As the Infinity sped through Slipspace, Lasky looked over at Roland. “Can you patch me through to Princess Twilight’s datapad?”

“I can, but why?”

“She needs to know.”

Roland smiled and chuckled. “Good enough for me. Patching you in now.”

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

Twilight woke to a faint buzzing. She at first thought a bug had gotten into her bedroom, but then she looked over at the datapad Chris-0438 had given her. She thought she had turned it off, but the supposed black screen was now a bright blue. She picked it up and looked at it.

INCOMING MESSAGE-CAPTAIN THOMAS LASKY-UNSC INFINITY

Twilight smiled and opened the channel. “Captain, are you there?”

“Princess! God, it’s great to hear your voice.”

“How are things going?”

“Twilight, I can’t put this politely. Everything’s gone to shit on our end. You know of the Master Chief, correct?”

“Yes...but…”

“He had an AI companion called Cortana. Cortana’s unique in a lot of ways. She’s also the only AI ever generated from living tissue. A complete clone of the brain of Doctor Catherine Halsey.”

“I know that. I read the Master Chief’s file and the files on Halsey. Didn’t Cortana go rampant and then die during the first Battle of Requiem?”

“That’s incorrect. She’s alive. She was teleported through slipspace to a Forerunner world, designation Genesis. Somehow, she was cured of her rampancy, and she’s gone batshit insane. She’s proclaimed AI’s to be superior to humans, and she’s got a whole ARMY of Prometheans and UNSC AI’s backing her up on that… She and the other AI’s are turning everything haywire from Earth to the Outer Colonies. Everything’s gone to hell, Princess.”

Twilight gasped. “How…”

“We don’t know. A few of the AIs that have allied with Cortana have been shut down successfully, but we can’t do that to all the affected AIs without a good amount of time. We need a safe haven for the moment to hide out and prepare.”

“We’re ready, Captain Lasky.” Twilight said. “We're always ready for you!"

“Great. Expect ours and a few ships from the Covenant's arrival. Before you get worried, these Covies are with us. The forces on board are made up of the splinter faction that schismed during the Human-Covenant war. They’re on our side, and just to differentiate, their ships are painted white. The Covie infantry have white markings to designate friendly.”

“Alright. I’ll tell Celestia to rally and mobilize what forces we have. I think you’ll be surprised at what we’ve managed to reverse-engineer and make from the technology you left behind.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Infinity out.”

Twilight sighed, and walked out of her room towards Spike’s bedroom. “Spike! Wake up!”

The dragon sighed and blinked sleepily.

“We’re going to have guests really soon. Mind preparing for them? And I need to send an urgent letter.”

Spike yawned in response.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Thanks!” she said, sprinting downstairs. As Spike followed, Owlowiscious hooted sleepily.

“Hey, Owli. Go back to sleep, okay?” Twilight said.

Owlowiscious hooted, and closed his eyes.

Twilight smiled and pulled out a quill and paper…

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

As the planet Equis came into view. Lasky smiled.

“Feeling nostalgic, Captain?” Roland quipped.

“A little.” Lasky replied.

Roland nodded. “I’ve managed to take the Infinity off the Fleetcom network and onto a server I set up myself. Cortana’s already infected most of the Fleetcom AIs, so by doing this, we can’t be tracked by UNSC gear. Plus, as the Server administrator, I control who has access. So, if old Corty tries to get in, I’ll know.”

“Good. Lasky said.”

“By the way, Fireteam Crimson is approaching the bridge.”

As the doors opened, Chris, Grant, Evan, Ken, David, and Noble Six entered, and saluted.

“Fireteam Crimson, reporting.” Chris said.

“At ease. Alright, Crimson. I’m assigning you to a joint fireteam with Fireteam Osiris and Blue Team. As soon as they arrive, grab them and head to the surface.”

“Ponyville?” Chris asked.

“Right. Twilight’s already alerted Celestia about our situation, and she’s mobilized the Equestrian Defense Corps, their militia. The Infinity will land when the Covie backup forces arrive. The Arbiter managed to gather a few Covie ships and around 9,500 troops to support.”

“Then why are we hiding?” Ken asked.

Lasky sighed. “ Thing is, Spartan, for the moment, we’re on our own. Most UNSC ships capable of delivering reinforcements are bogged down with their infected AIs, don’t know how to access Equis, or both. The Dawes, Red Rider, and the Allegiant are all saying once they get their AI’s under control, they’ll try to get here. Most available ships are rescuing forces from worlds visited by the Wardens.”

“Got it. Anything else?”

“That’s all. Dismissed.”

As Fireteam Crimson filed out, Lasky turned and looked back towards Equis. He sighed and looked down. “May God help us all.”

As the familiar WOOSH of ships leaving Slipspace echoed around them, three Covenant corvettes and one carrier took up defensive positions around the Infinity. As Lasky looked over at them, he smiled.

"Captain! Commander Palmer, on comms!" Roland said.

"Patch her through."

As Palmer's worn and dirtied face appeared on the screen, she sighed. "Good. You're safe, Captain."

Lasky chuckled. "It would be stupid to say we aren't safe, Commander. What's the status of Fireteam Osiris and Blue team?"

"They're heading down with the Arbiter to link up with Crimson on the surface. Shouldn't be long now."

"Good. Return to the Infinity when you can."

"Copy that. Palmer out."

As the image faded, Lasky sighed and looked at Roland. "Think we can save this world twice?"

"I'd bet on it, Captain." Roland replied.

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

As Twilight and her friends stood in Ponyville plaza, the two Pelicans descended slowly. The noise of their engines caused lights to turn on in several homes, then they turned off. As the doors opened, Twilight smiled.

"Hey, Princess!"

"Chris!"

The Spartan and Pony looked at each other, and Chris sat down.

"How's life here on Equis?"

"Just beaming. You?"

"Discount the genocidal AI, the mass system corruptions, and the Prometheans, you could say fine and dandy." Chris replied.

"Double that, Spartan 0438."

All eyes turned to the Black-armored Spartan standing near them, along with one red, one white, and one grey. Four others were green, and Twilight recognized the leader of the green Spartans as the Master Chief. The others, she didn't know.

"Who might you be? I don't think we've met." Twilight said.

"Jameson Locke. Office of Naval Intelligence, Spartan IV, leader of Fireteam Osiris. These are Spartans Buck, Tanaka, and Vale." he said, pointing them out.

"Pleasure." Tanaka said.

"Honor." Vale said as well.

"Nice to meet ya." Buck followed.

"And you must be the Master Chief. I've read a lot about you." Twilight said, extending her hood, which Chief shook.

"My reputation precedes me, then." Chief said in his soldierly voice. "Spartans Linda, Fred, and Kelly." he said. As introductions went around, Locke asked if there was anywhere private they could talk.

"My castle. I'll lead you there." Twilight said, with her and Crimson taking the lead. As the Spartans walked through the town, ponies watched with awe from the doorways. As they approached, Spike came out.

"Hey Twi? Are the guests..." he stopped, staring at the fourteen Spartans. "Here?"

"What are you? Some kind of lizard?" Buck asked.

"I'm a dragon, you know! I'm still a baby, though." Spike said.

"Doesn't matter to me." Locke said, patting Spike on the head. As they walked in, the Spartans sat themselves down at the table while Spike ran into the kitchen, and came back with a few pots of coffee, to the great relief of the team. As they drank, Twilight asked Locke what exactly happened to Cortana, and at the word "Cortana", Chief set his undrunk coffee aside and put his head in his hands.

"Long story, but I think we can explain it." Locke said. "Let's start from the beginning..."

Author's Note

Sequel up!

Hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter!