Happy Halodays everyone! Merry Christmas. Here's my little gift to you all!

-

1900 hours, September 16th, 2542
Ministry of Conversion, High Charity

In front of Discovery sat the Ministress of Conversion. She was a withered elder San'Shyuum whose wrinkly skin and deep green eyes hid a fanatical resolve and devotion to the faith, one that matched any of her race. The third youngest to hold the position of Ministress in the Covenant, and possibly the first to have won the job fairly. Or as fair as San'Shyuum politics allowed. She sat cross-legged on a simple gravity platform that had no back to lean against, and which instead surrounded the Ministress with a precisely calibrated anti-gravity field which supported her as she hovered in meditation.

Discovery had never expected much from the young Conversion and expected her to be just another middling Minister of a Ministry whose primary purpose had not been needed in generations.

She had been a simple minor official besides then Fleetmaster Admiral Xytan as the Ministry of Conversion launched a campaign against the pirates and warlords of the Covenant Fringe. Xytan had found the reclusive Yonhet and had been intent on invading the world after diplomacy failed. Insisting that the Yonhet were too proud to surrender to the Covenant, and they had to be brought into the fold before they could prepare for a planetary invasion.

But before the invasion could begin, Conversion had intervened. Instead of forcing the Yonhet to adopt the faith by force, she had written a new syncretic doctrine for the Yonhet to follow. This, combined with promises of technology and trade concessions, had been enough to bring the Yonhet into the Covenant. She'd brought in terraforming equipment to clean up the Yonhet homeworld, and overseen the modernization of the entire planet to the standards of a Covenant core world. The Yonhet had quickly accepted their role in the Covenant and received their new faith first with skepticism, but immediately took to the emphasis on devotion to duty, the common good, and to achieve the perfection of the self. Linking the Yonhet Pantheon with the names of known Forerunners had allowed most mainstream branches of Yonhet religion to accept paying lip service to the Covenant. Yonhet became an island of stability in the tumultuous Covenant Fringe.

Upon her return, she'd performed a bureaucratic coup and took over the Ministry of Conversion. She then spearheaded a great reformation of her Ministry by demanding that all high ranking officials attend an ecclesiastical university. This had earned her the ire of the noble San'Shyuum families who could no longer dispose of offspring that had been placed on the Roll of Celibates by sending them to some remote missionary station or fleet. At least, not unless they were able to earn a degree in Acausal Consecrative Theology.

Conversion had since her ascension mostly focused upon her own Ministry, and rarely got involved outside of it. She'd aged into a well-spoken and old lady, but one with a religious zeal burning at her heart. One that had gotten many who'd slighted her interpretation of the faith killed.

"Discovery. What brings the High Council's largest closet heretic to me?" She asked, her voice dripping with Venom. "If Truth sent you, you can go back to him and tell him that my followers will not support him in his war with the Citadel. He can find some other fools to follow him."

"No such thing, Conversion," Discovery said, taking care not to offer his characteristic fake grin to the woman. "I have a gift for you."

"A gift?" Conversion asked, her angry look from before replaced with one of skeptic amusement. "What is this I hear, Discovery finally getting out of his office to join the rest of the San'Shyuum in political niceties?" She narrowed her eyes. "Just tell me what it is, what you intend me to do with it, and then what you want from me. I am quite busy trying to undo the damage Truth is attempting to do to the Covenant."

"I have with me the coordinates to a wreck from an unknown race, with a stasis chamber inside holding what my acolytes tell me, contains the viable egg of an unknown race."
Conversion's eyes went wide, and for the first time, she actively looked engaged in the conversation. "A new race has been discovered? I will send my finest ships to this wreck and have the best healers take care of the egg. It has been too long since someone informed me of such a thing!" Her ecstatic mood faded. "Why are you telling me this personally instead of through the proper channels?"

It was now or never.

"Conversion. You are forming a political clique in the High Council around other San'Shyuum opposed to Truth. Everyone knows it, and you're quite open about it. I want to be a part of it." There was no point in lying here. Conversion would find his motives regardless. "I can provide you with technology, contacts, and more discoveries like these."

"Hmph. I figured as such. Like I said in the High Council, when word of the war reached the Holy City, Truth has kept me out of the loop about the Discovery of new species. When he first approached me about some minor heretical race squatting on ruins, I thought nothing of letting him go about his task while I focused on the Fringe."

She paused. "Mercy told me that I could trust Truth, but I worry that senility is starting to take what's left of his once-great mind. All he does is say what Truth tells him to, and appeal to the fundamentalist sects and merchant guilds to support the Ministries under Truth's command. I do not trust him anymore."

She paused. "When the war with the humans started, all I was told is that they were discovered investing worlds with Forerunner relics, and had destroyed them. I thought nothing of signing off on the destruction of a small race spread over a handful of worlds." Conversion rolled her eyes. "First Truth neglected to inform me of the size of the human empire, and then did everything he could to make sure none of us heard about the Citadel Council and its many races until crippled ships returned to the Holy City. In light of that, I will demand a review of all the Hierarch's actions in regards to humans. I will also send my own agents to examine their worlds. I'll find what information I need, then declare a Conclave in accordance with the duties of my Ministry. There we'll decide if humans are impure or not."

"And if they are actually pure?"

Conversion cocked her head at Discovery as if gauging his question for how serious it was. She narrowed her eyes for a moment, then nodded. "I'll call for a vote for no confidence and if I can, have Truth and Regret shot, and Mercy placed in an asylum. They'll have stained the Covenant for a thousand generations." She sighed. "Our descendants will curse us for our crimes. I almost wish I was wrong in this. But to do nothing here breaks too many doctrines, too many rules, too many unspoken rules. If we do nothing, the Covenant might as well be meaningless."

"Why do you care about the humans, Conversion? Even if not impure, aren't they still Heathens?"

"The Librarian did not give us intelligence so we could discard it and act like Jiralhanae." She chuckled. "I care about the future of the Covenant. How can we bring more races into the fold if we are known for Xenocide? Look at how the Citadel Races went from not knowing us, to dying in droves to push us back with fanatical determination. We have used force to bring species into the Covenant, but that Force is to be used against species above the fifth tier of civilization, and only against those who refuse peaceful integration." Conversion was visibly angry. "There is a reason the most important rule for explorers is to report all new civilizations immediately, and that refusal to do so is punishable by death. How can we ever bring new species into our Covenant, even as tributaries, if they're worried we'll wipe them out? We'll need to crush and integrate everyone we meet by force forever, until the Journey happens." She paused. "And how can we stand before the gods, on a road stained with the blood of billions? I fear our sins will weigh us down when the Great Journey sweeps through the galaxy."

"You sound convinced that humans are not impure, Conversion." Discovery stated.

Conversion pursed her lips. "I've been giving the proof Truth gave me a more thorough examination, and to my shame, I noticed flaws I did not see before. I noticed that the majority of the occasions the humans "destroyed relics" happened after the war started." She looked Discovery in the eye. "They're also the only ones with solid proof behind them."

Discovery thought back to his realization after Truth had dispersed the fleet across the borders. "He started the war on a pretense… He didn't overreact. Didact's fury, this goes beyond mere abuse of power. We're talking about high treason! The Sangheili will have his hide if this is true!" Discovery panicked for a moment. What had looked like a political opportunity was much more. What he had could destroy the Covenant.

Or reshape it, he noted. He agreed with Conversion. The Covenant could not be seen as an irrational actor in galactic politics, especially with so many new spacefaring races being discovered. He had seen too many radicals quickly removed from power in the High Council when pragmatists moved against them. The idea that the Covenant should be a power that was respected for advancement, faith, and trillions of souls working together for a grand common goal. Not one feared, loathed, and cursed. He wanted to be a great leader of a power that was treated with awe and respect, not loathed and opposed at all times.

Conversion's words also struck a cord in Discovery's heart. Would the Librarian forgive him for everything he had done? If the Humans were impure, he alone had killed tens of thousands, even if by proxy. How could he ever find redemption for such a sin? Truth might have damned his soul for eternity! He did not show any emotion to Conversion, even as he felt torn apart on the inside.

Conversion nodded, then started to grin. "But on to your unexpected visit. I assume the reason you want to join me is because Truth holds the Assembly Forges of High Charity in an iron grip, and you think if the Hierarchy were to be deposed, you could expand into their sections of High Charity?"

Discovery pushed the thoughts from before aside for now, and chuckled. "You're close." He did intend to make a move for the Hierarchy, but would be happy to have influence from the shadows. So great Truth was removed. "But yes, you are right in that I could provide an essential source of technological expertise to your cause."

Conversions pursed her lips and tapped the base of her gravity platform. "I agree with your offer, Discovery. Side with me and the Assembly Forges will be put under your supervision. I have resources you have knowledge. Together we can get many things done."

"Oh?" Discovery asked. He wasn't surprised in the slightest, but he hoped he could squeeze out a tiny bit of extra information.

"You are a simple San'Shyuum, Discovery. You want technology and advancement in the Covenant and will do whatever you can to advance these goals. You are also nearly broke and without allies." She paused again. "Not to mention your near-heretical views on Causal Consecrationism. But I can live with that, provided you do not spread your beliefs."

Discovery did not rise to the challenge. Causal Consecrationism held that the workings of the god were not made by divine hands, and only the gods themselves were holy. It was a faith that had been declared heretical and redeemed too many times to count. Discovery personally felt it was the only way to explain the difference between the different eras of Forerunner relics left behind. But he was smart enough to keep these opinions to himself. He'd have to be careful however, to avoid Conversion turning her zealous nature upon his Ministry. He went through all the contacts he recalled from memory to find a pawn he could turn against Conversion.

He was happy with the deal, but not completely satisfied. Conversion still had too much power and could quickly turn on him. Discovery decided he'd work for Conversion, but he decided to try and find a way to cut her down to size, as well as search for methods to increase his own power base.

"Excellent. I'll have the location of the egg transferred to you immediately. As well as my personal communications frequencies. You'll have my vote when you need it."

-

1930 hours, September 16th, 2542
Discovery's private chambers, Ministry of Discovery, High Charity

When Discovery returned to his home, an idea had formed in his head, a way to both assist Conversion, and use her plan to benefit himself. Just the way he preferred his machinations. Empowering the Covenant, but himself just a little bit more. He could use Conversion to set the scene for his own rise to power. But he would have to make her think he was dependent on her. He could move in the shadows, and merely move the pieces into the right place to facilitate his rise to power.

Discovery was pleased to note that no urgent matters had come up while he was gone. In fact, the news was quite good. Orders for technology, advisors, and time for his private Assembly Forges were coming in from across the Covenant as they prepared for war. He was turning quite a tidy profit, just sending advisors to oversee everything from new mining equipment to orbital plasma torpedo silos. He was making a small fortune, and he eagerly began making mental notes for investments, expanding into new businesses, and consolidating his control over the smaller Assembly Forges and Merchant Guilds he had connections with.

Discovery pressed a button on his throne, sending out a localized EMP precisely tuned to wipe any listening equipment that might have been installed in his soundproofed room. He then hovered over towards the nearest wall and pulled a handle to pull out a small holographic emitter from its hardened casing. He went through his near-eidetic memory and set up an encrypted link with an old friend.

The imposing figure of Imperial Admiral Xytan appeared above the holographic emitter, dressed in a resplendent suit of silver armor emblazoned with holy runes. Discovery found it amusing that Xytan was always wearing such magnificent armor, no matter when Discovery contacted him. He assumed it had to do with Xytan's intended public perception.

"Discovery. Why do you call?" Xytan asked, crossing his arms, his gaze was so fierce, it was like they were staring into the San'Shyuum soul, and his mighty voice boomed across the speakers of the emitter. Discovery blinked, for a moment overwhelmed by the sheer charismatic presence before him.

Discovery smiled. "Xytan, remember that communications system I supplied you with? I believe I came upon something that might interest you."

To his credit, Xytan did not budge, and instead merely nodded his head. "Who needs to die?"

"No, no, no, nothing quite so barbaric." Discovery held up his hands. "But I came upon a plot to seize power in High Charity-"

"Someone is always planning to seize power, Discovery. That's what the Silent Shadow are for." Xytan interrupted, not sounding amused in the slightest. "I hope you have a more important reason to interupt me?"

"I believe that we might see new candidates for the Hierarchy put their case before the High Council. I thought you should know. In light of the... delicate political situation in High Charity."

Xytan leaned forward, looking intently at Discovery. "And you are worried Truth won't step down quietly," Xytan confirmed. "I hope it does not come to that. It would be a great shame."

Discovery tried to determine how sincere Xytan was, but he could not notice any changes to Xytan's booming imposing voice. He merely nodded. "He has been consolidating power for over a decade by now. You're the last Sangheili fleetmaster who is truly independent." Discovery knew Xytan, and that feeding his ego was quite useful. He needed to feed Xytan's messiah complex. "I am worried about a civil war. A new age of Conflict."

Xytan ground his mandibles, then nodded slowly. His holograms flickered. "...You are right. Something is growing in the Covenant. The Unggoy rebellions, the increase in piracy, political infighting. It's going to come to a boil eventually. If you fear a civil war is possible, I will take that to heart. I'll pull some strings, and be ready to assist the new Hierarchs. Do you have any idea who they are?" The hologram cut out.

"I do not, no." It was technically not a lie, Conversion hadn't explicitly said she would make a move for power. The more Discovery sounded like a lone voice crying for aid, the more convincing it would be to Xytan.

Discovery smiled in satisfaction at his accomplishments. All he needed to do now was support Conversion, wait for Truth to crack down on the city, then call in Xytan as a glorious liberator. Then Discovery would work at Xytan's side to restore order to the Holy City, and ingratiate himself with the new leadership. He could become very influential, very quickly. He just needed to be sure that if Truth had Conversion killed, which he was expecting, he was far away from her. He hoped she survived however, Conversion was quite enjoyable to talk to. And easy to manipulate if you knew the right buttons to press.

The existential terror still gripped his heart, but he was sure if he changed the Covenant for the better, made donations to the temples, and changed for the better, the Librarian could forgive him after the Great Journey.