Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo - MechWarrior/BattleTech crossover. Thank you all for your support on the previous chapter. I greatly appreciate it and any feedback that I can get.
I've posted a new crossover that I think you will enjoy. I always wondered what would happened if Escape from Tarkov and Mass Effect were to collide, so I wrote a crossover. It's still very young, and new chapters will be coming, but I think it will be interesting. Since the Escape from Tarkov category doesn't exit, I've had to place it into the standard Mass Effect fanfiction category. If you're interested, go ahead and take a look.
Also, there will be an update for my Halo/Star Wars crossover in the near future. I know, I haven't been consistent with updates, but my interests shift a lot. Nevertheless, I don't plan to abandon that story any time soon. It will be getting an update soon.
Also, don't forget to check out the poll I've got on my profile page. If you've wanted to see a crossover with BattleTech, but haven't had the opportunity to vote on a particular category, then you can do so now. Just head to my profile page, select the poll, and vote for two of the six or so choices that are available. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
Either way, thank you for your support, and I hope to see you in future chapters.
As always, leave a review and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Halo or MechWarrior/BattleTech franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Game Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, FASA Corporation, FASA Interactive, Catalyst Game Labs, Piranha Games Inc., etc. 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.
Threshold
High Charity
9th Age of Reclamation
The Covenant holy city of High Charity was an engineering marvel in every sense of the word, and with good reason. Built after the signing of the Writ of Union, High Charity was meant to be the grandest structure that the Covenant had ever, and would ever, devise. As such, special attention was paid to the entire structure, from the materials chosen to build it, to the architectural style itself.
The end result was a massive, mushroom shaped cluster built around a massive chunk of rock that had been blasted away from Janjur Qom, the San'Shyuum home world, when the Forerunner Dreadnought had been activated. In terms of scale, no UNSC or SLDF construct could compare in size and sophistication to the megastructure that housed millions, if not billions, of people inside. From the outside, it looked elegant, and sturdy.
Inside, it was just as beautiful, with towering spires, elegantly shaped buildings, pathways for pedestrians, and roadways for ground vehicles. The grandest structures of all, though, were near the Hierarch's quarters, in the towers along the outer wall of the inside of High Charity. This was where the High Council Chamber was located at, and it was currently the focus of a military tribunal that was going on.
Inside the High Council Chambers, Thel 'Vadamee was giving his account of what happened during the Battle of Reach, as well as the Battle of Installation 04. He stood in the center of the room, while the three Hierarchs were near the back. On either side, seated in large stadium-like stands, were the High Councilors of the Covenant. Everyone was silent as the Fleet Master gave his account of what had happened during the battle.
"The Battle of the world the Humans called 'Reach' was a colossal failure," Regret, one of the Hierarchs, growled. "Tell me, Fleet Master. Why did your fleet fail to defeat the Humans at their strongest fortress?"
"We were blindsided by a foe that was clever and devious," Thel replied truthfully. "Their ships were as strong as our own, maybe even stronger. They called themselves the 'Star League Defense Force.'"
The room went silent as the Hierarchs and Councilors absorbed this information. To hear of another faction was big news, but one that could match the Covenant in naval battles was even bigger news. "The Star League Defense Force?" Regret parroted.
"Yes," Thel replied. "I submitted the evidence of their existence to the High Council Inquisitors. I will allow it to speak for itself."
"The High Council and Hierarchs will see this evidence, and judge it's veracity," Truth announced. Immediately, the High Council Inquisitors, which were composed of an equal mix of Sangheili and San'Shyuum personnel, used the holographic projectors inside of the High Council Chamber to display the evidence for all to see.
For the next few minutes, the High Councilors watched as the Covenant fleet, during the Battle of Reach, initially had the upper hand. While some of the Human's WarShips had shields, which was concerning, they were being wiped out to the last one. It seemed like a standard engagement.
Then, roughly halfway through the battle, a fleet of 110 WarShips of unknown make appeared out of nowhere, behind Thel's fleet, as well as the combined fleets that had arrived at the same time. These ships were not only larger than what the UNSC had, they were much tougher as well. Gasps came from the High Council when they saw the energy weapons on the SLDF WarShips tearing into the Covenant fleet.
Truth, who was watching the recording with earnest, was intrigued. Interesting, he thought to himself, curling a finger around his goatee. It appears that this SLDF is nearly on the same level of advancement as we are. They have energy shields, and energy based weapons. What interests me, however, is how they were able to get behind the combined fleets without being detected.
Musings aside, he knew that this was part of the trial to determine Thel's fate. It was clear that, despite their best efforts, the Covenant fleet was being overrun. By the time the other Fleet Masters had Thel pursue one of the Human WarShips into Slipspace, the Covenant fleet was practically eradicated, with only some damage to the planet below.
When the recording ended, there was a flurry of questions, all of which fell silent when Truth motioned for them to do so. "Interesting," he remarked. "This 'SLDF' was able to catch your forces off guard. How did they manage to do so?"
"I don't know," Thel replied honestly. "If I had to guess, Noble Hierarch, they must have a form of stealth system that cloaks their thermal and electronic emissions. We were unable to detect them until they were directly on top of us. Before then, none of our sensors and scanners were able to pick anything up. You can see for yourself if you wish to do so."
"Indeed," Truth nodded. "The records the Inquisitors recovered show exactly that. You were being highly vigilant, but you were caught in a pincer that strangled your forces alive. It is good, however, that you inflicted some casualties.
"That leaves us with the most difficult part of this trial. Tell me, Fleet Master, how many ships did the Humans send to Halo?"
"There was only one ship."
"One? Are you certain?"
"Yes. They called it the 'Pillar of Autumn.'"
"Why was it not destroyed, with the rest of their fleet?!" Mercy shouted, his angry words filling the air.
"It fled, even as their fleets engaged our own," Thel explained. "But I followed with all the ships in my command."
At that moment, Regret decided to speak. "When you first saw Halo, were you blinded by it's majesty?"
"Blinded?"
"Paralyzed? Dumbstruck?"
"No."
"Yet, the Humans were able to evade your ships, land on the Sacred Ring, and desecrate it with their filthy footsteps!"
"We were being held back by the Minor Prophet of Stewardship. I ordered that all of the Humans were to be destroyed, and the ring sanctified. The Minor Prophet, however, argued that since Halo had been found, it was now a religious mission, not a military operation. His decision was a clear violation of the Writ of Union. In addition, when the Parasite attacked -"
As soon as Thel said this, the entire chamber erupted into an angry roar of accusations, counter-accusations and angry shouting. "How dare he!" A San'Shyuum High Councilor roared. "You dare accuse one of our own of heresy?!"
"SILENCE!" an angry voice shouted. Everyone fell silent as a female Sangheili High Councilor stood up, her face a mask of barely restrained anger. "Have you any sense of order?! Restrain yourselves!" Turning to Thel, she asked, "Do you have anyone or anything that can corroborate your claim?"
"Yes," Thel replied. "Bero 'Kusovai is my witness in this regard, as are the logs that were recovered from the Ascendant Justice when it was boarded. They will prove the truth of my words."
"Send him in," Truth ordered.
Moments later, the High Council Chamber doors opened to permit a single Sangheili inside of the room. Ever since the deployment at Installation 04, Bero had been convalescing at a facility that combined mental health treatment with an actual hospital. The young Sangheili's body, thanks to the mutations he'd suffered, had regenerated far faster than normal. Within two weeks, his body had fully recovered from the trauma it had suffered.
The same couldn't be said of his mind, however. From what Thel had heard, Bero had suffered extreme bouts of rage and grief during his stay. He attempted to commit suicide three times in a single week, and had attacked anyone that tried to help him during the days when he didn't.
All that had changed when his mother had been permitted to visit. At first, he had attacked her, only for his mother to restrain him for the full duration of his trauma induced rage. Eventually, though, from what Thel had learned, he had broken down into tears, while his mother had given him soothing, comforting words.
He hadn't heard much about Bero after that, but now that the young Sangheili swordsman was here, it was clear that his mother had done the impossible: she had helped Bero's mind heal. He looked perfectly sane, with no madness in his eyes. All Thel could see was a calm acceptance and peace as he walked into the chambers.
His body was also quite healthy as well. According to the doctors at the facility, Bero's mutations were irreversible; he would have to live with them for the rest of his life. Fortunately for him, most of the mutations were beneficial, with the mutations leading to a much stronger musculature, extremely strong bones and what appeared to be secondary organs. His armor had been custom built to account for his horns, as well as his tail, which rippled with muscle.
Once he was inside, Bero smoothly bowed to the Hierarchs. "Noble Hierarchs," he said in his deep, majestic voice. "I have come to corroborate my Fleet Master's testimony. I have also given the Inquisitors the logs that he speaks of."
"I see," Truth nodded. "You have done well for yourself, Bero. None of the faithful, thus far, have shown the strength of will and valor to withstand the Parasite. You have become an icon of our faith and valor against the Parasite. Now, give us your account of the happenings on Halo."
For the next five minutes, Bero gave his account of what had happened on Halo, from the Minor Prophet's constant meddling, to Thel's efforts to get rid of the Humans, while bypassing the Minor Prophet. He spoke in a monotone, emotionless voice, allowing the facts he presented to speak for themselves. As he spoke, the Sangheili High Councilors listened with rapt attention, while their San'Shyuum counterparts seemed to become more enraged as time went on.
Finally, the logs were shown, detailing the Minor Prophet's actions, as well as said Minor Prophet's journal of what happened. That proved to be the last straw, as a San'Shyuum High Councilor screamed, "HERESY! HERESY!"
"Restrain yourself," a Sangheili High Councilor chided the belligerent San'Shyuum.
"I WILL NOT!" the San'Shyuum High Councilor screamed. "THIS IS ALL A FABRICATION! I -" Before he could finish, Mercy made a motion, with two Sangheili Honor Guards walking to the seat in question. Before anyone could react, they hoisted the belligerent High Councilor up, and whisked him out of the room.
"My apologies, Bero," Mercy said to the younger Sangheili. "Not all of us have learned restraint and caution."
"You need not apologize, Noble Hierarch. You were not the one screaming heresy at me."
"I see," Truth nodded. "The logs and your testimony, Bero, corroborate the Fleet Master's account." Clearing his throat, he said, "You were right to focus your attention on the Flood, but this Demon, this 'Master Chief'…"
"By the time I learned of its intent," Thel replied, "there was little I could do." Walking towards the Hierarchs, he fell onto his knees and said, "Noble Hierarchs, it brings grief to my hearts to know that I failed. All that I ask is for forgiveness for what happened, as well as a chance to exact my revenge against those that stopped me from completing my holy duty. My life is in your hands." He bowed his head a moment later, ready to bear the final verdict with honor and dignity.
As he did so, Regret whispered to Truth, "It appears as though the evidence supports Thel's accusations. The fact that he's willing to humble himself before us shows that he is likely innocent of the charges before him. He was not fully responsible for the destruction of Halo. The Minor Prophet of Stewardship was. I say we listen to the evidence and make our verdict based on it."
Truth had to admit, Regret had a very good point, and it made sense now that he knew what he knew. Thel may have failed to prevent Halo's destruction, he thought, but that was only due to the Minor Prophet of Stewardship's meddling in his mission. He is also right to claim that the Writ of Union, our most sacred law, was violated.
Normally, he was partial to the San'Shyuum, but Truth knew that, in this case, the law was very clear. The Minor Prophet of Stewardship had made an egregious error, one that could not go unpunished. While Thel had failed on his mission to stop Halo's destruction, it was mostly not his fault. It is time to come to a decision.
Clearing his throat, Truth made his choice. "All those in favor of pardoning Thel 'Vadamee of the charge of heresy and gross misconduct, show your right hand please." Surprisingly, a large number of hands on either side of the High Council Chamber went up. "And those against?" Some hands came up, but they were much fewer in number.
Finally, that left Truth to make the final decision, given that he, and the other Hierarchs, were the supreme leaders of the Covenant. In this case, the evidence had spoken for itself. Clearing his throat, he said, "Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee, in light of the evidence presented to the High Council, you are pronounced innocent of the charge of heresy. However, you have been found partially guilty of preventing Halo's destruction.
"As of now, Supreme Commander, you are stripped of the title of Fleet Master. Due to your valorous, if failed, attempts to save Halo, you will be allowed to remain a Zealot. Should you wish to command another fleet, you will have to show to your peers that you have learned from your mistakes."
Turning to Bero, he said, "Bero 'Kusovai, none could have predicted the dire circumstances that you found yourself in onboard the Infinite Succor. By resisting the Parasite and assisting Commander R'tas 'Vadumee in his mission, despite your injuries, you have shown the strength of your resolve and faith. As such, you will be given the rank of Zealot. May your actions bring honor, glory, and salvation to the Covenant."
Then, he delivered his final verdict, and it was a damning one to the guilty party. "As for the Minor Prophet of Stewardship, he has been found guilty of the charges of heresy and obstruction of the Fleet Master's holy duty to protect Halo. He will be stripped of his rank and accomplishments, and he will be brought in for his just punishment later today. Soon, the Great Journey shall begin, but when it comes, his heresy will stay his feet, and he will be left behind. This meeting of the High Council is adjourned."
With that, the gathered High Councilors began to leave, while Thel and Bero left the Chamber entirely. Once they did, Thel sat down on a nearby chair, or rather slumped into it. Both his hands came over his eyes slowly as he processed the verdict that he head heard. "Are you alright?" Bero asked as he sat down next to Thel. "By all accounts, you should be relieved that you were found innocent of the grievous charge of heresy."
"I am glad," Thel replied, "of being relieved of that charge. What brings me grief is that I failed in my duties. It is a black stain on my soul, one that I might not ever be able to wash away completely."
"I know," Bero replied, wrapping an arm around Thel's shoulders. "Still, it pains me to see you in this state. If you need support or someone to talk to, I will be here."
"Yes," Thel nodded. There were a few moments of silence, then he said, "Thank you, Bero, for being my friend in all of this. Mind if you stay with me a while?"
"Not at all."
. . .
In another part of the galaxy entirely, there was a different sort of gathering going along. Looking outside of the window, Chief could see the WarShips of both the SLDF and UNSC smoothly gliding through space, their engines glowing blue-white as they traveled through the void of space. Below that, he could see the verdant green and blue paradise that was Earth.
Two months, he thought. It's been two months since the destruction of Halo, as well as the destruction of the Unyielding Heirophant. Everyone's been busy preparing for the big one. I just hope we've prepared enough.
His train of thought was derailed, though, when the Master Gunnery Sergeant, a man by the nickname of 'Guns', began speaking. "I'm sorry, Chief," he informed the Spartan-II, "but your armor reached the end of it's life. The armor plating was about to fail, and there's viscosity throughout the gel layer."
Picking up some fried components, he said, "Optics - totally fried. And let's not forget about the power supply. You know how expensive this gear is, son?"
In response, Chief picked up the new helmet in his hands. The Mk. VI MJOLNIR Powered Armor suit was part of a second collaboration between the SLDF and UNSC. While MJOLNIR Powered Armor was good, it wasn't as advanced in many areas as the SLDF's Nighhawk-L Powered Armor. Most of this was due to it's more advanced armor plating, use of myomers and advanced power supply.
That was where the Mk. VI came in. UNSC and SLDF techs, working together, had created a superior suit of armor. The Mk. VI was lighter than the Mk. V, while being stronger and tougher than before. In addition, it used a proprietary power supply based on the XL Fusion Engines that the SLDF made ubiquitous use of in their Combat Vehicles and BattleMechs.
Either way, it was simply better than the Mk. V in all categories. Taking a moment, Chief glanced at the helmet, before he promptly put it on. Turning to Guns, he said, "Tell that to the Covenant."
"Well," Guns admitted, "I guess it was all obsolete, anyway. Your suit's the new Mk. VI. Just came up from Seongnam, and the new SLDF tech labs, this morning. Try and take it easy 'till you get used to the upgrades. Now, we're going to go through some tests and diagnostics to make sure it's working properly."
For the next five minutes, they ran the suit through a series of tests, from making sure it's targeting systems were calibrated, to the energy shielding on the armor. At the last test, Guns beamed as the energy shield fully recharged. "Bingo! As you can see, they recharge a lot faster! If your shields go down, find some cover, and wait for them to recharge. If that's not possible, the 'Advanced Armor' the SLDF provided should keep you safe until it fully ablates, or you find cover."
"Well that, or he can hide behind me," a familiar voice spoke up. Looking to the left, Chief spotted Johnson coming out of the cargo lift behind them. Instead of his usual Battle Dress Uniform, he was wearing his dress uniform. "You done with my boy, Guns?" Johnson asked the Master Gunnery Sergeant. "I don't see any training wheels."
"His armor's working just fine, Johnson, so just shut your chili hole," Guns replied. Turning to Chief, he said, "You're free to go, son. Just remember, take things slow."
"Don't worry," Johnson beamed. "I'll hold his hand." Turning to Chief, he said, "We're expected on the bridge."
"Understood." With that, both Johnson and Chief boarded the elevator.
"So," Guns asked Johnson, "when you gonna tell me what the big hubub back at Reach was all about?"
"Sorry, Guns. That's classified."
"Classified? My ASS! Well, you can forget the adjustments I made to your H2 scope -" Anything else that Guns said went unheard, as the doors closed and the elevator moved up, with the sound of it's ascent blocking out any noise.
"Well," Johnson remarked, "he's in a particularly fine mood. Maybe Lord Hood didn't offer him an invitation." With that, they reached their destination: an open tram car that was at the top of the shaft.
It was here that Chief could get a good idea of the defenses that Earth had. Looking around, he could see multiple ODP's in orbit around Earth, far more than had been present at Reach. Down below, as he entered the tram, he could see the crew of the ODP Cairo going about their daily business.
"Earth," Johnson smiled, "haven't seen it in years. When I shipped out for basic, the Orbital Defense Grid was all theory and politics. Now look! The Cairo is just one of three hundred geosynchronous platforms. That MAC can cut clean through a Covenant Carrier. It was so good the SLDF even lent in a few upgrades."
Chief nodded in agreement. Already, he could see a work crew finishing the installation of what looked like Lamellor Ferro-Carbide plating onto a section of the station's hull. In addition, he could see what looked like large, Naval grade Gauss, Laser and Missile batteries on the hull. As the tram moved on, he could see ships moving past the station on their patrol routes.
"With fire support from the Athens and Malta, nothing's getting past this battle cluster in one piece!" Johnson proudly crowed. As they reached the end of their destination, he said, "Ships have been coming in all morning. Nobody's saying much, but I'm betting something big's about to happen." With that, they reached their destination.
As soon as they stepped out, their eyes and ears were assaulted by a flood of noise and flashing lights, as the Marines there cheered them on. Looking around, Chief could see what looked like UNSC Drone cameras, which were large compared to their much smaller SLDF counterparts. "You told me there wouldn't be any cameras," he said to Johnson.
"And you said you were gonna wear something nice," Johnson retorted. "Folks need heroes, Chief. To give 'em hope. So smile, would ya? While we still got something to smile about!" With that, they entered the bridge, with the blast doors opening.
Advancing inside, they found themselves inside of a large room. It was clear it was the bridge of the Cairo. Computer consoles, battle control stations and other things were present, as well as a large viewport that showed the exterior for all to see. Dozens of naval officers were on either side, cheering them on as they walked upwards.
Looking up ahead, Chief could see two people. The first was Admiral Chenrenko, the man in charge of the SLDF fleet that was currently present. The other was Admiral Lord Terrence Hood, one of the most influential and powerful people in the UNSC. The man was a living legend, almost on the same level as Admiral Cole was. He'd seen Humanity through the worst battles of the war, earning him the reputation that he had.
As they approached, Chief noticed that Captain Keyes was present. Both men nodded at each other in greeting. With that, Chief reached the two Admirals.
"Gentlemen, we're lucky to have you back," Hood greeted them, As he did so, an officer came up to him and whispered in his ear. "Cortana?"
"Another whisper near Io," Cortana reported, her avatar appearing over a holoprojector. "We have probes en route."
"I apologize, but we're going to have to make this quick."
Spotting Chief, Cortana said, "You look nice."
"Thank you," Chief and Johnson replied simultaneously, prompting the two to look at each other before resuming their focus on the two Admirals.
With events in mind, Hood pulled a medal from a red clothed case. "Sergeant Major," Hood announced, "the Colonial Cross is awarded for acts of singular daring and devotion, for a soldier of the United Nations Space Command. Your actions have been in the highest keeping of military tradition. Congratulations."
"Thank you, sir," Johnson replied, snapping a salute.
Chernenko stepped in a moment later, a medal in his hand. It looked like the symbol of the Star League, only it was bright silver in color and was bordered by a blue circle that held the letters S,L,D and F. A black and white ribbon was attached to the bottom.
"Sergeant," Chernenko announced, "the Star League Medal of Valor is awarded for acts of gallantry and professionalism in the face of enemy forces. While you are not a member of the SLDF, your actions have been in the highest keeping of Star League military tradition. As such, I award this medal to you for your gallantry, valor and professionalism. Congratulations."
There was clapping as the Sergeant saluted Chernenko before stepping back. That meant that Chief was now the focus of the awards. Pulling another Star League Medal of Valor out, as well as a medal shaped like the Star League symbol, only four of the inner points were made of emerald, while the four outer points were made of gold and silver respectively. Four of the other inner points seemed to be made of bronze as well.
Clearing his throat, Chernenko said, "Master Chief, few, if any, could've carried out the heroic acts of valor and courage that you did during the Battle of Halo. On Halo, as a man of history once put it for an island on ancient Terra, 'Uncommon valor was a common virtue.' Your actions have not only halted the Covenant advance, they have saved Humanity from extinction, and will continue to do so, so long as you stand.
"As such, Master Chief Petty Officer Sierra-117, I present to you these two medals. The first, the Star League Medal of Valor, is awarded to those showing gallantry and professionalism in the face of overwhelming enemy odds. Finally, I award to you the highest honor that any one in our coalition can achieve.
"The Star League Medal of Honor is awarded to those that have shown extreme courage in combat or, if civilian, extraordinary individual acts. The courage and valor that you displayed at the Battle of Halo is clear evidence of the courage, honor and valor that you exemplify for all of Humanity to see. Congratulations, Master Chief. You have earned this honor."
At that, the room exploded into applause, with everyone inside whooping and cheering as Chernenko handed Chief the Star League Medal of Valor and Medal of Honor. Cortana, who was also monitoring the COM's, could hear cheering from the SLDF and UNSC WarShips and ODP's as they showed their deep appreciation and praise for Chief's actions.
"Thank you, sir," Chief replied, before receiving similar awards from Admiral Hood.
That left Jacob Keyes to receive his awards. Once he had saluted, Admiral Hood said, "Jacob Keyes, your actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. Your bravery in the face of impossible odds reflects great credit, on yourself, and the UNSC. As such, you have earned not only the Colonial Cross, but a promotion as well. Congratulations, Vice Admiral Jacob Keyes."
There was another explosion of applause and cheering as Keyes received his award with dignity. At the same time, the rank insignia that he wore as a Captain were gently removed by two naval officers, and replaced with those of a Vice Admiral. Bowing, Keyes said, "Thank you, sir."
As soon as he said this, alarms began to blare inside of the Cairo's bridge. "Slipspace ruptures directly off our battle cluster," Cortana reported.
"Show me," Hood ordered.
"Fifteen Covenant capital ships holding position just outside the kill zone." Moments later, a holographic projection of Earth, the ODP kill zone, and the Covenant WarShips in question appeared.
Moments later, one of the UNSC WarShip clusters began to move towards the Covenant WarShips. "This is Fleet Admiral Harper. We're engaging the enemy!" a man's voice reported.
"Negative, Admiral," Hood countermanded. "Form a defensive perimeter around the cluster." Turning to Keyes, he said, "Keyes, I need you to work with the other Fleet Admirals to keep the ODP's safe."
"Naval Fleet Delta, form defensive perimeters around the ODP's," Chernenko ordered. Turning to Hood, he said, "The Covenant will likely attempt to disable the ODP's in order to create a hole in our defenses. If I was their Admiral, that's what I'd do."
"Agreed," Hood nodded. Keying the COM again, he said, "All UNSC WarShip Clusters, form defensive perimeters around the ODP's. Keep the Covenant from boarding them." Turning to Cortana, he said, "You have the MAC gun, Cortana. As soon as they are in range, open up on them."
"Aye, sir," Cortana replied.
As they observed the fleet, Hood said, "Something's not right. The fleet that attempted to destroy Reach was fifty times this size."
"I agree," Chernenko nodded. "This looks more like a scouting fleet than anything."
"Admiral," a bridge officer shouted. "Additional contacts! Boarding craft, and a lot of them!"
"Just like you predicted," Hood said to Chernenko. "They're going to try to knock out our defenses, give the ships a straight shot at Earth." Turning to Chief, he said, "Chief, defend this station!"
"Yes, sir," Chief nodded. Turning to Johnson, he said, "I need a weapon."
"Right this way, sir," Johnson replied. As they left, WarShips from both the SLDF fleet and the UNSC fleets moved into position. The Battle of Earth had just begun.