Star League, and how it came here as well. Thank you for your hospitality."

"You're welcome," Lasky nodded. "Lasky over and out." With that, the COM link ended.

"I'll need to tend to a few matters on the Bridge," Keyes said to the IsoDidact. "I'll have one of my men travel with you while you're onboard the ship."

"An agreeable request," the IsoDidact nodded. "After all, you don't want anything bad to happen to your ship."

"Good," Keyes nodded. Looking at an ODST that was on the Bridge, he said, "Corporal Allard, you will accompany the IsoDidact for the duration of his time onboard the Autumn II. If he has any questions, answer them to the best of your ability, but do not inform him about classified projects unless necessary. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Corporal Allard nodded.

"Good," Keyes nodded. "Dismissed."

. . .

As he left the Bridge, the IsoDidact turned down a hallway, intent on going to the MedBay of the ship. So far, he could tell that the UNSC was a highly professional and well regulated military, with his being given an escort an indicator of that. They don't trust me, a part of his mind remarked. They're afraid of what I might be capable of. Another part of his mind promptly said, That is perfectly understandable. I would've done the same thing in their position. After all, I'm an unknown variable to them, and they have reason to be concerned as a result. Either way, he was happy that his interaction with the UNSC was, so far, a positive one, though he was more than willing to defend himself should the need arise. Looking at the Corporal, he asked, "Where is the MedBay?"

"Follow me," Allard replied. "MedBay's located on Deck 40."

It took them about ten minutes to reach the MedBay, though the IsoDidact knew that the Autumn II was around the size of a Corvette by his people's standards, while the Infinity would be considered a Destroyer by those same standards. Walking inside of the MedBay, he looked around to see beds that had a number of injured personnel lying down on them. Some had minor burns, while others had major wounds and burns A few were floating in tanks filled with nanites mixed with stem cells, presumably for those that were more severely injured, as the IsoDidact could see that some in the tanks had lost limbs. Looking around, he quickly spotted Alex, who was lying down on one of the MedBay beds. The Clan 'MechWarrior was currently reading a datapad, and was so engrossed in it that he visibly jumped when he spotted the IsoDidact standing next to him. "Surats", he shouted."Please do not do that. It is hard enough dealing with nearly being killed."

"My apologies," the IsoDidact replied, sitting down in a nearby chair. "I merely wished to learn more about the Star League and your Clan. I can come back if this is a bad time."

"No, no," Alex replied. "It is alright. I just was not expecting a visit from you at this time." Sitting up on his bed, he asked, "So, what do you want to know?"

"A little bit about your people and how you go here. I've heard that you came through what you described as a 'interuniversal wormhole', yes?"

"That is correct. In my universe, we were performing an FTL jump using our version of FTL flight. We use the Kearny-Fuchida Drive where we come from, which uses Hyperspace in order to allow us to travel hundreds, if not thousands, of light years in just a few seconds. We were about to invade the Kerensky Cluster when we encountered what the scientists call a 'Negative Mass Cosmic Loop.' I took the time to learn about Cosmic Strings, so I can tell you that a Cosmic Loop is a Cosmic String that has both ends connected to each other. That formed a wormhole that linked to your reality. When we performed a K-F Jump, we unintentionally jumped into your reality."

"I see. My species used to encounter 'wormholes' on a regular basis. We used them to good effect, but none ever traveled into another universe."

"Well, ours was quite unique. We ended up near Installation 04, which we called Alpha Halo." For a few minutes, Alex regaled the IsoDidact on the SLDF's misadventure, from when they assisted Captain Keyes in rescuing his men, to when they were forced to destroy Alpha Halo to stop the Flood. He also told them about the Covenant, and how the SLDF was able to match the Covenant move for move, preventing them from destroying the Human species.

All the while, the IsoDidact listened quietly, though he did ask questions at parts of Alex's tale. When he finished, he said, "It seems as though your people had an interesting adventure when they came here. Still, it's saddening to see that the Covenant attempted to destroy your kind."

"It is," Alex nodded. "Fortunately, we were able to get rid of their Hierarchs, who started the war when they realized that acknowledging Humanity as the Reclaimers would destroy their power base. I guess power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts. Today, the Covenant's reformed into a neo-feudal society similar to that of the Draconis Combine, and has ensured that religion stays out of politics for good. It's currently led by a Sangheili named Thel 'Vadam. I know him because he fought alongside Chief and myself during the SLDF-UNSC-Covenant War, at least the ending weeks of it when we defeated the Covenant."

"I see," the IsoDidact remarked. "That must be quite the tale." After a moment, he said, "I'm also curious about your Clan. You mentioned that you were a member of Clan Wolverine's Warrior caste. Mind if I learn more?"

"Oh, not at all," Alex replied. "To understand more about the Clans, you have to know more about the Star League before the Amaris Coup. You see, the Star League formed when Ian Cameron ascended to the throne of the Terran Hegemony. When he saw what was going on, since the Inner Sphere was in the Age of War, he realized that we were effectively driving ourselves into extinction. In order to stop the senseless Age of War, he began working on creating a multinational cooperative that would stop senseless and needless fighting, while serving as a mediator in order to resolve disputes peacefully, similar to the United Nations of Ancient Terra. In addition, it would also serve as a unifying force for the Inner Sphere. It took some time, but on July 23rd, 2571, the Star League accords were ratified by the Inner Sphere, with Ian Cameron becoming the First Lord of the Star League."

"I see," the IsoDidact remarked. "So these Great Houses you mentioned earlier came to an agreement."

"Yes. Ian Cameron was called a 'first among equals,' by the House Lords of that time. The SLDF was created as a means of giving the Star League backbone, while serving as a means of ensuring the Great Houses would never again resort to the violence of the Age of War. For five hundred light years in all directions from Terra, the Inner Sphere was, more or less, unified thanks to being a member of a multinational cooperative. The SLDF was very much a first party defense apparatus, with loyalty to Star League above all else. It was a military for the defense of all, and the protection of all."

"I take it that it nearly fell apart, yes?"

"It nearly did, all thanks to the evil and avarice of one man: Stefan Amaris. He was the House Lord of the Rim Worlds Republic, which was a Periphery Power back in the day. He wanted the Star League throne for himself, so he began to poison the mind of the House Lord of the time, the young Richard Cameron, who was just fifteen years old mind you. When the time came, in an act of spite and evil, he killed Richard Cameron and took the throne for himself, setting off the Amaris Coup.

"Unfortunately for him, the SLDF had just the man needed to stop him: General Aleksandr Kerensky. In a years long campaign, he destroyed the Rim Worlds Republic, wrenched control of Terra from Amaris, and executed the foul bastard without a trial. While he had succeeded, the damage had been done. Each of the House Lords, with the exception of John Davion, wanted the Star League Throne for themselves. Unwilling to allow the SLDF to be used in the approaching conflict, Aleksandr Kerensky took the SLDF fleet and left the Inner Sphere forever, in order to deny it's destructive arsenal from the Great Houses."

"That's sad."

"It is. When the SLDF-in-exile finally settled down, it nearly destroyed itself in a microcosm of the Succession War, which was the only war the Inner Sphere had over the Star League Throne, after which it was discovered that House Davion was the rightful successor. In order to stop the SLDF-in-exile from tearing itself to pieces, Aleksandr's son, Nicolas Kerensky, created the Clans, a warrior society with ritualistic systems of honor. That's where my Clan, Clan Wolveirne came from. We were eventually driven into exile by the other Clans because we disagreed with Nicolas' way of doing things."

"I see," the IsoDidact remarked. "That reminds me of myself and the UrDidact. We always disagreed on a number of things, especially when it came to your species."

"Indeed," Alex nodded. "As for our society, it is based on a caste system. To give you an idea, I will quote you passage 67 of the Clan Remembrance, which is an Epic glorifying past deeds and individuals." Clearing his throat, Alex began to speak, with the IsoDidact noting that he sounded like an imperious, but awe-inspiring ruler as he spoke.

"Five, Nicolas proclaimed, was the foundation

"Upon which our true society was to be built. Laborers, to til the land, to do the tasks; They shall have our undying gratitude, For they are the muscle behind us all.

"Merchants, to buy and sell with fairness: they shall have our commerce and respect, For they are the bones upon which we are built.

"Technicians, to build and fix the machines: They shall have our admiration, For they are the fingers with which we grasp life.

"Scientists, to create, to discover: They shall have our awe and attention, For they are the mind of our society.

"And above all, the Warriors who protect: They shall have our cooperation and worship, For they are the blood and soul of us all."

When Alex finished speaking, the IsoDidact noted that he had given him a clear idea of what Clan Wolverine's caste system was like. "Interesting," he remarked. "Similar to our own, but different at the same time."

"Indeed," Alex nodded. "In Clan Wolverine, however, it's more flexible, as each member can climb or descend down the ranks depending on their aptitude for certain things. My ancestor, who created the Wolverine Bloodname, for instance, was part of the Technician Caste, though he climbed into the Warrior Caste when he showed an unusually strong aptitude for it. I, myself, have always been in the Warrior Caste."

"I see," the IsoDidact remarked. "I would like to learn more, but I don't want to hamper your healing as well. Thank you, though, for talking with me. It's proving to be a refreshing experience."

"Anytime," Alex replied as the IsoDidact walked out of the medbay.

. . .

Down in the Armory, Chief was making sure his armor was ready to go for the next fight. Looking at a nearby armor harness, he could see Alex's Battle Armor, which was undergoing major repairs. The blast from the Incinerator Cannon had not only ablated all of the armor on it, it had damaged the Endo Titanium chassis it was built on, necessitating repairs. The chassis had been replaced, along with the Advanced Armor, but the electronics and Myomers were still in good condition, as they underwent regular servicing before being installed onto the new chassis. As for his own armor, it was still in good condition, though some armor plates needed to be replaced, which he had just done as of now.

"I must admit," Cortana, who was at a holo-projector nearby, said to Chief, "I never thought I'd ever see a living, breathing Forerunner. On top of that, he's quite polite and civil with me, even went so far as to send information for me to read. Did you know that the Forerunner's Combat Skins can allow them to live indefinitely."

"No," Chief replied.

"Well, they do," she continued. "On top of that, they can go without sleep while wearing that armor, and it helps them more efficiently regulate their bodily functions, including the more… unpleasant ones. I must admit, if I were a Human, I would not like living in my armor all the time. You'd be fine with it, since you practically do it all the time, but I wouldn't. Still, it does explain why the IsoDidact is as old as he is, while biologically, he's just a day over thirty."

Chief had to admit, that would explain quite a few things about the IsoDidact. "Is there a reason why he's the IsoDidact," he asked out of curiosity.

"Yes," Cortana replied. "The information I got says that the IsoDidact was actually a member of the Builders, which is the highest caste in the Forerunner's society. Apparently, when he was a young upstart, the UrDidact, the one we're fighting, embedded his personality and memories into the IsoDidact, known back then as Born-Sings-Interstellar. As a result, he behaved similarly to the UrDidact, but he wasn't nearly as harsh as he was; in fact, the two disagreed on a lot of things. Over time, however, his original personality and memories began to meld with the imprint the UrDidact imposed onto him, with the two personalities melding to form a new, composite personality. Since then, he's had the positive traits of both his own personality and the UrDidacts, with only a few of the downsides. Still, I think he's hiding a few things."

"What do you mean?"

"When he mentioned the Halo Array, I noticed a shift in his behavior. He seemed a little tense, as though he knows exactly who activated the Halo Array. It's possible he might've activated all the Halo's over 100,000 years ago, but until I get more information, that's just speculation."

When she finished, Chief quickly came to a conclusion on the IsoDidact. While he was an ally, it was clear that the UrDidact had modified his body and memories, possibly to have a successor in the event the UrDidact was killed or infected by the Flood. While that presented some uncertainly, it was clear that the IsoDidact and UrDidact didn't get along, and that the two were antagonistic towards each other. Still, judging from the IsoDidact's behavior, Chief could tell that the former had his emotions under control and likely wouldn't risk compromising the mission for a personal vendetta. "Can we trust him," he asked Cortana.

"Yes," Cortana replied. "In fact, you can ask him that yourself. He's coming in."

Looking to his left, Chief watched as the IsoDidact walked inside, still wearing his Combat Skin. Even in his armor, Chief could tell that there was something about the IsoDidact that seemed kind, as though a part of his original personality had never gone away. "Greetings," he said to Cortana. "I take it that you've found the information I've given you to be satisfying, yes?"

"Yes," Cortana replied. "It answers a lot of questions, such as how long you've lived despite the fact you should be pushing up daisies by now."

The IsoDidact appeared confused at first at the idiom, then he chuckled when he realized what it meant. "It does," he replied, looking down at his armor. "This Combat Skin has allowed me to become biologically immortal. I do not need to sleep when I wear it, I can go long periods of time without eating and drinking while I wear it, and I don't need to stop to tend to my bodily needs while I wear it. I can still die if I am injured severely enough, but as long as I choose my battles carefully, I will, in effect, live forever."

"That reminds me of someone that I know," Cortana replied.

"Oh?"

"Bero 'Kusovai," Cortana explained. "He's a Sangheili that was infected by the Flood a long while ago. However, he managed to regain control of his mind and body, and managed to purge himself of the Flood through sheer willpower."

"Really," the IsoDidact remarked, surprised by what he was hearing. "It was believed that only the ones you call the Lekgolo were immune to infection by the Flood. How did he survive?"

"That's the funny thing, really," Cortana remarked. "According to Bero, a Precursor that had been consumed by the Flood altered his body, giving him biological immortality, telepathy and even the ability to alter his physical appearance by thought alone. When I asked how, he explained that while the Flood had consumed the Precursor's body, it wasn't strong enough to consume it's mind."

"Did this Precursor go by the name 'The Primordial?'"

"Yes," Cortana replied. "Why do you ask?"

"I met him when I was younger," the IsoDidact replied. "I even ordered his death when I learned of what he was doing. According to my friends, he wanted revenge for the death of his mate."

"That's true," Cortana replied. "According to an interview with Bero, this was the case, but the Primordial eventually felt guilty for what he did; he was even going to commit suicide for what he felt was a crime that he committed. When he sensed Bero's mind being consumed, however, he saved him and reconstituted him, giving him some of his powers. He eventually gave Bero his memories and the rest of his powers when the Flood tried to consume the poor Sangheili a second time, even sacrificing himself so that Bero could live. Since then, he's retained those powers, even gave a copy of them to his wife Rhiala. I have reason to believe that the Primordial chose Bero and Rhiala as his successors, as the ones to inherit the Precursor's powers."

"I see," the IsoDidact remarked. "I intend to visit this Bero 'Kusovai when we have the time. Perhaps the Primordial wished to apologize to me before he was consumed."

"Probably," Cortana nodded.

As she did so, the IsoDidact walked over to Chief. In his armor, he was actually taller than Chief, with the Ecumene having to look down in order to meet Chief's gaze. The two men stood like that for some time, with the IsoDidact examining each feature on Chief's face. A moment later, he said, "You were recruited when you were just a boy, yes?"

"Yes," Chief nodded. "How did you know?"

"Your eyes," the IsoDidact replied. "Your eyes hold the sadness and wisdom that comes with fighting a war for survival, as well as the fierce determination to survive. In a way, Master Chief, you remind me of myself. We're quite similar to each other." Stepping back, he said, "While I do not approve of what might've happened to you for this to happen, I do understand why they chose you at such an age." Chief was about to reply when the IsoDidact seemed to hear something that no one else could, then he said, "I must go now. Your Captain requests my presence on the Bridge. Farewell, Master Chief." With that, he stood up and left the Armory.

Once he was out, there was some silence for a minute, then Cortana said, "Wow. I never thought he would be a good conversationalist. That was a surprise."

"Indeed," Chief nodded, even as he got his armor back on. While the IsoDidact's talk was interesting, Chief knew one thing: the stakes were about to get much higher than before.