A bright slipspace portal opened up in deep space. Regret's assault carrier, the Solemn Penance pushed through the open portal. Pushing forth toward the massive ring which orbited around the large blue gas giant. The Prophet of Regret started preaching to his crew about how the Holy ring will bring them salvation before the path of The Great Journey. Up until his sermon was interrupted by the sound of breaking glass. Covering himself as it ricocheted off the floor, knocking out one of his Sangheili Honor Guards before plopping into his coffee mug. Splashing his ceremonial silk robe and his face with hot coffee. Regret plucked the round white golf ball out of his morning coffee. Finding a little emblem of a Unggoy's face imprinted on the golf ball as he inspected it. He slightly chuckled to himself, "Professional Grunt Golfing Association.". Tossing the ball to one of his Honor Guards while a Unggoy Ultra cleaned the Prophet's grey robe.
"With that out of the way, I would like a report with a fresh cup of coffee." Regret ordered.
"My Grace, we've positioned ourselves nearby the lake. I've ordered our holy warriors to secure many of the temples around the area. To defend our path to the temple fixed in the lake below." Shipmaster explained.
"Excellent." Prophet of Regret replied, placing his hands together in a evil fashion.
Several Covenant Phantom dropships flew overhead the temple. Shreaking across the blue sky, with a few Banshees following behind. Flying toward the large temple settled in the middle of an volcanic lake. Jeff woke up from his slumber with a splitting headache. He slowly stumbled outside to feel the bright, warm sun shine on his face. Walking up toward the cliff edge and begain to relieve himself of all the alcohol he ingested from the crazy parties they've had recently. He heard slight squeeking noises from below his boots. Peering over the edge to see a squad of Unggoy minors trotting up the temple steps while squabbling over about stairs.
"Agh! So many stairs. My feet grow tired. I need a nap nap."
"What!? You've slept during the entire trip over here. You don't need a nap!"
"Ugh! By the Prophets! Why don't you two be quiet! We have to be stealthy to surprise the enemy!" An Elite Minor yelled at both of them in annoyance.
Jeff slowly tip toed backward from the edge, grabbed his seven wood club, and waited for them from behind a overturned stone pillar. He watched one of the grunts waddle onto the temple grounds. Letting them discover the trashed temple for a few seconds before assassnating them with one blow from the seven wood. Discovering the true power of the seven wood club once Jeff slammed it into the ground, flinging both grunts high over the cliff edge hearing their screams as they both fell to their deaths.
"Wow, I didn't know it could do that. I though this was just an ordinary golf club." Jeff said to himself. Just as he was about to walk back, he heard the growl of an Sangheili from behind.
"How dare you trash this holy temple with your sinful ways. Any last words before you die, Human?" The Elite barked.
"Yeah... How far can you... Fly!?" Jeff yelled, pummling the club into the ground. Hearing the Elite's roar as it was lifted up into the air and flung into the forest below. Curious of the seven wood's power, Jeff tested it again on a few empty kegs and food containers that were scattered around what is left of the bonfire. Noticing the same result happening as before, he decided to test it on a few golfballs to see a completely different result.
"Nice. I didn't know our clubs did that. I thought they were ordinary golf clubs." Jeff heard Gary speak from behind. Discovering the true power of the Seven Wood.
"Ha! No wonder those Unggoy were kicked out from the championship." Kalum mentioned.
"I lost fifteen-hundred credits due to those Unggoy cheaters. If we end up on High Charity, let's use these clubs on them." Zuma suggested to which Gary asked; "High Chairty?"
"The Home of the Covenant. Not of the Sangheili." Zuma replied. Looking outward to see several Phantom Dropships closing in towards the temple.
"Uh-oh. If I'm hearing this correctly, we've got incoming and lots of it!" Gary yelled, unholstering his club off his back. "Hey? Anybody up for a game?" He asked, tossing a golf ball up and down with his hand.
"Ugh! Report!"
"Both engine cores have turned to zero. We're drifting."
"Archer pods are cold, I'll need to reheat the system."
"Do it and find out where we are." Cmdr. Keyes ordered. "Sorry for the quick jump, Sargeant. You in one piece?" She apologized.
"I'm good. Chief?" Sgt. Johnson replied before asking the Master Chief
"We're fine."
"Ma'am. An object coming into view now." The Comm officer said as the In Amber Clad flew closer toward Installation 05.
"Cortana, what exactly am I looking at?" Cmdr. Keyes asked with awe.
"That... Is another Halo."
"Agh... Say what!?" Sgt. Johnson coughed out his cigar. Catching his breath after overhearing what Cortana said. Thinking about the last time he was on one with Captain Keyes.
"So this is what my father found..." She muttered in amazement of the rotating ring. "I thought Halo was some sort of superweapon.".
"It is. If activated, this ring will cause destruction on a galactic scale." Cortana replied to Keyes.
"I want all the information you've got on the first Halo. Schematics, topography, whatever. I don't care if I have the clearance or not." Cmdr. Keyes ordered.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Where's are target?"
"The enemy ship has stopped above the ring, ma'am. We're going to pass over it." The Comm Officer replied.
"Perfect. Given what we know about this ring, it's more important that we capture the Prophet of Regret. Find out why he came to Earth, why he came here. Chief, take first platoon. Hard drop, secure a landing zone. Sergeant, load up two flights of Pelicans and follow them in."
"Aye aye, ma'am" Johnson replied, exiting his pod. Knocking twice on the hatch of the Chief's pod and heard the loud acknowledgement from the Master Chief.
"Until I can move and fight, I'm going to keep a low profile. Once you leave the ship, you're on your own." Commander Keyes explained.
"Understood." The Master Chief replied.
"Over the target in five..." The Weapons Officer spoke. Once the In Amber Clad flew over the area, he pushed in the command, dropping the Master Chief and Helljumpers over the valley.
"Hang onto you helmet!" Cortana yelled after the pods were dropped. Checking the Chief's vitals as the parachutes activated, making a slight bump to which she replied; "Mind the bump."
On Installation 05, an Grunt was busy playing with a Master Chief action figure while a Kig-yar noticed flaming pods streaking towards them. The Kig-yar snarls in alarm and switched his energy shield on. The Grunt stashes his toy and jumps onto a nearby Shade turret to fire upon the incoming pods. The Chief's pod crashed into the ground, the door blasted off, and the Master Chief jumped out scanning the area with an SMG. Even with all the noise, Cortana cries out; "Could we possibly make anymore noise!" Quickly making a snide remark once the Master Chief yanked the SPNKR Launcher out from his pod. "I guess so." Cortana quipped.
Once the Master Chief and his squad of ODSTs secured the area. The Chief recived Sgt. Johnson's call and stayed put as a UNSC Pelican dropped a Warthog in the area. Cortana noticed an unknown radio signal on the high band with the callsign FM 87.9. Curious of what it is, she accessed it and heard a familiar stoned voice followed by laugher and rock music that Sgt. Johnson might appreciate.
"Interesting..."
"What is?"
"I found a radio signal within the high band. The voice sounds very familiar to a trooper in white armor that we know. Apparently, the Covenant seems very interested in it too and are sending waves of Phantoms. I'm going to see if its nearby. Once I'm done, I'll let you know." Cortana explained to the Master Chief as he cleared the Covenant-held bridge.
Doom Squad defended the temple with glory by wiping out wave after wave of Covenant troops with their improvised arsenal. Gary grabbed his binoculars to observe the next wave of Covenant arriving. Then noticed the dropships unexpectedly turning around and flying back. "Hey Guys? They're retreating! We've won!" Gary celebrated, pointing at the fleeing ships, not realizing what is about to come.
"If I remember this correctly, the Imperial naval response to an unattainable entrenched enemy position is bombardment by turbolaser. Dude, they're not retreating. We're about to have our ass turned into glass!" Jeff yelled, frantically waving his arms.
"Ohh... shit." Gary replied, looking back at the crusier quickly to see a charged plasma salvo firing towards their position. "Uh... Run!"
As the incoming salvo hurdled towards them, Doom Squad high tailed it to the temple. Feeling the quakes grow larger while hearing the sound of smashing stone crashing, following Jeff into the temple basement only to find a millenia old working elevator. With everyone inside, Jeff pushed his hand onto the hologram and felt the pull of gravity once the elevator started moving. Then kept his cool as the elevator stopped for a moment then dropped into the water below. Discovering the many Forerunner temples scattered along the bottom of the volcanic lake. The Forerunner elevator reached its next destination. Slowly going upward to a new and unexplored chamber of Halo's underground.
The Prophet of Regret continued preaching his sermons to his Covenant followers. Until one of his honor guards walked up the ramp to give him an update of the current situation.
"Holy Hierarch, the Demon and it's Human warriors are making their way to our holy temple. I've sent my own warriors to stop them."
"Excellent. Any news about the heretics and their... music?"
"We've dealt with them. They are no more. Your sermons will not be impeded any longer." The Honor Guard replied.
"Good, good. Thank you, you may go." Regret replied, then began searching around the arm rests of his hover chair. "Where's my frappuccino with extra whip!? I've ordered it an hour ago!" Regret yelled, slamming his fist into the arm rest on his hover chair.
"Forgive me my Grace. It'll be there momentarily." An Sangheili Honor Guard replied. Making quick haste towards an Forerunner frappuccino machine to make another.
Meanwhile... Doom Squad continued onward through the underground chambers. Discovering a door that lead directly into the large facility with large windows covered in a thick unknown material. Gary took point up ahead, holding his M6 Magnum as he peered from behind cover. Quickly bouncing backward after hearing the footstep taps of an Kig-yar sniper who is busy patrolling the area above. Gary waved the others to hold while he took care of the snipers. He unseathed his Mandalorian blade to quietly assassinate the Kig-yar sniper from behind. Holding it down with a tight armlock, slicing it's throat with the blade. Gary continued assassinating every jackal sniper and two unlucky Sangheili Honor guards. Slicing throats and hiding bodies into the shadows. While using the preaching voice of the Prophet of Regret to cover his tracks as he did his work.
"They never knew what hit'em. Damm, I'm good." Gary laughed into his communicator to Jeff.
Followed by Kalum and Zuma, Jeff met up with Gary who is busy cleaning his Mandalorian blade. Hearing the Prophet of Regret hologram currently preaching about the holy ring.
"Heh. And people say I have a big head." Jeff snorted, crossing his arms as he starred up at the massive hologram of the Prophet of Regret.
"Dude, you do have a big head." Gary laughed.
"Says who?" Jeff questioned.
"Says Gunnery Sargeant Larknart on the Death Star."
"Really? That guy? He talks shit about everyone, including Vader." Jeff argued, quickly noticing the holographic head of Regret slightly move down. Looking at them directly. Making Jeff punch Gary's shoulder. "Dude, he's looking at us.".
"Oh shit. Can he hear us?"
"Uhhh... I don't know. Say something."
"Oh hi!"
"Ugh! Puny humans! Disgracing this holy temple with your filthy footsteps! You two! Get rid of this filth!" The holographic Regret yelled, pointing at both Kalum and Zuma who were calmly standing behind the troopers.
"How bout, never?" Kalum said, walking up foward.
"What?! You both disobey me? I am you god!" Regret yelled.
"Ha! You have an inferiority complex of an Unggoy!" Kalum replied with an insult, hearing the laughter from his friends.
"How!?... How... How dare you!?" Regret yelled, despite hearing laughter coming from his own Sangheili guards. He turned his chair around, yelling; "Quiet! Stop laughing!". Turning around holding his frappuccino with extra whip in his hand. Getting his jaw covered in whipped cream which only made Doom Squad laugh even more.