Reach for Halo

Preparing For The Ark-Where Yo Clothes At?

Mutasim P.O.V

After retreating from the infected land, Lilith, Thelya and I return to the Shadow of Intent. The aliens were all quick to draw their weapons on Lilith, but Thelya was able to calm them down. Her role as Arbiter really did command a lot of respect and it worked in our favour. Shortly after we had arrived onto the Elite ship, Chief came back with us with Guilty Spark and the message of Cortana. 

Right now, we were standing in the chamber while Guilty Spark was doing his best to repair the message. 

Rtas Vadum: Will it live, Oracle? Can it be saved?

Guilty Spark: Uncertain. This construct device has suffered considerable trauma. Its matrices are highly unstable. 

Lord Hood: Perhaps one of our technicians-

Rtas Vadum: That will not be necessary. 

Upon saying that, the device activates, revealing Cortana and her message. 

Cortana (message): Chief! 

Guilty Spark: Success! 

Cortana (message): High Charity, the Prophets Holy City is on its way to Earth. With an army of Flood. I can't tell you everything. The Gravemind. It knows I'm in the system. 

Chief: It's just a message.

Rtas Vadum: Let it play. 

Cortana (message): But it doesn't know about the portal. Where it leads! On the other side! There's a solution, a way to stop the Flood. Without firing the remaining Halo rings-

She screams out in pain and collapses to the "ground". 

Cortana (message): Hurry Chief. The Ark. There isn't much time. 

With that said, the message ends. I glance at Chief and can sense how upset he was about seeing Cortana like this. And I couldn't blame him. 

Guilty Spark: I'm sorry. 

Rtas Vadum: No matter Oracle. We've heard enough. Our fight is through the portal. With the Brutes! And the bastard Truth! 

The Elites, Grunts and Jackals cheer in approval. 

Lord Hood: Fine. We'll remain here. Hold out as long as we can. 

Rtas Vadum: Did you not hear? Your world is doomed. A Flood army - a Gravemind - has you in its sights. You barely survived a small contamination. 

Lord Hood: And you, Shipmaster, just glassed half a continent! Maybe the Flood isn't all I should be worried about. 

Rtas Vadum: One single Flood spore can destroy a species. 

He says while clearly glaring at me and Lilith. The female marine lowers her head and rubs her arm. I hold onto her hand, reassuring her. 

Rtas Vadum: Were it not for the Arbiter's counsel, I would've glassed your entire planet! 

Lord Hood attempts to argue back but Miranda interrupts. 

Keyes: Sir, with respect, Cortana has a solution. 

Lord Hood: Cortana? Did you see her condition? How damaged she is? She could be corrupted for all we know. Her solution could be a Flood trap. 

Keyes: We should go through the portal. Find out for sure. 

Lord Hood: What we should do, Commander, is understand - clearly - that this is Humanity's final stand. Here. At Earth. We go, we risk everything. Every last man, woman and child. If we stand our ground, we might just have a chance.