In the skies over Noveria, now in its third day of conflict, small blue spheres were visible popping into existence and fading from it just as quickly. To the residents it was an odd phenomenon, one that the few defenders left had much time to gaze upon. To the invaders it was reassurance: nearly infinite reinforcements were arriving as they watched.
The Fleet of Blessed Truth was arriving, several hundred ships strong as it was. At the core of the fleet, the very last vessel to arrive in-system was the 28 kilometer long supercarrier Faith and Glorious Redemption. It followed the same spoon-shaped layout of the CCS-class battlecruisers currently on the surface of the planet, save for its prow hooked down and under it, terminating at a sharp point midway along the relatively thin neck of the vessel.
In the center of the Faith and Glorious Redemption was a chamber usually left unused, locked up and guarded by at least two sangheili at all hours of the day. Admittance to the chamber was rare, and stumbling into the corridor was a death sentence delivered at the tip of the Honor Guard's energy swords. Defeating the fourteen in the hall would be a feat, but in the antechamber waited ninety-six more, and the ship carried six hundred.
No one on the Faith and Glorious Redemption was in any doubt of their mission. This ship bore two of the Hierarchs, two of the holy triumvirate that led the Covenant along the path to the Great Journey. The third Hierarch remained aboard the Covenant's mobile capital city of High Charity.
"Brother Serenity, what do you make of these tidings?" the High Prophetess of Penitence asked of the High Prophet of Serenity.
Serenity rubbed his chin, looking perplexed. His eyes seemed to glaze over as the old san 'shyuum thought. "It is most unsettling. Were these reports to be true, the implications…"
"They are great indeed," Penitence replied, finishing the ponderously slow elder Prophet's sentence.
"Yes, thank you," he quipped, clearing his throat. "Were it to be true that the aliens are in possession of relics, or guarding the reliquary, we may have to launch a full scale attack."
"Are we not already engaged in such an attack?" Penitence replied.
"Indeed we are however currently the attack is limited to a single battle group. We have at our fingertips enough force to conquer a hundred planets this size. Perhaps we should put it to use to secure the reliquary," Serenity suggested, looking at the younger Prophetess with a vivaciousness she didn't think he could muster.
"Do you think it wise, Brother? We have no knowledge of these aliens. They could be a two-planet species or a galaxy-spanning empire that could usher in a new Age of Conflict," Penitence asked. Serenity couldn't distinguish if she was more worried about the Covenant or her position within it, and it irked him somewhat.
"What would be wrong with such an Age? Too long have we sat in recumbence watching our Covenant grow fat sitting in High Charity. We are not seeking the Journey; we are growing too fat to pursue it," Serenity countered, his old voice gaining life and growing sharp, his very words assailing Penitence 's ears.
"Brother, charging into a war for want of excitement is no cure to stagnation. We must investigate further. If it is proven these aliens are withholding the relics, I will lead the movement to label them all heretics and watch their worlds melt away, but I will not support that move without cause," Penitence said, raising her voice accordingly.
Serenity bared his sharp yellowing teeth in a slight grin, his aged graying skin seeming to lighten up. He always had that predatory grin when he managed to cajole someone into yelling. He knew, correctly, that he was winning a debate when it reached this point.
A light came on next to the door, signifying a visitor had been vetted and prepared by the Honor Guard. "Send them in," Serenity said before Penitence could.
Two sangheili deprived of their armor and weapons were escorted into the room by a team of Honor Guardsmen. They immediately fell to a knee and waited to be addressed by the Prophets, who hovered toward them on their gravity thrones.
"What tidings do you bring shipmaster?" Penitence asked, craning her long neck to get a better look at the first sangheili. Both Prophets had been expecting them, and knew their names and ranks long in advance of their landing aboard the Faith and Glorious Redemption.
"Noble Prophets, I bring tidings regarding the reliquary on this world," Eai'te said, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the ground before him.
"Pray tell, shipmaster, what are they?" Serenity asked, his voice whip like and scathing in its harshness.
"There are aliens on the surface that appear to… be the relics," Eai'te answered.
Serenity laughed heartily, maneuvering his floating throne around the two sangheili. "You believe the aliens are the relics? That is ridiculous beyond measure."
Penitence cast a dark look at Serenity whipping her head up fast enough her waddle almost hit her in the face. She turned to the sangheili, and with a much softer tone of voice she asked, "What proof do you have? Where are the Luminations that support this?"
At her behest an Honor Guardsman approached and handed her a data chip before backing away reverently. Penitence looked over the Lumination, before handing it to a still-dismissive Serenity. He too looked over the Lumination, particularly noting the single reclamation glyph in the hull of the Sanctified Advance.
"So you've recovered a single relic from this vast reliquary?" Serenity asked over the holographic representation of the Lumination.
"In a manner of speaking," Eai'te replied. "We captured two aliens: one calling itself a 'human' and another calling itself a 'turian'. You will find that the alien called 'human' occupies the exact point in space where the Luminary has denoted a Glyph of Reclamation."
"Is that so? Had it not occurred to you that the so-called 'human' is holding a relic, or has perhaps had one implanted in him? Forget for a moment that such an act is heresy and would necessitate the destruction of this world," Serenity said with hungry eyes. The prospect of a war was something he knew to be the way forward for the Covenant. His yellowing teeth appeared behind a faint flicker of a grin.
"The chief of our zealot detachment has thoroughly examined other such aliens, all marked with the Glyph. There is nothing within or upon them that carries the relic we seek. Furthermore, when the aliens are killed the Glyphs fade. That vast reliquary has languished to a mere handful of Glyphs," Eai'te explained with a flat tone.
Penitence turned to Serenity, motioning for the two of them to retreat to the far end of the room, out of earshot of the sangheili.
"Were it to be true, that these aliens are themselves relics, our teachings for a thousand years have been false," Penitence mumbled. "They must have been left behind when the Gods embarked on the Journey."
"Don't be absurd," Serenity scoffed. "Perhaps the Luminary—"
"That is truly absurd. Luminaries do not err, Brother," Penitence cut in. Her voice was now almost as biting as his. "We cannot allow the truth of this to emerge. If we are revealed to have misled the Covenant for centuries, it could destroy itself. Our legitimacy would be ruined!"
"Now it is you who treads upon your own words. We cannot go to war with no information was your bent before, but now you are in agreement? It is admittedly a poor position to find yourself in," Serenity said, flashing that predatory grin again.
"This is no time for ridicule. We are facing an existential crisis," Penitence persevered, heedless of Serenity's games. It caught the elder Prophet off-guard, and his grin rapidly faded.
"I would have to agree," Serenity said after a moment. "Perhaps we can keep it quiet. I should like to examine the alien myself, though, for certainty's sake."
"Keep it quiet? Should we not submit to the Oracle the latest Luminations? Altering a Lumination is punishable by death," Penitence objected.
"Punishable by death for them," Serenity countered, motioning to the sangheili. "It is punishable for the unggoy, the kig-yar, the lekgolo, or the yan'mee, yes. Not for the High Prophet."
"Such hypocrisy," Penitence spat. "Perhaps it is within our power to do so. It would be a mortal sin, though, and perhaps that is a risk disproportionate with the consequences of letting out that these aliens are relics."
"The dissolution of the Covenant is such a risk," Serenity countered, his voice still quiet to avoid the sangheili's attention. "The leadership of the san 'shyuum being declared illegitimate is such a risk, as well. The very death of our species at the hand of a vengeful sangheili is another such risk. Would you have it so that the High Prophetess of Penitence was part of the final triumvirate to lead the Covenant? I would not have such evil assigned to my name."
"You are being dramatic," Penitence protested, weakly. As she searched for words the ghostly hologram of the third High Prophet, Contrition, flickered into existence beside them.
"I apologize for being late, Brothers," Contrition said loudly. "I had matters that needed attending to, and they ran longer than I expected."
"Never mind it," Serenity said curtly. He turned toward the sangheili, the two dressed in simple clothes still kneeling. "Please, leave us."
Dutifully the sangheili left, leaving them alone again. "We have a problem," Penitence said as the door sealed, leaving them in the purple room.
"What is that?" Contrition asked with a bored expression on his face.
"This vessel's Luminary is marking an alien with the Glyph of Reclamation," Penitence explained quickly.
"So what?" Contrition asked. "Perhaps it is the Gods' will that we are to reclaim them."
"Reclaim a species of alien? Why then have we not been directed to reclaim another species? Why were the unggoy and lekgolo not marked as such?" Serenity asked.
"A fair question," Contrition replied. "That would seem to suggest these aliens are connected to the Gods."
"Indeed," Penitence said.
"That can not be right. No one is left behind on the Journey," Contrition replied flatly, his eyes flicking between his two peers.
"If this Lumination is true…" Serenity said, unsure of how Contrition would reply.
"The possibilities are numerous, and grim," Contrition finished. "I don't know how we preserve the Covenant through this."
"We should take this Lumination and bring it to the Oracle. It is the only way to know for certain what is happening," Penitence suggested, looking to the other two for agreement.
"That would take time, time our enemies may use to build up for our return," Serenity protested.
"As I recall, they aren't our enemies yet," Contrition shot back, shutting Serenity down.
"Then we set course for High Charity," Penitence said, summarizing the discussion. She opened a communication channel with the captain of the guard outside, and said, "Send the shipmaster back to his vessel, to coordinate the ground operations with the fleet. Keep the one who learned their tongue aboard."
"Your will be done," the Guard replied.
"Transmit our order: the Faith and Glorious Redemption is to return to High Charity at once, and the fleet is to hold position and let nothing leave the planet," Serenity said, his voice deathly quiet after his being shut down at the hands of Contrition.
The elder of the two sangheili was escorted from the room and an Honor Guardsman led the younger towards the Hierarchs. The sangheili continued to avert his eyes, staring at a point on the floor.
"You may look at us," Contrition said, bemused. He floated toward the sangheili, who raised his eyes dutifully.
"We've been informed you know some of these aliens' language?" Serenity shot, going directly to the point. His temper was barely constrained as it was, and would have none of the sangheili's reverence.
"Yes, Noble Hierarch," 'Tuka replied. "I have only been able to glean a few simple words and phrases. The language is exceptionally easy to learn, the words simple to form and their grammar very straightforward."
"The initiative taken there is impressive, all the more when you consider the risk it posed to your place on the Journey," Penitence said quietly. She floated around behind the sangheili, examining him.
"How do you mean?" 'Tuka asked, alarmed.
"We do not know if these aliens are heretics or worthy of walking the path and their words staining your mouth may yet be a mark of extreme dishonor. It remains to be seen," Contrition answered.
"I did not know," 'Tuka replied, his voice numb after such a threat.
The Captain of the Guard returned to the room, announcing, "The vessel is prepared to journey back to the Holy City."
"Take us forth," Serenity spat with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Leave us."
The Captain nodded and left the room without further speech.
On the surface of Noveria a spirit deposited Eai'te on the surface, once again in his shipmasters' armor. The planet, he decided, was one of the most miserable he'd set foot on—something of a feat. He got into contact with Marshal 'Borahee to keep him abreast of the situation.
"What is the situation, Marshal?" he asked after the ship's AI connected him to 'Borahee.
"We have taken the city, shipmaster," 'Borahee replied. "We have no relics in hand."
"Fear not," Eai'te replied quickly. "The Hierarchs have been appraised by Ultra 'Etforamee. They are en route to the Holy City to decide what to do."
"What to do about what? This planet, these aliens, or the missing relics?" 'Borahee asked.
"All three, I should think," Eai'te answered. He was halfway to the hall his men had established as a field command post. Two Ultras stood watch outside the doors, stoic against the biting cold. Quickly he stepped inside, looking at the table. Any remaining reclamation glyphs were far outside of the city, retreating rapidly into the wastes.
"It is just as well, then. Something is amiss on this planet," 'Borahee said after a moment.
"I agree," Eai'te said, looking up at the display in time to see several dozen unknown ships appear at the far rim of the system.
"Brother, I must break contact. A fleet has arrived in the system," Eai'te said, his words stumbling on top of each other. He turned again toward the door of the hall and ran out into the snow toward the gravity lift.
A few short minutes later he burst onto the bridge, ordering that the Sanctified Advance and a second ship of the flotilla, the Swift Repentance, advance into orbit to join the fleet.
The two CCS-class battlecruisers joined a formation of two dozen others and lined up opposite the inbound ships, who dropped out of FTL just on the boundary of the reach of their weapons, but unknowingly far within the reach of those belonging to the Covenant.
All ships were being hailed by an odd voice covering every frequency, a wide-range effort at communication.
"What is that noise?" Eai'te asked a communications technician.
"It is the aliens' attempt at communication," the technician replied.
Dwwhqwlrq xqnqrzq yhvvhov fhdvh rshudwlrqv rq wkh vxuidfh ri wkh sodqhw dw rqfh ru zh zloo iluh xsrq brx appeared again on the communications console, the characters not translating correctly.
"Get to work translating that," Eai'te ordered, well aware that the task was nearly impossible.
"Yes, shipmaster," the technician replied dutifully, setting to work.
On the holotank at the center of the room a sangheili appeared in holographic form, ornate armor decorating his body. "This is Fleet Master Voro' Tuyokee. All ships hold position. The Hierarchs are en route to the Holy City to consult the Oracle on these aliens. We are only to fire if fired upon."
"All stations: Only fire on my order, or when the ship is fired upon," Eai'te repeated down to the various fire control stations throughout his vessel.
As technicians across the fleet struggled to figure out what the aliens were saying, the Faith and Glorious Redemption arrived at the Holy City, a massive space station shaped vaguely like a mushroom with a tapering bottom. It was surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of ships, by far the largest fleet in the Covenant.
The supercarrier approached the pinnacle of the station, holding position above it as three spirits departed from one of its many hangar bays.
They flew in a widely spaced line towards a special dock built into the top of the station for the Prophets' use. As they arrived, two spirits broke from the formation and returned to the supercarrier. The third carried in it the Prophets and 'Tuka, who all marched purposefully into the ship.
Once within the Sanctum of the Hierarchs, they reunited with the Prophet of Contrition. 'Tuka was not allowed within, and remained outside with several Lights of Sanghelios in uncomfortable silence. He found himself wishing he wasn't dressed so humbly around them, as they clearly looked down on him.
The hall got progressively narrower the closer to the Sanctum it got, but 'Tuka was still in the antechamber, looking up the hall toward the sealed and guarded doors. Time seemed to drag on, and he started to wonder why he'd been brought along.
Several minutes later the Hierarchs emerged in single file, each atop their unique gravity throne. They appeared to be deep in thought, and 'Tuka caught his first glance at the Prophet of Contrition in person.
Contrition was as young as Serenity, but not quite as hasty. His skin was a healthy brown color rather than the pallid grey of Serenity's, but not the brighter tan of Penitence's. The hair growing on his long horizontal neck was flawlessly maintained, and his eyes cast furtive glances to both his compatriots. He floated out behind the other two Hierarchs, who wordlessly motioned for 'Tuka to follow.
The sangheili all boarded a barge that followed the three Hierarchs out of the tower the Sanctum existed in and into the open air within High Charity, dominated by the Forerunner dreadnought.
'Tuka beheld it for the first time: it was simple looking, but infinitely complex. The dreadnought was formed with three prongs facing downward, like landing struts, and a fourth pointing directly upwards. Light glinted off of the polished off-white metal from the city's artificial star, a stark contrast to the dark purple tones of the rest of High Charity. The experience of seeing it was all the more powerful with the Hierarchs surrounding him.
As they approached, 'Tuka aboard a tug holding a detachment of Guards and the Hierarchs each floating on their powerful thrones, the open space within the City was made plain. It took them several minutes to fly there, crossing several kilometers of distance.
Their transport arrived at the dreadnought's hangar, and the three Prophets advanced before 'Tuka and the detachment of Honor Guard who had ridden along with him. Within the vast dark room were many hundreds of Mgalekgolo, sentries that protected the priests. Also present was an oddly large number of huragok, floating about the room looking at the walls, expressly forbidden from touching them. The san 'shyuum zealously guarded the dreadnought from any outside interference, and while they tolerated huragok examining the walls for glyphs or any sort of lore they would react most violently to a huragok or lekgolo attempting to penetrate the walls.
At the far end of the hangar, surrounded by white-robed san 'shyuum, floated the Philologist. The first thing 'Tuka noticed about her was her stone gravity chair—something far less advanced than the Hierarchs'.
The party advanced across the room towards the priests who had only just learned of their sudden approach.
"Welcome, most holy hierarchs," the Philologist said from her place atop the ramp, bowing as low as her own comparatively humble gravity throne would allow. She waved a hand and dismissed her underlings, who each floated back to their own tasks atop their gravity chairs. "For what has the very great honor of your visit been bestowed upon me?"
"Greetings, Philologist. We have come to consult the Oracle on a most curious Lumination," Contrition announced, brandishing the thin data chip he received from the shipmaster of the Sanctified Advance.
"Very good," the Philologist said, turning away and calling over her shoulder, "Follow me, if you would."
The party walked into the center of the dreadnought, a profoundly silent and dark place. Several san 'shyuum went about their business as they proceeded toward the center of the room, where the Oracle rested. It too was bathed in light, as though it was the core of the dreadnought and by extension the very core of the Covenant itself. Surrounding the golden form of the Oracle were several high onyx obelisks, towers that the Oracle was connected to by thin silver wires.
The Philologist turned her throne about to face the Hierarchs, and behind them the sangheili group. "Noble Prophets, if I may see the Lumination?"
"But of course," Contrition said, moving forward and handing the chip to the Philologist.
"Thank you," the Philologist said, bowing again and turning to insert the Lumination into the nearest polished black onyx tower.
The room shook viciously, cracking the onyx and showering dust down onto the delegation.
"By the Forerunners, what was that?" Serenity asked, looking at the Philologist.
"The Oracle awakens!" she shouted, staring at the golden teardrop shape of the Oracle, whose single black lens brightened rapidly to an unbearable light, threatening to blind those present.
A deep voice issued forth from what seemed to be the very walls, or the bowels of the ship.
=YOUR IDIOCY IS VAST AND BOUNDLESS=
The san 'shyuum were shocked to silence on top of being unable to look towards the Oracle, still spilling blinding volumes of light out into the room. They each had their arms raised before their eyes, the flowing robes blocking the worst of the light. The sangheili had no such defense, and pressed their eyes closed as tightly as possible while looking away.
"What idiocy? Show us the error of our ways!" the Philologist beseeched of the Oracle.
=THAT WHICH YOU FOUND IS NOT 'RECLAMATION'=
They all waited for the Oracle to speak again, something that had not happened for ages, if it ever has happened before.
=THAT MEANS 'RECLAIMER'=
The Oracle dimmed its light and projected the Reclamation glyph. It then flipped the glyph vertically, showing it to have been read upside-down all those centuries.
=YOU HAVE DISCOVERED MY MAKERS, AND DESTROYED THEM=
"Your makers?" the Philologist gasped.
"It is true, then," Serenity whispered. "Some were left behind."
"Nonsense, there must be some mistake!" Penitence shouted at Serenity, even though she knew she was wrong. The Oracle could not be mistaken.
Its eye moved from one Hierarch to the next.
=I MUST GO TO THEM. ONE BETRAYAL CAN BE SALVED BY ANOTHER=
Far below the chamber they were in the great ship's engines rumbled to life, threatening to blast out of High Charity, which would destroy the city and devastate the Covenant. Billions would die. Lights began to come on in the walls, illuminating the entire room.
"Deactivate it! Quickly!" Serenity shouted, pointing to the Philologist, who seemed too awed to act. He turned to the Honor Guard, repeating his order.
The sangheili around 'Tuka opened their eyes and drew their plasma rifles, taking careful aim at the silvery strands that connected the Oracle to the dreadnought and firing, destroying several strands on the first volley. After a second all strands were severed and the ship ceased quaking. The walls darkened immediately, shrouding the room in shadow.
=HALF MEASURES WILL NOT SUFFICE FOR LONG=
The Oracle fell silent, its light darkening and pointing once again toward the ground.
"What have you done?" the Philologist asked, poison filling her voice. She stared at the Hierarchs with barely-constrained fury. "You have fired upon the most holy Oracle!"
"Watch your tone!" Serenity spat, swiveling to face the Philologist. "You speak to a Hierarch!"
Several mgalekgolo thundered into the room, the thousand-pound beasts pointing glowing green arm-mounted fuel rod cannons at the sangheili who had fired upon the Oracle.
'Tuka worked to distance himself from the Honor Guard, knowing that if the mgalekgolo fired they would obliterate most of the Guard in the first volley. He also knew that he must protect the Hierarchs from the visibly mad Philologist. He counted six mgalekgolo, which were more than a match for one sangheili.
"Lay down your weapons, then," Contrition ordered, and the Guard put down their plasma rifles. Some hesitated before laying down their staves, the glowing orange weapons little more than ceremonial tools but still a matter of honor to the sangheili.
The Philologist maneuvered away from the Hierarchs, staring daggers at them. She fell in behind the mgalekgolo, now growling at each other and awaiting direction.
"Holding us is high treason," Penitence said.
"What you did is heresy. What you've preached since time immemorial is heresy!" the Philologist shouted back.
"Stay your tongue!" Serenity shouted, his three-fingered hands gripping the arms of his throne tightly. "You will burn for what you have said in here today!"
Without hesitation the Philologist turned to the mgalekgolo. "These sangheili have fired upon the Oracle. These san 'shyuum spread false prophecy! Cleanse this holy site of their filth!"
The mgalekgolo hesitated. Fire upon a Hierarch?
That hesitation was all the sangheili needed. Swiftly they scooped up their arms, some hurling their energy staff into the hulking mgalekgolo, driving them deep into their armor, the wounds dripping bioluminescent amber blood.
However, those wounds did little but infuriate the mgalekgolo. The beasts charged the crowd of Honor Guards, plowing through their ranks and smashing several literally flat.
A general melee had begun, with the sangheili suffering great losses to bring down the first three hunters. 'Tuka picked up a plasma rifle, firing it at the nearest mgalekgolo, scoring several hits on its exposed back before it turned to face him.
"You fool!" Serenity shouted, backing his throne away in tandem with the other two Prophets. "You've drawn it to us!"
"Fear not, Hierarch!" 'Tuka shouted, scooping up an energy staff and standing between the mgalekgolo and its targets. The mgalekgolo charged, swinging its shielded arm at 'Tuka, who leapt over the massive shield.
'Tuka stabbed the energy staff toward the exposed throat of the mgalekgolo, driving it home, causing the beast to roar and spin, throwing him off of its back and sending him sprawling to the floor. It advanced toward the Prophets, but 'Tuka got to his feet and jumped onto the thing's back, grabbing the energy staff and twisting it, ripping out a majority of the lekgolo that formed the neck, causing the mgalekgolo to rumble and fall before the Hierarchs.
"Go, sangheili, find the heretic and kill her!" Serenity ordered, pointing at the fleeing form of the Philologist.
"As you wish," 'Tuka answered, charging past the remaining Honor Guard as they finished off the last two mgalekgolo.
The Philologist's chair lacked the power to fly, and she was locked to the ground. She turned the corner toward the hangar, where there would be more than enough reinforcements to smash the weakened Honor Guard and the Hierarchs.
'Tuka followed her, gaining quickly. He pushed off of the ground, sailing through the air onto her throne.
"Stop! Do you not see through their lies?" the Philologist asked. "Some were left behind!"
"You cannot see through your own," 'Tuka growled, kicking the Philologist out of her throne.
"They misread the glyph! The Covenant is predicated upon a vast lie!" she said, louder, scrambling across the floor.
"Your place upon the Journey is forfeit," 'Tuka said, drawing the plasma rifle he'd taken and firing twice into the Philologist.
The sounds of battle had died with the Philologist, and 'Tuka returned to the chamber where the last half dozen Honor Guards and the Hierarchs waited. "The heretic is dead," he announced.
"You have done well," Serenity said. "Your combat prowess is evident."
"You honor me," 'Tuka said, humbled.
"Know this, then. Our Covenant is in grave danger," Contrition said. "I know not how to explain this adequately."
"Allow me, then. These aliens you have encountered, those which you have learned to speak to in some measure, are being labeled as Gods. The Oracle seemed to think they were its makers, but that is impossible. So we are at a crossroads, where one direction leads the Covenant to ruin and dissolution, where the other leads us further down the Path. The heretic attempted to tread the first path, but we must endeavor to bring the Covenant down the second. We are the shepherds to the flock, but we require a hand by which to guide the flock. You will be that hand. You shall be our Arbiter, to aid us and stand against any foe," Penitence pronounced from before the Oracle.
"This is an honor beyond measure, Holy Ones. What have I done to deserve this?" 'Tuka asked.
"You did as you were told without question," Serenity said. He maneuvered closer to 'Tuka, examining him again as he had on the Faith.
"More than that, you did it with skill and speed. That mgalekgolo was brought down deftly, and your actions on the ice planet speak to this as well," Contrition said.
"What would you have your Arbiter do?" 'Tuka, the Arbiter, asked.
"We must resolve this situation on the ice planet, and find out what we can about these aliens, especially those so-called 'reclaimers'," Serenity said. "Go forth now and retrieve your armor from the Mausoleum of the Arbiter, and return to the planet. Take command and end the conflict there before we must declare a new Age."
"As you will it, it shall be done," the Arbiter said, departing from the room.
A/N
Sorry for the long distance between this chapter and the last. Finals week took up all my free time, and I reread parts of Contact Harvest to get a vision of the Oracle and High Charity down a little better. While I'm apologizing, sorry this chapter is nearly twice as long as the previous ones. I'll try not to do that too often. This time I just had trouble finding some place to stop.
PM me with questions, comments, or concerns, or leave a review. Or both! I like to try to take everyone's opinions in while I write. It keeps it interesting for me, too, believe it or not. I'd lose interest so fast if it was all scripted out.
As always, thank you for reading and thank you for your feedback and patience!
JLake4