I
Covenant Territory
Derelict Forerunner Vessel
10 Years before events at Installation 04
The San 'Shyuum High Prophets' burgundy robes glowed in the electric blue light of the broken display. Mercy and Regret waited behind Truth, holding the vessel's Luminary, and a red-armored Sangheili Major stood sentry while a Huragok mended wires with its long tentacles. Truth sighed, and the Major risked an arbitrary glance. The prophet scratched his furry neck, as though considering protest, but a burst of light captured his attention. A cascade of stars morphed into a chain of glyphs that filled the computer screen, and the Huragok tinkered with the electronics until translated text rolled upward in uniform.
The Major looked away. Only the High Prophets may read the sacred text. Too engrossed with the display, the prophets paid his potential transgression no heed, so he discreetly returned his attention to the screen.
MISSION: LOCATE HUMAN [TRACKERS]
ACQUIRE DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID, RETRIEVE DATA
PRIORITY: CRITICAL
MISSION ABORTED, INITIATE SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE…
The Major splayed the four fingers of his hand across his eyes. What am I doing? They entrusted me with this exalted mission, and so soon have I sinned. Light flashed in the corner of his eye, and he lowered his hand. The Huragok twisted two more wires and one word flashed before the Major's gaze.
OVERRIDE
The writing made an imprint on his mind. I do not understand why this writ refers to humans. Do not the gods decree their annihilation? He shook his head. Stop! To dare think such is heresy.
Seemingly unaware of the Major's transgression, Truth reached the entrance and acknowledged him callously. "Set the charges at once. Eliminate this blasphemy."
Without question, the Sangheili removed three charges from his armor and strategically placed each one, maneuvering around the Huragok. He took the remote detonator from his gauntlet, and turned to leave when a blow to his face shifted every vertebra in his long neck. Truth yanked the remote from his hand as he crumpled to the floor.
The Major wanted to plead forgiveness. No, Sangheili do not beg. "Most venerable one… why?"
Blackness stole into his eyes as Truth uttered the last words he was to hear.
"The Great Journey awaits you."
II
UNCONTROLLED TERRITORY
MISSIONARY VESSEL, PRECEDENT TIME
QUIETUS SYSTEM (FORERUNNER ARCHIVE)
On-screen, the Quietus System revealed a single star and five planets, including Requiem, a blue-green gas giant. Chur'R-Nox, the Kig-Yar, curled her fingers into a fist against her armrest and grumbled at the display. Except Requiem's sole natural satellite, destroyed millennia ago, the primary scan had mapped every celestial body, but even the ship's retrofitted Luminary was dark.
"Turn us about!" Chur'R-Nox snapped and rotated in her chair. "Perform a secondary scan."
The navigator blundered Nox's first order, while the science officer grimaced and punched in commands to carry out the second, but the console chimed completion, its results once again, negative. "Sorry, Ship Mistress, but—"
"Get us to Slipspace!" she growled, digging her razor talons into the flesh of his neck. "I will inform the High Prophets of our findings." She scowled and shoved him, crunching cartilage as his face connected with the keypad.
"Idiot," the navigator griped, plotting their course. "Keep it up, and the prophets might replace you, too."
Nox stalked back to her seat. Stuck herself within her own predicament, she noted the ridicule, but took no action. Do the prophets think me a fool, sending me to a nine-hundred kilometer waste? She looked over her ragtag vessel in dismay and scoffed. So much for profit. A few paltry artifacts would pay to fix this dump and get rid of my absurd crew. The Luminary does not lie... 'My ass', as the humans would say.
III
COVENANT TERRITORY
COUNCIL CHAMBER
MOBIL ASTEROID HIGH CHARITY
CAPITOL CITY
A pair of crimson and gold-trim armored Honor Guards stood at the ready with their staves defending the High Prophets. Hands folded in his lap, Truth tapped his fingers, observing the Kig-Yar prostrated before them.
Mercy spoke, his tone incriminating. "We requested you return with something substantial. Your foundering reputation precedes you."
The Kig-Yar pressed her forehead to the ground. "Forgive me, I—"
He held up a hand to interrupt. "The Great Journey offers no forgiveness for those who, through negligence, shame the gods."
"Too many of your shortcomings have stained our Covenant," Regret continued, his volume increasing with each word. "You will hinder us no longer!"
The Kig-Yar jerked upright and cried, "Give me another chance!"
Mercy flicked his wrist in a disparaging gesture "No."
The Honor Guards marched up behind her and lifted her to her feet before stripping her of her armor.
Truth's voice resounded in the cavernous room. "You are hereby sentenced to imprisonment until such time as the Council decides the manner of your execution."
"No!" she squawked. "Treacherous profligates! You'll pay for this!"
The guards dragged her thrashing and screaming out of the chamber while Mercy and Truth shared knowing looks.
When the three prophets were alone, Regret said, "Our interception of the drifting vessel was no isolated incident. The humans may yet harbor secrets unbeknownst, even to us."
