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High Sanctum Chapter One: Maiden Voyage
Date: 4 March 2006, 4:11 pm
Kunta Kamamee/High Charity, year 2525, Ninth Age of Reclamation
Darkness. It filled his entire sight. At that moment in time he was the darkness and the darkness was him. Then as soon as he became accustomed to it, it lifted just as a veil lifts on a stage. Then he saw for the first time in days. A familiar face greeted his sight, for it was the High Prophet of Mercy with a worried expression across his face. "Welcome back." he said without emotion
Back from where?, he thought "I thank you noble hierarch, but I know not what has occured." When he took in his surroundings, he realized he was in a healing tank, completely naked without his white armor of a commander.
"It will come back to you." said Mercy floating in a circle around the tank.
Then it did. The battle with the heretics. How he had taken command of an entire army when the Supreme Commander was mowed down in plasma fire. The he led them to victory, crushing the heretic elites. But he had been shot in the chest by a beam rifle as the remaining heretics fled.
"You showed great honor in your fighting." said Mercy. "The council has decided to have you rewarded. You are to be promoted to take Supreme Commander Ronamee's place."
"The Fleet of the High Sanctum, and its troops are mine to command?" the elite in the tank said.
"As soon as your ceremony is complete." replied Mercy. "You will serve us well Kamamee."
"Indeed I shall noble hierarch."
So it was that later that day, Kunta Kamamee was released from the healing tank and went to the ceremony hall of High Charity in his ceremonial robes. Newly forged golden armor awaited him on an altar, glowing with a golden sheen in the artificial light. The entire city was there to witness the ceremony, legions of Covenant filled the surrounding area. Then Kamamee bowed to the three prophet hierarchs.
Truth spoke."By the Covenant, our Lords, the Council and the Great Journey, we bestowe upon you the rank of Supreme Commander of our Covenant."
Then Regret. "Accept this armor as proof of this event and use your position well."
Last Mercy spoke."The Fleet of the High Sanctum is yours, and its troops yours to command. Warrior of the Great Journey, do you accept this responsibility?"
"I do Noble Hierarchs, with everything I believe in." said Kunta Kamamee.
"Then let it be known to the entire Covenant that Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee will fight for you and the good of the Great Journey. He will help lead us to salvation." said Truth.
The ceremony was done. Covenant everywhere cheered. Kamamee put the golden armor on right then and there and held his hand up high in a snarl of honor.
***
He was called to the Sanctum of the Hierarchs later that day. "Do you know Supreme Commander that we have discovered a new race?" said Truth.
"Is that so?" replied Kamamee. "Perhaps we can recruit them if they are worthy."
"They are not." said Regret with malice. "They expand like a mold on our Lords land. Species like this face one punishment and that is complete eradication."
"Go to the nearest colony they have." said Mercy. "Let it prosper no more. They call it "Harvest"."
"I will do your will Noble Hierarchs." said Kunta Kamamee. "Let this blasphemus race draw no more breath."
***
Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee/Harvest System with Fleet of the High Sanctum, year 2525, Ninth Age of Reclamation
"Behold, my first conquest." Kamamee said to himself in the bridge of his commanding ship, Glory of Supremacy. The green, lush planet came into view. It was small, but Kamamee knew better than to ignore it. This was Harvest.
"Excellency!" said an elite bridge worker. "They call themselves "humans" according to the messages we intercepted."
"Then let the humans live no more!" yelled Kamamee. "All fleet ships, plasma coils on! Take aim at coordinates 5, 10, 50!" This was done.
"Begin glassing the planet on my command! Three, two, one, FIRE!"
Hundreds of plasma bolts fell towards the surface of the planet, evaporating the once rich atmosphere. The surface boiled a bright red. For a moment in time, Harvest was a miniature sun. Then it was no more. Bridge crew members yelled in satisfaction. Kunta smiled, or at least what passed for one among elites. The humans were dead, however there might be more. If that was the case, they would be hunted to extinction. That, Kunta thought, I guaruntee.
High Sanctum Chapter 2: Enemy and Ally
Date: 5 March 2006, 1:17 am
Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee/High Charity, year 2525, Ninth Age of Reclamation
Kamamee had returned successful from Harvest. The Fleet of the High Sanctum was docked and Kamamee was relaxing, only just getting out of a relentless barrage of questions from the Council. The Councillor Elites too, his own kind. It was when he was in his quarters that he met with another elite who was to serve him as second command. Instantly, Kamamee didn't like him but he would have to put up with it-for now.
His door opened revealing a white armored elite. "Greetings Excellency." said the elite with a slight tone of enfuriation in his voice."I'm Sanren Conomee, I will be serving as your second in command."
"Ah, Sanren. You would have been the next Supreme Commander of the Fleet of the High Sanctum had it not been for my actions, correct?" asked Kamamee.
"Yes..." said Sanren with a slight scowl. "That is correct."
"Good to have you in my service." said Kunta.
"I thank you Excellency." said Conomee mustering all his strength to sound somewhat friendly.
Sanren Conomee left and Kamamee got some rest. Tomorrow he would be welcoming the new recruits from the training grounds.
***
Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee/High Charity Military Barracks Sector 10-9
The blue armored elites stood at rigid attention. Kamamee in his golden armor stood before them, hands behind his back. "Greetings soldiers of the Covenant!" barked Kamamee. "You know who I am surely, but I know not who you are! You are still to get you second name based on combat abilities. I will be the one to give it to you! To the training grounds."
***
After grueling hand to hand combat with the elite recruits Kamamee called for a halt. "You!"he said to one elite. "Your second title is to be Jonomee!" This meant swift and brave one.
"Thank you excellency." replied Handa Jonomee. "I will bear it well."
"May I speak excellency?" said another elite.
"You may." replied Kunta.
"Why I must bear the second title Fronomee? It is a disgrace!"
"Because, it is the one I see fit." replied Kamamee sternly.
"Will it sway you mind if I best you in combat?" said the arrogant Fronomee.
Kamamee chuckled. "We will see." he said hands still behind his back. "Come at me."
Fronomee obeyed and rushed at Kamamee and swung a blow. Kamamee stepped out of the way with mind numbing speed and twisted the opposing elite's arm behind his back, then delivered a swift blow to his head. Fronomee fell without a sound, except that of his body hitting the ground.
"Let that be an example to all who would challenge a superior officer." yelled Kamamee so all could here. "He will come round soon enough and his injuries heal but even that will not take away the shame of this incident. Dismissed recruits, long live the Covenant."
There were murmers as the elites departed. Kamamee left Fronomee on the ground and returned to his quarters. A few cycles later, when none could see, Sanren Conomee approached Jonomee who was now awake and they began speaking. Plotting. Dark things went through that conversation that no one knew of. Not yet.
***
Sanctum of the Hierarchs
"Another mission awaits you Kunta." said Truth. "We have learnt of a planet the humans control. called "Polyphemus." They mine a rare ore there that can be forged into effective ship plating. You are to conquer the planet and exterminate the humans present. Then the mining operations will be ours."
"I understand Noble Hierarch" said Kunta with a bow. "We shall have the planet."
***
Field Master Sanren Conomee/Glory of Supremacy with Fleet of the High Sanctum departing for Polyphemus
Conomee stood brooding at the bridge beside the despicable elite known as Kunta Kamamee. A pox on him, thought Sanren. There were things that went on at that battle with the heretics that Sanren would never forgive. Mainly the fact that Kamamee openly took the position of Supreme Commander of this fleet when he knew that Sanren was next in line, hand picked by the former Supreme Commander himself. The rivalry went on before that however, from the days they were recruits. Sanren would have this fleet if it took an eternity.
"Field Master, what is the status of our troops and equipment? Are they loaded?" said Kunta Kamamee
"I will check Excellency..." said Sanren interrupted from his thoughts.
***
Kamamee stood gazing at slipspace as the fleet progressed through the stream towards their goal. "How goes your position friend." came a voice behind Kamamee. Relda Sonomee stood there in the grey armor of a special operations elite. Relda was Kamamee's greatest companion, they had known each other from childhood and had been shipped out from their homeplanet at the same time. They had been put in the same battalions and now, Relda was a special ops commander assigned the Kamamee's fleet.
"It goes quite well Relda." said Kamamee with a smile. "Your rank is no doubt just as interesting."
"I would not know." said Relda. "But I would guess it would be. Or it will be shortly once we get planetside."
"Excellency!" yelled a frantic spec ops grunt running to Relda.
"Bah, what is it?" snapped the elite.
"Panya and Risan and fighting again, I think they might really hurt eachother!"
"If you'll excuse me Kunta, I must deal with this." said Relda, taking his leave of the bridge with the grunt.
"Ten cycles to Polyphemus." said an elite bridge officer. Ten cycles for the humans to finish their pathetic lives.
High Sanctum Chapter Three: Scarab Paradise
Date: 12 March 2006, 10:49 pm
Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee, year 2525, Ninth Age of Reclamation/Approaching human mining world "Polyphemus"
A full scale invasion was being prepared at that moment. Kamamee stared at the opposing human fleet in front of the planet, not thinking much of it. A mere obstacle. He was a brilliant strategist, so he would win the battle in space first and move on to the ground battles. He was the type of leader that went headfirst into the heart of battle, not like those cowardly Jirhailanae.
"Attack formation 10-20." barked Kunta over the fleet com. "Have plasma coils heated and guns ready to fire." This was done. The ships went in a circle around the human fleet leaving space in between each one. The process happened so quickly the humans had no time to react. The space would leave more room for the human's single shell "MAC rounds" as they called them, to miss. "Fire at will." ordered Kamamee.
Lances of plasma shot out from the fleet and struck the human ships causing some to explode and others to just boil and die where they were. It was a savage barrage and the Fleet of the High Sanctum was at least five times as large as the human fleet. Then from what was left of the enemy, MAC rounds came. Most missed and sailed in between the ships because of Kunta's formation. One or two Covenant ships were struck and destroyed. Kunta grimaced, two more than he had hoped for. Then for the glorious end of the space conflict. The human fleet was turned into one massive orb of plasma leaving wreckage as far as the eye could see. All too easy, thought Kamamee.
"Commence the ground invasion." ordered the Kamamee who then went to his third in command to take control of the fleet for the time being, for Sanren Conomee was a Field Master and would be going into battle himself. Kamamee made his way to the hangar of the Glory of Supremacy choosing the nearest dropship to take. He boarded it and it took off with the rest of the fleet's troops. This mining planet would be theirs and its valuable ore, the Covenant's.
It was a turbulent ride to the surface. Human AA fire downed several dropships but many made it to dump is load of Covenant troops.Dropships had been deployed all across the planet to strategic locations to take the largest quarries and mines. Once they were captured, the humans could be effectively eliminated. Kamamee's personal quarry happened to be the largest on the planet, thus more of a challenge. That's why he ordered his troops to go there, the more of a challenge, the happier the elite was.
The dropship shook and jerked as anti-aircraft fire skimmed the sides of it. Then it gave on huge buck as the ship took a direct hit."We're losing altitude!" came the pilot's voice over the intercom. "Brace yourselves, especially you Supreme Commander!" Then the ship hit the surface. Troops were thrown everywhere. Jackals squawked in pain and grunts screamed in terror. The few elites present didn't make a sound. Then everything was still. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of plasma discharges outside and human guns firing metal projectiles. Kamamee recovered and stood up. The pilot's life meters were blank. The only ones alive were Kamamee himself and two other blue armored elites.
"May the prophets curse these humans..." muttered one elite who was trying to pry the emergency hatch open.
"Don't waste your time with that" said Kamamee who ignited his personal energy sword and carved a hole out of the dropship hull large enough to climb out of. Immediately a variety of sounds came into the dropship. Seraphs and human fighters could be seen zipping around in the sky, some on fire. "Come, we have a quarry to capture!" said Kunta climbing out of the dropship, slinging two plasma rifles over his shoulder. The two elites nodded and followed both eager for battle.
An impressive sight greeted their eyes. An enormous quarry, at least ten miles across could be seen dropping down below. Lights and flashes could be seen at the bottom. This was the largest of many battles being fought across the planet at that moment. Near them, a human battle tank emerged from the quarry lip. Its turret positioned itself, ready to fire its deadly round at the three elites. Kamamee hurled a plasma grenade which fused itself to the pilot compartment. It detonated, sending the tank and its pilot into oblivion and hurling debris everywhere. Kamamee took out a small device and spoke into it. When he did, his voice swept across the entire quarry, echoing eerily. "Warriors of the Covenant!" he said. "Your Supreme Commander is here to fight along your side! Go on to the last breath!" Kamamee could here cheers coming from the nearby parts of the quarry. Kamamee charged into the hellish canyon brandishing two plasma rifles, followed by the two elites.
The nearest conflict Kamamee found was between an elite and his squad of grunts and jackals pinned down behind rocks. They were under fire by a human turret emplacement. Kamamee and the two elites came from the other side. Kunta fired on the human gunner which struck him in the head cutting his life short effectively. "Prophets bless you Supreme Commander." said the pinned down elite who motioned his squad out from behind the rocks. They charged forward and overwhelmed the human turret emplacment without anyone manning the gun. The grunts and jackals cheered as they shot at the dead humans and examined their weapons while the elites spoke.
"I'm going to move around the quarry and the win the different battles being fought in it. We should take the entire thing eventually." said Kunta.
"I will assist you." said the red armored elite who gathered his squad. A damaged spectre with blue plasma streaming from its ravaged hull drove up.
"We need a gunner and passenger." said the driver. "The battle sways in the human'a favor over beyond those boulders."
"Go." said Kamamee to the two other elites with him."You are needed." They nodded and mounted the spectre which left in a hurry. "Come." said Kamamee to the elite and his squad. "Let us see how the battle goes several units to the north."
***
They made haste to the battle Kamamee spoke of to find two human recon vehicles the humans dubbed "Warthogs" circling around a disgruntled group of Covenant. Kamamee motioned a grunt forward who fired his fuel rod gun. It struck one of the warthogs and it was blown to pieces.
***
Field Master Sanren Conomee
Sanren was happy for the first time in many cycles, too many to count. He had Kamamee right where he wanted him. Conomee had sent his squad to engage the two human warthogs and knew Kunta was on his way to assist them. Now Sanren could see one of the warthogs was taken out. Kamamee had boarded the other and was in the process of killing the human pilot. Conomee however, had his sights on Kamamee through the scope of a human sniper rifle which he had taken from a human he had killed. It was perfect, Sanren would fell Kamamee with the human weapon and the Covenant would all think a human had done the deed. As soon as he figured out how to operate this blasted human device. He zoomed in on Kamamee's head and fired. A sudden swerve in the warthog caused the bullet to go right by Kunta but hit the driver of the warthog right between the eyes. The warthog halted. Kamamee looked up at Sanren and waved him down. "Curse this turn of luck!" said Sanren under his breath who dropped the sniper and made his way down to Kunta.
***
Kunta had dealt with the second hog and had run through the gunner. Sanren Conomee had come down from the ridge. "Impressive work Field Master." said Kunta noting the dead driver sniped through the wind shield.
"I thank you Excellency." said Conomee with a nod. "The human weapon was all I had at my disposal."
"Though I never wish to see you adandon your squad again." said Kunta with sternness in his voice.
"It will not happen again Excellency." said Sanren.
"I trust it won't" replied Kamamee. Then a transmission came. Kamamee listened then said to the troops around him: "The quarry is ours!" And with that quarry, the planet for the armies of Covenant around the planet had done their job of capturing their designated areas. Smoke could be seen rising into the sky and there was wreckage and bodies littering the ground as far as the eye could see. A serpah crashed nearby and had its nose dug into the ground. A plasma discharge went through the air which signified a straggling human was just taken out. Then silence. The battle was over.
***
Much later, the Covenant that fought for the planet were assembled in the center of the large quarry by order of Kamamee. he stood before them. "Today." he said, "We have achieved a great victory. Though we lost many brothers, their sacrifice was not in vain, for another human planet falls!"
Cheers from the gigantic crowd.
"And this one will provide us with valuable ship building ore that will be mined to effectiveness."
Already groups of dropships carrying scarab mining vehicles could be seen dropping them off on the planet's surface and engineers could be seen hard at work putting in foundations for Covenant structures. The first of many great victories for Kamamee. His speech was through and dropships were coming down to collect the Covenant army. A battle worn Relda Sonomee approached Kunta.
"A battle well won friend." said the special operations officer.
"I see you have fought hard in it as well." replied Kamamee.
Their conversation went on for a few more cycles before returning to the fleet. Meanwhile, a few units off, Sanren Conomee gave one last look of hatred at his Supreme Commander and boarded the dropship headed for the Glory of Supremacy.
High Sanctum Chapter 4: A Grave Dream and Grand Struggle
Date: 18 March 2006, 4:06 pm
Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee/High Charity, year 2540
Fifteen human years since Kamamee's bloody crusade began. Kunta had won every battle. The Fleet of the High Sanctum even surpassed the Fleet of Particular Justice in victory and honor. But now, Kamamee had another journey, one that would be more important than he could fathom.
***
A strange world. Quite real however, at least to the one perceiving it. But then again, who can say what is strange and what isn't, its a matter of opinion after all. This opinion belonged to the Sangheili that walked its vast expanse. The most peculiar part however, was the rest of the world could be seen above in the sky as if it was a ring. Everything was still and quiet. Even the brilliant sparkling streams were still. Then it all dissapeared. The Sangheili stood before something massive. A beast, with tentacles flailing around in the air.
"What are you?" asked the Sangheili with horror.
"I go by many names." said the beast. "You will learn them in time."
"What purpose do you want me for?" questioned the Sangheili.
"I have appeared before you to give you a warning, and I hope for the sake of both of us that you will heed it."
"Speak then." replied the Sangheili, now intrigued.
"The time will come," began the beast,"that you will be forced to fight for your kind."
"The Covenant you mean?" said the Sangheili.
"No creature, you will learn in time. This great Universe harbors many secrets, some that are not for the better good. You must keep it your duty that these secrets are not unlocked. Always. Prepare your kind for the coming conflict. You along with many more will be needed for it. The secrets must never be used. Remember."
Blackness.
Then images. The Sangheili stood before a wrecked street in High Charity. Infernoes blazed and buildings lay crumpled. The Sangheli's brothers lay dead on the ground, though no assailant was to be seen. They had fled, whoever they were. Then the Sangheli's greatest brother and companion Relda approached. He began to speak but was run through with an energy sword out of thin air. From his dying mandables he managed to mouth out the word "betrayer" and fell still, his body sprawled on the ground without life. Then the voice of the beast.
"Behold the inevitable." it said. "Remember what I have said."
Then came a flash of light.
***
Darkness filled Kamamee's chambers as he shot up from his resting cot. A sleep sequence was all it was. What did it mean? Kunta would find out if it was the last thing he ever did. He lay back down, waiting for the new set of cycles to come upon High Charity.
***
The greatest warriors fought on these grounds. The Great Arena of High Charity is where the Covenant turned their attention away from whatever conflict they were in once every human year and held the Grand Tournament for one human day. Last years champion was Lisna Ronomee, the Supreme Commander who had died at the battle of the heretics. A new one would be crowned. Kamamee was actually the underdog compared to others such as the Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice. Kamamee had more than proven himself time and time again however in the past years. The Jiralhanae cheiftan Ragnarok was also a favored contender.
The arena buzzed with activity as Covenant cheered. All the contenders remained in a back room waiting for the event to begin. Kamamee sat on a stool quietly while watching other contenders brag about what they had done and how they would win. How foolish they were, thought Kunta as he watched in amazement at their arrogance. Most were younger Sangheili or Jiralhanae. They were really the only races that took part in this. Except for one. An Unngoy stood off at the prep room firing range making flawless shots with a plasma rifle. A jetpack was on his back. This was Rangen the Strong, hailed as the greatest Unngoy warrior of all time. He was fearless as an Sangheili and had taken out his share of opponents at the last Tournament. He was the only one of his kind to ever take part in this. Then swording a replica of a human was none other than Sanren Conomee with spittle flying out of his crazed mandables.
The tournament fights were usually to the death. Not many military figures took part in it, except for Kunta, Sanren, and Lispa who fought a year back because the Covenant would see itself slowly losing brilliant leaders because of the fights. Those that fought were usually trained just for the tournament and were considered entertainers. They had no military experience, and would probably not fair well on the field of battle. A one on one fight was a different story however.
The High Prophet of Truth's voice could be heard over the entire arena now. "Welcome, all Covenant to the Grand Tournament! I will hold my tongue and keep this speech short, for our warriors are eager to fight. Here is the first battle. I give you Rangen the Strong and Makmar the Reaver!" Deafening cheers. Kunta and the other conteners watched on a live hologram as Rangen the Unngoy made his way out duel wielding plasma rifles, a feat not many grunts could do. Then a nasty looking Jiralhanae by the name of Makmar with a weapon of his choice, a brute shot.
The battle began. Makmar fired a pair of grenades at Rangen, but the Unngoy warrior quickly took to the air with the aid of his jetpack and fired away with the plasma rifles. The bolts struck Makmar, burning his midsection. Unngoy in the stands cheered wildly while Jiralhanae booed with distaste. Rangen soared over to the injured Makmar and struck him across the head with a plasma rifle butt. He collapsed either dead or unconcious.
"Your winner is Rangen the Strong!" said Truth.
"Just like that?" commented a Sangheili. "If only all Unngoy were like that one."
Ragnarok huffed in a bit of anger somewhere across the room.
Field Master Sanren Conomee/Great Arena prep room, year 2540
Conomee had never had an opportunity to flat out kill Kunta Kamamee like this. He would slay him and take his fleet with pleasure. Then came the prophet's voice. There were an unever amount of opponents. To make it even, the prophet said that two would come out to face waves of armed human prisoners and the last standing would be a true contender. Twists like this were thrown in all the time. The two were to Sanren and another Sangheili. Conomee kept his sword and walked out into the fray, ready for the challenge.
Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee/Arena prep room
Kunta watched as Sanren took out numerous humans with quick sword work. The other contender just couldn't keep up. It wasn't a surprise when the other Sangheili was cut down in fire from the human prisoners. Conomee held his arm high in victory. The humans looked down as they were escorted out of the arena, no doubt to be executed. One human in that line however, had a plan to escape. But that's a conflict to be told another time.
The Grand Tournament progressed surely and steadily,the Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice had been eliminated in a shocking battle with a brute, however he was alive and well. Kamamee, Conomee, Ragnarok and Rangen all won their matches. Then it was down to them. Those four. "The next battle will be a team conflict." said Truth. "It is to be Kunta Kamamee and his officer Sanren Conomee on one team and Ragnarok and Rangen the strong on another! Please make your way to the arena."
No one knew the rage Sanren Conomee felt that moment. Robbed again of a chance to kill Kamamee. What fate. That was why he approached Ragnarok with a request. Kill Kamamee at all costs...
The two teams were on opposing sides of the arena. Recon "Ghosts" as the humans called them and "Wraiths" were put on the field along with rocks and terrain. Each contender was allowed one weapon for the battle. Sanren took a carbine while Kamamee went with a sword. Ragnarok wielded the ceremonial gravity hammer of a Jiralhanae cheiftan and Rangen took a beam rifle. Then the battle began. Kunta motioned Sanren over to a spectre that was parked a few units away. Kunta preferred driving so he took that role while Sanren gunned. The other team was taken off guard by the sudden plasma fire from the spectre. Ragnarok was hit once with a spectre bolt but Rangen was too quick, he dove behind a rock. Rangen took a shot of his beam rifle which hit Kunta once, lowering his shields and another shot struck his arm. He grimaced in pain but ignored it. Then Ragnarok did something unexpected. He jumped out of cover and brought the gravity hammer down upon the side of the spectre destroying it and forcing the two Sangheili occupants to jump out. Ragnarok batted Conomee aside with the hammer. Sanren gave a look a Ragnarok as he lay on the ground. "Do not worry Sangheili, I will do what you requested." said the Jiralhanae with a laugh. Then Conomee went unconcious.
Kunta did not hear what Ragnarok said however, as he was too engaged with Rangen, who was firing at him in the air. Kamamee made a desperate move, he threw his energy sword at the Unngoy which embedded itself in the jetpack, causing it to explode. The little warrior fell and hit the ground and managed to say "Rangen defeated..." and went still. Kamamee took the sword from the ground just in time.
Ragnarok came from behind. He swung the hammer at Kunta who ducked and rolled behind him. In one swift motion, Kunta drove the sword through the Jiralhanae's back. He gasped and coughed up black blood. He then keeled over, and died on the spot. The Arena was silent. Then loud cheers. Jiralhanae roared in anguish, their Chieftan had been slayn, and by a Sangheili too. One day that arrogant race would be in their place, thought the Jiralhanae.
Kunta and Sanren would share the title of Grand Champion for it was Covenant policy that a soldier and his commanding officer were never to be pitted against eachother.
It was over. Rangen the Strong had survived. He got up slowly, and limped off the arena floor holding his side, with as much pride as he could muster.
Later, Kamamee anc Conomee stood on a pedestal and received their Arena Champion armor symbols. Kunta was swelling with happiness. Conomee however felt nothing but burning rage.
Tomorrow would come, and the everything would go back to the way it was. More humans and Covenant alike would die. The war would continue.
High Sanctum Chapter Five: Treasure Hunting
Date: 18 March 2006, 8:45 pm
I'm doing some human perspective on this one, makes it more interesting.
Major Jack Richard/Human outpost world "New Tundra" year 2540
Damn it, thought Major Jack Richard. The snow was everywhere. The sub-zero wind ate away at his skin along with his men. This was possibly the coldest environment he had ever experienced. Why the hell would the Covenant come here? The entire God damned planet was polar. There were Covenant here too, ONI had seen the entire fleet orbiting this planet. So they felt the need to send in the Major and his men to see what they were up to. How suicidal can you get, thought the enfuriated Major Richard. He was lying on his stomach looking at the bastards through binoculars. There they were, a group of grunts, jackals, and those blue armored elites all led by that one white armored elite. If it was up to Jack he would be picking them off right now, but ONI had given him specific orders just to observe and report. He really hated ONI.
***
Field Master Sanren Conomee/Unamed sub-zero planet, year 2540
Supreme Commander Kamamee had sent Sanren down to look for the supposed Forerunner crystal in this location. Kunta said the prophets were sure it was here. Apparently, the Covenant already held some of these crystals which were supposed to form a star map to something. To what, Conomee was unsure of. Kamamee would die, Sanren despised him more than ever since the Tournament. He had been deprived chances to kill him and that fool Jiralhanae chieftan proved less than reliable.
Conomee had been trudging through this damndable frozen wasteland for too long now. The radar pointed in this direction. Suddenly, a grunt dissapeared with a shriek.
"Excellency, behold!" said an elite pointing to a hole in the permafrost. Sanren looked down the pit carefully.
"Help me Excellency!" came the cry of the grunt from the dark abyss.
Conomee shrugged and motioned his group in the hole. They did so and he followed with one brave leap.
***
Major Jack Richard
"What the-" said Jack Richard with a gasp. The Covies had dissapeared.
"What is it sir?" said Private Stevenson.
"They're gone private." said Major Richard. "Get the boys ready, we're going to investigate."
The marines were roused out of their tents and armed with the standard MA5Bs. There were fifty in total divided into five squads of ten each commanded by a seargent. Of course they all had to follow the orders of the Major.
"Leave the vehicles." said Jack. "We go on foot." So the fifty marines left the camp stealthily in their arctic camo. Vehicles would be too noisy. As they came to the area, they too saw the hole in the ground, large enough for a spartan in full armor to fit through. Spartans, thought Major Richard, how they could use them. "Stevenson. shine a light down there." ordered Jack. It was done and the metal floor could be seen."That's a jumping distance," said Jack Richard, "we're going in marines!"
***
Field Master Sanren Conomee/Forerunner Facility
The architecture of this underground complex was indeed Forerunner. Who knew they left so many places behind. Conomee and his group of about twenty troops walked warily through the halls. The radar was still active, pointing them in the direction of the crystal. Many doors were locked off for whatever reason. "It seems like a research facility of some kind." said Sanren.
A yellow beam cut down a grunt in mid stride. The group turned to face a floating robotic contruct of some kind. Sanren fired his carbine at it and it fell to the floor as flaming debris. Then more came. The entire group opened fire on the robots. Covenant were killed. The robots were destroyed.
"Damndable machines." said an elite.
"Pay no heed, continue." said Conomee who led them to another set of halls and rooms. Eventually, they came to the central chamber with many computer terminals. "It should be in the main terminal." said Conomee. "Nakra, slice it."
The elite obliged and fiddled with the controls. Eventually, a tray from the computer popped open bearing the crystal. Sanren snatched it with delight and looked at its iridecent sheen. "Excellency," said Conomee into a com link to Kunta Kamamee who was back with the Fleet of the High Sanctum orbiting the planet,"we have it."
"Very good."came the reply from Kamamee."Come to the surface for extraction."
***
Major Jack Richard/Forerunner Facility
The squads had been split up to search for Covenant activity. They Covies had left but little did the marines know, they released something when they hacked into the terminal. The doors of the research facility had hissed open. Containmant protocals had been violated, the facility would self destruct in five minutes. "I think they're gone sir." said Stevenson.
"Cut the chatter private." replied Major Richard. Then a transmission.
"Sir, we've encountered hostile activity, requesting support, its not Covenant, hel-"
The squads of marines were quickly wiped out by the unknown enemy. Last came the Major's group.
"Sir, I think I see someone." said Corporal James shining a light into the shadows, since the lights of the facility had gone out about five minutes ago. Three minutes until full self destruction, though the marines were not aware. There was indeed a human figure sillouetted in the light.
"Report marine!" ordered the Major. No answer,it just stood there in an awkward postion. "Ya got shit in your ears?" yelled the Major. The thing dissapeared. "Dammit, what's gotten into him." said Major Richard to himself.
"I don't like this." said Stevenson.
"Shut up private." whispered the Major with his rifle raised. Something wasn't right. "Squads 2-5 report." said the Major over the comlink. Only static. Then next to the Major a marine screamed in agony. A football sized creature with tiny wriggling tentacles had latched itself on to the marine. It burrowed into him and he collapsed and lay still. Another marine began weaping in fear. Then the fallen marine got to his feet and let out an unholy shriek, now deformed and twisted. Hell had been unleashed for Major Richard's company that day at the coldest location in the Milky Way
***
ONI Agent John Hardy/Investigating lost marine case at human outpost planet "New Tundra"
The camp was abandoned. It was when Agent John Hardy made it to the smoking remains of an underground complex which he believed to Covenant, that he found anything. The stammering form of Major Jack Richard in the fetal position. Somehow he had escaped the facility's explosion and lay on the snowy turf with wide eyes.
"Major?" said John Hardy. The crazed man looked up at Hardy.
"T-t-t-t-they were everywhere. The monsters! Not Covenant!"
"What do you mean sir?" asked John
The Major only ignored him and began stammering of these monsters he saw. Hardy had his men take the major away on a stretcher, packed up the abandoned camp and gave a salute to the marines who lay dead in the wrecked facility. There were no other signals so none had made it save the Major. "Crazy Jack" was the name Major Jack Richard would get in time. He would be locked in in a metal institution and would be the talk of the military for years to come of how he always stammered about his "monsters". It would be another twelve years before anyone would find out he was telling the truth.
Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee/Fleet of the High Sanctum, en route to High Charity
Kamamme looked at the crystal with wonder. What secrets would it unlock? He had to be wary of secrets however, as he remembered his sleeping sequence. For now though, the prophets would be pleased. The crystal was found and the mission was accomplished. Conomee had outdone himself this time. Another day, another victory for the Covenant.
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