The camp was engulfed in flames which spartan Kyle was slowly walking out of. A bloodied blade in one hand and his rifle in the other. Flicking his wrist to clean some of the blood off the blade before sheathing it on his back, before he has time to replace the sword in its sheath a howl can be heard in the night. Sending a glance over his shoulder as more howls joined the first, before continuing on into the forest, and vanishing like a specter into the night.

The tv was showing a news report on a mysterious fire in the forest east of Vale.

"It is unknown how the fire started but it is assumed to be a camping mistake due to the evidence of a camp being at the center of the inferno. This is all just an assumption since there was no evidence found of any bodies." The screen turned blank before changing to the flaming eye associated with Sauron.

"Looks like the grimm did us a favour in dealing with the corpse. I have finished sorting through the information we managed to retrieve from the camps commander."

Kyle's blue eyes shifted from the battle rifle in front of him to Sauron. "What did we get?"

"Not much in terms of intel on any priority targets. But he did have know where we could get more." The screen shifted to a map of Vale and the surrounding areas. The image zoomed in on a location 18 km southwest of Vale. "This is one of the White Fangs main camps in the area and from what we got from Vert's mind, it has been getting alot of activity lately. Specifically Dust has been coming in and out with increasing frequency. They have never needed this much Dust, we need to find out why."

"Agreed we'll move out in 5 minutes. And send what we have so far to Lynch." Kyle said as he stood and placed his helmet on his head.

Agent Lynch was on his way to Admiral Parangosky's office to update her on Spartan-138's progress. He walked up to the desk where her assistant was seated.

"I'm here to see Admiral Parangosky."

"Name?"

"Lynch."

The assistant looks through the computer before returning his gaze toward Agent Lynch.

"The admiral is expecting you."

Agent Lynch nods in acknowledgement before walking toward the door at the back of the room which led toward the admirals office. The door it closes behind him and locks automatically. When he looks around the room the only significant change in the dull grey of the room is the mahogany desk where the admiral was seated, a few screens on the wall, the computer placed on the desk and a large window behind it.

The admiral had just finished pressing a blue button on the side of the computer's keyboard. Her gaze turning to Agent Lynch as he stops before her desk, report in hand.

"Admiral the mission report as instructed." Agent lynch informs her placing the report on her desk.

The admiral nods her head and grab's the document and reads it. After a she finished reading the document she got up and looked out the window behind the desk. The window had a nice view of Reach, capital of the UEG, you could see the capitol building in the distance.

"Things are not looking well agent. The senate has been making questionable decisions over the past few years and have recently ordered all counter terrorist operations cease, despite my and other ranking UNSC personnel have argued against it." the admiral declared.

Agent Lynch's surprise showed on his face. "Do they truly not see the threat to the civilian population, to the UEG if we let the White Fang run amok?"

"Believe me agent, the point was brought up by many, but ultimately the senate overruled the protests. And have begun to assemble an oversight committee to oversee all military operation." the admiral turned to look at Lynch in the eyes. "Including ONI."

"How will that affect my current operation?"

"No need to worry agent. Your not currently running any operations. As far as the world is concerned you are leading a research team into AI integration into UNSC military operations."

"And what of my operative?"

"As far as his file is concerned he died during augmentation 4 years ago."

"And what about the situation with the senate."

"You need not concern yourself with the senate. I will handle it personally. You are dismissed."

"Yes admiral." Lynch saluted before leaving the office and heading back to his own, thinking about what he had learned in the meeting. Suspicion taking root in his mind on the recent decisions of the senate, and weather they were still acting in the best interest of the UEG.

It had been asleep for a long time. It had stopped counting the days millenia ago, yet still it felt the hunger, the drive to consume, to feed. It began with the slight rumbling of the cell that was containing it, as the prey approached. And with the coming of prey came the end of it's long slumber.

And so it waited as they approached, until it's containment was breached. It leaped at the prey not caring what it latched onto as the rest of it's brethren surged with it. The screams of the prey was heard but they did not take notice, too engrossed in changing the prey.

It took but a moment for the change to take place and it had control over the body. It was free.

As it's brethren raised their new forms alongside it, they moved as one towards the place where the prey came. They surged from the earth and spread searching and consuming all in sight. For the days of ignorance are over, and Remnant will once again feel the hunger of the monument to all their sins. For the Flood had returned and nothing would stand in its way.