Author Notes:
Thanks to those who have stuck around past the prologue, now before we get on with, Chapter 1: Arrival, I want to thank the first person to review.
Thank you, gruntsbreeder
Also as there is no known hierarchy for ranking of Hunters I will be making my own.
Now onto the story.
(Recap)
Before the aft of the Vengeance could enter slipspace and escape, the *EMP hit and although the shields dampened the pulse it still caused a surge throughout the Vengeance scrambling the Slipspace coordinates for the fleet under the command of Vral, the Fleet of Glorious Reverence, sending them off into the unknown…
As Arelia crests the top of the hill, she finds the camp below filled with Batarians. I'm too late..
"Fleetmaster there's a problem, that gas giant we are heading towards, I have checked and rechecked, is Sanghelios."
(Start)
-Aboard the Age of Vengeance-
Shock and confusion filled the room.
It can't be, Sanghelios, our home, is this planet of gas, fire, and craters? Vral thought to himself, it's almost as if the Sangheili … never…conquered… the planet…mmm.
"Noramee, is it possible that if the Sangheili were never borne on this… anomaly… that this," Vral gestured towards the central projection stand, "is what Sanghelios would look like?"
"It's… possible… but the chances of this actually happening is next to impossible, no not impossible, and more… improbable."
Thinking on what has happened once more; Vral noticed that Tukamee spoke with the utmost certainty. "Major Tukamee, you said you checked and rechecked, correct?" "Yes, Fleetmaster." "What did you check it against?" "The stellar maps we have in the archives, Fleetmaster." "So the solar systems that are in our archives, are all in the same locations out there?" Vral asked while gesturing towards a view screen showing a small portion of space surrounding the twenty-nine kilometer vessel.
"If so that means that my hunch is correct, and we have been the first Sangheili to successfully transverse inter-dimensional travel."
For the second time in less than hour, silence once again reigned though out the command deck of the Vengeance.
"A way of proving my hunch is correct is to send a Taskforce to a nearby system that we should have a station or colony in. Noramee, contact Shipmaster 'Muttinee of the Harbinger of Patience." "At once Fleetmaster.
As Vral waited for the com-link to connect, his mind turned to contemplating his and his brother's and sister's predicament, all their fates had been changed by that 'nuke' as the humans call them. He could not assist his and Sesa's uncle at Earth; he and his sister were all but lost to their family, the families of his men might never see their loved ones again.
"Fleetmaster, Shipmaster 'Muttinee is connected and waiting for orders." "Very well, put him on." As Noramee was connecting Muttinee, Vral prayed to the Forerunners that they would find something, anything that could prove that his theory was false.
"Fleetmaster." Muttinee spoke after the line was connected. "Shipmaster Jit 'Muttinee, your orders are to take your task force and travel to the colony of Soras Menkul, report what you find." "At once, Shipmaster."
-Scene Break-
Hades Nexus
Argos Archeological Camp
After being chained and imprisoned by the Batarians a somewhat regal looking Batarian came to look at the prisoners to gloat.
After, what felt like hours, he spoke, "You were fools to think that you could enter Batarian territory. DID YOU REALLY THINK WE WOULDN'T NOTICE!"
"This is Aria's territory!" a young voice shouted from the back of the group of prisoners. "How do you think we found out?" he said, voice full of malevolence, looking away towards one of captains, "Load them up, but bring her to me."
-Scene Break-
Eternal Thralldom
Captain Tavi Bakfapos, a very cruel and crude Batarian by most standards, reclined in his throne-like command chair, a great grin plastered across his face.
The war against Aria's Empire in the Terminus systems has begun, and I have struck the first blow. Taking the daughter of the 'Legendary' Aria T'Loak is going to be the crowning achievement of my career.
For the previous two years the Batarian Hegemony has begun a buildup of military equipment, ships, and men to wrench the Terminus systems from Omega, from Aria. To begin the monumental task of bringing destruction of the Terminus to the Hegemony, they began with small strikes, such as seizing her daughter, Arelia.
Behind him he hears the bridge doors hiss open, revealing and chained, battered, Arelia. Of her two escorts, one steps forward to report to Tavi, "The girl you wanted to see is here boss." He said while saluting. The other stands behind Arelia at the ready, with assault rifle held across his chest.
"Good you both are relieved thank you." After being dismissed both guards salute before turning and proceeding out the door, which hissed close after they left.
"So… Arelia do you know who I am?"
"Some Batarian who thought taking on a defenseless science camp would give him a hard on. Do you have any idea who my mother is?" Arelia all but shouted at Tavi.
"Yes I do actually, Aria, right? Well the real reason we attacked the Argos Archeological Camp is because of you. More importantly, what you can do…" Once more an evil grin plastered Tavi's face as the innocent Arelia had a look of realization upon her face.
-Scene Break-
Harbinger of Patience
"Shipmaster, we have received a message from the Fleetmaster it reads -Find out the anomaly's purpose and intent, approach with peace, but prepare for war- end message."
"Send a return message and have it read -Understood Fleetmaster, your will is our way- end message."
After issuing his orders, he left the command room, and headed to his quarters. He had a possible first contact to prepare for, he vowed that his Sangheili will not be like the Jarilahane, there will not be another Harvest.
Scene Break
-Fleet of Glorious Reverence-
Across the Fleet of Glorious Reverence, Fleetmaster Vral's helmeted visage appeared on view screens, everyone stopped working to see and wait for his orders. They were not disappointed.
"Brothers! Sisters! Sangheili, Uggony, Mglekgolo, *Kig-yar, and *Huragok of the Fleet of Glorious Reverence! As you all know the Hierarchs have betrayed us, when we went to answer the Call of Assembly by the Sublime Tracendence, I saw how hopeless our leaders were, there was fighting amongst the fleet masters, there was indecision when action was needed. After Imperial Fleetmaster Xytan allowed me to speak my thoughts, he chastised me! Saying that my youth was affecting my mind. After I returned to the Vengeance, we set off for Earth the human homeworld, to assist the Arbiter, Thel 'Vadamee. Before we had entered slip-space, a human nuclear device erupted from within the Tracendence, sending us off to the unknown when we emerged from slip-space we found that we had emerged on the edge of our home system, near Sanghelios. Only it wasn't. We now have learned that we have emerged in a alternate reality, one without the Sangheili. In another system close to Sanghelios, we are scouting to make ascertain of an anomaly we have found there. We are dealing with a possible first contact with another civilization, but this time we are coming with peace, but ready for war. So my orders for you my brothers and sisters are, be diligent in your tasks, ready for war, and mourn on your own time."
Muttinee's Task Force- Shimpaster Jit 'Muttinee is the Fleet's senior Stealth Operations Officer, in command of 1x Modified ORS-class cruiser(Fitted with light bending panels), 6x DAV- class corvettes(Stealth/Spy Ships), and 2x Modified ADP- class escort ships(Fitted with light bending panels)
Kig-Yar- Jackals for Halo fans
Huragok- Engineers for Halo fans