0900 hours, August 20, 2527 (military calendar)

Unknown Space

A series of portals formed in the middle of space allowing for a Covenant fleet to appear. The fleet was known as the 'Fleet of God's Embracement' with the 'Keeper of Legacy' (Modified CSO-Class Supercarrier) as the command ship. With the Modified CSO-Class ship as the command ship the fleet also contained 7 CCS-class battlecruiser, 45 CRS-class cruisers, 68 CPV-class destroyers, 136 CRS-class frigates, 129 SDV-class corvettes, and 71 different support ships. While not as large as many fleets like the Fleet of Valiant Prudence or Truth's Fleet, it was created for its own purpose.

It was made not to invade or perform fleet battle but to explore, extract useful relics, and defend the highly important occupants. As a result, the personal aboard the ships were not the standard crew and warriors but highly trained and equipped. It was shown on the armor they wore moving about the ship being black in color except for the high ranking personal who had a mixture of black and their color rank.

The person they were following and protecting was no other than Priestess Vexa 'Vodom who was in one of the command chairs going over the data she recently received from the Prophet of Truth. He had received some reports from the drones that were sent out about a report of Forerunner technology being in this area. He would have sent a small patrol, but the scans show that there was a significant amount of it. Enough to warrant for her to come here.

'According to the charts we are not far from the other campaign taking place at that nearby planet. I believe the humans call that planet Harvest' she thought before turning to Shipmaster of the ship. "Doko 'Muromee, what do our scans pick up from the area?".

The Sangheili looking over the bridge crew paused what he was doing to give her his undivided attention. "From the scans that we have received, there is only a single planet and two moons orbiting it. While the moons are normal and barren, the planet is massive in size with strange readings coming off of it. I have sent a group of three destroyers and ten frigates to do some investigation" he reported.

"And where are the drones in the area? We should be able to collect them and gain some more data on the area" she inquired to which he nodded and spoke to another Sangheili for the information. She watched on as his expression was not something she liked.

"Scans are unable to locate the previous drones. The location they were supposed to be at, they are no longer" he reported back as her councilors around her stood up in alarm. Drones don't just go missing was a shared thought.

"Order the fleet into defensive positions and get in contact with High Charity and the nearest fleet" ordered Councilor Xaro Drakamee as Councilor Kuvu Drakamee moved down to the consoles to get a better look at the situation. Councilor Toze Drakamee was already giving out orders to other personal to be on ready and alert positions. Her triplet councilors worked amazingly well together. It's as if they share the same mind and know each other's actions before they make it.

With the orders being sent out the fleet started to rearrange itself with the CSO being in the middle surrounded by 4 CCS-class battlecruisers. The rest formed a sphere around them with ships performing patrols around the edges.

With multiple patrols being sent out with scouting parties as the fleet went to work on gathering information, nothing reacted to it. They were picking up nothing on the scans and no replies were being sent from High Charity yet. They must be looking into it on there end was the thought process. The bridge while still compiling information an alert came on the console to which Doko answered.

"Report"

"This is scouting Group Ember. We have reached the unknown planet to begin our scout. Reports and images show that the planet is uninhabited by any intelligent species. Only local wildlife live here. Scans have also shown us this. Transferring data to you now" reported the Sangheili as data was being sent.

Bringing up the data on the main holo table showed an image of two destroyers and three frigates hovering next to a large tower like structure that seemed to go down deep into the earth. Scans also show passages throughout the structure with activity taking place inside.

"It's a structure made by the gods. The scans from the missing drone are correct" spoke out Doko to which Vexa frowned but said nothing about it. Learning from the left-over relics provided her with a lot of knowledge. Knowledge to know that the 'Gods' are not actually gods. They are just an advance race of beings who created astounding creations before mysteriously disappearing. She had only shared this information with her councilors, and they had informed her to keep this secret. No need to be declared a heretic and be killed. It was best for everyone to come to this conclusion naturally.

"Let's move the fleet in so we can investigate. Have the group secure the area but do not enter. Doing so can turn the defenses hostile. Something we want to avoid" she ordered to which every party nodded, agreeing.

The fleet changed from its defensive posture to move towards the new findings on the planet. While wanting to get there as quickly as possible, they were not fools to let their guard down. It was only when the fleet was in orbit that alarms ranged out as reports came in.

On the opposite side from the portals started opening up in order for ships to come moving out. Ships that they easily identified as human due to their build. The fleet watched as numerous ships appeared one after another until the number of ships was three times their own. While alarming to some degree, it was a well-known fact that Covenant ships are more advanced than humans.

The two fleets stood in their positions facing each other, neither advancing nor retreating. Not a single projectile was fired on each side as if they were waiting for the other to blink first.

"Did they set this up as a trap for us? Is that why the drones are missing?" questioned Vexa looking at the fleet

UNSC Fleet Command Ship "Alexander's Spear" Punic-Class Supercarrier

Vice-Admiral Preston Cole, the new captain of the Punic-Class Supercarrier 'Alexander's Spear' and in charge of the fleet, Second Wave was staring at the Covenant fleet in shock. They had used this route to avoid Covenant spotters in order to get the drop on the fleet attacking Harvest. They were not supposed to be here. They were also not attacking his fleet either so they must not be here waiting for them. They might be even surprised as they were.

From the scans of the fleet, they were not a large one. The large one is attacking Harvest right now. They could attack this fleet, but chances are they will sustain heavy loses making their plan to help the forces at Harvest minimum at best. That's if they win and their Captains were not as well trained as his own.

He could also ignore them and continue on with his mission while running the risk of them following them. The two enemy fleets combining would mean assured defeat. While he couldn't safely rule out that they would do that based on the fact they were not attacking, he couldn't rule that out as a possibility. It seems they are focus on that planet.

"Scan the planet. I want to know why they are focus here and send a report to command on our current situation. We shall maintain our position and not fire unless fired upon" he ordered the crew. 'The more time we have, the more time we can prepare and see what they are doing here' he thought

"And order the Spirit of Fire to prepare to make landfall on the planet. On my orders they are to combat and investigate whatever the Covenant has there. If it's a base they are making for future invasions, destroy it" he added. With the end of his commands the A.I. Theodore who looked like a Naval officer, but highlighted green gave salute to him and disappeared off his console.

Spirit of Fire

Aboard the Spirit of Fire personal were running to their assigned spots as red alarms started blaring out through the halls. Marines were running to grab their combat loadout and then running to the pelicans and falcons waiting for the go ahead to launch. Vehicles and aircrafts were starting up in their bay as systems checks were being conducted as well as weaponry being loaded. ODST forces were arming up in their gear before locking down in their drop pods waiting to be launched.

A group of three Spartan's were walking along the path ignoring the other crew and marines that were rushing to get to their own positions. Stopping at a door they waited for it to open to which it did once recognizing who they were and allowed them onto the now identified bridge. Coming to a stop not far from the command chair, they stood at attention watching two personals looking over a holo table.

The two personnel were identified as Captain James Cutter and Professor Ellen Anders. They were looking over the enemy fleet as well as the scans that were coming from the planet with the A.I. known as Serina.

"I have a strong feeling that this Covenant fleet is not here for us but for something on this planet" stated Anders focusing more on the planet scans as Cutter was more focused on the enemy fleet.

"Why do you think that?" he asked bringing up reported specs of the enemy ships.

"From every report that we gain from a Covenant invasion they do two things. They are searching for something, and they wipe out all human life on the planet. We have no forces on the planet so there is no need for them to launch ships to it. So, they must be searching for something and also this" she stated as she brought up the image of the modified CSO Capital ship.

"We have no ships matching that description on our records. They are not using that as a secret weapon because if they were it would be at Harvest with more protection right now. Which means its for protecting someone important. Maybe the important person is searching for something on this planet" she explained making Cutter think.

"Her statements do hold merit. I'm inclined to agree with her. They are also not attacking and leaving us in pieces. We seem to be not their main concern" spoke up Serina

"So that you are right, what do you suppose we do about it?" questioned Cutter folding his arms

"Simple. We send Red Team and me to find out what they want on the planet. We can also send Red Team if they have that important individual on the ground on a capture mission. It would give us valuable information. Maybe even a way to end this war. There is also Blue team onboard the 'Alexander's Spear'. We can request their deployment for assistance" finished Anders as everyone looked at Cutter to include red team for his final call.

"That's a big if. I will relay these thoughts to Vice-Admiral Cole to see what he says. The mission will be green lit only on his say so" as another man walked in from the side.

"And you will not be going down on the first birds with Red Team. You are not going to the surface until it's clear" he added to the conversation as the group looked at him to recognize him as Sergeant John Forge.

"Agreed" finished Cutter cutting off any lip Anders would of have about Forge's change.

Note:

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