1220, August 21, 2560 (Military time)\unknown location
It was dark. He could smell the stale air, taste the stillness. The dimly lit, metallic purple and blue corridor was eerily silent. Aroh 'Evob roved his black eyes around as he and his Spec Ops warriors made their way down the passage. The only sounds they could hear was the soft click-clack of their shoes upon the metallic floor and an idle hiss from a coolant tube running along the ceiling above them. The Super-Carrier Silent Wrath was disabled, abandoned, sent to drift the void vacuum of space.
Easy pickings for Covenant Remnant, Neru Pe 'Odosima and their faithful followers.
This ship once belonged to the Fleet Shadow of Fury, a specially designed fleet of cloaking ships from Sanghelios, using upgraded technology. Its Supreme Commander was Telek Nar 'Heros, a leader that Spec Ops Commander Aroh 'Evob regarded with disgust. This ship was given to Telek by Imperial Admiral Xytan Jar 'Wattinr to replaced his damaged Shadow of Darkness. And when Telek took his other ship back, he gave the Silent Wrath to his disgusting human subordinate, Shipmaster Tomas Jimenez.
The Pious Reckoning, a Reverence-class battle cruiser and the ship Aroh and his Special Forces served upon was able to diligently disable the titanic super carrier. It seemed like a coward, Shipmaster Tomas and his human filth had vacated the ship, fearing capture. Shipmaster Yurgo 'Tizswad scanned for any signs of the other ships in the fleet, knowing that Telek was infamous for his ambushing attacks. Telek used his ships' cloaking advantage to hide and allow one ship to appear to be helpless as bait for his trap. The elder Sangheili military leader had used such tactics before when he betrayed the glory of the Covenant and came into the service of the wretched humans of the United Nations Space Command. It was a way for Telek to capture Covenant ships and deliver them to the UNSC, which helped turn the tide of the war in the humans' favor.
Shipmaster Yurgo, upon coming across the disabled Silent Wrath, wondered if this was such a trap. With some help of newly acclimated Sangheili engineers, his ship was outfitted with a way to sniff out a cloaked Sangheili ship. Cloaked ships produced an enormous amount of heat, creating a beaming black body radioactive signature against the cold background. Not as hard as a star, but considering most of space was nearing the temperatures of absolute zero, creating a heat source only a hundred degrees above that would cause the sensors to excite. So far, so good, there were no cloaked ships around the Wrath. The super carrier was alone.
Aroh and his warriors continued their trek through the corridor, making their way up to the bridge of the ship, right at its heart. Behind them was engineering, its repulsor engines quiet. Most of the power was cut off, save for life support. Overhead lights lining the walls flickered slightly, ever so no and then he heard an electronic hum from the lights as he made his way down. His plasma sword scraped against the floor, leaving a hot, burning gash along the metallic plating.
Nearly twenty miles of super carrier did they trek through and so far, no sign of Shipmaster Tomas or his mixed crew of humans and heretic Sangheili.
"They truly did abandon this wonderful ship, Excellency," said a black-armored Sangheili.
"Cowards," said Aroh, his black, shiny eyes narrowing under his pearly-white helm. "At least die like warriors instead of fleeing."
The communications array buzzed in his ear-hole and he looked toward the ceiling.
"Is there any trace of the heretics?"
"No, Shipmaster," Aroh replied. "None. They have abandoned the ship."
"My readings would have sensed any escaping craft from the Silent Wrath," began Yurgo. "I do not believe they left."
"Then, where are they?" asked Aroh.
"Hiding," said Yurgo. "Flush them out."
"Gladly."
"Excellency," began another warrior. "Once we have control of the bridge, we could just open all the airlocks. Seal off the bridge and watch everything in the ship be swept out into space."
Aroh turned to the shorter Sangheili and dipped his head, his mandibles clacking.
"Then, let us swiftly get to the bridge before whoever is left on this ship gets wind of our plan," he said.
He heard his fellow warriors bark in agreement. They started in a swift trot down the corridor, winding their way through each bend and turn. The lights continued to flicker, but that did little to hinder their way. They crossed up an elevator, hovered over a light bridge, and then finally came to the heart of the ship itself. The doors chimed softly, the tri-valve panels opening up with a flicker of blue lights. Aroh gripped his sword hilt tightly, sniffing the air as he turned his head. The bridge of the ship was truly a massive sight to behold. Before him was a great, many pane window looking out over the starry-spans and soft rolling of an orange nebula. Purple and red glowing holographic controls beamed brightly. They were still operational. Columns of purple and blue, bulbous shapes connected from the ceiling to the floor with cyan lights zipping up between the spaces in the paneling. He had never been on the bridge of a super carrier before. To have control of a ship like this would indeed be a great help to the Covenant Remnant and their continued service to their one true gods, the Forerunners. A ship like this was more than capable of glassing planets, showing the true might of the former Covenant which he held so dearly. If it was not for the heresy of Telek and his mentor Otto, the current Arbiter, the Covenant would not have fallen into the state it is now.
He cursed Telek for spreading his lies to the Council, making them the weak, pathetic, un-piteous, sycophants they were now. Sanghelios became a world of sin and debauchery due to Telek's preaching that the Forerunners were not gods, and the religion that the Sangheili held for thousands of years, even before the Covenant, was nothing more than a foolish lie. It was up to the Covenant Remnant to remind the Sangheili the truth and Aroh prayed each night that the gods would finally smite Telek where he stood for his blasphemy.
"Alright," began Aroh. "Joba, get to the controls and seal off this level."
"Yes, Excellency," said Joba, saluting with a fist to his chest. He swiftly flowed down the ramp to one of the tactical controls, his gloved fingers flying across the hard-light screens.
"Gonu," Aroh began. "Man the controls for the airlock mechanisms. Once we have this place sealed off, you open them up."
"Yes, Excellency, said Gonu as he dipped his head and parted.
"The rest of you, keep an eye on the door," he said. "I want no mistakes."
His other men barked in compliance. Aroh slowly walked down the ramp towards the center of the bridge. He heard the chiming clicks of Joba and Gonu as they tapped their fingers across the controls, commanding the ship to begin sealing off the levels and opening up the airlocks. A grin of satisfaction spread across his mandibles, a fang peeking out between the scaly, ashen lips.
"This ship is ours now," he said deeply.
He heard a hiss coming from the wall as he made his way to the command chair. Aroh looked up to see a spray of gray blue mist flowing out from one of the piping along the ceiling. The mist was like the others he saw as he made his way up towards the ship. At first, he thought nothing of it, but now, he began to wonder. The mist billowed out unnaturally, looking like it was taking shape as something. Wispy fingers reached out to trace the grooves of the floor and he heard something large sigh. His twin hearts fluttered against the ribcage of his chest and he slowly backed away.
"Demon?" he whispered.
The mist hissed at him, flowing out around the floor, clouds churning and rolling. Aroh watched as the mist crept close to his warriors. He stepped forward, raising a hand to them as the cloud reared back and snatched his warriors up. His eyes widened, his mandibles spread, silent shock spreading across his face. Plasma fire lit up the smoke and he heard his warriors scream in the mist.
Gonu and Joba backed away from the controls, looking upwards upon the strange gray mist. The trailing edge passed on, flowing down the ramp. Aroh backed away, his eyes sparking in horror as he saw what had become of his warriors. They looked like nothing more than frozen statues, ice dripping from their bodies like frosty daggers. He dropped his sword, the plasma blade shattering like glass in a spark of blue-white.
"What is it?" Gonu asked. "What happened to them?"
"It's a demon!" Joba called. "A monster infesting this ship!"
He heard that Telek had some sort of demonic creature upon his ship, a creature that took the form of some sort of cold mist, a ghostly apparition that seemed to come from every Sangheili nightmare. And Telek had it under his command. Truly, it was a sign of his own blasphemous madness, to ally himself with such a devil. And it was here! It was on this ship! No weapon could defeat it. Gonu fired upon the strange swirling mist, the plasma bolts of his rifle passing through nothing, igniting as it hit the back wall.
"Foul beast!" he called.
The cloud crept closer to him, ghostly talons lashed out from its surface. Gonu yelped as he felt himself being dragged into the cloud by its cold tendrils. Joba dropped his rifle and backed away, his golden eyes trembling with fear.
"Stand your ground, warrior!" Aroh called.
"How can we fight something our weapons do not harm?" Joba asked as he watched the cloud sweep away from Gonu's now frozen body.
"To run from our enemy only to save ourselves is the coward's way out!" said Aroh.
Is that so?
Aroh's eyes widened, hearing the icy voice of the mist demon crackle inside of his mind. The mist flowed over Joba's body at last, encasing him as a frozen statue as well, frozen forever in fear.
"Telek cannot even come and face me!" said Aroh. "He sends his demon to me instead!"
I am no demon.
The cloud swirled around him. He heard the sound of a metallic bang upon the doors to the bridge. Aroh's eyes narrowed as a flash of blue-white exploded and the doors pealed back like a banana. His breath stilled as a figure came through, a human figure, rather short even by human standards. He was dressed in a UNSC officers' uniform, drab gray with the insignia of his command upon his shoulder. In his right hand was a quarter staff of blue-white energy, held low as if he was going to use it like a sword. His eyes glowed blue and a trail of ghostly cyan cords flowed out from the back of his spiky, black hair. A pair of triangular, black markings curved around his cheeks. Behind him walked up a tall, statuesque Sangheili Zealot, dressed in brilliant gold armor and crating a Fuel Rod Gun across his back. A pair of pale green eyes regarded Aroh with a smug "got you!".
Aroh bolted away from the cloud, starting to run up the ramp. The human swung the energy sword his is hand, tossing it into Aroh's path. In a flash of white, ear-ringing explosion, the Sangheili Spec Ops Commander was thrown to his back. The Zealot leapt over the ramp and dashed towards Aroh, snatching his neck up in a huge hand. The human walked down, followed by a mixed platoon of other UNSC soldiers and Sangheili warriors. Aroh looked beyond the Zealot to the frosty mist who then started to take form. The mist bubbled up, massive leathery, ghostly wings formed, then a large, reptilian head, tail, and body formed. The creature was silvery in color with blue stripes running down its back.
Several Sangheili who were with the humans rushed to the controls, closing the airlocks and filling the closed off sections with life support and oxygen again.
"Heretics!" Aroh called, speaking in the language of the Sangheili. "All of you!"
The Zealot huffed and slammed the butt of his cannon upon the Spec Ops Commander's head. Like a heavy stone, Aroh fell over.
"Nice work, Dovi."
Tomas Jimenez, Captain of the Silent Wrath, smiled as he allowed his mind to make the Disconnection. The cords disappeared, the markings disappeared and Tom felt a great pressure upon his mind suddenly released. He had practiced every day since Telek ordered him to start using the Array again just in case an issue like this were to arise. Humans wielding Technomancy brought fear to the religious fundamentalists of the Servants of Abiding Truth. Telek risked that seeing such abilities would not bode well for his or Otto's gamble in preaching that the Forerunners were nothing more than just super-advanced aliens who made the biggest mistake of their existence, and it would frighten more Sangheili to follow in the Covenant Remnant's political stature. However, it was necessary. Telek hoped that having the other Sangheili see humans, who were once thought of as worthless parasites only fit for genocidal annihilation by the Covenant, wield the power of their gods with ease–and these fundamentalists would change their minds and finally take the medicine they need desperately to take. However, Tom had to admit to himself, he did not wield the power of Technomancy with any ease, it was more like rampaging bull in a china store. Kiryuu Knight, Soñador Malcho, or Tim Marx, aka Manda, would be more apt to use the abilities with far more grace than he could ever hope. In fact, Telek's new 'squire' as he jokingly referred to him, Chandler Graham, was a better student at Technomancy than Tom was. He already had two pairs of markings upon his face each time he Connected, where as Tom could barely maintain one pair.
Still the results were awesome. Tom could fire off energy blasts like he was a character from a Japanese anime, or form one of those energy balls into a glowing sword, one of the more basic abilities Technomancers learn. Even then, the sword had its limits, good use as a melee weapon, but unless the wielder had good defense as well as offense, even Technomancy could not protect him. Still, the look on the invading Sangheili's face was worth it to have the sword out. However, he was more frightened by the ghostly apparition of Dunkelzahn Mountainshadow, Great Western Dragon and former President proceeding Kiryuu Knight. Though now the UNSC had seen two other presidents go by in these last seven years since the ending of the Covenant/Human War, one still in office now, Geraldo Mendoza.
Tom looked to Dovi 'Canthon, the big Zealot giving two thumbs up, from both thumbs of his hands. Tom had to laugh wen Dovi did that. The Zealot Field Master was on lone from Shipmaster Cujo's ship and Tom couldn't be more grateful than to have him on board.
"I'm sure the Shipmaster of that battle cruiser would like to know what's going on," said Dovi, placing the split of his mandibles together. It was an ease way for the Sangheili to speak any human language, making their mandibles form into the upper and lower jaws similar to that of a human. The Sangheili who worked closely with Telek each mastered this ability. It almost made them look like they just had a simple mouth lined with rows of fangs. Dovi leaned over and hefted Aroh up. He winced when he heard a shatter, turning to see one of his own warriors poke at the frozen statues of the other invaders. The Spec Ops Sangheili fell apart, cracking like glass and tumbling to the ground. Dovi turned back to Dunkelzahn, tilting his head. "Remind me never to have you touch me, Casper."
I hate it when people call me that, said Dunkelzahn. He shrank back when he looked into Dovi's pale gaze. I won't touch you, Field Master.
"Tom!"called a gruff voice over the comlink. The voice was laced with a Southern American Accent. However, no one would hardly think it actually came from a Sangheili. "Tom, please tell me you're still kickin'."
"I'm here, Telek," said Tom.
"Thank my Aunt Evira's petty coat you're alright!" said Telek. "Tom, Chandler can't keep the field up for much longer around my fleet. He's ready to send Shri and her Sangheili over to that battle cruiser in order to capture their Shipmaster. You have got to stall them!"
"Don't worry, Tom out!" said Tom. As the comlink clicked off, he turned back to Dovi. "Wake him up."
Dovi chuckled deeply, cracking his knuckles.
"Don't break his limbs!" Tom said, knowing what that meant.
"I will try to be composed, Shipmaster," said Dovi. He raised an eyebrow. "But I make no promises."
He gave Aroh a good smacking to both cheeks with the back of his gloved hand, waking the fundamentalist Sangheili up. Aroh jostled, gasping for air as his black eyes flickered open. Tom leaned down to him, a smile appearing upon his face. Tom haunched over, coming to his knees as he stared upon the Sangheili.
"You are going to send a word to your Shipmaster to hold his position," he began. "That your are still securing the ship."
"Nishum!" Aroh said with a spat, a ring of saliva spilling out over his mandibles.
Dovi gave him a good punch in the upper arm: "Ni'jafla!" He switched back to English. "Now speak the human's language."
"Very well," said Aroh. His English sounded slurred, having great difficulties even pronouncing his 'V's or 'W's. "You want me to tell Shipmaster I secured ship, human?"
"Yeah, that's it," said Tom.
"Unless you want your head blown off, I suggest you do as he said," said Dovi.
Aroh barked in disgust and then tapped his armored chest.
"Shipmaster," he began, speaking in his native tongue. "I have secured the ship. No survivors."
"Well done," began Yurgo. "Well done. Take control of the ship. We will prepare to make the jump to Laqil."
"Yes, Excellency," said Aroh. "Just give me time to prep the ship for the jump. Hold your position until we're ready to move the ship."
"Contact me when you are ready, Commander," said Yurgo.
"Yes, sir."
As the comlink went dead, Aroh looked to his captors, taking a deep breath. Tom walked around the Sangheili, his arms crossed again. Aroh watched Tom carefully.
"Where–where is fleet?" he asked in English.
"Hidden," said Tom. "Some tricks that we know. A lot better than just cloaking a ship."
"The gods–teach you those tricks?" asked Aroh.
"No," said Tom. "The gods of the gods taught us these tricks."
Aroh leaned over, dipping his head between his legs. Tom returned his call back to Telek.
"Okay, Tel, do your thing," he said.
"Alright," said Telek. "Moving the Shadow into position now and we are going to snatch that battle cruiser up. I've got Shri and her team ready as well. Did you get where the ship makes berth?"
"Laqil," said Tom.
"Good work," said Telek. "Keep our prisoner alive–for now."
"Yes, sir," he said.
0
Shri 'Canthon, one of the very few female Sangheili who joined up with the military during the Covenant War, was the Special Operations Commander on board Telek Nar 'Heros' cloaking super carrier, the Shadow of Darkness. She had been with Telek for almost 20 years, starting when they both were a part of the Covenant. Shri often was looked on by many of the other Sangheili as a mother figure and she made sure every single one of them were taken care of. Her brother was Dovi 'Canthon, and both were allowed to become swordsman due to their father being an aristocrat himself. They had two different mothers, though. However, she would defend him like a mama bear, as many humans on board Telek's ship. No one hurts her brother. But, she had no worries now, Dovi was good hands with Tom, another dear friend of hers she met when she followed Telek in defecting from the Covenant. Shri gave a good knock to her pearly white helm for good luck, her pale green eyes twinkled.
"Alright," she said, looking back at her team. At her side was a black armored Sangheili with hazel eyes and an equally smug grin. "We ready, Ysoa?"
"Ready as ever, Shri," said Ysoa 'Argam.
Shri turned as she heard two rumbles as two heavily armored Lekgolo walk towards them. They bowed their armored heads and rumbled in greeting to her. Though many humans could not understand what they were saying, Shri knew exactly what they said. Shri dipped her head in kind.
"Okay," she said. "Yvette, we're ready."
She turned to a human with red hair, dressed in a UNSC marine uniform. Glowing cords draped over her back. She was a teleporation specialist, snapping her fingers as glowing golden rings wrapped around herself and the Special Forces traveling with her. They vanished from the cargo bay of the ship only to reappear inside the Pious Reckoning cargo bay. Shri ignited her plasma sword as Ysoa pulled out his carbine. Yvette got out her assault rifle.
Around them, Sangheili and Unggoy and Jiralhanae all loyal to this new faction of fundamentalists were waiting for them, scattered about dark blue crates and one Wraith Tank. A flair of blue arced its way over the crates. Shri and Ysoa leapt out of the way as crates exploded behind them in a mist of cyan and purple. Bolts of blue and green flashed between them. Carbon scoring dotted the purple walls. Shri pressed a glowing panel in her frosty armor and suddenly vanished. She swept behind a dark blue-armored Sangheili, her sword flashed through his chest. She heard a choking call from him as he dropped. The Lekgolo tossed around bodies of enemy Sangheili and Unggoy. Explosions of green ignited from their cannons attached to their right arms. Ysoa heard the doors chime and more enemy forces spilled out as the doors slowly swept open.
Shri felt the ship shudder and she heard the sound of a loud wale of a siren. She looked up and grinned slightly as she heard the barking commands from the Shipmaster over the intercom. It was now clear to her he knew what was happening and Telek had made his move.
"We have to get to the bridge, now!" she called to Ysoa.
Ysoa looked over a crate, seeing Yvette leap through a wall. Golden ripples spread out from the wall as if the human had dove into still, dark water. Ysoa felt a hand reach out, taking hold of his armor's collar. The hand yanked him straight into the wall. The scene itself wiped away as if he dove through murky blackness, only to come out into a corridor at the other end. He fell forward, spilling out into the steely colored floor. A gloved hand reached out to him, spreading five fingers. Ysoa took hold and pulled himself up.
"You alright, lieutenant?" Yvette asked, giving the Sangheili a pat upon his shoulder.
"Yeah," he said. Ysoa looked behind him only to see Shri phase through the wall as well, acting as this was something she has done most of her life.
She lifted a hand to her ear, calling up her other troops.
"Keep the cargo bay guarded," she said. "That's our point of entry. We'll take down the Shipmaster."
"We've got company, Shri!" Ysoa said.
Spilling out into the corridor were Sangheili and Jiralhanae, pausing to hide behind their deployable shielding. A bubble of shear blue-white formed around Shri, Ysoa, and Yvette. Plasma bolts of red, purple, and blue impacted upon the fluctuating shield, pelting it with tiny ripples like hail stones into a pond. Yvette held her hands out, holding the shield around them. And there they remained until each of their attackers guns overheated. Shri heard the familiar hiss of the overheating riffles and pistols, green, red, blue mists escaping from their barrels. The Jiralhanae and Sangheili fanned their weapons, desperately trying to help them cool down for another shot.
"Yvette," began Shri.
"Yes, ma'am," said the Technomancer. She thrusted a fist forward and the bubble formed into a shockwave of blue-white, racing forth down the corridor. Sparks off the edges of the wave ignited and trickled up and down the metallic walls, frying the exposed alien circuitry. As the wave washed over their enemies, the deployed shielding sparked and popped, only to flash off, completely disabled. The wave fried the circuitry in their armor, their weapons and knocking them back to the ground. Shri and Ysoa ran up along the angular walls, circling and crossing upon the ceiling. Both Sangheili Spec Ops pulled out the UNSC rocket launchers tied to their backs, slinging them upon their shoulders and fired. The corridor filled in an explosion of fiery orange and red blaze, and black smoke. As the smoke cleared, all that was left were the charred bodies of Sangheili and Jiralhanae littering the blackened surfaces of the corridor. Shri and Ysoa flipped down from the ceiling and the three started bolting swiftly down, rounding a bend in the corridor.
"We're not far from the bridge," said Shri.
The speed of a finely toned Sangheili was nearly unmatched by a human. Naturally, Elites were the better sprinters and runners due to their digigrade legs. However, Yvette had a way of solving that issue. Shri looked behind her, seeing the Technomancer skate along the metallic floor behind them with bolts of blue-white propelling her forward, blasting off from her heels.
"Shri!" she heard the sound of Telek's gruff voice through her comlink.
"What?" she asked.
"Hurry!" he said. "I've sent a disabling pulse through the weapon system on the ship, but, it won't be long before their Huragoks fix it. I want that Shipmaster captured!"
"We're moving as fast as we can, Telek," said Shri.
"Yah ain't fast enough," said Telek. "You better be moving as if your asses were on fire!"
Shri clacked her mandibles and let loose a deep grunt: "We're going as fast as we can! Shri, out!"
"Telek's getting impatient?" Ysoa asked, gasping in between his words as they ran.
"Yeah, he is," Shri replied. She looked back behind her to Yvette, noticing the strain upon her face, her furrowed brow. "How are you holding?"
Yvette looked down upon her wrist watch: "I have nine minutes left before it starts hurting. Another two minutes before I start bleeding out of my nose and ears."
"Don't worry, we'll capture this ship before the seizures hit," said Ysoa. "Just hang in there, Yvette."
"Thanks, lieutenant," she said. "I can speed things up, Commander."
Shri slowed her pace as they braced themselves against a wall between the corner. She heard the sound of Sangheili and Jiralhanae grunting and growling, firing upon them again. Flashes of blue, cyan, and green whirled by them.
"How?" she asked, turning her head to Yvette, her pale green eyes locking upon her glowing blue ones.
"Tell me," she began. "In what direction is the bridge?"
"We have to go across a launching bay," Shri replied.
"No, in what direction," said Yvette. "Is the bridge–through the dimension–which direction?"
Shri closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. A slight prick grazed upon her neck. The Sangheili opened her eyes, glowing as brightly blue as Yvette's. Shri rose to her feet, and lifted her left hand, holding her palm flat out, parallel to the wall opposite to her. She slowly turned to the wall, breathing slowly, concentrating upon the wall.
Just allow it to open...do not fight it, Shri...
The wall rippled as if she was touching its liquid-metallic surface. She turned her wrist and the wall seemed to open up, pealing back, bulkhead by bulkhead. She took in another deep breath and thrusted her hand out as if she was punching a hole through space itself. The force of her fist broke each bulkhead, opening them up in a long tunnel, one after another, until the bridge shifted and bent, dragging itself to them in a wavy motion. Yvette grabbed both Shri and Ysoa, bounding through the tunnel. She heard the sound of each metallic plate creaking, closing behind them, piece by piece. One after another, the three landed hard upon the bridge of the ship, rolling as they hit. Finally, the last metallic wall closed behind them, sealing them in with the Shipmaster and his guards and bridge personnel. The Shipmaster Yurgo stood upon the raised platform, amid a semi circle of holographic screens lit in blue, cyan, purple, and red. His golden armor glittered in the low light. Blood red-armored Major Domos stood, poised and ready to attack the intruders, gripping their weapons tightly.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Yurgo shouted, seeing the three intruders fall through the wall.
The glow of Shri's eyes faded as Yvette pulled her cords away from the Sangheili's neck.
"Heretics!" Yurgo said. "I will have all your heads planted firmly upon pikes in Mdama Keep!"
"You'll have to take them first," said Shri.
"Kill them!" Yurgo called.
Yvette raised her hands, forming her shield around her and Shri and Ysoa just as the Sangheili fired upon them. Shri ignited her sword and Yurgo followed as well, igniting his. Just as she was about to leap out of the shield, she saw it flicker around her, weakening. The sound of a watch alarm beeping caught her ears and Shri turned back around to Yvette. The human was crying out in pain, her face twisted in agony. Shri could smell the metallic stench of Yvette's blood as it started to leak out. Her body was frozen, trembling. The sheild fell, shattering like several thousand points of lights, falling all around her and skidding upon the metallic floor. Yvette fell over and Ysoa caught her into his large arms.
"Disconnect!" Shri called.
Yvette's cords vanished and her eyes returned to their natural dark brown color. She curled up into Ysoa's arms. The black-armored Sangheili looked up at his superior officer, his eyes showing their worry. Yurgo chuckled.
"So this is the human's mastery over the gods' magic?" he asked. "Pathetic that they are merely hurt by it!"
"You have no idea what sort of 'magic' it really is," said Shri.
"You have no where to run, female," said Yurgo. "No where to hide!"
As each of the Sangheili guards approached them, Shri saw a flash of brilliant white. Five of the Major Domos shook violently as bolts of lightning forked in between them. Shri looked on as a flash of cyan blinded her and she saw one of the Major Domo guards step forward. His torso pealed away, toppling over, half and half, in a bloody, purple mess. A shape came into view, the background he hid inside of folding away from his body as he released his cloak. There, standing in deep purple-black armor, shining metallic and defiant, glowing cyan designs etched upon his armor and shoulders. His helm held two hornlike structures that the humans thought made it look like a Japanese samurai helm. Two piecing cyan-blue eyes looked upon Yurgo. He stood taller than most of the Sangheili in the room, a nine-foot giant.
"Telek 'Heros," said Yurgo, his eyes opening wide.
"Telek?" Shri said in a gasp. "What the hell are you..."
"You were taking too damn long," said Telek. "I figured I'd hurry things up a bit."
"Oh, thanks!" Shri said, her voice more spiteful than grateful.
He lifted up what appeared to be an ordinary human automatic, magnum, except it looked rather oversized to be one. He felt a bolt of cyan graze upon his shield, it fluctuating in blue as it was hit. He pointed the magnum at the Sangheili who fired upon him. Lightning flashed and raced out from the end of the gun, forking upon impact of the Sangheili, spreading out to the other guards. They jostled violently, toppling over. Yurgo could only smell ozone in the air and fried tar from their bodies. Telek smirked.
"Your turn," he said, pointing the gun at the Shipmaster.
Yurgo dropped his sword, holding his hands up in the air. Telek tilted his head, his smile growing.
"That's more like it."
He walked up the platform and took hold of Yurgo, turning him around. Telek grabbed each one of his wrists and bound them in a plastic, black zip tie he pulled from his leather utility and ammo belt. Telek tilted his head, looking over at Ysoa holding Yvette.
"We'll get her back to the ship, don't worry," he said.
"Yes, Excellency," said Ysoa. He looked down at Yvette, her face looked peaceful. He wiped a drop of her blood from her nose. Telek came to the holographic panel before him and swiped his hand across the surface, moving the various screens around in a particular sequence he knew. Blue interfaces crossed the screen with his right hand as he zoomed out from a red screen. Then, a siren sounded as the lights around him turned red. Telek swiped at the screens again and pressed a flickering triangular button, calling up the intercom.
"Listen to me, crew of the Pious Reckoning," he began. "I have control of this ship's weapons and life support systems. I have set this ship to self destruct. I will leave this ship with your Shipmaster and you will die on this ship unless you surrender the ship to me and report to your life pods to be jettisoned. You've got five minutes." He lifted his fingers to his head. "Joli, I want you to back the Shadow up."
"Excellency?" began Joli.
"You heard me," said Telek.
"I'm getting a reading that the ship's self destruct has been activated," said Joli.
"Yeah," said Telek. "It has."
There was a long pause and he thought he heard Joli's breath tremble.
"Releasing gravity lift," said Joli. "Rolu, help me back the Shadow up."
"Tell me if you see any life pods," said Telek.
"Will do," said Joli.
Telek swept his hands across the holographic panels and a massive forward screen appeared before him. Right above he could see the dark shape of his super carrier slowly moving away, the gravity lift underneath coming into view as it moved. He looked over at a clock ticking down the minutes.
"What the hell is your plan, Telek?" Shri asked. "We just blow up with the ship?"
"I got nothin'," said Telek, giving a shrug. He took out his steel tin and took a drink of the fresh, cold cider.
"Damn it," she huffed.
"Excellency, no life pods have even attempted to escape," said Rolu.
Telek looked back to the screen, noticing that three minutes had already ticked by. Then, he passed his gaze back to Yvette. She moaned slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She lifted her heavy head up, running a hand through her short, ashy brown, curly hair. Her eyes came upon Telek. He was so calm
"Admiral!" she said. "Sir–"
"Can you get us off the ship?" Telek asked.
"You can expect her to re-Connect!" said Shri. "She's burned out her time limit."
Telek walked down the ramp and knelt before Yvette. He lifted his magnum to her, opening up the magazine. The big Sangheili pulled out a shell, popping it in. And then, he handed it to her.
"You've got less than a minute, Sergeant Major," he said.
"Yes, sir," she said, clasping her hands around the gun's handle. Yvette rose to her feet, holding the heavy magnum tightly in her hands. She lifted the gun up, her eyes started glowing blue once more, the cords draping down her back, and the black markings appearing upon her cheeks. The tip of the gun began to glow brilliant blue and like a mist, it spread around her form.
"Ysoa," began Telek. "Take care of our prisoner."
"Yes, Excellency," said Ysoa. He rose to his feet and walked up the ramp. He grabbed Yurgo by his armor and dragged him down. The prisoner Shipmaster growled.
"You honestly are going to leave my crew," said Yurgo.
"I gave them a chance to leave," said Telek. "So I could just take the ship. But they didn't. Guess they'll just have to go down with it."
Yvette fired the gun and in a long stream, a swirling portal of glowing liquid opened up in front of them. She stumbled forward and Telek caught her, hefting her up into his arms. Telek took hold of his magnum from her hands and holstered it.
"The rest of my team are back on the Shadow," said Shri.
"We got what we came for," said Telek. "They can die for their beliefs. It's what they did before when they were Covenant. Everyone, in the portal."
He looked back at the clock, seeing now only 30 seconds were left. Once more, a smirk crawled up his mandibles just as Shri and Ysoa and their prisoner jumped through with a flash. Telek held to Yvette tightly and leapt through as well.
Outside the ship, the Shadow of Darkness, Silent Wrath, and the Divine Journey were swiftly pulling away from the Pious Reckoning. The ship itself vibrated as cyan cracks formed along its shell. It seemed to have taken a deep breath just right before it was engulfed in purple white light. Shards of ship flew out, impacting upon the shielding of the other three ships. Inside the Shadow of Darkness, Telek had thrown his prisoner, Shipmaster Yurgo into the brig. His guards clicked on the force field and Yurgo roared in defiance.
"Damn you!" he called.
"I can't help it if you're that stupid to notice a trap," said Telek. "Besides, I've been searching all over for you."
"Why?" Yurgo asked.
"Yurgo 'Tizswad," began Telek. "The Covenant Remnant are holding out on Laqil. I want to know why. What's so interesting about that glassed planet that a bunch of religious fundamentalists would want to hide out on it?"
"To hide from the traitor Arbiter and his heretics," said Yurgo. "Such as yourself."
"I figured you'd say that," said Telek. "You have all the time in the world to tell me as we return back to Sanghelios."
Yurgo sighed, leaning against the wall.
"Excellency!" called the voice of Joli. "I've got a call from Alan Tyler. He's back on Earth. He wants to talk to you."
"I'll come down and have our chat later," said Telek. He left the brig, passing up through the enormous corridors towards his bridge. He paused for a moment at the infirmary to find Chief Surgeon Dr. Erin 'Venam busy with his medical drones. He stood beside Yvette laying upon a medic bed. Telek walked inside, placing his hands behind his back.
"How is she?" he asked.
"Stable," said Erin. "A minute more and she would have been brain dead."
"Why does the Array fry their brains if they stay connected to it too long?" Telek asked.
The chief surgeon turned to his superior and shook his head. The soft light of the medical bay played upon his muted golden, zealot armor. Erin shook his head.
"I still don't know half of what this hyper dimensional computer and power source they jack themselves into is capable of doing," he said. "But I suspect that it's like pumping a rubber tire too full of air. It can only take so much before it pops. Same thing for them too. The higher skilled Technomancers can take being connected longer."
"It just worries me that my own men, like Tom, each time they attempt to use this ability–he comes one step closer to being a vegetable," said Telek. "I don't want them to use it too much, not unless it's absolutely necessary." He took in a deep breath. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with an old fashioned gun and a few fists thrown here and there."
"Yes, sir," said Erin.
"Let me know about her status, Doc," said Telek. "As it changes."
"Yes, sir."
Telek finally came to the bridge, descending down the ramp. He climbed into his command chair, turning towards the forward screen.
"Alan Tyler is on the line, Excellency," said Rolu.
"Put him on," said Telek.
"Hello, Telek, glad to hear from you," said a familiar, British-accented voice.
"Alan," said Telek. "Glad to hear you made it back to Earth."
"Not only did I make it back to Earth," began Alan. "But I became an unwarranted tour guide for a very important dignitary you should know about. Right now, though, I am at the funeral for Alistair."
"I see," said Telek. "How is Alistair's clan?"
"Good spirits, well, at least they welcomed us in good spirits."
"Right. Give my best to them."
"I will."
Telek scratched the back of his neck and took in a deep breath.
"I had to tell the Council on Sanghelios about Megellan," he began. "I'm afraid they didn't take it well. Many of them didn't."
"I understand," said Alan. "Speaking of which. Megellan's sovereign ruler is here. His name is Emperor Kedzuel Draconis. He was the one who I took on that tour. Apparently, the Precursors have returned completely and they brought their ships. Currently, they are working with Kiryuu and Malcho in repairing the ships they brought over. It's a bit difficult to explain, but they need the galaxy's assistance if they ever want to be at full force again in order to defeat the Reapers."
There was a long pause as Telek gripped the arms of his chair. He took in a deep breath, his eyes flashing with fury.
"You mean to tell me those guys are here?" he asked. "How long have they been here?"
"Two years."
"I wish Kiryuu had told me about his Precursor friends being on Earth," Telek barked. "It would have saved me a lot of trouble."
"Kiryuu didn't even know until a few days ago," said Alan.
"Even then, just a couple of days of them coming here and actually telling those idiots the real truth," said Telek. "Because lord knows they didn't believe me–again! After all I tried to do for them, they didn't believe me again about the Forerunners."
There was a brief pause on Alan's end: "What happened?"
"Civil war," replied the Sangheili Zealot. "This whole Forerunner shit, I never knew how many of my people still bought into the whole thing even after all we've been through during the Covenant War. I tried, Alan. I honestly tried. I thought they listened, many of them didn't. Luckily, there's guys like Otto, Rtas, and a few others in power who still honestly believe what I've been saying was true. Thing is though, when you find out that your gods were lying all this time, it's kinda hard to deal with. Many of them think I was possessed, still believe that shit that the Prophet of Truth told them. Then I went to Otto and told him about Megellan. We had to tell the Council. I think that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Not your fault, not Megellan's fault. No one's fault. This was just building up for the last couple of years after the war ended. Now we've got these Sangheili Storm assholes who broke from the rest of us, using terror to bring many back into the Religion of the Forerunners again."
"The Forerunners are dead, Megellan killed the last one," said Alan.
"Jesus died too, but that didn't stop half your planet from going to Sunday worship," said Telek. "They're calling the Didact a martyr. His death strengthened their beliefs. Now, I'm in the middle of a war against my own people all because those idiots who still believe in the Forerunner's divinity are a bunch of morons who won't listen to me!"
"So, what does this mean?"
"It means that I don't think I can rally enough Sangheili ships to fight the Reapers when they finally get here," said Telek, drawing in a heavy breath. "Not with this civil war going on. Maybe you can have this Emperor Kedzuel come over and have a talk with my people. Have him tell them the truth. Let them hear it from him since he's the leader of the Precursors. The Forerunners stole their technology; have him tell the Council that. The Forerunners were never really the true protectors of this galaxy. Have him say that! Other than that, I don't know what all I can do for you. I'm sorry I can't be there for Alistair's funeral. Just a lot going on here. I feel like I'm kicking you in the teeth by not being there."
"No," said Alan. "It's alright. You have to think about your people and get them ready for the Reapers. This Civil War is gonna put a dampener on things, Telek."
"It wasn't my idea," said Telek. "I didn't want half my people fighting the other half over a stupid religion that was, in its creation, a fucking lie. But religion does that, you know?"
"Yeah," said Alan. "I know."
"I'll keep you posted as best as I can," he said. "I really do think I need some help here. My own voice doesn't carry the same weight anymore. I thought it did."
"I'll talk to Kedzuel," said Alan. "He still needs to travel around the galaxy and see where everything is. Since his ship is pretty much built, and if he has the coordinates, he might be able to come, but I can't speak for them. The Precursors are having issues of their own trying to get resources to finish the other ships."
"If he can solve my problem," said Telek. "I'll give him the resources he needs from Sanghelios. No questions asked. If he has to drill in some farmer's backyard to do it, he's got my permission. That farmer can piss off and go somewhere else."
"I'll let him know that," said Alan. "Keep in touch, Telek."
"No problem," said Telek. "Take care. Give my best to Alistair's clan. And tell him–I'm not too sore about what happened that night on Illium. He's–he's alright with me."
"Thanks," said Alan. "That–means a lot."
As the comm went dead, Telek took his helmet off, placing his head into his hands.
"Excellency," began Joli. "What would this mean for us?"
Telek took in a deep breath as he leaned back against the padded back of his chair. The gravity chair lowered and he stepped off, walking towards the tactical controls of his ship where Rolu and Joli sat. He leaned over the control panel and turned to both of them.
"It means we might be able to get the proof we need in order to make those Covenant Remnant bastards realize what they're doing is only gonna mean more trouble for our people as a whole," he replied. He leaned up. "Ever since we battled the last of the Covenant Loyalists, we protected our home, but I should have realized the trouble we were in when we were left with nothing to believe in. I had my own stubborn attitude to believe in, I knew wholeheartedly that the lies we were fed only would make us weak. Otto and I only found out in our archives, the data of the First Arbiter, even he questioned the religion brought by the San'Shyumm. Now we have these Precursors, beings who were there when it happened, when the Forerunners deceived the galaxy. They are the proof."
"Even when the proof is staring at them in their faces, Excellency," began Rolu. "They are more willing to believe a lie, because the lie gives them something more than what they see."
Telek sighed, wagging his head heavily. He paced his helm back upon his head, crossing his arms.
"I don't know what to believe in anymore," he said. "If there really is a divine presence–a god out there watching over us–or are we just foolin' ourselves. Even the humans still believe in some sort of god, whether it be the one who died on two wooden planks, the one who looks like a bush on fire, or the moon, the sun, the planets, the trees–did you know humans worshiped trees as gods?"
Joli leaned back upon his chair: "I did not know that, Excellency. It–seems silly that they did."
"Is it anymore silly than us worshiping a bunch of old artifacts left by a species who committed seppuku because of some parasite?" asked Telek. "I'm so ready to just cast off any god, whether it be something that was, something that is, or something that is more like a feeling in the heart–I just don't want that anymore, that attachment to owe something I don't even understand nor can touch–my loyalty and receive nothing in return." He shook his head again. "I don't want to be fooled by a lie either. Much rather just accept the fact that god, whatever it is, doesn't exist. Let me be ignorant of him/her/it/whatever. I'm happier that way."
"I still believe in our gods–" said Joli, placing to fingers together, looking rather somber. "What they stood for at least."
Telek's eyebrow cocked up: "I hope you don't plan on going to those Covenant Remnant bastards!"
"No, Excellency," said Joli. "Never. I believe in what they used to stand for. Peace, stability. Prosperity. The Covenant Remnant doesn't want that. They want to go back to the old ways, the–uncivilized ways. Cast off what we've achieved through the centuries. It's like taking a step back. Maybe the Great Journey–becoming like our gods–isn't really meant to say we fire off the Halos and die. Maybe it's to grow like they did, become the protectors of the galaxy like they did. And I know even the humans believe this. Men like 'Mdama don't believe in such things. They see humans as a plague. But we shouldn't fight each other, we should have peace and work together, that's what our gods wanted. Gods like the Librarian wanted that, right?"
Telek dipped his head in thought and only smiled slightly.
"Maybe," said Telek. "But, you can ask the Precursors when we finally meet all of them." He settled back into his seat once more. "I do know this, though. Creatures like King Ghidorah, he is not unlike a god, right? Look at what he can do. Isn't that what we would think a god would do? The power a god would wield? Yet, we do not worship him–we fear him. If he is really a god of some sort, he'll get no worshiping from me either. But he won't get my fear too. And the Precursors, they being as powerful as the Forerunners had even said they were, they too have powers of our gods, and more."
"Do we worship them?" asked Rolu.
"I don't think this Emperor Kedzuel is the type who likes that sort of thing," said Telek. "Or else, he'd probably had that pipsqueak Alan grovelin' at his feet already, right?"
Joli chuckled: "Alan isn't the type to worship or grovel to anyone."
"No, he ain't," said Telek. He glanced away and whispered silently. "At least that's one thing I like about the kid." He turned back to his helmsman and snapped his fingers. "To Sanghelios. We've got to report back to Rtas and Otto what we discovered."