Author's Note

I'm terribly sorry for this being another short chapter, I've been incredibly busy lately. Not to mention the fact I wrote myself into a corner last chapter. I have a great idea for the covenant ships which some of you may see coming, but I realized too late that It was introduced far too early in the story. With that bit of writer's block out of the way but still introduced, the next chapter should be coming out MUCH sooner. Thanks all!

Chapter two, Act Four

Princess Luna was the first to barge into the library, followed by Princess Celestia. Luna seemed almost panicked, energetic. Celestia held a calm demeanor, but her subtle fear betrayed her expression.

"Spartan, we arrived as soon as we could." Luna began, catching her breath as she circled to come to a stop on his right.

"It hurts to ask further help from you, but I have to ask. Currently there are two Covenant signals and a UNSC distress signals in low orbit. Jessica tells me it's going to crash somewhere northeast of the Crystal Empire. I need a way aboard one of those vessels, preferably the UNSC one, before they wreck."

"How can we distinguish them?"

"The green and black one will be UNSC, all the Covenant shit is purple. If you can't visibly see them with optics and your magic stuff, then any one and I'll make do." Riley summarized. He was grasping at straws, hoping that with their god-like abilities they could place him aboard one of the ships. More than anything, he wanted to be able to use their slipspace capabilities to return home, if possible.

Someone outside screamed, screams rose in volume very quickly, the hairs on the back of Riley's neck stood up. Knowing that there were Covenant at least in orbit, he drew his handgun and slowly strafed towards the door. He cracked the heavy slab of oak, peeking through the gap for a split moment. Trying to assess the threat, he saw it. His hands dropped limply to his side, his handgun magnetically gripping to his thigh holster. The oak slab swung open slowly. The princesses looked past the towering figure, ponies outside were panicking in the streets, running back and forth between buildings. In a few seconds, the streets were quiet.

High above, a figure shrouded by the light blue glow of the atmosphere was barreling across the sky. It was massive, a smaller, yet clearly gigantic figure followed it closely. Being able to see the figures in the daylight was bad, being able to see them while in an orbit that high was worse. This object was completely gargantuan.

Riley's heartbeat raced, he could feel the veins in his neck and temples throbbing with the rush of hormones increasing his heartbeat. Far above, he could clearly make out the shape of a Covenant Supercarrier. It was halved, yet still distinguishable in it's curved shape.

"Oh my god." Riley spoke under his breath. His thoughts swam for a moment, before he turned to face the princesses. "You need to gather your troops, as many as you can spare. Have them at the Crystal Empire, prepared to mobilize on the crash site, I don't care how long they need to wait."

"What about you?" The princess asked.

"I need to get up there. The big one is a Covenant Supercarrier, or rather was. With the loss of that some smaller ships will no doubt be dispatched soon enough. The other, smaller one we can see is a Corvette. I could clear a Corvette." Riley stated, beginning to walk around angrily.

"How do you propose you arrive there?" Luna asked, perplexed by how matter-of-fact he said it.

"As I was rambling about earlier, Twilight told me you have some form of long range teleportation. Use a telescope and eyeball it, I don't care. If I don't get there, Thousands could die from these bastards. If not the whole planet..." Riley was frustrated, he'd never had to explain how terrible the Covenant is. It was always common knowledge. Now that he was having to try and convey just how dire the situation was, he found it increasingly difficult to hold his temper.

Celestia and Luna exchanged glances nervously.

"We've never attempted to teleport such weight, such distance, to such a precise location.." Luna spoke softly, in a tone to avoid challenging him, while suggesting different action. "It very well could kill you. Rather than risk losing our only knowledge on the subject, it may be best for us to wait for its crash."

Riley sighed heavily, aggravated. He knew very well they were right, if it was out of their capabilities, the risk was too great.

"It could last in orbit as long as two years. It could come crashing down within a couple months. I don't have accurate enough sensory data to make a precise estimation." Jessica commented quietly. Riley's eyes moved back and forth as he thought, as if reading a book.

"So now that I FINALLY have an objective, a clear path, with my sole purpose in mind... I'm back to waiting?" Riley asked. He held his arms out in dismay. "There's no way to get up there? I have to wait for the orbit to decay, for them to crash? I got excited over nothing? You can tell where but not when it'll crash?"

"Yeah. I can." Jessica stated indignantly. "Maybe if we can recover some equipment from the Avalon we could attempt to increase my scanning capabilities. But I suggest we have scouts across the planet maintain a watch for any Covenant landings or troop movements.

"Consider it done. We will mobilize any spare troops not critical to defense, and leave those critical on standby. We will attempt diplomatic reasoning to encourage other nations to increase their patrols, while tripling our own." Celestia stated without hesitation.

Riley breathed deeply for a moment before addressing everyone in the room. "Sorry for the tones of urgency and panic. I thought perhaps if I was able to board the ships I'd have a way home, while being able to destroy any covenant force that could threaten you at the same time. I guess that's not really feasible right now though, is it?"

"All is well, Spartan." Luna spoke for them with a gentle smile, and a nod. "Though I do believe we must address the citizens, their panic will not be calmed until they are somewhat aware of the situation."

"Yeah. I suppose so." Riley agreed, if not hesitantly with the Princess.

"Spartan, perhaps in the meantime perhaps we could help in your acquisition of material from your ship." Celestia began in the patronizing, soft tone she had perfected. While cocking her head at him in some emotion he didn't understand, she added "While we cannot teleport you to the ships, we could send you there fairly simply, being as we've both stood in the wreckage."

"I think that would be the best course of action. Could we arrange for a train to pickup the materials in Canterlot, bring them back out to Ponyville where they're more out-of-the-way?" Riley suggested.

"I think that would be fairly wise." Celestia nodded. "When do you wish to return to the crash?"

"No time like the present." Riley shrugged, stretching his arms momentarily across his chest. He stamped his feet on the oak flooring and flexed his hands a few times. "There's much work to be done."

"Very well." Celestia's horn began to glow, increasing in intensity.

"See you Twilight, thanks again." Riley spoke, the last sentence before he was enveloped in the light of the Princess's magic. The familiar sick feeling in his stomach returned, as he was wiped from the library's living space.