Episode 8: Truth and Reconciliation

After repulsing an attack by the Covenant in the Adair nebula, the SDF-1 Macross executed a random slipspace fold that took the huge battle fortress to the Threshold system. After exiting slipspace however, the Covenant fleet was waiting for the Macross near an ancient ring world of unknown origin. Then, just as the Covenant were going to engage the Macross, a Zentradi fleet appeared near Halo and was engaged by the Covenant. Captain Gloval, sizing up this new and strange situation, decided to leave the carriers Daedalus and Prometheus on the surface of Halo and attempt to return to Reach to gather reinforcements. However the RDF's first mission on the ring world quickly turned to disaster when Commander Lisa Hayes, Rick hunter and Ben Dixon were shot down near the crashed Covenant cruiser Truth and Reconciliation.

Max now speeds toward the Prometheus in order to mount a rescue for his stranded friends.

"Stupid me! How could I have let that overgrown bug shoot down my friends?" Max exclaimed to himself. He was so grief stricken that he failed to realize the fifteen small blips on his radar that were slowly following his fighter.

"Skull 24, you have fifteen bogeys following you at 6 o'clock low! Take evasive action!" Roy yelled into Skull 24's comm. channel.

Max snapped back into reality just as the lead Banshees fired off their plasma cannons at Max's Veritech. Max took his fighter into a series of barrow rolls and tight turns, trying to evade the shots as best as possible. He was narrowly able to dodge the fire passing by his cockpit canopy.

"Let's see what this fighter's got," Max said to himself as he climbed and banked right, trying to get behind the Banshee fighter screen. "Here we go. Gotcha!" Max yelled as he fired off a spread of micro missiles at the flight of Banshees. Three of the fighters burst into flames and plummeted toward the ocean below.

"This is Wolf Ten to Skull 24. We have your back over," Jack stated over the radio. By now the flight of Banshees had split up in an attempt to overwhelm Max, but two more Veritechs now entered into the fray.

"Yeah! Got two! Am I good or am I good?" Wolf Eleven exclaimed as her missiles detonated on the Banshees in front of her.

"Watch it, you got two on your back Izzy!" Jack screamed into the comms. Izzy didn't believe it until blue plasma shots flew by her cockpit canopy. She barrow rolled to the left but it was too late. One of the plasma rounds punctured a hydraulic fluid line. Izzy continued to roll until she switched the fighter to batteloid configuration. Wolf Ten watch in horror as Izzy plunged toward the nearby shoreline. It was obvious that she couldn't control the batteloid completely during the descent.

"Wolf Ten, watch out!" Max yelled through the radio. The same two fighters that shot down Izzy were now lining up Jack Archer's fighter in their sights. Just as they were about to renew their attack on the lone fighter, the Banshees were racked with multiple gun pod rounds and exploded in midair. Max was now an official ace.

"Skull 24 and Wolf 10, the enemy fighters are falling back. Return to the Prometheus. We'll have two pelicans pick up Izzy's batteloid," Roy informed the two pilots over the comm. "Max what happened to the rest of your flight?"

"They were shot down near the crash site. A scarab got them. We need to mount a rescue sir," Max replied.

"Understood. I think I know just who to ask."

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Several hours had passed since Rick crashed landed on the desert plateau. When he woke up he realized that he wasn't in his fighter anymore. Instead he woke up in a purple cell with a pulsating blue energy wall that was transparent. He looked around and saw the injured body of Lisa Hayes lying limp on the floor.

"Darn! I had to get captured with HER!" Rick thought to himself. He got up and walked over to the energy wall. He looked around from his vantage point and noticed that he was in the last cell block in this brig. He also noticed that there were no guards around. Then he heard some moaning coming from Commander Hayes.

"Ah, what happened?" Lisa asked as she woke from her unconscious state.

"We were captured Commander. Just stay still while I examine your injuries." Rick replied, approaching her.

"No I'm quiet all right. OW!" She screamed as she tried to lift herself up. She quickly sat back down against the wall.

"What was that again?" Rick asked sarcastically as he sat next to her.

"Very well then Ensign Hunter. Examine my injuries." Lisa stated.

"Ok, where does it hurt?" Rick asked as he turned to face her.

"My arm that I tried to lift myself with. I think the joint is dislocated," Lisa replied, groaning.

"So, I guess we're going to need to pop it back in place then. Here, bite on this," Rick said, handing Lisa a scarf. She placed the scarf in her mouth as Rick lift her arm. Then suddenly Lisa felt a sharp pain screamed to the top of her lungs as the arm was put back into place. "Sorry about that Commander, but it needed to be done," Rick said to her consolingly.

He was about to back away from Lisa when she asked, "That's all right Hunter. Do you have anything I can use as a sling for my arm?"

"Ah… no I don't, but maybe we can use your tunic as a makeshift sling," Rick supposed.

"All right. Help me take it off," Lisa stated back as she unbuttoned her tunic with her good arm.

"Yes ma'am, of course," Rick hesitantly replied as he walked up to Lisa again, blushing a bit this time.

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"So, what do you think of these RDF troops?" Fhajad asked the Chief as he took apart an AR-21 he'd found in a weapons locker.

"I don't know what to think. They didn't react to me like most UNSC troops would. They treated me like a friend," the Chief replied as watched Samuel take apart the 500 year old gun. The Chief noticed that the rifle had 5.56mm ammo and could carry 50 to 100 rounds per clip.

"Hey, it's selective fire as well," Fhajad stated with surprise. "I wouldn't mind taking this old rifle through its runs with the covenant."

"Linda, you haven't said anything at all yet. What happened?" The Chief asked. Linda was simply staring out through a small portal.

"I think Ben is in trouble John. He's somewhere over there," Linda replied as she looked out the window. As soon as she said that there was a knock at the door and Commander Fokker entered the room. The three Spartans turned toward him and saluted.

"At ease," Roy said as he raised his hand and returned the salute. "The reconnaissance flight we sent out was shot down. Only Max was able to return. The covenant most likely captured the pilots. We'll need to rescue them," Roy stated.

"Of course Commander Fokker. Do you have any idea where they were taken?" The Chief asked.

"I do," Linda stated. "I can feel Ben somehow. I could act as the compass."

"How many units are you sending out?" Fhajad asked.

"From what Max has told me, the crash site of the two ships has some fighting going on around it. We'll need to send in a small strike team that would go unnoticed," Roy replied.

"You have any ideas sir?" The Chief inquired.

"As a matter of fact I do," Roy replied with a smirk on his face.

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"So this is what Commander Fokker thinks a surprise attack is composed of," the Chief thought to himself. "Three Veritechs in guardian mode escorting two Sea Sergeants to the plateau. At least the enemy won't expect such old birds to be on this ring world."

"The enemy captured the crew of the Cats-Eye and the pilots of Skull 23 and 25, and are holding them aboard the cruiser that recently crashed," Linda stated.

"Are you sure? We didn't get any Intel when we left Prometheus." Sergeant Johnson asked.

"I'm sure of it. Pilot, have you spotted the cruiser?" Linda asked.

"Yes, I have Ma'am. It's on the other side of the plateau about 300 meters above the surface," the pilot replied.

"So how do we get inside the ship if it's in the air? The Corps issued me a rifle, not wings," Besenti asked in his usual sarcastic manner.

"There's a gravity lift that ferries troops and supplies between the ship and the surface. That's our ticket in Besenti. Now get tactical Marines!" Johnson ordered his men. The marines and the Spartans checked the weapons they had on hand. Fhajad was sporting the AR-21 he'd found.

"Once we get inside the ship, we should be able to locate the brig and free the pilots," the Chief stated. The Sea Sergeant they were in was making a slow descent toward the plateau below with the Veritech hovering overhead. Finally the Helicopter landed and the side door slide open.

"Hit it Marines, go go go! The Corps ain't payin' us by the hour!" Johnson yelled as the rescue team jumped out of the Sea Sergeant. The second one landed nearby and Sergeant Stacker's team began securing the area.

"Stick to the higher ground Linda. Recon the Covenant position ahead of us without being spotted," the Chief ordered his fastest runner. Linda quickly ran up a ledge near the right side of the canyon wall. "Nothing on the motion tracker… It's all clear for now, just watch your step." Linda advised. The three teams of marines and Spartans skulked through the pass and saw the most horrid sight most of them had ever seen. A good sized platoon of grunts, elites and jackals lay dead on the ground next to two massive dead Zentradi. There were also two dead Hunters in the area, one still in the clenched fist of a Zentradi.

"Damn! Sarge, we don't have the firepower to take on those giants," one Macross marine stated as Johnson and Stacker walked back to the helicopters.

"Hey, you think the fuel Rod guns on the Hunters killed those giants?" Samuel asked.

"Maybe. Just maybe," the Master Chief supposed out loud.

"I think we should return to base, or at least hold here until a Pelican can drop off a Scorpion," Jenkins said.

"Hey where are Sergeant Stacker and Johnson?" Mendoza asked.

"Right here son." Sergeant Johnson replied while carrying two Jackhammer rocket launchers slung on his back. "When I joined the Corps, we didn't have any fancy-shmancy bazookas, we had sticks...two sticks and a rock for a whole platoon. And we had to share the rock! Buck up, boy! You're one very lucky Marine!" he said as he threw one of the Jackhammers at Mendoza. "Now marines listen up! No fifty foot giants or five foot piglets with pansy ass pea shooters that shoot green shit are going to get between us and the captives aboard that cruiser. Am I right Marines?" Johnson asked boastfully of his men.

"Ah… sir?" One of the Macross marines tried to ask hesitantly.

"Yes son… Uh, I know, unprofessional," Johnson stated with a sigh. "What's your name anyway?" Johnson asked.

"Corporal William A. Ogle sir!" The marine stated as he snapped to attention.

"Well Ogle, I hope you can handle ol' spanky here," Johnson said as he threw the other rocket launcher in front of the marine.

"Sir!" Ogle yelled as he slung his AR-21 on his back and grabbed the rocket tube.

"Alright, let's head 'em out men," Johnson ordered as he loaded a clip into his assault rifle. As the rescue team ghosted across the plateau, passing through narrow passes and into wide fields enclosed by canyon walls, they spotted more dead covenant bodies and Zentradi corpses. They finally made it to the gravity lift entrance and encountered no resistance. "All right, step lively marines. So far we've have had an easy time, but once we are in that ship we can expect some heavy resistance, so Ogle and Mendoza, leave your 'Spankers' at the door," Johnson ordered. Ogle and Mendoza dropped their rocket launchers and stepped into the grav lift system with the rest of the rescue party.

"Whoa!" Besenti exclaimed as he began to float into the air.

"Yeeehaw!" Another marine cried out in joy as the rest of the team entered the lift. Soon the hull of the cruiser passed under them.

"We're in. I've got a good fix on where Ben is. No Covenant defenses detected on the motion tracker." Linda stated.

"What, there's no Covenant here? I think maybe nobody's home," Mendoza stated out loud. Then suddenly Covenant squads of grunts spill out of a door and opened fire, sending the team diving for cover.

"'No Covenant huh? Ya had to open your mouth!" Besenti cried out as he fired off five rounds into a grunt, pulping its face.

"Contact! Lot's of contact!" Jenkins yelled out as a group of grunts and elites emerged from another doorway.

"Eat grenade!" A grunt yelled as he threw a live plasma grenade toward a group of marines.

"Ah, get it off!" Ogle cried once the grenade attached to his pant leg. The grenade went off a second later, sending the mauled body of the marine toward another group of grunts, pinning one to the ground.

"This ones for you Billy!" Another marine screamed as he held the trigger down on his Assault rifle filling the grunt that threw the grenade full of lead. After several minutes of furious fighting, the Covenant attackers were all dead.

"Area secure, sir. We'd better keep moving," Lance Corporal DeLuna stated after quickly checking the corridors that the Covenant troops had come through.

"Where do we go now?" Mendoza asked.

"How about that door?" Fhajad said sarcastically. The team walked down a large access tunnel of some kind until they came upon a massive blast door.

"The door's locked Sir. I can't bypass it. We can't get through here," DeLuna stated.

"We can use the side passages to find a way around," Linda told the Master Chief.

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"Look at me. The first chance I get at command and I fail miserable on my first mission," Lisa said to herself.

"It's not a complete failure. Max is out their right now gathering a rescue team," Rick informed his superior.

"Even if we escape right now, what would prevent the Covenant from glassing over Earth? I thought I was a soldier, who would struggle for survival even if I were the last one left. But this is the sorry state I'm in now," Lisa said, motioning toward her injured arm.

"Don't say that. We are going to get out of here," Rick said back.

"I'm sorry...I was arro-" Lisa stopped speaking when the shields holding them within the cell shut down and the armored head of a Spartan leaned in.

"Commander Hayes, Ensign Hunter. Good, you're both still alive. Come on, we have to hurry," the Chief stated as he walked into the cell, holding out his hand to Lisa. Lisa grabbed it with her good arm and was quickly yanked to her feet.

"Coming here was reckless Chief, you should know better." Lisa stated.

"What no thank you?" Johnson asked as he entered the cell.

"Hey Rick! How are you doing?" Ben asked.

"Not bad." Rick replied.

"Listen Commander Hayes, while the Covenant had me locked up in here, I overheard the guards talking about this ring world. They call it... Halo," Ben informed the group.

"Are you sure Ben?" Lisa asked, interested by this new information.

"Well, I actually heard a bunch of sounds I couldn't make sense of, but Linda was listening to what I was hearing and was able to translate it.

"Really. Huh... Who would have thought?" Lisa said to herself

"Commander Hayes, while I listening the Covenant kept saying… Whoever controls Halo controls the fate of the universe," Linda stated.

"This 'Halo' must be a weapon of some type then. If Halo is a weapon, and the Covenant or even those giants gain control of it, they'll use it and wipe out the entire human race," Lisa stated with renewed vigor. "Master Chief, I have a new mission for you. Find Halo's control center and secure it. Alright marines, Let's move!" Lisa bellowed out as she picked up a plasma pistol from a fallen elite.

The rescue team hurried unchallenged toward the Covenant ship's landing bay. When Ben and Rick looked down they saw their Veritechs below and Max's in it's guardian configuration. The micro arms extended from the Veritech and were repairing Rick's fighter. "Max has already repaired your fighter Ben. Commander, we have a Sea Sergeant waiting for you on the port side Launch bay. If you'll follow Sergeant Johnson," the Chief informed the former captives.

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"My lord, we have intercepted a transmission from the alien battle net. Apparently a group of Micronians that call themselves Humans have successfully boarded one of their cruisers," Exedor informed his commander.

"Hmmm…. Micronians eh? They would be able to access the more sensitive regions of Installation 04. Humble!" Breetai supposed to himself out loud.

"Yes mi' lord, but the aliens that call themselves the Covenant are planning on a large scale offensive against the probable location of these Micronians," Exedor further explained.

"Interesting."

"What is your plan Breetai?" Exedor asked.

"We will let this Covenant attempt their little plan and we will aid these Micronians when the time is right and make a temporary alliance of sorts," Breetai concluded. Soon everything would fall into place, and his victory would be assured.

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Next on Robotech/Halo: the Covenant launches a major aerial offensive against the RDF forces over the ocean. Then support comes from an unexpected source. Don't miss Confrontation, the next exciting chapter in the Robotech/Halo saga.