Chapter 17
Forerunner Leviathan class Keyship.
Sector 375, known to Reclaimers as the Sarum system, 102745 years, 3 months, 25 days, 12 hours,57 minutes and 10 seconds after deactivation by rampant ancilla.
Taking cover behind Reclaimer designed vessels.
Lieutenant Sanders growled as he watched the on-going fleet battle between the allied UNSC and Separatist fleet with the fractured Citadel fleet. While there is no immediate danger of them overrunning the UNSC vessels that form the outer shell of the sphere, they are in a bad position since they can't move without exposing the damaged covenant fleet and Spirit of Fire. "Unit 30-29 get me the goddamn main guns online now! I don't care if you have to reroute most of the power just fucking do it."
The sentinel was silent as it began to prompt the constructors that are busily repairing the main power conduits even as more of their brethren emerged from vents connecting the rest of the ship to join in the frenzy repair work. "The constructors report success in partially repair the main gun power conduit. You may have 10% power."
"Good target those ships and fire at will!" snapped Sanders even as he paced around angry that he was unable to have anything to do until now. The hull of the Forerunner vessel begin to glow with the dim blue lights as power coursed through the extensive power conduits that lined the hull of the Forerunner vessel. The energy gathered coursed into the main gun located in the prow of the forerunner Keyship, where bright motes of blue purple light gathered.
There was a second before a bright purple beam of energy erupted from the gun, splitting into multiple individual beams of energy that scythed through 30 of the turian vessels that are currently trading fire with the UNSC vessels.
"Holy crap!" was all Sanders could say as he watched the weapon decimated the enemy ships. "You call that 10%?" asked Sanders as the main gun finally powered down.
"The Pulse Plasma Array was the standard armament of all Forerunner Capital warships." Replied the Sentinel as it access the Forerunner databanks of the Keyship "This current Vessel is armed with what is considered a medium class Pulse Plasma Array, caution is advised when compared to a Fortress Class Warship."
Shaking his head, Sanders walked over to one of the translated console. "This is ship got a name?" he asked as he scan through the brief data presented by the console. Nothing but ship diagnostic.
"This ship is called the Aurora. A leviathan class Keyship" replied Anders as she went through the Forerunner database on a nearby console. "It seems to have some interesting data that would provide evidence to the blank period 100 thousand years ago." She added as she scans through the ship's logs.
"Blank period?" asked the lieutenant as he looked up from the console he was reading.
"Fossil evidence suggested a mass extinction occurred on Earth around 100 thousand years ago. We managed to find fossils in the period before and after that time period but there was one period in between that was completely devoid of any fossil. Nothing to suggest any form of life." Replied Anders even as she scanned through the data. "From what the database can tell me, it seems the Forerunner were responsible for the mass extinction event. But if this is true then it wasn't just one planet is it?" asked Anders directly at the sentinel.
Sentinel Unit 30-29 was silent as it looked through the database. "Confirmed. When the main engine of this vessel was crippled by the crew to prevent the rampart ancilla from joining the rank of the Flood, they died along with the other sentient beings of this galaxy when the weapon of last resort was utilised to prevent the spread of the Flood."
"Wait, if that's true then how come we and the covenant survived?" Asked Sanders as he shifted the weight of his MA5B assault rifle. "I mean it did wipe out all life right?"
"Partially correct, Reclaimer." Replied the sentinel as it turned towards Sanders. "Samples of surviving species from the Flood war were index and transferred to the Installation 00 for preservation. After the firing of the weapons, all would be returned to their homeworld, safe from the parasite." Finished the Sentinel as it once more looked back at the main console.
"Wait then what about the species on this ship? And what happened to the Forerunners?" Asked Anders as she started to comprehend the plans of the forerunner to stop the threat of the Flood. By removing the parasitic lifeform of their food supply, the Forerunners effectively tried to starve the Flood to death.
"The species aboard this vessel was one of the more advanced species, managing to use their technology to withstand assaults from the Flood for 2 days. Their desperate communication signals were finally intercepted by a passing keyship and an Armada was assigned to destroy the Flood on their planet and index the race for preservation." Replied the sentinel as it shifted through the old records. "They were separated to two other Keyship before the last of their race boarded this vessel. As for my makers, they perished in a desperate last stand to hold the flood until the weapon array activated, or at least that was the plan."
"I see…. What is the species called?" asked Anders as she finally understand the horrors of the Flood, a lifeform that managed to pushed even the highly advanced Forerunners to the brink of extinction and how close the Spirit of Fire escaped the same fate.
The sentinel was hesitating as if not sure what to replied. Finally it decided to follow the most widely used name of that time. "They were mostly known as the Prothean."
CAS Class Assault Carrier Shadow of Intent
Sarum system, 10 years unit into the Age of rebuild
Currently chasing after the retreating Turian and Salarian fleet.
Fleetmaster Rtas watched as the retreating Turian and Salarian fleet fired their mass accelerator in a desperate attempt to hold back the Covenant separatist that have emerged from the protection of the Human's Sphere formation. "Even the humans provide some challenge compared to this" muttered the weapons officer as he fired another salvo of plasma torpedoes. Rtas Vadum merely grunted his agreement before selecting a ship.
"All ships launch boarding craft at this vessel, capture it and its crews for interrogation." Growled Rtas as he selected one of the Turian Dreadnoughts that is still actively firing it main guns at the chasing Covenant Separatist.
"By my honour Fleetmaster" said Fieldmaster Sagu Vadum as he marshalled his forces into the heavily modified phantom dropships. As he steps into the leading phantom he shouted to his troops. "By the Blood of our fathers!"
"We shall seek honour!" shouted back his troops in response to the time old tradition.
"Be vigilant my brothers, these cowards" gestured Sagu Vadam at an image of a Turian and Salarian that appeared behind him "Have seek to defile a relic of the Forerunners, all for the gain of their governments." The statement earning sneers from the Sangheili present as they glared at the images.
"They fired on their ally, dishonouring their alliance" continued Sagu as he marched down the walkway. "They know not the meaning of honour!" With this Sagu activated his Energy sword "We shall board one of their ship, and teach these cowards the meaning of honour!" Roared Sagu as he raised his energy sword in triumph. The other Sangheili present roared their approval as they activated their own energy swords and raise it in salute of their commander. The heat from all the activated swords causing the air above them to shimmer with the heat given off by the plasma blades.
Nodding his approval, Sagu lowered and deactivated his sword followed by his troops. Tapping his com unit, "Fleetmaster we are ready."
"May the Forerunners bless your swords." Replied Rtas as he tapping a button on his command chair authorising the launched of the phantom dropships.
Citadel Space Station
Serpent Nebula,
Floating in the deepest part of the nebula.
Councillor Tevos frowns as she attempted to connect to the Asari Republic network, for a few hours now all the attempts to reconnect the Asari republic extranet from Citadel had been unsuccessful. Suddenly her omni tool beeped as it received a new message. Reading the message, Councillor Tevos sighed and got up from her console, heading towards the council chamber.
The doors slid apart revealing a duo of highly trained Asari commandos that were assigned with the duties of being the councillor's bodyguards. As the councillor Tevos exited the Asari embassy and got into her private air car, she glanced at her sides to confirm that the other two Asaris were cramped into the car on her two sides. The air car sped off, before depositing the councillor and her bodyguards just outside of the council chamber. She marched into the chamber while her body guards took position on both sides of the entrance, watching the spacious room for any assassination attempts.
"This has better be worth it, Valern." Said Tevos as she walking into the private chambers where the councillors held private meetings. But she stopped suddenly as she noticed the Salarian councillor was also present. "Milos? What is the meaning of this?"
Milos held his head down in sadness as he tries to figure out a way to break the news to his friend and fellow councillor. But before he could speak, Valern spoke first "The Turian Hierarch…. Along with the Salarian Union….. have decided to revoke the membership of the Asari from the council."
"By the goddess what madness is this?" Tevos nearly shouted in her surprise. "The Asari founded the council in the first place. What gives you the right to kick us out?"
"Please Tevos, do not make this any harder than it is." Said Milos as he finally found his voice "Despite our discontent, our governments have decided this and will be planning to begin a war with your republic."
Tevos was in a shocked silence as Valern got up and went to the window, he looked out watching at the C-sec fleet currently flying around. "You have 2 days to move your people out of this station, the assault on the Asari ships here will begin on the third day, I suggest you move quickly." Stated Valern before he left the chamber.
"If it's any comfort, I managed to convince the Salarian Union not to start the war without a formal declaration of war. Your people have until then before the teams of STG starts their operation." Whispered Milos before he left as well. Councilor Tevos was still silent, unable to imagine what actions to take. Suddenly, there was a sound of a pistol shot which shocked Tevos into action. She got up looked into the door which the Salarian councillor had entered, finding him slumped on the ground with a pistol in his hand.
She gave a cry before rushing to the exit where her bodyduards had barged in, weapons drawn. "Inform the Asari commanders in C-Sec, tell them to move discreetly and begin the evacuation of all the Asaris on this station back to our colonies."
"Councillor?" Asked the younger of the two Commandos.
"Just DO IT!" yelled Tevos finally losing her cool. Minutes later all the Asari commander in C-sec suddenly received a short message before carrying out the councillor's order. Councillor Tevos watch sadly as she and the first batch of Asari refugees began to board a docked Asari cruiser. She briefly consider the bittersweet sensation of irony as the Asaris was forced into exile from Citadel space, much the same as the Quarians were when they unleashed the geth on this galaxy. The cruiser once filled with refugees, powered up its engine moving it towards the nearest Mass relay heading towards Asari space.
Turian Dreadnought Majestic Hierarch
Receiving point of Relay 314
Engaging Grey hulled and Purple Hulled ships.
Commander Felix watch as his mighty dreadnought fired its mass accelerator rounds towards the grey ships. The grey ship shimmers with a bright golden field as the mass accelerator rounds impacted the strange kinetic barriers that these species has. "Concentrate fire on this one. I want that ship Blown to pieces!" Growled Felix as he selected the smallest ship of the enemy sphere formation. He has to give them credit, putting their vessels in a sphere formation to intercept the mass accelerator rounds that were originally meant for disabling the artefact ship.
As he was studying the tactical data, suddenly thirty Hierarch vessels detonated into Zero fuelled fireballs. "Spirits" muttered a crewman as he stared in shock at the instantaneous destruction of 30 ships.
Suddenly "Commander!" shouted the sensor officer as his sensor console started to beep with contacts "Sensors have detected incoming fighters! Gunships or bombers are just behind them!"
"Activate the Guardian array, target those fighters and fire at will!" replied Felix as he returned his attention to the tactical data. He replayed the data slowly revealing the thirty ships that were cut down by what appears to be multiple energy beams. Suddenly the Majestic Hierarch shook. "Status! What the hell just happened?" Growled Felix as he looked up from the data.
"Sir the Gunship class vessels are boarding crafts! Deck 10 through 6 have reported something is burning through the hull!" reported the operation officer as he filtered through the reports coming in from throughout the ships.
"Tell the crew to get armed!" Shouted Felix as he went over to a nearby armoury and grabbed an assault rifle.
Meanwhile down below, Turian crewmen armed with assault rifles stood at the ready behind makeshift barriers of crates, weapons pointed towards the hole slowly being cut by a 2 prong equipment. "Get ready!" shouted the leader of the makeshift defence force. Suddenly the 2 prongs disappeared.
"What the?" muttered a crewman when nothing happened.
"You and you, go up and check the hull integrity," growled the leader as he pointed to two of the crewmen beside him. The two crewmen shared a glance before slowly easing out of cover and creeping towards the hole. They check the hull before turning back to shout an all clear. But as they turn, the hull behind them detonated in a blue white shimmer, blowing a large hole through the hull that was followed by multiple plasma bolts.
A crewman screamed as a plasma bolt caught him on his arm, while another whimpered from the pain in his face where a blue white plasma bolt hit before dying. "Spirits, Return fire! Ordered the leader as he and the surviving members fired their mass accelerator rounds into the hole. After a few seconds of sustained fire, they stopped.
"You think we got them sir?" asked a crewman as he peered out of cover. There was a sudden crackle before a roar filled the hole.
Following the roar, a being encased in bright golden armour stepped through the hole, a two prong blade of energy crackling beside him. Its mandibles split in what appears to be a wide grin. "The time has come Cowards!" roared in a widely used Turian language the being as it charged forward. Two of the crewmen fired in desperation, but their rounds simply bounds off the creature's energy shields. The rest of the smarter ones run, abandoning the failing defence.
Minutes later, Commander Felix stare as the doors into the CIC was cut apart by the same two prong energy blade that the surviving crewmen had told of. The doors detonated in a bright blue shimmer as the being step through. "What are you?" asked Felix as a slight bit of fear enters his voice.
"Me?" Laughed the being as more of his kind step through the now broken door. "I'm Sangheili, and I'm your doom!" before the rest of the Sangheilis charged forwards, firing their plasma rifles while Fieldmaster Sagu decapitated a nearby Turian. The scuffle was over in seconds before most of the Turians lay dead on the deck of their Dreadnought. "You are still alive?" asked Sagu with amusement as he kneels down beside the Turian Commander.
Commander Felix raised his head slightly, as he attempted to move away from the kneeling Sagu. "No please" he begged.
Fieldmaster Sagu grunted in disgust before activating his energy blade. Felix looks in fear before his mind collapse into unconscious. "Take him and the other survivors, brothers, our work here is done." Growled Fieldmaster Sagu as he glanced around scanning the surrounding before the beeping of his com got his attention. "Fleetmaster" Said Sagu with respect "We have successfully captured this ship. Requesting extraction of the enemy officer."
"Good. Extraction is on their way. The enemy are retreating as they should before our might" laughed Fleetmaster Rtas as he watched the remains of the Turian and Salarian fleet reteat through the Mass relay. Minutes later, Human civilian tugs clamped onto the captured Turian dreadnought towing it with them into Slipspace on course to the nearest Sangheili and Human joint colony.
Author's note: There finished for chapter 17, hope you all like it. Btw I need a new Beta reader since Ramen Knight said he is unable to help me beta read anymore. He got too many things on his plate. So those who are interested pls pm me.