November 2548 to January 2549

It has been more than a month since the UNSC Highwayman escaped the desolation of Muntauk II with Fox Platoon. The UNSC AI David has provided invaluable information regarding the location of a forerunner artifact that The Minister is gunning for as well as the fastest route there. On September 16th 2248, Highwayman entered the Labinian system, observing a contigent of ships that survived Muntauk II as well as the signature of a UNSC Naval Patrol, The Battlegroup Resolute. The Ministers Fleet also jumped into the far side of the Labinian System, now reduced to 6 CCS Class Cruisers and a CAS Class Assault Carrier, it moves around searching for a Forerunner artificial wormhole hidden in the system.


This wormhole, according to David, is a gateway to a world known to the Forerunners as 'Forntuous' at an edge of the Orion Arm relatively close to the Sol System which houses an artifact capable of super efficient mass production of material and Forerunner grade weapons. The exact location of the artificial wormhole most likely shifted after millions of years and it is likely The Minister fleet will detect it first. Highwayman now joined with Battlegroup Resolute under command of Captain Leonard Reese plans to shift the odds in the UNSCs favor through the newly conceived OPERATION: MASTERKEY. Fox Platoon is the main element assigned to carry out the mission, once again taking on the role of the key strike force that will undoubtedly change the course of the events to come.