After spending several years with the Sangheili, I understand why the San'shyuum could lie to them for so long.
On top of being a militaristic society that was fanatically obsessed with honor, they were stubborn as well. No matter what I tried, they didn't want it or thought they had something better.
All I wanted was a few willing Sangheili to join my crew. I offered wealth, minerals, technology, and armed power for a limited time; nothing worked. I'd tried speaking cordially; that didn't work since I was 'being soft'. I didn't want to just fire on them since I was trying to save them, so violence wasn't the answer.
No matter what I tried, these stubborn lizards just wouldn't listen. Their Arbiter at least pretended to be civil; the other Kaidons? No such luck.
So after five years of trying, I was moving on. There were several other planets the Librarian didn't have time to visit herself, and with how Faber was moving, she didn't have much political power to send people she could trust, needing them by her side constantly.
I was glad she hadn't tried to rope me into her politics yet. I'm guessing it's because I wasn't Forerunner, so for once I didn't mind the blatant speciesism. It was a bit annoying when Guardians stopped my ship for inspections, but it was starting to be less frequent.
The Vengeful was awesome, by the way. Although I could easily go faster than the ship, it was still nice to travel in style and not hold my breath for weeks at a time just to get places. I still could; I had only been getting stronger, moving up to getting shot by the ship's lighter weapons as I slowly clawed my way up.
I just enjoyed the comfort of travelling in a massive ship. Other than the training and picking up samples for the Librarian, I was also busy collecting various scraps of tech that the various Builders I came across were willing to part with.
Yeah, the Builder Rate reminds me of the Mechanicum sometimes. Yes, Faber knew EVERYTHING and had detailed blueprints and design seeds to make anything and everything in the empire, but a lot of the Builders had their own little spin on things.
And it seems that since I'm an outsider, I'm not one of the other Builders trying to take their secrets, since the Builders were very paranoid under all the pomp and shit. I didn't care, though I made sure to have several copies of the various technological blueprints I was getting.
I'd also gotten more tickets!
[Gift from beyond the veil, 1x Random Gold Ticket] (Shadow_solder7)
[Gift from beyond the veil, 1x Random Gold Ticket] (Broscoso)
[Spinning, spinning, spinning, done!]
[Soften]
|Rare Ability|
Allows you to soften objects you are touching while still keeping their properties; otherwise, you can turn the consistency of steel into dough, but it's still as heavy and durable. Once you release your power, the objects will slowly gain their hardness back, but their shapes will still remain changed.
[LAMMEEE!]
[Voljang]
|Elite Familiar|
Monster Hunter - Voljang is a relative of the Rajang, a massive, towering gorilla-like monster with immense physical strength and temper. The Voljang is also capable of breathing flames and coating its body in flames to assist its attacks. In addition, Voljang can also enter a berserk state where its physical abilities and flames become stronger.
Sweet! Another cool monster that I can just leave on a ship! I'll let the various Princeps decide who will have the Voljang on their ship. They already knew that I could summon various creatures and were no longer surprised, but were still wary.
I don't blame them. The monsters aside, I imagine it's weird seeing a bunch of sentient snowmen run around with Tommy guns. The Lifeworkers were having fun, but not anyone else.
The gacha wasn't done with me, though, since another ticket was given to me.
[Gift from beyond the veil, 1x Random Diamond Ticket] (Shadow_solder7 donated 9 power stones. Yay!)
[Spinning, spinning, spinning, done!]
[Expert Management]
|Elite Skill|
You have become an expert in the art of management. Whether it is managing finances, people, assets, distributing tasks, or managing your own attention and problems, you can do so with brutal efficiency and expertise. You can easily run a multinational company or a nation.
[Not bad, nerd. Now you might actually be able to help run this raggedy fleet rather than letting the Priceps do everything!]
I ignored the Gacha's taunts. They'd died down some over the years since coming to Halo, but now and then the thing reared its ugly head. I didn't mind per se; it just got annoying, is all.
Anyway, right now we were en route to Maethrillian. I'd rather not go since it takes me closer to all the political games Faber was up to right now, but the Librarian had asked us to meet her there since she couldn't leave right now.
The trip was fast; Forerunner slipspace travel is scary quick, and we were cleared to enter Maethrillian space barely two weeks later. Mind you, we'd just trekked across about half of the galaxy; though there had been several stops and checkpoints, the Didact wasn't gone just yet, and he wasn't about to let the Flood return so easily.
Of course, Builder Security was already starting to make its rise, since most of their people were manning the checkpoint we passed to get to the Librarian, though the last few were manned by Warrior Servants.
"Greetings, Micah. I trust your journey was well?" The Librarian smiled softly as I entered. I nodded and bowed slightly; even if I didn't buy into the full culture of the Forerunners, the Librarian still had my respect.
"Yes. We have enjoyed safe travels and are glad to be at rest for now, but there is much work to do." I didn't normally like talking like this, but I didn't have a clue as to what was watching, so it was better safe than sorry. I'd rather my ship wasn't blasted to bits after all.
"Then I will not hold you and your ships long. I trust the specimens are well?" She asked, and I nodded.
"Yes. Myriads of samples have been taken, both of sentient and non-sentient life. Various Cylixs have also been made of the various species contacted. The work is progressing well." It was a bit of trouble getting Sangheili and Jiralhanae samples, but it was done.
She seemed pleased by that, as my armor's Ancilla received a data packet from the Librarian.
"Although I would gladly survey your work, the Council requires my presence as of late. Go to this location to deposit the collected specimens. You will find your next assignment there."
I nodded, bowed lightly, then left.
'It must be really bad if she can't even look at what I collected. Is Faber watching her? Maybe some other council member, who knows? I just need to make sure these samples are safe.'
I quickly returned to my ship as we left Maethrillian. Despite the crew's wanting to rest, I couldn't risk them being grabbed on the surface. Thankfully, the Didact and Librarian sourced their crew from trusted sources, making sure these Forerunners understood that the Flood would return.
Once we were in slipspace once more, the Ancilla brought to my attention something that was hidden in the data packet and only now revealed.
I noticed the message and quickly skimmed through it. It wasn't good.
"Alert the Princeps of the Vengeful and her escorts. This concerns all of us."
A week later, we exited slipspace and drifted through the void for a while as a meeting was held with the various Princeps and me. Once we were all gathered, I showed the message the Librarian had given us.
"I am pained to say this, but we have lost." The Librarian looked tired.
"Despite the various findings we have made, and all the warnings we've made, the Council does not believe the Flood will return. Though the Didact was able to hold off their judgment for a time, they have called for his return. I will not let that happen.
Already, the Master Builder makes moves to secure power, and he holds sway over most of the Council. I have hidden the Didact away, and he will not be found until the time is right. Unfortunately, that means the Council will begin looking for you.
Though I have stressed again and again the importance of our work, the Council is blinded. They will search for you, regardless of what I say. So you must hide as well. I have already marked the location and have stricken all information about your fleet from the records.
Take this time to grow your strength and expand. I know it will be difficult, but this is far beyond and of us now. I await the day we shall meet again with deep longing, but I am afraid I have done all I can.
Stay safe, stay hidden. May the Mantle guide your way through these turbulent times."
The message froze on the form of the Librarian, sad and tired, as it deleted itself a moment later. The only proof that what we'd just witnessed was real was the nav-coordinates that had just been uploaded to our armor.
I checked to see where she wanted to hide, and grimaced. It was near the galactic center, hidden among dozens of black holes that would make getting to us difficult. The interesting thing was the timestamp given for when we should emerge.
"Ten thousand years? Even for our kind, that is a long time." The Princeps of the Vengeful noted, as the others nodded. They were right; ten thousand years was a long time, but Forerunner tech was cheating at times.
"Time is not an issue. Slipspace field pods have been prepared for all of us, including the crew. The issue is making sure the fleet also survives this."
That got the ball rolling as we stayed in contact, but returned to our ships. Another week of slipspace travel spat us out near the place as we began navigating the treacherous space. Once in position, Ridley and I flew around the surrounding space as the Princeps and Navarchs made sure nothing would happen while we were gone.
Once that was all finished, we went into the Forerunner equivalent of cryo-sleep, not to awaken until we were needed. Ten thousand years later. . .