Prologue: Telemachus Returns

1610 Hours\ June 16, 2552\ Khellmer System, Planet Jarnus

On the crested hill, long grass swayed to and thence in a rhythmic dance with the gentle gale sweeping up from the nearby oceans. The amber sun hung like a hangman's noose in the bloodied sky, its gaze silking the landscape with a golden facade. A river, whose origin belonged to distant snowy peaks snaked through the valley towards grander waters.

Endyr 'Vordimee sat in the dancing meadow, eyes closed, his breaths prolonged and thorough. Deep blue robes encompassed his large frame, and as he contemplated his pending return to the war with the humans, he was disturbed with the memory of the events that had caused his temporary leave from the frontlines. Subconsciously, he ran his hand along the series of scars that had been engraved into his left side and his facial muscles contracted as he winced from the thoughts that held firm in his mind.

All he remembered was a silhouette, a dark figure that had frustratingly remained shapeless in his mind, preceeding a red flash of light after which searing pain followed. He had been on the eve of succeeding, achieving a great honour, when he had been betrayed. It was this image that always appeared in his mind the moment before he would wake, haunting him, tormenting him, yet the shape was always immaterial, insubstantial, and what was behind the black veil had continued to elude him, the being who had betrayed him, almost killed him, remained a mystery that did not want to be solved.

Endyr's sentiments were suddenly interrupted upon hearing then all too familiar deep whine of a Phantom dropship.

What purpose brings the Covenant's needs to my home, my return does not call for another season, and yet, someone yearns for my attention.

The Sangheili stood up and surveyed the horizon. He spotted it, a shadow darting over the liquid behemoth of hydrogen and oxygen molecules, at least a dozen kilometres away, yet its presence was betrayed by its own very sound being carried by the prevailing winds to the hilltop on which Endyr now stood. Despite the winds, many Sangheili would not detect the sound, but on top of Endyr's uncannily keen hearing, he had grown accustomed to the peace and quiet of solitude with nature over the past four months here, where he had spent his rehabilitation, and the sound of the dropship's engines pierced the air like a blade through flesh.

Ninety seconds later the dropship came to a slow and hovered before him. Out of its gravity well a single figure descended. Despite being donned in golden armour, Endyr immediately recognised the other Sangheili.

"Fleet Master Hironomee, by the gods, welcome to my home. Come, let us go to my dwelling, we may talk inside."

"That will not be necessary Endyr, we are pressed for time, do not let it slip away."

The Fleet Master was a living legend, a tactical genius who had also been nominated to join the High Council on numerous occassions due to his level-headed nature and modern view of the state of things in the Covenant. He would have been an injection of fresh blood into an aging political contingent, but to the dismay of many albeit to the joy of the soldiers under his command, he chose to stay in the Navy, famously stating "I am a soldier, not a politician."

His reputation swelled as a great leader and tactician came about after having after stumbled across a human colony in a pursuit of Forerunner artifacts, held off two dozen human ships using just his own flagship and an accompanying destroyer for over an hour until reinforcements arrived, who quickly slaughtered the blunt, primitive human vessels and then proceeding to glass the infidel's colony. He had utilised naval tactics never before seen, using the planet(Ithaca IV) and its two moons as cover using orbital slingshots and figure eight patterns to outmaneuver the enemy fleet and dismantle any of their attempts to flank or contain him. Unfortunately the destroyer succumbed to a barrage of the massive MAC rounds but his flagship had remained intact and continued on to neutralise the enemy with the aid of the reinforcing Covenant ships.

Indeed, following that he was put under direct command of Supreme Commander Eldron 'Vorlumee; Endyr's father.

Endyr was the prodigy of his father. He inherited his father's swordsman genes, and had made quite a name of himself and now held the position of Special Operations Officer. He had been in military service for over seventy years and had seen many things during his ninety annum lifetime. During his time he had quenched several heretic rebellions, which seemed to be occuring more and more often, but he took no pleasure in burning them alive like many of his comrades despite his loathing for them. He had also recovered several artifacts from the infidel's worlds, and numerous humans were slain by the blade of his sword when they got in his way. Indeed, several missions were given to him by Fleet Master Hironomee, and along with the Fleet Master's relations with both Endyr and his father, he had become somewhat like a cousin to Endyr, and the three of them all enjoyed one another's company, though none of them ever said it.

As Endyr continued to maintain the gaze and await words from his comrade, he, for just a moment, saw sympathy, (or was it anxiety?) flicker across the zealot's face before his features quickly hardened and once again bore an impassive expression.

"Endyr, brother, I bring harrowing news and I apologise for the abrupt manner in which I must inform you of... Endyr, your father, Supreme Commander 'Vorlumee, he has disappeared dear friend. I know not how to convey my condolences Endyr, but my emotions are coiled in grief. I do not believe this to be an accident, and I fear you too may be in danger. You must come with me, where my ships can give you safety."

"My father? No, that cannot be. A warrior of his position does not just go amiss. How did you come of this information? Where was he? When did he vanish?"

Endyr did his best to uphold a disposition of indifference, but he could not prevent his mandibles from clenching in tension, his fists balling in rage. He grew weak at the knees, for he knew that in the Covenant, those who go missing, are seldom seen again alive. Blood purged through his vessels, his hearts thumped with greater fury than a provoked Jiralhanae, yet, he felt lightheaded, dizzy with concern, and began to lose his balance. He was on the verge of crumbling to the ground when he managed to steady himself. Being a special operations officer does not allow a place for frailty, no matter the form or the cause.

"There is no time for talk, I am sorry, but you must gather your armour and your sword, we leave this instant, I will brief you once we depart. Now, hurry, before they come for us."

Endyr paced inside the hull of the Phantom dropship. He was quite familiar with the craft, much more so than ordinary ground forces as the Phantom was still a prototype and was rarely used outside Special Operations or transporting high ranking members of the Covenant. It was a significant improvement over the still widely implemented Spirit, with three times the firepower and a more robust design which also allowed more flexibility in its cargo options. It had been his salvation on many occasions, extorting him from hostile battlefields, but it was also what tossed him in there initially. However, there was no denying it was the most incredible and versatile personnel carrier that the Covenant had ever conceived.

Endyr was now shrouded in his gleaming silver-white armour, designating him as an officer in the Special Ops branch of the Covenant military. Across from him stood the Fleet Master, but crouched in the corner, having yet to speak, even when Endyr had bowed to him, was an incredibly senile High Councilor, his withered skin sagged, almost peeling off of the body, his posture hunched and feeble, and his dark crimson robe hung loosely off of his falling shoulders.

Fleet Master Hironomee shifted his weight before proceeding to commence with the inevitable dialogue.

"This Phantom is taking us to my flagship, The Eve of Redemption. However, we have much to discuss, and for that reason, I have brought along a lifetime mentor of mine. Endyr, allow me to introduce you to High Councilor Kellren Lornoree."