Disclaimer: Don't own Halo
A.N. Alright 2nd update. Hope they keep coming like this. (probably not though)
"Have you sent the transmission yet?" Rtas asked as he entered the councillors quarters three shifts later. The Silver armoured Elite looked up with a snort.
"I've spent two shifts today talking with the Human leaders and in a half shift we've planned a tactic meeting on board the helm ship Swift Victory." He muttered as he trailed a finger absently through the hologram distorting the sleek 3-D image.
"So you've sent it already." The Arbiter summarised as he keyed the door shut behind him.
"And may my Sires forgive me." The councillor sighed for a brief moment revealing his own desire against the inevitable decision.
"So when can we expect a response?" Rtas asked and the Councillor gave a short bark of amusement.
"You under estimate them Special Ops Commander." The councillor chided. "They have been monitoring and analysing our communications in the shadows of slip-space for the Ages. They probably have better intelligence about this entire war then we do. They have long been aware of our separation, the assassinations. Already they most likely mass their fleet as they see fit. I told the humans that they would be swift to mobilize, that was not the whole truth for they are already mobilized. They have been preparing for this day for a long time." He shook his head and met the gazes of the other two in the room. "As usual through they watch and wait for us to sweat ourselves into a corner and admit that there is need of them." His mandibles twitched in reluctant amusement, "The fact that the Prophets have proved them true has no likely delighted them beyond joy."
"Lord, how do you know of this?" Rtas asked curiously his mauled jaws attesting to his skills and courage in battle.
"Because moments after I sent the message I received this one." The councillor explained fingers flying over the raised semi solid controls and the message was displayed above the map for them to read.
ENCRYPTION CODE: AWAITING
Councilor Tw'bwasee: Acknowledgement of Transmission:
We have been waiting. Are transferring offer to Temple Vessel. Will contact when decision made. First viewing requests are as follows.
-Special Operations Commander: Rtas Vadumee: shall be onboard contact vessel
-He-Who-Is-Prophets-Fool: shall be on board as well
-These two shall also be present when official orders from Temple received
-A human delegation will come as well. Consisting of your Deamon, the one known as the Master Chief and one Dr. Hasley
WARNING. Failure to comply with these orders will not be met graciously. A duplicate order set has been sent to Human Vessel WarCry. A video feed will be established with both ships when the Temple has reached its verdict. We shall be in contact very soon.
TO WarCry: we send our best wishes
TO Councilor Tw'bwasee: about time
END TRANSMISSION.
END ENCRYPTION
The two Elites were silent as they read the message, the Arbiter's hand dropped to finger the plasma rifle holstered on his leg. Rtas's reaction was more subtle. He went still, the same way one went when relying on their mirror shielding to hold a moment longer in discreet scouting and infiltration operations. It was not hard to see what rank he had first held, Ossoona never lost the habit.
"Why us?" Rtas asked curiously. The Councillor shrugged.
"Who is to know Commander perhaps your presence is requested to deal with the humans. Does your Myir'sawyie sit on the Temple?" the commander narrowed his eyes a moment.
"Perhaps, it is hard to say. My Myir'sawyie is like the desert sun. Always there always steady." Absently he scratched under the armour attached to the sides of his remaining whole mandibles. "It has been, long since I last returned."
"What of you Arbiter? Where does your Myir'sawyie sit?" the councillor asked. The younger elite snapped his head to the side refusing to make eye contact.
"Myir'saw." He corrected sharply, it was a tender subject with him.
"You have problems?" the councillor asked seemingly casually. The Arbiter's mandibles clenched then unclenched.
"The Myir'saw," the Arbiter muttered, "is fire, swift and fast. We have had, differences…It is not a subject I wish to speak on." His hand had brushed absently against his armour over the mark burned into his chest as he spoke. He quickly dropped away when he had realised what he was doing. The Heretic mark that he had been branded with was something that he tried to not draw attention to. He made a mental note to look into the Arbiters history, the Elite had hidden shadows. It was by noticing details like this that the Councillor had gained the rank and reputation that he held now. Both these Elites before him had great potential in store of them for the years to come.
"Well it doesn't get us anywhere debating possibilities. When they decide to contact us we'll know enough." A flashing light on the right hand side of his board began to flash. The Councillor took a deep breath. "Apparently they don't want to keep us waiting long. Please take a seat brothers." He said motioning the other two into two seats across the desk form his. He activated the switch and the video feed appeared as a flat hologram window above the desk. It was visible from both sides so the three of them all had a full view.
A trio of shadowed figures sat in the darkness of the screen. Features and forms melded into the dark beyond them. Only one was semi visible, though indistinct and ghost like wrapped in a white cloak and cowl pulled low. The councillor swallowed softly. A millennia with the covenant hadn't been able to cure the Elites of back brain instincts far older then them. And the white cloaked figure represented a deeply to important figure in Elite culture from long before the prophets.
"Great Lady," he murmured struggling to find a balance in his voice between awe, respect, and his own position. '
"Councillor," one of the shadowy voices greeted, "Commander," They addressed Rtas, "Fool." They sneered at the Arbiter. He snarled silently in response. Another light flashed on his desk. Curiously the councillor activated it and a smaller window opened revealing a trio of human generals.
"We told you that this would be a joint address Coucillor." A different voice responded. "Since we will not enter into any great detail over this transmission, it would be far to easy to tap into this feed."
"Enough small talk." The middle figure whispered, their voice clear and swift. A voice that could stop armies without changing volume.
"Of course." The figure on the left murmured the movement of a bowing head visible against the shadows though the shape and detail of the head remained lost. "A decision has been reached about your, offer, councillor. After debate we have decided on a few rules. The details of which are being sent along a secure line to both parties presently. However there are some details that you may feel the need argued and others that we want to ensure are not misinturpeted. Is that understood?" the voice spoke.
"Clearly." The councillor murmured.
"Yes." The humans replied.
"Very well then. First, Special Op's commander Rtas Vadumee and the Prophets Fool presence is still requested within the delegation. As well this Master Chief will also be present as well. For the time that this meeting will occur their presence away from the battle fields shall not cause problems. Also the one known as Dr. Hasley is still requested to join however we would be willing to over look her absence if the one known as Cortana is present. Her attendance is not optional. We have heard much of this one and would like to meet her." The human council shifted on the screen casting looks around at each other. Apparently this newest demand made them uneasy, interesting.
"Secondly Councillor you will bring only three ships to the meeting of this alliance. One Human and one Elite, the third will be smaller then the other two and will be used as a conference ship however it will be unmanned and considered neutral ground. If you would prefer however we could supply this ship?" the speaker paused once again the deliberate tones falling into silence while they awaited a response to the second requirement. The councillor glanced to the human screen, both he and them well aware of the precarious situation that they were in. Neither had enough ships to willingly donate a spare however both groups were too proud to admit to this. However the Humans, who had no idea who they were up against gave a motion as though to pass the decision onto his judgement.
"Gracious as your offer is we trust the Shal'qui honour to supply a neutral vessel for the council to occupy." The councillor spoke reverently aware that by referring to the Shal'qui honour it was a dare that they could not refuse. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the human generals nod as well.
"Then in honour we shall councillor." The voice spoke softly. "The meeting shall take place in two weeks time in orbit around the human world once known as Harvest," here the voice stumbled only slightly over the foreign word. "Where fist you met as enemies this time you shall meet as friends. You should receive the final instructions shortly. That is all we wish to discuss at this time we will be waiting. Have you anything to add?" again a silence for questions.
"None? Then you are either wise or fools we shall see. Till we meet again." The white cloaked figure finished, still in an army stopping whisper and the screen went black as the feed was cut at the source.
"Wise or fools, I find myself wondering as well." The Arbiter murmured ignoring the lingering comment the Councillor turned to the smaller screen.
"Well?" he asked and the generals whispered amongst themselves for a moment then spoke.
"Harvest was the furthest colony we ever had from Earth, even with the new slip-space drives it won't be a short trip and the prophets are still out there. Can we handle them with only two ships?" It was a wise question and one that he had considered as well though it had been a clever move for them to use the human term for he was not certain exactly where the location was.
"Take your fastest ship, I would advise against something to large, if we run into the Covenant we shall let them follow us to the location. There is no love lost amongst our new allies for the covenant. They will enjoy shamming them. Brutes cannot fly."
"You seem quick to call them allies Councillor how can you be sure?" the general in the middle spoke slowly.
"Because if they were not, with all respect Human, they would not have answered." That seemed to answer his questions.
"Then we shall leave you to your own duties Councillor and we shall contact you when we have sorted out the details of our delegation party and we'll fine tune the plans with you. For a three week deadline we'll have to leave as soon as possible."
"Understood." The silver armoured Elite replied then with a final word from both sides the connection was cut.
to be continued
A.N. Yeah another update done. I'm on a roll here. Now people I know you're out there and reading this I can see the hits on my stats screen. Please I'm begging you please please please just review. Flame me I don't care just let me know there's life out there.
K. I'm done for the moment let me know if something in this story was off.