Author's notes.

I've wanted to try my hand at writing and improve my writing style. So, I figured why not write something I'd like. This story is a Mass Effect fanfiction but has aspects from multiple different Universes. They're mainly to give Erwin a good background. The Univers Erwin came from was based on Halo, Warhammer 40k, and Stellaris. Mass Effect is where the story takes place. I've also buffed the Mass Effect technology. The Reapers in this story will be much deadlier, more powerful, and more advanced.

Anyway, this is my first story. I'd appreciate constructive criticism, as I do want to improve myself with this story. Thank's for reading, and I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Halo, Warhammer 40k, Stellaris, or Mass Effect. This is a fanfiction, and I don't have ANY monetary reward for making it. This is purely for fun.

"Ares, under no circumstances are they to escape the system!"

"I'm trying, but the flood has spread to High Charity. There are only so many ships I have control over."

Erwin August Wolff was desperately hitting the hard light controls on the control panel. He looked at the large hard light hologram hovering above him. The outlook was grim.

Halo, a ring with the same diameter as Terra. An impressive example of Forerunner mega-engineering, but the size wasn't the important part. There were some structures even larger in Imperial space, even the covenant had larger structures.

One such structure was High Charity. It was roughly half the volume of Jupiter. It held trillions of Covenant civilians and military. It had multiple shipyards, plasma lances, and a defense fleet numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

What made Halo unique was the highly sophisticated Forerunner technology. Halo could wipe out life in a twenty-five thousand light-year radius. Making it the single most destructive weapon that ever existed. The technology involved stumped even Anglian scientists.

The problem Erwin was having was the same problem the Forerunners had three hundred thousand years ago. The Flood.

Erwin was leading a forward reconnaissance group to scout the mysterious ring. Erwin was the best Spartan the Empire had. Even though he was young by Anglian standards, Erwin was very intimate with war. He reveled in it, it was the only thing he knew. He was also very good at it.

Erwin led a team of Anglian Commandos, some of the best soldiers the Empire had. Yet it wasn't enough. All four of the Commandos were dead.

Now he was alone, except for his Contender class AI, Ares.

Ares was like a brother to Erwin, he's been with him for hundreds of years.

Things started going downhill whenever the Covenant discovered their presence in the system. Through a series of unfortunate events, the Covenant let loose an all-consuming force. Just like a Flood, the infection spread throughout Halo at an unstoppable rate.

The sentinels couldn't contain the Flood with the influx of biomass the Covenant provided, and fight off the Covenant themselves. However, if they didn't fight off the Covenant they fed the Flood more biomass. The deadliest example of a catch twenty-two.

Now Erwin was looking at the multiple red signatures, indicating Flood signals. High Charity was turning red. To the Covenant's credit, they were doing a good job of keeping the Flood from getting complete control over an FTL-capable ship.

However, High Charity was the biggest FTL ship in the known universe. Not to mention the capability to produce more FTL ships from the shipyards, and the thousands probably docked within the station. Anglians were the only race immune to the flood, otherwise, anything with a central nervous system was food.

With how advanced the Flood was they could potentially grow more biomass. Civilizational farms, or vast hive worlds with birthing farms fed by the power of a Dyson sphere.

At the rate things were going, the Flood was going to eventually get their hands on an FTL ship. The Flood would infect not only the Andromeda Galaxy but the Milky Way, and Rivendell Galaxies. Then, they'd quickly infect every Galaxy in the Universe. Life itself was at risk of being swallowed up by the Flood.

Unless Erwin did something. He had an idea, but it was suicide. Not to mention he'd be responsible for the largest known explosion in the Universe. Going out with a bang that made supernovas look like firecrackers, wasn't the worst way to go.

He was okay dying, but he had hope of maybe experiencing the peace he fought so hard for. Perhaps finding a nice girl, one who'd accept his darker parts. Settle down with her, create a family.

It was probably destiny that Erwin died on the battlefield. Genocidal aliens took away his family at the Anglians' equivalent of five. From that point on, Erwin embraced war. It paid off.

He was the Lone Wolf, then later the Ghost of Reach. He's killed millions of Aliens with his own hands, he helped his people bring the fight to the Xeno's worlds. Erwin helped burn their worlds, just like the Aliens did to Humanity. It was a war of genocide, and Erwin willingly embraced it.

Not that he has any regrets, not after what they did to his people. Men like him don't get to enjoy peace. Men like him don't get to have happy endings.

He reflected upon his life, all the actions he's taken. All he's experienced. One thing for sure, Erwin made the Aliens pay for what they did to his family. Even the innocent, all perish in Erwin and his Brothers' rage.

He thought of his Mother and Sister. They wouldn't have wanted this for Erwin, his Mother specifically would be heartbroken. He can still see her face.

For the first time in twelve hundred years, tears escaped Erwin's eyes.

"Ares, is it possible?" Erwin asked his long-time companion.

"Yes, theoretically," Ares answered solemnly.

"It's been a good run. I've come to see you as a Brother, Ares."

Erwin said with a smile on his face.

"You too, Brother."

Erwin laughed. "What do you think the Elves would think of an organic and created calling each other brothers?"

Ares chuckled. "They'd probably use it as proof of our side's insanity."

Erwin smiled and looked up at the hologram that was rapidly becoming redder.

"Can the ring perform an in-system jump?" Erwin asked.

"Yes."

"Good, put us right on top of High Charity. How many of the ring's power stations do we have?"

"Three."

Erwin shook his head. Was that all they had control over?

"Use one to power the weapons and hyperdrive, one to create a superluminal distribution, the last use for a firing. Prepare the Dawn's Dark Matter Dimensional reactor. We're only going to get one shot at this."

"It's ready. The ring requires confirmation from a reclaimer." Ares said.

The control panel cleared. Leaving only a solid glowing hemisphere. Once Erwin placed his hand on it, there'd be no turning back.

"Ancestors, preserve them."

Erwin then placed his hand on the hemisphere.

War. It would never let go of Erwin.

In a different Universe, at the bottom of an ocean, a being woke from its slumber. It felt something brush against its mind. It was oddly familiar, and completely alien at the same time. One thing was for sure, it was powerful. Even more so than itself.

It communicated with its kin. They all agreed.

With one powerful effort, they all pulled.

"Perhaps this cycle will be different." The being thought, before drifting off into blissful slumber.