Prologue
High Charity, the holy city of San 'Shyuum, and the Capital of the Covenant Empire. The Mushroom planetoid station floating in orbit and the central pillar of the Covenant Empire. The Station was powered by a Forerunner Key ship. In space around the station was guarded by the Large Covenant fleets patrolling or coming in and out of the High Charity. The holy city was home to billions of Covenant species from all walks of life ranging from different home worlds to live, work and serve the Covenant to further their goals of the 'Holy journey' along with their campaign against the UNSC.
A skeet size purple covenant spacecraft enters through the Grand port of the High Charity, and the shuttle flew across the city of High Charity. The shuttle began docking procedures. An honor guard of Honor Guard Elites stood in attention for a specific guest as the ramp unfolded and lowered to the ground.
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As a solitary Sangheili Honor Guard marched down the hallway, his footsteps echoed through the empty space. Arriving at the entrance of another guest chamber, the Honor Guard approached the door with measured steps. The slide doors parted noiselessly, revealing the interior of the room. In the center of the chamber stood a solitary human woman, her gaze fixed upon the sprawling metropolis visible through the window, nestled within the heart of High Charity.
"The Hierarchs would request your audience. Queen Myrrah." Spoken the Honor Guard.
Myrrah didn't answer as she turned around to follow the Guard.
A bargain must be struck.
So, her people could live, have the time they need and find a way to purge this disease from their bodies or stay to die on this diseased infested world of Sera. The Covenant is different, their technology and weaponry will be so much better, to rearmed themselves, travel across the stars, learn from the Covenant, and rediscover new insights into their cause but loyalty to the Covenant and devotion to the Holy journey must be met with compliance by the will of the so call prophets. The horde blows to no one but her however this is only necessary. A pact had to be made.
Standing in the center of the throne room, she couldn't help but feel uneasy as she faced the most influential figures in the room. The High Prophets, Regret, Mercy, and Truth, had just concluded their strict discussion, and their holo screens closed, revealing the final verdict. Her heart raced as she waited for their decision.
"This session had made a verdict. We review all the accounts of what you have claim over despite being the enemy." Spoken the Middle figure Truth hovering forward.
"We will overlook and of what you have claim over; based on what you rule your people and their devotion to you as queen. Despite how you describe yourself as the enemy; we shall overlook aside." Spoken the second Prophet next to him glazing at Myrrah.
Myrrah gritted her teeth as she gazed at them with contempt and unease.
"Your people share a common hatred for all human life compared to the Covenant's campaign against the humans. Locust's contempt for humanity is understandable, Your Locust methods of war is…..vile and brutish with such hatred we underestimated. The holy journey is greater than your personal war against the humans." Said the Third Prophet.
"We conclude from our overall review of your temporary and the queen of the Locust. By the Covenant's words, the Locust will serve the Covenant forces side by side. Your forces will answer to the command of the Covenant might, sword and spear."
Myrrah's eyes are lower and narrow with contempt.
"We will allow you to rebuild your army within three years' time. Once time expires by then you and your forces will commit to our cause. But you should be gleeful that we allow the locust into the Covenant as you call your people against our crusade against humanity, you are still alive because we allow it."
Not a miracle enough. Myrrah rose to her feet. "What guarantees, do I have that will honor our pledge?"
"Your loyalty in return depends while we honor your pact with the Covenant as you will do the same. As your forces committed to our cause against the UNSC but between us and your claim as Queen despite as the enemy we will watch closely but your loyalty will be monitored."
Myrrah let a sneer form on her lips as they refer her. "Ensuring my children's survival as long as they live is my reward. A new world for our own and including shedding blood on the humans is also our reward." Replied Myrrah
"You and the Locust should be blessed as new adversity has already discovered your kind from that wretched world that you call your birthright. All will begin new and pure in the new beginnings for the might of the Covenant." Said the middle.
"By the might Covenant and its holy crusade, the Locust shall serve faithfully along the forces of the Covenant. The gods may bless this humble discovery of another race fold into the Covenant."
" Now Queen Myrrah you are dismissed, for best as you return to your quarters. Rest assured your people will be joining you. Therefore your commitment and loyalty to the holy journey will be tested in the coming unpleasant two weeks as you learn about the UNSC. "
"We shall see," whispered Myrrah with a deathly tone as she bowed respectfully for safety's sake as she was led out of the chamber. The three prophets are all that is left in the throne room.
"She may be human but her ambition is to ensure her people's survival despite they are close to extinction due to the Locust's costly war against the humans on this Sera." Said The prophet of Truth to the two.
"Sera is no concern to us and holds no value since our resources and forces are tied up against the humans." Said Regret. "However, Sera has some uses for the Covenant. This imulsion Myrrah describe is a major resource center that can provide benefits to the Covenant as it provides fuel and a major strategic resource."
"Such a fuel will provide a lifeline to thousands of warships across the Galaxy. The humans on Sera have been driven to extinction is no concern to us. Concerning about Myrrah, she may be human but her expression in her iron hatred of humanity is something different and to pledge such a rare allegiance to the Covenant is a rare opportunity, unlike previous encounters." Said Truth.
"What will become of Sera?" asked Mercy
"The entire planet Sera has been violated by decades of war reduced to a less strategic value and its human population dwindled to a small percentage. Harvest what is left of the imulsion and what resources available to the Covenant to be in use. "stated Regret.
"So confident Queen Myrrah claims to be and I believe she and the Locust Horde is more dangerous for now but in the long term would make the three of us question why the Locust and their queen be allowed," said Regret.
"She and the Locust must be kept watch at all times and I will oversee that she will ensure their loyalty to our cause to be in check. Agents will be assigned to monitor Myrrah." Replied Truth." Only the gods will bless us as they concluded we made the best decision for them. "
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"This new development is now in session." Announced the Prophet of Truth across the council chambers. "Our brave warriors and explorers of the Covenant explore the corners of the galaxy has found a new adversity to be welcomed into the fold of the might Covenant."
Addressing to the council chambers with risers on either side holding Sangheii councilors, San 'Shyuum, and a few rare representatives from Jiralhanaes and Unggoy. Chieftain Tartarus standing on a hover platform with his bodyguards flanking left and right.
Thel 'Vadam Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice was along with the Sangheii councilors, Commanders, and Generals.
"The Locust has asked for a pact to ensure their survival and we answer." Announced Truth "Brace yourself that we had a special guest of this hour. Introducing Queen Myrrah of the Locust Horde from Sera."
As a purple disc-like platform rose from the bottom revealing to be Queen Myrrah and her retinue of the Queen's guard standing in the middle.
"Esteemed members of the Covenant, I am honored to relay news of a significant development. An individual has made a courageous choice to renounce their humanity and pledge their unwavering loyalty to our cause, aligning themselves and the locust with our journey towards a paradise. Their unwavering commitment to the Covenant serves as a beacon of hope in our quest for a brighter future.
Thel neither Tartarus did not look pleased with the announcement. Hostility filled the mood as the chambers went dead silent since all eyes fall on the presence of Myrrah herself. Myrrah glazed at Truth in disgust like she was painted a target on her back.
A scowl formed upon Tartarus as his arms still crossed and Thel only frowned at Queen Myrrah in mixed armor and crimson clothing.
As Thel observed the individual who had pledged allegiance to the Covenant, he couldn't help but narrow his gaze in recognition of a grave error. It was clear to him that allowing this particular human to join their ranks of the Covenant was a colossal mistake.
The spectators display expressions of shock and disbelief, Rest of the Covenant seemed in anger and disgust, and others had their hands hovered over their weapon hostlers as they are willing to draw their energy blades or guns.
More Sangheili councilors muttered in contempt, others few dared to protest openly and most of them glazed at Myrrah and the Theron guards in contempt.
"She dares to join the Covenant! She is filth from the humans! This queen is nothing compared to us!" shouted a Sangheili councilor
"It is against the will of the Covenant and the testimonials of the holy journey." spoke up a San 'Shyuum councilor.
"That queen scum should die by my blade!" an outraged Sangheili general roared standing up. "We all want to see her head severed."
Mouthing curses and gestures at the Locust Queen.
"As a testament to their unwavering commitment, Queen Myrrah and her people of the Locust have pledged their loyalty to the Covenant," declared Truth, reassuring the crowd. "They will stand by the Covenant's side, uphold their principles of the holy journey, and fight alongside them in battles yet to come."
"Queen Myrrah of the Locust Horde? Do you swear allegiance to the Covenant?" Truth turns to Myrrah before whispering low "A new destiny awaits."
"My reward is seeing humanity reap in their destruction." Spoke up, Myrrah stepping forward and knee down to the Prophet hovering over her.
Myrrah look up and stared right into the Prophet of Truth's eyes "I do. I pledge allegiance to the Covenant so the blood of humans will be shed." Before glazing to the audience present in the chambers.
She kneels for safety's sake in front of the Covenant to see.
Compared to humans, the Covenant leaves nothing but destruction in their wake, and their naïve belief that they could enslave the horde into their war. I will show them that they have been proven wrong from the moment we will break free from our pledge. We will make sure they see who we truly are. Myrrah's wicked smile conveyed a clear message to the stoic prophets in front of her: the games are about to begin.
For her children survival and the future lies on the Covenant but Myrrah had nothing to lose as the Locust had some use to the Covenant as they play along with the Covenant as they await a chance to make their move within the Covenant.
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A column of Locust immigrants marched through columns of the purple hallway as more locusts disbarked from the ramp of the bellow transport ship from the landing pad. A trio of Elites standing guard watching them entering the city from platforms or the checkpoint to the city of High Charity.
As locust newcomers continued to walk, one lone Locust drone in the walking crowd turned on his left at glazed at a Sangheili soldier standing on the metallic sidewalk holding a plasma carbine before letting out a growl of contempt showing the shark razor teeth. The Sangheili only narrowed and lower his eyes and tighten the scowl of his mandibles wider.
The Locust had forged an alliance with the Covenant Empire in exchange for securing their survival as a pact was formed by the Covenant. But the pact is not easy to uphold.