Review and Stuff
Important Note: I screwed up when calculating distance, instead of converting Kiloparsec to Lightyears I converted Parsec to Lightyears, so UNSC Travel time is significantly shorter then what it normally would be. So, somehow along the way the UNSC Ships in this Fanfic picked up some Forerunner Slipspace Drives. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Call to arms 1234 – I reckon an Orion-Class Assault Carrier should be able to take on a Reaper considering it has two MACs, the problem will be when it gets swarmed. The UNSC differently has time to rebuild but they have to establish their Shipyards first. Appearing and disappearing is definitely a tactic they will be using and not only against the Reapers. Cheers for the compliment.
snipervtk4 – The UNSC and XCOM will definitely be mixing their tech, the problem with XCOM tech though is they won't have the materials to do so, because they got it from the Ethereals. I an not sure what you mean by 'how come you call this mixed forced?' but I am assuming what your question is what will I be called the combined UNSC and XCOM force, that will be UNSC-XCOM. I don't want to spoil to much because it is explained in this chapter (mostly) but yes AI will be controlling most 'civilian' parts of the UNSC. Cheers for the follow mate.
Azai Jin – Over time they will be turning Epsilon Eridani into the Epsilon Eridani they know and love (before it got hit by the Covenant), the UNSC and XCOM will be combining tech but they have to get around a few hurdles with XCOM tech first. They will be incorporating tech from all three universes, hopefully I don't screw it up.
Crazzytony – XCOM tech has a few hurdles they need to get over and the UNSC doesn't have the infrastructure to produce XCOM weapons and armor. I completely agree XCOM is one of the most powerful Sci-fi factions out there and while the UNSC outclasses the Systems Alliance they are small in number, so in a straight up fight they will get swarmed and killed. I'm not sure who the GDI are sorry.
Knighthunter911700 – The UNSC will most likely become a superpower but it will be a slow build up. The Citadel Council will get suspicious and start their own investigations and the Alliance will do it's best to keep it a secret. Cheers for the compliment.
edboy4926 – Cheers for the compliment mate. Sara Ryder is already mixed up with them if she likes it or not, the UNSC and XCOM will be entering a formal alliance with each other soon, thinking of calling it UNSC-XCOM. Going to be honest I completely forgot Ellen Ryder existed (my bad) but will XCOMs know how they should be able to do something. SAM is most likely going to be influenced by the UNSC.
MarauderPrime12 – Cheers mate.
Location: Slipspace on route to Epsilon Eridani System – UNSC Fearless XCOM Barracks
Date: September 7th, 2552
Time: 0300hrs Military Standard Time
Throughout the night Theodore and Zofia were taken on a tour of the Fearless and shown UNSC Equipment and in return they gave several members of the UNSC a rundown and demo of their equipment and weapons. Theodore also went through a more in-depth study of the Codex; Nicole got a new left arm and Ela has regained consciousness, but she still bed ridden and unable to talk.
Now Warlock stands outside the door to what has been designated as the XCOM Barracks, all XCOM Personal and their weapons and equipment lay within, including one sleeping Squaddie Nicole Arrow who is about to start her training to become an XCOM Operative. In his hand is a UNSC Flashbang, he opens the bulkhead door slightly activates the flashbang and tosses it in before shutting it.
Moments after the flashbang goes off Theodore pulls the bulkhead door open and rushes in over to the one occupied bed with a dazed and confused Nicole Arrow.
"On your feet Squaddie and stand at attention!" Theodore shouts at the front of her bunk.
Nicole jumps off her bunk and stands at attention.
"What are you Squaddie!?" Theodore asks shouting in her face.
When she stutters to answer Theodore shouts. "XCOM! That's what you are!"
"Yes sir!" Nicole shouts back. "I'm XCOM sir!"
"Good! Morning Run ten klicks move!" Theodore orders and Nicole runs out the door followed by Warlock.
Whatever amount of tiredness or sluggishness that is left in Nicole after her shock wakeup call is quickly taken out of her as she runs and is shouted at by Field Commander Harrison. Whenever she collapses to the ground Warlock grabs her and hauls her back up onto her feet and yells at her to keep running because one day her life will depend on it. The run takes several hours to complete as they go around the ship multiple times, the few they pass in the early morning is quick to get out of their way. During one leg of the run, they pass through the Cryo Bays, many of which are filled with people that didn't need to be awake during the eight-day Slipspace journey.
Theodore finishes the ten-kilometre run by taking Nicole to one of the many gyms onboard the Fearless.
"Move! Move! Quit slacking Squaddie!" Warlock shouts as they enter the gym. "Halt!" He orders.
Nicole stops and collapses against the ropes of a Boxing Ring covered in sweat, breathing heavily trying to catch her breath, her legs feel like they are on fire from the long run. She'd never run like that in her life.
A bottle of water is dropped in her lap. "Drink up Squaddie." Theodore orders. "Slowly."
She struggles to uncap the bottle as her hands won't stop shaking she starts drinking fast before Warlock orders her to drink slowly again, slowly she drinks the whole bottle.
After giving her a minute to rest Theodore orders her to get on her feet and stand at attention in front of the Boxing Ring.
"Are you angry?" Theodore asks standing in front of her.
"Yes sir." Nicole replies.
"At who?"
"Batarians sir."
"Why?"
"Th.. th…" Nicole stutters and is cut off.
"Why Squaddie?" Theodore demands.
"Because they killed my family and friends sir." Nicole replies angrily.
"Cool it Squaddie." Theodore orders, after about thirty-seconds Nicole unclutches her fists. "I am one of the few still alive from before the First War, I have been fighting X-Rays my entire adult life, I have seen my people taken to the brink of extinction, my world destroyed in nuclear hell fire, I have seen billions die at the X-Ray's hands. Man and women, hurting as much as you, in pain as much as you, angry as much as you and wanting vengeance as much as you. They died, their suffering for nothing, their vengeance unfulfilled, their duty unfulfilled, you will feel this pain for the rest of your like, control it, use it, fulfill your vengeance and your duty to protect humanity. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." Nicole replies reinvigorated.
For the next four hours Warlock put Nicole through the grinder after which she runs another five kilometres finishing in the XCOM Barracks, she eats her breakfast and face plants on her bunk passing out from pure exhaustion.
Location: Intai'sei Orbit – SSV Tokyo – Fifth Fleet Flagship Group
Date: June 27th, 2180
Time: 2000hrs Local Time
Captain David Anderson is currently in a conference call with Admiral Steven Hackett and Staff Commander Moses Matkins the Fifth Fleet liaison to Alliance Office of Naval Intelligence.
"Do you understand the kind of ramifications the Alliance could face if anybody gets wind of this?" Moses asks Steven.
"There not Alliance." David states annoyed at the Intelligence Operative.
"No there not but they are human, and they have plasma-based weapons and a human head on a mech, whether we say their Alliance or not the Council and every other Council Species will look at the Alliance with suspicion and distrust." Moses retorts angrily.
The two Alliance Officers consider this for a moment.
"He may be right and with the Alliance pushing for more a bigger voice and more power with the Council they could use this against us. David the Tokyo is being assigned to investigate these XCOM and UNSC Factions, find them." Steven orders.
"Yes sir." David replies.
With that the conference call comes to an end and he sits at his desk reviewing all the gather intel, again.
Over the next seven and a half days Captain Anderson and Staff Commander Matkins do an in-depth investigate of the Intai'sei Raid, in orbit near the destroyed Batarian Ships they find fragments of some kind of Titanium Plating which they think came from the UNSC Ship. During the third day of the investigate they learn that one of the Intai'sei Militiaman heard a UNSC Marine refer to their ship as the UNSC Fearless. Near the edge of the system they find a small debris field of Titanium, they believe it was some kind of drone. He also learns that the nine year old girl they took is Nicole Arrow and by the people that saw her go with XCOM claim she wanted to go.
Onboard the UNSC Fearless while most of the crew sleeps in Cryo the Command Crew and XCOM learn everything they can from the Codex they took. The Command Crew with the help of Agiad also formulate a plan for when they reach the Epsilon Eridani System, starting with Firebase deployment to Reach and Cargo Haulers and Resource Gathers deployment to one of the asteroid belts. The journey for Squaddie Arrow is slightly different, the first four days consists of morning and afternoon PT and during the middle of the day she is taught the history of the XCOM, during the next three days instead of studying the history of XCOM she is trained in use of UNSC Standard Issue Firearms.
Location: Slipspace on route to Epsilon Eridani System – UNSC Fearless Bridge
Date: September 13th, 2552
Time: 1255hrs Military Standard Time
Warlock looks around the Bridge from his position at the Holo-Table, all the stations have been manned but everybody is tense and anticipating a battle which is putting him on edge.
"Commander, all decks report battle ready." Agiad reports from his spot on the Holo-Table.
"Understood, Lieutenant Commander Wood and Lieutenant Hall when we exit Slipspace do not wait for my order, launch CAP and bring Weapons Systems online." Miranda orders from her Command Chair.
"Yes ma'am." They both reply.
Five minutes later and Lieutenant Junior Grade Eleanor Miller speak up. "Commander we're exiting Slipspace now."
At where Epsilon Eridani's superior IJP should be, a Slipspace Rupture is formed, and the Orion-Class Assault Carrier comes through. As soon as the Rupture closes F-41 Broadswords, F-99 Wombats, GA-TL1 Longswords, a single FSS-1000 Sabre and a single Morsam-Pattern Seraph launch from the ships many Hanger Bays quickly establishing a Combat Air Patrol around the UNSC Fearless.
"Commander, we have exited Slipspace three hundred thousand kilometres from intended destination." Lieutenant Miller says from the Helm Station.
"RADAR and Sensors have not detected any UNSC or Covenant yet commander." Lieutenant Junior Grade Alex Watson reports from his Sensor Station.
The Holo-Table changes to show a map of the Epsilon Eridani System and the UNSC Fearless just outside the system.
"Maintain CAP and weapons readiness, Lieutenant Miller set course for Reach." Miranda orders.
"Course set commander, ETA to Reach five hours." Lieutenant Miller replies.
Location: Epsilon Eridani System – UNSC Shooting Star Bridge
Date: September 13th, 2552
Time: 1255hrs Military Standard Time
The four remaining Gladius-Class Heavy Corvettes of UNSC NAVSPECWAR Strike Group WOLF PACK arrived in system two days ago and they immediately noticed the complete lack of a UEG and UNSC presence, it wasn't that they were destroyed as that would have left a lot of evidence, it is just they there is nothing in this system.
That was until they detected a Slipspace Rupture at Epsilon Eridani's superior IJP, all four ships immediately activated their Stealth Systems making it extremely difficult to detect them even on dedicated RADAR/LIDAR and Sensor Systems. While their Stealth Systems are activate they will only be communication with each other via short burst morse code.
"Samuel, send a burst to the others to maintain formation, we are going to investigate and find out who just entered this system." Rear Admiral Benjamin Murphy orders.
"On it Ben." Samuel replies from the Sensor/Communications Station behind the CO's Chair.
Do to the Zero-G environment of the Gladius-Class Heavy Corvettes, the slightest movements can be detected which is why during combat manoeuvres most personal are strapped in the chairs. Ben feels the little amount of gravity the acceleration courses pushing him into his chair, not enough to impede him in anyway but enough to know it is happening.
"Ben we got a contact on LIDAR and Passive RADAR." Sam reports.
Without having to give the order, Aurora the Shipboard Smart AI sends the information to Ben's Neural Lace and at the same time bring it up on the small Holo-Table in the Holo-Room directly behind the small bridge so the ships XO Lieutenant Commander Ayla Noble can make plans to engage the possible threat or advise the admiral to withdraw.
Information starts to scrawl down Ben's eyes and what he reads puts a slight smile on his face, the UNSC Fearless captained by Captain Greg Sharp an old friend of Ben's and former WOLF PACK member.
"Samuel give 'em a ping, let 'em know we're here." Ben orders.
Location: Epsilon Eridani System – UNSC Fearless Bridge
Date: September 13th, 2552
Time: 1305hrs Military Standard Time
As everybody in the Bridge starts to relax Theodore approaches Commander Keyes.
"Commander, when you have some time there is something I need to tell you." Theodore says.
"We got five hours how about…" Miranda is cut off.
"Commander! We've been pinged, someone's out there!" Koby reports from his station slightly panicked.
"Is it UNSC or Covenant?" Miranda asks.
"Unknown." Koby replies.
"Commander, multiple UNSC IFFs on Sensors, four ships coming out of stealth all Gladius-Class Heavy Corvettes." Alex reports from his Sensors Station.
"Ma'am, they are requesting to speak with the Captain Sharp." Koby reports.
Miranda motions for him to put them through, on a screen above Lieutenant Evans the extremely cramped bridge of a Gladius-Class Heavy Corvette appears.
"Sharp, you didn't use to be this pretty." A man with rear admiral stripes jokes.
"I'm Commander Miranda Keyes, acting Commanding Officer of the UNSC Fearless." Miranda deadpans.
The admiral's smirk quickly goes away, and he looks Miranda in the eyes. "What happen?" He says dreading the answer.
"He died, after Reach fell and his family was killed, he committed suicide. I sorry sir." Miranda replies hating having to tell a friend of the former captain that.
"I see.." His voice breaks and he coughs into his hand. "Um, fuck." He mumbles to himself.
About ten seconds pass before he recomposes himself and speaks. "I am Rear Admiral Benjamin Murphy, Commanding Officer of the Wolf Pack and the UNSC Shooting Star. Requesting permission to come aboard." Ben says.
"Permission granted sir; do you need a Pelican to pick you up?" Miranda asks.
"No commander, we have our own, appreciate the offer though." Ben replies and the channel closes, leaving the UNSC Logo on the screen.
"Well at least I'm not making the big decisions anymore." Miranda comments to herself.
"The guy's name is Murphy." Theodore comments and Miranda closes her eyes and whispers fuck.
Location: Epsilon Eridani System – UNSC Fearless Pelican Bay One
Date: September 13th, 2552
Time: 1315hrs Military Standard Time
The Pelican from the Shooting Star rests on the ramp as it ascends from the launch tube, when the ramp stops the Pelican faces away from the assemble personal and the ramp lowers. Four people rushes out of the Pelican and do a quick scan of the bay for any threats. The lead is a SPARTAN with the number 023 on their chest, the other three are in bulky ODST Armor with the numbers, 018, 081 and 103.
"Clear." 103 says into his radio.
The door separating the cockpit and the Troop Compartment that is filled with ONI Gear to turn it into a Stealth Pelican is opened and the rear admiral descends the ramp.
"Admiral on deck!" Commander Keyes shouts.
The thirty odd officers salute and Ben returns it.
"At ease." Ben orders as he approaches Commander Keyes.
"Rear Admiral Murphy welcome aboard the UNSC Fearless." Miranda says.
"Thank you Captain." Ben replies.
"Uh, sir, it's commander." Miranda states slightly confused.
"Commanders can't command Line Warships, unless in the past two and a half years we have been out of contact with the UNSC there ships have gotten so big that an assault carrier is now a small warship." Ben jokes.
"No sir they haven't, thank you sir." Captain Miranda Keyes replies.
"So, care to share what happen to the UNSC in this system captain?" Ben asks.
"Well in our galaxy, universe whatever you want to call it, we got our asses kicked and the Covenant took the system and in this galaxy and/or universe the UNSC doesn't exist." Miranda says.
"Right." Ben replies confused. "Did I just make a crackhead a captain of an assault carrier?"
"That was just the tip of the asteroid sir." Miranda comments injuring the admiral's own.
"Last week was so much simpler." Ben says to himself.
"Weren't we playing cat and mouse with a CSO-Class Supercarrier last week?" 018 asks.
"Yeah, I'd take that over different galaxies and universes any day of the week." Ben replies. "Well captain, send a briefing packet to the Shooting Star for Aurora to go over and in the meantime gives me a short brief."
"There's more sir. First we have two Covenant defectors onboard and the second thing is we have members of XCOM onboard, that is more complicated." Miranda says.
"Different galaxies and universes complicated?" Ben asks.
"Yes sir." Miranda replies.
"Well then, we better get to it. The Wolf Pack will establish an escort formation around the Fearless and I want to meet these defectors." Ben says.
"Understood sir, if you will follow me to the bridge." Miranda says.
Location: Epsilon Eridani System – UNSC Fearless Bridge
Date: September 13th, 2552
Time: 1325hrs Military Standard Time
In the Bridge Rear Admiral Murphy is looking over Field Commander Harrison, a recently released but still unable to talk Master Sergeant Foster, Gunnery Sergeant Molska and Squaddie Nicole Arrow of XCOM and Major 'Watum and Minor Yapper formerly of the Covenant.
When he stops in front of Tezo Ben can't suppress his smile at seeing him. "Tezo my friend, welcome to the losing side." Ben jokes.
"Ha!" Tezo laughs and embraces the admiral. "Nishum it is good to see you again." He lets go and bows his head. "I am sorry about Captain Sharp, he saved my life, I only wish I got the chance to repay him." He says in sadness.
"You did more than you know Tezo, he is a loss to both of us and we shall honour him by continuing the fight." Ben replies with conviction.
"You have my blade Nishum." Tezo declares.
"Thank you my friend." Ben says.
"And you are?" Ben says standing in front of the Grunt.
"I'm Minor Yapper, I fight for Major 'Watum, he fights for you, so I fight for you." Yapper declares.
Ben nods to himself before looking over at the four XCOM Personal and walking over to them.
"Field Commander Theodore Harrison, my callsign is Warlock and I'm the second in command of the Extra-terrestrial Combat Unit." He says offering his hand which Ben shakes.
"Captain Keyes said on the way up that you are from a different Earth, if I may ask what it is like?" Ben asks.
"A radioactive nuclear hellhole sir." Theodore replies nonchalantly.
Ben takes several seconds to contemplate what he just said. "Oh, what happened?" Ben asks carefully.
"Earth was invaded by aliens when we could barely reach our moon, XCOM was activated and fought back, we lost the First War, won the Second and at the start of the Third we nuked the surface of Earth when the Ethereals landed their ground troops, we also one the Third." Theodore replies any sadness, regret and rage long ago lost or suppressed.
"I um, know what it is like to lose your Homeworld, I'm sorry." Ben says honestly.
"What happen to yours?" Theodore asks.
"It's called Jericho VII, it's in the Lambda Serpentis System, eight years after the War started they invaded Lambda Serpentis and at the end of the Battle for Jericho VII it was glassed by the Covenant. We fought hard and long but in the end they still own, the aftermath of that led to the Wolf Pack being formed but I'd give it up every time to get my home back." Ben replies his sadness, regret and rage not as well suppressed.
"Sorry to hear that." Theodore replies.
"Thank you." Ben replies and goes to the next of XCOM Personal.
"That's Master Sergeant Ela Foster callsign Stash, master sergeant is XCOM's highest NCO Rank, and she can't talk at the moment as she got shot in the throat." Theodore explains.
"And you're still alive?" Ben asks.
"Sir, XCOM has advanced Cybernetic and Gene Therapy Technology as well as Plasma based weapons, if it wasn't for her augments she would be dead." Agiad reports, his Hologram standing in the gap between Warlock and Stash.
"Any chance we could get this technology?" Ben asks impressed.
"Our technology revolves around three different things, Meld which we use for Cybernetic and Gene Mods, Elerium which powers basically everything we use and Ethereal Alloy which we use for basically everything we construct. I doubt we will find any of the last two, Meld can be.. extracted from a human but it is dangerous and difficult while said human is still alive but if we can find a work around, our technology is humanities technology." Theodore explains.
"Well, thank you Field Commander." Ben replies.
"Gunnery Sergeant Zofia Molska, callsign Terminator sir." Zofia says when Ben stands in front of her.
"A pleasure gunnery sergeant, I have so many questions about basically everything about you." Ben says looking at her MEC Trooper Body.
"Agiad gave me an in-depth interview on the way here about MEC Troopers sir." Zofia replies.
"Agiad, send Aurora a copy." Ben orders and moves in front of the final member of XCOM.
"Squaddie Nicole Arrow of XCOM sir." Nicole says saluting, the exhaustion and sleep deprivation very evident.
"How old are you?" Ben asks curious.
"Nine sir." Nicole states, Ben returns the salute.
"Did you come with them from their Earth?"
"No sir, I'm from Intai'sei the colony that the Fearless appeared over, it was attacked by Batarians, and they killed my family and friends. XCOM saved me from becoming a slave and I joined them." Nicole explains proudly.
"Well, good luck in your fights to come Squaddie." Ben replies.
"Thank you sir."
"Speaking of Squaddie Arrow has a date with the Firing Range sir, with you permission?" Theodore asks.
"Permission granted." Ben replies.
As the four XCOM Operatives go to walk out Miranda speaks up. "Field Commander, you wanted to talk to me about something."
"Yes I did." Theodore replies. "It.. uh, is a conversation for private, I was going to tell you because you are the highest rank UNSC Officer, I guess I can tell you both." He says referring to Ben as well.
"From what I've heard about XCOM so far, this is going to be interesting." Miranda comments.
"Interesting, is a word for it." Theodore replies. "Zofia you got range training today and most likely PT, this is going to take a while."
"Yes sir." Zofia says giving a quick salute. "You're shit out of luck today Squaddie you got a MEC Trooper as your instructor. Start running." She orders.
The three run out of the Bridge for a little impromptu PT.
"Will the Captain's Ready Room be private enough?" Ben asks.
"Yes sir, just as long Agiad doesn't listen in." Theodore replies.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Agiad replies. "I know when I'm not wanted."
The three go into the Captain's Ready Room, it is roomy with a large table, a bunk to sleep in and a view out the ship.
"So, what's up?" Ben asks.
"There is a third ability some XCOM operatives have, I am the only one that has it here, but I thought I should let you know. It is called Psionics or for the less educated, powers of the mind." Theodore says.
"What like Mind Reading, stuff like that?" Miranda asks surprised.
"Mind Reading no, Mind Control yes." Theodore answers.
"How do we know you aren't controlling any of our minds right know?" Ben asks cautiously.
"Short answer you don't, long answer I want this relationship with the UNSC to work and if the people in charge start acting weird people would suspect XCOM did something. It is a perfect science, we can control minds, but we can't read them, also there are people that are naturally resistant to Psionics, or you can get the Neural Damping Gene Mod to increase your resistants." Theodore replies.
"That sounds very complicated, what else can you do?" Miranda asks.
"I am the best Psionic Wielder, I can shift a battle from a complete defeat to a victory, it would be easier to demonstrate instead of telling you, but I can give you a brief run down." Theodore answers.
Over the next three hours Theodore gives the two UNSC Officers a run down of Psionics and what he as the Volunteer can do with it, the next hour he explains what the Volunteer is and what it is like being the Volunteer. Agiad is also given permission to deploy the Fearless' Cargo Haulers and Resource Gatherers under F-99 Wombat protection, the whole operations is remotely controlled by Agiad.
Location: Epsilon Eridani System – UNSC Fearless Bridge
Date: September 13th, 2552
Time: 1800hrs Military Standard Time
On the Holo-Table Agiad is leaning on the Hologram of Reach as the small fleet of one Orion-Class Assault Carrier and four Gladius-Class Heavy Corvettes take up low orbit over the planet.
"Commander, sorry captain we have achieved low orbit." Lieutenant Miller reports followed by a quiet shit for screwing up her rank.
"Understood ensign, sorry lieutenant junior grade." Miranda jokes and a couple people have a chuckle. "Commander Wood and Major Xao begin deployment of Firebases at the locations where Reach High Command, Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex and Aszod Ship Breaking Yards are supposed to be and deploy the Clarion Spy Drones to scout the planet." Miranda orders as the small fleet settle into position above Viery Territory.
"Captain if I may?" Lieutenant Commander Short asks as her orders are confirmed.
"You may." Miranda replies as the four already prepared D20 Herons and half the Fearless' D77H-TCI Pelican complement is launched from their Hanger Bays on both sides of the carrier.
"We need to be proactive about the Intel Game, already we have made enemies and I not complaining about that, the Batarians can rot in hell for what they did to that colony, but we have also made a possible ally. I'm not suggesting we go tell anybody where we are but the sooner we get the intel needed to take on humanities enemies the sooner we can deploy against them and to do that effectually we need allies." Mike says.
"Your right, what do you have in mind?" Miranda asks as the Clarion Spy Drones start launching.
"If the Systems Alliance has any sense of an Intelligence Agency they will be investigating who launched the raid on Intai'sei and where they were based out off, we hack into their systems find the location or where they think the location is, go there and hack into their systems and get what intel they have and then blow them to hell." Mike suggests.
"Agiad, contact the admiral and pass along Lieutenant Commander Short's idea." Miranda orders. "We'll see what the admiral has to say but for now I have a planetary deployment to oversee."
"Yes ma'am." Mike replies.
Over the next six hours it is decided that two of the Gladius-Class Heavy Corvettes, the UNSC Little Rascal and the UNSC Tourist will deploy to the Sol System with SPARTAN Amber Team, NOBLE Six, Field Commander Harrison and Major Tezo 'Watum, the mission will be led by Captain Veronica Dare and be assisted by Aurora.
Two hours after they are given the green light for Operation: BOO the two ships assigned to it enter Slipspace from Reach's Safe Slipspace Entry Point for their for their three-and-a-half-day journey to the Sol System to begin Phase One.
Over the next three days the Firebases are well established with heavy traffic at all of them as the UNSC starts to for them reclaim their world, Agiad continues in his resource gathering operation with authorization to use one of the ships manufacturing plants to produce more Cargo Haulers and Resource Gatherers, the battle damage from both the Covenant and Batarian Slave Fleet also begins to undergo repair but will need a full week to complete. Zofia moves Nicole's training to Reach which also increases, Yapper also joins making it a class of two. There training occurs nearby the Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex Firebase and the nearby Titanium Mine that is under construction.
Location: Local Cluster – Sol System – Earth – SSV Tokyo Captain's Quarters
Date: July 4th, 2180
Time: 2200hrs Local Time
Captain David Anderson has had better weeks, spending a better part of a week at Intai'sei he was recalled to Arcturus Station to brief the Alliance Parliament on the situation, and instead was questioned and berated. After that his crew was given Leave at Earth only for it to an Administration Error.
He is know sitting at his desk, taking some time to decompress the events of the last week when his Haptic Interface decided to turn itself on.
"Oh, for fuck sakes." David says to himself hitting the deactivate button only for a video call to be established with an unknown caller.
A figure in a shadowy area making it impossible to identify him is sitting at a desk with his hands resting on said desk.
"Is that how you greet friends Captain Anderson." The Shadowy Figure says his voice distorted to make it unidentifiable.
"Who are you and how did you can access to this station?" David demands.
"You can call me The Volunteer and as to how I gained access to your system, it is quiet simple, your ship has been hacked." The Volunteer replies.
"What!" David yells but is cut off by The Volunteer.
"Before you do anything rash, we have a conversation to conduct and can't alert your crew even if you wanted to, you are looked in your quarters and the only communications you have is with me." The Volunteer states.
"What do you want?" David asks with clear hostility in his voice.
"The same thing as you captain, to punish those that attacked Intai'sei." The Volunteer replies.
"We have established a communications black out over Intai'sei, how did you find out about that?" David asks controlling his emotions.
"How indeed captain?" The Volunteer asks.
"It was you, you're apart of this UNSC-XCOM that support the colony during the attack." David replies realizing who he is talking with.
"UNSC-XCOM, we should use that, thank you captain." The Volunteer says.
"You're two different groups." David states. "How did you both appear on Intai'sei when it was under attack?"
"If I told you captain, you wouldn't believe me but it being under attack at the same time was a coincidence." The Volunteer replies.
"So, what is you want, why contact me?" David asks.
"What we want we already have. It was decided that we contact you, so you know who your friends are. I see a bright future for you captain." The Volunteer replies and the connection cuts leaving no trace that the conversion ever happened.
David gets up and walks to the CIC.
"Staff Lieutenant Stillwell." David says approaching the Communications Station.
"Sir." He replies turning to face his Commanding Officer.
"Who just contacted me in my quarters?" David asks.
Staff Lieutenant Stillwell spends several seconds checking and then double checking the Communications Records. "Um sir, no one contacted you in your quarters, in fact no one has contacted the Tokyo for about two hours."
"Staff Lieutenant, we never had this conversion." David declares.
"Yes sir." He replies very confused.
David walks over to the Helm Station. "Lay in a course for the location of the Slaver Base." He orders.
"Yes sir, wait.. I'm looked out from the file, there is a count down fifteen days until it unlocks." The Helm Officer replies.
"What do you mean locked out?" David asks knowing who locked them out.
Unknown to Captain Anderson two UNSC Corvettes enter Slipspace and start their thirteen-day journey to the Pylos Nebula with a quick stop over in the Epsilon Eridani System to drop of a Data Packet of intel acquired from the SSV Tokyo and a mission update.
Location: Epsilon Eridani System – Reach
Date: September 20th, 2552
Time: 0615hrs Military Standard Time
Captain Miranda Keyes lay on the hood of an M12 Flatbed Warthog, enjoying the sunrise on a hill overlooking Firebase FLEETCOM as it has been called lately, after all it is easier to say in conversation.
Like everyday since they arrived the air space around Firebase FLEETCOM is filled with Pelicans, Darters, the occasional Albatross and Heron.
"It's a start ma'am." Zofia says from behind Miranda.
"Gunny, I didn't expect to see you here." Miranda comments.
Behind Zofia is Ela, Nicole, Yapper and an ODST, the elements of NOBLE Team that are on Reach.
"We always end our morning run here to watch the sunrise ma'am." Zofia replies then drinks from her canteen.
"I didn't mean to take you soft." Miranda states.
"Don't worry about it ma'am, we can find a new spot, I believe there is a good spot an hour away it just means we add an hour to our morning PT." Zofia replies.
Looking out at the sunrise Ela takes a deep breath and slowly exhales it, a smile forming on her face.
"I don't think I have ever seen her smile." Miranda comments.
"We don't have a whole lot to smile about, Ela is one of the few that were alive before the First War, Warlock and Stash would tell me stories about what Earth was like, but I can never imagine it, living on the surface of an Earth that isn't suffering from a Nuclear Winter." Zofia says.
"It won't be the same as yours but I sure we can set something up in the future for you to travel to Alliance Earth." Miranda replies.
"Yeah maybe, but I have duty to humanity and the enemy isn't at Alliance Earth." Zofia comments. "Five minutes then we move out." She says to the others.
Miranda looks over at Nicole and watches her for a minute thinking back to her mother and what she did to the SPARTAN-IIs, although she doesn't know all the details she knows the basics and now she is complicit with XCOM doing it. Signing to herself she looks back at the sunrise getting lost in happier memories. She notices them leave but doesn't pay it any mind.
After half an hour she gets in her Warthog and drives the short distance to Firebase FLEETCOM, as she gets closer the traffic increase both on the ground and air with marines jogging on the sides of the road for PT and patrol, Warthogs of all variants, M88 Bison Armored Personal Carriers, M274R Mongooses and M313 Elephants deploying from Firebase FLEETCOM to forward deployment areas to provide additional security and expansion.
Looking at the Firebase is has been upgraded to its original maximum capacity, but plans are in place to expand it into a full-fledged military base and then some once the Aszod Industrial Area is up and running, driving into the depths of the Command Structure which has been expanded so the top structures are only the tip of Firebase FLEETCOM, with all the traffic it takes her five minutes to get to her destination which is a simple door that has RADM Murphy.
Getting out she approaches the door and knocks twice.
"Enter!" A muffled voice says.
Opening the door she enters into a large by spartan room, a large desk with a computer on one side and stacks of paperwork on the other, on the opposite side is a simple bunk. Rear Admiral Murphy is sitting at his desk signing paper and smoking a cigar.
Holding up a pack of Sweet William Cigars he asks. "Want one?"
"Thank you sir." Miranda replies taking one.
"That's a lot of paperwork." Miranda comments as she lights her cigar.
"I spend years at a time deep behind Covvie lines, disrupting supply lines and destroying fleets and this is the thanks I get." Ben jokes with a smirk.
"You don't like paperwork and yet you're an admiral, the two were made for each other." Miranda replies huffing at her cigar.
"Sharp was made for paperwork, whenever we got back to UNSC Space he would always handle it." Ben says and stops signing as he thinks of his old friend.
"I was evacuated onto the Fearless when during the Fall of Reach, he looked at my rank then at my face and told my I was his new XO. I didn't know him that long or well, but he seemed like a good man, from what my XO tells me he was only on the Fearless for six months." Miranda explains.
"Before that he was my XO, we were on a one month leave before we head back out behind Covvie lines. Sharp he uh.. met this woman and got her pregnant, he came to me about it and said he wanted to transfer to stay with her. Letting him go was one of the hardest things I have ever done but it gave him a chance for a family life. Too bad he didn't get it, out of all of us in the Wolf Pack he was the one that deserved it the most." Ben replies.
They spend several minutes in silence and ben goes back to signing paperwork.
"Agiad and Lieutenant Commander Short have finished analysing the intel dropped by the Little Rascal and it pretty much confirms this Codex thing we got of the slavers, we got Alliance Fleet Deployments, Personal Records and some classified information, mainly to do with their investigation into us and Intai'sei which isn't much. They also looked into First Lieutenant Ryder; she has been promoted to Staff Lieutenant which Mike described as surprising." Miranda reports and stops to puff her cigar.
"How so?" Ben asks his complete attention gained.
"Her father Commander Alec Ryder has been researching Artificial Intelligence, which is every illegal under Council Law, he was slated to get dishonourably discharged from the Alliance Navy the day Intai'sei was attacked, his discharge was pushed back a week. His actions have made his two children Staff Lieutenant Sara Ryder and Second Lieutenant Scott Ryder outcasts in the Alliance Military. Sara Ryder has also been transferred from Peacekeeping Duties to some backwater Prothean Site effectively ending her career." Miranda explains.
"So, for defending the people she was assigned to protect against all odds, they shunt her to backwater posting because of her father's actions?" Ben asks surprised.
"Basically sir." Miranda answers equally surprised.
"Who the fuck is running the Alliance Military?" Ben asks.
"Bureaucrats and people more focused on their political career then they are on protecting the Alliance. There are a few officers focused on protecting the Alliance and humanity, but they are restricted in what they can do without being outcasted themselves." Miranda replies finishing her cigar as Ben looks of Sara Ryders Dossier.
"If we are to have any hope in protecting humanity we will need to expand, I am putting together a new operation to do just that. With the Fearless stuck here until Reach can sustain itself and expand at the same time there isn't much for you to do as Agiad is overseeing that operation. So go through the Personal Dossiers we have and put together a plan, whether we recruit them out right or have them as agents willing or otherwise to help protect humanity. I want you to have a plan by the time the Operations Fleet returns." Ben orders.
"Yes sir." Miranda replies and Ben motions to her that she is dismissed.
Location: Arcturus Stream – Arcturus Station – Admiral Steven Hackett's Office
Date: July 5th, 2180
Time: 1025hrs Local Time
David Anderson is standing in front of Admiral Hackett's desk as he finishes giving his very classified report about his contact with the mysterious individual known as The Volunteer, the fact that he was able to hack into an Alliance Navy Cruiser and lock out files in said cruiser would disastrous if it got out.
"Captain, this must not get out, there will be some serious changes to your command, and you are being assigned to special duties. Find out where this UNSC-XCOM is located, find out everything you can about them, whether they are friendly or not they are a serious threat to the Alliance. The data they took and locked you out of is the location of the Slaver Base, so chances are they are going there and don't want you to interfere. They are going on an anti-slaver campaign, so you are as well. Find them and ensure they aren't a threat to the Alliance." Steven orders.
"Yes sir." David replies. "What kind of changes are we talking about?"
"First you are being given a new command, a Mumbai-Class Semi Dreadnought the SSV Rome and the Rome is being transferred into a Special Operations Deployment Platform, it will be crewed with trusted navy personal, a contingent from the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Naval Crime Investigation Service to provide you with the best intelligence and investigative capacity you can get. You will also have a contingent from the Systems Alliance Navy Special Operations Command. We don't have the exact location because of the lockout and the transfers are being rushed so you can leave within the week, as the transfers are complete you will depart immediately." Steven replies.
"Yes sir." David says.
Location: Dirada System – UNSC Little Rascal – Operations Fleet
Date: September 30th, 2552
Time: 1500hrs Military Standard Time
Two Slipspace Ruptures formed within the Dirada System; two Gladius-Class Heavy Corvettes came through with their stealth systems active.
"Patrick we have exited Slipspace within the system." Lieutenant Lucy Wheelwright reports from the Helm Station.
"Stealth Systems online and running at one hundred percent." Prime the Shipboard Dumb AI reports.
In the Holo-Room behind the Bridge Captain Veronica Dare hears the Bridge Crew go through Standard Slipspace Exit Protocol for a stealth vessel, around the table with her Field Commander Theodore Harrison in his modified XCOM Vortex Armor, the four members of AMBER Team, NOBLE Six, Lieutenant Commander Ayla Noble the ship's XO and Major Tezo 'Watum. With more people onboard then should many spent the Slip in Cryo only to be awoken an hour ago. Due to the Zero-G environment of the Little Rascal they are all floating and holding onto the Holo-Table as the ship accelerates to the target.
On the Holo-Table is a live holo-image of the Dirada System, six planets spread throughout the system with one asteroid belt in the outer portion of the system and the target asteroid belt close to the B-Class Star that is three times the size of Sol. Aurora is standing at the edge of the Holo-Table as two Gladius-Class Heavy Corvette holo-images flying side-by-side make the two-hour flight to the inner asteroid belt.
The ship's CO Commander Patrick Marshall floats slowly into the Holo-Room and takes Ayla's position at the Holo-Table as she goes floats to the Command Chair to replace the CO.
"Aurora, what do we have?" Veronica asks.
"Passive RADAR has detected two ships in the inner asteroid belt they are holding position over the target facility. It will take LIDAR ten minutes to get a complete visual and as you know it will take two hours to get to the target. The bad news is they aren't completely stupid and don't have their communications systems on, so we will have to get the intel the hard way." Aurora replies.
"103 is AMBER Team ready?" Veronica asks.
"Always." 103 replies.
"And NOBLE Team?"
"We're ready." Theodore replies.
"Alright, we will take you most of the way and when we are five minutes out you will EVA the rest of the way, NOBLE Team will go for bastard in charge and bring him back, AMBER Team will get Aurora into their systems and get every line of data in their base. Once you objectives are complete highjack one of their shuttles, Aurora will send out a code burst on every frequency and then the Little Rascal and Tourist will engage." Veronica explains.
Everybody nods their heads at the plan. NOBLE and AMBER Teams going to the small armoury behind the Holo-Room and gets ready for the mission.
Two hours later the hanger is open on the Little Rascal exposing it and the seven people in it to the vacuum of space, they have a good line on sight on their target and the two what this galaxy considers frigates above the asteroid.
"NOBLE Team, AMBER Team you have a go." Captain Dare's voice comes in over the radio.
"This is AMBER One deploying and going radio silent." 103 replies.
"This is NOBLE One deploying and going radio silent." Warlock replies.
The seven operatives walk out of the Hanger Bay and activate their EVA Jump Packs to push themselves to their target.
For Warlock this reminds him of the Asteroid Belt Offensive during the Micronoid War which led to him being stuck in this strange galaxy, he quickly pushes past the memories to focus on the mission. Looking to his right he sees NOBLE Six his second-in-command and the only member of NOBLE Team that fought during reach, she requested to keep the callsign NOBLE Six which Warlock saw no issue with. Looking to his left he sees the Sangheili Spec Ops Major equally as focused on their target as SIX, the X-Ray being NOBLE Two. Behind Warlock is the third member of NOBLE on this operation, at Terminator's request Rear Admiral Murphy assigned Private Jonathan Doherty to NOBLE Team his, the ODSTs Callsign being NOBLE Five. About one hundred meters to the right of NOBLE is AMBER, he can't make out any details expect for seeing the outlines of the four members of AMBER.
As they get closer to their target they use the EVA Jump Packs to slow down and as they reach the asteroid they stop in time to not impact on it. With his Psionics in a combat state he can sense his three team members intentions, glancing over at Six she signs that she sees an airlock about fifty meters away.
Slowly and carefully using the asteroid to pull themselves along so as to not give of an energy signature with their jump packs they make their way to the airlock.
Six cloaks and peaks into the small window before reappearing and signalling that nobody is in sight. Terminator's GREMLIN launches itself off of Warlock's back and flies to the airlock, about ten seconds pass before the outer doors slide open. At their position on either side of the airlock door, Six and Two cloak as they enter followed by the GREMLIN and then One and Five.
Point Blank the GREMLIN Mark III closes the outer door by One's order and hacks into the inner airlock door.
When the inner door slides open the cloaked forms of Two and Six move within the base to clear the immediate area, One and Five taken the extra time to adjust to the gravity. Point Blank reattaches itself to the Maglock on One's back.
Several seconds pass before Two and Six reappear in the entrance of the airlock.
"Immediate area clear." Six reports.
Shouldering his Shatterray One takes point as NOBLE moves deeper into the facility. They pass several locked doors before One's Bioelectric Skin detects two people coming their way.
"Incoming." One informs.
Not seeing anywhere they could hid in time One calls for Six to stack up with him on the corner as Two and Five watch their rear, Six activates her Active Camouflage and One activates his Ghost Mode rendering both invisible, Two doing the same with his Active Camouflage leaving Five the only one visible but hiding in a recess in the wall to avoid detection.
As the two X-Rays turn the corner Six lunges forward and breaks the neck of the far X-Ray and grabs the body to prevent any noise, at the same time One stabs the closer X-Ray with his Vibroblade in the neck severing the Spinal Cord killing the X-Ray instantly, both X-Rays dead before they now anything is wrong.
Dragging them back Point Blank opens a nearby locked door, and they stash the two bodies in the small storage locker behind some crates.
As they continue deeper into the facility the encounter several more X-Rays walking the corridors and dispatch them in a similar manner.
One raises his hand ordering NOBLE to a stop. "Twenty plus contact in the room at the end of the corridor." One reports sensing them with his Bioelectric Skin.
"We must go through, there is no other way to go deeper into the facility." Two states.
"Six, can AMBER handle themselves if we go loud?" One asks as they move into an empty storage room.
"They have SPARTAN Numbers but only one of them is equipped with MJOLNIR." Six replies.
Not having any choice One sends a morse code message to AMBER Team informing them that NOBLE has to go loud. He gets a 'confirmed need distraction' in response.
"Alright, there nothing like making unit cohesion in the middle of a firefight. Six, Two you will be the breachers, Five will come in last and focus on the largest cluster of X-Rays and I will let loose with Psionics." One explains.
"What's Psionics?" Six asks curious.
"Powers of the mind, I told the admiral about it, and he classified it, so don't tell anyone." One replies. "Hit 'em hard and fast NOBLE."
Moving out of the storage room Six shoots an unlucky X-Ray in the head with her M6C-SOCOM that was heading to the room with twenty X-Rays. Stacking up One places an XCOM Shaped Charge on the door as Two and Six shoulder their Type-51 Plasma Repeater and M739 SAW respectively ready to rush into the room, Five taking up position behind Six shouldering his M7S SMG, One moves behind Two and shoulders his Shatterray.
Signalling with his hands a countdown from three when his fist closes the Shaped Charge detonates destroying the door, and a portion of the wall, Two's, and Six's shields flare momentarily. As soon as the door is destroyed Six rushes into the room firing on full-auto followed closely by Two firing his Plasma Repeater in short bursts.
Next to enter is One, taking a moment to scan the room, it is a Mess Hall the tables being flipped to provide some sort of protection five X-Rays already dead, two having parts of their body missing from Two's Plasma Repeater. Rushing to his own table to the left of the door he flips it as he feels several hard pings on his armour, looking in the direction of his attacker his two hearts start beating faster as his Adrenaline Surge Gene Mod actives from being shot at, time seems to slow down slightly, using his mind to lash out at his attacker with Mindfray the Batarian drops his gun and clutches his head as blood starts dripping out of his ears, eyes, nose, and mouth, he screams at the top of his lungs then drops dead, as he kills the X-Ray time slows down even slower as his Adrenal Neurosympanthy Gene Mod activates.
Taking a second to get a lay of the land he focuses on his senses, Five has moved into the Mess Hall taking cover behind his own flipped over table. Two is engaging a group of five X-Rays with his Energy Sword, Six is using her own Energy Sword along with her combat knife to engage a group of eight X-Rays and Five is exchanging fire with the last two X-Rays, seeing an opportunity One reaches out with his mind and Mind Controls one of them.
The Mind Control X-Ray turns to his partner and shoots him in the face at point blank range with his shotgun.
Two and Six quickly and easily kill their groups of X-Rays, Five not sure what is going on with the Mind Controlled X-Ray puts a three-round burst into it's head.
NOBLE Team regroup in the centre of the Mess Hall, tables have been flipped, blood and pieces of Batarian body litter the ground, tables, and walls and twenty dead X-Rays. The entire firefight lasted about ten seconds the klaxon going off and an alien voice being heard on the intercom.
"What happen with that Slaver?" Five asks quietly, One knowing from Five's Dossier that he doesn't speak much.
"Psionics private, I controlled his mind." One replies. "I'll explain later but right now every slaving fucker is coming our way. Move out."
NOBLE Team stacks up on the only other door in this room, it doesn't want to open so Six stands in front of it and kicks it open, the two parts of the door bending and snapping from the force.
Four X-Rays, three Batarians and one Asari rush around the corner, the three Batarians are quickly killed with combined fire from NOBLE with the Asari using Biotics to create a barrier, reaching out with his mind One takes control of the Asari.
"Hold you fire, the X-Ray is under my control." One states.
The four members of NOBLE continue deeper into the facility with the Asari taking point ten meters in front of them, as they push towards the Control Room the resistance gets heavier but under NOBLE's combined fire they aren't stopped.
The lights in the facility go out and the vents for Life Support go quiet.
"NOBLE One, I am in the system and have control of this facility. Two rights, then a left there you will find the Control Room, be careful there are thirty fortified and waiting Slavers waiting." Aurora says over the radio.
"Only thirty?" One asks.
"There was fifty, twenty of them didn't get their helmets on in time." Aurora explains.
"Copy." One replies as he kills another X-Ray with his Laser SMG.
Making their way to the corridor that leads to the Control Room, their Asari tag along is killed prompting NOBLE Team from turning the corridor.
Sensing the X-Rays is different from seeing them so One throws a Battle Scanner around the corner allowing him to see the X-Rays position and what they are hiding behind.
"Four X-Rays outside the Control Room, the other twenty-six are inside the Control Room and have set up a kill box aiming at the door." One reports. "Two, Six we are going to cloak and engage the four outside, then Five move up when we stack on the door."
One, Two and Six cloak via their respective means and turn the corner, they fire at the same time, one X-Ray being killed by UNSC Bullets, another being killed by Covenant Plasma, the third is killed with EXALT Laser and the last is killed by all three.
"Move up." One orders.
Not having anywhere for cover in the corridor they stack up on the door in the same pattern as the Mess Hall only this time One has a Psi Grenade and Five has a M9 High-Explosive Duel-Purpose Grenade ready to throw.
"Aurora open the door." One orders.
The door effortlessly slides open Two and Six rushing in under cloak while One and Five throw their respective grenades deep into the Control Room before also charging in. When the Psi Grenade goes off it isn't any kind of explosive, but the fifteen X-Rays caught in the radius start suffering from a pseudo Mindfray their minds feeling like it is under a massive amount of pressure while Five's Frag goes off killing five clustered up X-Rays. Two and Six quickly close on the defenders positions firing their respective weapons before engaging in melee with Energy Swords and in Six's case an Energy Sword and Combat Knife. Five takes up an elevated position on the second floor fighting the X-Rays for control of said floor, his ODST/HVY BDU taking some hits but able to protect him and One seeing the fifteen caught in the Psi Grenade unleashes a Void Rift shredding their bodies and the computer equipment around them. One looks above them when he sees the window and notices the Batarian smug look turn to shock and horror and turning to run.
Covering himself in Psionic Energy One Psi Teleports in front of the lead Batarian and facing showing even more shock, One didn't know that was possible.
"Going somewhere?" One asks as he hits the X-Ray in the face with his Shatterray, his Muscle-Fibre Density Gene Mod allowing him to knock out the X-Ray in one hit.
Moving over to the window he notices that Two and Six are working together to play a lethal game of cat and mouse with ten X-Rays. Looking over to Five he sees that he is injured and in trouble. One kicks the window shattering it with his enhanced strength, using his Shatterray he fires on full auto into the backs of the X-Rays killing the five that survived Five's onslaught and were able to pin him down. When the X-Rays stop firing Five walks over to them and gives One a nod of appreciation. Looking down One sees that Two and Six have finished off the rest of the X-Rays.
"Aurora this is NOBLE One Control Room clear, and we have the package. Moving to extraction." One says over the radio.
"Copy NOBLE One, AMBER Team will met you there." Aurora replies.
Picking up the Lead Slaver One jumps down and orders NOBLE to move to extraction and as he passes it he picks up the Psi Grenade that he threw. Getting to the one Hanger Bay this asteroid base has is easier then One through it would be because Aurora diverted AMBER Team to met them half-way because of the large amount of the Slavers between the two points. The biggest problem they had was the one Krogan Mercenary that this group had hired but being assault by an Elite and a SPARTAN while also being flanked by another SPARTAN is very bad for somebodies health.
The two SPARTANs equipped with MJOLNIR scout ahead of the group easily killing anything they come across. When they reach the Hanger Bay there is one rundown shuttle, and they board it 023 pulling the AI Chip from her helmet and inserting it into a port on the control board letting Aurora fly.
Sending out the code burst on every frequency the two frigates that have no idea that their base of operations was assaulted explode when their hull is breached and their Mass Effect Cores get hit from an unknown source, seconds later the shuttle gets a ping letting them know where to fly to rendezvous with the UNSC Little Rascal.