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Prologue to Stories from the front, Highlander's War
Posted By: sam_fisha<sam_fisha@yahoo.com>
Date: 3 January 2005, 3:55 AM
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Prologue to Stories from the front, Highlander's War. By sam_fisha AKA Ty
"It has become abundantly clear that more ships must be utilized to discover the few remaining worlds of the Humans." Said the Prophet of Chivalry. "Perhaps..." Said the Prophet of Brotherhood. "But I hold the discovery of our lord's creations above the eradication of the Humans." Chivalry shook his head. "How can you say that when the eradication of the Humans is the will of our creators?" Brotherhood knew the eyes of the other Prophets were on him. "The war against the Humans is important." He said, searching for any way to convey his slight distaste for the war. "Given that our creator's will was interpreted correctly." Loyalty leaned forward in his chair. "You question that the Hierarchs channel the almighty?!" He yelled.
"No, I simply am saying ..." Chivalry interrupted. "NO! What you say is HERESY!" Brotherhood shook at this accusation. "I HAVE SAID NO SUCH THING!" Strife motioned for silence with a wave of his hand. "Let there be pardons all around so we may continue with a civilized discussion." He said. The other Prophets silenced and slightly nodded to each other. "Okay." Strife said. "As it is I believe the eradication of the Humans and searching for artifacts are not mutually exclusive." Strife said as Brotherhood muttered. "And how is that, Strife?" Strife motioned to one of his guards and the Holographic screen displayed an image of a large bulky yet elegant carrier. "This is the health of the Covenant." Strife said. "A carrier currently station with a large fleet within a months jump of the Human system known as Tara." Brotherhood examined the carrier. "And how is this important?"
"Patience Brotherhood, patience." Strife motioned again and the screen displayed a rough image of a planet. "This is the fourth planet in the system. With what we have gleaned from artifacts found recently we believe this planet contains a forerunner facility which may contain the sacred icon or perhaps this."
The screen changed to show a large green crystal which was cleanly cut to make a perfect octagon. "The power crystal we believe was used to power such facilities as the late sacred ring." Strife shot a look at Hardship who was in charge of appointing the ship commander who had followed the Human ship and allowed the sacred ring to be destroyed.
"As far as we can tell when a large amount of energy is run through it the crystal can emit a strong magnetic pulse which is perfect for activating our newly developed weapon, the Arm, and this carrier is outfitted with this weapon. With this crystal we may be able to increase the effectiveness of the weapon ten fold." Strife finished.
Brotherhood looked around the table to see all the Prophets nodding their agreement. "Then you are proposing a strike on the system?" Brotherhood inquired. "Yes, Chivalry Hardship Loyalty and I will oversee the assault from The Health of the Covenant." Chivalry watched Brotherhood closely. "And you shall be in charge of ensuring the Carrier is well defended by the time we arrive.
The lesser Prophets nodded their agreement.
On a drop ship sending personnel to The Health of the Covenant"
Leeyap stood beside his old friend Grooky on the drop ship. Leeyap looked at his own yellowish armor and then at Grooky's red armor. Leeyap looked away, trying not to think about how Grooky had been promoted and he hadn't, talk about emasculating. He looked to his left where a Sangheili in black armor stood leaning against the wall of the ship as he counted the men onboard.
"Were short a Kig-yar." He said to the entire ship. Leeyap spoke up. "He's in sick bay for a reaction to an immunity shot." He said. The Sangheili looked down to him as if he expected that Leeyap couldn't talk. He snorted and walked to the opposite side of the ship and spoke to the pilot. Grooky looked back at Leeyap. "You should try not to be noticed; those Sangheili will rip your head off." One of the Kig-yar nodded. Leeyap shook his head. "How am I going to get promoted if I'm noticed?" Grooky laughed. "Don't fall asleep when you're on guard." Leeyap got mad. "I was awake for two days! It was Unavoidable!" "Yeah Leeyap, rap that lie around yourself like a methane tank."
Leeyap nearly fell over when the ship suddenly accelerated and launched out of the ship bay. It a week Leeyap would be serving on The Health of the Covenant.
On the UNSC frigate Highlander:
The Captain braced himself as a volley of plasma collided with his beloved ship. The Covenant Cruiser turned to face the other UNSC frigate, the Worldly. The Cruiser launched six brilliant balls of plasma and the Worldly was pelted with superheated gas. Its titanium armor melted away and exposed several decks as gases escaped from the ship. "FIRE PODS B SIX THROUGH EIGHT!" The Captain yelled. His tactical officer typed a few commands and in seconds missiles streaked from the Highlander's bow and quickly closed the gap between it and the Covenant cruiser.
The missiles collided with the cruiser's shields and created red and blue balls of fire. The cruiser turned from the Worldly and readied a broadside for the Highlander. "Sir, they're going to fire again, I don't know if we can take it." Head engineer Lok said. "Full speed ahead, activate an emergency pod when the plasma nears us and fire all remaining missiles on the bow, how's that MAC doing?" The bridge crew scrambled around. "MAC is at eighty three percent sir." The Captain looked at the view screen and watched as the cruiser fired six balls of plasma directly at him. "Keep me posted, and sound brace for impact."
An alarm sounded through the ship as the plasma neared. The Captain sat in his chair and held to a bar placed beside it. A loud explosion echoed through the ship and the metal groaned as the ship jerked to the left. The plasma streaked by and was unable to turn. "The Worldly is firing sir, our missiles will take the shields and theirs should hurt it." Said his tactical officer. "Fire the MAC when it charges and ready some engineering teams to help fix the Worldly." The Captain said as he thought of what might come next. "MAC away sire, our missiles will impact in ten...nine." The Highlander's missiles struck the cruiser's shields and they flashed as they tried to hold. The missiles from the Worldly impacted with the unprotected cruiser and blew away its armor. A split second later the MAC round collided with the cruiser and it buckled and folded in on itself. Plating ripped apart from the stress as gasses escaped and formed a cloud around the ship.
In seconds the ship's engines exploded and sent a ripple through what remained. The Captain watched as another wreckage was added to the belt of metal and half ships that littered the area. "Any idea why the Covenant where coming through here?" He asked. "It looks like they were heading towards Tara, and FLEET COM reports several similar engagements." One of his crew responded. "Sir, priority message from Admiral Jike." The crewman added. "Put it up." The Captain said. The view screen flicked from the view of the wreckages to the gaze of the slow speaking but brilliant Admiral Jike. "Sir!" The captain said as he snapped a salute. "Hello Abler, good job with the Covenant force." "Thank you Admiral." Jike looked at something off screen. "We need you at repair station A seventeen for retrofitting."
"Yes sir, can you tell me why?"
"No Captain, just do it."
Council chamber, High Charity:
Brotherhood looked into the steely gaze of the Prophet of Redemption. "Several of your brothers have noted you for heresy." Redemption said. "Is it true you oppose the holy crusade against the humans?" Brotherhood gathered the courage to look redemption in the face. Around him the Prophets and Sangheili which composed the council hollered at the accusation, unsure of Brotherhood's loyalty. "I simply wish to convey my thoughts that the decision not to allow the Humans the chance to join the Covenant may have been..."
"Let the Humans join the Covenant! How could you say such a thing, they're death is the will of the almighty!" One of the council members yelled. Brotherhood turned his head to the council member. "Does not every creature have the right to their salvation?" The council member grew silent. Redemption raised a hand and motioned for silence. "Why do you say the Humans should be allowed the chance? Do you wish them to be with us on the great journey?" Brotherhood pondered for a moment. Should I tell them some of my soldiers have found an oracle? Are they ready to learn the truth of the great journey? He thought silently as the council watched him intently. No. He thought. They are not ready to learn, they will not understand, stay silent for now. "The same was said when the war of the Unggoy started and now they are some of our loyalist soldiers." The council roared and Redemption shook his head. "The Unggoy were at first our enemies, not the enemies of the almighty."
Brotherhood leaned in his chair uneasily. "Putting that aside, Is it not more important to find more of our Lord's creations as have been indicated by recently uncovered artifacts?" The council grew quiet as they pondered. Redemption looked at the council and turned to Brotherhood. "The council will make their decision, for now you will wait." The lights of the council chamber dimmed to a faint red as the council exited the chamber. Redemption walked to Brotherhood, who sat in a large round chair known as the heretic's chair. Redemption looked at Brotherhood. "I can only presume that you do not mean this heresy you have spoken." Brotherhood stayed completely still. "If you knew."
He said. Redemption looked down at Brotherhood. "Do you remember the oath to the great journey you took?" Redemption said as he walked around Brotherhood. "Yes." Redemption stopped circling him. "Recite the second verse." Brotherhood stayed still as he began to recite the oath. "And he shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week, and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." When Brotherhood finished Redemption smiled with his thin gray lips. "Good, now can you tell me what those abominations that walk the world and make it desolate are?" Brotherhood stayed completely still. Redemption leaned close to Brotherhood. "Think about it." He whispered. Then Redemption left Brotherhood alone in the chamber as he pondered its meaning. Wait it the enemy of the Covenant who is the abomination? He thought as he sat in the dark chamber. Or is it something else, something I am not thinking of. Brotherhood shifted uneasily in his chair as his communicator buzzed.
He pressed its button and answered the communication. "This is Brotherhood." He said into it. "You excellence, the oracle has revealed a secret of the infection." The voice of his soldiers came through. "Yes Azaleas, what is it? What should I know of the infection?" The Sangheili hesitated. "I would rather speak in private you excellence, can you send someone to meet me at block three-nine-thirty to discuss it?" Brotherhood looked around the chamber suspiciously. "Of course. Have you begun transmitting the truth to possible followers?" Brotherhood waited for an answer; instead he heard a loud crack and his soldier exhaled sharply as the communication was cut. The hierarchs were on to him.
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