Chapter 1

Year 2531

AboardUNSC POINT OF NO RETURN, INTERSTELLAR

SPACE, SECTOR B-042

Rich emptied his flask. "I'll reroute funding for this thing through the usual places, no computer records. Too many dammed AIs these days."

Gibson said, "I'll make sure you get equipment, DIs, and whatever else you need, Colonel."

"And I know of a perfect staging area to get this off the ground," Parangosky said. She nodded to Rich.

"Onyx?" he said, half question, half statement.

"do you know of a better place?" she asked. "Section One has made that place a virtual black hole"

The Ghosts of Onyx, page 48

"Actually I do." he replied, " there's Britain."

"Britain! Are you insane! That's far to close to anything important," screeched Ackerson.

"no. I like this idea better. Means that if we need to check up on you, we don't need to go to a back water planet." Parangosky stated.

"indeed. Also the fact that the country has been abandoned for around 528 years means that all defence and surveillance has been gone for many years makes it ideal for our purpose." rich continued.

"but Britain ," Ackerson spluttered," it's frozen. Nothing can live on it."

" shut up Ackerson. we shall set it up and you will be happy about it." Parangosky snarled.

"fine. But I need a SPARTAN. SPARTAN - 051, in fact."

"and who is this SPARTAN - 051," asked Gibson wearily.

"I could only find one name for him. Kurt. That's his name.

YEAR 2534

Britain, Earth

"lieutenant Ambrose, sir," Shane gasped," chief Mendez has requested you in command centre 2 ."

"what," Kurt roared , "but that is focused on the ice , why would he be there."

"Sir he said it was about the report he gave you last year."

Kurt dropped the data pack he was holding and sprinted for a mongoose lying in the closest vehicle deposit.

Command centre 2

Mendez stood. A pillar of calm amid a sea of chaos. Computers bleeped and technicians shouted as the lieutenant stormed into the room.

"Everybody SHUT UP!" Kurt roared. The room fell under the cloak of blessed silence.

"good .now that, that has been dealt with, WHAT THE HELL IS UPWITH THE ICE, Mendez."

"ah, yes. Sir if you remember the report I sent you last year about the wraith."

"yes, yes. but what does that have to do with why I'm here."

"it sent us a message sir," a terrified technician spoke up.

"show me."

From: the Wraith

To: Camp Currahee

you are noisy. Your transmissions are too frequent. The ice broadcasts it. The master is sleeping. You shall not wake him. He may help you, if your enemies attack. He may help your enemies, this Covenant. You shall not wake him.

"sir, this came with this message."

Another window popped up, and loaded. All it showed was an empty room, full of ice, at first glance. The second glance showed two bodies, one in a robe, the other in 21st century teenagers garb. The weird thing was the younger one almost seemed to be breathing very shallowly. A timer popped up, showing the tears. It was up at 53.

"531 years. Impossible, he would be dead," Kurt turned to the technicians, " check this isn't a hoax."

As the technicians scrambled to do as he ordered, Mendez turned and spoke for the first time in a while,

"it's not a fake, sir."

Kurt turned and sneered, " Oh, and you know this how ?"

"magic knows other magic."

"what the hell do you mean magic knows magic."

Mendez sighed, " sir, sit down and shut up. I've got a whole world to explain and I've got a sharp shooting class in an hour."

Thanks to all how read and added me and also those who reviewed. Sorry It's been a while but I've had REACH mania for the last couple of months and have been replaying all the halo's I've got.