Date Unknown
Location: Nessus Unstable Centaur
Persons of interest
Captain James Cutter: Cpt of the SoF
Cutter POV
'That went to hell quickly.' I thought to myself as the bridge rocked from another explosion. As soon as we exited the portal we found ourselves in a near mirror of the other side with a few minor differences. Firstly, despite being in the middle of the planet we were in zero gravity. This allowed what appeared to be an artificial field of asteroids and debris to float around the portal. Debris that almost immediately had dozens of strange turrets (Vex Cyclops) appear on them and begin to bombard the Spirit. Thankfully there was already an opening for the Spirit to exit the planet from, an exit we were heading for at full speed.
BANG
"We've lost deck gun #3!" Shouted one of the bridge crew. "Compensate with AA guns 2, 5 and 7! And fire an archer strike on the turrets 5 seconds before we clear the exit!" I bark at the crew. 'We're so close to success, I'll be damned if we fall after coming this far.' I think to myself. With only a slight scrape to the starboard hull we burst through the exit, with alien turrets exploding behind us. Only to come face to face with the belly of a beast.
03/05/4522
Location: Low Nessus Orbit- Leviathan debris field (the place where the leviathan is starting to eat Nessus)
Persons of interest
The Guardian: Human Dawnblade Warlock. Full Coromont Blade armor except for sunbracers gauntlets.
Weapons: Primary-Monte Carlo / Energy-Gallant Charge / Heavy-Roar of the Bear /
Jumpship: Saint's Invocation
Cogito: Ghost- Plasma Shell
Emperor Calus: Exiled ruler of the cabal
POV The Guardian
I was shocked and after all I've been through, it takes a lot to shock me. But receiving footage from the Vanguard of a giant, undoubtedly HUMAN warship bursting through the gate and laying waste to the vex did the trick. Still, despite the carnage they were dishing out, it wouldn't last. I could see fully well that this ship was already damaged. Not only that, it didn't appear to have shields active. Whether this meant that they were damaged beyond use or just not there in the first place was beyond me but that didn't stop the more pressing issue. They were trying to leave the Nessus Core. This was a good thing on one level, it meant that the Vex wouldn't destroy them for trespassing. On the other hand, there was only one way out of the core that would work for a ship that big… and it lead right into the Leviathan's mouth. Oh they could escape that, the ship looked like it'd have no trouble escaping the mouth. But that ship popping up would not escape Calus' gaze and since it wasn't running Guardian IFF that meant Calus would either order it shot down or… captured… studied… I couldn't let that happen.
As such I shot forward as I pushed my jumpship's engines to the limit. I cut it close but as I weaved between the debris of Nessus, I found myself sitting between the human vessel and the dozens of Loyalist dropships approaching it. "Cogito, start blasting messages at the Leviathan, let the Emperor know that I need to speak with him." I say confidently watching the Loyalist dropships hesitate as I make my presence known. "Sure thing Guardian, but what if he doesn't listen?" my Ghost says hesitantly. "We'll deal with that problem when we get to it, any response?" I ask patiently. "Nothing ye… WAIT we're getting something, coming across on the same channel as the last few times he invited us aboard!" Exclaims Cogito. "Put him through." I say tensely. "Ah, my favorite light-bearer! I see that this vessel has caught your eye as well! Still… from the way things look I'd almost say you didn't want to share." The Emperor says accusingly. "It certainly has your Grace," I manage to choke out "still I would like the privilege of dealing with this personally, in exchange I have found some knowledge on those runes from the Crown of Sorrow, would you perhaps be interested in an exchange?" I ask cautiously. This was the moment of truth. That research was hardly complete, but there was no doubt that if a second Ghalran was made as a result, Calus wouldn't be able to remove it on his own. He needed us to deal with issues of that nature. The connection remains silent, perhaps for a bit longer than I was comfortable with before suddenly the line erupts with laughter. "HAH HAH HAH" Calus laughs uproariously, "you certainly know how to bargain Guardian! I agree! However, are you certain you would not reconsider becoming my shadow of shadows? You need not answer now, I know you have much to do. Remember grow fat from strength!" with his trademark quip and a repeated offer, the line goes dead and the loyalist ships pull off, returning to the Leviathan.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and slump forward. "Cogito, send Calus the rune research." I order. "Got it, sending Calus the unfinished almost definitely dangerous research… done." Cogito mutters. "ALL research involving the Hive is dangerous, if its hurting someone else though it's not as bad." I say triumphantly, having regained my spirit at the thought of another Ghalran rampaging through the Leviathan. "Regardless," I say as I turn my head towards the human ship to get a better look. "we have other matters to attend to." As I examine the ship I realize, while large, it isn't as big as I thought it was. Maybe half the size of Ghaul's command ship from the Red War. It is covered in scars, battle wounds new and old mar the surface. Despite this, proudly emblazoned on the side is the designation CFV-88 : UNSC Spirit of Fire. "Well then, Cogito, what do you say about going to meet our new friends?" I ask the little light. "They'd better not shoot us."