Crow's Nest Flight Controller: Sorry for the tight squeeze. Tell the Commander her ace is in the hole.

Kilo 023 touches down. The Master Chief, Y/n, Arbiter, and Johnson get off. Marines sitting by the landing pad see the Chief get out of the Pelican.

Marine #1: Hey. Check it out.

Marine #2: No way! A Spartan?!

Marine #3: (blind-by-injury) For real? You better not be...

Marine #2: No man, he's here! We're gonna be alright!

Commander Miranda Keyes comes out onto the landing pad to meet the group.

Miranda: Where'd you find him?

Johnson: Napping. Out back.

Y/n: You know how he needs his beauty rest.

They salute, as she salutes back and smiles.

Miranda: Hmm, I'll bet. It's good to see you, Chief.

Chief: Likewise, ma'am.

Miranda: Let's get you up to speed.

Down the hallways of the base, wounded Marines lay against the walls. Two Marines chatting to each other notice Commander Keyes and the Master Chief. They make way and salute.

Miranda: The Prophet of Truth's ships breached the Lunar perimeter. Smashed what was left of the Home Fleet.

As Arbiter walks by, the Marines lower their hands and stare in astonishment.

Miranda: Terrestrial casualties from the subsequent bombardment were...

Medics race by with an injured Marine on a stretcher. Johnson tends to an injured Marine.

Miranda: ...extreme. Truth could've landed anywhere, but he committed all his forces here. East Africa. The ruins of New Mombasa. Then, they started digging.

Y/n: By digging, she means "glassing." Me and my team barely made it out of there before tons Cruisers and Carriers fired their excavation beams all over the city.

Chief: Your team?

Y/n: Long story. I'll fill you in later.

Miranda leads the group to the operations center.

Chief: What about Halo?

Miranda: We stopped it, but only temporarily. Now, the Prophet of Truth is looking for something called 'The Ark', where he'll be able to fire all the Halo Rings. If he succeeds, Humanity, the Covenant, every sentient being in the Galaxy...

Chief: The rings will kill us all.

Technician: Ma'am, I have Lord Hood.

Miranda: Patch him through.

Lord Hood appears on the main screen.

Lord Hood: (Video COM) Good news, Commander Keyes?

Miranda: As good as it gets, sir.

Lord Hood: (Video COM) So I see. What's your status, son?

Chief: Green. Sir.

Lord Hood: (Video COM) Glad to hear it. The Commander's come up with a good plan. But without you, I wasn't sure we could pull it off.

Miranda: Truth's ships are clustered above the excavation site. And his infantry has deployed Anti-Aircraft Batteries around the perimeter. But, if we neutralize one of the batteries, punch a hole in Truth's defenses...

Lord Hood: (Video COM) I'll initiate a low-level strike. Hit 'em right where it hurts. I only have a handful of ships, Master Chief. It's a big risk. But I'm confident—

The power cuts completely.

Technician: Hell! Not again!

Miranda: Emergency generators! Now!

Marine Technician: Shielding failed. They're down and charging.

Miranda: As soon as they're up, re-establish contact with Lord Hood. Let him know that-

The Prophet of Truth on the screens of the operations center.

Truth: (Video COM) You are, all of you, vermin. Cowering in the dirt, thinking what, I wonder? That you might escape the coming fire? No. Your world will burn until its surface is but glass! And not even your Demon or his Disciple will live to creep, blackened from its hole to mar the reflection of our passage... the culmination of our Journey. For your destruction is the will of the gods! And I? I am their instrument!

The power returns.

Johnson: Cocky bastard. Just loves to run his mouth!

Chief: Does he usually mention me?

Y/n: "The Demon's Disciple?" Huh. I like that. It's kind of gotta ring to it.

Johnson: The SOB just gave damned speech on how he was gonna kill us and THAT was your take-away?

Y/n: I'm sorry, how often do you hear that you leave an impression on an alien invasion we've been fighting for over twenty years?

Miranda thinks, and realizes Truth's meaning.

Miranda: Give the order. We're closing shop.

Technician: Ma'am?

Miranda: We're about to get hit.

Technician: (activates COM) All personnel! Defense code Alpha-one. Prepare for immediate evacuation!

Miranda: The wounded. We're getting all of them out.

Johnson: If I have to carry 'em myself.

Technician: Ma'am, squad leaders are requesting a rally point. Where should they go?

Miranda walks up the stairs and draws her pistol. She pulls the slide back.

Miranda: To war.

Marine Technician: We just lost the Perimeter Cameras.

Miranda: Motion Trackers?

Marine Technician: They're down or we're not receiving. Can't tell.

Miranda: Any of our birds squawking?

Technician: No, ma'am. Wait, Overwatch has contacts. Phantoms, closing in on our position.

Miranda: Any birds less than five minutes out, bring them in. Tell everything else to scatter.

Technician: Aye aye.

Technician #2: Who would've thought we'd have this many wounded?

Technician: Pelicans are gonna take extra time to load.

Miranda: We knew they'd find us eventually. But we have a plan, let's make it happen.

All the personnel acknowledged her.

Johnson: Arbiter and I will guard the Ops Center.

Y/n: The Marines are gonna need our help, Chief. (pats him) Let's go.

Chief: Right.

The duo meets with two Marines from downstairs.

Marine #4: Follow me, sirs.

Marine #5: Perimeter's this way.

They follow the Marines and find many weapons to stock up on. Chief grabs an assault rifle and pistol while Y/n grabs a battle rifle and SMG.

Marine #5: This base was built for some 20th-century war. It's full of old tech, like these door controls.

The Marine opens the door. The Spartan and ODST walk through to find Marines in a large cave setting up defenses for the Ops Center.

G. Sgt. Stacker: Get those turrets up! Watch your fields of fire!

The cave shakes.

Y/n: Damn. They're hitting us hard. We need a point of entry. Best assessment?

Marine #8: The hangar, Lieutenant.

Y/n: Agreed. Come on, Chief.

The pair meet up with two Marines.

PFC Dubbo: We're with you, sirs.

Marine #9: Yeah, get some!

PFC Dubbo: Squad guarding the hangar's real shorthanded, sirs.

Marine #9: We don't get there quick, they're gonna get rolled.

Miranda (COM): Chief? L/n? Good, this channel is secure. My fireteams are spread thin. We can't hold out forever. I need that hangar cleared for evac, ASAP.

Y/n: We'll get it done, ma'am.

Marine: Those Brutes secure the hangar, we won't be able to get our birds out.

The Marines find the vehicle access. A Warthog is in battle with many Covenant soldiers. Grunts lob plasma grenades and destroy it. The Chief, Y/n, and accompanying Marines engage and defeat the Covenant. The team eliminate the Covenant troops and push onward. They go through the open door and defeat the Covenant there, before the Chief and Marines reach the hangar.

Marine #10: Wipe those bastards off the deck!

Marine #11: Pelicans can't launch until the hangar's clear!

Chief, Y/n, and the Marines go on the offense and secure the deck. Multiple Phantom dropships enter the hangar, delivering groups of infantry in an effort to retake the stategically important room.

From a distance, Hornets and Banshees are seen engaged in an aerial fight near a CCS-class battlecruiser which keeps sending Covenant reinforcements to the base. The Marines make use of several turrets and defend the hangar. The UNSC forces eventually prevail and the Phantoms retreat.

The Pelican hanging on a crane in one of the docks slides out and is released. The dropship lands to evac the Marines in the hangar, while Chief and Y/n restock on ammo.

Y/n steps out motions the Marines towards the Pelican.

Y/n: All right, Marines! Time to blow this hotdog stand! Get your asses on that ship or your left behind with the Covies!

Johnson: (COM) Chief, Y/n, Ops Center. Double time! The Brutes are pressing hard.

Chief and Y/n head back to the Ops Center. Back in the vehicle access, two Marines, staying behind until the next evac, hear a loud banging as well as the sound of insectoid wings beating in the ventilation pipes as something makes its way through.

Marine #12: Hey. You hear that?

Marine #13: Yeah. And I don't like it.

Y/n: Drones. Has to be. And it sounds like they're heading for the Ops Center. You two are with us. A whole swarm could be heading there.

Marines #12/13: Yes sir!

Miranda: (loudspeaker) Attention! Hostiles reported outside the barracks.

Chief and Y/n head back into the corridors, with the two Marines following.

Miranda: (loudspeaker) Barracks are under attack! All available combat teams, respond!

The COM systems remain silent. The banging and fluttering noises continue on.

Miranda: (loudspeaker) Anyone in the barracks, I need a sit-rep. Now!

Chief and Y/n meets with the Marines in the cave, defending the Ops Center.

Marine #8: Sirs, this way.

A swarm of Drones fly outside the operations center.
A single Drone suddenly bursts out of the vent and picks him up. Y/n shoots the bug and it drops the Marine, allowing him to help him up.

Female Marine: Look! Coming out of the vents!

A massive swarm of Drones starts pouring out the ventilation shafts, and engulfs the room.

Marine #7: Light 'em up! Light 'em up!

Female Marine: What the hell are those things, Sergeant?!

G. Sgt. Stacker: Drones! A whole swarm! Take 'em down, short controlled bursts!

The Marines and Y/n open fire on the swarm. The Chief finds a turret and unloads on them. The swarm eventually falls.

G. Sgt. Stacker: We're good for now.

Marines in the Ops Center below open the doors, letting the Chief and Y/n in.

The pair meet with Johnson smoking a cigar and other defending Marines setting up an explosive device, but Arbiter isn't with them.

Marine: If I try to hook up a timer, it might just go off by itself.

Miranda: (Video COM) Johnson.

Johnson: Mm-hmm?

Miranda: (Video COM) You might wanna put that out.

Johnson drops his cigar and stamps on it.

Y/n: I've been telling him those things are gonna kill him faster than a plasma bolt.

Johnson: And you're gonna die still haven't gotten laid. At least I've gotten some.

Y/n: (infuriated) Johnson, why don't you-

Miranda: (Video COM) Stow it, you two.

Johnson/Y/n: Yes, ma'am.

Miranda: (Video COM) Chief, have a look. A little going-away gift for the Covenant. We've linked it to smaller charges throughout the base. Johnson, soon as the evacuation is complete, start the timer.

Johnson: Understood.

Miranda: (Video COM) Good luck, everyone. See you on the last Pelican out.

Johnson: Follow me, boys.

Johnson leads Chief and Y/n to the back of the room, guarded by four Marines.

Johnson: Brutes have taken the barracks. Marines are trapped inside. Those apes ain't much for mercy. We know what they do to prisoners.

Y/n approaches a weapons rack and takes off two shotguns.

Y/n: Then I got a feeling we're gonna need these.

Y/n tosses Chief one of the shotguns, before pumping his own.

Johnson: Get to the barracks, save those men. Then escort them to the Landing Pad for evac.

Chief and Y/n head through the corridor to the Motor Pool. While down there, they spot a large pack of Brutes, led by a Chieftain with a gravity hammer.

Brute: (sniffs the air) A fresh scent! They must be close.

Chieftain: Spread out! Track it down!

The Brutes disperse, intent on tracking down the source. The pair surprises them and manages to take several Brutes out. Reinforcements soon enter from an open door near the Chieftain, many wielding Covenant carbines. Once most of his pack have been slain, the Chieftain brandishes his hammer and charges at the Chief, engaging an invincibility unit.

Y/n gets on a turret and fires at the Chieftain, gaining its attention. As it runs at him, it's invincibility wears off and Chief tackles the Brute down before knocking it's helmet off and blowing half of his face off with a shotgun blast.

The duo reload and continue on through a corridor, but it's caved in. Finding a hole in the floor, they jumps down into a shaft. At the bottom are several pipe entrances, which Drones fly in and out of. Cortana then flashes in Chief's visor again.

Cortana: You have been called upon to serve.

Chief shakes his head, and catches up with Y/n, jumping down through vertical shafts into a canal, where they find the Arbiter, fighting off a small group of Drones.

Arbiter: Half-wit insects! The Prophets use you like they used me! Reject their lies! Rebel, or all your hives will perish!

After Arbiter takes care of the Drones, he and the Chief and Y/n regroup.

Arbiter: Spartan, young L/n, the Brutes have taken your soldiers. As prisoners or meat for their bellies, I do not know. In case some yet live, let us be careful when we shoot.

Y/n: Goes without saying, Arbiter.

The three enter the barracks. They see a captive Marine thrown hard into a pillar, where multiple Marine corpses lie. The Marine dies and falls limply to the ground, and they rush in. One Marine being held by a Brute begs for mercy as it decides to kill him too.

Marine Prisoner: No! Please!

Brute: Look, it has soiled itself! These are whelps, not warriors!

Y/n: Hey, monkey-boy! I got a special banana for ya!

Y/n grabs a nearby spike-grenade and throws it at the Brute, making him drop the Marine before it explodes and riddles the Brute with spikes.

Marine Prisoner: That was close, too close.

Further down the corridor a Brute Captain holds a Marine by the ankle. Another marine is being held by the neck.

Chief, Y/n, and Arbiter kill the Brutes and save the prisoners. While the freed Marines rush for weapons, the three move through the barracks, killing more
Brutes and freeing another group of prisoners.

Gunnery Sergeant: Everyone on your feet! Grab a weapon!

Female Marine #2: Payback time! OO-RAH!

Gunnery Sergeant: Cover the Chief and the Lieutenant.

After taking out the Brutes, the surviving Marines grab weapons from more piles of corpses, taking a second to grieve for their comrades.

Arbiter: We did all we could. Let us move the survivors up to the hangar. There is a lift outside.

Y/n: Come on, Marines. Time to evac!

The trio lead the survivors outside to the lift. Chief activates it and they wait for it to come down. While they wait, matters get worse.

Johnson: (COM) Commander, we lost the Ops Center. Brutes attacked in force. Couldn't hold them off. We're falling back to the hangar. But don't wait for us.

Hocus: (COM) What should I do, ma'am?

Miranda: (COM) Hold position! I'm not leaving without him.

The elevator arrives. The group gets onboard and take it up to the flight deck. While the team heads up, Kilo 23 gets into trouble.

Hocus: (COM) Ma'am, I've got movement. Above and below. Brutes! They got jump-packs!

Miranda: (COM) They're going after the thrusters. Shake them off, Lieutenant!

Kilo 23 takes off, getting out of the Brutes' reach. Noticing the group, the Brute Jumpers attack them. Reinforcements enter from above the observation room as well as from another door. They ultimately defeat the Brutes and secure the flight deck.

A door at the road below opens. Johnson arrives, holding an SMG and leading a group of surviving Marines. The squad is under fire from a group of Drones.

Johnson: Drones! Go! I'll cover you!

Chief, Y/n, and Arbiter assist Johnson and his squad in killing the aliens. The few Drones are quickly eliminated. Kilo 23 returns for final evac. The barracks survivors and Johnson's squad board the Pelican dropship.

Johnson: Brutes. In the Ops Center. They disarmed the bomb. Sorry, Commander, there were too many. Even for me.

Miranda: (COM) Chief, get back to the Ops Center. Kill those Brutes. Rearm the bomb. I've gotta get these men out of here. But I'll radio with another exit. L/n, you'll accompany him?

Y/n: With pleasure, ma'am.

Johnson and Arbiter board the Pelican, and it takes off. Chief and Y/n go along the road Johnson previously came from, passing by destroyed Warthogs and dead Marines.

As they reach a door at the end of the road, Chief halts as Cortana appears again.

Cortana: You will be the protectors of Earth and all her colonies.

Regaining his surroundings, he walks on through to another roadway, with Covenant plasma cannons set up. Using the Plasma Cannons and using all available cover, he and Y/n clear out a large contingent of Grunts and Jackals along with a pair of Jackal Snipers.

They soon gets back to the Motor Pool next door to the Ops Center.

Chief and Y/n head back up the corridor behind the Ops Center, and sneak in. Inside, they witnesses a Brute War Chieftain communicating with the Prophet of Truth via the Ops Center communications. With the Chieftain are a several Grunt and a pair of Brute Captains.

Y/n: Let's take 'em down.

Chief: (quietly) Shh. Listen.

Brute War Chieftain: Success, Holy One! We have taken their Command Center!

Truth: (Video COM) Have you discovered how they plan to stop me?

Brute War Chieftain: (nervously) Not just yet, Noble Prophet.

Truth: (Video COM) Find me what I need to know, or your place on the path is forfeit. Tell me you understand!

Brute War Chieftain: Yes, Holy One! It shall be done.

Truth disconnects from the screen. The Chieftain turns to his subordinates.

Brute War Chieftain: Have the Drones scour these machines! Find out what these heathens know about the Ark!

As the Grunts and Brute Captains get busy, Chief and Y/n take them by surprise and defeat them. The War Chieftain opens fire on the duo with a fuel rod gun but the Chief manages to overcome him, taking back the Ops Center and the bomb.

Chief reactivates the bomb and the alarm sounds.

Miranda: (COM) That did it, Chief! Bomb's armed.

Johnson: (COM) We got your exit, boys. A service elevator in the hangar. Head downstairs, cut through the caves!

Y/n: Copy that!

The Spartan and ODST heads back into the cave, where Grunts run wildly. They then head through the corridors and Chief holds the side of his helmet.

Cortana: There will be a great deal of hardship on the road ahead.

Chief grunts in pain. They continues back out to the vehicle access, witnessing a large swarm of Drones fleeing. They make their way through several panicking Grunts, and head back down the corridors to the hangar.

Chief falters once more as Cortana appears again.

Cortana: You will become the best we can make you.

Y/n: Chief, let's go!

Chief shakes his head and catches up. They get to the hangar, where Phantoms flee, abandoning many Grunts and Jackals to their fates. The doomed Covenant run around in panic, some trying to catch the fleeing Phantoms.

Ignoring them, the pair make it to the service elevator, and activates it. The door doesn't fully shut. Something explodes and flames flicker through the gap.

Cortana: This place will become your home.

The elevator descends. Chief and Y/n hear a massive boom. They look up and sees the flames roar through the open door, coming down after them.

Y/n: OH SHI-!!!

Chief tackles Y/n down as the flames surround them. The violent shaking disconnects the elevator and sends it plummeting down. It crashes and they both black out.

Cortana: This place will become your tomb.

(AND I'M BACK! HAVEN'T LEFT EVEN THOUGH WATTPAD KEEPS SCREWING ME! MAY POST ANOTHER SOON! SO DON'T BE PESTERING ME!)