Chapter 12

The Flood weren't much of a match for a full-fledged flying vehicle, especially one that utilized superheated plasma, this ship was perfect for taking down the Flood

Morris had the weapons set on automatic, as he perused the files left on the computer, he trespassed onto a clearance level 10-X file, and it held the rest of the file he had been reading before

Planet Reach

July 29th 2552

Joseph: "Sit still, you'll jostle one of your ribs."

Alex: "That was a complete disaster!"

Daniels: "You're telling me."

Alex: "There were eight of us! And now I'm the last one!"

Joseph: "Sorry I don't happen to be on your important radar."

Alex: "The pelican should be arriving sometime within the next three hours, you finished yet?"

*Joseph puts medical tools away*

Joseph: "You'll be fine, those upgrades saved your life then."

Alex: "Then what saved your butt?"

*Joseph shrugs*

Joseph: "Luck? Just got here so it wasn't like I'm good at this or anything."

*Alex nods slowly*

Alex: "Not special at all…"

Subjects Joseph and Alex only survivors, extracted from the planet reach on the ship Essence of War, a UNSC battle cruiser that had been stripped of its dual MAC-Cannons. Subjects left to recuperate

They have passed their test

End File

Morris scratched the back of his head, what on earth did that mean?

[…]

Qualomee was tracking several objects falling from the wreckage, they seemed to be moving in odd ways as they nearly crashed into Ponyville, landing in the field

He saw a large amount of Flood amassing there, he went to the controls and flew his phantom over to the crash site

[…]

Daniels heard them hit their target, several bangs on the outside signified life, he found the release and shot the purple door off of the pod

Then he began to fire as he was quickly besieged by the Flood

His backup came quickly as the other pods landed, and the rest of the teams were now forming a semicircle Abigale, who still clutched her sniper rifle

Ammunition was low after the assault, grenades were vital to this fight and now they were out, thinking fast Daniels ripped open a compartment in the pod

There sat a plasma rifle, and several grenades

"Get your ordinance from the pods people!" Daniels shouted, "We'll need everything we can get!"

Everyone else soon wielded Covenant weapons, Daniels heard something power up behind his head and instinctively ducked

Right as several plasma grenades were launched at some more flood, Harvest was holding a Covenant grenade launcher

"These babies pack a punch!" Harvest laughed

Daniels smiled and quickly got back to work, even with these weapons they were quickly running low on breathing room

Then he heard a phantom behind them sounded, so Daniels turned to look

Qualomee turned on the gravity lift, "Come humans! We must be swift!"

Alex looked at Daniels, who nodded, they had no time for doubts now

One by one, the ODSTs loaded up onto the phantom, and it took off back towards Ponyville

[…]

At first, many of the ponies had been incredulous that that troopers had returned, but true to their word, they had survived the battle on the super carrier

Morris had the systems set so no Flood were able to enter Ponyville without being obliterated, it was so precise that not even an infection form could trick it into destroying a house

Daniels looked at his new armor, it wasn't too worse for wear, comparing to Will and Abigale

Their armor was dented and singed, blood and the occasional brain chunk stuck to it like flypaper, naturally Rarity was appalled more than anyone at the sight of their outfits

"You simply cannot go around wearing that dear!" she fussed over Abigale's suit

"It's my job, I'll be fine." Abigale persisted

"Captain, I assume you have spare suits for them?" Rarity asked

"Uh…Yeah why?" Alex questioned

"Perfect! I will have to start designing on them immediately!" Rarity brightened, "Don't you worry! I'll have those suits ready for fashion's eyes in no time!"

Daniels suspected she just wanted to be out of there

Twilight took a more logical approach to their appearance, asking questions on how it happened and how they survived

"I had told Princess Celestia about your team going up there" Twilight said, "She hasn't written back."

"Wee!" Pinkie bounced, "Sounds like fun! Did you enjoy the ride?"

"It was amazing!" Harvest took off his helmet, "Nobody's done that in the UNSC before!"

"Really?" Applejack looked at Daniels, "Then how'd you figure it out?"

"I wanted my team out of there alive" Daniels said, "I just found out how to do that."

"It was a bold move" Alex conceded, "It worked, that's all that matters."

"We could have blown up any second" Will sounded excited, "That was the best drop I've had yet, and I didn't even know how to fly it!"

Daniels tuned them out, he could taste something in the air, something odd

Spike burped, a scroll materialized but in the talk nobody noticed

Spike waddled up (even though he wouldn't say 'waddled') and gave it to Daniels, telling him to give it to Twilight while he went to help Rarity

Daniels had no qualms, he sat back and read the scroll

My faithful student Twilight

It is a true shame that Joseph and his friends had to die, as they have left some threats uncared for, and it is not convenient for us to handle them ourselves

As much as I had dislike for him, he was well spirited, if not a bit foolish, there was a large amount of sacrifice they all gave, however I do not believe this does halt the Covenant, if they know about the Artifact of Ages, then they'll do what it takes to get it, and use it

I have not been entirely honest with you, I do know what it is, and now that Joseph and his friends are gone we will have to use it, gather your elements and meet me in Canterlot as soon as it's safe

-Princess Celestia

'Well she cared' Daniels thought to himself, his own thoughts dripping with sarcasm

"Hey Joseph" Twilight was looking at him, "Was that for me?"

Daniels tossed the letter to her, "We're going to Canterlot."

"Tell me that's not its name…" Will groaned

"Apparently" Daniels shrugged, "But I did have it called that the princess knows about the Artifact, and we all know that the Covenant aren't done yet, they'll be back."

All of the relief from the victory drained out of the room, they all had fought the Covenant, and the Covenant didn't give up.

"Get yourselves equipped" Daniels ordered, "The Captain will stay here with his squad and ship, while Harvest, Young and I will go to Canterlot."

"Not happening" Alex asserted, "Harvest can stay, I'm going."

"Why do I have to stay?" Harvest complained

"I'll stay" Young diffused the situation, "You three go ahead."

Daniels regarded the Captain, "She doesn't like me, I'm pretty sure she won't like you."

Harvest laughed, "Nor will your armor stand as well."

"So the princess did that to your suit?" Alex sounded approving, "When did that happen?"

"It was a misunderstanding" Daniels said, "Before we got communication up and running."

"Then I won't have to snap anyone's neck" Will cracked his fingers

"Ignore him" Alex advised Twilight, "Never knows when to shut up."

"Off to Canterlot, once we get equipped." Daniels said, "You may have the military control, but you're the opposite of diplomatic."

Alex snorted, Harvest laughed, while Young and Abigale exchanged glances

"Fine, you're the Human-Equestrian Ambassador" Alex conceded, "But one sign of trouble and I'm pulling the trigger, got it?"

"Understood, Captain." Daniels rolled his eyes behind his VISR