An Uncertain Future by Phil Webster
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An Uncertain Future
Date: 2 February 2005, 8:45 AM
An Uncertain Future
Part 1: New Priorities
"And where holy oracle is this ark? Asked the Arbiter"
The monitor hovered on its in built repulsers for a few second pondering an answer that would suit these simple mortal reclaimers.
"Why where everything began of course," the monitor finally replied, "the third planet of the sol system."
"Say What? You mean earth," Sergent Johnson gasped sharing a startled expression with his captain Miranda Keys
"The ark has many names," replied the monitor "from my analysis of the space vessel that crashed on the now defunct installation 04 earth is indeed one of them.
"You mean the ark is located on the home world of the human's holy oracle?" asked the arbiter.
'So it would seem reclaimer interesting is it not?" replied the monitor.
"Indeed replied the arbiter gravely. It means my brothers and the rest of the covenant have been fighting the denizens of a sacred world and so have been fighting against the world itself. This is surely a great sin and an abomination against everything we have been taught to believe. The prophets must have seen signs of the truth? How deep has their betrayal become to ensure their own immortality? Has anything we have ever been taught been more than a mere tool to bend us to their will?
Sergent Johnson stepped round and slapped the arbiter on the back a difficult task considering arbiter was almost twice his hight.
"Don't sweat it split lip, he said. You can't blame yourself for the actions of the prophets you're a good fighter even if you are just a covenant.
The arbiter had to smile at the human's courage he was half his size and possessed a fraction of his strength. If he wanted arbiter could crush him like a bud for such an insult. Perhaps in the past he would have but now things were changing and old enmity no longer seemed so clear and straightforward.
Miranda sensed the arbiter's confliction and decided to steer their conversation away from sensitive topics. "The question is what do, we do now?" she asked looking to her companions for possible suggestions.
"Well it's obvious! replied Sergent Johnson. We find a ship skoot over to earth and stop the activation of the primary complex wherever that is. We gotta stop anyone that tries to get in our way and taking out that truth fella might be a good first step."
"No!!!! the arbiter exclaimed. The prophet will be dealt with by my self and my brothers alone, he must pay for his treachery."
"Look I realise this is very personal for you Miranda replied, but this is our home your talking about. If you want to take first stab well that's fine but we'll be there as back up in case you fail. This isn't negotiable unless you want to go back to our old pointless hostilities?" With that Miranda took a step back and raised her SMG at Arbiters head. Sergent Johnson was ready like any good soldier covenant or human alike and had his beam rifle poised and levelled at one of Arbiters elites. His brothers began to growl at the challenge and raise their weapons as they had been trained to do. Arbiter motioned them to stop and sheath their swords and re-holster their plasma rifles. Again he was impressed by the human's bravery. Their where only two of them but they were willing to lay down their lives for what they believed in.
They were indeed worthy warriors obvious physical inferiorities aside.
"This is not the time to renew that conflict," he said as soothingly and diplomatically as a warrior could. Indeed you have proven your worth as warriors and you shall be given the chance to help us defend the ark and in turn your homeland. With that they too lowered their weapons and Miranda gave a respectful nod. During this exchange the monitor had remained silent but he now started to buzz as if extremely agitated.
"I'll have you know that you reclaimers seem to be ignoring containment protocol!, it spluttered. To contain the flood threat the ark must be activated to ensure that they can not establish themselves in the galaxy. Don't tell me I have stumbled upon more belligerent reclaimers, oh dear that would just be too much."
"Monitor to do what you ask would mean sacrificing us all! Miranda exclaimed. Surely you can let us try and stave off their assault first and use the halo system as a last resort. I don't know about anyone else but I am not too keen in being turned into some kind of spiritless zombie creature."
"I would rather die than suffer such a shameful and honourless existence," said arbiter many of his fellow agreements growling in agreement.
"No No NO!!!! cried the monitor with some apparent exasperation. If you can't follow containment protocols I will simply have to call in the sentinels to deal with you and take the index for a more co-operative reclaimers hand."
"Look tinker bell listen to the lady will ya!" cried Johnson
"Look monitor said Miranda as she stepped up to the hovering chief sentinel. You have reliable reclaimers right here, to fight now would waste time we can't afford to loose. We will activate the main installation on earth if there is no other choice. You tried force on installation 04 and where did that get you? Try a more constructive approach this time and one way or another containment protocols will be
re-established. The forerunners must have designed you with some ability to think for yourself, well think then, do you really believe the forerunners would have exterminated themselves if they thought there was any chance of halting the flood. We have a chance let us use it.?
"The monitor pondered before answering, I don't like it reclaimer but your right in saying that it is indeed difficult finding reliable reclaimers. I will agree only if you take me with you to help oversee proceedings.
"What's the matter tinker bell no warp engines?" Johnson interjected, before a stern look from Miranda promptly shut him up.
"Difficult human the monitor exclaimed before continuing. There are fragile and complicated components of the facility your feeble brains will need my help to comprehend and operate."
"Then it is agreed, said arbiter. Let us return to the surface and assess the situation Brothers prepare to move and stay alert for the enemy.
"Too Late", cried a voice and as the group turned there stood 12 fully armed and armoured brutes in battle wedge formation, the leader displaying tribal colours on his back and holding a fully loaded brute shot scythe gleaming menacingly.
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