'Riparee's gravelled tones startled 'Ixhusee from his reverie.
"Come, brother. This is our fight, and I would see it finished." Other Zealots were now gathering around the Shipmaster's lieutenant, some fresh from the Shipmaster's own bodyguard, others battle worn from the recent struggle.
Here and there, Sangheili knelt over their fallen Zealot brothers, gently closing their eyes and fixing their weapon's firmly in their grasps, muttering a quick prayer to speed them along the Journey in a brief moment of mourning.
"Brothers, you have fought valiantly," Shipmaster Obor 'Kajalee's powerful voice flowed mellifluously through each Sangheili's integrated communications suite.
"One final effort is all that remains. Do not question your resolve," he continued, quoting Covenant scripture, "for all who walk the blessed path - as we do - shall find salvation, even in death."
The Shipmaster's voice degenerated into an exultant roar as he ended with the Zealot mantra. "Take heart brothers, let none stand before you! We shall triumph! Fulfil your oaths, for with this sacrament of blood, we journey into the divine beyond! Actions, not words!"
As before, his stirring words had roused the Zealots, and they roared lustily back, hot blooded, combat ready.
'Riparee again divided his forces into squads, placing the most experienced Zealots in command. Each would breach the warehouse structure from a different access point, of which there were many. The lieutenant commander of the Sangheili forces once more took 'Ixhusee and his squadmates under his wing, entering the hulking warehouse at it's base. Armed now with Plasma Repeaters, the Sangheili entered the forbidding gloom of the human compound.
Passing through a small, darkened room, 'Ixhusee and his comrades entered into a hallway containing a wire mesh structure which looked to be some kind of storage area. From a dark doorway at the other end of the hall another group of Zealots was emerging. 'Riparee motioned to his counterpart in the other squad and each fireteam moved towards the two squares of light on either side of the wire mesh storage area which marked open doorways.
The Sangheili emerged into a brightly-lit, tiered room with multiple stairways, support columns and overhanging gantries. Other Zealot squads entered the room from doors whih led onto these higher walkways from their designated access points, the articulation lights of their armor shimmering as they cautiously entered the open space. Yet other doorways remained silent and dark, like hungry, expectant mouths.
All the Sangheili were on edge, constantly scanning the room with sweeping gazes and weapons, tilting their Repeaters upwards to check the highest gantries and metal fretwork for enemies lying in ambuscade. However, several eyes were drawn immediately to the centre of the room, where, mounted on it's fastenings, rested the UNSC Commonwealth's A.I. core.