Cortana watched subroutines work on what was left of the UNSC Forward Onto Dawn, "Hmm...we're nowhere near UNSC or Covenant space...and the star maps are not giving me a good point of reference…" she muttered, "two years and i still haven't been able to find any trace of life...wait...what is that?" she asked as she turned on one of the ships outer cameras, her eyes widened slightly as a Slipspace rupture opened up and seemingly and engulfed them, "What's going on!" she shouted as the ship shaked violently before settling, she turned her view back to the cameras and found that they were in an entirely new space, what looked like a shattered moon slowly passing them, "that...is Incredible…" she said as she made the Camera zoom in, "there's a planet…" she said, instantly performing a planet wide scan to determine survivability and the possibility of life on the planet, "amazing." she whispered before turning her attention to Master Chief, still in Cryo sleep, "chief, time to wake up." she said, watching as the ice and frost covering the casket slowly melted and disappeared.

WVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWV

Chief woke up in a haze, his vision blurry and his neck stiff, "Cortana…" he groaned as his vision cleared up.

"Chief, you've been in Cryo for two years, try and take it slow."

Chief rolled his shoulders as the casket opened, "have we been found?" he asked, carefully pulling himself out and onto the deck for the first time in two years.

"Well, yes and no, there was a slipspace rupture that seems to have transported us to a new location, I've found a planet with not only breathable air, but life forms...but...from what i can tell they haven't noticed our presence yet, and there's something else...something...not right."

"Is it the flood?" Chief asked, walking over to the terminal.

"No...something else…either way our distress beacon is alive and strong, and the gravitational pull from the planet as well as the speed at which we've been traveling these last few years...we'll reach the planet in under three days."

"Then i guess we should start preparing for the inevitable...what do we have in terms of weapons."

WVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWV

Professor Ozpin sat silently in his office, looking at something on his scroll.

"Professor Ozpin?" Ruby asked as she entered his office, Professor Goodwitch behind her, "you wanted to see me?"

"That I did." Ozpin said, "you and your team have been through quite a bit over the last three days, have you not?"

"Yes sir," Ruby said, thinking about the fight against Roman Torchwick at the docks, "Nothing we couldn't handle!"

"Indeed." he said with a smile, "and it would seem, that you will be going on your next mission very soon."

"Search and Destroy?" she asked.

"Search and rescue," he said, playing the recording that he had been obsessing over for the last three days.

" mayday, mayday, this is UNSC FFG-201 Forward Unto Dawn, requesting immediate evac, survivors aboard. Prioritization code Victor5-3-Sierra-117."

"Is that a distress beacon?" she asked..

"Indeed it is," Ozpin said, "it pinged off the tower three days ago, it is unknown exactly where the distress signal is originating from, but-" he stopped as a a loud explosion rocked the room, "what in the name of Oum…" Ozpin started, standing up and walking towards the window, he looked out to see a large, unidentified object falling from the sky, passing over the city of Vale before crash landing off in the cliffside forest.

"What was that?" Ruby asked, looking at the downed craft in awe.

"That...is the subject of our distress beacon." Ozpin said, "get your team ready."

WVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWV

Master Chief held on for dear life as the remnants of Forward Onto Dawn slammed into the forest, "Cortana! Status report!" he shouted.

"Hull integrity is stable, we lost part of the vehicle bay, but nothing of importance went with it."

"Where are we?"

"Some type of forest, nearest settlement is ten clicks out." she said as the Dawn slowed down, "good news, we still have a warthog operational, bad news, i don't think it's getting anywhere in this forest."

"Looks like we're hoofin' it." he said, making his way towards the nearest airlock.

"Do we ever get to travel a different way?"

Chief didn't say anything as he pried the door open, quickly pulling the MA5B assault rifle off his back and scanning the area, "clear." he said, jumping down onto the forest floor, "Is the air breathable?"

"That's what 'habitable planet' means chief."

"Stow the sarcasm." he muttered, slowly looking around, "i'm picking something up on my motion tracker, Friendlies?"

"Unclear...but they're headed this way, get ready John."

Chief raised his rifle once more, watching the treeline and his motion tracker as several different blips appeared, "They're surrounding us." he muttered.

"Incoming overead!" Cortana shouted, "it's...it's...what is that!"

Chief looked up with wide eyes as he saw a gigantic bird fly over him, "what in the hell…" he whispered,raising his rifle as the bird dove down towards him, "Cortana!" he shouted as he unleashed a salvo at the bird, hitting some kind of bone plate that covered it's head. "What the hell is this thing?" he asked as he dove to the side, narrowly avoiding it's razor sharp beak.

"I don't know, scans aren't revealing anything!" she said, "I do however have a recommendation."

"Which is?" he asked, slowly pulling a grenade as the bird circled around for another attack.

"That would be killing it!"

"Always one to point out the obvious." he said as the bird dove once more, he primed the grenade and threw it as the bird shrieked, the baseball sized compact explosives soared into it's mouth and lodged in it's throat, making the bird careen off with a choked shriek, it's head exploding as it crashed through the trees.

"We have incoming to the right chief."

Chief quickly wheeled around, levelling the rifle as several monsterous creatures burst through the foilage, "Cortana?"

"Before you ask, no, i don't know what these are, but if i had to guess, i'd say they look like werewolves and bears...with some kind of...bone armor."

One of the 'werewolves' roared, making the others charge. Chief fired the rifle in short bursts, taking down several of the smaller wolves before dodging out of the way of a bear, he emptied what remained of his clip into the base of it's skull before mounting the rifle on his back and pulling his sidearm, firing single shots into the horde, "we need an exit."

"There's a gap in their lines, fifteen yards, setting waypoint."

Chief took off, vaulting off the back of a bear and reloading the rifle in his landed and took off runing, "we'll come back for our munitions when we clear this area." he said.

"Ships defenses will keep them out for the most part." cortana said as Chief continued to run, firing behind him at the wolves now giving chase. "But i think they're more determined to kill us for whatever reason."

"I'm just that popular." chief deadpanned as he reached an outcropping of rock, "time to play king of the hill." he said, climbing the spire of rock and standing atop it as the pack caught up, he fired with deadly precision against the horde, keeping track of his ammo until the last bullet was chambered, he'd then eject the mag and slam another one in without having to stop firing.

"We have something approaching from the west!"

"More hostiles?" Chief asked, slamming his fist into a charging bear, cracking it's bone mask and snapping it's neck.

"No...it's...it's engines...it's some kind of transport craft."

"We about to have troops?" he asked, pulling a knife out and throwing it with practiced ease, catching a werewolf in the throat.

"Nice throw," Cortana commented, "and as far as i can tell, there's not too many life forms on board...maybe a single fireteam?"

Chief grappled with the last Werewolf, Snapping it's neck as the transport hovered over, it's side doors opening, he tightened the grip on his rifle as four teenage girls jumped out and landed around him, Blonde, Redhead, Black Hair and White hair…" Cortana said into his earpiece, oldest is about seventeen, youngest around fifteen, all of them are at the peak of fitness for their height, weight, and stature...he raised his rifle almost at the same instant that one of the girls pointed the scythe at him And they are currently very hostile.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"You first." Chief said, keeping his eye on the girl with pure white hair, who was currently pointing her rapier at his feet.

"I'm Ruby Rose," she said, slowly lowering Crescent Rose, "guys, relax." as soon as she said that the others put their weapons down, "We're Team RWBY; we were sent by Professor Ozpin to help anyone who was in the crash...so...i guess that's you Mr…?"

"Master Chief Petty Officer John 117, Designation Sierra 117." he said, slowly lowering his gun, "and yes, I was the only one on board the ship."

"Well...what...do we call you?"

"Call Me Master Chief." he said, "where are we?"

"Cliffside Forests, about forty miles from Beacon."

"I mean what planet are we on." Chief asked. Starting to walk back towards the wreckage of the Dawn.

"Uh...what Planet do you think we're on?" The Blonde asked hesitantly.

"Don't know,that's why i'm asking." Chief said as he continued on to the wreckage, stopping short as he saw even more of the monsters he had just been facing. He squatted down beside a downed tree, "What are these things?" He asked, looking to Ruby.

"They're Grimm." Ruby said, "monsters."

"And a lot of them too, "the blonde said, "we got Ursai, Beowulves, and a small pack of creepers. What did you do to piss them off so bad?"

"Just gave them the Standard UNSC welcome," Chief said, "is there a way to get them away from the wreckage?"

"Nope, we'd have to clear them out." she smirked, "i'm Yang by the way, that's Blake, and Ice Queen."

"Hey!" she objected, "it's Weiss, Weiss Schnee."

"Good to meet you all," he said, checking his ammo reserves, "Cortana, can you lock the ship down from here? I'm not going to be able to clear those things out on my own."

"I could, but there's no way of knowing if the ship will unlock the next time we come back." Cortana said into his ear piece.

"Who's Cortana?" Yang asked, "she another survivor?"

"No," he said to her, "lock it down cortana, getting back in won' be a problem next time."

"Copy that Chief."

"So who is she?" Yang asked as Chief stood up, looking at the team.

"Classified." he said as he walked back to the outcropping of rock, he looked at Ruby,"where's the Evac point?"

"Uh...the bullhead landed in a clearing to the south." Ruby said hesitantly.

"Lets go.' Chief said, heading south, "Ruby, scout on ahead for anymore Grimm, Yang, Blake, watch the flanks-"

"Hold on!" Weiss shouted, stepping in front of him, "you aren't our superior."

"Did i ask?" he asked, moving her to the side and continuing to walk.

"I don't know who you think you are-" she started angrily.

"I think I'm the highest ranking officer here, i also think i'm going to the evac point, which is what we would do whether or not i took charge, as it is i don't think either you, or any of your team is currently apart of your countries military, which makes you civilians, which still makes me the highest ranking person here. Unless i'm wrong, that means you have to follow my orders.' he looked at her, "that about sum things up Ice Queen?"

"Ooooh." Yang and Ruby echoed while Blake's eyes widened slightly, no one had talked to Weiss like that in...well...ever.

"Wha-civili-no! We are huntresses!" Weiss snapped, "if anything that makes you our subordinate!"

"I don't recognize that rank." Chief said, "Sounds made up."

"It's not!"

"Uh Weiss...Hunters aren't exactly a rank." Ruby started hesitantly, "and if Mr. Chief here is apart of the military…"

"Then maybe he should take the lead." Yang finished.

Weiss narrowed her eyes, "that doesn't mean he gets to belt out orders like he's some-"

"Are you finished?" Chief interrupted, making Weiss stutter to a stop, "because daylights wasting."

Weiss clenched her fist and started to reach for her rapier, only for Ruby to stop her, "Just do what he says." Ruby whispered into her ear, "when we get him to Ozpin we'll probably never see him again."

"Fine." she growled.

Chief turned around and started off again, "Ruby." Chief started.

"On it!" she yelped, quickly streaking off into the forest ahead of them.

Yang and Blake fell into step beside Weiss, "guy's kind of a hard ass." Yang whispered to Weiss.

"He is Military…" Blake started, "you think he's some kind of Atlesian Special Ops?"

"If he was an operative then where's the rest of his team?" Weiss grumbled, "and that ship doesn't look Atlesian at all."

"So what? You think he's really a space man?"

"That's preposterous."

"It could be true."

"I mean-"

"You three do know I can hear you right?" Chief asked, making them tense.

"Sorry, i didn't think you could hear us." Yang tried.

"Who i am, and where I come from is of no concern to you three at the moment." Chief said, "what concerns all of us is getting to the Evac without those creatures attacking-"

"They're called Grimm." Weiss interjected.

"Whatever they're called, I'd rather get out of here before more show up."

"So what? Your scared?" Blake asked disbelievingly.

"I'm cautious." he said, looking ahead as Ruby came running back.

"The way is clear sir!" Ruby declared, saluting him.

"How far from the evac site are we?" he asked, walking past her and motioning her to follow him.

"Um...about four hundred meters." Ruby guessed, "give or take a couple meters."

"You ran all the way over there and back?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Yes sir! My semblance is speed so…"

"Semblance.." Chief mused.

"Must be some kind of field equipment. Something to augment their physical abilities. Cortana said, "if you'd let me, i'd like to try and poke their brains, find out more about this planet we've found ourselves on."

"Go crazy.' Chief said. Making Ruby look at him in confusion.

"Uh…"

"Hello Ruby." Cortana said, from Chief's external speakers, making everyone present jump.

"Uh...hello?" Ruby said awkwardly.

"I thought he was a dude." Yang whispered, earning her a sharp nudge from Weiss.

"My name is Cortana." she said, "I'm a Smart AI that has been paired with the Master Chief, i'd like to ask you a few questions about this place."

"I...will help you as much as i can." Ruby said cheerfully.

Chief chuckled to himself as Cortana started to pester Ruby about everything she could, first starting with what a Semblance was, which then lead to a conversation about Aura and the Grimm as well as something called Dust; which in turn moved onto the topic of Atlas and the Schnee Dust Company, and then to Faunus.

"Humans with an animal trait." Cortana muttered, as chief climbed onto the bullhead after Blake. "we've never encountered something like this, tell me, do they make up a large percentage of this planet's population?"

"You keep saying 'this planet'." Blake said, "what do you mean?"

"Technically speaking this is the third planet i've been on, and probably the fiftieth one Chief has been on."

"Cortana." Chief started warningly.

"Relax, i'm not going to reveal anything classified." she said, the girls could almost hear the eyeroll in her voice, "anyways, we're apart of the UNSC United Nations Space Command, it's the military and scientific branch of the Unified Earth Government, with them we've been through many confrontations and battles against the Covenant, a race of Aliens bent on human annihilation."

"Aliens?" Yang asked, an eyebrow raising.

"Yes," Cortana said, "we battled them for over twenty-seven years, from 2525 to 2552, Chief himself witnessed not only the the beginning of the war, but what was supposed to be the end."

"Supposed to?" Weiss asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

"It's unknown at the current time whether or not war is entirely over with." Cortana said, "considering that last battle tore our ship in two and stranded myself and the chief in dead space to await rescue. That was almost three years ago."

"So how'd yall get here?" Yang asked.

"We drifted," cortana said, "the explosion that tore our ship in half, sent us through space, not at a very quick pace mind you, but a very quick pace mind you, but a surprise slipspace rupture of unknown origin brought us closer to your planet."

"Slipspace?" Weiss asked.

"Oh so much to teach all of you." she said.

"Slipspace is a hyper compressed multidimensional space separate from our own reality." Chief recited, "it is a reality we can access to gain faster than light travel, turning hundreds of years worth of travel into a couple of months."

"That's...impossible." Weiss muttered, "The science and math and mechanics-"

"I could transfer all relevant data to you, as it stands i have several hundred gigabytes worth of documents that can completely explain slipspace and-"

"Cortana." Chief said warningly.

"Come on John, they're children, i doubt they'd be able to recreate the engines capable of Slipspace travel."

"But they're superiors might be able to." Chief said as the bullhead came in for a landing and the bay doors opened up, revealing Professor Ozpin and the teachers of Beacon waiting for them. Chief started reaching for his gun, only for an unknown force to stop him before his fingers could even graze the cool metal.

"Good evening," Ozpin said, "my name is Professor Ozpin, and I have some questions for you."

WVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWV

Chief stood in front of Ozpin's desk, Doctor Oobleck and Professor Port flanking him, Team RWBY stood off to the side, watching nervously as Ozpin mulled over the information chief gave them.

"Hmm...well, I do believe much of what you told me is truth." he said, leaning forward in his chair, "at least, what you could tell me that wasn't deemed classified by you or your AI. but what i want to know, is what you plan to do now?"

Chief thought about it, "i don't know sir." he said, "as far as I know, the war is over, and getting home seems an impossibility at this moment."

"Then, perhaps i can offer you a job." he said, "on a...temporary basis of course."

"What would we be doing?" cortana asked, appearing on Ozpins desk.

"Well, according to team RWBY, you are quite the warrior; and while I'd love to send you off into the wildlands to take care of any marauding bandits or hordes of grimm, I do believe your skill set may be better utilized in helping our faculty here teach the next generation."

"You want me to be a teacher?" Chief asked incredulously.

"Indeed, perhaps you can give them a different view point of war. A new fighting style, new theories that could help them advance their thinking and skills, teach them how a fabled 'Spartan' fights." he said.

Chief turned off his radio and asked cortana, "should we do it?"

"It wouldn't hurt, and be entertaining to see you interact with Greenhorns again."

"You're really only looking for the entertainment value?"

"Oh don't get me wrong, that plays a big part, but there's something else...Ozpin's hiding something, something huge, but his network encryption is out of this world, i can barely make it four inches without almost setting off alarms and firewalls...i think it'd be prudent to find out what he really knows."

"Agreed." John said, turning his radio back on, "I accept your offer Professor." he said.

Ozpin smiled, "Excellent, now, feel free to deny this request, but i'd like you to remove your helmet."

Chief hesitated.

"As I said, you don't have to, i'm merely curious as to what you truly look like."

Chief slowly reached up and disengaged the locks that kept his helmet attached, ever so slowly he removed his helmet for the first time in three years.

He was pale, too pale, and he knew that, his skin hadn't seen the sun for long periods of time since he was fourteen, and it showed. His brown hair was slightly longer then he usually kept it, but was in otherwise healthy condition, his blue eyes looked around in suspicion, as if waiting for a sniper to take his head off.

"Whoa...someone needs some sun." Yang said, grunting when Weiss elbows her hard.

"Do you ever take that armor off?" Goodwitch asked, making Chief turn his eyes to her.

"Not for a while." he said, "last time I removed this helmet was after my armor was almost destroyed and I got an upgrade. That was three years ago."

"Well, i'm certain that you don't have to wear your armor everywhere while you're here Master Chief." Ozpin said good naturedly.

"All do respect Professor, i'd like to keep it on...for now." Chief said, "it takes a while to take this armor off and on."

"Hmm…" he looked over to Ruby, "Ms. Rose, perhaps it would be...prudent to introduce the Master Chief to Chief Jora in the shop class."

Ruby's eyes lit up she looked at Chief, who suddenly looked apprehensive.

"Before we do that." Chief started, looking back to Ozpin, "I request permission to return to my ship."

"For?"

"Ammo, weapons, and to remove anything that could potentially be dangerous to you and yours."

"What could be on this ship that could be dangerous to us?" Goodwitch asked.

"Missiles for one." Cortana said, "several types of missiles ranging from air-to-air to bunker busters. As well as an arsenal that can arm a small garrison, every terrorists wet dream."

Ozpin nodded, "and how do you propose we remove these harmful materials?" he asked.

"The arsenal i need." chief said, "For general upkeep of my weapons, the missiles, we need to destroy as soon as possible."

"I agree." Ozpin said, "I will assign team RWBY and JNPR to assist you in removing your arsenal. The missiles are another matter, our students are not trained to dispose of explosives."

"Does your military have EOD specialists?" he asked.

"I'm sure we can scrounge up someone, though they won't be joining you on the outset of the mission," Ozpin stood up, "Master Chief, you are now in command of Team RWBY and JNPR, please keep them safe."

"Of course Professor." Chief said, turning to team RWBY, "we head out in an hour, gather what gear and munitions you'll need and meet me at the docks."

"Okie Dokie!" Ruby exclaimed, saluting awkardly before the four left the room.

Chief put his helmet on, "before I leave," he started, looking at Ozpin, "is there any way you can give Cortana relevant information on the White Fang, as well sa any Grimm we will be facing."

"But of course." Ozpin said, "I'll have it all transferred to her as soon as she stops hacking at the fire walls."

"You knew i was in the system?" Cortana asked in surprised.

"Indeed." he said, taking a sip of his coffee, a small smile on his lips, "though i have to say, you were making much farther progress then previous attempts."

"I'd be impressed if i wasn't so furious at the moment."