Author's Note: I have been working on this for quite some time, with my beta reader, Exilo's, help. It never would have gotten as far without him, so this is a public thank you! It's nearing the end now, so I've decided to post it to keep myself motivated. Any suggestions, criticisms, or requests are welcome, however, and I will work them in as best I can. Feel free to ask any questions. This story is set just before/during Halo: Combat Evolved.
Pay close attention to dates.
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Halo franchise and I am not making money off this fic. This is purely for fun.
Prologue
//SIXTH CYCLE, 137 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(AUGUST 12, 2541 UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)
//
SECURE TEXT TRANSMISSION
FROM: ULTRA ORIS 'RYMERISTEE,
HERESY HUNTER, CRUISER CLASS
IN ORBIT ABOVE PLANET GH-00987,
85 PEGASI-194A STAR SYSTEM
TO: HIGH COUNCIL,
HIGH CHARITY, COVENANT HOLY CITY
//
SUBJECT: MISSION TO INVESTIGATE FORERUNNER COMPLEX
MISSION STATUS: FAILED
It is with great despair and grief that I inform the Council of the passing of Ship Master Zulo 'Jamboree. I am the only survivor of the plantery exploration detail which the ship master led to investigate a Forerunner facility.
The only discovery was that the entire Forerunner installation is overrun with a parasitic life form not yet discovered.
Recommend planet declared off-limits.
No valuable ores or minerals to report. (FILE ATTACHED.)
I have attached a detailed report of both the planet and the mission which took Ship Master 'Jamboree.
My deepest apologies to the Council.
//FILE ATTACHED-PLANET READOUTS.//
//FILE ATTACHED-MISSION SPECS. //
// END //
X X X X X
//TWELFTH CYCLE, 108 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(AUGUST 12, 2541 UNSC MILITARY CALLENDAR)
//
SECURE TEXT TRANSMISSION
FROM: COUNCILOR RYKL 'KALERNEE,
HIGH CHARITY, COVENANT HOLY CITY
TO: ULTRA ORIS 'RYMERISTEE,
HERESY HUNTER, CRUISER CLASS
IN ORBIT ABOVE PLANET GH-00987,
85 PEGASI-194A STAR SYSTEM
//
SUBJECT: MISSION TO INVESTIGATE FORERUNNER COMPLEX
MISSION STATUS: FAILED
Your message of our brothers' violent end was met with much regret, and the attached reports with much interest. You are requested to return immediately to High Charity for a cursory cross-examination. Your speedy report of events was most appreciated. Our condolences for the loss of your commanding officer. Please take command of the HERESY HUNTER until provision for a new ship master can be found.
// END //
X X X X X
//FOURTEENTH CYCLE, 156 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(AUGUST 13, 2541 UNSC MILITARY CALLENDAR)
//
SECURE TEXT TRANSMISSION
FROM: ULTRA ORIS 'RYMERISTEE,
HERESY HUNTER, CRUISER CLASS
IN ORBIT ABOVE PLANET GH-00987,
85 PEGASI-194A STAR SYSTEM
TO: COUNCILOR RYKL 'KALERNEE,
HIGH CHARITY, COVENANT HOLY CITY
//
SUBJECT: MISSION TO INVESTIGATE FORERUNNER COMPLEX
MISSION STATUS: FAILED
Thank you for both your condolences and speedy reply to my unfortunate message. I shall travel to High Charity with all due speed.
Estimated Time of Arrival: two days.
// END //
X X X X X
//FIRST CYCLE, 116 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(AUGUST 19, 2541 UNSC MILITARY CALLENDAR)
//
SECURE TEXT TRANSMISSION
FROM: HIGH COUCNIL, HIGH CHARITY,
COVENANT HOLY CITY
TO: ALL SHIPMASTERS OF THE FLEET OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE
//
SUBJECT: PROMOTION OF NEW SHIP MASTER
Ultra Oris 'Rymeristee has been awarded ship master status aboard the HERESY HUNTER, Cruiser class.
Planet GH-00987 has been declared red. Off limits to all.
// END //
X X X X X
//THIRD CYCLE, 127 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(SEPTEMBER 25, 2549 UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)
//
SECURE TEXT TRANSMISSION
FROM: HIGH COUNCIL,
HIGH CHARITY, COVENANT HOLY CITY
TO: ALL SHIP MASTERS OF THE FLEET OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE
SUBJECT:PROMOTION OF NEW FLEET MASTER
Ship Master Thel 'Vadamee has been promoted to feet master status of the FLEET OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE. All ships report to his command.
//END//
X X X X X
//SIXTH CYCLE, 157 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(OCTOBER 20, 2552 UNSC MILITARY CALLENDAR)
//
SECURE TEXT TRANSMISSION
FROM: FLEET MASTER THEL VADAMEE
FLEET OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE
TO: SHIP MASTER KVAS 'IKELONEE
SHADOW OF INTENT, ASSAULT CARRIER CLASS
//
SUBJECT: NEW ORDERS TO RELOCATE TO PLANET GH-00987 (FILE-ATTACHED.)
The SHADOW OF INTENT, assault carrier class, with sister ships, UNDENIABLE TRUTH, cruiser class; and REVERENT SERVANT, destroyer class; is hereby ordered to relocate to planet GH-00987. (FILE-ATTACHED.)
Assist Special Operations Commander RTAS 'VADUMEE in securing planet from human infestation.
BE ADVISED: Last planetary exploration team did not return. (FILE-ATTACHED.)
//FILE ATTACHED-PLANET READOUTS. //
//FILE ATTACHED-MISSION SPECS. //
/ END /
X X X X X
//EIGTH CYCLE, 116 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(OCTOBER 20, 2552 UNSC MILITARY CALLENDAR)
//
SECURE TEXT TRANSMISSION
FROM: SHIP MASTER KVAS 'IKELONEE
SHADOW OF INTENT, ASSUALT CARRIER CLASS
TO: FLEET MASTER THEL VADAMEE
FLEET OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE
//
SUBJECT: NEW ORDERS TO RELOCATE TO PLANET GH-00987 (FILE-ATTACHED.)
Understood.
/ END /
Chapter 1
//TENTH CYCLE, 136 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(OCTOBER 24, 2552 UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)
ABOARD SHADOW OF INTENT, ASSUALT CARRIER CLASS
IN ORBIT AROUND PLANET GH-00987
BEVROREN (UNSC DESIGNATION)
The ship slid easily out of slipstream space and offered a view of the frozen planet's white visage on the holographic viewer. Rtas 'Vadumee studied it impassively, leaning his jaw on one hand, still adjusting to the absence of his left two mandibles. This was his first mission after receiving the injury. That last mission was the reason he had been chosen for this excursion: of all the Special Operation Commanders in the fleet, Rtas had the most experience with the parasite known as the Flood. Considering this planet was supposedly overrun with it, he was the obvious choice to lead the mission.
"Reverent Servant and Undeniable Truth have entered the system," the COM station informed the Ship Master sitting in the hovering throne beside him.
The Ship Master nodded absentmindedly and turned to glance at Rtas. Even though Ship Master Kvas 'Ikelonee was a higher rank than the Commander, Fleet Master Thel 'Vadamee had been adamant that Rtas lead this mission.
"This ship is at your command, Commander," Kvas intoned. "How shall we proceed?"
"Scan the location of the Forerunner Complex," 'Vadumee ordered, his words loud enough to carry to the entire bridge.
"There's a storm over the facility, sir," the science station Sangheili, a major in red armor, reported. "The sensors cannot penetrate it."
"How long until it passes?"
"The scanners should work in two hours, sir."
"Hold this position. I will meet with the other Commanders to discuss our plan of attack."
"As you wish," the Ship Master said, gesturing to the NAV station. "Lock us into orbit."
Rtas turned to the COM station. "I want Commanders 'Tangronee, 'Leetomvenee and 'Rolomee in the conference room in four minutes," he said. The Sangheili on duty nodded in affirmation, opening the SHIPCOM. Rtas saluted the Ship Master and left the bridge, riding the gravity lift down two levels and striding down the hallway to the conference room. He stood at the head of the holo-table and silently drew up the reports that the Fleet Master had consigned to him, filed after every mission to the system. He had taken the five days of slipspace travel to peruse the planetary read-outs and the original investigation teams' findings, memorizing every detail, no matter how minute. He knew what the Flood was capable of, and he had no desire to be caught off-guard again.
GH-00987 had only been discovered a decade earlier, by human standards. GH-00987 was devoid of its' own life, as well as any useful ores or valuable minerals. It would have been overlooked entirely if the presence of a Forerunner complex in the northern hemisphere had not been detected. A cruiser class ship called the Heresy Hunter had been sent to investigate the scout's findings.
According to Oris 'Rymeristee, the only survivor of the investigation team, former Ship Master Zulo 'Jamboree had led the mission to the planet, perhaps a foolhardy move, but after his own months of inactivity, Rtas could relate: he was anxious to be fighting again. There they had stumbled across a then-unknown parasitic life form which subsumed its hosts to survive. The team had been overwhelmed in a matter of seconds. Oris' report indicated that Zulo had ordered him to run, to warn the others away, and had held the infestation at bay long enough for him to escape. Oris had then reported to the High Council, and the planet had been declared off-limits, and Oris promoted to Ship Master.
'Vadumee had seen him once, from a distance. Oris was an ideal Sangheili ship master, leader, and warrior: confident, dedicated to his cause, and well disciplined. He had a calm air about him, and the magnetic personality that made him instantly likeable and drew others to him. He could dissipate tension with a single word, a true diplomat. But beneath that was something that Rtas didn't trust. Ambition, perhaps? Arrogance? His ease at persuasion? Rtas couldn't stab his sword into the exact reason, but Oris put him on edge.
The pieces just did not match up. Oris had been here before, and had been a ship master longer than he had been a commander. So why had Rtas been sent instead of Oris? 'Vadumee had a suspicion that his experience with the Flood was not the only reason he had been sent so far out of the way: that with his recent injury, and new promotion, the Fleet Master was purposely keeping him out of the line of fire. Rtas shook the disgusting thought out of his mind. Orders were orders, and he would follow them to the letter.
X X X X X
//1350 HOURS
OCTOBER 24, 2552
USNC MILITARY CALENDAR//
ALPHA BASE, NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
BEVROREN (USNC DESIGNATION)
85 PEGASI-194A STAR SYSTEM
Thick, heavy snowflakes were falling fast, further blanketing the frozen panorama of the icebound world Bevroren, and piling up into deep drifts and great embankments, which the wind whipped into towering pinnacles.
Bevroren, the Dutch word for 'frozen', was a fitting name for the wintry world; a dead, frozen wasteland devoid of any native species, with the exception of a strange lichen that somewhat resembled Earth's moss. It orbited the star 85 Pegasi-194A, near several of the Outer Colonies, which was the only reason UNSC had set up a small base on the world. It was good for nothing except a stepping stone, but the UNSC had no desire to give the Covenant one.
Corporal Avelyn Anderson, electronic clipboard propped on one hip, watched the cascading white impassively—on a frozen planet, the weather rarely deviated from either of the standard weather patterns: blizzard, and about-to-blizzard.
Two more Warthogs, three ODSTs each, appeared hazily through the swirling white, sliding and rocking haphazardly over the terrain, scraping past the two rippling snowdrifts guarding each side of the garage's open maw. Even specially equipped for the harsh freezing weather, negotiating through the blizzards this planet threw at them was treacherous at best.
The group reached the garage and rolled inside, pausing beside Avelyn, who looked up their numbers and checked them in, waving them off as she looked through the remaining list. Only one more group was still outside. She vaguely heard the garage supervisor, Lieutenant John Seissmon, greet the newest arrivals as they secured the Warthogs.
"Any movement?"
Corporal Jackson Carrol heaved his helmet off and shook out his slightly-longer-than-regulation blond hair. "Nope. Covenant are smart enough to leave this forsaken planet alone."
Seissmon grinned. "Ah. But freezing or not, this planet is important. If the Covenant take it over, they would have the ideal stepping stone to the rest of the Outer Colonies, not to mention the Inner ones. We don't need another Harvest. Or Reach." He didn't need to continue down the list.
Even though it had been nearly twenty years, the reminder of the Earth colonies that had been destroyed—glassed was the new word being thrown around—sobered them all, including Avelyn, and the men stalked off to their barracks. She turned to watch for any sign of the last detail, memories of the other times spent watching snow fall filling her mind's eye.
"Makes you think of Christmas, doesn't it?" a voice said in her ear.
Avelyn jumped slightly, then turned to grin at the lieutenant. "I was just thinking that, sir," she agreed, and they continued gazing at the blinding spectacle in a comfortable silence.
"If this war has shown me one thing," Seissmon said suddenly, voice quiet, "it's that no other world is like Earth." His eyes were far away, seeing a different landscape, then he blinked and shook his head. "But we've got too much work to do to keep lollygagging around all day. How many are left?"
"Three Warthogs," she answered. "They were scouting the northern most perimeter."
He took the checklist and looked through it. "Your shift is over in five. Go ahead and go now. I can handle these last three."
Avelyn grinned at him appreciatively. "Thank you sir." She turned and headed further into the heart of the structure, delighted to leave the iciness of the garage.
Avelyn Anderson was a twenty-five year old woman. She had served in the UNSC for the past five years, two of which she was stationed here, on Bevroren. She was tall at five feet, eight inches, and slim. Her face was pretty and round, though numerous scouting outings had roughened and weathered her complexion, with no sharp edges, and more willing to smile than frown. Deep, expressive brown eyes shone out with an intensity that matched her outgoing personality. Her short blond hair, dark from the lack of sun, complemented the bright orbs. Compassionate and always willing to help with almost anything, she was well-liked and known by everyone. There were only four women on the base, and thus they were all roommates: Avelyn, Sergeant Tina Hopkins, Corporal Melissa Adamson, and Staff Sergeant Grace Harman. The four had formed a strong friendship over the years.
Avelyn, looking forward to a hot meal, hot shower, and falling asleep, in that order, hummed under her breath as she left the freezing garage far behind her and followed the maze of hallways deeper into the complex.