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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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"Iron Resolve"

May 22 2528 - Hour 0931

COL Logan 'Log' Sutton

Installation-04, The Control Room

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The Pelican landed right by the entrance of the Control Room. None of the Sentinels had tried to stop us as we ventured into the glacial environment, but the appearance of so many of those was disturbing.

I had plenty to think about, but right now I focused on this situation- A new hostage-rescue mission to fish out the Spartans from Guilty Spark's clutches. The little thing may not be that resilient, but its 'eye beam' was quite deadly if used on shields that weren't strong enough to tank a full blast of that.

Which is why Serin was to keep her distance while wielding the Spartan Laser I had taken to the Pelican before leaving. While I didn't want to face Guilty Spark, I didn't exclude that possibility, and so I had the young woman ready to deal some damage if needed.

I made it clear to her on what she had to do.

"You don't dodge, you find cover. That thing can outpace a Spartan, then it will outpace you."

A slow nod, but one that showed some agreement at what was clearly going to be a tense stand-off. As we pushed through the large corridor connecting the outside world to the spacious control room, I realized that some of the Sentinels were 'moving stuff'.

And that worried me as they could be in the process of fixing the broken generators as they couldn't do that in the original timeline during the Battle of Installation 04 because they were busy with the Flood. This isn't the same situation, and it may render the sabotage effort vain if left to repair those undisturbed.

So, I proceeded with a steady pace as the last door to the control room opened. The Arm-Cannon was readied for the confrontation as I quickly locked my gaze at the spheric bastard himself.

"Ah, Reclaimer! You are finally here!"

Quickly assessing the situation, I could tell none of the Spartan was injured. Their shields had recovered, but they had optimally chosen to stay down because the blast had 'taught them a lesson'. And that was that they oculdn't outpace Guilty Spark in an effort to kill it. Nor their equipment was enough to do much to it to begin with. The presence of the other hostages and the dead ONI agent further reminded me of how this situation started and I had to keep an eye on these details in what felt like a negotiation.

"It wasn't like we could have just dodged this 'kind invitation', Guilty Spark. Sarcasm aside, I would like to ask if you know what is going on with the situation."

"I am aware that this human operative had tried to force the activation of the ring- partially so as Installation 04 was intended to be used to 'merely wipe out a fraction of the galaxy'."

"That's stupid," I blurted out, and the Monitor beamed.

"Indeed! The Halos can't be used in such a limited scope, yet he was so earnest to think he could. And then there has been a breach of the containment facility-"

"With the quarantine safely restoring order within the area."

"True, and you have obtained an upgrade to your Combat Skin to be effective against the Flood. Truly exceptional!"

"Thanks, but the situation at hand is tied to... well, the fact that that agent you killed was trying to use the Ring to trigger a new war, thinking with his partner to use the flood for that," I explained strongly. "Thus they tried to use protocol against the Forerunners' will."

"...I suppose that's one way to look at this. However, I would require more context- why would a group of humans seek to spark a Human-Flood war? Are they unaware of the connotations this may lead to?"

"Humans had been engaged in a defensive war with an alliance of other species known as the Covenant. During this period of crisis, the Intelligence Branch of the Military tried to claim more authority over the military government and yet failed to achieve their goals since the war is on its path to closure," I summarized the situation the best I could. "We had an encounter with the Flood during a skirmish that took us to one of the Shield Worlds. The Monitor of that area assured us that all protocols were followed to contain the Flood and no means was given to them to leave the surface."

"That's quite the surprise, Reclaimer. I suppose the Monitor is still around and perhaps we could have a conversation."

Oh right, Spark is a depressed thing with how long he had been alone in this place.

"I will forward your request. But... just to make it clear, my troops are not trying to cause damage to the Installation. Only rescue the hostages."

"It makes sense, yes."

"Can they stand up now?"

"Yes, they are not recognized as threats to the Installation."

The Spartans slowly stood up, wary of potential surprises while eyeing the Monitor. They advanced towards the hostages, helped them up and removed their restraints, and carefully escorted them back to the entrance.

"John?"

The leading Spartan turned. "Sir?"

"If things go crazy, you are ordered to take the Pelican and leave the Ring. Got it?"

"...Yes sir."

Serin was still there to keep watch, so I wasn't going to be completely alone.

"Now that they are gone, what is that Reclaimer wishes to say or do?"

"First, I have two questions, but I am sure one of those could not get an answer," I pushed, and the Monitor hummed.

"And those are?" Spark asked.

"First, the Installation is not getting activated, right?"

"The infestation has been secured, an activation now would be unnecessary."

That was a fright out of the way. "Well, the second one is that the agent had mutated and broken into one of the unused areas of the facility. I faced what looked to be humanoid robots with... human skulls inside them."

There was silence from Guilty Spark, and I pressed on it.

"What were those?"

"Unused tools that existed before the Flood," Spark dismissed with a quieter tone. "I suppose you disposed of them?"

"I did."

"Then the problem is solved-"

"Why were there Promethean Guardians in this Installation?" I firmly interrupted, causing the monitor to appear 'surprised'.

"T-That's... complicated. I can only say that their purpose was developmental in regard of tools to suppress the Flood. It happened that my creators secured a considerable batch of those before they sealed their producer away."

He was fighting this despite having been open for everything else. I was sure there was more but... I sighed.

"I guess that's fair," I finally eased down. "Still, we will be leaving the Ring soon. The authority for further conversations shall be established by my government, which is the UEG."

"Understood!" Spark's delighted tone returned strongly and- "Also, Reclaimer?"

"Yeah?"

"Could we please talk more in the future?"

...God, why is he now behaving like a puppy!?

AN

Next time... Sif's turn for a lemon!