A/N: Sorry for the wait. The computer I've been writing on had technical problems. (Both PCI's slots broke) It then took a while to find a network cable. Summer should allow me to write more. So I will write the sequel and a backstory simultaniously and see how it goes.

The Enlightened Grace disengaged its gravity lift, raised its sheilds, and began to climb into the sky above the wind swept plains of Cartairus. Kalimee could faintly hear footsteps behind him.

"Excellency."

"Lieutenant," Kalimee said quietly as he recognized the voice.

"Four Units methane." Kalimee turned and nodded gravely. Lieutenant Kartek Kalimee imitated a formal military turn and left the room.

After a brief walk Kalimee found himself back in the Control room of the Enlightened Grace. Ship Master Ecktumee and the Councilor were busy studying technical readouts. Ecktumee rose a hand to greet him.

"Kalimee." Kalimee braced himself.

"I require food nipple and methane for my Grunts."

Ecktumee eyes slowly pulsated as he thought.

"Yes, round up your Unggoy and follow me." The two Sangheili left the cavernous room.

A few uneventful units passed and the Enlightened Grace and her sister the Reverent Prophet reached the orbit of Cartairus.

"Assault Carrier ahead Excellency!" Ecktumee's screech filled the near empty control room.

"Care to elaborate on that Ship Master?" Dantoomee said gruffly.

"Assault Carrier twelve hundred units distance, I think it's the Exalted Vengeance."

"Take her out." Ecktumee began issuing orders over various intercoms.

"Charge turrets 2 and 4, I want Reverent Prophet to do the same. Engine room: Increase reactor output to maximum safe level minus five."

"Six hundred units and closing Ship Master."

One of the technical holographic readouts on a Covenant or Separatist warship was a display showing the status of all weaponry. The readouts for torpedo turrets 2 and 4 turned blue indicating they were ready to fire.

"Launch Torpedos!"

Two white-hot javelins of plasma hurled out of the mighty the cruiser and raced towards the Covenant Assault Carrier.

The massive yet graceful form of the massive ship began to reveal more of itself.

"They're showing us their starboard side…"

"Let's see why Major."

"She's warming her pulse lasers," Ecktumee said quietly.

"Time to impact?

"Four seconds, Excellency. Collison in seven.

The carrier struck. Four line of light streamed out and hit the Enlightened Grace in the nose. The shields flared but quiclkly dissipated the energy.

"Shields down to 53 Excellency. Wait- Impact!"

Four lances, two from each cruiser struck. The first two hit a few hundred meters aft of the ship's nose. The shields flared and died, and black spots appeared. The Prophet's torpedos struck two and a half seconds later, neatly drilling through the Covenant Assault Carrier. Atmosphere vented and fireball engulfed the rear half of the ship.

"She's breaking up!" Kalimee yelled.

"Emergency thrusters!" Ecktumee shrieked. The ship answered and the burning carrier did not collide with the Enlightened Grace. The awed silence was not broken for several long minutes.

"Now what?" Hakimee asked.

"We go to Earth." Dantoomee said sternly.

"But we don't have a transponder!" Ecktumee loudly pointed out.

"Kalimee is an officer in the Human military. They will let us in. Set course for the Human homeworld."

A few units after accelerating into slipspace, the sleepy control room of the Enlightened Grace awoke to a buzz of static and shots of plasma.

This is…….Three. Jirlhanae……………..help. Send reinforce…..quickly…no! A few plasma shots rounded out the minutes. Everyone exchanged nervous glances.

"I'll go," Kalimee spoke.

"No," Ecktumee responded. "I'll send another security team."

"Don't. I must repay you for what you've done." Kalimee turned to walk out but was stopped by the Councilor.

"Take my blade. You'll need it."

It was a brief walk to the patrol area of Security Team Three. It was eeriely silent as the olive Elite walked past bodies and puddles of blood. The silence was in its own eerie way deafening. Kalimee barely heard the steps of a simian.

Kalimee slowly turned around. Before he could make a complete turn a grenade hit him on his right shoulder. The explosion briefly clouded Kalimee's vision.

A lone Honor Guard Captain stood ten meters away. It charged.

Kalimee raised his rifle and was able to get off two bursts before he was hit.Kalimee raised his rifle and was able to get off two bursts before he was hit.

The Brute smacked Kalimee in the mouth, his shields flared and absorbed much of the shock but he still fell to the floor. The Brute standing over him now now turned the grenade laucher and thrust the blade into the Elite's chest.

Kalimee's remaining shield strenght collapsed and the blade slid through flesh and armor, the pull tore through his insides. The world was made dark.

"Kartek. Kartek".

Lieutenant Kartek Kalimee slowly opened his eyes. The images flooding in were blurry at first but soon cleared. The tranquil sights and sounds of his homeworld sorrounded him. A fellow Sangheili, this one in gold armor, stood over him. It was his father.

"Hold on. The Parasite could not destroy you. You can still win."

Another Sangheili joined the pair. It was his brother.

"Use the blade, Kartek. Use the blade." The darkness returned.

After regaining his senses, Kalimee could see the Brute prepare to strike again. He rolled over a complete rotation, activated the energy sword in his right hand, and thrust through into the Brute.

It snarled and fought the blade. Kalimee used all his strenght to pull out the sword. The enraged Brute charged. Kalimee sidestepped, and lunged to the enemy's back. The beast went down with a loud thud echoing through the ship. The Victor limped away.

A few human hours later the Enlightened Grace and its sister left the mysterious realm of slipspace and entered a high orbit of Earth. The wall of Orbital Defense Platforms and phalanx of UNSC warships was no smaller than when Kalimee had first seen it nearly ten months earlier.

After finally configuring the ship's communciations suite to be compatible with UNSC frequencies, Kalimee listened in to ascertain what his reception would be.

"Unknow contacts, One-Three-Five, four hundred kilometers!"

"It's Brute. Take it down. Morocco, prepare to-"

"This is Lieutenant Kalimee of the United Nations Space Command," Kalimee spoke as calmly as possible into the comm. "Hold fire. Repeat, Hold Fire!"

Whispers and sighs fogged the transmission for a few seconds, then the voice of Fleet Admiral Terrence Lord Hood.

"That's 305th, you said they went awol. No No, let them land. We'll see if they're Elite. Unknown vessel, you're clear. Feel free to send some guys over. Cairo out."

"So far the Humans are letting us in," Ecktumee muttered. "Let's hope it stays that way."

It took four Phantoms to transport the 30th, Councilor Dantoomee, and his honor guard to the Cairo. They were received in the main control room.

"Lieutenant Kalimee, Lieutenant Hakimee. Welcome back."

"Pleased to be here, sir."

"Good soldier. Now then…" Hood said thoughtfully. "What the hell went on that op?" Kalimee explained about the mission, the recording, and the linking up with the isolated garrison and the return home."

"Jesus-Thank you."

"Thank you, sir." Kalimee and his second saluted, turned, and left to greet what awaited them.

To be continued…