1900 hours, May 15th, 2542
Herald of Abundance. Dock 109, Spires of Plenty, High Charity
Vado stalked the halls of his ship. They were going to leave soon, and he wanted to see if everything was prepared like he had been promised. The crew had arrived, ten Rangers who were to be commanded by the nameless Ultra who was the only other survivor of the attack on New Ghent. He had decided to take a walk to clear his mind. To remember why he was committed to his task.
The ship was silent. A tension hung in the air as the crew of the Herald of Abundance prepared for departure. Ever since the extent of the new enemy had become clear, an air of unease had spread through the crew. Not one of fear. But one of profound unease at their lack of knowledge. They would head further out of Covenant space than anyone had ever done so before. Their ship had the finest equipment they could spare for the journey. But that was only so much.
The ship had undergone serious retrofitting to be capable of the long-range deployment that it had been designed for. It had been extended by forty meters to allow for increased fuel storage due to the rear half of the ship being overhauled extensively to install a larger engine, and fuel reserve. The new engine could modulate its output to emulate whatever the Hard Light Disguise Matrix was disguising the ship as. This would allow it to take on the appearance, as well as power signature of any ship of a similar size. The ship had also been fitted with a cloaking device, although this took an inordinate amount of power to sustain for long periods. The hard light matrix could be used to compensate for this, copying the surrounding space and projecting a false image to hide from optical sensors, although strong enough sensors would see right through.
Vado 'Mavamee went through the specifications for the weaponry in his head, grinning as he saw them in his mind's eye. A single plasma-torpedo launcher at the bottom of the ship, which could send its torpedo in any direction. The ship had eight small pulse laser turrets, each with two barrels that fired one after the other. These turrets had an excellent overlapping field of fire, but could all be aimed forward to maximize forward firepower. Finally, there were two plasma lances, one in each "wing" of the Stormcutter. The smaller plasma lances would have issues with larger human ships. But could effortlessly cut through anything up to a human cruiser. If they were attacked, the ship could punch its way through most small blockades with ease.
The ship was everything he could dream of. A crew of trained professionals. And a sacred duty to spread the light of the faith to the distant corners of the Galaxy. It was the kind of duty any Sangheili worth his geks would dream of.
But then why did he still feel so uneasy? There was a weight upon his twin hearts that nothing could suppress. An unspoken worry.
He was afraid.
Not for himself, but for his daughters. His family was a small one. From a remote Sangheili world so minor, that it wasn't even on most maps. Sentonis. It had been a harsh world of massive cyclopean six-limbed beasts. With a biosphere that had only been tamed with judicious deployment of plasma bombardment. On that world, his family had been some of the first settlers, raising a mighty keep in defiance of the dangerous world. It had taken them many years, but over the generations, his family had tamed the land around them, domesticated the giant wooly beasts of burden that had become his family's main source of income, and set up a thriving textile industry. One that brought great wealth to their keep, and had earned them some renown. Their fortunes had only improved when great Xenite deposits had been uncovered on the world. The key resource for pulse laser and fusion reactors. They had grown fast then, drawing in a great rush of workers from across the Covenant. They were still a small keep compared to the great states of Sanghelios or Blyke, but they had earned a reputation for excellent craftsmanship.
But this new wealth had led to the creation of new keeps upon Sentonis. And new keeps meant internecine war and conflict. Small scale at first. Skirmishes. Honor duels. The usual Sangheili fare. But this only escalated as the smaller keeps grew Jealous of the 'Mavamee keep's rich deposits.
Then a plague had spread through the keep, killing most of the livestock his family had depended on. Seeing this as a message of the gods to focus upon their new persuit, the Keep had a grand temple to Faber the Builder constructed. The 'Mavamee family had focused upon their mineral wealth and had grown to be a family Artisan-armorers, not warriors. Their fame had spread far and wide, and had drawn the attention of the great Shipwrights of the Covenant.
So when the news came that a new Supercarrier had been commissioned, the Hammer of Faith, the family had been ecstatic when the 'Mavamee keep was asked to aid in the construction of its fusion reactor. Giving thanks to the gods, most males of his Keep had packed their tools and equipment, and taken the first ships to Zhoist. His father, uncles, brothers, nephews. Almost all adult males of his family had gone to the sacred world of Zhoist, to march barefoot through each of the ten cities once inhabited by the gods, before moving to assist in the construction of the supercarrier. It had been seen as a blessing, a true chance to show the Covenant the skill of their artisans.
Then the humans came. Their armored demons had laid waste to Zhoist, sacking the sacred cities and slaying the people in the streets. They had slain the defenders, and deployed nuclear ordinance upon the quarters housing the laborers working upon the supercarrier. The Hammer of Faith was destroyed before it ever flew, half a million Sangheili laborers slain. And his family line had nearly been destroyed in a single day. The worst part, however, was that he couldn't feel angry at the humans. They had struck back in the face of their destruction, after all. That part still nagged at him. At times he couldn't help but consider, for the briefest moments of doubt, if the humans deserved their fate. But he squashed those thoughts whenever they happened. The Hierarchs had spoken.
He had barely been an adult when he became Kaidon and immedistely had to fight off multiple assassination attempts by his advisors. Said advisors's skeletons still hung from the battlements of his keep. He had crushed the upstarts and waged several guerilla campaigns against neighboring keeps that had probed his territory. With his keep secure, he had tried to get their affairs back in order, but much knowledge and many skilled workers had been lost upon Zhoist. Generations of knowledge and skill lost with the masters and the acolytes learning under them both being lost. 'Mavamee keep was left with their Xenite deposits, but without the skilled labor to process it.
In the meager years after that tragedy, he had fathered many children with the women of his keep, and married the love of his life there, Mela 'Mutamai. The commander of his personal guard after her husband had fallen on Zhoist. He had one daughter pure to his line, and six acknowledged as his own. But no son to carry on the family name. If he died, the keep would either go to his trueborn, Kela 'Mavam, and unless she followed the legend of the Grey Crone, and refused to marry. She would eventually be forced to find a suitor. Or be forced to take one. Or worst of all, the keep could fall to an invader, and his daughters might be killed to secure the rule of its new master. The women of 'Mavam keep were strong, however. They had formed a militia after the death of their husbands, and fought like the Sangheili of ancient legend to keep their lands safe. With energy lances, they had driven off many opportunistic attacks. But numbers would eventually have won out.
Vado had found a solution, however. To attack a keep whose Kaidon was on crusade was a grave taboo. One that the smaller keeps that bordered his own would refuse to break. He had joined the Covenant fleet to buy his wife time to get their keep back in order. He'd gone through training with flying colors, and became a skilled Seraph pilot, quickly rising through the ranks. He had become the commander of a Tithe ship, and eventually a Tithe Fleet. Traveling through the Covenant fringe, gathering the bounty of a hundred worlds to deliver to the Holy City. When he had reached the point he felt he should find a Ministry to serve, he found the Ministry of Discovery. And in it, a natural ally.
The Ministry had seen better times, but still had access to many potent technologies. Technologies that his keep could use. A deal had been made, and his Keep was modernized with the finest the Minister of Discovery could provide. A true fortress of overlapping defensive turrets, a shield generator that could defend against Orbital bombardment, and the logistics needed to fully tap into his keep's natural resources. The machinery used to extract and process the wealth of his keep was advanced enough, that some muttered about them being possessed of machine intelligence. The ones spreading those lies had been gutted and fed to the Xenite furnace as an example for all who would slander the 'Mavamee name.
The mission Discovery had given him could secure the wealth and status of his family for generations. He could find rich suitors for his daughters, suitors from wealthy worlds blessed by the gods. While Kela would remain on Sentonis, with the means necessary to make the keep thrive once more. But if he failed. They would be thrown for the wolves. His daughters carried off as wives, slain to end his line, or just fading into obscurity as menial servants. No. That was unacceptable. He would face a demon with his bare claws before he let that happen.
His deep contemplation was interrupted when he came upon the armory, the door was open and a bright light shone into the hallway.
"Would you look at that!" A sound came from the armory. It was the T'Vaoan Sek'Telapo. He was chattering excitedly about something. Vado could hear rummaging. Was the T'vaoan doing something in the armory? He'd better investigate.
"I didn't even know these were legal!" Came the voice of Yapyap. "I can't wait to use this."
"Don't get too excited. These are sacred tools you're handling. Show them some respect!" He heard Len'Vellana speaking in her usual velvety voice and letting out a short giggle afterward. "I understand you're excited, but do not let your emotions rule you."
"Forgive me, your grace. It's not often that we get to use the special stuff. Get what I'm saying?" Sek said nonchalantly. Vado was inclined to break his neck for speaking to a San'Shyuum that way if he hadn't known about Vellana's preference to be treated like any other member of the crew.
Vado barged into the armory, taking a good look at what was going on. "What is this commotion about?" He asked in a neutral voice.
The three inhabitants of the armory went quiet and turned to look at him. They were standing around a large supply crate filled with smaller metal boxes, each looking through the contents of one box respectively. Yapyap was holding some kind of fuel rod cannon. He was halfway through examining the firing mechanism. Meanwhile, Sek was holding a large crate of Subanese crystals for his needle rifle. Examining each of them for imperfections. Vellana was holding large metallic staff, which Vado recognized as an unlit double-sided Energy lance. The traditional weapon for Sangheili females. How she had acquired one, he did not know.
Vellana stepped forward, to which Vado gave a deep bow. She smiled and motioned for him to rise. "Discovery has sent us equipment for our mission. You were wandering the ship in contemplation, so I wished not to disturb you. You know how soldiers are with new weapons."
He mustered the courage to go against his indoctrination, and speak out against her. "I understand, your grace. But inform me the next time something of this nature arrives." He paused. "...Is there anything for me?" he added, somewhat sheepishly he -did- like his guns.
Vellana pointed towards a box with his name on it. Discovery did like to keep everyone supplied to the best of his abilities. It was how he inspired loyalty. While Discovery did not have the kind of raw financial wealth many San'Shyuum had, he made up for it in access to exotic technologies. He walked up and opened the box, revealing a Sangheili point defense gauntlet. He put it onto his wrist. It felt quite comfortable to wear, while it still had a somewhat satisfying weight. He turned it on, getting a feeling for the weight of the device. It was so light, he might almost cut himself with the shield's edge if he didn't carefully pay attention.
He removed some careful padding that obscured one of the other items in the box. It was a Type-25 plasma rifle of utterly impeccable craftsmanship. The weapon felt almost weightless in his hand when he picked it up. Never had he held such a fine rifle. He returned it to the box, to take a look at the other equipment.
He raised an eyebrow at the smallest object. It was a modified plasma pistol, of a type he had never seen before. Its lower half was a bright red, and the sights were white. He picked it up to examine it. Sek immediately turned to look at the device.
"Bo- Shipmaster. Do you know what that is you're holding?" Sek asked.
"A plasma pistol," Vado replied. "One painted quite garishly. Red is for Majors, not a Shipmaster."
"That's a Spitfire Plasma Pistol. I thought they'd all been destroyed when the artisans making them got executed for heresy! I used to smuggle them to the Special Warfare group. Rangers loved using them." He paused and coughed. "Uhhh. I got pardoned for that too. You know, the whole deal with the concubine- I'll shut up now."
Vado examined the pistol. "No, please continue. You are quite amusing." The weapon felt heavier than a normal plasma pistol, and when he aimed it at the wall, a holographic sight popped up. "Heavier than I am used to, but it would work well in one hand, with my energy sword in the other." He whirled the pistol around his index finger. This was his favorite part about being in the service of Discovery. The way he always provided the best equipment.
"Uhh. Shipmaster. I have a question." Yapyap asked as he put the fuel rods for his cannon aside. "Why are we being sent upon this mission? Wouldn't a task this important be given to Zealots?"
"The Ministry of Discovery is running low on income. This is all we can afford." Vado said bluntly. "We will put our faith into the gods and head towards this realm. The wealth we find there shall be great. Perform well, and I will give each of you a fine share of my reward. Now. Show me what Discovery provided you with."
Yapyap held up his type-33 fuel rod cannon. it was a dark red, and its fuel rod reservoir looked significantly more sturdy than any of these weapons Vado had used. He immediately surmised what it was. "This is what we used to call a "Cancer Rod Cannon" when I served in the Spec Ops. Unstable fuel rods, laced with the same mixture of radioactive waste used by Carbines. Proximity fuses. Very illegal. Very powerful. You know something is good when even the Zealots ban using these weapons." He pointed towards a glowing blue device upon his belt. "There were also some energy shield belts for us. Never used one before."
Discovery gave an Unggoy and a T'Vaoan energy shielding? Vado mused that whatever anyone could say about the Minister, he made sure his servants were armed as best as possible. Although he doubted it was for altruistic reasons.
Sek showed Vado the two plasma pistols he had been given. Two normal-looking plasma pistols, but painted green instead of the traditional purple. "Twin rapid-fire plasma pistols with holographic sights. Kig-Yar pattern. Just like my mother used to make. Also. An energy shield like Yapyap's, and this beauty." He igniting a short energy cutlass, one that appeared to be based upon an energy sword.
Vado was speechless at the heresy he was seeing. A modified plasma sword. For a Kig-Yar. Had Discovery gone mad?
"Your mother was an Artisan?" Vellana asked, smiling warmly. Seemingly uncaring about the heresy in front of her.
"She was. Yes! She traded in the weapons discarded by the Sacred Promissory due to failing the quality standards. She'd salvage them, jury rig them to be useful, then sell them on. Until she accidentally blew herself up."
"Accidentally, or, 'Accidentally'?'' Yapyap air quoted.
"I wish. It would have meant I'd have gotten something except inheriting her debts. I joined the army to escape the merchant guilds trying to get their cut. Its where I met Yapyap. Been together ever since." The T'Vaoan put a hand on Yapyap's shoulder, who nodded.
"Has everyone except me here used unlicensed technology?" Vado asked incredulously. "Is this what fighting is like for the Unggoy and Kig-Yar. Unlicensed technology? Black market trading? Even the Minister appears to be involved in this. This is just-" Vellana put a hand on his shoulder. He instantly went silent to let her speak.
"Vado 'Mavamee. As a shipmaster, you have not seen what life can be like for the lower castes of the Covenant. But I have. I've seen the lower depths of High Charity, the places that no other San'Shyuum has set foot for a thousand years. They truly have to bend the rules to survive. Please. Life isn't so simple for most of the Covenant. Surely you have had to bend the rules yourself at times? Discovery sees potential in these two and has provided them with the best possible equipment. Surely you trust them with these devices."
Vado couldn't answer. Instead, he nodded.
"I… If you say so, your grace. You have given me much to ponder."
The Ultra from New Ghent entered the armory. He looked at what was happening, cocked his helmeted head to the side. Then moved over towards the crate marked with a white rune. He opened the crate, and took out two plasma swords, putting them on his hips. He then closed the crate, turning to look at Vado, and saluted the Shipmaster, crossing his twin hearts with his right arm. "I am sworn to your service for this mission. But do not sully my name with dishonorable conduct, or I would be mandated to end you. She might pour poison in your ear to justify techno-heresy, but I will not touch any device not sanctified to its full extent."
An Ultra, or Evocatus was the ultimate Sangheili warrior. One who devoted his every waking moment to mastering combat, whose every action would be recorded for all time within the archives of High Charity. Vado would have killed any other Sangheili on the spot for those words, but one did not slay an Evocatus without due cause. And even then, he wasn't sure he could face a warrior as formidable as him.
"Then why, pray tell, are you still here? You could have refused my request to the Minister for your assistance. Such would be within your rights." Vado asked sternly.
"Because you will bring the light of the gods to this "Citadel" and I would gladly be a part of it. As a member of the Servants of Sundered Stars, I would rather donate blood to a prisoner than sit out a fight as righteous as this." The Evocatus said in a slow calculating voice, one that hinted at great intelligence and ruthlessness.
"The Servants of Sundered Stars?" A Didact cult. Vado had heard of such religious practices before. Fraternities of warriors dedicated to one of the gods whose name was known. The Didact was the most feared of the gods. Seen as both a harbinger of victory and a bringer of destruction. The ancient texts spoke of the Didact as the most dangerous of the gods, not one to beseech unless the situation was dire. Vado had never been involved in the direct worship of the Didact, instead, he and his family had dedicated their keep's temple to Faber, blessed be the Maethrillian.
Didact, the Shadow of Sundered-Stars, Faber, the Builder of Will and Might, and the Librarian She Who Wove Living Song were the gods whose names were most known by the Covenant and had therefore achieved a special significance to many. Leading to some groups focussing purely on the worship of one of these individuals.
At times this trinitarian belief was considered apostasy and confined to the frontiers, only to spread further through the Covenant when the faith, for a time, gathered San'Shyuum supporters who supported this new viewpoin. Vado did not know what to make of an Evocatus being part of such an obscure sect. He found the idea of venerating one god above another a foreign concept. Dedicating a shrine to one of the gods was one thing, but considering the Didact superior to the Faber? Civil wars had broken out over smaller doctrinal differences. He would need to be careful to not let this disagreement fracture the crew. For now, they all shared the same goal.
Vellana narrowed her eyes at the masked Evocatus. "You forget your place, Evocatus. She-Who-Weaves-Living-Song created us. You should be careful before dedicating yourself to the worship of the destroyer. Such a life will bring you no rewards."
The two looked at each other, and then the Evocatus slowly nodded when he realized the San'Shyuum would not back down. He gave her a short bow, then moved to take stock of the Armory of the ship.
Vado returned to the matter at hand, happy to end this part of the conversation. "Tomorrow we shall depart. Make your final preparations, then climb into your stasis capsule. We shall wake when the time is right." He wished he hadn't been sworn to such secrecy. He would have liked to send his daughters one last message before he left. He promised himself he would make up for it when he returned. He was the last to leave the armory, and turned off the lights.