0700 Hours, August 30th, 2552 (Human Military Calendar)/ Council Chambers/ High Charity/ Korfo System
"Most noble Hierarchs," Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee said calmly, his voice covering his fear as he knelt slowly in front of his three leaders. The three rulers of the Covenant Empire sat in their gravity thrones, wearing their beautiful red robes and golden headdresses. They were small, frail, worm-like creatures, and to an outsider looked weak but Thel knew they could kill him in an instant, whether it be from the guards or from the weapons mounted on their thrones. The chamber fell silent, and all eyes came onto Thel. Surrounding him were hundreds of Sangheili, his brethren. There were even more San 'Shuyuum, like the High Prophets, in the chamber. The Sangheili Councilors were adorn in brilliant white armor, and had massive headdresses that covered the entirety of their heads. Each and every one of them had fought humanity at some point, and some had even glassed worlds.
"Supreme Commander, your failure to take the defilers planet resulted in the deaths of over half a million Covenant members and hundreds of our precious ships. Your lack of sense illustrates your inability to lead the fleet. Tell me, what happened?" the one on the right said, his voice old yet smooth.
Thel sighed, and looked up at him, the Prophet of Truth, saying, "The planet was heavily defended. Hundreds of ships, and multiple orbital guns. One of their ships had the firepower of one of those stations and one of their cruisers. They were highly organized, and brought all of their guns to bear on our fleet." He paused, and saw that the Hierarchs were staring at him, waiting for him to continue. "Our Super Carriers are still concealed in their atmosphere, waiting for the order to attack."
"And none have been destroyed, I hope?" Truth said.
Thel shook his head, and said, "None have even been discovered yet."
"Yet? That seems as though the defilers might find them," the Prophet of Mercy, sitting on the left, spoke up.
"Noble hierarchs, I assure you, the humans will not find them," said Thel reassuringly.
"Why did you not place your smaller vessels, such as frigates and destroyers in front, before committing the sacred assault carriers and battlecruisers?" asked the Prophet of Truth.
Thel shook his head, and said, "That is what I did, my Prophet. But they were the ships the humans targeted first."
Just then Truth shouted, "Do not use their name in our Holy Chambers!"
Thel brought his head down, and said solemnly, "I apologize, my Hierarchs."
"This failure illustrates the flaws in your kind," spat the Prophet of Mercy. The Sangheili councilors rose in uproar, shouting in protest.
"Silence!" the Prophet of Regret, in the middle, yelled.
"Supreme Commander, you have been an excellent asset to us in the past, but this failure is... unacceptable," said Truth.
"My masters, I know this... I have failed the gods in my duties," Thel said quietly, but loud enough for everyone to hear him.
"Nay, you have lost your honor!" shouted a Sangheili councilor from one of the upper floors. The council roared in agreement.
"I do applaud you for being able to slip in the Super Carrier's, yet overshadowed by the loss of so many other vessels," sneered the Prophet of Mercy.
Thel slowly rose to his feet, and glared at the Prophets. "Why do you not go after the many Commanders that had their fleets completely destroyed at the hands of the humans, who can now strike at our very worlds?! What about that Admiral Cole, who has destroyed countless worlds and annihilated many fleets? Even now, he lays siege to our worlds, Sangheili colonies! Two Unggoy breeding planets have been erased completely! Why are you not reprimanding their leaders?!" he roared, pounding his fist into his hand.
The Sangheili Honor Guard gripped their weapons tightly, ready to bring down the Supreme Commander in front of the High Council.
The Prophet of Mercy smirked, his eyes looking all over the golden Sangheili, "Because most of them are dead, you peon! And the damned... humans," he paused, looking at Truth, before continuing, "have been most thorough and quick in their destruction of our planets, using a weapon called napalm to slaughter our people and firing into the volcanoes to spark great eruptions, darkening the skies before leaving. You should know this, nishum."
Thel's eyes flared. He dared call me that word? There is no greater insult to a Sangheili. Were he not a Hierarch I would decapitate this worm and parade his flayed corpse through the Holy City! "That is but a fraction of the hundreds of human worlds that have been glassed, and have our sacred runes embedded into their crust! And now we are fighting a war of attrition in their Inner Colonies, losing more ships every day!" he took a step closer. "Have the Brutes answer for their stupidity and lack of sense! I personally have slain millions of human scum and glassed dozens of planets, so DO NOT question my ability you wretched weak worm!"
The Chamber was so quiet you could hear the outside halls. The Honor Guard had their weapons all pointed at Thel, waiting for him to make a sudden move at the Prophets. Then, through his ear piece, he heard, "Not now, my brother. Their time will come, just not now. I would hate to vaporize my savior on Kholo."
Mercy shouted, "Guards! Remove this..." before getting a swift backhand from Truth.
"Silence, you imbecile! Supreme Commander 'Vadamee, you have been an excellent commander and tactician, and are one of our most trusted. I offer you a chance to reclaim your honor," Truth said. Regret quietly chuckled in his seat, having waited for that moment for a while.
In front of Thel appeared a light purple hologram of a battlestation, the Unyielding Hierophant. It was shaped like a figure eight, being able to hold entire fleets. And should anything get past those ships, it had a vast array of weaponry that could wipe out an entire fleet in mere minutes.
"You are giving me command of the Unyielding Hierophant?" Thel said, quickly dropping back down on one knee. "I will not fail you, my Hierarch."
Truth chuckled, and said, "Good, because if you do I will wipe you and your bloodline from history. There is one more thing, however. You must take the Jiralhanae Chieftain Tartarus and his Skull Crushers with you in this assault."
Thel looked up, and said, "Jiralhanae? You want me to take them with me? They are barbarians, brutes, they have no honor! They are unfit for the Great Journey! I will absolutely not allow them in my fleet, what with their dirty fighting styles and tactics!"
"Says one from the race that invented active camouflage," quipped Mercy.
Thel shot him a nasty glare.
The Prophet of Truth stared at the Supreme Commander, before the hologram of Unyielding Hierophant changed to a hologram of Sangheilios, Thel's homeworld. Hundreds of ships then started surrounding the planet, and began bombarding it, while holograms of Sangheili ships exploded. "Then I will burn the province of Vadam to the ground and have my Jiralhanae destroy the Crypt of your ancestors! And after that, they shall feast on your young's bones Sangheili!" Truth shouted.
Even the Honor Guard looked at Truth, shocked at what he had just said.
"NO!" Thel roared. "I will allow these... brutes... in my fleet, but if there is even but a hint of treachery or insurrection, I will throw them into the void where they belong!"
He and Regret's eyes met, and Regret gave a small nod.
Truth floated backwards, and said, "Very good Supreme Commander." He said a few things to Mercy in their native tongue, and then flicked his hand at Thel, saying, "Quorum dismissed. You may all leave now."
The Honor Guard left the room through the large doors, grumbling things among themselves. Thel stood in the same spot, watching the High Prophets leave. He turned to leave the Chamber, and saw that a few Sangheili councilors remained, all in the upper floors. They rose as one as he passed, and one of them said, "We are with you, Supreme Commander."
Thel went through the doors and saw the Brute chieftain Tartarus leaning against the wall, the Fist of Rukt attached to his back. He looked at Thel, who slowed down as the massive Brute took a few steps toward him. The chieftain began chuckling, and Thel snapped, "What is so funny?!"
Tartarus crossed his arms, and said, "Oh, nothing. I shall enjoy being under your command for this one."
"Make one move, Jiralhanae, and I shall cut off your head and let my Unggoy feast on it."
"We're all friends here, Supreme Commander," Tartarus replied sarcastically.
Thel brushed past him, but the Brute followed, saying, "I wonder what would have happened if you hadn't allowed me in your ranks."
The Sangheili turned around, and jabbed his finger at the Brutes chest, saying, "Your kind would be wiped out by the honorable warriors of Sangheilios."
Just then, from behind Tartarus, the familiar face of Rtas 'Vadumee appeared, donning his signature white armor. He passed Tartarus, and stood by his friend.
"Get to the Hierophant, Jiralhanae. Sangheili are too good for your kind," Rtas growled.
Tartarus let out one loud laugh, and then turned around, walking around the corner.
"I saw the whole exchange, and it looked like it was going to get ugly," Rtas said.
"The Prophets are idiots for making us take them along. But I am glad that your fleet is coming with us too. Stay close to the Unyielding Hierophant, don't let it get destroyed," Thel replied.
The two walked along the halls, towards where Rtas' carrier Shadow of Intent was.
As they crossed a bridge, an Unggoy whispered, "Heretic."
Thel whipped out his energy dagger and plunged it through the small creatures chest, before pushing it off the blade and the bridge with his foot.
Rtas then said, "I found something rather interesting in the meeting."
"Hmm?"
"That hologram of Sangheilios... it looked too precise, too planned. Almost as though they were expecting you to say something like you did," Rtas explained.
"I did find that peculiar. I also do not like that the Brutes are being given more and more power in our fleets," Thel added.
"Some of our brethren think that the Sangheili are to be replaced by the Jiralhanae," Rtas revealed. The two then came around a corner and into a massive hangar, where the large assault carrier Shadow of Intent sat, its gravity lift activated.
"Impossible. The Prophets would not fracture our sacred Covenant like that," Thel said quickly.
"There are rumors that even Imperial Admiral Wattinree believes this," Rtas added.
Thel looked at Rtas, shocked. Imperial Admiral Xytan 'Jar Wattinree was a living legend among the Covenant, some even holding him to a higher status than the Prophets. Of course, this made the High Prophets assign him the the Fleet of Righteous Purpose, which guarded the fringes of Covenant planets. He had never been defeated in battle, and had longed to face the human Admiral Cole in battle.
"Come, let us get onto the ship," Thel said, after regaining his thought.
...
0730 Hours, August 30th, 2552 (Military Calendar)/ Camp Napoleon, Outside Manassas/ Planet Reach/ Epsilon Eridani System
The once great city of Manassas was on fire.
Its skyscrapers burning, the smaller building demolished. Two Covenant battlecruisers hung over the city, along with ten corvettes. Thousands of alien infantry swarmed the city, forcing the human defenders into full retreat towards the outer city. Not even half of the civilian population had been evacuated yet, because they couldn't. The Covenant ships had slipped in after the first battle in space, and the UNSC couldn't divert any ships yet to clear the skies.
The UNSC was planning a counterattack, however.
Corporal Tom Jackson sat on the front right track of his M808 Scorpion tank. It was the workhorse of the UNSC ground forces, with all variants' main guns being upgraded to M515 120mm smooth bore high velocity cannons in response to the Covenant upgrading the shielding on their tanks. Tom watched the city burn in the distance with awe, although he knew that hundreds were dying every minute. His gunner, Private First Class Jesse Keck, sat on the tanks barrel, chatting with another tank crew.
Just then, Tom saw an evacuation transport lift off and then scream out of atmosphere under heavy fire.
"Woah, shit! They made it!" he cried.
"Huh?" Jesse mumbled, barely hearing his crewmate.
Tom turned around and said, "A transport got away. Slipped right through their ships."
"Lucky bastards," Jesse replied.
One of the other tankers, Sergeant Liam Rodriguez, said, "The assault should begin soon."
"How many guys do we got?" Tom asked.
Sergeant Rodriguez said, "At least fifteen tanks per company. I dunno how many companies we have taking part, but I know that we've got air support inbound."
Just then, an alarm started blaring, and a voice came over, "All tank crews, get to your vehicles. All other ground units, find your commanding officer."
"That's our queue!" Jesse yelled, climbing down from the gun and sliding into his gunner port. "See you guys on the battlefield," he said to the other tankers, pulling his protective hatch shut.
Tom sat down in his driver seat, and turned on the engine. The distinct roar of the Scorpion engine came on immediately, and the tank was ready to roll. Then, over the radio, Colonel Sanders, the commander of the mission, said, "All armored units, spearhead the assault. I need Alpha and Bravo companies to punch through the middle. Following you will be the infantry. If any friendly forces pass, let them do so. Kill any of the alien bastards you see. Oorah."
Through his viewport, Tom saw ten Sparrowhawk gunships start hovering over them.
"Green light! Go go go!" Sanders shouted.
The Scorpion tank rumbled forward slowly, but began picking up speed. His tank was behind three others, and the rest of Alpha Company was behind him. The Sparrowhawks surged forward, firing their autocannons at Covenant forces. A column of Warthogs rolled past, the troops inside cheering at the tanks. Following them was a pair of M9 Wolverines, their anti-air missiles pointed at the sky.
"Hold on a sec Alpha, got some tunes coming on here for a second," Major Jerry McLean said over the radio.
"Hopefully it ain't any of that shitty stuff Alpha 6 likes listening to," Alpha 3 replied.
"Hey fuck you, man," Alpha 6 said.
"Simmer down guys," Major McLean said.
The tanks kept rolling forward, waiting for the music to begin.
"Yo, we gonna get that music?" Tom asked.
"Technical difficulties. Fuck it, no music," Major McLean grumbled.
"Good, didn't care for it anyways," Alpha 4 said.
"Shut up Alpha 4," McLean said.
"Absolutely, sir," 4 replied sarcastically.
"Fine, no food for you," McLean laughed.
"Hey, let's take it easy," Jesse said.
"Shit, watch it! Banshee's comin' down!" Alpha Six shouted.
Three Banshee fighters swooped in low, firing their plasma repeaters. Alpha Four and Seven swerved, missing two deadly bombs. Then, missiles from the Wolverines went up, destroying all three of the Banshees.
The tanks went down the road and started passing by the outskirts of Manassas, rolling past burned out buildings and destroyed structures. Wounded refugees staggered along, clutching their wounds or helping fellow wounded. They stared at the passing UNSC vehicles expressionless, before turning to continue down the road.
"Fuckin' Covies gonna pay for this," Alpha Twelve growled.
"Their time will come soon, Twelve," Tom said.
"It better, Nine, or I'll blame you," Twelve said.
"Hey, Alpha Company, this is Task Force Delta, we've made contact ahead. Look's like Wraith's. We're gonna fall back to better cover and let you guys handle it," an infantry commander said over the radio.
The tanks passed a collapsed building, and then entered a large intersection. On one side were UNSC forces, with marines in the buildings, firing. On the road were destroyed Warthog's and a few ones that were alright. The two Wolverines were behind a flipped semi truck, firing their missiles at Covenant aircraft. The Sparrowhawks flew over, engaging hostile forces. In the intersection were at least ten Wraith tanks, reinforced with a dozen or so Revenant light tanks and at least a hundred Covenant infantry.
"Shit, it's too tight to get all of us in," Major McLean said.
"Orders?"
"First five tanks through are it. Looks like the place only has enough room for that many," McLean ordered.
Tom's tank, Alpha Two, followed the three in front of it into the intersection, firing their main guns. Multiple marines left cover and pressed forward, getting cut down by enemy fire. Major McLean's main gun shot back, sending a 120mm shell straight into an unshielded Revenant. The entire vehicle erupted into flame. The Scorpions then focused fire on the Wraith tanks, destroying two of them. The Wraith's then turned and aimed their main guns at Alpha One, McLean's tanks.
"Yo Major, watch it!"
It was too late.
Four of the Wraith's fired their mortars, all impacting on the tank. The Major's vehicle exploded as it fired a shell, making the explosion bigger.
"Shit! Major's down!"
"Keep pressing forward!" Jesse shouted, his machine gun chattering.
The Wraiths kept shooting, but then began backing up. The Covenant infantry pulled away from their cover, running back. Twelve Phantom dropships uncloaked, quickly picking up the infantry. They waited for the tanks to be pulled up, and then started flying away.
"Oh shit! They're retreating! Woohoo!" Alpha Three cheered.
The Warthogs pulled up, and the marines filled the intersection, giving each other pats on the back. Hatches opened on the tanks, and the crews stood up, laughing.
Then, the Covenant ships many miles away began rising, going higher than the highest building in Manassas.
"Are they fully retreating?!" a marines asked.
"Probably not," Tom said.
"Woah! Radiation spike!" someone shouted.
Then, the bellies of the Covenant ships started lighting up, and all of a sudden a red beam shot down from the lead battlecruiser.
"They're glassing the city!"
"Get inside!"
The other ships began going over the city, glassing as they went.
The humans in the area scrambled for an interior, but it was useless.
Tom died on his back, facing a Covenant corvette going overhead.
