As the Spartans, now including Mark, walked back into the Castle, Chris suddenly received a radio message from Captain Lasky. Stepping outside, he patched the captain in.

"Captain, what's up?" Chris asked.

"We've got trouble. The Forerunners are sending Guardians across the whole of space looking for us." Lasky replied.

"How's that different from our current situation?" Chris replied.

"They found the Birdsong portal and sent a ship in to establish a landing zone towards the northern border. The Forerunners have arrived on Equis. I'm sending you, Osiris, and Blue team for a surgical strike against them."

"How are we getting in?" Mark chimed in.

"A HAHO jump from three Pelicans. I'm sending troops to Ponyville to reinforce the garrison already there. You're heading out in one hour."

"Copy that, Captain." Chris said, walking inside. The Spartans and Elite looked at him expectantly.

"Heads up. We have hostiles setting up a forward camp near the Griffon territories. Fireteams Osiris, Crimson, and Blue Team, we are heading in in one hour. Lock and load, Spartans." Chris said, and the Spartans grabbed their weapons.

"Chris? Are we in danger?" Twilight asked nervously.

"Not sure. The Forerunners haven't found the Infinity yet. As long as they don't find us, we're safe. For the moment, at least. I'd place whatever forces you have on standby." Chris said.

"Okay..." Twilight said, going upstairs, with the Arbiter following. Exhaust noises coming from outside alerted the Spartans to the arrival of the Pelicans. As they boarded, Twilight and Thel Vadam' watched from a window.

"Think they'll be okay?"

The Arbiter nodded.

"They will. I know the Master Chief. He will not falter."

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

As the three Pelicans flew over the dawn sky, the Forerunner ship was completely visible. Chris scowled at the ship, the loss of Zag still in his mind.

"Crimson, this is Osiris. Ready on your word." Locke said over the comms.

"This is Blue Team. Ready." Chief added.

"This is Crimson. Deploy in t-minus one minute." Chris said, grabbing his helmet and placing it on his head.

"First drinks?" Ken asked.

"You ask, you buy." Mark replied.

Chris laughed a little and punched the door button. The door slid open, revealing an inky blue sky. Chris smiled, muttered "Here goes" and jumped out, followed by the rest of Crimson. Icons on Chris's HUD revealed Osiris and Blue Team had jumped as well. Descending through the clouds, the Forerunner camp came into view.

"Comm check." Chris said.

"Spartan Mark online."

"Spartan Ken online."

"Spartan David online."

"Spartan Grant online."

"Spartan Evan online."

"Copy that." Chris said.

"This is Osiris. Comms up and running five for five."

"Chief here. All comms green."

"Copy that."

As the Spartans neared a large cliffside, Chris linked up with the rest of Crimson as they fell.

"100 meters. Get ready." Evan said.

"Weapons free." Chris said as they slammed their feet into the cliffside, rolling to dispel the potential energy. As the rest of Crimson, Osiris, and Blue Team arrived at the deploy point, Chris pulled out a pair of binoculars and scanned the landing site.

"Skeleton crew. This seems too easy." Chris said.

"Hold up. What's that?"

All eyes focused on a totem that the Prometheans seemed to be worshiping near the front of a cave. Grant set up his sniper rifle and took up a position.

"Move in. I'll cover." Grant said, and as the Spartans charged in, Grant sniped two Lancers that covered the entrance. Swapping his mag for a fresh one, he adjusted his aim for a Soldier patrolling near the UNSC position. Sending a round through the skull of the Soldier, he zoomed out to see what looked like a large Crawler, only it had two large protrusions on the abdomen, with an Incineration Cannon in its mouth, walk up to the cave entrance. Walking in, it emitted a web of orange energy, covering the entrance.

"Shit. What the hell was that?"

"I'm picking up references in the Forerunner comms to that being a "Promethean Tarantula" Ramos informed the strike team.

"Name suits it." Mark quipped.

"Yeah. What's with the web?" Grant said.

"Some sort of trap field. You touch that, it'll paralyze you, from what I'm reading. The Forerunners don't want us going in there." Ramos replied.

"Then can you take it down?"

"I'm reading references to "quiet the infinite voice...Eh, just shoot it." Ramos said.

After a volley of rounds, the web disappeared. Catching up with the group, Grant and the others Spartans walked into the cave, unaware they were being watched. A second Tarantula watched them enter. Chattering orders in a guttural language, two Knights walked in, camouflaged by a Active Camo module. As the Spartans descended into the dark, the Knights followed.

Author's Note

Here we are! Chapter 3!

More action next chapter!