Prologue
The Ark – The Fourth Halo Ring – April 3rd 2553

“Chief!” the desperate A.I. cried out as her Spartan tumbled across the floor of the U.N.S.C. ship towards its open hangar door.  But the Spartan was determined not to die at the end of his greatest journey. He slowly crawled back up the almost vertical floor of the ship to his A.I.
“If we don’t make it,” the A.I. began to say but the Spartan cut her off.
“We’ll make it” he promised as he sat next to her.
The light and energy of the Fourth Halo Ring quickly illuminated and engulfed the cargo hold as the gold-clad Elite piloted the ship through the portal.


Slip space – an escape Pelican – April 3rd 2553 – several minutes earlier

“Hurry up!”
The order came from a young 26-year old Spartan named Jason. Although his amour was black his face was pale with fear. Earlier that week he decided that he was going to escape slip space with or without permission from his superiors. His escape plan was not simple and he needed help to pull it off so he gathered five other Spartans and his A.I to help him. He knew that this plan was an act of insubordination and would require split second timing for a success, so he chose his companions well.
“Hey, I said hurry up!”
“I’m working on it.” The 7’3” gold-armored Spartan spat back.
“Well hurry up faster; the distraction my A.I set off will last only a few minutes. You know the penalty if we get caught, don’t you Fredric?”
The gold Spartan turned and slowly walked towards Jason and between clenched teeth growled
“Don’t you ever call me by my “human” name again. I gave up that name when I became a Spartan. My name is Frag not Fredric, understand Jason?”
Now it was Jason’s turn to yell. “How dare you call me by that name, I hate it. You call me Jeddy, got it?”
“Will you two ninnies shut up?”
The shout came from a 7’6” titan of a woman securing their weapons in the back of the dark Pelican. “Just because you came up with this crazy idea doesn’t automatically make you the leader. The role of leader should go to the strongest fighter, like Frag or me, not some cowardly little mechanic!” That last statement turned Jeddy’s face from white with fear to red with anger.
“Wow Tanya, that seems a lot like how a Brute’s pack is set up, and I, unlike you, am not a Brute. I am not all brawn but a no-brain like you are, you stupid bitch!”
“Ha” she laughed back at him “you’re the fool.” Retorted Tanya, amused at how easily Jeddy became angry.
A quiet laugh came from the corner of the Pelican. Cupped in another Spartan’s hands was an A.I. holo base.
“Ha-ha. Frag and Tanya, both are fierce with their weapons and their words. They sure knew how to grow them strong on Harvest, didn’t they Reggie?” An A.I. dressed in a tuxedo appeared on the base and with a British accent replied “Yes, I do agree.”
Already enraged Jeddy turned and stalked over to the Spartan. One rule that was clear to everyone was that Reggie was Jeddy’s A.I and that nobody was allowed to touch him. Now the person Jeddy hated most was speaking with and holding Reggie in his hands. Snatching Reggie back he shouted, “Terrance! Nobody is allowed to touch Reggie but me! Understand you mindless incompetent fool? I wonder why I even let you join this crew!”
“I know why,” Terrance responded slyly. “It’s because I discovered your plan and you didn’t want anyone to know about so you kidnapped me and dragged me on to this Pelican.”
“Oh that’s right, maybe I should just kill you now and not have to carry around dead weight or worry about people discovering our plan”, Jeddy fumed.
When it seemed Jeddy’s anger would get the best of him a female Spartan wearing blue emerged from the shadows of the cockpit and with more force then necessary, parted the two squabbling Spartans.
“Stop bickering you two.” She ordered keeping her arms extended to prevent further fighting. “If Reggie is back then the distraction he caused will only last a few more minutes. Isn’t that right Reggie?”
She looked down to see the A.I. nod his head and say “Yes my lady.”
“Now” the female Spartan continued “we probably have only five minutes before we are discovered. You said it yourself Jeddy, we all know the consequences if we are captured. So,” she started turning to look directly at Jeddy, “we must not waste any more time fighting amongst ourselves, Agreed?”
Jeddy wasted no time in grabbing her hand with both of his and holding them against his chest plate over his heart. “Oh Diana, I promise not to quarrel amongst these fools if it makes you happy.” Again with more force then necessary Diana tugged her hand out of his grasp. Turning back to cockpit she replied “Very well.”
“Hey Jeddy come check this out.”
Jeddy turned and walked toward the final Spartan he invited onboard who was checking the energy levels of the Pelican and the space around it. Looking up the silver Spartan said “Look at these strange energy readings. Looks like something big blew up.”
Jeddy’s eyes widened. He clapped his friend’s shoulder.
“Good work Sam, now see if you tap into that energy.” With that the two Spartans sprung into a frenzy of work, Sam accessing the energy source and Jeddy yelling orders.
“Everyone to your seats! Secure yourselves! Our escape is coming sooner then I thought!” His voice was full of excitement and fear. The power surge would have more then enough power to get the Pelican out of slip space but it could also be too much energy and obliterate the Pelican. But that was a chance Jeddy was willing to take for freedom.
“I got it!” Sam shouted.
The next moment the Pelican’s engines roared and then there was a flash of light.