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Through the Eyes of a Warrior: Chapter 1
Posted By: OTS<smhughes1@netzero.net>
Date: 11 July 2007, 7:24 pm
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Through the Eyes of a Warrior
Chapter 1: The Heretic
A golden armored Sangheili warrior, formally known as an "Elite," stood outside the main council chamber aboard the ship, High Charity, awaiting his fate. It had been his job, his duty, to ensure that the Sacred Ring remained safe. All had been well, and work proceeded smoothly—that is, until the parasitic life-form referred to as "The Flood" was released. The wretched creatures had nearly been the death of them all. Even the fabled Special Operations Commander, Rtas 'Vadumee came out of the struggle battle weary, and missing half of his left mandibles.
"Supreme Commander Orna Fulsamee," a Sangheili sporting jet black armor said, brining Fulsamee back to the present. "The council is ready for you." The officer did not avert his eyes like one was required to do while in the presence of a higher ranking warrior, but instead, stared directly at him, seemingly annoyed. If a soldier positioned to guard the chamber was agitated, Fulsamee could only imagine what it would be like once inside it. Now is not the time to concern myself with such trivial matters, he reminded himself silently. There will be more to worry about if I am late. The council doors glowed a bright purple, and, as if aware of him standing there, opened to reveal a site that made Fulsamee's stomach twist slightly in fear. A dozen Sangheili honor guards stood on either side of the chamber, staves held tightly in their hands, eyes staring straight ahead. They were proud members of the Covenant, and were among the highest ranking soldiers. In the stands sat several minor prophets and Sangheili council members, their ornate armor and clothing stood out in the midst of all the purple. In the right corner nearest to him, he spotted, with some disdain, the Jiraelhenae, or "Brute", leader, Tartarus. Fulsamee continued to walk, with some grace, over to the far end of the chamber, where two high prophets sat, their whispers barely heard over the din of the chamber. The third was present only by means of a hologram, but he was present nonetheless. Truth, Mercy, and Regret. Each prophet sat on a finely crafted gravity throne, each a slightly different color according to their status. The high prophet of Truth raised his hand; a signal for silence, and addressed the hesitant gold armored warrior directly.
"Supreme Commander Orna Fulsamee. You have been called before this council to present your case as to why you were…unsuccessful in protecting the Sacred Ring, Halo." Up in the stands a pair of Sangheili whispered furiously to each other, but Fulsamee steadfastly ignored them. He had prepared a speech to convince the council otherwise, but, failing that, at least try to persuade them that it was not entirely his fault.
"Yes Excellency, you see I-" The prophet of Mercy cut him off with a wave of his withered hand.
"We have no time in this council for petty excuses, Supreme Commander. What of the other human ships? Did those escape your grasp as well, and also land on the Sacred Ring?" Fulsamee bristled, and stood up straighter.
"There was only one ship," he corrected.
"One?" Truth inquired, somewhat surprised. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Fulsamee said, racking his memory. "They called it… The Pillar of Autumn."
"Why was it not destroyed, with the rest of their fleet?" Mercy exclaimed angrily, banging a fist on his chair. The Ship Master cringed; he had to remember that these prophets, these Hierarchs, controlled what little authority he had left. His fate was, literally, in their hands.
"It fled, as we set fire to their planet. But I followed with all the ships in my command," he added, noting the look on the council members' faces; that of deepest loathing. The Prophet of Truth studied him silently, as Regret took up the conversation.
"When you first saw Halo, were you blinded by its majesty?"
"Blinded?" Fulsamee was confused.
"Paralyzed? Dumbstruck?" Regret offered.
"No." When the Sacred Ring had first appeared on the Particular Justice's view screen, he had been fascinated yes, awestruck at the sheer scale of it, but he did not allow this "Halo" to distract him from his duties.
"Yet the humans were able to evade your ships," Regret continued angrily, "land on the Sacred Ring, and desecrate it with their filthy footsteps?" Fulsamee began to feel desperate. Would they not understand?
"Noble Hierarchs," he said urgently, "surely you understand that once the parasite attacked—" If his last few comments had been unpopular with the council, this one was met with loud shouts of anger and frustration. The Supreme Commander glanced around the chamber at the many council members, some of which were on their feet, protesting.
"There will be order in this council!" Mercy shouted. Truth raised both hands once again, indicating that it should be quiet.
"You were right to focus your attention on the flood, but this demon, this Master Chief…" He left the sentence hanging.
"By the time I learned the Demon's intent, there was nothing I could do," Fulsamee said solemnly. There were more outbursts from the stands. It seemed to Fulsamee that this matter had to be resolved quickly; otherwise the Hierarchs would lose control over their council. Regret seemed to be thinking along the same lines, as he leaned over to the prophet of Truth and whispered furiously;
"Prophet of Truth, this has gone on long enough. Make an example of this bungler, the council demands it!"
"You are one of our most treasured instruments," Truth said, cushioning the words, so that they did not sound so harsh. "Long have you led your fleet with honor and distinction. But your inability to safeguard Halo…was a colossal failure." A minor prophet stood up in the stands off to his left.
"Nay, it was heresy!" The rest of the council was a roar of angry yells of agreement. Fulsamee looked worriedly around the chamber.
"I will continue my campaign against the humans!"
"No, you will not," Truth said, signaling to Tartarus; who in turn alerted two other Jiralhanae in his native tongue. The two simian like creatures moved forward towards Fulsamee, ready to take him to a holding cell. But as they neared him, he glared harshly at them, raising his arms slightly; and he saw, with some satisfaction, that they backed up. The two Jiralhanae looked at each other, then one signaled for Fulsamee to follow them, which he did grudgingly.
"Soon the Great Journey shall begin," Truth said as Fulsamee exited the chamber. "But when it does, the weight of your heresy will stay your feet, and you shall be left behind."
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