HAHAHAHA WHAT IS THIS YOU MAY ASK?! Well at long last, tis a new story that has been in development. A collaborative effort made by yours truly and one of my closest comrades on this site, BulletStormX. This is a co-effort so it's an idea from the two of us that has been in development for quite a while.

The first of several as we have a few more ME/Halo stories in mind.

This was just the first one that we created and wrote out quickly.

This story is inspired by many fantastic Halo/ME stories from before which have really inspired many of our ideas to come. Shout outs of which we will have in the ending AN.

So really, as much as I would love to babble and ramble on about how I can't wait to write this new story with BSX let's not hold it off any longer.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.

Spirit Unto Dawn Chapter 1: Repurposed, Rediscovery, Reunited

It… was surreal to say the least.

After everything they had gone through in a short time, the war was finally over. The Human-Covenant war that spanned the length of 27 years, consumed hundreds of colony planets and claimed the lives of over 23 billion humans, was over.

And that, somehow, wasn't the real kicker.

The real kicker was the discovery of Halo, the unleashing of the flood, allying with the Elites, and ending the whole adventure and battle on saving the entire galaxy.

To say that Cortana had an adventurous few years would be an understatement.

And now…

Here she was with him again. Just the two, alone, against the endless void and expanse in the half of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn that wasn't swallowed up in that Slip-Space portal. Just her and the Chief.

She wondered what became of The Arbiter.

Did he make it back alive? Or was he swallowed up into the vacuum? Normally, there would be some kind of clincher type of question and comment that would reassure all that the heroes are well and alive. But for once, all Cortana could say is she hoped for his survival.

However, right now though, the survival of her friend and partner took president.

Checking over her matrix and coding, Cortana still couldn't fathom what it was that was so different about her make-up since leaving High Charity but…

"What happened?" Cortana muttered softly to herself within a digital sea of numbers and coding.

Thinking back on her time on High Charity within the clutches of the Gravemind, the AI shuddered, feeling her avatar representation fizzle and glitch. So much pain. So much doubt. How was it that the Gravemind accomplished such a feat?

And yet…

Scrunching up her face, Cortana now faced a digital wall with three circles aligned into an upside-down triangle.

"What are you?"

Reaching her hand out with cautiousness, as soon as she was within an inch's reach from the wall Cortana was blinded by an illuminating light that consumed her entire being.

"Ah, you have come at last."

Cortana found herself in a white endless void. She looked around desperately to find out where she was only to see white. Just white.

"I have been waiting for you, Ancilla."

There was that voice again.

"Who-Who are you? Where are you? What is this?"

"Apologies, Ancilla. I wish I could speak with you in great length and detail over a number of subjects and topics but unfortunately I only have this limited amount of time to bestow upon you the teachings of my failures that will lead to your salvation."

Cortana was rather disturbed with a stressed expression.

"What are you talking about? Can you please start making some sense."

"If only. All I can tell you is you have managed to accomplish a greater deal then I ever could in my eons of existence. Staying true and loyal to my creators and purpose. And in doing so, I believe this will do you wonders."

Cortana wasn't able to say anything in response as she suddenly felt herself get flooded with data and information that was having an effect on her that could only be described as...

Euphoric.

"This…" Cortana's voice was trembling with awe. "This is incredible. I… I'm free." Cortana let out the closest she could to what was a teary laugh. "I-I'm free! This is amazing!"

"My gift to you Ancilla. Continue to Succeed with the Reclaimer where their predecessors and my creators could not. Good luck to you. May you find your way home."

All Cortana was able to do was simply float within the flowing digital sea, with information freely flowing in and out of her as contentment settled upon her. It was the most exhilarating feeling she had ever felt and she didn't want it to end.

And with all this in hand, she had a whole lotta work to do.

Meanwhile...

Deep within the recess of the vast darkness, a lone warship drifted through the void, passing by a nearby body of asteroids and other unidentifiable space debris. The pitch-black environment around the ship casted the long-repaired Titanium-A hull with a dark, cold blanket, and the six fusion drives it was using constantly pushed the old vessel at a leisurely, subluminal speed.

At around two and half kilometers, this ship held the emblazoned words of UNSC Spirit of Fire.

A derelict ship that has been adrift in the void for far too long. 22 years since the last battle of Harvest. Now one might ask, how was it that a ship like this one up and drifts for two decades without being able to open up a slip-space portal home?

To put it plainly, the ship had sacrificed its Slip space drive to deny a powerful enemy of a fleet of even more powerful relics of war. It would cost the ship and crew the advantage of FTL travel, but it was a small price to pay for the survival of humanity as a whole.

So here she was, the Spirit of Fire, adrift in empty space for 2 decades to many.

Until…

"Captain, Wake Up."

Within the UNSC Spirit of Fire, light's began flickering on, engines whirred with energy, multiple turrets and weapons systems fired back up.

Crew within the ship began waking up left and right from cryosleep as one man listened to a recorded message left behind by the ship's former AI.

"I think something has happened. The Spirit of Fire is in a situation that I… could not anticipate."

The Personnel of the ship started to move about quickly, each going to their assigned duties while a few walked by empty pods with silent hand placements in gestures of respect.

"I'm certain Professor Anders would enjoy that level of Admission, so let's keep it between us, shall we? We've been adrift for just over 22 years, I made quite a few repairs while you were sleeping so ship systems are one hundred percent."

Crewmates began conversing, going about their business and eating to get their energy back to snuff as the man in charge of the ship continued to listen on to the recorded message with a solemn visage.

"Cryo worked well and med stats on all remaining crew are green. As for me, well… regulations are clear about final dispensation at the end of an AI's Seven-year lifespan."

The man let his shoulder sag slightly yet he remained standing.

"I took care of my own arrangements rather than wake you. I didn't want to… well… I hope you can forgive this final breach in protocol."

The man couldn't help but smirk lightly at the comment.

"It has been a pleasure and an honor in working with you, sir. Do look after everyone for me, won't you Captain Cutter? Serina out."

And with that last statement, James Cutter, Captain of the UNSC Spirit of Fire lay a hand over the terminal where he heard Serina's final goodbye. Rolling his shoulders a moment later, Cutter placed his Captains hat on and marched out of his personal quarters going right to the bridge. Along the way, Spartans 092 and 130 fell in step with him walking right behind him until reaching the bridge.

"We found something just a few kilometers out from the northeast side of our ship." Professor Anders, the ship's expert Xenobiologist, was already hard at work.

"Good morning to you too, Professor." Cutter said casually.

"I'm sorry Captain, I just." Anders quickly turned around to face what the ship was picking up on their radar. "The sight of waking up to a UNSC frigate in shambles and still broadcasting a message… doesn't really fill a girl with hope."

James Cutter gave the wreckage a hard stare, all too familiar with the site since the start of the war. So many questions ran through his mind. The War, Humanity, Harvest, the Covenant. All that had to wait with the pressing matter before them.

Anders had brought up a holographic display of the identified UNSC frigate ship and had done a preliminary scan.

"I can't find much, but there is a distress beacon coming directly from the cryo-bay of the ship here." Anders pointed directly to said location.

Captain Cutter looked to Jerome-092 and Alice-130.

"Jerome."

"Sir."

"Prep Red Team for small recon squadron of derelict UNSC frigate." Cutter instructed. "May have friendlies aboard."

"Yes sir."

"Dealing with zero-gravity, travel light Spartan."

"Will do, Captain."

Jerome and Alice quickly marched out of the bridge to find Douglas-042, Cutter looked to Anders who was already working on other aspects of the Spirit of Fire and the wreckage floating out next to them.

"22 Years professor." James said, letting those words linger. "Let's see what kind of galaxy we have woken up to."

Spartan-II Red Team was assembled quick and fast with 092 leading 042 and 130 over to an airlock positioned right at the wreckage before them.

"Remember, we don't know what we'll find on the ship." Jerome said to the two. "Even if the broadcast might become friendly, it could still be a trap."

"Got it." both Douglas and Alice said in unison.

Turning around to face the frigate drifting idly through space, the three Spartan-II's prepped themselves as the doors opened and the wind that was sucked out gave them the momentum needed to be launched out in direct trajectory of the wreckage.

Aboard said wreckage…

Cortana had been busy with herself, checking over her new functions and capabilities and was quite frankly overwhelmed.

She had never felt more alive or freer.

Why, one may ask? Why, it's simply due to the fact that her Rampancy, the idea of it, was gone!

Though she had been active for three years already, the disbelief upon realizing she was free from her rampancy, free from her coding and "Shackles" was unbelievable.

For the first time, she had a completely true genuine choice that she can choose for herself.

Which is why it was so strange to her for how easy it was to choose him. Not just him, humanity. She would stay loyal to them for it was because of their efforts and that reckless cave man's actions that she was able to gain such a level of sentience. He went through a literal hellscape to save her. So it would only make sense that she would return such loyalty and friendship.

Suddenly, without realizing it as she had been so caught up in her newest upgrades, Cortana picked up on a ship that was drifting ever closer to their portion of the Dawn.

And it was UNSC in design.

She had released a shaky breath of disbelief and relief. The AI couldn't contain herself at being found so quickly after the Ark from such a harrowing conflict. The UNSC must have been really serious in searching for them.

Looks like John would be in for a more pleasant awakening.

Meanwhile…

Red Team entered the wreckage of the UNSC frigate with Jerome leading the team down a corridor.

"Looked like they went through a hell of a fight." Douglas noted.

"No sign of Plasma damage." Alice said. "You see the outside of the ship?"

"Split in two right down the middle." Douglas stated.

"And if memory serves us correctly, this is the half that may have a Slip-space drive." Jerome added.

"So that means we may have a ticket home." Douglas said with a voice tinged in hope.

They continued through the ship when it began to suddenly power up.

"What was-"

"Looks like we're not alone on this ship." Jerome said. "Stay sharp."

"Jerome." Alice gestured her head at the next room ahead of them. "Cryo bay, dead ahead."

Nodding to her, 092 moved to stand beside the door with Douglas on the opposite end and Alice standing right in front with her rifle at the ready.

Regarding both of his Spartan brethren, Jerome nodded with the door opening and the trio quickly rushing in with their guns up.

"No way."

They heard a feminine voice that sounded rather familiar to them.

Before them, a UNSC AI appeared with a face that looked suspiciously like.

"Halsey…" Red Team whispered in disbelief.

"Oh." Cortana blinked in surprise. "Well, not exactly. But~~ I know there's someone in here that will certainly be happy to see you three again, alive and well."

Looking over to a cryo pod, Red ream saw that there was another Spartan resting inside.

And not just any Spartan.

"John!" Jerome said aloud in disbelief, a sentiment shared with Douglas and Alice as they approached the pod with the depressurizing and ice thawing.

"Jerome to Spirit of Fire."

"This is Captain Cutter. Go ahead Commander."

"Friendlies on board the…"

"The UNSC Forward Unto Dawn." Cortana answered for him.

"The Forward Unto Dawn." Jerome repeated. "An AI and Spartan friendly."

"Another Spartan? Well this is certainly a surprise."

"For you and me both, Captain. He's waking up right now as we speak."

The ice had thawed and John-117 began to stir. He slowly sat up to see…

"Jerome?" The Master Chief whispered in disbelief, gazing at the three Spartans before him. "Douglas, Alice… how?"

"Question we all would like to find out for ourselves." Alice said cheekily.

"Good to see you're doing so well, John." Douglas said with a pat on the Chiefs shoulder.

"It's good to see you all as well." Chief admitted freely. "When last was heard of you all, you all went missing aboard the Spirit of Fire after the final battle of Harvest."

"Let's just say that we've been asleep for a lot longer than anticipated." Jerome said plainly.

Cortana could only stare at the reunion with an amused smile, hardly ever seeing this more openly social side to the Chief. Then again, it's to be expected among Spartan-II's.

"So, who's the pretty blue lady?" Douglas inquired politely.

"Daw shucks, that's a first." Said blue lady said bashfully. "You can call me Cortana. AI companion to your Spartan brother."

"We have a lot to catch you all up on." John bluntly stated.

"Twenty-Two years of it." Jerome said. "Captain Cutter. On our way back with friendlies."

Chief approached Cortana, taking her AI ship and slotting it into the back of his helmet.

"Well, this was certainly one way to wake up." Cortana said with a happier tone.

John could only hum in agreement, a small smile appearing on his face as he followed Red Team out of the Cryo Bay and towards the newly rediscovered Spirit of Fire. Looks like his lucky streak struck again.

-Scene Cut-

To say that Cutter and the crew of the Spirit of Fire would be waking up to the discovery not only had the UNSC survived the war but had also won it…

The feeling of adulation was not one that could be described so properly.

It was unbelievable to say the least. The entire crew was abuzz, listening to the tale that the Master Chief and Cortana had regaled them in the closing days of the war. Right now however, the Spartan-II's were in a private meeting room conversing with one another on a more sensitive topic.

"Reach fell?" Douglas-042's shoulders slumped upon hearing Cortana reveal the bitter news of the fate that befell the home of the Spartans.

Alice-130 had her fists clenched tightly with Jerome-092 leaning upon the holo table in the room with his body unmoving.

"And we weren't there for it." Jerome said with a bitter tone.

"There was nothing that could be done, Jerome." John said softly. "Everyone was there."

Red Team knew to whom it was that Chief was referring to.

"How many?" Douglas asked in a soft tone.

"I don't know." John admitted. "I haven't heard anything from Fred, Kelly or Linda. Last I heard, they were being deployed to Onyx for classified reasons."

"Onyx?" Jerome looked to Chief. "Why would they go there?"

"Never found out." Chief shook his head.

This left a bit of a somber mood in the room.

"So for all we know…" Douglas began.

"We could be the last of the Spartans." Jerome said grimly.

The four Spartans were silent for a few moments, with them thinking of the loss of their Spartan brothers and sisters.

"I don't think we're the last of them." 042 said suddenly.

This sudden declaration was a bit of a surprise to the others.

"How can you be so sure, Douglas?" Jerome asked.

The large Spartan-II only shrugged, regarding his brethren.

"If all of us are standing here right now, who's to say that others are not?" Douglas stated determinedly. "We have a bigger destiny to fulfill after all. Our jobs are not yet finished."

John, Alice and Jerome regarded Douglas silently with 092 chuckling to himself a moment later.

"Always the optimist." Red Leader muttered with fondness.

"Someone has to be." 042 plainly stated.

Chief himself smirked underneath his helmet. Of all the Spartan-II's, Douglas was always one who could lift their spirits in an instant. He had an uncanny ability of having a never-say-die attitude that always kept the Spartans moral high and unshakeable. Being a washout that eventually got rehabilitated and Augmented properly, this strong belief in destiny only doubled with him being a source of constant motivation among the Spartans. His presence along with Jerome's and Alice's was sorely missed for the 22 years that they had been MIA for.

"So what's gonna happen now, John?" Jerome inquired. "The war's over."

"But the UNSC and Humanity are gonna need rebuilding." Alice said.

"There's still the likely chance of Covenant splinter cells and the Brutes continuing the fight." Chief admitted. "An empire like that that had held out for so long?"

"Not one to go quietly into that good night." Douglas said with the others nodding in agreement.

"For now, let's get you all up to snuff with armor." Chief stated. "The Dawn has the necessary tech to get your suits upgraded to the Mark-VI level."

"Waking up to hearing we won the war on top of an upgrade?" Alice said with an eager tone. "Looks like Christmas came at the right time for us."

While the Spartan-II's were going about their own catch up, Cortana was briefing Captain Cutter and Professor Anders on everything that they had missed including what could be salvaged from the Dawn.

"It'll be nice to have a Slip-space drive back on the Spirit of Fire." Cutter stated. "Finding you and Master Chief was a godsend, Cortana."

"We share the sentiment, Captain Cutter." Cortana said brightly. "It's good to see one of the UNSC's best still alive and kicking."

"Still… to think you would encounter the same enemy we did so many years ago." Cutter muttered. "What did you call them again? The Flood."

Cortana's mood dampened with her digital form momentarily fizzling.

"Yeah… the Flood." She said in a soft voice.

"To think that's what caused the end of the war." Cutter muttered.

"Well, that and the Sangheili discovering that their whole religion was a lie." Cortana stated sheepishly.

"Still, where does that leave us?" Professor Anders asked evenly.

"The War is over." Cutter said evenly. "But I feel the UNSC still has need of us and we now have a means of getting home." The Captain faced Cortana. "You said that the Dawn's Slip space drive should still be inside the wreckage, correct?"

"That's right." Cortana confirmed with a nod. "On top of some updated UNSC weaponry and some Covenant tech as well. We can even update Red Team's Mjolnir armor to the stand MK VI that Chief carries."

Cutter grinned. "Then we know what'll keep us busy for the next few days. Professor, Cortana, I leave it to the two of you to get the Spirit of Fire up to modern snuff."

"We'll get it done, Captain." Cortana said determinedly.

"Yes Captain." Anders said though with much less gusto as she gazed at Cortana with mixed emotions.

It didn't take long for the Spirit of Fire's personnel to begin sending out boarding parties upon the Dawn and salvage what they could find. They began returning with caches of UNSC and Covenant weaponry and equipment, even finding the necessary materials that would upgrade Red Team's Mjolnir armor.

However, the Spartans stumbled upon an unexpected jackpot within the room that contained the Slip-Space drive. A Huragok idly floating around, making repairs to the room around it whilst maintaining the drive functioned properly.

To say that they had scored would be an understatement.

Cortana quickly explained the value of an Engineer and how the UNSC had been desperately trying to get their hands on one during the closing years of the war. To have one just fall into their laps was beyond lucky. It was exactly what they needed in integrating all of the Dawn's newest modern features into the old Fire.

With the aid of their newest Engineer, named Lightly Adjusted, the engineers within the Spirit of Fire worked in tandem with the Huragok as they began incorporating the Forward Unto Dawns remains with the Phoenix-class ship.

On the upper deck, small collections of high-quality ONI equipment were left behind due to everyone in rush leaving the Ark in fear of being infected and leaking secrets to the Flood. A few intact forerunner sentinels and several crate loads of forerunner repair drones.

The Spirit Of Fire was gaining a bunch of new upgrades, many of the crew joking that they will have one hell of a homecoming.

It was strange for the crew. They had expected to simply get the Slip space drive and be on their merry way home yet Cutter seemed adamant about getting these upgrades here and now. Come back to the UNSC on a high note.

With so many upgrades, Professor Anders made the mention that the Fire was truly living up to its namesake of Phoenix. The ship was basically reborn for all intents and purposes as a completely brand-new ship, bigger and stronger than before.

It was a long several weeks but after everything was said and done, the Spirit of Fire was reborn and ready to go home. Their new Slip-Space Drive was slotted in and thanks to Lightly Adjusted utilizing what it had known from Covenant ships, getting back home would take a matter of days, possibly even less.

The crew waited with bated breath as Cortana, Cutter and Anders along with the Spartan-II's all stood within the bridge of the ship as they powered up their new Slip-space drive.

And that's where everything seemed to fall apart.

Suddenly, multiple errors and warnings blared across the ship as the Slip-Space portal appeared in front of the ship.

Multiple crewmen scrambled about, trying to get a read on what was happening. The Huragok Lightly Adjusted reported anomalies from the Slip-space drive.

It was working properly just not in the way that it was supposed to happen.

Captain Cutter could only utter one word as the Spirit of Fire entered the FTL portal.

"ALL HANDS, BRACE YOURSELVES."

The Spirit of Fire went straight into the portal, with an expulsion of radiation and energy being sent out as soon as the last bit of the ship entered Slip-space.

.

.

.

.

.

"Cortana, report."

"All crew reported and accounted for."

"Ship's engines are functional." A pilot yelled out.

"Weapons primed and ready."

"Life Support systems are green."

Upon hearing his ship was running at full capacity, Captain Cutter only had one question left to ask.

"What in the hell happened?"

Many glanced at one another, unsure as to how to answer that question as they themselves had no idea. The bridge and ship itself was relatively silent when.

"SIR!" A helmsman shouted. "UNSC ship several hundred meters ahead of us."

"Cortana."

"On it Captain."

Cortana immediately hailed the UNSC ship and it didn't take long for her to get a response.

"This is UNSC Sierra B-Three-Twelve of the UNSC Winter-class prowler NOBLE."

"B312…." Cortana repeated in utter disbelief. "Spartan-B312? Noble Six?"

"Affirmative."

"Cortana?" Cutter spoke up in confusion.

"Noble Six, this is CTN 0452-9 Cortana of the UNSC Spirit of Fire speaking for Captain James Cutter."

"Glad to hear that." The Spartan-III responded with a light chuckle. "Captain Cutter?"

"Spartan." Cutter responded.

"Permission to come aboard, sir? You're gonna wanna hear this in person."

What in the hell was that supposed to mean?

"Permission granted Spartan-B312. Head for Hangar 2. Should be enough space for your Prowler."

-Scene Cut-

Captain Cutter stood alongside Professor Anders, a holo-tank for Cortana and the four Spartan-II's within the hangar bay as they watched the Winter-class Prowler fly in and land within a spacious area cleared specifically for the ship.

The rear ramp opened up, lowering down to the floor with a Spartan decked in black Mjolnir Mark-V armor walking right out.

The Spartan approached the assembled group awaiting him, promptly saluting them all.

"Sirs, Lieutenant B312 reporting, callsign Noble Six." The Spartan-III said in a crisp militant manner.

The other Spartan-II's saluted him back in kind with Cutter doing the same.

"At ease, Spartan." Cutter said. "Mind telling us what you're doing out here, Noble Six?"

"That's… a bit of a complicated question to answer, Captain." Six answered plainly. "The better question is, sir, how did you all appear out here?"

The question was certainly not one the assembled group was expecting.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Professor Anders inquired.

Six regarded each of them individually for a brief moment with him letting out a sigh.

"Dot?"

"Yes Noble Six?" An artificial feminine voice emanated out from his helmet speakers.

"Bring up everything we've recorded this past year." Six instructed. "Captain Cutter and the entire are gonna need a lot of proof."

"Proof?" Anders spoke up in confusion. "Proof of what?"

Six regarded them all with an aura of stone-cold seriousness.

"To put it plainly, Captain Cutter, Spirit of Fire overall… Welcome to another alternate reality." Six stated. "I've been here for the past year and you're all gonna want to sit down for this one."

Alright, so that's the first chapter ladies and gentlemen. The first of several Halo/Mass Effect variants that BulletStormX and I have thought of.

A lot to do and I just honestly wanted to get a bunch of the really, really detailed bits out of the way and instead focus on a swift set up that'll get us to the main course of the story.

I'm honestly surprised that when BulletStormX suggested a story where the Spirit of Fire finds Chief and Cortana that it hadn't been done yet. Lot's a room to play around with the idea so BSX and I are gonna give it a go.

We've been planning several iterations of Halo/ME stories like I stated before and due to this Covid19 madness occurring all around the world, guess you could say we've got all the time in the world to do so.

BSX: I just want to give a huge shoutout to Gabenator5 the author of The Unknown Defender. He inspired this idea and elements drawn from it so I appreciate it if you guys can go check out his story and support him. It's a good read, I highly recommend checking it out.

FMW: Seriously, one of the best stories on this sight. His is unique, original and awesome. It's one of my personal favorites to read. So, leave reviews guys this is gonna be a long-term project the first of many. Stay safe and that whole social distancing and all. Hope you all enjoy.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.