Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo - MechWarrior/BattleTech crossover.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is it. The last chapter for this crossover. Thank you all for your wonderful support and feedback. This redux of my earlier crossover has been a wonderful experience for me, and I hope it was a wonderful experience for all of you. Thank you again for your support.
I am also going to close the poll that I have going on currently. For those of you that voted on a Command & Conquer/Mass Effect crossover, congratulations. That choice was the clear winner for this poll. If you want to see for yourself, as well as the other choices that were voted on, go ahead and visit my profile. You'll find the poll at the top of the bio.
I will also restart my original schedule of writing two crossovers at a time. I will also be starting up a few that I put on hiatus some time ago. For those of you wanting a break from crossovers with BattleTech, be sure to check those out.
As always, leave a review, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Halo or MechWarrior/BattleTech franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Game Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, FASA Corporation, FASA Interactive, Catalyst Game Labs, Piranha Games Inc., etc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to it's respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or artists.
MechWarrior 5: Heroes of The Inner Sphere OST - Surrounded
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries OST - Remembrance
Installation 00
En Route to Installation 08
December 20th, 2552
While the Pelican holding Bero and the others began flying for Installation 08, another one was quickly making it's way to the same installation. Onboard, Chief made sure his weapons were loaded and ready for what might be the last time. Around him, others prepared for what they felt might be the last time.
Alex was onboard, with the experienced Clansman fully clad in his Nighthawk Power Armor, along with Shaw and Alberty, the former of the latter two wearing Elemental Battle Armor instead of the lighter Power Armor. Coming along for the ride was the Arbiter, which rounded out the group nicely. All they could do now was wait until they got to the Control Room for Installation 08.
As they flew along, Chief remembered the mission briefing one last time. Chernenko, in order to deny the Flood a chance to cripple their efforts, had decided to use military grade nuclear weapons in order to destroy High Charity and kill the Gravemind, if possible. The team had just gotten ready for the mission to Installation 08 when they received confirmation that High Charity had been destroyed.
Even now, Chief could see, with a little effort, the mushroom cloud that marked where High Charity used to be. The cloud itself was fading away, with the mushroom-like shape slowly dissipating as the winds and climate of the place began to rectify themselves. A part of Chief hoped that the Gravemind had been incinerated by the nuclear blast, but a part of him knew that the Gravemind was tougher than that. We'll find out once we're at Installation 08.
"Everyone is onboard," R'tas, who had helped coordinate the evacuation from Installation 00 reported to the Arbiter. "Humans… and Elites. Will you not come with us, brother?"
"No," Thel replied, his voice solemn, but resolute. "This is our fight, and I will see it finished."
"The same goes for me," Alex replied. "A little over two months ago, I declared a Trial of Annihilation against the Flood and Covenant. Now that the Covenant has been annihilated, I will see it through with the Flood as well. They will regret ever deciding to attack us."
"Damn straight," Alberty affirmed. Shaw simply nodded, with his attention focused on the installation they were leaving behind.
"I'm moving the Wisconsin as close to the Control Room as I can," Captain Michael Rodgers reported. "It's proving to be tricky. Riga IV-class WarShips are not as maneuverable as some of the other UNSC Frigates, even with the upgrades they provided. Don't worry, though; I'll be in position. Johnson, you ready to disembark?"
"Aye, sir," Johnson replied.
"Good to hear." With that, the MILCOM line went dead.
Eventually, as they flew along, Chief felt the Pelican slow down, with the VTOL quickly coming to a stop in what appeared to be an unfinished ravine. Snow was present, but he could also see Forerunner alloy, which he knew provided much of the installation's structural integrity.
"This is as close as I can get," Hocus reported to them. "Good luck, Chief. Kick the Flood in the ass for me, would you?" Chief merely nodded before getting out with the others.
At the same time, he heard another Pelican flying in. Looking up, he watched as it deposited a single Sangheili before it flew off. "Bero," Chief nodded. "I assume that your mission was successful."
"It was," Bero replied. "The Flood has been defeated, though for how long, I do not know."
"Is the Gravemind dead?" the Arbiter asked.
"I do not know for certain," Bero replied, his mandibles forming the Sangheili equivalent of a frown. "I could sense it's body being destroyed, but the Gravemind was a collective consciousness. For all I know, it could have transferred it's mind into other Flood forms in order to survive. Either way, we have come too far to be halted by the Flood. We must complete our mission."
"Fair enough," Chief nodded. Turning around, they began to move forwards.
"Halo," Cortana breathed. "It's so new… unfinished. I'm not exactly sure what will happen when we fire it."
"We'll head for the Portal," Chief replied as he tossed a rifle to Bero. "And we'll all go home."
"That assumes that all goes well," Alberty remarked. "As an old adage from the Inner Sphere goes, 'no plan survives contact with the enemy.' Plus, it is always darkest before dawn."
"Very true," Alex nodded. "Well, how about we stop flapping our lips and start moving our legs. I grow tired of inactivity." With that, the team began to move forwards.
Maneuvering through the place was tricky, since much of the place hadn't been completed yet. "Those cliffs are a good path forwards," Cortana reported. Nodding at that, the team proceeded forwards, moving along a snow covered path that led forwards to a cave on the other side. Moving inside, they found that the cave led forwards into the next area.
That was where they found the Control Room and the area surrounding it. To Chief, the Control Room looked exactly like the original, but the area around it was different. Unlike the original Control Room location, which had a small frozen lake, and a relatively flat area, this one had no such lake, and metal protrusions poked up out of the snow at regular intervals.
They were about to proceed forwards when Alberty said, "Uh, oh! We have incoming sensor contacts!"
"The Flood has survived!" Bero shouted. "It is as I feared!"
"Stay together!" Alex shouted. "We have not come this far to run now! Push forwards!" Weapons raised, everyone began to move towards the ramp on the left side of the Control Room.
As they did so, something flew down from above, shattering like glass as soon as it hit the ground. Looking around, Chief spotted what looked like pods, only they were covered with Flood biomass. As soon as they shattered open, a combination of Infection, Pure and Combat Forms spilled out of them, before charging forwards.
Moments later, a familiar voice spoke. "Did you think me defeated?!"the Gravemind roared. "I am eternal! You will be consumed!"
"Flood dispersal pods!" Cortana realized. "The Control Room's at the top of the ziggurat, Chief! GO!"
"Everyone move!" Alex shouted. "Weapons free!"
Shaw laughed, a deep, chilling sound that sent shivers down Thel's spine. "It is time for me to roast the Flood alive! I will relish the experience of roasting them alive with my Flamers!" With that, he ran forwards, quickly catching up to the others.
Rifles barked and roared as they gunned down any Flood that got in the way. HEI rounds detonated on contact with any Flood forms, while splattering semi-adhesive fuel that burned hot. Plasma bolts from Thel's SLDF manufactured plasma rifle zipped through the air, setting Flood on fire while cooking them alive.
Alex gunned down a Combat Form just as he spotted movement on his right. Spotting a Pure Form charging at him, he turned to engage it, only for a gout of fire to roast the Pure Form alive. Turning to Shaw, he watched as the Battle Armor clad Clansman sent more gouts of fire at the Flood, while the Pulse Laser mounted in the Antipersonnel Weapon Mount fired off, cutting a Combat Form in half.
Shaw always liked playing with fire, Alex thought as he gunned down another Combat Form. He is no pyromaniac, though, which is comforting. He is not obsessed with fire.
Eventually, they reached the ramps that led up the ziggurat and to the entrance to the Control Room. As soon as they reached the ramps, they quickly began to move up. Even with a five man team, things were quickly becoming challenging, as it was clear that the Flood were intending to overwhelm them through sheer numbers.
"Die, you Flood stravag!" Alex roared as he kicked a Pure Form in the face, staggering the thing before firing his M42D at point-blank range into a Combat Form, blasting it's sickly body apart. Before the Pure Form could regain it's momentum, Chief smashed a grenade into it's tentacled maw before the others leaped away. Moments later, it exploded, splattering infected flesh and bodily fluids everywhere.
Reaching the other side, they moved towards the ramp when they heard another sound, though this one was far more reassuring. Within a second, several Sentinels, including an Enforcer, seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Soon, incineration beams and mortars joined the bullets, plasma bolts and laser beams that were tearing into the Flood.
That was when they got a surprise guest. Just as a Combat Form leaped at Chief, it was immediately disintegrated by a red-orange incineration beam. Moments later, a Monitor flew into view. "Reclaimer," it said in a voice that was similar to Guilty Spark's, only much deeper in pitch, "I am 000 Tragic Solitude. I am here to provide whatever assistance I can."
"I thought you were at the Ark still," Chief replied, temporarily confused.
"I was, but I decided that you and the others might need a hand," Tragic Solitude explained as it disintegrated a Pure Form. "As long as Installation 08 remains in the vicinity of the Ark, it is still my responsibility to oversee it's security against the Flood. Until it actually leaves the region of space Installation 00 occupies, I'm technically in control. Besides, I do not want to be remembered as an ungrateful Monitor that let his friends down." While Chief still had questions, he was satisfied with the answer he got for now.
As they climbed upwards, Chief thought he saw a bright red laser beam cut a Pure form in half. Looking behind the group, he spotted Johnson standing on a cliff that was near the Control Room door, a modified Spartan Laser on his shoulder. "I got you covered, Chief," Johnson said to him. "Meet you at the top of the tower." Nodding, Chief and the others continued forwards.
Eventually, they reached the top of the ziggurat, where the Control Room doors were at. Here, Forerunner Auto Turrets were firing at the Flood, incinerating any that got too close to the doors, while gold colored Sentinels fired away, their higher energy incineration beams killing even Pure Forms. As he supported Chief and the others, Johnson shouted, "Spark? You in there? Open the damn door!"
"Of course, Reclaimer," Guilty Spark replied. "Just as soon as you dispose of all proximate Flood threats. I'm afraid decontamination protocols do not allow me to -"
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you!" Johnson growled irritably. "Hey, Tragic Solitude. Can you open this door?"
"Now is not a good time!" Tragic Solitude replied. "Wait until the Flood are gone, then we can open the doors!" Shrugging in frustration, Johnson decided to blow some steam off by killing more Flood.
It was probably one of the more difficult fights the entire team had faced. The Flood kept on coming, though their numbers were quickly being whittled down by the team. More than once, gouts of fire would leap from Shaw's Flamers, while more Flood would be torn apart by HEI rounds, plasma bolts and laser beams. "How much longer can they keep coming?!" Alberty shouted as he blasted a Combat Form apart. "Is there no end to them?!"
"They are weakening!" Bero shouted as impaled a Pure Form with his tail, before slapping it away with said tail. "I can sense it! We are almost through this!"
As they fought, the Gravemind attempted to intimidate them. "I have beaten fleets of thousands!" it roared. "Consumed a galaxy of flesh, mind and bo -"
"Shut up, stravag!" Alex snarled as he blasted apart the offending Flood form. A moment later, he quietly mumbled, "And people say I have a flair for the dramatic. This asshole is worse." With that, they continued to fight.
Eventually, all of the Flood in the area had been neutralized. Moving down a path to the Control Room door, Johnson cleared his throat and said, "Open up! Coast is clear!"
"Not for long," Cortana reported. "I'm tracking more Flood Dispersal Pods. They'll be hitting any minute."
"I will stay outside and guard the door," Shaw informed the others. "Any Flood that attempt to breach the doors will find their death awaiting them." Turning to Alex, he said, "Good luck, Captain."
"You too," Alex replied before they began to move inside.
As they moved inside, Chief felt that tickling sensation where his CNI was at again. "Do I take life, or give it?" the Gravemind snarled at him. "Who is victim, and who is foe?"
"It's trying to rebuild itself on this ring!" Cortana realized, horror stricken.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Alex snarled.
"Hurry, Control Room's close!" Johnson told the others. Moving through the hallways, they eventually reached the Control Room proper. To Chief, it looked identical to the original Control Room, down to the layout of the room itself.
As the blast doors closed, Cortana said, "Yank me, Chief." Nodding, Chief pulled out the chip, before looking at Johnson.
"I'm not gonna lose her," Johnson remarked. Reassured, Chief tossed him the data chip, which Johnson grabbed with unerring precision. With the data chip in hand, he began to move to the control panel for the entire installation.
As he did so, Guilty Spark flew into view, along with Tragic Solitude, the former of which was humming a tune familiar only to it. "Oh, hello!" he beamed. "Wonderful news – the installation is almost complete!"
"Terrific," Johnson remarked, uninterested.
"Yes, isn't it?" Guilty Spark beamed. After a short, tense silence, it said, "I have begun my simulations. No promises, but initial results indicate this facility should be ready to fire… in just a few more days."
"We don't have a few more days," Johnson growled impatiently.
Guilty Spark was shocked. "Bu-bu-but a premature firing will destroy the Ark!"
"Deal with it," Johnson said dismissively.
Before Guilty Spark could protest, Tragic Solitude said, "Guilty Spark, a moment if you please." Guilty Spark remained in place for a moment before flying over. Once the two were some distance from the others, Tragic Solitude said, "I know that you are worried, but this is the only chance that we have. You and I both know that, in a few days, the Flood will have created the Gravemind, and we will be back to where we were a few hours ago."
"But if this installation fires, your own will be destroyed, along with this installation!" Guilty Spark protested.
"You and I both know that is not the case," Tragic Solitude replied sharply. "I have already run the calculations. In it's current state, Installation 08 will only damage the Ark, not destroy it."
Coming closer, Tragic Solitude's voice took on a more emotional tone. "I understand why you don't want this new installation destroyed. I also don't want to see it gone, but we have to make choices that we don't like in order to uphold the greater good. I've had to make choices like that for over one hundred and thousand years by Human standards. Please… don't let your fear and selfishness damn the Reclaimers into an eternally losing war against the Flood."
With that, silence reigned in the Control Room. Guilty Spark, despite being a machine, looked as though it had taken a punch to the gut. It hovered around for a few seconds before turning to Tragic Solitude. "Can't we find any other solution?" it asked.
"None that will work against the Flood as effectively," Tragic Solitude replied. "We can replace the Installation we are on, and we can repair Installation 00 if it takes damage. We cannot replace the Reclaimers. I wish there was another way, but sadly, there is not."
There was a full minute of silence as Guilty Spark thought this through. Finally, it said, "If that is what it takes…" Turning to Tragic Solitude, it said, in a voice filled with sadness, "Alright. Do what you have to do. Just… let me have a few seconds to say goodbye."
"That is alright," Tragic Solitude nodded. While Guilty Spark took the time to say goodbye, Tragic Solitude flew over to Johnson. "He just needs a few seconds, and he's agreed to the plan."
"Alright," Johnson nodded. "So, mind if I go ahead."
"Yes," Tragic Solitude nodded. "Before you do so, Johnson, let me ask a question. If you were in his place, would you do the same?"
Johnson was silent for a moment, before he said, "If that's what's necessary to save Humanity? Yes. I'd do it, but I can sympathize with the little guy."
"I see," Tragic Solitude nodded. "When this is over, I'll do what is necessary to help him find peace. He has been through a lot, as have all of us." While he said this, Johnson put the data chip into the console.
Once Cortana came onto the projector, she said, "Alright, people. Get ready; when we light this thing, we've gotta get out of here. I don't know if this ring will last." Nodding, the others waited for Cortana to upload the Index.
As soon as she had, Johnson, after she gestured to him, yanked the data chip and handed it to Chief. As he did so, a brilliant blue-white beam of energy shot upwards from the bottom of the chamber to the top, bathing the room in bright light. With their objective complete, they began to leave.
The moment they did, the room began to shake violently. "Move it! RUN LIKE HELL!" Alex shouted as a support strut came down onto part of the walkway, causing it to tilt to the left. Reaching the door, they began running outside, with Guilty Spark and Tragic Solitude following closely behind.
Apparently, Shaw's decision to remain behind had been the wise one, as the man was still watching the area, with a massive amount of burnt Flood forms lying on the ground when they reached the exit. Spotting Alex and the others running towards him as fast as they could, it didn't take long for him to guess what was going on. Instead of questioning them, he ran alongside them, the myomeres in his armor amplifying his speed greatly.
Running up the slope to the doors immediate right, they ran along a snowy path on the cliffside. Flood and Sentinels were engaged in combat with each other. "They won't fire on us," Tragic Solitude informed the others. "This is where our paths must part, Reclaimers. I will take Guilty Spark to safety. Good luck!"
"You too," Chief nodded before following the others through the door in the cliff wall. As they entered, they moved past the Flood and Sentinels that were fighting each other. They only neutralized those that were immediately in the way.
Apparently, the Gravemind knew what had happened, as it spoke, but in a defeated and resigned tone. "Resignation is my virtue," it said, defeated. "Like water I ebb and flow. Defeat is simply the addition of time onto a sentence I never deserved… but you imposed." After that, it fell silent forevermore.
Running through the hallways, Chief spotted light on the other side. At the same time, he spotted a vehicle driving up to them. "Chief," a voice said to him over the COM. "Captain Rodgers sent us to pick you all up. This is our fastest Hover APC."
"Everyone onboard!" Alex shouted. It didn't take long for everyone to pile into the Hover APC and buckle in. "Driver, get us out of here!"
"Hang on, boys!" the driver shouted. Moments later, the Hover APC began to accelerate, the fans behind the flexible skirt reaching blowing as hard as they could. It wasn't long before they began to rocket down the canyons.
As they did so, they came across large swaths of area that hadn't been finished. Metal panels were everywhere, along with bumps and rises that would've formed small hills, bumps and other geological formations. As they flew along, powerful explosions tore panels out of the ground, sending them flying while creating dangerous pitfalls. "Watch it!" Cortana shouted.
"I got it!" the driver shouted. Apparently, he was very skilled with his job, as he skirted around the holes each blown-out panel had created. Reaching a ramp, the Hover APC flew into the air before landing inside of what appeared to be a structure that had the path turn ninety degrees to the left. Courtesy of it's method of locomotion, the APC landed softly, before the driver turned hard to the left.
They were not the only ones racing to escape the impending disaster. Flood forms were busy engaging Sentinels, the latter of which were buying time for the APC to escape. "Hah!" the gunner shouted as they flattened a Combat Form. "Flood roadkill, baby!"
"Focus," the driver chided. "We're not out of the woods yet." With that, they entered a tunnel that led to the next area. The tunnel also had jumps and bumps, but that wasn't the only danger. Support beams were collapsing from the ceiling, creating hazards for them to maneuver around. "Damn," the driver remarked. "Good thing I was a high speed racer before I was conscripted!"
Maneuvering through the tunnel, they jumped the gap and quickly began racing through the other side. "Charging sequence at 30%," Cortana reported. "It's too much for Halo to take! The entire ring is tearing itself apart!"
"We'll be fine," Chief reassured her.
For the next few minutes, they zoomed past any Flood that were present, while avoiding any pitfalls and obstacles in their way. A large pillar fell down, smashing a number of panels to pieces. "YIKES!" the driver shouted as he avoided the flying debris, though a few panels lightly hit the APC, jostling it.
Reaching the final bend, Cortana announced, "90% - firing sequence initiated!"
"We're almost there!" the driver shouted. "I can see the Wisconsin up ahead!" True enough, Chief could see the WarShip in question, it's UNSC built anti-gravity engines keeping it calmly floating.
As they approached, an explosion ripped out part of the ramp leading to the WarShip, creating a short gap they had to jump. "Hang on!" the driver shouted, gunning the throttle. The Fusion Engine inside hummed loudly as it protested it's treatment, but it wouldn't have much to complain about for long. As soon as they reached top speed, they jumped the gap.
For a few seconds, there was weightlessness as the APC flew through the air, the fans underneath keeping the vehicle level. Then, they flew into one of the hangars for the Wisconsin, the underside smashing into the metal plating. Throwing the vehicle around, the driver kept the throttle on full, working desperately to slow the APC down.
While he couldn't succeed in slowing it down completely, he did slow it down to safe levels. Chief felt himself being thrown around in his seat as the APC smashed into the back wall, crumpling some of the fans on the vehicle, as well as some armor plating. "Ladies and gentlemen, we've arrived!" the driver announced. "Captain, we're aboard!"
"About time," Captain Rodgers announced. "All hands, brace for immediate acceleration! Let's hope the Engineer modified engines and inertial compensators can take the stress." Moments later, there was a brief moment of vertigo as the compensators kicked in, with the WarShip quickly zooming away from Installation 08. Chief got a brief glimpse of it before the Hangar Bay doors closed.
As the Arbiter and the others got out and made for the bridge, Cortana said, "Chief, if we don't make it -"
"We'll make it," Chief reassured her.
"It's been an honor serving with you." Reaching a compartment, he got inside and buckled down. Resting his head, he sighed heavily as he thought about what was happening.
The war is over, he thought. We have won the war. The Covenant is no more. For a moment, he felt a brief, violent shudder, then everything went black.
. . .
Earth
UNSC/SLDF War Monument
Three Months Later
Standing in front of the memorial, Admiral Hood removed his cap, before looking up. All around, were hundreds of UNSC and SLDF Marines, along with dozens of Clan Wolf warriors that had come to attend this event. A number of Sangheili were also present, along with Xhov and some of his Lieutenants. Admiral Chernenko and Patrenski were also present.
Three months, Hood thought to himself, a bitter taste at the back of his tongue. Three months since we won the war. We have won, but we have also lost so much. He could still see them: the faces of those that had died during the war. Even now, a tear slipped down his cheek as he remembered the faces. A reminder of the terrible price we've had to pay.
There was also another stark reminder of the war behind him. To honor the veterans of the war against the Covenant, the Star League, in a generous maneuver, had built a one and a half kilometer, five meter tall black granite wall that had the names of all those that had died etched into it's surface. SLDF personnel that had died had their names outlined in silver, while UNSC names were outlined in gold. Those that were of alien origin had their names outlined in silver and copper.
Formally, it was known as the 'Star League & UNSC Monument to The Covenant-UNSC-Star League War.' Informally, it was known as the 'Memorial Wall.' Already, loved ones had left small tokens, along with pictures, to honor those that had fallen.
Clearing his throat, and his thoughts, Hood began his speech. "For us, the storm has passed. The war is over. But let us never forget those that ventured into the howling dark… and did not return. For their decision required courage beyond measure… sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their fight, our fight, was elsewhere. As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren. A memorial to heroes fallen. They ennobled all of us… and they shall never be forgotten." Putting his cap back on, Hood saluted, along with all that were attending.
Later, after a three volley salute, and a speech by the others, Hood was standing before the memorial, looking at the names inscribed onto the surface. Nearby, Alex and those that had returned from Halo, were watching, all but one.
Hood now why as well. According to Alex, something had happened with the Portal, which was believed to be a collapse of the Slipstream Space Portal. As such, the ship had been sheared in half, with not even the materials the SLDF had designed being able to withstand such a catastrophic event. While Alex, the Arbiter and a few others had gotten out, Chief was among those that were missing, or presumed dead.
As the Arbiter approached, Hood looked at him and said, "I remember how this war started. What your kind did to mine." Noticing his fist was clenched, he relaxed before saying, "I can't forgive you. But…" Turning to Thel, he shook the Sangheili's hand, before saying, "… you have my thanks, for standing by his side at the end. Hard to imagine that he's dead."
"Were it so easy," Thel said simply.
"That man was more of a Clansman than many that I have met," Alex remarked, his voice sad as he looked at the memorial. "Clan Wolf will forever remember him in the Clan Wolf Remembrance. Even in death, he has won undying glory and honor, forevermore."
. . .
Onboard the Shadow of Intent, R'tas found himself looking at a holographic projection of Earth. For the first time, instead of thinking of how to most efficiently glass the surface, he found himself admiring the planet's natural beauty. It is strange, but I will learn how to live without having to wage war all the time, he thought. At least, now, I have a chance to find peace.
Hearing someone behind him, he turned to see the Arbiter coming inside. Turning to him, he said, "Things look different now, without the Prophet's lies clouding my vision. I would like to see our own world – to know that it is safe."
"Fear not," Thel reassured his old friend. "For we have made it so."
"Where is Bero, if I may ask?"
"He left shortly after we came back. He borrowed one of our smaller Slipspace capable ships after he explained to me what he heard. I gave him my blessing and bid him farewell. I have reason to believe he will be alright."
"By your word, Arbiter," R'tas nodded, a fist on his chest as he saluted Thel.
As he got into the command chair, Thel said, "Take us home." As the ship began to move, Thel knew one thing: the Sangheili, and Humanity, finally had a tomorrow to look forwards to.
. . .
3 Months Earlier
"Chief? Can you hear me?"
Startling wide awake, Chief looked around, but noticed something off. For one, he was floating, which meant they'd lost artificial gravity. The other thing was that there were dozens of people in vacuum rated suits around him, all of them flashing lights into his helmet.
"You alright, Chief?" a corpsman asked. "You A-OK there?"
"Yes," Chief replied, much to the corpsman's relief.
"Oh, thank goodness," Cortana breathed. "I thought I lost you too."
"What happened?"
"I'll tell ya what happened," an engineer said as he floated over. Like the others, he was wearing the fully sealed, vacuum rated armor the SLDF provided all of it's personnel. "That ding, dang tunnel we were in snapped like a string. When that ring fired, it messed up the Ark quite badly. We made it through just as the tunnel collapsed… or rather some of us."
"Do you know where we are?"
"Nope. We're out in the boondocks. That much is certain."
"The good news, though, is that we did it," Cortana remarked. "Truth, the Covenant, and the Flood… it's finished."
"It's finished," Chief agreed. Looking at the engineer, he asked, "Do we have cryo-pods aboard?"
"Yep," the engineer replied. "The UNSC outfitted our WarShips with cryo-pods so that, if the K-F Drive failed, we'd be able to have some of our folks on ice 'till we got rescued. Given that we're in the portion with the fusion reactors, we'll have plenty 'o power as long as it's on minimal power generation."
"How long?"
"Oh… about fifteen years, give or take a couple."
"Then that's what we'll do. Everyone to the cryo-pods."
"You got it, boss."
It wasn't long before everyone got to the cryo-pods, with what remained of the WarShip having just enough to house everyone for the amount of time they had. Thankfully, Cortana was able to guide the technicians into getting everyone properly into cryogenic stasis. "I'll drop a beacon, but it'll be a while before anyone finds us," Cortana told Chief as he got into a cryo-pod. Years even."
"Affirmative. Until then, remain in stand-by mode."
"Good idea. That should stave off Rampancy indefinitely." As the cryo-pod lid closed, she looked at Chief and said, "John… I'll miss you."
"Me too," Chief nodded, a hint of what Cortana realized was affection in his voice. "Wake me, when you need me." Smiling, Cortana nodded as the pod sealed itself shut, with Chief entering cryogenic stasis.
After she ensured that the reactor, and all remaining systems, would remain functional for the required time, Cortana began putting herself into standby mode, from which she would only reemerge if prompted by her systems to do so. As she felt into the AI equivalent of cryogenic sleep, she heard the last words Chief said to her one last time. Wake me, when you need me.
I'll be ready when you need me, John, she said to herself. Sleep well, Spartan. You've earned it.