Chapter 3

The Council's Decision

A/N: Sorry that this update took so long was crushed by school work but now I have time to write so I hope to be writing on my fic alot for the next couple of weeks but I have still have a oublic speaking essay to write and present so updates will come every two weeks. Thank you for reading, please review, and enjoy the chapter.

Covenant Cruiser The Prophet's Will

Igna got off the dropship, a little nervous and worried. Eight hundred and twenty Covenant soldiers had been killed on the raid of the human's ship. Igna knew that he would be held responsible for their deaths.

He made his through the ship towards the council's chamber. As soon as he had got off the dropship he had been met by a golden armored Elite who told him to go directly to the council's chamber. He saw a veteran Jackal come up to him with something in his hand.

"Excellency, there was one escape pod that escaped from the human's ship that made it to the surface." The Jackal said as he handed him the panel.

On the panel were images of seven humans emerging from an escape pod. He watched as they checked their surroundings and communicated with one another. Igna snarled at the panel.

"You've done well worm, now leave me, I must talk to the council." Igna replied.

The Jackal squealed and ran away. Igna would inform the council of these human survivors then, of course, he would get orders to assemble a tracker team to hunt them down. He would then kill every last one of them, to make them pay for the bloodshed they've caused. A smile formed on Igna's lips.

He walked into the council's chambers. He couldn't see the council members; they were in the darkness while he stood in a spotlight, but he knew that they were all Elites. They were revered as Minor Prophets. Every important Covenant flagship had a council. He stepped into the spotlight and one the Elites spoke in a gruff voice.

"Eight hundred and twenty three Covenant casualties, Igna, we sent one thousand Covenant soldiers to cleanse the ship and you come back with pitiful remains."

There was a silence and he heard the council whispering amongst themselves then another voice, a female one, addressed him.

"Who else is to blame, you were the most senior Elite in the raid, there were only three hundred humans on that ship why was their so many casualties?"

Igna had practiced his speech in his head over and over again and he thought it would be enough to convince them.

"The humans aboard knew it was their demise so they fought like it was their demise. They did not try to leave the ship and I think the battle was just a distraction for something else. Apparently I was right."

There was more whispering among the council but it was quick somewhat confused whispering. Before someone told him to, he went on.

"A Jackal reported to me that one escape pod left the human ship, among the escape pod was seven human survivors on it. I believe that if they were the only ones to leave the ship then they most have something in their possession of some importance otherwise they would have stayed and died with their kind."

In silence that followed, Igna held his breath. It seemed like an eternity before they answered but finally the first member of the council, the Elite with the gruff voice spoke.

"The council has decided that you assemble a tracker team and hunt down these humans, bring back this item of importance, if any and you shall be forgiven for your recent charges."

Igna bowed his head, but unknown to the council, he smiled.

Pelican Crash Site

Lieutenant Nicholai watched as his men slept. It was his watch and it was almost dawn. He wasn't tired he had slept almost all the night. He couldn't tell his men but he had no idea what he was going to do to get off this planet.

In the Pelican wreckage they found a working data computer so they might be able to find out where they are and if it was colonized. They would need a ship to get off the planet and they didn't have one. During his watch he thought of all the possibilities of getting off this rock and the only solution that came to his mind was to hijack a Covenant ship.

He heard movement behind him and on instinct he whipped around and brought up his Battle Rifle.

"Whoa, it's just me Lieutenant," said Sergeant Ian Malcolm.

Nicholai put his weapon aside and went at ease.

"What are you doing up Sergeant?" Nicholai asked.

"Needed something to eat, that's all, don't shoot me." Ian said with a smirk.

They both laughed and Ian went over to where they had put all the food. They had quite a bit, enough to last them awhile, but not forever.

They all started to wake up slowly and grab some breakfast. They were all unaware of the Covenant dropship landing less then a half a mile away.

A/N: Well that's it for Chapter three it may be a little short but the next chapter should be longer. Review please I want to know if anyone's reading this and if anyone likes this story.