A/N: I get it that many of you are disappointed with the idea of chief being a promethean. Listen, The chief is still human and is not an immortal god. In this story, Chief will suffer near death 3 times even with the augmentations. It has only given him additional strength to face his toughest enemy in the future. Of course, chief is even more powerful now. But there are more to come before you could jump into conclusion. I hope you all understand.

Disclaimer: I do not own Halo or Mass effect.

Chapter 3: Breach in to Unknown.

UNSC HIGHCOM facility Bravo-6

July 29, 2557

Fleet admiral hood was in an heated argument with the other members in the HIGHCOM facility regarding the blue team's mission. They were questioning him with John-117's personal mindset after Requiem mission.

"Admiral Hood, Do you realize the gravity of the situation? I mean, It was only 4 days with the New Phoenix incident before you could send the Master chief and his team on another mission. They haven't reported for 3 days which makes us assume either they are MIA or gone AWOL" asked admiral Osman.

"With all due respect Admiral Osman, You and I both know that this isn't about the Master chief. Black team haven't reported back from their mission on Ivanoff station. So as protocol suggests, I sent another team to investigate it" replied admiral Hood justifying the situation. The other members seemed not satisfied who's to question the highest military authority figure.

Suddenly their argument was stopped with the arrival a HIGHCOM's Communication's officer

"Admiral Hood! Sir, Naval special warfare command just received a transmission from a highly secured sub-space channel" said the officer

"Patch it through officer!" ordered the admiral

"Yes sir!" said the officer and went away to patch the message.

"Admirals, something tells me, we are all gonna get some answers" said Hood and he opened up the Holo table. The room went dark. The next thing everyone saw was totally unbelievable.

"Admirals" greeted the projected holo-avatar of a blue young girl.

"Cortana!?" exclaimed hood in surprise. Everyone in the room where sharing surprising and shocking looks to each other. They realized it was her pre-recorded message.

"This is UNSC AI CTN 0452-9 or Cortana. Admirals, You were probably wondering what happened to the blue team who were on mission to the Ivanoff station. The mission was successful. Team black was Killed In Action by the didact who returned to the gamma-halo after surviving the fall into slipspace above earth. Blue team managed to dispose the didact, But still he's only contained by the composer. As for me, After the destruction of mantle's approach, i was transported to an unknown facility where i was cured of my rampancy. Also blue team was teleported to the same facility and are now on a new mission...Now i'm with them..." then she went on to explain everything about the new mission, about the new galaxy, new threat and the mysterious artifact and its coordinates in the lagoon nebula though she never gave the location of Iridescent.

After the end of transmission, the room went bright again. Everyone were totally dumb strucked with the message. It's still hard for them to believe that cortana's active and been cured of her problem. And even more frustrating information is that the blue team is on a new mission to a new galaxy which pushed their belief beyond.

"Admiral hood?...In my service, I've never heard this kind of crap before!...And don't tell me you are going to buy this" said General hogan in pressing tone.

"Listen, I admit that it's even hard for me to believe this. But, Cortana has been our most reliable asset for the past 8 years. She had never been wrong with information" replied hood though confused, still having a sense of truth in the message.

"Also, she gave us coordinates for this artifact in the lagoon nebula...Everything will come to light when we scan that sector" added admiral hood. There were still confusion in everyone's faces. They still can't figure something out of this.

UNSC Infinity, Earth

July 29, 2557

Spartan-III commander Carter-A259 has assumed the role of instructor of the spartan-IV fireteams. He was standing in the combat simulation training deck with the fresh cadets of the fire team majestic and fire team crimson. Carter was giving them training on time based missions, where one involves carter as a target which majestic have to capture in a given time. For Crimson, they were tasked with saving a human delegate rigged with explosives. Majestic and crimson realized that they had a lot to learn from the veteran spartan who was the famous noble team leader and a survivor of the fall of reach.

Carter, who's now 37 still has the same durability when he was the noble team's leader. In the final moments of reach's fall, Carter used a pelican to ram into the covenant scarab to buy time for his mates to deliver the package to 'pillar of autumn'. But when the pelican was about to crash, he immediately jumped off the pelican and initiated the armor lock down in his MJOLNIR mark V. After the impact to the ground with great force, even with the hydrostatic gel' viscosity holding up, he suffered multiple fractures. Then he was immediately picked off by Jun-A266 in a pelican before escorting from SWORD base to CASTLE base where Carter was under medication for 8 months. Then he and Jun-A266 aided in a mission to retrieve Jorge-052 drifting in the interstellar space of the Lambda-Aurigae system who was thought to be killed by a makeshift slipspace bomb.

Commander Sarah palmer was standing all the time when Carter was giving them training. After finishing it, Palmer went near carter to talk to him.

"So commander? How do you think are they doing?"

"Well, a bit sloppy, but with few more lessons, they will be better at least. They are bit careful in not getting their asses blown up" said Carter with a smirk to which Palmer raised her eyebrows with a smile.

"Huh, How's the big guy?" asked Palmer about Jorge.

"Well, you know how hard it is to get back to normal after being snapped up with events like that. But still going for mission after missions ease is mind off, at least for him" replied Carter.

Suddenly Carter and Palmer were called on by Captain Lasky in their comm requesting their presence on the bridge.

"You go. I'll bring up Jorge and see you on the bridge" said carter to which Palmer nodded her head and went off. Carter went to jorge's room

"Hey Jorge, Captain's calling us to the bridge, let's go"

"Alright, Give me a second. Let's go" said Jorge and they both set off to the bridge.

Infinity's Bridge...

Captain Lasky was informed by the AI Roland that they are just getting an incoming transmission from the covenant separatist fleet. Carter, Jorge and Palmer arrived at the bridge.

"Ah, Good to see you three here" said Captain Lasky.

"What's this about captain?" asked Carter.

"Well, I'll tell you...Roland?"

"Opening the channel captain" said Roland. Then in the holo table, they saw a holographic figure of the 'Arbiter". The three were just wondering what could be the situation for the arbiter to call them.

"Greetings Captain Lasky" said the Arbiter.

"Arbiter, I take it that it's very much important for someone like you to contact us"

"Indeed, I'll get to the point captain. On our search for the covenant remnants bases, we came across a strange artifact of immense size in the lagoon nebula at 0.01 light years away from a blue giant. These are the coordinates of its location"

"What's so special about that?" asked Capt. Lasky.

"We cross referenced with the previous forerunner artifacts that had been found till this date. There is no match"

This information was so alarming as there cannot be an 'Artifact' without forerunner's involvement.

"Is there any special reason for this information being shared with us" asked Capt. Lasky

"Yes, This is what concerns me. We managed to trace a beacon that ends with the artifact and gets vanished. The signal matches your UNSC standard comm frequency..."

This sent shock into everyone's faces.

"Wait! How's that even possible? We never sent any UNSC ships in to the lagoon nebula...No...This can't be right!..." said Lasky in a tempting voice.

"I'm sorry captain. Someone has been pulled in" said the Arbiter.

"What's the nature of the Artifact?" asked Palmer with confusion.

"The Artifact is a black hole" replied Arbiter

"What!?" asked Jorge deciding to speak for the first time. He remembered how the make shift slipspace bomb he detonated on reach sent him to an unknown space with the damaged covenant ship or what remained of it.

"But it's contained in a ring like object. There is no energy decay in the black hole, So its not a result of a supernova. Someone had built this ring with artificially created black hole and stabilize it. This can only mean one thing. It's traversable portal and one of your people had gone into that" replied the Arbiter and then showed an image of that Artifact in the holo-table. Everyone were puzzled as to what kind of artifact was that. And also were in doubt how could an UNSC ship passed through.

"Captain, That black hole doesn't seem to give out Hawking Radiation. Arbiter might be right. It could have been artificially created and contained...But if it's not forerunners, then who built it!? asked the AI Roland in a confused tone.

"Alright Arbiter, see if you can find anything. I'll contact you afterwards"finished Lasky and end the chatter.

"Sir, HIGHCOM's hailing us. It's Admiral Hood" said Roland suddenly to Lasky.

"put that up, Roland"

"Opening the channel, captain" said Roland showing the display of Lord Hood.

"Admiral Hood!" saluted Lasky.

"Captain! We've got an Emergency. We received a transmission an hour ago from NAV SPEC WAR COM. You won't believe this. It was our UNSC AI Cortana" said Lord Hood

This made everyone terrified as everyone knew her story. Lasky, who hadn't even recovered from what arbiter was filled in immediately with another shocking message. Then hood sent the same transmission of Cortana to Lasky that he received.

"I couldn't believe Cortana's still alive" said Roland to which everyone glanced at him.

The Cortana's prerecorded message told everything that it told the HIGHCOM. To everyone's surprise it's the same thing that Arbiter told them moments ago.

"Captain! This is getting weird, but we have the coordinates for that artifact" said Hood and this time Carter chose to speak.

"Admiral, We just received a word from covenant separatist fleet moments ago. Arbiter said that their fleet had found the same artifact in the lagoon nebula and also manged to trace a faint signal of the UNSC ship"

"Then consider yourself lucky. This artifact is a portal and the blue team managed to get a ship inside it to god knows where. Captain, I'm assigning the newly formed eighth fleet under your de facto command to look into this. Infinity will be the flagship with 3 Autumn class cruisers, 5 Strident frigates. Join the fleet nearby mars. Then you are to rendezvous with the separatists fleet near by the artifact"

"Sir, Does the Arbiter knew of our plan?"

"First he talked to me before he contacted you. So before calling you, I've briefed Arbiter of our plan. He'll assist you with 2 CAS carrier and 4 CCS cruiser from their fleet of Retribution, including his ship 'Shadow of intent'. So he's waiting for your fleet near by the artifact. And be on your guard. If cortana's information is true, then just assume this new galaxy has got a lot of surprises with it. Find the Chief and his team and aid them in anyway possible and bring them back home" ordered Hood

"Yes sir!"saluted Lasky and cut the transmission.

"This is gonna be one hell of a ride" thought Lasky with a sigh.

"Captain, what are we gonna do?" asked Palmer.

"We go with the plan. You three better get geared up" said Lasky. Carter and Jorge left the bridge.

"Tom, what about Dr. Halsey? Shouldn't we tell her?" asked Palmer.

"She's now deemed as war criminal and there's nothing she can do"

"Indeed she is, but this one involves the Chief and his AI Cortana. Also she's the biggest expert we have on these techs and artifacts at our door. She could be useful in understanding what's on stake in this new place we're going" reasoned Palmer.

Lasky was hesitant, but he knew, that's the truth. So he made the hard decision on bringing the doctor with them.

Roland, I need a line with Admiral hood" ordered Lasky and the AI immediately brought a line with Admiral hood. His holographic figure appearing in the projector.

"Captain, What is it?"

"Sir, I have a request for you. We need doctor Halsey in our crew" said Lasky keeping his face slightly frowned.

"Are you aware of what you are asking, captain?" asked Hood with seriousness.

"Yes sir. We are heading into the unknown. Without an expert in advanced technological artifacts or anything strange we come across, we wont last long" finished Lasky.

Lord Hood knows that Lasky speaks the absolute fact. But also he knew that a soldier like him playing politics is gonna be like rotting in hell. Halsey was deemed as war criminal because of her immoral acts in the past and that's biting her ass now. But he also need to convince the ONI into releasing her to help Lasky in his mission.

"I'll see what i can do captain"

"Thank you sir" with that, Lasky cut the line.

"Roland, open a ship wide broadcasting channel. It's time we tell the crew what's happening"

"Aye aye captain"

"ATTENTION EVERYONE! This is captain Lasky. I advice all personnel to be in your respective wards. All Combat units are suppose to be in their respective battle stations. It's an emergency. Infinity's about to join the eighth fleet near Mars and then will rendezvous with the separatists fleet in the lagoon nebula. We are on a mission to an unknown location. So everyone be on your guard. Lasky out" finished the captain. Everyone started to talk among themselves after hearing this.

"Prep the spartan fireteams" said Lasky

"Alright" saluted Palmer and left the bridge.

"Doctor Glassman? How are the engines and power systems holding up?"

"Well output at nominal level, thrusters are active"

"Sir, Admiral Hood's on the line" said Roland.

"Patch him through" with that admiral hood once again appeared in the projector.

"Captain, I convinced the ONI into releasing Halsey. I had to do a lot of dirty play to get this done. She's is en route to Infinity in a pelican drop ship. I've done my part, It's time to do yours" Said Hood.

"Yes sir and thank you" finished Lasky ending the transmission.

"Roland, take control of the bridge. I'm getting to the hanger to greet our guest"

"Aye aye sir"

Lasky then headed to the transportation deck where a pelican dropship just entered the ship's hanger door. The door slid opened and out came a moderately old woman in a labcoat with her hand's cuffed with two UNSC marines.

"Doctor Halsey, glad to have you aboard" greeted Lasky.

"If you are really glad, ask the marines to un-cuff me" Lasky raised his eye brow at that and asked the marines to un-cuff her. After that, the marines took the drop ship and exited the ship through the hanger bay doors.

"So, what does the captain of the very ship i designed want's with me?" asked Halsey with a smirk, but Lasky was not amused.

"We are on a mission that may need your expertise. I'll brief you later"

"I need a place to stay" said Halsey almost sounding like an order. Lasky nodded to this and took her to a personal quarters and then he left for the bridge.

"Roland, set a course to mars"

"Aye Aye sir. Initiating slipspace rupture" said the AI and the infinity entered Slipspace and vanished.

Shadow of Intent, Lagoon nebula.

"Shipmaster R'tas! What is the fleet position?" asked Arbiter

"We are holding ourselves exactly 100,000 Kms away from the artifact" replied R'tas vadum

"What about the eighth fleet Admiral hood told us about?"

"After their fleet regroup at mars, in 36 hours they will reach our position"

"Then we will wait for them"

"R'tas? Where is Usze and N'tho?" asked Arbiter

"Usze is aboard clarity of faith and N'tho sraom is in sacred promise...Why do you ask?" asked R'tas

"Just curious. Both did a great job during the schism. If this new place we are going turns out to be challenging, we can see how far they strive there" said the Arbiter

"Maybe" replied R'tas with a nod

"If this artifact is not forerunner, then who do you think would have built this?" asked R'tas

"We will know when we enter it. Admiral Hood gave us the transmission sent by their construct. The spartan, his construct and his old friends managed to get a ship and traveled through the portal...When we do that...we will know what we are up to" replied the arbiter.

"Yes. They mentioned a different galaxy, that is strange" said R'tas to which Arbiter nodded

"Dont get me wrong Arbiter. Wont the UNSC take care of this themselves. Why should we have to interfere? We are on a mission to sabotage the loyalist bases" said R'tas

"Indeed R'tas. But this is significant discovery, something not of forerunners. it would be ignorant, not looking into it" replied Arbiter to which R'tas simply looked at him and then turned back.

Meanwhile in Mars...

UNSC Infinity exited slipspace into the 2nd lagrangian point of mars where they saw 3 Autumn class cruisers and 5 Strident frigates.

"Sir, We have reached the fleet" siad Roland

"Open a broadcasting channel" said Lasky and Roland did exactly

"ATTENTION ALL SHIPS! This is Captain Thomas Lasky of The UNSC Infinity and the commander of the eighth fleet. I hope you have been briefed of the mission...We are en route to the seperatists fleet's position in the respective co-ordinates. Keep all the battle stations ready in case if things go south" finished Lasky. All the captains of the ships acknowledged.

"Alright Roland, send the coordinates to the other ships NAV computers and let's all vanish" ordered Lasky to which Roland obliged. Then they all entered slipspace and vanished. From mars, it will take 36 hrs for them to reach the location.

Halsey was hearing all this and wondered what that fuss was all about. This is when Lasky entered her quarters and saw her using a data pad to check the ship's systems. Then she started speaking.

"Captain, what's this all about?" asked Halsey straight forward.

"Doctor, Admiral hood received a transmission from an unknown source, but from a highly known party. Roland, play the transmission" said Lasky. Then roland activated a near by holo projector. The next thing thing halsey saw toppled her mind.

"What the hell!? Cortana already crossed the operational life span. She shouldn't exist" Halsey shockingly thought. Meanwhile she listened to everything that Cortana said. She stood immediately and started walking restlessly in the room in disbelief.

"John's alive and Cortana's been cured in a forerunner facility!? What's with this new galaxy and this artifact? Why didn't anyone let me know this!? asked Halsey furiously

"It's only been 4 days since New phoenix. And then we got popped up with this tranmission. Whatever it is, we are gonna investigate"

"Are you sure that portal is not of forerunner origins?"

"Sanghelli seperatists ships have a sensor to trace out artifacts of forerunner origin. This portal is definitely not forerunner"

"Then we won't get answers until we get there" said Halsey having a lot of questions her mind. Lasky then nodded and left for the bridge. Halsey was studying a lot about the recent news in her data pad.

The whole eighth fleet spent the 36hrs in the slipspace and finally reached the respective coordinates exiting the slipspace. They finally got to see the sanghelli ships waiting for them. Halsey got to the bridge and she and everyone saw a giant ring with a blackhole inside it.

"My god! Look at the size" said Halsey staring at it having a lot thoughts. The captains of the other ships reported their presence to Lasky.

Sanghelli Shadow of intent.

"Arbiter, We are detecting multiple slipspace ruptures 5,000kms from our position. It's the eighth fleet"

"Wait, they are hailing us"

"Put them through"

UNSC Infinity

"Roland, establish contact with the Arbiter"

"Yes captain" Roland opened up a channel. Arbiter's holo figure appeared in the holo-table.

"Captain Lasky, Finally you have arrived" greeted Arbiter.

"Good to see you Arbiter. The mission is a go for the eighth fleet. What's your status?"

"We have 2 CAS carrier and 4 CCS cruisers powered up in position to enter the portal"

"Alright...Let's have a 50kms gap between our fleet. You take your ships and enter the portal first. We'll follow you in the gap"

"Sound plan. We are beginning our approach. Good luck captain"

"You too Arbiter. Lasky out" finished Lasky and ended the transmission.

The eighth fleet held their position 50kms from the sanghelli fleet and started moving towards the portal.

"You really want to get inside that?" asked Halsey raising the eyebrow with doubt.

"I take Cortana's word for this. She and chief has already helped us back on Requiem" said Lasky.

"It's better if you all hold on to something. This ride is about to get choppy" said Roland.

Halsey was quite happy with Lasky trusting someone whom she cared a lot. As they stood and watched, The covenant fleet vanished in to the black hole with the eighth fleet entering the gravity field. They felt sudden acceleration. Ships started to vibrate a lot. Then the last of the ships vanished in to the artifact and the vibration stopped.

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