Inheritance: The Mantel's Challenge
Chapter 1
Year: 2570-2574
Location: Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy
Post Great War
Year: 2570: The UNSC recovered the Janus Key. During the operation Jul'Mdama escaped and Dr. Halsey was eliminated by ONI covert action team Kilo 5 under the direct orders of Adm. Serin Osman.
Year: 2571: Humanity is starting to reclaim several of the Inner Colonies from their glassed state. Reach is prioritized. Resources are diverted to rapidly rebuild the UNSC Fleet. New ships are being developed including a type new class of super carriers.
Year 2572: ONI continues to aid and degrade the Sangheili Imperium, the Storm of the Didact, and Covenant Remnant to ensure no alien power is able to threaten Earth. Despite ONIs meddling the Sangheili in an act of goodwill aid the UNSC in rebuilding Reach. The UNSC is focusing on first rebuilding its fleet.
Year 2573: All dissent and rebellion on Sanghelios is put down by the Arbiter Thel Vadam and Rtas Vadum. They along with the remaining might of the loyal Sangheili forge the Imperium. The Imperium is the collection of the former Covenant Separatists into a single entity.
Year 2574: The Janus Key is unlocked and it shows a single location instead of every Forerunner installation. ONI sends Blue team and a single Imperium representative in their newest class of prowler to uncover the mystery of the Janus Key.
Year 2574
Location: Bridge of the stealth frigate FFGs-658 Ghost
In Slipspace: Heading toward unknown Forerunner Location
"How much longer Taylor?" asks Capt. Drew Tornabene from his position on the bridge, he is standing between the holotable and command chair. The holopad next to the table flickers to life as young athletically built woman dressed as a Greek hoplite coalesces. She begins "ETA five hours to the system edge captain. We can go faster if you would like but the arrival would be messy. Do you wish for me to begin defrosting the crew?" "Yes begin cryo revival on the crew, Blue Team first," as Capt. Tornabene walks to the command chair. "Also have the Master Chief and the Imperium representative meet me on the bridge when they are both able to." He sits and stares at the swirling energy of slipspace wondering what his crew will find or if his command will survive whatever they find.
In the depths of the frigate, the cryo bays are a hive of activity. In a special reserved cryo bay four pods line one of the walls while the others are filled with diagnostic stations, repair arms, and shield chargers. Each pod is being monitored by two cryo technicians, who have stood before the pods in unending vigil over the past few hours. Taylor's voice sounds through the room's speakers, "Time to unseal the hushed caskets." With the code transmitted, the four pods open with a loud hiss as large figures step from the cold embrace into a well-lit fog. Before the awed naval personal stands four of the remaining Spartan IIs clad in Mjolnir VII combat armor. As the Spartans shake off the cryo effects the surrounding techs begin the process of bringing the armor on line. At four individual stations: health monitors are engaged, gel layers pressurized, any software upgrades are installed, and the shields are given their initial charge. The final and most hated test is administered, much to the dismay of Linda-058, the sight adjustment test. As the preparation nears completion Taylor once again uses the room's IMC speakers, "Master Chief you are wanted on the bridge as soon as possible. The captain wants to speak with you. That is all." With a click the room falls silent once more.
Over the private team COM the Master Chief says to his team, "All right team we don't know what the Janus Key has given us so I want us to prepare for the worst case scenario. Get our standard deployment load but go heavier on ammo amount. I also want everyone carrying a heavy weapon, a hardlight weapon, and extra grenades. We could encounter anything from Storm or Remnant to Flood and Promethean grade hostiles." As he finishes his orders three status lights blink green as the Spartans head toward their personal armory. The Chief pauses to grab a Battle rifle, pistol, and a few grenades before leaving the bay heading for the main elevator.
Standing before the sealed bulkhead the Chief's mind is not focused on the mission, he is reliving the loss of Cortana over Earth. True, he and Cortana were created to protect Earth and all her colonies, soldiers whose duty is to fight and die for the continuation of humanity. After seeing so much death over the course of his life; the Spartan Project, the Insurrection, and the Great War, John is numb to death. He has seen billions die including most of his family and yet only Cortana's death has truly affected him. He was entrusted with her safety; they survived two Halos, the Flood, and the flight from Halo, the battle for Earth, High Charity, and Requiem. John always kept her safe, always kept his promises. His thoughts are broken when the elevator doors open with a hiss of air and screech of brakes.
As the Chief steps into the elevator he realizes he is not alone. Standing in the back corner is the representative from the Imperium. A single elite clad in slivery white armor with a plasma rifle strapped to his back and energy swords to each hip. The elite's most striking feature as the Chief dose his automatic threat assessment is the look of wisdom and power in his eyes that and the fact that half of his mandibles are missing. "Welcome Demon," says Fleetmaster Rtas Vadum in a respectful growl. The doors shut and the elevator slowly ascends. "What do you think the Forerunners have in store for you, reclaimers?" Rtas ask in his deep voice. He continues," I hope for humanities sake that it gives you something to up hold the mantle because the Storm and Loyalist still call for and strive to eradicate your kind." The Chief shifts his weight slightly and turns on his external speakers, "I have no intelligence about this Forerunner location. I just hope we find something humanity can use and not a worthless installation overrun by Flood. Hopefully no lives are wasted on this mission." After the Chief is done speaking, they ride in silence for the next few minutes until the elevator slows and the door opens with the hiss of hydraulics.
The two warriors step unto the bridge and are immediately in the way. As freshly thawed crewmen rush to various stations scattered around the edge. They are bringing systems online, running diagnostics, and one guy the Chief sees is playing Tetris. The captain in his raised area notion for the pair to approach before he goes back to staring at the main information screen. As they step in front of Capt. Tornabene, the Master Chief shouts, "Sir reporting as ordered sir." As he bring his hand up in a stiff salute. Rtas bows his head slightly and says, "I am honored to be on the bridge Shipmaster." Capt. Tornabene turns and looks at the two assembled before him. Why, he thinks, did Adm. Hood send an elite on this mission? They tried to eradicate use in a thirty year long war. Besides this mission concerns humanity not a bunch of spilt lipped xenos.
Pushing those thoughts aside like the professional he his Capt. Tornabene begins, "At ease gentlemen. The Janus Key that ONI recovered was supposed to reveal the location and condition of every piece of Forerunner technology." "However, he continues as he makes his way to the central holotable, "it only gave this one location and no data on it. We are going to drop out of slipspace on the systems edge and proceed in quick and quiet. Blue Team and Rtas's Phantoms will be the tip of the spear. You will go in with stealth transports and secure us an LZ for follow on forces. Dismissed."
"3…2…1, exiting slipspace now," intones Taylor over the bridge speakers. "On screen," orders Capt. Tornabene. The space boils and churns as the Ghost makes its way into real space. "Engage full stealth systems, begin passive scans online, take us in system at half power, arm all weapons; ballista missiles, bring both plasma torpedo launchers to 50 percent charge, MAC gun to 75 percent charge. Tell the Blue Team and the Phantoms they have one hour before they drop," orders Capt. Tornabene as soon as the slipspace portal closes. As he watches his commands being followed with speed and professionalism he moves toward the holotable, "Number two you have the bridge, Taylor project system data onto the table." Choruses of yes sirs rattle off behind him. Looking at the screen he sees a standard system with gas giants farther out and several garden worlds in an inner orbits separated by a large asteroid belt. It looks like Sol, thinks the Captain. Taylor then projects hundreds of sentential signatures that are patrolling the system. Several signatures match the key ship but are much smaller, "Sir," Taylor begins, "I believe there are active Forerunner warships in system and are headed toward us." On the table it shows four ships, each over a kilometer long, break from the main group and head right toward the Ghost.
"Taylor," Captain Tornabene says quietly as he walks back to the command chair, "Bring the ship to Combat Alert Alpha, charge all weapons to full, prepare the marines to repel boarders, send a data burst to HIGHCOM alerting them to the system, initiate Cole Protocol." With his orders finished Taylor alerts the crew, bulkheads are shut, power shunted the weapons and shields, marine and ODST fire teams rush to get weapons and move to defensible points throughout the ship. The Elites and Spartans move to protect critical points and then the ship loses power. An orange beam sweeps through the ship accompanying by a high pitched shriek. "Taylor," growls the Captain as the ship shakes violently, "What just happened?
"Captain," as the lights flicker back on Taylor says, "We have just been actively scanned by a high intensity beam. All electrical systems are rebooting currently. Only life support is unaffected. Records indicate that both the Forward Unto Dawn and the Infinity were scanned like this prior to the First Battle of Requiem. We have incoming power signatures." "On screen," shouts the Captain as he activates the IMC. "All hands this is the Captain. We have just been scanned by sententials. Those who have served on Requiem probably recognize the beam. All combat teams prepare to repel boarders expect Promethean Knights and other Promethean grade hostiles. That is all." As the Ghost drifts helplessly through space several sententials grapple the frigate and begin to move into atmosphere of one of the garden worlds. The bridge crew gets tenser as they are getting closer to ground. As the ship stops motes of light collect around Blue Team, Fleetmaster Rtas Vadum, and Capt. Tornabene. In a flash they are teleported out of the ship and into a city. As the group's vision clears they get their first glimpse of a Forerunner city. Immense Buildings made of sliver white metal float meters off the ground. Their features shifting as the group moves through this urban jungle heading toward a center plaza. "Movement pattern Delta Spartans," commands The Chief as he readies his battle rifle, "Priority is to keep the Captain alive and find a way to get off this planet." Green status blink green as the Spartans spread out and begin scanning for any threats. Rtas grasping his plasma rifle in one hand and plasma sword in other looks up, upon seeing thousands if not millions of sententials, "We cannot survive long against this flock of guardians if they deem us unworthy." The group continues to move silently through the city like shadows they glide from cover to cover. They continue with little sense of direction until the Master Chief and Rtas hear a familiar voice.
"Greetings-analyzing-Welcome reclaimers. I am Monitor-03 Prometheus and I welcome you to this world. It was once the main Fortress World of the Forerunner Empire to wage war with the Flood. Come, Come... error non-reclaimer present, Species indexed as 638A, sangheili, is not permitted to enter the Journey's Commencement." With that revelation the groups is shocked, this easily rivals the discovery of the Halo rings. Struggling to speak Capt. Tornabene swallowing his hatred of the elites asks, "Monitor, Is there any way that the Fleetmaster be allowed to join us?" The monitor floats around the group and hums as he considers the request. "Yes," he replies, "Protocol can be amended since a reclaimer has requested a non-reclaimer. Current example of Species 638A is now granted temporary reclaimer status. "Now," his cheery voice takes an ominous tone, "prepare for the first trial." Motes of light once again collect around the fire team as they are transported to another location.
A single archway shrouded in shadow is what greets the fire team, that and a musky smell and wet splattery sound pervades the darkness. Prometheus says, "Follow the path for the journey begins at the end. Beware the mantle requires its wielders to be strong in its defense." With these words a single corridor lights up beyond the arch. The fire team moves through slowly the musky smell getting worse. Rtas and the Spartans grow uneasy as the smell triggers old memories. Those fears are conformed as the team reaches a giant door. A roar reverberates through the blackness, motion trackers beep as the screen fills with red dots. Flood Combat Forms leapt into the light. Without a word the Master Chief guns the closest one down with a short burst to its chest. As it falls more charged the Spartans. "The parasite, here?" roars Rtas as he slices a combat form in half, "They must not defile this holy place with their filth." With that he charges into the tide. His twin plasma swords flashing in the darkness, reaping a large number of Flood. Seeing that he will be surrounded he fights his out of the horde and back to the Spartan's firing line. The Spartan formed an evenly space line and as one they opened fire with the Forerunner weapons they brought. Kelly and Fred open fire with a pair of Suppressors and the leading ranks of Flood were cut to pieces as the lethal hardlight rounds cut and vaporized parts of their bodies. Linda's Binary Rifle is scything through several forms in an orange beam and a smell of ozone. The Master Chief lets loose with the scattershot, creating a hail of lethal bouncing light. Several times the Flood rushed the outnumbered reclaimers and several times they were cut to pieces by the precision shooting of the Spartans and the swipes of Rtas sword. All of sudden the tide stopped and Prometheus returned, "Excellent, Oh very good reclaimers, I am impressed you withstood the Flood only having class two combat skins. The way is now open to reach what I have guarded for the past thousands years."
The portal opened and a light bridge activated. Prometheus led the group past a series of pillars. The tops rotated off and revealing several Promethean Knights. As the Spartans take aim, Prometheus stops them. These knights, the Chief notices are different, they glow blue instead of orange and they bow as a slipspace portal forms at the end of hall before an abyss. "These knights," Prometheus explains, "Are true ancilla made by the Iso-Didact to protect the Librarian. They are not like the Ur-Didact's complied humans. These will protect all reclaimers not kill them. Now proceed through the portal I will join later." The portal leads to a circular room bathed in white blue light. The inner rings glow brighter the visors of the Spartans darken to try and compensate but to no avail.
The light flares and the fire team is rendered unconscious. As they float in the sky above the planet a platform gathers beneath them. In front of them a women appears. She has long hair and is wearing a magnificent gown. She is made of pure blue light. "Hello reclaimers, Species 638A, and nice to see you again John," begins the Librarian, "There is much to say and not much time. I am glad that the Didact was stopped, he was supposed to guide humanity in the ways of the Mantle. I am now forced to try another means of testing and guiding humanity. To truly take the Mantle you must prove yourselves. This test if passed will solidify humanity as masters of this galaxy and others in time. If failed trillions will die along with the Mantle. As you progress more of our legacy will be revealed and you will gain more control and knowledge of our technology. Once we are finished here this fragment will be destroyed, until another is found my role in this halted. Prometheus can only aid you so much but there are two others on this planet who are entrusted to be humanities guide. Goodbye reclaimers, I hope you prove the Didact wrong about my decision to save your species." Her form fades as the fire team regains consciousness. Prometheus is floating around room and is humming to himself. Noticing the movement below he turns, "You have heard the words of the Librarian and now you must decide the fate of this galaxy. Choose quickly for there is much to do reclaimers."
The Spartans shift slowly seeking out any potential threat of an ambush, Rtas is in a state of semi-shock for he just meet one of his gods. He drops to his knees and recites ancient pray after pray. Capt. Tornabene is torn between taking this offer immediately and waiting for someone higher up to decide. He weighs the arguments in his head but eventually decided in favor of humanity and not his career. He stiffens to attention, his back straight, arms tight by his sides, hands clasped behind his hips. "On behalf of the UNSC and humanity," he begins in a weak voice. Collecting his nerve he grows stronger in conviction, "I accept the test of the Mantle of Responsibility for the Forerunners gave us this legacy and we must do our utmost to safeguard the galaxy."
"Oh very good," replies Prometheus as he bobs in the air. Continuing the monitor floats over to the bowed Sangheili, "Species 638A your presences has also helped the reclaimers pass another test. One of the major failures prior to the Coming of the Flood was that Forerunners failed during a time of peace was with the creation of allies and equals. Thus alone the Forerunners died alone. It is within my power as a Representative of the Forerunner Empire to elevate a species. I cannot elevate them to a total reclaimer but a compromise will do nicely in this case. Your kind and those who follow the Sangheili are now lesser reclaimers. You shall be the Sword of Reclamation and the Shield of Humanity for the galaxy is large, dark, and full of terrors yet to emerge."
Rtas still on his knees says in a deep revenant voice, "I bow to the will of the gods. My kind will forever bear the stain of shame that was the Great War. All of the innocent and needless lives lost rest at our feet. The Great Journey of the Prophets was a lie. It lead to the desecration of so much, our gods betrayed, their teachings corrupted, the Mantle defiled, but no longer. We accept the responsibility to stand with humanity not as servants but as equals. The Age of Atonement has begun." Turning to the humans he continues his voice louder with the clarity of purpose. Rising from his knees he states, "On the blood of my kin I pledge my sword. So my children can bask in the honor regained and glory won across the stars. The Journey of Atonement starts with this first step."
The monitor breaks the silence caused by Rtas proclamation, "To begin please proceed down the hall and enter the first slipspace portal that opens." With the directions given Prometheus floats away. Following the instructions the fire team moves in a standard search and destroy pattern, bounding from overwatch positions to cover points they reach a lit section in a few minutes. The walls are covered in murals showing the history of the Forerunners. Most mean nothing to the team. Eventually they reach etchings that depict the Forerunner-Flood War. Small groups of warriors standing before a tidal wave of flood forms; unlimited numbers of combat and infection forms rush to consume and kill billions. Space battles were the stars themselves were used as weapons. Worlds and systems shattered to stem the unstoppable tide. Trillions abandoned to the Flood. The Liberian standing in the Ark, the Iso-Didact in the control room of Halo Installation 04. The Final mural shows two monitors locked in one-on-one combat. A portal forms as the fire team approaches the end of the hall.
