Chapter 1: The Return to Earth

Disclaimer: I do not own the UNSC, nor Master Chief…neither do I own Halo. Bungie owns them……

0523 hrs

31st November 2552

UNSC Gettysburg

En route to Earth via Slipspace

As Master Chief stood in the bridge of the only surviving UNSC ship of the Reach Campaign, Gettysberg, Vice-Admiral Whitcomb's last command echoed in his mind, "High-tail it back to Earth, and give them the warning. Don't let us die in vain." When Cortana's voice snapped him back into reality. "Chief, we'll need to exit Slipspace for awhile, the engines are overheating." The Chief nodded. In a couple of minutes, there was a strong jerk as Gettysberg, entered normal space.

Master Chief looked around the bridge, the only people onboard the badly damaged Gettysberg were Sergeant-Major Avery Johnson, Cortana and himself. With the smart AI, Cortana, interfaced with the Gettysberg main computer, she could control the ship.

After an hour of rest, they were back in slipspace, hurtling at thousands of miles per hours through the inky void…

0520 hrs

1st December 2552,

UNSC Gettysburg

Earth Defence Plateau

A brilliant flash of light emitted from the middle of space, the Gettysberg slowed as it stumbled out of slipspace. The superstructure of the ship groaned as it turned and face towards Earth. Immediately, Master Chief got a shock of his life. Five-hundred UNSC Ships, fully armed along with fifty orbital Magnetic Acceleration Cannon orbital platforms faced him.

Master Chief thumbed the microphone and spoke "This is UNSC Gettysberg, under the command of 2nd Petty Officer SPARTAN 117 – Master Chief." A reply came back that the Gettysberg was to prepare for boarding. Master Chief told Cortana to open the bay doors.

Five D77-TC Pelican Drop ships with troop pods attached came sailing in. Marines came rushing out and headed to the bridge with MA5B Assault Rifles, fully loaded. A Corporal keyed open the bridge as 125 fully loaded marines came tumbling into the bridge, Sergeant Johnson and the Master Chief calmly raised up their hands. The Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson were escorted to a waiting Pelican, not before Master Chief grabbed Cortana's data chip from the Gettysberg main computer…

Pelican Zulu 139 left the launch bay of the Gettysberg with Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson, the speed of the pelican reminded the Master Chief of Echo 419, flown by Flight Captain Carol 'Foehammer' Rawley. Echo 419 was used heavily by the surviving Pillar of Autumn marines during the assault of Halo. Soon, too soon, the Pelican touched down at UNSC orbital MAC gun – The Cairo Station – one of fifty orbital cannons surrounding Earth.

As the pelican's blast door folded outwards, everyone in the pelican stood at attention. The Commanding Officer of Cairo Station, Admiral Lord Hood was there to greet them. "Marines, fall out. Congratulations Master Chief."

0623 hrs

2nd December 2552

Pelican Charlie 205, belonging to Cairo MAC Station

En route to Sydney, Australia via Earth Defence Plateau

As the Pelican headed for Earth on a steep incline, Master Chief sat in the troopers mess alone. With Cortana out of his MJOLNIR armour, his brain felt unusually quiet. He remembered all those who have sacrificed their lives in this 32-year war between the Covenant and the Humans; Private Jenkins, Flight Captain Carol Rawley, Major Silva, Captain Jacob Keyes, Lieutenant Haverson, Vice-Admiral William Stanforth; and many others. Suddenly, there was a loud shout from the pilot "Hang on, it's getting shaky," there was no difference; a pelican flight through an atmosphere had always been violent and shaky. What did the pilot think?

The Pelican deployed its landing gear, the thrusters suddenly shook and flat-lined. A military policeman was outside waiting. The Master Chief boarded the M12 Light reconnaissance Vehicle or Warthog, as it was nicknamed; and was driven to a heavily reinforced building. At least twenty marines, carrying MA5Bs were in the lobby. The Military Policeman escorted him into the lift, which dropped down a deep shaft.

0955 hrs

2nd December 2552

Office of Naval Intelligence Debriefing Facility

Sydney, Australia

The lift doors slid open; the Master Chief stepped into an air-conditioned room. The very same room he had been when he was debriefed on the Cote de Azur mission ten years back. Another door opened inwards, and hidden loudspeakers resounded, "Spartan 117, please enter the room."

The same set-up was there as per ten years back. The Office of Naval Intelligence debriefing team was as the same as ever, with members of the Admiralty in it too.

"Welcome back to Earth." Admiral Lord Hood announced, with that declaration, started the ONI debriefing session.

As the session dragged on, Master Chief recounted everything that had gone on; from Reach to Earth. Before the middle of the meeting, all the debriefing team members were sobbing, thanks to the touching tales of Captain Jacob Keyes, Admiral William Stanforth and Lieutenant Haverson.

At the end of the day, Master Chief would have to cross hundreds and thousands of miles, to save the greatest prize the Covenant would ever want, Earth…

Note: I am only second-guessing the story and based on certain forums out on the Internet, I am writing this story as the plot for Halo 2 and Halo 3, since…it is the holidays! This carries on from the book Halo: First Strike

Note: Halo Combat Evolved and Halo 2 are now out on X-BOX consoles, Halo: CE is also available on PC.