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Remnants of Reach: Prologue
Posted By: Shinai Purugganan<hybrid_phoenix2k2@hotmail.com>
Date: 15 July 2003, 9:18 PM
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Ship Master Napa 'Zanulee observed the status report displayed on his center view screen. As he scrolled through the report, he realized how bittersweet this victory over the humans was. An overwhelming number of friendly starships were decimated, and the rest of the fleet remained almost in shambles. He could barely attain the view of conquest in this region without recognizing the ghastly familiar debris of a Covenant warship. The most devastating detail that pertained to him embedded deep inside his consciousness. "The Vengeance of the Gods" underestimated one of the human fleet's small cruisers, and the human vessel fired destructive rounds into its hull, obliterating it.
"Our flagship," Napa thought, "my brother's ship."
He yearned for revenge, to shatter the sacrilegious, puny human warship, but it had escaped before he could dispatch it. 'Zanulee clenched his hands into fists. The Prophets promised ultimate victory over the human stronghold, the greatest honor of annihilating the best of the enemy. The Exalted Ones foretold the human resistance would dwindle and that their goal would be achieved: locating the human home-world of Earth. After this battle, it was Napa's faith that had begun to dwindle. All his energy came from the burning desire of revenge, whether it was from finishing the humans or even setting his sights upon the Prophets and their empty promises. But appending any of that was impossible for now; he returned his concentration to the report.
The report advised all remaining ships into a sector originally designated for the Prophet's "holy" purposes. The emergency was classified, no questions were to be asked unless proper identification had been given. Fortunately, the Prophets left him in command of the forces guarding Reach, until he discovered what had transpired. The same human starship that had destroyed his brother's ship entered a "holy" sector, and he was left behind. The Prophets ordered most of the warships in his armada to pursue, many Ship Masters, except him.
"Why, out of all the others, why me?" he pondered furiously, "Why me!"
His anger toward the Prophets intensified. Duty and fear held him back from claiming what was rightfully his hunt; however, that duty now was to finish the rest of the humans on this forsaken planet. He turned his head over to Canac, his assistant who stood by analyzing the readouts of their contingent of ships on the right screen.
"Canac, how many vessels have I been left with?" 'Zanulee asked.
"Mmmm, two… four… errmm, oops that one's us… three ships, Sir." Canac reported in his squeaky voice. He gasped for more methane.
"Three?" Napa grunted furiously, "Only three? What are their classes and designations?"
Canac reverted his viewscreen to the ship status section. "Uhhh, two frigates, the Judgment and the Prophecy, and the Carrier Fryer and Worse-ship… err, I mean Prayer and Worship, Sir."
Napa sighed and added, "Their status and ours?"
"Well… damage reports read minimal and we're still in one piece, Sir." Canac recollected the sudden thump and boom when a human starship fired a round that left a hole in their crusier.
'Zanulee remembered the incident as well, but set the memory aside. "Hail the Prayer and Worship," he requested.
The grunt fumbled with the pad in his hand, then managed to press the communication option. He chose the symbols for the appropriate vessel and mumbled, "Stupid thingy, they never make any we can use." He inhaled extra methane and returned to reading his screen. The left screen flickered and exposed an elite similar to Napa 'Zanulee.
"This is the Carrier Prayer and Worship at your command," answered the elite.
"Ship Master, what is the status of your ground forces and your reserves aboard?" 'Zanulee inquired.
"Sir, the troops that had landed successfully from the original carrier group captured the human's planetary defenses and heavily bombarded most of the human's major centers and targets," he paused and continued, "But the original task force lost its potency-"
'Zanulee interrupted, "What do you mean by lost its potency?"
"The human resistance appeared to be what was expected, until these other humans slipped past the armada and landed. They were all clad in emerald armor and stalled our advance. We overwhelmed them eventually, but few were left after ending their onslaught. The ground forces are still slowly purging human facilities and we are prepared to retrieve them to cleanse the planet," explained the Ship Master.
Napa sighed as he began his own explanation, "That emergency has ordered most of the remaining armada to another sector. We do not have sufficient firepower to effectively cleanse this world. We have to use your reserves and everything we have to systematically purge the human remains."
The elite presented a grim look, "That could take a week or even two. I would request we begin bombardment and request reinforcements to-"
"No, we cannot. Speed is vital in our operation. Remember the first human colony we destroyed. The humans retaliated with a force larger than expected. This was a human stronghold. They could send something we cannot handle. Orbital bombardment would require us to recharge, and the humans can appear at any moment. The Prophets deny any request of reinforcements. Your reserves have to complete this task and more than a week is unacceptable," demanded Napa.
"I understand, Sir. I will send reserves and the ground forces will be divided efficiently to accommodate your orders. There should not be any resistance but feeble survivors," he acknowledged. The screen dissipated and 'Zanulee paced along the command deck. He pondered frustratingly how he would coordinate the ground forces.
"I've got a baaad, bad feeling about this job," murmured Canac. He inhaled more methane again. "Mmm, well, at least I get all the fresh air I want on this ship!"
To be continued…
(Next: Remnants of Reach: A Key to Survival)
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