Some things before I begin. First, I'm about to bring in the New Republic, so that's some news for the good guy people. Second, there's going to be a time skip soon, but I'm not sure when I want to do that, so ideas are welcome. Third, MEAP retests have taken up my time alot, so thats what's taken so long. Last, please R&R. I want to know whatever you guys are thinking.

Earth

1500 hrs.-Standard Time

Three entire cities had been decimated. Repairs were underway, and the Imperial navy had sent several thousand men to help the repairs. It was strange, they had only seen human men with them, but there were no women in sight. It was downplayed for now, but some of the women on the construction crew were ridiculed by the soldiers of the Empire.

At Geneva, a ceasefire had been signed with the outcast Elites, Grunts, and Hunters. It called for them to end hostilities and to retreat to their own corner of the galaxy. Twelve delegates from the newly formed "Reclaimed Hunters" signed with six UN officials, and six Imperial Admirals.

UNSC Palpatine Class Carrier-Thrawn, orbiting planet Reach

1630 hrs. –Standard Time

Captain Miranda Keyes looked out the window, sighed, and headed to the crew area. Her new command was large, way larger than her old ship. But that was not her largest problem. Sure, getting used to a ship that was as big as a small city would take getting used to, but she had a bigger problem. The glassed planet below was now being refortified, even though many were against it. But Admiral Palleon insisted that this was the perfect spot for building the other of his "Death Star's" and here they were, putting new MAC cannons and Turbolasers (for such a small cannon, they sure as hell packed a massive punch) around the planet.

She passed a group of Stormtroopers (why were they ALWAYS in their annoying white armor) and they all threw a salute her way. At least they knew who was higher then themselves. She then passes the shipboard armory, where a few marines were trying out the "Blasters" that the Stormtroopers always used. She herself had tried them, but they lacked the ability to be unseen, unlike bullets. She arrives to get a hail of people yelling "ROOM ATTENTION!" She called them at ease and began looking over the work orders.

Coruscant

0900 hrs. -Galactic Standard

"This is most odd." Admiral Ackbar leans back in his chair. Though no longer a member of the Provisional Council, his military genius is what called him to this meeting. "Then where do you think they will hit?" This time Admiral Drayson, Ackbar's successor, spoke up. "I do not believe them to be anywhere. The Imperial Navy has never been known for this kind of tactic. They must have gone somewhere, but this is not following their doctrine for attack." Next is Leia Organa Solo. "Is it possible that they aren't looking for a takeover, but are looking for a new place to hide?" "Not likely." Senator Garm Bel Iblis stands up. "They have kept Bastion very well secret and for the entire fleet to wind up missing is just inviting us to take their territory. They would never do that under normal circumstances, unless they had a plan to get more territory." The council goes on for another hour, and decides to send three scout runs into known Imperial space, and see if they can find out just what is going on.

Planet 6XCL479, UNCHARTED SYSTEM

0000 hrs. -Standard Time

A platoon of marines walks up to a hilltop on a desolate planet. No one had ever been this far into the core of the Milky Way. The fact that the planet had a character code to identify it was proof to that. But here they were, and there was supposedly another Artifact here that would show them the most elusive of all things, the final of the seven Halo's. So far the other five undestroyed Halo's had been found, untouched since their activation all those millennia ago. But the seventh had not been found, the data corrupted on the other Halo's, and so the artifact was the only true thing that would tell them where it is.

The Marines set up a small place to rest and eat. Being this close to the galactic center, there was only day and dusk. The stars around the core were so numerous that they lit up the planet as though it was a second sun. After a half hour, the Marines close in on the suspected area, a cave that was only three meters wide, and one tall. All the Marines went single file, crawling into the cave, and were pleased to find that after 50 meters, the cave spread out. Another 50 meters later, it became cavernous, and extended well beyond human sight. But one thing was visible, a shimmer of light about 300 meters in. The two scouts turned on their night vision in their rifles, and determined it was clear. The Sergeant in charge led them, and they found what they had come for.

UNSC Carrier Palpatine, Orbiting Planet 1RDN249 UNCHARTED SYSTEM

2300 hrs. –Standard Time

At the very edge of the galaxy, the Master Chief again prepares for battle. This time, he would be coming in on one of the Lambda shuttles, and drop in an ATST. They would deploy into a forest and refortify an outpost recently abandoned by the Covenant. To even be this far out in the galaxy was a bold move for them, and they wanted to make it work. The shuttle lifted off, and they went down into the atmosphere. The pilot comes over the radio "Two minutes to drop!" The Chief sits and waits, and soon enough, he feels the thud of the container hitting the ground. The front panel drops, and the pilot, his name was Dermon, wasn't it. Whatever, the target was visible 500 meters in front, and he started the walker foreword. Eleven other walkers were heading in on the target, and no one reported any fire. The circle of walkers draws closer to the facility, a series of low buildings, and gets to within 100 meters when the first trap goes off. One of the walkers on the other side was blown clean away by a motion wired fuel rod cannon. Everyone stops, and the three others are found without setting them off, and destroy them. After that, the rest of the patrol is a breeze, and they bring in the Marines.

The four Pelicans drop of a platoon of marines, and after twenty minuets, they report back all clear. Then the rest of the troops come down, and the facility is thorougly checked for explosives. After that is done, the support craft, warthogs, scorpions, ATAT's, and a complete arms store take up the unused vehicle building on the south side of the facility. Afterwords, all the original ATST's head into the forest for combat patrol, and to find and destroy any more booby traps.