Chapter Eleven: Before the Storm
Deep Space, Sword Assault Carrier The Servant of Recompense, December 17th, 2552…
I walked through the hallway following Arka 'Varliemai, my fists clenched and my mandibles set. I looked down to the ground and controlled my anger at the Fleetmaster as I followed him to his quarters. We have known each other for thirty years now, since we were mere adolescents training at the same school back in Qivro, and have had an... interesting history. After I rejected marriage at the age of nineteen, and professed my love of the sword, I was rejected from the Malkam Keep. When I was wandering the salt flats outside of the Malkam Keep, I came across a patrol from the 'Varliemai family when they were searching for a catch for dinner. They saw my pitiful condition, and took my under their wing. A young Arka 'Varliemai became my mentor for the art of swordfighting, and in only a few years under his teaching, I became a master swordsman - or, more like, a swordswoman.
"You got all of the intel we needed?" 'Varliemai asked suddenly, stopping in the center of the hall. I almost bumped into him as I was entranced with my thoughts. I snapped out of it and looked up at him, standing at attention.
"Yes, I did. In fact, I got more than we needed. From what I found out on planet Demeter, the Storm Covenant have made many major troop movements in the last month. The base that 'Karus and I had been scouting was the last one we had seen on radar." I paused to look down at the floor trying to remember the day before. "Just inside of one of the bases we scouted were at least four dozen Covenant soldiers."
"Four dozen? Scouts on Altera and Minare have only seen patrols of eight or ten. From what you're saying, there were many dozen soldiers in each camp. They might be planning a major front against the Swords of Sanghelios. We cannot allow for the Covenant to make another rise to power. We've quelled the San'Shyuum back to their homeworld - until now - and the Jiralhanae have only just begun attacks after regrouping at Doisac. What could they be planning?" Arka asked, rubbing his lower left mandible in worry. It was the first time in many years I had seen the Fleetmaster so greatly troubled. Then again, this was his first major loss in his career as a soldier. Even during the Human-Covenant War, he had won every single engagement he had been in with minimal loss - a fact that the Prophets had failed to take into account, which led to him not being promoted to Imperial Admiral.
"Indeed, they may be planning something we have no knowledge of. But with respect sir, after the death of Major 'Karus, I would rather not be sent out on another mission for a while."
"Of course, a death is not something to be taken lightly. You are hereby relieved of ground duty for three months. However, Strike Leader, right now? I need all of the intel you gathered." He said, rubbing his hands together. I nodded and stepped next to him to open his door, which we had come up to.
"I can tell you all that I know. Major 'Karus also went on a few runs and didn't tell me anything, so some intel may be lost."
"As long as we know an estimate of how many ships and soldiers the Storm will be using against us, we might be able to counter them. As you may know, we don't have… as many soldiers as we used to." The Fleetmaster said, looking down at the last part. I sighed and patted his shoulder lightly.
"My one question is what happened? We jumped in and we saw destruction and three giant carriers."
"You saw them?!"
"You didn't?"
"No, they jumped in suddenly and destroyed us in seconds. The Servant of Recompense and a few other ships only survived because we were farther away and we hid between wreckage. We never saw them."
"We came in as they were leaving." I said, stepping into his spacious room. He followed close behind, sidestepping me to sit down at a chair in the corner. He wordlessly gestured for me to sit in the chair next to him, and he crossed his arms.
"What did they look like?"
"I don't have to describe it, I can show you." I said, pulling out the datapad I had had on The Pride of Xerxi. I turned it on and put it on Project Mode, watching as the hologram raised up off of the screen. I handed the datapad to 'Varliemai and leaned over him, getting the datapad to the 3D model of the San'Shyuum Supercarrier. At the sight of it, Arka's mandibles hung open and his eyes widened. He, apparently, had never seen a ship so great before.
"That ship is…"
"Unlike any other you've seen, yes." I finished. "But here's the interesting part. When Mizume, the… human, and I came out of slipspace, they did not fire on us. But, they must've known we were there from the obvious slipspace signature, right?"
"Of course. You would have been in plain sight just from the electro-magnetic pulse that the gate created."
"Maybe they're testing us?"
"Another one of the San'Shyuum's trivial games? Probably." 'Varliemai reached under his desk to get something. "Here, eat, you must be famished."
"Sir?" From under his desk he pulled out a pair of dry, white nutrient blocks. I wasn't going to be rude, but I looked at him oddly before taking it between my mandibles, slowly dissolving the mineral powders - mineral blocks were only handed out to soldiers on battlefields, far from the hunting grounds on the carriers. He sighed and began taking off the armor from his limbs.
"I'm sorry I don't have anything better to give you, Thaea, but our hunting grounds were destroyed in the battle."
"I see. So, here's a question; how did you find us in deep space? I thought we made a random jump."
"You did, but your ship has a long-range tracker on it tuned to The Servant of Recompense's frequency, so we were able to track you down soon enough."
"Good, good. So, how many of us are left?" I asked, watching the suddenly pained look on Arka's face. After removing the armor on his arms and legs he sat up and closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath.
"Of the two billion of our brothers in our armada, only two hundred thousand survive now. Our Sword brothers on Sanghelios know nothing of this incident, because our interplanetary comms have been knocked out." I stepped back in astonishment at the gargantuan number of dead. I was speechless, and for a moment I said nothing.
"Could we have done anything?"
"That is… one of the many questions I have asked myself today. But if I am to be honest with myself, I believe the answer is no. The attack was too sudden, and the San'Shyuum have far superior technology." He replied shakily. Suddenly, I heard a frantic knock at the door, before a voice began to shout.
"Fleetmaster! We have an urgent situation, please come to the bridge immediately! The Imperial Admiral is waiting!"
"Understood! I will be right there!" The Fleetmaster yelled back, getting up from his chair, ignoring his armor on the ground - in fact, he let his chest and back plates fall to the ground before walking to the door, absentmindedly flexing his muscles as they were released from the tight armor. We ran down the kilometer-long hallway to the bridge, opening the large door quickly before stepping into a bustling war room.
In the center of the war room, above the hologram table, was a projection of Thel 'Vadam standing with his arms crossed behind his back. He looked down upon the Imperial Admiral, who was crowded among Sword soldiers, with a calm stare, his eyes peeking out from behind the crest in the large headdress. As we approached the table, he looked up from Admiral 'Te Misakan's piercing gaze and smiled thinly.
"Fleetmaster 'Varliemai, I have heard about recent events. It has been an abysmal day for the Swords of Sanghelios." He said, swishing the crimson cloak behind him.
"Arbiter, how…?"
"Fleetmaster, sir, we repaired the comms tower a few minutes ago." A Sangheili Artillery Master butted in, gesturing to two other Sangheili standing next to him, who bowed their heads at the Fleetmaster. Arka nodded and looked back at 'Vadam.
"I was told there was an urgent matter I needed to attend to?" 'Varliemai queried, stepping closer to the hologram table. The Arbiter nodded and crossed his arms.
"Indeed. After hearing what your SPARTAN, Zachary Reynards, and Mizume 'Zehirae had to say about the Supercarriers, I have made a connection. A few days ago, my operatives inside of The Servants of the Abiding Truth came out with information on talks with the San'Shyuum about new ships that were going into testing. I would assume these are the same thing, because they said that the ships were 'larger than usual', and 'more effective than a fleet of ships.'" 'Vadam said, coughing once afterwards.
"I would agree, but who are these 'Servants of the Abiding Truth?'" I asked, unknowing of the term.
"As I have described to the Imperial Admiral, they are a radical group separate from the Covenant Storm that are completely Sangheili. They are among our brothers, my friend."
"Traitors." 'Varliemai took a breath before continuing. "So these ships. These are not completely manned by the San'Shyuum? Our own brothers may be aboard these war machines?"
"They are."
"We have no way to fight them."
"You do indeed, Fleetmaster."
"How?"
"Use your men like they were trained - to fight with rifles and swords not in space, but on flat ground."
"Sir?"
"Board the ship. If you cannot fight them with plasma mortars and battleships, fight them where their shields do not block you."
"Arbiter, how do we do this?" I asked, stepping forwards. 'Vadam looked over at me pointedly.
"Thaea…" 'Varliemai muttered, looking at me without turning his head.
"No, seriously. From what you are saying about the destruction left behind by these Supercarriers, they wouldn't allow any ship to get through, no matter how small. How do you propose we get on board?"
"There are a few ways, one would be to insert with jetpacks only from very far away. Another would be to ram the Supercarrier and get on during the chaos, and a last idea would be to risk flying in with the remaining fleet." The Arbiter said, his eyes flicking between me and 'Varliemai. I nodded and stepped back, ignoring Arka's hard stare.
"Arbiter, we cannot spare many ships, no matter how small. Do you think you can spare us even the smallest of corvettes?"
"I thought, from what Zachary has said, that you have human warships with you."
"Ah, a piece of information our SPARTAN has missed, Arbiter. When the San'Shyuum arrived, the humans escaped immediately, leaving without notice as our ships were bombarded."
"This is most… unpleasant news, Fleetmaster. But we shall speak of this later. For now, take your leave, I will send a battlegroup your way when I can."
"Thank you, Arbiter." And with that, 'Vadam's figure disappeared from the table. I looked at 'Varliemai and frowned.
"The humans abandoned us?" I asked, quite cross at humanity.
"We do not know that they abandoned us yet, Thaea. Do not jump to conclusions." He gently reprimanded, leaning over me slightly.
"Yes…" I replied, looking past him at the Imperial Admiral, who stood at the holographic table with his eyes closed.
"Now come, you must be tired. For now, we shall retire." 'Varliemai said.
"Yes, I concur." I agreed, following him from the bridge.