Halo: The Arc Regenesis

by SuccubusKing

Halo: The Arc Regenesis. This takes place shortly after the Fall of Reach and the Arrival of the Banished during Halo Infinite. What if the UNSC found a hidden artifact to revive Captain Keyes? What would occur if Master Chief discovered a plot so vast, and so interwoven it was tied to the Gravemind. The Architect of the Arc is back...leading right to 343 Guilty Spark.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HALO: Arc Regenesis Begins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 1: Arcitect of the Arc ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

/Huge sheets of rain continue to pour down across the valley, where Master Chief and Cortana had discovered the derelict freighter which led to the Composer and the Didact. This is what led finally to the fall of reach, and SPARTAN-114 who reached out to help LOCKE uncover the secret to the Cartographer's Ancient harmonizer frequency. The map show cased the brutality and stubborn resolve of the ELITE super soldiers, including Caldwell, who reached out and broke the hammer directly out of a Brute's war torn fingers near the PRIMORDIAL SHIP: ARKAN. It was time, more than past time for the humans to answer for their direct assault on the Ancient structure near ROKAN. *

Lieutenant Caldwell: "MASTER CHIEF…..Ahh, SPARTAN-117….I see you now. I have returned, to break the Composer's grip."

Elite Soldier Zerin: "Sir, does this have anything to do with MANDAGRA, of the Banished? Perhaps he knows the conduit's new location…."

Lieutenant Caldwell: "NEGATIVE, ZERIN….This has to do with our boss, and main MASTER BUILDER. I'm talking about 343 Guilty Spark…"

Elite Zerin: "What? But he's an A.I., one of the Prophet of Truth's most trusted allies….including PRIMORDIAL himself.."

Lieutenant Caldwell: "I have just discovered proof that links 343 Guilty Spark directly to the COMPOSER, Precursor invasion….It could be used to contain the fallout, and bring MANDAGRA to our side. (He glances over.) Which means….it might let us control the A.I. that was floating above ZETA HALO and finally discover the true mission of the PRECURSORS….We can then trap Master Chief once and for all…"

Elite Zerin: " ((RAWWWWWWWWWG)) He stole the secret hidden weapon of the ARBITER, Zerin…..I like the sound of that…Perhaps we can lure him out and find the true nature of the FLOOD's master builder….

Lieutenant Caldwell: "What? I don't understand…..We can't even talk to the FLOOD's master builder…"

Elite Zerin: "Not if the Master Builder is one of the original FORERUNNERS of ZETA HALO…..(GRAAAAAWG) Meaning, not if he is in fact 343 GUILTY SPARK himself…..All we do is invite him into our secret meeting house."

Lieutenant Caldwell: "Ahh yes, Zerin…..I like how you think. It is we in the Covenant Britannia, who should be telling Master Chief where to sit…..Not the other way around. I'm still astonished no one noticed the massive betrayal at Solanio station…"

Elite Zerin: "Guilty Spark IS the Master Builder…..We know this now."

*It had presented the first real proof that the Zetas, as well as the Precursors were behind the invasion. The Flood outbreak on Zibraxis had not been any accident, it was planned by the Elite Command General Zarcanum. Cortana spoke up and entered the main foyer to approach the central station. Fade in to large auditorium, near the Platinum Arches Space Center on the other side of the Silent Cartographer station outpost. It was clear this had to all be put into motion, before SEARGENT KEYES could be brought back….to stop the Flood invasion.*

Cortana: (Speaking to the entire auditorium.) "Delegates and dignitaries of the Unified UNSC colonies….It has come to our attention that the attack on Zibraxis was not by accident. And a key answer to locate the CONDUIT has been unearthed by our intelligence officers…"

Audience: "That is incredible…..Who else knows? Are you proposing the Prophet of Truth staged some of the battle for the PRIMORDIAL."

Master Chief: "No….That's not what Cortana is saying. (He glances upward.) What she's saying is that we can resurrect SEARGENT KEYES to find the location of the Primordial ship…..And that will tell us who truly let the FLOOD land at Zibraxis, once and for all."

Cortana: "Explain yourself, Master Chief. The UNSC no longer has time for debates about who started the first incursion, whether it be the Zetas or the Banished above Zeta Halo."

Master Chief: "That's because you're all looking in the wrong place, this time…Commander LOCKE found out the truth. (He breathes in.) Our real enemy is not in the PRECURSOR TERRITORIES right now, searching for the HALO aerial station. Our real enemy Cortana, is in league with the PRIMORDIAL. Meaning…The Master Builder is 343 GUILTY SPARK, Cortana…..And he is behind the Prophet's interest in the Primordial."

Cortana: "That is quite the twist, if proven to be true…We must start a new debate without any delays. It is time to open the HALO portal."

Master Chief: "If that is true Cortana, I feel it would only be entirely appropriate that you know what the first Forerunners are hiding…."

*Suddenly, a very large view-finder window pane and computer screen appears in front of them. It showcases a glimpse of what happened back on the Pillar of Autumn, where the Primordial's strongest lieutenant was let loose on the vessel. Cortana strains her eyes to study the glimpses of the large carvings….the ancient writings appear to dictate the location of the world's most unique weapon since HALO.*

Cortana: "I don't understand, Spartan 117….That appears to be an ancient writing and language of the Forerunners. (She gasps.) But the time period is all wrong…..This is back before the founding of Zeta Halo….How is that possible?"

Master Chief: "Because, Cortana…Zeta Halo was only the beginning of the Arc's emergence. (He blinks.) I would have thought you knew this whole time, that what the Banished did was nothing but a ruse to secretly hide the true meaning of these artifacts….The true meaning of the language, which would hide the HALO from everyone's prying eyes. I am afraid LOCKE is correct, a small group of world renowned architects known as THE FIRST FORERUNNERS are behind the Primordial's sudden rise to power….."

Master Chief: "…And there is also an ancient Artifact that lies on the outskirts of Earth, near Mercury Prime…on the way to Reach…which clarifies and reveals who the original Forerunner global architect was. (He sighs.) One of them Cortana, is none other than 343 GUILTY SPARK…..He is himself one of the original designers, he gave the DIDACT life and brought it back to Earth…."

Seargent Limourie: "No, Master Chief….That cannot be true…Surely you cannot believe a word of this, Cortana….The Spartan is absolutely incorrect….Besides, Guilty Spark has been one of our finest supporters for the rebuilding of the UNSC repository on Constor…Explain this.."

Cortana: (She sighs.) "Spartan-117….Accusations of such nature demand a high threshold of satisfying, legible evidence. I presume you have the facts behind this situation? Please provide to the UNSC High Command your supporting evidence on the DIDACT."

Master Chief: "….Because the leader of the Banished literally told me. And yes, Cortana (He approaches the enormous view-finding universal map window.)….We'll get to the evidence next."

*Meanwhile, more than 200 miles outside the main construction channel for a Seargent Keyes installation near the south perimeter of Arcadia. Herein lies an enormous rotunda, buried by a rusted silhouette of ancient jungle and caverns surrounding the interior. The reality of the recent war between the Banished and humanity had left this area stuck and depreciated, trapped inside a bygone era as though it had been lost beyond time. There is heavy evidence of the GRAVEMIND having been here…whatever it was which occurred first. It is inside this labyrinth beyond time, in the ECHOES of a distant past (or future) that the UNSC High Council begins preparations to discuss the incursion. Commander Catherine Halsey, and Private Soren as well as newcomer regional scout Jacen Baldwin are sitting around the massive open meeting room table. In the center, a giant viewing screen window instantly opens up and an Elite soldier appears.*

Elite Zerin: "Catherine Halsey….(RAWR…WIRR) I presume you have had more success decoding the Artifact, at this point…"

/-Camera pans to an ENORMOUS ROTATING WINDOW, in the center of which is a PYLON and ANCIENT UNSC artifact…which appears to be more than 4000 years old. It is carbon dated CIRCA - U.N.S.C –/01-01-2016 with the number 5982852 APPEARING ON TOP. The formation loops out and combines into an ANCIENT SWORD LIKE WEAPON, which doubles over and forms a scythe blade on the EAST TIP.-/

Elite Juxtinian: "Yes, Halsey…..The Forerunners will not accept failure, by any measure at this point. It was the fault of the Precursors that we lost the original tablets which complete the translation for the COMPILER which reveals the DIDACT's hidden location….the secret triangle.."

Elite Zerin: "Ahhh yes, Juxtinian… (SNNAARL) You refer to the Triangle of Arcadia….An ancient isotope that was rumored to be created by the BANISHED, that has all the same properties as the similarly named Bermuda Triangle….(SKRRAT…) But this is much more than a weapon…"

Elite Juxtinian: "Yes it is, Zerin….Much more than a weapon for the Covenant's main base...or for the Banished. Which is why we need the Silent Cartographer. Ms. Halsey, how much progress have we made on that front?"

Catherine Halsey: "The Covenant need not worry about translating the ancient Arcadian artifact….I believe I have someone here who can assist with finishing that first part of the mission, easily…And begin unlocking the Teregime Chamber. Commander….Open the Video Feed."

Mysterious Cartographer Voice: (343 GUILTY SPARK) "Hello, CATHERINE….You don't need to continue speaking such key code words here."

Mysterious Cartographer Voice: "I assure you, no one at the UNSC central command will hear you. Yes, Zerin and Juxtinian…..I would wager we need not worry about that for much longer. (BLIP….BEEP, CREEK) I will soon have the SWORD translated without any problems. After that is of course, I inform the BANISHED about the discovery on Arcadia…."

Elite Zerin: "Good to hear, Commander 343. Shall I begin to inform the PRIMORDIAL and LIEUTENANT CALDWELL now?"

Mysterious Cartographer Voice: "I don't think there's really any need….No one can find us. And as we know well by now, MASTER CHIEF is likely not going to be a problem without the ARBITER. The Didact….I wish for both of you, my strongest Elites….To reconnect the DIDACT.."

Elite Juxtinian: "I'm not sure that's so wise…..Are you sure? The DIDACT sir, was highly unstable the last time…."

Mysterious Cartographer Voice: "That's not a problem anymore… (He grins.) And that is of course why I must inform the PRIMORDIAL….Clearly the original conspiracy inside the Prophet of Truth's mother ship has gone almost better than expected…."

Elite Zerin: "What do you mean, sir? What of the portal and window to ZETA HALO itself…."

Catherine Halsey: (She bites her lip.) "I think it's clear our leader here doesn't need to concern himself with that. After all, the Triangle has been found they said."

Mysterious Cartographer Voice: "Yes…..Yes indeed it has, Halsey. That's why we needed you. Very soon now, I believe our best researchers will finally have the CODE fully deciphered upon the DIDACT...Which allows us to fully translate Arbiter's Sword ARTIFACT. (He inhales.) All without even having my ARBITER involved. We need not concern about these trivialities much longer, as the Triangle of Arcadia…is almost here."

Elite Zerin: "That is great to hear my liege.."

Jacen Baldwin: "I don't understand…(he blinks) Station didn't inform me…UNSC didn't say anything about development of an artifact.."

Elite Juxtinian: "That's because they never knew about it… (He sneers.)

* Suddenly, two looming shadows run into the main foyer. They are huge, more than 8 feet tall carrying massive Assassin Blades and the ARBITER'S sword. The two Elites, Zerin and Juxtinian….instantly destroy the floodlights overhead as the corridor goes silent. They run out in a wave that moves faster than the speed of light, as the auditorium begins to quake under the noise of their dropship. In two massive waves, silent as an empty cave, the Elites rush in and cut Baldwin to pieces….as part of his arms fall to his side and then his head is removed. The eerie silence fills the corridor, as a young cadet named Mark Fuller waits directly outside on standby and witnesses the unfolding grisly scene./

Mark Fuller: "My god….The UNSC never prepared me for anything like this! Oh my god, he is dead."

((Mark suddenly jumps into the back of a Warthog and starts speeding down the road at 80 MPH…To get away from the grisly, gruesome scene. 2 large Elite Class Soldiers, both ruthless Hunters, fire upon his transport 4 times to scatter it over the hilly tundra. He runs as fast as he can, out into the massive jungle searching for signs of the ELITE dropship. Yet he sees nothing in the wet vacant clearing…as he shoots off more than 40 rounds of machine gun fire into the south side of each of the inlet caverns.))

Brahman: "Fuller….Is that you!? Patch in! (A UNSC cadet he traveled with most of his life suddenly appears near the hillside, running as fast as he can down the slope towards where he is in the ravine.) What is going on…? What did you see, that could be worse than HELIJUMPING?"

Mark Fuller: "Brahman….Lieutenant Brahman…I just saw something that shocked me out of my wits. Sir, I think Catherine Halsey is a traitor to the UNSC….She was meeting with a large unknown voice…which made me freeze in terror."

Brahman: "Who? What sort of voice…..This better not have to do with Jared back on REACH.…"

Mark Fuller: "No…Brahman…No. It was him, I swear it to you….I'd swear it even to Cortana….It was 343 Guilty Spark, talking about a secret artifact they uncovered to take over Earth…I am not joking here, I wish I was!"

Brahman: "What?!"

Mark Fuller: "He was talking about the codes…That they unlocked the Artifact that links to the GRAVEMIND…..He was communicating to the PRIMORDIAL, I swear it! And worst of all…..I think he was giving away the codes to Zeta Halo…"

Brahman: "Maybe you just misunderstood something….The UNSC and our convoy has been investigating a lot of different Antioch style star systems recently which cluster outside our neighborhood….It could have been a false alarm for the Banished.."

Mark Fuller: "No! It wasn't….It was him, it was GUILTY SPARK I am telling you right now…..I would not lie to you….It was the First Forerunner…"

*Meanwhile, over a hundred light years from there on the outskirts of REACH. Master Chief descends a long elevator, and stares straight out the viewing window towards the last known location of the PILLAR OF AUTUMN. He stares vacantly, at nothing….Realizing something is calling to him and there is no way to mistake the pathway of the stars. They dart out in front from left to right, creating a large pattern of exploding clusters that seem to travel on for many miles. A light show of immense detail and power, suddenly sparks in the middle….showcasing a Meteor Shower that begins to reveal the coordinates of a HIDDEN STAR MAP somewhere south of the Arcadia quadrant. He can hear the GRAVEMIND shouting a language in the back of his visor. Something strong, something that pre-dates the Primordial. As Master Chief continues to stare outside, he begins to blink and look closely at the switch nearby. He knows that the DIDACT is out there, and that one of the largest conspiracies ever known to man is currently afoot. There is a glint in his eye…/

Master Chief: (He stares at the gunships as they destroy a COVENANT BATTLE CRUISER, which zips past two corridors. It then flies parallel to a long set of elongated tunnels that twist and turn sideways throughout the Outer Hull of the space cruiser. His eyes stay frozen, motionless…and focused on the battle in front of his face. A giant explosion erupts across the east side of the console.)

Master Chief: "I know…..I know the Forerunners have kept a large secret from humanity. And , if I have to prove that to CORTANA….I will. Whatever it takes to stop the PRIMORDIAL…..I know the PRIMORDIAL is out there, and when he strikes….Time itself is caught in the balance."

Fernando: "…..You really think the PRIOMORDIAL would do this Chief, that he's out there? In league with the FORERUNNER?"

http / static0 .. gamerantimages .| ,com / wordpress / wp-content / uploads / 2021 / 01 / 343 - Guilty - Spark - Featured - Image . jpg

Master Chief: "I don't think this time, Fernando…..I know. I always know…the PRIMORDIAL was let loose on Zeta Halo by the Forerunner. (He exhales.) And the first Forerunner, that Architect who helped create the ship that killed Seargent Keyes….is likely 343 GUILTY SPARK."

Master Chief: "The codes to the artifact are out there, Fernando…That will regenerate the ARC…DIDACT is the key…I can feel it."

Fernando: "….."

*Fade to massive viewing window on deck the UNSC cruiser ship that is directly outside REACH. The whole story, the world war with the PRIMORDIAL…..The unearthing of the giant research station…It had all been a trap, and somehow Master Chief was aware of this. It was linked directly to the GRAVEMIND, and the only ancient being more powerful than whole SATELLITE SYSTEMS….The First Forerunner, the Original who became ARCHITECT of HALO…343 GUILTY SPARK, and the 343 PROCESSING FACTORY outside of ZETA HALO. It was time to embark./

To Be Continued *

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Chapter 1: Arc Designer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~