an ODST among Heroes.

S3-8

Captain Lucia Vickerson stood at the central console, her sharp eyes locked onto the tactical display. The massive vessel loomed on the screen, an ominous shadow against the backdrop of space. It was far beyond anything the Covenant had ever fielded, both in scale and presence.

"Karen," Lucia said, her voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. "What is that ship?"

Karen, the ship’s AI, materialized in a flicker of light, her form radiating calm efficiency. Streams of data cascaded down her projection as she processed the readings.

"Unknown, Captain," Karen began, her tone laced with unease. "However, based on energy signatures and design motifs... it’s Forerunner. Approximately fifty kilometers in length. This is unprecedented."

Lucia felt her pulse quicken. A Forerunner ship? Active and operational? That changed everything.

"Call Halsey up here," she ordered, her voice firm despite the knot forming in her stomach. "I need answers—yesterday."

"Yes, Captain," Karen replied before vanishing from view.

Lucia kept her gaze fixed on the alien behemoth, a mixture of dread and fascination gripping her. Whatever had obliterated the Covenant remnants was tied to this thing, and she didn’t like where this was heading.

---

Moments Later

The hiss of the bridge doors announced Izuku Halsey’s arrival. He stepped in briskly, his green eyes narrowing as he approached the tactical display. His team trailed behind him, their expressions ranging from concern to quiet resolve.

Izuku’s gaze settled on the Forerunner dreadnought, and his face betrayed a flicker of recognition.

"Seems Abject Testament kept his cards close to his chest," Izuku muttered, mostly to himself.

Lucia turned sharply toward him. "So, you know what that is?"

Izuku nodded, though his expression darkened. "That’s a Forerunner capital ship—a Fortress-class dreadnought. The people who built the installation we were on, the Forerunners, lost ships like that to the Flood over 100,000 years ago. Ma’am, to be perfectly honest, I have no idea why I’m even looking at one right now. It shouldn’t exist."

Lucia’s brow furrowed. "Then why does it? And why is it here?"

Before Izuku could answer, the comm system crackled to life, filling the bridge with a deep, mechanical voice.

"Attention: Reclaimer designation ‘Halsey.’ This is Impending Purity. You are hereby summoned aboard the Purity’s Hand. Immediate compliance is required."

The voice carried an air of authority that made the room go silent.

One of the crew members let out a low whistle. "Looks like you’ve got a fan, Halsey."

Izuku sighed, his shoulders tensing. "It’s less fan and more interrogator. Forerunner constructs rarely take no for an answer."

Lucia crossed her arms, her tone grave. "What are our chances of avoiding this?"

"Hope everyone updated their wills," Izuku replied, his voice wry but his face serious. "That ship likely tore through the Covenant remnants like paper. If Impending Purity was their executioner, we don’t have the firepower to say no. I’ll go meet him in a hangar bay on his. Better not to push our luck."

Lucia hesitated, then gave a curt nod. "Karen, send the reply. Inform this ‘Impending Purity’ that Halsey is en route."

"Message acknowledged and transmitted," Karen confirmed.