Time 7:47:49:85 (Accuracy 1/10 to that of Forerunner), eighteenth sunrise shift of the first month (Sanghelios Time Unit), 8th Age of Reclamation (Covenant Time Unit, based on Forerunner Time Unit)
0700 hours, December 16, 2548 (UNSC Military Calendar)
Location: Covenant mobile military city Stoic Courier, in orbit around Sanghelios
•••
The training facility wasn't too far from the dormitories. There was a lot of flat ground, a few pools of water, and a short building in the middle of it.
A pair of Sangheili guards were posted at the doors, and as the recruits walked into the facility, Autel looked around. The grounds were bigger than five dormitories put together.
As more recruits entered and the grounds began to crowd, the plasma doors shut. A platform began to rise from the centre of the facility, and all eyes were drawn to it. Standing upon it was a gold-armoured Sangheili. Field Master Bata 'Noromee.
The warrior was a legend. He had many battle scars upon his body, and was missing fingers, mandibles, and was blind in one eye. He regarded them sternly.
"Recruits," 'Noromee said, "You have proven yourselves when you graduated from the Academy, and are ready to become a part of the Covenant. You will learn combat at one of Stoic Courier's many training facilities, and you will do your absolute best to join the search for the Path. Find honour for yourselves and the Covenant, and when the Great Journey calls to you, you will ascend to holiness."
Autel couldn't help but think of what the Seer had said about the Great Journey as 'Noromee made his speech. But he kept listening.
The platform began to lower. "Your training begins now." The Field Master said. "Form lines and await your instructions."
As Autel stepped into line behind Fira, a group of Sangheili walked amongst them, handing out helmets and what looked like Plasma Rifles. Autel briefly thought back to what he learned from the Academy, but did not have any idea how to use the helmet. He put it on, but all it did was place a weight on his head.
"Here," Fira said, walking over. He had already figured out how to operate his own headpiece. He adjusted something on Autel's helmet. Something flashed on, and four diagonal lines appeared in the middle of his vision. It was a targeting reticle for his rifle.
Autel nodded. "Thank you."
'Noromee looked around to see that everyone was ready. He pressed something in his hand, and suddenly Autel saw hundreds of teal arrows displayed.
"Each of you have been marked with a red arrow," 'Noromee said, "That is your target. Everyone else has a blue arrow. Find your target, and tag him with your rifle. These are simulated rounds, but beware. Your target may not necessarily be your hunter. You can use only your rifles for this exercise. You are not to tag anyone else. Once you have been eliminated, your helmet will deactivate. Wait for the exercise to end on the field's far side. Begin."
The whine of plasma fire drowned out all sound as some found their targets immediately. Autel looked around for a red arrow, but it was difficult to see. He moved around, looking in all directions, but still all he could see was teal.
There! A red mark appeared momentarily before being covered by three blue points. Autel moved towards it, but realized it was merely a distant beacon light. Looking around, he still couldn't see it. Blue marks were beginning to disappear from the display as more recruits were eliminated.
Autel saw it this time. A red arrow. It was pointing at a Sangheili who was facing away, unawares. He raised his rifle, and was about to pull the trigger when a running Sangheili bumped into him, knocking him to the ground. As a second recruit ran after it, Autel stood up. His target was gone again.
Looking around again, he realized a recruit was pointing a rifle at him. Realizing he was being targeted, Autel ducked and ran through the crowd. He heard the sound of his hunter desperately firing at him, unintentionally tagging other recruits while doing so. He burst out of a crowd and spotted his target, and raised his rifle.
The recruit saw him. He raised his rifle at the same time and they both fired.
Autel's helmet registered the "shots" but did not deactivate. However, the other Sangheili removed his helmet and walked off.
Autel heard plasma firing behind him. His helmet's display flashed twice and deactivated. He removed the headpiece.
'Noromee walked over to the other recruit, with Autel's target following him. "Come," he said to them.
The Field Master gave the two Sangheili a long glare. "You were to tag your target only. You," he indicated Autel's target, "had attempted to fire upon your hunter, and you," he looked over to the other recruit, "had tagged seven Sangheili before you found your target. You have disobeyed me. Both of you are to leave Stoic Courier immediately."
Autel noticed that there were other recruits whom were being escorted out of the training facility by the guards. As the two Sangheili joined them in shame, he approached 'Noromee.
"Well done, young one," the Field Master said.
"Forgive me, Excellency," Autel said, "But was that not overly severe? They were only recruits."
"A soldier," 'Noromee said sternly, "must know obedience from the start. That is no less for Sangheili. They had become desperate and reckless without commitment, and would tarnish our name. Our Covenant has remained powerful because of our strict laws, and so it shall remain."
Autel watched as the veteran walked off, and thought about his words. If commitment had mattered so much to him, he thought, Then why had he wasted so many lives of his troops during his campaigns?
