Chapter Three: The Sides Prepare
Tunnels of Ara'Teaan, August 22nd, 2556, Vodeea Kallstei…
Fieldmaster Xera 'Heitanee sat against a dark, stone wall, staring blankly at the Forerunner script adorning the wall on the opposite side of the cave. He had his helmet off and was deep in mental prayer as he read the sacred text on the polished metal structure. He tuned out the sound of his legion in the background and closed his eyes, trying to reach out to the gods.
"Fieldmaster, you are needed at the Pit." A voice said to him. Xera's eyes snapped open and he sighed in annoyance. Four times he had been interrupted by his second-in-command. He looked up to meet the eyes of the purple-clad soldier clutching a Carbine.
"What has happened this time, 'Zataree?" Xera asked, sounding slightly angry. 'Zataree stepped back from his superior slightly, with fear he would be punished for interruption.
"It's our comms, we're getting some form of feedback from our beacon." 'Zataree stated, looking warily at 'Heitanee. Xera, having heard no good news about the comms, perked up at this.
"What kind of feedback?" Xera queried, looking at 'Zataree intently.
"Radio, human in nature. We can't actually pick up any words, but the radio frequency matches that of a human radio system." 'Zataree exclaimed, catching Xera off guard.
Human radio? We haven't experienced any feedback since that meteor shower last year… Xera thought, putting a hand to one of his mandibles. And now actual radio signals? What are they up to…
"Fieldmaster! Come quick! Someone is speaking to us through the comms! A human!" One of his Major's yelled from across the room in the pit. Xera, adrenaline filling his veins, sprinted over and slid to the purple comm box.
"Fieldmaster Xera 'Heitanee, I am Scarlet, SPARTAN for the human association called ONI. I am calling to support you. If you comply, I will have my men break the glass and send down supplies. If you do not, we will break through the glass and storm your tunnels." The feminine voice said. Xera scoffed, how could the humans be foolish enough to allow frivolous females into their ranks?!
"How can I trust you?" Xera asked the voice. Although he never wanted to trust humans, the situation in the tunnels were beginning to sour; people were getting into fights, and there were rumblings of heresy.
"You can trust me because of the fact that you heard that radio feedback. We are here, mining the glass as we speak." She said. Xera looked up, and noted the fact that he did hear the light pounding of a human drill.
"Fine." 'Heitanee said indifferently. There was no way to stop them, especially since they had superior power - people from the outside world were able to get new technology, while the Sangheili in the tunnels had been using the same Plasma Rifles since 2536.
"Surely you cannot trust them!" 'Zataree asked, his hands waving at the air.
"We have no choice." Xera rumbled.
"Yes, we do. When they break the glass, we can blast them all and take the supplies!" 'Zataree exclaimed. Of course, it was a grand idea, if the humans were at the same technological level they were twenty years ago. But they weren't. If they were able to get a radio signal through the glass, they surely had better advancements than that. Stop it, Xera… What he was thinking was heresy, he could not respect humans, they were abominations to the galaxy! Wherever their footsteps went, destruction followed! But yet, Xera felt a slight admiration for the human's persistence and honor for their cause.
"No. We will let them in, but only for a time." Xera said finally.
"But Fieldmaster! We cannot let them put their filthy footsteps in our holy city!" 'Zataree yelled. All eyes turned to us, and everyone stopped what they were doing. From the other side of the comm, Xera heard a laugh, and the signal shut off.
Slowly, Xera rose up from the ground, facing 'Zataree. 'Zataree, not knowing what was happening, stepped back slowly, his hand inching for his energy sword.
"You will allow the humans entrance." Xera snarled. 'Zataree, with a face of courage, said firmly,
"No."
Xera, in an instant, grabbed his energy sword, activated it, and plunged it into 'Zataree's chest, pulling upwards, halving his torso. The Sangheili Major fell to the ground with a wet thump, and the whole Pit was silent.
Xera turned to the rest of his brothers.
"Does anyone else have objections?!" Xera yelled, raising his red-tinged energy sword. Everyone shook their heads and went back to what they were doing. "Good." Xera turned back to the comm and shutdown the system, not wanting any more interruptions.
UNSC Infinity Docking Bay Kilo-Alpha-Three, August 23rd, 2556, Orbiting Sanghelios…
Oshita, Kireyev, and two other men were standing in the corner of the fourth hangar of the Infinity. They were awaiting the arrival of the Sangheili part of their team. Outside of the hangar shield, a Sangheili Battlecruiser, the Dawn of Good Hope, sat waiting for the signal to transport the Lich dropship carrying the rest of the team.
"We've been standing here, what, two hours now?" One of the two new men wondered aloud. Oshita nodded his head and sighed, leaning against the metal wall of the hangar.
"All personnel in Hangar KA-3, please prepare for docking procedures." The shipboard AI, Roland, said over the intercom. From the Dawn of Good Hope, the Sangheili Cruiser under the Shadow of Intent, a small purple dot emerged from its ventral hangar. A dropship. The craft glided over to the Infinity and paused outside the shield for it to lower. The thick, impenetrable shield lowered just enough for the bulbous, purple craft to fly through. One fully stopped six meters over the floor, a gravity beam flickered on under the Lich to the ground. Five Sangheili figures glided to the ground. Oshita walked over to the leading Sangheili, who he recognized. Actually, everyone recognized him. Thel 'Vadam, with four soldiers behind him, towered over Oshita and the other SPARTAN's by over two feet. Oshita, being the natural leader he was, stepped forwards to greet the savior of Sanghelios.
"Oshita Takahata, UNSC SPARTAN Battalion Omega Theta Niner." Oshita announced, reaching out a hand for 'Vadam to shake. The Arbiter, being a polite, stout Sangheili, took the hand and shook it in the human custom he had only really come to understand. The three other SPARTANs walked up to Oshita, saluting the Arbiter. Because even though he wasn't apart of the UNSC, or their officer, he still outranked them in a primitive sense, he had that air around him. Everyone turned and look as the door to the hangar opened, revealing two figures. One was Palmer, in her SCOUT-class armor with a Battle Rifle slung over her back, and one was a living legend.
"SPARTAN Linda-058, reporting for duty." The tall SPARTAN announced. She was wearing experimental FOTUS-class Mjolnir, and was clutching a one-of-a-kind Sniper Rifle, Nornfang.
. Thel 'Vadam, being a seasoned Fleetmaster back during the Human-Covenant war, was quite surprised to see the SPARTAN he had thought he had killed.
"What is the purpose of your arrival, sir?" The second of the new men asked. The SPARTAN II turned them silently, slinging the Sniper Rifle over her back.
"Same reason why the Arbiter is here. To keep an eye on you." Linda said. Oshita, through his visored helmet, looked up at Linda questioningly.
"What do you mean?" Takahata pried, wanting to know why the Sangheili and the SPARTAN II seemed to wary of the SPARTAN IVs in the room. Of course, unknown to Takahata, the SPARTAN IVs had been reported as uncanny, sudden, and violent at times. Apparently, even Fleetcom wanted to protect themselves from their own creations. Linda took a note of the SPARTANs names, and what their weaknesses could be - just in case.
"We must go, the planet awaits." The Arbiter stated, gesturing for us to get into the Lich. Linda nodded, walking behind the Arbiter and his men as they walked away. Takahata, Kireyev, and the other two SPARTANs paused to comprehend what had been said before following their taller superiors.
"This is Shadow of Intent control to Lich Dropship 'Fist of Vadam', please dock in Hangar One." A rough voice said over the comm. The Arbiter, who was sitting on a Covenant ammo crate, stood up and went to the cockpit.
"Acknowledged, proceeding to Hangar One." The pilot, a T'Vaoan, replied. The Arbiter stayed in the cockpit, watching the avian's movements as it guided the mammoth dropship into the hangar.
Hangar One was on the ventral side of the Assault Carrier, and the Lich dropship had to fly up into the shielded hangar bay to be met with a plasma gangplank and armed Honor Guard. The doors on the side of the Lich opened, revealing this scene to the SPARTANs. The Arbiter returned from the cockpit and walked along the glowing blue platform to the hangar first, greeting his personal guards. The other Sangheili followed, except for one, who beckoned for us to go before him. They were watching the humans.
"Fieldmaster 'Hakkamr, please show our guests to their rooms." The Arbiter ordered the Honor Guard on the left. The guard bowed and turned to the SPARTAN team.
"Come with me, please." The Sangheili said in an oddly feminine voice. Oshita opened a private comm to Kireyev.
"Have you ever heard of a female Sangheili soldier?" Takahata whispered into the comm. From the corner of his visor, he saw Kireyev shake his head as he followed closely behind the Sangheili guard. The guard, 'Hakkamr, paused to type on a console next to a door. The purple barrier slid open to reveal an almost three kilometer long causeway, raised above the eight fusion cores the Shadow of Intent used to fuel itself. Linda, only used to blowing this kind of thing up, took a moment to look around the giant marvel of technology.
"Your rooms are on the far side of this causeway, inside the twentieth barracks." 'Hakkamr said, pointing at the purple dot of a door in the distance.
"Right." Linda replied quickly.
The group walked the rest of the way to the door in silence, the only sound in the room the low hum of the fusion cores. When they came up to the door, it was much larger than could be seen from afar. It was large enough to fit a Mgalekgolo into, and those were at least three or four metres tall. The door opened from the inside to reveal an Unggoy. The Unggoy, not used to seeing humans whatsoever jumped back in surprise. 'Hakkamr sighed and hissed a quick message to the stubby creature in Sangheili, pointing her Honor Guard pike at the Grunt. The Unggoy, surprised and confused, did what Grunts do best, escape. It ran past the group with a shriek, its arms waving behind it. Kireyev, used to seeing this in battle, snickered. Oshita cast an unseen glance to Zhenya through his visor. 'Hakkamr turned to the group.
"The rooms are clearly labeled, if you need me, use the comm unit on the inside of the door." She said bluntly, gesturing for us to head through. The Sangheili in the group scoffed and went on ahead into the hallway, heading into their previously assigned barracks. Kireyev took off his helmet, revealing his pale, scarred face. Oshita took off his as well, followed by the two other SPARTANs. Linda did not remove her helm, and stayed quiet as she waited for her 'team' to move along. Oshita, taking note of Linda's passive attitude, sighed and walked into the hallway.
Zara 'Hakkamr watched the group from the corner of the platform as she leaned against the wall. She admired the elder SPARTAN for tolerating these… knock-off versions of herself. The Sangheili warrior looked up at the ceiling and sighed. She hadn't really wanted to chaperone these humans, but she had done it to prove something to herself. That a female could be worthy in the Swords of Sanghelios.
Predating the Great Schism, the chances of finding a female soldier outside of the homeworld was close to zero, the most notable being Zara's great-grandmother, Kaidoness Teura of House Hakkamr, who fought and died on the human world of Reach.
"...'Hakkamr?" Zara snapped out of her thoughts at the mention of her name. In front of her was not the group, but her fellow Honor Guard, Iyea 'Hamarae.
"Yes, 'Hamarae?" Zara asked.
"Are you alright for duty?" 'Hamarae asked. 'Hakkamr looked at her comrade questioningly.
"Yes, why?" Zara replied. Iyea looked at her with a raised brow line.
"You were looking confused for a few moments." 'Hamarae commented. Zara looked down on Iyea.
"Odd." She said simply. Iyea shrugged and walked away, leaving 'Hakkamr in silence.
Takahata sat on his assigned bunk in the purple-colored barracks. He was trying to read a news article from his arm-mounted computer, but he just couldn't pay attention. He was too restless. So, giving up on his computer, he sat up on the bed with his legs dangling over the bunk and looked across the room at one of the two SPARTANs assigned to the team.
"I must notice that we have not been acquainted." Oshita said to the still-armored soldier. The SPARTAN rolled over with his helmet still on.
"Xi Quan Lei, Dragon Company, Fireteam Tianlong." The soldier said, unlatching the helmet from his head. Or, her head? One the VIPER-class helmet was removed, it revealed a woman's face.
"The SPARTAN Wave from planet Conquest?" Kireyev questioned. Conquest was a planet on the edge of UEG space, and was widely seen by UNSC personnel and citizens alike as a backwater world. Dragon Company, selected much like the original SPARTAN-IIs, were a small group - around forty-five - special individuals from that world. Citizens of Conquest were actually very good military recruitment choices. Because of the large amounts of Insurgent and gang activity on the world, most citizens have learned to survive. Dragon Company is seen, sadly, as inferior by other SPARTAN-IVs, and is sent on suicidal missions most of the time like the SPARTAN-III Headhunters.
"Yeah, that's where I'm from." Xi replied indifferently, rolling back over on the purple platform with a sigh.
"And you?" Kireyev pointed at the second SPARTAN, who was fiddling with a Sangheili nutrient wafer. The SPARTAN, who was half-listening to the conversation, looked up when he heard silence.
"Me?" The SPARTAN asked. Kireyev nodded. The SPARTAN, who was laying on his side, sat up and looked upwards at Kireyev.
"Yeah, you haven't introduced yourself." Kireyev said.
"Neither have you." Xi interjected. Kireyev shrugged.
The room was silent for a moment. Xi looked at Kireyev, the SPARTAN looked at Xi Quan Lei, and Kireyev sat back against the wall of the room looking over the soldiers in the room. The SPARTAN was the first to break the silence with an answer to the question.
"Raleigh Patel, Agamemnon Company, Fireteam Electra." The SPARTAN announced. Zhenya nodded and sat up on the edge of the bed again. He slid down to the floor and walked over to Xi, who glared up at him.
"Zhenya Kireyev, Eagle Company, Fireteam Old Glory." Kireyev said slightly menacingly. Xi, who was quite calm, looked quietly at Kireyev.
"Why do I not think we're going to make a good team?" Patel said, leaning on his elbow as he stared at the scene. Oshita looked down at Raleigh and sighed.
"Because we are too different and aren't used to working together." Takahata said, jumping to the ground from his top-bunk position. Patel glanced at Oshita with a lopsided smile.
"I think we can get the job done," Patel started. "If we split up."
"In what way?" Oshita asked, interested. Raleigh shifted on the bed.
"That we split up. We work as a team in different positions. We were ordered to work together as one unit, but I disagree." Patel said. "You're a good sniper, I'm a good CQB specialist, Xi Quan Lei is good with explosives. I also saw from the files that Kireyev is a good spotter and can fly all sorts of aircraft."
"What is your point." Xi said, leaning into the conversation.
"That if we use those specialties together, we can overcome the enemy, if there is one."
"Quite confusing, to be honest. You don't have a plan." Xi said. It was correct, he had a point, but no plan.
"I can make one if we have a terrain map of the area."
"Then look it up on your arm computer, genius!" Kireyev exclaimed. Patel laughed and flipped up the small screen on his forearm, rapidly typing on the holographic screen.
"Alright, here we go." Raleigh pressed a button and a 3D holographic map filled the room.
"Vodeea Kallstei?" Takahata confirmed. Patel nodded and zoomed in on a specific spot.
"This, as labeled on the map by Liang Dortmund, is the Kaashei Mountains, named after a god from some religion from New Harmony. The area where the thinnest glass is, and where we're going to be dropped off to break into the ground, is on the northernmost mountain, Mount Setrata."
"Question, why are we dropping there?" Kireyev asked, pointing at the highlighted drop zone.
"Well, we already knew the tunnels were there, and the Liang Dortmund Corporation was going to begin mining there in a few months until the area was cordoned off by the UNSC and the whole continent became a black zone."
"So you're saying, we're the only ones that know what's happening?"
"Us and the Sangheili, yes." Patel said.
"Interesting. Why is this top secret?"
"Probably so that nobody, human or other will freak out at seeing real Covenant again."
The room became silent again, but was quickly interrupted by a knock at the door. Oshita walked over to the door and leaned against it.
"Who is it?"
"Zara 'Hakkamr." Came a swift and simple reply. Oshita put his hand on the angled panel next to the door, pressing in to open the door. Zara came in, not in Honor Guard regalia, but in deep purple Field Marshal armor. She turned to the holographic map and smiled slightly.
"I have come to inform you that your team has been invited to a repast with the Arbiter and his officials regarding the mission in twenty minutes on the dorsal observation deck. Attendance is stressed." Zara announced. The SPARTANs in the room, whom had been paying slightly more attention to the map than to their new arrival suddenly turned their heads. The Arbiter had not been known to hold any form of event for guests - of they could be called that.
"Thank you for notifying us, we shall attend." Takahata said politely, smiling. 'Hakkamr nodded and stepped away from the door in silence, walking away as the magenta door slid closed.