Chapter Thirteen: The Calm
Deep Space, Sword Assault Carrier The Servant of Recompense, December 18th, 2552…
After getting the plan okayed by the Imperial Admiral, it was a frenzy on who would be chosen to be the person left in space. I volunteered, but of course, both 'Zehirae and 'Varliemai refused. The three remaining of 'Te Misakan's men were a viable choice, but they were still mourning over their fallen brothers.
I sat on top of a crate in the hangar listening to Mizume and the Fleetmaster argue while I cleaned my armor. They discussed the fact that most Elites weren't trained for space combat, and that no one on the ship except the Imperial Admiral's men we- 'Varliemai froze and looked at me.
"Fleetmaster, you can't be serious."
"He is our last option. The San'Shyuum will be scanning for Sangheili tags, not human ones. They will gloss right over Zachary." 'Varliemai explained, glancing at 'Zehirae. Mizume sighed and removed his helmet to place a hand on his scaly head.
"This is a very bad idea, to possibly sacrifice our greatest asset." He complained. "I'll have to clear this with the Imperial Admiral first."
"Mm, this is my ship, is it not?" Arka said with a thin smile, his mandibles clamped shut as they curved up while looking sidelong at 'Zehirae. Letting out an immense sigh, Mizume walked over to me,
"You're going to ask me whether or not I want to be dropped in space to scan the San'Shyuum's ships when they jump in. My answer is yes." I stated, pausing my wiping of my left leg armor to look up at 'Zehirae, who nodded his head quickly.
"Well, then, I'll get you aboard the The Pride of Xerxi to drop you and the transmitters."
"If I may ask, where are we doing this?"
"In a location the San'Shyuum know well, one of the old Covenant staging worlds. Thocela IV." 'Varliemai announced, walking up next to Mizume. As if on cue, theSword Frigate The Pride of Xerxi lowered itself into the hangar door from the maintenance bay above, the main entrance door on the ventral side opening up to reveal two Elite Majors.
"That should be your crew." 'Zehirae said, walking slowly in the direction of the two Elites, who were making their way over to us. I stood up from the crate I was perched on, put my armor back on their respective body parts, and walked behind Mizume.
"Fleetmaster, Field Marshal, Zealot Major." One Major, obviously the leader of the two from the red crest on his head, said as he stood in front of 'Zehirae. The second Major stood behind the first with his hands behind his back and his mandibles shut in a stern expression. I activated my HUD from the side of my helmet before looking over to 'Varliemai, who stepped forward to address the two Majors.
"This is Zealot Major Zachary Rey-nhardhz, he will be your superior on this specific task." 'Varliemai explained quickly. "I will relay the exact coordinates of where you are going and where to drop off specific transmitters when you take off. This mission is of utmost importance - I know the Zealot Major has years of combat experience, but you two have only been Majors for two weeks - hold the completion of this task with the highest honor, and know that you will be rewarded greatly for this."
"I understand, Fleetmaster." The first Major said, only his mandibles moving as he spoke. It was very odd how this Elite stood - he held his Energy Sword in hand, but behind his back, and he stood stiffly with his legs close together and his eyes constantly flicked between the Fleetmaster and me.
"Then we will begin immediately. Zachary, come with me, I will get you set with true Ranger armor." Mizume cut in. I raised an eyebrow and turned to face him.
"But, I'm not Elite-size-!" Mizume raised a hand and I was silenced.
"We will find a way. Your armor may be fitted with EVA technology, but the seals in your bodysuit cannot be trusted for prolonged missions in space. The battle earlier to defend the cores was but a taste of what a true Sangheili can do in space."
"I thought you said that the Elites on this ship weren't trained for-" I was cut off once again as, this time, 'Varliemai stepped forward.
"After a major battle with the humans over one of our sacred worlds, most of our crew was killed by one of your Shiva warheads. The remaining crew on this ship are the only ones who know how to really fight in space, but they are occupied with their assigned stations. All other Sangheili on this ship were only transferred three weeks ago from High Charity before we began our attack on the planet Indicative. The only ones capable of fighting in zero gee at this moment is you, the Admiral's men, and me." He looked over at Mizume with a relaxed face. "Even the Field Marshal here is still in advanced training for space combat."
"You speak as if Zachary would be fighting a war. He is simply going to float in space with a handheld scanner and camera." Mizume commented, crossing his armored hand behind his back. 'Varliemai nodded and thought for a moment.
"Correct, you may be, but I want him prepared. Just in case his theory about the IFF tags are false, and the San'Shyuum attack, I want him ready for potential combat." Just then, D'Suvai, with an herbal pack over his broken arm, walked up.
"Then why not send me with him?" D'Suvai asked. 'Zehirae raised an eyebrow and looked at his arm, slung in a cast with the herbal pack.
"In your condition?"
"We're not going to be moving around much, are we? The job is to float in space with two objects, is it not?"
"Yes, it is, but I'm not sending you with them. This mission only requires three people at minimum, two to operate the ship, and one to complete the actual mission. I'll be going with them, but only as an observer."
"Do you have a person to calculate the exact positions of the transmitters and where they should be?"
"Why? On that ship we have an advanced Covenant AI that follows our every order. There is no need."
"Mm, there is, actually." D'Suvai looked at me with a half-smile. "I did some research while resting in the barracks, and I accessed The Pride of Xerxi's AI, Arcus. Arcus is damaged. His calculations, after I ran some tests, are actually slower than mine, and I'm not even a technical officer."
"Why was I not notified sooner?!" 'Varliemai exclaimed. D'Suvai glanced at him with a proud gaze.
"Someone had kept me bedridden for a broken arm. I would have told you sooner had you not posted two T'Vaoans at my door."
"I did not order that- wait, we have T'Vaoans on our ship?" 'Zehirae questioned. I perked up at this - a lot of T'Vaoans had not joined the Swords, and had stayed with their Kig-Yar brothers at the sides of the Jiralhanae, which could also mean spies, lot's of them. From intel gathered, it was only a few days after the Great Schism, and it was an unsure time for everyone.
"Find the two 'guards', and bring them to me. Neither of us posted them at your door, Hakiera, nor did we want you bedridden." 'Varliemai ordered, turning to the two Majors. The lead Major nodded and turned on his hoof before jogging to the door of the hangar to complete his task, soon joined by his subordinate after he fixed his helmet on his head.
"D'Suvai…" 'Varliemai began, "go with Zachary. I will admit that I do not trust either of the Sangheili posted on the Xerxi, and you are the only available soldier who has any form of friendship with him. You can fight without one arm, yes?"
"He did a space-jump with me with his arm broken, and I did it without my prosthetic - we're both good." I replied with a lopsided smile.
"So you did. There is one more person on the Xerxi, although I don't know who, who will be in constant communication to know what exactly is going on."
"Right. So, shall we go?" D'Suvai asked, looking directly at the Fleetmaster.
"Yes. Mizume, guide them to the frigate. Victory to clan and kin, Zealot Major."
"And to you, 'Varliemai. Let us go, then." I replied, walking in the direction of the frigate. I glanced at the top of the gangplank extended from the ventral side of the frigate, and noticed another figure standing there. Walking up to the metal platform, I looked up and adjusted my eyes, surprised by the site before me. Standing there in Elite armor was Cynthia Rivers, holding a Plasma Repeater and an Energy Sword.