Post Schism - Just a sliver of conflict (Ask to join please)

[Faclan]

(Maybe do some more post Schism stuff if it proves interesting )


Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Being overrun.

The scum! The literally Gods forsaken scum! They failed their appointed duty so they betray their comrades and cycles upon cycles of loyal service! Thoughts just like that and similar ran though the Kig-Yars mind as he was constantly pushed slowly back into the bowels of the Covenant base. The Sangheili ahead of him just pushing forward without pause, just all at once they had received a call from their 'Holy' leader and had turned upon them all. The Dammed Unggoy had fallen into their forces without question, in addition to some of his more weak brothers who didn't have faith in the Covenant ideals. Himself, his file, and a few remaining Kig-Yar and Jiralanae were trying to just stay alive as the Separatists pushed ever forward.

They had been told that reinforcements were coming fast to support them, a Jiralhanae force led by a captain to support the quickly depleting Covenant forces. But they would have to arrive soon or it would just be them against the Sangheili and Unggoy. Ducking behind a corner as his shield flashed white Cad blind fired a few needles as he waited for his mobile cover to cool down. He growled as Nas squawked in pain and collapsed to the floor, her plea for mercy drowned up by the wave of plasma fire from the Unggoy. Glancing back down the purple hallway he whistled to get his remaining files attneiton and nodded to the door. They all nodded and started backing away as quick as they could toward the door with shields raised. The few remaining Kig-Yar and Jiralhanae defenders went with them, and provided what suppressing fire they could as they moved.

Reaching back once they arrived Cad keyed the door open and watched as it opened, smiling big and wide as he could see not only their reinforcement arrive but it was led by none other then Garatus.

"Brother! Thank the Gods! Help us drive back these heathens!" He squawked in triumph as he turned his back on Garatus and crouched back down behind his shield, starting to reload his Needler as he watched the Sangheili stop their advance for a moment at the arrival of the Jiralhanae force.

[BetaWülf]

Garatus had been on his way to the mess hall with a Sangheili he knew when the transmission from the high prophet of Truths message played through the base, what in the blazes was going on? He looked to the Sangheili who had his hand poised over his weapon, Garatus raised a hand to signal his peaceful intentions but the Sangheili kept his hand at the ready.

"What is this heresy Sangheili? What do they mean?" Garatus said before the Sangheili replied.

"I know not Jiralhanae, if the Prophets have declared us enemies of the Covenant they have dishonored the writ of union and are thus heretics themselves!" the Sangheili said with understandable rage, why would the prophets declare the most faithful heretics? It was madness!

Before Garatus could respond another Sangheili rounded the corner and raised his plasma rifle towards the Jiralhanae Captain, but was stopped from firing by their mutual friend. The newly arrived Sangheili explained the situation and the truth about the rings and the Forerunners, Garatus felt betrayed and wished nothing more than to strangle Truth with his bare hands.

As they started to move both of the Sangheili fell to the ground with spiker rounds in their backs, purple blood oozed from their mouths. Three Jiralhanae hurried to him and rushed him towards the mess hall, when the doors opened Garatus was disgusted and saddened by what he saw. Many Sangheili and Unggoy lay dead on the floor while many grinning Jiralhanae stood about with bloodied hands, how could they be so foolish, Garatus looked up to Valorus who took him aside.

"There are forces that need our help Captain not too far away" he said loud enough to be heard before going to a hushed tone.
"Where do you stand Captain?" Valorus said.

"I stand with the Sangheili" Garatus whispered knowing it may very well mean his death.

"I may not like them but this is madness, I know who is with us and who would be against us Sir, I've devided them into two groups"

"Good" Garatus said patting Valorus on the shoulder before following him to the safe troops.

"You all go back into the base and search for anything of use once denied to us by the Sangheili!" Garatus said to the loyalists who flooded out with glee, once they were gone Garatus addressed the remaining troops, around fifteen Minors and Majors and a single Ultra.

"We cannot abide this slaughter! The prophets have betrayed us, and bid us to destroy our brothers in arms! I say we join the Sangheilie, Are you with me!?" Garatus bellowed with Rage filled glee waiting for a response. They all looked at each other before Valorus spoke up.

"Aye, I will follow you Captain!" Valorus said which surprised them all, he was well known for his dislike of the Sangheili, before long the others joined in and declared themselves loyal to Garatus and the Sangheilei.

"Let us recruit where possible and shed as little blood as possible" Garatus said as they piled out to where they were summoned but with a new intent. They made it to the door and between them and the fighting, it slid open and Garatus and his troops raised their weapons and stepped out, the first person he noticed was Cad.


"Brother! Thank the Gods! Help us drive back these heathens!" Cad said, Garatus could not look him in the eye as he got down near Cad and his troops only prevented the Sangheili from approaching further.

"We need to talk brother....." Garatus said with sadness in his voice. "Which side are you on? There will be no recompense for your answer, I will make sure you make it out alive regardless" Garatus said with hope that Cad knew better.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Traitors and Betrayal everywhere!

"Talk? Brother there is no time for that, the Heretics are overwhelming us!" Cad crouched low behind his shield as he reloaded his Needler, opening the bottom arm as he took a needle canister from his chest armor and started to slide it into the slot, but then Garatus spoke again. Cad froze and despite his long sleeves and armor felt a chill come over his body just as he was about to close and charge his Needler as he thought over the words Garatus spoke. He slowly turned around to face Garatus as it dawned on him, he wouldn't ask if he wasn't on the side being assaulted right now. Cads face went through confusion, surprise, then to anger quickly as a female Sangheili voices commanded a charge. Cads now anger filled eyes glared into Garatus's as he dropped his Needler, maybe giving the Jiralhanae hope that he would surrender without a fight, but then Cads weapon hand darted to his sword and he drew it and stabbed forward quickly toward his 'brothers' neck.

"Betrayal! You and your accursed pack are with the Sangheili!" The helmeted Kig-Yar screeched as he stabbed, if Garatus was able to subdue him or otherwise avoid the attack Cad had likely just saved his life inadvertently if the apparent Sangheili commander heard that. Cads back now to the attacking Sangheili as his file, the remaining Kig-Yar, and Jiralhanae loyalists had to make a choice.

Two of the four remaining Jiralhanae roared in response to the charge and drew blades as they charged toward the Sangheili, one of them turned toward Garatus and his pack and she charged toward them, firing her Spiker - while the youngest male warrior dropped his Spiker and backed into a corner with his arms raised, believing it over now and that the base had been cleared.

The remaining three Kig-Yar who weren't a member of Cads file, two members of a sniper team and a minor security member, all growled and took aim at the female ship mistress charging them. The minor fired his pistol as quick as he could as the sniper and spotter raised their weapons and took aim at the female Sangheili, waiting for the tell tale signs of her shield failing to fire.

Cad's file was also evenly split on actions; Pad hissing and screeching in anger as she started to charge her plasma pistol, taking aim at the charging female Sangheili as she fast approached, her shield held in front of her to protect her. Kop on the other hand as soon as he heard his Major reveal that their reinforcements weren't there to save them almost immediately dropped his plasma pistol, de-activated his shield, and dropped to the ground with his hands over his head, crying out for mercy from the charging Sangheili forces.

[BetaWülf]

Garatus was less than pleased when Cad turned on him, the blade cut the side of his neck and he managed to avoid the rest. He grabbed Cad's torso in one hand and passed him off to his subordinates to keep him under control, he'd have to explain later. He drew his knife and slit the attacking Jiralhanae's throat in plain view of the Sangheili before throwing the blade into the back of one of the Jiralhanae that had charged the Separatists, Garatus raised his empty hands as a show of good faith.

The rest of his pack trained their weapons on the remaining Kig-yar and disarmed them as Garatus called a cease fire, the only Jiralhanae to surrender was being bound at the wrists. Cad had been bound at the wrists and tethered to a Majors belt, the rest fought the restraints except for the one who had surrendered early, the amount of hatred from them was outstanding and dumbfounding.

"Cease fire! We are your allies come to help against the Jaded Loyalists!" Garatus yelled out hoping the Sangheili would listen to him. He stepped out of cover with his hands raised and tried to look as friendly as possible, he hoped he didn't get shot. He stood in the open and smiled trying to reassure the Sangheili of his good intentions, he was terrified that he was about to be covered in plasma burns.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Defiant to the 'end'.

Hissing in triumph as he scored a successful hit upon the Betrayer Cad raised his sword back to stab again but he was soon grabbed by Garatus's massive mitt and just tossed to the side. His blade flew out of his hand as he was grabbed by the other Jiralhanae and had his shield generator quickly unclipped from his wrist as he struggled against his captor. But he had no hope of overpowering the larger alien and he was soon completely disarmed as the few remaining loyalists were quickly executed or bound.

Pad's eyes went wide as the Shipmistress sprinted at her, so she let her shot go too early, only damaging the shields and not overloading them as the Sangheili slashed her blades in her direction. The female Kig-Yar gurgling loudly in pain as she dropped her pistol and clutched her now very open throat, the struggles and gurgles were short lived however as she collapsed sideways and lay still, purple blood pouring out of her neck.

Kop offed as the dead Kig-Yar fell backwards over him but managed to get the courage to look up when the firing had started...and he was still alive. Holding his hands in front of him he went willingly with the Jiralhanae as they were bound tightly together and he was brought over to near the still struggling Cad, not able to meet his majors eyes - so instead he lowered his head and looked at the floor, just glad he was still alive as the Kig-Yar security minder was stood beside him, also looking at the floor.

The young Jiralhanae was similarly taken care of, though like Cad would be soon he was forced down to his knees with a Jiralhanae on either side of him in case he tried anything, Garatus's forces seeing him as a much larger threat than the Kig-Yar as he knelt as still as he could, clearly scared of all the death and sudden changes around him.

Cad on the other hand never stopped struggling, his eyes ablaze with range and anger as he tugged and pulled against the Jiralhanae minor that was having some real trouble binding the Kig-Yars wrists together. "I trusted you! You were a believer! You were my Brother in the journey! After cycles of service you betray your comrades and hand us over to be executed by ones that have failed their duty!?" After his little rant Cads helmet clattered to the floor as a second minor came over and forced Cad to his knees as his wrists were finally securely bound in front of him. His heavy breathing from his fight and the adrenaline slowly wearing off heard clearly in the brief moments of silence between Garatus and the Shipmistress as he suddenly just slumped, still kneeling but very loose as he kept breathing. He kept looking at the space between the Shipmistress and his 'Friend' but the glow of anger from his eyes seemed to have almost completely died out to be replaced by...sadness? A very odd emotion for Cad to be sure.

[BetaWülf]

Garatus listened as the shipmistress spoke, he was saddened by Cad's words and it clearly showed but he had to somehow prevent further bloodshed.

"Explain, Jiralhanae, why I should have my forces spare you the fate that will come to the rest of your arrogant race for their choice in this matter?" the ship mistress said before going on to say more.

"Your failure as a species permits all of your deaths, just the same as these pathetic Kig-Yar." the shipmistress continued and awaited Garatus's answer. He thought for a moment about what to say and decided to be direct.

"For starters we outnumber you five to one, secondly there are many more loyalists in the base and only nine of you, and lastly me and all of my soldiers have forsaken our race to help your people, there is no going back for us" Garatus said thinking of home, of Doisac's beautiful deserts, the smell of cactus blooms, his family, everything he loved ripped away because he chose loyalty to the Sangheili.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Being led off toward the ship.

Cad continued to kneel quietly as the Shipmistress and the betrayer talked back and fourth, his mind shutting down his rage for a moment as he thought about what had happened. Not so much as why his big furry friend betrayed him but more as to what this meant for the Covenant as a whole. If the Sangheili had betrayed them, in addition to the Unggoy and who knows what else. His sad expression continued as he thought about the Prophets dream of a Great Journey, now severely weakened by the heathen Sangheili. His own life or the life of his file mattered little compared to that overarching problem. He had no doubt that his dedication would still have a place for him in the Journey...but it would likely be very empty now.

He grunted as he was hauled back to his feet, the Shipmistress ordering them to all be put in cells like animals as his ammo, small knife, and anything else possibly weapon like was removed from himself. His wrists tugged along as the Jiralhanae major handed over his weapons and started to walk toward the exit. Looking over at Garatus he shook his head a little in disappointment as he spoke then looked away. "Thieves and Heathens." He said simply before looking ahead and holding his head high, hopefully reminding Garatus of the snow planet where they both had to survive to survive together against the Humans through the cold and the storms, and now he had betrayed all that time they had to survive together.

The remaining Kig-Yar walked with their heads down as they were marched toward the ship, a few sounds of distant fighting breaking the silent walk but Cad kept his head high as they went. Cad expecting to see the corpuses of his race everywhere, especially on the heathen Sangheili ship as they prisoner train moved toward the exit, Cad only able to see the Kig-Yar prisoners in front of him and the young Jiralhanae, unaware of what was going on with Garatus's pack.

[BetaWülf]

"I meant in the immediate area" Garatus said under his breath as he handed over his weapon, and he may be slightly arrogant but he was in no way ignorant which made him a bit miffed. He could speak the most common dialect of all the races of the Covenant and understand several more including two Human languages, he wondered how smart she really was, he chuckled to himself as he guessed he could comprehend more dialects of the Sangheili than she could.

His hands were bound tightly and he was marched behind the Kig-yar at the head of his own soldiers, Cad marched ahead of him and had his head held high while the others of his species hungg theirs low. Garatus watched him and wondered how he could so easily forget their friendship, he had saved his life on that frozen hell hole and this is what he does? He felt himself becoming angry and an unpleasant heat filled his body especially his face, he dared accuse Garatus of betraying him? Nay, it was he who had betrayed Garatus.

He turned his attention back to the ship they were heading for, he wasn't certain but he was fairly sure they were nearing it, he wondered what was going to happen to them, if Cad would be spared, even if he had betrayed Garatus he had still been his friend, and Garatus refused to do to him what he had done to Garatus. He sighed as they walked and then looked to the front and spoke.

"How much further to the cells, I wish to get to this "Proving" over with." Garatus said with slight annoyance, for being on the shit end of the stick they were pretty damn picky.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Mind wandering.

Cad continued to march along with the Kig-Yar captives, the Sangheili beside him detaching his bracers and upper arm amor and just tossing them aside onto a decapitated Kig-Yar as they the group left the main base and entered the outside world. The cracked earth was awase in some places with blood, some plasma scorch marks, or discarded or dropped equipment. But the Major kept his eyes forward and head beak straight as they all walked. His mind starting to wander to those behind him as he avoided eye contact with the remains of his file and the other Kig-Yar minor, both of which were looking increasingly worried as they moved past the bodies of Kig-Yar.

He thought to the Betrayer and why he had done his actions. He knew that Garatus believed in the Covenant and the religion to an extent, so what forced him to turn on them and support the Heathen Sangheili? Did something happen to Garatus's family, his clan, what was it to make him betray his Kig-Yar friend? Cad had only remembered taking the brief resting time at the base to recover for another mission, he hadn't made it to the Prophets sermon in time and had just caught the screams of herectic and the like as the gunfire started. Of course the Prophets couldn't be wrong, but perhaps there was something in the sermon that he missed.

But those were concerns for another time as he marched silently on, not looking back at the Jiralhanae behind him as they got within range of the females ship. His mind drawn from his ruminations as they got within visual range of the gravity lift, which was currently experiencing a lot of activity - Cads Kig-Yar eyesight letting him see what the rest of the group would see when they were closer. As he had suspected the Kig-Yar that were stationed on the ship were unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time, and because they had no Jiralhanae allies, sans the Betrayer, many if not all of them had been executed. Sangheili and Unggoy went up and down the gravity lift, coming down with limp Kig-Yar bodies over their shoulders, carried under their arms, or dragged behind them - The bodies missing limbs, burned badly, or with their necks snapped off to one side or the other as their eyes stared ever onward in death. The two Kig-Yar in front of Cad stopping when they noticed the amount of their race dead in front of them, before they were pushed onward by the Unggoy beside them - the gas-suckers taking great pleasure that this time they had control over the Kig-Yar as Cad kept moving toward the lift.

[BetaWülf]

Garatus didn't flinch as the flat of the Shipmistresses curveblade made contact with his head, he didn't want to give her the satisfaction, though it hurt like hell. If she did it to one of his soldiers though he'd rip her head from her shoulders, and he barely controlled himself from breaking his bounds and striking back, they honestly thought simple bindings could hold a fully grown Jiralhanae back? Bah, foolish Sangheili, they come as allies and they treat them as prisoners, bastards the lot of them!

He wondered if he had made the wrong choice, not only did he lose his best friend but his family might be at risk, if he had simply done his duty he and Cad would be having a feast with the Pompous Shipmistress as the main course, he rather liked that idea. He wondered if he broke his bounds and struck out at the Sangheili now if he could convince Cad it was all a ruse to get closer to enemy lines without being challenged, and that the two Jiralhanae he killed were actually known nonbelievers, probably not.

Regardless of what he had been thinking it was pointless now as the gravity lift into the ship became visible, he sighed as he thought of what he'd gotten himself into and more importantly what he'd gotten his soldiers into, he expected to be tortured most likely, but the shipmistress had mentioned proving themselves. He watched the Kig-yar corpses being piled and knew it was probably terrible for Cad, he was still sympathetic regardless of what had occurred between them, the gravity lift now only a few feet away.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Moving into the belly of the beast.

Despite his best efforts Cad wasn't able to keep his eyes forward forever, and they were draw over to the disturbingly large pile of his race that was growing by the moment as over-enthusiastic Sangheili and Unggoy chucked Kig-Yar off the pad and onto one of the many piles. Cad's expression faltering as he assumed that he too would be joining that pile after the Shipmistress had what she needed, probably have Garatus break his neck then throw him on the pile herself. He eventually forced his head back forward, the other two Kig-Yar prisoners not able to take their eyes off it as two Sangheili floated down toward the ground, the last group before the prisoner train could ascend to the ship.

These last two Sangheili dragged a large bag between them, and it smelt terrible, but they saluted the Shipmistress as they moved it over to the side of the gravity pad and hurled it together onto the pile of dead Kig-Yar. Moving forward, the other two captive Kig-Yar shoved forward, Cad looked up and soon felt the familiar sensation of weightless as they slowly floated up. Cad had figured out what the Sangheili were carrying after he smelt it, the bag would be full of Kig-Yar, but rather than the bodies that were already being piled it would just be full of pieces; severed arms and legs, maybe a head or two, or bits of Kig-Yar that had been blown up. Cad suspected that disposal bags like that would be ready in the ships cells - the Shipmistress not giving them the dignity of a warriors death before she dissected their bodies.

He did however managed to keep himself from looking down at the Jiralhanae behind him, but when he touched down in the hanger of the large ship he was turned around and brought to his knees again as the Unggoy guards there waited for the Shipmistress to float up the gravity lift. Garatus touched down soon after, Cads bright eyes watching the Jiralhanae's comparatively smaller eyes. Rather than just anger though Cad's expression started as anger, but then went to sadness, then confusion, then shock - as the Major was at a loss for words as to what had happened, as in the space of a few rooks he had his entire life called into question and was fooled by the one member of the Covenant military that he could call a friend.

(Eh, not super excited but was having trouble trying to describe all of Cads conflicting feelings :/ )

[BetaWülf]

Garatus stepped onto the lift and up he went followed by his pack, he landed near Cad who watched him. His expression was one of anger at first but then changed to sadness, then he looked confused perhaps and then maybe shocked, as they began to be shoved forward Garatus realized that Cad was having the same thing emotionally happening to him, just on the other end of the ordeal. He growled audibly as a Sangheili pushed him forward, the coward took their hand back as if it had been snapped at, he'd start his own faction if he survived so he didn't have to deal with such things.

He walked along as dead Kig-yar was dragged passed, he wondered how many of them had been loyal to their Sangheili masters and were murdered anyway, filthy barbarous Sangheili, he'd never had an issue with them until now, he'd even been friends with a few. He looked up to see the doors to what was probably the brig down the hallway, he continued to walk and before he knew it the doors were within spitting distance.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Being imprisoned.

Hauled to his feet once again the Unggoy who held his plasma pistol against Cad's back armor plate the Kig-Yar was nudged forward to move again. Cad just complying now as the two other Kig-Yar moved ahead of the Jiralhanae pack toward the brig which was luckily close to the hanger itself. As the door was opened and the prisoners led into cells Cad was surprised that first of all there were some at all, and that there was around forty of them, a few Skirmishers in the cells as well as he and the other two were pushed onto one of the less full ones and the force field materialized back behind them. Cad leaning against the wall and slumping down it into a sitting position as he sat right beside the force field, looking out the slightly wavy shield to Garatus and his pack being spread out among two cells.

He looked away when Garatus looked back as his own cell was closed as Cad glanced around at his comrades, starting to speak with his fellows in the Kig-Yar language about how many of their kind we're stationed on his vessel. The news wasn't good, nearly a legions worth of Kig-Yar had been butchered, while only a few of the ones that surrendered immediately or knew the Sangheili that came after them had managed to avoid death...That by itself was enraging to Cad - had the Prophets not know this would happened to some forces where the lower order soldiers were out numbered by the Sangheili and Unggoy? The smallest trickle of doubt started to enter Cads mind as he had to assume either the Prophets didn't think this would happen, or they didn't care what happened to his kind that were under the command of the Sangheili.

He sighed and slowly ran his bound hands through his short quill mane, turning his head to look back out the cell at the Shipmistress and Garatus, his expression now that of tiredness mixed in with deep thought.

[BetaWülf]

Garatus and his pack were making a plethora of growls, hoots, howls and roars as they were all forced forward into the ships brig, as they walked down the incline with heavy foot falls they came to a corridor lined with cells all along the walls. They were all forced into a cell together and it was rather cramped, they huddled and spoke in their native tongue as Garatus stood at the now activated plasma wall caging them in, he stared directly at the shipmistress until she looked at him.

He pulled his wrists apart from each other and the bindings snapped without much effort, showing he and his soldiers could have freed themselves at anytime if they wanted to. He turned away and leaned against the wall as his comrades undid their bindings as he had, clustering into small groups speaking about the goings on, but mostly they spoke of Doisac and their families and their treatment by the Sangheili, Garatus sighed and thought of the same things. If he survived he hoped the separatists took the base and didn't destroy his prized chopper from the vehicle bay, and his quarters were probably going to be sacked as well, his collection of original Captain Covenant trading cards most likely destroyed, he was miserable and wished he was home watching a movie.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Why?

Looking over at the Shipmistress as she spoke to Garatus Cad just met her eye to eye when she turned to his own race and claimed that there fate would come soon. He didn't break eye-contact till she turned away and left. The Kig-Yar in both cells started to get panicky and worried as they assumed that this would mean they would be executed and join the growing pile of the dead outside. The chatter from both cells intensified as the ones that couldn't speak Sangheili were filled in on what was going on, the forty Kig-Yar trying to talk of ways they could avoid death; offering to serve with the Sangheili, renouncing the Prophets Faith, pleading for mercy, or try to escape?

But Cad didn't partake in any of these discussions as he looked across the hall of the brig at Garatus, just watching him for now as he resting his hands over his scarf as he waited for the chitterling and screeching from his cell to quiet down before he tried to talk.

"Why Garatus? You believed in the Journey and fought along side all of us toward the Path...What made you turn you back on that and all of us?" He asked simply, all the rage from earlier replaced by questions, quietness, and sadness.


Tup, Skirmisher Minor
Captive.

In the other Kig-Yar filled cell Tup looked worried as she watched the Shipmistress leave, wringing her bound hands together as she tried to think of what to do now. A quick thought made her think of the Kig-Yar contracts, did those even apply anymore? But she pushed that aside and decided to focus again on trying to save her own feathers. She would happily renounce the Covenant Religion, she had never been that great of a believer anyway, and she had served in a Sangheili file rather than Jiralhanae so would happily just keep serving with them...she would just need to find her old Commander and hope that he could do something for her.

What luck that the very Major, Koto 'Muramee, then walked into the brig after the Shipmistress left. Breathing a sigh of relief Tup stood up and tried to get his attention as she tapped on the cells force field a few times.

"Koto, Sir! I served you loyally for years...doesn't that mean anything?" She asked, if he would even acknowledge that she was there she would then ask about a chance to live, but baby steps here so she wouldn't spoil her chances and those of her race.

[BetaWülf]

Garatus guessed at what the Sangheili now expected from him and his soldiers, he watched as the Shipmistress walked out, then slumped against the wall next to the shield door. He watched as the Kig-yar panicked when they realized what the Sangheili meant, Cad stared at him and once the others settled he spoke.

"Why Garatus? You believed in the Journey and fought along side all of us toward the Path...What made you turn you back on that and all of us?" Cad said simply and to the point, Garatus's eyes were sorrowful when responded.

"I was never very religious Cad, I fought for what I had been told was the right thing. The journey is no lie, it is the Prophets who twisted it and malformed it into an abomination that caused me to turn, the Humans are not an race of unholy beats that are an affront to the Forerunners, they are the remnants of them. The prophets hid this from us, perhaps they thought they'd be replaced by them, or maybe that their twisted telling of the Journey was false, I know not. I do believe Cad, I really do, but what the prophets have done is wrong." Garatus said recalling all the Humans he'd slaughtered in his service, hundreds, mostly in person, how could he live with that?

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Remaining Faithful.

"Did the Sangheili tell you that, Garatus? The same ones in the process of exterminating my race and yours and will soon execute myself and my fellows? Likely by your packs hands and you own?" Cad responded, looking down at the purple metal floor between his talons as he ran his hands through his quill mane again, resting his hands back on his scarf again as he closed his eyes and muttered a little prayer. Glancing back at Garatus before sighing and looking back at the ground.

"I can't accept what you've said Brother, sorry, but my entire life I have been a believer...I will not waver now from the Path." He said, a little of actual sadness in his voice as he remained stubborn, it will take a serious amount of convincing to sway the religious space chicken.



Tup, Skirmisher Minor
Captive.

Tup listened carefully as Koto spoke, having her head sideways as she rested her eye against the force field, as if it would somehow help her enhanced ears to hear the Sangheili outside the cell. She nodded a little once he finished, taking the time, since Koto wasn't going to be going anywhere, to think over what he said. That is true, she wasn't dead yet - and ONLY the blind would fall...does that mean that if she offered to continue to serve she would be allowed to avoid the neck snapping that had befallen her comrades? Clearing her vocal sac when Koto turned back around to watch the Jiralhanae she moved closer to him, stepping over a Kig-Yar on the ground that was rolling back and fourth slowly in depression she asked quietly when she was at his edge of the cell.

"If I continue to serve you and the Sangheili can I live...Sir?"

[BetaWülf]

"You hear the words that come from my lips but you are deaf to the Truth, the Sangheili did nothing to to cause this genocide upon their race, why did the Prophets just turn on the Sangheili? The Sangheili have only ever been the most Zealous of followers of the Journey! The Journey is not at fault the Prophets are, and our races are committing genocide upon the Sangheili across the entire empire, how can you blame them!"

"The rings are not going to send us upon the path to Godhood, the were made by the Forerunners, the holy ones, to destroy all sentient life in the galaxy to stop the Flood, the true enemy of the Forerunners. I'm not asking you to abandon to the Journey, I would never, but the Prophets Cad, they would bring ruin to us all by lighting the rings! Please, I beg of you at least play along, I cannot kill you, I will not. I murder for no one, not anymore." Garatus said with a sadness in his voice and heart, but a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Defiant...but doubts are arising.

Despite the calls for silence from the Major Sangheili Cad kept watching Garatus, stunned that he would make that kind of suggestion as he was silent for a little. He waited untill the Sangheili was back in his spot between the cells before he just shook his head and sighed a little. "Play along? As if The Path is some kind of joke that I can just forget about?...I will accept whatever Fate brings me, because I know I will continue on into The Journey." He replied, standing up and looking from the major Sangheili to Garatus, bound hands resting over his scarf as he awaited to see if this Major would be on the one to pass judgement.

He knew of this Flood ever since they had been discovered on the first holy ring, but the Rings would wipe out this threat when lit, paving the way to Salvation...what Garatus was saying was Heresy! It couldn't be true! His stance faltered a little as these thoughts moved across his mind.


Tup, Skirmisher Minor
Hoping.

Sucking in a breath when the other Kig-Yar started to speak up Tup wisely moved away from the force field front of the cell and away from Koto, just nodding at what he said to her. What she got out of that is that he wasn't there to be the one to pass judgement, and even though his words had anger behind them, understandable when his entire race had been branded Herectics, he sighed first. Maybe he felt bad for killing so many of his former comrades in arms? She sure hoped to the Gods she hated that that was the case as she quite enjoyed living...though that mouthy zealot in the other cell didn't seem to like living that much as she watched to see what would befall him and the Jiralhanae that seemed to know the loud Kig-Yar.

[BetaWülf]

I glared at Cad, now he was just being pigheaded, as if I meant for him to give up his beliefs on a whim. It was only so I could get him safely to a Kig-yar asteroid colony, then from there he could go back to his beloved Covenant and forsake me. I turned away from Cad to let him think, that pompous Sangheili would feel my wrath once I was out of this damn cell, challenge him to a duel and crush the life out of him with my bare hands.

I felt sorry for the Skirmisher across from me, poor creature didn't do anything to deserve such treatment, for having few allies the Sangheili were quick to mistreat those who offered a hand of friendship. I started grooming to pass the time, licking my fur on my arms, I licked the back of my hand and ran it over the hair on my head, I was a clean Jiralhanae you see. After a moment I turned back to the outside world.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Silent contemplation.

Once Garatus turned his back on him a lot of the fire in Cad seemed to die as he just kind of collapsed into a seating position in the cell. Still facing and near the front but in the middle of the cell rather than the side he started at. His hands also falling off his scarf to rest in his lap, a uneasy silence falling over the brig, much to the Major Sangheili's delight probably but Cad would rather think now rather than shout at a wall, well four walls - the force field of his cell, Garatus's force field, Garatus himself, and the Sangheili. His thoughts slowly going over what had been happened in the past two years, all the problems the mighty Covenant Empire had been slowed by and now this Schism...what did it all mean?


Tup, Skirmisher Minor
Silent panic.

The female Skirmisher on the other hand only nodded to Koto a little before she quietly slid down the wall to sit with the other Kig-Yar. Trying to keep her heart under control as well as her breathing. The zealot beside them had finally shut up, which was good, but they were still likely on the execution agenda and maybe the meal one too for those disgusting Unggoy. Tup really didn't want to be din dins for those scum. So she nodded and told herself that if there was a chance for her to renounce the Covenant in its entirety she would do it at a heartbeat...Once Koto maybe allowed some talking, or maybe just after some more time, she would see if she could get some allies to make it more likely they could surrender again and try to avoid death.

(Sorry its kinda eh, was struggling to stay awake)

[BetaWülf]

Garatus continued sitting and brooding in his cell and thought for a moment about what all had happened, he had been betrayed and possibily(though he honestly doubted it) betrayed Cad, though he wouldn't have tried to stab Cad in the throat if he had come to Garatus in a similar fashion to how Garatus had come to him, he wondered if Cad might be slightly insane.

He looked to his poor subordinates and felt terrible for getting them dragged into this, the Sangheili were ingrates and sycophants and quite possibly deserved what was happening to them, they were no better than the Jiralhanae, they did as much to the Humans as any other, worse even. Garatus sighed and gnawed on some jerky he had.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Preparing for the end.

Closing his eyes and resting his hands over his scarf again Cad began taking deep breaths as he tapped one of the talons n his foot against the energy field keeping him inside the cell. The journey couldn't be false, that much required no thought. But there had been a lot of problems that they as a whole needed to be dealing with as a unified front...Maybe the Sangheili were working with the Heathen Humans or maybe even the Flood?! Cad shuddered a little at this thought, and vowed that he would never join them to be made into a human puppet or a Flood carrier. He would rather have a honorable death and be sent on the Journey before the Gods abandoned them for failure. Maybe that was it? Maybe that's why the Prophets declared the Sangheili traitors because the Gods had commanded them to...Either way Cad remained silent as he began to offer prayers, only moving his hands occasionally off his scarf in small gestures as he did his best to ready his soul for the death he assumed with almost certainty was on it's way.


Tup, Skirmisher Minor
Trying to rally support and hoping for a chance.

Unlike before, where Cads cell had been the one with all the talking, it seems the bug had moved to Tup's cell as she started to whisper to her other trapped comrades about a plan. They would do whatever the Sangheili wanted, with no back-talk or anything like that, and if any of the Sangheili said something about the Covenant and our old allegiances they would immediately try to renounce them and serve the Sangheili again. One of the older Skirmishers however pointed out that they would likely want a test, and he bet that it would be killing the Kig-Yar that wouldn't accept their rule. This cause silence for awhile until Tup said then that's what they would have to do then, justifying it by saying that they Kig-Yar who didn't turn would likely be executed anyway, at least we could make it fast and as painless as possible. The talking quieted down after this, but a bit if it still continued.

However unless the Sangheili guarding the brig could understand Kig-Yar it would just be a lot of clicks and squawks to them.

(Crazy Caddy P:, I believe Track will make some stuff happen in her next post :>)

[BetaWülf]

Garatus growled lowly when the Sangheili said "Fools, the lot of them" he wondered how he could escape now, see if the Humans were more willing to take them maybe? If not there had to be somewhere they could go, not back to Doisac, maybe an Identity change and a Colony? If the test was truly what it seemed, he was worried about the outcome...

Garatus pulled a set of dice and two cups out of his bag and started playing with Valorus, they laughed quietly as they played, making ridiculous bets they couldn't possibly keep, if they did Garatus owed Valorus a Gold plated gravity hammer and a herd of thorn beasts. Garatus's mind wandered to thoughts of the "test" and wondered if it would be soon? Maybe, maybe not, the Sangheili were fickle creatures.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
In his own world.

As Garatus the Traitor turned to play his little game with his soldiers Cad's prayers were rudely interrupted by a Skirmisher beside him who muttered 'that one is going to get us all killed, cut it out would you - you idiot zealot'. Cad slowly opened his eyes as he simply turned, moved a little closer to the Skirmisher as he bowed his head a little. "I Aplogise brother, how rude of me not to consider the desires and lives of HEATHENS!" He hissed loudly as he snapped out his arms and grabbed the collar of the Skirmishers armor and jerked him forward quickly, the Skirmisher flopping forward a little as he was still seated. Cads other hand slamming into the side of the off balanced head of his cell mate before he let go of the collar, the Skirmisher flopping onto his side without a sound, knocked out cold.

Glancing at the other Kig-Yar in the cells they averted there eyes as Cad turned to face the front of the cell again, seeing that a few Sangheili Ultras had replaced their old guards, but he paid them no heed as he closed his eyes and resumed his praying.


Tup, Skirmisher Minor
Back to panic.

Jumping a little as the shouts issued from the other cell Tup sighed and ran a hand down her face as she really hoped that just that cell had the crazy zealots in it, so maybe this cell would be spared. The talking behind her had changed from how they would try to explain their desire to still serve to now how much several of them wanted to shut that zealot up, and how they would execute their comrades should the need arise, which they assumed the sadistic Sangheili would have them do.

But Tup was busy watching Koto as he started to leave the brig. She stood up and tapped on the force field on the front of her cell, quietly calling his name so she could try and find out what was happening. But he didn't turn back. Gulping as the guards were replaced by Ultras she quickly sat down and immediately went silent with the rest of her cell, all of them looking at the Ultras with a mix of worry and fear, which only intensified when the Shipmistress walked back in.

[BetaWülf]

Garatus was now furious with Cad after he battered the Skirmisher, he had no respect for others it seemed, willing to drag his kin down with him for the sake of a lie he refused to see through out of stubbornness and stupidity. It was beyond Garatus to do such a thing, if he had been asked to something like that he would have down it for his kinsmen, regardless of if they actually were blood relations, because it was the right thing to do, his look towards Cad conveyed it with a a wrathful blaze in his eyes.

Now the Shipmistress had returned and faced them and waited, Garatus stood and saluted in the Jiralhanae fashion by slamming his fist against his chest once and bowing his head.

[Faclan]

Cad, Kig-Yar Major
Covenant Loyalist
Gazing into Death with no fear.

Cad only grunted as he was bodily flung out of the cell and slid across the floor, his scarf having been grabbed before the Ultras got a hold of him. Skidding to a stop before the shipmistress he looked over at Garatus and his glare - meeting it with a nod, before just looking back at the Sangheili with a neutral expression, the fear that she likely expected him to have gone. Getting up onto his knees he quickly wrapped his scarf back around his neck before looking up to meet her eyes and starting.

"I was explaining to my comrade my views, and my belief," he said, tapping his scarf before resting his hands in his lap. "My soul is ready for whatever comes next, and The Journey, can you say the same Sangheili? Can you say your ancestors are proud of your betrayal of cycles of service before you murdered your comrades before they could even fight back?"

The remaining two cells of Kig-Yar were both silent and still as they watched, all of them waiting to see just how poor their chances of living were.

(No Tup part because they are all watching)

[Remnant]

OOC: Where is the CC thread for this? I wanna join. Or wait, can we just create a random character for this?

[Remnant]

(Ok then.)

[BetaWülf]

Garatus was displeased with their rough treatment of Cad, even if he deserved it slightly at this point. He listened as Cad spoke, getting angered by the words issuing forth from his beaked face. He was very angry now, a low growl was barely audible, he spoke angrily under his breath, half to them and half to himself.

"They were the ones betrayed, I may not agree with them on many things but it is clear to those not jaded that they were betrayed, not the other way around" Garatus said with anger and sadness towards his friend who acted the fool.

"You bring shame to your people Cad, proud Pirates to the last. Yet you are willing to drag your brethren down with you for the sake of personal righteousness, you are selfish and cruel! I was once called you brother, but how can I call you that now? Even I can see past the Prophets lies, and see past my own Pride! I denounce you Cad the Betrayer" Garatus said, his voice ringing clear as he addressed his former friend for all to hear.