November 14th
2583/20 BBY
Separatist Senate Building, Raxulon
14:23 UNSC Time
Raxus
3rd Person POV:
Count Dooku is sitting alone in his personal office, contemplating the most recent reports that have come in.
The CIS and their newest allies, the Insurrection, had decided to continue their subtle operations and let the UNSC and Republic destroy each other in the Second Battle of Earth. Sadly, that plan has failed. As a result, a change of plans is required.
The communication device built into the table before him starts beeping and Dooku pushes a button on the side. The image of a battle droid appears on the screen. "Count Dooku, your guest has arrived."
"Bring him in." Dooku responds. The image cuts out immediately. The doors before him creak open and the orange-armored soldier, Felix, walks in. He has confidence in his steps and Dooku notices the barely noticeable hilt of a throwing dagger at his belt. If there's one thing that Dooku respects Felix for, it is his talent for war and that he has seen so much combat that he can massacre entire villages without batting an eye and escape without leaving any trace whatsoever. The same can't be said for some of the bounty hunters or Ventress. "Ah, Felix. I see that you made it on time."
"Ah, I don't like to be late. Although I am wondering. Why did you call me here exactly when you could have called that stiff, Clayton? Or did you ask me to be here so you can hear my fucking awesome voice." Felix asks, leaning against one of the bare walls casually.
"I called you because you are the temporary leader of the Insurrection. I assume you got the report from the Republic involving Earth?" Dooku asks. While he would like to know where the UNSC homeworld is so he can invade the planet at a later time, that information has yet to come to the CIS.
Felix's attitude sobers up considerably. "Yeah, I got it. Looks like our little charade is up."
"Indeed. This is why our operation on that ring you told us about must be accelerated. I am giving you 6 days to finish the project. It is imperative that we finish before the treaty between the UNSC and Republic is signed."
Felix nods in thought, thinking deeply about the new request he had been given. "All right. Is that all?"
"Actually, there is something I have been wondering. Who have you chosen to lead Operation: MIDNIGHT?"
Even though the Count can't see Felix's face, he can fell the smugness radiating from the mercenary. "I found someone who is willing to lead our side operation. And oh man, this guy hates the Freelancers more than I ever can."
November 20th
Bridge of Charon-class flagship Panem
10:30 UNSC Time
Orbiting Corusant
After a week of tense peace, Madam President Peterson of the UEG and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam of the Swords of Sanghelios have agreed to attend the special meeting of the Galactic Senate to discuss the treaty that will hopefully bring about the end of the Clone Wars. The UEG and Swords of Sanghelios have already agreed to this treaty.
The Swords of Sanghelios and UEG are sending quite a few precautions in case goes horribly wrong; the last thing anyone needs is a repeat of the attempted truce at Ealen IV decades ago. As thus, the 2 representatives are being escorted by warships donated by the respective governments' fleets and they will be respectively escorted by the Sangheili Honor Guard, the official bodyguards of important officials of the Sangheili government, and the Master Chief himself along with Ahsoka Tano in her black ODST armor. Chief's former team, Blue Team, have been forced into retirement because of their growing signs of aging and now live as instructors to train recruits on Reach. Chief, however, has been allowed to keep his status in the military since it became clear that he won't give it up willingly after the incident involving Cortana's betrayal.
The Panem and Retribution, Thel's CCS-class capitol ship, start flying down to the planet's surface, flying past Republic warships that are stationed above the planet's surface, and lowering down until they reach a giant floating docking bay with 2 circular pads for the ships to set down at. Despite their immense size, the 2 ships manage to land on the docking bay just fine. The panels open up and both the Arbiter and Peterson step out, escorted by the Honor Guard, Master Chief and Ahsoka. They make their way to the other side of the docking bay, where a large Republic transport is waiting for them. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is already standing there, waiting for him. Surrounding him are 6 of the blue-armored Senate Guards. "Madam President. Arbiter. I welcome you both to Corusant." Palpatine says, bowing his head in respect.
"Indeed, it is an honor to be here again." Peterson says, putting on a smile while Thel does the same. Secretly, however, he is watching both his sides, scanning all blind spots, tempted to pull out his energy sword and attack whenever someone so much as twitches. Normally, he wouldn't be this up-tight for something as trivial as politics, but considering that he is in the capitol of territory he once considered hostile, this awareness could save his life.
"The Senate is waiting for us. If you don't mind." Palpatine says, stepping aside and gesturing to the transport.
Thel's eyes widen for a second, suspicious about the act. But for now, he is here to talk about being at peace with the Republic. He nods and boards the surprisingly spacious transport, his escorts sitting around him. Peterson sits across from the Arbiter, Master Chief and Ahsoka standing up instead of sitting and holding their weapons out in case a fire fight breaks out. Finally, Palpatine boards with his escort and the side doors close. The transport immediately takes off, flying through the heavily trafficked airs of Corusant towards the giant domed Senate Building and setting down at the docking bay built into the left side of the building. Once the transport is carefully set down on the ground, the hatch opens up and Chancellor Palpatine steps out, his escort, his guests and their escorts following behind and they approach Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi Knight is fully recovered from the Second Battle of Earth, leaving a long gash running down his chest so he won't forget the battle.
"Chancellor. The Jedi Order sent me to escort you to the meeting from here." Anakin says, then turns to the UNSC guests. He can't help but get disoriented a little as he stares into Master Chief's visor then turns his attention to Ahsoka. His eyes widen in shock but he doesn't say anything, only walking with Palpatine as the duo continue walking ahead of the group down the red-carpeted halls, lined by Senate Guards.
"Well, let's go." Peterson says, also walking with her escort sticking close to her. Thel nods in agreement, then follows close behind with his own escort. Two of the Senate Guards break the line and lead the 2 groups in separate directions, to their designated floating seats for when the meeting starts. The UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios representatives settle themselves into their designated posts, to which they immediately fly out and enter the Senate Hall, thunderous applause coming from all directions.
They wait for several minutes while the meeting starts with Palpatine addressing the Senate on the issue of the CIS's trickery and how the evil separatists had set the Republic against the ones who should have been their allies all along. Thel must admit, Palpatine certainly knows how to work the crowd into a frenzy. "And now, the UEG and the Swords of Sanghelios have come today to discuss the treaty that will help bring an end to our struggles."
The Senate erupts into thundering cheers once again and the 2 guest platforms float to the center of the Hall, in view of everyone in the Hall. Peterson, who is more talented in politics despite Thel's years of experience, steps forward. "Honorable members of the Galactic Republic, I come forward today to represent the UNSC in this special meeting. I speak for all senators of the UEG when I say that the UNSC's military power will join with the Grand Army of the Republic and end the war we had entered."
As Peterson finishes her statement, the sound of static fills the air. The yellow camera droids that are floating around start sparking dangerously then drop down slightly before regaining control. However, all of them are now facing Palpatine. "Greetings, Supreme Chancellor." A familiar voice came from all of them, reminding Thel and Master Chief of the last time they were in the presence of the Flood on the Ark.
"Count Dooku." Palpatine says, his cheerful voice long gone and replaced by a frown. "Where are you?"
"Closer than you think." Dooku responds, then to everyone's surprise, the Chancellor's seat starts dropping at an alarming rate as the hatches below it open up and then closes as soon as the Chancellor's seat is all the way down. The cameras then turn to Peterson and their escorts, who have their weapons activated and pointing at the cameras in the case of a fight. "It is time to see how far you are willing to take your new alliance. You have 1 hour to decide if you will surrender to the Confederacy."
"What if we don't surrender to you in that time, Separatist?" Thel asks, holding his deactivated energy sword in his hands.
"Well, then you will all die on this planet. The choice is for you to decide." With those final words, the cameras deactivate themselves and they fall all the way to the ground, letting out loud clanks as they do so.
The Senate erupts into chaos as they start talking with each other, panic in their voices. Suddenly, the lights go out and the sounds of doors locking can be heard all around them. The UNSC and SoS platforms start falling into the ground. The members shout in surprise, but manage to grab the railings to brace themselves for when the platforms crash to the ground, screeching loudly as they scrape the bottom before settling on the bottom.
"We need to leave." Chief says, standing back up and jumping to the ground. He grips the panels and starts pulling with all his might, managing to open it a few inches. Thel jumps down the shaft with Peterson and the rest of the escorts following behind. Chief positions himself close to the gap and jumps down as the opening seals itself seconds later. Battle droids are all around them, but the Sangheili and Ahsoka have already dispatched the droids, producing a thin layer of droid scraps across the ground.
"The Chancellor is gone." Thel says, looking around with his active energy sword. He walks to the closed blast door and before he can get to work, a blue lightsaber stabs into the top of the door. It swirls around in a circular pattern before the piece of metal slid inward, crashing into the ground.
Anakin walks in, Obi-Wan at his side with Captain Rex following behind. "So, you're here. Where's the Chancellor?" Anakin asks, worry on his face.
"Gone, Jedi. The CIS had kidnapped him." Thel responds.
"Of course Dooku would be behind this." Obi-Wan mutters, then waves them along and walks out the door. They all run out the door and down the long hallways until they reach the outside world. People are running around, screaming or pointing to the sky. They all look up and their hearts sink to their feet. In the middle of the sky, a giant Slipspace portal appears in the sky and a huge space ring starts to emerge from it. A single ship flies into the skies of Corusant before entering hyperspace.
"Halo." Thel says, an almost fearful tone in his voice. The Honor Guard stare up at the ring, almost taking a step back in fear. Anakin, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan stare at the Sangheili, confused as to why they are acting this way.
"What is wrong? Halo is only a weapon that kills those monsters we fought when we were on the surface." Ahsoka asks, shocking Anakin since he thought she was a normal ODST.
"How do you think it works? As a friend once said, Halo kills the Flood's food, starving them until they die out. All sentient life qualifies as food." Chief says, staring up at the Forerunner weapon.
"So, if we don't agree to surrender to the CIS and your Insurrection, they will activate this ring and wipe out the capitol of the Republic." Anakin summarizes, looking more and more disturbed by how such technology was invented.
"Indeed. I have already contacted the Panem and Retribution. They are sending a Pelican and Phantom to pick us up and take us to Halo so we can blow it up." Peterson says, managing to stay calm despite everything that is happening.
"Well, if you are going to fight, then count me and the 501st Legion in as well." Rex says, holding his portal gun in his left hand. While the likes blaster pistols still, he has taken a liking to the versatility of the portal gun. He lifts up his other arm and the wrist comm device activates, producing the image of his close friend and associate, Commander Cody. "Cody, rally all squads of the 501st Legion here on Corusant. We are taking the battle to the Halo ring."
"Yes sir." Cody says, standing taller than before and the comms cut off. They all look to the sky at the sound of humming engines. A single Pelican and red Phantom fly down from the sky and set down on the ground. The hatch opens up and Sergeant Redfield jumps out, pointing his twin prototype Magnum pistols in different directions. The rest of the UNSC officials and several Sangheili march out, also ready for a fight. "Madam President, we are going to get you out of here. We'll take care of this scum." Redfield says, holding his guns up.
From out of the sky, a black Halberd-class destroyer flies down from the sky and a single cylinder shoots out of the side, which explodes in the atmosphere. Electricity spreads in all directions, causing every ship in the sky to start falling to the ground. Even the Pelican and Phantom are affected, causing their engines to start de-activating. "Did those assholes hit the entire planet with an EMP?" Private Romulus Mandus asks, looking at the Pelican with a look of disbelief.
One of the Sangheili walks forward and kicks the side of the docked Phantom. "They are not going to do us any good." He says bluntly.
After a minute of silence, Cody and 100 clones march up to the group. "Sorry we couldn't get here sooner. All of our transports have been knocked out. What are we going to do about the surrender request Dooku sent the Senate?"
Chief looks up at the sky and Halo and gets an idea. "We don't surrender. We fight and destroy Halo."
Cody stares at Chief with a look of surprise, then disbelief. "I admire your courage, Master Chief, but I have 1 question. Permission to ask?"
"Granted."
"How exactly are we going to get to that giant ring and stop whatever Dooku's up to?" Cody asks, referring to the fact that all ships in the near 20 miles had lost power.
Rex looks down at the portal gun in his hand and suddenly he gets an idea. "I have got that covered. I will use this to make a portal to the ring."
"Yes. Right now, that looks like our only way to get to the ring's surface. When we get there, we stick together and find a way to reach the library. Assuming they took the Index from the Supreme Chancellor's possession, they will use one of the members of the Insurrection to activate Halo. That means they must have a considerable foothold at the station." Kenobi says, stroking his beard in thought.
"We don't have much time. Does everyone have ammunition for every weapon?" Rex asks.
"I never leave home without checking my weapons. I have to remind Romulus to do that sometimes." Romulus's twin, Romeo Mandus says, checking the bullet casings in his sniper rifle.
"I do not!" Romulus responds, his face heating up in embarrassment.
"Enough." Chief says, making the 2 marines go silent instantly. "Captain, fire that portal. We need to get going."
"On it, Master Chief. I hope to the Force this works." Rex says, then points his portal gun at the inside of the ring that is barely visible in the sky. Concentrating to the best of his ability, he fires his portal gun. Out of the tip comes an orange portal and it flies into the sky for several long moments before Rex decides to take the chance and fires the gun again at the ground in front of him. As he hoped, a blue portal ray shoots out and a portal appears to the other side. "I'm going first." He then jumps through the portal. "By the Force…" They hear him say on the other side.
That causes the clones, UNSC soldiers and Sangheili to look at each other with slight worry. Eventually, they jump through the portal one by one leaving only Peterson on the other side. She walks back to the Senate Hall, where she can hopefully quell the growing chaos inside.
On the other side of the portal, the united Republic, SoS and UNSC forces scan the area, not believing what they are seeing. The entire forest around them is a wasteland, to say the least. Large, brown biomasses are growing everywhere, from the trees to the ground. The sound of horrible wailing can be heard in the far distance. "What was that?" A clone trooper asks, pointing his blaster rifle in all directions.
"The Flood. They have infected this ring. That only makes this harder." Redfield says, staring at the infected forest in front of them.
Despite all they have been through, a sense of fear and realization weaves its way into the individual minds of the group. There is no turning back now.
AN: I know, this is a major filler chapter.
I promise, next chapter will be better.
As for the new Insurrectionist, I think he will be a right fit.
See you next time when the First Battle of Corusant starts taking place.