A/N: Hola and welcome to my first ever fanfic. Now I am a newbie when it comes to writing so this story will contain some grammatical errors and other flaws, especially but that's why I published this to get better. So I ask any of the more experienced writers to provide any constructive criticism.

Edit: This is a re-upload of this chapter, fixing most of the grammatical errors. Special thanks to BigBadAud666 for editing chapters

Chapter one: The Expedition

June 6, 2558, 3 months after the Second Battle of Requiem

UNSC Infinity, Earth, Sol System

1200 hours Standard UNSC Time

"Captain the fleet has gathered and FleetCom has given the green light, we are awaiting your command." A bridge officer said.

"Excellent lieutenant have we received word from our Sangheili friends," said Captain Lasky.

"No, sir." The officer replied.

"Ah" Lasky leaned forward in his chair, rubbing his temple "Alright, Roland!" He called.

"Yes, Captain." A familiar Yellow world war 2 pilot avatar appeared.

"Plot a course to rally point sector 90388-1."

"Aye, sir, plotting course." The AI replied, saluting "Is there anything else you like me to do?"

"Yes, Roland, try and raise the Arbiter, tell him the mission is a go," Lasky said.

"Will do," Roland said before flickering out.

Lasky leaned back in his chair touching the intercom speaker on it.

"Attention all crew this is the Captain speaking please be advised we are going for a slipspace jump in 15 minutes, that is all Lasky out" the intercom went dead.

S-Deck, Infinity

After returning from their 20th mission since they were reunited with their old leader. Blue team has rarely ever had a break, it was either it was the endless missions their leader, John keeps taking on or training in the War games. But they weren't complaining they were keeping humanity safe from those who threaten it, the 4 Spartans sat at one of the storage areas recollecting their previous mission to the human colony in the outer edges of the UNSC territories called Augustine, the UNSC had gotten word of a high ranking insurrectionist member was selling UNSC secrets to the Storm Covenant for weapons to arm their cause. The mission was for Blue team was to capture him for interrogation.

"I'm telling we got another mole in UNSC, a high ranking one at that," Fred said.

"It wouldn't be the first and it won't be the last. You think after the war the Innies would have died down." Linda said inspecting her sniper rifle.

"I guess they never learn and now they're selling out their species for weapons to fight the very the people who protect them, I like it better when they stood for actual change," Fred said.

"What do you think Chief? Chief?" Fred turns to his fellow Spartan absent mindlessly staring at the data chip that belonged to Cortana before looking up.

"Yes," the Chief answered.

"Are you ok zoned out there for a while?" Fred asked, concerned about his friend's distant behaviour with them.

"I'm fine." He answered.

"Are you sure." Placing a hand on his shoulder "If there is anything you want you to talk about we're here." He finished giving him a reassuring look.

"…"

"Chief." Another voice called out to him it was Kelly "I've known you since we were kids so if there's something wrong and there is I'd know. So just as Fred said we're here for you." Her blue eyes stared at his visor.

"I know Kelly." Not wanting to continue this conversation anymore, he stood up "I'm heading to the training room." He finished, walking off from his team.

His team sat there looking him walk down the hallway. There was a pregnant silent that continued for a minute before Fred spoke up, "Isn't the training area in the opposite direction."

"He's heading to the Observation deck 7" Kelly stated.

"Why?" Questioned Linda.

"To clear his head, he goes there every night," Kelly answered.

"I don't think the boss would appreciate you spying on him, he'll get the wrong idea," Fred said slyly nudging at Kelly's side.

"I wasn't spying, I was just… hey. Whatever you're insinuating it not like that Fred" Kelly shouted glaring at him, which he only responded by chuckling with Linda joining in on the laughter.

"So you weren't spying on John because you were worried about his depression and his late-night escapades or was it something else you thought I meant hmm."

"Yes, no, damn it Fred I don't see him that way." She blushed. Her blushing caused Fred to chuckle harder at her dilemma. Kelly balled her fist ready to strike the chuckling fool.

But before she could the ship's intercom flared to life "Attention all crew this is the captain speaking please be advised we are going for a slipspace jump in 15 minutes, that is all Lasky out" the P.A said before going silent again.

"Well, that's enough teasing for the day, let's say we find our leader and head of mess hall I hear their serving turkey," Fred said rising from his position.

Infinity's Bridge.

Lasky stood looking at the holographic overview of the fleet as they fell into formation. "Roland, we ready?" He asked.

Yellow light flickered as A.I. appeared on the Holo-table before him "Aye captain, all ships are ready. Slip-space jump in five, four, three, two, one."

Simultaneously Infinity and her escort entered the black oblivion that is slipspace.

5 hours later

Rally Point 90388-1.

Deep space.

Sixteen mini black holes appeared in the emptiness of space, depositing the Fleet.

"Sir, we are clear of slipspace." Said an ensign as he handed the Lasky a datapad.

"Thank you, Ensign Spence, any signs of our friends," Lasky asked as he went through it.

"No, sir, " The man answered.

'Damn it Arbiter what's keeping you.' Lasky thought. Putting on the device he the communication officer "Lt, order the fleet form up around the Infinity we will wait for them."

3 Hours later

It's been three hours, three hours of sitting and waiting for the other half of their expeditionary force and Captain Lasky were getting impatient. He was taught a Corbulo Academy the patience was an officer's best friend, but right now it was mocking him, just where the hell was the Arbiter?

"Captain we 12 ships coming out of slipspace it the Arbiter's ships," A bridge officer said.

'Finally' Lasky thought "How far are they?"

"100 km out sir and closing" Not soon after all 12 ships came into view, the familiar assault carrier The Shadow of Intent and its escorts placing themselves near the fleet. "Sir, incoming communication from the Shadow of intent,"

"Put them through" the display monitor came on showing the familiar golden armour of the Sangheili leader.

"You're late," Lasky said.

"I apologize human, but we were preoccupied with an attack on one of our supply lines by the Covenant." The Arbiter apologized.

"Jul is getting bolder each day," said Lasky.

"And yet he refuses to meet me on the battlefield and fight like real Sangheili but instead he plays the game you humans call cat and mouse." Arbiter growled with annoyance.

"I know Thel he's been a pain in our ass as well," Lasky said agreeing with the Arbiters annoyance with Jul. Ever since he managed to escape with not just half of Janus key but with Dr Halsey the brains behind the Spartan program, Mjolnir armour, the UNSC lead scientist in Forerunner research and the very woman who has knowledge that could cripple UNSC. Lasky hated to admit it, but Jul had an advantage over the UNSC now that Halsey works with him.

But lately, all he has been doing is hit and run tactics; he attacked a UNSC research station obviously to gather equipment for Halsey, raided a colony which later revealed to have housed a forerunner facility, making off with god knows what and we couldn't find out what the facility hid because he blew it sky-high and now he raided a supply line for Swords of Sangheilios, just what was he planning.

But that's why a coalition was formed, the UNSC and the Sangheili leadership knew while they were running around like headless chickens trying to catch Jul, he was gaining strength from the technology he finds. So after arduous talks on both sides by the Lasky and Thel the UNSC High Command and the Sangheili council agreed on the idea of working together forming the Orion Arms Coalition. Their first mission; use their half of the Janus Key to locate forerunner facilities scattered across the galaxy.

"Alright" clasping his hands together "let's put aside our hatred and talk business Thel."

"I agree human, let's talk business"

"Roland, bring up the map display," Lasky commanded, immediately a holographic map of the galaxy appeared with marker highlight.

"As you see before you Arbiter, the Janus key or half of it has pointed us to a Forerunner facility on a planet called Byeonchig beyond the Orion Arm close to the Orion Belt. From what we interpreted the facility is research for advance slipspace technology during Flood-Forerunner war. Our mission; locate the facility and secure whatever information we can salvage for study. Any questions?" Lasky asked, finishing his briefing.

"Yes, what if we encountered the Parasite infestation on this planet?" The Arbiter questioned.

"Good question. Well, in light of such an event the UNSC has made special contingency plans for, such as a scenario." The captain answered.

"And this contingency plan contains?" The Sangheili queried

"Let's not discuss this until a problem that requires the contingency arise" Lasky replied to the Sangheili.

"Fine, but I do not like things being kept from me, especially between allies."

"Ok. Is that all" Lasky asked.

"When do we leave?"

"Right now,"

"Very well, my fleet awaits your signal Captain, Arbiter out." With that, the conversation ended and display visual was cut.

Lasky walked back to his chair, taking a seat "Roland, are we ready,"

"Yes, Captain ready and waiting." The A.I. responded, appearing on the Holo- table.

"Let's move."

"Jump in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Upon command, all UNSC and SoS ships entered the black void of slipspace.

"Captain, I want to talk about the name of the planet,"

"What about its name, Roland?" Lasky asked.

"Don't you think it a bit unusual that the forerunners give a world a name that in our language it means strange."

"I try not to think much about Roland, I just hope that whatever we find there that's worth the trip."

A/N: I had a very hard time writing the dialogue for the Spartan twos because as you know spartan twos weren't the most vocal throughout the entire halo series. I mean what do the Spartans do about when they're not training or fighting, I've seen Black team seem normal by some standards as well as the Grey team they talk about stuff or make snarky remarks, but for the Blue Team, I can't for the life of me remember their interactions with each other maybe I should reread the books. What do you think?

Beta needed