Fall of Reach

"What the hell are you doing here, Telek?" Captain Jacob Keyes asked. He glanced up, feeling the corridor around him shake. Behind him were other soldiers. They were evacuating the base. It was here that the SPARTAN II program was initiated. Ships were already beginning their blind jumps. The last was the Pillar of Autumn. "You picked a hell of a time to play hero."

"ONI sent me," Telek stated. "To make sure you and your precious cargo gets off Reach."

"They sent you," Keyes sighed. "Meaning there's no stopping the attack now. Reach is lost."

"The grids have already been plotted, they've started with the western hemisphere and are making their way east," said the Sangheili. "You're next on the list."

"I suppose you'd got an idea of their plotting," said Keyes. "Because you've glassed planets before."

Telek sighed as they made their way out into the open: "I've glassed planets before."

"I hate opening up old wounds…"

"What's to open up, Jacob?" Telek asked. "I wounded you, not the other way around."

"Captain!" called a gruff voice from a Marine. "The drop ship is here."

Telek glanced up seeing the Pelican fly down and land.

"There's you ride," said Telek. "Tom, how's my exit."

"Not good, Skipper," Tom called. "I'm being chased by two destroyers. I'm gonna have to jump."

"Tom!" called Telek. "Don't you dare jump without me on board! You're not used to the system yet. You don't know how to jump a Covenant ship!"

"Telek, he doesn't have a choice," said Keyes. "You can hitch a ride on my ship."

"I'm sorry, Skipper," Tom called. "Tekn's putting in random coordinates now."

Suddenly, the coordinates where Tekn was sending the Shade to appeared on Telek's comlink. They seemed familiar to him.

Where have I seen these before? He thought. "Jump, Tom. Get out of there. Jacob, I guess I'm your guest."

"It's the best thing to do," said Keyes. "Get in the Pelican, Telek."

"Tom, if no Covenant follow after you jump," began Telek. "You are to contact me. I'll be on the Autumn."

"Where are you going?" Tom asked.

"I don't know," he said. "But that's the point, isn't it?"

0

Telek stood on the bridge of the Pillar of Autumn. He glanced out the window as he saw the Shade of Darkness cloak before a smoldering planet. He had glassed many planets for the Covenant, taken shards in for High Charity, but this was the first time he was on the other end of a glassing. He was running away like many other humans from an imposing Covenant armada. It just seemed ridiculous now. It was the big cat picking on the little mouse. This war was unfair. Telek sighed as he looked away from the window and turned to face Keyes.

"Jacob," he began, walking over to the captain of the Autumn. "Might I make a suggestion as to where we can go?"

"You have coordinates in mind?" Jacob asked.

"They won't lead to Earth and they're no where near any human colony," said the Sangheili. Jacob Keyes turned to the captain of the renegade Covenant assault carrier.

"Where?" he asked.

Telek cleared his throat and turned to the AI construct and computer of the Pillar of Autumn Cortana. She appeared before them in a blue holographic avatar of a woman with coding running across her body.

"Analyze these coordinates for me, Cortana," he said as he held the comlink up to her.

"They don't look like familiar coordinates to any UNSC known system, Captain 'Herosee," she said.

"Where do they lead to?" Keyes asked.

"Outskirts of the galaxy," said Telek. "Boarder line Covenant territory."

"You want me to jump my ship into Covenant territory?" Keyes asked. "Are you insane, Telek?"

"It's better than finding out you just jumped into a black hole, Jacob," said Telek. "At least the cargo would be safe. Sometimes, it's better to hide under the enemy's nose. Besides, you'd be following protocol. You're still making a blind jump. The only ship not making a blind jump is my ship."

"You're following your ship," Keyes sighed. "My ship can't catch your ship. By the time my ship makes it to where ever the hell this is--your ship could be captured! And the location of Earth in Covenant hands. This is a big risk, Telek."

"Not as big of a risk as you might think Jacob," Telek growled back, clacking his mandibles. "I've got a lot more to loose than Earth on that ship."

"You're hiding something from me," said Keyes. "What?"

"Classified," Telek replied. "Just go to the coordinates. At least, it'll allow me to bring in reinforcements."

"What reinforcements?" Jacob asked. "Two other Capital Ships and a destroyer? Five ships against an armada? What the hell kinda odds are those, Telek?"

"Better than the ones we've got now," Telek said. "Would you just trust me for a moment? I know Covenant strategy than you do. Hell, that battle tactic Particular Justice used on Reach is one of my plans. I may have been kicked out of the Covenant, but they're still using a lot of my ideas. Trust me."

"Okay, fine," Keyes sighed. "But if this doesn't work, I'll throw you into the brig."

Telek nodded and turned away, walking off of the bridge. Keyes turned back to Cortana.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" she asked.

"You're not the only one," Keyes said. "Though, he's pulled through before…"

0

Not many liked the idea of having an Elite on board. Telek sighed as he walked through the ship's galley. He could feel the eyes upon him as he got his drink and sat down. He thought it would have been better he had taken this to his quarters instead. One particular Marine was eyeing him. His name was Sergeant Avery Johnson. Telek looked up at Johnson, and then cleared his throat. He took out a tin of Vodka and took a sip of it. He needed the drink right now. Johnson lit a cigar in his mouth and smoke it, still staring at Telek.

"Bastard split-lip…" he sighed. "What's up, calamari? I thought you guys came with a side dish of salmon."

"Is that any way to talk to a high ranking officer, Marine?" Telek retorted back.

"Who said you're high ranking officer?" Johnson asked. "Squiddy."

Telek grunted and pulled off his gold chest armor and unzipped the dark green body suit he wore underneath. Under the body suit was in fact a UNSC naval officer's uniform. The Sangheili proceeded to take the rest of the body suit and armor off, except for his gold and black, tri-pointed helmet. Telek had two shoulder boards with four ½ inch, gold stripes and an eagle on his collar. On his left breast were insignias of ribbons and medals he had earned as well as his name 'Herosee' written in block letters with the UNSC insignia underneath it.

"How's this for high ranking?" Telek asked, crossing his arm.

"Holy shit, the squid's a Captain," whispered one of the Marines.

"I bet it's hot in that suit with the uniform on," whispered another.

"What the fuck are you, some sort of alien Benedict Arnold?" Johnson asked. "I thought we're fightin' you squids."

"Good point," Telek said. "I guess that makes you Captain Nemo."

Johnson glanced back when he heard a few of his Marines chuckling at the joke.

"I'm surprise you leather necks know who Captain Nemo is!" he snapped at them. "Especially you, squid."

"I do read up," he said.

"How the hell did they let somebody like you into the UNSC?" Johnson asked.

"I asked nicely," Telek smiled back.

"Bullshit," the Sarge barked. "I'm keepin' my eye on you, squid-lip. Captain or not, you better not be actin' up on my watch. Or else I'll be roastin' your ass up with shrimp sauce."

"Try not to choke," Telek chuckled as he walked out of the galley, carrying his armor and his body suit with him. Perhaps walking around with just the uniform on would garner him some sort of respect from the crew here. Telek decided to walk back into the bridge once more to check if they had arrived at the destination. He leaned down to look at his comlink. He knew that he would not be able to get in contact with his ship until the Autumn dropped out of slip-space. The ship began to tremble a bit and Telek was forced to catch his footing, leaning up against the wall. He swiftly made it back to the bridge where Keyes stood.

"Jacob, what the hell was that?" he asked. "I just felt the ship shake."

"It's okay, Telek," said Keyes. "Human ships aren't as smooth a ride in slip-space compared to yours."

"You mean, this shaking is normal?" Telek asked.

"It takes a little getting used to," Jacob smiled. "You're just used to the ride of your ship."

"Feels like this thing might need a tune-up," the Sangheili sighed, glancing over at a steal garter on the side. The garter itself looked a little scraped up. "Maybe an overhaul as well."

"Hey, do I make cracks about your ship, Telek?" Jacob asked, chuckling. "You're a guest, you know. Don't go insulting the host."

"Yes, sir," Telek saluted. He turned away for a moment and brought out the tin of Vodka again, taking another swig. There was one thing that could relax him on a ship that felt like it was coming apart--and that was alcohol. Ever since he found out about the truth behind the Covenant, he had taken up quite a habit of drinking. And alcohol was not a stranger to Sangheili tongues. But serving in the human army meant he could only get human alcohol. It still had the same effect as Sangheili brewed alcohol--it still made him drunk. Telek could feel the toxins already taking affect in his head and he let loose a slight hiccup. He put the tin away just as soon as Keyes turned around to him.

"I see that you've changed into your UNSC uniform," Keyes said. "Decided to follow the dress code?"

"I got tired of a bunch of people staring at me with my armor on," Telek said. "They seem to relax a bit now with me walking around with silver birds on my collar. But I wear the uniform under the Covenant bodysuit and armor."

"Must be hot under there with all those clothes, Telek," said Keyes.

"The bodysuit has a built in temperature regulator," Telek replied. "Covenant technology. Something I've noted you based some of the Mark IVs off of."

"Thanks to your help in the technology," said Keyes.

Telek settled himself down at an empty chair on the bridge and looked out the window again, watching the distortion of slip-space speed by the window. He knew what he was doing, he knew where Tom and Tekn were going. He knew that he was putting Jacob Keyes and his men at risk because of this. But he was doing this for the greater good. He was doing this because he knows that the Covenant was about to make a big mistake. He had a feeling why Tekn chose those coordinates to jump the Shade to. And he knew that the Covenant would follow him. He knew that they would follow him, thinking that Telek was on the battle cruiser, and they knew what he was capable of doing. They wanted to prevent him from doing it. He crossed his arms and leaned against the seat's back, glancing up at the sealing.

"They've probably glass the whole of Reach by now," said Keyes.

Telek nodded as he took out a shard of black, slick, shiny rock from his pocket.

"Jacob!" he called as he tossed it at Keyes. "Catch."

"What's this?" Keyes asked.

"It's Harvest," Telek replied. "A shard of glass from the planet. I had my warriors retrieve it, but never turned it into the Covenant. They have a place in the home world where they keep shards of glass from planets that they have destroyed. Trophies. This is one trophy I have denied them. They will not have Harvest--at least through me."

"This is a piece of Harvest," Keyes sighed. "And you've had it all this time."

"It reminds me why I defected from the Covenant, Jacob," said Telek. "Destroying Harvest was never right to begin with."

Keyes tossed the shard back to him.

"You said that this war is some sort of cover up for some sort of inner plot inside the Covenant," said Jacob. "You've written a report about that once."

"The Jiralhanae--er--Brutes to you, coming into the Covenant was no mistake," said Telek. "They came, and all of a sudden we're in a war. Coincidence? I think not."

"And you're just enjoying yourself becoming a thorn in their side," said Keyes.

Telek just chuckled and glanced back at the window again. He glanced down at the pile of clothes and armor before him and reached down to pick up the body suit. He began to slide it on over his UNSC uniform and slid on the green boots under his pant legs. Telek put the gloves back on and zipped up the chest. Telek put on the armored vest after that. Then, he proceeded to clip the upper arm and forearm armor bracers onto his arms and attached the thigh armor onto his thighs. Finally, he applied the armor that slid over his long carpals that supported his hoofed feet. Telek unzipped the body suit for a moment and reached in to take off the Naval Captain's rank insignia from the collar of his UNSC uniform. After that, he zipped up the body suit's collar and pinned the ranks on the collar.

"I've never seen one of you Elites put on the armor before," Keyes chuckled. "I always wondered how you did it."

"Nothing to it," Telek shrugged.

"Telek," said Keyes. "Most of the crew and the Marines are going into cryo-sleep. I want you to do the same. I'll be doing it as well. Cortana will be running things until we get where we're going."

"Sleep?" Telek asked. "I know of how humans love to sleep during long trips. But, I've never slept in slip-space, Jacob."

"I know," said Keyes. "That's because where it takes us a couple of months to travel, it takes you only a few days. Your ship is probably there waiting for us. But still, I think sleeping will ease your mind a bit."

"I suppose you're giving me an order to do so," Telek said.

"I realize that we are basically the same rank," said Keyes. "Technically--but this is my ship. My rules."

"Who am I to argue with your rules?" the Elite shrugged. "Fine. I'll take a nap. I need one anyways. It'll be nice to rest up."

Telek walked down to the cryogenics bay area where a doctor was waiting for him. Telek took off everything, his suit, his armor, the uniform underneath, and got out a gray colored, cotton-like, tunic with matching draw-string paints. The tunic had a V-neck opening for more comfort. These were Sangheili bed clothes. He proceeded to put them on and approached the doctor. He kept his back turned towards the doctor so that the human would not notice his scar.

"This is one of our larger tubes," said the doctor.

"So, let me get this straight," began Telek. "I'm gonna be frozen during the trip?"

"Standard UNSC practice, sir," said the doctor.

"Not on my ship, it isn't," he growled as he stepped into the tube. "The faster I get off of this rust bucket, the better."

The doctor injected him with a sedative to help him relax and fall asleep. Telek relaxed his arms and his legs as best as he could as the glass tube folded over him. He closed his eyes just as he felt himself drift off into slumber. The tube had been activated after that.

0

"Squiddy," began a familiar voice. "Waky-waky."

"Huh?" Telek asked, fluttering his blue eyes open. He was tired, he did not want to wake up. "Just five more--minutes…"

"We ain't got five more minutes, you lazy-assed alien!" called the voice a bit louder. Telek opened his eyes and found Sergeant Johnson leaning over his opened tube.

"I am your official alarm clock, squid-head," the Marine began. "Now get the hell up! The captain's callin' for yah to the bridge."

"Are--we there yet--daddy?" Telek asked, leaning his head up. He was completely out of it. "Why does my tummy hurt?"

"It's the inhalant that's fed through the cryo-tube," said Johnson. "Just spit the shit out on the floor and get ready. And I ain't your daddy!"

Telek swung his legs out and leaned over. He opened his mandibles wide and coughed up the contents that were in his stomach. Johnson flinched when he saw that horrid mouth and those many jagged teeth. As soon as the Elite was done, mandibles closed and he wiped his lips off.

"That's the worst hang-over I've ever had," he groaned. "Where the hell are we?"

"About an hour away from dropping out of slip-space," said Johnson.

"Sir," began the doctor, holding the tin of vodka up. "You're not supposed to drink alcohol prior to cryo-sleep."

"Stay outta that!" Telek called as he wobbled over to the doctor. He snatched the tin out of his hands and took a swig. "I need my medicine."

He proceeded in dressing himself in his uniform, body suit and golden armor all the while he was taking a swig from the tin.

"Sir, please take this protein pill," said the doctor, handing the pill over to him.

"Yeah, take the pill," said Johnson. "And quit drinkin' on the clock. You can get drunk after we blow the Covenant to hell."

"Ah, a celebration party," chuckled the Elite as he swallowed the pill along with the vodka. "What if I had the drink now, and celebrate later? Oh, wait. This is the wrong stuff." Telek got out another tin filled with Jack Daniels and drank it. "That's better."

"All I can say is no wonder you were kicked outta the Covenant," Johnson sighed. "Probably too damned drunk most of the time to lead your own troops. They probably came outta slip-space backwards from all your drunken leadership."

"Nope," said Telek. "But I did get a DSUI."

"What the hell is that?"

"Driving a Scarab under the influence," the Elite chuckled.

"I had to ask," Johns sighed. "Now that you're so richly liquored, get up to the damned bridge."

And the only reply Telek gave was a hiccup.