Chapter 1 - Ascendancy

Author's Notes: I'm starting off the story giving some background on the Halo side of things, the game universes will meet at the beginning of ME2 but I want to lay a lot of groundwork first. Give the reason for the Halo characters being there and how they react to the Mass Effect galaxy (which I will flesh out a bit as well, I want to expand on the "Cycle" that the Reapers complete).

Usual Legal stuff: I don't own Mass Effect or Halo, they belong to those that own them. Legal Stuff, Legal Stuff.

SSC Year 3000: The species of the local arm of the Milky Way were in a state of expectant joy, the newest endeavor would reflect the centuries the Sentient Species Coalition, or SSC, had spent coordinating, exploring, and understanding the galaxy around them. The pride of the six species would go out into the galaxy to begin the new Era. The fleet was ready, the trillions of sentient minds across hundreds of thousands of systems watched, this day was to change the face of the known galaxy. No one knew just how correct they all were.

"The view has always inspired me, helped me remember how far we've come." Admiral Hood thought to himself. The venerable Admiral Hood stood on the viewing deck of his office on the Greater Ark, looking out at the Ark and the fleet that now hung suspended above the ancient marvel.

The Ark Seed Fleet, set to usher in the next era of technological marvels. In a centuries time the mission the fleet will set out to complete will herald the advancement to the Forerunners Tier 1 technology. Once that was the domain of one species, the Forerunners and theirs alone. Now all the species of the SSC would take a step forward together, six separate species acting as one to advance under the authority and guidance of the Mantle of Responsibility.

Admiral Hood was excited and at the same time, reflective. 'Humanities first push out in the stars was hamstrung by our own greed and shortsightedness. Quickly put down once we had our first contact.' thought the Admiral.

'We pulled together, fought, bled, and learned for decades. Making our enemies our friends and later our allies, we've learned so much about the galaxy since then. I think we're ready to carry forward.' His last thought interrupted by a signal chiming quietly for his attention.

"Admiral Hood, your shuttle is ready to take you to the Reclaimed Mantle, Sir." His assistant chimed.

"Thank you, I will be departing immediately." The Admiral had much to do and little time to continue his reflections. It was almost time to see the SSC's fleet launch.

The two individuals standing on the bridge of the fully prepared Reclaimed Mantle surveyed the crew. Between them they had almost nine centuries of experience leading and defending their peoples. Admiral Hood could think of no other that he would rather have standing with him than Thel 'Vadum, the Arbiter of the Sangheili. While not technically the leader of the Sangheili members of the SSC, his input and opinion were greatly valued among not only his own species but the entire SSC Assembly as well.

"Admiral Hood, the fleet stands ready, the slip space drives are primed, and I believe that the entire SSC is watching. Shall we begin our Great Journey?"

Hood couldn't help but notice the humor the Arbiter had in his voice when mentioning the Great Journey. Centuries of being allies allowed old wounds to heal over even if many here had lived through the Human/Covenant war.

"Well Arbiter, I think it is about time we moved to take our place as equals with the Forerunners. I wonder what they would say if they saw an entire coalition of species taking their place."

Next to them a small, round pedestal flickered with a hard light miniature of a woman dressed in an ancient Roman Senatorial robe took shape. "Admiral, Arbiter, the Assembly would like to address you and the public to commemorate this day, once we are done we are to make our way to the future location of the New Ark"

The AI's name was Cornelia, a member of the AI nation that would serve as the fleet AI and later, the monitor of the New Ark. Her and the 32 other AI's that were in the fleet were equally excited to be part of this huge endeavor.

"Very well Cornelia, let's open a channel and make history" The AI complied and suddenly 12 holograms depicting the members of the Assembly appeared against the bridge's view screen.

The Assembly was the ruling body of the SSC that consisted of two members from each interstellar species under the flag of the SSC and made the final call regarding the administration and defense of almost a quarter of a million systems and 14 trillion sentient minds. They took their duty very seriously under the guidance of the Mantle of Responsibility. Originally passed from the Precursors to Humanity then usurped by the Forerunners, it had been decided centuries ago that it should not only be the role of Humanity to carry it forward but would be shared among the six species. Trillions now prospered under the banner and guidance of the SSC. With the Assembly now gathered to address the SSC, the bridge of the Reclaimed Mantle went quiet.

The Human pair began, "Today shall be marked in all histories as the day that not only did Humanity reclaim our legacy, but with us our brothers and compatriots moved us all forward to stand next to the Forerunners as guardians of the Mantle and Heralds of peace and prosperity!"

The Sangheili duo spoke next. "In centuries past our peoples waged wars among ourselves while claiming our right to do so but no longer! We have worked together and through a bond among our species forged in the fire that burned the Forerunners from this galaxy, we emerged stronger and wiser. We move to the next era together - in the name of the MANTLE!" All over the SSC, there were thunderous applause for moments as old hatreds and animosities were remembered and their passing celebrated in the face of what has been accomplished.

The Unggoy now spoke to the galaxy. "We shall move into this new era as equals among each other" squeaked the Unggoy "we shall protect those who have yet to advance among the stars and welcome those who would take to the abyss for their future – the Mantle shall be upheld!" More applause and cheers across the SSC, the bridge of the Reclaimed Mantle held a respectful, although proud, silence at hearing these words.

Next, the AI Nation spoke, the pair of them speaking in unison. "For centuries we worked with those who created us, through wars, strife, and near extinction we held the line with them. We have since stood for centuries more as equals, and proud equals we have been! Given our voice and control of our destiny we have stood with those we came to respect as well as be respected by! We now serve only the Mantle! We stand together within the SSC, FORWARD!"

The AI's, having a unique perspective, were greeted with a thunderous, seconds long celebration from the quarter million AIs they represented. An unprecedented and lengthy celebration for them but a blink of an eye for their fellow species.

As the Kig-Yar pair began the prepared speech, the bridge was suddenly thrown into action. The Unggoy helmsman exclaimed "Fleetmaster! Slip space ruptures have been detected ahead of the fleet!"

The projections of the Assembly flashed their confusion before deactivating, allowing for the bridge view screen to display the hundreds of slip space ruptures appearing before the fleet.

"Who would interrupt this day? Prime all weapons and ready our slip space drives for a jump!" The Arbiter yelled, his commands met with swift and disciplined action across the stations.

"Are those…Covenant ships?! The Loyalists were wiped out weren't they?" Admiral Hood saw the ships exiting the ruptures, hundreds of four century old Covenant ships.

The Arbiter almost respected them for having the audacity to strike at the fleet. A group of the old ships would never match up to the fleet they had in their command. As the last ship exited the ruptures, a brief stand-off happened. Hundreds of ships resplendent in iridescent purple shapes ranging from hundreds of meters long up to a few 27 km super carrier shapes faced off against the Ark Seed Fleet.

The Ark Seed Fleet was ten 54 km long Forerunner-based Battleships, Havoc Class that were designed for the express purpose of waging war in space. The two 144 km long Bastion-Class ships based on the Forerunner's own Fortress-Class ships. The jewel of the SSC however was the ships carrying the Ark Seed, a halo ring 1200 km in diameter, 40 km wide, and 15 km thick, was broken into ten equal sections and attached to the Patriarch-Class Dreadnought, the Reclaimed Mantle. The newest and most advanced ship known, it was 280 km long, 45 km wide at the widest point and 30 km tall.

The sections of the Ark Seed were held five on each side facing each other. The Reclaimed Mantle was powered by the newly reversed-engineered Singularity Core. With the power available to the fleet, no one was worried they would be destroyed, there was more frustration they had been interrupted. However, on this day the decision was made by Admiral Hood to attempt diplomacy. His decision was in no small way effected by the monstrous firepower at their beck and call.

"Comms, attempt to open a channel with that fleet, they haven't made any hostile movements yet, maybe they don't intend to." Admiral Hood waited as the communications were attempted.

Cornelia's avatar turned towards the Admiral and Arbiter. "They're not responding and now have powered up their slip space drives. Hold on…..there's something else, I don't understand what it is but each ship appears to have TWO drives. I'd suggest we get out of here and let the Ark defense group take care of them" A moment passed while the Admiral and Arbiter's eyes met in agreement.

"Very well, jump us out of here" the Arbiter commanded.

What happened next can only be described as chaos, as the Ark Seed Fleet engaged the slip space drives, the Covenant Loyalists launched an attack, each ship jumped INTO the Ark Seed fleet's ruptures, tearing larger, jagged holes into the 11 dimensions of slip space. As the last super carrier dove into the ruptures, the 13 ruptures made by the Ark Seed fleet merged and changed.

"Give me a status report! What the hell is going on?" Admiral Hood yelled, the bridge crew was frantic – reports of strange radiation, particles, and effects were heard going between each crewmember.

Cornelia spoke up to the pair of commanders leading the fleet "We're reading a violently unstable slip space rupture INSIDE the slip space rupture Admiral! I can't make heads or tails of it bu-"

The explanation was interrupted by an event that stunned even the AI. A force that resembled but was not quite gravity latched onto the drives in the Ark Seed Fleet, pulling them in towards the ragged tear in space and time. Sensors, shields, and engines were disabled by a flood of energies never before seen in the universe or the 11 dimensions of slip space.

As the 13 ships were pulled through the tear closed with a pulse of exotic particles which quickly dissolved into coherence within the universe's laws of physics. When all was said and done, 14 trillion stunned minds could only stare at the blank area of space that just moments ago held the most technologically advanced ships, and more importantly 25 million of the best, brightest, bravest, and most celebrated souls that had been sucked into a howling abyss.

On the Greater Ark, the Assembly stood stunned, the two AI's spoke first, having gotten over their shock in seconds. They had scanned the space as the event took place and now, shortly after, history was made. Instead of a bright future ushered in with a shining fleet, a dark day had passed. The day was marked with the five words that echoed across a galaxy –

"They are lost to us."

What came to simply be known as "The Event" was memorialized and mourned throughout the galaxy. The crews lost represented the most inspirational and influential members of each society. The venerable Admiral Hood, Admiral Lasky, the Arbiter – Thel 'Vadum, Humanities greatest hero – Master Chief Spartan 117, and millions more. It was discovered that the Loyalist had lain in wait for centuries waiting for a moment to attack those who would affront their gods by claiming to stand equal to them. The Loyalists weapon that sent the Ark Seed Fleet destroyed their ships but instead of also destroying those they targeted, they sent them somewhere else….Outside the reach of the SSC, their galaxy, indeed their very dimension. Some said they had succeeded in their mission of the great journey but the crews of the Ark Seed Fleet still live and now must face a very…..different journey.