The space around the Citadel was choked with ships of almost every single make and model in active service, and some that weren't, and hadn't been for years.
Of note were the dozens of Systems Alliance ships holding around the tips of the wards, the five massive wings that comprised of 90% of the Citadel, upon which millions of sentients lived. After Sovereign's attack on the Citadel a year prior the Alliance's Fifth Fleet had been transferred to cover for the Citadel Defense Force while it recuperated.
Augmenting the human ships were a few dozen turian vessels, but the flagship was still missing—the Destiny Ascension was due to return today, with a representative vessel of this new alien conglomerate in tow. Much had been learned since the cease-fire called two weeks ago, and while both the Covenant fleet and the salarian Third Fleet watched each other warily, neither side had violated the truce, for their own reasons: the sangheili's strict attention to orders and the salarians' grim certainty that violating the cease-fire meant none of them would survive the following engagement.
Operators in the Citadel Tower, which controlled much of the function of the station, were ready to close the wards at a moment's notice if the aliens went hostile. Every preparation was made to save the Citadel at any cost—perhaps most notably to Admiral Steven Hackett, at the cost of the Fifth Fleet.
To any observer that was pretty obvious. Fifth Fleet was positioned directly between the inbound ships and the Citadel, meant to buy time and nothing more.
This is what we get for saving their asses, Hackett thought before he caught himself and sighed. He looked again at the disposition of his ships, and nodded. This is as good as they're going to get.
"The Ascension and the alien ship are en route now, Admiral," the SSV Orizaba'scommunications officer announced. Orizaba was brand new, just finished a few months back. Immediately Hackett made it his flagship, seeing it as an opportunity to show the Fleet that despite their losses they were still the front line of the Alliance's fleets.
"Thank you Lieutenant," Hackett said, looking to a small timer counting down to the Destiny Ascension's ETA. He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes and imagining better times. He would've felt a lot better with his ace in the hole around. Shepard getting spaced last year was a loss no one wanted to admit to being as huge as it was. Hackett knew all too well that missions Shepard could accomplish quick and clean would now cost him men and materiel, neither of which he could sacrifice.
The greatest effect of Shepard's death was the serious hit the Alliance's morale took. Most people were still somewhat in the dark, but it was a poorly-kept secret. Once the Commander was out of the news a lot of people began to suspect, and Alliance denials that he was dead were largely viewed as confirmation of the opposite being true. These days the light in everyone's eyes was a little dimmer.
Hackett quit the nostalgia trip and checked out the timer. It had reached zero, leaving him to wonder how he'd dwelled on the topic for the better part of ten minutes.
Without warning the massive form of the Destiny Ascension appeared, barely visible to the naked eye as far off as it was. What he saw next fascinated and terrified him—a ship easily six or seven times bigger appeared. Initial LADAR readings had it pegged at thirty kilometers long, which Hackett realized was three-quarters the length of the Citadel itself. The thing was massive. He found himself praying that it didn't become hostile, because if it did he was confident that it would take the whole turian fleet to bring it down.
"Holy… how do you stop that thing?" the LADAR technician nearly shouted before he got a hold of himself and blushed, clearing his throat.
Hackett ignored the outburst and waited. The Ascension being operable was a good sign, and he watched the two ships approach through space.
"Fifth Fleet, this is Destiny Ascension. Covenant vessel 'Faith and Glorious Redemption' is in tow, we'll leave her to you once we reach your lines," Matriarch Lidanya, commanding officer of the Ascension, said through the communications line that terminated at Admiral Hackett's terminal.
"Understood Ascension, we'll take good care of her," Hackett replied. What the hell kind of name is 'Faith and Glorious Redemption'?
True to their word, the Destiny Ascension passed through the Fifth Fleet's lines, heading towards the Presidium for refueling. Hackett noticed the subtle increase in her speed, smirking a little at the great Destiny Ascension essentially fleeing from a foe. It was sad, really, that such a beautiful ship's spirit was broken like the Ascension's. The geth nearly destroying her had done something to the crew and to the skipper, and it was noticeable.
The massive alien ship drew to a stop before the comparatively tiny Alliance ships. He was surprised to see he was being hailed, and directed the ship's VI to open up communications.
"Human shipmaster, we have been directed to you by the asari, where would you have us go?" the deep voice of the alien asked.
"Faith and Glorious Redemption, hold position here. Dispatch any dignitaries to the Presidium ring at the far end of the station. A handler will take you from there," Hackett said into the intercom.
"Very well," the alien replied, and broke the connection. Several minutes later the ship's barriers dropped to allow out a relatively small transport which tore off toward the Presidium under escort from two smaller ships the troops had nicknamed banshees. It wasn't easy to tell why in the vacuum, but according to several eyewitness interviews conducted by evacuees the things were loud and shrieked as they flew. Hackett had to appreciate the psychological element there.
A new signal appeared on his console, this one from C-Sec. "Did you clear them through?" the easily recognizable voice of Executor Pallin asked.
"Yes, I did," Hackett replied curtly. He and the Executor didn't have an easy history. Hackett spent most of his time in orbit as a result, trying to keep away from the prying turian.
"Excellent. The Council wanted me to pass along a request that you joined them for the reception," Pallin said. "They wanted the face of the defense force to be present," he added derisively.
"I'll be there," Hackett growled.
"Very good," the Executor replied before breaking the connection.
Faith and Glorious Redemption inched toward the Presidium, dispatching several drop ships, which the SSV Orizaba followed until it dispatched its own kodiak shuttle.
The Docking bays in the Presidium were unequipped to accept spirit drop ships, which did not utilize the airlock-docking tube combination most ships in the Citadel used. As a result, the Covenant delegation had to dock on the lower docks, the F-level docks.
Hackett, on the other hand, was able to dock higher up, in the B-levels, reserved for very important persons on Citadel business. He stood on the Presidium for nearly a half hour before he saw the first signs of the aliens, something that brought the Marine detachment to attention before he could even issue the order.
They were huge, as tall as or taller than your average krogan. However, they were not nearly as bulky. Their necks were long, and their movements graceful. They had the size and presumably the strength of the krogan, but their movement showed they had agility and intelligence.
The armor they wore looked intricate, shiny red armor pads covered their bodies and were covered in bright orange lights. They were topped with a headdress that was at least two feet high, and looked like a pair of pincers reaching toward a point high above their head, but not quite making it.
In each of their hands was a long staff topped by the same bright orange light from their armor. Their catlike eyes cast furtive glances at Hackett and his Marines, who seemed small by comparison.
After two dozen of the aliens marched into the Presidium another alien arrived, floating through the air on some kind of throne. This one also had a lengthy neck, and floated past Hackett unceremoniously, following and followed by a train of the crimson-clad aliens.
Hackett watched them go and had his group fall in behind the aliens, walking at a quick pace toward the Citadel Tower. He noticed the looks of bewilderment on the faces of the Presidium's passers-by, who stopped to stare at the procession. He had hoped there would be a krogan present for a size comparison, but unsurprisingly there wasn't. Krogan were not a common sight on the Citadel, let alone on the Presidium.
They reached the base of the Citadel Tower, and the red-clad aliens cleared out the atrium before the elevator and the plaza in front of the Tower, forming a protective circle about the one other alien. It didn't take much to conclude that that alien was the leader, perhaps the very leader of the Covenant.
Getting to the elevator took the better part of two hours as it shuttled the Covenant's aliens up in groups of six at a time. A small detachment of the guardian aliens remained behind, guarding the elevator itself.
As he and his men approached the forward most alien raised its hand in a gesture to halt, which they did. It leered at the thirteen humans standing before it while it waited for confirmation that they were allowed up, which it received quickly. Hackett and company proceeded into the elevator, riding up in two groups of six and seven. Hackett was with the first group.
The ride was punctuated with an ANN report on the arrival of the staggeringly large alien vessel over the Citadel and the ensuing diplomatic summit in the Citadel Tower. The ride was mostly silent, and the elevator stopped at the very top floor—the Council chamber. He had become a common sight in the past year in the chamber.
Just past the elevator trees were in full bloom, arching over to create a sort of foliage tunnel through which they advanced to get into the chamber. A sort of open-air antechamber existed here, dominated by an ornate fountain. Past that were a pair of stairwells into the chamber proper, and those were guarded again by the large red-armored aliens.
They merely watched as the Admiral advanced between them and up the stairs, emerging onto the plaza wherein the vast bulk of the guardians rested. They formed an omni-present orange glow in excess even of that of the trees that circled the fountain here. C-Sec officers mingled with the aliens, keeping wary eyes on them and a hand not far from their weapons.
A nervous-looking asari spotted the Admiral and approached.
"Admiral Hackett, the Councilors are holding the meeting in the garden," the asari said, motioning for him to follow. Hackett ordered all but two Marines to join the C-Sec officers and guardians around the room.
The asari lead him around to another elevator along the periphery of the room. They rode the elevator down one floor and emerged into a white corridor that, if Hackett's sense of geography was true, turned toward the Petitioner's Stage.
True it was, because the asari led them to a decidedly less white door, a definite sign that it hadn't been replaced after the battle. It opened easily enough, though, revealing the garden beneath the Council chamber with a ceiling of transparent aluminum.
Soft music played, and the ambassadors of every Citadel race mingled and hung around the Councilors—Tevos, Sparatus, Valern, and Udina. That was interesting to Hackett. Across from the Councilors floated the Covenant alien, whose back was turned to Hackett. His two Marines joined two alien guardians and two C-Sec officers by the door, all of whom looked uncomfortable to be in such close proximity to each other.
Hackett stood on the periphery of the room, eying Executor Pallin as he hovered behind the Councilors in a flashy dress uniform. Contrary to that, Hackett had opted to dress more humbly. The alien on the hover chair was dressed in ornate purple robes, his long head adorned by a huge golden grown with a holographic circle set in the face of it.
Everyone in the room talked in that polite hushed voice while the five main participants talked house, and Hackett followed suit. He found himself talking with his peer, Admiral Lennius, about nonclassified aspects of Citadel defense. Conversation began to drift to personal matters, namely Earth and his home world of Invictus.
Midway through the conversation they heard the voices of the alien and the Councilors become more defined. It immediately struck him that they may be arguing, which had him peer out of the corner of his eye at the two aliens guarding the door.
"None can stay the Great Journey, friends," the floating alien said a little loudly.
"What is that?" Sparatus, the turian Councilor, asked.
"The Great Journey is the moment whereupon the worthy transcend this mortal world and join with the Gods," the alien explained, pronouncing each word with a sort of reverence that chilled Hackett.
"How do you initiate it?" Sparatus asked.
"Ah, I can not share that with unclean ears. I mean no offense, of course," the alien replied.
"That's quite alright," Tevos interjected. "I see everyone has arrived. I will introduce you to the dignitaries present."
The asari moved around the room with the alien in tow, introducing them all to each other. Eventually she came to Hackett, and he got a good long look at the alien's face. It appeared to have a permanent sneer that bore its sharp teeth, and its eyes seemed cold. It put Hackett ill at ease immediately.
"This is Admiral Steven Hackett, of the human Systems Alliance. He's on loan to the Citadel to aid our defense forces after the battle that happened last year," Tevos said to the alien. "Admiral, I'd like you to meet the High Prophet of Sacrifice, of the Covenant."
"Pleasure to meet you, sir," Hackett said, performing a short bow.
"The pleasure is all mine, Admiral," the Prophet replied, returning the gesture in kind and casting another glance at him. "I heard your men performed quite admirably in the conflict last year. I wished you to know that I will meditate and ponder their sacrifice as an example by which all the Covenant should follow."
"You honor their memories," Hackett said, warming to the Prophet considerably.
"Yes," the Prophet said after a moment's thought. "Perhaps you should meet with some of my fleet masters. They could learn from your maneuvering."
"I would love that opportunity," Hackett replied, standing resolute against the Prophet's gaze.
"Very well," the Prophet said quickly, straightening up in his chair. "I will issue the order as soon as this event concludes."
"Thank you," Hackett replied, and he watched the alien move on. Tevos gave him a knowing look as she passed, and he all at once felt as though he was being put on the spot.
He watched them move on and return to their own circle where presumably they returned to a hushed political discussion. Hackett turned back to Lennius.
"He invited you aboard that behemoth?" Lennius asked, his mandibles betraying his awe as he spoke.
"Yes," Hackett replied. "I won't see a tenth of that ship, I guarantee it. It's just too big."
"They won't show the important areas, either. Probably they'll take you to the bridge and the engine room, maybe to a weapons battery. It's what we would do," Lennius chuckled, grinning.
"I believe it," Hackett agreed, inwardly trying to guess how long it would take to walk from stem to stern on that ship. He ended up figuring it would probably take more than a few hours if they didn't have some kind of rapid transit aboard. He sincerely hoped it did.
"Make sure you get some good intel on it. I'm hoping it's got weak shields, or it'll take the whole Hierarchy to bring it down," Lennius said, sobering up.
"I don't even want to imagine what it would take the Alliance, then," Hackett agreed, turning back to look at the Prophet as he spoke with the Councilors.
"Chief Williams," Captain Banks whispered from behind as Ashley crawled up the hill to the front line.. She stopped cold and waited for the Captain, stiffening as the CO of Able Company approached, even if he had only just arrived from the Arcturus Station Officer Training Academy. Prestigious as it was, going to ASOTA was no substitute for experience, something Ashley had and the reconstituted 212th Marine Brigade needed badly.
"What's the situation?" Banks asked quietly.
"Just a moment," Ashley replied, nodding toward the hilltop.
Operations Chief Ashley Williams inched to the top of the hill surveyed the area around Constant, the capital of Eden Prime. The fields rolled away from the only conventional city on the planet's surface—that is to say, the only one not housed in an arcology stretching hundreds of meters into the sky.
Suddenly, away to her right, the rattle of an M8 Avenger rang out across the field. It was joined by two more, and afterwards it seemed as though at least one whole squad was firing rapidly.
Ashley looked for their target and only managed to see three tall shadows slink through the dark toward the company.
"Captain, you've got three targets bearing down on the right flank. They were moving fast," Williams reported, noting the change in Banks' demeanor.
"Right," Banks said in his distinct Australian accent. He turned to his omni-tool and opened communications with the squad leader. "What's the situation Marquez?"
"Multiple contacts closing fast. We're firing but they won't be suppressed, sir, over," Marquez reported over the chatter of the assault rifles.
"Keep firing," Banks replied. He turned back to Ashley. "Send in the reserves, help Marquez. They can't hold."
"Yes, sir," Ashley replied, issuing the order silently through her own omni-tool. As they watched the fighting unfold to their right the sound of the boots of their reserve squad making way up the line. As expected, the firing intensified. The troops of Echo squad fell in behind those of Alpha squad, reinforcing their position as they were ordered.
"Counting two tangos down, Able actual, threat neutralized," Marquez responded as the fire slackened a few seconds later. Banks didn't quite have enough time to crack a smile before explosions ripped through the left side of the line and Ashley turned in time to see at least a dozen targets advancing across no-man's-land.
"Oh, shit," Banks shouted. "Echo, reinforce Charlie! Quickly!"
"Too late," Ashley said, pointing to the left, where a half-dozen individuals approached with weapons drawn, firing into their lines from behind. She watched as the men who were hit stiffened and stopped moving altogether.
Abruptly she stood and raised her right hand, firing a signal flare into the air. "It's over!"
A team of medics emerged onto the field and began to check the soldiers who'd been hit by the modified disruptor rounds while the 'survivors' assembled at the foot of the hill. Banks stood, dusting himself off and casting his eyes down.
"Captain, Baker company baited you in with a feint on your right flank before hitting you with the strength of the company on your left, collapsing your lines. You suffered sixty-six per cent casualties before the conclusion of the scenario," Ashley reported, noticing again that Banks shrunk away from the report.
"I understand, Chief," Banks replied.
"Captain Banks, Chief Williams," a new voice announced as a Kodiak shuttle touched down, disgorging a single passenger.
The two snapped to attention and saluted the approach of Colonel Veers, CO of the whole 212th Marine Brigade. He returned the salute crisply, looking to Ashley to give her report, which she did.
"Able Company deployed as directed across the front of Hill 237, with Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie squads forming a front in that order from right to left and Echo squad held in reserve. Baker Company sent a fire team at the right flank and drew in Echo squad before hitting Charlie squad with the strength of the Company, routing them," Ashley stated, staring forward and standing rigid.
"At ease," the Colonel said, and the two others stood at ease, spreading their feet somewhat. "Never rush into a decision, Captain."
"Yes, sir," Banks acknowledged, while looking toward the troopers just getting off of the ground.
"Collect Able Company and get 'em back to base," the Colonel said, sending Banks into action getting his troops together. A series of four Kodiak shuttles were already assembled in a broad semicircle behind the hill, and the crews were checking out their vessels, preparing them for flight.
"Chief Williams, we're going to be stepping up drills with disruptor rounds and against strongly-shielded opponents, effective tomorrow," Veers said quietly. "You heard about Noveria, yes?"
"Yes sir," Ashley replied. "I'll get the drills planned as soon as we return to base."
"Very good," Veers said. Banks had returned to the group after issuing the order to embark on the Kodiaks. Veers turned to depart in his own shuttle, which took off as soon as he was aboard, disappearing into the low-hanging clouds.
"What happened on Noveria?" Banks asked after the sounds of Colonel Veers' Kodiak faded away to nothing, but before the four below them were loaded.
"You didn't hear, sir?" Ashley asked.
"I've been trying to get this company together, I don't have time to browse ANN reports in the morning, Chief," Banks replied a little crossly. He sighed. "I heard whispers among the men but haven't really felt motivated to look it up myself."
"Don't worry about it, sir," Ashley replied. "Some aliens showed up over Noveria and just about torched the colony. The lizards are telling us they've got extremely powerful barriers, and some kind of tech that brings ours down in one shot."
Banks whistled. "How did a raid on Noveria not end up in a war?"
"Some heavy politicking, I guess," Ashley said, grinning. "You're sure you didn't know? There was a summit yesterday. It was huge news! You should keep up on your current events, Captain."
"I'll try harder," Banks replied, losing some of his melancholy. The two strode down the hill toward the shuttles, surrounded as they were by about two hundred men and women. The first trip was about to depart, as the shuttle's crews were warning the Marines to back away from the thrusters, lest they get hit by exhaust that could melt the hull of a cruiser. They were still pretty green, and with those aliens around it worried Ashley they weren't prepared for a real fight.
Banks and Williams watched the four shuttles kick off into the air, soaring over Constant and into the clouds toward the base on the other side of the city. As they awaited their return, the clouds began to build, and across the fields a distant rumble of thunder rolled toward them.
"This is the corvette Rapid Ascension, requesting permission to refuel and dock," Shipmaster Ikaporamee spoke through the opened communications channel between his relatively small vessel and the massive assault carrier in high orbit around the far distant colony world of Final Respite.
"This is the assault carrier Kindred Souls," a sangheili voice said after a moment. "What is your cargo and destination?"
"We hold no cargo, and our destination is Final Respite," Ikaporamee replied quickly. "We're here on the business of the Prophets."
"What proof do you offer?" the Kindred Souls plied.
"I am among them," Serenity spoke out. "The High Prophet of Serenity."
"I apologize," the sangheili said, cowed by the appearance of the Prophet. "Please, approach. Docking will be made available immediately."
"Very good," Serenity said, breaking the connection. He turned to Ikaporamee. "Take us to the vessel with all possible haste."
"Of course," Ikaporamee said, punching a few buttons on his console. The corvette shuddered as it accelerated toward the assault carrier now appearing to loom above it. Below them the calm white surface of Final Respite reflected light from the star through the windows, casting a clean white light throughout the bridge, which reflected harshly off of the polished purple surfaces within the bridge.
The scene was oddly silent as the ship approached its target; no one was willing to speak. Many had too much to contemplate, for it had been a long journey of proselytizing for the Prophet, who had worked to inform each crewman of the travesty aboard the Holy City. The crew had steeled themselves, knowing now that they were some of the very few enlightened.
For his part, Ikaporamee knew now why Serenity had fled to the frontier. The coreward systems had been deceived. Out here where news was slower to travel and communities were tighter-knit he could raise the alarm and return to the Holy City with the truly faithful.
Through some careful maneuvering the Rapid Ascension drifted below the docking tubes of the Kindred Souls. Plasma was vented from underneath the ship, propelling it toward the carrier slowly. With a hardly noticeable shudder the Rapid Ascent linked to the Kindred Souls.
"Shipmaster, recall what I have said and do not forget it. The very soul of our blessed Covenant is at stake. I must part ways with you now to spread the word to the Kindred Souls," Serenity said, placing a hand on the shoulder of Shipmaster Ikaporamee.
"You honor me, Holy One," Ikaporamee said, kneeling before Serenity. Serenity nodded and floated by, navigating through the ship to the docking tube, which he proceeded through.
He was met on the far end of the tube by an assembly of the ships' officers, led by the Shipmaster of the Kindred Souls.
"Most Holy Prophet, welcome aboard the Kindred Souls. Our crew is at your command," the Shipmaster said. Serenity swept his eyes to the left and right, observing nearly one hundred and fifty officers assembled from throughout the ship.
"You humble me," Serenity said, advancing toward the Shipmaster. "However I have a grave matter I must discuss with you immediately."
The Shipmaster was notably taken aback. "What has transpired?"
"Corruption," Serenity replied cryptically. He pressed his three-fingered hands together and folded them together before his face. "Where can we speak?"
"I will make someplace," the Shipmaster replied, leading the Prophet from the room.
He made his now well-practiced speech to the Shipmaster, who was immediately held captive by his confusion. The confusion resolved itself into indignation and later fury at having been deceived by those aboard High Charity, and he called the crew together to hear the story later that day.