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High Sanctum Chapter 4: A Grave Dream and Grand Struggle
Posted By: Jerzey
Date: 18 March 2006, 4:06 pm
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Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee/High Charity, year 2540
Fifteen human years since Kamamee's bloody crusade began. Kunta had won every battle. The Fleet of the High Sanctum even surpassed the Fleet of Particular Justice in victory and honor. But now, Kamamee had another journey, one that would be more important than he could fathom.
***
A strange world. Quite real however, at least to the one perceiving it. But then again, who can say what is strange and what isn't, its a matter of opinion after all. This opinion belonged to the Sangheili that walked its vast expanse. The most peculiar part however, was the rest of the world could be seen above in the sky as if it was a ring. Everything was still and quiet. Even the brilliant sparkling streams were still. Then it all dissapeared. The Sangheili stood before something massive. A beast, with tentacles flailing around in the air.
"What are you?" asked the Sangheili with horror.
"I go by many names." said the beast. "You will learn them in time."
"What purpose do you want me for?" questioned the Sangheili.
"I have appeared before you to give you a warning, and I hope for the sake of both of us that you will heed it."
"Speak then." replied the Sangheili, now intrigued.
"The time will come," began the beast,"that you will be forced to fight for your kind."
"The Covenant you mean?" said the Sangheili.
"No creature, you will learn in time. This great Universe harbors many secrets, some that are not for the better good. You must keep it your duty that these secrets are not unlocked. Always. Prepare your kind for the coming conflict. You along with many more will be needed for it. The secrets must never be used. Remember."
Blackness.
Then images. The Sangheili stood before a wrecked street in High Charity. Infernoes blazed and buildings lay crumpled. The Sangheli's brothers lay dead on the ground, though no assailant was to be seen. They had fled, whoever they were. Then the Sangheli's greatest brother and companion Relda approached. He began to speak but was run through with an energy sword out of thin air. From his dying mandables he managed to mouth out the word "betrayer" and fell still, his body sprawled on the ground without life. Then the voice of the beast.
"Behold the inevitable." it said. "Remember what I have said."
Then came a flash of light.
***
Darkness filled Kamamee's chambers as he shot up from his resting cot. A sleep sequence was all it was. What did it mean? Kunta would find out if it was the last thing he ever did. He lay back down, waiting for the new set of cycles to come upon High Charity.
***
The greatest warriors fought on these grounds. The Great Arena of High Charity is where the Covenant turned their attention away from whatever conflict they were in once every human year and held the Grand Tournament for one human day. Last years champion was Lisna Ronomee, the Supreme Commander who had died at the battle of the heretics. A new one would be crowned. Kamamee was actually the underdog compared to others such as the Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice. Kamamee had more than proven himself time and time again however in the past years. The Jiralhanae cheiftan Ragnarok was also a favored contender.
The arena buzzed with activity as Covenant cheered. All the contenders remained in a back room waiting for the event to begin. Kamamee sat on a stool quietly while watching other contenders brag about what they had done and how they would win. How foolish they were, thought Kunta as he watched in amazement at their arrogance. Most were younger Sangheili or Jiralhanae. They were really the only races that took part in this. Except for one. An Unngoy stood off at the prep room firing range making flawless shots with a plasma rifle. A jetpack was on his back. This was Rangen the Strong, hailed as the greatest Unngoy warrior of all time. He was fearless as an Sangheili and had taken out his share of opponents at the last Tournament. He was the only one of his kind to ever take part in this. Then swording a replica of a human was none other than Sanren Conomee with spittle flying out of his crazed mandables.
The tournament fights were usually to the death. Not many military figures took part in it, except for Kunta, Sanren, and Lispa who fought a year back because the Covenant would see itself slowly losing brilliant leaders because of the fights. Those that fought were usually trained just for the tournament and were considered entertainers. They had no military experience, and would probably not fair well on the field of battle. A one on one fight was a different story however.
The High Prophet of Truth's voice could be heard over the entire arena now. "Welcome, all Covenant to the Grand Tournament! I will hold my tongue and keep this speech short, for our warriors are eager to fight. Here is the first battle. I give you Rangen the Strong and Makmar the Reaver!" Deafening cheers. Kunta and the other conteners watched on a live hologram as Rangen the Unngoy made his way out duel wielding plasma rifles, a feat not many grunts could do. Then a nasty looking Jiralhanae by the name of Makmar with a weapon of his choice, a brute shot.
The battle began. Makmar fired a pair of grenades at Rangen, but the Unngoy warrior quickly took to the air with the aid of his jetpack and fired away with the plasma rifles. The bolts struck Makmar, burning his midsection. Unngoy in the stands cheered wildly while Jiralhanae booed with distaste. Rangen soared over to the injured Makmar and struck him across the head with a plasma rifle butt. He collapsed either dead or unconcious.
"Your winner is Rangen the Strong!" said Truth.
"Just like that?" commented a Sangheili. "If only all Unngoy were like that one."
Ragnarok huffed in a bit of anger somewhere across the room.
Field Master Sanren Conomee/Great Arena prep room, year 2540
Conomee had never had an opportunity to flat out kill Kunta Kamamee like this. He would slay him and take his fleet with pleasure. Then came the prophet's voice. There were an unever amount of opponents. To make it even, the prophet said that two would come out to face waves of armed human prisoners and the last standing would be a true contender. Twists like this were thrown in all the time. The two were to Sanren and another Sangheili. Conomee kept his sword and walked out into the fray, ready for the challenge.
Supreme Commander Kunta Kamamee/Arena prep room
Kunta watched as Sanren took out numerous humans with quick sword work. The other contender just couldn't keep up. It wasn't a surprise when the other Sangheili was cut down in fire from the human prisoners. Conomee held his arm high in victory. The humans looked down as they were escorted out of the arena, no doubt to be executed. One human in that line however, had a plan to escape. But that's a conflict to be told another time.
The Grand Tournament progressed surely and steadily,the Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice had been eliminated in a shocking battle with a brute, however he was alive and well. Kamamee, Conomee, Ragnarok and Rangen all won their matches. Then it was down to them. Those four. "The next battle will be a team conflict." said Truth. "It is to be Kunta Kamamee and his officer Sanren Conomee on one team and Ragnarok and Rangen the strong on another! Please make your way to the arena."
No one knew the rage Sanren Conomee felt that moment. Robbed again of a chance to kill Kamamee. What fate. That was why he approached Ragnarok with a request. Kill Kamamee at all costs...
The two teams were on opposing sides of the arena. Recon "Ghosts" as the humans called them and "Wraiths" were put on the field along with rocks and terrain. Each contender was allowed one weapon for the battle. Sanren took a carbine while Kamamee went with a sword. Ragnarok wielded the ceremonial gravity hammer of a Jiralhanae cheiftan and Rangen took a beam rifle. Then the battle began. Kunta motioned Sanren over to a spectre that was parked a few units away. Kunta preferred driving so he took that role while Sanren gunned. The other team was taken off guard by the sudden plasma fire from the spectre. Ragnarok was hit once with a spectre bolt but Rangen was too quick, he dove behind a rock. Rangen took a shot of his beam rifle which hit Kunta once, lowering his shields and another shot struck his arm. He grimaced in pain but ignored it. Then Ragnarok did something unexpected. He jumped out of cover and brought the gravity hammer down upon the side of the spectre destroying it and forcing the two Sangheili occupants to jump out. Ragnarok batted Conomee aside with the hammer. Sanren gave a look a Ragnarok as he lay on the ground. "Do not worry Sangheili, I will do what you requested." said the Jiralhanae with a laugh. Then Conomee went unconcious.
Kunta did not hear what Ragnarok said however, as he was too engaged with Rangen, who was firing at him in the air. Kamamee made a desperate move, he threw his energy sword at the Unngoy which embedded itself in the jetpack, causing it to explode. The little warrior fell and hit the ground and managed to say "Rangen defeated..." and went still. Kamamee took the sword from the ground just in time.
Ragnarok came from behind. He swung the hammer at Kunta who ducked and rolled behind him. In one swift motion, Kunta drove the sword through the Jiralhanae's back. He gasped and coughed up black blood. He then keeled over, and died on the spot. The Arena was silent. Then loud cheers. Jiralhanae roared in anguish, their Chieftan had been slayn, and by a Sangheili too. One day that arrogant race would be in their place, thought the Jiralhanae.
Kunta and Sanren would share the title of Grand Champion for it was Covenant policy that a soldier and his commanding officer were never to be pitted against eachother.
It was over. Rangen the Strong had survived. He got up slowly, and limped off the arena floor holding his side, with as much pride as he could muster.
Later, Kamamee anc Conomee stood on a pedestal and received their Arena Champion armor symbols. Kunta was swelling with happiness. Conomee however felt nothing but burning rage.
Tomorrow would come, and the everything would go back to the way it was. More humans and Covenant alike would die. The war would continue.
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