**Runamaria's POV**
We ran through the halls of the Prophet's Bane trying to reach its bridge before it was too late. I had only just arrived aboard the ship after our trip to get me some new clothing. To my surprise a very specific Phoenix class support ship decided that it wanted to come pay us a visit and from what I have been told since I got aboard all life forms are in cryo-sleep. As we rounded the last corner I started hearing the commotion from the bridge, "What is going on?!" I yelled.
One of the marines answered me, "The Spirit of Fire's AI Serina is trying to override the ship's mac controls. It appears that theirs is offline."
"Power all EMP projectiles and fire them at the Spirit of Fire. Radio the Equestrian Star and have them make a precision jump to our location. We are going to need the extra help if we are to stop that ship from falling out the sky. I need all Long-Sword, Short-Sword, and Pelican Pilots at the ready to use any means we have at catching that ship. Tell the same to Ship Master Rider when they get here. I want that ship and Its crew to survive." I ordered as I started for the armory only to be stopped by Qi'meen.
"Where do you think you are going?" she asked.
"I will be leading this mission from the front. It will do our troops good to know that I am still kicking. Plus I have to have a word with that AI once I pull her from the ships mainframe." I responded before I pushed my way passed her ignoring the spike of pain in my side. After a minute or two of running through the halls I made it to the armory, "Lets see what toys I have to play with." I said.
"Ma'am there is plenty of weapons and armor ready for you." a familiar feminine voice said.
"Zalphite is that you?" I asked.
"Yes it is ma'am. When they recovered your helmet they found me in a fragmented state, because of all the stress that was put on me when the nuke detonated. After a week they managed to restore me most of the way." Zalphite responded.
"So what do I have I regards to armor Zal?" I asked. A panel on the wall slid open to reveal a variety of armor that I would have to investigate at a later time.
"Each suit has its own capabilities. The Recon armor is designed with stealth in mind, while the Scout is based around speed. For this mission I recommend the purple Operator armor."
The armor stands rotated until a full set of purple Operator armor sat in front of me, "So will you be joining me my fateful AI companion?"
"It would be my pleasure. Plus how would you be able to force Serina out of the mainframe without me." she responded with slight sarcasm.
I slipped the EOD armor on and grabbed my usual weaponry and headed for the hanger, "Zal, any single man ships left in the hanger?"
"There is a single specially modified Falcon in the hanger. It is outfitted with a single front facing rail gun, two remote EMP charges, and twin side mounted missile pods." Zalphite responds.
I slid to a halt at the entrance to the hanger, "Zal what station is the Falcon docked at?"
"The Falcon should be at station 97."
I took off in the direction of the Falcon. I sprinted passed various marines and ODSTs on my way to the Falcon. I slid to a stop next to the modified Falcon, "How long till the Equestrian Star arrives?"
"By the time you get out the hangar they will be here." Zal responded.
I jumped into the cockpit of the Falcon and started to power up sequence. The propellers started to spin as the cockpit closed, ++This is Titan Commander Runa taking off. All ships follow in suit.++ I said through the comms to all the pilots in the hanger as the Falcon left the ground and angled for the hangar door, "Lets go." I pushed the Falcon forward at full speed, which is not fast, and I was followed by a large number of ships. Not a moment after I left the hangar the Equestrian Star appeared on the other side of the Spirit of Fire. ++Rider you ready?++ I asked over the comm.
++Yes ma'am commander. By the way I made some new friends. After you vanished on Earth we recruited more members.++ Rider responded.
++This is Tiger knight Jaxon reporting in++
++Shadow reporting in++
++Silent Lillie reporting in++
++Well you three, you picked one hell of a time to show up. Any others?++ I asked.
++Just my research team. We were designing a special SPARTAN suit before we came here.++ Shadow said ++But don't worry I can still do my part to protect innocent lives no matter the species.++
++I'll talk to you three more latter. For now lets ground a Phoenix.++ I said as I started my approach.
"Maria be careful that ship has internal defense systems." Zal said.
"I will" ++Launch all EMPs and grabble onto the ship. I don't want it falling.++ I ordered through the comms. Numerous objects impacted the ship causing its thrusters to flicker and die, then all ships fired harpoons designed to hold ships into its hull to stop its sudden rapid decent. I flew towards the hangar door, and to my surprise the doors were open. I landed the Falcon and jumped out the cockpit and readied my magnum. I slowly moved my way through the halls of the slumbering ship. The creaking of metal and my foot steps were the only sounds in the ship. I made my way to the bridge and shot the two roof mounted auto-turrets. Slowly the ships systems started to reboot as the effects of the EMPs wore off, "You know I thought that we would have had more time before power came back." I said as a female AI appeared on the bridges monitor.
"Leave this ship!" the AI said.
I walked over to a console and inserted Zalphite, "You see I can't do that. You are endangering the lives of many innocent creatures." I said before Zalphite appeared next to me on the other monitor, "Zalphite shut her down." I ordered. The AI started to fragment from the strain of fighting off Zalphite.
All of a sudden the AI became blue, "Thank you…" it said before disappearing.
"Maria I have complete control of the ship. Checking cryo life signatures." Zalphite sat for a moment before continuing, "There is nine SPARTANs in cryo-sleep, SPARTAN team Omega is here and accounted for."
"I want you to send the all clear to the other ships and wake everyone from cryo-sleep." I ordered.
"Yes ma'am."
"And Zalphite leave a message for the Captain of the ship. I don't want to be here when they notice the lack of their AI" I said as the monitor showed that the cry-pods defrosting, "Lets go."
*****
Rider stood on the bridge of the Equestrian Star with a male SPARTAN and scientist, and a female UEF soldier, "How much longer will she be radio silent?"
"From what we were told about her, probably until she leaves the ship." the male SPARTAN in a full set of black and red tiger print ODST SPARTAN armor.
"True Tiger. Silent Lillie what is the status of your ACU?" Rider asks.
"Not good. I can currently only activate the tier one tech structures. Tiers two and three are unavailable until I find the missing parts." Lillie responded.
"Wish it was at full strength but some tech is better than none. Shadow have your men made them selves at home in the lab?"
"Yes sir. We are currently working on finding a better power source than a mini-nuclear power plant. Don't need pilots dying from radiation."
"Go look at the ships generator and see if you can shrink it. I don't know what it is but there is no radiation coming of it." Rider said.
One of the Elites at the ships monitors turned around, "Ship Master a Falcon has left the hangar of the Spirit of Fire."
"Establish radio contact." Rider said.
*****
I started the short flight towards the Prophets Bane. ++This is Ship Master Rider. Titan Commander Runa do you respond++
++This is Titan Commander Runa. Ship Master Rider send word to all Titans that we are to meet on the Prophets Bane. Once we are aboard the Equestrian star is to go to back to its previous location.++ I responded as I neared the hangar of the Prophets Bane.
++Understood. All Titan Defenders are being moved with their equipment to the Prophets Bane.++ Rider said.
I brought the Falcon in and landed where I retrieved it from, "Zalphite, have the bridge cleared of all personnel except for Qi'meen and John. This ship is being refitted and I want the Titans to be in charge of it."
"Understood." Zalphite says as I climb out the Falcon and start the walk to the armory.
"Zalphite please pull up mission report Alpha-Bravo." I said as a file was opened on one side of my visor.
Operation Zeta Overlord was a failure. No survivors have been found at the Reach Research facility. Dr. Halsey and her SPARTAN III protector S-A266 and the remainder of blue team, excluding
Master Chief Petty Officer Sierra 117, are now KIA. There is remains numbering in the hundreds of thousands. It is hard to believe that such a small number of SPARTANs could eliminate that many of the Covenants forces. No information regarding Project Zeta has been found. It appears that all the computers in Halsey's lab have been wiped clean. There is also no sign of the remaining Mjolnir prototypes. ONI will be sending their teams to ensure all data is retrieved or erased then they will strike the out the names of those involved. This is SPARTAN T-692 signing off.
"Zalphite that cant be all of it. That is too short." I said.
"It is. ONI erased everything else. The only reason we have this is because Tiger had it." Zalphite stated as we entered the bridge of the Prophets Bane.
I put Zalphite into the ships main computer, "Zalphite run inventory checks on everything. I need to know what I have to start up a Special Operations Military. Also I want a message sent to all nations requesting permission for us to work across the world."
"I'll get on it." Zalphite said.
Rider and the rest of the Titan Defenders walked onto the bridge, "Runa would you mind telling me why you sent my ship away?" Rider asked.
"One, how do you think that the crew of the Spirit of Fire would react to it, and two you will be brought back to it once we are done here." I responded as I started to check over the ships computers, "Tiger, Lillie, and Shadow what is the status of your equipment?"
Tiger stepped forward, "All equipment that came with me through the void is in working order."
"My ACU is damaged but being repaired. It will take some time before it is usable on any large scale." Lillie said.
"I have a few prototypes you may like, but that is all." Shadow said.
"Zalphite have the necessary materials given to Lillie so repairs can be finished quickly. Shadow I will be dropping by to see these prototypes myself when I am free. Tiger when we finish here I want you ready to help greet the new additions to our ever growing family." I ordered, "Qi'meen please send word to the Princesses that we will be needing them on the ship soon. I will give you a final date once we have a final count on our numbers."
"Yes ma'am!" they all responded before I could continue.
"Rider and John, I want you too to start interactions with the Spirit of Fire. Do not under any circumstance mention the Equestrian Star. They will know about that soon enough from me."
"Yes Commander." the two said calmly.
"Dismissed." I walked to the captains chair and sat down as everyone left the bridge, "Zalphite, make it known that there will be a Summit of Nations called in five days."
"Understood. Shall I make you a list of personnel at your disposal?" Zalphite asked.
"No. They know their jobs. Just get me a list of the heads of each department for each ship." I responded.