Soell System, 0100 hours Ship Time, 9/19/2552
"By the prophets...we found it."
A Sangheili, clad in the brightest golden armor, stands atop his command deck, gazing upon the incandescent ring through the holographic screen, a machine of pure holy might dwarfing their already impressive Starships, a testament to their faith and guaranteed sign of holy transcendence, a juxtaposition to the massive, bleak gas giant it orbits. The crew of the Purity's bridge were silent, watching in awe as their faith has been confirmed. A silence broken by the alarm of a Sangheili Major sat at his station beneath the command deck.
"Shipmaster! We have detected a slipspace rupture on the edge of the ring!"
The Shipmaster, standing proudly above his subordinates, steps toward his console. The console flashed and bleeped with unrecognizable glyphs and symbols. Pressing one of the symbols, the screen changes it's position, showing nothing but empty space adorned with glistening stars. As the Shipmaster stares at the screen, he notices a slight tear in space itself, accompanied by a brief, blurry flash, leaving a single star ship adrift towards the gas giant. The Shipmaster scoffs in astonishment, pondering to himself the absurdity of a human ship finding their holy salvation by chance.
"It still perplexes me, 'Sefumee. Of all places in the galaxy, why would they come here? From their doomed home world to the very thing we have searched generations for. I feel as if 'coincidence' is not the right word to use."
The Major, still monitoring his post, responds to his query.
"Puzzling to be sure, but it does not matter, with their world burnt to glass and their military demoralized, a victory is assured. All that is required is a direct hit with one of our torpedoes and the problem will be solved.
The Shipmaster looks down to his colleague.
"No need for haste, my friend. The best course of action now is to await orders from the Supreme Commander."
The Major looks back to his terminal.
"Very well, Shipmaster."
While the Major continues his work, the other deck hands continue to stare at the ring, their stare is broken as the Major takes notice, emitting an authoritative growl to the deck hands, successfully breaking their gaze and continuing their work. The silence holds for several minutes before a familiar voice catches the Shipmaster's attention.
"Shipmaster 'Movumee."
The Shipmaster turns to see a hologram of a San'Shyuum, resting upon a levitating throne, adorned in a ceremonial robe, fizzling into existence before him.
"Noble Prophet of Stewardship."
The Shipmaster takes a knee, a sign of respect to his superior.
"What orders do you have for the Purity?"
The Prophet places two fingers upon his chin, thinking to himself. A second hologram forms before 'Movumee, one of another Shipmaster, wearing the similar golden armor. 'Movumee addresses his colleague with a nod of the head.
"Shipmaster 'Roramee."
The Shipmaster nods back to his counterpart without a word. The Prophet adjusts his position in his chair, ready to speak.
"This...is a new discovery. Make no mistake, the discovery of an ancient ring is a momentous occasion. Our passage into the divine beyond, guaranteed. But, we know not what lies on the surface. The parasite could have easily overtaken the surface as they did on Harborage. Sending all of our forces upon the ring could be disastrous as it was then. Shipmasters, I will be sending the Purity and the Entelechy to run ground reconnaissance. Your men will have the glorious honor of being the first to set foot upon the ring and determining it's safety."
After the Prophet finishes his assessment, 'Movumee responds with a question.
"What of the human vessel?"
'Roramee raises his voice. "A simple problem with a simple solution. We blast the vessel out of the cosmos!"
The Prophet raises a hand to calm his subordinate.
"No need for rash action, Shipmaster, this is indeed a momentous occasion that has everyone on edge. The human vessel does indeed pose a threat, but we must stick to our tasks. One stray shot from a plasma torpedo could damage the holy ring. Your duty is to examine the ring while the rest of the fleet board the vessel and destroy it from within. They will not lay a toe upon this ring. You know your duties. You have your orders. Good luck brothers."
The hologram of the Prophet fizzles out of existence. 'Roramee and 'Movumee exchange glances to each other.
"Believe me, I would rather blast that vessel out of existence, but we have our orders. I will ready my troops, I expect you to do the same."
'Roramee's Hologram fizzles and dies. 'Movumee takes a long, contemplative stare at the ring before approaching the console on his perch. Holding down the holographic button, he yells.
"Warriors! Prepare for combat and report for briefing!"
"Yadam! Wake up!"
The Unggoy jerks himself awake from his curled-up position, looking back and forth to notice the barracks populated by hordes of Sangheili, Unggoy and Kig-Yar scrambling for their gear, some struggling to put their boots on as they run. He spins his head around the barracks to pinpoint the source of his rude awakening. In front of him is an Unggoy Major, sporting the bright-red combat harness and twin-point tank commonly seen among the Majors.
"Filim? What's going on?"
His companion doesn't waste a second responding, blurting out a slurry of unintelligible words before managing to collect himself.
"C-Call to arms! Get equipped and get to the hangar!"
Yadam jumps up to his feet and locates his footlocker. Pressing the glyphs on the control pad, the lid of the locker flies open, revealing his Minor Combat harness; bright orange with a single-point tank. He secures the vest and methane tank to his person, hooking up the hoses and wires required for him to breathe. Right as Yadam finishes securing the tank to the back of his harness, a Sangheili Minor, clad in standard bright-blue armor, stomps through the door. The Sangheili stares at his contingent of Unggoy with anger.
"Has your intelligence dropped even more or are we breeding deaf Unggoy? Report to the hangar!"
The Grunts stand to attention in a sloppy and panicked fashion. One of the Unggoy in the group yells out in fear.
"Yes, Commander 'Hekumee!"
The Sangheili looks back at his subordinate with a cold stare.
"You will refer to me as 'Your Excellency' Unggoy!"
The Unggoy shields his face from a perceived disciplinary strike, managing to squeal out.
"Y-Yes...Your Excellency!"
The Sangheili drops his stance.
"That's better, now move! I don't want to see a single one of you falter!"
The team of Unggoy squeal in surprise, trailing behind their leader as fast as their little legs could carry them through the winding, purple corridors. Yadam manages to keep up with his team, his only motivation being to not get trampled by the infantry forces if he dared to stop for a breath.
After many close calls with the stampede of soldiers, the team locates the hangar bay. The bay sports multiple levels for aircraft to dock, a wondrous room with a high ceiling and two large, shielded bay doors. Phantom drop ships and Banshee fighters rest in their berths, waiting to be boarded. Sangheili, Unggoy and Kig-Yar alike gather at the edge of the docking bay, standing to attention at Major 'Sefumee. The Sangheili and their Unggoy subordinates form a rank and file in front of the officer. The Unggoy chatter on about their mission, Yadam and Filim find their place in line, whispering back and forth to each other. Filim taps Yadam's shoulder, getting his attention.
"Have you seen the ring? It's huge! Huge!"
Yadam turns his head to meet Filim.
"It kind of makes you wonder, how did the humans find this place anyway? The one place we've been looking for for generations and we only happen to find it when a human ship plans to jump there."
Filim stares up at the stars, contemplating.
"Yeah, weird, huh? Makes you think. Like everything is connected or something. Like we all have a specific purpo- OW!"
'Hukumee slaps Filim on the back of the head.
"Quiet down and stay in formation!"
The Major raises his hand to quell the deafening chatter from his ranks. With this, the cohorts of warriors silence themselves.
"Warriors, today is a day that will dwarf the entire history of our Covenant. We have been given the honor of being the first to set foot upon the holy ring. Rejoice brothers, for today is a momentous occasion! However, do not let the majesty of the ring blind you. For the surface of the ring is all but unknown, the parasite could have easily taken over the surface as we saw on one of our lords' shield worlds. Your mission is to recon the ring and assess it's safety for a larger military presence. If you encounter the parasite, report to your Lance leader and evacuate from the surface. Our duty is to recon the ring, not take matters into our own hands. Any questions?"
'Hekumee raises his hand.
"Yes, Commander, What of the human vessel above the ring?"
The Major addresses the question.
"As we speak, other ships from the fleet intend to board the vessel and disable it from within to prevent any damage a plasma barrage may cause to the ring."
'Hekumee nods.
"Our Spirits will be carrying basic defenses and gun emplacements to set up a proper outpost. While the infantry forces settle into their respective outposts, Ghosts and Banshees will be performing reconnaissance on the surrounding area. Good luck brothers! Dismissed!"
The Sangheili all roar in pride, then march to their respective Phantoms.
"Come, Grunts!"
'Hekumee wrangles his Unggoy toward the nearest Phantom as the other Sangheili do the same. Yadam takes one last look at the hangar, watching all species pile onto their respective craft. Before the bay doors close, Major 'Sefumee addresses the troops waiting within the Phantom. Next to him is an identical Sangheili Major.
"Until further notice, This Lance shall be designated The Lance of Revelation, and this will be your lance leader, Major Karumee."
The Major whistles into the air, prompting a large creature with a bulbous body, waving tentacles and a snake-like head, to gently float down from the shafts above the hangar. The creature whistles in a calming and graceful tune, akin to the call of a whale or dolphin.
"...and this is Graciously Glides, otherwise known as Grace. This Huragok will be assigned to your lance."
Major 'Karumee steps into the Phantom with Grace floating behind. The Phantom's bay doors close, bathing the Lance in the fluorescent, purple lights of the Phantom's interior. As the Major inspects his troops, Grace makes himself comfortable among the Unggoy. To inspire his men, the Major begins singing a hymn the Sangheili have memorized to the letter.
"So full of hate were our eyes, that none of us could see."
"Our war would yield countless dead, but never victory"
"So let us cast arms aside, and like discard our wrath."
"Thou in faith will keep us safe, whilst we find the path."
Yadam leans over to Filim.
"Doesn't this hymn seem contradictory to you?"
Filim responds.
"How so?"
Yadam contemplates with a puzzled look on his face.
"It was written after the Sangheili-San'shyuum war, right? Countless losses but never victory? Why must we pursue a war with the humans, rather than casting aside our arms and making peace?"
Filim reacts with a look of anger.
"The humans attacked us first! We tried to make peace with them on one of their worlds but the emissaries were all killed!"
Yadam pauses for a few seconds.
"I'm not so sure. Why can't we just make amends with the humans, we help them and they help us?"
'Hekumee looks down at his Unggoy.
"You will watch that blasphemy if you value your life!"
The two Unggoy snap back to attention.
"They are an affront to our gods! They stand in the way of the journey and must be expunged! Even if we wanted to, the damage has been done."
The Phantom begins to violently shake and rumble, throwing some of the Unggoy off balance. The pilot relays to his passengers.
"We have entered the ring's atmosphere!"
The turbulence sends Grace crashing into the group of Unggoy, reacting with a harsh whistle. Yadam and the Unggoy lift the Huragok back into his position.
"Do we not have straps for him?"
The pilot of the Phantom continues his report.
"Exiting the ring's atmosphere in 4...3...2..."
The shaking of the Phantom suddenly stops, a simple whoosh is heard from the outside.
"Landing Zone; Sighted, setting down."
The Phantom lowers itself to the ground, opening it's bay doors. The purple light diminishes, and the Lance is greeted with the warm rays of sunlight beaming down upon a grassy clearing in the middle of a sparse forest, surrounded by roving, green hills and monumental mountains. In the distance, the broadside of the holy ring ascends into the sky, adorned with unique habitats such as forests, temperate and tropical, wetlands, tundras and deserts. As the Lance stares endlessly upon the beauty of the ring, Spirits and Phantoms rain down from the sky, dropping buildings and defenses such as Halls and Shade guns, as well as infantry of all types. Major Karumee steps out of the Phantom and onto the green grass.
"Men! Dismount!"