"They're away... mission accomplished..." Rainbow muttered. She looked at Zephyr and smiled. "We saved a lot of ponies today, Z."

"True that... too bad we can't go with them, huh?" Zephyr asked.

"Yeah. So, do you wanna go down fighting, or-"

"Rainbow, I would much rather die with my arms wrapped around you." Zephyr said with a smile on his face. Rainbow smiled at him and wrapped her hooves around his neck, kissing him lightly on his lips.

"We may be leaving this life, but at least we will be in the next life together." Rainbow said, kissing his cheek. Zephyr kindly returned the favor as a brute chieftain charged up to the two ponies, crushing them under his gravity hammer.

"Captain, the Chief and Spartan Red Team are aboard." Serina said. "Also, technicians from the Provocation finished installing a new FTL drive."

Cutter looked at the planet below him, which the Covenant was just finishing with glassing, and closing Covenant fleet. "Enter a blind jump immediately."

"Yes Captain." Selina said. Cutter watched as a slipspace vortex formed in front of the Spirit of Fire. The Spirit was sucked into it, as the portal closed behind the Spirit of Fire and it entered slipstream space.

The Chief helped Alice out of the pelican, supporting her as they walked to the ships infirmary. The ships nurse, Lulu Hershey, was waiting for them.

"Jesus H. Christ, that looks pretty nasty." Lulu commented. "Don't worry though, I'll have you fixed in a jiffy." She pointed Alice to a nearby bed, which the Chief helped her into. The bed creaked under the weight of Alice's armor, but held together.

"Thanks, Chief." She said. The Chief nodded to her and walked out of the infirmary.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom found themselves being rounded up with the other foals and fillies in a room, where a team of humans were waiting for. Twilight Sparkle and a woman in strange armor walked up, who Sweetie Belle remembered as Captain Dare, and introduced the team as O.N.I. operatives. They went through the ranks of fillies and foals, a few of them writing on notepads, and others occasionally asking a random filly or foal a few questions. After they were finished, they walked up to Dare and Twilight. After talking to them for a few brief moments, the O.N.I. operatives pointed out roughly 20 percent of the foals and fillies, including the CMC. Those who weren't introduced were excused, as a older woman wearing a white lab coat walked in. Several human soldiers followed her and blocked the exits.

"Good day, children. My name is Doctor Halsey." She began. "Out of all the other children, you, my friends, are the most capable. I now must give you all a choice. Will you help me in saving both your race and my race from certain destruction? If some of you are not ready to accept this responsibility, you may leave now. If you want to help me, there is no going back. Make your decision."

Twilight Sparkle walked up next to Doctor Halsey. "Those of you who wish to leave, do so now." She said. Over half the ponies walked out. The CMC looked around at those who were left. Out of the around thirty or so ponies, they recognized Pipsqueak, who moved to Ponyville from Trottingham a year before, Firefly, who was Rainbow Dashes niece, and Surprise, who was Pinkie Pies little sister who moved to Ponyville a month before. Halsey walked through the ponies a split them up into six groups of five. The CMC were thankful to see they were paired up with their friends, Firefly and Surprise.

"What do ya'll think this is 'bout?" Applebloom asked.

"Beats me, Applebloom. Maybe we get go to fight some aliens." Scootaloo said.

"That would be so cool!" Firefly exclaimed.

"Ooo! Maybe we're going to have a party." Surprise said, clopping her hooves together.

"I doubt that very much." Sweetie Belle said.

Before the ponies could continue their conversation, Doctor Halsey began talking again.

"I am sure you are all aware of the feats the Master Chief pulled off in Ponyville, correct?"

"Who?" One of the ponies asked.

"The huge guy in the green armor." Twilight replied.

Scootaloo turned to Firefly. "That guy? He was awesome!"

"I know, right?!" Firefly replied.

"Silence!" Halsey ordered. A hush fell over the ponies. "Thank you. The Master Chief is in fact a Spartan-II."

How would you ponies like to be like him?" Twilight asked. There was a general sense of approval throughout the young ponies.

"Good, because that is what you are signing up for. You are all as of now Spartan-IV's. I'll see you when we begin training." Doctor Halsey said, walking out. The team of O.N.I. operatives and Twilight quickly followed. They had to explain to some ponies that their little filly or foal was going away, for a long, long time.

"Attention! Any ponies with medical experience is ordered to head to the infirmary immediately!" A voice boomed from the P.A. system. Rarity nudged Fluttershy.

"Go on darling, you've helped plenty of animals and ponies in the past. They could use your help." She said.

"I guess..." Fluttershy muttered.

Rarity trotted over to a nearby Marine and cleared her throat. "Excuse me, good sir, do you mind escorting my friend here to the infirmary?"

"Not a problem, ma'am." The Marine said, before turning to Fluttershy. "Right this way, miss." He said as he lead her out of the room.

"Right in here, miss." The Marine said, motioning Fluttershy into the infirmary. Fluttershy shot him a timid smile before walking in. Lulu walked up to the yellow Pegasus.

"What's your name?" Lulu asked.

"F-fluttershy..." She replied.

"Hello Fluttershy, I'm Lulu Hershey, the head nurse of the Spirit of Fire. What type of medical training do you have?" She asked.

"Well... I helped sick animals get better in my spare time, as well as occasionally helping ponies who got injured." Fluttershy stated with a timid smile on her face.

"Not exactly what I'm looking for... but good enough for me. Come with me." Lulu said as she lead Fluttershy over to one of Spartans that saved her. There was a large spike protruding out of her leg. The gruesome sight made Fluttershy cringe.

"Just try to keep her calm, and hand me some tools if I need it, think you can do that, sweetie?" Lulu asked. Fluttershy nodded and placed her hoof on Alice's shoulder. She seemed to calm at her touch.

"Alright... I'm going to be taking out the spike now, are you ready Alice?" Lulu asked.

"Yes." She replied. Lulu gripped the spike and started pulling on it with all her strength. Alice winced in pain as she pulled it out. Fluttershy cringed at the sight of the injury.

"Fluttershy, cover the wound!" Lulu ordered. Fluttershy snapped out of her trance and picked up a few rags and placed them on the gaping wound. Lulu placed the spike aside and injected bio-foam into the wound.

"H-how did I do?" Fluttershy asked.

"You did great, kid. How would you like to be my assistant? You have a lot of potential." Lulu said with a smile.

"Well..." Fluttershy began, but Lulu hushed her.

"Sleep on it, okay kid?" She asked. Fluttershy nodded and smiled. "You're done for now, why don't you head back to your quarters? I'll call you back when I need you."

"Okay..." Fluttershy said, walking out of the infirmary.

"Welcome to Earth, Princess." Hood stated, holding his hand out to the Princess. She offered him her hoof, which Hood shook.

"Thank you, Admiral. Kind of reminds me of home." Luna said, cracking a smile.

"This way, your highness." Hood said, motioning the Princess to follow him. They walked through the halls of an underground bunker, with multiple paintings of events in human history, including a newly added picture of the Spartans, the destruction of the Ark, and the meeting of the ponies and humans, showing Captain Cole shaking the hoof of the late Princess Celestia.

"This is HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6, Princess. But we like to call it the Hive." Hood stated, holding a door open for the Princess. She smiled at him and walked in, revealing a large chamber, where the Master Chief, Captain Cutter, Captain Cole, and the remains of the Elements of Harmony were waiting. A Navy Lieutenant pulled out a chair for the Princess, who proceeded to sit down in it in an elegant manner.

"Let's get this show on the road." Cole said.

"Yes. Princess, it is my understanding that you wish to join the U.N.S.C., correct?" Lord Hood asked.

"Yes, that is correct." Luna replied.

"Then sign here, Princess." Cutter said, handing over a bill to the Princess. This bill stated that the pony race would now become members of the U.N.S.C., Princess Luna would be made a Captain, and would be given her own ship, the U.N.S.C. Destroyer Equis. Twilight Sparkle would be made a Commander, and would be given her own ship, the U.N.S.C. Marathon-Class Cruiser Harmony. The Princess signed the bill, as well as Hood and Twilight Sparkle. Hood took the bill and handed it to the Navy Lieutenant. He then walked up to Luna and shook her hoof.

"Welcome to the U.N.S.C., Captain." He said.

"Thank you, Admiral. However, I have a favor to ask." Luna stated.

"What is it, Luna?"

"You have been briefed on the Elements of Harmony, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, they are now rendered useless due to the deaths of the Elements of Honesty and Loyalty. Do you think there is anyway to bring them back, Admiral?"

"I will see what I can do. Maybe through the combination of your magic and our technology, we can bring them back to life."

"Thank you, Admiral. When will my ship be ready?"

"Within the month." Hood promised.

Commander Anderson ran into the cargo deck, where a Marine was waiting for him.

"Hello sir!" The Marine said, saluting the Commander.

"At ease. What have you found?" Anderson asked.

"Well, we found-" The Marine began.

"Greetings! I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the Monitor of Installation 05." The Monitor exclaimed, quickly interupting the Marine.

"Yeah, we found him..." The Marine muttered.

"And what about that?" Anderson asked, motioning towards a towering structure covered in red, glowing symbols.

"I'm not sure, ask him." The Marine replied.

"Tangent, what is that thing?" Anderson asked the Moniter.

"It is what my makers called a Marker. The Marker is a very powerful and dangerous example of Precursor technology. Only the most intelligent lifeforms can understand it. Those who aren't able to understand it were driven to insanity." 2401 Penitent Tangent explained.

After the Commander took this in, he cleared his throat. "Tell the technicians to be careful with it. Understood?" Anderson asked.

"Yes, Commander." The Marine said, walking away.