Disclaimer: I do not own the Master Chief, Captain Keyes, or the Arbiter.

Author's note: I am tired of this chapter, but it is finish; or as the French would say, "C'est fini!" XD

Chapter II: Departure

HALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALOHALO

1201 Hours July 21, 2553 (Official UNSC Time) Bringer of Peace / Alpha Centauri System

"Commander Richmond, Sir," the helmsman reported, "the transport with the Spartans is now aboard."

"Good, helmsman," Commander Richmond said coolly, "prepare for Slipspace Jump."

"Initiating Slipspace Jump," the helmsman announced on the ship's intercom system, "all personnel, brace for jump in five, four, three, two, one. Jump Initiated." The Bringer of Peace, an out-of-date transport used at the beginning of the Solar War in 2341 C.E. freshly equipped with a Slipspace Drive, violently shook as though the hull, even though reinforced, would rip itself apart. "Exiting Slipspace in thirty seconds to Checkpoint One."

"Ah, Commander Richmond, pleasure to finally meet you in person," Shield said, coming out of the turbo lift. "You're quite infamous for your reckless supply runs between the colonies."

"Colonel Norman Harmon, it is a mutual feeling, I assure you," Commander Richmond slyly stated. Commander Harrison Richmond, at the age of fifty-two (real time or 39 with the Slipspace jumps excluded), was one of the UNSC's most valuable cargo runners during the Covenant War. Most of the people Richmond comes in contact with are usually intimidated by the muscular build of this six foot ten commander. "Come now, Colonel, just call me 'Chewy' like all of my acquaintances do."

"Fine, 'Chewy', I'll get to the point," Shield drilled. "What is the full purpose of this mission? To start another war between the Covenant and the UNSC or, to actually bring about the end of this war?"

"Colonel," Butcher insistently said, "I think I may have found the WCS."

"Good job, Butcher," Shield praised, "try your best to find out more before we reach Sanghelios."

Suddenly, the cargo ship violently rocked and the artificial gravity went out. "Crap, the explosive that I found was in the Artificial Gravity Control Room. It must have been triggered. I'll try to get some engineers down there and fix the problem before there are any more complications." Then, as suddenly as Butcher appeared, he left with the same speed.

Shield sighed, "If only this were a training exercise, then we would have more practice."

Armed with a questioned look, Chewy asked, "What do you mean? You guys are one of the best military squads this side of the universe has seen. Don't get depressed now; you have a promotion coming your way unless you have other plans."

"Brother, we have a problem in Cryo Bay 2. Close down Bulkhead 0543.29, immediately!" Pollux exclaimed on the squad's personal communications channel. "We have some Infection Form aboard the ship. Get armored marines with shotguns and grenades down here, ASAP."

"Roger," Shield replied, "hang in there, I'm coming down there personally. Command-Chewy, you may resume your command over the bridge."

"Security Breach on Level thirty, section 543," the computer screeched on the intercom. "All personnel are ordered to Quarantine station, effective now."

"You, marines," Shield commanded, "come with me. We have an infestation problem that needs fixing."

"Yes, sir!" the marines saluted.

Rushing down to Cryo Bay 2, Shield and the two marines stopped first at the Armory to load up on Shotguns and Grenades, and just to make certain, a Spartan Laser. Finally arriving at the location, Shield grasps the scene in its entirety. Pollux, armed with a pistol with no ammo, was smacking the Flood hand-to-hand; Luna slicing as many Infection forms that dared to come within twelve feet of her; however, Diana was worst off than anyone else holding her sniper and the shots going right through the Attack Forms without hurting them. "Marines, fire at the Attack Form," Shield commanded. "Diana, here's a Spartan Laser; these are more effective on that thing and you are better with that then the shotgun." After throwing the Spartan Laser to Diana, both Diana and Shield stood back to back shooting down any Flood that moved anywhere. After one minute, one of the marines died and was infected by one of the Infection Forms. "I've got the Attack Form," Shield cried over the noise of the battle ensuing. When five minutes since Shield came in, the battle was over and all that was left of the Flood was the blood and gore that is expelled from their corpses after death. "Nice going, marines," Shield complimented, "if you would have done that sooner, then we would not have had this happen."

"Shield, you're forgetting that the Flood we killed were subject to the Cryo-freezing problem we normally get with transporting humans," Pollux reminded.

"That was a nice warm-up to a diplomatic mission," Luna pointed out, "even though; this mission is going to be boring for the rest of the time."

"Thank you for the backup there, Shield." Diana gratefully stated. After, she had said these words, the ship jumped back into Slipspace, continuing its mission with less of the nerve-racking noise from the first jump. "Looks like the Slipspace Drive got fixed."