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After Fate:
Date: 7 July 2005, 9:56 pm
I suggest you read my first series (incomplete) submitted two years ago before reading this, but it's not fully necessary in order to understand what's going on in this series. This is the link to the origional series, coply+paste it into your browser:
http://halosn.bungie.org/fanfic/ffsearch.html
-'Nos
Covenant Holy City: High Charity, Ninth Age of Reclamation
"Noble hierarchs, surely you understand that once the parasite attacked…" The Elite's voice trailed off as the angered council members rose from their seats and roared at the hapless figure standing on the podium.
"There will be order in this council!" The Devine Prophet of Mercy pounded his chair, silencing the voices. The low, cool voice of Truth, however, asserted control of the chamber immediately.
"You were right to focus your attention on the flood," Truth said as his long neck shifted his small head to look at the right side of the council room, to the left, and then immediately at the Elite standing in the middle, "but this demon, this Master Chief…"
"By the time I learned the demon's intent…there was nothing I could do," the Elite desperately tried to explain his failure. The council would hear none of it. Their roars, shouts, and jeers were louder this time, voracious for the heretic's blood. One of the Elite council members, Nam 'Muri, turned toward Wkehu 'Delevi, nodding his heavy helmeted head as he whispered.
"The fool makes us look inept."
"A shame," 'Delevi responded as he nodded. Truth spoke again.
"You are one of our most treasured instruments, long have you lead your fleet with honor and distinction," the Elite listened with his head down, hoping that the Prophet would say something that would spare him the imminent dishonor. Alas, the piercing words came down like a sword: "But your inability to safeguard Halo was a colossal failure." Another hierarch rose from his seat, pumped his fist into the air and shouted.
"Aye! It was heresy!" And for the third time the council exploded.
"I will continue my campaign against the humans!" The Elite boomed in defiance of the council, silencing them.
"No! You will not. 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," two brutes approached the Elite and he was lead out of the chamber, followed by the brutes and their notorious chieftain. 'Delevi felt a pang of emotion for the Elite, now labeled as a heretic.
When the Elite emerged into the vast openness of High Charity there waited dozens of lower caste species. Grunts, Jackals, and Hunters alike all jeered and shouted at the heretic who proceeded to the edge of a plateau overlooking thousands more Covenant. 'Delevi and 'Muri stayed within the chamber, having already seen many other brandings of heretics.
"I wonder—was it better that my brother was lost on Ucundus rather than return dishonored?" 'Delevi asked 'Muri.
"Surely better for him to have died in battle. He is remember as a martyr of the Great Journey, not a heretic."
"Indeed." The council focused once again on the three Prophets hovering within the chamber.
"What do you suggest we do with this heretic?" Truth questioned the council.
"Execute him in front of the masses!" a seated council member shouted. Many of the lesser Prophets asserted his statement.
"What do the Elites think of such a fate?" Mercy gestured toward the Elite council members. They whispered for a few moments among themselves while the rest of the council waited. An Elite stood and relayed their ideas to the others.
"The incompetent led, as his Excellency Truth stated, with honor and distinction. The destruction of the sacred ring is an unforgivable loss. His failure, however, is not heresy. He did not purposefully allow Halo to be destroyed, he tried to prevent it. We believe he should be given…" the Elite council member was cut off by the shouts of others.
"Nonsense! He is a Heretic!" one shouted.
"Kill him!"
"Hang him by his entrails and parade the heretic's corpse through the city!" this claim was met with harmony from the other council members.
"I understand that you are all angered by the loss of Halo, but don't you think your claims for the disgraced's life is a little unreasonable. I will note your enthusiasm for his execution, but I will decide his fate. This meeting is over," Truth raised his arms to the sides, gesturing for the council to leave.
"I wonder what will become of the incompetent," 'Delevi asked.
"Who knows. Perhaps he will be executed, perhaps he will become an Arbiter," 'Muri responded.
"An Arbiter? Only when the Covenant is in danger of breaking is there a need for an Arbiter," 'Delevi asserted.
"Our Covenant is always in danger of breaking; there are always heretics, somewhere hiding. We just never know about them because they are silently and swiftly dealt with."
"H'm," was 'Delevi's only reaction.
After Fate: Ruminations
Date: 20 August 2005, 9:08 pm
Since my last story was posted a while ago I thought I'd just refresh your memories with a brief intro. I recommend reading the Prologue before reading this, it's very short. Just click "read this series." For those of you who don't feel like reading the Prologue (a.k.a. 99% of you ;^, I'll explain a little. The Prologue opens as a transcript of Heretic, Hero with the Elite responsible for the destruction for Halo 04 (the soon-to-be Arbiter) trying to convince the Prophets that he is not a heretic. The story then begins to focus on two Elite hierarchs sitting in the chamber, Wkehu 'Delevi and Nam 'Muri. After the heretic is lead out of the council chamber the hierarchs begin to discuss his fate. Truth silences their zealous claims for execution and says the final decision up to him. 'Muri suspects that the heretic will be made an Arbiter and says that the Covenant is always in danger of breaking because there are always heretics. The members of the Covenant don't know of them because most are swiftly and silently dealt with.
This chapter is short, it probably can't even be considered a chapter but more of a scent, I just wanted to get it out as soon as possible.
Without further delay…
After Fate, Chapter II
Ruminations
Covenant Holy City: High Charity, Ninth Age of Reclamation, Wkehu 'Delevi's quarters
'Delevi removed his ornamental headpiece and rubbed his two beady eyes with his long fingers. Yet another Elite was branded for failure. It seemed that the Covenant couldn't hold onto a competent commander for too long before he was labeled as a heretic or killed in battle. So few of them were able to be promoted to a hierarchal position that he was glad that he had been appointed for his deeds early in the war, when it was "easy". "Easy" was before the discovery of the Sacred Ring, before the Flood, before Reach and the Demon's rise to infamy, before the deaths 'Delevi's brothers. His mind paused at thought of his brothers, a lump of sadness welled up in his throat. They would have been hierarchs. Wkehu 'Drrana and 'Krrana, one a Field-master and the other a Ship Master, how 'Delevi missed them both. He never forgave the gods for stealing them away and not taking him with them.
Sitting in his chamber, 'Delevi thought how he missed the thrill of the hunt. He should have been commanding a legion with 'Drrana on Ucundus, he should have been able to help him. He wished could have; he was a Field-master then, but he was stationed on Sigma Octanus III, a planet far from Ucundus. Then 'Krrana…his carrier and subsequent fleet disappeared without a trace. The Prophets told 'Delevi that a Human boarding party destroyed the assault carrier from within and the other ships were destroyed in the blast, but he refused to believe such an absurd claim. He suspected treachery or conspiracy; something the Prophets were very good at.
'Delevi was not only concerned with his brothers though, the newly assimilated Brute race also caused him anxiety. He felt that the Elites' place was contingent, temporary within the Covenant hierarchy. The Prophets and the Elites always had an uneasy alliance, a bizarre balance of power resulting from their struggles fought long ago. While The Prophets spread doctrine to the other races, the Elites were capable fighters, used to conquer and assimilate other lesser species. The Brutes, however, rivaled, perhaps even surpassed the Elites in fighting strength and they moved up within the Covenant ranks faster than any other race ever had. 'Delevi and the other Elite council members were now aware and feared this new, ferociously loyal race. 'Delevi thought of them as pets of the Prophets, always barking and grunting, blindly obeying the hierarchs' commands while acting no more intelligent than a newborn pup. The scale began tipping in the favor of the Prophets and Brutes. Their smug and ambitious chieftain caused 'Delevi's blood to boil.
'Delevi rubbed his eye lids again, it was a long day and he could feel the fatigue in his muscles. The weight of his troubled mind brought him to rest. As he felt himself slip away to sleep, 'Delevi thought of the words 'Muri uttered as they exited the council chamber—"Our Covenant is always in danger of breaking; there are always heretics, somewhere hiding." The words echoed in his mind as he closed his eyes.
Always heretics
Always hiding…
Just as he began to fall asleep, 'Delevi's private holo-panel beeped and flashed yellow and red. The annoying script read Fate, Ucundus in the traditional Covenant symbols. Lacking energy, 'Delevi touched the ignore button on the panel and the beeping stopped. As he finally faded to sleep and his mind was cleared, he realized with a shock where the message was from.
UNSC Destroyer Sabine, Approaching Deserted Colony World, Ucundus.
10.20.2552 (Military Calendar)
Lieutenant Richard York stared out of the large window of the Sabine. He watched as the sister ship, Samnite, glided in front. He could see just over the prow of the Samnite their destination, Ucundus. He hadn't seen it in four years, since the great battle that was fought there against Covenant invading forces. There were only three metropolises on Ucundus, all large, but they once contained the entire planet's population. The people evacuated Ucundus and never came back once the Covenant appeared. When the invading forces were defeated on the planet, however, the Covenant saw no reason to return, and Ucundus was completely deserted and forgotten. A ghost planet, the marines appropriately nicknamed it. York hated his memories of the beautiful planet, but he hated returning even more.
After Fate: Revelations
Date: 6 September 2005, 10:22 pm
After Fate, Chapter III
Revelations
Covenant Holy City: High Charity, Ninth Age of Reclamation, Wkehu 'Delevi's quarters
Meep!Meep!Meep!The beeping continued until 'Delevi awoke and patted the flashing hologram. It reminded him that he had a stored message and he suddenly remembered where it was from. Opening the message sent from Ucundus, a small hologram flickered to life, bearing a cloaked figure. He watched with unflinching, yet dreary attention as it spoke:
"You know my voice and I suggest you be alone when you hear it. Before I continue make sure you are the sole listener to this message."
There was a pause, 'Delevi's heart thumped within his chest from excitement and confusion. He knew who the hologram was, but logic told him that it was impossible. It spoke again.
"Your time as a member of the "Holy" Covenant is approaching its end, 'Delevi. Civil war is brewing. You must listen to what I say with patience and tolerance, for I, your brother, speak 'heresy'." The word sent chills down 'Delevi's spine and he felt dizzy. Something pleasant, however, stirred within him. Something kept him drawn to the hologram's words.
"The hierarchs conspire against us Sangheili, brother. The alliance is slowly being dissolved as we speak by the acid seeping from Truth's mouth. He has found a race far more obedient, and far less intelligent to replace and dispose of us. The resentment stemming from the struggle that the Prophets and Elites fought centuries ago is being realized once again, now that the Great Journey is beginning. Another installation has been found, another Sacred Ring.
I will explain more when you arrive. But watch, soon you will see—the Elites will lose their foothold in the military, then in the guard, the hierarchy, and ultimately the Covenant. Truth, in all his wisdom, conspires against us; yet in his foolishness he is blind to the real truth. Such ignorance will be his…and our destruction, if he is not stopped.
This message has been coded so skillfully by a Human construct that you need not fear danger. I suggest, however, that you dispose of it immediately. When Obedience approaches listen to what he says and follow his orders. He knows the true truth. Farewell for now, 'Delevi. 'Krrana and I eagerly await your arrival."
The hologram flickered and cut, leaving 'Delevi frozen with conflicting emotions. He watched it again, and a third time just to hear his brother's voice. It had been four years since he heard anyone in his family speak, and now they were all alive. 'Delevi didn't care that 'Drrana spoke heresy, it was the most comforting heresy he heard in a long time. He had suspected Truth's motives and had long forgotten how to fear the council. He wanted to see his brothers, he wanted to take a Phantom to Ucundus that very minute, but he knew that he must conduct the situation carefully and patiently.
Dressed in his ornamental armor and headset, he set out for the morning council meeting.
UNSC Destroyer Sabine, Approaching Deserted Colony World, Ucundus.
10.20.2552 (Military Calendar)
"Get ready ladies, we're dropping in five minutes. Make sure the LZ is clear, so on and so forth, you've heard the dribble drabble before. Once the Samnite crew has the ship repaired we're jumpin' to Earth," York shoved the heavy ODST helmet on his head as he walked down the row of SOEIVs. He stopped at his own pod and opened the hatch.
, "Best of luck, sir," A marine walking down the aisle passed a quick salute.
"Thanks, Lang," this was York's second drop, he was, in effect, an infantry marine officer, not an ODST. The first drop was in an emergency, now he just wanted to do it for, as he said, "shits and giggles."
"Are you sure about this, sir," an ODST opened the pod next to his. "I mean, you haven't been trained for this type of insertion."
"I'm sure. There's nothing going on down there anyway."
"Alright, sir."
"It's damn right. 'Feet first into hell,' right? That's the motto?" York asked the ODST who was now securely in his pod.
"Un huh," the Helljumper nodded.
"Then to hell we go. Some excitement for a change, I'm tired of all this wanderin' around on a ship," he closed his pod and it became immediately claustrophobic. He opened up a COM to the other five ODSTs.
"We're dropping into the field in front of the abandoned Delta Base 148, its mostly flat. Be careful, there's some debris lyin' about."
"Understood, Lieutenant."
"Okay."
"Roger."
"Yup."
"Sure, sure."
"From what?" one ODST asked.
"Damn, Andy, why you gotta be the one to always ask questions?" another spoke.
"'Cause, I wanna know."
"A Covenant ship," York replied.
"Oh, okay."
"Now get ready," York ordered.
"Okay."
"Roger."
"Alright."
"Yes, sir."
"Mmhmm."
The pods hissed.
"Drop time, ladies," the captain said over the COM.
"That's what I like to hear!" York shouted. The ODST next to York opened a private COM with Andy.
"Doesn't he seem a little over excited to you?"
"Yeah, what do you expect?"
"Hah." Cathoom! Cathoom! Cathoom! The six pods dropped out of the belly of the Samnite and plunged towards the surface of Ucundus.
"How's it feel, Lieutenant?" Andy shouted through the COM.
"Woo!" was the reply. The pods hit the planet's atmosphere and began to shake.
"Wuguhugugugug…"York sputtered as his pod fell further and further. He felt his stomach lurch and his heart beat faster than, what he thought, humanly possible. The pods all cleared the atmosphere and burned like six comets. The chutes of each SOEIV released and pulled the pods backward, their thrusters activated and they began to slow.
"There it is, boys, soil!" York had a whole view of the land as the pod slowed, the ocean and hills to the West, a large forest to the East, and Delta Base with the abandoned city behind it to the North. The pods thundered towards the center of the area, where a large field, pock marked with the remnants of the destroyed Covenant ship stretched towards the South.
"Touchdown in five, four," an ODST said over the COM, "three, two…" the pods each pummeled into the ground and kicked up dirt upon their impact. York's door burst open.
"Status!" York shouted. "Harley!"
"Fine, sir!" Harley walked out of his pod.
"Reid!"
"Fine."
"Andy!" York waited a moment and looked around. "Andy!" There was no response.
"Fuck, is Gordon here?"
"Yes, sir," Gordon said as he stepped past a large piece of blackened-purple debris and into York's view.
"Where did Andy's pod land?" York asked.
"I don't know exactly where sir, but I know its this way," Harley pointed northwest of their position. They walked cautiously past walls of the four-year-old debris that York remembered so painfully. They walked for about five minutes when they found it. Not Andy's pod, but the Covenant ship.
"Woah…" one of the ODSTs remarked.
"Is this the ship you were telling us about, Lieutenant? Fate?" Gordon asked with a hint of anticipation in his voice.
"Yes." York responded coolly. The four soldiers stood facing the long side of the massive ship. Its belly was nestled firmly in the ground, and Gordon felt a chill run down his spine at the might of the destroyed battlecruiser. The ship's long, bulbous bow was missing, however, and the part from which is was immediately separated was completely black and burnt. Ripples in the hull emanated from the explosion point all along the side of the ship. Holes that once spewed flames and smoke could were rusted and flaking. The back end of the ship, once elegantly smooth and curved was crumpled like a crushed can.
"That's her alright," York said lowly. The moment of amazement quickly ended when York shouted again. "Andy!"
"Sir! Over here!" Reid ran to a spot where the SOEIV lay. It was on its side next to the cruiser. The hatch was facedown in the ground.
"Damn it," Gordon said to himself.
"Andy, can you hear me in there, Andy!" York banged on the side of the pod.
"We have to flip it over," Reid said.
"We can't, it's too heavy for the four of us to do it alone," York opened up a COM with the Sabine.
"This is Lieutenant York to Captain Bronson, the LZ is clear of hostiles," the others spoke among themselves as York radioed to the ship.
"Why did we choose to drop here with all of this damned debris?" Reid asked.
"It's the flattest area within five miles of the LZ, it was supposedly the safest," another answered.
"But, still…woah!" Reid raised his weapon.
"What?" the others were alert now. York continued to try to get in touch with the captain.
"I repeat, we need immediate assistance, a pod has made an unsuccessful drop. Is anyone there," he stopped the COM, "Something's blocking our transmission, York turned to the other ODSTs. "Ah! What the hell…" The officer felt a quick prick in his neck, fell onto his back, and stared as the shimmering Ossoona lifted his unconscious body.
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