Second chance: Noble

(Berb City, Prance)
(August 17, 1025)
(Day 285 of the G.W.)

Racing through the battlefield Six and Emile ducked behind cover as machine gun fire cut above them chipping away at the wall behind them, looking to Emile Six pulled a grenade off his chest and showed it to the other SPARTAN who nodded towards him. Throwing the grenade over the cover it arced towards the emplacement and after a moment a loud thump was heard along with screaming, racing over the cover Emile charged the bunked while Six provided cover taking care of any enemy combatants who wanted to try taking the SPARTAN out. Only seeing one U.P.R. solider making their way over he quickly dispatched them a small spray of bone, brain and blood erupted from the introduced foreign material, speaking over TEAMCOM Six said "How we looking Emile?"

"We're clear here Six, nothing walking out of that bunker." Emile answered back while Six could hear him rummaging around possibly looking for intel or orders as to what they were guarding, the number of forces embedded into the area signaled that they had found something important so Cortana answered with two SPARTAN fire teams the first being Noble and the second Ultraviolet.

Touching down outside the city both teams entered from the north and south slowly making their way towards the center as an assault by the U.W.M. created a distraction for the two teams to enter. Both had two sets of orders the first was to gather any and all intel on what the axis forces were looking for and the second was to either deny the asset by any means necessary and the fighting only seemed to intensify as they moved further and further in. Which lead to Carter ordering Noble to break into teams of two and spread out to force their opponents to divide their own forces trying to stop their advancement, now the two SPARTANs were moving forward with Emile suggesting that they should place explosives on many of the barricades with delayed timers creating even more confusion for their enemies.

Checking his H.U.D. Six saw they were getting closer to the objective sliding behind cover Six and Emile checked their weapons and their supplies. They had plenty of ammunition for the fight ahead but due to them planting the explosives the two of them were a little lighter than they would have like to be, rolling his shoulders Emile hefted his shotgun and looked towards the shared waypoint he said "So how close do you think Ultraviolet and the rest of Noble are?"

"Have to be as close as we are," Six stated looking over the cover slightly he managed to catch a glimpse of a truck racing off with at least a dozen soldiers seeing this Six pointed it out "At least the military is giving them a run for their money."

"Ha with the forces Cortana managed to build in these last six months I'm surprised the wars still goin on."

"Well considering they managed to gather forces around the globe and made them attack at the same time and day."

"Got me there," Emile muttered back remembering that day barely a month after the creation of the A.C.E. a surprise attack was launched five nations and multiple small militia groups attacked together driving the world into chaos, Cortana immediately ordered the E.N.M. to join the fight and buy some time while all active SPARTAN fire teams were sent deep into enemy territory to help create pockets of resistance and undermine the attacking militaries it took nearly three months to even get a foothold going but they managed to do it. This then lead Cortana's creation of the U.W.M. comprising all the nations of A.C.E. military personnel.

"So, what do you think they've found to commit so many soldiers to a single area?" Emile asked looking around the area before motioning for them to start moving again, silently follow Six mulled the thought over these types of actions took him back to the Covenant war when they would dig into areas like ticks not letting anything get close to whatever forerunner object, they were digging up but all Six could say "They more than likely found another ship or something."

"God damn that's insane just how big was that fight they had here?"

Six wondered the same thing it seemed that there were thousands of ships, weapons and supplies littered across the face of the planet, most of which seemed to already have been claimed by the U.P.R. but then again, they had known about the alien technology far longer than the rest of the planet. Noticing three soldiers sneaking up on them Six took aim and fired killing them instantly once he could confirm they wouldn't be getting back up the SPARTAN turned back to the original direction he was moving in, picking up the pace the two soldiers began to close in on their targets now being only a stone's throw away from it. Finding some cover Six turned to Emile and said "See if you can reach anyone on TEAMCOM I'll scout ahead and plant some distractions."

"Hit'em hard Six." Emile said as he hunkered down and began to check to see if Noble or Ultraviolet were close, without even looking back Six kept to the shadows and began to make his way deeper into the excavation zone. Eyeing key points to plant the explosives and with what little he was carrying he would need to pick the most opportune ones, so making his way through the burnt-out buildings or past massive piles of rubble that could have been a bombed building or just rubble ripped out of the hole they'd been digging.

Stopping at one point Six found himself staring at a small depot full of equipment mostly the type for scanning deep underground and then digging out whatever it is they were looking for. Eyeing the depot Six debated whether he should stop by and plant his surprises but decided that it would be best to keep that depot intact to gather whatever information it did have on the object that they were attempting to recover. Sneaking past a few guards Six planted explosives on one of the transport trucks that was sitting idle, after a few minutes TEAMCOM chirped at him chinning the control he said "Six here, I'm closer to the excavation site."

"That's good to hear Noble Six," Carter spoke his voice coming in crystal clear almost as if he were standing next to Six, looking around Six was about to ask their position when Carter cut in "We're all in position Quick Stop and Ultraviolet are raring to go, but we're waiting on you. Let us know when you're close."

"Yes sir," Six answered back looking around he saw no guards near him continued at his pace making noticing the increase in security and guards moving through the area Six was careful as who he'd eliminated and where he planted the explosives doing his best not to raise any alarms. Noticing a building just high enough to be a good vantage point. Climbing the tower Six could easily looked out into the land scape, immediately recognizing the excavation site he zoomed in on the site scanning for any signs of what they could be pulling out of the hole Six couldn't see much due to the dust and poor angle into the hole.

Chinning a control Six began to transmit live video to both Carter and Quick Stop scanning the area he narrated for them "Unfortunately I am unable to see what they are trying to pull out of the hole, the dust is too thick. Which is good it means their either still digging towards the object or still trying to pull it out the site, I also managed to set up a number of explosives around the controlled area to act as a distraction."

"So once we begin our assault, you'll set off the explosives?" Quick Stops' husky voice spoke over the COMM taking a moment to adjust his view Six caught site of some ponies pulling out what appeared to be pulling out some type of metal zooming in on it he said "You give the word and I'll set off the explosives."

"Roger Six," Carter answered taking a moment he went off the COMM before returning a single moment later "Ultraviolet, this is Noble One Noble team is moving in now we should be reaching the center in three minutes."

"We hear you Noble One this is Ultraviolet One, Ultraviolet will be coming in too. We'll see you in three minutes. " Quick Stop said before signing off shaking his head Six adjusted his rifle into a more comfortable position he chinned a control in his helmet and triggered the signal before setting the explosion off taking a breath Six heard Carter say "Blow those explosives Noble Six, we're moving in."

Chinning the control Six blew the bombs and in moments the camp was devolved into chaos with hundreds of ponies running around putting out fires and trying their best to save whatever or whoever they could. Taking his time Six picked off certain soldiers that were far off enough that them dropping would go unnoticed after a few more shots the SPARTAN moved positions dropping down, it seemed that one the transports he had placed a charge on was close to the site as the flaming wreckage rolled through the camp setting multiple tents ablaze and running over a few soldiers as it went by before crashing into building causing it to crumble and bury the vehicle. Hearing more shouting coming from the south Six thought 'Looks like Ultraviolet arrived.' moving towards the hole the SPARTAN was nearing the edge when the gunfire intensified realizing that Noble and Ultraviolet were getting closer, he jumped down into the excavation landing almost silently Six scanned the area looking for any signs of U.P.R. soldiers or scientists before he started down the tunnel.

Only making it a few yards into the tunnel the SPARTAN quickly found a group of five ponies wearing disheveled and dirt covered clothing huddled together staring at him in fear. Stopping adjacent to them Six did his best to move out of sight in case any enemies were to appear he then spoke over his voice emitter "Are you ok?"

"Qu'est-ce que vous avez dit?" one spoke in a female voice realizing he would need to put his translation software to use the MJOLNIR armor quickly acted on the thought and activated said software and Six spoke again "Are you ok?"

"Yez we are," the mare spoke again this time slightly shocked looking over the group she stood in front of them all and with a pleading look asked "Are you here to liberate us?"

"Yes," Six answered slowly walking up to the ponies sighing in relief the mare sat back down a small smile coming to her muzzle as tears rolled down her cheeks ignoring them Six asked "Can you tell me if you have seen anything noteworthy, have you seen what they were digging for?"

"No, they had uz mostly moving the rubble out of the excavation area any poniez that went into the hole...........they never came out alive."

Nodding in understanding Six remembered how a few days ago the SPARTAN fireteams had found a few mass graves of civilians who'd shown signs of being used as slave labor. Turning away from them Six glanced down the tunnel making sure that nopony was sneaking up on him as he conversed with the captured ponies, glancing over his shoulder also Six stated "Stay here and do not move, more SPARTANs are on the way."

The groups eyes went wide with recognition of the name in the recent months with the creation of the U.W.M. and the start of the war, Cortana immediately began recruiting for the SPARTAN program from the various militaries that made up the U.W.M. so the pool of candidates was significantly larger than when it was just Equestria. Still the numbers were not what one would have hoped for towards the end of the year Cortana estimated that the fighting force would be at max seventy to eighty active SPARTAN's. Right now, the active fighting force was around forty and the newer recruits were still undergoing either augmentation or training and when they would join the fight was a mystery to anyone on the front lines. But nonetheless this program was not a secret to be kept from the populace instead it was shown to the known populace for the entire globe to witness and cheer them on as they protected the weak and fought for peace.

Stepping away from the group Six booked it down the passage making his way down into the darkness he activated his Infrared as he noted that no lights were active, and the tunnel was pitch black like a moonless night. Slowing his pace after a few minutes Six began to look down the sights of his rifle taking care not to make any unnecessary noise that would attract attention from whoever was down here. It was doubtful that the U.P.R. wouldn't have any guards in the tunnel system. Hearing some muffled arguing Six hunched down and pressed his side into the wall trying to create as small of a target as he possibly could seeing at least three heat signatures he doubled the number and stopped moving almost becoming statue like as he did while he tried to home in on the conversation "Sir we can't move the relic it's impossible, we can't even get it to activate."

"Damn those Wendigo bastards and that bitch Cortana," a different voice snarled turning to his right he shouted orders at some of his men before he continued "Ever since she formed that Allied Countries of Equis they've been hindering our plans and forcing us to move earlier than we wanted........but nonetheless we will succeed and conqueror this wretched planet."

"Now get ready for a fight I want to hold those Wendigos here as long as possible we cannot allow them to even look upon the relic." with the final order given the ponies raced out of Six's view more than likely laying in wait for an ambush, patting his side Six felt for his flashbangs and finding he had two left silently cursing, Six soon noticed two blips on his radar and they were friendlies hitting his COMM he whispered "This is Noble Six to Noble and Ultraviolet I have eyes on a cavern they appear to have found one of those relics, hold before entering into the cavern the U.P.R. has set up an ambush and has more than likely rigged the relic to blow."

"We read you Noble Six this is SPARTAN's Quick Stop and Round House coming behind you," Quick Stop answered her voice coming in hot and brimming with energy, leaning away from the wall slightly Six tried to get an angle to which he could see the enemies best when Quick Stop asked "So what are we dealing with Noble Six?"

"Ma'am I've only seen three hostiles, but I can only assume that the number is double that. I have at least two flashbangs that I can toss ahead of our assault, but I can't tell what positions they could have taken around the exit."

"Understood," Quick Stop muttered as she checked over her rifle looking her over out of the corner of his eye Six noted that Quick Stop's MJOLNIR consisted of an Operator helmet, both pauldrons were GUNGNIR, attached to her forearms were UA/BRACER's and her knee pads were GUNGNIR she had no chest attachment and armor coloration was a deep crimson with gray highlights looking back at him Quick Stop snarked "You like the armor?"

Six couldn't help but marvel at Cortana's work with advancing the technology for the species advancing them so far that they could probably go toe to toe with the UNSC or maybe even the Covenant if they existed her. Eyeing the armor he couldn't help but note how the armor differed from his own armor it wasn't the standard MJOLNIR Mark V(B) instead Cortana named their armor system MJOLNIR Mark I(P) stating that the pony armor was original and designed specifically with them in mind so the chest was a more barrel shape while the fusion pack had two raised areas over the shoulder blades and the back was slightly shorter than the humans turned ponies own fusion pack(Think Mark VII). Cortana also explained that there were exactly three variations of the armor for Pegasi, Earth and Unicorns and that they each were made and designed to maximize the effectiveness of their users. Quick Stop herself was wearing the Pegasi variation at the very moment.

"It's good, but I prefer my own." Six said back in a plain tone snickering to herself Quick Stop looked behind her to see Round House making his way towards them, following her gaze Six eyed the incoming unicorn also examining that armor. His MJOLNIR consisted of a Mirage helmet, a Recon Pauldron on the left shoulder and a UA/BASE Security on the right, his chest was TAC/Paradise Rig, the coloration of his armor was a dark orange with indigo highlights. Stopping before them he spoke over TEAMCOM "Ma'am the Civilians have been escorted out of the tunnel system they should be heading towards the cleared area we set up."

"Good we have some work to do anyways." Quick Stop stated catching their comrade up to speed about what was awaiting them in the cavern, nodding his head he quickly checked his ammo and readied his AR for the coming fight.

"Here's the plan we have two flashbangs Six is gonna toss them on my mark and blind those bastards as soon as they go off we move in and I want Six to go left, Round you'll go right, and I'll go down the middle. Understood?"

"Ma'am." Both SPARTANs answered simultaneously readying their own weapons stepping to the front Quick Step aimed down her sights and held up on of her wings after a moment she whipped it down. Taking that as the go sign Six Flung both his flashbangs ahead sending one to the left and right of the cavern entrance, after a moment they went off with a *BAM*

As soon as they heard that sound the super soldiers charged into the cavern locking onto the enemy combatants they began to terminate them, Six started on the left counting at least two individuals trying their best to blink away the spots clouding their vision only to have their lives ended in a moment when he fired into them catching the first in his throat shattering his spine and ripping open his carotid artery spraying bright red blood along the wall, the second had a bullet drilled through his left eye which took off a descent chunk of his head. Round House on the other hand had three individuals and instead of aiming properly he simply moved his Assault rifle in an arc spraying them full of bullets causing said ponies to fall to the ground with only one of them managing to fire his rifle uselessly into the cavern ceiling.

Quick Stop tore down the center concentrating on the three in front of her quickly firing her rifle she shot the first two ponies between their eyes snapping their heads back and spraying the third one with their blood, wheeling away in fear he tried to escape towards the relic only to trip over boxes he had forgotten about and couldn't see clearly due to the flash bangs effect. Trying to push himself as quickly as possible he quickly found himself under Quick Stops armored hoof which pushed him into the ground keeping him still, she jammed her rifle to the back of his skull while saying "Don't move or I help you join your friends."

Sitting stock still the pony didn't even breathe knowing full well the timers for the bombs would be going off soon enough all he had to do was by himself some time and they would all be buried together, looking around he found the other two Wendigos walking up to the relic slowly taking it in the one in orange armor let out a small whistle and said "This ain't like those other ships at all."

"We can examine it later; they have explosives rigged around here we need to disarm them." the gray armored Wendigo stated looking around he paused a few times before he pointed to multiple areas stating "They set up four in the ceiling at these points. I can disable them, but you'll need to check the ship and the ground area."

Nodding in confirmation the orange one quickly raced around the area looking for said explosives while the other took to the ceiling. Gawking at them the U.P.R. pony was horrified that they had managed to find them so fast they were demons plucked right out of Tartarus, looking up at his captor he snarled "You abominations don't know the powers you-"

"Your entire country has been stealing ancient alien technology that had crash landed on this planet during The Cataclysm and has been calling them relics and treasures. Treating the stuff like it was given to you by the gods themselves, we know more than you do about said technology and its users."

"YOU KNOW NOTHING!!" the pony screeched his eyes going wide he looked around the room with a crazed look while a gleeful smile came to his face he continued in a crazed tone "SOON WE WILL JOIN THE STARS AND BRING ABOUT A NEW AGE, WE WILL FINISH WHAT THE RELICS MASTERS COULD NOT AND BEGIN THE GREAT JOURNEY!"

At that Quick Stop found herself pausing during the initiation into the SPARTAN program Cortana had taught them many things about her old universe besides just war. She taught them about the Forerunners, the Covenant, the UNSC and some monstrosity known as The Flood going into great detail about each of them and explaining what they were. But what she concentrated on most was the Covenant and Flood teaching them everything she knew about the enemy they could possibly meet once Equis ventured into the stars above. Now though hearing a pony screaming about The Great Journey Quick Stop felt a ball of ice form in her stomach if these psychopaths made it off the planet, they'd doom every living in the entire universe all for a farce. Seeing two new blips on her radar Quick noted they were friendlies going onto TEAMCOM she said "State who you are, this is Ultraviolet One."

"This is Noble Four." Emile answered his voice coming over the channel annoyed.

"This is Ultraviolet Five." Fire Juggler answered she was the fifth member of Ultraviolet an earth pony who wore an EOD helmet(Reach Style), UA/MULTI THREAT pauldrons and an EXO/TSCS chest her armor was a muddy brown with no other coloration.

"Good," Quick Stop adjusted her hoof as she removed some restraints from her armor's compartments, she began to secure the prisoner while saying "We've managed to clear the whole cavern of any hostiles and are now disarming explosives. We have captured a relic and a commanding officer of the U.P.R. and to make this official it is confirmed that the U.P.R. has accessed the alien technologies information..........the commander has stated that the leadership wishes to complete The Great Journey."

"Well fuck us all." Emile said voicing all the individuals' thoughts with one simple sentence sighing Quick Stop picked the prisoner up and thought 'Agreed Noble Four'

(A.C.E. Council Chamber)
(Unities Embrace 11:00 hours)
(Orbiting Equis)

As the group of ponies finished watching the video rant of the captured commander a murmur soon followed and went around the chamber like a wave. Floating through the room were multiple cameras showing the world the meeting as the leaders talked amongst themselves, in total there were nine council members which included the leaders of The Pony Kingdom, Algokai, Pferdia, Prance, The Equine Union, Crystal Empire, The Pony Kingdom, Equestria and two new nations that joined two month ago. Said nations were The Griffin Republic and Galacian Kingdom, sitting in the center of it all was Cortana taking it all in for a moment before she used her magic to bang the gavel drawing everponies attention and quieting the chamber. Sitting up straight she took a breath and began to speak with complete authority and clear intition "So it's confirmed that the U.P.R. believes in the lies of The Covenant, this now explains why they have been working so hard to amass as many relics as they could as quickly as possible."

"Madam President this is madness what if they reach out to The Covenant and try to get them to come here!" Prances councilor spoke up and he leaned over his desk pointing a hoof directly at the screens floating around.

"My satellites have detected no transmissions leaving the system besides our own, we are safe for now. But this does bring up a worrying thought............just how many of the U.P.R.'s allies believe in the same religion as they do?"

As soon as the words left her lips a chill crept into the room licking her lips the Equestrian councilor spoke up softly "The Global War has been going on for about nine months now and it only seems to be spreading, Madam president isn't it about time we called in the warships to put an end to it?"

Outrage soon spread through the room with multiple voices yelling "THAT'S EASY FOR YOU TO SAY!""THE WAR IS NOWHERE NEAR EQUESTRIA!""I WILL NOT ALLOW THOSE SHIPS NEAR MY COUNTRY WHILE CIVILIANS ARE WITHIN ITS BORDERS!" and the chamber soon divulged into a chaotic argument with each councilor throwing insults at each other scowling at them Cortana used her royal voice "ENOUGH!!!"

"We will not devolve like this within these chambers, each and every pony here is an equal and is allowed to voice their own opinion. With that being said those ships will not be used in this war, right now their standing orders are to patrol our system and intercept any NONE pony space craft." Cortana stated as she began to pace the room looking at each of the councilor as she passed, they didn't dare meet her gaze realizing how for fear of angering her further as she passed by them turning on her heel she continued "Our top concern right now is to secure the countries the U.P.R. and its allies have stationed themselves in and I am proud to say that as of today Prance and Pferdia have been liberated. With U.W.M. forces securing it's borders and helping with civilian aid they can soon start pressing into the axis powers nations stopping their own war machines."

"But what about the U.P.R.?" the griffins councilor asked eyeing Cortana sensing his anger the alicorn turned to the councilor looking deep into his eyes she remembered that as soon as the war started Horus and his military had abandoned everything fleeing towards the homeland of their allies.

"We will close in on them when the time is right, at the moment we need to only focus on clipping their wings and weaking their infrastructure so when we do invade, they have no aid and no allies they can call for help. I promise you that by the end of this war we will come out of it triumphant. So, a better future can be built!"

(Presidential Office)
(Unities Embrace, 14:00 hours)
(Orbiting Equis)

Walking into her office Cortana activated her magic scanning the room for any type of spy magic or electronic bugs, the sweep only took a few seconds and it had found the room to be clean. Cortana knew this of course Unities Embrace had the most thorough security measures along with the best staff in the known system, nopony could get on or off the station without being seen, heard, or detected by some type of magic, technology or individual. But Cortana could not be too careful the A.C.E. was in its literal infancy and had to be care for till its immediate enemies were dealt with, making her way over to the desk she sat down and activated her computer. After a moment the screen lit up looking through the screen she picked an email detailing the progress of Project: Oasis

Dear Madam President,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you are in good health, I am updating you on some key factors with the project. I will let you know they are not as bad as one would think but some of the problems are putting us behind schedule for terraforming Ore.

Just recently we have hit a snag with one of the Magic Plants and the reactor will not be able to go online for at least another two weeks maybe longer if any parts need to be replaced or retrofitted, it seems that the mixing of your nuclear power and our magic is much more potent than we originally thought. But Trig thinks that he's figured out a way around this problem and has sent his plans to you for evaluation, if this succeeds the reactors in the ships will be tinker toys when compared to each other.

Next the construction of the seventh ship Stars Above will be complete by the end of this week and she should be able to join the rotation to and from Reach, this ship has been upgraded with the experimental weapons system created by Solid Point and all tests show they are stable and running green as per your last request. The MAC gun can now fire a magic laced slug,

Next is I regret to inform you we have also lost one of the habitats to an accident during one of the sandstorms a crane was unable to retract in time and crushed the facility, five ponies were lost in the accident and at least seven are injured to the point they must be put into a medically induced coma. The doctors estimate that the longest they will be out is a month but it could be longer depending on how they react to the treatments,

Closing the email all I have to say is that the estimated time for us to begin terraforming has been pushed back at least three months, without the reactors we cannot activate the system and begin the terra forming process.

With Best regards Bronze Harvest

Reading over the email once more Cortana searched for Trig's own email pulling it up she read through his findings and suggestions silently nodding her head she agreed with his findings and that his calculations were good she double checked them just to be sure. Typing up her own response the alicorn fired off the email back to Trig allowing him to move forward with his plans along with authorization to move forward with any and all repairs needed to repair said reactor, once the email was sent Cortana's attention turned to another matter pulling up a video feed it showed a number of ponies moving along the hull of a ship with arcs of light being seen as they welded plates into place. Clicking through the feeds she eyed the ship seeing that it indeed appeared to be ready to launch into the stars any day now, just like the others the ships appearance was that of a UNSC warship specifically a Poseidon-Class Light Carrier.

The differences that came with this ship revolved around its reactor system, weapons, and computers system each designed to incorporate magic into its workings. Cortana had been approached by her senior staff a month into the designing of said carrier showing her plans they had come up with to weave magic into the ship, after listening to them for an hour Cortana gave the go ahead. Even after eighty-five years her knowledge of magical theories and the sciences the ponies had come up with it still eluded her, but many ponies were geniuses equivalent to the best scientists of the UNSC adding unto the fact that she now had international help from multiple nations her teams were making leaps and bounds in terms of construction, research, training, and much more. So, this ship was going to be the testing ground for magical technologies or what some ponies were calling magitech, this new technology was something that could give A.C.E. the much-needed edge it needed going out into space. The testing ground even showed the endless possibilities the ships engine was capable of burning hotter and for longer than any other engine, a new turret that fired magic laced bullets that could track and kill their targets (with the bonus of having elemental magic laced into them), and lastly was the MAC it still used massive magnets to launch a projectile at its target but by incorporating magic into the cannon allowed it to charge five times faster than its siblings and had enough of a cycling charge to fire a second time before needing to be recharged adding to this each projectile could be enchanted allowing it to have an elemental effect upon impact much like the new turrets.

Each new system had officially been named and the devices records entered into a system the engines were known as SOLARIS-LUMINAS Engine, the turrets were designated as MRT-007 but nicknamed "Jabberwock" finally was the MAC now with-it incorporating magic there were two variants of the weapon the MAC and MAC(M). But the newer system required skilled unicorns to weave spells into the shells to be fired any magically adept pony would charge them without the new reactors she couldn't be sure that they could charge the MAC(M) system efficiently so until further testing could be done Cortana would only install them onto key ships or at locations dubbed to be of strategical importance..........which meant that she would need to start constructing an orbital grid to protect the planet from any invaders. If she could get the greenlight from the senate and get them to start construction and installation of the MAC(M) system she would be a step ahead of the UNSC by having that system constructed and ready even before finding the covenant, which could lead to even more efficient versions being installed on all the future colonies they would be creating. Leaning back Cortana added that to the already mile long list of meetings, mission, and whatever else need to be done, sighing she thought 'I missed the days when all had to worry about was my company.'

Hearing a chime coming from her computer she looked down at the infernal system wanting to smash it but that quickly went away when she noticed the encryption level was from one of the SPARTAN teams, they wouldn't contact her directly unless they had found something of utmost importance. Quickly securing the line and triple checking its encryption she waited a moment before clicking another set of keys before opening the line which showed a live video feed of Noble Ones perspective clearing her throat she said "Noble One this is Leadership what has you contacting me with such urgency?"

"Ma'am sorry to interrupt whatever you were doing but," the video began to blur as Carter swiveled his head coming to a standstill Cortana was staring a slate gray ship with a seemingly brown finish, feeling her eyes go wide Cortana leaned forward as Carter continued to speak "I just wanted to inform you we have managed to get our hands on one of those unknown ships. The area is secured but we need a excavation team brought in to dig this thing out its stuck in deep."

"Have you managed to get into the ship at all Noble One?"

"Sadly, we have not best that we can tell is it crashed into the ground upside down and heat fused to the rocks," Carter then pointed along one of the possible wings of the ship the video zoomed in while he said "Our best guess is it was fighting something that used plasma those burns are something we're very familiar with."

"We'll need to do some testing to confirm that Noble One, but I agree with you." She muttered looking at the scorch marks that were spread across the wings and its underbelly, examining the marks she remembered the thousands of plasma burns and damages she had seen during her time working with The Chief.

"Agreed, but Noble Two's has been trying to find a maintenance hatch so she can splice into the system to see if we can get anything."

"How is that going so far?"

Turning slightly the video zoomed out and looked to the familiar armor of Kat who had her data pad out seemingly scanning the hull Carters voice spoke again "So far no luck, whoever or whatever built this thing is using a technique and technology we are unfamiliar with."

"Hmmmmm then we need to get it back to The Forge ASAP," turning away from the screen Cortana pulled up a document from her training staff smirking a bit she keyed up an order and sent it to them immediately calling for deployment speaking up she said "Noble One I will be sending a third team your way, they're designated Royal fireteam ETA will be nine hours."

"They get the all clear ma'am?"

"Yes, the document had been received an hour ago and I can't think of a better way to get them started."

"Agreed," the video feed began to move towards what could possibly be the front of the ship it paused "When can we expect the excavation equipment?"

"I've sent the order," seeing a new message pop up she read the information nodding her head ",it looks like the equipment will arrive is five hours I've also requested for the army to send you a company to reinforce the area. Just because the U.P.R. has pulled out of the country doesn't mean there aren't stragglers."

"Agreed and ma'am?"

"Yes, Noble One?"

"We have survivors at least five were found in the tunnel system and another sixteen in cages."

"So, we can confirm that the U.P.R. is using forced labor."

"Yes ma'am, all survivors have the same reports and also informed us that all ponies brought to the relic were executed."

"Those bastards.................*SIGH* Noble One follow protocol as soon as the platoon arrives."

"Of course, and ma'am?"

"Yes, Noble One?"

"We're doing good work out here don't be discouraged, plus if there was an election you would've had my vote." Carter stated chuckling a little bit Cortana said her sign off and cut the feed, leaning back she closed her eyes and took a moment to contemplate the small when they had just gotten by getting that ship. But no sooner had her eyes close Cortana felt heavy as she slipped off into a deeper sleep, dreaming of her days in the UNSC and the stars beyond.

(9 hours later)
(Excavation site, Berb City, Prance)
(Day 285 of the G.W.)

Watching as the ship circled overhead Carter and Quick Stop were making their way over to where it was landing seeing its ramp winding down the two commanders waited for the newly released SPARTAN team to exit. Making their way out Royal was a four pony fireteam all of them hailing from Prance now unlike some of the other teams it seems they decided to go with a uniform color all being the same dark gray and royal blue digital camo pattern with black shoulder pauldrons. Leading the team was Spartan Burnt Edges his armor consisted of a GUNGIR helmet, his chest an EXO/TSCS, both pauldrons were UA/Eferm, on each forarm he had SHOCKBRACE he didn't have utility and his knee pads were default. Next was his number two Petal Dancer a unicorn mare wearing a LECHUZA helmet, her chest attachment UTIL/Desert Patrol, her left shoulder was SAP/HAZOP and her right shoulder was SAP/MKV, the only wrist attachment she had on her right was a R-107 Scanman and her utility were four knives of different makes and models she loveling called Cut to the Quick,

Now the final two SPARTAN were siblings Briar and Thorn both were pegasi wearing the same armor their helmets were CAVALLINO, both shoulders UA/Gidos, and the utility chosen were Watsmil Ammo Pouched and the knee pads were UA/Type MR. Walking forward both Carter and Quick Stop noticed a number of ponies eyeing the new recruits stomping across the open terrain. With these four joining the front lines the number of SPARTANs on active duty just jumped to just twenty-seven active duty SPARTANs as they stood before their comrade in arms the leader spoke in a deep husky voice "Commanderz Quick Ztop and Carter it iz good to finally join you on the front linez."

"It's good to have you finally join us Burnt Edges," Carter stated motioning with his head for the group to follow they all began to walk towards the growing hole where the downed ship would soon be pulled from while he brought the team up to speed "I know you've been briefed on what we're pulling out of that hole but here's the rundown, leadership wants three teams of SPARTANs guarding and guiding this thing back to The Forge for study to figure out just what the hell it is and possibly who the hell built it. Your team Royal will be atop the ship itself in the cargo hold guarding it as your very first mission to knock some of that shine off your armor."

Some scoffs came from the team until Burnt Edges looked over his shoulder seemingly while clicking his teeth causing the group to go quiet, before turning back and offering an apology towards Carter nodding in appreciation the stallion continued "I know it's not the best mission to start off with but it is the most important one at this point, the U.P.R. has been stealing technology like this for far longer than anyone on this planet has realized. Once it's back Leadership will reassign you lot immediately to something................more SPARTAN like."

"Yes, so for now Royal you all need to treat this like it's a the most important mission of all time until otherwise ordered." Quick Stop added glancing over her shoulder to look at the team as they got closer to the edge. The group soon stopped and stared down at the now completely uncovered ship, it was around forty meters long, a height of eighteen meters and a width of an estimated twenty-two meters (but that was only speculated due to the ship missing one entire wing and half of the other) instead of the purplish hue of the alien technology that the enemies used this ship seemed to be a matte gray. A few ponies walked along the hull looking for secure points to attach anchors for the freighter to attach and lift the ship, looking for any signs of the others Royal scanned the area for their comrades until Quick Stop spoke "You won't find them, they've formed a perimeter around the sight, until we're ready to lift this thing they'll be setting traps and decoys for any enemies left in the area."

"Mmmmmm zo it iz true not all the enemiez have left theze landz." Briar growled looking across the decimated city streets now only seeing militarized ponies moving around getting ready to either lift off or to hold the ground. Nodding her head Quick Stop let the words hand in the air before motioning to the sit below she continued "We'll be moving this piece of technology in the next few hours, what Leadership order us to order you is simple Royal will be the final line of defense if the first two lines fail, you'll either get that thing off the ground and back to The Forge...........or failing that deny it falling into enemy hooves."

"We understand the assignment Quick Ztop, iz there anything elze we need to know?" Burnt Edges asked looking at the mare shaking her head she looked towards Carter who was holding a hoof to his ear listening to a report from his time after a moment he said "No we'll leave you to it after this, I have to get back to my team seems they have a few questions about our assignment."

Turning Carter began to walk away but before leaving he gave the group a solid nod before igniting his horn and teleporting away form the group. Sighing Quick Stop turned to Burnt Edges and said a quick good bye before she too leapt into the air and flew off jetting away faster than any pegasi could possibly go, smirking to himself Burnt Edges turned to his team and began barking orders "All right you heard the mare, Briar I want you in tha air covering us with your rifle, Thorn i want you on that ship looking for a way to rig it if we do have to destroy it. Petal and I will patrol the area looking out for any ground forcez trying to zneak up on uz. NOW MOVE OUT!"

"ZIR YEZ ZIR!!" The group called out in a single voice before breaking apart and following the orders that they had just received. Watching the SPARTANs jump into the work a distant shadow hiding inside a burnt-out building leveled what appeared to be a rifle, but instead of a barrel aimed at the ponies trained on the unsuspecting individuals was a concave optic eye piece.

(U.P.R. Territory)
(Unknown Location)
(23:00 hours, August 17, 1025)

Watching the video monitors were a number of individuals each an enemy to the A.C.E. each grinding their teeth in frustration as they watched them working in territory they had held just hours ago. Whirling around a female voice howled in an frustration as the U.P.R. emperor sat in silence as he watched the work of his enemies "How can you just sit there as they steal OUR bounty!!!!"

"Enough Spindel," a gruff male voice snarled at her while pointing an accusatory hoof which shook with an anger he held it back "YOU do not get to speak to him like that, his wisdom is the only reason we managed to take that country in the first place."

"AND HIS LACK OF RESOURCES AND STRATEGY IS WHY WE LOST IT." The mare continued to howl shaking her head she lifted a vase and pitched it towards the stallion only for it to shatter on a shield that surrounded him, and he still didn't waver or even seem to recognize the others. The shield shimmered for a moment before solidifying and returning to its transparent state, scowling at it the mare was about to throw another object at the shield wanting to rip that shield apart.

"ENOUGH !!!" a voice snarled as a griffon stepped out of the shadows standing before them now was Horus the leader of the G.C.P. glaring at each of the individuals he slowly walked towards the table while saying "You do not speak to the emperor like that, he has done nothing but help us free our countries from the fascist regimes that either ruled us or kept our countries weak and cornered. Now after a simple set back you begin to-"

"A SiMpLe SeT BaCk," the mare mockingly mimicked before spitting at the ground the griffon stood upon she sneered at him "You lost your land, your leadership is down to just you and that General Vulture I cannot give two shits what you have to say. If you even had a nation to lead you would be at this table."

"You cow, I retreated at the call of the emperor to aid him for his future endeavors. I did not blame him, I did not cry, I did not beg, and I most certainly did NOT QUESTION HIM!" as the final word left Horus's mouth he flung a claw forward sending a glowing blade he had hidden under his Lepel towards the mare imbedding it into her shoulder, crying out in both pain and anger she ignited her horn and attempted to strike the griffon when a deep menacing voice spoke(Think Darkseid from Zack Snyder Justice League) "Enough."

Feeling the room chill all the individuals stopped breathing and moving at that moment not daring to look his way but soon they heard the shuffling of his clothes and his heavy footsteps as he began to move. Slowly walking out of the shadow of his throne the stallion was massive standing almost as tall as one of the Wendigos, his regal attire failed to hide the powerful muscles underneath as stepped down each step. His mane was as black as the night sky long and hanging off both shoulders it was styled to it never entered his eyes to obscure his vision from any fight, but then again the massive scar that goes across his face from years of fighting for the very throne he sat upon one which he had earned after killing his own father, uncles, sibling and anypony else that thought they could rule instead of him. As his hooves clicked on the marble floor he glanced around the room his crimson eyes scanning each of the ponies he had gathered to join his empire to join him in the great journey he and his country would soon go on but at the moment he needed to remind just who they narrowing his eyes on Spindel he boomed "Now is not the time for this petty squabbling, yes we have lost footholds in two nations that we have held for months. But that is a simple step backwards it will not slow us in anyway and as for my resources? "

Stepping closer to the mare she trembled in fear as the stallion towered over her daring to glance up into his eyes couldn't bring herself to look away or even take a breath she so desperately needed at that moment. Placing a hoof under her chin he brought her head up more forcing her to look him deeper in his eyes the emperor continued "The greatest minds from each of your nations have aided in bringing more of the relics online, withing the next few months you all will be supplied with weapons from the star masters. Which will allow you to burn a path back into the countries we have lost and keep them under our control."

Keeping his hoof under Spindels chin the emperor cocked his head to the side before he moved it to the side of her head..............and slamming it to the table with a *CRUNCH* he killed her in that moment not even flinching. After a moment her body seemed to realize what had happened as Spindel's eyes widened and blood leaked from them along with her nose and ears slowly pooling on the table the emperor turned to the others while saying "But if you wish to question me again I do hope it is with more respect than our dear Spindel, I do not mind...............constructive criticism but I have little patience for those who will cry over the simplest of setbacks.

Turning away from the body he began to walk around the table taking in the shocked look of his allies he let a smile adorn his muzzled while he spoked "After all my dear friends before that mare managed to block transmissions to and from this planet. I had made contact with some allies; this war is nothing more than us buying time till they arrive. After all the star masters will help their brothers in times of need. "