The Heretic's Story
Prologue:
Nolsüm 'Zaekamae was confused. He'd been in the Covenant army for almost as long as he could remember; He held the highest field operating rank: Ultimate Supreme Commander. But what perplexed him is what in the name of the Forerunners could be more important than the artifacts on the human planet called "Reach." He'd had helped in locating the artifacts; and he knew their significance. Supposedly though the recall order that he'd received just as he was boarding the destroyer Righteous Vengeance were coming directly form the High Prophets of Truth, Mercy, and Regret. If it were a forgery and it was truly not from them, the forger would have to be fed to the Jackals, taking that in to account Nolsüm doubted that possibility.
A two Sangheili honor guards stood outside the Prophets chambers. They took no regard to Nolsüm's polished purple and green armor adorned with a small, dark blue hood and a lengthy black cape, the sign of a Ultimate Supreme Commander, or to the elaborate markings of beautiful Covenant calligraphy on his armor which told the story of his triumphant conquest of the human planet "Harvest," and the recovery of the Forerunner artifacts there, at the beginning of the Covenant-Human war. They showed him respect but they did not pull off the salutations and sudden returns to work, nor did they suddenly straighten their posture. They simply took his weapons, two energy swords, a plasma rifle, as well as six grenades.
The elaborate doors buzzed as they opened in two stages; first the front covering then the main door. Nolsüm stepped in front of the gaze of the Prophets and immediately dropped to one knee.
"Oh, great and wise Prophets of Truth, Mercy, and Regret; what event gives me the pleasure of being in your presence?" Nolsüm nobly and poetically said.
"Quite a day it is; one that shall be remembered by the entire Covenant soon. For today is the day we have found the Forerunners' sacred rings. The Halos will lead us to glorious salvation and make our final steps on the Great Journey!" Mercy said with jubilation rising in his voice.
"But, as all discoveries," Regret began, "it is not always that simple."
"Remember on the planet the Humans call Jericho VII, and a Forerunner data map was taken by the humans?" Mercy said knowing Nolsüm's answer.
"We must never forget for it was a mistake to be learnt from." Nolsüm responded almost robotically.
"Well, it appears they have used this to locate the Sacred Rings before us. Of course that fact must never leave this room." Regret followed up.
"So here we present you with a mission:" Truth said with authority, "assist our small fleet in riding the humans from the Halo. You will take a quick deployment of 2 Corvettes and a prototype Super Corvette. These are the newest and fastest ships in our entire fleet; I believe that you see the urgency."
"Yes, I accept this mission with the most pride imaginable. I shall leave immediately." Nolsüm said as he stood.
As he turned to exit Truth spoke: "Nolsüm, we would tell the information we have told you to no other being in the Covenant, not even another Patriarch or Prophet. You are one of the few creatures we truly trust; do not betray us." This was perhaps the strangest thing that had ever happened to Nolsüm, Prophets were not on a first name basis with anyone, and in that speech Truth had shown compassion and trust, a Prophet was supposed to be emotionless; something was awry.