Date: October 7, 2563
Time: 0600 Hours
Location: Orbit around Planet Equis
It's been four years, seven months and ten days since they've been drifting in the unknown galaxy. The Starry Eclipse then caught the orbit of an “unknown” planet. And surprise surprise, couple of Covenant ships trailed and boarded the Eclipse. Jesabel woke up to hear the alarms go off, telling her that the ship is being boarded. She checked the ship’s status, she knew it was bad but not that bad. She only had one option.
“Wake up, Klarke.” She called to him in his cryo-tube. “I need you.”
Josh Klarke is about to be awakened.
He wakes up slowly, hearing Jesabel calling his name. “Josh! Easy, you've been out for a while.”
“Where are we?” He asked her.
“We’re still drifting on the Eclipse.” She answered as she pulls up the holographic console.
“What’s going on?” He asked her again, as he's regaining his strength.
“Hang on. Bringing your systems online now.” She told him as she's updating his helmet’s HUD. “I rewrote your suit's firmware while you were out."
Josh chuckled, “You've been busy." Jesabel chuckled back.
"Activating the ships's gravity generators." The drifting crates and debris in the room drop on the floor as she turns the gravity on. Josh pulls the cryo-tube's manual release lever. The cryo-tube opens and Josh steps out, grabbed his weapons and walks over to the holo-tank that Jesabel is occupying.
"Seems like old times." She said with nostalgia.
"Ready to get back to work?" Josh asked her. Jesabel crosses her arms and answered, "I thought you'd never ask." Josh pulls Jesabel out of the holo-tank and inserts it into his neural interface. They were back in ‘business’.
"We've got intrusion alerts lighting up on multiple decks.” She informed him, “Our best bet to figure out who's boarding us is the observation deck - four floors up."
"Could it be a rescue team?" He asked her.
The ship shakes violently, making Josh’s question answered. Twice.
"I wouldn't bet on it." Jesabel said to him with slight sass.
He moved out of the cryobay. And down a couple of hallways.
"How long was I out?" He asked her. Wanting to know how long it's been.
“Four years, seven months, ten days." She answered, making Josh wonder, "Lilly should have found us by now."
Josh enters a circular room with a center console displaying a holographic replication of the Eclipse's predicted drift course, showing the ship being pulled toward a red icon. Suddenly, a large, orange wave of energy scans the ship, producing a loud noise and disrupting all electronics.
Josh aims at the orange wave. "What's that?"
Jesabel answered, "Sensor scan, high intensity. Doesn't match any known patterns."
Josh stayed focus on his current objective. "How close are we to the observation deck?" He asked her.
"It's directly above us."
Josh leaves the circular room and leads into another rectangular room with an elevator.
"The elevator doors look sealed tight." Jesabel said.
“Heh, not for long…” Josh approaches the elevator doors and pries them open with his bare hands.
“Josh, be careful!" she told him worriedly.
Josh successfully gets through the elevator doors. The elevator shaft has been depressurized causing a few crates to hit him from outside the elevator shaft. He grabs the side of the elevator shaft, avoiding falling debris from the top of the shaft, while slowly climbing the shaft to reach the next level.
"Because some areas might have lost pressure!" She said, bluntly.
"Right." Josh said sheepishly. He climbs a few feet. Debris falls from the top of the shaft and he is forced to act fast.
"Hey, watch out!" Jesabel warned him.
He jumps to the left, managing to avoid the falling debris.
"I didn't realize the ship had deteriorated so badly." Jesabel said sheepishly as Josh continues to climb up. He then manages to climb to the top of the shaft, avoiding falling debris. After stepping into the opening to the next level at the top of the shaft, a Sangheili wielding an Energy Sword emerges from the smoke. Josh blocks the Sangheili's sword strike, punches it in the side of the head, then grabs it's jaws and throws it down the depressurized elevator shaft. The shaft's door locks behind him.
"I thought we were done with the Covenant." Josh said. Sounding unamused.
"A lot can happen in four years.” Jesabel said, “Either way, he's probably not alone. We should be careful."
Josh continues and enters the Observation Deck. The windows are covered by the blast shields. A Sangheili is fiddling with the console, while multiple Unggoy are patrolling on the lower deck. He then assassinated the Sangheili, alerting all of the Unggoy. But he had his suppressed pistol and took them all out, silently.
“That's the last of them.” Jesabel said with slight relief. “Find the override for the blast shields so we can see what we're up against."
Josh heads for the controls and activates the override, the blast shields begin to open.
"The good news is these Covenant aren't outfitted like standard military.” She said, “It's possible we just came across a rogue salvage ship."
The blast shields open all the way. A Covenant fleet consisting of several CRS-class light cruisers are seen holding position in front of the Eclipse. A weird planet can be seen in the background. A formation of Banshees fly close to the observation deck windows and flies away.
Jesabel is so unamused. "…or we might have stumbled into an entire Covenant fleet."
"Maybe they haven't recognized us." Said Josh, making some possibilities for her. Just then, Two Phantoms, carrying landing craft, lower into their view.
"That's one possibility." She agrees.
The Phantoms fly to both sides of the Observation Deck.
Jesabel warned him, "Landing craft, flanking us!"
The landing craft breach the glass, the Deck begins to lose pressure. Several Covenant troops board the ship.
Josh picks up a DMR laying beside the console. And using his marksman skills, pops the head of all the Unggoy, then he pulls out his sniper, at close range, he shot both Sangheili. He reloads his weapons. "We need to get off this ship." He told her.
"We've got bigger problems.” Jesabel informed him, “We've got a cruiser on an intercept course. Head for the elevator banks."
Josh heads for the elevators. Then he remembered something. "Didn't the ship's sensors say we still had weapon systems online?"
"Yes, but since the ship was torn in half, we can't access the weapons stations.” Jesabel bluntly said. “We'll have to fire them manually from the outer hull."
Josh enters an elevator and rides it down a few floors until it opens to another hallway. He fights through more Covenant forces eventually reaching a stairway.
“Look!” Jesabel told Josh. He then looks at the Covenant cruiser. "That cruiser's shields are down.” She informed him, “Assuming they don't raise them, that missile's going to be one heck of a surprise."
Josh chuckles and continues on encountering more resistance. After killing four Unggoy with his suppressed pistol he realized, "These Covenant seem more fanatical than the ones we fought before."
Josh encounters more Covenant forces, this time including Kig-Yar. He threw some grenades under them and ‘boom’ the grenades did their job. He moves on.
"How far to the missile?" He asked her.
"We're just about there." She said to him. Josh enters a large room and meets more Covenant forces, defeating them. Josh eventually makes his way to an airlock.
"The auxiliary launch station should be on your left out of the airlocks." She informed him, then Josh notices some distortion appeared on his HUD.
"You'll have to prime the launch for ignition." Jesabel said with distortion. Making Josh worry. "Jesabel?"
"It's nothing. Just get to the launch station."
The airlock doors opens revealing the Eclipse has moved closer to the planet but she noticed something.
"Uh-I'm sorry, did I miss orbiting a planet with a HALO RING at some point?" She said with quite a shock.
"One thing at a time." He said to her, calming her down a little. Josh makes his way over to the launch station encountering Sangheili, Kig-Yar, and Unggoy Rangers.
"Josh, you need to find the missile controls." She said to him as he's fighting Covenant. He reaches the launch station and activates the controls.
"Launch initiated." She said. The silo door on the far side opens, a missile rises, preparing to launch, but one of the blast doors is jammed.
"Great. The blast door's jammed.” She said, unamused. “The missile won't fire until it's cleared. Get down there!"
Phantoms drop more troops into the area, forcing Josh to take them out with his sniper before he can launch the missile. He eventually defeats the Covenant forces and approaches the blast door. Josh pushes, and then kicks the blast door to its proper position.
"You did it!” She cheered. “Get back."
The missile launches, destroying the cruiser, which was charging its energy projector. The cruiser shatters into pieces and the debris drifts over the Eclipse. Suddenly, an orange light from the ring scans Josh.
"Josh?" She said with worry.
Josh had realized it. "The Covenant weren't the one's scanning us."
A bright light appears from the ring. Like it's charging a beam to destroy a ship.
"So now can we worry about the halo that's ORBITING THE PLANET!?" Jesabel noticed the light, and realized, "It's charging it's beam to destroy the ship!"
Just hearing that made him worry. But he realized that the only way they’ll be safe is by landing on the planet beside the ring.
“We've gotta hurry, the second it fires once we’re in the planet’s orbit, the ship’s derbis are going to tear us apart."
"Where are the closest escape pods?" He asked her.
"Aft vehicle bay!” Jesabel told him. “I'm tagging the closest airlock, go!"
Josh heads for the airlock and makes it inside. He then head back into another hallway. Then down another hallway, the floor collapses slightly before he can reach the end. Josh heads into a room with a few Unggoy, the floor collapses, forcing him to go around the perimeter of the room.
"All but one of the grav generators just went dark." Jesabel informed him with so much worry.
Josh calmed her down best he can. "Just keep me pointed at that vehicle bay."
Josh enters a large room with more panicking Unggoy, the ship continues to collapse around him. He continues toward the vehicle bay, a wounded Sangheili limps down the hallway.
"We're almost there!" Jesabel said to him. He continues on. Just as he makes it to the vehicle bay, one of the doors is ripped out. The room is de-pressurizing.
"Josh!" She screamed. He tries to hold onto the door but can't. He manages to grab hold of a railing.
“Hold on!" Of course Jesabel would be worried if anything happened to him. He took care of her before his mother died to a Covenant Sniper. The railing eventually gets pulled out, he gets pulled out of the ship and into the debris field. Covenant ships are also being blown to bits by sentinals protecting the ring.
"We're gonna die..." Jesabel said with tons of worry.
"Can you track the escape pods?" He asked her.
"Negative!” She answered, then notices covenant cruisers. “Look out!"
Josh continues to drift through the debris. One of Eclipse's debris hits a cruiser, causing an explosion on the Covenant warship. He drifts through the hole in the cruiser the explosion left. Suddenly, a piece of debris flies at him.
Date: October 7, 2563
Time: 0900 Hours
Location: Ponyville, Equestria
Twilight and her friends were enjoying a nice picnic out in the backyard of Twilight’s castle. Even Starlight was in on the fun. Applejack brought some of her famous apple family cooking. Like apple pies, apple fritters, heck, almost any dish Apple related. Rarity brought the picnic blanket. Even though she was in the fashionista type of mood, she wouldn't miss the picnic for her fashion life. Pinkie as usual brought sweets. Like cupcakes, rock candy, any type of sweet. Rainbow Dash brought some firewood for later tonight, when they will be star gazing. Starlight was reading the book, titled ‘Tales of the 25th Centuary’ by Jay Edward Hoover. Yes, the book was made by a human. Anyways, Fluttershy was just being patient, humming one of the ponytones’ songs. And Twilight and Spike was organizing the picnic as usual to events like this with her friends.
“This looks great girls!” Twilight said.
“Am so excited for this. Why as y'all announced this event, Ah worked my rump off baking these.” Applejack said to Twilight.
“Same here!” Pinkie blurted “I've spent all day baking all of these delicious cupcakes and sweets. I would've let all of you taste test them all, but I just want all of you to be surprised when you take a bite out of them! Especially when the frosting hits your tongue first!” Her own mouth starts to water just talking about her own cooking.
“I'm sure you two did a good job cooking.” Twilight chuckled.
“Well I picked out the best blanket for us. And it matches our coats.” Rarity said.
“It looks really nice.” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Yeah, but I'll tell ya, after finding some ‘decent’ firewood, I'm just about ready to relax.” Rainbow yawned.
“You and I can relate,” Spike sighed, “I could use a nice, long nap right about now…”
The girls chuckled. Especially Starlight, even though she was still reading the book, she was on the chapter of when the humans face the alien race known as The Covenant. Twilight noticed her reading alone. So she decided to join her.
“What are you reading, Starlight?” She asked her. Starlight was worried that she would not be interested, but she have to tell her.
“Oh, I was just reading some human stories…” She said sheepishly.
“Humans, huh? What chapter are you on?”
“Well I'm on the year 2525 where the humans had face these aliens called, the Covenant.” Starlight explained.
“Covenant?” Twilight was interested alright.
“Apparently in here through 2552, the Covenant and the humans were in a war. The Covenant were winning too. But the humans fought harder. Look at this.”
Starlight shows her a picture of the Master Chief in the page. Twilight was so fascinated. She was fascinated by humans so much that she actually wanted to meet one. Spartan or not.
“What is he wearing?” She asked Starlight.
“Oh that? He's wearing Spartan armor.” She explained it to her. “It's suppose to make them…” She paused.
“Starlight?”
“Twilight,” she said worryingly. “What's that?” She points to the sky. Seeing what looks like a meteor falling from the sky, but it was no meteor, it was debris from the UNSC Starry Eclipse. It landed in the Everfree Forest.
“What in the hay was that?!” Yelled Rainbow.
“I don't know…” said Twilight. “But I'm gonna check it out!”
“Well, we're gonna go with ya, twi.” Applejack told her. “Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity, Spike, y'all wait here till we get back.”
“I'm gonna come too!” Starlight shouted.
Twilight was smiling. Then they headed out to the Everfree Forest.
Date: October 7, 2563
Time: 1010 Hours
Location: Everfree Forest, Equestria
The mares had arrived at the scene. There were so much debris it almost covered the entire Forest. Twilight noticed a sniper rifle on the ground and a hand next to it.
“What is that?” Twilight wondered. Getting close to it. The hand stirs, and tightens, making the mares hide. There are numerous man-sized shards of debris covering the man’s chest. He shoves them off and looks around. It was Josh. Twilight was satisfied by him, she can't stop looking at him. He then sits up and grabs his rifle.
"Where are we?" He asked Jesabel.
Jesabel answered, "Checking coordinate impact data…" But before she could do that, she was acting weird. Saying stuff like, "We have asked you to give up your family, your childhood, your future…" While sounding distorted.
Josh shakes his head in confusion, and pulls out the data crystal chip containing her out of his helmet. Jesabel's avatar appears on it. Twilight noticed it, and she became more interested.
“What in tarnation is that thing?” Applejack asked quietly.
“I think it's a human.” Twilight answered.
“And judging by the armor, I say, he is a Spartan.” Starlight agrees with Twilight.
“What the hay is a Spartan?” Rainbow asked.
Twilight shushes the mares, as she wants to listen to what the Spartan and his a.i companion are saying.
"Jesabel…" He said, sounding worried for Jesabel.
She apologized. "I'm sorry. It's the crash. I'm fine."
Josh doesn’t buy it. "Something was wrong before we left the Eclipse."
Jesabel tries to make him comfortable, but she sounds distorted making him concerned. "Josh, really, I'm fine."
He stands up. Then stares at her to make her tell the truth. "Jesabel."
She looks down to the ground. Then, she tells him the truth.
"I was put into service eight years ago."
He looks away, pondering. "Eight years…"
"AIs deteriorate after Seven, Josh."
He looks back at Jesabel. He won't accept the fact that she will die soon. Making him alone again. Then he remembered someone.
"Potter."
Jesabel tried to save his breath. "Josh…"
"We need to find Potter."
"Josh, please." She said depressingly.
"She and my mother made you. She could fix you." She tries to cheer her up, but she has already accepted the fact that she will die eventually.
"I won't recover from rampancy, Josh." She told him.
He was determined to let her live longer. "If we could just get back to Earth, and find Potter, she could fix this."
She then tells him, "Don't make a girl a promise you can't keep."
The duo stops and looks up as they hear Covenant aircraft fly over them. A Phantom, escorted by two Banshees, fly over them at high speed. The mares did thee puts her same.
Jesabel then tells him, "We need to move." She then disappears and he puts her back inside his neural implants.
Starlight noticed that Twilight can't stop looking at him. “Twilight?” Then she moves without hesitation. “Twilight!” The mares quietly shouted. She wants to talk to him. Hoping that they'll be friends. As soon as she got close she clears her throat, then expected a sniper barrel looking at her. He was aimed straight on her head. Not moving a muscle. Waiting for her to attack. But all she did was greet herself.
“Um… Hello sir.” Twilight announced. Making him lower his weapon.
“You… can talk?” He asked her. She sighed in relief that she didn't get her brains blown out.
“Yes I can, sir. My name is Twilight Sparkle. What's your name?”
Josh was silent, confused by what he just encountered. Then he looked over to see her friends. “Are they with you?” He asked her.
“Yes, girls! You can come out!”
The mares slowly walks out. Nervous on what he will do.
“I'm guessing they're civilians on this planet.” Jesabel spoke from his helmet.
“Is that your little hologram person you were talking to earlier?!” Twilight blurted. Making both the Spartan and AI feel confused.
“Y'all have to excuse the princess here.” Applejack told them.
“Princess huh?” Josh said. “Well, are there any other humans here?”
Starlight gladly answered his question. “Nope. You're pretty much the only human here. The rest of us are just ponies.” Then she asked him, “Are you a Spartan?”
“I am.” He answered her. “Spartan 452. Lieutenant Josh Klarke, of the UNSC Eternity.”
Twilight was so amazed by him, she just kept on asking him questions. “What's your home like? Do you have any friends? Are the rest of the humans Spartans like you? I have SO many questions!”
“It'll have to wait. Right now, I need to track those ships so that I can find a way home.” He said to the ponies. But before he could leave, Twilight asked him, “Would you like a guide? You are technically new to Equestria. So it'll be the least I could do.”
Then Josh did remember the covenant ships flew in that direction, making him worried that the ponies here are in danger of getting killed. And as just he was about to acknowledge, they heard explosions in the distance.
“No…” The ponies, including the Spartan ran to the sounds. Looks like Josh is about to get his sniper dirty.
