"With all due respect, sir, this war has enough dead heroes." -Cortana
Grunt
Chapter 1: Thel 'Vadamee's Bodyguards
During the events of Halo 2
High Charity, the capital city of the Covenant. The glorious mobile behemoth which housed the chambers of the glorious High Council. The body that took care of all the Covenant's political affairs. The Covenant was after all not only a religion but a zealous theocracy. The Council handled all militaristic matters and kept the several species living under the Covenant subdued. The Council was absolutely necessary for the Covenant's survival. But it was slow. After all it was filled by politicians and bureaucrats whose unceasing bickering and unwillingness to compromise often led to turmoil.
Everyone answered to the High Council. Especially when the decision was being made by the Prophets. Of course, the rest of the Council also had influence over them. This would lead to an often-toxic relationship, but usually both acted mutually to limit the risk of either of them losing their power. After all, they had been in power for over millenniums. Thankfully, the Prophets did not watch over everything that transpired in the Council, otherwise those three san'shyuum would have near absolute control over the entire Covenant.
Indeed, High Charity was a marvel, the UNSC hated the Covenant with a burning passion, but even they had to admit, this place was impressive. The size was incomprehensible, it was larger than many major cities on Earth. When not travelling, normally High Charity would orbit a Covenant controlled planet, leaving a hulking shadow slowly gliding across the surface. However, as with any city, the greater the size the greater the population. High Charity was…
Crowded, Kes 'Sagram thought. Actually, that may be an understatement.
It very well could be. The city was full to bursting with peoples from every Covenant species. One could even find a few mgalekgolo walking around if they looked hard enough. Kes even once saw a line of lekgolo absent of any gestalt form slithering across the city.
Although many different races lived amongst the Covenant, diversity was not particularly celebrated, in fact, it served as a tool for oppression. A strong caste system kept all the different species in their place. The only thing that every species could do is serve in the military, (not that any san'shyuum would ever risk their lives for the betterment of others). While the san'shyuum may remain in charge of politics in the end the sangheili very well may have had the most say. They were the ones with the soldiers on the frontlines, all tactical decisions were up to them. However-due to their greater physical prowess-there were some who believed this power should lie with the jiralhanae. This movement only grew after the embarrassment of Thel 'Vadamee on Halo. The sangheili walking on the left of Kes.
Thel 'Vadam remained silent. He was the reason he, Kes, and Sytan 'Vogam, (the sangheili on the left of Thel 'Vadam), were on High Charity. A hearing was about to take place and the topic was Thel 'Vadamee himself.
When Halo fell many citizens and soldiers alike began to lose faith in the Covenant and its teachings. Some even became disillusioned. One sangheili named Sesa 'Refumee went all the way to lead a band of rebels to try to end the relentless Human-Covenant war. The Prophets tried assuring everyone that these were just common heretics that would be dealt with. Yet many still were angry with the Covenant military and the Council.
That is why Thel 'Vadam had been called to the hearing. The High Council had grown tired of being the ones held responsible for Halo's destruction. They needed someone else to blame, someone to punish, a scapegoat. Since Thel 'Vadam had been the military head of Halo he fit that role perfectly.
He knew the Council would be merciless, he was damned from the start. He wanted to see it from their perspective. Thel 'Vadam was a strong believer in the Covenant religion. If the High Council thought he deserved to be punished for Halo, then he agreed. In fact, he had decided before he fell asleep the night before that this was for the best. He did not fear the imminent execution. He never feared death, although now he was beginning to worry about what would happen after he died. Death always seemed so distant, now he could feel it breathing down his neck.
Thel 'Vadam was not going to show fear though. He was going to take this as any respecting sangheili should. Even so, he wished he had somebody he could talk to. Somebody to help him through this. He had no one. He did not even know if any of his family were still alive, it has been so long. Who could he talk to? Kes 'Sagram and Sytan 'Vogam? Definitely not, they were just his bodyguards. They were not friends. Nothing was intimate about their relationship.
Still, he worried for them. He did not know where they would go after his death. Would they be put back on the frontlines? They worked harder than anyone else to get here. Now, all that work was about to of been pointless.
Thel 'Vadam told himself several times as soon as he got the summons to the High Council that he did not care for them. After all, they were still soldiers—they were just stationed somewhere else then most others. Soldiers are meant to be expendable. Expendable, but that expense would bring them glory in the end, right? At least, that is what the Covenant indoctrinated him to believe.
He did not care for them. He did not care for them. He did not care for them.
I do not care for them. I do not care for them. I do not care for them. I do not care for them. I do not care for them. I do not care for them. Thel 'Vadam thought over and over again. But he could not convince himself of the lie. Little did he know, but Kes also worried for him.
An embarrassment. I have no reason to mourn for him. Kes thought. It would be best to forget Thel 'Vadam and move on, but that was much easier said than done.
They were only recruits when they first met. At the time Kes was a quiet kid. When all the other sangheili were out feasting and going out for drinks he always stayed behind. He avoided all opportunities to become an officer. He never volunteered for special assignments. He never backed anyone up in an argument. Kes wanted to remain under the radar. Unnoticed. He did not want praise he just wanted to be left alone.
Until the day his legion was assigned to Falaknuma. This was an attempted siege of the planet at a time the Covenant severely underestimated humanity. They were pushed off the planet not to return for much later. The first siege of Falaknuma may have been a mockery to the Covenant as a whole, but it was the first time Kes ever put himself out there and he believed that counted for something.
He only agreed to help pilot a wraith, besides then he only had to interact with one other soldier. He could not have thought what would happen during the battle would lead to the praise that he received on the return to the Covenant Carrier. This was the reason Thel 'Vadam chose him as a bodyguard.
On Falaknuma, Kes was assigned to a platoon that was trying to destroy the operations of a small, yet essential village to the humans. A massive communications array was set up in the village's center, the signal was strong enough to make it all the way back to Earth. Kes was the gunner of one of five wraiths that were coming from all different ends of the village.
The Covenant struck in the middle of the night. Marching in front of the wraiths were several unggoy, kig-yar, and sangheili. Even ten jiralhanae were present at the battle. The wraiths were to stay behind as the infantry charged into the village. The humans knew of this attack, and the Covenant knew they knew. However, the village was limited in its number of vehicles so while the humans were distracted with their ground troops the wraiths were supposed to make their way into the village and basically Hail Mary their way to the communication tower.
However, the humans had armed themselves with a weapon the Covenant had never seen before. Something the Covenant had not expected. The humans had of course used rocket launchers before, but none were anything like this.
Spankers, at least that's what the humans called them. Kes thought. He wondered what that meant. Surely, it must be some human term for great destruction. After all, that is all they did, destroy. Make no mistake though, dammit, they are good at their job.
The M41 SPNKR could destroy a wraith in only two shots. One if the rocket hit just the right spot. Not to mention, they had two shots before they needed to be reloaded and those shots could be fired in rapid succession. They had twenty in that village. They could have missed half of their shots and still leave all the Covenant's tanks in smithereens.
Kes listened through the communicator as each wraith got picked off one by one. "Wraith in the southeastern sector is down. Wraith in the northeast sector is down. Northwest. North." Only the tank coming from the southwest was left. The tank Kes was in.
"We are the only hope for knocking out the array," the driver of the wraith said. It was Thel 'Vadam and it was the first time Kes had ever met him. "Here's what we're going to do. I am going to give this thing everything it's got, and we're going to rush the building. You are going to blast to hell anything that remotely looks like a human, both soldier and civilian. I don't care if you accidentally shoot down a Covenant. We need to destroy that array!"
Kes sat silent. This was any other regular sangheili soldier, he had no more authority than himself.
"Soldier! I need an answer!"
Kes looked at the chaos spreading across the village. Then he looked at the tower in the center of town, their target. He knew what needed to be done. His answer was short, "Sir!" he shouted back.
Thel 'Vadam pushed the throttle as far as it would go, Kes was even pushed back to his seat with the sudden burst of speed. It was not nearly as fast as a warthog, but a human would have a hard time keeping up with it. They were going fast enough that every time they made a turn the edge of the wraith would dip into the dirt, leaving jagged, shallow ditches at each street corner, dirtying and scratching up the sides of the tank.
Kes did as he was told. Each shot he made sent bloodied human corpses flying through the air. It was already impossible for the wraith to be stealthy, and it was not remedied by the fact that it was leaving a trail of ruined buildings with each glowing blast shot from the tank's cannon.
Kes noticed a soldier aiming at the wraith with a SPNKR, but Kes was quicker and had already fired before he locked onto the wraith. The man got hit directly and had disintegrated, before the home he had been standing in front of collapsed.
A few soldiers had been leading a band of civilian refugees out of the village. They were crossing the street as the wraith was approaching. The soldiers sent a stampede of people to run across the street and find an exit by themselves. This small group of UNSC fighters were attempting to slow down the tank. They all pulled out grenades but before any of them could even pull the pin, the wraith had run them down. Leaving a scattered pile of bodies on the street, and a splatter of blood on the wraith's front.
Kes and Thel 'Vadam were nearing the array, certainly nothing could stop them now. All human troops were distracted with the fighting on the outer parts of the village. The only thing that stood between them and the array were the necessary defenses set up around the base, but with a few well-placed shots those could easily be ignored.
"Soldier!" commanded Thel 'Vadam. "Aim at the tower! We need to take this thing down before reinforcements…"
Thel 'Vadam never finished his sentence. He was cut off by the booming of two separate weapons firing. The first shot came from the wraith, leaving a burning hole in the tower. The second shot was traced back to a soldier carrying a SPNKR. The rocket crashed into the area behind the hatch above Thel 'Vadam. Blue flames resulting from the damage.
"Destroy whatever is firing at us!"
Kes a little shaken up by the impact responded slowly, "Y-yes."
Kes turned the cannon to face the soldier who had shot the wraith. Instantly, Kes noticed something different about this soldier. While most of the UNSC helmets were open in the front, revealing the faces of the soldiers, this one had a light blue visor over their face. Also, the armor was different, looked tougher. This was a Spartan.
What the hell is a Spartan doing here? thought Kes. How prepared were they for…?
Kes' thought was cut off by another rocket shot from behind that narrowly missed the wraith on its way past. If it had hit its mark, both Kes and Thel 'Vadam could have very well been killed and the battle lost.
Kes decided it would be best to take out the Spartan before turning his attention to whoever shot the other missile. The Spartan was standing on top of a shoddy looking shack. Kes shot straight into the building, expecting the Spartan to fall into the crumbling vortex. However, the Spartan had turned and leaped off the roof of the shack before it fell.
Kes not being able to see where the Spartan had disappeared to, turned his attention to where the other shot came from. But before he had a chance to, a jiralhanae had already made his way up to the soldier. He picked the soldier up with a single hand, rotated the man so they were staring face to face and then laughed in the soldier's pitiful face. The jiralhanae crushed the soldier's skull with his meaty fist and then pointed to the tower. Clearly, he wanted the wraith to just finish what they came here for.
Unfortunately, a sniper's bullet flew from a nearby building, it hit the jiralhanae directly in the forehead, and Kes watched the massive soldier crash into the ground. Nearly traumatized he turned back to the array.
I can't get distracted, he thought, we need to take this thing down!
Kes fired a second shot blowing a hole through the base of the tower. One more shot would certainly topple it.
However, what he did not see was the Spartan (who had made the shot that killed the jiralhanae), had made its way back over to the wraith. The soldier climbed on board and planted a plasma grenade that it picked up from the ground. The warrior jumped off the wraith and watched the explosion. The wraith was still active but just barely. The fuel cell had been damaged, the wraith was now a moving time bomb.
Thel 'Vadam looked wildly from side to side trying to figure out some way they could still salvage the situation. Then he got an idea.
"Soldier!"
"Sir?" responded Kes.
"This wraith is not going to last much longer, and the cannon has become too dangerous to use," Thel 'Vadam explained. "Here is what you're going to do. You need to abandon ship. Once you're out I will use the wraith as if it was a battering ram. The impact and imminent explosion should be enough to knock out the tower." There was an unnatural calmness in his voice.
"There has to be another way!" protested Kes.
"Soldier," Thel 'Vadam had a seriousness in his voice that Kes had not heard before. "Get! Out! Now!"
This time Kes obeyed. He came out the top hatch and hit the ground running. He was getting away from the soon to be destroyed array. While he was running the Spartan came out from an alleyway and tackled Kes to the ground. The barrel of a M6C magnum pistol was pointing at Kes right between the eyes.
Just then a loud crash came from the tower. Thel 'Vadam had driven the wraith through the freshly made hole and wedged the wraith beneath a pile of rubble.
"Don't move!" the Spartan commanded. Kes could not tell (he never really talked to any humans before) but the Spartan's voice was a woman's.
She ran off to the tower. The Spartan's command failed—and not only because Kes' English was not very good. He made his decision, Kes was not going to abandon Thel 'Vadam now. He would help him escape or they would both die. Kes pulled himself out of the muddy street and ran after the Spartan.
They both made it to the wraith inside the crumbling building and the Spartan jumped onto the wraith and attempted to remove the hatch. Kes also climbed up and after a look from the Spartan that seemed to ask, "Really?" he turned to the hatch. He could see Thel 'Vadam inside trying to get the hatch open, it was jammed.
Kes tried to get his fingers underneath the hatch and help Thel 'Vadam get it opened with no luck. Kes turned over to see the Spartan joining the effort. With all three trying to get the hatch open it appeared to finally be making some progress, but with no prevail. Try as they might they could not open the hatch. Then they heard a yell from behind.
"Get out of the way!" a jiralhanae shouted at Kes and the Spartan.
The jiralhanae was running towards the wraith with a gravity hammer. As carefully as he could the jiralhanae brought the hammer to the side of the hatch. With a loud thud sending a shockwave from the source the metal crumpled under the impact. However, the fuel cell was now in critical condition.
"Help me up here!" the jiralhanae demanded.
Tossing the gravity hammer to the side the jiralhanae was beginning to lift the hatch up. The Spartan and Kes had quickly made their way up to help. Thel 'Vadam meanwhile was still pushing from below. With jiralhanae, human, and two sangheili working together they were able to get the hatch open. Kes reached in and helped Thel 'Vadam climb out of the death trap.
"Time to go!" pointed out the Spartan. Even though Kes did not really know what she said, he was sure he could guess.
They all ran from the tower. And with a deafening sound the wraith finally blew up. The base of the tower was in shambles and the top gave under the weight, crashing down on its left. After the cloud of dust passed, the communications array was nothing more than scattered debris. Concrete and metal spread across the ground.
Kes took some time to catch his breath, then remembered the Spartan. He turned to face her, but she was already gone.
A loud sigh from Thel 'Vadam pulled Kes out of his memories and back into the present. The village was gone, so was the burning pile of rubble that used to be a major communication array. Once again, he was surrounded by the dark blue interior of High Charity.
"I suppose it is only fitting you both receive thanks," Thel 'Vadam finally disclosing his thoughts. "You have served me well throughout your time as my protectors. You both surely, will be rewarded if you continue such excellence after my punishment.
"I must speak my thoughts. I do not believe I will live out the day. Someone must pay for Halo's destruction, and it would be most logical to hold me accountable. I was in charge of all proceedings on Halo, and the fact that the humans were able to accomplish what they did, should never have been possible. The Council wants to punish someone. Therefore, my execution is imminent. Thankfully, I believe it will be quick and relatively painless."
"But sir!" Sytan 'Vogam protested. "Surely you alone cannot take all the blame for Halo. None of us could have ever predicted what the humans had in store. I saw that Spartan, he was a monster, not human, nor Covenant. Honestly, I don't know what he could have been besides Forerunner, he fought like…"
Thel 'Vadam turned around to look at Sytan 'Vogam, and he immediately realized the severity of what he just said. He compared Master Chief, a Spartan, a human, to the Forerunners. The ancient race worshipped by the Covenant. Heresy was about the worst crime one could commit in the Covenant, albeit heretics still existed, and they likely always would. But what he just said was not just heresy. It was blasphemy. Calling a human, a Forerunner.
However, Thel 'Vadam seemed to ignore the comment. All he said was, "Anything else?"
Kes was listening to the conversation speechless. He could not believe what he just heard. Did Sytan really use the word Forerunner? Perhaps he heard him incorrectly, after all Thel 'Vadam appeared to of just shrugged it off. Regardless, Kes did not think Sytan would open his mouth again after that. Nevertheless, he did.
"Yes, actually," Sytan continued. "If you are insistent this must be done then share the blame. Kes 'Sagram and I have been by your side since you have chosen us as your protectors. We hold as much responsibility to the fall of Halo as you. Should we not also be punished? I will gladly join you on the executioner's bench even if he refuses to follow us." Sytan emphasized the word "he" by pointing at Kes.
"No, you are wrong," Thel 'Vadam disagreed. "You are not responsible; Halo was under my direction not yours. While you were present at my planning meetings, you never were the ones who had to make decisions. All you did was stand silently behind me, listening, never speaking.
"Furthermore, you were not by my side the entirety of the time. As I recall I sent you both out to help on the frontlines during the final days of Halo. I had made nearly every choice from that time on, on my own. It would be foolish to impart justice onto the two of you. You were as you said, my protectors, never my advisors. You have nothing to be held responsible for. Besides, the Covenant still has need of your service."
"I still feel uncomfortable of just letting this happen. I do not see how this will help anyone."
"I agree with Sytan 'Vogam," Kes mumbled. He never was one for openly going against the will of the Council or the Prophets. However, here he felt he needed to make his voice heard. Even if what he said was barely audible.
"I am afraid the choice is not up to either of you," Thel 'Vadam replied. "I believe it would be unwise to discuss this any further, especially in this crowd."
"I believe it would be unwise, to just let you die, especially when I think it's wrong," said Sytan.
Funny thought Kes. The louder Sytan 'Vogam gets, the quieter Thel 'Vadamee becomes. It is almost as if he wants to believe his words. But Thel 'Vadamee is correct about one thing, no one else should risk the possibility of death right now. Especially, if that death comes from him running his mouth in public.
"Hold your peace, Sytan 'Vogam," Kes intervened. "You know there is nothing we can do. The Council will have its prize. I wish it wasn't true as much as you do, but it is going to happen. So instead of losing our lives alongside him out of mourning, let us live and continue to serve the Covenant for his honor."
"Your words have much truth to them Kes 'Sagram," Sytan conceded. "I shall remain quiet, for now. But I do wish to continue our conversation later."
"Very well," agreed Kes.
The three of them stayed silent for the rest of the trip. They did not even look at each other, they kept their heads face forward, step-by-step to the chamber. They had ensured Thel 'Vadam's safety on many travels that were distances lightyears greater than this short walk, however this time they were not supposed to lay down their own lives for his if necessary. This time they were escorting him to his death. Dragging a lamb on its leash, leading it to the slaughter.
Finally, they arrived at a set of huge doors, behind them were the Council chambers. Hundreds of sangheili and san'shyuum were waiting to deliver their harsh judgement. The doors were guarded by a few jiralhanae.
"Out of mercy we grant you the chance to give any final remarks to your bodyguards before they are stripped of their status and returned to the frontlines," the main jiralhanae spoke.
"I appreciate it Tartarus," thanked Thel 'Vadam. He turned to address the two ex-bodyguards. "Sytan 'Vogam, many see your outspokenness as a flaw, however, harnessed correctly it can be a great asset. Use it wisely. The Covenant needs true followers, not machines mindlessly following orders."
"I shall do my best," Sytan replied.
Thel 'Vadam touched Sytan's shoulder and turned to Kes. "Kes 'Sagram, remember to fill your niche in the Covenant."
Kes only nodded.
"I have nothing more to say. I foresee you both doing great things for the Covenant and the entire galaxy."
"Sir," Sytan and Kes said simultaneously. They both turned their curved necks downward and took a knee.
"Stand up! Both of you!" Tartarus commanded. "Thel 'Vadamee may have once been one of the most valuable leaders of the entire Covenant. Now he does not deserve the praise of an amoeba." He turned towards Thel 'Vadam to say the last sentence. "He is not even worthy to wipe an unggoy's buttocks."
All three sangheili did not say anything in response to the insult.
"You two, leave us!" Tartarus ordered. "Your new commander is Jet 'Datumee. He is awaiting you in Sector 92-B, get moving."
Both Kes and Sytan stood up and walked away. They had to make their way from the center of High Charity all the way to the outside to board a Covenant Carrier. Kes had planned on not talking the entire way there, but as soon as they were out of sight of the jiralhanae Sytan spoke again.
"This isn't right," Sytan said. "Nobody is perfect, every warrior suffers loss at least once in their lifetime. Never before has Thel 'Vadamee led a battle that didn't lead to victory, should that not count towards something? Even though Halo was a loss of such high magnitude, I feel he should be excused of this one event. Wasting such a powerful leader feels idiotic."
"I think we should trust in the wisdom of the High Council," replied Kes.
"Yes, the wisdom," said Sytan sarcastically.
How can he speak like this? thought Kes. Does he not fear anyone overhearing? Keep talking like this, and he is going to get himself killed. Damn all that, what if he speaks heresy again?!
Even if he was angry, clandestinely, Kes agreed with Sytan. Thel 'Vadam has proven himself time and time again, and now the Council did not seem to find worth in any of that. He was the supreme commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice. He successfully led the attack on Reach. He captured the planet that eluded many Covenant commanders before him. He tracked the Pillar of Autumn and crippled the ship before the humans landed on Halo. Not to mention his efforts disposed the Covenant of at least a billion humans. All of it for naught.
The High Council wanted someone to blame. They found someone the rest of the Covenant would accept. Now nothing could dissuade them from this course of action.
Kes and Sytan walked over to Sector 92-B, both silently hating the Council for what they were about to do. While anger seemed to get expelled from Sytan's feet with every step he took, Kes was much better at keeping secret how livid he was. Both were deeply ashamed that they had not done more to save Thel 'Vadam. They had failed at being his bodyguards.
When they got to Sector 92-B they found legions of sangheili, unggoy, and kig-yar marching to a landing platform. They were loading themselves up on the Covenant Carrier. A massive offensive was being prepared.
The sangheili in charge walked over to Kes and Sytan. "Ah, Kes 'Sagram, pleasure having you back," Jet 'Datumee said. "And you must be Sytan 'Vogam."
Sytan merely nodded in response.
"What, are you mute? Speak!" ordered Jet. "And when you finally do so, don't forget to say sir."
"Yes sir!" Sytan said disgruntled.
"Very well then, follow me," the sangheili turned to the gathering army and began to walk over, Kes and Sytan close behind. "As you probably already know, Sytan 'Vogam, I am Jet 'Datumee. I know of what you've two done for the Covenant. Not to mention, the time Kes 'Sagram had previously served under me. With the knowledge of what you two assumably are capable of, I shall be expecting much from you.
"As such, we have a Scarab aboard. It has the capability of causing much damage and the armor is nearly impervious to anything the UNSC will be able to throw at us. This should hopefully lead to an easy victory for the Covenant. However, keep in mind the most important task will be keeping this frigate running."
"Why?" Sytan asked.
"I told you to call me sir. Anyway, in answer to your question. We have the Prophet of Regret aboard and losing him would be extremely dire for all of us."
Sytan and Kes looked at each other. The Prophet of Regret, here? Kes thought. Surely, he is joking.
"If you please… sir," Sytan cut in almost forgetting to say "sir" again. "We have not been told anything on where we are going and if the Prophet of Regret is coming with surely this must be a very important battle to the war. So, if you don't mind…"
"How have you not heard?" Jet responded genuinely surprised. "We've finally found it. Earth."
(In case anyone is wondering, this does go along with Muzlal's story. Kes will be important to the story, I'm just setting up his backstory here. All I write will be important eventually. Thanks for reading!)
Special thanks again to user SimonFireFox for all your help!
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