After the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War (and, simultaneously, the Covenant Civil War), the galaxy was thrown into turmoil. The vast majority of the species that had participated in the war maintained varying levels of distrust and hostility towards each other. Sangheili and Human relations were turbulent in the aftermath of the war; diplomatic relations attempted by any species with the Jiralhanae often ended in skirmishes.
The age after the Human-Covenant War, lasting roughly between 2553 and 2681 (by which time most hostilities had dissipated, and the Federation was founded), was marked by a series of remarkable realignments taking place within the former belligerents of the Human-Covenant War. The impetus of these changes was perhaps the existence of a mutual enemy—by 2597, it had become apparent that the threat of the Flood was inactive no longer (it would not be until 2699, upon the discovery of the Avnari, that the unwitting re-release of the Flood from Installation 02 was made apparent).
However, the need to unite in the face of a common enemy proved to be a weaker force than the hatred that many powerful members of the prominent fighters of the Human-Covenant War still held. Many Humans still remembered the countless millions of lives lost to both Jiralhanae and Sangheili glassings; the Sangheili would not easily forget the Jiralhanae's betrayal. In post-war interstellar conditions, the Humans, Jiralhanae, and Sangheili were the three major players. Though the Unggoy, San 'Shyuum, Kig-yar, and other species did indeed remain significant, the vast majority of post-war conflict was fought between the three aforementioned races. Yet the first three races to re-establish inter-species alliances since the downfall of the Covenant were the Jiralhanae, Humans, and Sangheili.
Before the Federation was established, however, a century of animosity between the three species was to be endured…
-Excerpt from "The Human-Covenant War: the Conflict and Aftermath"
March 13, 2557, Jiralhanae Battlecruiser Glorious Might
Above the surface of Doisac, the Battlecruiser Glorious Might warped out of Slipspace. The surface of the Battlecruiser was pockmarked and burnt, evidence of the trials the Might had undergone in order to arrive at Doisac. At the bridge, the Chieftain Maximus knew firsthand how important this meeting was to his own ambitions.
The war was over. The Covenant had been rent asunder. The Prophets, once sacred icons to be revered, had fled.
Their lies had been exposed.
It began slowly. Investigation teams uncovered the Hierarchs' records. Maximus had personally read the journal of the Prophet of Truth himself.
Maximus would reflect, in later years, that the Sangheili had been in a position that made it far easier to accept the truth. In furthering their lies, the Prophets harmed the Sangheili, yet benefited the Jiralhanae—it was easier for the Sangheili to realize the deception, when the deception had resulted in the slaughter of the Sangheili High Council. Maximus had believed the Prophets, initially. Why not? Their lies had removed the damned Sangheili from the equation, and had, in turn, promoted himself and his brothers to higher positions. Ambition had blinded them all to truth.
Maximus knew that it continued to blind them still.
The world was different now. New courses of action needed to be taken. With these thoughts in mind, Maximus strode into the Hall of Counsel.
Formerly, the room, located just below the bridge of the Might, had served as a reception area for visiting Prophets. It had been previously ornately decorated, with ceremonial glyphs written across the walls.
Maximus had stripped it bare. Two statues, ten feet tall, carved out of stone taken from the crust of Doisac itself, were all that remained. One was the image of Zoruk, the Jiralhanae God, the God who ruled Maximus' people before the False-Prophets spread their lies. The other was the image of Julius, first Chieftain of the Brutes, wielder of the Hammer of Zoruk. Why would Maximus not worship the Old Gods, now? The Jiralhanae were zealots even before the San' Shyuum arrived. They would remain religious even still.
Two his left and right, four other Jiralhanae stood, their custom armor and ornate headpieces glinting in the artificial light. Before the induction of the Jiralhanae into the Covenant, counsel had been performed standing up. It was a sign of respect. It showed that each Chieftain considered the other Chieftain a threat large enough to warrant a standing position.
Surrounding the five Chieftains, standing on the elevated fringes of the Hall, stood the Honor Guard of each respective Chieftain. They would not contribute to the conversation—they were but witnesses.
Alpha tribes had disintegrated after the fall of the Covenant. Only the master-packs retained any semblance of cohesiveness. Before Maximus stood the leaders of four master-packs.
Maximus cleared his throat, attracting the attention of the gathered Chieftains. "Chieftains, I come before you with an offer of peace."
Maximus could detect the unease that crept into the Hall with those words, and counted himself lucky that the Chieftains before him possessed some semblance of self-control. Had they been of a lesser rank, the conversation might have turned heated.
"I realize that you, Regulus," Maximus said, "and you, Titus, have been experiencing difficulties attempting to quench the rebellion that stirs your master-packs' ranks."
Titus stepped forwards. "The insubordinate fools that continue to pester me are not your concern, Maximus," he growled.
Maximus chuckled. "I know how those blinded by ambition work. They hide their treachery for some time; their cowardice does not allow them to act any further. They strike when their betters have their backs turned, yet still claim that their victories were honorable. Chieftains—would we have these vermin continue to plague the sacred Pack? I say no. A thousand times no!"
Brutus, the oldest among the assembled Jiralhanae, crossed his arms over his chest. "Traitors are as old as the Doisac itself. We are used to them. They are like the insects that gather around a mighty Zankrelp: they pester, yet they cannot move a being of superior might."
"An underestimation, Brutus," Maximus responded. "We would have six Chieftains gathered here, were it not for the rebellion that killed Janus. The only reason that we can attend this meeting is because we have not yet fallen prey to the same insubordination."
Kanum, the youngest Chieftain in the room, snarled. Maximus noted that the youngest Chieftain was also the most impetuous. "You dare slander me? I, for one, reached my position through trials and tribulations of blood and pain! The only reason I can attend this meeting is because I was strong, not lucky!"
"And I would not doubt that, Kanum," Maximus said. "Yet I would advise you to cool your anger. I welcome any challenge you would level at me, but all the same, I would prefer that you not. I have more productive tasks in mind."
Maximus smiled to himself when Kanum did not act. Perhaps there was hope for his species after all.
"I would agree with my senior Brutus, however," Maximus said. "Insubordination is nothing the Jiralhanae have not dealt with before. In fact, the primary quarrel I have with traitors is that they prevent great Chieftains such as ourselves from focusing on the primary offense to our pride."
For once, Maximus received a semblance of agreement from his fellow Chieftains. All gathered knew what he was referring to. Hands gripped into fists, Gravity Hammers were adjusted. There was nothing that could stir a Jiralhanae's blood better than heresy.
"Even after the Prophets' lies have been exposed, some vermin continue to cling onto them," Maximus spat. "The remaining Prophets promise Heretic Chieftains—traitors such as the self-proclaimed Chieftain of the Jiralhanae Gargantus—power and position. I spit on their promise! I would have Gargantus brought before my feet. I would kill him myself, and then I would use his bones to sharpen my teeth!"
"Chieftains, I need your help to do this."
Brutus raised his head. "You are proposing an alliance."
"I am, Chieftain Brutus," Maximus said. "I even offer you a reward: each one of you would receive weapons, land, and ships if you were to join me."
Brutus chuckled. "Offering gifts, such that you may gather more underlings? A foolish proposition, Maximus."
Before Maximus could respond, the elder Chieftain continued: "I will join you without accepting your petty bribes," he said.
Regulus and Titus looked at Maximus in shock. The Chieftain squared his shoulders in return. "There was a time, long ago: a time that my father told me of. It was a time when Zoruk our Lord was worshipped with due reverence. It was a time when brother stood for brother, and brothers stood for their Chieftain. It was a time of honor, and valor, and unyielding determination and courage in the face of the enemy."
Maximus nodded. "Wise words, Chieftain Brutus."
And so began the negotiations. They were brief. Brutus wanted little but a position of reasonable power and retention of control over his Jiralhanae. After the negotiations concluded, the oath was taken—Jiralhanae treaties were verbal, not written. The words of a fellow Jiralhanae, and especially a fellow Chieftain were to be taken as the truth. Not to do so would be to disrespect a fellow Chieftain, and to disrespect a Chieftain would most likely start a war.
Maximus turned towards Titus and Regulus. After a moment's hesitation, the two gave quick nods, and stepped forwards. Only Kanum remained.
"The only purpose that I remember my Hammer serving is to serve the Hierarchs," Kanum professed. "And now I learn that the worms lied to us all, and I learn that still some Jiralhanae continue to serve them."
Kanum looked up. "Do you swear, as a Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, that you will grant us power that we may lead our Pack, and that we may together find purpose for the Jiralhanae once more?"
Maximus answered: "In the name of our Lord Zoruk,and in the name of the First Chieftain Julius, I do swear."
And so, the oaths with the remaining three Chieftains were taken. The alliance had been established.
It was time, now, for action.
"Brothers," Maximus proclaimed. "We have a long journey set out before us by the Lord Zoruk. First, we crush the insubordinate. We remove from the ranks of the Jiralhanae those that would seek to topple their superiors. We will foster ambition where it is due, but we shall blot it out when it interferes with our goals.
Secondly, we reestablish Jiralhanae power. We were once a race to be reckoned with. We shall be again. The worms and their dogs the Sangheili played with the toys that the Forerunner left behind. The Jiralhanae were the only ones who invented—who innovated—who made tools of war, not playthings! Our ships will be the terror of the galaxy, our guns the mightiest in the universe.
Finally, we will kill every single Prophet that breathes. We shall exterminate every traitor Jiralhanae who continues to serve them. We shall find Gargantus, and grind his skull into dust! The Jiralhanae had a guiding purpose once. The Prophets replaced that with lies, and now that purpose is no more. We shall recover that purpose! To fight for our Lord Zoruk, and in doing so, to serve our Pack and our brothers—that was our purpose. It shall be once again."
Maximus paused. It was simply for dramatic effect. If he wanted to crush his enemies, crush the San 'Shyuum, and crush the traitor Gargantus, he would need followers, and if he wanted followers, he would need to speak well.
"Honor Guard, you have not spoken for the entirety of this counsel," he said. "Yet I would like to know if I may trust the Jiralhanae's strongest. Are you with me?"
One Jiralhanae stepped forwards. "I shall see your goals completed or die fulfilling them, Chieftain Maximus."
The remaining Honor Guard roared their approval. Maximus smiled.
His ambition was a holy ambition—not an ambition to further his own position, but an ambition to further the position of Zoruk himself.
Maximus nodded at two underlings who had been waiting by the entrance to the Hall. Quickly, they exited the Hall, to retrieve the package.
"It would be disrespectful of me to dishonor my guests; after all, it is my duty as Shipmaster of the Glorious Might to ensure that all visiting dignitaries are attended to. As such, I would like to invite the Chieftain Brutus, the oldest and wisest of the Jiralhanae assembled here, to bring forth his Gravity Hammer. We shall end this meeting with a ritual to ensure Zoruk's favor in our enterprise," Maximus said.
Brutus made an admirable attempt to hide his surprise, but Maximus knew better. Even a veteran such as Brutus had not yet witnessed everything.
The two Jiralhanae returned. "Shipmaster," they said, nodding their heads respectfully. After delivering the package, however, they did not leave. They wanted to witness this.
Before Maximus was the package. He had managed to deter his crew from consuming the prisoner for weeks, after its capture. He was saving it for a reason.
"It is only appropriate that the first Chieftain to accept my offer of alliance would be the one to draw first blood in our glorious campaign," Maximus declared.
Maximus turned to the package. It was one of the Worms, pathetic and weak. The Honor Guard roared in anger. The Worms had lied to them. They had fooled them with the promise of promotion, and used the Jiralhanae to further their own goals.
Unforgiveable.
The Prophet of Magnanimity looked up to see himself surrounded by Jiralhanae. Fear gripped his heart.
"Death!" one Honor Guardsman yelled. Similar choruses echoed throughout the Hall.
"Infidels!" he screeched. "The Prophet of Succession will lead the Covenant down the path of the Great Journey! Gargantus will strike you down!"
Brutus moved forwards, deaf to the San' Shyuum's words.
"You barbarians!" he screamed. "Get away!"
Two Honor Guardsmen moved in from the wings, chaining the Prophet's hands to the wall. This was how execution was meant to be done: with righteous anger in the heart, and with brutal strength wielded by the hands. Brutus raised his Gravity Hammer.
"The Great Journey will leave you behind," the Prophet gasped. "You—all of you—will crawl in the dirt. You and the Humans, there is no difference between you monk-"
Brutus grabbed the San 'Shyuum by the throat. "You may condemn us to a hell we do not believe in; that is no matter, as we know that our Lord will save us. But I will not permit you to compare us to the Humans."
Casting the San 'Shyuum aside, Brutus stepped forwards. He glanced sideways at Maximus, and Maximus made a sweeping gesture with his arm. This was Brutus' moment. It would not reflect well on Maximus if he was to steal all the glory immediately.
"Yours is a hated race," the Prophet proclaimed. "You will all be destroyed, if not by Gargantus' hands, then by another's!"
Maximus chuckled. "Let them try," he said.
Brutus nodded. "For Zoruk!" he bellowed.
"For Zoruk!" was the crowd's answer.
Brutus brought his Gravity Hammer crashing down.
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