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Section I: Sangheili
Posted By: Jacob Grodman<AvidWriter117@yahoo.com>
Date: 18 March 2007, 7:42 pm
Read/Post Comments
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Here is the next section, thanks to your comments.
I understand that there are Canon inconsistencies (spelled that wrong) within the prologue. I did that on purpose. I tried to stick as close to the truth as I could, but I had to make the story so it would fit with what I had planned.
There are things in this section also that do not follow canon. Please do not comment on things that falsify the covenant timeline, but anything else is okay.
Year 0050, Age of Reconciliation, Sangheili home planet, High chamber of Sangheili council
"So what would be the reason for me and my Sangheili to join your alliance?" Zoneema said.
"Your citizens are oblivious, but I'm not. Your civilization is on the verge of collapse," Truth exclaimed.
"Our weapons are much more superior than yours!" Zoneema said, "I could wipe out your people in minutes, than no one would question my authority."
"You believe you are superior to my people?" Truth said, he kept a calm face, but his anger was conspicuous, "I have journeyed throughout the galaxy for decades gathering weapons. I could destroy your planet with a snap of my fingers." Truth snapped his fingers, and Zoneema flinched.
"I will not respond to your threats, I will not be deterred," Zoneema said, "let me think about your 'offer,' I will contact you within the hour."
"Understood, but don't keep me waiting. If you join my cause, your people will be revered with great honor and pride. You will be generals of a great army, conquering the galaxy." The Prophet of Truth said as he walked out of the hut, "Make the right choice!"
Zale Zoneema sat back in his raised chair and sighed, which was a difficult gesture through his split mandibles.
He was stuck in a sticky situation. If he and his Sangheili joined this group, many of his people would surely die in battle; but if he did not join the group, all his people would probably die.
Therefore, Zale chose the noble path.
He realized that he would much rather die fighting than die from orbital bombardment.
"Rona," Zale called out, "come!"
A young Sangheili came through the shallow doorway into Zale Zoneema's living quarters. He wore dark blue armor showing that his rank was of that lowest stature, in comparison to the white and black armor that Zale wore, showing that he was that supreme chancellor and leader of the whole Sangheili race.
"Rona," Zale said, "I would like you to contact the Elite council.
"Yes sir," Rona Manomee said, and then he backed out of the hut.
Zale had already made his decision, but he needed a little reassurance.
Rona sat outside the chamber listening to an intense argument between Zale and the rest of the Sangheili council.
Actually, there was no arguing; it was just everyone yelling at what Zale was saying. Zale had not raised his voice, but was just stating counterexamples to everything the council said.
Rona knew Zale would eventually win. Zale Always won.
Rona had served Zale for 36 years and had not received a single promotion. Everyone in the city honored Rona as though he were an Honor Guard, but it wasn't the same. Rona wanted and official promotion, but he couldn't bring up the courage to ask the supreme chancellor.
Blue armor was the lowest rank in the Sangheili society; it meant that he was a minor in the military. Next comes red armor, which would make him a major. Then cyan which meant Ranger; chrome which meant a stealth commander; grey or brown also meant stealth commander, but was of higher status; black armor meant that he would be a special operatives soldier; and so on and so forth.
Many different armor colors surrounded the Sangheili caste system; and Rona could not even raise one level, despite his "friendship" with Zale.
Rona snapped out of his thoughts as he realized that the "arguing" had stopped.
ale had, undoubtedly, won the debate.
The council members walked out of the chamber, and Zale called Rona back in.
One of the councilors was still in the room. He wore the honorary shining white armor and white headpiece of people of his status.
"This is the only councilor that agreed with my decision," Zale said, "How do you think I should reward him?"
"Well sir, he has the highest rank in our society, bested only by yourself," Rona said, "so if you can find a way to give him a higher promotion, than that would be a good reward."
"That's a good idea, how about…I've got it. Rona, go in my wardrobe and retrieve a white headpiece with engraved markings on it," Zale said. Rona did as he was told, and retrieved the headpiece,
He handed it to Zale who bestowed it upon the Council member.
"You are now my Covenant Representative," Zale said.
"Thank you, I will not let you down," the Sangheili said.
"I expect you not to," Zale replied, "now leave us. I will summon you on the marrow."
Rona started to back out of the room as well, but Zale stopped him.
"No Rona," he said, "you stay."
Rona stepped forward, and Zale stood, paced a little, and then stopped in front of Rona.
"How many years have you been in my service? I have lost track," Zale said.
"36 years, sir," Rona said, lowering his head.
"Aah, I see you've been keeping track?" Zale said, "No doubt to see how long I keep you a Minor?"
"Sir, it's not-"
"No need to explain yourself. In the past years, you have been more than worthy than a few promotions. The truth is…I think your one of a kind. Most Sangheili will run into battle because they are told to, but you will run into battle to protect those beside you." For the first time in 36 years, Zale Zoneema looked straight into Rona's eyes. "You not only admire the courage of the elders that lead you from behind, you admire the courage of those petty soldiers that put their life on the line. I admire your integrity. So I'm scared to let you leave my service, for fear that one day you will lead me. You deserve a much higher rank, but now is not the time for that. You are now Major Rona Monamee and second in command of the Sangheili, although they may not respect such a low rank." Zale presented Rona with a shining ruby red full armor suit.
"I am honored beyond words," Rona said, dropping to one knee.
"Stand," Zale said, "I already have a mission for you."
Rona Monamee piloted the stealth class Prowler alone; an incredible feat, even for a Sangheili with as much training as himself.
He manned all the control stations, including weapons control, navigations systems, and communications.
This was the most dangerous mission he had ever faced, yet he wanted to prove himself alone.
The Prophet of Truth had discovered a species on an uncharted planet; a species that was said to be used, or possibly created, by the Forerunners.
Rona wasn't completely sure who the Forerunners were, but he had been told to obey the Prophets. All these new politics were really confusing him, but he knew that he should do what he was told, unless it was morally incorrect; which wasn't the case at the moment.
Rona hadn't gleaned much of what was happening, but he got a little. He had learned that that the Prophets were traveling across the galaxy gathering species to help them reach a race of "gods" called the Forerunners. So now the "Covenant" was going to travel the galaxy to find these Forerunners.
The Sangheili were pawns, and Rona knew that.
Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do; he had to follow directions.
Therefore, he was going on this errand.
After 26 days of traveling, he could finally see the planet in the distance; then after six more hours, he drifted into a deep rock filled crater.
Rona donned his pressure suit, walked out of the ship, and heard the suit slowly tighten…then loosen, showing that the atmosphere was oxygen-nitrogen.
"Rona," a voice over his comm. said.
"Sir?" he responded, "I thought you said that your communications relays can't reach this far."
"I have launched a navigational relay disc that will bounce my signal in your direction," Zale's voice said, "It is a very complex and expensive process, but I can't afford to lose you."
"Thank you, sir," Rona said.
"I have discovered that the species you are after was the greatest followers of the forerunners during their time, and the Forerunners did many things to protect them. There is no doubt that security systems are placed throughout the planet," Zale said, "Be careful."
"I will; thanks for the advice," Rona said. He grabbed an electric baton and four electric discharge grenades, which he attached to his belt. He then set out across a large black sandy desert, In search of something he wasn't even sure he would find.
Two small blips on his motion sensor…
Then four…
Then ten.
A bright orange blast turned the sand at his right into glass; Rona was propelled 6 feet into the air, and landed hard on his side. His vision blacked out for a split second, and he scrambled quickly to his feet.
As he turned, a mechanism made of three floating beams surrounded a glowing orb. The mechanism then stopped glowing, and moved closer to Rona.
"Are you a Reclaimer?" a feminine robotic voice said, the voice resounded throughout the desert, making it impossible to determine the exact location.
"I do not understand what you mean," Rona replied.
Rona then realized that the voice was not coming from the mechanism in front of him, but rather from a red orb behind it. The orb resembled a large eye, but where the iris would be, a glowing ring took its place. Realizing that the ring was most likely the mechanism that the machine the looked out of, this was what Rona spoke to.
"Let me introduce myself," the orb said, "I am 542 Raging Ion. I am the monitor of installation zero one. Unfortunately I was separated from my objective, and I ended up coming here to protect the Holy Artifacts that litter this planet," the monitor inched forward, "have you come to activate the installations?"
"I do not know of what installations you speak, but I have been sent here to find a species of—."
Ooooh, you seek the Huragok!" the Ion cut him off, "I can only show them to you if you prove yourself to me."
"I am not your errand boy," Rona said, "if you will not help me, than I will find them myself."
"That would not be wise, Reclaimer,"
"I am not a 'Reclaimer',"
"Are you not a Homo-Sapien being? I would not know what you look, but we are supposed to look for a biped being with great armor and weaponry, and he must be able to pass our tests with ease," Ion said.
"I am not a Homo-Sapien, I am of the race called Sangheleili"
The monitor let out an electronic gasp of anger and retreated.
"I was warned of the Sangheili treachery by my masters," the monitor said, the mechanism around him flew closer; "You and my masters were bitter enemies in times past. Sentinels, please dispose of him."
The mechanisms, apparently called Sentinels, sped towards Rona, their central orbs glowing.
Rona ran.
"Zale! We kind of have a problem here!" he said with gasping breath
"So I see, I have your heat signature on a satellite; the machines are right behind you, but you need to find the species anyway," Zale said.
"I understand, but I request that you send a squadron of fighters her as fast as possible," Rona said.
"If you find what you are looking for, they will have technologies that can get us there faster, but for now, your on your own," Zale said with regret.
"Understood," Rona replied, not having the energy or time to argue.
Rona's foot caught on a rock and he pitched forward, landing heavily on his stomach, and slamming his mandible together.
"Do not shoot! He is near the Holy Articles," the monitor said from high above.
As Rona looked up, the Sentinels flew backward away from Rona; then as he looked forward, he realized the reason why. Rona had fallen into a field of destroyed ships. 10,000 year old carcasses littered the ground, not decomposed due to the lack of bacteria.
"Rona, is everything okay there?" Zale asked, "Why did you and the machines stop?"
"I've stumbled upon an ancient battleground. There are hundreds of bodies and crashed ships," Rona said, "the machines said that this is a holy article, so they wont attack."
"Ships?!" Zale said, "Rona! You must find an intact engine for me! If you can send me the schematics for the engine, we can learn how to get places hundreds of times faster than usual."
"Yes, sir."
Rona slowly searched through each mountain of wreckage, looking for an intact engine. With each ship he searched through, he became more sure that he was getting closer.
Although, before he found an intact engine, he found its creator.
As Rona lifted a large metal beam from a pile of wreckage, he saw a cellar like door underneath. As he pulled it open, he noticed that al the Sentinels followed him, including the Monitor.
As he walked inside, the light from the monitor lit the passage in front of him.
"I hope that you do not mean to harm the Huragok, Human impersonator," the monitor said, "because if you do, I will use my Sentinels to slowly disintegrate your flesh."
"I mean them no harm, I would only like to talk to them," Rona said.
"Than I must act as a translator, so that I may keep you in order," Ion said and hovered somewhat faster.
With the monitor showing the path, the light above shrank away, and Rona descended into the darkness below...
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