The Pelican flew into a hole of what appeared to be a base. Two Marine camera gaurds watch the Pelican as it descends. "Sorry for the tight squeeze." one of them said. "Tell the Commander her ace is in the hole." the other one said. The Pelican lands, and drops off Thel', Beta Suiter, Johnson, and the Master Chief. Two Marines who are watching over a Marine who is blinded by injury. "Hey...check it out." one said. "No way...a Spartan?" the other one said excitingly. "For real, you better not be-" the blinded-by-injury Marine started, but was cut off. "No man, he's here! We're gonna be alright!" the excited Marine finished.

Miranda Keyes walks down the steps to meet them. "Where'd you find him?" she asked. "Nappin', out back." Johnson said, saluting, aswell as Master Chief. "Hmm, I'll bet." Miranda replied, smiling. She offered John a handshake. "Good to see you, Chief." she said. "Likewise, Ma'am." he said. "Let's get you up to speed." She walked back up the steps, and through a hallway, as the group followed. Miranda made her speech as they walked through. "The Prophet of Truth's ships breached the Lunar Perimeter, smashed what was left of the home fleet. Terrestrial casualties from the subsequent bombardment were...extreme. Truth could have landed anywhere but he committed Krone and all his forces here. East Africa - The ruins of New Mombasa. Then...they started digging."

The group enters the Operations Center. "What about Halo?" John asked. "We stopped it, but only temporarily. Now the Prophet of Truth, and Krone, are both looking for something called...the Ark, where they'll be able to fire all the Halo rings. If they succeed...Humanity...the Covenant...every sentient being in the galaxy." Miranda looked at John. "The Rings will kill us all." John finished. "Ma'am, I have Cooke." a Technician said. "Patch him through." she ordered. The trio cuts their attention to a big screen, which shows a familiar face, Commander Mason Cooke of the Occupant Uprising.

"Good to see you, Commander Keyes." he asked. "Same here. Anything on Krone?" she asked. "Nothing yet...Lord Hood is patching through, now." Cooke's face disappeared, and soon showed Lord Hood's. "Good news, Commander Keyes?" he questioned. "Good as it gets, sir." she replied. "So I hear. What's your status, son?" John cleared his throat. "Green, sir."

"Glad to hear it. The Commander's come up with a good plan, but without you, I wasn't sure we could pull it off." Miranda snapped to attention. "Truth's ships and Krone's Sentinel are clustered above the excavation site. And their infantry has deployed Anti-Aircraft Batteries around the perimeter. But, if we neutralize one of the batteries, punch a hole in their defenses..." Miranda said, but stopped. "I'll initiate a low-level strike, hit'em right where it hurts. I only have a handful of ships, Master Chief. It's a big risk, but I'm confident-"

Just as Hood was finishing up, the screen was cut off as the power went out. "Emergency generators! Now!" Miranda yelled, ordering the Technicians. "Shielding's failed, their down and charging." one of the Technicians said. "As soon as their up, re-establish contact with Lord Hood. Let him know-" Miranda was cut off, as a familiar face appears on the screen, the Prophet of Truth. Everyone looks at it, as he begans to give off a speech.

"You are, all of you, vermin. Cowering in the dirt, thinking what, I wonder? That you might escape the coming fire? No. Your world will burn until its surface is but glass! And not even your Demon, will live to creep, blackened from its hole to mar the reflection of our passage... the culmination of our Journey. For your destruction is the will of the gods! And Krone, and I? We are united to be their instrument!" Truth finishes, as the screen changes to Krone, who also delivers a speech. "Foolish Occupants. Even if we are as far away from Alpha District, why do you foolishly try to rebel against us? You cannot win! Even with a living super weapon at your side. This is my reality - OUR reality."

"Cocky bastards! Just loves to run their mouths!" Johnson taunted. "Do they usually mention us?" Beta Suiter said. Miranda looked at John. "Give the order, we're closing shop." she said. "Ma'am?" a Technician stated. "We're about to get hit." Miranda walked up the steps. "The wounded, we're getting all of them out." Miranda ordered. "If I had to carry'em myself." Johnson joked. "Ma'am, the Occupants are requesting a rally point. Where should they go?" asked a Marine. Miranda took out a Magnum, and pulled the slide back. "To war." she said, before letting go of it.