53 human days
Pirate Freighter Mayhem's wish
Deep space
The pirate queen Tau'cha let the lifeless body of the Unggoy drop. And turned her eyes to the freighter commander Gah'uk "I'm calm now. Tell me what happened to the Mayhem's delight."
"Of course Mistress." said Gah'uk picking up the human datapad from where the methane breather had dropped it "according to the data packet they arrived in orbit of a great massacre and began salvage and resource harvesting when what they assume is survivors of the battle boarded them as wreckage was pulled in. The last thing Flight Master Reth'Bok said is "they are outside the bridge and the ship is lost. Long live Mistress Tau…." and that's where it cut off."
"So that fool not only failed his mission to bring more materials, forcing ship production and continued modifications to grind to a halt." she said slowly "he also lost his ship and crew to these pathetic inferior humans?!" her claws slashed out again severing a male Yanme drone in half
Gah'uk stood and watched knowing his Mistress's anger was nova hot and just as quick as she settled down "what are your wishes Mistress?"
Tau'cha looked at him and said nothing as she delved into thought they had one more corvette the Mayhem Folly and five of these human warships from her extensive research into Colonial databanks she knew there classes four of them were Manticore corvettes, and a single Adamant carrier-frigate hybrid.
She had overseen the removal of the corvettes three pathetically underpowered guns and seen a Melusean Heavy plasma cannon and six Phot pattern pulse Lasers installed in their place. The armories where the guns ammunition would have been stored had been opened up and turned into drop cradles for five Banshees giving them a small air wing. To crew them she had awakened hundreds of her fellow Kig Yar.
The carrier frigate had likewise modified its eight gun broadsides and had been replaced with Melusean plasma cannons. Unlike the Manticores all of their armories hadn't been converted into hangers. The ship had six armories to store an impressive amount of ammunition; five of them now held Phot pulse lasers. The last held four of the new human's Viper's in addition to the ten vipers and four banshees inside its hanger.
As for who would command she had looked through the commander list in Cryo her eyes were drawn to one in Particular; Gen'el a battle scarred Kig-yar that had served her for a decade before being put into a cryopod to extend his life and usefulness to the cha line. Her mind recalled the day he had been put into the human pod "Mistress, call on me when your back is against the wall and I promise you victory and success." that had been almost seven years ago.
If her back wasn't against the wall now….she didn't know what was.
"Gah'uk, I'm going to the cryopod storage. I have a plan." she said walking away without looking back.
"Of course Mistress." Gah'uk said, bowing deeply to her back.
Over the next hour Gah'uk was awakened, brought up to speed and given a mission to take the Adamant with a choice crew and bring back material.
"It will be done, Mistress." said Gah'uk "however to make it the most profitable i would like to make two requests."
Tau'cha nodded "understandable, to ensure success you should be as prepared as you can."
Gah'uk clipped his beak "good you remember my lessons."
Tau'cha nodded "ever since you have entered my service at the recommendation of the lesser prophet of unity i have learned everything i could from you."
"Under the Prophet of unity Eayn saw unprecedented growth in the covenant before the war. Tau'cha remembered the starvation and pandemics that had circled the world; millions had died before the prophet had personally stepped in bringing medical and food relief to their peoples.
"First, if you would allow, I'd like to take the other converted human ships with me." began Gah'uk
"To ensure I bring back as much as possible in a single trip."
Tau'cha thought about it for a moment before agreeing. "Very well. And second?"
"I would like a few hundred of the human cryo chambers to speed up salvage and recovery when we arrive. The faster we grab what we can, the smaller the chances of encountering enemies."
"Your words speak of your thoughtfulness and wisdom Gah'uk" Tau'cha praised him. "Very well begin your selection process. We need the supplies as soon as you return.
POV change
Gah'uk bowed his head in reverence "thank you mistress i won't let you down." standing straight he turned and walked away toward the hanger for the waiting Phantom with his scarred beak split into a smile."
Aboard the converted human ship slightly over two hours later with a crew primarily of Yanme, Unggoy, his most trusted Kig-yar followers and many human slaves. He ensured the other five ships had been crewed to his specifications. Once he was satisfied he poured over the available information and chose a world "Mistress we will be jumping to the world of Canceron according to information there was a battle fought there but has since been abandoned."
"Very well Gah'uk i look forward to your return." Tau'cha replied "may your trip be profitable and bounty filled."
"And may your treasury remain full and hunger sated mistress" Gah'uk wished her well.
Gah'uk's first stop was the massive hold of the freighter staring at row upon row and column upon column of human cryo chambers like the one he had been sleeping in, Nearly two thousand beings were stored here. He selected his fellow Unity Kig Yar and Grunts followed by every single human. He began the paperwork of transferring personnel from the conversion ships, getting as many humans and Unggoy transferred. Being careful not to draw Tau'cha attention.
Once the crew transfers were complete he stood on the bridge of his conversion carrier frigate surrounded by his personal Kig yar, Unggoy, and humans. The five ships jumped disappearing in a series of flashes leaving the freighter and its sole corvette in the depth of space.
Gah'uk standing on the bridge of his frigate carrier allowed a tear to fall from his eye. During his research he had discovered the prophet of Unity had been killed six and a half years ago shortly after he and the others like him had been sent to serve Tau'cha.
All of the caretakers who had witnessed it had been executed, Unity had hidden and escaped. Entrusting the knowledge that Truth, Regret, and Mercy had lied to justify the extinction of humanity in a holy war to Gah'uk and others like him.
He had been found guilty by truth and regret of sedition, heresy, and blasphemy. Wiping the tears from his eye it was time to obey his Prophet's Last last orders to Gah'uk had been clear
"End this unholy farce of a war and bring humanity into the lead position of the Covenant as their birthright as Reclaimers of the forerunners legacy."
The five ships began jumping toward the world the colonials referred to as Virgon.
During their trip Gah'uk found the highest ranking human and had him brought to his quarters.
The Muscular man entered his quarters with three Kig-yar with human assault weapons and plasma pistols. And Gah'uk waved him to a seat.
The man seemed hesitant but sat after looking at the chair for a second. Using his translator he started "Can you understand me human?"
The man nodded slowly watching Gah'uk. "Yes I understand you."
"Excellent ." said Gah'uk "I am known as Gah'uk, wing master of this vessel and you?"
"I am lieutenant Colonel James Mayweather of the 115th Marine Division." replied the human
"Very well i believe humans of your military go by their rank and surname. Is that right? Colonel Mayweather?" asked Gah'uk
The human nodded "most cases."
"Then Colonel Mayweather, I'm sure you're curious as to why I transferred so many humans to my command when others were available." started Gah'uk "to show you that i mean what i'm about to say." he held up a remote.
The human flinched his hand going to the explosive collar around his throat. "What's your game you bastard" snarled Mayweather
Gah'uk hit a button and the human's eyes widened before narrowing dangerously at Gah'uk before shock overtook him as the collar beeped and fell from his neck deactivated. "As I said Colonel." Gah'uk said, setting the remote down " I want you to understand what I say is nothing but the truth. Your people have a saying "trust is a two way road" i want you to trust what i'm going to say and the best way to do that is to ensure you can trust me."
Gah'uk nodded and one of the Kig yar hesitated a moment before holding out one of their assault rifles for the human. Gah'uk as well as the other Kig-yar tensed as the human mayweather took the weapon slowly dropping the magazine to visually check the red tipped armor piercing bullets inside before reseating the magazine "Very well…Wing Master i'll hear you out."
Over the next hour Gah'uk explained his intentions and reasoning to end the war and ensure humanity's survival and rightful elevation as the ancient forerunners wills. How his master the former Prophet of Unity had learned the truth and done what he could even as the high ranking Prophets of Truth, Regret, and Mercy had slandered and belitered the holy words of the most important relic of the Forerunners.
Finally getting down to the most important question "will you and the other humans assist me in this Colonel Mayweather?"
Mayweather leaded forward taking a hand off the rifle for the first time "i didn't really understand most of that was waaaayyyyy above my paygrade." the human said rubbing the back of his neck "but from the sounds of it this Truth, Regret, and Mercy are the ones responsible for the entire war. And you want to switch sides. To bring us in as top dog of the Covenant is that right?"
Gah'uk nodded "more or less i believe. We wish for the illegitimate holy war to come to an end and the prophets responsible to be punished for their lies of the sacred forerunners words."
"I'll pass the word to the other humans and tell them not to wipe you guys out." Mayweather leaned forward and his eyes became as dead as space sending a shiver down Gah'uks spine "but that also means we expect decent treatment from now on we are not slaves and won't hesitate to rip your heart out and eat it in front of your eyes"
POV shift
Virgon
Battlecruiser Imperator Typhon
"Attention on deck" came the call as the sole surviving admiral of the Royal Vrigon navy Admiral Javin Lamb entered the bridge.
"What's our status Capitan Tavish?" asked Javin
"Sir, thus far we have found and reactivated seven Prince Dalyn class cruisers and a pair of Queen class carriers."reported the redhead "on the ground we have located and begun decontamination of four subterranean civilian shelters. We have also found signs that three military shelters are active and occupied."
"Military shelters?" picked up Javin "which ones?"
"King Jarvis Royal Naval Academy, Queen Victoria Royal Pilots Academy, Prince Edward Royal Marine depot," said Wilma Tavish before finishing ""King David Aerospace."
"King David? Are you sure?" pressed Javin.
"Double and triple confirmed sir." confirmed Tavish.
"Maybe the Emperor and the royal family survived after all," said Javin with some hope in his voice.
Tavish said nothing but nodded heartfelt as she turned back to her station.
Over the next three hours freighters dropping the decontamination foam the UNSC had given them radiation levels surrounding the shelters began to drop as surplus crews were sent from his ships to bring the reactivated Virgon ships up to base crew levels a pair of Bezerk assault ships their hangers and crews stripped to bring the reactivated craft to operational status jumped for Scorpia to pick up additional crew.
The moment they disappeared alerts sounded as a DRADIS operator called out "contacts bearing 221 Karom 933."
Javin looked at the DRADIS screen and saw five ships tentatively identified as four Manticores and an Adamant had just jumped in and were…holding their positions "Launch the ready Vipers. Have them meet up with our CAP. Any ID on them?"
Javin didn't look away from the monitor watching as the carriers launched their ready craft and they began to move to join with the CAP bringing the force up to nearly a hundred vipers. "No sir, they are confirmed as four Manticores and an Adamant. But we aren't getting a clear IFF or anything from them."
Another officer spoke up from the Communications station "Sir we are picking up a transmission from the unknown ships
"I sure hope this translation is working…Attention Colonial task force this is Lieutenant Colonel James Mayweather UNSC Marines these ships are under my control where are the elements of the UNSC navy that have been sighted in this area?"
Javin looked around the bridge "Attention the person identifying themselves as Colonel Mayweather this is rear Admiral Javin Lamb of the Royal Virgon Navy. how did you find ourselves here and in possession of those ships?"
"Virgon?" Mayweather said surprised "as in the ones who were in control of that big ass ship tender Dream of Virgon?"
Javins eyes narrowed dangerously "Yes she was indeed one of our ships how did you know of her?"
A different voice came over the wireless "Admiral Lamb? is that you?"
"Identify yourself" ordered Javin.
"Javin, don't you recognize my voice? I'm hurt by BlackJack." came the voice
Javins eyes widened"Commodore Wilson?"
"In the flesh as it would be" said the Commodore.
"You seem to be missing one of the Emperor's ships, Blackjack." Javin said with a relieved smile. To Tavish "stand down the fleet and resume decontamination and rescue efforts."
"Yeah the aliens honest to god's aliens Javin still have the dream but this Mayweather fellow can tell you more than i can." said Wilson
The original speaker Colonel Mayweather came back on "yes the alien pirates pulled these ships from one of your rally points id say from the number of ships there. The crew are a mix of former alien pirates UNSC and other Colonial personnel." informed the Colonel "we will more than willing to pass your personal off to you but we need to know where the UNSC ships are."
"Most of your fleet is off on a mission not sure when they will be back but your ship the Artemis is at the world of Scorpia if your navigational computers are intact the computer can direct you." said Javin "do you know where the Dream and the other Pirates are?"
Yes the Kig Yar pirates, your tender the dream as well as the superfreighter the pirates commander Tau'cha uses as her flagship is here."
The communications officer spoke up "Admiral we are receiving coordinates from the other ships." He said transferring the coordinates into the ship's computer "according to this they are in the old Nord Nebula pre colonial frontier."