CORBULO's Kind
"A Sangheili warrior shares a passing curiosity for an enemy statue."

Planetfall, 26 April 2526
Corbulo Academy of Military Science
Circinius IV, UEG Outer Colonies

I stalked that far, shaven lawn up towards the demon-kind's utilitarian structures, risen blocks and dishes dressed by windows and columns. Their tether to the stars lay cut and sprawled through the hillsides.

On my approach, I heard the screams of battle made by the voices of fallen and reports of weapons fire. And so, I carry my energy-forged blade in the drawn open as my nature of duty set forth.

The alien grasses curled under my booted hooves, made short by an automated scythe's furnishing. This culture's sense for lines and uniforms was one strange for a traveler born in curves and elegance. But not all their creations lay of tangents and parallels.

A metal, bronze figure stood out in the darkened shallows of night and battle. It wore an alien visage but one unmistakable as a man.

A human dressed in billowed short robe. Armored body met armored helm, one fancied like a blade atop the head. Did this species take fancy for a blind-headed charge?

The visage wore a pair of open-toe ground wear, not unlike boots but revealing equal digits between palm and foot. It carried an impression of their archaic metal throwers, a kind even younger than the manipulations of Jiralhanae.

Was this being a demons' champion? Or their interpretation for a false god of their own making?

Beneath its weighted stance, alien characters lay pinned across and apparent under night light.

C – O – R – B – U – L – O.

This warrior did not care for such matters as demon tongue but in a moment of passing curiosity, I considered this culture's character.

Even lower civilizations drew inspiration and interpretation from past deeds and tales. What of this one?

As I drew close towards the bronze defilement of reality, I watched the retreat of their kinds' troops made for shock and awe. A fair irony: ones made to force a rout, routed themselves by a superior force.

I wondered about the nature of this place; a compound marred in the early victory of my battle-kin. It required no great consideration to know this as a site of warriors.

As one who sharpened teeth against the demon people's revenue cutters and frontier worlds, I saw these structures for their different values – a gestate for the kind who did battle.

Such a strange name or word, CORBULO, its profound meaning lost to me by divined choice.

My final footfall drew close to the compound interior as I made out the shadows of demon-kind and their calls and cries between herd fear and battle clarity. I assumed they knew their end came near and yet they fought on.

Their desperate defense was clear as a shining day, one of motherly instinct. The protection of hatchlings and the chance to make heroes more.

In the moment, I chose to give passing respect for another warrior culture by a warrior from another mother-star. An embellished leap of theater-type and a wide swing calling like a battle salute.

I cleaved the bronze visage from torso to shoulder, shaving the weapon shape in half and parting an arm from the metallic form. In the moment, I knew I lay a demon's curse upon my kind, a rightful challenge for the battles to come.

My blade would draw the calls for vengeance that made the stories of legend. Many more would come now, CORBULO's numbered faithful and dashed hope.

If they bloodied and died well, the curse would be one worthy to bear. And so, I hardened my hearts and sealed away this passing curiosity.

Our Covenant's victory drew near as the number of demon fighters and demon spawn dwindled. I chose then to finish the night quickly. One declared in pride to the well-earned destruction of CORBULO's kind.

A/N: A brief return to The Invisibles story collection with a fresh start and a short freestyle narrative poem.

While fluid with Halo lore and events, it takes place during a particular visual set piece in the Halo film, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn. While a rather short piece, I hope it's entertaining all the same.

Until next time, thank you all for reading.