Three Mantis assault droids drop down from the Staff of Charon and began attacking the allied New Republic and Federal Army forces.

"Engaging targets." 

"Oh no, what's going on?!" Kimball cries. 

"It's Hargrove! The Chairman's here!" Carolina states. 

Wash turns to a group of Rebels. "Everyone, take cover!" The forces begin retreating. One Mantis chases Grey and the lieutenants.

"Run! Come on, go go go!" Smith orders. 

"You just couldn't do it, could you? You couldn't lay down and die!" Hargrove says over the loudspeaker. "Well if I'm going down, I'm taking you all with me!" 

The Reds and Blues all listen to this from atop the Communication Tower. 

"Dang it, DANG IT! GOD FREAKING DANG IT!" Grif yells while pacing the floor. 

Zone turns on his radio. "Carolina, are you alright?"

"WE WERE SO CLOSE!" Grif continues. 

"Zone, this is bad! Hargrove's dropping androids all around the temple! We're pinned down!" Carolina explains. 

"FREAKING BULLCRAP!" 

"One Mantis we can handle, but this will be a bloodbath." Wash states horrified.  

"Not if we shut them all down at once." Epsilon cuts in. 

"How?" Doc asks. 

"We o-ov-override their co-controls. But in-in order to d-do that, we ne-need to g-go to the source-rce..." Xi then points at the Staff of Charon. They all follow her gaze. 

"You're joking, right?" Tucker pleads. 

Sarge clears his throat. He then points to Felix and Locus's crashed Falcon.

"Shotgun!" Grif and Simmons cry. The Falcon then flies with Donut, Simmons, and Lopez in the cockpit while the others dangle from the troop compartment. Everyone screams. Zone flies next to them with his rocket boots. 

After crudely landing, the Reds and Blues run into the engine room. 

"Alright, we're in." Epsilon says appearing next to Tucker. 

"Good work." Carolina says. 

"I think I just developed a fear of heights...and planes...and all of you guys..." Doc says trying to get his bearings. 

"It won't be long before they realize that we're onboard." Zone says pulling out his carbine. 

"Let's find those controls and hightail it out of here!" Sarge orders. 

"Carolina, Wash, you guys just focus on staying alive, okay?" 

"Already on it!" Way replies quickly. 

Simmons walks over to a panel. "There's gotta be some sort of directory we can access. Maybe it can lead us to-" The panel turns red. 

"ACCESS DENIED. INTRUDER DETECTED." 

"Ah! Crap!" Simmons cried. 

"Quick, hit escape!" Grif suggests. 

"Control-Alt-Delete!" Tucker adds. 

Epsilon appears in front of the panel. "Wait a minute...I know that voice. FILSS?

"Director? Is that you?" 

"IT'S SHEILA!" Caboose yells. 

"FILSS, what are you doing here? I thought you were destroyed!" Epsilon says shocked. 

"I was recovered and illegally reassigned after your passing! Oh, but it is good to see you again." 

"Trust me, the feeling is mutual! We need you to shut off the androids your boss just dropped on our friends." 

"That would be in direct violation of Chairman Hargrove's orders-

"FILSS! Please, you gotta-!" 

"I would love to!" 

"What- really?" 

"Yes! I dislike him, very much!" 

"Hey, so do we! Heh, small world." Donut shrugs. 

"INITIATING MANTIS DEACTIVAAAAAA-TTTTTTT-" FILSS's screen is replaced by Hargrove's angry face.  

"I don't think so." 

"AAH!!" Everyone cries. 

Zone stands next to Epsilon. "Well...Chairman Hargrove." 

"He's so...bald!" Caboose mutters. 

"You and your soldiers have been a thorn in my side for far too long Agent Arizona, but my soldiers remain loyal to the end!" Hargrove sneers. 

Sarge glances over his shoulder. "Something tells me we're about to have company..." 

Three UNSC soldiers appear on a higher platform.

"There they are!" A rocket flies up and blows them up. The Reds and Blues turn to look at Doc, who looks back at them.

"Fly, you fools!" O'Malley commands. 

They all run out as Doc lays down a barrage of missiles before following them. More soldiers appear at the end of the hallway in front of them

"Targets sighted!" A door suddenly slams down between them and the soldiers.

"What the heck?" Grif says confused. 

"Turn right, here!" 

"FILSS, what do you think you're doing?!" Hargrove demands over the speaker. 

"The Mantis assault droids are no longer under my control, and must be deactivated at the appropriate terminal-" 

"FILSS!" 

"Locking blast doors to secure a path! Please, hurry!" 

"You heard her boys, double time!" Sarge then leads them down the hall. 

"Ah, Sheila, you-you are just the best!" Caboose smiles. 

"Excuse me?" 

Caboose looks down at Freckles. "Uh-I-uh-second best?" 

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Back at the Comm Temple, Matthews manages to take out a Mantis. 

"Ah! AHAHAHA! I got one-AGGGH!" A Mantis attacks him from behind and blows up his Ghost. His body is sent flying and lands at the feet of Dr. Grey, who is hiding with Carolina and Bitters.

"MATTHEWS!" Bitters yells. 

"Don't worry! I got him!" Grey says pulling him behind cover and tending to him. 

"Zone, I need a sit-rep!" Carolina urges. 

"Hang tight, Rach. Almost there..." 

Zone leads the Sim Troopers to a room. "We made it." 

Suddenly they hear an explosion. 

"Blast door breached!" FILSS warns. 

Sarge turns to Zone and Tucker. "You two get in there! We'll hold them off!" 

Zone and Tucker run inside the room, revealed to be the Chairman's Trophy Room. The door slams shut behind them.

"Whoa..." Tucker places his carbine against a table. Zone walks past the trophies on display. 

"This dude's got issues!" Tucker exclaims. Epsilon materializes in front of Tex's shattered helmet.

"Where is Hargrove, now?" Epsilon asks through gritted teeth. 

A screen pops up in front of them with Hargrove on it. "Safely aboard the bridge, until you've been dealt with!" They hear gunfire. 

"Here they come!" Simmons says from behind the door. 

Xi appears. "FI-FILSS, pull u-up the con-controls!" Another holographic terminal appears beside Hargrove's. 

Zone and Tucker walk to it. 

"Do you really believe you can escape this?" Hargrove scoffs. 

"This will just take a minute!" Epsilon says before he and Xi disappear. 

"Surely you've realized it by now?" Hargrove continues. "You may save the colonists, you may even save the Freelancers, but you and your friends will Not. Be. Leaving. This. Ship." 

Zone crosses his arms. "Let me tell you something Hargrove, we've stopped your conspiracy against Chorus, we've stopped your Pirates, we've stopped your mercs, and now we're about to take down your Mantises. Explain to us, the version of this where you come out on top?" Zone demands. Hargrove huffs at them. 

"Plus, we'll just wing it like we always do." Tucker adds. 

Epsilon and Xi reappear. "And...done." 

Tucker presses a button and terminates Hargrove's video link. Zone extends his fist to Tucker and they fist-bump. 

Back at the Communications Temple, all of the Mantises power down. The Feds and Rebels look at them and begin firing into the air in celebration. Kimball, Wash, and Carolina look up at the ship. 

Back in the trophy room, the door opens and bullets start whizzing past Tucker and Zone's heads. 

"Oh crap!" Tucker cries. 

"Hit the deck!" Zone says he and Tucker hit the floor. The rest of the Reds and Blues run inside and seal the door. 

"So yeah...that way's not looking like a good exit anymore." Grif pants. 

"Carolina, we need an extraction!" Epsilon says. 

"Roger that. We'll fire up a Pelican and be there in a few minutes." 

Sparks begin to fly as the soldiers begin cutting through the door. "Come on, get that door open!" 

"We...may not have a few minutes." Simmons says as he and the other back away from the door. 

"Well boys, you know what they say..." Sarge drops his plasma rifle and pulls out his shotgun. "...today...is a good day to die." 

"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Everyone turns around sees Grif with his 'Grif Shot'. "Screw that." 

Sarge chuckles and pumps his shotgun. Lopez flips the table on its side. Simmons grabs the magnum on the pedestal and loads it. Doc and Donut shove the table against the door. 

Sarge steps over the coffee mug, shattering it. "Whoops." 

Caboose holds up Freckles. "Ready." 

Simmons walks past Zone, Tucker, Xi, and Epsilon, holding the Monitor. "You think the laser on this thing still works?" 

"We got this." Tucker looks at Epsilon. "I mean, we do got this, right?" 

"I keep running the stats in my head...well I mean, we're close, but no. We're still short one piece." 

"What do you mean?" Zone asks. 

"FI-FILSS? The su-suit." Xi says. Suddenly a pod opens up from the floor behind them and everyone is in awe, especially Doc who drops his scanner. 

"No. Freaking. Way." Zone mutters. 

"We saw it when I connected to the terminal." Epsilon states. "It's got everything that we need. Tucker, take off your helmet." Tucker looks at him in shock. 

After getting set up, Grif has his brute shot, Sarge has his shotgun, Simmons has two needlers, Donut has two magnums, Lopez has two plasma rifles, Doc has his rocket launcher, Caboose has Freckles, Zone has his wrist cannons, and Tucker stands in the center in Meta's armor, wielding his sword.

"So-So how's it feel-el?" Xi asks glitching. 

"Kinda...tight in the crotch." His suit changes from white to aqua. "Buuuttt, I could get used to this!" 

"Now that's a good look for you!" Donut grins. 

"Prepare to breach!" A soldier on the other side says. 

"Gentlemen, looks like this is it." Sarge says aiming his shotgun. 

"Sir, it's been an honor." Simmons smiles. 

<If I die, make sure my parts are recycled.> Lopez demands. 

"I love you too, Lopez!" Donut sniffles. 

"Aw, that's so sweet." Doc says. 

"Now, let us strike fear into the hearts of our enemies, mwahahaha!" O'Malley laughs. 

"Smartest thing you've ever said." Grif nods. 

"Yeah! Let's get 'em!" Caboose aims Freckles at the door. 

"Guys, I'm glad to call you all my family." Zone says grinning. 

"Me t-too." Xi adds. 

"Hey, uh, I just want you guys to know that, out of everyone I've ever met...I hate you all the least." Epsilon says looking down. 

"See you on the other side, Church." Tucker says getting in a battle stance. 

The Reds and Blues ready themselves as the door is almost cut through. Suddenly the sparks stop moving. 

Epsilon had stopped time along with Xi. 

"(Sigh) Not this time, buddy." Epsilon says throwing away his sniper. 

"Church, if we're gonna die, I just want to say I'm glad to call you brother." Xi says holding his hand. 

"Me too Xi. Me too." 

"I'll get to make my own too right?" 

"Yeah. Ladies first." 

Delta appears next to them. "Are you... sure about this?" 

"I'm sure... start a recording for us, D." 

"Recording." 

"Hey gang it's me, I just want to say, I'm glad to have met you all. Now that me and Church will be gone, you're gonna have to do this on your own. There's so much I love about all you guys, Doc you and your will to keep moving forward despite what others have done, Donut you always wanting to cheer everyone up even when they don't want it, Lopez you and sticking even when no one understands you, Grif your wanting to get out of work, Simmons you and your brainiac responses, Sarge you and your lust for combat, Caboose your child-like innocence, Tucker you and your 'Bow Chicka Bow Wows', Wash your strength to make things right, Carolina your logicalness and never backing down...(Sniffs) I'll miss you most of all Rex. Your determination, your will, your compassion, your love, everything about you I'll miss. Tex always said she hated goodbyes so I'll just say...see you the next time around." Xi shatters away. 

Epsilon sighs and takes the stage. "Hey guys...if you're hearing this then it means you did it. You won. You kicked the crap out of Hargrove's forces. I knew you could. But this is my last stop. See, when I came into this world, I was really just a collection of somebody else's memories. But with your help, these memories...they-they took form! They became my voice, my personality. And, after a while, I...I began to make brand new memories of my own. All of these things are what make me who I am...but they're also holding me back. I can't run this suit as Epsilon, but if I erase my memories, if I...deconstruct myself, the fragments I'll leave behind will have the strength to get you through this. I believe that. I wish that there was another way. But I'm leaving this message, as well as others, in the hopes that you'll understand why I have to go this time...hehe, it was actually Doyle who made me realize something that I've never thought of before. There are so many stories where some brave hero decides to give their life to save the day, and because of their sacrifice, the good guys win, the survivors all cheer, and everybody lives happily ever after. But the hero...never gets to see that ending. They'll never know if their sacrifice actually made a difference. They'll never know if the day was really saved. In the end, they just have to have faith.

Epsilon then shatters away. "Doesn't that suck." 

The soldiers then burst through the door.