Chapter 19

UNSC Prowler Port Stanley

Urs system, 2563 September 27th

Currently orbiting the Sangheilian moon Suban

Captain Serin Osman sighed as she looked out the viewscreen of her prowler. It had been a full 10 years since she was assigned to lead the ONI team Kilo-Five to incite Insurrection within the Sangheili society. But her recent attempts were with dismal results so to speak. While at first after 5 years of labour she and her team managed to help the Servants of Abiding Truth gain a foothold against Thel Vadam and his council, but everything came crashing down after an unintended joint strike between the UNSC Marine corps and the Sangheili armed forces captured Avu Med 'Telcam, commonly known to ONI as "The Bishop", following an assault on an insurrection outpost. After that the Sangheili insurrection leadership shunted any aid from ONI believing them to have provided the information and location of that outpost. To make things worse, it seems that Lord Hood has begun reducing Admiral Parangosky's funding and there was nothing she could do about it.

"You know staring out the viewscreen is not gonna cause any uproar among the Sangheili…. Right?" asked Black box as his customary avatar appeared on the bridges holo-pedestal, sarcasm laced in his voice. The Smart AI's box of blue light avatar shifted slightly as it turns to face the Captain. The captain remained silent, ignoring the AI's sarcasm. Black box huff slightly, irritated that he was being ignored by what he considered to be inferior compared to him. "Anyway, Sergeant Mal wishes to speak with you." With that the holo pedestal shut off before the doors to the bridge slid open.

"Staff Sergeant what do you wish to talk about?" Asked Osman, as she got straight to the point. Despite her former Spartan training, her irritation at being unable to complete her assigned mission was more than obvious to the Staff Sergeant.

"Ma'am, with all due respect," said Malcolm as he snapped into attention, his British accent fairly obvious in his voice. "Me and my boys have been on this team for 10 years, and the briefing provided by ONI Section 3 said it was supposed to be a 5 years op. Me and my boys are getting tired of continuing this half assed mission…. Ma'am." Unhappiness was written all across the marine's face, and Osman didn't have to be a former Spartan to see that.

Osman was silent as she contemplated the staff sergeant's words, true the mission was supposed to be a five year op at most, and she most certainly have overstep her authority to recklessly continue this mission. While she was sure that Admiral Parangosky would forgive her on this little transgression, she was not hopeful of getting away scar free from this failure. "Staff sergeant, we will continue on with this mission. ONI section 3 said it was important that the Sangheili remain disorganize as long as possible and I intend to do so to the best of my ability." Replied Osman in a cold calculated voice. "Any objections?" by now the coldness in her voice would have frozen liquid nitrogen.

The Staff sergeant was hesitant as he tries to make a decision before finally deciding the best course of action. "Yes ma'am, By UNSC law 64 section 3, I'm hereby relieving you of command." Said the staff sergeant as his hands dropped from his attention pose to firmly grasping on his M6D Sidearm. As he kept his eyes narrowed at his former commanding officer, his fellow ODST team-mates filled in from the door, Assault rifles ready with their safeties off. Osman watched as the ODSTs took position around her while Staff sergeant Malcolm walked forward with a pair of cuffs in hand.

"Bad mistake" she muttered before dashing forward to the nearest ODST with a spinning kick, her leg catching the marine's assault rifle before she got off a shot. The rifle flew into the air before being caught by Osman, she fired a burst at Corporal Beloi as he tried to shift his aim. The bullets mostly flattened themselves against his armour but one shot got through and sliced through his arm muscle, making him dropped his own assault rifle with a few Russian curses. Sergeant Lian Devereaux having recovered from Osman kick jumped forward and grabbed hold of the assault rifle, the two of them begin wrestling for control over the gun.

"Anytime now would be great" grunted the Canadian as she struggle to point the weapon from her direction, sweat beaded her face even with the cooling system in her suit. She gave a sudden yelp as Osman suddenly pulled the rifle causing her to lose balance before being floored by a kick to the groin. She groaned as Staff sergeant Malcolm tries to aim with his pistol. A single shot rang out from Osman's captured rifle, the bullet neatly lodging in the barrel of Malcolm's pistol rendering the gun useless.

Osman started to smirk as she look at the three disarmed ODSTs around her. "You were saying?" she asked as she shouldered her assault rifle, the muzzle of the gun aimed at Malcolm.

Malcolm raised his hand in surrender before a grin split across his face. "You win" he said as Osman flicked on the safety on the rifle. He got up and took out a blue metal baton which he ran over Belois "injured" arm, small sparks were notice as the electric in the baton relaxed the special nanofiber suit that each people had worn for the training.

"Bloody TTR. My arm will still be feeling numb for another hour" Growled Belois as he flexed his arm to get more feeling into it. Despite the scowl on his face, his fellow marines can tell he was taking this with good humour. "Well I guess the captain wins again… for the twentieth time." Added Belois as he pointedly glanced at the sarge.

"At least you get away with a just a numb arm" retorted Staff Sergeant Malcolm as he helped Sergeant Lian Devereaux up. "Lian will probably feel that kick for a day" which earned him a friendly punch from Lian. "I can stand up myself, you know? Taken worse punch from an Elite before" she said before shaking of Mal's help.

"All right fun's over" said Osman as she removed the clip from the rifle. "Black box, deactivate the holograms." She ordered as she head towards the door to check the result of the training. "Yes ma'am" replied the AI lazily before the virtual field surrounding the team disappeared, replace with the virtual training deck. "Mal come with me." The staff sergeant nodded to his fellow marines before trotting after the captain. The stepped through one of the two doors in the virtual deck and entered the observation room.

"Officer on deck!" said Naomi as she quickly snapped herself to attention.

"At ease Naomi." Said Serin as she returned the Spartan's salute. Naomi visible relaxed as she brought up the score list of all training to list in the new results. Mal visibly wince as he took a peek at the record. Serin gave a barely noticeable sly grin to Mal before get straight to business. "Black box, sound proof the room and bring up the transmission please" There was a sound of someone snapping a finger before the consoles indicate the room was secured from any eavesdropping. Seconds later a holographic viewscreen was projected on the observation window.

"Captain Osman, you and your ship are hereby ordered to return to Reach for Debriefing. The mission has officially been cancelled." The obvious distaste was that much obvious in Parangosky's voice "The Port Stanley will dock with Anchor seven and begin a refit operation while your crews will be given shore leave." Just as it seems that the transmission has ended, "and Staff sergeant Malcolm, I will expect you to remember that this information is classified." With that the recorded transmission ended.

"The Ice queen, straight to the point as always." Muttered Malcolm as he shook his head at Parangosky's cold attitude before returning his attention to Serin Osman. "Well I guess this will be our last training together ma'am" as he held out his hand. Serin took his hand and shook it, "Spartan, sorry for what you been through but you have my thanks for saving humanities' sorry behind" said Malcolm as he gather his courage to shake hands with the Spartan. Naomi lightly shook his hand once before letting go. The Marine gave one last salute to the captain before leaving the room.

"You know…" started Naomi after Malcolm left the room "this might be the last op we will have together. No telling where they will send me next." As she unclasp her helmet's locks. The green helmet was removed, revealing her regulation cut blonde hair and a pair of stunning grey eyes. Serin turned and looked directly at her former fellow trainee and friend.

"That maybe so, but we always know Spartan never die" replied Serin with a said smile before she raised her hands and made the Spartan smile. Naomi gave a nod which spoke volumes before replacing her helmet and leaving the room. Serin watched as her friend leave the room before refocusing on the task at hand "Black box, set course for Reach." With that she left the room as well. The Space surrounding Suban was filled with the telltale sign of a slip-space rupture as the Prowler slipped on a randomised course.

UNSC refitted ODP New Alexandria,

Epsilon Eridani system, 2563 November 14th

Orbiting above the ruins of New Alexandria.

Commander Lee Riker gave a somewhat relaxed sigh as he gulped down his last cup of coffee for his current shift. Setting down his cup, he tapped on the shoulder of the sensor officer for a status update. "Anything new?" The sensor officer merely shook her head before returning to reading the incoming data. "I wish something would show up" muttered Riker as he walked around the command centre of the ODP. Suddenly alarms blared throughout the station as one of the Early Detection Stations or EDS sounded the alarm of an incoming vessel via slip-space. Quickly tapping his com piece the commander snapped out orders "All hands get to battle position. And someone shut that damn thing off!" The ops officer merely typed on his console before the alarm shut off. "Alright what's the approach vector?" asked Riker as he looked over the sensor officer's shoulder at the sensor data logs.

"Incoming craft at sector 4, no IFF detected yet. The mass estimation puts the vessel at corvette size." Reported the sensor officer as she brings up the data transmitted by the EDS and running it through a profile database. On the main screen, dozens of known ship profiles were analysed in a microsecond as the computer runs the software. A second later, a large question mark was placed over the EDS profile data. "No match in the database sir." Reported the officer unnecessarily.

"I can see that." Said Riker as he considered his next move "Nav, I want us pointed at the estimate exit point of that ship. Weap load up and prime the S-MAC but hold fire until I say so." Ordered the commander as he glanced at the ETA of the unknown. Multiple thrusters flared as the ODP orientated itself at the guessed exit vector of the unknown craft.

"Sir! The station Quezon has also positioned itself for a clear shot at the unknown." Reported the com officer as he read the messaged incoming from their fellow ODP. Commander Riker merely nodded before he moved towards the holo table. As the countdown reaches the zero mark, a slip-space ruptured opened before it deposited a small craft into normal space.

"Anything?" asked Riker as he paced behind the sensor officer.

"Noth… wait receiving IFF signal…. It's the Port Stanley." Reported the sensor officer as she finally confirmed the identity of the incoming ship.

"All hand's Stand down" ordered Riker as he disappointedly dismissed the general quarters order. "Com get me a com channel to that ship." The com officer nodded before he attempted to hail the prowler.

"UNSC Port Stanley, this is New Alexandria actual come in… I repeat UNSC Port Stanley, this is New Alexandria actual come in."

"New Alexandria actual this is Port Stanley, read you five by five. Requesting docking clearance with Anchor 12 for refit and rearmament." Came the monotonous voice of Black box.

"Solid copy over, hold position" requested the com officer as he switched the com frequency to match that of Anchor 12. "Anchor 12 this is New Alexandria Actual, UNSC Port Stanley is requesting permission to dock for refit and rearmament. Awaiting at your digression." With that the com officer cut off the com channel to both the mobile shipyard and the prowler. "Just another day at work huh sir?" he said as he lent back into his chair while turning to face Commander Riker.

"Somewhat" replied Riker half-heartedly as he got his cup back in his hand. "Lieutenant Jim, you have the bridge." Before he walked out of the ODP's command centre.

UNSC Mark2 ODP Jersey

Epsilon alpha system, 2563 November 15th

Orbiting joint colony Shanxi.

"This has better be good" grumbled commander James Howard as he stomped into the command centre of his ODP. He was annoyed for being interrupted while being off his shift.

"Oh it's good alright. Or should I say bad?" asked the Nav officer who was commonly known among the crew as Joker. The commander knew the young officer well enough, Jeff was one of the best pilots he had ever instructed and till today the commander still cannot figure out why the talented pilot was stuck manoeuvring an ODP instead of piloting a ship.

"Not now Jeff" growled the commander as he personally took a seat at the command console. "Sensors, bring up what the EDS have found." The Sensor officer merely nodded before an image filled the main screen a large blob was highlighted and mass estimation along with the estimated size was available. "Good lord that thing seems to weight more than a CAS class assault carrier. Does the Fleet-master see this?" asked James as he manually try to match the distorted image to any known ship profile and wasn't surprise when he got no match.

"Oh he sees them alright." Replied Joker as he brought up a video showing the Separatist CCS Battlecruisers moving to surround the estimated entrance point of the incoming mass. "And if Simon there isn't slacking off, I would say they've charged up their main plasma battery." Added Joker as he zoom in on the battlecruisers, showing the glowing blue plasma gathering at the tips of their cannons, ready to fire in a second's notice. Simon blushed with embarrassment as he tries to focus back on his sensor reading. "Lieutenant Jeff's correct sir. Fleet-master N'tho 'Sraom's fleet have charged up their weapons."

"Get me a direct line to him, And Joker, I'll have a word with you when this is over." Growled an irritated James as he set his face into the calm poker face most commander have learned when commanding in combat. The main screen with replaced with a live video feed of the bridge of Undying Faith. "Fleet-master" greeted James with respect.

"Commander James" greeted the Sangheili as he focused on the commander "I assume it's about the approaching contact?"

"Indeed Fleet-master" replied James "Size estimation puts it at around 15 kilometres, longer than an Assault carrier."

"Intriguing. But even as we speak the object approaches. Do your people have any idea what this object is?" asked N'tho 'Sraom.

"None what so ever Fleet-master. It could be a ship or a stray asteroid for all we know." Replied James. "As such, all the ODP have primed their weapons and are ready to fire on demand."

"I see." Said N'tho 'Sraom as he scratched his lower mandibles. "Prepare you weapon well Human, for I fear something unknown is about to happen." With that he cut off the com channel.

"Cherry fellow isn't he?" remarked Joker as he busied himself with aiming the ODP at the estimated entry point of the object. "I can see why he got command of a CCS battle-group instead of a Assault carrier group." Added Jeff with a snicker.

"THAT'S IT." Roared a furious James "Lieutenant Jeff Moreau, if you cannot behave professionally as expected of every UNSC combat personnel, I'll have you removed from this bridge. Do I make myself clear?" said the commander with cold voice.

"Crystal sir." Replied Joker somewhat embarrassed at being scolded for not behaving professionally.

"Busted" Muttered Simon as he read the latest incoming sensor data. "Sir! Slip-space rupture detected! The entry point is exactly where we predicted it." He reported as a blue white portal of slip-space opened and spit out a bizarrely linked ships. "Receiving IFF. It's the UNSC civilian tugs assigned to Vice Admiral Cole's fleet. God that thing is huge." As the civilian tugs towed the Mass relay out of the Slip-space portal, more ruptures filled the space as the rest of Vice Admiral Cole's fleet drop out of slip-space along with a huge vessel clearly of Forerunner origin plus the remaining ships of the Asari fleets that were hard docked to various UNSC vessels.

"Get me a channel to the Flagship." Ordered James as he started to get out of his chair.

"Channel open sir." Reported the com officer as she connected to UNSC Field of Hope.

"Commander" nodded Cole as he took a look at the control centre of the ODP. "I hope you can arrange for the shipyards to provide assistance to our guest as well as divert available technicians to help out with the repairs works on the Spirit of Fire, that ship been through hell and back with most of her crews intact and get cracking on locating any of their surviving relatives."

"Yes Vice Admiral. I'll inform the shipyards as well as the personnel at Centcom of their new assignment." Responded James before the vice admiral cut off the com channel. "Coms get me the yard's central command, it's going to be a busy day for them." With that he glance out the viewscreen at the gather fleets from various species. "Just another day at work" he thought before retiring off the bridge.

Author's note: well finally finished chapter 19. Sorry it took so long I had to do some research to respond to a review. Now first thing first, about TheGuard99's arguments Yes 343 Guilty Spark did die in Halo3. But if you check the entire data in Halopedia, you'll see that a duplicate of him survive and it was made before his decent into rampancy. And no I have no idea when it was made. But it was found by an ONI prowler that's all I'm gonna reveal as too much will spoil what I'm planning. Secondly while it's true UNSC lost a lot of its colonies. You must note that a lot of their colonies actually still survived. In Fall of Reach you see that it was stated that the Covenant Skipped a lot of the remaining outer colonies and directly assaulted Reach. Additionally some of the Inner colonies survived as well as the Covenant Stumbled onto Earth when the High Prophet of Regret managed to discover the location of a Forerunner artefact of great importance: a device which would generate a Portal to the Ark, which unfortunately happens to be Earth. So the UNSC was not as deprived of resource as you may think and will most certainly be able to build a large fleet easily. Additionally if you check First strike, when the Covenant had control over Reach, they did not destroy the wreck of the Human ships, instead the wrecks were gathered in one place in Reach's orbit. Assuming this is the Covenant standard method of operation, then the UNSC can easily recover those Wrecks for new ship production as the armour and etc are already there and just require the dismantling and reassembling to rebuild their ships which is way faster than building them up from scraps. Hope my explanation was satisfactory.