Unsung Hero

Delta Halo

A Slipspace rupture appears in space. Solemn Penance comes out, followed by some debris from New Mombasa and the UNSC In Amber Clad.

Commander Keyes lurches forward and grunts. "Report!"

"Both engine cores have spun to zero." Remi informs. "We're drifting."

"Archer pods are cold." Pascal informs. "I'll need to re-key the system."

"Do it, and find out where we are." Commander Keyes' orders 

In a room lined with HEVs, Commander Keyes' speaks through comes. "Sorry for the quick jump, Sergeants. Corporal. You all in one pieces?"

 Johnson sits inside a HEV pod, smoking a smashed cigar. "I'm good. Chief? Six?"

"We're fine." Cortana informs.

"Still in good condition." Xi informs.

Ash looks down at Cal's dogtags.

Caleb is heard groaning. "I hit my head on the exit. If I die, Ruby gets my orange juice."

"I'm fine, if anyone's wondering!" Caylnn adjusts her hair a little.

"Ma'am, there's an object." Remi informs. "Coming into view now."

Commander Keyes stares in amazement. "Cortana, what exactly am I looking at?"

In Amber Clad approaches a familiar-looking ringworld.

"That... is another Halo." Cortana informs.

Sergeant Johnson chokes and yells in surprise. "Say what?!"

Another thud is heard from Caleb's HEV. "Owie!"

"The fuck did she just say?!" Calynn yells in surprise and anger.

"So this is what my father found..." Commander Keyes gazes at Halo. "I thought Halo was some sort of superweapon."

"It is." Xi says. "If activated, this ring will cause destruction on a galactic scale."

In the pod, Ash puts the dogtags away and looks at Halo on his viewscreen.

"I want all the information you've got on the first Halo." Commander Keyes orders. "Schematics, topography, whatever.  don't care if I have the clearance or not."

"Yes, ma'am." Xi and Cortana reply.

"Where's our target?"

"The enemy ship has stopped above the ring." Pascal informs. "We're going to pass right over it."

"Perfect." Commander Keyes says. "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." She then speaks into coms. "Chief, Six, take first platoon. Hard drop, secure a landing zone. Sergeant Johnson, load up two flights of Pelicans and follow them in. Rose Team, go with the Sargent."

"Aye aye, ma'am." Johnson replies as he exits his pod.

"Hell yeah!" Caylnn jumps out of her pod.

"Right." Caleb walks out of his pod, holding his head, as his helmet rests on his hip.

"Until I can move and fight, I'm going to keep a low profile." Commander Keyes informs. "Once you leave the ship, you're on your own."

Rose Team knocks twice on Ash's pod as they walk by, Ash pounds back in acknowledgement.