Sterilisation 1
Aboard the Covenant super carrier, Unyielding Faith. Year: 2546
Briefing hall
"My Brothers, another order has come through from the most high and holy Prophet of Truth!" Shipmaster Zadun Retonamee's voice echoed grandly through the hall and reached the ears of every Sanghelli in the cavernous room. Towering high above the central stage was a massive hologram of himself, facing four ways at once, and it was this hologram that every Sanghelli in the ship looked up at.
Though the scene was glorious, the message was grave. A Covenant Destroyer, Thunderous Conclusion, had gone missing in the depths of its patrol route and Retonamee told his warriors just that. It was of the highest importance, Truth had said, that the vessel may be recovered and the origins of its disappearance discovered. "Contact with the ship's crew was lost three cycles ago and we have been tasked to find it!" A roar went up within the ranks of soldiers below the stage. Retonamee frowned to himself at this reaction to bad news but consoled himself with the fact that the order was direct from Truth, and that was a cause for celebration.
Deep within the masses of Sanghelli majors and zealots, squad leader Lnako Twegnee felt a cold shudder through his muscular body. Whatever the outcome of this mission, it wouldn't be pretty. As the various ranks returned to their tasks to enter slipspace, Lnako slunk back to his post at the barracks, unconsciously dreading the mission ahead...
Saruli System, Sanghelli space docks, 3 cycles beforehand.
"Docksmaster Tanomee? The Thunderous Conclusion has left repair bay three. Waste is being transported to the lower furnace." A lower ranking Sanghelli stooped, almost grovelling behind Navaro Tanomees's left foot. Navaro's disregard for those under his command was almost legendary in Sanghelli community places, and the messenger did not want to find out what Tanomee's rage felt like. "Did I give those orders Messenger?" Tanomee thundered.
"N-no Docksmaster, but Major Gelahee thought the higher furnace was full!" The messenger thought about adding "don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger." but wisely bit his tongue. "Tell Major Gelahee that..." Navaro started but was interrupted by his Ops officer, sitting further down the bridge.
"Uh, sir? We've lost contact with both furnaces and engineering." "What?" asked Tanomee stupidly. He whirled around and strode to the Ops station. "Most of lower decks sir. No contact at all." "Try to raise docking crews." ordered Tanomee. "Checking sir" responded Ops. "No sir they are not replying." "What by the gods is going on?" Tanomee said to himself." "Hold on sir, I'm getting something from the barracks. They are reporting a large disturbance..." The officer held his earpiece closer. "What? What? ...No I can't hear you. Can you just..." Ops let go of his earpiece and looked at Tanomee. "They just cut off sir, but I could definitely hear screaming in the background." the officer glanced at the messenger, who returned his worried look.
"Alright" said Tanomee. "I'm ordering all personnel of the docks. Sound the alarm!" "Yessir" said Ops and entered a few command into his console. A wailing alarm spread through the ships insides and a recorded voice told whoever was left onboard to evacuate. The few bridge crew stood, and began to file out the door. The Ops officer stood, but Tanomee pushed him back into his seat. "Hold on, I want you to check the rest of the ship. See if anyone else responds."
Suddenly, a loud THUD echoed around the area in and around the bridge. The messenger, the last to leave with the bridge crew darted back inside the bridge and slammed the door shut. Both the officer and the Docksmaster turned around. "Something. Outside the door." The messenger gasped. "Don't open it!" "What..." Tanomee started but shut up when a huge BANG resounded through the door.
"By the Prophets!" wailed the messenger. Another loud BANG came from the door and a large dent appeared in the centimetre thick metal. BANG! A crack appeared, running down the middle of the door. Tanomee looked despairingly at his fellow Sanghelli, realising that he should have led a better life, commanded his forced better, and that these two soldiers were the last people he'd ever know. A final blow knocked the off its hinges, and the last thing Tanomee heard was the Ops officer's scream, and a wet slithery sucking sound coming from all around them...