So before I start up this next chapter I want to address one review (or comment whatever you want to call it) that would be number 131 review addressing the fact that I had the DoomSlayer using the BFG 9000 to destroy a wraith. Explaining to me the vast gap between the power of the DoomSlayer's arsenal vs the Halo armory. I wanted to address this as I had in the very beginning chapter saying that he was out of ammo and the infinity armory refitted his weapons with ammunition that it could produce. The only weapon that still fires any sort of ammunition is the BFG as it runs on argent energy. Otherwise all of his weapons have been subsequently nerfed. Now let's get to it.

The DoomSlayer had taken his helmet and his armor from above the waist off wearing a black muscle shirt as he laid in a deployable bed inside of a tent. After the disaster that was the push, Infinity had deployed reinforcements and supplies to those on the front lines. In his right hand he rolled up and down a .50 caliber bullet. He sat up after staring at the ceiling of the tent got a little too boring for him. He rolled his shoulders and looked over as a hologram device popped up to show Vega who was now trying on a new appearance that was a bit closer to his original.

"Hello Doom Marine." Vega said as he rolled his finger of his right hand as he watched. "This is truly odd. I doubt any other A.I from our time would be able to handle this level of advancement within the short timespan available for adaptation I have been available to."

The DoomSlayer flipped the bullet up into the air and caught it as he pulled out a cigar. He then pressed a small button on the side of the bullet and the top of the bullet popped off, he pressed it again and a small fire burned out from it. He lit the cigar and closed the bullet lighter as he took a long drag and breathed smoke out from his nose. The smell of smoke was so familiar to him now that it helped him relax. The cries of pain from a medical tent not that far was also too familiar. He looked over at Vega as he took another drag. Vega then had what appeared to be a small screen form at the end of his hand and began to tap away with it.

"I find this therapeutic. This action. It allows my thought process to work easier." Vega said then paused at the DoomSlayer shot him a look that told him exactly how much he cared. "People also did not like it when I keep my hands behind my back by experience. I came here to tell you something. Something about the Spartans actually." More smoke left his nostrils as he glared. "I see I have worn out my welcome. A later time."

After finishing the cigar, the DoomSlayer got out of the tent to go for a walk around the post. As he walked several other marines would gesture to him to whoever they were standing with. A waving at him and other giving him thumbs ups. The reports of what he did on the front lines to save a single soldier has already spread throughout the forces. Even the Spartans were impressed by the reports. Then once again there were a few Spartans and marines claiming that any Spartan could have done what he did if they simply had the weaponry. He was just pulling a trigger. What made that so special?

As he walked into the command tent he found several commanders and the blue team gathered around a hologram display of their current position. By all account they were only a few miles before meeting the center of the valley but the issue with that was simple; each inch would drag them deeper and deeper into the belly of the beast. Whatever they killed – with the only exception being those they utterly tear apart – would rise up again as a demon with more and more frequency as they got closer to the main source of this event. This is exactly what they were discussing as they over looked the map. Fredrick crossed his arms as the DoomSlayer walked in.

"Well despite the ever increasing shit show that we will be marching into I think we push through." Sarah Palmer said as she moved the holo-map to another checkpoint. "This is the last thing preventing us from getting to it. Thanks to the data we have gathered thanks to the V.E.G.A AI and field scans we have been able to determine that there is another portal right here. A small one."

A display of Captain Lasky showed him grabbing his chin. Before pointing at it after a moment of thought.

"Poking holes before ripping it all open. Making it easier." The Captain said and several commanders agreed. Sarah Palmer shrugged with one shoulder and gestured back to it.

"This one when it open caused that second wave of demonic revival. The next hole could be here off of assumption." She said as another marker appeared on the map between the first hole and the newest one. "More likely however." Another marker appeared passed the first marker so it was now the one in the middle.

"That's not good." Captain Lasky said as he gestured to the furthest point; the second possible hole opening. "If it's the furthest point we become too disconnected. No back up. No cover fire. Whoever goes there would be completely isolated."

"Sir." The Master Chief said as he slid on his helmet and stepped. "We'll go. Send the majority of the force to the second hole. Blue team will head to the Second Point. We'll deal with whatever happens."

"Not alone." Captain Lasky said as he crossed his arms. "The way I see it, we send half of our deploying force to the second opening. A quarter to point A where the less likely opening will accrue. The rest with blue team with point B. It's not a good plan but it's the best we got."

"Actually…" Roland said as he appeared. "We've got another issue. Cortana knows where we are." He changed the map to one showing the system they were in and several others. He pointed to the closest one to them. "Right here. Most of our systems are off right now so she can't find us this second but she will find us."

John shifted his shoulders and the DoomSlayer looked over at him before looking back at the map. His muscles tightened as he was now starting to get pretty annoyed. This planning didn't mean much to him. He took out the cigar from his mouth and held it between two fingers. As he was now just starting to glare at those in the tent.

"How long." John questioned.

"At least 4 days. At most 6." Roland said as he turned to face John.

"Then we will be stuck between a realm of ancient evil and an armada of the most advanced weaponry in the history of the galaxy." Captain Lasky said. As he slouched over a little. "Let's say 3 days. Tomorrow we move out and let's say we manage to complete each and every objective the same day. Then the next day we take out the main portal in the same day. One day to get out of here with half the crew injured or out of commission, in a ship that isn't fully repaired."

"Or we could jump right now. Leave a signal that draws Cortana here. Let here kill whatever comes out of the portal." Sarah Palmer answered. Everyone looked at her. Roland thought for a second and nodded.

"We could." Roland answered. Vega appeared next to him.

"Or an Alliance would form. Both hate humanity and life. Best case scenario they come to a stale mate. Cortana might be advanced but she doesn't know how to close the portals. Only I have that information."

"We can't keep losing men with the risk that Cortana will rip us apart from behind." Locke said with his team standing behind him. Blue team stared him down. John looked at Lasky.

"Sir. We have to agree with Vega. We've come this far. Retreat is not possible at this point."

"It is completely an option!" Olympia Vale shot out. "We can't rely on the skeptical information given to us by an AI from several centuries ago."

"You would rather have an insane one then?" Vega questioned.

"Captain?" John asked looking at Lasky as he grabbed his forehead. The crunch of a cigar getting stomped on was muffled under all of the argument.

"We fight."

"Yeah… we can't risk an alliance. Worse yet she doesn't even stop with the Hell portal. We're going to finish this." Captain Lasky told everyone. The DoomSlayer turned away from everyone and walked out of the tent. "First thing tomorrow. We move out."