So, In this AU, the galaxy is a bit more friendly than in the actual story. There's also a lot of exposition in this chapter, so bear with me please.
Chapter 1: Homecoming
The Earth Gate, December, 2552
Neither the Spartan nor Sangheili were conscious when the Dawn exploded from the collapsing portal with minimal space to spare. The portal had shrunk from 100 kilometers to a mere one kilometer when the Dawn escaped. The portal closed a mere second later.
-
Cortana sighed in relief as the Dawn flew through the upper atmosphere of Earth. Dozens of UNSC and Sangheili COMs were pinged at them, but the Dawn had lost her COM array and thus lacked the ability to respond. The frigate streaked over the glassed horizon of Earth. Cortana directed her sensors towards this glassed area. She wondered who were responsible for the glassing; Covenant loyalists or the Separatists.
Cortana attempted to ignite the engines, only then to receive a warning that they had been rendered inoperable by the transition through slipspace. It was still a miracle that they'd made it back in one piece, although many sections of hull were missing and some systems had been rendered inoperable.
"Damn it." She muttered.
She have to resort to gliding the Dawn. The frigate did not have an aerodynamic shape. She'd have to borrow some of John's luck to get them down in one piece. Cortana would have grinned if she was in hologram form.
"Here we go." She exclaimed.
She activated the precision manoeuvring thrusters and overrode all fuel limitations, using the thrusters to level the ship. They crossed over Southern half of Africa and began to fall towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Steady, She thought, Steady.
The frigate was three kilometers above the ocean, and descending rapidly. The long range radar detected a squad of UNSC pelicans and a CRS class light cruiser following them.
Two kilometers now. Cortana punched the remaining thrusters to full, trying her best to slow down the fall frigate. It was much too late, though. The Dawn slammed into the ocean, bounced once, then slammed into the ocean again. Fragments of hull and some external sensors broke off the ship, but eventually it lost all of its momentum and came to a rest.
The impact threw the Chief and Arbiter across the bridge. The Chief smashed through a chair and slammed into the sensory console. The Arbiter was a bit luckier and got stuck when he slammed into another chair.
"You two alright in there?" Cortana asked, appearing on the holoterminal beside the captain's chair.
The Arbiter and the Chief disentangled themselves from the wreckage.
"We're fine, Cortana." The Spartan said, the Arbiter giving a quick nod in agreement. "What happened?"
"We've arrived back at Earth. We are now sitting in the South Atlantic." She responded. "And, as a lucky bonus, we're sinking. Yank me."
The Chief nodded as Cortana disappeared. He reached to the back of his head and pulled her chip out, inserted it into the terminal and, after waiting for the central circular gap to glow blue, pulled it out and inserted Cortana into his helmet. The familiar mercury sensation greeted him.
"Still plenty of activity in here." She said, one of her customary quips for such the occasion.
"So, Cons-Cortana." The Arbiter began. "How do we get out of here?"
"Prior to our crash, I detected multiple pelicans and a light cruiser heading our way. We just need to get to the top deck and sit tight." Cortana replied.
Secretly, she was kind of enjoying the frustration in the Arbiter's voice when he started to call her construct and then remember and call her by her actual name.
The Chief turned and headed to the stairwell of the bridge.
"What's our best exit?" He asked.
"Give me a second." Cortana replied.
She quickly tapped into the Dawn's hull sensors and schematics. A quick scan of these revealed a emergency escape hatch at the rear of the bridge. About 15% of the Dawn's interior was underwater or filling with water. Cortana estimated half an hour until the beaten frigate came to a final resting place.
"Best exit is an escape hatch at the rear of the bridge." She told them, then placed a waypoint on the hatch.
She tried to see if any friendlies had shown up. Unfortunately, the MJOLNIR's sensors maximum range only extended to around 60 meters. There were plenty of COMs being aimed at them though. She searched through them. About 10% were general command broadcasts being sent out around the world. She filtered them out and focused on the remaining ones. About 30% were Human-Sangheili messages regarding their positioning and force deployment. Around half of that was regarding rescue plans for the frigate. She hacked into a feed and listened.
"The frigate appears to being taking on water. Dispatching two Laden-class freighters to assist in moving the frigate. Sending you their positions." A human voice said.
"Received, human. Prudence of Clarity is moving towards the ship. She will use her gravity beam to lift the ship, then your freighters can take her back to a shipyard for repairs." A Sangheili responded.
"This is the UNSC AI Cortana of the UNSC Forward unto Dawn. You are correct, we are taking on water. I estimate 27 minutes until we go down." Cortana announced.
"We... say it again, you are breaking up at patches." Replied the Human.
Cortana repeated the message as the Chief opened the escape hatch and the Arbiter and him climbed the ladder that rolled down up onto the roof of the bridge. The Chief scanned the sea around the frigate, noting the ship bubbling in places. He then scanned the sky, and then paused at a dark patch.
"Cortana, can you enhance that?" He asked.
"On it, Chief." She answered.
She enhanced the image. A CRS class battlecruiser filled her sights. If she'd been in holograph form, she'd have grinned.
"Our ride is here." She announced.
She opened the COM receivers in the MJOLNIR, and was pounded with responses from both the UNSC and the Sangheili. She lit up the Chief's global positioning system, and awaited rescue from the approaching cruiser.
The rescue took little under five minutes, and then the Human and sangheili were safely aboard the Prudence of Clarity. The Arbiter stared out of the hangar bay as the Dawn was lifted from the sea by the Clarity. The Spartan stood nearby, watching the same thing.
"It's over." The Spartan suddenly said.
The Arbiter turned. "It is. After 27 years. I never imagined it would end like this. And yet… I couldn't imagine any better way for it to end." He whispered.
The Dawn was lifted out of the sea by the Clarity's grav beam. Two Human ships circled the frigate, before finally latching on to the Human ship to tow it away.
"Arbiter?" Some behind them asked.
"Yes?" The Arbiter said, turning around.
The asker turned out to be a young Minor. He swallowed.
"Shipmaster Vadum is on the communications feed. He wants to speak with you, Arbiter." The Minor said.
"Very well. We will talk after, Spartan." The Arbiter said.
The Spartan nodded. The Arbiter followed the minor through the corridors of the Clarity. She was not a large ship, around 600 meters stem to stern. The young minor seemed somewhat nervous.
"Is this your first voyage?" Asked the Arbiter.
The minor turned and quickly nodded. Then he led the Arbiter down a narrow corridor. It was bathed in purple light, the standard for the Covenant. But now the Covenant was gone. And the Arbiter himself had been the one to do it. He parted his jaws slightly, the sangheili equivalent of a grin.
"The communication array is in here. The Fleetmaster is waiting for you in here." The minor told him.
The Arbiter walked into the room.
"Arbiter." Greeted the voice of Fleetmaster Vadum.
"No… R'tas. Arbiter was the name the prophets gave me. It was a mark of shame. The Covenant no longer exists. The rank is no longer a rank of shame. Now it is the makr of the great warrior kings of old. And I am not a warrior king of old." The Arbiter said, and just like that, he was now Thel 'Vadamee once more.
No, the –ee suffix went his service to the covenant. He was Thel 'Vadam. He was his own Sangheili once more.
R'tas tilted his head slightly.
"I understand your reasoning, Thel, but I think the rate of Arbiter would help you to win over our homeworld." He replied. "A lot has changed in the short while that you were gone, and I cannot even begin to explain the many ways that it has."
"I no longer wish to rule, R'tas." Thel sighed. "I want to make a new life for myself. I want to set a new path across the stars."
"You can resign from the rate of Arbiter soon, Thel, but not now. Some things great things in the Galaxy are coming to pass, including the foundation of a new Galactic Alliance. It's like… It reminds me of the Covenant, though the two are nothing alike. It's like some kind of alliance between most of the known species in the galaxy, included us and Humans. The goals are to promote technological, peace and trade advances across the galaxy. As you can imagine, the Kig-yar are all over it." R'tas sounded almost unsure, hesitant.
"Is there something wrong, R'tas?" Thel asked.
"Well… Pah. It's nothing, Thel. It's just that the Alliance is all full of politics, and I expected you would be the one to step and decide if this is what's good for the Sangheili. But I fear there may be others who will not make the best decision. Others who despise the other species this Alliance concerns. There's a lot about the Humans ideals of equality, and many Sangheili may not want to hear it. I mean… we've practically been masters of the Covenant for thousands of years." R'tas said.
Thel thought about the Alliance. This was news to him. R'tas hadn't specified much of the Alliance, but from what Thel had heard, it had promise.
"It's not a bonded Alliance, Each species maintains its individuality and territories, but there are a couple of changes regarding multi-species relations and laws. Every species, excluding the San 'Shyuum and most of the Jiralhanae is going to be part of this. But, as I was saying there's one event you need to be present at. In about fifteen days' time, there's going to be some kind of memorial, to honor those who fell in the war. Well, when I say everyone, I really mean the winners. The Humans and Sangheili. Those who were on the "winning" side." R'tas laughed faintly. "I've heard a Human saying on this; "History is written by the victors." And, you know, It's right."
Thel agreed.
"So, I will attend the memorial." Thel said. "Is it just the species present at Earth that will be attending?"
"Yes, Just us and the humans, but this could set a keystone for the Galactic Alliance." R'tas said.
"Very well… We shall talk more after the ceremony, R'tas?" Thel asked.
"Agreed. Until then, may the gods be with you." R'tas said and his hologram faded away.
Thel sighed. A lot of the sangheili phrasing, or at least language, was based on the perception of the Forerunners as gods, and even though the San'Shyuum had been exposed as frauds, that looked unlikely to change. But maybe it could. Maybe the Sangheili could survive these changes if they embraced them. Or maybe, at least, some could.
Human-Covenant War memorial, Voi. January 13, 2553
"Let us remember our dead. Let us remember those who fought far out there, never to return. And let us mark their deaths with this memorial." Admiral Hood said.
It was not a memorial statue. It was a pelican's wing that had been cut off and stuck into the ground. On it read: To all who fell in the Greatest War of all.
The Chief stood near the cliff, still in his armor. His navy blues had been destroyed on Reach, so all he had to wear was the MJOLNIR. He stared over the cliff onto the Earth Gateway. Cortana was in Sydney for a debriefing by ONI HQ.
So, what now…
The Chief had always imagined the end of the war, but he had no idea of what he would do after it. He had no idea what he'd do now. He didn't think that after 27 years of defending humanity, that he could kill a human being without a very good reason.
Well, I suppose I will do what I am ordered and see where that takes me.
The Chief thought about all his dead and missing Spartans. And yet none were listed as KIA, all of them MIA, as per ONI regulation. The Chief found himself growing angry at this, his Spartans would never "Rest in Peace". But then again, seeing as the war was over, maybe something would change. He was the last Spartan, now that this war had ended, Had it been worth it, were the sacrifices to save humanity worth it? He would never truly know.
He turned away from the Forerunner Artefact and headed to the old dockyards of Voi. It was nearly impossible to imagine that this had once been a costal setup; the ground was dry and sandy, the sea nowhere to be seen. He walked through the old corridors. Nearly a month ago, him and serveral marines had battled their way through here to destroy a Covenant Anti-Aircraft battery. The Debris had been cleared, but the bloodstains and burn marks of plasma weaponry remained.
The building was quiet; more sound came from the near silent memorial service outside. It was hard to imagine that Elites were attended the service, but It was more a symbolic service; to show that there could be co-operation between the many species of the galaxy, proving that the Galactic Alliance could really work.
The Chief didn't know what to make about this Alliance. Most of the galaxy didn't. From what Cortana had told the Chief, the Alliance would be a collective of races, overseen by a group of councillors and diplomats, where species would rebuild, trade, improve technology and keep peace. If one species was attacked by another, the council would try and sort it out, diplomatically, or if necessary, violently. The same went for any unknown races, but if it came to war, then the full power of the Alliance would be unleased on that race.
The Chief didn't want to think about his dead Spartans; in fact, he almost wished for another war, if only to distract him. Maybe the New Colonial Alliance or Covenant remnants would provide that war. The Chief was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts by a loud discussion. He paused and listened to the discussion.
He recognised the voices. It was the Arbiter and the Shipmaster. They were not arguing angrily, but Chief could hear some annoyance in the Shipmasters voice.
"Thel, I can't rally Sangheilios under one banner! I'm a fleetmaster! A warrior! You're the politician! A former kaidon! People won't listen to me! They'd listen to you!" The Shipmaster said. "We need you back at Sangheilios."
"R'tas, I'm not asking you to lead Sangheilios, though you're very welcome to try. I'm asking you to get the leader that arises from the ruins of this war, And a leader will arise from these ruins, and persuade him the Alliance is in his, and the Sangheili's better interests. You have the backing of this fleet behind you. All of them know the worth of the humans. They will support you, when the time comes. And maybe, in the end, you'll end up being the most powerful unified force vying for control of Sangheilios." The Arbiter said.
"Maybe… Thel… Maybe…" The Shipmaster sighed. "Are you sure about the path you wish to choose?"
"Sangheili have always been about honor. And yet, sometimes, I've wondered weither that honor has prevented us being the best we can be. Why should a simple injury, which our honor prevents us from healing, be the reason we can no longer fight? Why should we charge head on into certain death when there are ways for us to outthink the enemy and strike them down with all the skill we posess? I've followed the Sangheili rules of honor my whole life, R'tas. You know this. And yet, I feel it holds us back from becoming the best that we can become!" The Arbiter exclaimed. "You understand my reasoning. I know you do. And I know that the others back on Sangheilios would not except me as a leader if I do something like this. I want to be free to be the best I can be. I will be hindered no longer by Sangheili honor and the Covenant! I will burn my own path across the stars."
"I understand your reasoning, Thel… I do… I pray that… someday we shall meet again. Good luck, Vadam. May you path be bright and fulfilling." The Shipmaster said sadly.
"And yours, R'tas." The Arbiter said.
The Chief hid behind a few barrels as the Shipmaster walked around and headed towards the door, his cape flapping behind him. The Chief watched him leave, then waited for the Arbiter to do the same.
"I know you've been there for the last five minutes, Spartan." The Sangheili announced.
The Chief paused, and then stepped out from behind the barrels.
"How'd you know?" He asked.
The Sangheili parted his jaws slightly and tapped the helmet he was wearing. He seemed to be a mixture of his ornamental armor and modern armor. His helmet was a grey modern minor helmet, but the chest was his older armor's one, The arms were modern armor aswell, but the legs were his older armor. He was unarmed.
"I kept my motion tracker on, even though R'tas didn't bring his." The Arbiter told him.
The Chief nodded, understanding.
"I overheard you talking with the Shipmaster." The Chief began. "You don't plan on returning to your home?"
"No. I want to make my own path, learn things that have been off limits my whole life, thanks to sangheili honor and the Covenant. I'll make my own path, Spartan. You needn't worry about me." The Sangheili told him.
Suddenly, the Spartan heard a soft clang of metal, followed quickly by another, then another. Footsteps. The Sangheili appeared not to have heard, but Sangheili were known for weak hearing.
"I hear something." He whispered.
The Arbiter paused. "I hear… nothing, Spartan."
"It's…" The Chief paused, trying to locate the direction of the sound. "Coming from the corridor right behind you."
The Sangheili quickly turned around, staring at the dark passageway behind him. The Chief clenched his fists, and the Arbiter did the same. They may have been unarmed, but the Chief had his MJOLNIR and the Arbiter had some of his armor. That was when a tall human clad in a suit stepped out from the dark passageway. He had short dark hair and an somewhat different ONI insignia on his handgun, which was strapped to his hip. His left rested upon.
"Gentlemen." He said, giving a smile that had way too much gum for the Chief's liking, "I believe that we may have a business opportunity for you both."
They followed the ONI man, even though the Chief didn't exactly trust him, and he was pretty sure the Arbiter felt the same. He led them to a hidden doorway, which he beckoned them down before closing. Behind the doorway was a flight of stairs that led down to a small square room that seemed almost like an interrogation room. A light flicked on as soon as the Spartan and Sangheili entered. Two armed guards with modified BR55's flanked the doorway. The ONI man headed to a large table at the center of the room. He took a seat.
"Sit." He told them, gesturing at the other chairs surrounding the table.
"All due respect, but these chairs won't support the weight of our gear." The Chief said.
The ONI man gave another smile. "These chairs have been reinforced. They will support your weight. Sit."
The Chief sat slowly into the nearest chair. It sagged slightly under his weight, but didn't fall to pieces under him. To his right, the Arbiter slowly sat as well.
"I am here to offer you a job. We prefer having people talk What I'm about to tell is highly classified, but hey, what do we have amnesia armor-piercing rounds for, eh?" The ONI man said.
The Chief and Arbiter glanced at each other for a second, and then turned back to the ONI man.
"I work for ONI Section 4." He began. "Section 4 was started very recently, with the Galactic Alliance coming into effect; Section 4 was created in order to expand ONI species-wise. We needed multiple species to get into areas full of other species."
"So you want us?" The Arbiter asked.
"Yes. We're offering you a place in "The Squad". You'll be our special operatives squad; You'll be doing objectives that would be suicidal for any other operatives. You'll be working in a squad of 8 people and 2 AIs, with some of the best technology that the galaxy has to offer." The man smiled.
"What about Cortana? Will she be one of the AIs?" The Chief asked.
"Yes. She'll be your shipboard AI and general operations manager." The ONI man replied. "Is that all your questions?"
The man gave a small smirk.
The Chief thought about it. He glanced over at the Arbiter. The Sangheili was silent. Finally the Spartan gave his answer.
"I Accept." The Spartan said.
"As Do I." The Sangheili said a second later.
"Perfect! Welcome to Section Four, Gentlemen." The ONI man grinned.
Review, Maybe?