To say the scene unfolding in the hangars of the UNSC Infinity was chaotic, was an understatement of a grand degree. Pelicans were exchanging landing zones as fast as they could land, unload, and take off, crates of supplies were being cataloged by crewmembers, and through it all…two Spartan-IVs watched everything from the sidelines with an air of passiveness.

"Can't believe we're back in action so soon." said Spartan-IV Christopher McCord, leader of Fireteam Crimson. Already equipped in his Recruit-Charred Mjolnir Armor, colored crimson red and gunmetal gray, with his helmet under his shoulder, he glanced at his companion with a raised eyebrow.

"So, what do you think’s going on, Thorne?"

Spartan Gabriel Thorne merely shrugged. After being promoted to leader of Fireteam Majestic after the death of Spartan Paul DeMarco, Thorne had definitely matured more from the Spartan he was during his time on Requiem to now. Thorne crossed his arms and huffed before replying.

"It's certainly something big, that’s for sure." Thorne said absentmindedly. "You really think it's a good idea to be heading out so soon after the Uprising?"

"Better now than never." Spartan McCord said with a sigh. "I've always preferred the wild black yonder."

“You and me both.”

The two Spartans gave a chuckle, and then turned to see a third Spartan-IV approach, carrying a duffel bag with him, seemingly very confused from his posture, and how he constantly looked down at his wrist-datapad. He wore the Interceptor-class armor, colored gray and with gold highlights. Judging from how he approached from a recently-vacated landing area, he had just arrived aboard Infinity.

"You lost, Spartan?" Chris called out. The Spartan nodded and walked over, setting his bag down with an audible "thunk!” before saluting.

"You could say that, sir." the male Spartan replied. "Spartan-IV Nathaniel Brighton, reporting. I can't seem to find my way around. I've just finished my Spartan training and certification."

"Well, welcome aboard." McCord replied. "I'm Chris McCord, I lead Fireteam Crimson. This is Gabriel Thorne, he leads Fireteam Majestic. What's your assignment here on Infinity?"

"Dunno." Brighton replied. "I just flew up from Detroit. I was told to find Spartan Jameson Locke or Commander Sarah Palmer. So far, no dice."

"Hey, you just gotta learn where to look." Thorne said. "Follow us, S-Deck is this way. We were just heading there ourselves."

"Thanks a bunch." Brighton said, removing his helmet, revealing a young face with gray eyes and blonde hair. "Lead the way."

====

As the three Spartans took a transit-car to the S-Deck, Brighton rubbed his hands together, breathing softly.

"Nervous?" Thorne asked.

"Yeah, really." Brighton nodded. "I haven't seen real combat yet, but I've spent plenty of time in the Warzone-simulations. Hard to believe I'm an actual Spartan."

"How'd you get selected?" McCord asked.

"I was in training on Kreise Colony, when the Uprising happened." Brighton replied. "The brass fast-tracked everyone in secret, and when we stopped the Created...I guess it still counted as the full thing when my class returned to Earth for certification."

"That’s a good start. Just be ready to get your teeth cut soon enough. We never seem to stay out of the action for long." McCord added as the car came to a stop. "Looks like we've arrived."

As the Spartans disembarked and entered the S-Deck's main concourse, Brighton was soon called over by Spartans Holly Tanaka and Olympia Vale from a Requisitions station that stood nearby.

"You're our rookie?" Vale asked, and Brighton nodded. "Welcome to Fireteam Osiris. I’m Olympia Vale, this is Holly Tanaka."

"Nice to meet you both. I take it Spartan Locke’s not here right now?" the rookie Spartan asked, consulting his datapad.

"Yep. He's coming back from the bridge at the moment, but we'll get you acquainted in the meantime." Tanaka said. "Let's get moving."

As Thorne and McCord said goodbye to the members of Fireteam Osiris, and wished Brighton good luck, both of the remaining Spartans headed to their respective teams' barracks to prepare. As it turned out, both barracks units were relatively close, so the Spartans stopped for a bit in the section's common area.

"Feeling good to be back in business?" Thorne asked.

"For sure." McCord replied. "I'd better link up with the rest of my Fireteam. See you around, Thorne."

"You too, McCord."

Then, the familiar voice of Roland spoke from the Intercom.

"Attention all hands, prep for Slipspace jump."

====

"So, what's the status on the Arbiter and Shipmaster Vadum's arrival?" Lasky asked as Roland finished alerting the ship of their imminent departure.

"They are on their way, Admiral Lasky." Roland replied. "However, they did inform me that they can't join us immediately at our destination, due to their need to investigate a Banished mining presence on a moon near the edge of Swords of Sanghelios-occupied space. By our best estimates, it’ll only be a few hours after we get there that they’ll join us."

"Alright, then." Lasky replied. "Keep me updated, Roland. If anything comes up, let me know."

Roland gave a salute, and winked out. As Lasky strode to the front of the bridge, a female voice spoke up from behind him.

"I offer my congratulations on your promotion, Admiral."

"Thank you, Dr. Halsey." Lasky replied, watching the woman in question approach. After the Created Uprising, Dr. Halsey and Blue Team had been given a sizable amount of R-and-R time, as the UNSC wanted to fully deliberate on Blue Team's actions before the Uprising, and determine if those actions warranted a disciplinary response.

Specifically, their unauthorized departure from service, theft of the ONI Prowler Acrisius from the Argent Moon station, and then deploying against orders to Meridian, rendering them AWOL. After due consideration by UNSC High Command, and after reviewing clemency petitions by Captain Lasky, Spartan Locke, Commander Palmer, Dr. Halsey, and most unexpectedly, the Arbiter, the UNSC formally cleared Blue Team of all charges and ordered them to return to Infinity to resume their service.

Dr. Halsey's case, however, was far more complicated. Her insight on Forerunner technology, on multiple occasions across the Uprising, had kept the Infinity undetected by the Guardians. Most importantly, that insight allowed her and Professor Ellen Anders to reprogram their modified Halo Ring's Activation Index that inevitably ended the Uprising by destroying the rogue AIs.

All of which was in her favor, but her temporary alliance with Jul M'dama and the Storm Covenant hampered her prospects. In the end, after a heated debate, she was cleared of all charges and her status as a war criminal, and allowed to resume her duties with ONI aboard the Infinity. She was even fitted for a prosthetic arm to replace the one she had lost.

But it had been made clear to her there were plenty of eyes watching her aboard Infinity, she would be receiving far more scrutiny than before, and some of her ONI credentials were to be reviewed further.

"Was there something you needed, Doctor?" Lasky asked.

"No, merely giving you my regards before our departure." Halsey turned to walk away, but she did come around and give Lasky a nod. "I'm ready for whatever happens, Blue Team is as well."

"Good to know." Lasky smiled, turning back to the Holotable. "We clear to depart, Roland?"

"Affirmative!" Roland replied. "Eternity and Spirit of Fire are ready as well.”

"Light is green." Lasky motioned with his hand, and the three UNSC vessels vanished into Slipspace, into the unknown reaches of space.

“Once more into the howling dark.” Lasky thought to himself.

====

“Twi, you okay? You look like there’s somewhere else you’d rather be.” Applejack observed. “Something on your mind?”

“Sort of.” Twilight replied, absentmindedly taking a bite of a muffin. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you all later, I promise.”

The other Element Bearers nodded, and as they resumed their picnic, Twilight’s mind thought back to the Forerunner artifact in her laboratory. After she, Spike, and Pinkie had left her castle, the other Element Bearers had waved them over from Ponyville Park, where a pre-organized picnic awaited them all.

Pinkie had, according to her “Pinkie Sense”, set this all up before going to Twilight’s, and as it would turn out, her intuitions were correct. Twilight admitted before, as they all sat down, that she needed a break from her work. She hadn’t told anypony besides Pinkie of the artifact, and even then, Pinkie barely counted.

After all, she had barged in herself rather than letting Twilight tell her what was going on.

“So, Twilight, darling…” Rarity ventured. “What is the matter?”

“It’s a long story. Princess Luna gave me an artifact to study that originates from over 950 years ago, and I haven’t made any real progress on unlocking it.” Twilight admitted. “Pinkie walked in on me working on it, and I guess you can figure out the rest.”

“What’s so special about it?” Rainbow Dash asked, as she lounged lazily nearby, chewing on a toothpick.

Twilight sighed, and cast a spell, weaving a lavender dome around herself, Spike, and the assembled Elements, that soon vanished into the air, but left a thin film behind them.

“Silencing spell, so nopony can overhear us.” She said, noticing her friends’ confused expressions. “Since Pinkie already knows, I guess Princess Luna wouldn’t mind if I also told you. The artifact is not from Equestria, or anywhere on this planet.”

Rainbow Dash shot upwards, and the other Elements dropped their jaws.

“Yes, it’s an alien artifact.” Twilight continued, sighing slightly at her friends’ expressions. “Apparently for three years, the ones who made it studied Equestria under the supervision of both Princesses Celestia and Luna. And one day, they just…vanished and left a note behind.”

“It said their kind was in danger, and they had to leave to fight off something called “The Flood”, which was threatening their race. They left and never came back after that. There’s also a race out there called the “Reclaimers” that apparently, we’d be wise to become allies with. Princess Luna didn’t tell me what they look like or even where they’d come from.”

“Wow.” Fluttershy said. “How long have you been working on it?”

“For a while now. A little over two weeks.” Twilight replied, stifling a yawn. “Sorry, I’m just feeling drowsy. I haven’t been getting enough sleep lately.”

“Well Twi, if you need to get some rest, don’t let us stop you.” Applejack said supportively. “You do look like you need it. Take it from me, Twilight, those bags under your eyes don’t look so good.”

“I agree.” Rarity added. “Go on home, we’ll finish this event later when you’re properly rested.”

“Thanks, girls. See you around.”

Twilight and Spike shared a quick group hug, and they headed back to the Castle of Friendship together. Once they arrived, Spike set himself to the task of tidying up, and Twilight headed straight for her bedroom…and crashed onto the bedspread.

However, had either of them thought to check on the artifact in the laboratory, they would’ve noticed that the inscribed Forerunner glyphs had begun to glow once again, and this time in a much brighter state. The orb’s surface then produced another, larger, glyph where there was not one previously.

It was the Forerunner glyph for “Reclaimer''. And the colored light that glowed from it, was slowly turning from deep blue to a brilliant white, signalling their imminent arrival.

Author's Note

Update!

I’ve been reclaiming my urge to write, so to speak, and I finally banged out two chapters over the last two days. I think I’ve finally gotten my groove back.

Next chapter - The UNSC Infinity, Eternity, and Spirit of Fire reach the planet Equis, alongside the carrier Shadow of Intent, and their arrival does not go unnoticed by Princess Luna…