STRING 10
Earth calendar – estimated 106,000 - BCE
The council had been in deliberation for a good hour, before directly addressing the Didact.
"Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, this council has reviewed much evidence of your decisions over a selective period of six-hundred and twenty-four years. Your conduct has generally been exemplary over much of that time, but lately there have been bold decisions that could be considered rash or not wholly warranted. Your latest actions cast doubt on many prior decisions as well," the Master Juridical said at length.
"My actions have been focused on delivering victory and in frustrating the ends of the Flood, in accordance with the requirements of the Mantle. That is all that I have sought," the Didact replied levelly.
Nearby, various subordinates of his sat as witnesses, including Sharp-by-Striking and the man titled the Examiner.
"The requirements of the Mantle, Didact?" asked the senior Haruspis, sitting in on the trial. "You mandated, upon proposing your plan involving the Contender ancilla, that certain weapons be utilised despite the high risk of civilian casualties. Weapons like mass irradiation weapons, electromagnetic arc bombs, and constructs like G…"
"That was necessary given the deteriorating strategic situation," the Didact replied patiently. "The Flood was about to spread beyond feasible containment, endangering even more worlds in their path. My subordinates agreed that this was the only valid option to buy time."
"And did you?" the Haruspis addressed the two warriors.
"Our analysis concurred with his," the Examiner said emphatically. Sharp-by-Striking nodded coldly.
"And none of these weapons were deployed near the location of the Librarian and her teams, though, were they?"
"They were not yet directly in the path of the Flood…"
"Not yet… of course, glad as we all are that the Librarian has safely returned to us, a case could be made of partiality in the Didact's tactics."
"I stand by my decisions – and their results. Mendicant Bias' design was my initiative, and I supplied him in his strategy to attain victory."
"Yet the killing blow itself came via Faber-of-Will-and-Might, and his assembled armada," the Phylarch said pointedly.
"Many resources were needed to achieve victory."
"As for the primary charge: or impulsively endangering the main battle strategy based on unclear new data…"
"There I admit responsibility, but based on my best analysis of the data presented to me, and on the conclusions forwarded by Mendicant Bias…"
"I did not place major urgency upon my conclusions, Master," Bias said, hovering nearby across the tribunal chamber.
"A warrior and commander must be prepared to make rapid assessments and quick decisions. Based on what I understood of the threat, I had no choice but to apprise Faber."
"It is clear we are going in circles here," the Master Juridical said tiredly. "We cannot clearly obtain a charge of dereliction of duty here, but your actions do not appear to have been soundly made."
"It is easy for a politician at far remove from peril to decide this, or an isolated legal council. I uphold my request to be tried in part by my peers…"
"This has been duly forwarded… we must now continue our proceedings…"
The eventual decision of the council found in favour of the Didact – barely. He did not escape unscathed, however.
"Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, it is the decision of this council that you retain your command, but under supervision of this council, and in partnership with Builder Security. Faber-of-Will-and-Might will be given priority in all Flood related projects from now on. He will also take priority in the utilisation of the Contender-class ancilla currently known as 05-032 Mendicant Bias; Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, do you concur with these requirements?"
The Didact showed little sign of irritation over the omission of his title. "I do so concur," he said shortly.
"You may resume command of a reduced fleet group, assigned to patrol of the recently liberated region, so as to ensure no Flood remain as a viable threat. This council is adjourned."
Later, the Didact began his passage back to the Mantle's Approach, accompanied by the Confirmer as his initial second-in-command.
"Honourable Didact – sir – do you have any particular orders?" the Confirmer asked in a subdued tone.
"We will commence our patrol of the region, beginning with the outer reaches," the Didact said quietly, ponderously. Then his head lifted up alertly, curiously.
"In fact, we will begin by making a survey of Hakkor system and other Precursor sites out that way. There are unanswered questions surrounding this…"
"Faber-of-Will-and-Might, this council is indebted to you for your winning strategy and swift and decisive action. We remain concerned about the prospect of another Flood incursion however, considering the unclear circumstances of their arrival in human space," the Phylarch expounded.
"Our research suggests origin close to the galactic halo – the periphery. It is vaguely possible that they originated from a satellite galaxy, or perhaps even further afield…" Faber informed them.
"Then the threat is not yet ended for certain, and we are in need of a coordinated defence. If the Flood entered our galaxy from one location, more of it might enter from elsewhere, to unpredictable result."
Evidently, Faber mused. "If it pleases the honourable council members, my team and I are prepared to begin work on a new strategic weapon based upon our existing research, geared towards galactic-scale defence. We will of course, require a major development budget before we can begin…"
"Then I propose that council withdraw to deliberate upon a decision – agreed?"
The crowd of councillors flashed assent on the hologram display, and Faber departed to prepare his proposals.
Within a few years, an unpublicised agreement was reached between Faber and the Ecumene council. Funding and resources would be provided toward the development of an ultimate defensive weapon, and the majority of the Forerunner population would be kept in the overall dark about the Flood threat until an appropriate time to inform them was decided.
With no other major guilds or contractors being involved, Faber's now sizable block of elite Builders had a monopoly on the whole project, along with jurisdiction of a growing number of former warrior caste members now throwing their support to Builder Security. Forced to yield to goodwill, the Phylarch was expediting Faber's bold new ambitions, which would see him thrust further to prominence in council affairs.
All in all, it had been a very profitable conflict. Now it remained to summon Maker, Repointer and Shaper to discuss new – probably larger weapon designs.
Perhaps the Contender would also be valuable in expediting design and utility? Not to mention coordination and control, Faber mused, lightly flitting between all the prospects that now presented themselves to him. Opportunities were finally lining up with one another as he had long planned…
Long centuries passed as weapon and systems concepts underwent progressive design, evolution and redesign. In time, this stretched to three millennia as the now prosperous Builder teams milked the process for all it was worth. Sentry taskforces reported no sign of new Flood incursions, and all concerned began to wonder if such concerns would ever be pertinent in the long term.
Mendicant Bias sat fairly passively through that long epoch, receiving and comparing data, analysing blueprints for new weapon systems and approving these or suggesting refinements. New of the Prometheans was scattered and fleeting, but suggestive of their developing their own strategies. Bias had no particular desire to forward any of this to Faber at this time, but was aware this might be required of him according to council mandate.
Many now viewed the Didact with more reservation and scepticism than before, and were less willing to lend support. Underfunded warriors were increasingly relocating into Faber's new military program.
Reflecting slightly ruefully on his change in circumstances, Bias reviewed a proposal from Maker-of-Worlds, and amended it accordingly, before forwarding it for Faber's consideration.
Faber had examined numerous proposals for new weapon systems, many of which had feasibility problems.
Creating a linear destructive blast was not so difficult, and advances had been made in precision targeting. Creating an overlapping and self-boosting shockwave effect had proven harder though. Coverage of wide areas was greatly sought for at this time.
Seeing the next proposal was from Maker-of-Worlds, he perked up to see what the artisan and his team's latest concept involved.
Compacted data unfolded into blueprints, schematics and simulation videos, depicting multiple pulse phase generators discharging in a linear array.
Curious – what are they aiming at? Ah – depict in three dimensional complete configuration… Faber pondered.
The image shifted and the display zoomed out to show dozens of small pulse generators arrayed in a curving path. Faber soon saw that they described a complete circular band. Energy pulses converged into a central focal point, which swelled with light. Seconds later an intense beam shot forth like a searchlight. The image shrank again to show the reach of the beam, and then a widening area of affect.
Faber looked on with growing intrigue.
"Adjunct – shelf the other submissions and prepare my staff for formal briefing… I have an announcement to make."
