MISSION LOG CONT...
The UNSC was in complete chaos. A new form of alien race, far superior to the Covenant had surfaced. They possessed many ships, each capable of innumerable amounts of firepower. The destructive force of the Forerunner ship proved to be a futile force under the might of the Asguard. At the mention of friendly intent and promise of human and Asguard help in the hundreds made more than a couple of scientists and Generals sigh in relief. The Master Chief and Trojan were still in Highiron, although several boarding parties tried to get into the ship. They didn't know, the only way in or out of Highiron was by beam transport or a ring platform. Trojan had to redirect several parties. The Master Chief requested to be put on the space platform Cairo.
Trojan brought the ship over the tiny MAC platform. He ran a hand over the controls and pointed at a circle of metal in the center of the room.
"If you would please step into the circle, Master Chief... I will deposit you in the command center via the ring platform. My beaming technology needs to be reconfigured by a specialist."
Master Chief walked over to the ring platform, snapping on his helmet. His face was hidden beneath the amber lens. Chief smacked the side of his helmet. There was a resounding click and the Chief nodded. Trojan reached over and touched a crystal. The circle in the floor around him opened up and rings of naquadah rushed up from the floor. They hung suspended around him. Something mechanical groaned and he became engulfed in a flurry of lights and sound.
The bridge of the Cairo was watching the Asguard ship intently. The Asguard ship paid them no heed and turned to face open space. A bright light formed in the room. Everyone turned to the center of the platform. Five rings of naquadah formed in the ceiling and swished down onto the floor. Several men brought their Battle Rifles to bear. A flash of light traveled down the rings and dissipated as the rings flew into the ceiling and disappeared. Master Chief stood in front of all the personnel. Several of the soldiers audibly sighed in relief and lowered their guns. Master Chief looked around the room. The General was gone. A few of the control panels were actually on fire. Showers of sparks fell out of the overhanging wires. The display monitors were at comical angles and relayed damage results. Chief could see the Asguard ship outside their window. The engines warmed and a blue aura covered the ship.
"Incoming transmission. It's on all bands." A junior officer said, listening into his ear phones. A familiar voice came over the speakers. The Chief stood upright.
"I will return in four hours with my leadership to discuss the situation. Master Chief and three other people of leadership class are required for this negotiation. Trojan out." With that, Highiron accelerated forward. A large hyperspace window opened in space. The ship drew close to the writhing mass and disappeared. The Chief looked at the bridge controls. An Admiral stood at the controls, looking at the section of vacuum the Highiron had disappeared into, as if he could watch their journey. The Admiral had short, brown hair and a scar by his eye that snaked down to his chin. He wore a white dress uniform. He had obviously attended the award ceremony. His tags read: Admiral Jacob H. Bruenig. Chief walked up and saluted. Bruenig saw this and looked over the Chief with the corner of his eye. Admiral smiled and saluted back at the Chief.
"At ease, Master Chief. It seems you just made humanity a new playmate."
"Sir. I regret to inform you that the AI, Cortana has been… terminated in an attempt to destroy the Covenant's Holy City…" The Chief blurted, his brain flashing images of the flood infested High Charity. He shook the images away. The Admiral sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"It will be a true loss to us all. I'm sure Dr. Halsey would have been saddened by this loss too, but the past is the past. Cortana fulfilled her orders, just as you are to begin yours."
"Sir…?" Bruenig smiled.
"We have inter-dimensional visitors Chief, and they want to see if yours truly could come along. We need to get the brass ready. These little guys are one alien race we can't afford to piss off." Bruenig said. Chief nodded and began to walk away. He stopped and turned.
"Sir, we still need two other officers…"
"Ah… I see. And the real shitty part about this is that I don't know where the leadership is. ONI isn't gonna come up here and all the Generals are off piloting rescue ships…" Bruenig said, a hand scratching his chin as he thought. An alarm was triggered and a slip space disruption appeared off the port side. The Chief tensed as he saw a Covenant cruiser eased out. It swung around and faced the platform.
"Persistent sons-of-a-bitch!" The Admiral growled, slamming a fist onto the control panel. The MAC gun above them groaned as it struggled to charge. A beeping alarm alerted them to the communications coming from the ship. A picture video appeared on the screen. Sergeant Johnson and Miranda Keyes stood in the cruisers control room. To the Chief's surprise, the Arbiter stood behind them, adjusting controls. Another Elite walked into the room and began tapping readout gages.
"Is the party over already? Damn it! I had brought some party animal friends along, too." Johnson said, smiled on his weary face. Miranda raised an eyebrow and found another panel that needed attention. Jacob keyed the mike.
"We're fine. We just made some new friends… Do you want to tell me why you have a bunch of Elites running around your ship…?"
This time, The Arbiter came up to the screen and bowed his head.
"The Elites and the Hunters have seen the falsehood of the Prophets… By brothers and I pledge our alliance and will obey any task set forth."
"It's true, sir. He stopped Halo from activating and he killed the head Brute, Mohawk…"
"Tartarus…"
"Whatever… We actually owe him our lives. Even the Hunters have learned to salute higher brass… but it's kind of hard when you don't have much of a forehead… We saw and heard everything during the battle over our long range sensors. You've got three good people ready to attend that meeting, Jake…" Johnson said.
"Who's the third…?" Chief asked. Johnson threw an arm around the Arbiter's shoulders.
"Who else but Mister Smiley here…?"
Both on the in the cruiser and on Cairo, the Arbiter and the Master Chief slapped their foreheads and groaned.
The Chief, Miranda, Johnson, Admiral Bruenig, and the Arbiter stood in the conference room. They quietly waited in their dress uniforms. Johnson had been yelled at for trying to get the Elite a suit, but the Arbiter had his armor whitewashed to a brilliant white sheen. The Chief's hair had grown to an inch and was spiky brown. His face had gotten scars all over, but after an hour of rest, he seemed less tense. His blue eyes never left the Arbiter, who tried to stay comfortable in the cushiony seat. The Elite's eyes flashed at the Chief and the Spartan looked away. The Arbiter rose and stepped over to the Chief.
"You do know yet trust me… Master Chief…" The tall creature said, tilting its head to one side. The Chief glared up at him. Every pore of his body screamed at him to kill this thing, but he didn't. The Arbiter reached for something on his belt. The Chief tensed.
The Elite got to its knees and presented a deactivated Plasma Sword to the Chief. The Spartan looked at it and picked it up. The blade activated and a silvery blade burst from the holder. The Chief looked at the Arbiter through the gap in the blades. The Elite presented itself, head lowered in honor and trust. The Chief knew how proud these creatures were, and that gesture spoke volumes. The blade disappeared. The Master Chief tapped the Elite on the shoulder and pointed to the seat next to him. The Arbiter nodded and sat. The sword was laid on the table. Johnson nodded in approval. The Chief's distrust faded away like water. He relaxed and smiled at the Arbiter for a second, who returned a curving smile.
A bright flash of light fell from the ceiling and a tiny grey man sat in an elaborate throne at the end of the table. Computer lights flashed around the seated Asguard. Trojan stood next to him and nodded at the Chief. The man in the throwe looked around the room and spoke.
"Greetings… I am Thor, Supreme Commander of The Asguard Fleet. I have brought a human diplomat with me, whom I have worked with in the past. I hope this man will answer any questions you may have about the alliance…"
The Chief and the Arbiter sat up straight. The Admiral tried to look welcoming. Johnson and Miranda brought their heads off the table. A second beam of light came down and deposited a tall, grey haired man in their midst. Thor spoke again.
"May I introduce the Commander of the human vessel Fire Stallion, Commander Brigadier General Jack O'Neill…?" Thor said. Jack looked around the room, a gentle smile on his face as he straightened his suit.
"Howdy, folks!" Jack exclaimed. The Chief and the Arbiter gave each other desperate looks as Johnson slammed his head into the table.