Betrayal of Faith

[Spartan 999]

(OOC: Alright, so this is a thread about Reticent Lance during the Great Schism. I'll let Huka do the first main post since he's the brilliant mastermind behind this awesome scheme. No, I'm not sucking up to him, shut up. Anyway, all people with Inquisitors are the only ones who can post here; it would be appreciated if you joined. And yes, we know who you are and where you live on the YHRPG.)

[Huka]

The Citadel of Lidless Inquisition

In High Inquisitor 'Muramai's trophy room, the 57 year old Inquisitor walked in his silver robes, hands behind his back as he looked at every last trophy that he have collected over the decades; from his first Sand Prowler skull during his younger years to his first Sangheilian skull that belonged to a clever heretic named Tur 'Saval during the Heretic Rebellions.

Stopping, he glared a particular fractured skull, one that was once his second-in-command during his time as a Major Domo. The reason he is distrustful of all heretic lies.

Moving on, he came to the front wall, that held up his most prized of trophies; at his face, he met the three golden visors of the so-called 'Demons of Humanity' or Spartans in their own languages.

Looking up, he looked at the skulls of heretic leaders, and finally the massive skull of a Ba'knwa Queen with a hole in its cranium.

All of the memories of the past rushed through him. It was painful but happy. Each one was as important as the last.

He pondered on how this war will end. Will it ever end or will something worst occur?

Destiny answered when a Justicar rushed into the room, "Excellency, we need you immediately?"

Turning his head slightly, the Inquisitor sensed great disturbance from this. "What is it?" He asked as he followed the Justicar to the Communications Room.

"It's the Jiralhanae." The Justicar answered. "What!?" The Inquisitor questioned, now fully concerned.

Inside the comm room, all of the Shields and a few Swordsmen were looking at the main screen in disbelief.

Til couldn't believe his eye either;

One of Til's operatives' head cameras were showing a massacre of Sangheili taken by surprise by Jiralhanae forces. Savage and wild with a dark gleam in their eyes as they tore into former allies. From the surroundings, it was at the human homeworld!

The Operative fought bravely, killing at least five of the savage beasts before a axe came out of nowhere and hit his chest. Going down, the Jiralhanae swarmed him and the transmission ended.

There was silence. The whole citadel already had a suspision of the Jiralhanae's ambition. First, the changing of the guard, then, the subtle changes of fleet command, and now...this!

This was the last straw!

"Check on every operative in our command and find if there is any similar heresies, tell them to warn nearby commanding officers, these beasts will pay for this treachery!" Til ordered, breaking the silence and everyone instantly started their work. "Contact the rest of the Inquisition Leadership and warn them what have transpired! Tell I will be arriving at the High Charity to speak with the Minister of Inquisition personally!"

Just then the Steward have appeared with concern, "Sire, what have happened?"

"Treachery! That is what have happened, keep order into the Citadel until I return!" Til ordered, his ascetic demeanor barely holding up, getting himself into his harness and boarding his ship with his associate intelligence, speeding off to the Covenant holy city, High Charity.

[Spartan 999]

High Inquisitor Sorsa 'Xirsasai was in a meditative position when he senses the intruders. No one would dare interrupt an Inquisitor's morning without at least alerting him first, except for assassins.

He surreptitiously slid his hands into the wide, flowing sleeves of his robe to conceal the flip-out energy sword mechanisms attached to each forearm. Eyes closed, he listened intently to the near silent footfalls of the soon-to-be attackers. Too heavy for Sangheili hooves, which meant Jiralhanae. He would have considered the Syalekgolo, but they obeyed him unhesitatingly, and would never turn on him.

The whisper of a metal blade being drawn from its sheath confirmed his suspicions. He tensed for a second, then acted. Both energy swords cleaved through the air, cutting into the first attacker's chest. An animalistic grunt sounded as the active camouflage generator on the Jiralhanae faded, revealing a large form that slumped forward, dead.

Sorsa pounced at the other two assassins, swords making short work of them. He looked around, then deactivated his swords. He ran to his wardrobe, hands pulling open the door. Before him sat his sleek and deadly charcoal-grey armor on a stand. He grabbed it, then pulled the stand along with him as he charged for the window.

A slash of an energy sword shattered the reinforced glass, allowing Sorsa to jump out of the opening and onto the roof of a lower part of the Temple of Inquisition on High Charity.

A bright blue explosion rent through the air above his head. The Jiralhanae assassins had rigged explosives to around his quarters, it seemed. He glanced around briefly to make sure no one was watching, then hastily took off his robe and pulled on the undersuit for his armor. He donned the chest and back armor, then helmet followed; those pieces of his harness were all he needed at the moment.

The active camouflage generator turned on, rendering his body and everything else he carried as a heat blur. He started moving after this, eyes warily watching his back as he walked through the secret passageway that lead out of the temple grounds.

[Huka]

Meditating in the Soulless Hunter to lessen the uneasy feelings he possessed, Til clasped his hands together as they shook. The Jiralhanae have been given too much power too quickly. They are reveling in it.

He heard from one of his higher-ranked Justicars that one of the beasts even killed a young Minor warrior in a holy temple. That very offense should have caused him his live instantly...but the Prophet didn't allow it.

he wondered if...

Just then the spiraling ring appearance of Ophan appeared in front of him, it was spinning out of control, glowing red in flame, "Unquestionable High Inquisitor of All-Seeing Justice," the Associated Intelligence sang in a ringing of voices and fury, "Unbelievable transgressions have occurred spontaneously in the last three unit throughout all Imperial space. Sangeili units has been systemically executed by Jiralhanae packs, several Unggoy and Kig-yar units are split between factions. the Mgalekgolo have assisted several Sangheili units, whilst others are... inactive."

It broke Til's heart of this betrayal, while he never trusted the Jiralhanae, he knew tribes who have been allies to the Sangheili since their ascendance into the Covenant, one even assists the Inquisition on missions.

He wanders if they have betrayed the Sangheili as well.

"What about High Charity?" He asked. It took a couple for the A.I. to analyze the Battlenet and suddenly, it changed to a new kind of color, hot blue and its central eye opened wide.

"High Charity is in the beginning stage of civil war," Ophan reported, "Cases of assassinations and murder have occurred throughout the holy city. Sangheili commanders, former honor guards...Inquisitors."

Looking down, the High Inquisitor found his claws have started to push into his armored gauntlets. Releasing his grip, Til sighed, "What of the Council?"

Ophan answered somewhat normally, "While most of the council have called for a session to discuss this great tragedy but the Hierarchs reports they are busy trying to prepare for the Great Ascension on the newly-found Halo."

Focusing his mind, he tried to find answers for this.It was a grave mistake bringing the Jiralhanae to power in this time and age. The Sangheili are far more experienced and have done so much to serve.

The failures recently, despite the severity of it all, shouldn't be completely on the Sangheili race's shoulders. The arrogance of commanders have did cost much, but the Jiralhanae is young in comparison. They are blind...

Suddenly revelation struck him. Sorsa!

Sorsa was within the city, he went to see his wife! Oh gods, he hoped that both were safe from this massacre.

"Excellency, we are exiting slipspace." The Associated Intelligence warned.

Looking outward, he saw High Charity and its defense, the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity, seemed ready for danger, possibly trying to quarantine the city.

Speeding toward the city, the Soulless Hunter was contacted. "This is Valiant Resistance to unknown craft," A gruff voice said, 'The holy city of High Charity is under quarantine, a martial event have occurred. We have it under control."

Growling, he accessed the communications, "Who are you? Sangheili or Jiralhanae ontrolled vessel?"

Certainly, the question surprised the comms master, which had Til question again in the voice of a commander booming through. If he lied, Ophan will know.

"Sangheili." The voice answered. Glancing at Ophan, the A.I. approved it. "Is this a secure channel between you and me?" Til questioned. "Er...yes." "Good, this is High Inquisitor Til 'Muramai. I am here to investigate this unrest."

"High Inquisitor!?" The voice gasped in a whisper. There was silence for a moment before another voice spoke, "This is Ship Master Val 'Zanamee. Thank the Gods that you have arrived. The whole empire is under complete chaos. A possible heretic faction of Jiralhanae of unknown numbers have risen and stricken us hard...enough to give the Humans a greater edge than ever before. I...don't know how long before the fleet will be taken into this chaos."

Til sighed, glad to find a sensible Sangheili. "Just warn your Fleetmaster to keep things under control with your Jiralhanae ships."

"Of course." The Shipmaster said, ending the transmission. "Activate camouflage." Til ordered and the Hunter vanished from visual and sensors.

Almost instantly the Battlenet was sparking up with questions on the vanishing ship. Passing the fleet, he entered the city. He looked at the burning buildings, the battles occupying the streets.

This wasn't a revolt. This was a schism!

"Open hatch! I am not allowing this to continue with me here!" Til ordered.

Knowing the A.I., Ophan was probably going to try to find a alternative, but that was not going to be. "Yes, Excellency." The intelligence answered.

Automatically bringing the Seraph to a survivable distance for his Inquisitor, the back of the ship opened. Grabbing his energy glaive from the rack, he clipped it to his belt before unholstering his twin plasma rifles.

Running from his chair, Til dived out to find himself free-falling in the lower district. His eyes narrowed to look down at a Jiralhanae pack prowling on a Sangheili file.

Growling, he fired bursts on the beasts' heads, killing half of them before getting their attention. Spiraling, he softened his several meter fall on one of the traitors, breaking its back.

The Jiralhanae staggered back at his sudden appearance. They looked aghasted to see his armor. Their fear were their downfall. Sprinting forward and holstering his rifles in a fluid movement, the High Inquisitor flicked a wrist, summoning his energy scimitar. He decapitated the closest, passing the falling body, and somersaulted back to stab into another's shoulder.

Flicking his wrist to draw his other, he landed behind the stunned Jiralhanae, feeling the body jerk as spikes stabbing into his body.

Pulling his sword out, he shoved the body into another, distracting him long enough to lunge at one of the last two. The Jiralhanae was too slow, finding himself on the ground, his face crushed after Til's mask met in contact with it, and he was dead when he hit the ground as a scimitar left his body.

The other finally got up but a scimitar impaled his chest. Til pulled out his sword and turned to see more, "Heresy."

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa crept through the marketplace, robes covering his armor as he attempted to blend with the crowd. He stooped, making him about the normal height of a Sangheili. His eyes roved around, studying the stalls for signs of Fria.

"Sorsa, why did you want to meet here?" A firm voice said from beside him. He glanced to the side, and couldn't help but smile when he saw his wife gazing into his eyes.

"A group of Jiralhanae attempted to assassinate me. I have also heard of other high ranking Sangheili being murdered." Sorsa replied.

"That would explain the rather conspicuous Jiralhanae that's been tailing me since this morning." Field Master Fria 'Jirasee muttered thoughtfully, eyes darting from side to side. "Are you ready?"

"Almost." Sorsa and Fria slid their respective helmets on, then lunged to either side, energy swords activated. The crowd scattered as a Jiralhanae slid apart after Sorsa bisected him. Fria impaled another, then shoved him to the ground.

A small pack of Jiralhanae seemed to materialize nearby, various bludgeoning and bladed melee weapons in hand. Fria and Sorsa stood back to back, standing tall against the oncoming horde.

Sorsa kicked a Jiralhanae's knee, shattering it, before stabbing his head with a sword. He pulled the sword out sideways to cut through another Jiralhanae's mace and causing him to stumble. Fria cut him in half at the waist in a spin after taking down a Captain.

Although the mated Sangheili fought with all their strength, they were inexorably pushed back by the mob to the entrance of a small dwelling. Then, as Fria was drawing her sword back to strike, a particle beam rifle was fired. The elongated bolt of plasma shattered her shields and blackened her chest armor as well as making her stagger. Spikes drove into her stomach and in between her hearts, forcing indigo blood to spray out.

(Cue music: here)

Sorsa caught her and dragged her inside the house, then closed the door and fried the locking mechanism with his sword. The Jiralhanae immediately started to bang forcefully on the metal, denting it with each hit.

The Inquisitor blinked rapidly as he stared into Fria's earth-brown eyes, her head cradled in one hand.

"I only wish we had had more time." Fria managed to choke out. She struggled, attempting to say one more thing. "Strength, Sorsa..." Then she slumped, dead.

Sorsa layed Fria's body to the floor, his hands quivering slightly. His breaths came quickly and powerfully. The door shuddered, but he payed it no heed as he rose to his feet.

With an almighty crunch-grind, the door split apart and caved in. Several Jiralhanae piled in, grins crossing their faces when they saw the slump in Sorsa's shoulders--however, they did not see his clenched fists shaking with fury.

Then he flicked his hands.

***

Screams of agony sounded as energy sword cleaved through flesh, causing the Jiralhanae outside to shift nervously. An Ultra's body flew out of the dwelling, multiple furious slashes across his chest and body.

Behind the Ultra's body sprinted a mostly-invisible figure, active camouflage generator struggling to conceal the maroon blood coating Sorsa's armor.

He delved into the midst of the Jiralhanae, swords slicing through air and bone with equal impunity. He became a dervish, pure hatred propelling his actions. Soon, he was standing on the bodies of--for all intents and purposes--countless Jiralhanae.

The survivors had wisely backed up and were pulling weapons from their holsters. More Jiralhanae came into view from the alleys and streets, obviously to provide backup in killing Sorsa.

He opened his mandibles wide and roared in defiance. The sound could have carried for kilometers, such was the anguish and rage. Just as he crouched to have his final charge, massive heat waves landed beside him and near the Jiralhanae.

Multiple Syalekgolo uncloaked, burst cannons firing and spines slashing. Wyrms erupted from the Venator's back compartments, taking many Jiralhanae by complete and utter surprise.

"Go, High Inquisitor!" One of the Venator's rumbled, punting a Jiralhanae through a fruit stand.

Sorsa nodded--no words were needed. Much as he would have loved to stay and fight to the death beside his Syalekgolo, he knew he would have to live to continue the fight.

With that, he turned his back upon the raging firefight and fled. He never looked back.

[Dufflepud]

Aboard the Reticent-Class Cruiser, Inquisitor's Ark

R'ha Katolai drummed his fingers impatiently upon the arm rest of his throne. He sat in the bridge of his vessel, Inquisitor's Ark, beside his shipmaster, Tehlu Kusovai. Their vessel drifted idly, its cloak and shields deactivated, as per the rather strange orders of the Minister of Inquisition. they had been given quordinates and told to wait there in such a state. Odd.

Suddenly, the slipspace rupture that they had been expecting for several hours opened up some several hundred thousand kilometers away. The rent in space proceeded to cough up two covenant frigates and a corvette. They sped towards R'ha's vessel silently, obviously intent on closing in.

"Hail them," he commanded, but the communications master frowned.

"Sire, they aren't responding. I've tried several times now... hold on... your excellency, they are charging weapons!" Tehlu stood up, his face contorted with fury.

"Ready all pulse lasers, and get shields back online! Destroy the filthy heretics!"

Suddenly, the several hundred thousand kilometer void was lit up by six speeding plasma torpedoes, obviously intended for the Ark. Pulse lasers slashed out, dissapating all but one, but the remaining torpedoe slammed into the cruiser's shields, enough to bring them down to one percent.

The cruiser turned sideways, unleashing a broadside of torpedos and pulse laser fire that obliterated the offending corvette in a brilliant flash of purple that was visible even at this distance.

"The Jiralhanae will pay!" roared Tehlu, "when the heirarchs hear of this heresy..."

"No," stated R'ha, his calm voice containing an inner rage.

"...What?" choked out Tehlu, "Why would we not tell the..."

"Because they ordered this attack." Tehlu could only stare at R'ha, his eyes bulging.

"But... how..."

"Think about it," interupted the Inquisitor, "The ordered us out here with no explanation, told us to power dopwn shields and wait. Why else would we be asked to do this? Furthermore, this vessel is almost entirely sangheili. Face it, brother, the prophets have turned against us."

Tehlu could but slump back into his chair, only shaken back into reality when he noticed the two corvettes' energy projectors about to fire. His crew had taken charge, however, and theirs fired off first, cutting an X into one of the Jiralhanae vessels and tearing it apart before it could fire. The frigate disintegrated, its once elegant form falling apart into dozens of scorched pieces. What little crew that had not been vaporized now froze as they were flushed out into space. It was no less than they deserved.

The second frigate's swirling line of purple and gold energy slashed through the Ark's feeble shielding, cutting acoss the hull and disabling several dozen pulse turrets. However, the sixteen plasma torpedoes that roared out to greet it were more than enough the blast it into scrap.

"Go to the citadel! We must find the other Inquisitors!" commanded R'ha, and it was done, as they sped forwards into a portal of their own.

[Huka]

Slicing a Jiralhanae's head clean off its shoulders, Til roared and spun around to bisect another. These beasts have been rampaging through the whole city, killing everything in sight.

They have murdered warriors and innocents and thought to escape punishment!

Not when their life is still in his body, that will not happen. After slaying the last Jiralhanae in the area, he roared, "Warriors of the true Covenant to me!"

Having fought through the lower city, from where he began at the edges of the slums towards the market district, he collected a small creche of loyal warriors; from Unggoy and Kig-yar who still had trust in the Sangheili, to disheartened Sangheili warriors and priests who still shocked by the whole ideal, and even have a pair of Mgalekgolo bond brothers.

"Brothers of the Covenant; from Unggoy to Sangheili, we have been betrayed by the youngest of our collection. The Jiralhanae have taken their power, stolen from us, and now use to end our holy gathering. We will not allow them to destroy centuries of brothers. I will not! We will cleanse our Covenant of these traitors! All who raise their weapons at us, we will cut asunder.' The High Inquisitor said, his eye looked at everyone of his creche. They are start to brighten up. They were listened and absorbing his words,

'My patience have ended for Heretics of all kind. I will not stand fast to allow heresy such as this to infect our most holy of cities. We march, not for our selves, but for the Covenant itself! We will march for the Great Journey and all who have died to make it possible!"

The militia roared in agreement. Looking to the distance, he could more fighting. Putting his swords away, Til walked to the highest ranked Sangheili in the group, a retired Field Master named Sofi 'Vanakee.

"Brother, I need you to lead our warriors. I have to find more allies in this fight if we are able to reclaim High Charity." He whispered. Sofi looked at him with worried eyes but nodded.

"To battle then, I will return as soon as I can." The High Inquisitor said to the militia before vanishing. Standing on the side for a moment to see Sofi bringing morale back into the soldiers before they marched onward. Satisfied, Til went out to find his brother.

The hunt was difficult but soon after manuevering through the market district ontop of the buildings, Til calls for Sorsa on his comlink,

"Brother, if you can hear me. Please..." The Inquisitor said, fear and hope in his mechanical voice, "answer."

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa sat in his little niche in the roof of a building, eyes wide and staring. He did not know how long he had been like that, but he knew the sounds of battle from afar had died down a while ago.

His COM crackled to life, and the voice of Til spoke. He blinked once, then pushed his body out of the niche. He dropped to a ledge, knees bent to absorb the impact. He glanced around, searching for Til's teammate icon on his HUD. Sure enough, several buildings away and four stories down, Til's form registered.

Sorsa crouched, then took a running jump to the next building. He slashed through the glass with his sword just before hitting the window. He raced through the halls until he got to a suitable point, then continued his journey.

*****

About three minutes after Til spoke into his COM, he sensed a presence behind him. Upon whirling to face the unknown with scimitars ignited, he saw a heat wave that dissipated to reveal Sorsa. His armor bore several new gouges and scratches, the most visible of which was the long gash on the side of his helmet that cut deep into the metal and sheared the tusk off half-way down.

"Brother." Sorsa said, nodding once. "I assume you have a plan in motion already?"

[Huka]

Til sighed in deep relief of seeing Sorsa and put awy his scimitars. "Brother..." He simply said. Walking to the edge of the building, he looked at the once magnificent holy city. So much have happened over the years of the war and this...this is the most hurtful.

"I don't know what brought the Jiralhanae to do such a atrocity. We must get to the Council or...at least the minister." Til said, growling at mentioning the new Minister of Inquisition. He disliked him greatly, the San'Shyuum was a fool and corrupted one at that.

He acts like he cares for the Inquisition, but he don't. Only thing he care for is personal power. Til have tried to keep a close eye on him but the Minister was crafty.

"We must find out what is happening!" Til snarled, "We have been in the dark for too long."

Turning to his dearest friend, the High Inquisitor noticed something. Looking at Sorsa clearly now, he could see it. "Brother..." He said softly, his anger dimmed to a little flare, and his senses sharpened to Sorsa's aura, "What happened? Where is Fria?"

[Spartan 999]

"She was murdered by the Jiralhanae." Sorsa replied after a short silence. "I would have been killed as well if it were not for the intervention of some Syalekgolo."

He looked down at his hands, and wasn't surprised to see some indigo blood staining his undersuit alongside maroon Jiralhanae blood.

[Huka]

Til's heart dropped to hear that, he liked Fria. A Strong and proud female, it is hard for female Sangheili to move in the military. Tor one to become a Field Master is a feat worthy of pride from her clan.

"I am sorry, Sorsa." Til said, he knew of Sorsa's marriage to her and know she is one of the few people he loves. He wished he was there, to save her or at least, able to help him wreck vengeance on the Jiralhanae who murdered her.

"I mourn for her and I vow on my life-blood to seek justice in this." Til promised and he looked to the Sanctum of the Hierarches, "Come, let's us go to the Council. It will be best to be stealthy, no telling if the Jiralhanae have them captured."

"Are you ready?"

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa nodded slowly, then emphatically. "Yes. Yes, brother, I am ready."

He pulled a stolen carbine off his back, the stock resting against his shoulder. Active camouflage shrouded his person once more, and a seemingly disembodied voice spoke from the air. "Lead the way; I shall watch your back."

[Huka]

Cloaking as well, Til took the lead, running along the buildings toward the sanctum, ocassionally stopping to aid overpowered Covenant groups against Jiralhanae attackers subtlely.

The progress was long one, they were far from the political home of the Covenant. They had to go through streets, holo-bridges, and gravity lifts to enter the Towers District.

Making their way toward the Ministry of Inquisition, Til mentally thanked its close proximity to the Council Chambers due to the symbolic meaning of the Inquisition's duties of protecting the Covenant.

"Hopefully we can find survivors..." Til was about to say when a bright light flashed. Turning at that, his eyes were large at the sight above him.

One of the cruisers of the defense fleet exploded and in just a few moment, the entire fleet were attacking one another. "This is madness! We must hurry!" Til snarled into his comlink before rushing to the temple, where several Jiralhanae and a few Inquisitors lay dead at its steps.

Ignoring the bodies, Til opened the doors, and found the whole place was in chaos between Inquisitor and Avocate forces against Jiralhanae usurpers.

Uncloaking, Til unclipped his plasma glaive, and growled, "We will cleanse our home of this marauders. Sorsa, you can go ahead and get to the Minister's teleporter. I will help our brothers in this attack."

[Spartan 999]

"Be careful." Sorsa replied before setting off. He skirted along the edge of the frenzied battle, occasionally taking a potshot at a Jiralhanae's back or cutting their throat's with an energy dagger.

A few minutes later, he was nearing the teleporter. Several Jiralhanae stood guard. Odd, but no matter. He dispatched them quickly with practiced ease, then stood before the pulsating circular device on the floor.

"Til, I have reached the teleporter." He said over a private COM channel. "I don't think I can wait for you, because the Jiralhanae were here already--they may have gotten to the Minister already."

[Huka]

With a snarl, Til cut down his sixth Jiralhanae with a elegant swing of his staff, and with a twirl of his blades, impaled a Captain in the chest. Looking into the screaming brute's eyes, he lifted the heavy beast off its feet, and watched as it slid down the shaft painfully.

Hearing Sorsa, he answered, "Very well, Sorsa. I will be there shortly."

Then he kicked the corpse off his staff. The white-armored Inquisitors were far more skilled than this lot, and with the help of the Justicars and Swordsmen, this battle seem to be on their end, but the Jiralhanae made up for it with sheer numbers and firepower.

His fellow Inquistors all had inner vengenace and fury written in their attacks and faces.

Spinning to a crouch, he sliced the legs of another Jiralhanae, and sprinted to fly-kick a large brute in the throat, knocking him off his feet.

Pinning him down, Til finished him off with a stab to the face. He wandered where was the rest of the Reticent.

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa nodded, even though he knew Til could not see the gesture. He looked down to make sure he was still camouflaged, reloaded the carbine, then stepped into the teleporter.

***

The concentric golden rings of light were distorted by the active camouflage, which made the High Inquisitor's arrival on the other side of the teleporter nigh invisible.

((I'll let you describe where he is.))

[Huka]

Kicking a Jiralhanae through a window, Til watched him fall to his death, and chuckled. He always liked watching his enemies fall from high places, infact he use to drop them alot in his younger years.

As he periodically moved up the floors, assigning his fellows in fighting the Jiralhanae, he opened a door to find himself face-to-face with a large Jiralhanae in power armor.

Looking up, the beast smirked with ugly fangs and knocked Til off his feet and sent him flying to the wall, but he managed to land on his feet.

Walking out into the bloody room with a gory hammer, the Chieftain must be the leader of this assault, "So the legendary High Inquisitor Til 'Muramai has come to save his precious Covenant again. How pathetic."

Shaking his head, Til looked at the azure-armored Chieftain with disdain, he looked like one of Tartarus' lap dogs. Tanulus. Miserable fool.

Clearing his throat, Til got up with a sudden pop of his back. He mentally cursed the Minister for making him a simple Overseer of the Citadel and its works, instead of the warrior he was meant to be, making his bad back more apparent.

But this youngster will not be the death of him. Twirling his staff, Til got into his battle stance and snarled, "So you are the one responsible for this attack. You will be put to death for your hanious crimes."

Blinking, the Chieftain chuckled, "Foolish Inquisitor. For one to have eyes and ears in every corner of the empire, you sure are blind to your faith. You don't even realize what is happening."

"What do you mean, beast?" Til queried with narrowed eyes. Instead, the Jiralhanae charged with his hammer ready to swing.

Diving right into the swing, Til slash at the Chieftain's exposed side, but it simply grazed him as the Jiralhanae spun when he realized he was exposed and swung downward.

Pushing himself back, Til narrowly avoid his body from being crushed. Clicking in his throat, the Inquistor lunged in for a thrust, a feint that distracted Tanalus long enough to arc his energy blade across the Jiralhanae's chest, scarring it and distracting him with pain as he followed the momentum of his staff to backflip kick Tanalus in his chin.

Stabbing his staff into the ground, Til double-side kicked him in his bleeding chest, making him stagger, and seeing his chance, the Sangheili impaled his dominate blade into Tanalus's side.

Howling in pain and surpise at the aged Inquisitor's lightning-fast attack, Tanalus fell on one knee as his innards were searing from the plasma blade, one hand try to pry the staff out as his other hand quivered on his hammer.

Pain wrecked his body as he breathed but he felt a claw lift his bloody chin to have his eyes look at the green lenses of the High Inquisitor's mask.

"Now, Tanalus of the Jiralhanae..." Til began, his voice low and harsh, and augmented by his rebreather's mechanical tone, "Confess your sinsss."

***

In the empty council chambers, the Minister of Inquisition hovered from his seat where he just teleported from toward the High Prophets of Truth and Mercy, accompanioned by five decoratively white armored Jiralhanae bodyguards, as Jiralhanae honor guardsmen stood in attention.

"Is everything ready, Minister?" Truth asked, his fingers crossed on his lap with the T-shaped Icon glowing between them. "Of course, Hierarch. The Inquisitors and their pets are being executed as we speak. While they will be missed, the Jiralhanae prove to be a more valuable asset to your plans." The Minister asked confidently.

"Are you sure, I have met your greater servants and mere assassins would not take them down as likely." Mercy said, his eyes narrowed at the younger Minister with disdain.

"The Reticent Lance?" The Minister reminded himself before smiling truimphantly, "Bah, the fools have been doing everything I instructed them too; R'ha and his precious ship should be destroyed in the given coordinates, Til is stuck in his precious citadel and the steward I placed for him will makes a fine replacement, those two sociopaths, Zyla is being sent to retrieve a artifact from a Jiralhanae-dominant station, Kira is in the prisons as we speak, and that bothersome Sorsa...he was the easiest to dispatch, along with his foolish mate. If anything of them survived, they would be too busy trying to defend themselves."

Truth frowned on this, despite his lost faith of the Sangheili, he respected the Reticent Lance and knew they were far more skilled, "I hope, for your sake, you are right, Minister. Especially if they find out your part in this."

The Minister's brow angled abit, looking abit concerned, but he dismissed his fears. "I will make it won't."

Then he started to make his leave to his phantom as the Unggoy communications crew began to make the empire-wide broadcast about the Covenant's greatest truimph.

One of the Minister's guards sniffed the air and snarled before following.

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa crouched on an overhanging ledge high above the two San'Shyuum and their guards, the so-called Jiralhanae Inquisitors. Imposters, unworthy of the title. Still, he knew they would be a challenge, especially if the Minister was going to the launch pad. He tried to contact Til, but something was jamming communications somewhere in either of their vicinities--he would hazard a guess that it would be at the Ministry.

He ceased thinking about contacting his brother when the Minister brought up the subject of Reticent...and Fria. Anger welled up inside him, but he contained it...for the moment.

The High Inquisitor tensed, then sprang out. He slammed onto the back of a Jiralhanae, energy dagger piercing his neck. He drew his carbine and fired at the retreating Minister, but his guards moved to intercept the ones that came close with their shields.

The Jiralhanae "Inquisitors" activated their active camouflage as well, and most of them charged at Sorsa. They were met with a fragmenting-flash grenade, which when detonated, showered the area with fragments that reflected the intense plasma-blue light from the core of the grenade. An added bonus of the grenade was the powerful EMP effect.

The Jiralhanae's active camouflage overloaded, and they struggled to get their helmets off--their HUD's were malfunctioning. Three were dead in an instant as Sorsa dove into their midst, energy swords flashing.

The rest regathered and attacked the ghost Sangheili, but in the end they were no match for him. As the last Jiralhanae fell, Sorsa sprinted for the powering up Phantom. He hit the side of the hull and scrambled for purchase, barely managing to get a grip.

The Phantom swerved sharply and pulled out, making the High Inquisitor grunt with exertion. Over the wind, he could hear the sounds of a Banshee patrol approaching--an escort, of course.

Sorsa pulled himself up above the cockpit with a surge of strength. He lifted an arm to cut through with an energy sword, but felt large plasma bolts impact against his back and on the hull near him. Damnation! Apparently one of the Banshee pilots was lucky enough to see him on thermal imaging.

Knowing it would be suicidal to stay on the Phantom now, he diverted all power to his shields as he took a running jump towards the nearest Banshee. He grabbed hold of the wing, his weight making it dip to the side. He pulled himself up and wrenched open the canopy.

The Jiralhanae pilot was killed instantly by an energy dagger to the forehead, then was promptly pulled out of the vehicle. Sorsa slid in and got acquainted with the controls. The other Banshee's strafed his with plasma and fuel rod fire.

Sorsa brought his Banshee around and fired, barrel rolling to avoid another salvo. The fuel rod round hit a Jiralhanae Banshee right on the nose, causing it to explode. If not for the auto-guide, it would have missed.

He pulled the flyer down, heading towards the Phantom. The turrets opened fire, sending several concussive rounds his way. Two hit; the first was glancing, while the second crushed part of the right wing.

Sorsa fired his plasma and fuel rod cannons, but only three plasma bolts and part of the fuel rod round impacted against the Phantom's hull. The fuel rod round exploded near the engines, causing it to slow.

An enemy fuel rod round detonated next to Sorsa's Banshee, forcing it down and into a flip. He pulled out of it, and saw on the control panel that several Banshees were approaching rapidly.

Sorsa pushed open the canopy, one hand clutching a fragmenting-flash grenade. He set it to maximum range, then hurled it towards the oncoming Banshees.

The grenade flared, disabling all the Banshees, including Sorsa's. The ground approached rapidly, but it looked like his Banshee would hit the edge of a building before crashing into the ground.

He held on with one hand, while the other grabbed an emergency anti-grav pack and slid it on his back. He pushed off and activated the pack, slowing down enough to where he could absorb the impact of landing on the roof of the building without too much pain.

Sorsa looked around to make sure he was clear, then activated his camouflage and attempted to contact Til.

[Huka]

Tanalus fall on the floor at the edge of life, his unarmored body a complete mess, hard to tell if he was alive or dead as he stayed prone, his breathing very shallow.

Standing over him was a very infuriated Til, his eyes gleaming poisonous green through his mask, his whole forearms gory with the cooper-colored blood as it dripped from his razor-sharp talons.

Madness returned to his mind as it scratched the surface. He have finish a long process of extracting every last piece of information he wanted out of the Jiralhanae. At first he didn't believe him and after Tanalus repeated over and over, Til continued, using every last method he could think of with only his claws and blades.

Breaking bones, pulling teeth, gouging a eye, and slow stabs and cuts. More than enough to make a Zealot scream...trust him, he have done it all, and he still got the same answer:

The Prophets have lost faith and found the Sangheili more useless than Unggoy, deciding to replace his noble race with the savage Jiralhanae. Yet, they knew his kind wouldn't just seat back for the Jiralhanae to take over, and so they decided to purge the Sangheili forever.

He was absolutely furious. His mind aches at familiar pains that not even his Ascetic discipline could hold back. His darkness slithered and banged against his mental wall. It screamed for a bloody vengeance. A genocide unlike no other. Piked corpse, skulls decorated the length of a Supercarrier, so much agony to deliver on the Prophets and all who follow him.

He moved toward Tanalus and stomped on his neck, with his claws crackling for a coup de grace. Raising the claws of his right hand high for the final blow, his comlink rang.

Sorsa?

Answering as he slowly put pressure of his clawed hooves on the Chieftain's neck, his voice was deep and harsh, thick with his homeland accent and machinery, "Brother, what have you found?"

[Spartan 999]

"The Prophets have betrayed us." Sorsa answered simply, and from Til's tone he guessed the other High Inquisitor knew of the San-Shyuum's betrayal. "I attempted to kill the Minister, but he escaped my grasp."

Oddly enough, saying the truth out loud somehow did not surprise Sorsa, or even sadden him that much. He had never really been one for religion, and he had sensed a treacherous nature about the Hierarchs when he was in their presence.

Then, Truth's speech began, overriding all communications. Sorsa lifted a forearm and activated a holo screen that showed the Prophet's face as he spoke.

[Huka]

Til listened to Sorsa angrily, so it is true. This is a schism. The San'Shyuum have broken the Writ of Union itself. This breaks everything the Covenant stood for, everything the Inquisitors stood for.

This was effecting the High Inquisitor greatly. As he pieced things together, his mind became worst and worst. The war, the inquisition. All for the Prophets and their lies. They must have plotted this from the beginning.

Then he could Truth's broadcast. He listened on the 'glorious truimphant' of the Covenant. What bothered him was the involvement of Tartarus in the extraction of the Icon. He wish he was there to have helped! Instead Kira helped the wrongfully disgraced Thel 'Vadamee in securing it.

Those murderers have killed them all!

He knew those politicans were liars but this...this is unforgivable!

His mind snapped the moment his foot snapped the chieftain's neck once the cry rang in his ears, "Kill the Demon!"

Everyone in the ministry and out could hear a loud and blood-chilling roar that emitted from Til's throat and the mad High Inquisitor plunged from a window and vanished into the shadows.

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa's eyes widened when he heard the Truth's last sentence before the transmission cut out. A human Spartan? On High Charity? How was such a thing possible?

His thoughts focused when he heard movement on the streets below. He looked down and saw a few lances of Jiralhanae moving along. When he used the zoom on his HUD, he saw that a few were eating pieces of...Sangheili...

Fury overtook him. Sorsa jumped from the top of the building and slammed into one of the Jiralhanae below. The impact shattered the alien's neck and spine, but Sorsa was already rolling off the corpse.

Energy swords sheared through the nearest two brutish Jiralhanae, and the rest scrambled to attack the invisible Sangheili in their midst. In vain, it turned out. Barely fifteen seconds after he jumped, the Jiralhanae lances were dead.

Sorsa activated his holo pad, and saw to his equal parts rage and satisfaction that the Prophet of Inquisition was nearby in the city, and Til was making his way there--unknowingly to the other High Inquisitor, of course. So, it seemed like a race.

A savage grin that could also be interpreted as a scowl of anger came across his features as he set out. It seemed like now would be a good time to call in the Syalekgolo...

[Huka]

Racing through the street like a furious animal, moving on all fours, with abit of a pounce, Til saw nothing but red and his more civil mind was out as his more darker side took control this time.

His cape bollowed behind him as he pounced off a ledge and landed hard in a tumble. He didn't know where he was going but he knew he wanted blood.

His senses were heightened and aware of everything. A Unggoy had the misfortunate of gettting in his way.

Roaring, he swooped it up with his claws, and tore it's limbs apart and thrown its stump of a torso as a surprised Jiralhanae. Taking the distraction, he pounced onto the Jiralhanae, tearing at his throat.

As the beast gurgled, Til sniffed, and saw two more rushing at him. Snarling, he dived forward, and when he rolled back to his feet, two of his curveblades were spiraling through the air and entered their faces.

Roaring with rapid clicking of his mandibles like a rabid insect, Til continued on the path towards his mental target.

On his way, he saw a troop of Jiralhanae in the stolen garbs of honor guards. These pretenders will die! All of them!

With his claws primed, Til charged, seeing that they had noticed him. Growling, he seemed to phase in and out as his camouflage worked perfectly as a distraction, getting close enough to slash the closest guard's throat wide open.

Grabbing the Jiralhanae, he positioned him infront of a hail of plasma and spikes. Igniting his energy scimitar, Til slid in and sliced through two more. Jumping over a falling guard, he somersaulted through the air, and sliced another in two down the middle.

Chuckling deeply, Til was distracted enough to be hit by a axe. Everything stopped for a moment, the attacker chuckled before gasped at the sight as Til angled his head back at him. His mask was sparking and cut open to reveal a large eye start back at him with a very narrow slit, looking at him with absolute madness and malice as he stood to his full height, nearly towering him.

The Jiralhanae tried to back off and swing again, but Til block each attack effortless with his arms as personal shields flared on at each attack, and finally his arm snatch outward like a snake, wrapping his talons around the Jiralhanae's throat and lifted him off his feet with unnatural strength.

When the axe swung, Til caught his arm, and snapped the wrist with a quick movement. Laughing evilly, Til squeezed his prey's throat, watching the Jiralhanae gasp and spatter, "Look at me! I want to see the light leave your blasphamous eyes."

Making the Jiralhanae look at him, Til laughed harder, and when the brute finally died, the High Inquisitor stopped and simply dropped the corpse. Looking at the few remaining, Til gave a horrible smile as he pulled his mask off, "Who is next?"

[Spartan 999]

The Jirlhanae corpse thudded to the ground, but Sorsa was already sprinting away from the site of his latest battle. He came around a bend to see Til ripping through the brutish traitors with a vengeance.

Well, that escalated quickly. Sorsa thought. But with good reason.

A low rumble alerted him to the Syalekgolo group that had finally caught up to him. Seven Syalekgolo bond brothers had answered the call; the rest were either elsewhere fighting the Jiralhanae, too far away to help, or dead. Unfortunate. He would have to start training many more Syalekgolo if he survived this conflict, this schism.

He nodded, then motioned for them to fan out around the perimeter and strike at any Jiralhanae that approached. Sorsa pulled the carbine off his back and took out a Jiralhanae coming up on Til's blind side. Not that the other High Inquisitor couldn't have taken care of the enemy, but Sorsa preferred not to take any risks.

"I and some Syalekgolo are here to help, brother." Sorsa said over the COM as he fired at some of the other Jiralhanae. He hoped Til was sane enough to hear his words and understand...

[Huka]

Til felt blood splatter the side of his face, at first he was still, but he turned to his good side to see the hazy forms of Sorsa and his Syalekgolo when he heard a familiar voice.

He snarled savagely, his eyes wild. Stepping forward, he seemed to kill but then his nostrils sniffed, and the familiar scent entered his mind. Relenting, he spoke with a different dialect, "Sorsa."

Turning back to his path, Til sprinted forward, cutting down any that got in his ways with his claws, heading for the high security prison of the district, there is where the Prophet of Confession resides to overseer the prisoners and confident of the Minister of the Inquisition.

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa continued firing, killing two Jiralhanae that were coming after the source of the shots. He reloaded, then swiftly turned when he saw movement on his motion tracker. A lance of Stalkers opened fire on him, but he was already moving. In an instant, he had cut through a Jiralhanae's neck, severing his head. He then grabbed the body and used it as a shield, then drew the Stalker's mauler from his belt and blasted away at the nearest brutish alien.

A Wyrm launched itself into the conflict from above, spines slashing through throats and muscles with ease. It was going to be a relatively short fight...

[Huka]

Backhanding a false honor guard off the bridge, Til ripped his spear out of a dead Jiralhanae, and impaled another through the chest.

Twisting it thrice, he kicked the corpse away, and sliced a third. In his madness and bloodlust, he have lost track of his kills long time ago, and is just killing to reach his prey.

A horrified Jiralhanae tried to make a run for the gravity lift into the prison, but the Inquisitor's spear ended that run easily. Walking to the body, Til retrieved his weapon, and stepped on the gravity lift.

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa brutally ripped his energy sword out of a Jiralhanae Chieftain's chest, maroon blood spraying over his armor. He glanced around, then saw Til heading for the gravity lift. He turned to the assembled Syalekgolo nearby.

"Two bond brothers will follow us; the rest of you remain here and ensure no Jiralhanae come up behind us." Sorsa said, nodding to his two best Venators there. They all rumbled in unison--it was quite an experience to hear no less than fifteen Syalekgolo speak at once.

Sorsa stepped into the grav lift and activated his camouflage as he felt the familiar weightlessness. The two Venators entered the gravity lift once he was clear, various stealth technology still masking their forms.

[Huka]

Lifting up into the Warden Tower, Til glided on a platform to meet a lonely guardsman, who looked utterly horrified at the gory Inquisitor as his tusked mandibles moved rapidly like a insect.

Barely able to lift his spear in time, the Honor Guard gave a weak roar before Til slapped the spear of his hand, slicing the Jiralhanae's throat and chest with a burning energy dagger, and kicked him clear off the platform and to his fatal plummet.

Growling in his throat, the now silent Inquisitor walked forward to start releasing prisoners and finding their Warden.

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa casually shot an Honor Guard that wisely hid from Til, the carbine projectile exiting out the back of the Jiralhanae's skull. The alien's corpse slumped over, then joined its kin as a brush from a Venator's boot pushed it off the edge.

"We will provide overwatch and support for Til." Sorsa said to the Syalegkolo. "Not that he really needs it right now..." He added under his breath.