Lost. I am lost.

Was it always so? Once I had a purpose, I knew why I was, and what I was to become. All for what now? My acts condemned scores of an unknown, innocent species to genocide for a religion of lies and falsehoods. The truth was supposed to herald healing of sorts for us all as a people.

My healing though...

My Honor has died.

My Resolve has abandoned me.

My Soul...

I do not know what I am anymore. I do not know why I live. All that I am, all that I was, and all of my History have been denied to me due to my actions.

Perhaps that is why I accepted this posting from our Arbiter.

I have seen and done too much for the name of our once "holy" Prophets.

All that awaits me now is the Void of Eternal Night.

And the damnation it brings.

-End of Log

The first thing he registered was an intense ache coming from his temple.

Slowly getting to unsteady feet the Shipmaster turned around slowly as his eyes clarified what reality was. His bridge crew had been strewn about and all groaning as though they were younglings that had just endured their first training session, the emergency lights of the Corvette were blazing away with vibrant intensity.

Thankful his hearing hadn't yet registered the screeching tone that accompanied them, he reached to the arm of his command chair and tapped a few commands. The alarm he could not hear was blissfully muted and the emergency lights had been switched from alarm to standby mode. Heaving a breath, he sat for what felt like the first time in years and massaged his suddenly tired eyes as he recalled what led to this current state of affairs.

Their Human Allies had discovered a possible Forerunner artifact of mysterious properties. It was initially thought to be a "Shield World" as the Humans called them. Regardless, the potential for benefits outweighed many a concern.

Due to its proximity to the colony world Hesduros, a Hekar Taa-pattern blockade runner was mobilized with a full crew of 225 and a partial Complement of Warriors. Of the available 615, half had been withdrawn so the additional crew could be boarded.

This would be a group of scholars and scientists. Much to the Shipmaster's surprise he also saw a female medical doctor on the manifest. He had approached her, half tempted to throw her off simply because of what her duty would most likely be, but when he entered and found the older female with her back to him and already busily setting up a makeshift medical space.

He entered and was nearly killed by a dagger, thrown with the experience of a Swordsman, that impaled itself just short of slicing open his throat when he heard her speak.

"Either be treated by me or go bleed out your 'Honor' elsewhere. Do not waste my time with old talk, I still have much to prepare."

Her voice wasn't unpleasant in the least, like a smooth stone breaking the flow of a slow-flowing stream. But he had to admit, she was a fierce one.

He cleared his throat and they spoke properly without the threat of physical injury though he did not leave mentally unharmed. Females knew how to battle wits with the wiliest of the Elders, and she would give them a challenge.

So here he was, Shipmaster of the Corvette Inherent Resolve on a scientific - research expedition with 224 crew, 308 Warriors from various Keeps,152 civilians, and a Doctor everyone agreed had to have been raised by a Demon. She laughed but never denied the accusation, he would need to speak with her about that later on.

They had come up to the Relic and had just completed the exterior scans and had begun relaying their findings when the doors to the Relic opened. There was a brilliant white light and...

That was the last thing known.

As senses returned, reports found their way to him. There were no serious injuries reported yet but the doctor was still investigating, very thoroughly. The engine room reported their engines were overwhelmed and presently in the process of being recalibrated. Gradually he received and addressed each one appropriately, he was not made a Shipmaster simply because of his age.

Then he was given one by his Navigator and froze, he glanced up and the Navigator made a gesture that simply meant.

'This is what was found.'

He keyed up the communications to the three other senior officers on board.

"Meet me with the Navigator in my quarters once you've been reassured by your Menials that your stations are ready should they be needed. Summon the Obedientaries and lead Scientist also."

"That is impossible!"

"Shipmaster, are you certain?"

"Navigator, have you checked this information?"

All eyes turned as the male made a series of gestures before turning to the Shipmaster. When all eyes turned on him he simply stared down at the table as he clasped his hands together.

"I see."

He looked up at those gathered and spoke as calmly as he could.

"The Navigator states that he has checked and checked his findings twofold. There is no mistaking his findings."

The Shipmaster stood slowly as he walked over to a nearby window that looked out into the void. Idly, he stared out at the various lights twinkling out there in the distance. So many brilliant stars, so many possibilities, and so many galaxies.

"And none of them are ours."

He murmured the end of his thoughts aloud as he turned and addressed those gathered.

"What is known is this; we were sent out to explore a Relic of our Gods, after completing our initial survey of the Relic, there was a white light seen, then we awaken here in uncharted space."

He turned and took stock of those he had called. They all may be of different types but they were all Sangheili, this was not a time to panic.

"What do we do then Shipmaster?"

The question was posed by a young Obedientary, and it was honestly a fair one.

'What do we do indeed?'