Prologue: Thel
Many of humanity's worlds have been destroyed in the conflict between them and the Covenant. And many more would follow. The endless tide of death that the humans faced would never end until all of them are wiped out. The conquest of the Gods shall leave none behind who oppose their gifts. The San'shyuum said that the humans were one race that opposed those gifts.
Thel was one of countless Sangheili in the ranks of the Covenant, but one of few that held that status of Supreme Commander. He led the Fleet of Particular Justice, a fleet that had destroyed many of those human worlds. His latest victory was at the human fortress world of Reach, and so far it had been his biggest. Now he knew nothing could stand in his way.
The young Supreme Commander stood on the command deck of the Seeker of Truth, looking down through a viewscreen that showed the burning human world below them. The fires that covered the planet were beautiful. The sight of a planet burning was a sight to behold. But as much as Thel wanted to cherish the moment, there was a war going on.
Forces under Thel's control were attacking a human space station orbiting the planet. Even though it should have been invisible from where the Seeker of Truth was stationed, Thel could see it. The bright fires of the planet below lit up one side of the station in a brilliant orange, while the other side was completely shaded in black.
Gamma Station they called it. Thel knew from intercepted communications that it was important, and so he had it boarded rather than destroyed. The viewscreen magnification slowly increased, and he could see Phantoms leaving the station and returning to their ships. So it's done then, Thel said in his head, we have what we came for, another victory for us.
Interfleet communications crackled. The voice of a Shipmaster within his fleet sounded throughout the command deck.
"Our forces have returned from the station. They are being debriefed immediately," came the voice of Mace 'Rylanee, the Shipmaster of the Supreme Crusader. Thel's fleet was large, but he knew the names of every ship and their commanders.
Thel turned to a terminal he could use to respond. His long purple cloak dragged along the floor as he moved.
"What do they have for me?" Thel asked firmly.
"'Nasamai tells us the humans have a ship leaving the planet. A cruiser with an important mission, but they couldn't get the details of it. However, they found a way to track the ship. I think it best we follow."
"Agreed. Make sure everyone is aboard their ships and we'll follow. We need to stop them before they accomplish whatever this mission is."
'Rylanee made no response, but Thel knew he heard. The viewscreen on the deck shifted to focus on the fleet around the Seeker of Truth as they moved into positions to enter slipspace.
The Seeker of Truth began to whir, a subtle vibration through the deck began to get more and more noticeable. Thel walked from the terminal towards a seat floating in the centre of the deck, and he sat down.
"We're in position and ready to jump," came 'Rylanee's voice again, soon followed by more and more voices of the other Shipmasters and commanders.
"Make the jump," Thel ordered.
A spherical portal opened ahead of the Seeker of Truth, completely black with bright edges. Slipspace portals opened all around the fleet, in front of every ship that was a part of it. Thel felt the motion of the ship's engines firing through the artificial gravity, and soon the blackness of slipspace engulfed the entire ship.
