Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Sentinel of Faith. Enjoy the 3300-word chapter. I do not own Halo and such, 343, and a few others do.
(March 2553 2nd, Vadam Keep 12:20 PM)
Thel watched the crowd listen to his words and disperse. There was anger on many Sangheili, anger on many of their faces, and disgust within it all. It could not be hidden that many hated the idea of befriending humans… Wanted to kill them for the war.
As the group dispersed, a Sangheili roughly equal to him, dressed in the robes most of their kind wore stepped forwards. Thel felt his guards move to attack but held his hand as the Sangheili spoke.
"It is as bold to suggest friendship between our race and humans as it is to defy the covenant itself, Arbiter." He said before chuckling.
"Zeg…. How have the years treated you, old friend?" Thel asked.
The Field Master chuckled. He knew he and Thel were not friends traditionally but they had fought in the war… It was similar enough to a Sangheili? There was no difference.
"As well as they can," Zeg said before his mandibles curled into a frown. "There will be war, you know this… You know how Sangheili are, they cannot take the idea of an 'offense' lying down." Zeg stated.
"Offering war council?" Thel asked.
"Do you require it? You, who was once a strategist of war as I was a soldier?" Zeg asked. "I have my designs… Though if you fear I may plant a sword in your throat? Do not… I agree, peace with the humans is correct." Zeg stated.
"We have been at war too long and while my feelings on humans are… Complicated? We have shed blood with them, bleed together. They are formidable as enemies and courageous as friends. Even if I do not side with you? I side with the idea of peace." Zeg stated.
"Walk with me," Thel said as Zeg hummed.
"A question first," Zeg stated. "You held this gathering knowing that the other keeps might turn against you, you held it knowing many hate humans and would like nothing more than to bathe in human blood," Zeg stated.
"Where is Rtas and the Shadow of Intent." Thel finished to which Zeg nodded.
"Yes," Zeg stated, pausing to think. "With all due respect? You believed you could solve this problem without a blade ready in case words do not? I believe you are too optimistic." Zeg stated.
"If you can help? Follow me to the war room." Zeg heard as he hummed and nodded.
"Let me retrieve something first," Zeg stated before Thel hummed.
"I am not surprised you have brought your armor," Thel stated.
(5 minutes later)
Thel turned to see Zeg within the harness he had paused to think of what was going to be too rough.
He had thrown such ideas to the wayside for now, throwing what he could do for now to the side as Zeg crossed the room, he had paused to think of what came next. He clicked his mandibles as he looked over to the Field Master.
"You of all people should not have allowed the keeps to come… Not openly, it would have rallied more warriors to their side to have bluffed." Zeg stated as Arbiter hummed.
"Perhaps, but I did not believe they would do this," Thel stated.
"Even you of all our people should remember how we are and how stupidly bullheaded we might come off as," Zeg stated.
"What do you suggest will occur?" Zeg heard as he tapped a few buttons.
Thel watched as dozens of warriors holographically rushed at Vadam Keep with several ships duking it out, wraith and banshee fire all destroying everything it touched as Zeg looked over to Thel.
"You expect them to simply slaughter everything in my keep, risk direct war?" Thel questioned.
"Our people consider war to be glorious and honorable," Zeg responded before turning to the table. "I expect them to attack Vadam and attempt to kill you. That is to be the primary objective, either way, they would not be wise to leave the commander alive." Zeg stated to which he hummed.
He could tell what was to happen and he could guess. Zeg hummed and looked over to Thel before crossing his arms and then sighing.
"If you wish? I will aid you… But I have business off Sanghelios, an old friend has reached out to me. He offers ships in exchange for my help and I require ships." Zeg stated.
"For what, Field Master?" Thel questioned to which Zeg paused.
"I have my plans and there are still enemies to fight. If you are here, protecting our home and aiding the humans? I plan to take the fight to our enemy… Like Atriox." Zeg stated.
"You plan on leading your army," Thel stated.
"Yes. I do." Zeg stated. "But I am not your enemy, Kaidon… If you order me to stay and fight? I will aid you as I wish to consider myself a friend, we have fought the covenant… I would not oppose a friend." Zeg stated, raising his hands.
"We do not have the resources to hold off a siege. Most of my warriors are busy and I do not have the ships to hold off a fleet." Zeg heard.
"That is a lie and you are aware of it. You are one of the best strategists the covenant had. I refuse to believe you have not planned a thousand ways to defend your keep." Zeg stated.
Thel chuckled, amused. Zeg was as sharp as ever and he was skilled as a soldier as he had been a few months ago. He was smart, a good soldier and someone whom Thel wished might aid him… But he could seem to relax before he cracked his fingers before he seemed to be utterly tiresome for now and then seemed to think of what the next move would be.
He cracked his fingers before he yawned, too tired to try and then figure out what was utterly tiresome for now as he paused to think for now.
He had a lot more to try and deal with for now and then looked to the ground. He had been too turned to the wayside as he started to try and think of it for now… The chaos within allowed him to end the fight brutally.
He turned to try and think of the next move, making him relax for now… There was too much on his mind as he looked upwards to Arbiter.
"I would ask what defenses you have but I have a feeling you will make it seem like I am a spy," Zeg stated.
"Yes, I am aware," Thel stated.
Zeg snorted, his mandibles clacking together as the Field Master sighed, his chest expanding with a breath and then falling.
"You were not prepared for the idea they attacked you, did you?" Zeg questioned, walking away from the table. "You are better than this, old friend," Zeg stated.
Zeg left to go outside. He paused mid-stride, turning to the Arbiter as he did so with a small measure of respect.
"My warriors are at your command as well of the warriors of 'Chavam keep… I will put marksmen alongside the ridge and meet their warriors on the shoreline if they do attack… I would suggest having something prepared for air assaults." Zeg stated.
"I suppose you have a warship?" Zeg heard.
"I do not have many… The resources I have are not the Swords of Sanghelios. That is why I will depart to procure them… Provided we survive." Zeg stated.
"Zeg?" Thel questioned as the Field Master looked to the Kaidon and leader of the Swords of Sanghelios. "Why do you aid me? You disagreed during the war at times and said you were unsure if humanity would survive the war." Thel stated.
Zeg paused, slowly marching up to the former Arbiter, his mandibles clacking as he did so.
"The entire covenant saw you fail… And rather than assign blame to any others? You alone took the brunt of the fault as any commander would." Zeg stated before turning.
"Then? You offered a choice… We did not have to follow you, but you humbled yourself to ask for allies." Zeg stated. "I respect a warrior who would honor their soldiers and a warrior who is respectful to those who serve them," Zeg stated.
"I thank you for helping," Thel stated.
"Thank me by living. You are the only one smart enough to think beyond a worthless war over ideals…. I am all for a battle, not for war because our people cannot solve anything without swords." Zeg stated. "You are the one who might unite Sanghelios… Die and I will follow you into the afterlife to curse you." Zeg stated before he left.
Thel watched the Field Master leave and guessed that he would be better off trying to lead soldiers. He was smart enough to retreat and yet smart enough to cover his bases as a soldier… If Zeg was plotting something?
He would keep tabs on him but he could guess he was utterly thrown for a loop upon what was going to happen at this juncture, too much for too little had been exchanged.
He could not have dealt with it personally and without remorse or regrets. He was a warrior, one who had handled worse, yet? He looked unsure of himself for the time being, knowing what was to come and dreading it.
"Do you believe they would have listened at all?" Thel questioned as Zeg paused.
"No," Zeg said, looking to the floor. "Our people believe in honor, in battle. Plenty of Sangheili hate humans." Zeg stated.
"That was years before," Arbiter stated.
"Our people are stubborn. I have seen elites fall upon their swords rather than seek a doctor, I have seen retreats rather than use their weaponry, I have seen Sangheili discard allies for the glory of victory." Zeg stated.
"Why don't you?" Zeg heard.
"I require none, I am a leader of warriors and a soldier who has slain many enemies… Victory in itself was a reward for me." Zeg stated.
"Expecting to be in the scrolls for the war today?" Thel questioned, a bit of venom in his words.
"No. I am simply a soldier today. Those who wish to follow me are welcome, I will only issue commands to those who place themselves under my leadership." Zeg stated. "Do you believe I wish to usurp your leadership as the other keeps wishing?" Zeg questioned.
"No… But you are not the only Field Master on Sanghelios." Thel stated.
"Telcam?" Zeg questioned. "I am aware, my men have pointed out his followers gather for something. He is smart but he is stifled by his zealotry." Zeg stated.
"He is still a leader of men." Zeg heard.
"If he was? He would maintain a plan to take this keep, not destroy it. Telcam is smart but he no longer carries himself as a soldier, merely a zealot." Zeg stated. "After this battle? I will be leaving as I told you, I have resources to acquire… If the Fleetmaster says? I will have ships to do with what I believe." Zeg stated.
"You are not the only one with resources… I could provide." Thel stated.
"I am not wishing to serve, Arbiter…. I would question strategies, and make my plans. I will be upfront with my intentions; I am going to war with the other factions of the former Covenant." Zeg stated.
"But not us," Thel stated.
"Because I am allied with humanity and because I trust you. I and you have fought against the covenant before and I trust you with our people's future." Zeg stated. "If I wished to act against you? I would be open… You have earned that much from me." Zeg stated, turning to slowly walk out the door.
"Come get me when you are prepared and have made your plans, I must prepare my men for combat and make certain our ship will survive the battle," Zeg stated before he sighed.
Arbiter watched the Field Master leave. The young Sangheili General reminded him of himself, strong, independent, and smart. He believed him when he said Zeg had no intentions to harm him or humanity. Zeg was many things but he was not hateful, he still hated the brutes to a degree for their slaughter… But he was not against humanity, he knew that very much.
"You are opposed to their ideals and beliefs," Arbiter stated.
"I am opposed to another pointless war for the sake of 'honor'… Kill each other over resources? Over territory? Maybe, but to die out because we are too proud to accept, we are not the empire we were." Zeg stated.
"What do you plan to do with the resources you acquire?" Zeg heard.
"Fight… Fight. You have heard the rumors? That Atriox resurfaced? Warlords are emerging from the remains of the covenant? You have as many spies as I do former ones… You know what the others think." Zeg stated before he paused.
"And if you manage to win? You will have soldiers flock to your banner from victories… Just as I have." Thel stated.
"Are you suggesting that with the soldiers I gain, I will attempt to overthrow the Swords of Sanghelios? For what reason? Why would I attempt to overthrow my people? Do you believe I want to be a Kaidon?" Zeg questioned.
Thel said nothing and simply allowed to let Zeg to leave. They had a war to plan and Arbiter knew Zeg had been gathering former soldiers under his banner as Thel had with his people.
"Bring your forces to the shores of Vadam. Then I will explain what I am doing." Zeg heard.
"Do not, they are your plans, if I was an enemy? I would pass them along to my men." Zeg stated. "I will bring my forces and after they are given order? I will explain it to you." Zeg stated.
"Are your forces large enough?" Thel asked.
"To hold off an entire siege? No, they are not… Which is why I am trying to gather more." Zeg stated before he sighed.
He was too tired for now and he acted like it. Zeg paused to rub at his temples before he realized that the next maneuver would be harsher and harsher to try and figure something out.
"A word of advice from a comrade?" Zeg stated. "Arm one hand and offer the other. if this happens again? I would have the Shadow of Intent ready to remind them war is not in their interest; it is a language our people understand." Zeg stated before he left.
Zeg slowly started to leave to go get his men and to try and understand what to do. He would continue to get more soldiers and while he did not wish it? Both would gain more from holding off the keep, however? if it was up to him?
He would have killed Telcam, knowing that their next maneuver would be best and he planned to kill the man, yet? He was not stupid and he was a commander for a reason, killing the leader of the Servants of the Abiding Truth meant he would become a martyr, that his cult would come down on them.
Zeg left to go to his spectre which would take him to his camp. There were more soldiers to try and deal with something for now, interested in something like this, he had his plans to deal with, and dealing with it, for now, was too much.
Zeg did guess that if they survived? He would be closer to his goal than before. He had been preparing for war with the Banished and several other Covenant.
Zeg was too interested in what was going on as he seemed to be utterly thrown off, for now, he had a lot of plans on his mind as he thought of it for the best… All of it just told him that he was going to be at war with more people than he could think, he had so much to try to deal with for now.
Zeg still welcomed battle. He was a soldier, he was good at waging war, he was good at fighting and he acted like it at the best level he could before trying something for now, he had other options to deal with it for now… He had a lot of things he could not do.
If war like this persisted? He would win more battles… He had been good at it and good at predicting it.
He boarded the spectre and let it ferry him back to the camp. He sighed and leaned back in his seat, knowing what was going to happen next.
"Do you believe Sanghelios will descend into war?" The pilot questioned.
"There are a thousand keeps and they are all divided," Zeg stated before he seemed to lean against the wall.
He knew there would be war. His people hated each other, they all wanted different things… They all wanted something and he could not react… Yet? He had to keep thinking.
"And?" The pilot asked to which the Field Master raised an eyebrow.
"If I stay? I will end up being dragged into a conflict which I will not interfere within." Zeg stated.
He had reasons. He had no ambitions of power, no desire to try and raise his station for now and he had been too tired to try and figure out as he seemed to think, pausing to try and deal with for now.
This was not something to try and conflict with for now… He had been too interested in the next move he had to try and deal with; his soldiers were ready for war. He was such a soldier that he would continue to deal with it for now.
Yet? He would not leave the planet to die, he would fight, help… Then vanish in the smokescreen if they survived, he had plans which if they won? Would secure the galaxy of peace… But it required more violence, war, and pain which would possibly deal with.
He wished to deal with the violence before it reached here but it was clear that such a thing was too amusing for this moment, far beyond what was going on. He had a LOT of things on his brain either way.
The chaos which had been too interesting, he watched as several Banshees passed overhead. Not his, not marked with his signal, no…. They were enemies. He had been ready to strike and cut through them all, he would leave… Not yet.
"We have work to do, send the rest of the men to the camp and get the Harbinger airborne… When we are ready? We will strike." Zeg ordered as he looked over towards his men.
He was ready for the siege, for he knew that if the Arbiter hit the rest of the world, he would not matter, nothing could and would matter. He had a lot of things he had yet to deal with for now, an idea he had been ready to figure out something like this.
"And what about the commander? Arbiter on one side, the bishop on the other side." Zeg heard as he seemed to be prepared for war.
He was, he would hit them harder, strike faster, and act better than they could… He would run circles around them.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show more of Zeg fighting and show the battle of Vadam Keep. Until the 900–6500-word chapter. Lighting Wolf out!