As the four Spartans, accompanied by Justice, proceeded through the halls towards the surface, Chris checked his helmet's Motion Tracker with a sigh.

"Multiple hostiles." he groaned. "And I bet they won't be happy to see us."

"Are they ever?" Laura said. "Justice, can't you teleport us out?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot." Justice replied. "My functions as Keeper of the Ark are great, but many are still offline. The Domain has touched many of them."

"What can you do?" Chris asked.

"I can attempt to take control of the Sentinels currently encroaching upon us." Justice said. "However, I will be defenseless."

"We'll handle the Banished, you handle the Sentinels." David smiled, loading his SAW. "Lead the way."

Justice nodded, and brought the Spartans to a large room, stocked with weapon caches. At the center was a glowing Forerunner interface.

"I shall interface with the Ark's systems." Justice said, stretching out his hand. "Protect me, Reclaimers."

"You got it!" Chris said, loading his Shotgun. "Banished, outside! Eyes up, Spartans!"

True to his word, howls of anger and the pounding of metal could be heard from the door. As the Spartans trained their weapons on the entrance, it burst open and revealed the forms of two Brute packs, supported by Grunts and Jackals.

"Open fire!" Chris said, hurling a Frag Grenade. The grenade detonated amongst the Grunts, killing a few of them. The Spartans unloaded their weapons, taking out a handful of Brutes. The lucky ones moved into cover, and returned fire with Spikers and Brute Plasma Rifles.

"Cover me!" David said, hefting another drum magazine into his SAW. As he unloaded, a few more Brutes and Jackals fell to the ground, only for a third pack to replace the dead.

"How many of these guys are there?" Chris growled as he fired again, only to hear the "click!" of an empty magazine. He reached for his reserves, only to grasp empty air instead of bullets.

"Out of ammo!" he said.

"Here, Lightrifle!" Emily said, tossing him the Promethean weapon. Chris zoomed in and opened up, dropping three Brutes with headshots in quick succession.

"They're falling back!" Laura said, as her dual Magnums forced a Chieftain into cover. "Grenade out!"

Laura hurled a Promethean Splinter Grenade, and it detonated amongst the Banished. Though the blast only killed two, the resulting energy field wounded more. As the Brutes started to pull back, Chris kept his Lightrifle trained on the door.

"Clear!" David said, picking up a Suppressor. "I'm clean on Ammo."

"Same." Laura said, ejecting two empty magazines from her Magnums.

"Use these Promethean weapons." Chris said, tossing Laura a Binary Rifle. "They work, don't they?"

As the Spartans regrouped, Justice returned to life.

"I have ordered the Sentinels to retreat for now." he said. "However, we must leave. More of the Scavengers are coming."

"And I bet they're pissed that we killed their buddies." David said. "Our Warthog is out front."

"And most likely surrounded by Banished." Chris said. "If they haven't blown it up already. Justice, do you have transport here?"

"You are fortunate to ask." Justice said. "I have a Chariot available, ready to deploy."

"Chariot?" Chris asked.

====

As it turned out, a Chariot was a Promethean tank. Suspended in the air by four Phaeton engines, the body was similar to a UNSC Scorpion. Not only that, it featured a cannon like a supercharged Binary Rifle.

"Holy shit." Chris said as he took the Pilot's seat, which molded to his form. "Why haven't we seen these before?"

"Chariots were used to counter the Flood and their combat forms." Justice said. "Since the Forerunners fired the rings, they have grown obsolete."

"We'll see about that." Laura said, taking the gunner's position, and a hard-light turret formed in her hands. "Ready."

"All set." David and Emily said as they mounted up with Incineration Cannons ready. Justice latched onto the Chariot using a rear mount, and Chris thrust the controls forward. The tank lurched forward, and as a hardlight barrier dissipated, it revealed the forms of a Banished company, backed up by Marauders and a Wraith.

"Here we go!" Chris said as he fired. The Chariot's blast tore through the Wraith, turning it into little more than scrap metal. As the Banished opened fire, Chris primed the cannon for another shot.

Author's Note

I know it's short, but I've been busy. Longer ones coming soon.