*Covenant Holy City, High Charity, Ninth Age of Reclamation*
Covenant cruisers flew around the debris of installation 04. Flying closer to their home station named, High Charity. Banshees flew in and around their holy city. Patrolling high in the air, flying toward a stadium-like platform. Closer inspection reveals the Council chamber inside and a voice is heard; "There was just one ship...". Inside the Council Chamber, rows of Honor Guard Elites stoos at attention on the path leading up toward the end. Where a single Sanghelli General stood facing both Prophet of Regret and Mercy, explaining past events to them.
"One? Are you sure?" Prophet of Regret asked.
"Yes. They called it, The Pillar of Autumn." Vadamm replied.
"Why wasn't it destroyed with the rest of their fleet?!" Mercy interrogated.
"It fled as we set fire to their planet... But, I followed it with all ships under my command." Thel Vadam testified.
"When you first saw Halo... Were you blinded by it's majesty?"
"Blinded?"
"Paralyzed? Dumbstruck?"
"No..."
"Yet the Humans were able to evade your ships. Land on the Sacred Ring and desecrated it with their filthy footsteps!"
"Noble Hiearchs. Surely you understand, once the parasite-." Thel Vadam protested before he was cut off by the howls of the crowd. Hearing them howl and bicker for a few seconds before being calmed down by Prophet of Truth.
"You we're right to focus your attention on the Flood. But these Demons...? This Master Chief... This Doom Squad?" He asked with a calm tone.
"By the time I've heard of their intent, there was nothing I could do." Thel replied, causing others yell and bicker amongst themselves. Tartarus stood with his arms crossed giving a slight chuckl under the bickering of the San'shyuum.
"Noble Prophet of Truth, this has gone on long enough. Make an example of this bungler. The Council demands it!" The Prophet of Regret whispered into Truth's ear.
The Prophet of Truth thought for a moment, turned to the Sangheili General addressing; "You are one of our most treasured instruments. Long have you led your fleet with honor and distinction. But your inability to safeguard Halo was a colossal failure."
"Ney! It was heresy!" The Prophet of Objection yelled out.
"I will continue my campaign against the humans!" Vadam defended his position with honor. Only to hear his notion to be rejected by the Prophet of Truth by replying; "No! You will not!".
The Prophet of Truth glanced at Tartarus and heard the Chieftan's bark. Watching two Jiralhanae approach Vadam and try to grab him, but Vadam shakes them off and escorted himself out. The Prophet of Truth closes the trial with his statement; "Soon, the Great Journey shall begin. But when it does, the weight of your heresy will stay your feet, and you shall be left behind."
The Corvette flew closer toward Installation 05, slowly flying toward the large ring. Flying deeper into the Ring's atmosphere. Picking up large structures and a large structure in the middle of a dormant volcanic lake. Doom Squad starred and awed over the massive landscape. Noticing a large large temples in the center and some scattered around the edges. Gary noticed something large coming up in the distance. Watching the clouds clear up to see a large temple like structure with light shooting out from the top.
"What is that?" Gary asked.
"Dude. That's another Library." Jeff replied. Hearing the pump click of the Doom Slayer's shotgun from behind him.
"Another? Crap... That means?"
"Yep."
"Friek."
"Don't worry about it, guys. I need you three to do what you do best. Cause chaos. Make Halo become hell for the Covenant. I'll get the Index." The Doom Slayer explained with a calm tone. Walking up behind the trio with his super shotgun in hand.
"You got it Doomguy. In order to do that, we'll need some supplies." Jeff replied.
"I got the location of this vessel's armory. We should go." Zuma suggested.
With their plan set in motion, the squad rushed into the hangar. Discovering Doomguy's Magnum Opus of scattered bodies, severed limbs, and fresh blood still dripping from the ceiling. They awed over the massacre as they walked through the hangar. Noticing subwoofers and large speakers were damaged beyond repair. With an Sangheili Elite's head slammed inside one with it's limbs twiching every few seconds. Hearing the pinging sound of a door as it opened and closed every second on it's own. Gary held his rifle in a tight grip as his eyes moved to the bar. Noticing every strange and alien liquor bottles left undisturbed on the shelf.
"Despite the destruction, at least the bar survived." He quipped to the others. Following behind Jeff as the group followed Zuma to a familiar area of the corvette.
"This place again? Where's the armory?"
"Behind the back door at the other side located on the second floor. We'll have to take the ramp up to get there. I never liked corvettes. The Prophet of Interior decoration was an idiot when it came to ship design."
"Hmmm... So Zuma? How many prophets does the Covenant have?" Jeff asked.
"Plenty. There is Prophet of Tranquility, Cooking, Objection. To name a few."
"Prophet of Objection? Does he object to everything?" Gary giggled.
"Yeah, he does. Last time I was at High Charity. I've heard he objected to Prophet of Truth's decision to switch the pizza topping from pepperoni to pineapple." Zuma explained.
"Is there a Prophet of Chill?" Jeff giggled.
"Yes." Zuma replied, opening the door leading into the armory. Discovering the armory to have one case of golf clubs. Several large crates of golf balls and plasma grenades. With one large crate of strange looking rifles with three pink crystals on it sides. Exactly like the one that Gary is carrying in his hands.
"Zuma? Are you sure this is the armory?" Jeff asked.
"Yeah. According to the map, this is the armory." Zuma replied.
"Really? I only see several crates filled with plasma grenades and golf balls in this room." Jeff replied as he walked around the armory. Quickly changing his mind after locating a locked box with a surprise locked inside. He bashed it open with the butt of his rifle. Opening it to only discover several large golf clubs inside. "You've got to be kidding me?" Jeff sighed as he pulled one out.
"Nahh... Don't worry about it, Jeff. We can work with this." Gary said as he tossed a plasma grenade up and down while swinging a golf club over his shoulder. Giving a few swings before tossing it back into the case.
With Doomguy's help, the Gary loaded up the all the large crates of golf balls and grenades into a Phantom. Zuma found a way to disconnect the sound system to quickly load it up onto the Phantom. Placing it down nearby the crates of plasma grenades and golf balls. Jeff sat inside the cockpit of the dropship. Performing a quick crash course lesson on the controls inside.
"Hmm...Cool. Similar controls that of an TIE fighter." Jeff spoke to himself. Hearing a random ping of an door opening and peeked up to see an Sangheili in Teal and DJ Flip-yap walking into the hangar. "Yo, eyes up! We've got an uninvited guest at the door." Jeff pointed out.
"Copy Jeff, I see him. I'll wave him over." Zuma replied.
"Ask him if there is any food supplies. We have enough liquor, but no food." Gary mentioned, loading the last crate of beam rifles into the Phantom.
"Hello brother." Zuma waved at the Sangheili.
"Why are you friends with these... Humans?" The Teal Sangheili asked.
"They're good friends of mine. They made me see the errors of the Prophets and how they'll doom us all." Zuma replied. Observing the Sangheili's body language before it replied; "There is one thing I must ask before I join."
"Ask away, brother."
"Are you going to play anymore of that horrid music the Prophets force us to listen to?"
"No brother. We are all metalheads."
"Fantastic. I'll join you. My name is, Kalum."
"Welcome aboard, Kalum. I'm Gary. Big guy over there is Doomguy and the crazy pilot inside the ship is Jeff." Gary greeted as he walked up toward the Teal Sangheili
"Speaking of food. There is some locked up inside the mess hall, but weary of the Unggoy who calls himself, Flip-Yap."
"Flip-yap? I know of him. That Unggoy is known to be dishonest tool of the Prophets. I might be hungover, but if he's here We must leave immediately." Zuma suggested.
"I agree. We only have enough room for one more person but not enough to squeeze another box, let alone food. Not a problem though as I'm an excellent hunter." Gary said as he and the others behind him hopped inside.
The Phantom quickly lifted off the hangar floor. Pushing several lifeless bodies of Covenant aside as it exited out of the hangar. Blasting out of the hangar with lighting speed. Flying through plently puffy white clouds in the blue sky of the ring's atmosphere. The crew felt a slight turbulance as Jeff piloted the dropship into a few isolated thunderstorms. Reaching the lower atmosphere to see more abandoned temples that scattered across the landscape. Jeff noticed a tall structure placed ontop of a hill coming into view. He pushed a button to open one of the side doors on the Phantom to let the others inspect the potential real estate value of the temple.
Gary inspected the exterior of the temple as the Phantom flew around. Noticing an long slinking trail overgrown with grass and vines. A small trail leading into an empty valley below. A lush valley with tall grass and a river snaking along the middle. Flowing toward the eastern delta basin where strange animals were grazing. Zuma peeked out his head to feel the cool breeze flowing outside. To see the temple fly closer as Jeff carefully landed the Phantom down into the backyard.
"Rah! Good to be on solid ground for a change." Kalum said, streching out his arms into the air.
"Alright, since we have no food. I'm going hunting, who would like to join me?" Gary asked, unholstering his SR99 Rifle off his back.
"I will too join you brother." Zuma replied as he pulled out a beam rifle from one of the weapon crates.
"I'll stay here to help Doomguy and Kalum set up camp." Jeff replied over the comm.
"Good to hear." Gary replied. Checking the clip to see four rounds inside. Snapping it back in place as he and Zuma made forth down the trail.
Gary and Zuma hiked along the dirt path, leading down into the valley below. Trading stories with one another as they hiked along the trail. Finding a forked trail that branched off to different locations. With one trail on the right leading toward the river and the other leading deeper into the hilly grasslands on the left.
"Where do you wanna go?" Gary asked.
"Hmm... Wanna go left?" Zuma suggested.
"Sure, why not." Gary replied, walking down the trail while Zuma continued on his crazy story about his extravagant prank on the Prophet of Regret.
"Anyway, with help from my two other brothers. We crossed a few wires on Regret's hover chair. Making it spin in place on random when he least expects it."
"Nice. Did anyone find out?" Gary giggled opening his flask to take a sip of the liquor inside before offering some to his Sangheili freind.
"Luckly no one, but if they did. I wouldn't be here with you on this amazing adventure with a human that I call a brother." Zuma explained, taking a drink from Gary's flask before handing it back.
They continued onward, finding a large undiscovered field with tall glowing blue cannabis waving in the cool breeze. "Well, well. Look what we have here." Gary remarked. Holstering his SR99 onto his back to investigate the strange blue glowing cannabis they discovered. They explored around the field, starring at the glowing cannabis with awe and curiosity. Gary grabbed his jar out from his belt, started picking the buds off the plants, and tossed another empty jar over to Zuma. With the whole field picked clean, they moved on. Turning back down the trail to hunt and bring back dinner for the night.
"Gary?"
"Yes?"
"How well do you like your steak?" Zuma asked, aiming his rifle, scoping out a large horned animal, and fired.
Back at camp, Kalum and Jeff shared a drink. Tossing the bottle back and forth between each other as they practiced their golf swings. Doomguy watched them practice as he enjoyed his drink while poking the fire with a stick he picked up from the ground. Kalum placed a ball on the pick and swung to hear a pleasant chock. Watching the ball fly out into the field below.
*Whistle* "Nice one, Kalum." Jeff whistled, looking at the field. Watching the sunlight slowly move along the forest below. He looked at Doomguy; "Yo Doomguy?! Want to give it swing?!" He waved over at him.
Doomguy stood up and placed his drink on the crate lid before him. Walking over toward them, catching the club that was tossed at him. He placed the ball on the pick below and chocked the ball straight into the clear deep blue evening sky.
"Damm." Jeff whistled, starring at the ball flying into evening sky. "That's gonna keep flying till it hits something." He said, opening another can of BLAST! soda.
"Indeed." Kalum replied. Practing his swing and giving another loud chock as he struck the ball far into the dark field below. Hearing slight chatter, he followed the voices to see a bloodstained armored trooper walking along with a bloodstained Sangheili. Carrying a large animal hogtied on a large tree branch.
"Nice." Jeff whistled. "Now, who's up for some good Alderaan cooking?" He offered, unholstering his combat knife from his utility belt.