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In Amber Clad 01: Spinner's End
Posted By: Jackie<apocryphal333@aol.com>
Date: 10 January 2005, 4:10 AM
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Author's Note: This is, basically, a novelization of Halo 2. There will be a few scenes of my own, mostly involving the Prophets and politics and all that jazz, as well as a few concerning characters from the books(Halsey & Kelly), but 90% of the story is just from the game.
Ninth Age of Reclamation//Covenant Holy City "High Charity," Inner Sanctum of the Hierarchs, the Prophet of Truth's personal quarters.
The High Prophet of Truth was situated in his private quarters, seated at his computer terminal. An artificial space-scape painted the wall behind him, filling the room with an iridescent glow, reflecting magnificently off of the mirrored walls. He was thankful it was artificial; the true view outside of High Charity would fill him with unimaginable grief.
The atrocity of Halo weighed heavily on his mind. The Fall of Installation 04 was an enormous tragedy, robbing the Covenant of the greatest joy imaginable - fulfillment of the Great Journey. It was prophesized, of course, that other rings would be found, but how soon was anyone's guess.
There were, however, much more important things to be dealt with. Truth stopped typing and reclined in his chair, sinking deeply into gel-filled cushions as every proposal in the history of High Charity's network was searched.
His top Brute general and most trusted advisor, Tartarus, had reported only minutes ago that the Prophet of Regret had suppressed a submission to the Council. This was, of course, ordinary procedure - Tartarus wouldn't dare strike his word against a Prophet's - but it was the last piece of a very large puzzle, and led Truth to believe without doubt that Regret was hiding something vast.
Truth smiled. It wouldn't be hidden for long.
The terminal flickered once and faded from a deep purple to vivid blue, signaling search results. There was only one. Truth opened the file and leaned forward in anticipation, eyes wide, and began to read.
Fleetmaster Ado 'Sutamee of The Pious Inquisitor
High Prophet and his Council:
Our Engineers have worked tirelessly analyzing the data from Halo, as well as the Human world Sigma Octanus IV. The Sacred Crystal found in the planet's depths held the key to discovering the location of Halo, as prophesized. The Humans aboard their vessel, the Pillar of Autumn, found the ring's coordinates embedded in the Crystal's chemical structure, among other things our scientists are still attempting to decipher from the radiation signal. After running multiple simulations, we have concluded that the spike at location 2.10.545.4141 was emitted from a crystal of similar structure and purpose. I suggest immediate action - the Humans are aware of the Crystal, though perhaps not its function.
I await your appraisal.
Truth grunted in disgust. This confirmed it - oh, Gods, the fool.
Though Regret had not stated so, Truth knew that Regret shared his goals- to find another Halo, and complete the Great Journey. The three High Prophets all had knowledge of the signal that came from an unexplored sector of space; such a powerful radioactive spike could only be another Sacred Crystal, embedded with coordinates of a Sacred Ring. When he had heard of this spike, Regret had immediately taken charge of a fleet in route to the location. Truth was certain that, without intervention, Regret would succeed. However, such knowledge and power in the hands of the feckless could be disastrous.
Truth stepped back a moment, attempting to see the situation from Regret's perspective Suppressing this notice from the Council's eyes and influence was unwise and belligerent, but at this particular point in time, they would never support an action. Though the Halos were holy relics of the Forerunners, the discovery of the Flood had shaken the faith of even the most of the Council; for why would the Forerunners bequeath them with such a curse? So, Truth decided, Regret must have intended to reach the Crystal before the Humans, even if it meant slighting the Council's input.
Truth sighed. Under his sole rule, things would be different for his people.
Regret would fall easily. He was young, brash and arrogant; Mercy himself had noted these traits. Truth made a mental note to write Mercy, reinforcing this opinion. Mercy's elimination, however, would have to come latter - and, unless Truth achieved overwhelming power once Regret was finished, it would need to be very, very subtle. Perhaps the Brutes would be of service. The newest addition to the Covenant were strong and subservient, with muscles of pure steel, and allied with the Elites, they would make a mighty armada indeed.
However, Truth's plans were still in their infancy. Quelling the heretics would bring round some of the Council, but his manner might be thought of as unorthodox. Transforming a traitor into an Arbiter was absolutely unheard of -
There was a light tapping on the door, jarring Truth from his thoughts. "Enter," he called, and the doors slid apart.
Violet light splashed into the room, rays shattering into arcs as they reflected off of Truth's mirrored embellishments. The bowed figure of an Elite Honor Guard was silhouetted in the doorway. "Holy Prophet of Truth, the Council humbly requests your presence at the Trial of Alai 'Platomee."
Truth sighed, partially with relief and partially with dread - for despite his superior ruling in the council, his own plans would not stand well against such black-and-white vision.
Ninth Age of Reclamation//Covenant Holy City "High Charity," Sanctum of the Hierarchs.
The divine Covenant Worldship High Charity drifted amidst lifeless battleships and galactic dust - the remnants of Halo, a relic of the Forerunner legacy. A daunting armada of ships swept the area, working swiftly and methodically to salvage any remaining personnel - as well as keeping a sharp eye for lingering human forces. The ring itself, listless and broken, hung dead in space just outside Threshold's orbit. It glowed, red like fire. Red like blood.
Seventy thousand infantrymen. Fifteen ships and their navigators. Some of the finest tacticians and in the Covenant fleet. All of these losses weighed heavily on Alai 'Platomee's shoulders, and now was the time to answer to them.
"There was only one ship," he said, standing tall in the center of the Council Chamber. A gallery of members gathered in the risers above him, row after row circling towards the ceiling; the chamber was, for once, entirely full. A squad of Brutes stood alert at the exit. He paid them no mind; the Prophets were the ones who needed answers.
The Prophet of Regret's hologram shifted forward slightly. "One? Are you sure?"
"Yes," Alai 'Platomee answered. "They called it...the Pillar of Autumn." The words felt like fire, passing through his lips. No human creation merited a name...but he had sworn to give a full account.
"Why was it not destroyed with the rest of their fleet?" The Prophet of Mercy inquired. He, unlike Regret, was present in body.
"It fled, as we set fire to their planet," 'Platomee responded. "And I followed with all the ships in my command."
Mercy nodded, but Regret appeared livid. "When you first saw Halo," he inquired, "were you blinded by its majesty?"
"Blinded?"
"Paralyzed, perhaps? Dumbstruck?"
"No."
"Yet the humans were able to evade your ships! Land on the sacred ring, and desecrate it with their filthy footsteps!" The hologram flickered for a moment as the Prophet slammed a fragile first to his armrest.
Alai 'Platomee hung his head in shame this time, not daring to meet the Prophet's eyes. His heart was cold. "Noble hierarchs, surely you understand that once the parasite attacked-"
A crowd of Grunts clamored in the first few rows of the Council, halting any explanation. It was no matter; this sole action indicated to 'Platomee that no excuse of his would be ever be accepted.
"There will be order in this council!" Mercy exclaimed. He opened his mouth to speak more, but there was no need; the crowd had fallen silent.
The High Prophet of Truth hovered towards 'Platomee, down the center aisle between Mercy and Regret, the manifestation of law. "You were right to focus your intention on the flood," he spoke, voice misty and murky as his name. "But this Demon, this - Master Chief - " The Prophet of Truth's lip coiled in disgust at the mere thought of committing a rank to any human soldier.
"By the time I learned the Demon's intent, there was nothing I could do," he answered.
The crowd roared in condemnation. 'Platomee picked up a familiar voice in the rubble; Tartarus, highest ranking of the Brutes, laughing deeply.
Unheard of. Absolutely impertinent.
"Noble Prophet of Truth, this has gone on long enough!" Regret declared over the clamor. "Make an example of this blunder; the council demands it!"
Truth did not respond; instead, he directed his attention to 'Platomee. "You are one of our most treasured instruments. Long have you lead your fleet with honor and distinction," - 'Platomee drew a quick breath, allowing himself to hope - "But," Truth continued, "your inability to safeguard Halo was a colossal failure."
The Prophet of Supposition rose in the stands. "Nay, it was heresy!"
The Council roared in agreement.
"I will continue my campaign against the humans!" 'Platomee cried out. He no longer hoped to be released without a charge; his words were desperation. Please listen to me, he urged them silently. Please hear me, please believe me, I am nothing but faithful, I give my oath-
"No!" Truth said, with condemnation. "You will not." He waved a hand lightly, and Tartarus, in turn, motioned to his Brutes. 'Platomee barely felt arms grasp his own. He turned numbly..
"Soon the Great Journey shall begin," Truth's words echoed through the hallway exit of the Council Chamber. "But when it does, the weight of your heresy shall stay your feet...and you shall be left behind."
As Alai 'Platomee walked to his grave, sins tearing at him, he found himself agreeing.
0658 hours, September3, 2552//Chiroptera-class vessel, in Slipspace en route to [[error]] ANOMALY: location outside of UNSC controlled space.
Dr. Catherine Halsey was on edge.
She cross-legged in the pilot's seat of an old Chiroptera-class stealth vessel - a pirate's personal ship, no less, and that was visible. The space was cramped; though the poorly-lit "bridge" was normally operated by two people, she couldn't imagine how it would work out. The controls were laid out on a dented sheet of metal, above which was a two-inch thick window. It was blank, of course - in Slipspace, there was nothing to see - but numerous holographic displays compensated for the blackness. There was a partition behind her, separating navigation from crew, and a weapons locker behind that. Besides normal operational areas, however, the vessel was sparse. The controls were also very different - more complex than modern versions, and there was no AI to take care of trajectory calculations.
Steering, however, wasn't what worried her.
It had been two hours since she had abandoned Admiral Whitcomb, Corporal Locklear, most of her Spartans, and all the others at the Gettysburg's launchbay. They must have registered her disappearance by now; Governor Jiles would be livid.
Tap tap.
Kelly was awake.
Dr. Halsey sighed, exhaling deeply; this would be difficult. She buzzed the door open.
Kelly stood to the side of the doorway, silhouetted in the flood of light from the passenger's quarters. Her helmet was removed, close-cropped blue hair disheveled. She took a quick glance around the room and then stepped in.
"Ma'am," she said, voice tense.
Dr. Halsey swiveled her chair around. "Have a seat, Kelly. I'm glad to see you awake." She waved a hand at the seat right of her, and the screens covering that portion of the desk. "Monitor surveillance, please; this is one of the more dangerous sectors of Slipspace, I'm afraid."
Kelly nodded, but hesitated. "Ma'am, I don't under-"
"Have a seat, and I'll explain."
Kelly sat, armor clinking against the antiquated metal. "The Chief's first strike mission was set for 0530 hours," she said, looking over the surveillance reports.
"Yes."
"Why aren't I with them?" Her voice was calm and controlled, but her gauntleted hand curled into a fist. Dr. Halsey felt a momentary chill down her spine.
"A top priority, highly classified ONI reconnaissance mission was ordered at 0200 hours. One Spartan was needed, and I felt that you were most suited to the job. I'm here for tactical purposes; they wanted one of their own people along."
"Why not Lieutenant Haverson?"
"Odd, isn't it, that a commissioned ONI tech would be present on the Pillar of Autumn, the only human ship to find Installation 04?" She glanced at Kelly, who gave a slight nod.
"Captain Keyes intercepted a transmission from Sigma Octanus IV before the jump to reach, containing a set of coordinates. Cortana plugged them in when the ship jumped from Reach, and they led the Pillar of Autumn to the ring. Haverson came aboard the Pillar of Autumn after the fall of Sigma Octanus - after the transmission was received. He knew that they were headed to another ring."
"If the UNSC knew about Halo," Kelly asked, "then how was it possible to jump there without violating Cole Protocol? If there was a chance that the Covenant would follow-"
"It's UNSC-recognized space," the doctor explained. "But not UNSC-controlled. Lieutenant Haverson," she explained, keeping her voice carefully controlled, "was part of another special weapons project headed by Colonel Ackerson, situated on one of the seven. That project," she continued, "has since become uncontrollable - and we are here to put an end to it."
That much, at least, was true.
"I'll tell you more once we find the ring."
Kelly had calmed now, accepting this explanation, and took charge of the vessel's operating procedures. "Re-adjusting ETA from two hours, thirty-one minutes to four minutes," she said, brow furrowed
The doctor nodded and returned to the controls. She disliked lying to Kelly, but it was necessary - for now, at least. She performed routine maintenance scans and checked the surrounding area for any ships - Covenant, of course, but UNSC as well. Both were enemies, now.
She sunk back in her chair as numbers scrolled relentlessly on the displays, staring out the bridge's window at the starscape with only half-interest. She had stopped questioning if what she was doing was right; there was no definite answer. Everything was grey. She wasn't saving the world this time. She wasn't preserving a unified government, or engineering super soldiers, or designing the UNSC's most technologically advanced armor. This time she set out to save herself; to keep from repeating cold-blooded mistakes. To save the ones she could.
Outside the ship, stars came into view, drenched in a green glow. The vessel exited slipspace smoothly.
The display Kelly was monitoring started to blink. Dr. Halsey turned to look at it, but as she glanced torwards the station something else caught her eye.
Dead ahead, hanging in space, was another Halo.
The doctor smiled wryly. "There are four submachine guns and sixteen clips in weapon storage. Suit up, and get ready," she told Kelly. "We've got work to do."
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