Chapter 1

Words of the Wise

A sound in the distance shatters the silence of space. On the gas mine of Threshold, a covenant artifact retrieval team led by the elite ranger Sesa 'Refumee, turns to look up into the void of space to see the sacred ring fall into pieces as is destroyed by a massive explosion of some kind. He is in utter shock. What could have drove any creature to destroy a sacred ring? Knowing the size of the explosion, there couldn't possibly be any survivors, Sesa orders his men to continue to search for forerunner artifacts. The prophets would indeed cherish forerunner artifacts of great value. But the loss of a sacred ring would be a burden to all.

Two Days Later

Walking down a ramp from the main temple, Sesa hears a humming coming from no where. He stops to search for the origin of the humming. Out of the corner of his eye he notices a blue glowing orb floating near by. A look closer revealed to him one of the holy oracles the covenant had been searching for for decades. It could reveal the secrets of the halos and send them on their way to the Great Journey.

"Greetings. I am 343 Guilty Spark. I am the monitor of Installation 04." It says to Sesa. An oracle! By the prophets, I can't believe you are here! "Well, my purpose has been fulfilled. The flood were stopped from leaving the installation. But unfortunately due to a reclaimers error, the ring was destroyed leaving me no choice but to abandon my home." it replies. Oh holy one, I have much to ask you. "Really?... Well then, I have to your satisfaction, answers." Let's take a walk, or in your case float... Sesa replies. "Lets."

For days they traveled the mine, talking of the halos and forerunners. Guilty Spark revealed much to Sesa. His words changed the meaning of the covenants beliefs. Soon Sesa changes the look and the ways of his team. He sends a message to ships across the galaxy hoping to gain more elites to join him.

Days later crackling in the sky shows a covenant cruiser come out of slipspace and heading toward the halo ring. But it soon turns around and heads for Threshold. Sesa walks to a balcony and looks up to see hundreds of phantoms coming from the ship. "I will go and activate the sentinels." Guilty Spark tells Sesa. Very well, he replies keeping his eyes on the phantoms.

Guilty Spark floats off into the distance. Sesa leans over the side to see a phantom rise right in front of him just a few feet away. A voice over the com speaks to him. "This is the assault group Nocturne Rising. We have come to take you to High Charity. We have evidence that you have committed heresy. By order of the prophets, you are under arrest." Elites suddenly begin to surround him on the left and right.

The phantom moves over and an elite team lands on the balcony following a high ranking elite. "Sesa, you have a choice. Come quietly, or we will be forced to take you by a power you cannot imagine." Staring quietly at them, Sesa responds by turning and walking away. "Seize him!" the elite orders. The elites begin to run toward him, but are suddenly stopped by sentinels. "What? Why have the holy warriors of the sacred rings sided with these heretics?"

Once again a humming starts around them. Guilty Spark floats from out of a ventilation shaft. "Oh my, more students? Well, I will be happy to assist you." he speaks aloud. "The oracle!" the elite replies. Sesa turns around looks at the high ranked elite. You wouldn't believe what the oracle has told me. Things we thought couldn't have been true, Sesa tells him. The elite turns to Guilty Spark. "What things?" the elite asks.