As the Elements followed Cutter to a private room, Twilight could sense a strange feeling coming from the Captain.

Uneasiness.

Tiredness.

Twilight shook her head and noticed her friends were sitting down around a conference table with the Captain. She followed, and Cutter wiped his brow.

"Well, Princess, welcome aboard." he sighed. "Allow me a few questions."

"Certainly." Twilight replied.

"How'd you get here?" Cutter asked. "And where are you from?"

Twilight told Cutter of Equestria, and her recent learning of the Forerunners from Astute Sigil. Cutter listened quietly through the whole of the lecture, occasionally asking a question or two.

"And so, that's it." Twilight said. "To be honest, I wasn't able to believe what Sigil told us at first. I mean, the species we've always considered myth are actually real, and advanced far beyond what we could ever do? I'm floored."

"So am I." Cutter said. "From what you've said, this Equestria sounds like paradise."

"Not exactly." Rainbow replied. "There's always some bad guy trying to take over. Usually we take care of it."

"I'm still surprised by that." Cutter laughed. "Well, I suppose I should tell you about us and what we're doing here."

This conversation took much longer than Twilight's. From the Human-Covenant War, to the battles against the Banished, to humanity's past before the war. All the while, Twilight eagerly took notes and her friends listened with bated breath.

"And now, since Professor Anders is currently no longer with us…" Cutter sighed. "We're trapped here, and also doing everything we can to stop the Banished."

Twilight was about to respond when a small human figure, glowing orange, appeared on the table.

"Captain, we've got a new development." the figure said.

"What is it, Isabel?" Cutter asked.

"A Slipspace Rupture on the other side of the Ark." Isabel said, bringing up a map. "I'm detecting UNSC signals as well. I can't respond, as our security protocols haven't updated yet to match those of whoever it is."

"Who are you?" Twilight asked. Isabel turned and frowned slightly.

"I'm Isabel, the Spirit of FIre's shipboard AI." she said. "We can talk later, though. The Banished are moving en masse towards our potential rescuers."

"Then we need to rescue our rescuers." Cutter said. "Reroute units to pursue them."

"Already on it, Captain." Isabel said, blinking out. Twilight raised an eyebrow at the Captain.

"I apologize." he said. "Isabel's still getting used to things aboard the Spirit of Fire. Come with me. Let's see who our guests are."

Twilight and her friends followed the Captain towards the bridge.

====

UNSC Infinity Bridge

"Captain, we've got contacts!" Roland cried, drawing Captain Lasky's attention.

"Who is it?" Lasky asked from the holotable.

"Unknown. They're Covenant, but they've engaged our recon forces en masse. They're being overrun." Roland replied. "Plus, they've got vehicles we've never seen before."

"Get reinforcements down there, now!" Lasky said.

"Roger that." Roland said. "I'll scramble Gypsy Company and as many Marines as I can get. We lost quite a bit of crew back on Earth."

"I understand, Roland." Lasky said. "Let's get to work."

Roland saluted before blinking out. Lasky turned back to the holotable, which was currently showing the meager UNSC forces in green, under siege from a large Covenant army, shown in red. Lasky, however, did not notice the large gray mass approaching the enemy's rear line.

====

UNSC Landing Site Alpha

To say that the UNSC Infinity's ground troops were outmatched was an understatement.

They were thoroughly outmatched. The Banished quickly gained control of the skies using Blisterbacks and Reavers, while Wraiths pounded the Marines on the ground.

"Infinity Actual, this is Lance Company!" a Marine yelled into the radio. "We're being torn apart down here! Get us reinforcements ASAP!"

"We're trying." Lasky replied. "The skies are completely hostile. Hold the line."

"Yessir!" the Marine said. "Goddamnit! Hold the line, Marines! Nothing gets past!"

Though the Marines shouted in reply, there was not much they could do. The Banished advanced closer and closer, as the UNSC's dwindling air forces were shot down by anti-air missiles.

"Incoming!" a Marine cried, seeing three Wraiths approach with mortars ready. The humans braced for impact...

====

Only for a series of blasts to destroy the Banished vehicles. The Marines looked up as three squads of UNSC Hornets entered the field.

"Unknown UNSC troops, do you copy?" the radio blared. "Do you copy?"

"Who the hell is this?" the radioman replied.

"This is Trapper 2-3." was the reply. "Our Hornets are on station, ready to assist."

"Roger that!" the radioman replied. "Do what you can, and do it fast!"

"Understood, engaging now!"

====

"Captain Lasky!" Roland said. "We've got friendly reinforcements on the ground!"

"I thought the skies weren't clear." Lasky said to the AI. "They can't be ours."

"That's the thing, Captain." Roland replied.

"They're not ours. They're UNSC but they're not from the Infinity."

Lasky turned to the holotable, which zoomed in on a massive spearhead of UNSC forces heading right towards the rear of the Covenant line. Warthogs, Scorpions, and a few vehicle varieties Lasky didn't recognize were heading in, en masse.

"Who are they?" Lasky asked.

"No clue." was the reply. Roland then raised his eyebrows.

"What's up, Roland?" Lasky asked.

"I'm getting a comms beacon." the AI replied. "It's the same signature as the signal from earlier."

"Put it through!" Lasky ordered.

"Aye, sir." the AI smiled. "Already on it."

====

"Captain Cutter!" Isabel said as he and the Equestrians entered the Bridge. "I've got it! There's another UNSC ship near the LZ."

"Get them on the line!" Cutter said.

"Roger that." Isabel replied. "Got it!"

"Unknown UNSC ship, do you copy?" Cutter asked.

"Identify yourself immediately!" said a voice.

"This is James Cutter, Captain, UNSC Spirit of Fire." Cutter said. "And to whom am I speaking?"

There was silence for a few moments..

"This is Thomas Lasky, Captain of the UNSC Infinity." came the weary reply. "Captain Cutter, we'll save the reintroductions for later. Our ground forces are almost overrun!"

"Not for long." Cutter replied. "I've got a reaction force inbound fast. ETA is two minutes."

"Thank god." Lasky replied. "We've moving to an intercept course with you. Send coordinates for link-up."

"Coordinates sent." Cutter said. "Good luck, Captain Lasky."

"Same to you, Captain Cutter." Lasky replied. "Infinity out."

The connection ended, and Cutter smiled.

"Captain?" Twilight asked. "What's up?"

"What's up...is that we've been found." Cutter said with pride. "Deploy all forces to the Infinity's landing zone. Let's show them what we're capable of."

"Yessir." Isabel said with a smile. "Forces are en route now."

Author's Note

Update!

Next time-The UNSC forces have a long fight ahead to repel the Banished.