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Heretic Hero
Date: 26 August 2005, 8:43 pm

Heretic Hero
Prologue

Galla Gammamee stood in the center of the mining facility, the map of the station lit in front of him. The Heretic Leader was preaching on a podium next to the map, the entire band of the Heretics were before the Leader, each were examining smuggled weapons and adjusting the bronze armor. "When the Covenant bond was forged, and the Elites promised security for the Prophets we were lured into a doomed fate" The Heretic Leader said. "Are we going to stand and let the Prophets corrupt our brothers?" Gammamee let out a loud growl carried out by dozens of cries. "It is our time, our insight, and our revolution!" The Heretic Leader finished jumping down the podium. The group filtered to the elevators where they would continue patrolling. Gammamee had strong beliefs against the Covenant; he had faith that this leader of their own blood would lead them to their own promise. The Heretic Leader approached Gammamee. "Our legion, brother, is efficient and capable, thanks to the Oracle we have a limited amount of our lord's defenses" The Heretic Leader uttered. "What of the Flood, in the several laboratories?" Gammamee inquired. The Elite looked at the map, there were several chambers within the abode of the facility that contained the parasite as indicated by flashing red. "They will be locked and contained, I do not want to see any more deaths of our brethren to the Flood" The Heretic Leader stated. "Yes, leader" Gammamee expressed. All of a sudden, their battle array shattered, they heard roars from Elites in the assembly chamber. Gammamee turned around, he saw a bright blue light followed by indistinct humming. The Oracle hovered down; his Sentinels, who silently floated next to their counterparts, accompanied him. A rigid blast erupted their array. A loud voice with the stagnant blare. "Covenant invading-scrambled our battle net, through storm-repelling, they must learn to see truth…" The net was filled with scattered voices, the sound of projectiles firing from carbines and explosions blocked the voices. Gammamee reacted, the Covenant was sent to suppress them from this station to silence them. Gammamee was a Heretic warrior and he would to his best to make sure the virtue was kept alive. "Leader, the maelstorm has disrupted our communications, what do we do?" Gammamee asked willing to do whatever the Heretic Leader assigned him to do. The Heretic Leader walked to the map, pacing. "We will use what warriors we have, if all else fails we will use the Flood to extinguish our blind invaders" The Heretic Leader said. "Command your squad, and meet me at the Hanger Bay."
Gammamee and his squad were outside the Hanger where three Banshees were docked. The Heretic Leader filed out of the door as they heard the Sentinels beams puncturing shields. From what the Heretic Leader and several Grunts reported, a new Arbiter was breaching their defenses; the Heretic Leader glided to a Banshee with his jetpack. "Deal with him my brothers, I will defend the Oracle!" The Heretic Leader jumped into the Banshee and took off for the Laboratories. Gammamee adjusted his Covenant Carbine, and lead his squad of Grunts and Elites inside the portal way. "The truth must not be silenced!" Gammamee roared. When he went through the doorway he was greeted by plasma, his shields were pierced and he didn't get one shot. He tucked behind the portal, as his shields glowed purple with his bronze armor. He crouched behind a shadowy figure. He was not seen, he saw one of his Grunts fly sideways as a Energy Sword slashed one of his Elites down. He got up ignoring his pain. Gammamee growled as he saw the Arbiter climb into the second Banshee and take off meeting a Phantom. Gammamee looked down and saw the maelstorm getting worse. Gammamee got in the remaining Banshee and took off to the Laboratory.
Gammamee was in the hallway fighting the Flood; he placed three rounds into what was left of the Elites head as it fell to the floor. Abruptly the station shook, and the lighting was gone, an eerie red light filled the ramps. The station rumbled, he stepped out of the hallway and saw parts of the station ripping apart. "To the hanger, we must assist our leader!" Gammamee shouted. The Grunts got in front and the Elites in back, as the Sentinels overhead scanned the area for enemies. Gammamee typed a few buttons on the holographic terminal as the elevator ascended. Gammamee reflected on the battles, he was injured with minor wounds from Energy Sword severing. He gripped his torso, as the elevator stopped. They saw light flashing everywhere, the Sentinels were deep in combat with the Flood, and they stood in the dark hallway. Then a buzzing broke their communications array again this was intercepted by a Covenant transmission. "The Heretic Leader has been eliminated, everyone retreat to the Phantoms" It took a moment for the message to reach everyone in the group. This was grieving, the Grunts threw down their weapons and the Elites stood confused. "What do we do?!" One of the Grunts screeched. The Elites gave war cries still standing their ground. No more heresy, no more freedom, no more revolution. Gammamee held his torso as it subsided bleeding. He had to be strong for the Heretic Race, he was the leader now. "We will commandeer the Seraph fighter docked in the hanger, there we will make for Burial Mounds." Gammamee growled. "Go!" Gammamee said. As he led his squad, through the Flooded center of the facility. He jumped as a Infection Form grasped one of his Grunt's head, he rolled over and died as a tide of Infection Forms gripped the bodies. Each of his warriors was dying as he shot down every Infection with precise aim. Roars and cries confirmed that the Flood devoured his squad. Gammamee jumped from the ramp, and landed and made for the elevator as the surge of Combat Forms was making for him. Gammamee ignited a plasma grenade and threw it as the door closed, the explosion blasted through the corpses as he entered the elevator. Gammamee was truly fortunate, he blamed fate for his advantage. The elevator stopped and the Elite immediately ran for the door, it hissed as he looked at the hanger bay. The hanger doors were wide open, he watched as a Phantom turned and flew skyward. Gammamee looked at the foot of the Seraph and saw a small group of Combat Forms swirling the area. Gammamee looked down and saw a damaged plasma turret on the assembly line. He picked it up and quietly constructed the turret when he was done he mounted it, looking at each Combat Form before firing. He shot blares of plasma at the Flood. His shields were once again ruptured as plasma whipped his shoulders. The Flood fell before the plasma, and Gammamee checked himself for bleeding, when he discovered his shields got most of the damage he found himself in front of a live Combat Form, it whipped him as he fell. Gammamee shot it as it came for another round, he growled as it fell. Gammamee then made sure it was dead, by burning the body. Gammamee then got in the Seraph as the vehicle shot out of the hanger.
Gammamee was the only survivor, he was in the makeshift Heretic camp, Burial Mounds. He was in heavy dressing as he reminisced the invasion of the Covenant, if they were prepared they could have evaded them with everything they got. He also thought about the Oracle, when he concluded the only explanation about the Oracle's absence was that he was taken captive by the Covenant. Gammamee decided he would continue to spread the truth, he was now the only Elite to know the reality and intent of the Prophets false Great Journey.

Ninth Age of Reclamation
Renewal

The Heretic Major, was blasted by a profound mauve light, it hissed and ate away his bronze armor, he shrieked in pain as the agony subsided. The Elite stepped down from the podium as the plasma rays moved to another stand. Galla Gammamee's armor pierced his flesh with sparks, the once bronze garments, were replaced with smoking black, and the flashing stings that maintained the personal shield were burnt to gray. Gammamee removed his plates, and dropped them into cylinder holes, that gave an exuberant blue haze as he dropped his armor into the holes. The Elite Major walked past the foyer, where his fellow Sangheili were examining guns and talking with higher ranks. It was the ninth age of Reclamation, and the commencement of the Covenant Civil War. Gammamee was a Heretic at the time, he followed the Heretic Leader and was assigned to command ground forces on the Threshold mining facility to kill the Covenant, him and a squad of Unggoy and Sangheili specialists were repelling the parasite from a factory. When he and his squad managed to exterminate the flood from the system, a storm was growing stronger. Gammamee heard that a new Arbiter killed their leader. Being second in command Gammamee ordered all remaining Elites to abandon their fights and meet him at the hanger where a Seraph fighter was docked. Gammamee was the only Heretic to steal the fighter he managed to make it back to their sub base on Basis. The Elite Major heard a nearby distress calling all Sangheili to a Covenant vessel known as the, Marauder. Where all Sangheili were allying themselves with the humans, their intent purpose was to stop the 'truth' which was the Great Journey. The Prophet Hierarch Truth, with the Brutes, Drones, and Jackals were devastating Earth. They were linking up with the Human faction known as the 'UNSC' where they would assist their allies. Now Gammamee was conscious of the war and decided to wipe his rank and his identity, he wanted to start a new legacy where betrayal was not tolerated. Gammamee gave himself the designation, Hydra. Gammamee was the Hydra, created by treachery and deception and is the element of a Heretic race, he vowed to follow the Prophets and not be faltered to be a separatist. Hydra was obligated and consumed to deceive the Covenant where he would murder every Brute he came across, not only for being traitors but for following a false eternity. Hydra approached a bright corridor, illuminated by holographic sermons, written in diverse ages by the Hierarchs. Gammamee scowled at them, he read the plaque on the opposite hall: "Every race united in our Covenant, will once again walk upon the sacred rings where we will dedicate our might to the Great Journey!" The Prophet of Truth, whom Hydra despised, spoke these lies. Gammamee pressed the terminal, and imprinted his palm in the light, it shown a brilliant blue color and flashed, and the door split open. Before him was an armory, crates littered the shadows and ahead was a machine, it crackled inside with glittering light. Another holographic terminal was on the armor module, with buttons lighting up as he approached. Hydra reached inside and pushed the coherent emblem, and a door opened. Gammamee stepped inside a confided space; all around him were tiers of words explaining how the module worked. He chose a diverse set of uniform, when a giant claw above, locked in his body mold, he felt a stab in his flesh, as the shields were once again embedded in his body. Sparks once again ensued his structure, and he stepped out clutching a helmet, which slid from a silver slide. He attached it to his head, and clicked his mandibles in a grimace. Hydra's new appearance was flawless; he was in bright crimson and black armor, although it was completely different than the occasional major. Slanted plates with Covenant inscriptions were devised into scarlet bulbs across his chest, his legs into dark red foils, and his curved crimson mask revealed his four mandibles. Hydra walked from the corridor past a methane tank where an Unggoy filled on air. The Elite neared the arsenal where he picked up a Covenant Carbine his favored weapon, and packed a projectile clip inside. The steam hissed out of the nose and he replaced it with the clip. Hydra walked outside the armory and up to the bridge where the Elite Councilors waited beside a map of Halo, they called him because he was the only surviving Heretic from the purge. "Do you perceive your calling hear, Heretic?" One of the Councilors asked through gritted teeth. "Please, holy one, my new designation" Hydra said hostility. The Elite whispered to another councilor, and they took turns sputtering to each other, then the Councilor looked up. "Very well…Hydra, Do you understand your summon here?" Hydra looked at them all, by the situation they looked sympathetic and angry at the same time. In the stands some were examining Energy Swords and looking at Hydra and back at the sword. "Yes I am confident that a apology for apprehending the truth is in my hearing…" He looked up at them where some were looking uneasy but were willing to listen. "Yes, we on behalf of the New Covenant are sorry" The high Councilor spoke. "And we realize you were the rest of your kind, Hydra. We want to recognize you and organize a Major rank again… If you accept?" He finished. Hydra was redeemed, right now he didn't feel betrayed but forgiven, a feeling he expected not to feel. Hydra thought they would make a victim of trial. Instead he was endowed with battle. "Thank you, loyal Councilors. What is it you wish me to do?" Hydra uttered. The Councilors looked as if they wanted to reprise what they just done but the high Elite spoke clearly. "There are Brute Encampments throughout the gorges below, through this Civil War we are the only ship to maintain organization, we observed that this will not remain long before a attack is issued on the Marauder. We want you to lead troops to dispatch ground troops. And we want you to capture a Brute, a Jackal, and a Drone. We want a Captain Brute as well as major Jackals and Drones. We wish to engage methods of…tribulation and interrogation as to where the other Councilors are held captive." The high Councilor said.

Ninth Age of Reclamation
The Precursor
The Phantom flew past, a series of mountains, and the pair of Dropships circled a peak where a towering edifice controlled a waterfall. The sprawling rainforest was covered in mist where the encampment was. The Pelican rose above the Phantom and fired sprays of bullets at the bastion where a series of Covenant Shade turrets were waiting. They broke apart and shattered into a blue fire, reacting to each other the bastion fell. The two Dropships hovered over the wall and dropped a squad of Elites, Grunts, and Marines.
Hydra stepped over a Brute giving it a nudge, as blood sprayed the rampart. His mission was simple, go through the webbing ruins through the waterfall below them and infiltrate the Brute encampments to capture the highest ranking of the Loyalists. Hydra had two Elites and six Grunts each looking at him for orders, the Marines were there to assist them which Hydra thought very pitiful. The Covenant was waging war on the humans for ages and the thought and validity that they were helping them was very inapt. Hydra looked at a human marine and scowled, then the human sneered and said, "Hey you aren't exactly beautiful to me either" The Elite turned his back on him. For the certitude that the humans managed to withstand ages of slaughtering and still stood was a matter he respected entirely. Hydra pointed to the sealed doorway on a wall where a Forerunner etched creek of water poured under the brick. "There!" Hydra yelled at the Grunts. The Grunts nervously walked to the doorway, and positioned themselves in an attack stance. The Elites, spitefully kneeled in attack stance. The Human Sergeant standing next to him was fiddling with his Battle Rifle while Hydra arrayed his squadron. Hydra heard the human's language and he uttered in a hoarse growl, "Go' aheed" The Sergeant then stepped forward and addressed his Marines. Hydra felt uncomfortable on the other side, listening to the Marines battle strategy. The Sergeant reviewed the mission, which an AI translator told him. Hydra was astounded at the tactics they used. For desecrating foes they were brilliant on warfare. Hydra then tucked away his Carbine and withdrew a Plasma Rifle. The door was locked tight, he sprayed the entrance with blue plasma, and it left a small hole, where the plasma continued to hiss. The Marines were encouraging each other behind him, and the Heretics stood and curiously watched their allies. Hydra turned around and faced his squadron. "Beyond our sanctuary of Halo, the traitors that led us will fall under our onslaught! The Prophets have realized what civility exchange has done to their Covenant; they are vulnerable, unorganized, and deceitful in their conquest for a false deliverance! Prepare, warriors for retaliation!" Hydra snarled. He took his Carbine out as he pointed at his Elite Minor. The blue armored Elite brandished his Plasma Rifle and inserted it into the plasma hole. The door sizzled, as they backed up. Then Hydra pulled the minor out, and quickly ignited a Plasma Grenade. Hydra backed away as the door blew in the daze; they were greeted y red plasma fires, from a Brute Plasma Rifle. Hydra inquired his squad to back up; the Marines were on the side awaiting their Sergeants orders. Hydra confirmed to the Minor, and he showed the Human Sergeant in rough representation. The Sergeant understood and saluted his Marines. All of the Marines including the Heretics revealed grenades. The Sergeant put up three fingers, he put all three down and Hydra ignored the rain of continuous fire, and tossed a grenade in the room. He heard an explosion of a dozen grenades where he heard a Jackal shriek. Hydra placed his hand up in a stop indication; many Marines were hesitating but stood their ground. They heard a Brute Captain say, "Hold! Hold!" Then Hydra pointed in the room where the fog of the grenades was still lingering. They met them in battle. Hydra pinned a Brute down and placed three radioactive projectile in its head. A green burst of plasma brushed his shoulder, he looked up and saw a Drone sticking out of a blue cupola, in the wall. Hydra shot it down, and saw one of his Grunts falls dead. The Brute Captain had tossed his Brute Shot and was in frenzy. The Brute was on all fours, in the dense room. Another Grunt was caught by the captain, and was heaved into an energy splint running in the middle of the room. "This one" Hydra said. No more enemies remained except this Brute. The Sergeant walked behind Hydra, with singeing armor. "We have this one" He insisted. The Elite gestured ahead, as the Brute continued to run. All of the Heretics and Marines were secured behind massive slants. Hydra and the Marine Sergeant were the only ones in range. Hydra raised his Carbine at the Brute, and shot non-lethal crossfire at the Brutes shoulders to get his attention. The Brute then angrily ran at Hydra, but the Elite stood his ground. The Sergeant then stepped forward raising his wrist, from an armlet a net caught the Brute and contained him. The Brute angrily fought the mesh of wire. The Marine then pushed a button on his armlet, and through the wire, sparks trickled the mesh and surged the Brute. The Captain screamed then lay motionless, still growling. "You weaklings! You'll never take me!" The Sergeant unclipped the wire from his armlet and handed it to the Elite minor. "Take him to the Pelican" Hydra said. The Elite nodded and heaved the Brute to the deck. Hydra was so distracted from the battle that he had not yet taken the surroundings of the room. The Forerunner chamber was a huge, broad cupola with blue energy filled the dome shaped ceiling. The wall was ancient with foliage growing from the blue energy. A dais was in front layered in blue ray beams for lighting. "Hydra we will continue pressing on the encampments." The Human Sergeant said. Hydra nodded and they entered the next room. It was a field of fire; they were welcomed with plasma, on a balcony above was an assembly of Shades with grass growing out if the once derelict ground. A naïve Marine was caught in the fire and dropped dead in a scream. Hydra threw a grenade at one of the turrets and watched it explode. He shot a Brute behind the Shade with a headshot. Just then a stray plasma bolt pierced his shields. Hydra was vulnerable; he hid behind a stack of crates and waited for the recharge. As soon as they started restarting he traced the bolt to a Major Jackal. The Jackal watched Hydra and hissed peeking his head for a shot at the Elite. Hydra then reacted as the Jackal's shields dissolved and it fell to the ground in blood. The Elite's crimson armor was encrusted in black where plasma hit and his limbs stung from tackling the Brute. Hydra hit the turret with a few more clips as it clashed in a heap of smoke. As did the Brute who was behind it. Hydra saw one Marine fall under a blast of plasma, Hydra found his body and took his belt that had Fragmentation Grenades on tem he, took one with one hand. He walked to the ramp as he was shot with a grit of dirt in the ancient soil. Hydra crepe up the ramp he looked sideways and saw the back of at least a dozen Brutes distracted by the battle. Hydra took his index finger and sliced through the pins, he hurdled the belt at the squad of Brutes. Hydra had less than a second he dove in a aerial flip, and landed as the explosion tossed the Brutes high. Hydra turned around as a Brute corpse landed right next to him. The Elite got up and studied the scene over the open platforms he saw Drones and Jackals shooting at the advancing squad of Marines and Heretics. In a flash he saw a purple beam of light strike his torso demolishing his shields…a sniper. Hydra bounded behind the source of the Sniper. He saw the Sergeant sniping a few Drones, as their insect like bodies littered the area. He looked upward as the Sergeant shot the Sniper. The room was clear, when Hydra shot down the last Drone he headed for the wounded. They were a force now, UNSC and Heretic allies were together and are ending the Covenant.

Heretic Hero (Revised)
Date: 1 September 2005, 11:45 pm

Heretic Hero
Prologue

Galla 'Gammamee stood in the center of the mining facility, the map of the station lit in front of him. The Heretic Leader was preaching on a podium next to the map, the entire band of the Heretics were before the Leader, each were examining smuggled weapons and adjusting the bronze armor.
"When the Covenant bond was forged, and the Sangheili promised security for the Prophets we were lured into a doomed fate" The Heretic Leader said. "Are we going to stand and let the Prophets corrupt our brothers?" 'Gammamee let out a loud growl carried out by dozens of cries. "It is our time, our insight, and our revolution!" The Heretic Leader finished jumping down the podium. The group filtered to the elevators where they would continue patrolling. 'Gammamee had strong beliefs against the Covenant; he had faith that this leader of their own blood would lead them to their own promise.
The Heretic Leader approached 'Gammamee. "Our legion, brother, is efficient and capable, thanks to the Oracle we have a limited amount of our lord's defenses" The Heretic Leader uttered. "What of the Flood, in the several laboratories?" 'Gammamee inquired. The Sangheili looked at the map, there were several chambers within the abode of the facility that contained the parasite as indicated by flashing red. "They will be locked and contained, I do not want to see any more deaths of our brethren to the Flood" The Heretic Leader stated. "Yes, leader" 'Gammamee expressed. All of a sudden, their battle array shattered, they heard roars from Sangheili in the assembly chamber. 'Gammamee turned around, he saw a bright blue light followed by indistinct humming. The Oracle hovered down; his Sentinels, who silently floated next to their counterparts, accompanied him. A rigid blast erupted their array. A loud voice with the stagnant blare. "Covenant invading-scrambled our battle net, through storm-repelling, they must learn to see truth…" The net was filled with scattered voices, the sound of projectiles firing from carbines and explosions blocked the voices. 'Gammamee reacted, the Covenant was sent to suppress them from this station to silence them.
'Gammamee was a Heretic warrior and he would to his best to make sure the virtue was kept alive. "Leader, the maelstorm has disrupted our communications, what do we do?" 'Gammamee asked willing to do whatever the Heretic Leader assigned him to do. The Heretic Leader walked to the map, pacing. "We will use what warriors we have, if all else fails we will use the Flood to extinguish our blind invaders" The Heretic Leader said. "Command your squad, and meet me at the Hanger Bay."
'Gammamee and his squad were outside the Hanger where three Banshees were docked. The Heretic Leader filed out of the door as they heard the Sentinels beams puncturing shields. From what the Heretic Leader and several Unggoy reported, a new Arbiter was breaching their defenses; the Heretic Leader glided to a Banshee with his jetpack. "Deal with him my brothers, I will defend the Oracle!" The Heretic Leader jumped into the Banshee and took off for the Laboratories. 'Gammamee adjusted his Covenant Carbine, and lead his squad of Unggoy and Sangheili inside the portal way. "The truth must not be silenced!" 'Gammamee roared. When he went through the doorway he was greeted by plasma, his shields were pierced and he didn't get one shot. He tucked behind the portal, as his shields glowed purple with his bronze armor. He crouched behind a shadowy figure. He was not seen, he saw one of his Unggoy fly sideways as a Energy Sword slashed one of his Sangheili down. He got up ignoring his pain. 'Gammamee growled as he saw the Arbiter climb into the second Banshee and take off meeting a Phantom. He looked down and saw the maelstorm getting worse. 'Gammamee got in the remaining Banshee and took off to the Laboratory.
'Gammamee was in the hallway fighting the Flood; he placed three rounds into what was left of the Sangheili head as it fell to the floor. Abruptly the station shook, and the lighting was gone, an eerie red light filled the ramps. The station rumbled, he stepped out of the hallway and saw parts of the station ripping apart. "To the hanger, we must assist our leader!" 'Gammamee shouted. The Unggoy got in front and the Sangheili in back, as the Sentinels overhead scanned the area for enemies. 'Gammamee typed a few buttons on the holographic terminal as the elevator ascended.
'Gammamee reflected on the battles, he was injured with minor wounds from Energy Sword severing. He gripped his torso, as the elevator stopped. They saw light flashing everywhere, the Sentinels were deep in combat with the Flood, and they stood in the dark hallway. Then a buzzing broke their communications array again this was intercepted by a Covenant transmission. "The Heretic Leader has been eliminated, everyone retreat to the Phantoms" It took a moment for the message to reach everyone in the group. This was grieving, the Unggoy threw down their weapons and the Sangheili stood confused. "What do we do?!" One of the Unggoy screeched. The Sangheili gave war cries still standing their ground.
No more heresy, no more freedom, no more revolution. 'Gammamee held his torso as it subsided bleeding. He had to be strong for the Heretic Race, he was the leader now. "We will commandeer the Seraph fighter docked in the hanger, there we will make for Burial Mounds." 'Gammamee growled. "Go!" The Sangheili said. As he led his squad, through the Flooded center of the facility. He jumped as a Infection Form grasped one of his Unggoy head, he rolled over and died as a tide of Infection Forms gripped the bodies. Each of his warriors was bonded with the fleshy bulbs of Infections. His entire squad was dropping before him; a Sangheili fell as the Flood devoured him. Gammamee gasped while he shot down every Infection with precise aim. Roars and cries confirmed that the Flood consumed his squad.
'Gammamee jumped from the ramp, and landed and made for the elevator as the surge of Combat Forms was making for him. 'Gammamee ignited a plasma grenade and threw it as the door closed, the explosion blasted through the corpses as he entered the elevator. 'Gammamee was truly fortunate, he blamed fate for his advantage. The elevator stopped and the Elite immediately ran for the door, it hissed as he looked at the hanger bay.
The hanger doors were wide open, he watched as a Phantom turned and flew skyward. 'Gammamee looked at the foot of the Seraph and saw a small group of Combat Forms swirling the area. 'Gammamee looked down and saw a damaged plasma turret on the assembly line. He picked it up and quietly constructed the turret when he was done he mounted it, looking at each Combat Form before firing. He shot blares of plasma at the Flood. His shields were once again ruptured as plasma whipped his shoulders. The Flood fell before the plasma, and 'Gammamee checked himself for bleeding, when he discovered his shields got most of the damage he found himself in front of a live Combat Form, it whipped him as he fell. 'Gammamee shot it as it came for another round, he growled as it fell. He then made sure it was dead, by burning the body. 'Gammamee then got in the Seraph as the vehicle shot out of the hanger.
'Gammamee was the only survivor, he was in the makeshift Heretic camp, Burial Mounds. He was in heavy dressing as he reminisced the invasion of the Covenant, if they were prepared they could have evaded them with everything they got. He also thought about the Oracle, when he concluded the only explanation about the Oracle's absence was that he was taken captive by the Covenant. Gammamee decided he would continue to spread the truth, he was now the only Sangheili to know the reality and intent of the Prophet's false Great Journey.

Ninth Age of Reclamation
Renewal

The Heretic was blasted by a profound mauve light; it hissed and ate away his bronze armor, he shrieked in pain as the agony subsided. The Sangheili stepped down from the podium as the plasma rays moved to another stand. Galla 'Gammamee's armor pierced his flesh with sparks, the once bronze garments, were replaced with smoking black, and the flashing stings that maintained the personal shield were burnt to gray. 'Gammamee removed his plates, and dropped them into cylinder holes, that gave an exuberant blue haze as he dropped his armor into the holes.
The Sangheili Heretic walked past the foyer, where his fellow Sangheili were examining guns and talking with higher ranks. It was the ninth age of Reclamation, and the commencement of the Covenant Civil War. 'Gammamee ruminated the agonizing past, he was discriminated for being a Heretic, for following Heresy. And when they were overpowered on their base in Threshold's atmosphere by Covenant Special Operations units he angrily quivered at the thought that they assented Heresy was to be silenced. The actual truth was ignored in the most desperate age of time. 'Gammamee hid on the tentative base of Burial Mounds. As he intended to continue what he was taught he heard a nearby distress calling all Sangheili to a Covenant vessel known as the, Marauder. The Sangheili mastered ship was one of the hundreds of Capitol ships rebelling against the Covenant. The Sangheili were allying themselves with the humans, their resolute purpose was to stop the 'truth' which was the Great Journey.
The Prophet Hierarch Truth, with the Jiralhanae, Yanme'e, and Kig-Yar, were devastating Earth. They were linking up with the Human faction known as the 'UNSC' where they would assist their allies. Now 'Gammamee was conscious of the war and decided to wipe his rank and his identity, he wanted to start a new legacy where betrayal was not tolerated.
'Gammamee gave himself the designation, Hydra. 'Gammamee was the Hydra, created by treachery and deception and is the element of a Heretic race, he vowed to follow the Prophets and not be faltered to be a Heretic. Hydra was obligated and consumed to deceive the Covenant where he would murder every Jiralhanae he came across, not only for being traitors to his blood but for following a false eternity. Hydra approached a bright corridor, illuminated by holographic sermons, written in diverse ages by the Hierarchs. 'Gammamee scowled at them, he read the plaque on the opposite hall: "Every race united in our Covenant, will once again walk upon the sacred rings where we will dedicate our might to the Great Journey!" The Prophet of Truth, whom Hydra despised, spoke these lies. 'Gammamee pressed the terminal, and imprinted his palm in the light, it shown a brilliant blue color and flashed, and the door split open. Before him was an arsenal, crates littered the shadows and ahead was a machine, it crackled inside with glittering light. Another holographic terminal was on the armor module, with buttons lighting up as he approached. Hydra reached inside and pushed the coherent emblem, and a door opened.
'Gammamee stepped inside a confided space; all around him were tiers of words explaining how the module worked. He chose a diverse set of uniform, when a giant claw above, locked in his body mold, he felt a stab in his flesh, as the shields were once again embedded in his body. Sparks once again ensued his structure, and he stepped out clutching a helmet, which slid from a silver slide. He attached it to his head, and clicked his mandibles in a grimace. Hydra's new appearance was flawless; he was in bright crimson and black armor, although it was completely different than the occasional red armored Sangheili veteran. Slanted plates with Covenant inscriptions were devised into scarlet bulbs across his chest, his legs into dark red foils, and his curved crimson mask revealed his four mandibles.
Hydra walked from the corridor past a methane tank where an Unggoy inserted fresh methane. The Unggoy shivered as Hydra walked past him. 'Gammamee ignored him and continued to the weapons container. The Heretic neared the arsenal where he picked up a Covenant Carbine his favored weapon, and packed a projectile clip inside. The steam hissed out of the nose and he replaced it with the clip. 'Gammamee was ceaselessly armed in this time of war. Hydra walked outside the arsenal and up to the bridge where the Sangheili Councilors waited beside a map of Halo, they called him because he was the only surviving Heretic from the purge.
'Gammamee looked up at the Councilors lined in the hovering dais they were each looking at him with either remorseful or incensed expressions as he approached. There was an ostentatious pause as Hydra stood. "Do you perceive you're calling here, Heretic?" One of the Councilors asked through gritted teeth. "Please, holy one, my new designation" Hydra said hostility. The Sangheili whispered to another councilor, and they took turns sputtering to each other, then the Councilor looked up. "Very well…Hydra, Do you understand your summon here?" Hydra looked at them all, by the situation they looked sympathetic and angry at the same time. In the stands some were examining Energy Swords and looking at Hydra and back at the sword. "Yes I am confident that a apology for apprehending the truth is in my hearing…" He looked up at them where some were looking uneasy but were willing to listen. "Yes, we on behalf of the New Covenant are contrite" The high Councilor growled. "We realize you were the rest of your kind, Hydra. We want to recognize you and organize a Major rank again… If you accept?" He finished with a low bellow.
Hydra was redeemed, right now he didn't feel betrayed but forgiven, a feeling he expected not to feel. Hydra thought they would make a victim of trial. Instead he was endowed with battle. "Thank you, loyal Councilors. What is it you wish me to do?" Hydra uttered. The Councilors looked as if they wanted to convert what they just done but the high Sangheili spoke clearly. "There are Jiralhanae Encampments throughout the gorges below, through this Civil War we are the only ship to maintain organization, we observed that this will not remain long before a attack is issued on the Marauder. We want you to lead troops to dispatch ground troops. And we want you to capture a Jiralhanae, a Kig-Yar, and a Yanme'e. We want a Chief Jiralhanae as well as high-ranking Kig-Yar scouts and Yanme'e assassins. We wish to engage methods of…tribulation and interrogation as to where the other Councilors are being held captive"

Ninth Age of Reclamation
The Precursor
The Phantom flew past, a series of mountains, and the pair of Dropships circled a peak where a towering edifice controlled a waterfall. The sprawling rainforest was covered in mist where the encampment was. The Pelican rose above the Phantom and fired sprays of bullets at the bastion where a series of Covenant Shade turrets were waiting. They broke apart and shattered into a blue fire, reacting to each other the bastion fell. The two Dropships hovered over the wall and dropped a squad of Sangheili, Unggoy, and Marines.
Hydra stepped over a Jiralhanae giving it a unsparing jolt, as blood sprayed the rampart. His task was simple, go through the webbing ruins through the relics beyond them and infiltrate the Jiralhanae encampments to capture the highest ranking of the Loyalists. Hydra had four Sangheili and six Unggoy each looking at him for orders. The Marines were there to assist them, which Hydra thought very pitiful. The Covenant was waging war on the humans for ages and the thought and validity that they were helping them was very inapt. Hydra looked at a human Marine and scowled, then the human sneered and said, "Hey you aren't exactly beautiful to me either" The Sangheili turned his back on him.
For the certitude that the humans managed to withstand ages of slaughtering and still stood was a matter he respected entirely. Hydra pointed to the sealed doorway on a wall where a Forerunner etched creek of water poured under the brick. "There!" Hydra yelled at the Unggoy. The Unggoy nervously walked to the doorway, and positioned themselves in an attack stance. The Sangheili spitefully kneeled in attack stance. The Human Sergeant standing next to him was fiddling with his Battle Rifle while Hydra arrayed his squadron.
Hydra heard the human's language and he uttered in a hoarse growl, "Go' aheed" The Sergeant then stepped forward and addressed his Marines. Hydra felt uncomfortable on the other side, listening to the Marines battle strategy. The Sergeant reviewed the mission, which an AI translator told him. Hydra was astounded at the tactics they used. For desecrating foes they were brilliant on warfare. Hydra then tucked away his Carbine and withdrew a Plasma Rifle. The door was locked tight, he sprayed the entrance with blue plasma, and it left a small hole, where the plasma continued to hiss. The Marines were encouraging each other behind him, and the Heretics stood and curiously watched their allies. Hydra turned around and faced his squadron. "Beyond our sanctuary of Halo, the traitors that led us will fall under our onslaught! The Prophets have realized what civility exchange has done to their Covenant; they are vulnerable, unorganized, and deceitful in their conquest for a false salvation! Prepare, warriors for retaliation!" Hydra snarled. He took his Carbine out as he pointed at his Sangheili. The blue armored Sangheili brandished his Plasma Rifle and inserted it into the plasma hole.
The door sizzled, as they backed up. Then Hydra pulled him out, and quickly ignited a Plasma Grenade. Hydra backed away as the door blew in the daze; they were greeted by red plasma fire, from a Jiralhanae Plasma Rifle. Hydra inquired his squad to back up; the Marines were on the side awaiting their Sergeants orders. Hydra confirmed to his squad, and he showed the Human Sergeant in rough representation. The Sergeant understood and saluted his Marines. All of the Marines including the Heretics revealed grenades. The Sergeant put up three fingers, he put all three down and Hydra ignored the rain of continuous fire, and tossed a grenade in the room. He heard an explosion of a dozen grenades where he heard a Kig-Yar shriek. Hydra placed his hand up in a stop indication; many Marines were hesitating but stood their ground. They heard a Brute Chief clamor, "Hold! Hold!" Then Hydra pointed in the room where the fog of the grenades was still lingering. They met them in battle. Hydra pinned a Jiralhanae down and placed three radioactive projectile in its head.
A green burst of plasma brushed his shoulder, he looked up and saw a Yanme'e sticking out of a blue cupola, in the wall. Hydra shot it down, and saw one of his Grunts falls dead. The Jiralhanae Chief had tossed his Jiralhanae Shot and was in frenzy. The Jiralhanae was on all fours, in the dense room. Another Unggoy was caught by the chief, and was heaved into an energy splint running in the middle of the room. "This one" Hydra said. No more enemies remained except this Jiralhanae. The Sergeant walked behind Hydra, with singeing armor. "We have this one" He insisted. The Sangheili gestured ahead, as the Jiralhanae continued to run.
All of the Heretics and Marines were secured behind massive slants. Hydra and the Marine Sergeant were the only ones in range. Hydra raised his Carbine at the Jiralhanae, and shot non-lethal crossfire at the Jiralhanae's shoulders to get his attention. The Jiralhanae then angrily ran at Hydra, but the Sangheili stood his ground. The Sergeant then stepped forward raising his wrist, from an armlet a net caught the Jiralhanae and contained him. The Jiralhanae angrily fought the mesh of wire. The Marine then pushed a button on his armlet, and through the wire, sparks trickled the mesh and surged the Jiralhanae. The Chief screamed then lay motionless, still growling. "You weaklings! You'll never take me!" The Sergeant unclipped the wire from his armlet and handed it to the Sangheili next to him. "Take him to the Pelican" Hydra said. The Sangheili nodded and heaved the Jiralhanae to the deck.
Hydra was so distracted from the battle that he had not yet taken the surroundings of the room. The Forerunner chamber was a huge, broad cupola with blue energy filled the dome shaped ceiling. The wall was ancient with foliage growing from the blue energy. A dais was in front layered in blue ray beams for lighting. "Hydra we will continue pressing on the encampments." The Human Sergeant said. Hydra nodded and they entered the next room. It was a field of fire; they were welcomed with plasma, on a balcony above was an assembly of Shades with grass growing out if the once derelict ground. A naïve Marine was caught in the fire and dropped dead in a scream. Hydra threw a grenade at one of the turrets and watched it explode. He shot a Jiralhanae behind the Shade with a headshot. Just then a stray plasma bolt pierced his shields. Hydra was vulnerable; he hid behind a stack of crates and waited for the recharge.
As soon as they started restarting he traced the bolt to a Kig-Yar. The Kig-Yar watched Hydra and hissed peeking his head for a shot at the Heretic. Hydra then reacted as the Kig-Yar's shields dissolved and it fell to the ground in blood. The Heretic's crimson armor was encrusted in black where plasma hit and his limbs stung from tackling the Jiralhanae. Hydra hit the turret with a few more clips as it clashed in a heap of smoke. As did the Jiralhanae who was behind it. Hydra saw one Marine fall under a blast of plasma, Hydra found his body and took his belt that had Fragmentation Grenades on them he took one with one hand. He walked to the ramp as he was shot with a grit of dirt in the ancient soil. Hydra crepe up the ramp he looked sideways and saw the back of at least a dozen Jiralhanae distraught by the battle. Hydra took his index finger and sliced through the pins, he hurdled the belt at the squad of Jiralhanae. Hydra had less than a second he dove in a aerial flip, and landed as the explosion tossed the Jiralhanae high. Hydra turned around as a Jiralhanae corpse landed right next to him. The Sangheili got up and studied the scene over the open platforms he saw Yanme'e and Kig-Yar shooting at the advancing squad of Marines and Heretics. In a flash he saw a purple beam of light strike his torso demolishing his shields…a sniper. Hydra bounded behind the source of the Sniper. He saw the Sergeant sniping a few Yanme'e, as their insect like bodies littered the area. He looked upward as the Sergeant shot the Sniper. The room was clear, when Hydra shot down the last Jiralhanae he headed for the wounded. They were a force now, UNSC and Heretic allies were together and are ending the Covenant.

Heretic Exodus
Date: 3 September 2005, 6:00 pm

This is the second part to my previous story, 'Heretic Hero'
thanks everyone for the tips including Wolf.

Heretic Exodus
Ninth Age of Reclamation, Covenant Bastion, Halo
Exodus

Hydra, the commended and disciplined veteran of the Heretic force examined his unique plating in the Covenant Stronghold on Halo. Hydra extended his Covenant Carbine with spare clips he removed from one of his comrade's body he slipped it in the stub with a novel spit the projectile snapped into place. The Sangheili kneeled next to the body, the Heretic's armor had gashes across his back from a Jiralhanae Shot blade, the murderer lay next to the Sangheili in a distorted heap. The Sangheili's mandibles were detached by plasma scoring and the armor drenched in purple gore. Hydra hailed this Heretic to his squad; recognition seemed loyal and assenting in this constant war. Hydra walked to another charred corpse mound of a Gunner Unggoy and a Human Marine. There the Sergeant was distressing their Pelicans for reinforcements via a communications device in his helmet. Past the canopy of the chamber, a shadow grazed the lighting; massive holes from a past battle revealed a Phantom gliding across the blue skies. "Company, Marines, lets clean an area for our new friends!" The Sergeant yelled. The Marines stridden to the enormous portal, the mold sealed with radiant purple beams of light going outside the door. Next to it was a foliage-covered terminal that stuck from the crease with the blipping lights.
"Get on that door, warrior" He jestered to the Sangheili next to him. The Sangheili approched the terminal and began typing. "Form up,Unggoy!" Hydra barked authoritivily. They positioned themselves as the door opened in a flash of light. A vacuous corridor, was dark and wet with water dripping from patches of light. Inside was a primary moat that trailed through the passage all the way to the other source of light, a bright door on the other side revealed that the next area was outside. Other streaks of purple light trailed into the moat and under the door. Hydra lead the two sqauds followed closely was the Sergeant who slowly conformed. Hydra gestured ahead, and the Unggoy went beside him. Hydra then perked his head to the near wall. 'Gammamee heard a strange whirring noise coming from outside the trench.
Hydra then realized in dread what it was…Hydra threw down his carbine and screamed, "Plasma Mortar, ahead!!" Everyone ran to the center passage treading in the moat as the whirring quickened. "Marines, forward!" The Sergeant yelled. The Heretics and the Marines protracted to flee. Hydra reached the door and it slid open right after a flaming light bursted Hydra's vision…
Hydra woke in a rivery confine the Heretic gripped his arm, from the past explosion. The Sangheili was in one of many underwater brigs, above him was a shimmering purple sheet. Over the layer of energy was a slow creek, and he saw a couple of lesser ranked Kig-Yar were hissing at Hydra. 'Gammamee checked his weapons, he was deprived clean of everything. Hydra ignored his anguish, and looked around for a way out, though his chances were slight, Forerunner prisons were intensely secure. Hydra saw other prisons through the same purple sheets on both sides of his block. On his near side was a unconscious female Marine, who didn't look critical. On his outer side was a dead Unggoy still bleeding deluges. Hydra looked like he was going to be imprisoned for a long time, tortured, or killed. Above him a Jiralhanae pushed the two Kig-Yar away, and they hissed cholericly at him. The Jiralhanae looked down at him and chortled at the Sangheili. "Your miserable horde of Heretics, are no match for the Covenant!" The Jiralhanae growled. "And your fate is rapidly approaching, Sangheili" The Jiralhanae continued to snigger. "You will pay for your lack of vision, fool!" The Heretic snarled back. At the disclosure of Hydra's words a loud boom reverberated, the Marine next to him woke, she was shocked to see where she was as Hydra watched and hoped for a release.
Hydra heard the low hum of a Phantom but could not see it from the stream, the Phantom was followed by Lekgolo fuel rods, a green burst of the Lekgolo's weapon passed overhead. 'Gammamee also heard bullets as a Kig-Yar's shield thawed in the air. He perceived whooshing, as a orbital insertion pod slammed above ground, and a human 'Helljumper' emerged. The Helljumper looked down as the battle ahead continued, the human shot the energy sheet, the sheet dissolved and Hydra could see the swarmed sky full of plasma. 'Gammamee climbed out of the prison and saw a towering edifice packed with Covenant Plasma Mortars. The rainforest clearing had monumental walls running through trenches of prisons. There were dozens of dropships descending troops of Sangheili and Jiralhanae.
A impending wave of Covenant troops was nearing the army of battle-ready Heretics and Helljumpers. Just overhead a vast burst of plasma emitted from a nearby mortar tank and pelted a Heretic Phantom to the forest floor. It smacked dozens of Jiralhanae and Helljumpers fighting each other. 'Gammamee searched for a weapon, he looked down and saw a dead Sangheili with a Energy Sword hilt next to it, he picked it up and ignited it as a sheath of mist from a grenade depleted half his shields. Hydra stuck the blade through a Kig-Yar's chest, and dodged plasma fire from a triad of advancing Kig-Yar. The Heretic slashed his way through the trio as hot plasma continued to graze his head. Nearby he saw a swarm of Hunagok bisecting a Forerunner battlement sticking out of a cluster of foliage. "Get on those Engineers, Marine!" a close Human Major shouted.
A Human Marine neared the swarm pointing his magnum at them, Hydra leaped up and held his hand up to the human. The marine didn't shoot as the Hunagok continued to stroke the battlement, this was disturbing to Hydra. Where there was a Hunagok there was a Prophet, since the nuetral Hunagok only contacted with the Prophets and represented no threat to Human or Heretic forces they were there on specific orders from the Prophets to handle this technology. This edifice would be nearly impossible to penetrate if a Prophet was in the structure. But Hydra admitted to himself that the Prophet must be captured, the Councilors who sent him, requested no Prophet capture as the prevaricators are rarely in battle. Then the Hunagok uttered their 'endangering' pitch in the air. Hydra knew Jiralhanae would be all over this spot hastily. Hydra indicated the Marine run and they took off as Honor Guards were gathering around the Hunagok. Hydra dispatched his battle array.
"We need more patrols to finish off the Jiralhanae encampments!" Hydra roared as he thrusted the Energy Sword through a Jiralhanae's chest, it screamed and died when he proceeded to kill Covenant protection. Across the battle field he saw scattered remnants of Phantoms, he bounded forward. Aloft the field in the edifice, out of the gateways a fleet of Yanme'e were flying toward the Heretic's position. Hydra concealed his Energy Sword to find a exanimate Sangheili under a Phantom shred with two Plasma Rifles. He gestured the rifles and began discharging them. The Yanme'e fell, some resting on trees to get a good shot at 'Gammamee. Hydra's shields sparked with reduction. He turned his back and retreated to a Forerunner hurdle sticking out of the ground. The Sangheili waited for his shields to charge, he saw sparks once again swallow his structure and he turned around and shot a Yanme'e out of a tree. When he ridded the Yanme'e from his position he looked around for more shots when another Covenant Phantom dropped a set of Ghosts to help teem the field. Hydra activated his stealth, and ran toward the Ghosts. Commonly, Hydra did not use stealth because he felt glory was compressed from him for it.
'Gammamee converged the boosting Ghost, he waited for the Jiralhanae to speed next to him. He leapt up and clasped the back of the Ghost, Hydra put his hands out and killed the Jiralhanae from a single maneuver as it crashed in the creek. Hydra steered the Ghost into a Kig-Yar, he saw a Marine 'Warthog' drive by the Heretic. The Warthog was being driven by a Marine, with two Sangheili riding. The Ship Master on the turret placed lead into a Wraith going nearby. The Wraith managed one plasma shot at a Pelican before exploding. The Pelican was still airborne looking damaged dropping a Scorpion tank which another Helljumper drove to the ramp of the edifice. The Heretics and the Marines were advancing, Hydra dodged a Jiralhanae shot and shot plasma at him as he fell. Hydra focused on the edifice, it still was thoroughly distant. Ahead of them was more battles between Jiralhanae and Helljumpers, fires arised from the clearing. And Hydra increased through the fire, shooting Kig-Yar along the way. Then all of a sudden the Ghost exploded as blue fire sprung from the heap, Hydra rolled as his shields were once again drained, he hid behind the inflamed Wraith. And as his shields fulfilled, he saw that next to the driver was a Kig-Yar body which had a Particle Beam Rifle behind it. Hydra replaced his Plasma Rifles with the Sniper Rifle.
'Gammamee crouched and aimed over the purple face of the Wraith toward the edifice. Over fifty snipers were aiming at the field, large plasma turrets covered the ridge of the edifice, the plasma mortars were positioned and firing at the dropships. Hydra devised a plan. 'Gammamee took his rifle and shot the plasma mortar's conductors one by one. Each time having to move because he was seen discharging the rifle. Hydra sidestepped on his near side and took out the last Jiralhanae. Hydra looked across the field the Forerunner battlements along the wreckage of a downed Pelican were emerging from the grass. Hydra dodged a particle shot from a Kig-Yar, and he continued down the battlement tier. Every missing wall, a particle shot would skim in front of him. The Heretic rolled from view as he made his way to the port side of the edifice.
Above him was a towering wall going up to a platform which contained the plasma mortars. Hydra surmounted the creases of anchient flora grew forming plates, he reached the top where an empty plasma mortar awaited. He climbed into the center eye of the mortar and aimed at the Kig-Yar sniper file. Hydra looked for Unggoy and Sangheili and Humans around the area, when he found nothing but corpses he fired.
The plasma hit the Kig-Yar and they bounded in the air, Hydra looked at the flaming battle field, the prison line in the line of creeks were all empty, some Sangheili were on Spectres, a Spec-Ops squad was on the Helljumper's Scorpion. And the single Warthog remained, even a squad of Unggoy clinged to their lives, also the Hunagok's position was completely terminated. Hydra stepped down and greeteed a incoming Pelican, to his astoinishment from the dropship, the Human Sergeant who accompanied Hydra on the task was alive. "Marines file out!" The Humans jumped out followed by a new squad of Unggoy and Sangheili. The Helljumpers came up, adjusting their guns, the Scorpion tank, the occupied Spectre, the Warthog, and many other squads of Sangheili, Unggoy and one Lekgolo remained, all were looking at Hydra as if expecting command. The Ship Master standing sword still flashing nodded specifying Hydra give them a task. "Your orders, Field Master?"
Ninth Age of Reclamation
Enlightenment

Hydra led an army of Heretics, as he fought alongside his proud allies, the Marines. They were on a march, to capture a live Prophet, according to their battle net; this Prophet was one of ten inside this edifice all located in the central throne room. The Prophets were Councilors and were waiting for their invasion, no suspect they were perfectly aware of their victory on the edifices forest plains. Hydra was ordered to catch the highest ranking of every species in the Covenant, except for the Prophet, which would be suicide to try and catch without so many reinforcements.
Hydra failed one mission in his task to continue heresy, but he believed faith was constantly on his side for a second chance of redemption. Hydra was ready, they knew their remaining captives would be inside because honor guards would be all over the throne room. They marched on the ramp, where a large crater was from the mortar. They delved into the crater, his warriors flashed the Kig-Yar bodies with plasma, feeling their desire to beat the traitors even in death. They reached the main gateway, it was sealed with shackles of flashing images glowing in patterns. The Human Sergeant stepped in front of Hydra. "Marines! Get a charge on this door!" He yelled authoritivly. "Sir!" The Marines yelled in unison. They assembled in perfect fashion, one Marine took a detonation from his burden, and placed it on the imaging of the door. The other was tinkering with the same detonation, when they were done the Sergeant gestured the 'back away' sign to Hydra. "Back!" 'Gammamee snarled.
The Unggoy cowardly backed away, he noticed that the Covenant focused on authority not encouragement which is why the Unggoy lose a lot of battles. The Heretic Unggoy he worked with on the mining facility were strongly inspired by their Field Masters, which had them triumph more than the Covenant Unggoy. "Wait!" He growled at the Sergeant, Hydra put up one finger to indicate it wouldn't take long. The Human looked impatient but sighed and checked his gear. "Unggoy!" The Unggoy snapped into position and shivered. Hydra honored his comrades, Unggoy or his own brothers they were all the same. "You will not falter but stand strong, our Covenant, broken as it is will be united and stronger as Heretics and our venerated allies, the human alliance will stand and stop the truth!" Hydra clenched his fist and looked at his Unggoy. "We are the stronger Covenant, we are the devoted, and we are the loyal races to our forefathers!" The Heretics and the Humans alike raised their weapons and cried. The Unggoy were more confident, Hydra did make the distinction.
'Gammamee nodded his head at the Sergeant, the Marine nodded back. "Take Cover, Marines!" The Humans replied their ranking officer and stepped back. When everyone was hidden from the blast, the Sergeant took a small cylinder from his holster and pushed his thumb down on it. The gateway blasted open, and they proceeded inside. Within the edifice was an enormous corridor, on the walls were remarkable signets next to banks. Hydra did not know what these signets were even though he found the Forerunners to be technological advancing and conflicting culture and he did not know all their technology. After a moment of walking these signets steamed and hissed, the Heretic realized what was coming out of these could not be good. "Shoot the walls!" Hydra yelled. Hydra took a new Carbine and shoots a flashing signet; it exploded and out appeared a dead Jiralhanae. The explosions were heard throughout the resonating corridor, some Jiralhanae managed to escape their embryonic death and tackled their destroyers. They cleared the corridor, as Jiralhanae bodies littered the hallway. When it was thoroughly deserted from the Covenant Hydra yelled, "Onward!" they continued to a huge portal, with more gaping beams around the door. Covenant crates were next to the doorway that contained more arsenals.
Hydra went to the door and pressed his fingers into the terminal. "Prepare, warriors!" He shouted as Sergeant encouraged his Marines. The door opened and Hydra saw a colossal chamber, the throne room. In front of him were Jiralhanae honor guards, up was a massive bridge which had more excessive rays of light, under the bridge were tiers of Forerunner etched creeks, going up, row by row. On the rows were spouts of fountains with Jiralhanae controlled turrets. On some parts of the bridge were Prophets holding some sort of Energy Scepter. "Truth!!!" Hydra screamed as he shot the Honor Guard in the head, the Heretics and Humans were screaming back as the row of Honor Guards fell in a burst of bullets.
Some Marines and Heretics went into the ramps going into the tiers of creeks below, fighting the Kig-Yar. It was almost worse than the battle before, making their way into the bridge a Kig-Yar shot a oncoming Marine in the chest as he dropped dead. 'Gammamee shot a nearby Jiralhanae in the head. Hydra then saw a charging Prophet it waved its scepter and Hydra was blasted by a wave of light, the Heretic was grabbed by an unknown force and tossed into the air.
Hydra got up very faint, he was in a tier of the creek, and a Jiralhanae lay next to him bleeding he heard distant bullets. Hydra saw a row of Prophets standing aiming their energy scepter at Marines, the Humans was rammed into walls as blood was running down the rampart of the throne room. Hydra raised his Covenant Carbine with one hand and shot a Prophet in the head, it was shielded by a foggy shield, all were contained by the white overshields. Hydra needed something to disable their shields, usually a Particle Beam Rifle or a Plasma Grenade would do it. Hydra lit a Plasma Grenade and tossed it at them, it did it, the shields sparked for a few seconds reveling the Prophet's body. Hydra shot the Prophet as it fell in a heap of bloody robes. A Marine shot another Prophet down as they continued to exterminate the throne room. 'Gammamee climbed up the tiers shooting a Jiralhanae down as he leapt up the tier.
Hydra climbed up the bridge shooting a Kig-Yar down, the Sergeant was kneeling next to a encased Yanme'e in the same mesh of wire as the previous Jiralhanae. The Sergeant was shooting Yanme'e from the dome of the throne room. Hydra ran to the parapet where the Prophets were killing Sangheili. Hydra shot the last Jiralhanae on a Shade turret, until all that remained was the Kig-Yar Guards and the remaining Prophets along with a few Yanme'e flying and shooting Unggoy. A Sangheili shot another Prophet to the ground, the last Prophet remained. Hydra yelled, "This one!" The Sangheili snapped into address, and a Fleet Commander approached him nodding in a silent diversion. "Heretic vermin! The Divine Beyond is nigh, you are fools for converting!" The Prophet yelled killing a Unggoy in flash of light. They disabled his shields and Hydra leapt on the Prophet, he tackled it and contained. The Prophet screamed as he was flown sideways by Hydra. Hydra punched the Prophet as it moaned in unconsciousness. The Prophet was restrained, he then saw a Human Marine wrestle a Kig-Yar to the ground. "Stupid Jackal!" He yelled in frustration as the Kig-Yar spit and hissed at him, when the Kig-Yar was blasted by the net that the Sergeant wielded the throne was completely clear. "All right, Marines!" The Sergeant yelled as the Marines yelled. Hydra cried as his Heretics all yelled. Hydra, the Heretics, and the Marines arrested the ranking Kig-Yar, Yanme'e, Jiralhanae, and the adjunct Prophet. The truth was not silenced but anticipated as the Sangheili raised their weapons in praise.

Heretic Exodus
Date: 9 September 2005, 10:23 pm

I finally fixed the wall, thank you 'Nossalee, Jillybean, and Commander Demitri Wolf for the tips. This is the last story of the Heretic Hero Series. Enjoy.

Heretic Chaste
Ninth Age of Reclamation, Heretic Blockade, Resolute Shroud, Capitol Carrier, Marauder
Sudden Asset

The defiant and virtuous Hydra was before the garden chamber on the undisturbed Marauder. Having just returned from the successful task of capturing Covenant troops, he was being hailed for the superiority and influence on the battlefield.

"Worthy and honorable, our revered, once distant brother has returned for redemption!" The Councilor yelled throughout the gardens. "For adducing and egregious abilities we sanction him the rank of Ship Master!" The Councilor cuffed his tone in a roar, as cheers erupted from Sangheili, Unggoy, and a few Human representatives stagnant in sight of the Councilors.

Hydra was going to be granted his own ship, the Heretic was overcome with remarkable battle tactics on the field and in space. Hydra thought himself meritorious of a decent Field Master as he was, but was greatly honored for this rank. The Councilor moved to another Sangheili whom he was being respected for numerous Covenant kills, this Sangheili was ranked veteran, and the Councilor moved to the row of Heretics commending each.

They arranged their own secrete fleet called, Resolute Shroud, over a dazzling viaduct in a cove. The Forerunner viaduct was amassed in shadow, as the blockade hovered in immobile stasis. Hydra looked at a Human Marine wearing a bandage around his arm; he looked young and entirely terrified of being on his past enemy's territory. The Marine met eyes with Hydra, and the Sangheili smirked at him. The Marine looked at some better, Hydra related to him, he felt extremely uncomfortable being on the Covenant's side, being a Heretic in the past age. The Councilor was now forging a treaty between the Heretics and the UNSC forces.

"In this age of war, we found ourselves in a truce with humanity. The Sangheili were inextricable as to why the humans were not accepted in our Covenant bond by the Prophets, as they have proven noble and worthy for our originator's divine beyond!" The Councilor raised his hands in reference to the Marines next to them. "But in this age, we are deceived by the Prophets and their Great Journey is surely fallacious. With humanity we shall conquer the Covenant and embark on a new era!" The Councilor finished as roars from the stands succeeded echoes.

Resolute Shroud, Marauder, Council Chamber
Pursuit in Obscurity

Hydra approached the Councilors; they were discussing something concealing their mandibles. As Hydra approached them, they snapped into attention. "Honorable Councilors?" Hydra said wavering down. "Which ship am I reserved to command?" Hydra asked in his subdued tone. The Councilors exchanged their occasional whispers and the lead Councilor said, "You will be transferred to the, Effectual Chastity," Hydra knew that the Effectual Chastity was an assault carrier and would do excellent in space combat. "What is my next task then?" Hydra asked his brothers." A simplistic one, you will defend this blockade" Seeing Hydra's gulp the Councilor continued. "We have heard accounts that two capitol ships have detected our blockade, they are coming…They do not however have our exact location…yet and we need prevent their plans in getting our fleet, we wish to remain constant secrecy until our chance will release.

The Council decided to have you lead a unit of Banshees to dispatch their patrols, and do not waver to use any purpose you require to destroy them, Hydra" The Councilor finished waving his arm in dismissal. Hydra walked to the center launch pad, Phantoms and Banshees were docked as his squad of Sangheili followed him.

"We will take a unit of Banshees to flock their patrols, defeat will not be tolerated in this task!" Hydra uttered to his Sangheili. "We will also take a Phantom for additional support" He said. The Sangheili were ready and looked incredibly honored to be serving under the last Heretic. "Follow me out of this cove, and we will make for their patrol position" Hydra said. The Sangheili nodded their heads in accepting.

"Yes, Ship Master!" They yelled. Hydra fastened his Carbine, and climbed into a Banshee. He adjusted the sticks and pushed forward as the Banshee screamed out of the Marauder. Hydra led a dozen Banshees in the dark clove; a Phantom emerged from the launch pad and centered in the group. "Leader, I will unite the Phantom in your positions!" The Phantom Pilot said through the transmission. Hydra clicked affirmative, and steered the Banshee out of the cove into a fiery dusk.

"To the first era of peace, warriors!" Hydra yelled throughout the radio. He was responded by war cries reverberated by the screeches of the Banshees. On the horizon was a cape in the dwelling of Forerunner fabrications with derelict Covenant camps on the overpasses, in the midst of the constructions were Jiralhanae on Ghosts.

Waves of them were scanning the etching riverbeds for signs of enemies. Ruins of Forerunner trestles were being embraced by Kig-Yar scouts. "Warriors below us, eliminate the encampments!" Hydra shouted. The Banshees revolved sideways, and engaged the enemies. Hydra shot his plasma cannons at a Ghost as it ignited and crashed into a wall. Their position was alerted, the Phantom cracked plasma at the Kig-Yar whose shields melted in the air. Hydra's Banshee took fire from a Ghost, and one of his wings snapped off, Hydra shot the Jiralhanae and it detonated. Hydra flew skyward, as the structure was ablaze with the Heretic's victory.

"One warrior down, Hydra" The Phantom Pilot yelled as a Banshee ignited in blue fire and screeched down to the surface of Halo. The screams from the fallen pilot were sustained with more dissonant.

In the clouds of the ring, Hydra saw a fleet of the Banshee patrols; more plasma rang through fuel rod cannons hitting targets. "Ship Master they are trying to flank us!" A Sangheili pilot yelled. "Do not break formation, this is it warriors!" Hydra clamored. Hydra pivoted his Banshee and fired his twin cannons at a Covenant Banshee. The Heretic Banshees and Covenant Banshees were identified by design, Heretics had additional plates and were a mauve color and Covenant's were dark purple. Hydra rolled his Banshee sideways, as a fuel rod nearly nailed his wing.

He shot the Banshee down in a flash of green. Hydra then dived into a cloud while the sky extinguished into night. There were two Banshees left each swirling with flames, the Phantom hit the one Banshee and it fell. Hydra bashed the Banshee with his cannon and sent it into the abyss. Cheers ejected through the radio, and 'Gammamee leaned his Banshee in a hover. "Good work, everyone! Let's head back to the blockade!" Hydra yelled. They finished their duty, and their task victorious. Hydra thought. The Heretic Banshees ravaged and torn returned to Resolute Shroud.

Resolute Shroud, Effectual Chastity, Bridge
Secure

Ship Master, Hydra walked as holographic screens flashed when he approached the platform. A vivid purple screen of the next ship was stretched over the beams. Many scaffolds were positioned in which Sangheili stood and were tweaking with the flashing rays for terminals. The crimson armored Heretic walked managing the progress of his ship, he passed a Gunner Unggoy walking and cringing as his Ship Master addressed him. "Unggoy, what is your designation?"

Hydra asked him in a compassionate expression, 'Gammamee wanted to make the Unggoy as comfortable and confident as viable so they could win more battles. The Unggoy looked relieved and said, "Sayare" his voice quivering. "Sayare, who do you serve under?" 'Gammamee asked him. The Unggoy looked confused as to why the Ship Master, highest ranking veteran was actually verbalizing him.

The Unggoy was trembling under his green uniform, but he answered with benignity. "Field Master, Skir 'Laddamee, Ship Master" Hydra knew that Sangheili he served under his squad in the Encampment Raid, he died when a Jiralhanae stabbed him with the Jiralhanae Shot he was wielding.

"He died under my command, which would make you quite befitting for the Heretics" Hydra said to him. The Unggoy remained emotionless and trifled with his turret on his shoulder. "You will be upgraded and promoted under my squad, there you will be my personal assistant, is that approving?" Hydra finished, he had no desire to push around the Unggoy, and really considered them as ambitious and skilled warriors, in this time of war, everyone should be equally treated.

'Gammamee felt unique, as the Heretic he was and is for sharing this conception. Hydra read his expression; he presumably felt he had no choice. "Sayare you are permitted to decline your rank under me" Hydra said before the Unggoy could speak.

The Unggoy now looked thankful and calm. "Yes, Ship Master that would be honorable!" Sayare squealed. Hydra clamped his mandibles in a smile. "Good, now drop that turret and follow" Sayare gave the Plasma Turret to a common Unggoy, and ran to keep up with Hydra. 'Gammamee needed to speak to the Council for briefing. He approached a small elevator, he stepped inside and Sayare entered, panting. The elevator rapidly ascended and stopped. The portal opened with glint, and they entered a palisade, idle with constant typing were Sangheili, their eyes grazing the screen below them. In the center of the palisade was a violet projector; in the middle of it was a cyan circle, which flashed with remarkable sparks.
"Connect me with the Council Chamber on the Marauder, Sayare" Hydra gestured to the Unggoy. Sayare walked to the terminal in front of the projector and typed at the lights, the projector's center illuminated a spectrum and quickly revealed a white beam going on the screen. The Council Chamber was in view and the Councilors in the assembled rows.

"Councilors, what is my ratified task? Hydra asked. The Councilor leaned up. "Hydra, we have heard reports of Covenant amercing control above Halo, they have dominated quadrants which comprises some of our brethren's vessels," The Councilor said. "Show me, Sayare" Hydra demanded. The Unggoy fiddled with the terminal, and it showed a vague map of space on an opposite wall. Two Assault Carriers were floating in the midst of space; they were hovering through colossal remains of debris.

"A human vessel, was caught in crossfire and was demolished by these two" The Councilor said. "But, we have also interrogated the Covenant you captured and they said unwillingly that the carrier identified as the Ardor has several Councilors captive. The other carrier the Constancy Omit does not have any hostages. Evade the Ardor rescue our Councilors, and destroy the Constancy Omit. May the Covenant suffer to the Forerunner's will, Ship Master!" The Councilor finished.

Hydra nodded in imminent reprisal. The screen went blank and broke into a shimmering pattern of portents written by previous Ship Masters. "Come, Sayare" The Unggoy broke from the terminal, and they descended down the elevator. Hydra walked up to the primary platform. "My brothers, take us up" The Heretic uttered. "Yes, Leader!" They replied. Flashing lights bonded the screen, around the bridge, Sangheili were attached to their own set of terminals.

The Effectual Chastity raised up with tremendous agility; the screen turned to the night emerging from the cove and into Resolute Shroud. The carrier blasted out of the blockade, above they entered a cloud and proceeded rising. They entered space, and ring disappeared below. Hydra was ready to clash with the two ships with full force, but he needed to use tactics and resources. "Leader, enemy carriers coming into view!" A Sangheili said. Sure enough the two ships were together in combat formation.

"SpecOps units go to the boarding crafts!" Hydra had to be swift about this, but he knew his faith would contribute this task. "Take the ship above the two…swiftly, they have been alerted of our position. SpecOps you will place an anti-matter bomb inside the frame of the Constancy Omit, and retreat to their Phantoms. The remaining unit of SpecOps will accompany me and we will rescue our enslaved brothers! When I say, you will attach the boarding craft to the Constancy Omit, the first unit will be dispatched there, and the second when we disable their shields!" The Effectual Chastity flew fast as the two rotated their positions.

"Release, first unit!" Hydra yelled. The Boarding Crafts blasted from the ship. Their clamps raised as they pressed the outside of the hostile ship. "Confirmed boarding!" The Sangheili SpecOps Field Master boomed throughout the bridge, the sound of plasma explosions pitched next. "Lets take this shield…" A explosion reverberated the Effectual Chastity from the Ardor's energy beam projector. "Condition?" Hydra asked his crew.

"Energy Core is still functional, our shields remain, Leader" The Sangheili answered. "Get the plasma beams fitted, fire when ready!" Hydra commanded. From the middle of Effectual Chastity a purple ray of light enameled the Constancy Omit, the beam made the ship topple, and a glinting white crackle surrounded the ship from harm.

"Keep descending and continue firing!" Hydra yelled. Sayare was watching the screen and his eyes glowed, looking confident for once. The sound of the blaring plasma beam hit the Constancy Omit, the flick of white was reduced, as it fired and missed the Effectual Chastity. "Shields are disabled, on the Omit, Leader"

The Sangheili said. That was Hydra's line, he was going to lead the second unit of SpecOps into the Ardor while the first destroyed the Constancy Omit. "They are flanking us back, it will take time to reach the energy core, Leader!" The SpecOps Field Master proclaimed through the transmission. "Keep moving!"

The Ship Master walked through the corridors; the large unit of SpecOps Sangheili and Unggoy followed him. Sayare at his side, adjusted in his new black armor. "Everybody split!" Hydra yelled. The unit opened the many portals, revealing a purple silhouette. Hydra opened his and went to the pilots perch; he sat and typed at the terminal. Sayare stood by Hydra readjusting his Needler. "Follow my lead!" 'Gammamee shouted.

He aimed the craft for the Ardor, just as it fired a beam of plasma at the Effectual Chastity. Hydra's ship was not effected, but several boarding crafts were caught and vaporized. The Sangheili and Unggoy paid their respects to the fallen ones, as Hydra steered out of shot.

The Ship Master opened the craft's clamps and he locked into the ship, the air hissed as the air was extinguished, and the pressure built up. "Warriors prepare for battle!" The war cries were blasted by the turret fire they were accosted with. They were in the Covenant arsenal wing, above them were ramps and elevators spiraling up the ceiling. An energy spindle was in the middle of the chamber; lifts extended up and down the spindle.

On the platforms were Jiralhanae with turrets domiciling the illuminating chamber. "Forward!" Hydra yelled, while plasma whipped the air. Sayare shot a Kig-Yar with his Needler and lingered behind a stationary shield generator. Hydra raised his Covenant Carbine and shot the Jiralhanae on the turrets above them, the green projectile trails embedded them in the heads as they dropped with perfect precision.

Hydra treaded over a Kig-Yar body. Yanme'e cluttered the chamber, and one landed next to Hydra, as he lifted his carbine, the Yanme'e fell when a Needler's crystalline projectiles nailed it in the torso. Hydra looked at his Unggoy assistant, and consented in thanks.

Hydra shot down the Yanme'e from the ceiling, when an elevator emerged from the energy spindle. Out issued armed Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar. Hydra ascended up the ramp and smacked a Jiralhanae with his weapon, the Jiralhanae raised his Jiralhanae Shot in pain and anguish and uppercut the Heretic with the exposed blade. Hydra fell with his shields impaired, the Jiralhanae came in for a second hit. Hydra quickly got up, ignoring his low shields.

'Gammamee aimed a blow at the Jiralhanae's head, and hit him in the jaw. The Jiralhanae looked dazed, and hooked Hydra across the face. Hydra tasted blood, as he was tossed by the Jiralhanae into a wall. He looked up with vague perspective, and saw the Jiralhanae on all fours running toward him, he then saw Sayare appear from behind the Jiralhanae and quickly inflamed a plasma grenade and tossed it at him. The grenade stuck to the Jiralhanae's foot and right before he reached Hydra the explosion sent him flying and screaming.

'Gammamee got up weakly, he clutched his chest as his shields replenished. He picked up his Carbine, while his pain disappeared. The chamber was clear, his squad destroyed the hostiles, and the sound of fire ceased. He approached the Unggoy, "I extol your confidence, Sayare" Hydra spoken. The Unggoy looked honored and daft with overwhelence. And Hydra walked ahead to the lifts.

"We will continue upward and secure the Councilors!" They followed him to one of the immense elevators, Hydra imprinted his hand into the terminal, and the lift floated up. "Ship Master, we have reached energy core, and have cleared an anti-matter placement" The SpecOps Field Master uttered. "We have limitless casualties, but the path is unobstructed with difficult restrictions" Hydra pondered and spoke clearly and confident. "Proceed with the razing of the Constancy Omit, cautious journey out of the ship, Field Master" Hydra ordered.

"Yes, Leader" The SpecOps leader answered. The Heretics shuddered and remarked messages of encouragement to their brothers on the twin ship. "We shall not forgot their devotion!" A Sangheili said clenching his fist to his chest. With a gradual stop from the elevator. The door opened, ahead was a conduit like passage, the walls were inclined with a bright blue and through the walls was a perceptible chamber of more corridors.

The door ahead then flashed and out charged a pair of Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar, Hydra got hit in the head with an uncharged plasma bolt and leaded the SpecOps unit. His shields were cut as he shot the Captain Jiralhanae down. The next Jiralhanae fell with Plasma Rifle fire. The Sangheili next to him cheered at his kill, and ushered for more enemies to come. The Kig-Yar was blasted away with plasma, and the corridor was deserted from enemies. They moved on and came to a heavily guarded antechamber, the room had many levels layered upon each other, in the middle were crisscrossing energy transits. In the core was a suspended rostrum that had Covenant crates littered on it.

A series of Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar were in the layers patrolling the brigs. They saw many Marines, Unggoy, and a pair of Lekgolo was locked in, the Sangheili Councilors were imprisoned high above the layers. Hydra indicated silently. Just then a voice appeared over the transmission on the Ardor. It was the voice of a Prophet, and was aware of their presence. "Our invaders have reached the detention block, they have come for their Councilors, slaughter them my brothers and we shall end this worthless Heresy!" The Prophet boomed. Hydra frenzied and distraught yelled without thought. "To the brigs, rescue the Councilors at all costs!"

Above them rained plasma fire, Hydra shot a Kig-Yar as it plunged down into the chasm. Hydra saw a Sangheili fall in a shot of plasma, while they floated across the energy transit. 'Gammamee's shields split in half and sparked with a particle beam. Hydra hid himself behind a barrier, and waited, he saw Sayare fire at a Jiralhanae and it fell when a Sangheili smacked it in the back. Hydra sidestepped from the barrier and jumped into the center elevator. He bounded up to the top layer, he leaped down. And saw from afar the Jiralhanae going into the Councilor's brigs.

Hydra sprinted as fast as he could and was tackled by a Jiralhanae, he was flew back and slid into a stationary shield barrier. He looked up and in time to see a Councilor fall. Hydra screamed in failure. The next Councilor fell in red plasma. 'Gammamee got up and shot down the two Jiralhanae guarding the execution.

'Gammamee dashed to the brigs, just as he got there the Jiralhanae Executioner fell when the Councilor killed him with a concealed Energy Sword. Then out of no where a Kig-Yar raised his Plasma Pistol and shot the Sangheili with a charged bolt. The Councilor having his shields drained from the Jiralhanae took the blow with death succeeding. The Councilor kneeled in blood and dropped in an agonizing scream.

Hydra ran to the Kig-Yar dropping his weapon and punched it, with a painful gasp the Kig-Yar raised its shield into the blow. 'Gammamee ignored the pain and jabbed it in the face, the Kig-Yar hissed as his shield vanquished his corpse. Hydra then he heard a deep explosion, outside the ship. The SpecOps Field Master confirmed the Constancy Omit's destruction. Hydra ignored this as his squad found him. "I was too late, they killed them" Hydra said. He walked over to his Carbine and picked it up. He clenched his mandibles in mellow anger. "We will go through this ship and slay all the Covenant that stand in our way!"

Hydra yelled. "They will suffer our passion!" Hydra screamed with exasperation. A loud and angry cry eructed from his squad. "No impetuous being in this ship lives!" Hydra bellowed as a mighty pair of Lekgolo approached them, Marines, and additional Unggoy came. The Marines had no higher authority so they assumed leadership amongst themselves and traveled in the SpecOps unit.

"Form rank!" Hydra barked at the Sangheili and Unggoy. The Lekgolo pounded in front of the approaching door. Hydra new the next chamber was the bridge and that it would be immersed with Honor Guards where the Prophet was.

"Clear the chamber" Hydra gestured to the Lekgolo. Hydra raised his hand back and the Heretics and Marines concealed themselves from fire, behind tall deterrents. The Lekgolo entered and they heard fire from all over, they heard a Fuel Rod disperse a round and a Lekgolo flew backward. The Fuel Rod crushed a barrier and caught two Unggoy behind it. Hydra checked his assistant's position; Sayare fled to the Unggoy's position, and he hid behind the toppled barrier.

"Inside!" Hydra commanded. The Heretic entered first and ducked a fuel rod blast. Hydra shot down an advancing Jiralhanae, and bent down and grabbed the Honor staff with one hand and continued shooting in another. Hydra threw aside his Carbine with a scream, and grasped the staff. Hydra fiercely slashed an Honor Guard into the head and felt the hot pulse die in his arms.

To his aghast his shields once again dispersed in the midst of battle, sparks swallowed his structure. He had no place to hide, in a flash he dived behind an environmentally altered tree. A ravaged Sangheili lay next to him, while his shields completed. He peaked from behind the tree and threw a grenade at a Jiralhanae. It stuck and blew the Jiralhanae away. In the background was the Prophet standing on a ramp, this Prophet was not surrounded by shields.

Hydra alluded a Sangheili next to him to go within the battle with a gaudy wink they both returned. Hydra ran to the Prophet, his squad was handling the Honor Guard and he had a clear shot. 'Gammamee gaped his mandibles and growled. The Prophet wielded a gravity manipulating staff, looking similar to what Hydra handled.

The Prophet spotted the Sangheili and with a simple wave of the staff Hydra was cut upright. He was thrown in the air; with a struggling snarl he pushed himself up and continued toward him. The Prophet swung the staff and blasted Hydra up in the air. "Fool, you wretched Heretics have rejected the Great Journey!" The Prophet said.

Hydra staggered up, "You are the fool, your deception will lead the Covenant to doom!" The Heretic bawled. Hydra got up with vigor and dodged a wave of gravity as the Prophet pushed the staff at him. Hydra sensed another one and swayed, with a wringing aim he hit the Prophet in the neck with his Honor Staff.

The Prophet dropped in its own innards and curled dead. Just then there was a inexplicable silence except from a few plasma from his squad. All the Covenant in the bridge had their eyes on Hydra who was panting next to his kill. All the Jiralhanae threw down their weapons.

They were berserking toward Hydra, a wave of them. A few fell when his squad killed from behind, Hydra turned with fiery disgust. Hydra slashed a Jiralhanae rearing toward him and he was blasted up high. The next he uppercut across the chest and it cried in death. The final one was sprinting toward him and Hydra brandished a plasma grenade, he pitched the grenade at him and watched as blood rained on Hydra. In a last scream the bridge was clear.

Chastise and Absolution
Resolute Shroud, Capital carrier, Marauder, Council Chamber

The Council Chamber was relinquished except for a row of Councilor Sangheili and a Heretic Ship Master, the Councilors stood opposite of Hydra looking fervent. "What is my penalty, noble Councilors?" Hydra asked expecting a clear rank.

The Councilors whispered amongst each other. The leader spoke with compassion. "We understand you had no inception of their intent, but owing to your lack of dedication for delivering our brothers you will be stripped of accompanying troops. You're divided insight will clear your wrongdoing"

Hydra soughed his relief, he never intended failure and he unmistakably did not mean to falter his dedication. Hydra walked from the chamber with furthest gratitude, and grazed past a familiar Unggoy. Sayare met Hydra and they started toward the hanger.

On the bridge of the Effectual Chaste Sayare and Hydra overlooked the deduction of his finest troops. One SpecOps that served under him approached. "I will follow you despite this exchange, Hydra" He growled. "I have taken my cause with the Councilors and they have positioned me on your ship." He said, confiding his arm to his chest. "Thank you, brother but no one serves under me anymore from now on I dropped my rank, I travel on my own conformity. I will be there when the Heretics are needed, when doom is nigh, and when we are forsaken by what was ours."

Heretic Chaste
Date: 14 September 2005, 7:26 pm



Heretic Chaste
Posted By: Arbiter
Date: 9 September 2005, 10:23 pm

Read/Post Comments
This is the third and final of three: Heretic Hero #1, Heretic Exodus #2, and this Heretic Chaste #3

I finally fixed the wall, thank you 'Nossalee, Jillybean, and Commander Demitri Wolf for the tips. This is the last story of the Heretic Hero Series. Enjoy.
I submitted this story as my second installment sorry wolf this is my last revise...


Heretic Chaste
Ninth Age of Reclamation, Heretic Blockade, Resolute Shroud, Capitol Carrier, Marauder
Sudden Asset

The defiant and virtuous Hydra was before the garden chamber on the undisturbed Marauder. Having just returned from the successful task of capturing Covenant troops, he was being hailed for the superiority and influence on the battlefield.

"Worthy and honorable, our revered, once distant brother has returned for redemption!" The Councilor yelled throughout the gardens. "For adducing and egregious abilities we sanction him the rank of Ship Master!" The Councilor cuffed his tone in a roar, as cheers erupted from Sangheili, Unggoy, and a few Human representatives stagnant in sight of the Councilors.

Hydra was going to be granted his own ship, the Heretic was overcome with remarkable battle tactics on the field and in space. Hydra thought himself meritorious of a decent Field Master as he was, but was greatly honored for this rank. The Councilor moved to another Sangheili whom he was being respected for numerous Covenant kills, this Sangheili was ranked veteran, and the Councilor moved to the row of Heretics commending each.

They arranged their own secrete fleet called, Resolute Shroud, over a dazzling viaduct in a cove. The Forerunner viaduct was amassed in shadow, as the blockade hovered in immobile stasis. Hydra looked at a Human Marine wearing a bandage around his arm; he looked young and entirely terrified of being on his past enemy's territory. The Marine met eyes with Hydra, and the Sangheili smirked at him. The Marine looked at some better, Hydra related to him, he felt extremely uncomfortable being on the Covenant's side, being a Heretic in the past age. The Councilor was now forging a treaty between the Heretics and the UNSC forces.

"In this age of war, we found ourselves in a truce with humanity. The Sangheili were inextricable as to why the humans were not accepted in our Covenant bond by the Prophets, as they have proven noble and worthy for our originator's divine beyond!" The Councilor raised his hands in reference to the Marines next to them. "But in this age, we are deceived by the Prophets and their Great Journey is surely fallacious. With humanity we shall conquer the Covenant and embark on a new era!" The Councilor finished as roars from the stands succeeded echoes.

Resolute Shroud, Marauder, Council Chamber
Pursuit in Obscurity

Hydra approached the Councilors; they were discussing something concealing their mandibles. As Hydra approached them, they snapped into attention. "Honorable Councilors?" Hydra said wavering down. "Which ship am I reserved to command?" Hydra asked in his subdued tone. The Councilors exchanged their occasional whispers and the lead Councilor said, "You will be transferred to the, Effectual Chastity," Hydra knew that the Effectual Chastity was an assault carrier and would do excellent in space combat. "What is my next task then?" Hydra asked his brothers." A simplistic one, you will defend this blockade" Seeing Hydra's gulp the Councilor continued. "We have heard accounts that two capitol ships have detected our blockade, they are coming…They do not however have our exact location…yet and we need prevent their plans in getting our fleet, we wish to remain constant secrecy until our chance will release.

The Council decided to have you lead a unit of Banshees to dispatch their patrols, and do not waver to use any purpose you require to destroy them, Hydra" The Councilor finished waving his arm in dismissal. Hydra walked to the center launch pad, Phantoms and Banshees were docked as his squad of Sangheili followed him.

"We will take a unit of Banshees to flock their patrols, defeat will not be tolerated in this task!" Hydra uttered to his Sangheili. "We will also take a Phantom for additional support" He said. The Sangheili were ready and looked incredibly honored to be serving under the last Heretic. "Follow me out of this cove, and we will make for their patrol position" Hydra said. The Sangheili nodded their heads in accepting.

"Yes, Ship Master!" They yelled. Hydra fastened his Carbine, and climbed into a Banshee. He adjusted the sticks and pushed forward as the Banshee screamed out of the Marauder. Hydra led a dozen Banshees in the dark clove; a Phantom emerged from the launch pad and centered in the group. "Leader, I will unite the Phantom in your positions!" The Phantom Pilot said through the transmission. Hydra clicked affirmative, and steered the Banshee out of the cove into a fiery dusk.

"To the first era of peace, warriors!" Hydra yelled throughout the radio. He was responded by war cries reverberated by the screeches of the Banshees. On the horizon was a cape in the dwelling of Forerunner fabrications with derelict Covenant camps on the overpasses, in the midst of the constructions were Jiralhanae on Ghosts.

Waves of them were scanning the etching riverbeds for signs of enemies. Ruins of Forerunner trestles were being embraced by Kig-Yar scouts. "Warriors below us, eliminate the encampments!" Hydra shouted. The Banshees revolved sideways, and engaged the enemies. Hydra shot his plasma cannons at a Ghost as it ignited and crashed into a wall. Their position was alerted, the Phantom cracked plasma at the Kig-Yar whose shields melted in the air. Hydra's Banshee took fire from a Ghost, and one of his wings snapped off, Hydra shot the Jiralhanae and it detonated. Hydra flew skyward, as the structure was ablaze with the Heretic's victory.

"One warrior down, Hydra" The Phantom Pilot yelled as a Banshee ignited in blue fire and screeched down to the surface of Halo. The screams from the fallen pilot were sustained with more dissonant.

In the clouds of the ring, Hydra saw a fleet of the Banshee patrols; more plasma rang through fuel rod cannons hitting targets. "Ship Master they are trying to flank us!" A Sangheili pilot yelled. "Do not break formation, this is it warriors!" Hydra clamored. Hydra pivoted his Banshee and fired his twin cannons at a Covenant Banshee. The Heretic Banshees and Covenant Banshees were identified by design, Heretics had additional plates and were a mauve color and Covenant's were dark purple. Hydra rolled his Banshee sideways, as a fuel rod nearly nailed his wing.

He shot the Banshee down in a flash of green. Hydra then dived into a cloud while the sky extinguished into night. There were two Banshees left each swirling with flames, the Phantom hit the one Banshee and it fell. Hydra bashed the Banshee with his cannon and sent it into the abyss. Cheers ejected through the radio, and 'Gammamee leaned his Banshee in a hover. "Good work, everyone! Let's head back to the blockade!" Hydra yelled. They finished their duty, and their task victorious. Hydra thought. The Heretic Banshees ravaged and torn returned to Resolute Shroud.

Resolute Shroud, Effectual Chastity, Bridge
Secure

Ship Master, Hydra walked as holographic screens flashed when he approached the platform. A vivid purple screen of the next ship was stretched over the beams. Many scaffolds were positioned in which Sangheili stood and were tweaking with the flashing rays for terminals. The crimson armored Heretic walked managing the progress of his ship, he passed a Gunner Unggoy walking and cringing as his Ship Master addressed him. "Unggoy, what is your designation?"

Hydra asked him in a compassionate expression, 'Gammamee wanted to make the Unggoy as comfortable and confident as viable so they could win more battles. The Unggoy looked relieved and said, "Sayare" his voice quivering. "Sayare, who do you serve under?" 'Gammamee asked him. The Unggoy looked confused as to why the Ship Master, highest ranking veteran was actually verbalizing him.

The Unggoy was trembling under his green uniform, but he answered with benignity. "Field Master, Skir 'Laddamee, Ship Master" Hydra knew that Sangheili he served under his squad in the Encampment Raid, he died when a Jiralhanae stabbed him with the Jiralhanae Shot he was wielding.

"He died under my command, which would make you quite befitting for the Heretics" Hydra said to him. The Unggoy remained emotionless and trifled with his turret on his shoulder. "You will be upgraded and promoted under my squad, there you will be my personal assistant, is that approving?" Hydra finished, he had no desire to push around the Unggoy, and really considered them as ambitious and skilled warriors, in this time of war, everyone should be equally treated.

'Gammamee felt unique, as the Heretic he was and is for sharing this conception. Hydra read his expression; he presumably felt he had no choice. "Sayare you are permitted to decline your rank under me" Hydra said before the Unggoy could speak.

The Unggoy now looked thankful and calm. "Yes, Ship Master that would be honorable!" Sayare squealed. Hydra clamped his mandibles in a smile. "Good, now drop that turret and follow" Sayare gave the Plasma Turret to a common Unggoy, and ran to keep up with Hydra. 'Gammamee needed to speak to the Council for briefing. He approached a small elevator, he stepped inside and Sayare entered, panting. The elevator rapidly ascended and stopped. The portal opened with glint, and they entered a palisade, idle with constant typing were Sangheili, their eyes grazing the screen below them. In the center of the palisade was a violet projector; in the middle of it was a cyan circle, which flashed with remarkable sparks.
"Connect me with the Council Chamber on the Marauder, Sayare" Hydra gestured to the Unggoy. Sayare walked to the terminal in front of the projector and typed at the lights, the projector's center illuminated a spectrum and quickly revealed a white beam going on the screen. The Council Chamber was in view and the Councilors in the assembled rows.

"Councilors, what is my ratified task? Hydra asked. The Councilor leaned up. "Hydra, we have heard reports of Covenant amercing control above Halo, they have dominated quadrants which comprises some of our brethren's vessels," The Councilor said. "Show me, Sayare" Hydra demanded. The Unggoy fiddled with the terminal, and it showed a vague map of space on an opposite wall. Two Assault Carriers were floating in the midst of space; they were hovering through colossal remains of debris.

"A human vessel, was caught in crossfire and was demolished by these two" The Councilor said. "But, we have also interrogated the Covenant you captured and they said unwillingly that the carrier identified as the Ardor has several Councilors captive. The other carrier the Constancy Omit does not have any hostages. Evade the Ardor rescue our Councilors, and destroy the Constancy Omit. May the Covenant suffer to the Forerunner's will, Ship Master!" The Councilor finished.

Hydra nodded in imminent reprisal. The screen went blank and broke into a shimmering pattern of portents written by previous Ship Masters. "Come, Sayare" The Unggoy broke from the terminal, and they descended down the elevator. Hydra walked up to the primary platform. "My brothers, take us up" The Heretic uttered. "Yes, Leader!" They replied. Flashing lights bonded the screen, around the bridge, Sangheili were attached to their own set of terminals.

The Effectual Chastity raised up with tremendous agility; the screen turned to the night emerging from the cove and into Resolute Shroud. The carrier blasted out of the blockade, above they entered a cloud and proceeded rising. They entered space, and ring disappeared below. Hydra was ready to clash with the two ships with full force, but he needed to use tactics and resources. "Leader, enemy carriers coming into view!" A Sangheili said. Sure enough the two ships were together in combat formation.

"SpecOps units go to the boarding crafts!" Hydra had to be swift about this, but he knew his faith would contribute this task. "Take the ship above the two…swiftly, they have been alerted of our position. SpecOps you will place an anti-matter bomb inside the frame of the Constancy Omit, and retreat to their Phantoms. The remaining unit of SpecOps will accompany me and we will rescue our enslaved brothers! When I say, you will attach the boarding craft to the Constancy Omit, the first unit will be dispatched there, and the second when we disable their shields!" The Effectual Chastity flew fast as the two rotated their positions.

"Release, first unit!" Hydra yelled. The Boarding Crafts blasted from the ship. Their clamps raised as they pressed the outside of the hostile ship. "Confirmed boarding!" The Sangheili SpecOps Field Master boomed throughout the bridge, the sound of plasma explosions pitched next. "Lets take this shield…" A explosion reverberated the Effectual Chastity from the Ardor's energy beam projector. "Condition?" Hydra asked his crew.

"Energy Core is still functional, our shields remain, Leader" The Sangheili answered. "Get the plasma beams fitted, fire when ready!" Hydra commanded. From the middle of Effectual Chastity a purple ray of light enameled the Constancy Omit, the beam made the ship topple, and a glinting white crackle surrounded the ship from harm.

"Keep descending and continue firing!" Hydra yelled. Sayare was watching the screen and his eyes glowed, looking confident for once. The sound of the blaring plasma beam hit the Constancy Omit, the flick of white was reduced, as it fired and missed the Effectual Chastity. "Shields are disabled, on the Omit, Leader"

The Sangheili said. That was Hydra's line, he was going to lead the second unit of SpecOps into the Ardor while the first destroyed the Constancy Omit. "They are flanking us back, it will take time to reach the energy core, Leader!" The SpecOps Field Master proclaimed through the transmission. "Keep moving!"

The Ship Master walked through the corridors; the large unit of SpecOps Sangheili and Unggoy followed him. Sayare at his side, adjusted in his new black armor. "Everybody split!" Hydra yelled. The unit opened the many portals, revealing a purple silhouette. Hydra opened his and went to the pilots perch; he sat and typed at the terminal. Sayare stood by Hydra readjusting his Needler. "Follow my lead!" 'Gammamee shouted.

He aimed the craft for the Ardor, just as it fired a beam of plasma at the Effectual Chastity. Hydra's ship was not effected, but several boarding crafts were caught and vaporized. The Sangheili and Unggoy paid their respects to the fallen ones, as Hydra steered out of shot.

The Ship Master opened the craft's clamps and he locked into the ship, the air hissed as the air was extinguished, and the pressure built up. "Warriors prepare for battle!" The war cries were blasted by the turret fire they were accosted with. They were in the Covenant arsenal wing, above them were ramps and elevators spiraling up the ceiling. An energy spindle was in the middle of the chamber; lifts extended up and down the spindle.

On the platforms were Jiralhanae with turrets domiciling the illuminating chamber. "Forward!" Hydra yelled, while plasma whipped the air. Sayare shot a Kig-Yar with his Needler and lingered behind a stationary shield generator. Hydra raised his Covenant Carbine and shot the Jiralhanae on the turrets above them, the green projectile trails embedded them in the heads as they dropped with perfect precision.

Hydra treaded over a Kig-Yar body. Yanme'e cluttered the chamber, and one landed next to Hydra, as he lifted his carbine, the Yanme'e fell when a Needler's crystalline projectiles nailed it in the torso. Hydra looked at his Unggoy assistant, and consented in thanks.

Hydra shot down the Yanme'e from the ceiling, when an elevator emerged from the energy spindle. Out issued armed Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar. Hydra ascended up the ramp and smacked a Jiralhanae with his weapon, the Jiralhanae raised his Jiralhanae Shot in pain and anguish and uppercut the Heretic with the exposed blade. Hydra fell with his shields impaired, the Jiralhanae came in for a second hit. Hydra quickly got up, ignoring his low shields.

'Gammamee aimed a blow at the Jiralhanae's head, and hit him in the jaw. The Jiralhanae looked dazed, and hooked Hydra across the face. Hydra tasted blood, as he was tossed by the Jiralhanae into a wall. He looked up with vague perspective, and saw the Jiralhanae on all fours running toward him, he then saw Sayare appear from behind the Jiralhanae and quickly inflamed a plasma grenade and tossed it at him. The grenade stuck to the Jiralhanae's foot and right before he reached Hydra the explosion sent him flying and screaming.

'Gammamee got up weakly, he clutched his chest as his shields replenished. He picked up his Carbine, while his pain disappeared. The chamber was clear, his squad destroyed the hostiles, and the sound of fire ceased. He approached the Unggoy, "I extol your confidence, Sayare" Hydra spoken. The Unggoy looked honored and daft with overwhelence. And Hydra walked ahead to the lifts.

"We will continue upward and secure the Councilors!" They followed him to one of the immense elevators, Hydra imprinted his hand into the terminal, and the lift floated up. "Ship Master, we have reached energy core, and have cleared an anti-matter placement" The SpecOps Field Master uttered. "We have limitless casualties, but the path is unobstructed with difficult restrictions" Hydra pondered and spoke clearly and confident. "Proceed with the razing of the Constancy Omit, cautious journey out of the ship, Field Master" Hydra ordered.

"Yes, Leader" The SpecOps leader answered. The Heretics shuddered and remarked messages of encouragement to their brothers on the twin ship. "We shall not forgot their devotion!" A Sangheili said clenching his fist to his chest. With a gradual stop from the elevator. The door opened, ahead was a conduit like passage, the walls were inclined with a bright blue and through the walls was a perceptible chamber of more corridors.

The door ahead then flashed and out charged a pair of Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar, Hydra got hit in the head with an uncharged plasma bolt and leaded the SpecOps unit. His shields were cut as he shot the Captain Jiralhanae down. The next Jiralhanae fell with Plasma Rifle fire. The Sangheili next to him cheered at his kill, and ushered for more enemies to come. The Kig-Yar was blasted away with plasma, and the corridor was deserted from enemies. They moved on and came to a heavily guarded antechamber, the room had many levels layered upon each other, in the middle were crisscrossing energy transits. In the core was a suspended rostrum that had Covenant crates littered on it.

A series of Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar were in the layers patrolling the brigs. They saw many Marines, Unggoy, and a pair of Lekgolo was locked in, the Sangheili Councilors were imprisoned high above the layers. Hydra indicated silently. Just then a voice appeared over the transmission on the Ardor. It was the voice of a Prophet, and was aware of their presence. "Our invaders have reached the detention block, they have come for their Councilors, slaughter them my brothers and we shall end this worthless Heresy!" The Prophet boomed. Hydra frenzied and distraught yelled without thought. "To the brigs, rescue the Councilors at all costs!"

Above them rained plasma fire, Hydra shot a Kig-Yar as it plunged down into the chasm. Hydra saw a Sangheili fall in a shot of plasma, while they floated across the energy transit. 'Gammamee's shields split in half and sparked with a particle beam. Hydra hid himself behind a barrier, and waited, he saw Sayare fire at a Jiralhanae and it fell when a Sangheili smacked it in the back. Hydra sidestepped from the barrier and jumped into the center elevator. He bounded up to the top layer, he leaped down. And saw from afar the Jiralhanae going into the Councilor's brigs.

Hydra sprinted as fast as he could and was tackled by a Jiralhanae, he was flew back and slid into a stationary shield barrier. He looked up and in time to see a Councilor fall. Hydra screamed in failure. The next Councilor fell in red plasma. 'Gammamee got up and shot down the two Jiralhanae guarding the execution.

'Gammamee dashed to the brigs, just as he got there the Jiralhanae Executioner fell when the Councilor killed him with a concealed Energy Sword. Then out of no where a Kig-Yar raised his Plasma Pistol and shot the Sangheili with a charged bolt. The Councilor having his shields drained from the Jiralhanae took the blow with death succeeding. The Councilor kneeled in blood and dropped in an agonizing scream.

Hydra ran to the Kig-Yar dropping his weapon and punched it, with a painful gasp the Kig-Yar raised its shield into the blow. 'Gammamee ignored the pain and jabbed it in the face, the Kig-Yar hissed as his shield vanquished his corpse. Hydra then he heard a deep explosion, outside the ship. The SpecOps Field Master confirmed the Constancy Omit's destruction. Hydra ignored this as his squad found him. "I was too late, they killed them" Hydra said. He walked over to his Carbine and picked it up. He clenched his mandibles in mellow anger. "We will go through this ship and slay all the Covenant that stand in our way!"

Hydra yelled. "They will suffer our passion!" Hydra screamed with exasperation. A loud and angry cry eructed from his squad. "No impetuous being in this ship lives!" Hydra bellowed as a mighty pair of Lekgolo approached them, Marines, and additional Unggoy came. The Marines had no higher authority so they assumed leadership amongst themselves and traveled in the SpecOps unit.

"Form rank!" Hydra barked at the Sangheili and Unggoy. The Lekgolo pounded in front of the approaching door. Hydra new the next chamber was the bridge and that it would be immersed with Honor Guards where the Prophet was.

"Clear the chamber" Hydra gestured to the Lekgolo. Hydra raised his hand back and the Heretics and Marines concealed themselves from fire, behind tall deterrents. The Lekgolo entered and they heard fire from all over, they heard a Fuel Rod disperse a round and a Lekgolo flew backward. The Fuel Rod crushed a barrier and caught two Unggoy behind it. Hydra checked his assistant's position; Sayare fled to the Unggoy's position, and he hid behind the toppled barrier.

"Inside!" Hydra commanded. The Heretic entered first and ducked a fuel rod blast. Hydra shot down an advancing Jiralhanae, and bent down and grabbed the Honor staff with one hand and continued shooting in another. Hydra threw aside his Carbine with a scream, and grasped the staff. Hydra fiercely slashed an Honor Guard into the head and felt the hot pulse die in his arms.

To his aghast his shields once again dispersed in the midst of battle, sparks swallowed his structure. He had no place to hide, in a flash he dived behind an environmentally altered tree. A ravaged Sangheili lay next to him, while his shields completed. He peaked from behind the tree and threw a grenade at a Jiralhanae. It stuck and blew the Jiralhanae away. In the background was the Prophet standing on a ramp, this Prophet was not surrounded by shields.

Hydra alluded a Sangheili next to him to go within the battle with a gaudy wink they both returned. Hydra ran to the Prophet, his squad was handling the Honor Guard and he had a clear shot. 'Gammamee gaped his mandibles and growled. The Prophet wielded a gravity manipulating staff, looking similar to what Hydra handled.

The Prophet spotted the Sangheili and with a simple wave of the staff Hydra was cut upright. He was thrown in the air; with a struggling snarl he pushed himself up and continued toward him. The Prophet swung the staff and blasted Hydra up in the air. "Fool, you wretched Heretics have rejected the Great Journey!" The Prophet said.

Hydra staggered up, "You are the fool, your deception will lead the Covenant to doom!" The Heretic bawled. Hydra got up with vigor and dodged a wave of gravity as the Prophet pushed the staff at him. Hydra sensed another one and swayed, with a wringing aim he hit the Prophet in the neck with his Honor Staff.

The Prophet dropped in its own innards and curled dead. Just then there was a inexplicable silence except from a few plasma from his squad. All the Covenant in the bridge had their eyes on Hydra who was panting next to his kill. All the Jiralhanae threw down their weapons.

They were berserking toward Hydra, a wave of them. A few fell when his squad killed from behind, Hydra turned with fiery disgust. Hydra slashed a Jiralhanae rearing toward him and he was blasted up high. The next he uppercut across the chest and it cried in death. The final one was sprinting toward him and Hydra brandished a plasma grenade, he pitched the grenade at him and watched as blood rained on Hydra. In a last scream the bridge was clear.

Chastise and Absolution
Resolute Shroud, Capital carrier, Marauder, Council Chamber

The Council Chamber was relinquished except for a row of Councilor Sangheili and a Heretic Ship Master, the Councilors stood opposite of Hydra looking fervent. "What is my penalty, noble Councilors?" Hydra asked expecting a clear rank.

The Councilors whispered amongst each other. The leader spoke with compassion. "We understand you had no inception of their intent, but owing to your lack of dedication for delivering our brothers you will be stripped of accompanying troops. You're divided insight will clear your wrongdoing"

Hydra soughed his relief, he never intended failure and he unmistakably did not mean to falter his dedication. Hydra walked from the chamber with furthest gratitude, and grazed past a familiar Unggoy. Sayare met Hydra and they started toward the hanger.

On the bridge of the Effectual Chaste Sayare and Hydra overlooked the deduction of his finest troops. One SpecOps that served under him approached. "I will follow you despite this exchange, Hydra" He growled. "I have taken my cause with the Councilors and they have positioned me on your ship." He said, confiding his arm to his chest. "Thank you, brother but no one serves under me anymore from now on I dropped my rank, I travel on my own conformity. I will be there when the Heretics are needed, when doom is nigh, and when we are forsaken by what was ours."

Hydra's Completion
Date: 4 October 2005, 2:44 pm

Hydra's Complete
Epilogue of the Heretic Series
SL

The Sangheili known as Hydra, the Last Heretic, and the Ship Master of the Effectual Chastity paced with pride and disdain, he felt burdened with neglecting failure and endowed with absolution.

Hydra's crimson shielding was smoldered in black from previous battles; his torso had small holes dented into his sheath from combat with a Prophet, and scars from plasma grazing. Hydra brushed his battle marks and strode to another Sangheili.

"'Rahanammee, my brother, watch the ship, I am replenishing my semblance" Hydra growled at him.

This Sangheili served under the Prophet of Regret before the Covenant Civil War; he was the leader of an honored, and skillful unit called the Unity of Repent. 'Rahanammee was the personal stealth dominator of Regret's fleet. The Sangheili was decreed to be slayed by the Prophet for intrusion on the truth, which he successfully eluded.

'Rahanammee was still covered in black but had his distinct white crest embedded in his armor for significance in battle. The mighty Sangheili nodded and spoke with a potent voice.

"Yes, Ship Master"

The Last Heretic cued the Repent Leader and stridden toward the armory. 'Gammamee extended his arm and pushed a transparent button on the terminal of the doorway. As he reached the armory he saw Sayare his Unggoy assistant snap into accosting dropping the coupling from the methane tank.

"Abate, Sayare" Hydra growled at the Unggoy.

The Unggoy wasn't scared of the Sangheili, but confident when he was led by him. Sayare picked up the coupling to the teal tank and inserted it into his hump. He removed his rebreather after it was filled, behind the mask was a mouth full of teeth and with a gasp of air he breathed his own methane.

Hydra strolled past Sayare and into a chamber full of accouterments. Each corner held a module shaped like a pod. Hydra walked to one of the silver modules and slid the door apart and poised inside. With the tiers of vitreous words explaining the module he fixed his hands over the terminals.

Lights sparkled to life in the module and quartet of claws scanned his body. With a sloshing sound the claws skimmed his build, and the sound of inferring hissing pleated the claws inside the walls.

The Heretic stepped out with his armor mien with no black or gashes. Hydra approached the bridge thinking about his future. Was there still going to be a Great Journey for the Heretics to follow? Will the Forerunners relent a salvation?

Hydra did not know but for now he knew that he had to defend that notion for his future. With a sense of completion Hydra, Sayare, and his new superseding brother, 'Rahanammee were overlooking the bridge.

Heretic Coalition
Date: 28 November 2005, 3:57 pm

-Sorry Alex, I changed the title, because I completely modified the plot of this story, enjoy the LONG and quite sad chapter-

Heretic Coalition
Sky L
Ninth Age of Reclamation, The Ravine, Halo
The Legends

The blasting sound of liquid hot magma lighted the center of the spire. The Ravine shook as the Forerunner alarm blared into the jungle fog. Above the Ravine the Covenant carrier hovered with a angry silence, emitting a violet curtain of gravity into the spire.

Inside the Ravine two famed Elites rushed into encounters of gore. A christened Heretic fueled by plunders of ignorance by the Covenant. And a sacred Hero, the leader of an eminent faction. Hydra and the Repent Leader, Heretic and Hero, 'Gammamee and 'Rahanammee, both toiling to assist the life of another famed Elite.

The Elite, Alei 'Limoto as the renegade of the Covenant. Alei, skilled in the Covenant tradition wielded his incentive with a compassionate and brawling fashion. He was sent here on his own accord, as the position of a savior to lead his squad against the Covenant and to seek revenge for a betrayal gone brutal.

Inside the primary corridor, the two Elites ran past a smoldering pair of Brute corpses. Both were ignoring the clamoring of the magma, crushing through the energy splints throughout the hallways as they ventured through a chamber.

"How much farther, Hydra? Our task of assisting the traitor is very excess" The Repent Leader demanded to his commanding Elite.

Hydra shrugged to the question as he strolled through an ancient archway. The Heretic raised his Carbine, holding it with a very calm pulse. From the archway, a door emerged from the crest of the lodging. It was tapered with scorching embers from plasma, and as he traced the plasma he recognized the Tebo Hunter Brother's fuel rod sparking.

The expansive holes in the arch created an abrading hiss, and from the hiss spouted an echoing sound of a battle cry: "WORT WORT WORT!"

Alei 'Limoto himself stood in the center of a massive chamber, the walls were glittering with the fresh smoke of a plasma grenade and the luxuriance and teal vaults trailing into the ceiling creating a spherical covering around him.

The Elites busted through the arch and saw Alei leveling an Energy Sword at a Brute's head. As they entered the Elite hacked the Brute's head and a stream of dark bloodshed dribbled into his crimson armor.

"Alei 'Limoto…" Hydra started as the Elite met a gaze onto them, realizing for the first time they were there.

The Elite nodded and behind him revealed a Grunt, holding his Plasma Pistol high. "Kaskut…"

And from the shadows there was a scrape of a boot, and out appeared Sergeant John Baxter. "Baxter…"

And another flicker of colossal shadows hinted the trace of the Tebo Hunter Brothers, Ralno Tebo Laku and Kalno Tebo Jamu, both leaning in and out of their neck braces, inclining a dip of their orange under skin.

"'Gammamee, welcome. We were hoping someone would come to our assist, but looks like we got a friendly face instead," Alei uttered, brandishing the Energy Sword with a proficient wave.

Hydra walked forward toward the red armored Elite, realizing that his unique set of armor resembled Alei's in an uncommon aspect, like an isolated brethren. "It has been a long time, Alei…too long since the training on High Charity…"

"It has, 'Gammamee…" Alei growled in the kind and fierce voice that Hydra remembered.

"Not 'Gammamee anymore, Hydra now…" Hydra muttered.

The Sergeant interrupted to the pair in an irritated tone. "Are we going to stop this Prophet-Maniac or not?"

Alei nodded and looked to Hydra. "The Prophet above the Ravine is planning on setting this place on plasma"

"What's your plan in this matter?" 'Rahanammee asked, approaching the group from behind Hydra.

"We have destroyed the bastion inside this fort…but Kaskut and Baxter intercepted a transmission from the Prophet…Go ahead, play it Baxter" Alei said.

The Human tapped a button on his armlet and the room filled with the Prophet's voice...
"These usurpers have passed far enough…eliminate the Heretic and the Traitor and we shall see whose journey is the greatest!"

"Fight…Head on?" Hydra suggested at the ending of the speech.

"Agreed" Alei exclaimed.
The Sergeant rearranged his Sniper and looked to the aliens. "Well no good stayin' round here!"

Ninth Age of Reclamation
The Beginning

Inside High Charity, the buzzing hisses of gravity screened the center of the city. And groans from Elite warriors could be heard from the Forerunner ship hovering stationary in the core of High Charity.

Inside the training retreat, 'Gammamee walked amongst the Elite fighters gripping his novice energy stave with a tight grasp. He walked through a curtained hanger when he saw a battle between two amateurs.

The two were fighting with the energy staves, crossing blades with each other and sparring with their legs and fists. One red-armored Elite was prevailing, sticking his stave in the arm plate of the other and pulling, letting gravity and his strength lift the Elite into the air.

The other Elite landed on his back and panted as the red one jumped high into the air and speared him, while pressing a button on his hilt, emitting a non-lethal shock into the Elite's shoulder.

"WORT WORT WORT!" The red Elite cried as he pinned the other down.

The red Elite receded from his victory and helped the Elite up. "Nice try" He said in a compassionate and fierce tone.

The defeated Elite nodded and walked away, sparring with another Elite at another hanger. 'Gammamee then approached the victor and bowed, igniting his stave. "I am Gala 'Gammamee"

The red Elite bowed in friendly greeting. "Alei 'Limoto"

"You up for a duel, Alei?" 'Gammamee asked the victor, igniting his stave in a helix of purple and cyan.

"Of course, 'Gammamee" He responded, also kindling his stave.

They flexed their staves in a ceremonious fashion and inclined their hilts to each other, beckoning their mandibles.

Alei made the first move, flashing his blade with tremendous speed. He jabbed the pike toward 'Gammamee and he had to quickly dive to elude it. He curled his muscles and bent his stave into the Elite's back.

Alei curved forward, and kicked backward sending 'Gammamee in an upside-down curve. The Elite instantly revolved in the air and landed perfectly on his feet, balancing a brisk parry toward Alei.

'Gammamee tucked his parry in an unblockable form and delved his stave into the shoulder of the Elite. Alei staggered backward, clicking his mandibles in a bearing style and paused.

"Nice evasion, 'Gammamee" Alei spoken, rubbing the spot where 'Gammamee pierced his stave.

"And you" 'Gammamee growled humorously stroking his jaw.

At the disclosure of 'Gammamee's words Alei grinned and marked his stave for a offensive slash. 'Gammamee rolled, avoiding the slash. But as he made to jump up Alei sealed his hilt and threw it at the Elite. 'Gammamee had a split moment to lift his stave and impede the flying stave from piercing his armor. As the stave flew from his block it was discharging energy from the tip, cutting through the top of the curtained hanger.

Alei was defenseless, and 'Gammamee tossed his stave aside, motioning his fists at the Elite. 'Gammamee's crimson armor glazed a sparkle of light at Alei and Alei's red armor enameled a equal shine toward 'Gammamee.

'Gammamee leaped into the air and tackled the Elite, neutralizing Alei's fists by pinning them down on the energy mats. Then Alei leapt from the pin, knocking 'Gammamee clean out of the ground.

'Gammamee turned into a tackle and braced for the impact. He crossed his arms and dived forward meeting Alei in a cross-grapple. They both rammed fists into each other's armor and waited for the pain.

Alei risked a stoop and 'Gammamee took advantage of that. He crashed into the Elite with his open palms. But Alei connected a brace from the pin. They both panted hard, as both quit.

"Draw?" 'Gammamee gasped.

"Draw" Alei gulped in reply.

Ninth Age of Reclamation
Uproar

"Hey, you sleepin'?!"

Hydra opened his eyes from the remembrance and looked into the eyes of Sergeant John Baxter and at the closing purple walls of the Phantom dropship.

"No, Baxter" Hydra responded.

'Rahanammee was conversing with Alei as they both drove the Phantom, Ralno and Kalno were clasping their fuel rods to their chests grunting in their native tongues, and Sayare and Kaskut was kneeling, both sleepily. Sayare snoring from the tiring pick-up from Hydra's ship, the Effectual Clarity.

They were inbound toward the Covenant Carrier above, floating near it cautiously. "Everybody ready for the drop? The turrets on the carrier are already targeted on us" Alei informed them from the terminal.

"Yes…'Rahanammee, Sayare get ready for combat" Hydra ordered, buckling a fresh clip into his carbine as the nose gave a sputter of steam.

'Rahanammee stepped from the terminal, leaving Alei to control the Phantom, and he withdrew a hilt and fired his Energy Sword. Sayare then nudged Kaskut from sleep and they both brandished a Needler and a Plasma Pistol.

"Sattle up, everyone" Sergeant Baxter proclaimed to the group, readjusting his Sniper Rifle to the fitting of a new scope.

Kalno and Ralno moved to the center hole to the drop point and waited for orders from Alei. "Go!" Alei commanded from the terminal.

They then dropped one after the other into the muster bay of the Prophet's flagship. Both firing their fuel rods into the bay at the oncoming Brutes. Sergeant Baxter then jumped landing on his feet while sniping a nearby Jackal. Next, Kaskut jumped into the bay charging his pistol and killing a hovering Drone.

Hydra ushered a nod to his companions and only Sayare jumped. 'Rahanammee looked to his brother. "The Forerunners will grace us today, brother." He growled jumping into the hole as Hydra consented to the Repent Leader.

'Rahanammee forming up behind Kalno while smacking a Brute through the chest with his sword. And Sayare dismissed his Needler, firing the crystalline projectiles at Kaskut's new target.

"Go, brother, I'll get the Phantom" Hydra growled at Alei.

Alei looked at him as a blob of plasma from a turret slammed into the side of the Phantom, rocking it. "You certain, Hydra?" Alei asked him, shaking the keys on the terminal to balance the dropship.

"Yes…" Hydra said going to the terminal.

"Thanks…And may the Covenant pay for their lack of vision" Alei gnarled as he jumped from the drop point.

Hydra nodded and flicked a switch on the Phantom as another chunk of plasma grabbed the Phantom, and a blaring scream of green light touched his eyes…

* * *

'Gammamee looked around, his eyes glazing and his joints aching as he threw a slab of purple steel off his side. His shields recharged, interacting with his body and carving his muscles in a circle of sparking flashes.

The Elite gripped his Covenant Carbine and stood up as a Drone flew by, not noticing his position. He was on the jungle floor, the Phantom pieces littered across the dense fog. He looked up and saw the Prophet's flagship blowing from inside. Explosions grazed the structure from the UNSC's Longswords and the Heretic's Seraphs. No question, this was the handiwork of Alei and Sergeant Baxter.

"Brothers?" Hydra clicked his transmission.

The Heretic waited for a response, but a disturbing static reply sounded his ears. Just then he heard the buzzing and screeching of a Banshee, flying overhead as he reacted to them. Hydra raised his Carbine and readied his aim on the nose of a Covenant Banshee.

But as he meant to fire and it toggled its cannons on him, it did something he hadn't anticipated…It didn't fire…

The Banshee then parked near him and out came Alei 'Limoto and Kaskut. "Brother, you're alive" Alei growled at the sight of Hydra.

Hydra nodded and grinned at his ally. "What happened?"

Alei looked to the sky as a Pelican reached its clamps on the moist dirt and landed. Out of the ramp, Sergeant Baxter came; he was bleeding from the arm as a brush of plasma razed it. Sayare came from the seat, and was dabbing his eyes with his paws. Kalno and Ralno then unlatched themselves from the bottom of the Pelican, looking at the foggy sky. 'Rahanammee was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's 'Rahanammee, Alei?" Hydra asked approaching the Pelican.

Alei looked to the soldiers, then to Baxter, whom gave him a weak frown. Kaskut looked down to the ground, as he comforted Sayare. Alei hesitated words, but stopped…

"Where is he?" Hydra repeated, his nerves jumping, while cold perspiration trickled down his forehead.

Alei said nothing but motioned his hand inside the Pelican to a obscure body. Hydra boarded the ramp; his spirit plunged as he looked at the white and black armor.

The Elite adjusted the body to his back…

Hydra shuddered as he saw the bloody face of Ralis 'Rahanammee…

He felt dizzy, his eyes grew dark and everything seemed to be getting fiery. His emotions screamed inside of him as he held the dead body of the Repent Leader. Then from his grief, anger raised from his entity.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" Hydra screamed in sorrow.

The anger grew, surmounting reprisal and driving into rage…

He threw his Carbine aside at the wall and watched the clip break, issuing fresh steam at the Human metal…

The Heretic turned from the body, and ran out of the platform…

"Who!? Tell me who did this?!" He asked in agony.

Alei again looked hesitant, but spoke with no tremble. "A Brute Assassin called the Ravager was sent to kill us all…"

Hydra returned an angry gaze at them all, as Alei continued…

"The Ravager was relayed to kill you and I by the Prophet on the flagship…As soon as we got off the Phantom they were all around us…And when the mortar got you, we tried to repel them, but…" Alei faltered. "But, this Brute was armored in a new kind of shielding, we couldn't disable it in time, before he…"

There was only one thing on Hydra's mind…vengeance…

"Where is he?" Hydra demanded without thinking…

"He is commanding that ship" Alei said ushering to the flagship above. "The Prophet was already off the ship"

The Heretic walked to the cockpit and held his brother's corpse…

"Come, brothers. And I will introduce myself to the Ravager"

Heretic Force
Date: 2 December 2005, 12:52 pm

-This story is dedicated to all my friends who have at least tried to read my stories. Thanks for everything. And Alex thanks for letting me use your characters, without your support the Heretic series would be nothing. -

Heretic Force
Sky L
Ninth Age of Reclamation, Identified Pelican dropship-"Zephyr 06" approaching Forerunner Temple, Halo
Easing the Pain…

The Pelican rippled through the thick fog as the turbines dismissed dense vapor, creating a aggrieved spectacle. The dropship curved to the misty wind and landed on a Forerunner platform to mourn the dead Heretic, lying peacefully on the Human cot.

Hydra jumped from the Pelican's landing, clasping to Ralis 'Rahanammee's body with a feeling of anguish. He stepped up the ramp and strolled to the temple's garden, where a single berth was etched in the Forerunner soil around the vivid wreaths.

The Heretic laid the perished Elite into the berth, kneeling down to balance the coverings in the Repent Leader's veils as he stepped back despairing the hazy clouds on the entombment of 'Rahanammee.

"This day we recognize a warrior, the warrior." Alei 'Limoto began the mourning. "Ralis 'Rahanammee was the abstract of our kind, powerful, valorous, and considerate. In these times of grief we hail the triumphant dead."

The Heretic let a sole tear run down his eyes as Alei continued indistinct. Hydra looked to his brother in the wrapped heap of white veils and noticed a singe of his blood slide down to the soil; it was at that moment where Hydra felt righteously unafraid of the battle ahead.

"'Rahanammee was good friend, always kind to Sayare!" The Grunt sniffled as Kaskut patted his emerald hump.

"Kaskut?" Alei looked to his companion and gave his mandibles a hint of a frown.

Kaskut the Grunt was comforting Sayare as he stood and wobbled to the berth. "Kaskut didn't know Repent Leader that well, but me think that he was great and skillful Elite!"

Hydra acclaimed his attempt as he sniveled another tear behind his powerful and fearless eyes. The Heretic marveled at 'Rahanammee's triumphal times in the past, still clinging to the rage of the Brute Assassin.

"This Elite was very different than the ones I have come to kill…" Baxter said removing himself from the bench in the garden and to the body of 'Rahanammee, kneeling for a respect to the alien. "And befriended…" He added, unwittingly setting a UNSC "Sergeant" medallion on the Elite's chest. "He was a fighter, willing to do his duty…" Baxter finished, returning to his bench.

'Gammamee nodded to the Sergeant in the greatest of respects and returned his teary gaze on the Covenant flagship above, immediately converting to an enraged glare as Alei stepped forward showing courteous eyes to 'Rahanammee's closed ones.

"Ralis 'Rahanammee symbolizes the true malice of the Covenant" Alei started, shaking his head in the grieving silhouettes. "The cruel outlooks of the Covenant are what made me turn. Even though there is no Great Journey, I believe that 'Rahanammee will travel his own" Alei withdrew from the body, giving Hydra a look a honor as the Heretic got up from the bench and stooped to the body.

"Brother…" Hydra murmured, releasing another teardrop. "You were the leader of your own unity…And you lost all of your brothers to the Brutes…" He sniveled, bowing his head to him. "Yet you continued justice among the Heretics with a bold spirit…" Hydra turned away from the grave and his companions and peacefully mourned to 'Rahanammee, gripping his angrier side with a allusion of repent. "You…have taught me to let go…to ease in suffering…But, that lesson as revered and virtuous as it is I believe different…I believe that the truth should not be silenced but expressed through retaliation…I will express this to you, brother…" He finished, tightening his grasp on his fists.

Hydra turned back as he nodded toward Alei to burn the body in a ceremonious fashion. 'Gammamee watched as Alei lit the body ablaze and a serene smoke floated to the blood-soaked sky in the intense fog.

The battle overhead raged on, UNSC and Heretic forces were repelling the fleet as the funeral ceased below. A Longsword fighter ripped through the sky into a Covenant Seraph, both exploding in a gusty flash. The Prophet's flagship hovered stationary, emitting a lighted beam onto the Ravine while fires spurted from the purple glares. All of a sudden a Covenant Phantom propelled itself to a land and set down on in a cluttered grove near them.

Out of the Phantom came trios of Brutes, all unaware of their position on the Forerunner's temple. They all held Brute Shots, pointing them at random situates looking for a being to ruthlessly slaughter.

"For the Unity of Repent" The Heretic muttered silently to his allies as he readied his Carbine.

"REPENT!!!!!!!!!!" They yelled as the Brutes realized their position.

"AAARRGHHH!!!" Hydra yelled as he punched a Brute in the chest, and shot it in the head as it dropped in it's own maw.

Alei cut through a Brute with his Energy Sword with ease and traced a blow into another Brute. The Tebo Brothers slammed their shields into the nearest Brute as it flew into the gravity lift of the Phantom, floating as fresh blood specked the battle. Kaskut and Sayare brought up the rear, both shooting as a team killing the Brutes with their weapons.

The Phantom's guns then reacted and the turrets released plasma onto the victorious group. As the Hunters aimed their fuel rods at the Phantom's nose and both issued their cannons at it.

The green globs belted the nose, revealing magnetic wiring and electric efficacy under the purple nose. The Phantom wobbled under the power and they all ignited plasma and fragmentation grenades and tossed them carefully into the hole of the Phantom. And they exploded in a flash of cyan as the Phantom screamed defeat. While the Phantom crashed it was creating an even bigger explosion of plasma and sand.

The Heretics panted in soft unison, the beating of their alien hearts throbbed as one true unity…

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Hydra crossed his arms and breathed hard into the air.

The victorious cry erupted through the blaring sky as the flagship above clattered when the primary beam filtered into the Ravine…

All the Heretics actualized the danger of the flagship and watched while the Covenant ship dismissed a shrouding glare into the Ravine's tower…

The battle overhead seemed to darken and the sounds of distant cries were shortened by the abrupt sound of buzzing…

The flagship turned the Ravine into oblivion, cracking the spire with hot energy…

"To the Pelican!!!!" Alei raised his sword overhead, pointing to the Pelican.

Lava sliced through the air as the group hastened into the Pelican's ramp…

Alei grabbed the turret on the platform, while the Hunters strapped themselves to the belly. The three adjusting to the battle-scorched environment, ready to shoot anything threatening the Pelican.

Hydra and the Sergeant entered the cockpit, the human tapping toggles on the console when the Pelican raised into the blistering combat-zone.

"This is Zephyr 06 inbound on Covenant flagship, requesting all UNSC forces to clear us a path, bring smoke!" The Sergeant yelled through the radio.

"Roger Zephyr 06 this is Patriot Leader destined for escort…" The stagnant voice of a man crackled over the COMM.
Just then a Longsword fighter appeared on their port side, a man in black armor piloted the fighter, saluting the Sergeant. "Following" Patriot Leader complied.

Other Longsword fighters appeared over the horizon, paving the misty skies of Banshees and Seraphs with their propelling missiles…

The Pelican elevated to the Covenant flagship…The unstoppable force was hoisting into the beyond of destruction of grief…

Ninth Age of Reclamation
Against all odds…

Zephyr 06 and the Patriot Leader crossed the blood-scorned sky, the Covenant flagship roared overhead as they entered the fiery muster bay.

Hydra heard the clamorous sound of Alei firing the turret, whilst the Shade ignited in cyan plasma. Ralna and Kalno blared their fuel rods at a berserking Brute as they dropped from their latched positions.

"We have Brutes with armor support…!" Baxter screamed in the COMM.

In the bay the Tebo Hunters fell short of their victory. A Covenant Wraith hovered immobile behind the fiery wreckage of the blasted Shade…

"Pull up, UP!" Alei screamed at the cockpit.

The Wraith fired a glob of plasma at the Pelican as Baxter pulled the toggles upward, the glob arching over the cockpit and into the air clashing with Covenant steel.

"This is Rival 7 of the Advent Squadron" The Human Pilot voiced through the COMM channel. "Armor support is ours"

The Longsword reared behind the Pelican and streamed over the cockpit in a stealthy fashion. Rival 7 then fired gauss rockets at the Wraith.

"Ooh-ra!" Rival 7 screamed as the Wraith exploded in a shower of plasma.

"Turrets!" Alei outcried.

"I'll handle it" Hydra responded getting from the cockpit.

"Us too!" Sayare and Kaskut stood from their seats.

"No, Sayare I cannot handle losing you too" Hydra ordered adjusting his Covenant Carbine with a fresh clip.

The Grunts looked disappointed but sat in the order. The Heretic then faced Alei on the turret, both nodding in a silent responsibility.

Hydra then leapt from the threshold propelling him downward into the sky, curling to an air pocket, riding it down toward the flagship. The stinging feeling of fast air dazed his mandibles as he gracefully twirled into the muster bay.

Without a hesitation he slammed into the softest of objects-A holographic console…

His shields sparked as he crashed into the console, creating a circle of embers around him.

The Elite got up from the crash and waited impatiently for his shields. As soon as they interacted with his build.

"Heretic!"

The gruff voice of a Brute sounded throughout the chamber, and the Elite looked around the fiery battlezone for traces of a Brute.

Suddenly the Heretic felt a impulsive wallop on the back of his neck, his vision turned a dark red and he waited for death…


* * *

"Why must this vermin be spared?"

"Fool, don't you realize who this is? This is Hydra, the famed Heretic who killed the Councilors back on the first resistance"

"By himself? This weakling? He's got forged armor, what honor is there in that?"

"We have orders from the Ravager himself, don't interfere with personal retribution!"

The Heretic doused in and out of consciousness as the Brutes hefted him to the Ravager's chamber…

* * *

"This is the Hydra, pathetic I expected him to be a bit more forceful!" A rough voice echoed in the Heretic's ears.

Hydra shook his head in dizziness; the cloudy outline of a monstrous Brute reverberated through his eyes, causing him abrupt alarm.

The Ravager stood in front of him; he was bestial, taller than other Brutes. He had ebon black fur, with a foggy outline of white surrounding his chest plates. He had armor like an Elite, hiding his face entirely. The black fur protruding from his white armor in a repulsive outlook.

"Cut him lose!" The Ravager barked.

The Heretic felt a transparent beam cut him lose from the opaque binders, as his vision returned to normal.

Hydra was in a huge chamber, black nothingness etched the ceiling and stars replaced it. He was standing on clear and lucid glass tracing a pattern with the sparkling lights of the base.

The Elite got up from the floor and looked around, the Ravager's Brutes surrounded the captive Heretic all with Brute Shots pointed at his skull.

"Kill him!" The Ravager ordered turning his back to watch the battle.

The Elite was clearly unready as his reflexes were slower and his joints ached. The Brutes were unmerciful however, splashing their plasma across his shields as they gave way under his weight.

"ARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!" Hydra shrieked in agony.

The Heretic twirled around facing his doom as his pain was replace by vengeance…

To be concluded…

Heretic Hero
Date: 20 June 2006, 4:45 pm

Heretic Hero
Sky L
Ninth Age of Reclamation
Prologue

)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- )(- -)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- )(- -)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- -)(- )(

      Gala 'Gammamee stood in the core of the mining facility. The ramps and ramparts clambering above him gave the Heretic a sense of security, even with a skirmish brewing near. The Elite prodded his Covenant Carbine with a fresh clip and a spit from the nose aired his fingers with cold steam.
The Elite settled his purple weapon to his chest, raising his mandibles to the Heretic Leader preaching on a podium next to a visional map of the station. The band of Heretics who stood before him were adjusting their bronze plates of armor, posturing to the Heretic Leader.

"When the Covenant bond was forged and the Elites promised security for the Prophets we were all lured into a doomed fate" The Heretic Leader bore his fist in the air.
"Heresy is the truth as the Oracle has bequeathed with us. The Prophets are using the faith of the Forerunners to bring doom upon us all…" He waved his arm across his heart. "The Great Journey is deceiving!"
The Elites and Grunts hissed their distress and growled the exaltation as he concluded resoundingly. "It is our insight, our time, and our revolution!"

      'Gammamee let out a blaring roar sustained by dozens of cries. The Heretic Leader jumped from the podium, letting his thruster pack guide him as the Heretics around them filtered to elevator, to their appointed patrols. He landed next to the Elite, both their breaths expressed into frozen steam.
"Our legion, brother is efficient and suited for oppression against the blind." The Heretic Leader inhaled. "Thanks to the Oracle we have a multitude of the Forerunner's defenses"
"What of the Flood?" The Heretic Field Master resolved.

      The Leader looked to map inclining his head to the cyan ramparts around the facility. The red dots in the abiding of the center indicated Flood carriers moving and feasting upon the Heretics.
"Ignore them to be restrained to the Oracle. I do not wish to see any deaths to our brothers from the parasite"
"Yes, Leader" 'Gammamee held his fist to his chest and hunched his forehead.
From the Heretic's heads a screeching sound broke. The reverberation of plasma fire resounded through their transmissions, along with the cries and clamors from Elites and Grunts as they died in swift fires. Their battle arrays shattered and the eruption of blades clashing with flesh sounded with the shrieks.

'Gammamee looked up to the humming of a blue orb, floating gracefully in the air. The drones of Sentinels followed closely to the Oracle, gradually hovering to 343 Guilty Spark's buzzing.
"According the didactic pattern of this facility's fortification, I have inspected an attack from the meddlers themselves." The Oracle purred. "They have acquired a breach in the facility's defense and have already ruptured your withstanding"
The Heretic knew that the Covenant were persistent in their 'Great Journey' and would not impede until all were glorified on this unthinkable doom. The Covenant was sent to suppress them on this station, no doubt the Prophet's

      'Gammamee was a Heretic warrior and would do anything to keep the virtue alive. He looked at the Heretic Leader, splitting his mandibles to attest the difficulty of the situation.
"Leader, the maelstorm has disrupted our communications" 'Gammamee said cleaving his eyes to his Leader. "What do we do?"
The Heretic Elite paced to the map and back, pausing to look at the Oracle's Sentinels. Lingering to their shadows below, as he studied the facility through the blue projection.
"Release the Flood to them…Contain all chambers that have our warriors in them" The Heretic Leader proclaimed, ignoring his last order to him. "Command your squad, brother and meet me outside the Banshee Port"

'Gammamee bided his stance, waiting for the Heretic Leader to tread out, while the Sentinels fluttered to diverse conduits and tubes hanging from the topside covering. Rushing to their specified duties of handling Forerunner gas to propel the stations hover and to bid the usurpers a bloody departure from their domain.
The Oracle then flew upward, waving his center 'eye' to the elevator, lighting his flashing orders to the Sentinels as he traveled downward into the abode of the station.

      The Elite then stridden toward the elevator portal, his squad patiently waiting for him in the dark entrance. The Grunts breathed slowly through their methane holders, releasing azure gas into the deliberate site. The Elite warriors, silently and blankly rapped the opaque terminal as the elevator beamed sideward to their feet.
They stepped in, raising their weapons to the windows outside the station. This elevator transited them sideways through a horizontal barricade. The glass on the other side of the barricade gleamed dark and revealed a dusk scene of the station and the storm screaming toward it.
Then a scream from the Covenant's dropship howled overhead. The Phantom above hovered direct toward the Hanger Bay, screeching its engines to the ferocious gale. It disappeared through the towering ramparts as a Heretic Banshee twirled toward it, firing its cannons at the belly of the dropship.

"The Covenant are blind in their dooming 'Great Journey' they know nothing of the truth that the Oracle has compliantly told us." 'Gammamee sermonized, ignoring the blaring wind slashing across the stronghold. "The Prophet's will fall in their corruption and once again we will be united with our brothers…"
The elevator transit halted in a flash of a rest. The Grunts and Elites under the Heretic, murmured in silent hail.

"Fall they will to the truth!" The Grunts chanted, marching out of the portal into the unlit entrance.
"Surely they will succumb" The Heretic Elites said agreeing with the lowliest of the sovereignty.
'Gammamee grinned at his quick vivacity, the Heretics surely will bring the Prophet's to their knees and restore peace back into the Covenant, in battle or in politics. Heresy is the truth and the uprightness, and it will prevail to the Hierarchy's resolution.

The Elite stepped out into a bright platform from the unlit entrance, followed by his squad. The Heretics swayed to the windstorm growing fiercely near. They tilted their guns and inclined their heads to the vermilion skies.
'Gammamee propped his neck to the tower above them, where a fiery battle between a Covenant Phantom and a trio of Heretic Banshees consummated the overhead space.

      The Heretic felt exposed, but he did have his orders to meet the Heretic Leader outside the Banshee Port.
Above them the battle of the factions collided, one Heretic Banshee struggled to pull air as it was hammered with plasma. The other two Banshees foiled its turrets by clobbering its fuel rod cannons into the belly.
Two of the Phantom's turrets fell to the maelstorm and were sucked in a hazard of bright light. The nose of the Dropship clasped to the turret in a blue haze, focusing the forked nozzle onto the three.

The Phantom then tottered sideways, hovering to the defeat of its defenses and descended downward toward the exposed platform.
"Prepare!" The Heretic Field Master screamed over the clamorous pitch.
The Grunts and Elites braced themselves, pointing their weapons skyward at the Phantom that was now so low that it embraced its own shadow within their feet.

The turrets above them reacted to the threats, slapping plasma into an Elite's shields as 'Gammamee backpedaled.
"Take that turret!" He shouted, taming his steady arm onto the turret and firing obsolete shots at the blue joints held simply by energy.
One of his Grunts dove, firing his fuel rod at the turret managing to halter the Phantom's last defense.

      The dropship faltered to the side and released a quartet of Covenant Elites and Grunts to the platform.
"The Prophet of Truth sends his regards, Heretics!" A Covenant Elite roared, raising his Plasma Rifle to the Heretic.
'Gammamee aimed his nose on the Elite and fired puncturing his shields in four straight shots. He fell under his weight and purple blood trickled from his mandibles.

      The Heretic felt simply repulsive killing his brothers, though they were blind of their doom on the 'Great Journey, he was compelled to bring justice to the Covenant, even if they were bent on destruction.
'Gammamee crossed his arms, punching a Grunt in the head. The little Grunt choked down his blood and drew methane into his lungs, slowly drawing back away from the Elite.
The Heretic Field Master lunged for the Grunt's neck and gripped it. After he clasped the throat he hurled the Grunt off the platform in a deafening shriek. He then dragged his feet backward while his shields were exhausted from plasma fire.
Out of his eyes a glassy image of an Elite clashed around him. He fired duel Plasma Rifles at him, completely removing his shields.

      'Gammamee withdrew in a flash, his squad dong well to fight off the sudden drop of Covenant troops. He isolated himself behind the portal of the elevator waiting for his shields to gradually recharge.
While his shields embossed his structure, he hugged the sparks and forked his fists out, gripping the trigger of the Carbine with a calming nerve. He stabilized his nose on a Grunt and fired at the head.
The Grunt fell and the only remaining Elite fell to the crystalline projectiles of a Heretic Grunt. 'Gammamee raised his arms to the sky, crying to their victory of the virtuous.

* * *

      The Heretics arrived outside the port, breathing rhythmically to each other's pulses. The Banshees were docked onto the exposed port and they leaned in the intense wind.
The Heretic Leader then bounded from the portal, jumping to the gust and floating to the center Banshee. With the open portal, the Heretic Field Master heard the fizzing of shields of Elites from the Sentinel's beams.
From what the Heretic Leader reported there was a new Arbiter, created by the Prophets to rid them from this station, which was breaching all their inner defenses, it was 'Gammamee's sole duty to halt this.
The Elite glided to his Banshee and turned his mandibles to the window. "Deal with him my brothers, I will defend the Oracle!"
He leaped inside the Banshee, turning on the terminal and lighting the viewscreen as he screamed toward the laboratories.

'Gammamee checked his shields for the fight ahead, he registered full as he heard the cease of Sentinel's beams and the crash of metal heaping inside. He pointed inside with the tip of his Carbine, indicating the portal way.
"This truth must not be silenced!" He roared, his squad beckoning into the way.
What he expected he had only a half of a moment to react, he was greeted by plasma fire bruising his flesh from within his smuggled armor.
It sank through his bronze plates and touched his skin, causing his to shriek. He tucked behind the portal, his purple sparks responding to the absence making his body shielded.

      The Heretic crouched behind a shadowy figure, the ancient and diverse looking armor of an Elite screened from the corner of his eye. 'He was not seen…'
'Gammamee realized from the swift cry of a Grunt that the Arbiter had defeated the last of his team…
He took his Covenant Carbine and slapped it to his chest, pressing the precision on the portal way where the glare of a Energy Sword dispersed. He locked his legs and leapt from the ramp and out of the portal, addressed with the blinding storm and the close scream of a Banshee.

He growled in still failing and retribution as the Arbiter soared his Banshee over a Covenant Phantom, meeting a Heretic Banshee in midair warfare. He gazed into the loud breeze, dipping his mandibles to the hail of his fallen combatants who fought to express the truth.
With a silent and swift gait, he jumped into the remaining Banshee and fired the terminal letting the engine shriek skyward toward the laboratories…
* * *

      'Gammamee fought to remain his ground, his solitary fight against the Flood was surely failing by the moment. He placed three transparent rounds into what was left of a Elite head, transformed horribly by the grotesque spores that were the Flood.
The hideous body fell under his arm and out of a glass sheet revealed Infection Forms, scurrying their unusual tentacles across the floor, scraping what was left of the host bodies that were Elites.

They poked their bulbous heads into the Combat Form's torso and reached their feelers into the nervous system and twined its life, sparking it instantly back to life.
The Heretic launched his leg back and kicked, letting his weight carry the Flood down to the floor. Then more Infection Forms scampered up 'Gammamee's chest, plunging it's tentacles into his shields, feeling for control.
His vision blurred and his environment was yanked from reality. With a abrupt wave of his arm he picked the Infection from his chestplate and popped it in a wet plop. His shields returned and his vision arrived back with his instincts.
'Gammamee then noticed from the ground that the Combat Form still clung to its maw. Trying to use its strength to urge it's self-forward from under the Heretic's hoof.

'Gammamee stuck his Carbine into the moist and revolting chest cavity of the Combat Form and released his fire, letting the creature die in a pulpy mist.
He jumped from the platform, looking up into the foggy tower. The Sentinels above descended easily, assisting the lone Heretic.

      The metallic hives around him connected to the tubes and conduits within the laboratory. The brisk sound of wet tentacles squabbled the tube next to the Heretic, followed by the quiet boom from the Infection Forms inside.
He lifted his knee and kicked the tube, letting it fall to the gorge below. With a rapid halt from the elevator, it sounded from the chasm all the way to the towering mist above, rippling the hives.

The Heretic Elite walked through the portal and into the corridor. Around him were the bodies of Heretic Elites, all potential vessels to the Flood threats, now infesting this station.
He bowed his feet to the body and touched the hand of his brother. He closed the Elite's fist around his weapon and clasped it to his heart, symbolizing the truth was truly free.

      'Gammamee pushed past them, scouring his soul for the reprisal he needed to impel the Flood and to make the Covenant see the truth, willingly or unwillingly…
The truth was that he did not hate the Covenant for their actions or their greed of salvation, he simply followed to the will of integrity that fueled his every thought.
He motivated himself outside onto a lighted bridge, blistered with Flood, Covenant, and Heretic bodies alike.
Above him was a Phantom that bobbed over the bridge. He raised his Carbine but noticed that the nose of the dropship was focused on the bridge where Covenant warriors marched under the belly.

He leaned back inside the portal and crouched, making his position quite unnoticeable. 'Gammamee peeked from the arch of the base and saw the warriors gather around under the belly.
There were at least three Elites, two black-armored and one white-armored, clearly Special Operations, the best of the bestiary. 'Gammamee was quite flattered…'
He then heard them speaking to each other in a hushed growl…
"This occurrence will soon overpowered" The half-jawed Elite spoke. "The Arbiter will cut the station loose, putting it into freefall, there will the Heretic Leader be dealt with…"

      The Elite's drew back and were sucked back into the Phantom. But he still heard their transmission chatter on his battle array, as the dropship lingered over.
"All my Phantoms are in the air, Arbiter! Go cut this station loose!"
At this the transmission broke from the sudden roar of the station above. He looked up and saw the dazzling triad of cables release one clamp.
'Gammamee lurched forward gripping the railing, while the station turned lopsided. He pinched his grasp on the railing and staggered upward, running forward through the bridge.

'The facility going down into the storm was irrational…The Covenant sacrificing one Arbiter to the murder of the Heretic Leader was determined and dooming. He would not let this happen, the death of his squad, the quell of the truth, now the death of the Heretic Leader…He was resolute to interrupt this fate…'

He rushed through the center of the facility where the map glistened…Just then the cutting of another cable. The station fell under the weight and leaned sideways. 'Gammamee braced himself while he dropped and slid to the other side.
He then got up, seeing a clump of Combat Forms leaping towards him from the platform rostrum.
The Heretic brought up his Carbine and pelted the Flood forms in their chest cavities, finding their inner weaknesses.

      One Combat Form managed to cling to life and get up, twirling its tentacles toward the Elite. It slapped his shields, scrapping his structure within and removing his guard entirely.
He was vulnerable as the Combat Form brought its feeler back and punched him with it, letting him fly while the third and final cable was cut.

The station let a creak and the lights flickered to dark orange. He let his fist back and reached inside the Combat Form's chest and pushed, feeling the damp innards of his brothers.
It flew backward and fell under a beam of red light, emitted from a stationary Sentinel moving around the Heretic, working to disable the Flood around him.

From the ceiling and the sprawling ramp a figure landed. The Arbiter briskly ran through the now unshielded portal, ignoring the red threat posted on his detector that was 'Gammamee.
One Sentinel fell and out from the ramp revealed Combat Forms swinging their tentacles toward the Elite in the corner. He sprawled rearward and bent his legs and flexed, letting the perplexed gravity lift him up.

      The Heretic brandished his Carbine and shot them down, all under the rounds. He then quickened his stance and turned to hear the roar of an Elite through his open transmission.
"Are you still alive, Arbiter!? We're keeping pace as best we can!"
The lights around him darkened to emergency crimson and they blinked to his bronze plates.

'Gammamee pressed the terminal in front of him and jumped down, letting his shields brand a half. He pressed the blinking lights and was plunged downward into the red illumination.
He then reached the bottom and stepped out through the brilliant environment of a Banshee Port.

The Elite looked through the transparent window and felt the rumbling of the facility fall through the eye of the storm. He saw a Banshee twirl past a steel beam and toward another inlet of the station.
"What lunacy! He'll never escape this maelstorm in a Banshee!" The SpecOps Leader growled through the transmission. "Wait there was a Seraph fighter in that Banshee! Go on Arbiter you know what to do!"

'The Heretic Leader deserting the station…? I understand, we are completely unprepared for this invasion from the Covenant…'

      'Gammamee propelled himself forward outside into the storm, he felt his skin blister under wind and he dived himself into the nearest Banshee, activating its engine and catapulting the nose of the aircraft forward.
The Heretic bent the Banshee ahead and boldly pitched it into the inlet. He then leaned sideways as a remnant of a tower slammed into the Banshee's wings. 'Gammamee dove from his cockpit and crashed into the inlet, curling his legs to land.

He got up and headlong leapt into the portal entrance. The Heretic got upward; meeting his arms onto the Carbine and heaved it to the redden radiance. From the railing next to him a spark emerged, the rumbling of the facility all around him.
'Gammamee stepped on a few Infection Forms, letting the soppy pith mash under his tread. He fired at a Carrier Form that struggled to wave toward him. It flushed its tentacles to the floor and flung its arms helplessly it then blew its only defense. It exploded in a shred of flesh and blood; ribbons of guts flashed the red and the Infection Forms inside the sac hustled out to feast upon more hosts.

      The Heretic marched over them, pointing his Carbine nozzle down to finish the remainder. He then continued, seeing Heretic Grunts fleeing from Infection Forms showing lose of leadership.
He shot the Infections following him but turned to see that the Grunt had already fell from a puncture in his methane rebreather.
He crossed through a corridor into a dim portal, lit only by the gaudy red lights. He traced his fingers through the terminal and pressed, waiting for the door to respond back. The Heretic walked through the portal waiting for his heart to stop pulsing fast.

'I hope I'm there in time to assist the Heretic Leader' He thought, forking his jaw to a shadow licking the edge of a Covenant Grunt's body.

He knew the Arbiters were thrust into dangerous situations. Crisis's that couldn't be handled, they were the best, they were the vanguards to rid them of this dominion.

'It was not right…'

Such an honor bestowed to get rid of the truth. All of this was destiny however, and he knew that was the honor…Fulfilling your destiny…
He emerged from the portal and into the Hanger Bay. The Seraph was hovering silently…He perked his ears to the Hanger-Nothing responded but the clank of the station as it brushed down through the atmosphere.

      The Hanger Bay doors were open and the storm rocked the inside as more debris scrambled onto the deck. He leapt down, scorn with blood from his brothers and the guilt of defeat…
He scanned the floor for a corpse…
'Gammamee fell on his knees to the body of the Heretic Leader, bound in a bloody heap. His chest was severed with Energy Sword slashing and his upper jaw was revealed in a gentle bend.

The Last Heretic now clung to his Leader, washing the Elite's fist of purple gore with his hand. 'Gammamee cleansed his eyes and burned his soul of all compassion…There was none…any to be found…
He looked up; teary eyed to the Seraph above them. He knew what he would have to do.

'The truth was not to be silenced but expressed through every free being…The 'Great Journey' was deceitful and only I knew…'

'Yes, the truth would be spread around the universe…The Prophet's will succumb and I will be the one to lead the revolution…'

He steeled the body and himself to the open hanger, revealed to the storm. He removed his eyewear and blinked to the direction of the cyclone, blistering toward him.
'Gammamee's Carbine slung on the floor whooshed past his head as his eyes dimmed.
The Last Heretic pulled his Leader's body to his chest and got up. He scanned the underbelly of the Seraph with his fingers and triggered the switch to a transparent sheet that transported him inside the cockpit.

He looked around watching the pointer numbers dance around the terminal. He punched the sequence and waited to launch from this perdition of a place. The station now fiery with death and failure rushed down into Threshold's vaporous atmosphere.
The Seraph shot out of the hanger, quivering to the storm as he gripped the control stick. He swayed the filmy rod and pulled out of space toward Basis and into Burial Mounds.

Ninth Age of Reclamation
Newly designated Heretic Capital Ship, Marauder cycling Threshold's orbit
Renewal

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      The Heretic was blasted by a profound mauve light; it hissed and ate away his bronze armor, he shrieked in pain as the agony subsided. The Elite stepped down from the podium as the plasma rays moved to another stand.
Gala 'Gammamee's armor stabbed his flesh with sparks, the once bronze garments, were replaced with smoking black, and the flashing stings that maintained the personal shield were burnt to gray. 'Gammamee removed his plates, and dropped them into cylinder holes, that gave an exuberant blue haze as he dropped his armor into the holes.

'Gammamee walked through the foyer that was embellished in prosperous décor, dressed and shined in purple and red. The Covenant Elites around him murmured at their exhibition tables, studded with the lustrous screens.
The Last Heretic gasped from the stinging and faltered to the armory. It was the commencement of the Covenant Civil War. The war 'Gammamee had anticipated since the discovery of the virtuous. He contemplated the struggling past, the discrimination, the truth, and the carnage of his mortality…All wasted for the entity of a purity. He shuddered angrily at the Covenant for ignoring the truth.

'The naiveté of them all has finally reached its zenith, they now see the truth as I see it through all the disturbing times I have endured…'

      'Gammamee reflected for the motive of the truth. He was the Last Heretic on their makeshift base of Burial Mounds. He resolved to himself that the truth required no uproar but a voice. He was the Voice, the Last Heretic and recent originator of salvation. The Heretic remembered the distress of the Covenant, his brother's voices searing in cold fury, blanking through their ships…

On Threshold he organized his solitude, exiling himself, waiting, listening to the stars…
Until that one night of arrival…

"Civil War has broken our holy Covenant…The Exchange of the Guard has ruptured into bloodshed, the truth has finally been revealed through ages of diminution…The Prophets have betrayed us!"

The ghost voice of the transmission disconnected from his mind, echoing like fallen screams from his brothers…
He shook the past away from him, leveling his shoulders to gain access to the armory. The Heretic typed the triangular code and forked his mandibles waiting for the two limpid, violet panels to shift to let him enter.

      'Gammamee brisked through the arch, letting his thoughts drift. He knew his subsistence was obsolete to the Great Ones, he knew that he was deserted as a hatchling, and he knew his lineage meant nothing of honor.
The Last Heretic wiped his identity of all discrimination, he was no longer a contrivance to the Covenant and their corruption, nor was he going to be segregated for his lack of faith.

He was Hydra, a new rank, a new eminence, and a new life…

Created by treachery and deception, symbolizing the element of Heresy. Once was he part of the Covenant, vowed to follow the Great Journey and the Holy Ones to be a archaic follower, but now he was Hydra.
The dawn of a new age and the gait of forgiveness was at stake, and 'Gammamee would incept it all.

      The Heretic stepped through the mauve lighting and through the sheet of plates. The armory was before him, there 'Gammamee pressed the terminal, and imprinted his palm in the light, it shown a brilliant blue color and flashed, and the door split open. Before him was an arsenal, crates littered the shadows and ahead was a machine, it crackled inside with glittering light. Another holographic terminal was on the armor module, with buttons lighting up as he approached. Hydra reached inside and pushed the coherent emblem, and a door opened.
He halted his confided space and looked around him. There were tiers and rows of arrows symbolizing how to work the machine, and above him was a bulky, metallic claw that bobbed with energy splints in its holders.

Hydra blazed his center palm inside the terminal, choosing a diverse set of armor from the viewscreen floating in front of him. The claw above him closed down onto him, locking his structure and sparking his mold.
The Elite felt a stab of puncture and the drenching feeling of energy swabs coating his flesh with plates. His arms were locked in a cuirass and his shields let out a eloquent blast, once again responding to his body.

When the claw retracted, he heard a metal clank in front of him and his vision returned. Out from under his shoulder a silver slide appeared from a mantle of glass and out popped a helmet.
He latched his helmet onto his head and waited for the satisfying click to his neck. The Elite grimaced at his new appearance, which was now flawless.

      Hydra was in blazing crimson and black armor. Though rarely different from the occasional veteran, his armor possessed a uniqueness that the Covenant could never accomplish. From his wrists were spikes that created a secure violence symbolically. The Heretic and the Covenant armor clicked in an unusual harmony that suited him impeccably.
Slanted plates touched his chest and brought his appearance with a scary and sanctified one. Covenant scriptures and Heretic inscriptions devised arraigning words into scarlet bulbs. His legs were wrapped in dark foils that locked his joints, and his curved revealed his four mandibles in a heroic fashion.

      'Gammamee scowled past a plaque on a red arch over the corridor. Every ship was blessed by the Forerunner and the Prophets; this unction made Hydra sneer even more at the ignorance of Covenant under the manipulation of the Hierarchs.

'Every race united in our Covenant, will once again walk upon the sacred rings where we will dedicate our might to the Great Journey!'

The Prophet of Truth, whom Hydra absolutely despised, spoke this. The lies…
Hydra shook his forehead and walked on, it was Truth's wrongdoing not his…in this time of war every being shouldn't be punished, no matter what their crimes…
He marched to the council antechamber, where he was requested to attend a hearing.
The cause of the case…What was to be done with the last Heretic?
The Heretic scratched his fingers against the terminal and looked upon the council in the dark solitude.

They were all upon imperial benches that bent into arching zigzags around an internal rostrum where the hearing occurred.
He shafted his weight into his legs and entered the buzzing shadows, gazing upon the white gleaming hung over his head.

      Each of the Councilor members looked upon the Heretic with remorseful or incensed expressions, as they all beamed down upon him like thousands of crystalline needles stroking his skin.
"Do you perceive why you are here, Heretic?" A voice spoke from above.
"Please my designation is Hydra, Excellency" Noting their disrespect for the Last Heretic, subsiding his mandibles fastened.
Atop his head the Councilors murmured their renowned whispers…Now he was agitated…
One Councilor bore his jaw to the opposite and sputtered letting his mouth twitch with the constant hisses. They then turned and the front-most Elite spoke, rolling his beady eyes to the Heretic below.
"Very well…Hydra" He waved his claw to another Councilor trying to intervene, silencing him. "Do you understand your summon here?"
He looked up; some were sympathetic, coursing their sides to the Heretic while the rest buzzed angrily at the Heretic, flitting their swords through the air, tracing swift patterns in the air.
"Yes" He looked away from them. "I am confident that an apology for keeping the truth is in my hearing…"
By the looks of the Elites these was either right thing to say or the very wrong.
"You?! Apology?" One chuckled.
Hydra nodded firmly.
"On what sediment!? Defying the Forerunners!"
His hatred lit, the death of the Heretic Leader, the Flood released to protect the truth…Unreal.
"I honor the Forerunners!" The Last Heretic roared.
The stands were spurted with loud fire.
"Blasphemy!"
"He speaks the truth!"
"The Great Ones bless all, on the path or off!"
"The Hierarchs are misleading!"
"Long has Truth foreseen this, the Brutes are to blame!"
"ENOUGH!" A Councilor howled slamming his fist into the tier. "Let him speak!"

      Hydra looked up, his mouth flared. "It is no one's fault for the fault of our Covenant, this is destiny that the Forerunners have unveiled before us" He forked his utterance and spoke the truth. "The sacred rings destroy…"
The irritable pause was admitted. Silence, until.
"He speaks the truth…"
No one had anything to debate to this. The terrible parasite plaguing the rings, the sense, the truth.
"We on behalf of the New Covenant are contrite" The Councilor bowed in his chair.
All of the Councilors bowed to the Heretic, respecting his voyage. Hydra ladled his eyes and knew that this was the will of the Forerunners. "You were the last of your kind…committed to the truth as we are now…But, fate has wrought malice upon us once again, and you, Hydra will prevent that."
Hydra could not believe his ears; he nodded his head persistently clinging to his brother's words. "You will be recognized with your honor and will be granted your own squad, under the demands we our requesting…"

'Redemption and forgiveness…At last'

"Thank you, loyal Councilors" He said inclining his head. "What is it you wish me to do?"
The Councilors above looked over him with merciful eyes, counting their blessings toward the Forerunners. "There are Brute Encampments around Halo, they have besieged our compound and are under orders from the Lesser Prophet of Pride to hold the ring. We want you to lead a squad of our best troops to the encampments and beset the Brutes. The Humans are accompanying you on this task so may the Great Ones gratify your honor…"
'Gammamee sided his arm around his chest and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Councilors"

Ninth Age of Reclamation
Impending Covenant Bastion, Delta Halo
The Prophet's Folly

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      The Phantom whistled past a series of mountains. The calm sleet splashed onto the Covenant metal, making a resounding tremble inside. From the east of the dropship a Human Pelican circled by, meeting the Phantom in gallant ethers.
They trilled their engines past a towering bulwark and twirled around it, making for a bastion on the other side. The Phantom soared into a rainforest below the bulwark and flipped over the ebbs of air pockets controlling it.

They were being sprayed by cool mist breaking through the center of the bulwark. A waterfall emerged, cyan and sparkling with beaming lights of the Forerunner. The Phantom and the Pelican steadied their wings and flaps, controlling their pace to a rise.
Above on the edifice walls were Brutes patrolling. They flocked their untamed brethren, desecrating the holy sanction with every step.

The turrets impaled on the pillars jutting out of the walls fell one by one under a spray of bullets and a ray of plasma. The two Dropships hovered over and dropped their lading.
The destined squads of the Heretics and the Marines expelled their guard onto the Brutes, letting them fall under cold spite.
The Grunts hobbled over the victorious scene, curiously twitching their heads to the Human Marines by them.

      Hydra stepped over a Brute corpse, shaking his head angrily and hatefully. The Heretic warped his legs and kicked the Brute in the jaw, watching the ebon blood run through the traitor's mouth.
The four SpecOps Elites and Grunts bobbed their hands around weapons, looking over their new leader for orders. The Marines next to them, the foreign aliens wore green and gray armor to the shiniest sheen and shouldered Battle Rifles and SMG's.
The Covenant was waging war on the humans for ages and the thought and validity that they were helping them was very inapt. Hydra looked at a Human Marine and scowled, the human merely sneered and said, "Hey you aren't exactly beautiful to me either" The Elite turned his back on him.

For the certitude that the humans managed to withstand ages of slaughtering and still stood was a matter he respected entirely. Hydra pointed to the sealed doorway on a wall where a Forerunner etched creek of water poured under the brick.
"There!" Hydra yelled at the Grunts.
The methane-sucking creatures nervously walked to the doorway, and positioned themselves in an attack stance. The Elites vindictively kneeled in attack stance. The Human standing next to him was fiddling with his Battle Rifle while Hydra arrayed his squadron.

      The Last Heretic moved to the door, facing to the squadron. "Beyond our sanctuary of Halo, the traitors that led us will fall under our onslaught! The Prophets have realized what civility exchange has done to their Covenant; they are vulnerable, unorganized, and deceitful in their conquest for a false salvation! Prepare, warriors for retaliation!"
He flung his Carbine over his shoulder and pointed his fingers at one of his Elites.

The black armored Elite brandished a Plasma Rifle and inserted the positron nozzle into the portal, looking back at Hydra for instructions.

The Last Heretic nodded at the Elite, while arching his arm off to his allies to back away. The Elite sparked the trigger and removed his position from the door, surveying the vivid froth escaping the plasma.
Plasma from the rifle blew the core apart; letting the trifles of metal spit in ribbons all round. Silence broke then from the room…

      Hydra held his squad off the span of the portal and peeked inside the way. The hot red plasma squeezed his interior and his shields flickered.
"ARGH!" 'Gammamee gasped.
For the split moment that the Heretic stepped into the portal, he saw a bastion of turrets rain pink plasma on him with Brutes and Jackals dismissing clods of fire on their position.

'Gammamee ran his fingers over the purple alloy as his shields gradually recharged. He touched the ridges around the nose and shuffled his mind for a strategy.
"Grenades…" He drew out two plasma grenades in both hands, ignoring the shower of plasma that pelted the metal; making it melt before a pair of Grunts.
His squad and the human's revealed plasma grenades and fragmentation grenades behind their belts and armor, juggling them confidently.

"Go!" Hydra ordered, pushing in the transparent emblem of the Forerunner.
It fizzed and hissed as he threw it around the arch, it bent in the air and landed on a Jackal's head.
The others released their bombs and the smoke and fire grew to the endless explosion. Brutes and Jackals hissed in agony and death. The fire and plasma drew to their hides and wet flesh, bursting their hearts from within.

From inside the cries subsided, and the suspense grew with every skim of smoke.
The Humans looked fervent but their leader held them off, listening to the wisp of smog brush the air.
'Gammamee put his fingers up, indicating three seconds to the humans. The leader nodded his head telling his Marines under him.

      Hydra put down a finger, still listening to the calm coughing from the Brutes…
He put down the next one, adjusting his Carbine to the fiery vapor inside...
And he put down the last one giving a brisk cry for battle…
'Gammamee raised his Carbine and beamed the volley to a Jackal's head. The shield of the traitor evaporated in the smoke and down a cluttered maw fell. The Humans kneeled to the floor, firing their three-round shots at the Brutes above, letting the fire murder the savaged beasts.

Hydra so distracted from the battle he hadn't yet taken the surroundings of the room. The Forerunner chamber was a huge, broad cupola with blue energy filled the dome shaped ceiling. The wall was ancient with foliage growing from the blue energy. A dais was in front layered in blue beams for lighting.
It was a field of fire; they were welcomed with plasma, on a balcony above was an assembly of turrets with grass growing out of the once derelict ground. A naïve Marine was caught in the fire and dropped dead in a scream. He shot the Brute responsible for the death with a headshot and he stooped to the metal. Just then a stray plasma bolt pierced his shields. Hydra was vulnerable; he then hid behind a stack of crates and waited for the embrace to a spark.

As he shields returned he nailed a vibrant green projectile into a Brutes head. The beast fell to his trigger and the Marines around him flailed their guns to the Jackals above.
From his rear, a rocket slammed into the side of the wall. The crisp, white metal melted and pierced a turret to purple scraps.
The last of the battle turned, and the Heretics and Marines finished their kills. Panting the sound of death cries. The turn of the tide was they're bequeathing to the legend around him. The Forerunners, Halo, Covenant, Humans, all were the same in their quest for greater power. Evil or Good they were the virtuous to continue the truth and this Prophet of Pride knew that they were resolute in their 'Great Journey' for the truth…

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