I feel bad for varvok here really. If the covenant would have stopped jostling his elbow, he could have done his damn job.

So... I know I am no where near close to caught up. But I did assume Ben was gonna die. Mainly because you said previously that the crew was complete with the addition of Nel. Next, what if the STG agent put his explosives INSIDE Bash and Blast? Stab, soak and croak. Probably would wind up with him gravely injured just like in this chapter if he can pull it off, but he knows nothing small will work and cutting is difficult. So yea. Anyways, back to reading.

Never thought I’d like a kigyar character but I’m rooting for Zek and his crew

D’awwwww, Legion has a girlfriend.

Kinda funny if you think about it, she did kinda give him the logic-clap. Next time he should wear a firewall...

I am so sad that it took me this long to find this story. Because this is one of the best fanfictions I've ever read!

This story is a huge improvement over “When There Was a Tomorrow.”

The battles in “WTWT” felt long and dragged out, while here they were far more engaging.
Whereas Kreave was basically Conrad Verner except krogan and evil, Zek and Varvok were interesting and engaging villains.

The better parts of the first story, the exploration of how characters from “Mass Effect” interacted with those from “Halo,” which prompted me to continue on to this story, only grew better. Examples include the growing friendship between Samara and Kowalski, Grunt learning restraint, and Jack developing connections to people other than Shepard.

I was rather surprised to hear Retz offer peace to the Unggoy as well as the Kig-Yar on board the corvette, given the rivalry of the two species. Then again, I suppose the same pragmatism that pushed the alliance between Varvok and Zek’s crew with Shepard and the UNSC also extended to a truce with the Unggoy.
It was good to see Silvia redeem himself in the end.

Probably my biggest complaint about this story was the gross mischaracterization of Thel. He was known as being far more courteous and respectful to non-Sangheili than the rest of his kind. Chief example would be his willingness to extend a hand to Tartarus after the guy tried to kill him and exterminate his species.
Not to mention that he is level-headed and intelligent, and I don’t think he would have much trouble taking care of an uppity Kig-Yar and batarian.

The rule that AI go rampant after seven years is only applicable to human AI in the “Halo” universe, not Forerunner.

I loved Liara’s arc, and all the people she recruited into her team. It was great to see Wrex back in action, and be given a plausible reason to do so while he’s chief of clan Urdnot.
It was interesting to see how at first, Kayap was the one who could play mediator, as he was the only one nobody on the team had a grudge against.
Nel was annoying for the longest time, but she did get better after Liara got rid of her Juice and she got a reality check.

It was an excellent touch showing what a dictatorship like the Batarian Hegemony would be very similar to modern North Korea. Having absolute control over media, always portraying themselves as the victim, it was all very well done.

All in all, “Guilty Sparks” was an enjoyable read.

That would explain why the Hegemony fell so fast in canon

An Unggoy VS Mgalekgolo and the Unggoy lives never thought I'd say that.

Wouldn't thermal clips be useless with the Covenant shields? Their weapons are weaker, no?

Great epilogue, dude. Loved the plot points it sent up for the sequels. I hope Cerberus becomes a bigger threat in Liara's story, and I wonder what impact Oleg will make when he gets to the Halo-Verse with his team.

And the bit between Harbinger and the Inquisitor has me worried. The Inquisitor is going after the Conductor, isn't he? That scares me beyond thought. I can't wait to see what you do with the Promethians and the Didact (who came off as a boring villain when I played Halo 4, asides from his cool design.

All in all, this was a great fanfic with awesome original characters, and the only complaint I have was the long length. Otherwise, I enjoyed the hell out of it and I look forward to the sequels.

Awesome finish to the finale, dude. I actually loved Major Silvia's realization of how much he screwed up in underestimating the flood, and his attempt to stall the Truth and Reconciliation to allow his men to escape. I still think the dude was a major asshole with ego problems, but his final moments redeemed him a bit in my eyes.

And the part with Chief and gang escaping the Pillar of Autumn was tense. I chuckled at the parts with Varvok attempts to start up a Warthog and Tali refusing to let Shepard drive. Glad they managed to make it out in the nick of time.

And I now feel a bit bad for Thel Vademee, with him blaming the lose of Halo on himself. And with the Prophet of Empathy dying on his watch, he's in more trouble than he was in canon. I excited to see what you do with his story arc as the Arbiter.

I didn't buy the "Chief and crew are the only survivors" bit, not only because there's a sequel, but because I knew it was a Red Herring from a mile away. And I now envy Shepard, because he now knows what Chief looks like under his helmet.

Anyway, I look forward to reading the epilogue.

Great chapter, dude. This chapter gave me flashbacks to one of the most frustrating parts of the Maw, trying to destroy the reactors (I lost count of how many times I got stuck at this part).

Anyway, I thought that Retz' plan to offer amnesty to the jackals and grunts on board was actually kind of clever. Great outside-the-box thinking. And I loved how he killed Orna with a plasma grenade getting shoved down his throat. Couldn't have happen to a nicer guy.

Anyway, I look forward to the conclusion!

I have read both of the halo/mass effect crossover's you have done, and really enjoyed your take on it. Some facts where wrong, like master chief being a red head, he is blond, ( check vids from fall of reach.) Also all the way though you only ever mentioned the Spartans strength, you never mention there amazing hearing, eyesight, or most of all there extreme speed.
These are just minor criticisms, but overall I really loved reading them, so thank you for giving up your free time to write them.

Good chapter, loved all the fight scenes going on, and my favorite parts of the chapter would have to be Zek going "nope" at the sight of the Flood and Sentinels fighting in Cryo Bay, and Tali calling Zek chicken (which is appropriate, although the Kig-Yar usually reminds me of either a vulture or a turkey).

Looking forward to what happens next.

Great chapter, dude. Really loved the firefights on the Pillar of Autumn, as well as the planning of the Corvette hijacking between the Normandy crew and Zek's pirates. I also loved Kat and Major Silvia's confrontation over the Flood, especially with Kat countering Silvia's "you don't have emotions and don't care" horseshoe with a reminder that she lost four of her squamates on Reach.

And I agree with Linda, Silvia mutinying should come off as a shock, but let's face it, I saw it coming since last chapter. I just hope that Johnson, Linda, and McKay are able to stop Silvia before he dooms everyone.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing what happens next.