As the Spirit of Fire landed next to the Infinity, Chris and his fireteam, followed by Blue Team and Osiris, landed on the Infinity. Disembarking from their Pelican, Chris headed to the Science wing, with Zag in tow.

"Chris? Are you alright?" Zag asked.

"I'm fine." Chris said. "Let's see what the scientists can get off that Forerunner Device we got from the Oracles."

Zag nodded in reply. Chris entered the science wing, while Zag waited patiently. After ten minutes, Chris walked out.

"Doctor Glassman was more interested in who gave it to me, rather than what it was…"

Then, the ship shuddered and quaked violently.

"What was that?" Chris asked.

"I know what it was." Zag replied. "It seems we will have...guests…"

Chris's eyes widened.

"Crimson, get to the bridge ASAP! We've got a problem!" Lasky's voice cried.

"Roger that." Chris said. He nodded to Zag and the two of them raced for the bridge. As they burst in, they saw the problem. In the full view of the two UNSC ships was a Guardian.

"Damn it." Lasky said. "She found us."

"I certainly did. You did make it rather difficult, Captain Lasky."

Everyone turned to see Cortana striding forward.

"You may have escaped me on Earth, but you won't escape again."

"Hit me with your best shot." Lasky replied.

"Well, consider your request granted." Cortana said. "I'll give you some time, I've always liked a fair fight."

"We'll give you a fight." Chris said. "And you'll lose it."

"We'll see." Cortana replied as she vanished and the Guardian moved to orbit.

"Sir?" Locke asked.

"Get all decks combat ready." Lasky barked.

"Sir, you know we can't take down a Guardian." Roland said. "How will we fight it?"

"I have a few insights to that."

Everyone turned to see Glassman striding up.

"I know how to stop Cortana, purge the infected AIs, and destroy the Guardians."

"What?" Lasky cried.

"Yep. Allow me to explain." Glassman said. "That module we got off Crimson was a godsend. It's a Promethean directive code. Simply put, we get this into the Forerunner network, I can take control of all the constructs currently active across the entire network. Plus, I know how we can disable the Guardian."

"How? Our MAC didn't even scratch it." Lasky said.

"That's because you fired at the wrong time. When the EMP pulse is charging, it draws power from its shields to detonate the EMP. If manage to land successive MAC shots at the chest during the charging phase, we can effectively disable the Guardian." Glassman said. "Trick is, the Infinity and the Spirit of Fire need to land their shots at the same time. Furthermore, the only way to input the code I got off the module is in the Guardian's Central Cortex, where the Command Center is." Glassman said.

"Means going straight to Cortana." Buck said.

"Yep. And we need to land the shots, disable the Guardian, and input the Directive within...here's the kicker...ten minutes." Glassman said. "One second more, the Guardian reboots, and we lose our chance for good."

"Then...we need to do this now." Chief said.

"Agreed, Master Chief." Lasky said. "All UNSC forces, be advised, the Infinity and Spirit of Fire are heading to orbit to fend off the Guardian. Hold positions and dig in."

"We've only got ONE shot at this." Glassman said.

"Then let's show that asshole AI how it's all we need." Locke said.

"Lieutenant Jet, take us up!" Lasky said.

"Roger that. Spirit of Fire is ready on your word." Lt. Jet replied.

"Copy that." Lasky said as the ship began to ascend.

===========

Onboard the Spirit of Fire, Cutter watched as the blackness of space enveloped the ship.

"Lasky says to start MAC firing sequence." Isabel said.

"Roger that." Cutter replied. "Think we can hold this off?"

"I hope so." Isabel replied.

"Spirit Actual, this is Infinity." Lasky spoke.

"This is Spirit Actual." Cutter replied.

"We have three Spartan fireteams ready for orbital launch into the Guardian." Lasky replied. "Once the Guardian goes dark, I need the Spirit to keep the ground forces supplied."

"Roger that." Cutter said. "Ready on your word."

As the Infinity and Spirit of Fire stood parallel to each other, in front of the Guardian, Chris checked his weapons inside the orbital deployment bay. The Spartans loaded and stood in three lines, each fireteam checking off.

"Infinity to strike team, we are ready to fire." Roland spoke.

"Roger that." Chris said. "We are ready to deploy on your word."

"Good luck, Spartans." Lasky spoke.

===========

As Cortana watched the Infinity and Spirit of Fire ready into firing positions, she smiled.

"Fire." She said simply. The Guardian groaned as it prepared to fire the EMP. She then saw the MAC guns on both ships glow white, ready to fire.

"What are you up to, Lasky?" She murmured.

===========

"FIRE!" Both Lasky and Cutter yelled. Five MAC shots blasted forward, slamming into the Guardian. At the same time, the bay doors opened, and the Spartans were launched into space. Then, as the Guardian whined, a massive explosion opened a hull breach into the Guardian's chest.

"You are clear to enter." Lasky spoke.

"Roger that." Chris said as the Spartans dove into the hull breach, right into a crew bay. As the Spartans opened fire, killing the Prometheans who guarded the area, Chris opened a map.

"Seems we're right here." He said, pointing to the breast area. "We need to head straight up to get to Cortana."

"Roger that." Mark said. "We've got eight minutes, twelve seconds."

"Let's move!" Chris said as they boarded the lift to the command cortex.

Author's Note

Yep, update!

And yes, there will be an epic showdown between Chief and Cortana. Plus, epic one-liners.

But know this...the battle may be won, but the war has only just begun...