As the sun began to set at the call of Celestia, and the moon began to rise in its place, the Solar Princess was relieved to see that Astute Sigil's constructs had finally finished repairing the damage done by the Earthquake. A few Constructors and Sentinels had even gone beyond their purpose, such as repairing even the slightest signs of age or damage in any building they could find before they were recalled underground to recharge.

Celestia took off her crown and set it on a pedestal before collapsing in her bed and closing her eyes to sleep. Though the castle staff learned this particular fact well, few other ponies knew that Celestia was a heavy sleeper, almost too heavy. A rumor around the palace was that she once slept for two consecutive days and nights in a row following a crucial diplomatic summit in the Griffon lands.

It wouldn't have been a problem until it became clear that Celestia wasn't waking up for Day Court at any time those two days, and Princess Luna had to cover both Courts on both days.

Suffice to say, Celestia never repeated that feat again, but she had come close to it on multiple occasions. And it was also common knowledge among the staff that once Celestia was asleep, nothing short of her sister or a Doomsday Scenario like Tirek or Sombra would wake her up.

Celestia, once she put her head on the pillow, was out like a light. However, had she stayed up a few minutes later, she would have noticed the Forerunner Communicator Sigil had given her begin to glow green.

====

Sigil looked at his readouts in surprise and curiosity. The Reclaimer Vessel he had hailed with the Beacon was in the middle of changing course in their Slipspace jump. Sigil had already confirmed their trajected destination was The Ark, and it would add an additional two hours in local time to the schedule.

Sigil wasn't worried about the Reclaimers not making it to his Installation, he was cautioned against what he referred to as the "Interlopers", or in human terms, the Covenant Remnants that liked to scavenge through Forerunner worlds like Requiem.

Sigil gave a quiet murmur and browsed through his terminal, nodding in approval at reports that all the damage Canterlot sustained was repaired. Then, he remembered what he had to do regarding the new development.

"Ah, Princess Celestia, if you can receive this…" Sigil spoke through the Communicator. "The Reclaimers seem to have made a quick detour from their course here. I estimate we have an additional two to three hours before they arrive. I would recommend preparing a diplomatic party in the meantime."

As Sigil sent the message and continued to browse, he sighed, envying how he could never truly sleep like other living beings could. As a Monitor, he was never truly at rest, for there was always some subsystem or program that he needed to keep online at all times. Thus, AIs could never truly fall asleep like the Reclaimers, who had records of its refreshing, relieving effect on the human body and psyche.

Sigil then decided to do the next best thing, which was enter standby mode until the Reclaimers arrived.

====

As the Infinity exited Slipspace in orbit near the Ark, Captain Lasky called out to Roland with a raised eyebrow.

"Why'd we exit slipspace, Roland? I thought we were heading to the origin coordinates of that beacon."

"We are, I just needed to make a pit-stop." Roland replied.

"Why?"

"Because while we were on our way, I picked up a UNSC-broadcasted comms beacon, specifically an SOS." Roland said. "There's one catch. The beacon's completely out of date in terms of security and programming. Obsolete for at most thirty years."

Captain Lasky raised his other eyebrow.

"That'd put the beacon being sent out during the Human-Covenant War, a while after the Invasion of Arcadia if I'm not wrong." he mused. "There's no way any ship could survive twenty-eight years adrift in space without someone finding them."

"Well, whatever ship this is did." Roland said. "Huh, that's odd."

"What's the matter?"

"The beacon's coming right at us, directly out of Slipspace off the starboard bow." Roland said. "I'm preparing countermeasures in case of impact."

As the Infinity's bridge crew stood spellbound, a Slipspace rupture appeared right alongside the supercarrier and expelled a UNSC vessel. Though the vessel had definitely seen better days and likely combat with the Covenant, it had an air around it like an unearthed time capsule.

A time capsule in the form of a warship lost for twenty-eight years. As the light of the Infinity's form partially illuminated the ship's bow, battle-scarred white text could be read clearly on the side, proclaimed clearly once again.

UNSC Spirit of Fire

"Captain?" Roland gaped, as surprised as he could be. "Isn't that…"

"It is." Lasky replied. "Prep boarding teams for search and rescue, medical and supply bays on alert for an influx of crew. Roland, is there anyone alive on that ship?'

Roland began to scan the once-lost warship, and turned back to Captain Lasky when he had finished.

"I'm reading lifesigns, Captain Lasky. I'd say around 71 percent of the Spirit of Fire's original crew, all in cryo."Roland said. "I had no idea a person could stay in cryo for that long and not expire."

"Good to hear." Lasky said. "Comms, get Fleetcom and ONI on the line. Palmer, find Fireteam Crimson and have them meet us in the hangar. Roland, prep a Pelican and docking bays to receive any casualties."

"Yes, sir!" Roland nodded as he began to relay the Captain's orders throughout the Infinity.

====

As the Infinity moved alongside the Spirit of Fire, a single Pelican flew into and landed inside the Spirit's main hangar. Fireteam Crimson, Commander Palmer, Dr. Glassman, and Captain Lasky entered the deserted hangar. Old-model UNSC vehicles such as Hornets and Wolverines, along with Warthogs and Pelicans, were strewn about, gathering dust.

"AI Terminal up ahead." Spartan Laura Raines said, pressing a switch to power up the pedestal. A hologram appeared, representing a voice recording and a holographic switch, alongside the form of the ship's AI, Serina.

"Captain, it's time to wake up. Something has happened." Serina spoke. "The Spirit of Fire is in a situation I could not anticipate. I'm certain Professor Anders would enjoy that admission, so let's keep that between us, shall we? We've been adrift for just over twenty-eight years. I've made quite a few repairs while you were asleep, so ship systems are 100 percent. Cryo worked well, and medstats on all remaining crew are green."

"As for me, well…" Serina continued, the others realizing it was a voice recording. "UNSC regulations are clear about final dispensation at the end of an AI's seven-year lifespan. I took care of my own…arrangements, rather than wake you. I didn't want to...well, I hope you can forgive this final breach of protocol."

There was a sniff of regret, and Serina spoke again, the others now recognizing what had happened.

"It was a pleasure and an honor to serve with you, sir. Do look after everyone for me, would you?"

"...Goodbye, Captain…Serina out."

The recording ended, and Spartan Chris McCord turned to Captain Lasky.

"Would you like to do the honors, sir?" he asked.

Lasky nodded and interfaced with the ship's console, finding only one activatable option, and flipped the reactivation switch. As the ship's nuclear engines spun to life and the Spirit of Fire's lights turned back on, Lasky motioned his crew to the Elevator for the bridge.

"What's the plan, sir?" Spartan David Cross asked.

"I think we'll have a little time before the crew gets out of Cryo. Let's give Captain Cutter a warm welcome." Lasky said. "The Forerunner beacon can wait a while."

====

About ten minutes later, the Cryopods containing the remaining crew of the Spirit of Fire began to vent and awaken their occupants. As the crew began to resume their duties, Captain James Cutter and Professor Ellen Anders walked towards the bridge. Upon awakening, the hangar crew reported a strange Pelican in the hangar, and an active terminal, indicating they had been rescued.

As the bridge door opened, Cutter and Anders stopped in their tracks. Five Spartans, a man in a lab coat, and another man in a UNSC Captain's uniform were waiting for them.

The Captain approached Cutter and offered his hand.

"Hello, Captain Cutter. I'm Thomas Lasky, Captain, UNSC Infinity. Welcome back." he said warmly.

Cutter laughed, and shook the offered hand.

"James Cutter, Captain, UNSC Spirit of Fire. It's good to be back" he replied. "How long have we been gone?"

"Twenty-eight years, give or take." Lasky said. "There's a lot you need to catch up on."

"I agree." Cutter said, as he and Lasky headed to the viewport. "Any chance you might have a briefing package available?"

"I'll have Roland put one together ASAP." Palmer said. "Commander Sarah Palmer. I lead the Spartan fireteams on the Infinity." she added at Cutter's confused look.

"I see, and well met." Cutter nodded. "Where to now, Captain Lasky?"

"We were heading to the source of a Forerunner Beacon when we stopped to retrieve you." Lasky said. "Care to join us?"

"Certainly." Cutter said. "Also, any chance you might have an AI you could lend us?"

"I can help with that." Roland said over the radio. "When we were at dry-dock on Titan, we picked up an AI for logistics duties, by the name of Isabel. I'll send her data over now."

"Thank you, Roland, I presume?" Cutter smiled. "Well, Captain Lasky, shall we be off?"

"Certainly."

As Isabel appeared on the command table, her form similar to a mechanic or machine worker, Lasky and the Infinity crewmembers departed for their vessel as the Spirit of Fire returned to operational status.

====

It took about another hour for the briefing package to be assembled and distributed by Roland to the Spirit of Fire's surviving crew, along with the necessary security and software upgrades and supply distributions to the Spirit's production facilities. However, thanks to Roland and Isabel, the procedure went off without a hitch. As both ships docked together and jumped to Slipspace, Lasky worked on a report to Fleetcom in his office.

"Sir?"

Roland appeared on the Captain's desk and saluted.

"The Spirit of Fire is up-to-date. We're clear to move out."

"Good work." Lasky said. "ETA to our objective?"

"One more hour, sir." Roland said. "I'll alert Captain Cutter."

====

Back In Equestria, Princess Luna entered her sister's room to find the communicator beeping and glowing brightly.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Ah, Princess Luna!" Sigil's voice cried. "I haven't been able to reach Princess Celestia!"

"She is asleep." Luna said. "What is the matter?"

"The Reclaimers will arrive in one hour at the most!" Sigil said. "I would advise preparing a diplomatic reception!"

"Ah!" Luna gasped. "We will start immediately! Thank you for alerting us!"

"My pleasure. Once the Reclaimers arrive, I will signal them to land." Sigil said. "But do make haste!"

"We will!" Luna said as the communicator went silent. As she roused her sister, which took some difficulty, the two of them hurriedly began preparing for the arrival of their guests.

====
Ponyville, Castle of Friendship

Around Eleven PM

Once Spike the Dragon received Celestia's letter and read it, he gasped and frantically began to rouse Twilight Sparkle, who had also learned from her mentor how to sleep for long periods of time without being woken up.

However, once he did manage to wake her, it didn't take long to assemble the Elements from their residences and head to Ponyville Station, where Luna's personal train waited for them.

"Wow." Rainbow Dash said, impressed. "Princess Luna pulled out all the stops."

"She did." Twilight said. "Apparently we're getting some really important diplomats in about an hour, so we need to be in Canterlot right now to help."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Pinkie smiled, opening the train door. "Let's get a move on!"

As the Elements boarded and the train began to race towards Canterlot at full speed, a set of Slipspace ruptures could be seen appearing in the night sky, faint but clear.

Author's Note

Update!