Fenris, Boreas Continent, Inner Sanctum of Leman Russ’ Keep
Wednesday, 23rd June 2551 CE Celestial Standard Calendar

The look of sheer incomprehension on Luna’s face lingered for a few moments longer as she stared at the ever-grinning Praetor Russ, even as many of the others present in the chamber began to urgently congregate around the exit of the chamber. She then shook her head to break out of the reverie.

“Though thou inherently and paradoxically demonstrates recognition of us, We must set Our queries for thee aside for now, Praetor Russ,” Luna stated with an air of apology to her features. “What aid might be rendered as yon crisis looms o’er Us is at present a mystery.”

“I might have to beat that speak out of you,” Russ growled in a low voice, barely loud enough for Luna to overhear, making her arch a brow. “What is our next move? The chill of sleep is still fresh in my bones, after all.”

That was the cue for Chieftain Rurika to respond from her remote holographic presence on Aela’s communicator. Her projection peered at a device visible on her wrist. “By now the tribes, the Houses, and the Fangs are convening for an emergency moot at the Fang Spire in Aurora. Concordat Allied Command is due to release its initial threat assessment for Parliament in less than one hour, coinciding.”

“Princess Luna, everyone, that moot would be the most prudent rally point for us right now!” Trixie advised in an urgent tone as she looked from face to dour face expectantly.

“Trixie almost literally took the words right from my mouth,” Cortana agreed.

Russ’ grin faltered for the moment as his hardened features hardened even further in thought. Only a simple reply came from his muzzle, “if a counsel is needed yet I would have assumed a plan would already be in place. This will be changed in the future. Now tell me of this Fang Spire.”

Rurika crossed her arms as she briefly considered her response. “As Wolf Lord of Sesc Company, I can tell you with the closest approximation that seventeen hundred kilometers from here in the heart of Aurora, you will find the Fang Spire or Volda Hamarki in our tongues. It is an ancient tower structure with a vaulted roof. This tower lies at the foot of the Spines of Fenris and has served as the most revered central gathering point for the capricorn peoples since time immemoriam.”

“Hold the horn, one minute!” Trixie interrupted. “What do you mean by ‘Wolf Lord’? Trixie was told that you are a Chieftain, not … whatever that is!”

The rest of the group looked up at the hologram with curious intent; Russ being different as his gaze was more knowing. Even to the researchers, this was the first mentioning of the title Wolf Lord; though simple reasoning could assume it was the same as Chieftain.

“Yes, a common mistake due to a long running … misconception,” Rurika said, rolling her hand as she tried to explain it. “The title of Chieftain is utilized among the capricorn tribes to denote the leader, while both Chieftain and Thane are used in the two houses. Wolf Lord is the same in a way but the title is only held by a Fang of Fenris.”

“Among other things,” Russ stated much to the confusion of everyone present. “If that is clear, then let us be going. My home awaits.”

“Your home?” inquired Luna, hoping to learn more from Russ.

“The spire she mentioned … I remember something akin to it, from my time. Yet it was just the tip of something greater, far reaching. Perhaps time has passed along the design, and allowed our legacy to continue. That was my home; I do hope it still stands,” Russ stated though the smile on his face spoke of untold truths.

“Well, Praetor, simply put, there are some things so far reaching that ice can only do so much to conceal what is left behind,” Rurika replied with her muzzle raised slightly. “Your facility here is but one example of legacies long hidden, if our history is right.”

Russ gave a small chuckle under his breath at the statement, one hardly noticeable to others. “Only our arrival will tell if what you say is true. Now, your location’s coordinates would be a boon. Time is of the essence.”

It was then that Cortana interjected, providing Russ the Fang Spire’s coordinates down to the decimal. “A translocation system, global spanning! That’s how your facility’s defenses were able to detect and engage us so quickly,” the Smart AI added in astonishment.

“Is it possible to make one, but in our image?” he asked the group, while gesturing towards Cortana.

“In exactly the manner that we did?” Halsey answered back with some degree of amusement. “Then I will need your brain or that of another capricorn, or a clone thereof, to serve as template for programming. ”

“I have a suitable candidate,” Russ purred out, causing a few confused glances. The Praetor made a quick stride towards the consoles in front of his open cryptum, his heavy armored hoofsteps reverberating throughout the cavernous chamber. He submitted Cortana’s provided coordinates for the Fang Spire before turning back to face them.”Enough of that, for now. Let us make for the summit.”

Russ, Luna, and the latter’s retinue were promptly surrounded each by a golden aura that enveloped their bodies before there was nothing left but the empty air in which they had previously stood.

Fenris, Aurora Continent, Grounds of the Volda Hamarki

“Oh hell no, I’m too pretty to die!” Johnson shouted as he, Luna, Leman Russ, and dozens of other figures materialized in a large field covered in most places by a thin layering of snow. The sergeant withdrew his helmet for the moment to draw in deep breaths of the chilled Fenrisian air.

In front of the large group was a sight familiar to some: the field gave way in the distance to a large glacial lake whose waters were frozen firmly in place.

The flat and regular ice formations were broken only by a single large artificial construction which drew the eye. It was a single vaulted-roof stone and metal spire of several stories in height. Adorned on its sides at symmetrical intervals by arched windows whose precipice ended in a slender needle’s point.

“It’s just–” Trixie began, only to be cut off by Cortana.

“Teleportation, Johnson,” the Smart AI finished with exasperation that nearly matched that of the unicorn mare. “You’re just fine.”

“Must you?” Trixie hissed at the blue-violet avatar that had once again appeared in a bemused Luna’s outstretched hoof.

“The very capital of the Solarian Concordat is under imminent invasion. Must you?” Cortana retorted with a raised brow, causing Trixie to immediately turn apologetic, before going stern and stone-faced. “At least we are where we need to be, and quickly.”

“You’re a soldier, get used to it,” Russ growled out, annoyed at Johnson’s ostensible lack of discipline. Russ was all for moments of light-heartedness but a pivotal battle was clearly on the horizon. Now was not the time, especially when there were countless things to do. He turned to face the group before speaking. “Go on ahead. There is something I must see to.”

“You’ll have to pardon an old sergeant, but I’m a bit more of an old fashioned type with my methods of transportation,” Johnson said with a frown, more so as a general statement than a response to the nearby Praetor as several soldiers and civilians ceased studying the area around them and proceeded onwards. “No unicorn hocus pocus or ancient technology is going to get me used to having my atoms getting blown apart and put back together in a few heartbeats, ohh no.”

“We are fortunate that We do not harbour the same fear for modern aerial transport as thou does for so mundane a mode of travel as teleportation,” Luna replied as she lead the approach to the Fang Spire.

“Yeah? Well you have fancy-schmancy wings,” came Johnson’s reply as he continued to get his bearings.

There was a long pause before Luna responded. “Touche.”

Four roped bridges wide enough to accommodate two UNSC warthogs in either direction spanned across the thick shelf of ice. They connected to the base of the Fang Spire where it met the ice in a point of puncture, corresponding to the primary cardinal directions.

Luna’s group chose the two bridges closest to them, and entered the structure as two separate elements. A large group of Fangs of Fenris Wolf Guard greeted them with mixtures of surprise and relief, with a Wolf Lord accompanying them at the forefront of their procession. More than a few of Luna’s group were a little nervous at seeing six imposing figures, all clad in the massive ceramite armor that was nearly identical to each other, except for a few minor nuances on the Wolf Lord’s armor. Said leader was by now a familiar face to Luna, as chance would have it.

“Esteemed capricorns, we have returned from the expedition in your north to render aid however possible!” Luna declared, masking her apprehension behind a serene and emotionless gaze.

“Princess Luna? Welcome!” Chieftain Rurika greeted. She waved a hand towards one of the staircases leading to the central chamber of the spire, and everyone began moving with haste as she continued speaking. “I understand that you and your retinue were going to be on your way here, but not by usage of that … grid. Regardless, you must come with me.”

“Thou mentioned a moot?” Luna inquired.

“Aye. The moot is already in session, and your presences will aid in galvanizing the other chieftains into agreeing upon a singular course of action in augmenting the existing defence plans of our system. Wait … where is Praetor Russ?”

“The Praetor remained outside for the moment,” Twilight Sparkle said beside the flustered gathering of scientists amongst the moving group. “What the ancient is up to is anyone’s guess right now.”

“He seems more than willing to fight the Covenant, despite not having any context to the enemy whatsoever. Heh, that’s good enough for me. The timing of this Covie fleet putting a ‘kill me’ sign on itself by coming here, and the big man’s awakening is extraordinary,” Johnson commented as he brushed snow idly off his right pauldron.

Rurika stopped the large group right in front of a large, reinforced wooden door with ornate golden trim that accented the surrounding black and grey stonework of the spire. Despite the fact it was wooden, the doors looked to be in perfect shape, as if the natural elements of the land hardly affected them.

“Extraordinary indeed. The Concordat was more prudent to investigate the Great Wolf legends than many had originally thought, it seems,” Rurika mused as her hand rested itself upon one of the handles of the door. “Now, your entrance will bring about a pause to the proceedings. While it may resemble the political gatherings of other members of the Concordat, understand that this is a military summit above all else. We are warriors first and politicians second, so none of that Canterlot decorum is necessary here, only due respect as necessary for the circumstances of this meeting.”

“We … I understand, Chieftain Rurika. I shall speak commonly to all ye gathered when the moment calls for it,” Luna affirmed.

This prompted a simple nod from Rurika in response, who then opened the door to the central chamber.

“I’m noticing such rapid and fascinating adaptations to your behavioral patterns already, Luna,” Cortana commented inside the alicorn’s mind in as pleasant a tone as the situation allowed while the latter made her way inside the chamber with the others. “I’m sure the Praetor will be pleased, whatever his reasons may be.”

I strive for modernization wherever possible and wherever necessary, Luna’s mental voice said in response. It was her last thought before she began analyzing the chamber itself, as well as the moot that was in progress within.

In a way that was liable to leave Twilight Sparkle increasingly jealous, Cortana was doing her best to provide Luna with what capricorn terminology she could scrounge up whilst her charge’s cyan eyes darted to and fro.

The crowded and voice-filled chamber, like so many other things on Fenris in Luna’s opinion, was massive to an almost excessive amount. Its circular layout was centered by an expansive and polished stone floor that was host to a painted emblem that had partially faded slightly from extreme age yet was still largely visible.

Furnishings in the form of twelve, long wooden tables with metal finish and accompanying chairs that were clearly from more modern times adorned most of the space. The remainder was wide and open, or occupied by a combination of tall floor candelabras and decorative stands of power armour belonging to both the capricorn House of Winter, and the more magic-oriented House of Stars. As Luna’s hooves took measured strides across the ancient stone, she and some of the others took in the sight of the chamber’s emblem before looking back up to regard the current occupants.

A white circle inscribed with geometric, sharply-angled lines forming a visage reminiscent of a great tree lay framed in the center of a massive, winged six-pointed star. The star and phoenix-like wings themselves in addition to the tree-like symbol hosted a smaller star of the same shape within it.

While Luna completed her analysis, Rurika’s obvious prediction had proven correct. The murmuring and occasional back and forth declarations of the various chieftains, Wolf Priests, and their accompanying housecarls grinded to a total and silent halt.

Luna and her accompanying group met the eyes of several capricorn mares and a few stallions. It was the largest and most diverse grouping of the species Luna had ever yet seen. They were seated at the twelve tables, stood around them, or were arrayed at regular intervals as sentries. Unlike ponies, their hair and fur were not so myriad in colour. Horn lengths varied by gender and personal genetics, but the physical builds of most were extremely robust.

The capricorns in the chamber were garbed in everything from glimmering and arcane sigil-etched robes belonging to Rune Priests of the House of Stars, to simple fur cloaks over tunics, power armour, armour of fur, leather and chainmail and bone, as well the gadget and pocket-festooned garb of the Iron Shamans of House Winter.

In addition to the more traditional and rather spartan furnishings that everyone was gathered around, modern view screens and comms uplink terminals were installed on the walls at regular intervals. Some of them were presently in use by the latter Iron Shamans.

Each attendee of the moot continued to observe the newcomers silently for another several seconds with mixed and ambivalent emotion before one of the Wolf Priests, an ancient-looking mare in black and gold robes with sapphire blue eyes and faded white coat of fur, addressed them.

“Thus Rurika and Aela of the Snätare bring forth to us the most distinguished members of the Concordat expedition to unlock the secrets of our past into our spire. And, you all come at such a critical time.” The mare’s voice was rich and wisened from age. “I, Great Wolf Sigmara, the eldest of the capricorns, welcomes you.”

“‘Tis a pleasure, Great Wolf,” Luna replied, though silently wondering to the point of near-confusion why the elder capricorn kept the same legendary title as Leman Russ. “What is the summation of the discussion myself and my many companions have so rudely interjected ourselves into without notice? I am safe to presume it is in address to the invasion said to be imminent by this ‘Covenant.’”

“In earnest, you are currently safer in your presumption than the rest of this star system is in its defense!” one of the chieftains bemoaned.

“We see your companions you brought, Your Highness. More tactical minds are most welcome here as Sigmara has already expressed,” another declared.

“The Covenant military is at our doorstep; soon We will be sharing our very hearthfires with the likes of their ilk!” a third spat, pounding her fist against the surface of her table with enough force to cause a few of her advisors and housecarls to reel back slightly. “We require a plan to action that will spill San’Shyuum blood, and quickly. Behead the serpent so that the body may die.”

“In short,” Sigmara began, “we seek through discussion an agreed upon joint capricorn strategy against the Covenant that will render us the sword to Equis’ shield. The Covenant’s false Prophets have taken great strategic risk in approaching here, whether by intent or by mistake. We intend for that risk to be their final and greatest mistake.”

“What has already been prop–” Luna was unable to finish as a sudden rumbling shook the entire spire around them.

Many of the magic lamp candelabras toppled to the floor, along with the document, datapad, and writing utensil-based contents of several of the chieftain’s and Wolf Priests’ tables in loud clatters.

“What is that, an earthquake?! Or is this ancient place starting to buckle?” A.K. Yearling asked, peering up at the ceiling warily.

“The Volda Hamarki is eternal!” growled one of Sigmara’s peers, the only stallion garbed in the same formal black gold robes of a Wolf Priest as Sigmara. “Its resiliency rivals the mountains that shadow it, Equestrian.”

“Perhaps it is orbital bombardment!” one of the nearby Wolf Guard suggested, tensely gesturing towards the ceiling with the tip of his drawn sword. This caused an uproar amongst the moot as voices began competing with one another and the rumbling from outside. The only capricorn that didn’t look confused at the shaking was Sigmara who stood perfectly still with a serene look upon her face.

“Would we have not heard word of Covenant starships having been visually sighted?” Luna asked with some confusion.

“The Covenant have been observed during the war to possess cloaking technology that can mask vessels several kilometers in length,” the Master Chief informed her as he constantly surveyed their surroundings as Johnson and Trixie were. “Stealth bombardment as part of a preliminary diversion would not be out of the question.”

“Nor would some trigger-happy shipmaster attacking the first habitable world their forces have found in a supposedly hostile system be out of the question either,” Doctor Anders interposed.

Beside her, Yearling, and Doctor Halsey, Twilight held a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “I doubt orbital bombardment. Allied Command would have already inundated us with commands and requests for status reports. What is your assessment, Cortana?”

“Luna, if you would please,” the Smart AI said. Luna held out her hoof again for Cortana to appear. Cortana herself was currently playing with a strand of her digital hair. “It is no form of bombardment. You are definitely correct about that, Twilight. What is currently happening is … well, we’re slowly rising off the ground and over the lake.”

Cortana’s declaration only served to bring the capricorn crowds into an even louder frenzy of skeptical argument, confusion, and angered murmuring. It was now to such a volume that no single voice from anyone could be distinguished at a normal speaking tone. It remained this way until one voice drowned out all the others in a sudden burst.

“Calm thyselves!” Luna thundered, having grown angered over the unruly conduct of the moot. The moot silenced immediately, which also gave an opening to a grateful-looking Sigmara.

“Iron Shamans, provide us with perimeter visuals of outside,” the Great Wolf instructed lazily.

The shamans complied, and within moments everyone was peering at one of the view screens, most of the viewers transfixed and in complete astonishment even as the Fang Spire itself still continued to rumble and shake. Luna was impressed to the point of bolting out of the chamber to see it for herself, much to Trixie and Johnson’s surprise and Twilight’s private and anxiety-laced approval.

Some Wolf Guards in the outermost chambers of the spire that let in sunlight to the entire structure on all floors were surprised once again as a now familiar alicorn bolted past them and took to the air. With her eyes widened, Luna watched something extraordinary unfolding.

A massive crackling of ice and stone erupted from all directions as the frozen lake that surrounded the Volda Hamarki was seen coming to life in an exceptional display of physical and mechanical-induced force. The shockwave spread out from shore to ice-locked shore, casting snow into a backwash in the air that manifested as low clouds of purest white. All four of the bridges collapsed into the waters with the rupturing of the ice layer.

The great spire that had so long been encapsulated by the frozen body of water was now growing in height at an accelerating pace, revealing greater structures below it in all their ancient grandeur.

Vaulted arches, turrets, and graceful but imposing bastions were revealed by the unimpeded light of Solaris for the first time in untold millennia. As the true structure that existed in full emerged from the now frothing and steaming waters of the lake, the majority of those witnessing its rise back inside the Fang Spire on screens felt a stirring of wonder in their cores.

With a vast stone, mithril-accented structure that rivalled the tallest skyscrapers of the galaxy in height now standing tall, it was evident to all that observing that they were peering at one of the single most ancient buildings in the star system.

With the towering structure now fully stationary in a reformed lake of heated and calming cerulean, Luna noted something else about the exterior: Praetor Russ was no longer in the place he had remained standing. She quickly made for the interior of the Volda Hamarki with hasty beats of her powerful wings.

Her arrival and another event that coincided with it served to cut off what was being spoken in the moot chamber.

“This is what the ice was concealing?! By the–”

Another, more distinctly power armoured-capricorn was taking the floor and regarding all within the chamber with a studious look.

"You stood in but the spire of my home. As its purpose has returned, so has the rest of it. Welcome my brothers and sisters, to the home of the Sixth. I welcome you to The Aett," the loud, booming voice of the Praetor announced to the counsel. His voice filled with mirth, yet was as hard and commanding as it always was.

The likes of capricorns such as Rurika, Sigmara, and some of the other most eldest Wolf Priests regarded the strange newcomer with ostensibly curious but inwardly knowing glances, while Luna and her compatriots looked on in surprise.

“Another face graces us with their presence at this moot,” Sigmara greeted as she and her colleagues neatly rearranged the contents on their tabletop. “Welcome, brother. You have arrived just in time for our allies’ assessments to arrive via view screen for our analysis, but we have a moment to spare for introductions.”

“Sigmara, it has been a long time. Truly age has passed you over, if Bjorn is correct. I must say, you’ve done well to lead The Rout,” Russ said as he inspected the aged capricorn. “Relax, though, sister. I will lead my legion once more in defense of our home. We will cleanse the Imperium of our enemies, as is our duty.”

The time-worn features of Sigmara’s furred face pulled into a prideful smile, but her response was delayed as her mind noted that what she was about to say would vastly confuse all present who were not privy to ancient knowledge guarded by the Fangs of Fenris she lead. Luna could wager as such as she watched the modern Great Wolf closely.

During Sigmara’s brief quietude, the capricorns present of Fangs of Fenris allegiance began bowing their heads in reverence to Praetor Russ, while many others had the inevitable cloud of confusion show on their faces.

“It will be a supreme honour to see it rise again and the younger races of our current age to be humbled, Lord Praetor,” Sigmara finally replied. “Now as for the Covenant …”

It was at that moment that an incoming transmission drew all attention to the chamber’s screens. Information panels beneath the person present, an elderly male human officer in a plain black dress uniform with a prominent curved nose and time-chiseled features, stated the report to be for all military leaders and heads of state Concordat-wide.

“Attention to all GSC personnel viewing this broadcast, this is Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth of the United Nations Space Command with a preliminary report of Covenant forces believed to have been detected within vicinity of the Solaris system.”

The image of the Vice Admiral was promptly replaced by a series of animated diagrams of the that the moot chamber’s holographic projectors converted into three-dimensional form while Stanforth’s audio continued.

Swarms of red blips were in place near the oort cloud of the Solaris system at its outermost fringes. Their facings indicated their point of origin to be the galactic east, though slipspace-based travel meant that it was obviously not a linear path straight through the Orion Arm from Covenant space.

“I’m not going to mince words here, people, this is the goddamned real deal. It has to be the largest enemy fleet I’ve ever seen. We’re pinging the slipspace drive signatures of CCS-class battlecruisers, fighter and phantom complements, carriers and corvettes of multiples classes, and blockade runners all in the hundreds. More of a naval swarm than a fleet, but then there’s this …” A single massive blip nearly the size of the moon Selene showed up amidst the small sea of tiny ones.

“It can’t be …” Halsey whispered, narrowing her eyes at the projection.

“We do not yet know of their objectives nor how they found Solaris. Despite the size of the largest slipspace signature, we are currently expectant for the moon-sized vessel to be a Covenant repair and refitting station, possibly the Unyielding Hierophant,” Stanforth went on. “High Charity itself is extremely unlikely to fit the bill, and those naval monstrosities are the only other explanation for the estimated super-heavy tonnage. Standard Winter Contingency protocols are currently in effect for Solaris, but specialized tactics are currently pending for submission to all fleets on defensive postings. In the meantime, twenty percent of the Imperial Navy in Covenant space is regrouping to reinforce you, and ten percent of the UNSC Navy is enroute from Reach for support, both with an estimated arrival time of twenty-six hours. That’s all for now, Admiral Stanforth out.”

“Twenty-six hours?! With a Covie fleet that size, Equis will be seeing ground invasion in about … six by reckoning,” Johnson remarked.

“As per the purpose of this moot, and as the human Vice Admiral has alluded to, alternative tactics are clearly in order for this impending battle,” Luna observed as she looked around the now quiet chamber expectantly.

“Strike at them fast and at the leadership. Scan for the primary capital ships, then swiftly board them. Cut the head off in the ensuing chaos and drive them back into the void. The action shall be too much for them to respond, and I will personally cut the head from their leader’s shoulders,” Russ voiced in a menacing snarl.

“And so our tactic is devised. Allied Command will have to make due with ordering around the naval forces of this invasion, it is terrestrial might setting hoof and boot on starships that will shape the outcome, here,” Sigmara said in a definitive tone, clearly conveying her agreement with Leman Russ and implying to the capricorn chieftains that her decision was final. “This moot is hereby brought to a close. Those who will be commanding forces in shipboard raids, muster your warriors and await Praetor Russ’ instruction; you will provide him with all intelligence necessary to fulfill our objectives.”

Luna nodded, herself satisfied by the declaration. She turned to her immediate companions as the majority of the capricorns began to take their leave, murmuring about having to now navigate new corridors down to ground level. “Praetor Russ, I have one specific thing to say to thyself at this present time.”

“By all means, sister,” Russ replied.

“You will be leading the charge with your Fangs into a Covenant flagship that has yet to be identified. When it does, do you expect to do so alone? Thine answer is not required, I can already read it upon your face. I shall be leading what forces I can muster alongside thee. This shall be both of our opportunities to see this Covenant up close for ourselves. What say you, my friends?” Luna then turned to regard her retinue, as well as holding out her hoof in a gesture that had already become muscle memory.

“I go where you go unless ordered otherwise, Princess,” Chief stated, standing in a neutral posture.

“Trixie is with you, and if possible she will arrange to have a squad of Praetorians by our side for boarding action when a target vessel is identified,” Trixie declared, causing Russ to quirk an eye at her.

“It is Fangs that will be leading this charge under Russ’ command. I am a Fang, and it is my honour,” Rurika stated simply.

“I’m needed on the ground over on Equis, unfortunately,” Johnson said in an apologetic tone. “I’m not assigned to you like the Chief is, so I need to link up with an element of Spartan III Beta Company back on Equis, in the Griffon capital of Ostia. General Black just told me over the B-net that the Spartan garrison on Equis is being distributed to assist in the defense of all the major capitals.”

“Try not to damage too much of the city if the Covenant make planetfall, won’t you, Johnson?” Trixie said, earning her a wink from the human. Everyone then turned with questioning expressions to Twilight, Anders, Halsey, and their civilian colleagues.

“We are obviously of no help in a fight,” Twilight said sheepishly.

“Praetor Russ, would it be possible for us to remain here in the ‘Aett’ during the battle for the purposes of both security and research?” Anders requested. “I understand if this is a steep request, but … nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“Never in our history has another species set foot within our halls. Yet there is always a time for something. I think Sigmara can find a Fang or two to entertain you,” Russ said with a surprisingly serene smile, the serene smile still holding a ferocious look to it.

Luna nodded upon hearing the statement. “‘Tis settled, then. The expedition is over; Halsey, you and your colleagues shall remain here for the duration of the battle to rest and study the newly revealed areas as permitted and at thy leisure. That is to capricorn discretion. Now, what of you, Cortana?”

Cortana’s expression was a mixture of anticipation, adventurous spirit, and even an air of mischief as she gave her response.

“Neither yourself nor Russ have yet to be brought up to speed on what ship to ship and ground-based combat with Covenant in this era is like,” the AI pointed out. “But, I can tell just by taking a gander at Praetor Russ here that he is likely to need only a minute’s briefing before he’d be ready. And as for you, this is clearly not your first rodeo, Luna. Doctor Halsey?”

The scientist had been looking between Cortana, Russ, and the rest of Luna’s group with growing anticipation. “Cortana, normally the answer would already be clear cut, given the substantial security risks involved in bringing a Smart AI onboard a Covenant battleship. However, between Princess Luna, Praetor Russ, and John, and with the circumstances … just promise me that you’ll help dispense karma’s lot on the Covenant you encounter.”

Cortana smirked, bringing forth a smile on her alicorn bearer’s muzzle. “It will be my pleasure, Doctor.”

One of the exiting capricorn chieftains passed close by and happen to overhear the conversation. “Once more the words ‘Praetor Russ’ pass my ears,” the mare stated with bemusement, drawing everyone’s attention. “Who are you, strange warrior, and a male one at that?”

“My name is Leman Russ, sister. Praetor is an old title, long before I was called The Great Wolf. Once more it is stowed, as I take my title again,” Russ replied casually, a thoughtful look on his face. What did she mean by ‘a male one’?

“Mjoll is my name, of the Fiskjägare. From whatever ancient era you hail, capricorns better have known of mjord, for there will be much need of it when the time comes for you to receive our hosts of questions,” the chieftain replied before joining with her waiting housecarls and departing the chamber.

Russ and the others glanced at the chieftain as she left, a small frown crossing his own face. While he admired that his people kept many traditions alive, he felt conflicted at their lack of respect to their history. Truly it had been a long time since he had entered his sanctum but had it been that long that they had forgotten him and the old ways?

Cortana could almost visually detect the troubles radiating outward from the ancient capricorn, and she made a mental note for herself and Luna to address the topic at a later date. Despite that, the question still lingered in the AI’s processes and demanded to be let out. “Praetor Russ, are you alright? Did our presence awake you from your cryptum at a premature time in some system we are unaware of?”

“No … if I wasn’t to be awoken, I wouldn’t be awake. My wyrd is as it is,” Russ replied, his grin long faded, and replaced by a small frown. “Enough of his, we must prepare for our murder-make. Let us descend into the Aett.”

As Luna, Russ, and the others descended the towering structure towards what was now ground level, they encountered a number of things that surprised some of them.

Unlike Russ’ keep, which had been mostly spartan in its furnishings and decoration, the newly revealed majority of the Aett was seen to be brimming with signs of previous bustling habitation. Everything had been kept sealed tight from the water of the lake as well as the ravages of time, and was in immaculate states of preservation.

Forges and armories full of workstations, weaponry, and various armour types, living quarters, and bunk rooms were seen. Banners depicting the symbols Luna had seen on both the door to Russ’ cryptum chamber and the floor of the Aett’s topmost Fang Spire decorated many locations.

Also encountered amidst the ornate yet militaristic corridors were great halls with high ceilings for feasting and some forms of spiritual purpose, kitchens and larders, indoor gardens, arboretums, utility chambers, observation rooms leading to the exterior battlements, and hangars even laden with ancient aerial vehicles still waiting for their pilots.

It was in one of the largest hangars that connected to the Aett’s most important forge, thus identified by Russ’ commentary and visually by the noted presence of over twenty miniature combat cryptums left levitating in neat rows, that everyone had now gathered to prepare for eventual boarding action on Covenant vessels.

On their way, it had quickly become apparent to Luna and Cortana that the Aett had not been without some of its inhabitants for the last several tens of thousands of years. Taller, vastly more lupine-like cousins of the malfunctioning bipedal automatons, that had been encountered in Russ’s keep, were seen patrolling the halls with massive and more advanced versions of capricorn bolter guns in their hands.

While saluting Russ, the massive lupine like metal constructs greeted the others in a capricorn dialect that even Rurika had trouble understanding. On his own way out via pelican dropship from the primary hanger of the Aett – to which Concordat forces had already established a presence to investigate the raising of the structure – even Johnson had been quietly joking to himself about ‘metal werewolves.’

The lupine constructs were not alone in the Aett, however. Alongside them were the occasional party of previous moot attenders, making their way to ground level. Also noteworthy were capricorns belonging to the Fangs of Fenris, who by the way they bustled about the halls indicated that they had inhabited and worked in the hidden fortress continually at varying levels of prominence and population for several millennia.

In the hangar, Russ and the rest of Luna’s group were approaching one of the so-called werewolves of metal, or ‘Promethean Wolves’ as Cortana tentatively identified them. Unlike his comrades, this one stood at over four meters in height on digitigrade legs, a meter taller than the rest, and in the place of what would be a clawed but humanoid hand attached to his left arm as was in his right, was instead a specialized set of three massive claws that had clearly seen extensive use on ancient battlefields.

Arcs of electricity fed by the Promethean Wolf’s body danced about the three claws almost in a fashion that visually depicted his inward musing in a way that his snouted face and glowing orange eyes could not.

“Bjorn, you mangy bear! It has been far too long!” Russ called out with open arms to the Promethean Wolf. It turned to stare at the group, especially the Praetor that was leading it.

“So it has … Russ,” Bjorn’s deep, synthetic voiced rumbled out in response. The pausing in the voice every so often denoted Bjorn as being far older than the rest of his metallic compatriots. “I have kept them in line in your absence but they still … are rowdy.”

“I never had a doubt that you would, old friend. That is why I always had you as my successor. You knew my goal of shaping the Legion. Still it is a shame that you’re far too metallic for a round of mjord,” Russ lamented with a soft sigh.

“As if I had any other choice. It was either … never slay another foe or take this form. I am sure the Iron Shamans will find … a way to let me drink, eventually,” Bjorn answered.

“And here you were so eager to rush headlong to your death … now instead you pause every few moments!” Russ replied in a jovial tone, poking fun at his old friend.

“While you got to sleep and dream, I had to … make sure these pups don’t kill themselves,” Bjorn replied, before glancing over towards the group that had followed his Great Wolf. “Is it …”

“Luna has found her way back to me, as though the runes have a sense of humour!” he said aloud before lowering his voice to one only Bjorn’s modified sensory system would pick up. “She is still stricken, but time will be on our side this time.”

“Are you going to waste more time with those … runes? That is the jobs of the Mages, yours is just … to look pretty,” Bjorn growled out, followed by a chuckle that sounded metallic in nature.

“Someone had to make up for your ugly mug; besides, I don’t seem to be a walking piece of metal now, hmm? Enough talk! How about we reunite over a nice boarding action? There is a fleet in space that has enough bodies to make your claws glisten red again,” Russ replied with an almost evil grin. He looked up at Bjorn as though he expected a smile in return, despite the fixed features of the Promethean Wolf.

“There hasn’t been a good war in ages. You know I … will accompany you anywhere, if just to save your tail,” Bjorn’s synthetic voice replied, seeming to carry a hint of emotion along with it.

“Come then! We must prepare the rest of the Fangs. This will be the first of many times, the Sixth will strike at this so-called Covenant if I have any say in the matter,” Russ stated as he marched off, Bjorn’s metallic form following immediately behind the Praetor.

“We should see what type of weaponry they have on hand,” the Chief said to a momentarily stationary Luna and Cortana. “Whatever it is must clearly be more advanced than even the Covenant’s weapons.”

“Verily. Restrain thy rapid transit, Praetor Russ and companion Bjorn, course after ye, do we?” Luna said with a flustered frown, leading her companions to follow the two ancient beings towards the Aett’s main forge and armoury on the other side of the cavernous hangar.

As everyone made their way over, Trixie caught Luna’s attention, her face looking almost dumbfounded. “Was an ancient capricorn warrior from inside a metal ball actually just speaking with a giant bipedal metallic wolf nearly as tall as a house?”

Luna looked at Trixie blankly for a moment before a grin began to creep onto her muzzle. Unfortunately, her response was cut off by a sudden chiming noise from Trixie’s own holo-communicator.

With the same speed that Luna had with conjuring Cortana in her hoof, Trixie produced the device telekinetically from her armour belt and powered it on. A projection of a once more armoured Empress Celestia manifested on the communicator's surface, and this time the presence of the white and gold plates did not surprise Luna.

“Luna, my apologies for interrupting your activities on Fenris, but Admiral Fairweather and Lord General Svelte have requested you and your companions’ presence onboard the ENV Divinity for urgent briefing,” Celestia said as her projected image flickered slightly. Her ears were splayed back and her lips curled into a frown.

“Do elaborate, please,” Luna replied, her ears swiveling inquisitively.

“Sigmara has relayed the capricorn plan to the other Concordat leaders, and they have identified three specific Covenant carriers that are seventy percent likely to contain major enemy leaders. You have been approved to lead a portion of the troops. The targets are set, and that is where you and your group comes in, it appears.”

“How are we to reach the ship quickly?” Luna inquired with wide and alert eyes, her anticipation growing slightly at the sudden news.

“Dropship. You will not need long to find the Divinity, it is casting a shadow over that region of Fenris as we speak. Best of luck, Luna, I will see you on the ship very soon.” Celestia’s concerned expression then vanished into a resolute one, before her entire projection vanished as well.

As Luna let out a sigh and steeled herself from the sudden influx of major events the past two days, Praetor Russ had already taken the opportunity to approach the nearest and vastly-framed bay opening to inspect the ventral side of a massive split-arrowhead bow. True to Celestia’s word, it was blotting out the sun at present and leaving everything in a several kilometer radius in the shade. He raised a heavy gauntlet and pointed towards the warship.

“Is that the ship we will be leaving the atmosphere on?”

“Correct,” the Chief confirmed, joining the ancient warrior near the bay opening. “It is the flagship of Equestria’s navy.”

“Flagship? So you mean to tell me, that this strike cruiser will not be taking us to the true flagship ship?” Russ asked with a quirked eyebrow. “A shame.”

“According to what I’m reading in the codex that my sister has provided me, this Divinity is a class of vessel called a supercarrier,” Luna said tentatively. “Which I understand means … it is specialized for holding smaller ships, aerial vehicles, and even whole armies within it in vast numbers. This particular one is … quite well known, apparently.”

Cortana tilted her head to look up at Luna, arching her own brow. “Impressive, Luna. An enchanted book of knowledge. Should Twilight and I be jealous?”

“The codex … has its limitations,” Luna sheepishly reassured the AI.

“Supercarrier? Bwahaha! You’re amusing me with each new thing,” Russ laughed out, much to the confusion of everyone present. He noticed that, of course, Luna wasn’t laughing as well. This brought a sly grin to his face. “You’ll learn what’s so funny in time.”

“Speaking of time, the clock is ticking!” Trixie pressed, gesturing a hoof towards the looming ship outside. “The Divinity is no doubt sending dropships for us already, and your more advanced gear may be of great advantage against the Prophets’ minions. May we take the liberty of utilizing your armoury, Praetor, Bjorn?”

There was no response from the ancient Promethean Wolf, but Russ gestured to them for them to follow.

Everyone quickly made their way into the Aett’s nearby grand forge, following Leman Russ’ lead. The expansive and rather sweltering room, its ceiling high enough to accommodate even the towering likes of Bjorn, was currently bustling with research-conducting Iron Shamans of House Winter who had joined their far more-learned Fangs of Fenris equivalents in attending to the ancient fortress’ weapon-making machinery, maintenance, and other duties.

All Shamans regardless of their affiliation paused and would bow to Russ and Bjorn, and some of the Fangs present offered salutes to their counterparts in Trixie and the Master Chief.

In addition to the constantly-active production floor, the adjoining armoury was stocked to the brim with weapons on shelving, levitation holders, and adamantium crating. The arsenal overall to the Chief and Cortana’s inspection was an eclectic mix of more familiar modern capricorn, Equestrian, and human weaponry, as well as the far more numerous small arms of more ancient and mysterious origin, while to Luna every form of the weaponry was both strange and baffling.

The group stopped just before crossing into the armory side, and Russ turned to speak with them. “Here we are, The Aett’s main armoury. Only take what the Iron Shaman’s will allow. Some weaponry is not allowed in non-capricorn possession. Speaking of which …”

Russ walked away from the group, over to a certain door in the back, leaving the rest to look around.

“May I analyze schematics on the ancient weaponry? My … curiosity is piqued, to say the least,” Cortana inquired as Luna neared one of the busy Iron Shamans in the armory, a blonde-furred capricorn stallion with a neat and braided white beard. His right eye had been replaced with a cybernetic prosthetic, and he was garbed in a light form of silver and yellow ceramite power armour that still rivaled Fang warriors in weight thanks to the amount of gear and gadgetry that adorned it.

Said Iron Shaman that they had approached looked over them to Bjorn, as Russ was not present to which the ancient Promethean Wolf slowly nodded its head. There wasn’t a single word spoken out loud yet it seemed like an entire conversation had taken place. “I will have a dataslate prepared with the non-restricted schematics. Due to over-arching circumstance, certain assets are not yet allowed to be freely shared with all per Exarchate protocol regarding the Reclamation Measure.”

“My appreciation,” Luna replied, highly confused by the capricorn’s terminology. “Though thy verbiage confuses me. Cortana?”

“Nothing I was able to gather from the sentinels at Russ’ keep yield any context,” Cortana said with a sigh. “Systems were too frayed and incomprehensible for information that specific beyond terms relevant to their regular operation. May I politely ask for your name, Shaman?”

“I am Tolfdir, ancilla. Elder of the Iron Shamans in the Fangs of Fenris who call this Aett their charge. And my words rightfully confuse you, Princess Luna, for there is much you have to rediscover,” the stallion replied, peering at them through his natural and synthetic eye studiously. He then gestured to the likes of Trixie and the Master Chief. “As for those of modern blood, they are not ready. Not yet, but soon. Peruse the weapons at your liberty.”

With that, Elder Tolfdir made his way back to tending to what he had previously been working on. In his wake, Cortana folded her arms and hummed thoughtfully to herself in Luna’s hoof. “And here I thought Russ was mysterious enough in his wording. Riddles upon riddles with these ancients, though I do like games, I’ll admit.”

“As do I!” Luna agreed, replacing her confusion and curiosity for the time being with mild amusement. “What of yourself, Chief?”

“Once,” was the super soldier’s only reply.

“Hmm … I see,” Luna said back. “Trixie?”

“Only when it’s her idea,” Trixie answered.

Luna nodded thoughtfully before returning focus to the armoury surrounding them. Her companions joined her in their browsing. Moments into the perusing, Tolfdir reappeared with the dataslate he had mentioned, an apparent ancient counterpart to datapads that was made for users with much larger hands and digits. He allowed Cortana to access its contents, before promptly returning to his work again.

As Luna then looked over some of the capricorn-manufactured weaponry of both modern and ancient origin, their only discernable differences on the surface being manufacturing material, Cortana identified them.

“Plasma Cannons and pistols. High energy man portable plasma cannons. Meltaguns, a possible colloquial designation, if I’m interpreting this correctly. High temperature projectiles produced via atomic fusion for incinerating through enemy armour. A bit like standard plasma weapons, really. Bolters, standard projectile weaponry, appears to have a recoil that could cripple or even kill average human and equine wielders. We would need a capricorn to verify that for us. Then we have the lascannon, very similar to modern laser weaponry in almost every aspect … oh wait, this example is actually of modern manufacture, minus the size. Nevermind me,” Cortana said with partial amusement.

“What about these melee weapons?” Luna inquired.

“The rotary blade in the visage of a longsword? Chainswords; looks like messy fun, that one,” Cortana said, pointing to each. “The axe type is known to capricorns as a Power Axe, an adamantium blade enhanced by gravitational force to increase the power of its blows to devastating effect, as the name implies. Also present are Wolf Claws, which are unique to capricorns, the name being glaringly obvious. Rather similar to the Power Axe in principle, just an obviously different type of blade arrangement.”

Trixie approached one of the stands of bolter guns, and raised a brow. “Standard projectile weaponry … Tolfdir, if Trixie is of no bother, she has a question. How do you have a house-sized metal wolf, yet you use conventional weaponry? Trixie … politely … demands an answer! Her bafflement grows unbearable!”

Once again Tolfdir paused in his ministrations, this time working on a dataslate, and approached them. “By conventional, do you mean a .75 caliber boson-photon hardlight round possessing a plasma-bearing tip with the same capacity as a half stick of primitive glyceryl trinitrate-bearing explosive, not to mention the magnetized shell itself is laced with a liquified adamantium catalyst for added stopping power?”

The capricorn Iron Shaman’s description of the weapon’s projectile initiated a dramatic paling of Trixie’s skin and coat. Her eyes darted between the Iron Shaman and the nearest bolter, before at last stopping on the weapon.

“Trixie would like one in blue!”

“A single shot would send it from your grasp,” Leman Russ spoke up from directly behind the group.

The sudden and unexpected voice provoked a surprised and mixed response from Luna’s group. The Chief snapped his head in the direction of the voice and adopted a partially alert stance, while Luna turned with her eyes in pinpricks and her teeth a shocked grimace. Trixie’s reaction was most dramatic, as she flailed around towards Russ’ direction like a frightened cat and emitted a shrill squeak.

Their reactions earned a round of laughter from nearly every Fang in the room, including a low chuckle from Bjorn. Russ held his laughter to a chuckle before speaking again. “The more you are around us, the more you learn that we take after our heraldry in more than name. As for the bolter, young mare, only two beings can wield its power. A Fang and an Alicorn.”

There was a general look of question on their faces. Russ knew exactly what they were silently asking. “Our weapons produce greater recoil than any other. It reminds us that as warriors we must keep our craft perfect, lest we become unable to use our weapons.”

Luna quickly recovered from her shocked reverie, and began considering a familiar spell in her head as she levitated one of the sizeable rifles in front of her for inspection. “Then it would appear I have found my weapons of choice for this engagement.”