Welcome all. My take on this fanfiction is from the viewpoint from an Elite in events leading up to the Great Covenant Schism. There are many tales that describe humanity's efforts in the war, though there are few that take it from the Covenant's. This fanfiction will delve into the Covenant culture, its hierarchy and political systems, corruption, betrayal, and other subjects such as religion and its profound effects.

 I find that many pieces of fiction deal solely with humanity's hopes for survival and that alone. That is no bad subject at all, and there have been many great pieces of work that surpass my own. However, I seek to tell of the untold sides of the war, from the perspective of a Special Operations Elite. I will be dealing with more than just the frontlines, it is my intention to provide insight into the Covenant's culture, as stated above, and there will be much backroom politics.

 Note: This fanfic is from the perspective of an Elite, and for this reason, the names of species will be given in their native tongue, e.g. Hunter will be called Lekgolo.

 

 

Here's a short description from Fanfiction: When Supreme Commander 'Vorlumee vanishes, a covert operation commences to find him. Little did anyone know that he was in pursuit of an ancient weapon rivaling the Halo Array, something that would shake the very foundations of the Covenant to the core.

 

If you so please, this story can be read on fanfiction here. 

 

 

                        Epilogue: Telemachus Returns

                 1610 Hours\ December 16, 2551\ Khellmer System, Planet Jarnus


On the crested hill, long grass swayed to and thence in a rhythmic dance with the gentle gale sweeping up from the nearby oceans. The amber sun hung like a hangman's noose in the bloodied sky, its gaze silking the landscape with a golden facade. A river, whose origin belonged to distant snowy peaks snaked through the valley towards grander waters.

Endyr 'Vordimee sat in the dancing meadow, eyes closed, his breaths prolonged and thorough. Deep blue robes encompassed his large frame, and as he contemplated his pending return to the war with the humans, he was disturbed with the memory of the events that had caused his temporary leave from the frontlines. Subconsciously, he ran his hand along the series of scars that had been engraved into his left side and his facial muscles contracted as he winced from the thoughts that held firm in his mind.

All he remembered was a silhouette, a dark figure that was always shapeless in his mind, which preceeded a red flash of light after which searing pain followed. He had been on the eve of succeeding, achieving a great honour, when he had been betrayed. It was this image that always appeared in his mind the moment before he would wake, haunting him, tormenting him, yet the shape was always immaterial, insubstantial, and what was behind the black veil had continued to elude him, the being who had betrayed him, almost killed him, remained a mystery that did not want to be solved.

Endyr's sentiments were suddenly interrupted upon hearing then all too familiar deep whine of a Phantom dropship.

What purpose brings the Covenant's needs to my home, my return does not call for another season, and yet, someone yearns for my attention.

The Sangheili stood up and surveyed the horizon. He spotted it, a shadow darting over the liquid behemoth of hydrogen and oxygen molecules, at least a dozen kilometres away, yet its presence was betrayed by its own very sound being carried by the prevailing winds to the hilltop on which Endyr now stood. Despite the winds, many Sangheili would not detect the sound, but on top of Endyr's uncannily keen hearing, he had grown accustomed to the peace and quiet of solitude with nature over the past four months here, where he had spent his rehabilitation, and the sound of the dropship's engines pierced the air like a blade through flesh.

Ninety seconds later the dropship came to a slow and hovered before him. Out of its gravity well a single figure descended. Despite being donned in golden armour, Endyr immediately recognised the other Sangheili.

"Fleet Master Hironomee, by the gods, welcome to my home. Come, let us go to my dwelling, we may talk inside."

"That will not be necessary Endyr, we are pressed for time, do not let it slip away."

The Fleet Master was a living legend, a tactical genius who had also been nominated to join the High Council on numerous occassions due to his level-headed nature and modern view of the state of things in the Covenant. He would have been an injection of fresh blood into an aging political contingent, but to the dismay of many albeit to the joy of the soldiers under his command, he chose to stay in the Navy, stating "I am a soldier, not a politician."

His reputation swelled as a great leader and tactician came about after having after stumbled across a human colony in a pursuit of Forerunner artifacts,  held off two dozen human ships using just his own flagship and an accompanying destroyer for over two hours until reinforcements arrived, who quickly slaughtered the blunt, primitive human vessels and then proceeding to glass the infidel's colony. He had utilised naval tactics never before seen, using the planet(Ithaca IV) and its two moons as cover using orbital slingshots and figure eight patterns to outmaneuver the enemy fleet and dismantle any of their attempts to flank or contain him. Unfortunately the destroyer succumbed to a barrage of the massive MAC rounds but his flagship had remained intact and continued on to neutralise the enemy with the aid of the reinforcing Covenant ships.

Indeed, following that he was put under direct command of Supreme Commander Eldron 'Vorlumee; Endyr's father.

Endyr was the prodigy of his father. He inherited his father's swordsman genes, and had made quite a name of himself and now held the position of Special Operations Officer. He had been in military service for over seventy years and had seen many things during his ninety annum lifetime. During his time he had quenched several heretic rebellions, which seemed to be occuring more and more often, but he took no pleasure in burning them alive like many of his comrades despite his loathing for them. He had also recovered several artifacts from the infidel's worlds, and numerous humans were slain by the blade of his sword when they got in his way. Indeed, several missions were given to him by Fleet Master Hironomee, and along with the Fleet Master's relations with both Endyr and his father, he had become somewhat like a cousin to Endyr, and the three of them all enjoyed one another's company, though none of them ever said it.

As Endyr continued to maintain the gaze and await words from his comrade, he, for just a moment, saw sympathy, (or was it anxiety?) flicker across the zealot's face before his features quickly hardened and once again bore an impassive expression.

"Endyr, brother, I bring harrowing news and I apologise for the abrupt manner in which I must inform you of... Endyr, your father, Supreme Commander 'Vorlumee, he has disappeared dear friend. I know not how to convey my condolences Endyr, but my emotions are coiled in grief. I do not believe this to be an accident,  and I fear you too may be in danger. You must come with me, where my ships can give you safety."

"My father? No, that cannot be. A warrior of his position does not just go amiss. How did you come of this information? Where was he? When did he vanish?"

Endyr did his best to uphold a disposition of indifference, but he could not prevent his mandibles from clenching in tension, his fists balling in rage. He grew weak at the knees, for he knew that in the Covenant, those who go missing, are seldom seen again alive. Blood purged through his vessels, his hearts thumped with greater fury than a provoked Jiralhanae, yet, he felt lightheaded, dizzy with concern, and began to loose his balance. He was on the verge of crumbling to the ground when he managed to steady himself. Being a special operations officer does not allow a place for frailty, no matter the form or the cause.

"There is no time for talk, I am sorry, but you must gather your armour and your sword, we leave this instant, I will brief you once we depart. Now, hurry, before they come for us."


        *        *        *        *        *

Endyr paced inside the hull of the Phantom dropship. He was quite familiar with the craft, much more so than ordinary ground forces as the Phantom was still a prototype and was rarely used outside Special Operations or transporting high ranking members of the Covenant. It was a significant improvement over the still widely implemented Spirit, with three times the firepower and a more robust design which also allowed more flexibility in its cargo options. It had been his salvation on many occasions, extorting him from hostile battlefields, but it was also what tossed him in there initially. However, there was no denying it was the most incredible and versatile personnel carrier that the Covenant had ever conceived.

Endyr was now shrouded in his gleaming silver-white armour, which designated him as an officer in the Special Ops branch of the Covenant military. Across from him stood the Fleet Master, but crouched in the corner, having yet to speak, even when Endyr had bowed to him, was an incredibly senile High Councilor, his withered skin sagged, almost peeling off of the body, his posture hunched and feeble, and his dark crimson robe hung loosely off of his falling shoulders.

Fleet Master Hironomee shifted his weight before proceeding to commence with the inevitable dialogue.

"This Phantom is taking us to my flagship, The Eve of Redemption. There, I will take you to the last known whereabouts of your father, and from there you will be on your own. However, before that time passes we have much to discuss, and for that reason, I have brought along a lifetime mentor of mine. Endyr, allow me to introduce you to High Councilor Kellren Lornoree.

---

"I'm not so foolish to think this
will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I
would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall
be my example."
-Mendicant Bias

welcome to the forums!

that's very well written (by my standards anyway)

cool fic dude

---

MY POST COUNT IS OVER 9,000!!!
Bow before me mortals!
banned, for no good reason. I will be back though, and I intend to kick some serious ass...

Welcome to the site! Also, nice!

---

[IMG]http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm7/Ryzza2ownU/SpartanEXR2.jpg[/IMG]

^Good job clicking that Edit button, Spartan.^

Hope you are having a good time at Relic, Thunder!

Thank you for the warm responses. If you have any constructive criticism, feel free to indulge me. The next chapter will be up in a number of days.

---

"I'm not so foolish to think this
will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I
would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall
be my example."
-Mendicant Bias

very nice fan fic

---

Lethe:

What if we had a game where 2 different sides of units engaged each other in some form of military conflict?

That'd be awesome.

what if Halo Wars had that?

 

Telemachus?  Son of Odysseus from the Odyssey right? Strange name to choose... >:]

Anyway, good story, I'd love to see more 

---

You get hit with a heavy object.
-2 DXT
-5 STM
-200 INT
You are dead.

The name Telemachus and its relation to the Odyssey is of deep symbolism and thus I chose to give the epilogue such a title. If it is not clear now, the symbolism will be explained later on.

---

"I'm not so foolish to think this
will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I
would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall
be my example."
-Mendicant Bias

Chapter One is over half way through completion. It will end up being at least twice as long as the epilogue, so hopefully there will be at least some food for thought.

 Meanwhile, I've noticed on this forum that most author's post all chapters in their initial post. Am I to take it that there is no character limit?

 As I previously mentioned, Chapter One is being written and I hope to have it up by Sunday. My apologies for infrequent updates compared to others, but please consider that my time is limited so I cannot churn out chapters of the lengths I seek as fast as others might.

 
Thanks for you patience,

~Sovereign Hand
 

---

"I'm not so foolish to think this
will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I
would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall
be my example."
-Mendicant Bias

Chapter One: Old Habits Die Hard has now been posted. Enjoy.

---

"I'm not so foolish to think this
will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I
would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall
be my example."
-Mendicant Bias

that.  was.  awesome.

very good stuff

I especially like your writing style

that was definitely worth the wait 

 

here is some (hopefully constructive) criticism if you want it

at the end of the chapter 1 i didn't really understand that it was not part of the story of his father's disappearance until the ships started moving

that might just be i wasn't paying attention though 

Thanks for the feedback, I'll take it into account. There will be action along with plot building in the next few chapters, before there are massive outbreaks of chaos and heavy, lunging twists.

 

Thank you for the reviews, I appreciate it. 

---

"I'm not so foolish to think this
will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I
would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall
be my example."
-Mendicant Bias

I've moved Chapter One down here to avoid an extraordinarily massive original post.

Enjoy this piece of writing.
 

 =================================================================

 

                    Chapter One: Old Habits Die Hard

              1530 Hours\ August 16, 2481\ Khellmer System\ Planet Jarnus


A figure raced through the forest, leaping over fallen trees, penetrating foliage, in rapid pursuit of its prey.

The juvenile Endyr sprinted after his target. Fifty metres in front of him, he could see the rustling of the low lying flora, but it could not outrun the young Sangheili, who had so far lived through fifteen winters, and was beginning the process of honing his abilities, for in a few years, he would be conscripted into the Navy, a day he quite looked forward to. His father often told him stories of his engagements with enemy forces, and Endyr always listened with enthusiasm and interest. He hoped to one day see the tactical abilities of his father in naval combat play out before him sometime, but today was not that day. Today was his day, where Endyr would attempt to achieve his first kill, the foremost step of his coming of age.

Endyr ducked under a hanging vine, then sweeping through a slalom of rocks. He held his family's spear in his right hand, passed down through generations. Endyr's forefathers had all made their first kills with the very spear he now grasped, and he had the intention of doing the same. It was short, one half the length of a fully grown Sangheili, but this gave it the advantage of being more maneuverable when wielded as a trade off to the lack of range. In jungle terrain like this, a long spear would be unwieldy, getting caught in the various shrubs and vegetation. The shaft of the spear was made of arnuk, a very hard wood only indigenous to this world. On it there had been carved many hieroglyphics, symbols, and images, describing various stories and events in the family's past. The suppression of rebellions gone by, the discovery of Forerunner artifacts, records going back so far as the first contact war between the Sangheili and the San 'Shyuum.

The young biped weaved through the foliage, he was in control, and now, he would earn his kill. He felt so close, the energy in his legs was limitless, and nothing would slow him today. He was, for all intents and purposes, at this very moment, in his eyes, infallible.

Suddenly, the trees fell away, and Endyr stood on an open field, yet, there was no animal. He looked around him, the jungle was behind him, creeping around his sides, before completely receding at his front. The youth examined his surroundings. Everything stilled, the wind had ceased, not even the leaves waved, the grass around his feet seemed apprehensive, as if holding their breath-

A dark blur struck Endyr. He let out a yelp and was pushed to the ground, before swinging up at his attacker with his fist, and then, looked into the most menacing eyes he could imagine, black, lifeless, two holes, voids in which evil dwelled. Endyr was face to face with a Phaetoer, a massive, feline creature with black slimy fur that collected in malignant tendrils around its body. Endyr froze, terrified, he thought they were the things of folklore, mythical creatures that only existed in tales and legends. But here, nine foot from head to rear, it stood over him, its claws bared, black chisels that could carve gashes in the sky.

Endyr stretched for his spear, but it was out of reach, he kicked up with his hoof at the Phaetoer's underbelly, and the monster fell back, for Endyr was no sloth, the finest fighter of his age. He leapt to his feet, and sprinted for the spear, finish the bea-

A piercing, thunderous roar shook him. Involuntarily, he whipped around, the Phaetoer stood, creeping towards him, slowly, deliberately, toying with its prey. Saliva dripped down yellow fangs, the very pincers of death. Again, the monster roared. Endyr riveted, lost his strength, his arms trembling, his feet stuck to the ground. He could not move, the sound so colossal, echoing off of the distant, razorlike peaks, it seemed as though the planet itself was bellowing in ire.

Endyr managed to slowly back away, hoping to get to his spear, yet he still could not avert his eye from the beastly spectre.

Just a few more steps, and he could grab the spear and impale his adversary.

The Phaetoer lunged, roaring so loud that even the deities would be obligated to cover their ears.

Endyr sidestepped to his right, pivoted on his left hoof and smashed the beast in its side with the right. The collision sent the monster reeling into a nearby tree, before it slumped to the ground.

Endyr did not waste any time, he picked up the spear, turned around and-

The young Sangheili was knocked off his feet. Endyr rolled quickly away before regaining an upright stance, spear still in hand, and it was then that he noticed a hot trickling sensation down his back. He had been wounded, though not gravely.

The Phaetoer turned to him, snarling, limping slightly, infuriated. Yet there was no fear in Endyr's veins any longer, for it was he that made the charge. Sprinting towards his nemesis, he leapt high into the air, reared back his arm, before thrusting it forward with the spear on his descent, and drove it through the Phaetoer's skull. It let out a final rasping cough, and crumbled to the ground, still, lifeless, yet still menacing.

It was the young Sangheili, not the malevolent ferocious monster, that stood, and pride swelled in Endyr's chest as he savoured the triumph of overcoming such an adversary. He looked over the rolling hills before him, and at this very moment, he felt like a titan, a lone sentinel in the midst of nature's grandeur. Invincible.

            *            *            *

2145 Hours\ December 16, 2551\ Aboard The Eve Of Redemption\ Khellmer System, High Orbit over Planet Jarnus

Three high ranking Sangheili sat around a large elliptical, floating table. Endyr leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table's purple metallic surface, trying his earnest to hold back his questions, to maintain his self control, yet he was restless. He wanted answers.

At last, the Fleet Master leaned forward to meet his gaze.

"Endyr, allow me to tell you why I brought High Councilor Lornoree into our company. He believes that-"

"Lurno Hironomee, I do believe I am capable of making my own introductions. You should know that by now, shouldn't you?"

"Yes, High Councilor, my sincere apologies."

"Lurno, there is no need for such formalities here. What is said here must never be repeated to another outside this room, at the least until all the happenstance is revealed."

Endyr couldn't help but be amused at the High Councilor's father like position over the Fleet Master, though he did say that the old Sangheili was a long time mentor to him.

It had been a mystery as to why there was such a strong relationship between the two Sangheili, though Endyr's father had told him that Hironomee had been raised for a time by him. What had happened to his father was unknown to Endyr, as his own father never divulged and he never dared to pry into the Fleet Master's personal life.

High Councilor Kellren Lornoree turned to face Endyr.

"Ah, Endyr 'Vordimee, I've heard of you. You haven't seen much action on the frontlines against the humans, have you? Quenching heretic rebellions across this arm of the galaxy, so I hear. I once believed the heretics to be great threats that had to be eliminated...

I believe that the disappearance of your father was no accident, and I also believe that it was due to something he was upto, something he had found, things he was searching for."

"And what might that be?" interjected Endyr.

"That I can only estimate, and that I shall do. In recent times, Eldron 'Vorlumee was in contact with yours truly. He confided in me great secrets, things that if told, would likely accelerate his trip to the afterlife. Things that contradicted the very basis on which our great Covenant was built upon. The evidence he gave me to support his theories was overwhelming, leaving me in no doubt, shocked as I was, that he was right.

Endyr, your very own father has ursurped a great secret, discovered a lie that has been told to us all, Sangheili, Jiralhanae, Kig-Yar, all beings in the Covenant.

Son, the Forerunners were no gods. They were mortals, just like us. And what would become of their fate was nothing divine."

Endyr leapt out of his chair, simultaneously grabbing his sword and activating it, and then lunging across the table, at the High Councilor.

"Hereti-"

"No!" Endyr was catapulted sideways, ricocheted off the edge of the table and fell to the floor. He was up in an instant, prepared to fight.

Fleet Master Hironomee was standing on top of the table. It was he who had charged into Endyr mid-flight. He bellowed.

"Stay your hand Endyr!"

Endyr retorted. "I will do know such thing. The heretic has insulted the gods. I will not tolerate such blasphemy!"

"Blasphemy? You have never witnessed such a thing in your entire life!"

"Fleet Master, you may have been a friend of my father's, but you are no grand companion of mine any longer. If you do not take the head of the traitor yourself, I will do so, and should you attempt to protect him, I will cast you aside, while the weight of your heresy will stay your feet, and the Great Journey shall leave you behind."

The Zealot in turn activated his sword. "You have forced my hand Endyr, I am sorry, but you will not harm the Councilor."

"You both will lower your weapons, as High Councilor Kellren Lornoree, I order you both to cease such needless fighting."

He walked towards Endyr, standing mere inches outside of the threshold where he could be slayed by Endyr's sword.

"Listen to me Endyr. That is all I ask. After I have finished,  you may do as you wish, and I will not attempt to fight or flee should you feel obligated to take my life. If that does not sway you, I also have a hypothesis on who has caused your father to disappear."

Endyr curbed his emotions, for the moment. He would let the High Councilor speak, find out what he knowledge he bears about his father, and then slay him for his heresy.

"I will hear what you have to say about my father, and then, your heresy will bring about your death by my blade."

The High Councilor brought his right hand to his jaw, his left hand cusping his right elbow, using his arms to support his aged head. His brow furrowed in thought, before he spoke.

"You will hear all I have to say, or none at all. Those are my terms, and you will oblige."

"You have nerve heretic, my patience wears thin, but it is an agreement. Speak, ere I shall change my mind."

"I can see traits of your father in his son, but before I get sidetracked, I will spill out my knowledge before you, and you may do with it what you want.

In the last several weeks, your father initiated contact with me. I being a dear friend of his own father, he was the only one he felt he could confide in within the Council. After analysing an artifact he found on the now glassed human colony Ithaca IV, he discovered a series of hieroglyphics and symbols in the very centre. This artifact is a gem stone, azure in colour according to the video files which he addressed to me. After decyphering these glyphs alone in his private quarters, (how he did it is beyond me, your father is nothing short of a genius) he discovered coordinates to an uncharted world. Having consulted me for advice, I ushered him into following those coordinates, using a stealth vessel instead of his flagship. He left his fleet in the hands of Traklo Gorimee, a very adept naval tactician in his own right, and departed on his own, not even bringing his most trusted officers. Many wondered where he had left to, it was a subject in the High Council, where I broke my highest oaths by denying having any knowledge of his whereabouts, I believed- I still do believe, that telling the Council that he had found a great artifact left by the "gods", as I once believed, and had analysed it, followed up coordinates and was en route to a place with possible Forerunner origins, would end in both mine and his deaths.

Call me a coward, but I did not lie to save my own hide, for I have become wary of the San 'Shyuum. They have been giving the Jiralhanae mongrels more political power, giving them higher roles in the military, gah! They even have permitted some to command ships of their own! Disgraceful! We, the Sangheili, are the military arm of the Covenant, no Jiralhanae will taint our tasks with their idiocy! The San 'Shyuum have become so insolent as to draw the Council into considering the permission of Jiralhanae to withold representation in the Council. Our Council! I will not allow such a thing while blood flows through my veins!"

"Do not waste my time complaining about ludicrious apes, I will allow you to inform me of my father's discoveries and his conspirators, no more."

The High Councilor bowed his head, sighing, before he looked back into Endyr's eyes, evidently offended by Endyr's interruption, yet the old Sangheili knew better than to rebuke in the present situation.

"Very well Endyr, at times I do go aloof, but bear with me, old age is not so easy as youth.

Reverting to your father, he followed the coordinates, coming across an inhabitable, terrestrial moon orbiting an extraordinarily massive gas giant. He hoped to find live Forerunners, but he was destined to be disappointed, no specimens of their race remained, but their legacy was marked on this world.

What he found were great ruins, larger than any we have ever found, and inside, he found an archive, documented history of everything that happened in the lifetimes of the Foreunners, or so he hoped.. What they contained shook him to the core, like it did me when I listened to what he had to say. Eldron downloaded as many of the files as he could store on a small slipspace messenger probe, and sent them to me. He learned much in two weeks there, trying to decypher what he could. He asked if I could send him teams to aid him in translation, Sangheili and Huragok only, and claimed it was imperative that no one, not even the Council, know about this. I had organised two teams that were ready to go, sending him a message asking him for the coordinates of the Forerunner world.

But only a day later, he told me to cease the assembly of the teams, that he was coming back, and it was urgent that he do so, claiming there was something he must find.

I asked him why, but I never got a response. For four weeks I waited and he never came, and it was then I heard something grave when I was leaving the Sanctum of the Hierarchs.

I had to retrieve a data pad that I had forgotten to bring back with me. As I departed, two of the San 'Shyuum, no less the High Prophet of Truth and the High Prophet of Mercy, were in deliberation. They wafted by me, and I did not announce my presence. It was likely they did not see me, for I was in the shadows, as I often am, as I do not covet attention. I witnessed Mercy turn to face Truth, and asked;

'What of the Supreme Commander that was meddling in-'

' 'Vorlumee has been dealt with, do not let him concern you again.'

That was all I heard, but I do not think it to be something benevolent, the tone of Truth's response was quite sinister, and I fear that the Eldron is in great danger, if he is still alive."

Endyr was speechless, the High Prophets were involved in his father's disappearance? That could not be, yet he did not believe the old councilor before him to be deceitful.

It was now the Fleet Master's turn to pose a question:

"High Councilor, the San 'Shyuum- the High Prophets? You did not tell me this much? Are you sure?"

"I have only told you what I have heard. I believe they have a hand in Eldron 'Vorlumee's disappearance, but I do not have the knowledge of why."

Endyr deactivated his sword. The councilor being a heretic no longer bothered him, he was filled with concern for his father. It was just now he realised how deep the water goes when it came to the present situation.

"Why would they be after me, High Councilor? My father.. he may be in danger, but that does not explain the need that I find sanctuary."

The councilor's brow creased and furrowed as he temporarily was entwined within his thoughts. For a minute, he said nothing, but at last he began to speak.

"I do not believe your father to be dead, and I have concluded that the High Prophets will be eager to obtain information about the archives and their whereabouts, for only he knows the locations of the artifact and the archives."

"You told me that the Forerunner were no gods. Establish your claim."

"Very well Endyr, but I again ask that you allow me to finish before you take any action."

"Your wish will be fulfilled-"

The screen at the end of the chamber flickered, lighting up the room in a blue iridescent glow. On it was the figure of a Sangheili clad in crimson armour.

"Fleet Master! We have incoming slipspace ruptures!"

The Fleet Master stood up and walked to the screen.

"Maneuver the ship behind this planet so that we have a narrow viewline of the coming vessels."

"Yes Fleet Master, initiating reverse thrusters, eighty percent power. We will be in position in thirty seconds."

"That is not quick enough, give me one hundred and twenty percent."

The crimson clad Sangheili bore an inquisitive question but nevertheless barked his orders to the rest of the bridge.

The ship lurched, the High Councilor fell forward, losing his footing. Endyr reflexively extended his arms and caught him.

"We are in position."

"Very good. Power down all non-essential functions. Engage the scanners and jamming systems."

A frigate appeared on the display.

"Fleet Master, jamming systems running, we are dark."

The Major turned. "Sir, we have detected three Spirit dropships leaving the frigate. Vectors indicate groundside destinations."

"Where?" exclaimed Hironomee.

Endyr knew exactly where they were going.

My home.

Author's Note: Well that's Chapter One. It took a while to write, longer than the length would suggest, I haven't had much time of recent I'm afraid, I've been busy all week. I hope you all are enjoying the story thus far, it's a bit slow at the moment, just immersing you into the state of things (hopefully). Things will be picking up speed in the next couple of chapters, and I have some very (in my opinion) interesting plot points queued up.

I enjoy any feedback given on my work, and I would greatly appreciate it if you spoke to your heart's content when regarding my writing, or indeed, anything.

Just a little side point, in both this chapter and the epilogue, I have out in subtle references to some influences. Some quotes may seen familiar, be they from the games or real life figures.

Also, San 'Shyuum is the name for the race of the Prophets in the Covenant's native tongue. However, I will call Truth, Mercy and Regret High Prophets, not High San 'Shyuum, as those are titles for their positions, not their race.

Well, that's all for now. Take care.

---

"I'm not so foolish to think this
will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I
would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall
be my example."
-Mendicant Bias