**Shress La' Vdamee POV**

Shress let out an angry growl as she finished a report, only to look at the mountain of similar 'important' documents still waiting to be read. If she knew that this was the life of a Commander before, she never would have wished that it could be her future.

'But is it my future?'

The thought brought her out of her frustrated state only to sink her into a despairing one.

'What is wrong with me?'

Her thoughts were awhirl.

What possibly could make me want to be a spy, to change sides?

She suspected it was the human that she had sung to. Something about seeing the human, a young human, dying in front of her eyes, dying in protection of its home. Something she never believed a heretic would ever do.

But still, a spy?

Never in her life did she think she would be contemplating something as dishonourable as being a spy. Any prisoner of war convicted of spying or treason was put to death on the spot. But only after that person's name is utterly disgraced and they were broken. The enormity of her choices still weighed on her. Before she had to only worry about being discovered as having a human as a friend, now she has to worry about being accused of being a spy.

'But what am I to do?'

She thought to herself while she coldly eyed the stack of work in front of her.

Hopefully it doesn't mean I have to finish going through all off this.

She got up from her kneeling position and walked out the door. She wished for some time to think, away from the bureaucratic drudgery she had to deal with. Outside, positioned on either side of the opening, were two Rangers, guards for their new commander. They both straightened and began to follow her as she walked down the glowing corridor of the Ardent Prayer, a corvette that she and the remainder of her troops had taken refuge in.

She was admired by the crew of the ship for her combat record against the humans. Despite the fact that she had given all the credit to her former commander Ruan. He was the one who had planned the defensive strategy. All she had done was reinforce the positions.

Besides if it was a victory, why did she felt like she had lost everything in that fight? Her honour, her dignity, her very purpose was stripped away from her by that uncertainty. Is it true what Michael had said? If the Prophets had lied to her people about who were heretics and who were not. Then, was it possible they lied about everything else. What about the Great Journey?

She shivered at the very thought as she turned a corner into another the hallway. She walked past three off-duty Rangers. Two of them were Dinjit and Kova, the technician who accompanied them on the mission into the human base.

All the Rangers lowered their heads respectfully, but she noticed that aside from Kova, the other two had looks of thinly veiled disgust on their faces, especially Dinjit. She sighed after she walked past them, most of the Covenant troops still did not believe in female warriors and Dinjit's belief in that matter had increased profoundly after she got rid of him as a suitor. If she survived and found some males that are as understanding as Kova, then she would try to find a mate after the war.

Her body shivered again when she realized that this was no longer possible. She was no longer allied with the Covenant, she was against them now, and if they found out then she can never return to Sanghelios again. Unless she does what Michael had suggested, talk to her people and get them to see the Prophets as the liars they seemed to be. But how can she get an entire race to see this without being killed for her heresy?

Michael, a human, a supposed demon. How does she know she could trust him?

'Do I simply trust him because he believes in me and gives me more respect than anyone else?'

She didn't like that idea either; it was excruciatingly painful having such a lot to think about. she couldn't even ponder on it too deeply without getting hurt emotionally.

She suddenly felt the floor beneath her lurch, and for a crazy moment thought that the humans were launching an attack. Then she realized, it was simply the ship launching another bombardment on the human planet. She walked to the closest window and looked out into the darkness of space, heedless of her trailing guards. She watched as glowing blue orbs the size of Wraiths flew to the dusty brown surface.

How many innocent people were dying because of this?

Could she really do it? Could she truly become a spy and deliver critical information to the humans? The thought of helping the enemy, helping a different species, to fight against her own was a hard concept for her to grasp. But what kind of information should she give to the humans? Something that could help them survive was all she needed to give them. Something to give her time to think which side was more justified than the other.

What information could that be? As a high ranking Commander she had access to most of the Covenant plans of invasion, but not all. Not to mention she was still feeling uncomfortable about betraying the Covenant and more importantly her people.

She needed to talk to Michael. If anyone can help her make sense of this mess it would be him.

But how? She was the Commander now, she couldn't simply disappear like last time, not without causing a commotion. She needs help to get off the ship. Someone she can trust, but who?

She groaned in irritation, for once can't there be an easy choice in her life?

"Is there something wrong Commander?"

Queried one of her bodyguards after having heard the sound of frustration.

She wondered how to respond when the three Rangers they passed walk by, probably returning to their posts. She then had a mad thought, so insane it might actually work.

"Kova." she called out, causing the three sangheili to stop and snap a sharp salute, setting their fists against their chests. The aged warrior steps forward.

"Yes Commander?" He asked uncertainly.

"I need to speak to you in private."

Shress's replied. When Dinjit understood her request his head snapped up and he gave Kova a look that could kill. Then he seemingly remembered that Shress, an officer and his superior, was present and he dutifully lowered his head again.

Slightly concerned by the venomous look, Shress continued.

"Come with me back to my quarters."

"Ma'am."

Was his only response as they both turn back around and walk towards Shress's room. Shress couldn't help but feel a pair of eyes staring at her. A quick turn of her head and she saw Dinjit quickly turn his own away from her. Was there something she was missing here?

Neither of them said anything as they paced through the halls. Whether Kova was nervous or not was unclear, he maintained his inscrutable demeanour throughout the journey. When they arrived to her room the escort Rangers took up their original guard positions by the door while Shress and Kova entered through it.

Kova glanced around the room. It was sparsely furnished with a grand bed in one corner and a closet opposite. By the closet was an ornate weapons locker. In the middle of the room was a large table sagging low to the ground, its anti-gravity generator clearly taxed by the weight of the multiple documents that are on its surface.

"Nicer than the tents on a planet?" Shress asked trying to lighten the strained mood.

Kova chuckles. "You deserve it; I heard you ran into a demon on the surface, anyone who can survive such a monstrosity should be commended."

Shress said nothing and looked intently at the wall to hide her shocked expression.

Who told Kova? Better yet, who was it that told them? Was it possible that this person saw me talking to Michael?

Noticing her response, Kova bowed his head and broke the silence.

"My apologies Commander, I had not mean to be so forward on the subject."

Shress waved the apology away in an absent-minded manner.

"It's fine."

She paused when she noticed Kova's strange look. Shress gave him a quizzical look in return until she realized what had caught the veteran off-guard, her use of the human gesture. She quickly put the hand down and cursed Michael lightly for being such an influence on her.

Hoping to steer Kova away from asking her about the gesture, Shress settled on the topic of the apparently common knowledge of her duel.

"Who told you I had faced a demon?"

Kova just snorted.

"Dinjit was boasting about it, one of his friends was guarding the Spire and he claimed to have seen a demon go up and later saw you escape moments before it was destroyed. The guard didn't say anything about you fighting the demon though. It was Dinjit who started that rumour."

Having racked her mind for any reason Shress turned back to Kova,

"Why did Dinjit start that rumour?"

Kova shifted on his feet , a slight betrayal of his discomfort.

"Because, well he started it when he was still your suitor, he was trying to gain more fame for himself. Not only by pursuing a Zealot, but also a survivor of a fight with a demon."

Shress lets out an aggravated snarl.

'Of course, put the male first before the famous would-be mate.'

Kova waited a while for her to calm before he continued,

"If it is of any satisfaction Commander, I think Dinjit now regrets his boastful words. He has just made you more famous."

Despite herself, Shress smiled at the thought of Dinjit's own arrogance having caught him. Deciding to consider it more later she gestured to the table.

"Please, have a seat."

Shress knelt at one end of the table while Kova copied her posture on the other side. However she couldn't see him due to the haphazard towers of holo-folders in her way. She growled again before taking a swipe at the papers and knocking them to a sprawled pile the ground.

Kova cocks his head to the side in mild interest. Shress just returned to her previous posture unconcerned.

"I'll pick them up later, I have had enough of paperwork."

Kova nodded. "Now I understand why you refuse to be a house mistress, my own mate has to deal with twice that workload."

Shress looked at the documents again seeing yet another reminder of how close she came to being a housemistress before she returned her eyes to Kova.

"Kova. I know we have worked together only once, but in that time I came to trust you, and now I need your help with something."

Kova tensed and straightened.

"Of course Commander, I'll do whatever required of me."

Shress thought this through, but she wasn't so sure if Kova would believe her, either way, he's here and she needs to tell him, fortunately he's already willing.

Shress spoke in what she hoped was a confident voice,

"I plan on going on a covert scouting mission into human territory, and I'd prefer it if you would accompany me."

Kova's mandibles open wide in surprise. True the Sangheili were superior in every way compared to humans, but they were still dangerous. Especially their allies known as demons. To go into enemy territory was always dangerous. Only expandable soldiers would risk infiltrating the enemy region, and then only by the direct orders of an officer.

Shress knew this and knew that as a Commander she would be creating an even greater risk. But she needs to talk to Michael. Get her mind focused once more. The only person she trusts to come with her, but won't pry, would be a soldier as loyal as Kova. Even now, he was clearly trying to reconcile his loyalty with the idea of following her on the very idea of this mad scheme. Shress continued, her voice hardening towards the end.

"I need to do some important work in a region, secretly, I can't take just anyone, I need someone who can help me, to watch my back, and most importantly. Will not tell anyone what I am doing or charge of on reckless glory hunts."

Kova continued to stare at her until he sighed.

"I am old Commander, I won't be much help in a fight."

"I don't need you to fight. I need you to be with me because protocol won't allow an officer to go on a mission on their own without at least one soldier accompanying them. All I need you to do is make sure no one is following us and to protect the ship while I do my work."

Kova was silent while he thought.

'Please say yes.'

Shress silently wished, if he said no, there was nobody else she could think of that's as suitable as Kova. To add to her problems, if Kova refused, there was a possibility that he could tell another officer of her intent and that would create too many complications. Finally Kova gave his answer.

"Under whose orders are these sanctioned?"

"My own. It is secret and no one else, even a fellow officer must know of what I am doing. At least until I complete this."

Kova lets out another sigh, and used his thumb and middle finger to massage his eye ridges before he responded.

"I'll do it,"

Shress was both relieved and elated at his response.

"But for the sake of the Prophets I hope we won't get into trouble, I'm getting old you know."

"I know." Shress replied a teasing smile clearly visible to the aged warrior.

Kova only snorted.

"So which region are we going to?"

Shress takes in a deep breath, unsure how the old warrior would react and answered in an almost self-conscious voice

"The last place where the squad of demons were last seen, so probably the most dangerous region on the planet."

Kova stared at her again before leaning his head back and groaned,

"Oh good grief."

**Six POV**

The blue-clad Spartan crawled on his stomach across the barren wasteland, the dark shadow of the ever present carrier hung over him like the impending fist of some vengeful god.

After the destruction of the Grafton, the soldiers had tried to retreat back to Sword base, until the Carrier released a deadly bombardment of plasma salvoes onto the helpless retreating forces. The resultant shock wave forced their Falcon out of control, the pilot killed in the ensuring crash. The Spartans had survived and had began to move cautiously away from the twisted wreckage.

Now here they were, trying to move through hostile territory, trying to regroup with the rest of Noble Team while avoiding the alien death squads.

Six suddenly held up a fist and the other Spartans following his lead froze. A few minutes later, a Scarab passed by overhead, its massive cannon swivelling around trying to find its prey. The four-legged metal beast however soon moved on when it didn't detect anything to warrent its interest it.

The three men squad waited for two minutes after it was gone before pushing forward.

On their last leg of their journey, they return to their feet and moved towards the Spartan Transponder, a beacon that one of their other Spartan squad mates must have set off.

They found their way to a cave entrance and after scanning the interior, Six entered first, followed by Jorge and then Carter.

Inside, the stone cave was Emile, Jun, and Kat, all sat patiently, awaiting the arrival of their missing brothers in arms.

Carter and Kat immediately moved to the cave entrance to talk tactics while Jorge threw a box of supplies down on the ground. Emile gestured at it.

"What's in there?"

"Just some stuff we were able to salvage from our recent crash," Jorge replied.

Emile got up from where he was sitting and opened the box. He let out a disgusted noise as he gazed at the contents; four battered Assault rifles, three grenades and a single flare. His quick rummage failed to produce anything else of value. Disatisfied he turned back to Jorge, scepticism clear in his voice.

"You carried all this junk in this big box? Really?"

Six simply shook his head sadly, before he took a seat next to Jun who was methodically dismantling and cleaning his sniper rifle, content with ignoring the rest of his squad.

Lacking any such distractions for himself Six began reflecting on recent events, he remembered how he felt they were on the verge of a major victory when he entered that Spire. Along with how quickly and painfully that hope died when he met Shress. He liked Shress, she was one of his few friends. It pained him to fight her. Especially after the last time that they met. It had somehow felt heart-warming to him, despite the circumstances.

It was as if their vicious encounter was an omen that things were going to take a turn for the worse. And they had. A Covenant army has arrived, the UNSC reaction force has been all but destroyed and now his new friend was its Commander, his new, and most important target for elimination.

He sighed as he fiddled with his armour, his muscles having easily ran through the natural movements of tuning and oiling it. He thinks back to that meeting again.

'Why didn't she want to come?'

He could see it; he saw her sad desperate look, one of being torn, uncertain and lost. A look all too common among soldiers. He didn't know why, but he knew for certain if she had come with them, then he would have helped her. He was just as upset as Shress, having seen his friend hurting without being able to help was painful. It was even worse for Shress

She's trapped within the Covenant, forced to kill people that she now knows are innocent.

He snorted, here he was hiding in a hole in the ground while their planet, his home was under attack. And all he can worry about is the invader's commander.

'I wonder if she will really be a spy for humanity.'

If she would be, then how could they exchange information? Furthermore, how could he pass the information to his superiors without revealing his relationship with Shress? If he had to reveal her existence he would be in trouble for befriending the enemy.

Jun bumped his shoulder. Having gained Six's attention he nodded towards Carter and Kat. No longer were they whispering in a slow defeated tone. It was now more energetic as they argued and counter-argued with each other. The disagreement could only mean one thing, they have a mission, one that Carter doesn't approve of.

Six didn't care if it was a suicide mission, he just wanted something to do to keep his mind occupied preferably by hitting the Covenant where it hurts. The rest of the Spartans were seemingly of the same mind, having got up and reloaded their weapons before walking to the two arguing.

The whispered battle between Noble Team's Commander and tech officer ceased as the rest of the team assembled around them. Jorge broke the silence,

"So, I'm assuming we have a plan?"

Kat looks to Carter who had a disgusted look on his face but he nodded to her anyway. Kat calmly turned to Emile and attempted to take his precious Kukri knife from its sheath. Emile quickly grabbed her hand, preventing her from taking it.

The two locks eyes in a silent showdown until Kat asked in a semi-sweet voice.

"May I?"

Emile just let it go as Kat pulls out his knife.

"Don't cut yourself."
Six noticed that this was a weak comeback compared to the ones Emile had made back at Sword Base, it seemed the unexpected defeat had tired them all.

Kat knelt on the dirt floor and began drawing complex images that seemed nonsensical to Six. When she was done, there was an image of what looked like a big engine, a rough outline of a Covenant ship, an outline of one of their space defence vehicles, and a crude shape of a space station.

"Our plan is this, we're going to get our hands on a Slip-space drive and convert it into a fusion bomb."

Then she drew a circle around the engine. Then she encased the human machines in their own circles.

"We are going to require assistance from Anchor Nine and a squadron of Sabres before delivering it to the Super Carrier above us, and then."

She stabbed the knife into the image of the Covenant ship.

"We detonate the bomb."

Six tilted his head in confusion.

"But won't a slip space fusion bomb cause a rip in the fabric of time or something like that?"

Kat answered him promptly and with the slightest tone of condescension.

"Technically it'll cause a rip in slip-space that'll separate the majority of the Carrier to another point of interest somewhere else on the space table,"

Emile turned to Jun.

"What?"

"We're going to rip the ship in two."

Was Jun's laconic response.

"Oh, why didn't you just say that?"

"I did, thanks for sharing,"

Emile just grunted, easily catching his Kukri as it was tossed back to him by Kat. Carter's enthusiasm was even less than Emile's.

"Brilliant plan Kat and where are we going to find a spare slip-space drive?"

"That's why we're going to Anchor Nine. Its primary job is to perform maintenance checks on shuttles, civilian and military, surely they have one we can use."

"So, we're all fine and dandy, so now what?"

Kat didn't miss a beat at Jorge's question.

"Now we need a green light from Colonel Holland."

Carter turned away from the cave mouth briefly.

"Good luck with that,"

Kat smirked as she held out her data pad to him.

"You're the one asking."

Carter frowned and gave her a hard stare, Kat responded by raising an eyebrow. Finally, Carter got up and grabbed the data-pad and retreated back into the cave, his muttered declaration clearly audible to everyone.

"There's no way Holland will go for this."

The group of Spartans waited for Carter, their conversations having lapsed into silence as they simply stared at the destruction the Covenant was causing. Bright blue flames wash over desert lands, melting the ice in the mountains, smoke rising from the few once-living trees that were still visible in the dull sooty haze.

Six glanced at Jorge to see how he was. Reach was important to the Spartan II's. Even if it was boot camp this was the only place that stuck in their memories as home. Where they were trained, where they were taught, and where they found a new family with their fellow Spartans. Now Jorge could only watch as his home was engulfed in flames, his expression completely devoid of emotion.

Before Six could say check on his giant friend, Carter returned, tone as serious as ever.

"It's a no go Spartans."

Six saw Kat tense but before she could speak Carter continued.

"Problem is we don't have enough pilots for a full Sabre squadron. This mission is already dangerous if we go in with just three, without a full squad it would be suicidal."

"But Commander, this could be our only chance to-"

"I'm sorry Kat, but unless any of you, knows how to fly Sabre, then it won't work."

Six felt uncomfortable as his commander's eyes panned over them. He coughed and gained the attention of Noble Team. He looked a little sheepish, well as sheepish as a Spartan could look.

"Well sir, I know how to fly a Sabre."

Numb shock spread throughout the team as they took this information in, until Carter asked the question they all wanted too.

"Why were you given aerial training?"

"I was trained as a lone wolf sir. Naturally to prepare me for anything I was trained to drive or fly any and all kinds of vehicles. I can pilot any ship in the UNSC that isn't a shuttle."

Kat was fighting hard to keep a smirk off her face before she turned to Carter. He held up his hand in her direction and talked to Six again.

"Hold on Lieutenant, if I'm correct, you're going to need a co-pilot, and I'm sure that none of us knows how to fly, much less a Sabre."

"Well, sir you don't need to know how to fly to be my co-pilot. I'll do the heavy lifting, I just need someone to count my ammunition, check my fuel, and watch my six. It'll be no different than riding in a Warthog."

Emile was the first to respond

"At least with a Warthog you can bail out at the first signs of trouble,"

His jokes were sometimes annoying, but this was the first one he had cracked since the assault, signalling the rise of morale. Carter still wasn't smiling however.

"That's not it. Holland says we'll have all the support we need, even a frigate, if we can solve one small problem."

"What?"

Kat, looked offended at the very idea that an obstacle had escaped her eagle-eyed notice.

"We're facing a Super Carrier people, unless we have five frigates, there is no way we can get close enough to the ship. Unless any of you have any suggestions on how we can get on board?"

They were stumped on that one. Throughout the war the only way to get inside an enemy vessel was to cripple it and then brave anti-air fire in an attempt to land within the ship. They all experienced this and they all knew it was true. To assault a Super Carrier without sufficient firepower or numbers was plain madness. Carter sighed before he rested his hand on Kat's shoulder,

"It was a good idea Two, but we just lack the means to execute it."

Kat only nods, fury clear on her face at her plan being unravelled in less than five minutes, which Six guessed was probably a first in her career.

"Let's get some sleep Noble, I'm on first watch, guard shift will change every two hours going in order of our ascending Spartan numbers."

As Carter settled himself down at the cave mouth weapon in hand. Six laid down by one of the cave walls quietly grateful for the 8 hours he would get. Exhaustion from the battle and its utter failure was enough of a reason for Six to escape into a dreamless slumber.

It seemed like almost no time at all had passed before a dull tapping echoed into his ears, quickly waking him. Six opened his eyes to find Jorge gently tapping his helmet with one finger.

"Your turn Six, wake me when breakfast is ready,"

Was Noble Five's only comment as he walked to the back of the cave for two more hours of sleep.

Six yawned as he got up and grabbed his rifle before he headed outside. The harsh flames had died out in the night, leaving a glassy sheen that glowed slightly as the light from Reach's satellite hit it. Six switched on his night vision and scanned the area. He saw no threats. He sat down on a rock close to the entrance of the cave and tried to remain alert despite the alluring siren song of sleep calling him.

Yesterday the landscape was breath-taking, range after range of beautiful rock formation that towered into the clear desert sky. Now nothing remained but the fused glass of the sand. Millions of years of natural work to form that beauty, all destroyed in less than a day.

'Just like the others.'

Six thought to himself, remembering the fate of millions of people who were killed whenever the Covenant glassed a planet. There was no escaping such a horrible fate; to be burned alive and to have your bones crumble into dust before finally fusing into glass was a daunting prospect, one that fuelled Six's rage as he remembered previous massacres.

Six was suddenly alerted when his motion tracker beeped. Something had just entered within a twenty five yard radius of him, something big. He cautiously got up and kneeled, levelling the rifle in the direction of the incoming hostile. Whoever it was, they was getting closer. Six kept one eye trained in the direction of the unknown intruder and the other on his motion tracker.

The person was now twenty yards away. Six flipped off the safety. Fifteen yards away. He should be able to see the person but couldn't, was it a cloaked Elite? Ten yards away. Should he wake the rest of his team, or should he try and handle it himself?

His wondering ceased when the intruder stopped, about five yards away from him. Six raised the rife at where he guessed the invisible adversary was, silently daring them to make a move.

Without warning, a shape materialized in front of him, shocking him, no Elite would reveal themselves, unless…

He has his helmet zoom in on the creature while it was a few some feet away. He was relieved to recognize Shress. He had no idea how, but now it was becoming easier for him to distinguish her from other Sangheili. Her seven foot height, combat-ready stance and her armour covered in dents that he had become familiarized with marked her as his friend.

He was about to lower his weapon but stopped. He remembered last time how she had attacked him on sight. Would this to be any different?

Oblivious to his uncertainty, Shress gestured for him to follow her before she turned around and walked some distance away. Six glanced to the cave entrance once before he took a calming breath and hurried after her.

They travelled only ten yards away, into a large smoky crater that was from one of the plasma bombardments. At first Six was reluctant to follow Shress into the glassed hole, the ridge and elevated landscape was perfect for an ambush. He shrugged it off when he reminded himself that if this was a trap, then Shress would be caught in the crossfire as well.

He jumped in after her and landed with a crunch on the ground. Six tried not to blanch when he looked down at his feet and stumbled away in horror. There were skeletons sunk into the floor. Human skeletons, their bones now crystal. Their grinning skulls looked everywhere, one in particular was turned on its side and seemed to be gazing into Six's soul.

The Spartan heard a sigh and looked up to see Shress looking at the human remains as well. She gestured at the skeletons

"I was always sickened by this. I had always made peace with my soul by telling myself that this was the death of heretics, not innocent people. Now knowing so many died for nothing is a nightmare I must live with for the rest of my life."

Sensing no danger from her but a lot of remorse, Six placed his rifle down.

"It isn't your fault Shress, it was the Prophets, they used you. I know you would never have done those things if you knew."

She took a shaky breath before responding to him.

"How is it that you can trust me? After everything we have done, after everything I have done, I would have thought you'd of have hated me."

"I admit I did hate you Shress.

Seeing her shaken expression he quickly continued.

"But that changed when I learned you were an honourable person, someone who believes in righteousness and honour."

Seeing her uncertainty Six elaborated further.

"Humans have a saying, action speaks louder than words. Your actions towards me proves that you are a good person who has respectable values."

Shress exhaled before she spoke.

"Thank you Michael, you're the only one who seems to know how to make me feel better."

Six nodded, accepting her complement, although he realised he was failing in his guard duty. Although the radar was showing no other movement, he'd long ago learnt not to put all his trust in machinery.

"Is there anyone else with you? I don't feel comfortable leaving my team unprotected."

Six was slightly surprised to see Shress wave her hand in the air, in an unmistakably human gesture.

"Do not fear Michael, the only one with me is an old Ranger by the name Kova, he's my most trusted soldier and he swore to me that he'll stay with our ship while I conduct my business."

Six accepted it, thinking of his own lies that he had to tell in order to meet with Shress. They lapsed into silence. Six realised he'd have to bring up the subject that he knew was the reason why Shress was here but also the one they'd been avoiding.

"Shress I need to know, as will my team in due time, whose side are you on?"

Shress was silent as she looked to the stars above them, refusing to look at Six. Was she really still trying to decide? It was a no brainer to Six to decide who was in the wrong here. The psychotic aliens who attacked unprovoked, or the humans who were already battle-weary due to the rising insurgencies. Shress sighed as she turned to him,

"Michael, you are asking me to betray the Covenant, the very theocracy that I have been serving and believing in since birth and my people for eons. To come and help other species. The members of which will probably hate me until I die, how can I make a choice like that?"

Six had never even considered that sort of scenario before but he tried to reassure her.

"True not a lot of people will be happy, but you can help turn the tide of an unjust war and help your people to see the truth as well, making you a legend."

She just snorted at that.

"My people will forbid me to ever return to my home, I can't just tell them they've been lied to for centuries, how would you feel if you learned that everything you have ever learned was a lie?"

Before Six could reply she turned away.

"I know Michael that even if I sacrificed myself for your people, no one will ever honour me, or even like me."

Six sighed before walking up beside her and puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Shress-"

Suddenly Shress grabbed his hand and throws him over her shoulder. Six flipped in the air once before he crashed on the ground, forcing all the air in his body out.

He laid stunned on the ground trying to suck in some oxygen where an errant thought crossed his mind.

'No wonder I'm supposed to never let my guard down.'

Shress's face appeared over him, stuttering her apologies.

"I'm so sorry. I just, I didn't mean to, it was a reflex. Are you alright?"

Six waved his hand.

"I'm fine."

He gasped as he pushed himself up.

"Now I know how you became a Zealot."

Shress still looks worried as he continued to reassure her.

"I was just putting my hand on your shoulder, sorry, sometimes I forget you're not human."

That intrigued Shress.

"Really?"

"Really, that's what I was going to say, I like you Shress."

Seeing her eyes widen he quickly added.

"As a friend, if I can learn to like you, a 'demon'", he said teasingly, "and focus on all the good you can do, then I bet you anything that you can earn some allies among us."

Shress was silent, stunned, before she responded.

"Thank you Michael I suppose then, I will fight for you."

Now it was Six's turn to be shocked. Zealots were supposed to be the most fanatic of the Covenant's soldiers. Yet he was able to turn one, no. To befriend one, something that he doubted anyone would have even considered doing.

He laid a hand on top of Shress's hand.

"I know this is hard for you Shress, but I promise you it'll be worth it, and I'll do everything in my power to help you to get your people to see the truth."

The Sangheili looks at him before she encased his hand in hers and squeezed it.

"Thank you Michael, you're one of the few people that I could call a friend."

Six looked at her incredulously.

"Seriously? I can't believe someone like you doesn't have a lot of friends."

She just sighed.

"Not a lot of males in the Covenant would easily agree to acknowledging a female as an equal."

"Well they should. I certainly enjoy your company and I'm happy to see you are prepared to do something no one else is brave enough to do. You're determination is impressive, keep that up and you'll have a lot of human admirers, everyone loves a determined woman."

Shress shifted from foot to foot and Six realizes he had actually embarrassed the Elite.

'Well that's a first.'

She shuffled her feet awkwardly and tried to change the topic, moving onto more serious matters.

"Um, so what is it that you need information on?"

Six thought for a bit, what do they need? The number of Covenant troops? No need, it doesn't take a genius to know they were outmanned and outgunned. Plans of invasion? That won't help much since the Covenant mostly bombards a planet first before glassing it and they rarely engage in ground battles. Position of Covenant ships? That isn't needed, there was only one of significance and in due time more will come.

'Wait, that's it!'

"Shress, do you know how we could get on the Super Carrier?"

Shress cocks her head to the side.

"The what?"

"The massive ship above us,"

"Oh, you mean the Long Night of Solace."

"Err, right, I think that's it. Anyway, we need to know how to infiltrate that ship."

Shress looked closely her tone truly serious.

"Why?"

How is she going to react.

"We're going to try and slip a bomb onto the ship and destroy it."

Shress was silent as she took this in. Her first job as a spy was to find a way to end thousands of lives. Knowing this Six tried to make it more palatable.

"Listen, since you're a Commander and all, maybe you can order them to abandon ship or something, try to empty it before we arrive."

He knew the UNSC wouldn't be happy if they didn't kill as many Covenant troops as they could, but Six was doing this to comfort his friend, and without her they wouldn't get the ship at all. Finally Shress answered.

"I can do that, and I think I know of a way to get you on-board the ship."

"What!?"

"Just like I said sir, it's that simple."

Six answered the sleepy-eyed Carter. They were stood outside the cave entrance and Six had just got done going over the plan he and Shress had pieced together.

Carter rubbed his eyes before fixing his steady gaze on Six.

"Where did you get your information Spartan? Dreamland? I've never heard of an opening on top of a corvette, in fact I didn't even know there was a corvette above us. Who told you that? I find it hard to believe you came up with all this on your own."

Six hesitated, not sure how Carter would react to his confession. He assured Shress when she left that he'd tell Cater about her and try to get her on his good side. But now that he was facing his Commander, whose haggard face looked worn from the recent defeat and lack of proper sleep. He wasn't so sure how he was going to take the news.

Noting the silence, Carter pushed.

"Six I need to know this. I need to know that your source is reliable, I'm not about to put our lives at risk until I know for certain that this intel is solid."

Six sighed.

'Here comes the bomb shell.'

"I have an informant."

Carter became stock still and silent. He remains that way before slowly turning his head to fully face Six.

"What?"

Six repeats more confidently.

"I have an informant sir."

There was silence again as Carter processed it.

"In the Covenant?"

"In the Covenant sir."

Six responds in a voice identical to his Commander's.

Carter ran a hand through his hair, then he let out a puff of air.

"How?"

So Six began to tell his story. How he met his alien friend on his first mission with Noble team and the lie he told of her escaping. He told him of when they met again at Sword Base and how it ended up with them making arrangements to meet each other again which lasted for nearly a month. He recaps of running into Shress again during the battle and how he won her support and was able to persuade her to change sides. Finally, he shamefully admitted that he had left his post early that morning and had come up with this mad scheme with Shress, based the first intel she had given to him.

There was an unnerving silence as Carter took the information in.

Finally he asked.

"Do you trust her?"

"With my life,"

Six was just as startled as Carter when the unexpected words left his mouth.

Again came the silence until Carter spoke again.

"You're telling me that I have to risk the lives of my team by having them follow a plan that was made by a Covenant Commander. Who might I remind you is one of our prime targets."

"Yes sir, I helped make this plan and gaining current information from a high-ranking officer has its value as you well know."

Carter was silent before he calmly stated.

"You do know you broke a lot of regulations by doing this, enough to earn you a life imprisonment. Don't you?"

Six lets out his long held breath

"Yes sir," he confirmed.

"I have every right to arrest you and throw you in the brig right now," Carter continued.

Six only nodded before he looked at the ground. He'd expected this.

"However, we are short of brigs at the moment."

The casual tone of voice causes Six to look up, hope blossoming in him. "

"Since we may very well be facing the end of humanity, I don't think it matters whether we are fighting beside innocent or guilty men."

The words caused shame to blossom in Six's chest darkening his previous hope.

"So until this is all over, you are still a part of Noble Team and I'll give this plan to Command and see if they agree with your mission."

For a moment Six was stunned before he gratefully replied,

"Sir, thank you sir."

"But know this Six. If you withhold critical information like this again or lie to me again, I will not hesitate to hand you to the mercy of the UNSC, even if it means your court-martial, understood?"

Carter tone was grim and deadly serious. Six lowered his head and murmured his understanding.

Carter nodded before he got up.

"With this new plan it is most likely Holland will say yes."

He stopped, waiting until Six raised his gaze before finishing.

"Wake the team and get them combat-ready and pick your co-pilot."

"Yes sir,"

Six responded before he turned and walked into the cave. He paused before entering and cast his gaze upwards into space. Unsure why, Six simply whispers,

"Shress you better be out of there soon."

Before he headed inside the cave and woke up the rest of the Spartans.

After a few minutes of grumbling, cursing and eating MREs, Carter walked in, helmet on and rifle in hand, and quietly informed them, of their orders.

"Missions a go people, get some chow in you and get ready to go, we're about to initiate Operation Uppercut."

-
To those of you who have just found this story I say welcome and to those of you who follow me I say welcome back.

I have just started a new job so my schedule is out of wack right now. I also have an editer for this story. His mane is Verbus so I welcome you to check out his story and send him your thanks for without him I would not be were I am now. He has seriously helped me out in the editing department.

Jtf0012 out.