Chapter one
The search begins
What would happen if a team of sangheili was sent to search for the chief, instead of Fireteam Osiris. Could Thel Vadam convince the chief to help him save the galaxy from a new threat, or is he to consumed with finding Cortana?
Halo 5 alternate universe (I don't own halo, that privilege belongs to 343)
Location: unknown
Date: January 2558
"Is this the Spartans last known location?" Thel looked over the pilot's shoulder into a endless black void filled with stars. The battlecruiser the search and rescue team had just departed from confirmed this was the chief's last known location, but Thel was unsure. "Alright begin atmospheric entry protocol, and keep all short and long range scanners open I want to know the moment any life signs are detected." "Yes Arbiter." The pilot began the atmospheric entry protocol. Thel know that phantoms were not originally built for atmospheric entry, but they are hard to detect and could take a lot of punishment. Thel 'Vadam headed back into the crew compartment to speak with the three other members of his team.
The crew compartment on a phantom is not very spacious only about 10 sangheili, and a handful of unggoy could fit inside, but for four sangheili it was just what they needed. Thel had hand pick each member of his team, because they preform well under pressure, all of them were on his flagship, Seeker of Truth, before the destruction of Halo, and becoming Arbiter. He knew all there skill sets, and they knew how to use them. When he entered everyone stopped what they were doing and came to their feet. Three pairs of yellow eyes was all he could see in the dimly lit compartment. "You were all hand picked, because you have skills that are invaluable to our mission here." He paused trying to find the words to say, strange how this moment of any can make him pause like this, normally he can find the right words for any occasion. Guess being back in command can do that to a person. "You all know why we are here, to find a spartan, the greatest of their clan, this is confirmed to be his last location. We need to find him, because the very survival of sanghelios, and are new alliance with the humans is at stake from a threat as old as the forerunners." "Warriors prepare for combat!"
"Arbiter, thirty seconds to LZ." They were ready, he knew they were ready, but ready for what? What waited for them on this unknown planet? Will they find who they are looking for, or will something find them? All these thoughts passed through Thel's mind as he waited for thirty seconds to pass. "twenty seconds." The pilot sounded worried for good reason; after they had entered the planet's atmosphere, and started making their decent to the designated landing zone. The long range scanners have been blowing up with pings from all over the planet. He had no idea what was hostile or friendly; all he know was most of the contacts were clustered around what appeared to be a structure centered about fourteen miles from their LZ, but this height made it near impossible to tell what kind of structure or how many there are. "Arbiter", the pilot called him from the phantoms intercom. Thel got up from checking his energy sword and carbine to make sure they were in working order. He turned to the rest of his team, who looked up at him in response to his call; "make sure the weapons are ready and the plasma grenades." They nodded in response.
Thel 'Vadam made his way past crates of carbine ammunition and plasma grenades. When he entered the cockpit the pilot turned, and gave him a worried look. He placed himself in the co-pilot's Seat, and looked at the short range scanner, but when he looked out the front view port all he could see was destruction and death. Trees looked like the have been turned on their heads and smashed into the ground, like a rabbit jumping out of it's hole and then suddenly getting flattened with no chance to run. There were ship parts every were, all from what appeared to be only one ship, the back engine exhaust looked blooded and scared, the front end like freshly crushed tin-foil; he would have to keep a mental note to keep clear of this area. "Increase distance from center to sixteen miles." He ordered the pilot. What ever happened here he did not want to walk into an ambush, or risk the phantom, there only way off this rock, "At current speed five mintues to new LZ." Responded the pilot. Thel set up in the co-pilot's and tried to figure out what could have brought that ship down? It's Hull looked relatively intact, save for the back and front. "Inform me the moment we touch down." He told the pilot before leaving the co-pilot's seat he grabbed a small tactical display from the consuel, and clipped it to his right hip, the magnetic bonds securing the device in place. Leaving the cockpit he found his team in final preparation. When they looked up he motioned for them to gather round. One by one all three stopped what he was doing and came over. "Ok, here is our current situation." He uncliped the small tactical display from his right hip.
Pressing two buttons simultaneously the unit began to hover and displayed all the data the short range scanners were receiving. Pressing another button the display freezed just after he had discovered the down vessel. Thel pointed to the ship's crash site, "I'm desingnating this zone dead we're to avoid it if we can, because whatever brought the ship down could still be in the area, but if things go south this will be are BXZ, back up extraction zone, also are time here will be limited to forty-eight hours, but I want to be done in twenty-four, just in case." Curo 'Kudom raised his hand, Thel pointed to him. "What will be are primary extraction area?" Thel pressed a button that zoomed the display to their current destination. "Here sixteen miles from what I've designated as the center." He pointed with his right hand with his left he moved the screen, and zoomed in on the large structure he had seen on the long range scanner. He made a circle with his right hand around the object. "I don't know what is around this area." Indicating all the red dots clustered around the object, "but whatever they are I don't want to make contact unless we lose this phantom." He looked to Curo 'Kudom, the largest sangheili in the group, "You will be are medic and weapons sepecialist." He pointed to Risze 'Votam, the sangheili next to Curo 'Kudom, "You will handle communcations, this phantom will be are only way off this rock, and it will be our eyes and ears make sure you keep a secure line of communication." He pointed to Xero 'Zalcam, the last sangheili in the row, "You will be are scout, if anything presents a threat on on our planned route inform me immediately, but stay out of sight, also avoid engaging any hostels if you can." "I can't afford to lose my eyes on the ground." He looked at the group to make sure they understood their jobs. "Dismissed!" he shouted they turned to finish their work.
Thel walked back to the cockpit. When he entered the pilot motioned for him to look out the front view port. He sat in the co-pilot's seat, and when he saw what the pilot had seen he kind of had to do a double take not sure if the canyon was good for the phantom to land in or not, but it would have to do. "Good not great for size, but this canyon would keep us concealed from the air." He also saw a group of trees and rocks he could set up a relay, because this canyon will play hell with the phantoms scanners and radio. "One minute to LZ." The pilot informed him. "When we land after the signal relay is operational inform Night of Retribution, and send them all the information we have on this place." "Yes Arbiter." Acknowledged the pilot. Thel moved out of the co-pilot's seat and into the crew compartment to finish his preparations.
This is just the beginning of what I hope to become a thirty chapter story.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Quiz time: name of phantom dropship
option A: Retribution's Arm
option B: Arm of Retribution (PM if you have questions)