The Dawning of a New Age

Authors Note: This is my first fanfic, and while I have read all three Halo books, they are not fresh on the mind. Therefore if there is anything wrong, please feel free to include it in your review and I will change it. Thank you.

"Sir, MAC gun preparing to fire, shields at 52 and firing solutions locked in!"

"Petty Officer, fire the MAC gun when it is ready" Ordered Admiral Jenkins

The ship shudders as the magnetic coil on its underbelly pulses, indicating the successful firing of a MAC round. Traveling at incredible speeds, it penetrates the outer hull of the Covenant weapons platform, impacting with the main reactor and causing a chain reaction, ensuring the complete destruction of the platform.

Cheers of joy filled the control deck as the last Seraph fighters were being mopped up by the Longsword Mark II's. Developed from files found in the office of one Colonel Ackerton, they were a vast improvement over the previous model. More structural integrity, more shield energy and more weapon pods, it was the culmination of years of research. However, the ones in battle were only prototypes, as was this ship, The Glory of Hope, a Retribution class battle cruiser. 9km long, 1km wide, it was the largest ship that had ever been seen, human and Covenant alike. A large array of its weaponry was derived from Covenant ships which had been disabled in the many encounters that had occurred since the fall of Reach. Plasma Cannons, Torpedoes and Beams had all been included in the specifications.

"Sir, Covenant Weapon Platform's all neutralized"

"Excellent. Get the Marines into the Pelicans."

"Yes Sir"

"Ugh, why did I have to be assigned to this ship? So what if it's the newest ship in the fleet, I liked my posting on the Waterloo. At least there I knew everyone" said

"Can it soldier, there are hundreds of soldiers who would have liked to have the position you are in now"

"Sorry, Sargeant Johnson"

"Suit Up Men, we are taking the fight to the Covenant, and it ain't gonna be pretty"

"Sir Yes Sir!" The Marines replied in unison.

"What is the situation Arbiter?" asked Commander Enuoke

"The Human ship has engaged, and destroyed, the Covenant defenses. Our fleet is waiting for the order to reinforce them"

"Things appear to be going to plan, don't they Arbiter"

"Yes Sir, a bit too close to the plan. I don't like it"

"Me neither, but orders are orders, and the High Council of the Sangheili want us to reinforce these humans if they need it."

"We must re..."

Warning klaxons go off all over the ship, dimming the command deck in a purple hue.

"Scanners, report!"

"Sir, multiple slip-space ruptures, 5 parsecs off the port"

"Are they ours?"

"Negative, they aren't emitting any signals"

Ships started appearing from slip-space, Human and Covenant alike.

"Sir, im not reading any life signs for any of the ships"

"What, how is that possible?"

"I don't know sir, but 90 of the ships are setting a collision course for our battlegroup!"

"Power up the plasma cannons in all areas, take power from the engines if you need it. When they are in range, discharge all the cannons on the port side, then use thrusters to bring our starboard towards them and discharge them as well. Instruct the rest of the ships to do the same."

"Yes sir. The Honour of Truth is reporting a loss in all power. They are running on batteries"

"Damn them, have the Belief of Respect position themselves infront of the Honour of Truth to protect them."

"Sir, boarding craft are heading at high speeds towards the battle group, impact in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1"

Many small impacts rocked the ship as the many craft slammed into the sides of the ships. Reports from all over the ship flooded into the battlenet

"There are hundreds o..."

"What is it doing to tha..."

"Arghhhhhhh!"

"Arbiter, get down there and see what you can do."

"Yes Commander"

"Admiral, most of the unknown ships are heading towards the UASUL battlegroup, but a small number are turning towards us!"

"Who is on those ships Petty Officer?"

"I don't know sir, there are no heartbeat signals originating from their location. Sir, I am reading that one of the human ships has an AI onboard. I am attempting to uplink to that ship"

A few seconds pass before a signal is received back

"Sir, the AI is reporting it is onboard the Gettysburg."

"Wasn't that ship disabled at the Battle for Gamma Halo?"

"Yes Sir"

"What the hell is it doing here then"

"I don't know Sir, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless some of the Flood survived"

The Admiral pauses for a few moments.

"Get the Chief up here"