Chapter 1 – Awaken of the Ancient Memory:

~ Starting from Master Chief Hitting by the Composer~

Master Chief gets hit by the Composer. He is blind and falls on the cold metal ground. In his mind, someone is calling him. He hears a strange yet familiar female voice and become conscious again.

Familiar Voice (Female): Wake up. John, wake up!

Master Chief (MC): Cortana? Cortana, where are you?

The voice tone turns deeper.

Strange Voice (Male): Wake up!

Suddenly, there is a huge earthquake. Master Chief opens his eyes, and he realized something is not right. He looks around, and he realized he is standing in an unfamiliar location. He is in a researching facility. It was like teleportation just happened to him. There are a couple of men and women in this room who look like some soldiers and scientists but with unrecognized armor sets and clothing. In the back of the room, he sees a huge object, something that looks like a cold sleep pod, and through its window, there is a gigantic figure sleeping inside.

(BGM: Halo Reach, New Alexandria - Fall from Grace)

Master Chief seems very confused and tries to organize the situation. Then, one of the soldiers, who looks like a high ranked military personal, approaches and speaks to him.

General Thajumn: Hey Machfiet, are you alright?

Master Chief: Machfiet? No, I am Sierra-117 Master Chief Petty Officer… Sierra-117… who am I?

Master Chief thinks the military general is mistaking him with someone else. However, the name sounds very nostalgic. He doesn't understand why he has such a feeling, but his instinct tells him that his name is Machfiet without a doubt.

General Thajumn: What, are you insane now? There is no time to fool around. They are coming. The Didact and his Forerunner army are attacking the city!

Machfiet (Master Chief) wanted to take a minute and think, but the time didn't allow him it. There were just so many things that happened once. Waking up in a strange location, calling by a strange for a different name, and invasion by the Forerunners, Forerunners… Didact!

Machfiet: Didact, where is he? He got the Composer. We need to stop him.

General Thajumn: Composer? What are you talking about? Stop saying something nonsense. We don't have time to chat. The Didact and his men are surrounding us, and we need to defend this place at any cost. If we lose our capital city, Charum Hakkor, that means the end of humanity. Admiral Forethencho and his fleets are already to engage with the enemy forces in the sky. Come with me. We need to make a defense plan.

The general seems very desperate because of the massive invasion force. He doesn't know about the Composer. Machfiet stops asking him further. He follows the general, and together they walk to the sleeping pod. In front of the pod, a woman commander and scientists are standing by it.

Machfiet (Master Chief) is not sure why he is following the order of a man he just met a few minutes ago in an unknown place. He still has an important mission, stop the Didact, and destroy the Composer. But his mind also tells him to follow the man in front of him, and he seems he knows what he is doing. It is like another person is sharing his body with him.

General Thajumn: Commander Yprikushma, the Forerunner has breached our first defense line, and we are suffering from heavy casualties. We are running out of time. How is the recovery process of the Precursor?

Commander Yprikushma: General Thajumn, the Precursor is still not awakened and is half-conscious. He has kept responding to us with only two words, Mantle, and Cleansing. We don't know what he is referring to. The scientists need more time to study him and wake him up.

General Thajumn: Damn it. The Flood and the Forerunners are attacking us from both sides. We have nowhere to escape. We have no choice but to keep fighting because the Precursor is the only way for us to know how to stop the Flood completely. (Making a deep breath). Commander Yprikushma, how long do you need to wake this ancient being up? I am afraid we are almost running out of time.

Commander Yprikushma: Three days.

General Thajumn must make his decision quickly. Three days might sound short, but it is going to be a very long time for humans. During the time limit, he knows many of his soldiers are going to die because of his orders. As a leader, he is not allowed to show his weakness to his soldiers. He hides his fear inside and covers himself with courage.

He gathers all soldiers and explains his plan. In front of them, he closes his eyes for a few seconds and opens them again, then started his speech.

General Thajumn: Everyone, for centuries, we have run from the Flood threat, and for centuries we have fought against the Forerunners. We haven't had a single peaceful day, and that day may not come to us forever. Many have lost their loved ones in the war, and there are only a few of us left. Maybe we deserve to die because it was us who started this war. We were supposed to communicate to them about the danger of the Flood. However, we chose to use our forces to massacre them in the name of prevention and salvation.

To stop the Flood from spreading, the humans fired their guns at the infected Forerunner planet. This was not a peaceful way of communication. In General Thajumn's mind, he is filled with full regression and sadness. He thinks what if humans had made a different choice, and, instead of killing the Forerunners, they could negotiate and stop the Flood together. However, the wheel of time can't circle back. Humans can only move to a better future by act correctly to redeem their sins. He continues his speech.

General Thajumn: Our scientist group made some research progress about the Precursor we have discovered. However, they still need more time. Thus, for three days. We need to defend Charum Hakkor for three days. During this period, Commander Yprikushma and her team will give their best to wake up the Precursor from his hibernation and gain more knowledge about the Flood from him. We will sacrifice our lives to hold the Forerunners army outside of Charum Hakkor no matter what happens. The Precursor is our only hope of survival. I know some of you hate me. With my single order, countless lives will be dead, but I beg of you, please die, die for me, die for humanity. Only your lives can save the entire universe, and your braveness, courage, and souls shall live inside of us forever. FIGHT AND DIE WITH HONOR!

Soldiers: FIGHT AND DIE WITH HONOR! FIGHT AND DIE WITH HONOR! …

General Thajumn's speech has rejuvenated the morale of each soldier. His words have given vigor to every listener of his speech. There was no need for more talking. Everyone is one and determined now, and they are willing to sacrifice their lives for this man and face their strong and massive enemies. After the speech, General Thajumn assigns Machfiest for a special mission, which can only be accomplished by him and his team.

(BGM: Halo Reach, Noble Actual - Welcome to Reach)

General Thajumn: Machfiet, I will send you and your team to the front line to hold the enemy forces as long as possible. This will be tough and not an easy task. The fate of humanity is counting on you. Are you ready?

Machfiet: Yes, sir. I am ready!