Prologue:
84th Age of Doubt
Covenant CAS-class assault carrier Truth of Darkness
In the cold darkness of the void known as space was a large bulbous, whale-like front ship that sailed gracefully through the cold darkness of space. It was a massive ship, commanded by the Covenant. A vast theocratic empire that spans thousands of years. It was commanded by Sangheili Rekan 'Radumee. Stood beside him was his second in command Fuzo 'Sucamai. Their ranks were indicated by the color of their Armor. Gold for the highest rank, and silver for the second in command. Rekan 'Radumee was tasked with one of the many expeditions sent by the Covenant highest ranking leaders the hierarchs to search for the mythical rings left behind by the Forerunners. An ancient race that was revered as gods to the Covenant and their religion.
But Rekan 'Radumee had his doubts about his task. For centuries, the Covenant has searched for the elusive rings but to no avail. With one failure after another and with zero progress made. Many in the Covenant have actually begun doubting the very faith and the foundation of the Covenant itself. Which is considered inconceivable a few centuries back. But now with the evidence of failures in front of their faces tensions in the Covenant have reached an all-time high. As many of the lower races have now begun to turn away from the Covenant or in some cases gain the courage to rebel against the races of a higher tier. Even more disturbing was the slow decline of the Sangheili and the rise of the Jiralhanae or as many of his fellow Sangheili called them the Brutes.
While the great fleets of the Covenant set sail the San'Shyuum continue to relax in luxury. Such thoughts infuriated Rekan 'Radumee, while thoughts like these would land him into trouble. It was common for frustrated Sangheili commanders to voice their displeasure at the entire situation. The Great Fleet's voyages were draining the Covenant's Treasury. While the discontent between the member races of the Covenant was only rising. The San'Shyuum had placed most of their hopes in the expedition in an attempt to ease the rising discontent. While at the same time, maintaining their power over the Covenant.
It was a great sense of irony that the current Age of the Covenant has clearly represented this turmoil. The 84th age of doubt has by far represented the suffering the Covenant has to endure from varying degrees of internal dissent and began to lose faith in their mission. It was only a matter of time before the next Age of Conflict begin. "It is only a matter of time" pondered Rekan 'Radumee as he looked at the screen with the same blank expression.
"The scan of this sector shows no sign of any holy relics." Said the Fuzo 'Sucamai.
"I figure as much." Said the tired Sangheili Rekan 'Radumee. "It is always the same, scan the system no holy relics, and repeat. There is no end to this."
"I must agree." Replied Fuzo 'Sucamai. "The prophets believed that the holy relics would save the Covenant."
"But yet like you and me and the rest of us, we all know what they need these relics for." Rekan 'Radumee.
A nod of confirmation echoed across the bridge. Many of the Sangheili on the ship shared his views and sentiment about the current situation.
"I heard there is talk from our own councilors about directly leaving the Covenant." Answered one of the Sangheili on the bridge.
"Isn't that heresy?" Replied the other.
"It's not heresy considering the fact that we are all beginning to doubt our very cause itself." Replied another.
Before a full-on argument could break out Rekan 'Radumee quickly stepped in.
"Enough, we are all not children, and moreover, we do not have the time to begin bickering." He said sternly eying the Sangheili across the room before turning to face the navigator and helmsman.
"Navigators plot a course to our next destination." He ordered.
"It will be done, commander." Replied the Navigator.
As the massive CAS-class Assault carrier position itself for the slipspace jump. Rekan 'Radumee looked at the screen as the usual bright blue portal emerged in front of the ship to initiate a slipspace jump. "Just another star system to scan and explore." He thought to himself as the ship entered into the portal and begin the journey to its next destination unaware of the following course that would change the history of the Covenant.
84th Age of Doubt
Covenant CAS-class assault carrier Truth of Darkness
Unknown Solar System
The Truth of darkness emerged from the slipspace jump as usual. From the navigation recorded, they were located in the outer areas of this star system. As the massive ship made its way to the inner areas of the star system. The sensors from the luminary was going haywire.
"What is going on?" Rekan 'Radumee asked no one in particular as he watch the constant display of alerts that was displayed on the luminary.
"It can't be it must be broken?" Said Fuzo 'Sucamai. "These readings are showing that the entire star system is filled to the brim with holy relics!"
"Impossible"
"It can't be."
"It must be broken"
Over the cacophony of disbelief among the Sangheili crewmembers, Rekan 'Radumee was in deep thought. It was often common for a luminary to give out false readings or display the wrong information. As such, many commanders of the Great Fleet have often overlooked the readings. However, some like Rekan 'Radumee have exercised caution and in rare cases would always send out recon teams to actually confirm the readings. As such they have often found hidden relics that were missed by the luminary scanners. For something like this to occur Rekan 'Radumee decided that it warrant a full investigation into the star system.
"Helmsmen bring in closer." He ordered.
"It will be done, Commander." The Helmsmen Replied.
It was an agonizing few hours as the ship burn its way deeper into the star system. At the same time, it releases probes to scan the surrounding planets of the star system. It soon became very clear that the star system was inhabited. By a previously undiscovered race no less, but that was not the issue. The issue was that the system was littered with objects and relics that were supposed to belong to their gods.
"I…I…I don't believe it." Stammered Fuzo 'Sucamai. "I'm seeing many holy rings."
"I don't believe it as well." Answered Rekan 'Radumee.
"I don't believe there are not only the holy rings but holy bastions and artificial stars." Exclaimed the Sangheili responsible for managing the probe. "There is more."
As the bridge once again descended into chaos and confusion. Rekan 'Radumee looked stunned at what he saw. "In the name of the Prophet, what is going on?" he thought to himself.
Meanwhile, approaching the ship hidden under the best layer of stealth technology. The UNSC Cloak of Dagger a stealth destroyer belonging to the United Nations Space Command Office of Naval Intelligence Prowler Corp slowly approaches the alien ship. Long-distance sensors located in the far reaches of the solar system detected the massive alien ship as it made its way toward the inner system. Beside the destroyer, it was flanked by other stealth ships ranging from corvettes to cruisers belonging to the UNSC navy.
Captain Michael Archer watches the screen nervously as he approaches the now-identified alien ship. As of now, there was no indication that the aliens detected him and his ship. Which was in his opinion a good sign to say at least. Hours ago, UNSC long-range scanners and listening posts detected an unusual anomaly in the outer periphery of the solar system. After the initial scans reveal it to be an object of massive proportion the Armed Forces reacted. Believing it to be either a hidden pirate fleet or a secret project conducted by the Martian Republic. UNSC's high command mobilized the prowlers to check what it was. To their surprise and somewhat horror, it was an unidentified object stretching more than five kilometers. And as the object got closer it was clear that it was not a human vessel.
Since then, the alien ship had stopped dead in its tracks in the area between Jupiter and Saturn. For now, Captain Michael Archer was to hold position and observe. He snorted at that order. It was very clear that the high command was debating on the next course of action. For the next few minutes, he stared at the screen as the alien ship did nothing. Beside him was his XO who like him was nervous but excited.
"Well, I guess you're excited," Michael spoke directly to his XO.
"I must admit sir, it is a little exciting to meet another alien race if not a space-faring one sir." His XO replied.
"And that I agree with you." He spoke.
Despite not having faster-than-light travel. Humanity in the 46th century had already claimed a large area of interstellar space in the Local Interstellar Cloud using slower-than-light methods along with STL-type ships to reach their destination. Already in the last two thousand years, humanity has carved out a tiny sphere of influence of thirty to fifty-light years. Because of the slow method of interstellar travel Humanity had to come up with ways to ensure that their interstellar excursion would always be a success. From enhanced terraforming technology to cryo sleeper ships, etc. These allow mankind to achieve its status as a limited interstellar nation at best. As many of the colonies outside the solar system had limited populations with some living in the space station. While others live on terraformed planets. With some still undergoing the process of terraforming. These outposts would never be the centers of humanity due to there being a large distance between the colonies and the solar system.
As a result, these colonies are little more than outposts of humanity's interstellar ventures. With the population rarely passing three billion. Trade is also limited because of this. As resources gathered from distant star systems would always be massive, automated mining ships that would go to a star system and strip it of any resources before shipping it back to Sol. Colonized star systems would always have a small crew that would monitor the STL freighters as they made the trip back and forth between the solar system and the colonies. Moreover, such interstellar ventures are extremely expensive and could take years if not decades to materialize. Even creating colonies would take centuries to fully be developed. Communication between the solar system and the interstellar colonies would take years due to it being based on the speed of light not superluminal.
Because of this, any disaster that occurred in a colony would take years for its news to reach the solar system. Preventing any help from afar and if help did arrive it would already be too late. It is because of this despite the large amount of space that humans have claimed. Many of the star systems around the sphere still remain unexplored to this very day. Despite this, humanity has already encountered alien species with one encounter being a slow-growing and developing but the conservative empire of lizards and their two member races. To the mysterious race of primitive's blue humanoids in an earth-like moon in their nearest star system. And the race of intelligent elephants. Until today, these were the five alien races that mankind had encountered so far in their interstellar exploration.
None of them had Faster-Than-Light capabilities. With the events of today, things have changed. Captain Michael Archer looked at the notification that he had received from high command via his Smart AI Elizabeth. It was something he had his reservation about doing.
"Um, Elizabeth can you confirm this?" He asked the Smart AI.
"Yes, this is what I receive from Rear-Admiral Preston Cole himself." The AI replied.
"You must be joking?!" Said Michael in horror. "Did they think this is a great idea?"
"Well, I presume so captain." The AI shrugged. "It is better than just waiting for them to respond."
"Okay, I guess I have no choice then. Anyways here goes nothing." Said Michael as he decloaked his stealth system and began broadcasting on all frequencies.
Back on the truth of Darkness, the majority Sangheili-controlled bridge crew received the message from the now decloaked human ship.
"Where did that ship come from?" Asked Rekan 'Radumee to his officers.
"No idea, Commander it just appeared out of nowhere." Replied the officers of the bridge.
"The ship is sending us a message." Pointed Fuzo 'Sucamai.
"Let's hear it then." Said Rekan 'Radumee.
"This is Captain Michael Archer of the Stealth destroyer Cloak of Dagger. You are intruding into our space. State your intentions immediately. Michael Out." The signal of the alien ship played.
"What shall we do Commander?" asked the bridge crew.
"We reply back." Answered Rekan 'Radumee. "Open the channel."
"But Commander won't that not work we don't even know what they saying." Replied one of the crew.
"Remaining silence will only inflame the tension." Rekan 'Radumee explained. "If this race has access or is the custodian of this cache of Holy relics and technology it would be better to have them view us positively.
Saying no more, Rekan 'Radumee quickly swipe the screen that would allow him to connect to the alien ship. He prepared himself before he spoke. Back on the human ship, a wave of gasp could be heard as the alien ship responds to their hails.
"My is Rekan 'Radumee of the Covenant ship Truth of Darkness. We are explorers from an ancient empire. We wish to make contact. However, we are not authorized to conduct such activities. As a result, we would need to go back and inform our people."
The alien ship broadcast message ended quickly as it began. This was it, Captain Michael Archer thought to himself. The moment of truth has emerged.
"What is the Alien ship doing?" He asked Elizabeth.
"Not sure, it would appear it's…" Before she could finish, a flash of light appeared in front of the ship before a glowing blue perfect circle appeared in front of it. As if a portal the ship quickly entered and disappeared as if it never existed in the first place.
Captain Michael looked at Elizabeth before turning to his XO who was also in a state of similar shock. But one question was clear. "Now what are we going to do?"
A/N:
The Idea behind this Fanfiction came from a discussion I had with my brother about how one could utterly break the Covenant's religious beliefs in another way other than fighting a 28-year-long war just to get them to realize. The End result is this idea of mankind creating "Halo Rings" and other megastructures in their solar system. Not because they wanted to but because they need to. Humanity as you can recognize never developed slipspace for reason I will explain as the story progress.
Overall, I say this is a great start. As for updates, it depends if I'm in the mood for them. After all, as I said in my previous stories. Irl concerns and other matters might make updates unpredictable and I have to apologize beforehand.
Other than that, as you can see humanity has actually met five alien races of various tech-level. All these are easter eggs so they will not play a major role in this fanfiction.
I hope you enjoy this little prologue and please enjoy it.