As Viking-01 flew back to the Infinity, the other UNSC ships engaged the remains of M’dama’s fleet. Watching, then turning away, Noble Six walked down the stairs of the building he was in. As he descended, memories flashed through his head. The death of Jorge, Kat, Carter, and Emile. His last stand on Reach. Being captured by the Covenant. The torture and interrogation he was given by them. The two options he was given. Have your armor taken and sent back to High Charity as a POW, or be marooned on a strange world to die. He chose life. But even life can be very close to death. Having to keep moving to evade the inhabitants. Stealing food to survive. Sleeping in back alleys and sometimes on the roofs of buildings, his only defense an empty Magnum. Six shook off the memories as he exited the building. As he looked around, his eyes quickly fixed themselves on a stray DMR. As he picked it up, the ammo counter displayed 00. Six swore, and continued to forage for weapons. After around five minutes, he picked up what looked like a modified Plasma Repeater from a dead Elite, only it had longer barrel and a stock. as he shouldered it, he noticed the Covenant command post. As he walked up into the main podium, he tuned the Covenant radio to all available frequencies.

“UNSC Infinity, this is Spartan B-312. Designation Noble Six. Requesting immediate evacuation from Covenant command post in city plaza. Infinity, please respond.”

Onboard the Infinity, as he watched Crimson depart from Viking-01, Lasky sighed and turned to Roland.

“What are the Covies doing now?”

“Evacuating. We’re getting reports from Marine squads that they’ve either been evacuating or committing suicide. Things seem too…Hang on. I’m getting a strange radio message, laced with Covenant coding.”

“Play it.” Palmer said, walking in with Fireteam Crimson, the ponies, and Zag, who was carrying the first Nexus Mind.

“Will Do.” Roland said.

UNSC…Spartan….Designation...Requesting....Covenant….Plaza...Respond….” was clearly heard, although loud blasts of static frequently interrupted the few clear words.

“What the hell was that, Roland?” Lasky said, annoyed at the loud sounds, while a few of the ponies uncovered their ears.

“Sorry. A side-effect of the Covie coding. I’m decoding it now. And it’s done.” Roland said with a smile. “Here’s the decrypted message.” It then played, this time much more clear and at an appropriate volume level.

“UNSC Infinity, this is Spartan B-312. Designation Noble Six. Requesting immediate evacuation from Covenant command post in city plaza. Infinity, please respond.”

“Noble Six?” Palmer said, confused. “He died on Reach a long time ago! He can’t be alive!”

“Doesn’t matter to me. Roland! Reestablish contact if you can!” Lasky said.

“Already working on it!.” Roland replied. “And...done!”

“UNSC Infinity, this is Spartan B-312, Designation Noble Six. God, it’s been a while.”

“Noble Six, this is Captain Lasky of the Infinity. How are you alive?”

“I seem to remember that the only thing you found was my helmet. I was captured, interrogated, tortured, and marooned here to die. I survived, I fucking survived, Captain. One thing they say, is that Spartans never die. I’m a perfect example of that.”

“In any case, it’s good to have you back. Where can we retrieve you?” Lasky said.

“City plaza. I’ll be waiting for you there.”

“Copy that, Noble Six. Infinity out.”

Lasky sighed and switched off the radio.

“Crimson. You’re on retrieval duty. Get Noble Six, then link up with the UNSC forces headed towards the Capital. We only have a few hours to set up defenses before those Covenant find the second Nexus Mind. We need to move fast.”

“Yessir!” Chris yelled, and as they departed, Twilight and Celestia turned to Lasky, with nervous eyes.

“Why here? Why Equestria? I know those Covenant are complete lunatics, but why here?” Twilight asked, along with nods and agreement from her friends, Luna, Celestia, Armor, and Cadance.

“I don’t know. The Forerunners must have had some connection with this world. I don’t know why or how, but I promise you. Your capital will not fall to the Covenant. I promised you before, and I’m promising you again.” Lasky said. “They once saw us as heretics, an affront to their gods. We proved them wrong after years of war. We lost so many. We'll make sure that they don't take any Equestrian lives.”

“I trust you completely, Captain. I know that you have fought them for many years, so I grant you the resources needed to defend the city.” Celestia said.

“Thanks, Princess. We won’t let you down. I believe Marine and Spartan fireteams should be landing now…”

“Captain Lasky! This is Spartan Esposito, Fireteam Forest.” the radio suddenly blared.

“I copy, Forest.” Lasky replied.

“We’re having problems with a group of locals in fancy clothing and regulars, sir. All civies. They’ve barricaded the way into the city that Celestia gave us. They’re pelting us with rocks and insults. A lot of the marines are close to firing upon them. We’re not sure what to do.”

“Hold fire and do not engage at all costs. Support will be there shortly.” Lasky said.

“We copy!” Esposito replied.

“I’ll handle this, Captain Lasky.” Celestia said, and she teleported out with a bright flash. Lasky removed his hand from over his eyes, and looked at Twilight.

“Can all alicorns teleport?”

“Yeah. But it’s very complicated magic. I was able to teleport as a unicorn, but it took a lot of time to master. Now that I’m an Alicorn, I can do it more easily.”

“Impressive.” Roland quipped. "Biological teleportation."

Lasky smiled at the Alicorn, and as Twilight saw a Pelican fly past, she whispered under her breath.

“Good luck.”

======================================================

While the Pelican flew over the remains of the city, Chris looked down at himself. He contemplated the fact that Noble Six, the so-called “Grim Reaper of Beta Company,” was still alive. Many Spartans had seen the infamous helmet cam recovered from the remains, but Chris had studied it. He had admired Six for his combat skills, and for the actions he performed in the defense of Reach. He cleared his head as the pilots notified them over the intercom that they had picked up a UNSC beacon, and were closing in on it.

“Copy that, pilot. Crimson, get ready!” Chris yelled, and as they began to set down, the door opened. Chris looked out and approaching them was a Spartan in Mjolnir Mark VB armor. It was all steel gray, with dents, scratches, and even a burn mark on the left thigh were present. As the Spartan walked up, he saluted. Chris jumped out, and looked the Spartan right in the eye.

“Chris-0438. Commander of Fireteam Crimson.”

“Noble Six. Pleasure, Chris.”

As they shook hands, Six nodded, and boarded the Pelican. Chris thought the saw him flinch at the sight of Zag, but he quickly dismissed it as imagination.

“What the hell are you?” Six said.

“My name is Zag-09. I am a Promethean Knight-Lancer, and a member of the group known as “Fireteam Crimson.”” Zag replied.

“Nice. Let’s get moving.” Six said, nodding towards the Knight. As Chris nodded, the two Spartans jumped in, and Viking-01 began to take off. As Six and Chris settled themselves down, Grant handed Six an Assault Rifle and a Magnum. Chris watched as Evan, Ken, David, and Grant made small talk with Six, who was only answering questions, never asking. Chris shook his head and smiled underneath his helmet. Around thirty minutes later, they arrived at the capital. As the Spartans disembarked, they could see Celestia talking exhaustively with the civilians on top of the barrier. As they approached, the crowd roared insults and a few rocks were thrown at Crimson and the Marines and Spartans already present. Celestia was trying to calm them down, but all their attention was on the Spartans.

“EVERYPONY LISTEN!” Celestia roared in the Royal Voice, and all of a sudden, there was quiet. “I trust the UNSC with the defense of Canterlot from the Covenant invaders. They are here to PROTECT us, not to invade, and that is final. I insist that there will be no more protests…”

“Protect us? PROTECT US?” a smart-ass voice echoed, and a stallion with white fur, wearing noble-style robes stepped up to the front. (Crimson saw Celestia swear under her breath.) “Auntie, you can’t be serious about this! Why would they show up with what I presume are weapons if they aren’t planning to ravage Canterlot?”

“I am perfectly serious, Prince. They are not here to invade. I can presume that everypony heard of the valiant efforts they put up defending our land?” She said, and several ponies nodded.

“They’re nothing more than mutant, alien apes! Why should we let them in, when they could be planning all sorts of evil things that could harm us beyond repair?” “Prince” said furiously, but before Celestia could respond, Six cleared his throat.

“Listen here. You honestly think that we’re here to invade?” he said, and Prince Blueblood nodded.

“Then listen up, you shit-mouthed ass-hat. If we truly wanted to invade, why would we have crashed in that forest, rather than striking at important cities? Why would we have made peaceful contact with your kind? Because we knew that you could be allies. We defended your land and people with our strength, and our troops have DIED to defend this world, and this is the welcome we get? Check the facts, you uptight shithead! We took back that city you call “Manehattan” with our blood, and we try to defend your capital, we get this load of shit? So I’ll ask once, then I’ll force my way through that barrier if I need to. Open up, so we can defend you and hopefully force the Covenant off your world once and for all. UNDERSTAND?” Six roared.

Prince Blueblood tried to reply, but a glare and an angry look from Celestia kept him silent. As the ponies removed the barricade using magic, the UNSC troops walked through, getting scared looks from the ponies. Blueblood tried to say something more, but Celestia’s horn glowed threateningly, and he was silent. Chris jogged up next to Six.

“Nice one there, Six.”

“I aim to please.” he replied.

Author's Note

Edited chapter up now.

And the covenant are not far behind. Expect a major battle in the next chapter!