Venator Star Destroyer:
The Keeper

"Simply put, we need to get off this shield world." Cortana finished as the discussion went on between Chief, herself, and the various Republic officers that wanted to speak to them.

"Yes, but our communications are blocked by the energy coming from a strange, what you call forerunner, structure." Obi Wan looked at the holotable, which displayed a map of the area where the energy source was originating.

"Them our priority is clear, I'll lead a team to the source and deactivate it." Chief stayed after evaluating the information in his head.

"I guess it that makes sense, your AI knows many things about the 'forerunners' as you call them, I'll send some men with you." Obi Wan groomed his beard. "In the meantime I'll take a force to try and corner Grievous, and if possible, capture him before we leave."

"A-agreed." Cortana stuttered, and caused he HUD in Chief's helmet to flicker.

"Commander, get a squad and go with the Chief, follow his lead and provide support in case of any possible dangers." Obi Wan ordered his second in command, Cody.

"I'll ready a gunship." The clone saluted, and left along with Chief.

Southern Mountain Ranges,
Three kilometers from forerunner Cryptum

The noise of the clanking of dozens of battle droids filled the air around the forest, their mechanical feet left tracks in the mud and dirt they crossed.

Led by a droid sergeant, the platoon of droids and an AAT were sent to investigate the source of a strange field of energy that had been jamming all sorts of long range communications.

The standard battle droids weren't known for their intelligence or tactical abilities, so it wasn't a surprise when they were ambushed.

When several unknown aliens appeared from the rocky walls the bushes, and seemingly nowhere, the droids weren't immediately sure how to react until said aliens started firing upon them.

Two large creatures stormed into th line, bashing away multiple droids with massive shields and fired upon the AAT with their massive plasma cannon arms.

"What the?" Several battle droids simultaneously yelled in confusion.

"Blast them!" Their Sergeant yelled and led them forward.

Several bird like creatures, many oh which carried strange energy gauntlets also joined the attack, forming a defensive line by a rock ledge.
Two of the creatures fired long rifles, accurately taking out a few droids with head shots.

Half a dozen tall, muscular aliens helped finish the fight, one carried a curved sword made of magnetized plasma, followed by much smaller creatures that carried pistols and large methane tanks of their backs.

One of the small creatures hopped along into the path with a large cannon, taking a moment to aim, he fired off two rounds of green plasma at the AAT.

The first shot hit the main gun, pealing the metal back into hot slag of metal, with the second shot finishing the tank off.

After the tank was destroyed, the fighting ceased.

"Pathetic machinery." An elite scoffed as he crushed the head of a droid under his foot.

"They seemed to be interested in the relics as we are." A major stated.

"Yes, these machines and the humans could be a problem if we don't capture the relic site." The two elites nodded to one another.

"Get a signal to Jul," The major ordered a jackal, "enlighten him on our discover of these machines, and that we are nearing the temple."

The jackal barked with a nod and ran back towards their temporary encampment.

Overhead, two Republic gun ships soared over the skies unchallenged, but were easily noticed by the Covenant recon teams scattered along the area.

"Humans?" The major was furious, then motioned to everyone around him. "Get going, we must meet up with the rest if the teams."

Forerunner Temple Site
One kilometer from Forerunner Cryptum

Passing over another forest filled canyon, the two LAAT's engines roared as they found they're targeted landing area

The two LAAT gunships touched down on the smooth surface of the floor in front of the forerunner temple.

The first gunship that landed opened it's side doors quickly, with the MasterChief jumping out first, followed by several clone troopers.

"Comparing this to our previous forerunner encounters, I've mapped out a likely set of how the temple's layout would be, as well as where it's true entrance is." Cortana analyzed all the data she collected over time.

"How accurate?" Chief simply asked as he watched the two gunships leave.

"A good sixty three percent chance of accuracy, it's a start."

"Squad is under your temporary command, sir. Do you know where we shall start?" Waxer asked Chief, and Cortana as well.

With Waxer, Boil, and a half dozen other troops, the team was ready to get moving on the objective.

"Along the temple's perimeter is a long path that leads into the mountain, which should lead to the entrance."

"Copy that." Waxer nodded and motioned for his fellow clones to follow the Chief's lead.

The group walked forward carefully, guns ready in case of any sort of trouble, even though they doubted they would see much, if any, action on this little mission.

The path inside the mountain slowly turned from being made of rock and dirt to the familiar metallic forerunner alloy. The tunnel was clear and lit by the lights from Chief's helmet lights.

They soon reached a door, which activated on Chief's approach.

The group walked through several more corridors, until they found a large, open room that stretched for kilometers. In the center was a large sphere of energy, connected by two energy beams, one connecting to each side of the wall.

"Is this it?" A trooper asked bluntly.

"This is the source, but not where we can deactivate it. Chief," an orange indicator appeared on his HUD, pointing at a thin terminal. "Plug me in."

Chief did as he was asked, and Cortana's image popped up after a small, red flicker.

"There are two pylons that power the energy source, I think this," a portal activated on the left of the terminal, "will lead us to it."

Chief nodded, and jogged into the portal, and the clones followed suit.