[Authors note - I know I said I would be doing Haylo 2 after Haylo: A New World was concluded, but as I have said, I am writing a few prequels beforehand. This is only to clear up a few loose ends for Haylo 2. Besides this fic, I also plan on writing two other fics, Haylo: Among the Stars, which is about Backdraft and Nova after the events of this fic, and Haylo: Boot Camp, which is about the training and some of the missions of the Spartan IV's. Anyway, may I present, Haylo: Dark Abyss.]

"Commander, I am reading a S.O.S. signal from a nearby Cargo Ship. The U.N.S.C. Nightingale, to be precise." One of the crewmen said to Commander Rarity. Rarity walked over to his station.

"Raise them, Lieutenant." She ordered.

"I've been trying for the past thirteen minutes, ma'am." The crewman said.

"Keep trying." Rarity said walking away, towards a waiting Captain Luna.

"What is it, Rarity?" Captain Luna asked.

"We are reading a S.O.S. signal from the U.N.S.C. Nightingale. We are getting no response from it." Rarity stated.

"Well, do you have any ideas to deal with this situation?" Luna asked.

"I recommend sending in a few teams of O.D.S.T.s to investigate."

"I agree. I'll lend you the squad I brought with me." Luna said, before turning to Nova. "Nova, would you mind getting the rest of the squad?"

Nova put on her best smile and bowed. "Of course, your majesty."

Backdraft walked into his squads room with the leftovers of his dinner. Originally, he rejected the idea of eating meat, but after a few years, he couldn't get enough of it. He trotted over to the fridge and placed the food inside of it. After closing it, he heard a noise he hadn't noticed before. The rapid creaking of a bed. Fearing the worse, Backdraft picked up his magnum and crept over to the room where the noise was coming from. The door opened automatically and he rolled in, magnum at the ready. What he saw, crushed his heart.

"Pinkie?! Braeburn!?" Backdraft asked, his mouth agape. In front of him was Pinkie being mounted by Braeburn, both of their faces showing a mix of shock, shame, and embarrassment.

"Drafty! It isn't what it-" Pinkie began, but Backdraft raised his hoof in the air.

"Spare me." He said before walking out, punching a dent in the wall as he walked out.

Nova walked into the room, to see a sulking Backdraft lying on the couch.

"What happened with you, kid?" Nova asked, sitting on the floor next to him.

"Pinkie... Braeburn..." The memories came flooding back to him, causing his heart to sink into his chest. Nova stood up and patted him on the back.

"I've been there, Draft. Remember when me and Comet went out?" Nova asked.

"Yeah..." Backdraft replied.

"He did the same exact thing to me. She wasn't the mare for you, that's all. Get over it, there is more fish in the sea."

Backdraft wiped his eyes and smiled at Nova, pulling her in for a hug. "Thanks, Nova."

Nova gladly returned the hug. After they broke it up, Nova got to her hooves and smiled. "The Captain wants us. You might want to get your gear ready to go."

"Right!" Backdraft said, jumping to his hooves and trotting into his room. He picked up his silenced battle rifle and his SOCOM magnum, before throwing on his Mark II P Suit. He walked out of his room, where the rest of the squad was waiting. Backdraft shot Pinkie and Braeburn a glare. If glares could kill, the two ponies would be dead right now.

"Let's go. Luna is expecting us on the bridge." Braeburn stated.

Nova hit Backdraft on the shoulder. "You will get over it, trust me."

"So, what's up, boss?" Braeburn asked Luna.

"We picked up a S.O.S. from the U.N.S.C. Nightingale, and have so far had no luck with raising them. We are sending you in with the O.D.S.T.s on board the Equestria to investigate. We don't know anything about what happened on board that ship, so be prepared for anything. Good luck, ponies. Dismissed!" Luna said. The four ponies bowed and walked out of the bridge.

The squad jumped on board their pelican. Commander Rarity and Gunnery Sergeant Smith jumped on board behind them.

"Mind if we come along, darlings?" Rarity asked.

"It would be an honor, ma'am." Braeburn replied. Luna walked up to the squads pelican.

"I need to get back to the Equis, so once you guys are done with this op, just give me a call. Good luck." Luna said, saluting before she walked off. The pelican bay door closed, as a red light turned on and illuminated the cabin.

"Commander, you have a helmet to go with that suit, right?" Braeburn asked.

"Why, yes." Rarity replied.

"Put it on. We're going to be going in with a bang." Braeburn said.

Pinkie Pie tapped on her det charge. Rarity nodded and placed her helmet over her head, it sealing with a hiss. Nova handed out jetpacks to the squad, who quickly attached them to their armor.

"Going E.V.A. in five... four... three... two... one..." Nova counted down as the pelican bay door opened. The squad activated their jetpacks and hovered to the hull of the Nightingale.

"Pinkie, blow the hull." Braeburn ordered.

"On it!" Pinkie sang as she attached the det charge to the hull.

"Clear out!" Braeburn ordered the squad as they hovered away. Once they were at a safe distance, Braeburn signaled Pinkie to blow it. She pulled out the detonator and flipped the switch. As soon as she did this, a small portion of the hull exploded in a ball of orange flame, producing a small hole in the ships hull. As this happened, a large amount of debris was sucked into the vacuum of space. In the debris, Backdraft swore he saw a few bodies among the rubble. As he moved towards the debris to investigate, he felt a hoof on his shoulder.

"Time to move, Backdraft." Nova said. Backdraft turned and nodded to her, before hovering inside of the Nightingale.

As the door sealed behind the squad, Backdraft felt his hoofs touch the cold, metallic ground, signaling the return of gravity.

"Do we have oxygen back?" Rarity asked Braeburn.

"Nova?"

"It's on your H.U.D., sir." Nova pointed out.

"What she said, ma'am. And to answer your question, yes, we have oxygen." Braeburn said.

"Good." Rarity said before taking her helmet off and placing it in her bag. She then put on her headset and turned it on. "All squads, check in."

"This is Alpha, the hanger is secure. Nothing alive here, ma'am." Alpha reported.

"This is Beta, we are in, we haven't found anything yet." Beta reported.

"Charlie, are you there?" Rarity asked. There was no response. Rarity pulled out a hologram that listed the status of all the squads and scrolled down to Charlie. Everyone who was with Charlie was flat lined. "Charlie is down, Alpha, Beta, which one of you is closest to Charlie's location?"

"This is Beta, we are nearby Charlie's last known location. Want us to investigate?" Beta asked.

"That is affirmative, Beta. Report back A.S.A.P." Rarity ordered.

"You've got it, boss." Beta replied.

Rarity turned to the rest of the squad. "All right guys, we need to head to the bridge. Alright?"

"Yes ma'am." The squad replied.

"Nova, get point. Braeburn, cover our six." Rarity ordered.

"No problem." Nova said, cocking her shotgun and leading the squad down the hall. As the squad rounded the corner, Nova suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Nova, what's wrong?" Backdraft asked, walking up to Nova, but stopping dead in his tracks when noticing the scene in front of him. The walls were covered with blood and flesh. Backdraft slowly walked forward, before stepping on something squishy. He looked down and saw the dismembered body of a young mare.

"Dear Celestia..." Backdraft muttered.