Around the ruins of the Ancient Xeno facility, the same one that Tiberius went into and never returned from, the 2nd Company of the Phoenix Fighters had fully arrived. Gaius had attempted to search the ruins for Tiberius when they had returned after previously fleeing. But they found nothing, however, more of those Facilities had been discovered so the Phoenix Fighters were ordered to secure the Planet while the Adeptus Mechanicus did their work. As Gaius looked at the ruins of the Xeno facility, he heard someone approaching him, so he turned towards the sound and saw two of his brothers.
"The Chapter Master wishes to speak to you." the Space Marine said.
Gaius nods and follows them to the Chapter Master of the Phoenix Fighters. Gaius saw the Chapter Master speaking to someone from the Adeptus Mechanicus before one of the Astartes guarding him spots Gaius and makes his approach known to the Chapter Master. The Chapter Master then dismisses the Mechanicus member who walks away before he turns to face Gaius. Gaius slams his fist against his chest.
"Lord Maldrith." Gaius said.
Chapter Master Pyrrhus Maldrith was the leader of the Phoenix Fighters Chapter who wore orange and black Armor similar in design to Marneus Calgar of the Ultramarines and wielded a Power Axe with fiery designs covering it.
"Gaius, any sign of Lieutenant Maximus?" Pyrrhus asked.
"No, Chapter Master." Gaius said. "Our searches have yielded no results."
"Tiberius was one of our best, I find it unlikely that he would be defeated in such a way." Pyrrhus said. "You mentioned that he was pulled through a portal, correct?"
"Yes, Chapter master." Gaius confirmed.
"Then there's a good chance he's still alive." Pyrrhus said.
"Then it begs the question... where is he?" Gaius asked.
[Reach]
After the assault on Sword base, Tiberius was waiting for the next mission at a UNSC Base alongside some members of Noble team. Why some? Well, Noble Six and Jun were off on a recon mission into a dark zone which was believed to hold a Covenant strike force. Tiberius was standing at the edge of the base looking up at the sky wondering if he'll ever return to the Imperium of Man, if he'll ever return to his Chapter. It's become a growing concern of his lately. As much as he wants to help the UNSC end the Xenos threat known as the Covenant, he does want to return to his brothers. Yet he's clueless as to how he'll do that. Whatever that Orb was that he destroyed, it was clearly responsible for sending him to this planet. So, he's hoping he can locate another one and use that to send himself back. If that's even possible. As he gazed upon the sky above, he heard someone approaching him but didn't turn to them.
"Something on your mind?" Jorge asked.
Tiberius looked at him for a brief moment before looking back at the sky.
"I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible for me to return to my people." Tiberius said.
"Have an idea what brought you here?" Jorge asked.
"Not exactly, but I know it was of Xenos origin." Tiberius said.
Jorge at this point knew what Xenos meant. Alien. At least from what he can guess considering how Tiberius used the term.
"Well, we can dwell on it later. Someone wants to speak with you." Jorge said.
This got Tiberius's interest. He guesses it's some higher up from the UNSC like Holland. The two made their way back into the base and as they did, various UNSC Marines looked at Tiberius both in awe and intimidation due to his size and appearance. He's seen similar reactions from Imperial guardsmen such as the Cadians. He's used to it by now, though he had to get used to not being called my lord by the UNSC Marines and being called Sir instead. Jorge guides Tiberius into the base's main building and into a room with a large screen on the wall. Two people were shown on the screen, Holland and a woman he's never seen before. Carter was also in the room as when he heard the door open, he turned his head to address Tiberius. Jorge didn't enter the room and stayed outside.
"Tiberius, Dr Halsey wanted to speak with you." Carter said.
He guessed the woman on the screen was Halsey, but why would she want to speak to him? Based on the title of Doctor, she must've been a scientist. He had dealt with the Adeptus Mechanicus on occasion but wasn't really one for science stuff.
"Speak." Tiberius said, calmly.
"I've been informed of your situation, Space Marine." Halsey said. "It gave me curiosity on how you got here. Care to explain?"
Tiberius figured this would happen so he decided to answer.
"Me and my Chapter were investigating a new Xenos facility when we encountered Xenos opposition and a strange relic." Tiberius briefly explained.
"Relic?" Halsey asked.
"It was an Orb shaped relic, a bright shiny silver surface with blue lights covering its form in unique and ornate designs." Tiberius explained.
Halsey listened and was thinking about what it was, but it sounds familiar in design to other things she has experience with.
"This description is similar to Forerunner artifacts." Halsey said.
"Forerunner?" Tiberius asked as if he heard something foreign.
"They're an ancient civilization that we've researched extensively." Halsey said. "If the relic that sent you here was indeed Forerunner in origin, then there is a way to send you back. The only problem is… we'll need to find another one."
Tiberius should've felt like this was good news. But that relic was Xenos in origin. He already knew this. But the problem was just as Halsey had mentioned, they needed to find another relic.
"We can worry about it on a later date; our Recon teams should be deep inside the dark zone." Holland said. "Meaning it's best for us to get ready. Tiberius are you willing to aid us once again?"
"Of course." Tiberius answered.
"Then I suggest you prepare yourself. You too Noble One." Holland said. "Once our recon teams report back, we move out."
"Got it, sir." Carter said.
The large screen shuts off as both Holland and Halsey's images vanish. Carter turned to the Primaris Space Marine.
"Let's get going, I'm sure the recon teams have reported back by now." Carter said.
The two then leave the room to get ready for their next mission.
[Szurdok ridge, Utkozet, Sometime later]
Tiberius stood in the bay of a pelican with a few Marines. The UNSC was launching a full-scale assault on the Covenant Strike Force that Noble team discovered last night. Tiberius was sent along the mission mostly to help UNSC Forces gain ground while Noble team took out the Spires. So basically, he just needed to kill as many Covenant warriors as possible. As he stood in silence, he listened to Auntie Dot speaking over vox. When he realized that Dot was an AI and not a person, he was on edge. Knowing his Humanity's history with Artificial intelligence, he had a right to be cautious.
"It appears that Noble Team's discovery last night was not an anomaly." Dot said. "Large Covenant deployments have occurred undetected, and we are now under attack across the Viery territory, including Orbital defenses. As per the Winter Contingency, we are countering on every front. Noble's reconnaissance has also identified sophisticated Covenant army hiding canopies and has pin-pointed what's believed to be a landing zone for additional Covenant Forces, the origin of which is yet to be determined."
"Ready your weapons, Marines!" The Sergeant said.
The pelican flew over the battlefield while the UNSC and Covenant armies moved closer to one another.
"That landing zone has been tagged by UNSC Command as a priority one target." Carter said over vox.
"Det charge is loud and clear." Jun said over vox.
"Copy that, acquiring signal lock on the pylon." Kat said over vox. "Detonating in Three. Two…."
Tiberius assumes she detonated an explosive.
"Tiberius, make sure the Covenant hurts." Carter said.
"With pleasure."
The Pelican begins to dodge Plasma fire from Covenant AA Guns before it is hit in the right wing, tearing it off. This forces the dropship to go for a crash landing.
"We're going down!" One of the Marines shouted.
"Hold onto your helmets!" The Sergeant ordered.
Tiberius holds onto something before the ship hits the ground hard. After a minute or two, the ship halts its movement, meaning they've landed. Tiberius let go of the thing he was holding and marched over to the ramp that wasn't lowered. He turned around and saw that the Marines had survived the crash.
"Ready yourselves." Tiberius instructs.
Outside, Covenant troops moved in to finish off whoever survived the crash. Elites, Jackals, and Grunts. A pair of Grunts are ordered to move in, and they do. The two Grunts strut up to the pelican's door, and they hear a bang as if something smashed against the ramp, and it scared them. The next bang sent the ramp crashing down on top of them killing them both. Tiberius then steps out of the Pelican, Power sword in hand while the UNSC Marines are hesitant to even leave the Pelican. He grabbed his Heavy Bolt Pistol and prepared for battle. As he looked at the Covenant Troops before him, he noticed the dropship he was in crashed close to a headwall that had something he recognized connected to it. It was the same chrome silver and intricate designs he saw at the Facility he and his brothers investigated, which led him to being displaced here on Reach. Perhaps he can find a way to return to the Imperium inside. But for now, he has to fight the Covenant. A Skirmisher aims his Needle Rifle and fires once. Tiberius dodged the pink crystal that was shot at him and quickly retaliated. One bolt is all it took to kill the Skirmisher. This act caused the area to ignite into a battle as Plasma began flying. The UNSC Marines emerged from the Pelican and fired upon the Covenant while their Adeptus Astartes ally fired his Heavy Bolt Pistol at the Xenos. Each bolt found its target which were grunts and Jackals. The grunts died instantly while the shields that the Jackals used resisted for a short while before breaking resulting in their deaths. The Elites rushed the Space Marine while firing their Plasma Rifles. Tiberius reloads his Heavy Bolt Pistol before putting it away and raising his Power Sword.
"Come on!!" Tiberius shouts as he begins to charge the approaching Elites.
The Plasma rounds struck his armor but only left scorch marks. With one swing of his blade, he kills one of the Elites before he thrusts it into the stomach of another. He kicks the body of his blade before he uses his sword to disarm another Elite and grab their neck. Lifting them up and crushing their neck in his hand with ease. He tossed the Elite aside like a piece of trash before quickly slashing his sword upwards which staggered an Elite, allowing him to punch them in the chest, knocking them back a good distance. He then turned to see the UNSC Marines taking care of the few remaining Covenant warriors. His head turns slightly left before his left hand moves in the blink of an eye and grabs something. Tiberius turns his head to look at what he caught as an Elite emerges from his camo. He has them by the neck. By being suddenly grabbed the elite dropped his energy sword and was now clawing at the ceramite covered hand around his throat. With a simple squeeze, a sickening snap is head, and the Covenant warrior goes limp. The Adeptus Astartes slams the body onto the ground as if it was a dirty rag. He then moved towards the UNSC Marines who killed the last grunt.
The active warzone around them was still active. UNSC and Covenant aerial units clashed above while elsewhere Tanks and troops fired at one another. The Marines look at each other until they hear Tiberius coming towards them. They see the dead Elites behind him and are impressed.
"Are any of you wounded?" Tiberius asked.
The Sergeant looked at his men, and they shook their heads while one spoke.
"My head hurts a little but nothing serious." The Marine said.
"And the pilots?" Tiberius asked briefly looking at the pelican.
"No idea. Didn't get the chance to check on them." The Sergeant said before turning back to his men. "Kennedy, Wesker! Go check the Pilots!"
"Yes, Sir!" Corporal Wesker said while Private Kennedy was already running to the dropship.
"In the meantime, I will conduct my own investigation." Tiberius said turning to the Forerunner door he had found before he engaged the enemy.
The Sergeant looked around the Space Marine and saw the door before looking at him.
"Need back up?" The Sergeant asked.
"It is not needed." Tiberius said as he grabbed his Stalker Bolt Rifle.
The Space Marine made his way towards the Xenos Facility while the Sergeant and his squad moved towards the Pelican as Kennedy and Wesker reemerged. As he reached the door, Tiberius's vox lit up.
"Tiberius what's your status over?" Carter asked.
"My transport was shot down, thankfully the squad with me survived." Tiberius said as he stood in front of the Forerunner door.
"Copy that." Carter said. "Jorge, your flight path will intercept with the Space marine. Pick him up on your way to that Spire."
"Yes, sir." Jorge said.
"I'll have to decline, Noble 1." Tiberius said.
"May I ask why?" Carter asked.
"I have uncovered Forerunner ruins near my crash site. I hope it may hold answers to my displacement." Tiberius said.
Carter didn't say anything at first for a moment. Tiberius guessed he was contacting someone else. He would be right as a new voice would appear in his Vox.
"Angel 1, this is Holland. I know I have no command over you, but you have permission to enter the facility." Holland said.
"Thank you." Tiberius said.
The Astartes then spotted a holographic button popping up beside the door. He touched it and the door opened. He then went inside. The long hallway wasn't properly illuminated by the lights around it, but it was still visible for normal mortal eyes. He gets through the hallway and the next door he found opened automatically allowing him to enter a new room. As he went towards the middle of the room, he looked around the chamber. He would reach the center of the room and find a holographic display for what he hopes is a console. He pressed the middle button, and a map of the galaxy appeared. But something was off. Its shape didn't match the one the Imperium calls home. The console then scanned him, making him alert. A voice then spoke.
"Additional Reality Anomaly Detected." A voice said. "Preparing Stasis Pod Release."
From the wall to his right a large section opened up as a pod of some kind opened. Curiosity grew in him as he saw this. He then looked at the console's display and saw what looked like a release button. He hesitated before a strong desire to open it came to him. He gave it a second before pressing the button.
"Disengaging Stasis Procedures in Stasis Pod 1." The Voice said.
Tiberius walked over to the pod as the glass began to thaw. What he saw inside shocked him. It was a Space Marine. Specifically, an Ultramarine. The thaw finished as a hissing sound came as the hatch began opening. Once fully opened, the Ultramarine inside woke up and began to climb out of the pod but fell to his knees once outside. Tiberius moved closer and knelt while placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright, Ultramarine?" Tiberius asked.
The Space marine's vision cleared and he saw Tiberius.
"A Pheonix Fighter?" The Ultramarine asked confused before looking around. "Where am I?"
"It's a long and complicated story." Tiberius answered.
"Who are you?" The Ultramarine asked.
Tiberius stood up and held a handout for the Space Marine. He grabs it and is pulled up onto his feet.
"Lieutenant Tiberius Maximus, Phoenix Fighters Second Company." Tiberius greets.
Another panel in the wall opens up and the Ultramarine's weapons are seen stored on what looks like a weapon rack. The Ultramarine walked over and grabbed his weapons like his Bolt Pistol and Chainsword before grabbing his Bolt rifle.
"Who are you?" Tiberius asked.
The Ultramarine turns to the Phoenix Fighter as Tiberius noticed the Astartes right arm was cybernetic. The Ultramarine walks up to him before introducing himself.
"Lieutenant Meduras Chairon, Ultramarines Second Company." Chairon said.