Halo: Anesidora

7.5

the entire mountain top was reduced to nothing more than rubble and ash, it was no glassing, but the elite had to hand it to the humans, they knew asset denial. something Rad'dam knew well

this setback only minorly inconvenienced him, his forces had heard all of the human communications that he needed. had a grasp on their defenses. and the destruction of his mountain likely disrupted their communications bettered than he would have.

he watched as his men gathered what ever dead or wounded had survived the strike, he felt a pang of guilt, if he had just stayed and finished off the imp then took on the demon, his men likely wouldn't have been killed. instead he fled, his honor was stained for sure, and he wasn't sure how to clean it.

"field marshal, the high councilor wishes to speak to you" stated an Elite who had snuck up on him while he was distracted.

"did they inform you why?" asked the marshal 

"they did not, only that it was urgent"

urgent, the san'shyuum councilor who had been sent with his fleet  had differing opinions of urgent than he did, he hoped this was not a waste of time. he thanked his fellow Sangheili, then made for his personal phantom.

the dropship carried him back to his flagship, a CAS-class assault carrier called the Valorous  Justice. it was surrounded by two cruisers and three corvettes, maintaining a safe distance from the humans defense stations. once on board he made straight for the bridge, that was where the councilor was.

Rad'dam had little patience for the san'shyuum, especially when they meddled in the matters of war. still he respected the prophets holy authority, and would just have to put up with the councilors meddling.

"field marshal, I am glad to hear of your survival" stated the minister of Reverence. 

"The humans leveled the entire mountain" responded Rad'dam 

"yet you still live" responded the minister "but this is not about the human building"

"then what IS it about?" asked the Sangheili, growing impatient

"there is a holy relic on this infidel planet" responded the minister "one of great importance"

Rad'dam's mandibles parted in surprise, the San'shyuum was not wasting his time, more importantly there was a holy relic that needed recovering "where?"

"we have a vague location, but do not know for certain" responded the minister "if the humans have not defiled it already, it will be easy to locate"

Rad'dam was eager to find this relic, but his inner tactician nagged at him  "and what of my invasion? surely we should focus on the humans, wipe them out then search in peace"

"yes... continue your campaign, but focus your attention on the artifact. assign one that you trust to lead"

"very well" the elite nodded, giving a salute before turning to leave

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"how many ships remain brother?" asked Rad'dam as he entered the war room, on the other side of the war table was his clanmate Thuze 'Vanomee, fleetmaster and warbrother.

"we still have thirteen of our original nineteen" responded Thuze "the humans got lucky and got six of our number, mostly corvettes, two cruisers" 

"and what of the humans?"

"their ships number 12, if the info you pulled out of their battlenet is correct, nearly even numbers, but with our vessels being superior, it is not an even fight"  thuze stated "but these... 'super MAC's' of theirs, they are enough to balance things out if i am not careful"

"you are careful brother, overly so sometimes" responded Rad'dam "which is why i have a task to entrust you"

the fleetmaster looked away from his maps and reports "of course, what is your bidding?"

"the minister claims there is a relic-"

"A relic?!" interrupted thuze, his mandibles parting in pious excitement "here?" 

Rad'dam's faith in the gods was strong, but Thuze was even more pious, more faithful "indeed. he has assigned me to find it, I need you to focus on continuing our campaign"

"i- If you wish..." responded thuze "i would rather locate the relic, but if that is what you want"

"i would rather you do it as well, but the minister has requested I do it, you may put in a request however" 

Thuze nodded "i will honor the ministers judgement. but i urge you brother, find it quick, so that we may destroy the humans and deliver the relic"

"I look forward to it, take care with my men"

"of course brother" 

Rad'dam turned and left the war room, he had a relic to find.