Chapter 1- The Death of Brothers
Hundreds of Covenant Banshees glided gracefully over the city like a swarm of wasps. The Covenant ships in orbit danced with the UNSC fleet, any pathetic attempt by the humans at retaliation was quickly being smashed down by the force of Covenant bombardment.
A squad of Covenant Elites charged through the broken streets of Cote Azur's main residential district. The squad was lead by Shangheili Ultra Snaglin.
The squad stormed up the stone steps towards a grand human structure which dominated the district. The words 'Galactic History Museum' were engraved into the archway above the door. The squad took positions either side of the door. Snaglin raised his hand and pointed to the large wooden door which would lead into the building. An Elite Major stepped forward, drawing a demolition charge from his back. He secured the explosives against the door, stepping back behind the safe cover of one of the pillars. He activated the detonator on his gauntlet, the charge detonated, sending wood and masonry spewing out in all directions. Once the dust had settled the squad stormed into the building.
The entrance hall they entered was dimly lit; the walls were lined with primitive human weapons that were of no importance to them. In the center of the room lay a large statue of a human holding a sword above his head in triumph as another human was crushed beneath the weight of his boot. Snaglin did not recognize this human though something about him seemed familiar. While in his daze his second in command, Kagri, approached his side.
"Sir, is everything alright?"
Snaglin shook his head to clear his mind "It is nothing" He motioned his squad deeper into the human building.
Snaglin's squad came to a halt at a large bulkhead door. "The gate to the holy rings is beyond this door. Open it" The squad's tech specialist approached the terminal controlling the door. He removed a small holoprojector from his belt; he interfaced it with the computer terminal and began hacking. The specialists hand danced over the controls like his arm was an extension of the computer.
A sudden series of loud beeps emanated from the door, the mechanisms activated it slowly began to hiss open on hydraulic pistons. Snaglin marched into the room with his squad closely in tow. Snaglin's eyes scanned the room; the room beyond was topped by a large dome decorated with an ancient Roman design which seemed even more primitive than the rest of the museum. The walls were lined with yet more paintings and statues of past human victories. Being surrounded by images of the humans brutish and unrefined past sickened him to the point of vomiting. But for now he was only concerned with their prize.
Snaglin approached the pedestal in the center of the room. Atop the pedestal sat a small red glowing stone, its surface lined with ancient forerunner symbols. Snaglin removed the stone from its resting place and turned to his brothers, raising his prize out at arms length. "This is what will lead us to the Halo Rings. Rejoice my brothers. You have brought the Covenant one step closer to salvation!" A loud roar emanated from his squad, each Elite raising their weapons in triumph.
Snaglin tapped a switch on his wristband. "Shipmaster, this is Captain Snaglin. We have secured the artifact and are ready for extraction".
"I am afraid that we cannot allow that" A voice boomed from the shadows above them. Snaglin immediately recognized the voice as that of one of the Prophet Hierarchy commanding the Covenant fleet in orbit.
"Prophet Hierarch?" Snaglin asked, not surrendering a hint of surprise to the voice.
A holographic representation of the Prophet Hierarch appeared over the artifact. "I have received information that the humans have established a military stronghold outside of Cote Azur and are preparing to attack this city. We must not allow them to acquire this artifact". The Prophets frail hand passed over the artifact. "Your squad has been reassigned to protect this room until our research team can decipher the symbols of the ancients"
"Of course Hierarch. It would be an honor" Snaglin clasped his forearm over his chest.
"Very well. For the glory of the Covenant" The Prophets voice and the hologram faded as quickly as they had appeared.
The next few days were the worst his squad had ever experienced. Endless routines of patrolling the interior of the facility or posted on the roof of the museum as a sentry. Snaglin and his squad had joined the military to fight the human scourge and bring glory to the Covenant.
Snaglin passed through the reinforced door into the central chamber where the artifact resided. The purple glow of Covenant equipment impacted his eyes like concentrated plasma fire. He approached the tech specialist to request an update on the situation.
"What have you deciphered from the artifact?" He hung over the tech engrossed in his work.
The elite turned to his superior officer and snapped a crisp salute. "I am afraid the markings are complex. But we have confirmed that this artifact is the key to locating the Halo constructs".
"Very well. I expect an update in five standard hours" the lack of progress so far only meant that his squad would be forced to remain here as security until their completion.
"Yes sir" The technician returned to his work. Snaglin approached his computer terminal. It was again time for the squads to report in. He tapped the holographic symbols, opening a COM link to his patrols moving throughout the network of corridors within the building.
"Beta Squad. Repeat beta squad. Report"
"Beta squad reporting, sir. No activity in the east wing of the building"
"Very well. Remain alert" Snaglin closed the COM. He tapped another switch and opened another link. "Gamma squad, Gamma squad" Static.
"Gamma squad reporting. All clear at the front door, sir"
It surprised Snaglin that even the humans were this slow to mount an offensive. "Very well, stay alert"
Next was delta squad. "Delta squad". All that filled the COM was static. "Delta squad. Come in" Again white noise filled the channel. Snaglin activated an open COM channel. "Patrols, I have lost Delta patrol. Has there been any sign of them?"
"Negative Commander. Beta patrol out"
Gamma came in "Our communications are disabled as well. What do you think happened to them?"
"Unknown. But I am going to discover their fate. Stay alert. Should you see any humans, kill them without hesitation" Snaglin closed the communication channel. He opened a reconnaissance map of the building. Delta squad had been assigned to patrol the west wing of the museum. He closed the map. He gathered his Plasma Sword, Plasma Rifle. He secured some spare grenades against his belt. He charged through the bulkhead doors in search of the missing Delta Squad.
Snaglin charged through the long corridors of the museum. Many conflicting thoughts coursed through his mind- What had tragedy had befallen Delta? Had they become Heretic traitors? Had they been slain in battle?
He pushed these distracting thoughts aside. He turned a corner; he suddenly froze in his tracks. The corridor before him was strewn with the ravaged bodies of Covenant Elites. Snaglin knelt down next to the corpse of the squad leader Major Zammne. Fresh light blue blood drizzled from his mandibles; his cold hand still clasped his weapon tightly in his grip. At least Delta squad had died fighting. Snaglin looked into the bullet wounds; he reached into the wound and removed a small metal cylinder from the floor.
It was one of those cursed primitive projectile's the humans utilized in their weapons. There was no other evidence of who had murdered his squad- no other bodies, no blood stains other than that of the slain Elites. There was only one human who could have killed an entire squad of Elites single handedly. He knew he did not have much time.
He hurriedly leapt up and sprinted back towards the artifact. As he entered the central room which held the crystal he found, to his dread, that he was too late. The lifeless bodies of the technicians littered the floor at his feet. And the pedestal stood empty. Snaglin glanced over his shoulder to see a heavily armored creature behind him.
"Mission Accomplished Admiral. I am ready for exfil. I'll meet the Pelican at rendezvous point Alpha. Spartan 117. Out" The demon spoke into its helmet.
Snaglin charged towards the human as it stepped past the boundary of the blast door, the heavy mechanisms engaging of their own accord, slowly beginning to seal the door. Snaglin's pace quickened, but to no avail. The bulkhead door closed shut, Snaglin's momentum carrying him forward to impact the solid metal. He slammed his fist into the door in a vain attempt to breach it. The murder of his squad, of his brothers, would be avenged. His prey had evaded him. But it would not remain so for long.