RIS Cruiser Curacao, in orbit

over planet Reach

1545 Hours 20.1.2551

Reach was a very busy planet. Over a hundred UNSC ships were there at any given time. Reach was also a massive shipyard, cruisers, destroyers, prowlers, were all built here. 20 Orbital "Super" MAC Guns augmented the already vaunted defences.

Admiral Wantillese saw all of this from the Curacao. The RIS task force took up orbit, as an Assault Shuttle transported Dirt to the surface.

After being cleared for landing, the shuttle dropped off the admiral at a landing bay. Two MPs armed with MA2Bs escorted him to the conference room six miles underground.

Two men in navy uniforms greeted him there. One had gray here and was obviously in his late 60s or early 70s. The other was slightly younger.

"Admiral," the younger man spoke. "Welcome to Reach."

"Thank you Admiral-"

"Whitecomb, Vice Admiral Danforth Whitecomb," he then pointed to the other man. "And this is my colleauge, Admiral Preston Cole. Please sit down."

"Thank you," Dirt replied as he took the nearest empty seat.

"Now then," Whitecomb said calmly, "Captain McWeill and his crew should be arriving in about a week. Until then you are welcome here."

"Thank you Admiral," Dirt replied. He cleared his throat. "My orders are to extract the Wendor crew, as well as do anything in my power to prevent this "Covenant" from finding our galaxy." Whitecomb and Cole both nodded understandingly.

Cole began to speak. "Admiral Wantillese, the Covenant must be stopped before they destroy the entire human race, and go after you."

"I understand-"

"We would appreciate a few more fighting ships on our payroll if you catch my drift." Whitecomb nodded in agreement.

"Huh?"

We would like your taskforce to assist us in a few, ops. Once you have picked up your colleagues."

"Well," Dirt replied, shifting uncomfartably. "That is part of my order-"

"You," Whitecomb explained. "Will be attached to Admiral Cole's fleet, you will take your orders from him, with your CNO's permission of course."

"I'm sure he would approve, but-" Whitecomb stopped him.

"Then, it's agreed."

Covenant Heavy Carrier Just Crusader

0218 Hours 21.1.2551

It was the graveyard shift on the Just Crusader. Major Hilto Hakamee had watch. He sweated uncontrollably under his scarlet armor. Reports had arrived of new infidels, one of their ships destroying a cruiser effortlessy, Hakamee did not wish to fight them, it would be an honorable death to die in battle, but retreat was a tactic in itself. If only Ship Master Zaren Zarkkono would understand.

Hakamee glanced at one of the screens in front of him at the control room, seven cycles past the mid-night. His shift would be over in two cycles, that was when the Ship Master would arise from his slumber. Nothing in the universe could stop that.

The peaceful night would soon be disturbed, warning sirens pierced thtough the air, over the screams of terrified Grunts and Jackals. Lieutenant Kantamee did his best to calm them.

"Dargop!" Hakamee growled at the nearby Grunt. "What is it?" he hissed.

"E-ecellency," the startled Grunt stammered. "Enemy cruisers." Hakamee looked up. Two ships approcached at flank speed. One of them was the ship of the new infidels. In front was a "Human"ship, they must have aligned themselves. The Prophets would need to know this.

Ship Master Zarkkono came thundering though the doors, he arrived at his station quickly.

"What happended?" He hissed.

"Excellency," Hakamee replied as calmly as he could. "Infidels." The Gold Elite growled at the name. "Power up the weapons. Fire at will. Let the infidels feel pain."

The crew watched as the two enemy ships approached at flank speed. They were on a collision course with the Just Crusader. Bolts of plasma sliced through the Worm ship, which was deemed a larger threat, it broke into three chunks, two of which continued towards the carrier.

The third chunk asjusted course with the human ship, but then continued towards the Just Crusader. The debris filled all the screens on the raised control platform.

"Excellency," Hakamee yelled at his Ship Master. "Lieutenant Kantamee has stolen a dropship!"

"That traitor…"

The first piece of Worm ship sliced through the Just Crusader aft of the control room, the second and third hit the shield a few seconds later, the shield flickered, then vanished; the Just Crusader exploded violently once it had been sliced into thirds and quarters. The Normandie continued on its way.

FLEETCOMM, UNSC HQ, Planet Reach

1817 Hours 8.2.2551

Rear Admiral Dirt Wantillese was eating a bowl of soil in a mess hall under the United Nations Space Command admiralty building. Reach was nasty stuff; Dirt would prefer Waboo soil anytime. It was seventeen minutes after the hours when the sliding doors of the mess hall opened. Walking in was Admiral of the Fleet Sir Terence Hood, and two Worms, Dirt recognized both of them.

"Jake?"

"Commodore Wantillese!" Dirt cleared his throat.

"Actually its Admiral Wantillese now, I was promoted a few weeks ago."

"My apologies," McWeill replied. "Sir," he turned to the Worm next to him, "Have you met Commander Willard Pine, he is commander of 617 Squadron, formerly stationed on the Wendor.

"I have already made the Admiral's acquaintance," Pine said to the Captain.

"Ah, of course," McWeill said. Dirt turned and spoke to the Termite.

"So," he said. "Commander of the 617th?"

"All thanks to you sir." Pine turned to a confused McWeill. "The Admiral signed my transfer request, two years ago I think."

"So, Commander, you and your boys ready for some payback?"