- soulguard
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- Exalted Mythic Member
“Lieutenant, there are still Brute patrols roaming the country side and if we leave…”
“That decision is between you and your leaders. Forgive my rudeness, Captain, but no. I can not stay.” Simyaldee turned and began to walk off the command deck. He powered on his COM. “Sergeant Palab, report.”
“Brutes thin. Me and Mirratord keep them contained. Me finish with ground forces and come to ship to help.”
“No. Stay at your position. I will deal with the ship. When we are done we are going after that Jiralhanae Chieftain”
Without warning, Simyaldee’s COM switched frequencies. “……. Lieutenant, do you copy?” A male elite voice sounded.
“Yes… high elder is that you?”
“Simyal… it has been some time.”
“Yes elder, it has. What are you doing back on Earth?”
“We have not yet arrived on Earth, but soon we shall. We have returned with a fleet to assist in defeating Truth. But before that, there is someone whom you must speak. Our Queen lives.”
“Queen?” Simyaldee questioned. But like a bolt of lightning he instantly recalled the memories of a nearly forgotten era. He recalled the time that ushered in his Mirratord loyalties.
A female voice spoke on his COM. “Simyal. We have returned from the very edge of space. It brings me great joy to know that you have survived all of these years.”
“Vasmeola…” Simyaldee paused at the door of the command deck and glared into nothingness as he let the sound of his lost mate whisper into his ears.
“The High Elder tells me that you are quite the warrior now, far from what you were during your initial training.”
“My Queen, it is wonderful to hear your voice… to know that you are still alive… after all this time, I had thought…”
“Simyal, I am too stubborn for the prophets to kill me.” She softly chuckled. “I will ask that you notify any elders and all of your soldiers of my soon arrival.”
“My Queen, Earth is a war field. It is much too dangerous for you to come.”
“I give the orders, Simyal. And I am not coming alone.”
Simyaldee smirked as his heart released more than one hundred years of pain. He took a deep breath, and it felt as though he had not breathed life since the day she left his side. “As you wish, my Queen.”
Simyaldee turned back to Captain Monroe. “Captain, there has been a change in plans.”
- - - - - - - -
Grimleon zipped across the savannah as his phantom roared over battlefields and thunderous explosions. The ship’s engines hummed loudly as he entered the anti-aircraft area of the Covenant defense zone around the Ark structure. Several Covenant banshee’s hummed to the phantom’s side, ready to shoot him down at a moments notice.
“This is Grimleon of the Red Clan, let me pass.”
The radio vibrated. “Mighty Warhammer, you have returned!” A brute cheered over the line. “We read you loud and clear. The AA turrets will cease fire until you pass.”
“Good,” Grimleon replied, “tell the Hierarch that I am on my way.”
The phantom sped over the continent as several human ships were shot down from his path by the Covenant AA turrets and banshee interceptors, but Grimleon was able to fly safely through. He lowered the ship and sped toward the massive Forerunner ship at the center of what appeared to be a gigantic metal dome deep beneath the surface of the human world.
“The Ark?” Grimleon questioned. He continued on his course until he docked with the forerunner ship, quickly exited the phantom, and made his way deeper into the forerunner structure known as the Ark.
After nearly a half an hour of running he raced to Truth’s side. A group of Truth’s honor guards approached and stood between Grimleon and Truth. They snarled at his approach and made ready to attack. But as Grimleon stalked closer, the brutes nervously stepped back, fearful of the mighty Warhammer’s priors deeds.
Truth said, “Tell me why I should spare you for your treachery?”
Grimleon smiled. “Spare me your idle threats. These mindless fools are already aware that I could kill them without much folly. For the sake of our race however, I’ll give them no quarrel. But the Red Clan has no equal.” Grimleon held up the crystal and to everyone’s surprise Truth floated forward, past his honor guards, and reached out with his frail hands. “And now you see why you should ‘spare’ me.”
“Is that the Key?”
“It is.” Grimleon smirked.
“How were you able to find this?”
“Does it matter?”
“I suppose it does not.” Truth held the Key tightly and the pink crystal shard of data shifted shape into a long sliver that resembled a key with four blades. He floated toward the central control and quickly inserted it. “By the Gods, Work!”
There was a brilliant light as the key turned on its own and sent a pulse of blue lights around the room. The central terminal glowed as it lowered into the floor and Truth lifted his hands in gratitude. “Now, the Path will open.” He turned to Grimleon. “You have done well, my Warhammer. I beg of you to lead my forces to the other side.”
“I have never cared for you Gods. I will follow my own Path and kill the last of the House of Yal.”
Truth nodded in gratitude. “Soon the Ark ship, which was designed to power this structure, will reach full power and the Path will be open. If you stay, you will be left behind.”
Grimleon smirked. “You forget Hierarch, I know your deeds and your true intent. Destroy the universe. Do as you will. I am too old and I have seen too much to care. Yet if you do win in your crusade, I ask but one thing. Grant my race a place in your domain.”
Truth rubbed the stubble under his chin and averted his eyes. “That is how I have always seen it. I assure you, that this is how it shall be. I am the voice of the Covenant, and therefore I say it shall be so. You have my word on this, my mighty Warhammer.”
- - - - - - - -
Ark Excavation site // Mombasa observatory
ONI Facility Bravo A-11092G: The Gatekeeper
The whirl of hydraulics filled the air as Lieutenant Eric Raynord and his second in Command, Field Commission Senior Chief Petty Officer Mathew Collins, sat upon the elevator leading to the upper ground level of the Gatekeeper Facility. Together, Black Ops 19 and 08 had just spent one hour drilling each other on the ins and outs of the new SPI combat suits. Mathew and Eric had much to be thankful for, and the slight modifications that Rose had done were flawlessly integrated. Rose truly was a master of her trade.
Beside Eric and Mathew were several ONI brass members who would see to the air support being organized by Lord Hood, but for now this was Eric’s operation. Sitting behind the ONI Brass was a row of warthogs and Mongoose ATVs. The large freight elevator had a camouflage topside but Eric knew that when they camouflage parted, the Covenant would be aware of their location.
A hiss of compressed hydraulics echoed above the elevator as leaves began to fall from the surface. Rain pools spilled inside the splitting roof overhead as sunlight streamed inside. The storm lingered in the distance, but the rain had subsided for now. A good sign. The fake roof continued to part and with it, Eric and Mathew could see the numerous explosions in the sky as Covenant AA guns made short work of Longswords, hornets and the unlucky pelican’s that flew in too close.
Vice Admiral Parangosky stepped forward to Eric’s side. “You should be able to reach Lord Hood, patch me through.”
Eric nodded. “Lord Hood, please respond.”
Eric’s COM vibrated. “Black Ops 19, it is about damn time you came out of the ground.”
“Forgive my delay, sir.” Eric replied. “I have Vice Admiral Parangosky on the two way.”
“Speak.” Hood sighed.
Parangosky stepped forward, leaning closer to Eric’s helmet. “Lord Hood,” She began. “ONI Facility Bravo A is ready to lend its support. We have made full arrangements.”
“You are about twenty minutes too late Vice Admiral. I have already given the go for an attack order, but none the less we can use your assistance.”
Eric chimed in. “Can you fill us in Sir?”
“Sierra 117 is currently knocking out AA guns along the Ark’s edge. He’s making a hole so that my ships can punch through. The Arbiter is on his way to assist him.”
Eric questioned the call sign Sierra 117, S-117, S must mean Spartan. Lord Hood was talking about the Master Chief. “What of Eden, Sir?” Eric questioned.
“Unknown. Communications with Eden are sporadic at best. There’s still a tight Covenant defensive there, and I assume it has something to do with the Tree of Life. Truth is still trying to get to it, or destroy it. Those ONI spooks at your side could probably tell you more then I can.”
Admiral Parangosky lowered her head at the comment.
Hood continued. “For now, Sierra 117 is pushing threw, however, ONI Facility Bravo A puts you close.”
“Sir, with all the commotion happening with Sierra 117, Charley will be watching him closely. My platoon is ready to backdoor him.”
“We don’t know what’s down there son.” Hood replied.
“Sir, if Sierra 117 can not complete his mission, someone has to get in there and shut Truth down from the inside.” Eric commented as the elevator reached the top. In front of him stood forty strong soldiers, Gridolee, a handful of grunts, and three Spartan IIIs wearing modified SPI armor.