As the Elements watched Cutter direct his troops via the holotable, Twilight could feel fascination rise in her. Cutter moved his troops like figures in an Ogres and Oubliettes game, but she knew they represented humans fighting for the UNSC.

"Twilight?"

She turned to see Isabel looking at her with a curious face.

"Are you alright?" the AI asked. "You spaced out."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Twilight replied. "Captain Cutter?"

"What is it?" Cutter replied, not looking up from the table.

"Is there any way we can help?"

Cutter frowned slightly as he turned to them.

"I'm not sure." he said. "Are you capable of handling yourselves in combat?"

"We've fought plenty of bad guys!" Rainbow boasted. "Bring it on!"

"I admire your eagerness, but a word of advice." Cutter said. "These bad guys, the Banished, will not hesitate to kill you. So, do the same to them. Lt. Armstrong?"

"Yes, captain?" the Marine Lieutenant replied over the radio.

"Take our guests down to the battlefield. They've volunteered to assist us." Cutter replied.

"Yessir. On my way."

As the Marines escorted the six of them out, Twilight gave a wave goodbye to Isabel. But if Twilight looked behind her again, she would've seen the AI wave back.

====

As the Ponies entered the Hangar Deck, Isabel finished speaking with Lt. Armstrong.

"Make sure they stay alive." she said, sighing.

"Understood." the Marine replied. "Load up, let's go!"

As the Ponies strapped themselves in, the two Pelicans took off towards the ground.

====

The two Pelicans landed, and as the passengers disembarked, Twilight saw that the UNSC had established a combat outpost at their landing zone. The tense atmosphere was electric, and the ponies knew it.

"So, you're the Captain's new friends."

The ponies turned to see three colossal humans approach, wearing green armor with red designs.

"Who might you be?" Twilight asked.

"I'm Jerome, leader of Spartan Red Team. That's Douglas and Alice." Jerome said. "Nice to meet you."

They shook hands, and Jerome gave a nod to Twilight.

"What brings you down here?" Alice asked, holstering her Battle Rifle.

"We figured you needed help." Rainbow said. "And we're up to the task."

"Good to hear." Jerome said. "I like you already."

Rainbow grinned, and raised her hoof. Jerome obliged, giving her a fist bump.

"That's more like it!" Rainbow cheered. As the Spartans escorted the ponies to the base, the sun was shrouded by a few clouds.

====

"Spartans! We've got something!"

The Spartans and the Equestrians turned to see an Infinity Marine appear, out of breath.

"What've you got?" Douglas asked.

"There's a large energy signature coming from this Canyon here." the Marine said, handing Douglas a datapad. "It's Forerunner in origin, but it's not matching any of our known signatures."

"We'll check it out." said another Spartan. The ponies turned to see four more Spartans wearing differently colored and shaped armor approach. Their leader had 0438 on his chestplate.
"It's right around this area, sir." the Marine said. "Good luck."

The four Spartans mounted up on a Warthog, and drove off. Twilight watched them go, and it wasn't long before she and her friends followed Red Team to the main base.

====

"Captain Lasky?" Chris said into the radio.

"What is it, Crimson?" Lasky replied.

"We're at some kind of cavern entrance." the Spartan said as they disembarked from the Warthog. "No sign of hostile activity. Permission to search and investigate?"

"Granted, but be careful." Commander Palmer interrupted. "We've gotten reports of Forerunner activity in the area."

"Understood, ma'am." David said. "We'll be fine."

As Chris and the Spartans of Fireteam Crimson entered the cave, Chris took point as they descended into the dark.

====

"I'll tell you guys one thing." Laura said.

"What?" Emily asked, her SMG's flashlight searching the walls.

"It's too quiet down here." she said.

The other Spartans found they agreed with her. Then, Chris walked right into a door.

"Watch out." David said, helping him up. "I'll get this open."

As David tapped on the Forerunner Panel, the door opened, revealing a large room coursing with energy. It was larger than a football field, and the walls were carved with ornate writing. At the end of the room was a glowing blue orb.

"What is that?" Chris asked.

"I don't know, but some part of me wants us to leave, like right now." Emily said, covering the door. "This place gives me the creeps."

Chris lowered his Battle Rifle and approached the orb. As he came close to it, it glowed bright for a moment, showed the Reclaimer Symbol, then it faded. Then, the ground began to shake and move.

"What's going on?" David yelled as the floor opened like a pyramid, revealing a Forerunner Construct. It was kneeling, and devoid of light. Though shaped like the Warden, that was where the similarities ended. It was bulkier, and its head featured a split prow and a glowing orb.

"The hell?" Laura asked. "We came all this way for a construct?"

"Doesn't look active." David said. "Let's go."

As the Spartans turned to leave, the construct hummed to life, blue light flowing through it. As it stood up, it spoke.

"Peace unto you, Reclaimers."

The Spartans spun around and aimed their weapons at the now-active construct.

"Identify yourself." Chris ordered.

"As you wish." the Construct said. "I am Justice-unto-Peace, Monitor of the Ark Installation, Keeper of the Archive."

"What's that mean?" Chris asked. "In simple terms."

"The Archives are the counterpart of the Domain." Justice-Unto-Peace said. "While the Domain encompasses all artificial life such as the Warrior-Servants, the Archive accomplishes the same purpose for natural life, made not of metal, but flesh."

"The Domain?" Chris said. "Like the Warden?"

"Indeed." Justice-Unto-Peace replied. "However, there is work to be done, Reclaimer. I have obtained vita; knowledge of the Tamperer, the false ruler of the Domain."

"Cortana." Chris said. "We know."

"Do you?" Justice-Unto-Peace raised a metal eyebrow. "The Reclaimers, your kind, were meant to ascend to the likes of the Forerunners themselves. Now, you hide while your enemy encroaches on the galaxies left to you?"

"The Guardians." David said. "They're too powerful."

"Not so." Justice said. "Guardians are lesser ancilla, they are quite weak, if you only know how."

"Then show us." Chris demanded.

"As you wish."

Justice showed a holographic Guardian in all of its power.

"Guardians were never used on the Higher systems." Justice said. "They were engineered to be weak, no matter how strong they seem. A well-placed blow to the central core will destroy them cleanly. The attenuation pulse emitters her are the key to victory in this circumstance."

Justice showed two holographic projectiles hit the two rings on Guardian's middle chest. It's head them recoiled backwards, exposing the core. A third projectile struck the exposed core, and the holo-Guardian faded into fragments.

"I shall enlighten you further, at a later time." Justice said. "I am detecting intruders. The Scavengers, most likely."

At the same time, Chris's radio came to life.

"Crimson, this is Palmer." came a voice. "You've got Banished signatures closing in."

"We know." Chris said. "Send evac ASAP. We've got a goldmine of intel coming, and I sure as hell don't want to lose it."

"Understood." Palmer said. "There's another complication. There's a horde of Sentinels incoming. Once you get picked up, you need to move your asses back to base."

"Roger that." Chris said. "Send it!"

Chris turned to the massive construct.

"Can you fight?" he asked.

"I am capable of defending myself." Justice said, summoning a Hardlight Sword. "Come, let us take victory in hand and fly."

"Whatever you say." Laura said as the howls of Brutes came closer. "Let's hope we live to tell the story."

Author's Note

Yep, a new update. Took me long enough.

Next time-The UNSC races against the Sentinels and the Banished to escape to safety. Meanwhile, Anders takes control of a new toy...