"It is the only way," Penitence said to the other two Prophets. They sat in the huge room decorated with glass shards dangling from the ceiling. They had seen one of the Ministers escorted through earlier, but had managed to remain undetected.
"I do not agree," Serenity hissed. Contrition sighed quietly, tugging at his robes.
The three of them hovered toward the door to the inner sanctum in silence and proceeded through in single file.
Three san 'shyuum on infinitely less complex chairs hovered opposite the High Prophets of Serenity, Penitence, and Contrition in the darkened Sanctum of the Hierarchs. The room was ornate even by Covenant standards, decorated with green tiling on the floors and widened ornamental doors. A massive window overlooked outer space, and in it the occasional flicker of a ship arriving from slipspace or departing into it.
The visitors had been escorted from their offices by Honor Guard sangheili, and understandably they were a little uneasy. It wasn't every day you were interrupted from your duties by a towering sangheili dedicated to guarding the Hierarchs themselves.
The san 'shyuum on the right of the group, the Minister of Abnegation, was unused to any kind of attention. His ministerial post was one that you were promoted to if those higher still wished for your progress to stop. He had sat in his office for many cycles; dispatching his Ascetics to the field when it was determined that faith was slipping in the units out there. Typically he worked hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Tranquility, as their missionaries were on the very fringe of Covenant space for years at a time, where their faith could easily falter over time.
Today he was surprised to find himself in the one place he never expected to be found: the Sanctum of the Hierarchs. He suspected that his Honor Guard sangheili had taken him the long way into this room, escorting him through a room larger than any he'd seen on the station decorated from floor to ceiling with glittering shards of glass from their many conquests. The purpose of the meeting was a great mystery to him.
To his left was the Minister of Etiology, oftentimes whispered about in the halls of power as being too shrewd to have gotten to his lofty rank through any strictly legal means. He had almost expected a call sooner, although not necessarily by the High Prophets themselves. The twin events of the creation of a new Arbiter and the assassination attempt aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought signified something major happening, but his agents were expressly forbidden from questioning the Honor Guard and they would likely be dead if they tried to plumb an Arbiter for information.
He didn't particularly enjoy being on the receiving end of any surprise as a result of the Ministry of Etiology's line of work—namely the studying of causes or origins, which had over time evolved into a sort of intelligence apparatus more than anything. He drummed his three fingers on the arm of the chair anxiously, waiting for the secret to be revealed.
Last in line was the Minister of Fortitude. He was the only one in the room in the know, although not to the extent of the High Prophets. He knew about a vast reliquary on the ice planet, but had no idea what the Oracle had said several cycles prior. Coupled with the knowledge of the reliquary, Fortitude had a decent idea why three san 'shyuum had been called to the Sanctum of the Hierarchs.
The Prophets had entered silently, and the three Legates had noticed that the Prophet of Serenity was seething about something. His temper was legendary though, so it was the norm that his knuckles be white as he gripped his chair's arm.
"Good morning, Ministers," the Prophet of Penitence said from her position between Contrition and Serenity.
"It is an honor to be called here," Fortitude said, bowing low. The other two Ministers echoed the statement and the bow.
"It is with a joyous heart that I inform you that there has been a vast reliquary discovered on an ice planet not far from our search zone. Indeed, it may be the reliquary the heretic aliens from the center of the galaxy were drawing from. Astonishingly, these relics are marked by the most holy of glyphs," Penitence began, projecting the un-corrected "Reclamation" glyph before her on the holotank in the center of the room. The visitors hadn't even seen the lights go down.
"It cannot be," Fortitude gasped. "Reclamation? We haven't found such relics in several Ages."
"Indeed they are marked with the glyph," Contrition said. "There were many thousands of them."
"Excuse me, noble Prophet, but you said 'were'. Am I to take it that they no longer exist? I thought we exterminated the heretic bugs," the Minister of Etiology asked, suddenly worried that the relics had again been shuttled off-world or destroyed. The destruction of so many relics in the galactic core had lead to many weeks of prayer and fasting, as well as the sacrifice of hundreds of unggoy as directed by the Ministry of Penance.
"Alas, we destroyed them. However, there are many more aliens than we thought. The discovery of these races 'human' and 'turian', among some yet unnamed others is a challenge we sought to overcome, however events unfolded that spelled out to us that it was time for a new Age, as we are no longer in doubt of our mission. It is time for Reclamation," Penitence said.
Now it was known to the three Ministers why they had been summoned. They were the Prophets' own chosen successors. They remained silent, awaiting a call to speak. The thought at the forefront of their minds was that this was an odd move. Generally the oncoming of a new Age was nowhere near as secretive, and was an event to be celebrated.
"As our final act we choose you as our successors. The attempt on our lives by the heretic Philologist was the sign we took to mean we should call to an end the old Age," Contrition explained. "We have assured your ascension will not be challenged by the High Council, nor the Council of Deed and Doctrine. All that remains is for your assumption of the mantles of High Prophets."
"It is a very great honor, one which I am most unworthy of," Abnegation said, again bowing low. "My service does not warrant this, however if called upon by the Covenant I will take that mantle."
"Minister, your service is invaluable. The faith of our Covenant is kept strong by your Ministry, run for many cycles by your able hands," Contrition said, beckoning for Abnegation to straighten up.
"I, too, am unworthy of this honor," Fortitude announced, "but I shall serve if it is your will."
"As will I," Etiology echoed.
"Then it is agreed. We shall issue the call, today the Eighteenth Age of Doubt ends, and the Seventh Age of Reclamation begins," Penitence said, raising her hands to the Reclamation glyph projected across the center of the room.
Serenity merely scowled, looking at the other five san 'shyuum like they were insane. Such fervor! He thought, grimacing. They do not know what they are doing. Pretending like nothing happened will not solve this problem!
Eai'te Sakgree strode into the Council of Masters convened aboard the recently-returned flagship Faith and Glorious Redemption. The room was a wide circle, lit brightly from several lights above. A massive holotank in the center of the room projected a rotating image of the ice planet, marked with the locations of Covenant units.
Before the hologram stood Fleet Master Voro 'Tuyokee, adorned in golden armor with his arms crossed as he examined a particular section of the planet in higher detail. Two dozen ship masters had assembled in the room, shuttled from their vessels to the massive super carrier.
Eai'te took his position behind a table that followed the curve of the wall, forming a large semicircular table matched by another on the other side of the room. Several other ship masters had already taken their seats on either side of the room, and after Eai'te arrived several more filed in until the room was filled.
Fleet Master 'Tuyokee turned around and brought the lights down, making the hologram far clearer. "Greetings, brothers. I convened a Council of Masters this day to discuss a serious matter, as you may have inferred. We have received instructions from the Holy City."
The ship masters leaned forward, expecting an order to destroy the fleet that had been assembling opposite them, appearing along the outer rim of the system and speeding inwards. They had watched as more than fifty small vessels gathered.
"Most importantly I must announce that the most noble Hierarchs have seen fit to create an Arbiter to guide us through the coming trials. We are honored by the presence of the Hand of the Prophets," the Fleet Master said, stepping toward the door and opening it, revealing a sangheili dressed in ancient-looking silver armor.
The armor glinted in the dim light, shining as brightly as though a spotlight had been turned to it. It was segmented plates along the neck, something unseen in modern armors which utilized energy shielding more than plates. The jaws were unguarded, and a sharp metal point formed at the tip of his head.
At once the room snapped to their feet, finding themselves in the presence of one of the highest-ranked sangheili in the Covenant.
"Sit, my brothers," the Arbiter said. His voice was immediately recognizable to Eai'te, who remained silent and took his seat as he was bidden. How did 'Tuka become the Arbiter? He asked himself. "The Holy Ones have ordered me to end this conflict post-haste, and on my honor it is something I shall do. Using data we've taken from the buildings on the ground our shipboard AI's have begun to translate the alien language, finally putting us on a level plane with them.
"The message they have been looping for two cycles consists of the following warning: 'Attention unknown vessels. Cease all ground operations on Noveria or we will fire upon you.' I think it safe to assume Noveria is the planet below our fleet. Arrayed against us is a fleet of ships among which the largest is only corvette-sized, one that would be easily destroyed. However, the Hierarchs made plain their desire for a peaceful solution. With that said, I want the Fleet of Blessed Truth to remain in position while I go to parley with their leadership. Should I be detained or otherwise incapacitated and out of contact for more than one cycle, you are to destroy them to the last man," the Arbiter ordered. He looked at the holotank, and tapped a few keys to bring up the other fleet.
A new contact emerged as they watched, one that was nearly four times bigger than the previous biggest ship in their formation. The Council watched as the vessel charged toward its compatriots. It decelerated and joined their line, bringing several other new arrivals with it.
Atop the hologram the message began to change. "This is the vessel Destiny Ascension, seeking to end this conflict. You have one standard day to respond," it read. The speed of the translations was impressive; they only had now for the AI to teach them how to speak the aliens' tongue.
"It would seem the time has come," the Arbiter said quietly. "Be ready, brothers."
Fleet Master 'Tuyokee nodded silently, and the Arbiter turned and left the room.
He didn't hear the room erupt into discussion, the door sealed off that noise from him. The Arbiter advanced down the hall to the nearest hangar bay, where he had a spirit drop ship waiting. The troop bay was lined up to a catwalk several stories above the floor of the hangar, a drop he knew several hapless unggoy had experienced since the ship was commissioned.
Within the bay was a team of sangheili ranger volunteers to act as the Arbiter's backup should he require it. They knew it was likely to be that they would sit around the spirit and avert sabotage rather than fight anything, which was the reason for a small number of volunteers.
The Arbiter stepped up into the troop bay, securing himself and giving the takeoff order. The door swung up and sealed the sangheili inside. It passed through the energy field and into space, streaking out toward the Destiny Ascension, a ship that dwarfed its escorts.
It was four kilometers long, built around a massive ovular opening. It had lateral wings extending from both sides of the engine, and a vertical tower extending from the long sides both up and down. The ship twinkled with lights from many hundreds of windows, and they were met by two interceptors who led the spirit to a hangar bay cleared specifically for them.
After a few minutes he felt gravity take hold again, signifying they had entered the Destiny Ascension. The door opened up slowly, with a hiss as the air pressure adjusted. It felt just a bit higher than within the Faith and Glorious Redemption, a survivable difference for the Arbiter. It didn't make much difference to the rangers who jumped down behind him.
Arrayed along the catwalks that traced the walls were dozens of purple aliens aiming weapons at them, save for one who approached with no weapons on her person. When it arrived it spoke in its own language, which the Arbiter's signals unit translated after a second and spoke into his ear in his own language.
"Welcome aboard the Ascension," the alien said. Its words were kind, but its demeanor was not quite so inviting.
"Thank you," the Arbiter said in its tongue, causing considerable shock.
"If… if you would follow me, I'll take you to the communications room," it said slowly, glancing up at the Arbiter.
"Stand by the spirit," he ordered the rangers, who glanced up at the purple aliens, silently calculating their odds if things escalated into a firefight.
The purple alien led the Arbiter into the ship, with its corridors well-lit with white walls and ceilings—a stark contrast to the greys and purples and the relative dimness of Covenant ships. In no time the alien deposited the Arbiter in a room with four silver pedestals against the far wall, and a larger one in the center.
"The Council is ready to speak with you," the purple alien said, tapping a few buttons on the larger pedestal. "Step on there, please."
The Arbiter did as he was bidden, and stepped onto the pad. The lights went out, and the other four pads lit up, showing the forms of four different aliens. There was a human, a turian, a purple alien, and one of the reptilian ones.
"Good evening," the holographic purple alien said. He noticed that the one who had escorted him to this room had departed, leaving him alone.
"Hello," the Arbiter said. His speaking their language elicited the same shocked reaction from the holographic aliens.
"We presume you're here to negotiate a cease-fire?" the human asked.
"Councilor, please," the purple alien said. "I am Councilor Tevos of the Citadel Council, the asari representative. This is Councilor Sparatus, the turian representative; Councilor Valern, the salarian representative; and Councilor Udina, the human representative."
"I am the Arbiter, the Hand of the Prophets," he said.
"Are you qualified to negotiate with us? You do this with the blessings of your government?" Udina asked pointedly.
"Yes, there is no other save for the Prophets themselves who could be here to negotiate with you today," the Arbiter replied, somewhat indignant.
"Excellent, then we can proceed," Sparatus said.
"What we are asking for is merely for your forces to withdraw from Noveria, and cease all offensive operations on the planet," Tevos explained. "There will be no retributive strikes against your people."
"It will be done," the Arbiter stated flatly. There were no relics on Noveria, and withdrawal was a foregone conclusion. Either they would draw back and glass the planet or they were just going to leave, but both ways they were going to withdraw. All the better that these aliens predicated their negotiation on it.
"Just like that?" Udina asked, surprised at the ease of the negotiation.
"In short, our religion necessitates the recovery of Forerunner artifacts, to preserve them. Apparently a glitch in our systems led us to this 'Noveria' where one of our commanders got a little overzealous in the pursuit of his duty to find the relics. The violence was regrettable," the Arbiter explained, saying what the Prophets had instructed him to. Historically it was not the job of an Arbiter to conduct negotiations, although if things went poorly it could very well become a suicidal mission. It was the job of the Arbiter to follow orders of the Hierarchs, though, which was what he was doing.
"I see," Valern said quietly. It was his people's fleet who had arrived to counter the Covenant, but everyone in the room knew with absolute certainty that the salarian fleet would be massacred if hostilities erupted. "I recommend we go ahead with the cease-fire."
"Agreed," Tevos said, looking to Sparatus and Udina.
"I have no objections," Sparatus agreed, folding his arms behind him. His posture was more of a soldier's than a politician's, something the Arbiter picked up on immediately. The turians seemed to be the only race he could relate to, the rest were... soft. Like the unggoy, or perhaps even the kig-yar, they seemed to be more prone to words. They would be crushed easily if the Prophets would allow it.
"Nor do I," Udina said, but he eyed the Arbiter suspiciously. The human did not appear to trust him, which was fine by the Arbiter.
"Then I shall return to my fleet and issue the orders," the Arbiter announced.
"Before you go, Arbiter, can you tell us anything about your people?" Valern asked.
"What is it you would have me tell you?" the Arbiter asked. Accommodate them, Arbiter, the Prophets had ordered.
"Who are these Prophets?" the salarian asked, desperate for information on his possible enemy. The Covenant had emerged dangerously close to salarian space.
"The High Prophets are the leaders of our Covenant, those who will guide us along the Path," the Arbiter explained, his tone being one he would use to address a child.
"The path to what?" Valern asked, leaning forward.
"The Great Journey," the Arbiter said reverently. "Transcending into the Divine Beyond."
Valern nodded sagely, taking in the statement.
"Will there be anything else?" the Arbiter asked.
"We'll be in touch tomorrow to check on your withdrawal," Sparatus said flatly.
"We won't keep you," Tevos said, smiling vibrantly. "Matriarch Lidanya will escort you back to your vessel."
"Thank you," the Arbiter said, stepping off of the pad. The lights came back on, and the asari Matriarch Lidanya reentered the room.
"I'm glad to hear the negotiations went well," Lidanya said, leaving the room and beginning up the hall.
"They did, there was not much to negotiate," the Arbiter said. "Hostilities were already ceased."
"It is good we don't have to fight it out," Lidanya said. They turned a corner and entered the hangar bay, where the asari arrayed on the catwalks had lowered their weapons. A few had approached the spirit, trying their best to communicate with the rangers, who to their credit remained stoic behind their opaque helmets.
"Brothers, prepare the ship for takeoff," the Arbiter ordered, and the rangers jumped into the troop bay while the repulsor engines spun up. He turned to the asari and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Matriarch."
"Arbiter," Lidanya shouted as the Arbiter turned to enter the spirit. "Take this," she said, tossing him an omni-tool. "Put it on your wrist, you'll be in communication with the Council with that." She demonstrated how to use it briefly before standing away from the spirit.
"Very well," the Arbiter said, affixing it to a wrist plate.
As the Arbiter jumped into the troop bay with his men he didn't hear the Matriarch sigh and say, "Thank you for not blowing the hell out of my ship."
The spirit kicked off, sailing out of the airlock and back through space to the Faith and Glorious Redemption, where the Council of Masters waited.
With a few moments of thought to himself, the Arbiter contemplated his rapid ascent to the top of the sangheili ranks. Just a few cycles ago he was a lowly Ultra, but somehow found himself the Arbiter. The transition was dizzying, but he thought he had adjusted well. It would take a long time to truly adjust to such a position.
Eventually the spirit docked within the Faith, and the Arbiter strode confidently back to the Council of Masters. He found them waiting patiently, mostly in silence.
"Brothers," the Arbiter said as he entered the room and the Masters all stood at attention. "Be seated. The Fleet is to stop all offensive operations on the ice planet Noveria, on my authority as Arbiter."
"We have a guarantee the aliens will not fire upon us?" Fleet Master 'Tuyokee asked, his expression skeptical.
"We do. Withdraw your troops with all haste," the Arbiter ordered.
The signals units of every Master in the room went off simultaneously, announcing through simulated bell tolls that all aboard were to find a broadcast screen immediately. That could only mean big news from High Charity, more specifically from the Prophets themselves.
The holotank in the center changed to a broadcast from the Holy City, an image of the Forerunner dreadnought. The sangheili watched with rapt attentiveness as three san 'shyuum bearing the huge golden mantles of High Prophet on their shoulders maneuvered to the three legs of the dreadnought on the backs of three highly decorated barges covered in dozens of bouquets of colorful flowers and ribbons.
"A new Age?" the Fleet Master asked aloud.
"So it is," the Arbiter said, watching the ceremony unfold.
"It is the dawn of a new Age!" one of the san 'shyuum announced from before the center of the dreadnought—all three had traversed up the legs to the central area, where the Oracle existed. It was a tetrahedron whereupon each point was a leg of the ship and its pinnacle. The lights around the chamber dimmed to darkness at this point, even the great disc in the ceiling that lit the dreadnought.
Only the dreadnought itself was lit up, blue lights shining out of the windows made it seem as though it was the only thing in existence.
Then a light snapped on that illuminated the three san 'shyuum as they hovered above a truss linking two of the legs.
"He is the Prophet of Motivation, and he the Prophet of Sacrifice. I am the Prophet of Constraint, least worthy of us all," the ex-Minister of Etiology announced, sweeping his hands from Prophet to Prophet as he announced their names. "We are truly humbled by your faith in us, and we swear to guide you truly to the sacred rings, and lead you in their reclamation!"
At the mention of "Reclamation" the room was lit up by a massive projection of the Glyph at the apex of the dreadnought's upward-facing tower. The crowd erupted into thunderous celebration at that announcement, the sounds of cheering and applause echoing throughout the massive main chamber of High Charity. The Prophets bowed low, putting their hands to either side and flipping their palms up. It seemed as though the ornate crowns atop their long heads would tumble off and fall to the ground several hundred meters below, but they somehow remained in place as well as the mantles draped across their shoulders.
"Today marks the beginning of the Seventh Age of Reclamation! No longer shall we be in doubt," Constraint bellowed, to still more wild jubilation. Those kig-yar who adhered to the faith and nearly all sangheili, yanme'e, and unggoy celebrated all through the streets of the cities, and those lucky enough to have a view of the dreadnought jumped madly at the railing in religious fervor. Noticeably, albeit unsurprisingly, no lekgolo appeared in the celebrations. The worms were generally uninterested in religion, loyal though they were.
The three Prophets looked out over the crowds, grinning genuinely, unaware they were inheriting the biggest quandary the Covenant had ever faced in its long history. The problems of their ministries would pale in comparison to those they would face in the coming months.
The ex-Prophet of Serenity watched the ceremony from the docks, preparing to board a SDV-class Corvette going on patrol in the outer territories, ostensibly to observe the faithful out in the territories. The pacifists were going to lead the Covenant to ruin. He had enough clout to go on such an observance mission, and the fringes were where he wanted to be when it all came tumbling down.
The Corvette, Rapid Ascension, was casting off at the conclusion of the ceremony that Serenity wanted so desperately to end. He felt a black knot of fury unlike any he'd ever felt. Being coerced is one thing, it happens daily in politics. Having your waddle twisted like his was until he was forced to cede his position was entirely another. Contrition and Penitence may be pleased with mediocrity, but Serenity wasn't.
He was going to fix this, somehow. He only needed time.
A few minutes later the ceremony ended, and the Rapid Ascension departed for the outer colonies, moving closer to the galactic rim. He had been set up in spacious quarters for such a small ship, and was afforded every courtesy by the ship's master. It was aboard this ship that he would begin his experiment.
"Tell me again about Noveria?" the Shipmaster Fenel Ikaporamee asked on the bridge. Twin view screens showed the great void, reminding a bitter Serenity of the Inner Sanctum. Unggoy moved around the stations in the lower sections of the bridge, and sangheili moved along the raised paths watching their subordinates. In the center of the room was a huge holotank that currently was inactive, but was capable of projecting a five-meter diameter sphere of information, especially useful for showing planetary maps.
"A planet rich with relics," Serenity explained, sitting before the view screens and recalling the planet's reliquary. "Hundreds of relics, thousands perhaps, lay clustered on the surface."
"Why, noble Prophet, has such a reliquary remained unexplored?" Ikaporamee asked.
"It was the reticence of the other Hierarchs that allowed these 'human' and 'turian' aliens to destroy the relics," Serenity continued. "We watched as they blinked out of existence, one after another. It was heresy of the highest order."
"Dare I say it, but that sounds treasonous," Ikaporamee said hesitantly.
"Ordinarily I would have you executed for such a statement regarding a Hierarch," Serenity threatened, truthfully. It was outrageous to accuse a High Prophet of treason. "However, I happen to agree with you, Shipmaster. Watching those relics be destroyed was sacrilege, and the other Hierarchs just watched!"
The sangheili was noticeably relieved. "What has happened while we were away? Why come out here to the very fringe of Covenant space?"
"I have to be away from the bureaucracy," Serenity lied. "It is most stifling on one's thought process. Out here in the frontier you have space."
"As I see it, out here we are left behind. May I say, though, I am honored you chose the Rapid Ascension as your transport," Ikaporamee said, bowing.
"Good, thank you Shipmaster," Serenity said, leaving the Shipmaster to dwell on what he had explained. For his plan to work, the sangheili out here must come to his conclusion themselves. He floated through the ship's halls towards his quarters, which weren't hard to find on such a small vessel.
And so the seeds are sown, and I shall be their tender. The heretics have overtaken High Charity, but the true believers exist on the frontier.
A/N:
Winter break means I'm going to have a lot of time on my hands, so I'm going to try to turn out a higher volume of chapters while I can. Also, I'm going to try to answer review questions down here. Yes, Udina is the Councilor because Shepard chose him over Anderson. I figured if he saved the Council he couldn't make all the right choices, ha ha. Also, Udina will make an interesting character when dealing with the Covenant, I think.
Regarding Brutes: According to the Halo wikia, jiralhanae were not encountered by the Covenant until the 2400's... 300 years after this story. The appearance of the spacecraft we all know and love (CCS-class battlecruisers, CSO-class supercarriers, etc.) is largely due to the fact that there is literally no existing record of pre-Human-Covenant War Covenant ships, and thus that's a sacrifice that has to be made. The races that compose the Covenant are fairly well-documented though, so I'm hugging that pretty closely. Sangheili and san 'shyuum formed the Covenant, kig-yar and unggoy were both impressed into membership very early into Covenant history, yanme'e joined later as well as lekgolo, and the very last race to join was jiralhanae. The rest make the cutoff, but the brutes do not.
As always, thanks for reading. Leave a review or shoot me a PM if you've got a burning question you need answered, and I'll do my best.
JLake4