- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Author’s Notes: *sigh* I was pleased to see so many people enjoyed my look into the Covenant’s past, but unfortunately I received several e-mails asking me just what the hell was going on in that chapter. I’ve attributed this to people not reading the large, bolded author’s notes I put at the top of the chapter, and I suppose I’m pissing in the wind to think that if they skipped that author’s note, they’ll most likely skip this one and be thoroughly confused once more.
I will reiterate then, if you are indeed one of the people that reviewed or e-mailed me about a lack of understanding then please READ THIS! You will all remember that at the end of Chapter 11, the Arbiter agrees to explain how the Covenant was created. What we’ve got here is a look into the Covenant’s past, without me having to make a big long boring couple of chapters with just the Arbiter talking. By doing things differently, I now can also add in foreshadowing to later plot developments that will become very important later on in the story, and give us all a look into certain events that not even the Arbiter knows about.
There are seven Covenant Time periods, called Ages. Within each Age, there are more time periods broken up. For example, in Halo 2, we’re in the 9th Age of Reclamation. The previous chapter, Chapter 12, was the Second Age of Abandonment, describing the war that occurred between the Prophets and Elites before the formation of the Covenant.
Therefore, Chapter 12 occurred WAY before Halo. Were talking amazingly far in the past. Didn’t you wonder why the Elites were using spears and daggers?
End of long rant.
The End of a War
Chapter 13
Fifth Age of Discovery
Fascinating. The collapsible frame allows the weapon to be discretely concealed whether strapped to an arm, or hidden within a suit of armor. It would be useless outside of arms reach, and the creators must have realized this, as they have made it capable of concealment, where the lack of a weapon would lull the enemy into a false sense of security.
The weapon in question sat upon a metal table, its surface a dull gray. Various tools were littered about, many of which appeared to have been cut in half. The Sangheili studying the device suddenly hefted it into his hands and activated a hidden switch by gripping the handle. With an exaggerated flourish, an intense energy spurted forth from the hilt where the Sangheili had a hold on it. The energy stopped its forward momentum half a foot away from the hilt.
Ido Naslum watched with unkempt rapture as the solid energy continued to exist in its state. The Sangheili, with emphasized care, moved from his perch before the table and walked to the far end of the room where a series of rocks sat on a table. Picking up one of the rocks, Naslum tossed it into the air and as it began to descend, swung the energy dagger swiftly. The rock continued to fall as if nothing had happened to it. Once it hit the ground, the stone split in two, the severed sides a perfect mirror sheen of each other.
“I see you have figured out what the new weapon is capable of,” a voice spoke from behind Naslum. Turning, Naslum saw Field Marshal Romsunee handling one of the instruments he had sliced in two with the energy blade. Fumbling, he hit the release and the concentrated energy emerging from the hilt disappeared with a low hum.
“Marshal Romsunee, I didn’t hear you come in,” Naslum said by way of greeting. He was wary of military personnel. They all seemed to look down upon him simply because he did not hold an actual rank.
“Enraptured with your work were you?” Romsunee asked wryly. He cast his eyes about, studying the room as if he expected Naslum to be holding some kind of contraband.
“Well, once you see what this new devise can do, I’m sure you’ll understand why I may appear somewhat scattered at the moment.”
Field Marshall Romsunee watched idly as Naslum activated the weapon, his eyes widening as he saw the concentrated energy spring to life. He followed Naslum’s motions with the energy blade, enraptured. When Naslum activated the release, its was as if he had woken from a dream. The Sangheili officer shook his head slightly, forcing the cobwebs from his mind.
“Quite interesting,” Romsunee said absently. “I have come however, for another task.”
Naslum set the weapon on the table as he turned to look at the officer in anticipation.
“The Holy Prophet of Law has announced that work is nearing completion on the first line of carriers, modeled after the grand ships of the Forerunner.”
“Excellent news,” Naslum said, trying to keep the boredom from his voice. He wasn’t very interested in the expanse of the military, but to show anything aside from complete devotion would be noted by Romsunee, and most likely passed on to the Lower Prophet that controlled their unit.
“Indeed,” Romsunee nodded stiffly. “Since the fleet is almost ready for deployment, it has been decided that they will be deployed to the next likely planet that houses Forerunner technology.”
That bit of news was somewhat puzzling to Naslum. The fleet had just been finished, and typically, that would mean a series of tests needed to be carried out to confirm that they would function properly. During the Lekgolo Taming, several uneasy battles had nearly been lost when the first prototype ships had torn themselves apart after repeated firing of the main plasma cannon. Naslum himself had observed some of the wreckages of the old prototypes.
“So soon? Has any preliminary tests been done?” Naslum asked. Romsunee shrugged his shoulders and turned to walk out of the lab.
“Your presence will be needed on one of the ships. The Prophet of Infinitude has ordered that as many scholars and scientists that we can spare to join the fleet.”
“But my research…” Naslum trailed off, seeing the intense gaze that Marshal Romsunee threw over his shoulder. “I will gather my things and report to the holy Prophet at once.”
Romsunee continued exited the lab, throwing a parting comment of, “See that you do.”
Military dog, Naslum fumed to himself. Instead of analyzing Forerunner artifacts, they will have me go on a foolish search, with no direction aside from a senile Prophet who believes he can speak to the Gods. To think at one time the Sangheili had lived upon a planet rich in culture. Now we have been reduced to the Prophet’s caretakers. Where are the great warriors of old? Is it because of my ancestry that I have been delegated to this degrading position?
Gathering some of the still intact tools inside the lab, Naslum turned to leave. His gaze however, slipped back to the small devise he had been fiddling with before. A quick glance about reassured him that no one else was around and the Sangheili moved back into the room, depositing the weapon into his robes.
With my luck, the Prophets will have found a new race they wish to assimilate into the Covenant, or maybe even more ruins they wish to worship.
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Ebusa Logi Forru watched contemptuously as the platoons of Unggoy and Kig-yar began boarding the flagship, Conviction of Fealty. Ogada Logi Iobu, his bond brother, was behind Forru and he could feel the contempt his bond brother felt for the pathetic creatures. The two Lekgolo had been assigned to the Conviction of Fealty, as the ship was the craft that several high ranking Prophets and Sangheili would be traveling aboard. Forru and Iobu had fought the Covenant during the period they had come to refer to as the 'Red Sun'. When the sky had ceased being the source of wonder and life, and had turned into a sea of fire.
Forru had killed many Sangheili during that time, and he had earned the right to bear his Line's name. Such an honor had been tainted however, when the Lekgolo had been forced into submission by the Covenant fleet. Ground combat was what the Lekgolo excelled at, but orbital bombardments from their capital ships could not be defended against. Forru did not bear the Sangheili or the Prophets any ill will; in fact he was pleased over their decision to assimilate the Lekgolo into the Covenant. The Sangheili were worthy enemies, and the Prophets were messengers from the Gods that the Lekgolo had never known existed. The Forerunner had left behind a piece of their legacy on Forru's home world, and because of that they accepted the Prophet's offer to join their Holy cause. It was what came with the acceptance into the Covenant that Forru found troubling.
The caste system inside the Covenant was made of stone, an unbreakable agreement struck amongst all of the members. The Prophets served as the voice of the Gods, while the Sangheili were the body. The Lekgolo, Unggoy, and Kig-yar were simply tools, forced into conformity. The promise of a greater existence lightened the humiliation that the Lekgolo faced by being forced to fight alongside the pathetic beings.