I am the Emperor of Humanity across the Multiverse

Halo Universe Date: September 26, 2511 

Location: Outer region of the Orion Arm.

The Atlas fleet was anchored in a stunningly colorful nebula, filled with deadly radiation yet exceptionally beautiful.

After exiting warp space, the fleet had remained in this area for nearly a month, waiting. A Paris-class frigate had completed personnel transfers and vehicle deployments before re-entering warp space, moving closer to Shield World 0459.

The frigate, while at the extreme limits of its range, had disengaged from warp travel and used its antimatter engines to accelerate, successfully reaching low orbit around 0459 without alerting the Covenant fleet.

This precise jump was possible thanks to the fleet's secretive technology known as [Reset], though few were aware of its existence. The crew, however, had grown accustomed to the Intelligence Division's "divine foresight."

At this moment, the Paris-class frigate, Beacon of Fire, lay in stealth mode on the dark side of Shield World 0459, maintaining strict communication silence.

Inside the war room of Beacon of Fire, the space was four meters high, allowing Vulkan and Lehman to stand comfortably without having to hunch over. They stood alongside the ship's captain, senior officers, and two AI units with physical bodies, discussing the next steps of the mission.

The central console displayed a holographic model of 0459, along with the Covenant fleet on the sunlit side.

"Hmm..." Lehman crossed his arms, frowning as he gazed at the live feed from the console. "Judging by the thick atmosphere on the Shield World, it's clear there are wild Flood forms on the surface."

He then glanced at the Covenant fleet, continuing, "And the Covenant is feeding them fresh meat. Tsk, they may have already spawned a Proto-Gravemind."

"Father's suspicions were correct," Vulkan chimed in, enlarging the display of the Covenant fleet on the sunlit side. "According to orbital drone footage and intelligence reports, the Covenant fleet stationed at 0459 consists of four CRS-class light cruisers and one CCS-class battlecruiser."

"The CRS-class ships, each roughly 300 meters in length, aren't a major concern. With the upgrades to our Paris-class and Fedes-class ships, we can easily handle them. However, the nearly 2-kilometer-long CCS-class battlecruiser is one of the Covenant's most formidable vessels. According to Intelligence, its mobility and firepower are two to three times that of UNSC capital ships."

Vulkan, though well-versed in Covenant fleet information, used the Intelligence Division's reports to explain the situation to those present.

"Only five ships?" remarked a major responsible for commanding the ODST forces. "Even if their firepower is strong, they can't possibly stand against the company's fleet. With precise intelligence, we can wipe them out in no time."

"It's possible, yes," the Beacon of Fire's captain agreed, but then countered, "But don't forget, the company doesn't want to reveal humanity's presence to the Covenant too soon. Doing so would trigger an all-out war between humanity and the Covenant."

"Furthermore, within the Covenant are species whose beliefs and values align more closely with ours. If this operation results in heavy casualties, it will be much harder to win them over to our side."

"Bah! I say we just crush them and be done with it. I'll follow orders, though," grumbled the ODST major, clearly from the hardline faction.

"The company can handle the current enemy but can't crush them all," Vulkan said, giving the major a glance before turning to App, whose eyes emitted a faint red glow. "If we locate the control room of 0459, can you and Melissa take control?"

"As I've guaranteed before, yes," App replied, her expression calm, still not entirely accustomed to her physical body. "And based on the ruins at Fertile Star, Shield World 0459 should have communication jamming and force field capabilities. If Melissa and I succeed, it will greatly aid the company's operations."

"Indeed." Melissa, with her long black hair and faint yellow eyes, nodded in agreement. "During warp travel, I worked with App, Ashford, Dr. Halsey, and the company's elite members to decrypt 85% of the ruins at Fertile Star. We've become quite adept at handling Forerunner technology."

Melissa, a member of the AI Council, had been captured by Ada, Leon, and Chris, then teleported to the front-line base at Fertile Star. She had quickly switched sides, eager to help Atlas dismantle ONI and the UNSC from within.

Vulkan nodded at the assurance from the two AIs and said, "Very well. I, Lehman, App, Melissa, and a squad of twenty Thunder Warriors, along with ODST and AECS teams, will conduct a reconnaissance mission on the surface of Shield World 0459.

During the operation, Beacon of Fire will monitor the Covenant fleet's movements.

The mission will begin in thirty minutes."

"Understood," the team responded in unison.

"Dismissed."

With that, Vulkan and Lehman left the war room first.

——

Thirty minutes later, the ventral hangar bay of Beacon of Fire opened, releasing a stream of air from the valve gates.

A Luna transport shuttle and four Pelican dropships, escorted by two Ghost III fighters, cloaked in optical camouflage, departed from the hangar, heading directly toward Shield World 0459's atmosphere.

Inside Pelican 04, seated in two rows, were soldiers equipped with heavy mechanical exoskeletons, or more precisely, experimental power armor used by AECS elite forces.

While traditional hydrogen cells couldn't meet the semi-permanent energy needs of the power armor, and the cost of personal cold fusion reactors was prohibitively high, the research department had found an alternative. They successfully developed mass-producible power armor based on disposable condensed batteries, known as the "MCIP-I Model," or "Mackeep" power armor.

The Mackeep armor was designed to transform the AECS into a type of "support army."

After all, the "Titan Armor" developed for the Astartes was so advanced that even elite soldiers enhanced with Inquisitor serum couldn't safely operate it. Astartes needed a support force capable of keeping up with their level of combat.

Thus, the research department adapted existing sealed combat suits, full-body mechanical exoskeletons, and hazardous environment suits, resulting in this "low-end" model of power armor.

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