AN: I made the story after seek a perfect combination from both game. After read the canon on pedia/wikia, survey on forum across the browser and of course study the previous stories on Fanfiction in this category, I decide that this story that make balance on my mind. Some will fix ME 3 ending with the mantle. Some will make my favorite characters survive from the ME 3 cruel storyline. And ensure that Shepard gain Salarian Support and Geth Dreadnought war asset. I use Timeline substitution which move ME canon 4 centuries forward. Hope you enjoy
Let our story begin on year of 2585. This year are became mark of galaxy preparation against Reapers. Reaper is on the way to galaxy, particularly Batarian Space. However, Covenant accidentally discovers humanity via Luminary error.
Citadel Council is still reconstructing itself from Sovereign attack 2 years ago. Urdnot, Neema, Pazness and even Keepers also contribute. This year also will give Citadel one more-extra-lost- Covenant brother.
3 visionary ministers plan to elevating Covenant and gaining the Hierarchs status. They Minister of Concert, Minister of Tranquility and Minister of Etiology. The coalition are forged and Etiology were led the plot. In Covenant culture, minister who allied each other (or under self will instead) without jurisdiction of Hierarchs are considered treason. It was automatically dangerous coalition.
3 weeks ago, Minister Jackal Intelligence are stole a secret data about misconception relics, ludicrous relics which carried by Collector from Fleet of Righteous Interdiction. Ministers were eager to find the relics and destroy the heathens which hold it.
A fleet was commissioned to fulfill their purpose. It was named Fleet of Eternal Clarity and its flagship, Kindred Ascension. A fleet was rallied by Minister of Concert, empowered by Minister of Tranquility and commanded by Minister of Etiology it composed from 8 races of the Covenant under fleet master, Ardho Xanquelee. A strong fleet composed 10 CCS class battle cruisers, 4 CPV heavy destroyers and a CAS assault carrier and smaller missionary vessels. The fleet was tasked to discover relics, destroy heretics or absorb new races. A disintegrate cannon, hardlight energy shielding and sentinel repairer was armed in fleet.
One day, in fringe of outer Covenant space which named "Phoenix Massing", a strange artifact which commonly called "Mass Relays" is discovered by fleet task team. Etiology watches reactivation of the Relay. He contacts the Tranquility and ordering him to excavate it. Discovery thinks (because there is no mass relay in Covenant space) it was a gate in to long lost Forerunner Capital. He fully aware that was a teleportation device.
After relay was activated, Etiology led his fleet breach artificial portal created by relays and finally, 49 light years from jump point, Yallium System, Keppler Verge, Attican Traverse. The fleet was lured to a garden world named, Velasia. A rich Garden World which have grown prosper because its import on mining, agriculture and industry. The colony was independent.
Colony was subsequently attacked after branded heretics. The war was taken 3 months. Covenant was impressed with Council races war capability. Etiology finally was able to seize Velasia and search the relics. After a week occupation, a battlegroup led by Admiral Preston J. Cole arrived and evict the Covenant from Velasia. Similar to First Contact war decades prior, Covenant sending delegations to negotiate peace. The peace is not merely Covenant fear. Covenant political-religion had crumbled after an Inquisitor discovers a flaw in Luminary. Priests suggest that Forerunner demand them extinguished. Some speculate they must uplift or preserved like Huragok. After know that human are able to study the Forerunner artifacts and Mendicant Bias awoken, Covenant bureaucracy was shake. To prevent Covenant discover the flaw, Hierarchs step down and order to not wage war with human so Covenant won't learn truth from human. Now, it was a first step to human to reclaim the lost Mantle or at least, it was nature luck.
ASCENSION OF HIERARCHS
Darken chamber deep inside Forerunner Dreadnought, High Prophet of Deception, Patience and Justice are floating to meet the female philologist Ohd Lohm. The Hierarchs was seek an answer for the shake after Luminary scanning. The anomaly is, each creature approach, the scan showed in Luminary is also approaching. Luminary have restarted until 10 times and the scanning result are always same.
"Philologist, I and my fellow brothers need an answer." Deception start
"What so honored i am until 3 Hierarchs of the empire meet me. What question you want to ask?" Philologist replied
"You surely know the words, "Luminaries never lie, now they show us a creature not a relic or holy grounds. you get the meaning of Gods?" Patience launching his question
"I did not know anything. But, I know who would answer you. Please, insert the scanning to the slot." Philologist asked and try the best to give an answer
Luminary scan suddenly grow bright and then, a grim voice speak
YOU ARE A FOOL WHICH HAVE LOST TOO FAR!
"What? who is... how... its... THE ORACLE!" Justice shocked hearing the voice
FOR THE EONS I HAVE WATCHED, YOU ARE MISINTERPRET. THIS IS NOT THE RECLAMATION. THIS IS RECLAIMER.
Mendicant Bias upside up the glyph. Since before the Covenant was formed, the glyph was read upside down.
NOW YOU HAVE DISCOVER MY MAKER, I SHOULD AMENDS AND BRING THEM SAFELY TO THE ARK
Forerunner Dreadnought suddenly was shaken, vibrating like an earthquake. Philologists was panicked. Other were thought it was sabotaged by heretics. Other say it was High Charity system were failing.
"Philologist! you must do something! if Oracle take the ship, High Charity would be destroyed!" Deception command Philologist about the impending disaster
"Ehh ehh what I dream last night until the Oracle want to punish me!, Lekgolo... perhaps they can cut his control on the Dreadnought..." Philologist panicked after situation and pressure from the Hierarch
Mendicant Bias had no care about fate of High Charity. In his mind only effort to gain the atonement to Reclaimer.
Suddenly the "Earthquake" was stop. Now they explain the incident to High Charity.
"Calm down yourself Philologist, the storm has passed yet. Now we must discussing the Oracle to more private place..." Patience said
"I would noble Hierarchs" Philologist said while she still panicked from current event
"I didn't believe it, all text and enlightenment which we have achieved were... mistranslated..." Philologist stat
"I know, we are only who realize that Halo, Reclaimer, Mantle and... everything were based from mistranslation..." Justice said
"We should not let this truth fall to public... if not, the Elites would slaying our kind for thousands year deception..." Patience panicked
"No, we should not truth go out... we would consume in civil war, the Prophet would goes extinct and the Covenant would ruled by these humans." Deception stat
"What we should do?" Philologist ask
"You would replace us as the Hierarch. As we editing the Luminaries, don't wage war with humans. If not they would tell the truth to us slowly but surely." Deception answer
"We would step down?" Patience ask
"Yes, after the Ascension occur, I would exile myself on fringe and will took a poison. I will take the Truth to my grave. I didn't know what you brothers think..." Deception explain
"What? I? became the Hierarchs? Noble one, I was never learn politics. Everyday I was locked on this Dreadnought. How I can be a leader of the Covenant?" Philologist explain
"No, we need your companion... I prefer Minister of Abnegation and Vice Minister of Tranquility." Patience stat
"We would inform they soon. a months to go, we would teach you all about politics. Then, we would step down. The burden of this truth are too heavy." Deception said
"What will be done to "unclean" between now to our Ascension?" Philologist asked
"We will silence. Our empire is priority all that matter."
"Very well... let no one know the truth except the current and future Hierarchs... I swear in secrecy!" Philologist take an oath
"I will" Deception follow
"I swear" Patience also roar the oath
"I would" Justice following
3 months later, Forerunner Dreadnought
3 San Shyuum enter the Dreadnought. As the previous Hierarchs recommendation, High Council had grant the trio to step up
"Time of Doubt have over, now is our time to take Sacred Rings and reclaim its Great Journey! We swear to guide you to Sacred Rigs promise!" Ex-Vice Minister of Tranquility speak
The Glyph was turned to Reclamation Glyph
Philologist now take name High Prophetess of Serenity. Tranquility take High Prophet Redemption. Abnegation now take name High Prophet of Reclamation.
High Charity now celebration for 10th age of Reclamation. Every Grunt, Jackals and Yanme'es are in wild jubilant. Elites and Jiralhanae roar through the streets.
The trio didn't know what wait them months to go...
"Covenant now had enter a new age... a bright future far from the truth is waiting us... to an endless journey... in a lie..." Last sentence of High Prophet of Deception