"Sir we've got portal activity." One of the Scientists said as the portal opened.
"From Cybertron?" Sean asked.
"No from Coruscant." The scientist said as a man appeared through the portal.
"Sorry for the rather sudden appearance but this is urgent." The man said.
"And you would be?" Lane asked.
"Grand Governor Tarken. Chancellor Valorum has tasked me with monitoring this sector of the galaxy. However I'm here for a different reason." Tarken said.
"Whats going on? Trade federation up to something again?" Sean asked.
"No considering they've lost their trade franchise they are no longer a threat. The Reason I'm here is because lately there has been rumors about a new government called the covenant." Tarken said.
"Covenant?" Talbot said confused.
"This wouldn't happen to be that religious government we've been hearing about on the net would it?" Reznov asked.
"As a matter of fact yes." Tarken said.
"So whats the problem then?" Ross asked.
"Recently they been looking for something we believe their confusing for religious reasons that might actually be a weapon of untold power." Tarken said.
"What kind of weapon?" Sean asked in concern.
"Unclear but whatever it is the republic wants secured away from them or at least understand what makes this weapon so dangerous." Sean said.
"Well how bout it Kruger?" Reznov asked.
"Well it has been a couple weeks since any major incidents occurred since Doom went MIA. Alright, Talbot prep the Autumn and the Spirit of Fire I want to know their last known location." Sean said.
"On it." Talbot said.
"Lane get on the communications array and contact Optimus and Megatron tell them we might need some back up for this." Sean said.
"Consider it done." Lane said.
Later
Sean and a few other heavy hitters left to travel in space to where the Republic believes was the last known location of the Covenant.
"So why exactly is the republic concerned about this covenant anyway?" Sean asked Tarken.
"I believe your world is familiar of what happens when one confuses Technology with Religion." Tarken said.
"Ah I see. Devastating outcomes for both parties." Sean said before they appeared out of Slip Space where the Covenant fleet were at around some kind of ring.
"What in the hell is that?" Lane asked.
"Sir we're getting a transmission from the Covenant." One of the officers said.
"Let it through." Sean said before an alien with a long neck appeared.
"Ah the Warriors of Earth we've been expecting you." The alien said surprising those from earth.
"Expecting us?" Lane asked.
"Might we ask who you are sir?" Sean asked.
"I am the prophet of Regret one of covenant's religious leaders. We have been expecting your arrival since we tipped off the republic of our endeavors. For your people are the only ones who can activate Halo." Regret said.
"Halo? Is that what this ring is? What is its purpose?" Tarken asked.
"Come and see. I assure you you will not be disappointed by the powers of this ring." Regret said before ending his transmission.
"Well?" Tarken asked Sean.
"Hmmm. Get the Drop ships ready." Sean ordered to the troops. "There might be more to this ring then even they know but lets indulge them and see what this is really about." Sean said.
"Agreed." Tarken said.
Later
Sean and a few others arrived on the planet near what Regret called the control chamber. Sean, Tarken and Lane walked in and saw Regret with a few guards called the elites an honorable race of warriors.
"It is an honor to finally meet the saviors of the galaxy. Your planet has become the main topic of every world ever since you freed the planet Naboo." Regret said.
"We were just doing what was required since the Republic was to corrupted at the time." Sean said.
"Indeed. Here lies the greatest creation left by the most intelligent life forms of the galaxy. The forerunners." Regret said.
"Never heard of them but they must have been powerful if they built this thing." Sean said.
"They were. Long ago before the republic before the days of Earth's existence or any of modern day's wonders the Forerunners ruled all with the mantel of responsibility. However though sadly their time came to an end when a parasite known only as the flood appeared. They could not stop these abominations and so Halo was built to eradicate them at a cost to their very lives." Regret said before another Elite walked in. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?" Regret asked.
"Forgive me Noble Prophet but my men have discovered a weapons cache close by. I wish to send a unit to investigate." The Elite said.
"If that is the case my men will accompany you." Lane said.
"Captain Keyes." Sean said on the comms.
"Yes sir?" Keyes said.
"Get a unit down here to assist in a scouting mission." Sean said.
"Yes sir." Keys said.
"Now what else can you tell me about this ring?" Sean asked Regret.
Later
"We have tried our best yet we cannot activate the ring. Long has the Covenant dreamed of finding one of the scared rings and now that we have we cannot seem to activate it." Regret said.
"Hmm." Sean said placing his hand on the controls and unlike with the covenant he seemed to access its contents with ease. "Are you sure about that?" Sean asked looking through the files on the panel.
"Odd." Regret said.
"Commander we have a situation." Keyes said.
"Whats the problem?" Sean asked.
"The scouting unit hasn't reported back yet and comms are down. They may have run into some trouble." Keyes said.
"There are certain areas where communication is blocked." Regret said.
"Maybe so but nevertheless." Sean said before pulling out a chip that was glowing before placing it on the console and a holographic woman appeared. "Cortana." Sean said.
"Nice place." Cortana said.
"A construct?" Regret asked.
"An A.I actually. Cortana see what you can find on about this ring while I go find the scouting party." Sean said.
"Don't I always?" Cortana asked making him smirk.
"Smart ass. Lane, Tarken stay here. I'll let you know what happened when I get back." Sean said.
Later
"This is the last location of the scouting party." An Elite pilot said.
"Alright lets go see what happened." Sean said as he and a few Elites dropped down.
"I do not like this." Another Elite said.
"Nor do I but they could be in trouble and we are not leaving them behind." Sean said.
"Agreed." Another Elite said as they entered the facility. "Keep your eyes open for possible ambushes." The Elite said.
Walking through the facility they found nothing for a few minutes till.
"Over here." Sean said getting the four Elites to rush over to him and found him with the dead body of another Elite from the scouting party with a hole in his chest.
"What happened?" One of the Elites asked.
"No idea. But this isn't weapon damage. Something else did this." Sean said inspecting the wound and found some kind of brown sludge inside. "Ugh. Disgusting." Sean said wiping his hand off that stuff. "Whatever did this is probably still here so stay alert." Sean said as they moved further into the facility.
They came upon a door and found it locked.
"This door has just been recently sealed tight. I think our scouts were trying to keep something out or inside this room." Sean said.
"Even so we must get inside." An Elite said.
"Your right." Sean said kicking down the door hard till it fell down.
"That works." Another Elite said before they walked in and widened their eyes seeing the room covered in blood both human and covenant.
"Good God." Sean said in shock before activating the comms. "Lane do you copy?" Sean said but only got static. "Shit. We're to deep down." Sean said.
"So savageness. They did not deserve to die like this." One of the Elites said.
"We need to get out of here and back to the surface." Sean said.
"Wait listen." One of the Elites said before they all heard some kind of crawling sound.
"Huh?" Sean said looking around as the sound got louder meaning it was closer. "The hell is that?" Sean asked before one of the Elites yelled in pain making them turn to see some kind of alien on him before more of them started showing up. "What the fuck!" Sean yelled going into the Ghost Rider state to kill all these creatures while his group was slaughtered by these things.
Once the fight was over Sean turned back to human form and looked at his dead comrades.
"Warriors in life warriors in death." Sean said before burning their bodies as a sign of respect to not be buried in this hell hole. "I need to get out of here." Sean said to himself before running off to get back to the surface.
Nearly reaching the surface he encountered some floating orb.
"Huh?" Sean said confused.
"Greetings. I am the monitor of installation zero four. I am 343 guilty spark." Spark said.
"I'm going to assume those things down there are Flood right?" Sean asked.
"Correct. My function is to prevent them from leaving this installation. But I do require your assistance." Spark said.
"Anything to stop this crap sure." Sean said as they teleported away.
Later
"Whoa!" Sean yelled as he fell down on the ground in some new room.
"My apologies." Spark said.
"Yeah whatever. What are we doing here?" Sean asked.
"We must collect the index before we can activate this installation." Spark said.
"Where is it?" Sean asked.
"Behing this door but first there are protocols to follow first." Spark said.
"Look I'm sure you are dead set on those but we're on a clock right now so have to skip those if you want me to activate this thing." Sean said.
"Hmmm. I suppose so. Very well let us proceed then." Spark said as he led him to where the Index was while fighting through a swarm of the flood with ease.
"Curious how your able to combat the floor without any physical weapons. I suppose this is why the Forerunners left everything to your race on Earth." Spark said confusing him.
"Whoa slow down. What do you mean by that? Left everything to Earth? Are you talking about the Mantel of responsibility?" Sean asked.
"Of course. You seem surprised." Spark said.
"Regret mentioned that on the way here from the control room. What makes my people so special for it? Why not share it with the rest of the galaxy?" Sean asked.
"Truthfully that is your choice. Humans of your world have the potential to do more then the Forerunners ever could." Spark said.
"Oh you have no idea. Considering the fact is that Earth is experiencing a lot of changes right now." Sean said before reaching the Index. "Is that it?" Sean asked using his chain to pull it to him and held it.
"Impressive. Now we must go to the control room and activate this ring." Spark said transporting them back to the control room.
Later
"He should have reported in by now." Tarken said.
"Calm down that kid can handle himself just fine." Lane said before Sean and Spark arrived.
"Ugh. Can we please not do that again?" Sean said feeling dizzy.
"My apologies." Spark said.
"There you are. What happened to the scouting party and whats that?" Lane asked.
"In order. The Flood is still alive and devoured the scouting party and the elites that went with me. And this is Guilty Spark who helped me get this." Sean said showing the Index. "This will activate Halo and destroy the Floor for good this time." Sean said approaching the control panel and inserted the Index but when it looked like it was powering up it shut down.
"Odd. That wasn't supposed to happen." Spark said confused.
"Oh Really?" Cortana said appearing from the Panel and basted Spark.
"Whoa. What was that for?" Sean asked.
"Do you have any idea what that bastard almost made you do?" Cortana asked annoyed.
"Is there a problem?" Regret asked not seeing the issue.
"All I was trying to do was activate the ring with the Index." Sean said.
"You mean this?" Cortana asked holding the Index.
"A construct? In the core? That is absolutely unacceptable!" Spark yelled.
"Sod off!" Cortana said.
"What impertinence! I shall purge you at once." Spark said.
"Whoa easy now she's with us." Sean said.
"You sure thats a good idea?" Cortana asked as the Index vanished.
"How dare you!" Spark yelled.
"ENOUGH!" Sean yelled making them stop.
"Reclaimer you must retrieve that Index if we are to activate the Ring." Spark said.
"Sean trust me you don't want to do that. This Ring doesn't kill flood." Cortana said.
"What?" Sean asked.
"What are you talking about of course it does. It has before." Regret said.
"Not exactly true. It's responsible for killing most of them off the first time but it didn't directly kill them immediately." Cortana said.
"Spark what is she talking about what did you leave out about this ring?" Sean asked.
"You mean you don't know?" Spark asked.
"DOES IT LOOK LIKE I KNOW!" Sean yelled.
"My apologies. I had assumed you all knew your ancient history. You were the ones the Forerunners chose to pick up the Mantel of responsibility." Spark said.
"Why is Earth always picked for everything?" Tarken asked Lane.
"I have no idea." Lane said.
"Ancient humans once battled the Forerunners in ancient times till finally a truce was called upon by both factions. However weakened from their conflict my creators were no match for the flood and after using every alternative solution they activated the rings and died in the process while using Genetic samples to repopulate the Galaxy. However first they needed to pick a species to continue where they left off. That Species are yours." Spark said.
"Ok" Sean said still trying to get all that into his head. "But what do the Rings do?" Sean asked.
"The Only way to kill the Flood is to starve them to death. They feed on sentient beings with sufficient Bio-Mass. In other words." Spark tried to say.
"Us." Sean said. "No wonder they ate my group so quickly they were starving. That also explains all the blood we saw coming in." Sean said.
"So let me get this straight these things basically will eat anything intelligent? Son we've got to kill these things now. And I've got one idea that comes to mind." Lane said.
"Destroy the Ring?" Sean asked.
"Unacceptable." Spark said.
"I'm going to assume that a new ring is built if one of them is destroyed or damaged." Sean said.
"Well yes thats true but still." Spark tried to say.
"As much as I would rather not I agree we must destroy the ring before the Flood find a way off world." Regret said.
"The Problem is that I can only think of one way to destroy the ring. But first I need the Pillar of Autumn to evacuate all occupants." Sean said.
"Why would you need them to...Oh no don't tell me." Lane said.
"We have to detonate one of our ships on the ring in order for it to explode." Sean said.
"As far as I'm concerned its the only sound plan." Tarken said making Lane sigh.
"Alright lets get this over with." Lane said.
Later
"Halo. It's finished." Cortana said as the humans and the Covenant saw the destruction of the ring.
"I'm sure a new one will be built soon enough but that parasite was just to risky to have wandering about in the galaxy a second time. In the meantime you can help us understand the Forerunners a little better." Sean said to Gulty Spark.
"I would be honored to." Spark said.
"I will have to inform the rest of the council of this event. I promise you though The Covenant will aid Earth when and if you need us." Regret said on a transmission.
"Thank you. Good luck." Sean said ending the Transmission.
"Lets get back home." Lane said.