Do not be afraid… for I am peace… I am SALVATION!
→Excerpt quotes by Gravemind←
Human Calendar year 2560
[tell us… Faze'kratan! What happened on that day…]
{what day?} replied Faze while spiting on the floor
[don't play games with me! Faze! You know the day! The day you brought three humans on Ratas'vadum ship!] replied the Admiral with his crowned white headdress
{Ah! You mean the day high charity fell! But why ask me directly? The records of my report should still be saved in the archives…}
[they are... And I have listened… but... I want to hear it again through your mouth…]
{I see…} replied Faze through squinted eyes before continuing:
{very well, but remember, it's not a pleasant story… and one I wish to forget…}
[...]
{don't look at me like that Admiral… it's not a story of honor... But one of shame! One I will have to bear till the day I find rest…} replied Faze as he stared at the Sangheili in the room, particularly staring at the ones in blue.
[Major faze! I will not ask again! Now! Tell me your story!]
{very well then… the story starts like any other….}
Morning of day…. Human calendar year 2552
As Major Faze looked up from the artificial sunlight of high charity, within the foundation of the golden city, he heard one of his minor subordinates say:
[sir! The others are waiting… are we not going to join them in witnessing the heretics' shame?]
{hmm…} replied Faze with a grunt as he turned his head to the screen showing all the cheers at the sight of the heretic being dragged and paraded along the path from the council chambers.
{Vadamee… a heretic… I still don't believe it…}
[right major… but the council… surely if they say so.. Then it must be true… right?] replied the minor elite with unyielding faith.
Hearing those words and seeing the unwavering faces of his subordinates, Major Faze could only shake his head in agreement even though he had some misgivings on this particular matter, as he once served under him.
{you're right, Ykan'Tavamee, the council wouldn't make a mistake… but even so… I fear this course of action may have set in motion discord within our ranks… } replied Faze as he gestured to the rest to follow him into the phantom.
As Ykan pondered on his commander's words, which sounded oddly close to heresy, Ykan looked at him and said with squinted eyes:
[sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?]
{you may, Ykan} replied Faze as he looked at the approaching tower, where Vadamee would be shamed!
[ sir! Your earlier words… bother me… perhaps you can explain to me… why you think a traitor like Vadamee will bring discord to our ranks!]
Catching onto what Ykan was getting at, Faze sighed in disappointment as he said:
{I see you have much to learn, young warrior…}
[...] Confused what his major meant and before he could think of a reply, Faze continued:
{look, before you go accusing your commanding officers of heresy, you better first learn to hide your intention better…}
With shock written in his eyes, Ykan was about to refute when the transport vehicle suddenly stopped! Confused himself, Major Faze looked out of the transport vehicle to see a checkpoint setup. Complete with banshees and other phantoms!
[Major! Was a checkpoint scheduled during the ceremony?] questioned Ykan
{Hmm… it does make sense but why do I feel like this is different…. }
While the major group looked at each other, the major heard an all too familiar voice over the comms.
[Well, well, well, look who it is! Major Faze! Coming to enjoy the show are we?]
{blasted Jiralhanae brutes!} thought the major before replying:
{yes, Maddion… like you I have also come to "enjoy" the show…}
[mahhh! Good… good… you made it just in time! The best part is just about to start! You best hurry now… "Major" Oh… and it's platform five by the way]… replied Maddion as he cut the comm channel
Annoyed by the burte's foul taunts, but used to the brute barbaric way of communicating, the major put up with it, with a shrug as he commanded the pilot to land. However, new to the Covenant ranks, minor Ykan, wasn't as keen on the brute's ways and asked the major a question out of curiosity:
[sir, why do the brutes talk to us with such disrespect? Do they not know their place in the great journey?]
{Ykan… be mindful of what you say, when gossiping about another faithful race!} replied Faze with great strength. But as he watched Ykan bow his head in shame, he continued.
{But… you're right... Their kind has always been jealous of our standing within the covenant! With that in mind… be extra cautious when dealing with them! Understood!}
[yes, major!] replied Ykan, as his mind began to recollect his and major previous conversation about discord! With those thoughts, he tightened his grip on his plasma rifle.
As the group left the checkpoint they soon arrived at another one, then after a few more steps they arrived at another one, to the point that even the major started to suspect the excessiveness of it all.
{something not right…} thought the major to himself as he studied each checkpoint he passed!
He notices that at each stop not a single Sangheili was among the guards… just brutes and their Kig-yar servants…but the most suspicious fact, was not that there weren't any Sangheili, but that the brute's eyes… though normally aggressive, they held an unusual shocking amount of malice between each stare… a hunger that the major felt unease about…
With such thoughts, the major walked into the spiral stadium, to see the crowds of Covenant cheering… the scores of voices so loud… that even he was lost for a moment as he watched his once proud leader striped of his armor…and worse…. stripped of his honor!
Naked and strung up to chains, and forced to bear the shock of coursing electricity through his body… Vadamee screamed! But not out of mercy or beggness…. And while an audio record played his words back to him and to all to hear:
[ "If they come to hear me beg… they will be disappointed!"]
This only served to increase the mockery and the cheers! As the Unggoys chanted louder!
[Heretic! Heretic!]
Even as the altar spun and brought out the brand of shame! The brute Tartarus laughed so happily as he grabbed ahold of it! And without care or mercy, Tartarus shoved the brand onto Vadamee's exposed chest!
Watching his commander being publicly shamed and the brute's enjoyment of it, caused Faze to grip his beam sword with pure hatred! For in his heart, he believed his former commander to be no heretic, just a victim of blame! A political sacrifice in the face of a great tragedy.
Of course, as he turned to look at his subordinates, all of them thought otherwise, but could he blame them… no! After all how could he…. They were young and new aspiring warriors! Taught since birth the dogma of the Covenant! He too was just like them once… knowing they have yet to see much of the world, he could only shake his head in his heart and bury the feelings deep down.
And when all was done, and the stadium emptied of people, and as he made his way out, he overheard a group of young brutes as they continued to make fun of Vadamee, and make declarations on how they would make better ship captains than the elites! Better leaders than that of the elites! And that they should be the ones by the prophet's side as they arrive at the great journey!
Now the major wasn't against the young having dreams, but to say that their species was better than his own, did cause tension in his heart, but as a leader, he couldn't lower himself to that of the young. But as he continued to pass the 'children' he noticed the more veteran of the brutes smirk!
But shaking his head, and knowing that the brute just wanted to start a fight, Faze just continued to ignore them even as he arrived back into his phantom, where his subordinate spoke:
[sir! Are we really just going to…]
{Shut it Ykan! Their race knows no code of conduct or honor! Other than in choosing leaders… WE ARE BETTER THAN THEM! They are by definition brutes… as humans call them… And thus act like it! But we are not! We are Sangheili! Remember that! Even at the end Ykan…}
Seeing Ykan bend the knee in acknowledgment, Faze looked out his phantom with sharp eyes and said:
{pilot! Take us to the outer zones… I think Ykan and the others could use a change in scenery!}
As the phantom landed, Ykan asked:
[sir! Why have you brought us here? This is where the slum lives!]
{so it is… listen, young warrior, what is high charity? What does it mean to all races living within these walls?}
[umm… high charity is a testament to our long-cherished contract with the prophets! And it is an honor for any race to be living in these walls…] replied Ykan as if it was common knowledge.
{wise words young warrior, but test book in their meaning and straight out of your noble upbringing! No! Look around you again! And now tell me!}
As Ykan continued to look around he still could not see what his major was getting at to his disappointment.
{sigh, Ykan… your eyes are still too young… were you see an honor, I see great disparity, were you see a long cherished contract… I see a prison! And before you say that heresy it is not, to call what is, what it is…
Look even here, and at the outer edges of the golden city are the poor, and the misfortunate who could not serve any longer… and species who will never see a real-world…a real sun… to feel its warmth… and even worse divided lines…}
[but sir.. Aren't the dividing walls there for a reason? And as for the misfortune... All I see are lesser races like the Brutes etc… so, isn't it by their own lack of skills that they are in this condition?]
{The walls are there for a reason… yes, ever since the great Unggoy uprising, but even so.. Isn't it such a shame that we, who all believe in the great journey have to live separated by walls? As for "their lack of skills" in truth wasn't because of their lack, but because they were simply unlucky… after all… the war with the humans has stretched on for 27 years now!} replied Faze as he stared off into the distance.
[well... That all might be true major, but I still only see the lesser races here! So, where are all our people at?] replied Ykan with a shoulder shrug.
{simple.. You see that sword on your hilt there?}
[yes… but what does that have to do with anything?] replied Ykan while looking into Faze's eyes.
{sigh, to fail is to bring great shame! And then… theirs being forced to be a liability to your family…which brings with it even greater shame! You asked why there are no Sangheili here… well... Look at your blade and ask that question again… and hopefully, you'll have your answer!}
While Faze left in his phantom, Maddion looked at the young brutes before him with great pride and said:
[well done… my young brothers… and soon what you said will be true! These coward elites... These nobles who…grrr! Soon… just a little more! Just one more mistake and the prophet will have to see! That we the Jiralhanae! Are above them! Are above these so-called elites… and when that day comes..] paused Maddion as he looked at the weapons in the hands of the young brutes
[we will drench our death lobbers in their blood!]