Sorry about the delay, I've been away from the internet for a few days. So without any more ado, here's chapter twenty-seven. [b]Part 27 - Shrouded heresy[/b] The doors of the lift opening alerted the attention of a nearby guard, who walked slowly towards it with a raised rifle and wary eyes. A few short moments later, and he was lying still in a small puddle of blood, rapidly descending down the river styx with the metal ferrier. The murdering haze of heat stepped out from the small corridor, gently treading into the large expanse of the [i]Everest[/i]'s command bridge. It was a whirlwind of activity, far more manic than the constained, cool command centres which adorned Covenant ships. Earpieces were lifted and placed back by the score, papers flew about the room, people were holding onto metallic rails for dear life as the ship rocked with the impact of Covenant vessels. Only one man stood, immovable, on a slightly raised pedestal, arms folded neatly behind his rigid back as he faced the windows defiantly, one with the [i]Everest[/i] as it swayed and booked. He would bark orders; sharply, yet paced and perfectly in control. [i]Admiral Cole, I presume,[/i] Ahkrin thought to himself, keeping in the dark acloves afforded by the walls of the room. He was completely invisible to the naked eye, and would only be noticed if a human was actively searching for him. A Kig-Yar would be able to spot him instantly on the ultraviolet spectrum, but thankfully humans lacked that particular ability... or at least, he was almost sure they did. "Belay that last order; adjust ARCHER trajectory 32, 64 and fire on my mark... [i]Mark![/i]" Cole bellowed crisply, and sure enough the [i]Everest[/i] kicked back as a volley of missiles was fired from the aft weapon ports. They flew through the night, pushing past Seraphs and Banshees before impacting into the straining shields of a Covenant Destroyer unfortunate to find itself positioned between two of Cole's ships; how he had managed to move them into such a position as to trap a Covenant vessel was beyond Ahkrin. [i]I could kill him now,[/i] Ahkrin thought to himself, with a sudden realisation. [i]In a second fell swoop I could kill the scourge of all Covenant kind.[/i] But that would lead to his discovery and death. As well as Zharn's... and at the end of the day, Ahkrin placed their lives above those of people he knew not. Besides, with the ship rocking from side to side so violently anything he tried could fail, and it would all be for nothing. No, best to stick with the original plan and get his brother out safely and unnoticed. The steamy haze sidled further, towards the door at the top of the stairs he was at. Above the door was a plaque reading 'Admiral's quarters.' Cole had said something earlier about Zharn being in his quarters. With any luck, he would be there still. He moved within inches of a female marine, who seemed otherwise preoccupied with trying to remain on her feet. Even so, Ahkrin adjusted the weight he was exerting by use of a small anti-gravity system, making his footsteps as soft as a child's. "Admiral, shields are down. Your orders?" an unplaceable voice asked from within the almost solid crowd of subordinates hastily relaying orders. Cole looked to the left for a second, before nodding without the slightest trace of doubt. "Fire MAC rounds beta, gamma and omega; on my mark... Mark!" A tremendous shaking hit the ship as the heavy Mass Accelerator Cannons on the underside of the large vessel fired up, before ejecting the massive chunks of titanium MAC rounds were comprised of. The boulders of metal sped towards the Covenant Destroyer faster than the speed of sound, striking with the force of a toppling mountain. A mixture of crimson and sapphire fire played about the gaping wound in the hull of the Covenant ship, and hundreds of small Covenant bodies flew out of the rupture into the unforgiving reaches of the infinite vacuum. And then, the ship finally exploded, firing out pieces of debris and dying flames in all directions. Cheering swept over the bridge, and Ahkrin grieved for those who had been onboard. But there was more to worry about. No one noticed him as he reached the door to the Admiral's quarters, and slowly turned the brass door-knob with nonexistential hands. It swung open silently well oiled --, and Ahkrin slid inside, closing it behind him just as gently. The Sangheili took a preliminary scan of the room, and smiled. A familiar shape was chained to the desk in the centre of Cole's office, facing the wall dully. "I was wondering when you'd get here," Zharn spoke, still facing the wall. Ahkrin wasn't surprised in the slightest as he temporarily lowered the active camouflage effect, walking swiftly to his friend. "How do you always know?" he demanded with mock irriation, looking his brother in the face. The left side was swollen, bloodied and raw, and he looked as if he hadn't slept in days. "If I told you I wouldn't be able to do it anymore," Zharn chuckled. "Worry not, it isn't obvious. I know it only because I have been with you so long. You are well?" "A few broken bones and bruises here and there, and my feelings were a little hurt by the humans who tried to lynch me. Other than that, I'm quite alright," Ahkrin bantered, drawing a small burning cyan knife from his belt and using it to deftly slice Zharn's restraints. "You look like sh­it, though, to coin a human phrase." "Thanks," Zharn replied with typical dryness, rising to his feet with no small degree of stiffness. "We need to get out of here and save our warriors, my friend. I'll need a weapon, my armour, and--" "No," Ahkrin cut in. Zharn blinked slowly, giving his friend a strange look. "Excuse me?" "I said no," Ahkrin affirmed, inspecting Zharn's injuries as he spoke, unable to meet the other Sangheili's eyes. "There's not enough time. We get out of here." "Ahkrin!" Zharn uttered with shock, outraged. Ahkrin was thankful that the door to the Admiral's quarters seemed to be soundproof. Nevertheless he placed a hand over Zharn's mouth out of instict, hushing him. "Cole's ships are still in disarray after the arrival of our ships, brother. We must find a means of escape whilst they are otherwise occupied, and flee." "And abandon our warriors? By the gods, Ahkrin. That's heresy!" "Heresy none shall know of," Ahkrin murmurred. "If anyone asks we tell them that there was no way to reach our warriors." "... lie to the council?" Zharn asked, livid. Ahkrin nodded. "I have done so many times in the past, Zharn. The fact that you know none of it is testiment to how skilled at weaving deception I can be. Now come, there is not much time. Orpheus awaits for us in the docking bay with two Unggoy... those two must die, I am afraid." "No, Ahkrin," Zharn cautioned, shaking his head. Ahkrin simply shrugged, already extending his active camouflage around his friend. "None can know of what has truly transpired here, Zharn. It is, as you say, heresy to abandon those under one's command. But to do otherwise now would be worse than foolish; it would be suicide. Kill the Unggoy or leave them here; they cannot be trusted to keep quiet as Orpheus will." "We'd never get away with it," Zharn breathed, knowing he was unfit to command as he found himself seriously considering Ahkrin's proposal. But it was wrong. "We would," Ahkrin insisted. "But we must go now!" There was an uncomfortable silence, pervaded only by the occassional violent shuddering of the ship as the battle between levithans raged on in the darkness outside. Finally, Zharn spoke with heavy heart. "I cannot do it, Ahkrin. They are my warriors, and I will either free them or die with them. You must leave, but I will stay." "Zharn" Ahkrin began to protest, a grim shadow seeping under his eyes. "No, Ahkrin. I have made my decision, and I am sorry. Take me out from here, and go. We shall meet again on the Journey," Zharn told him. He couldn't bear to look in his friend's eyes, and turned away. And so he didn't see Ahkrin raise the plasma rifle over his head, and-- [i]Smack![/i] Silently, Zharn dropped to the ground. Ahkrin bent down and picked up the unconscious Sangheili, manipulating his considerable dead weight with an anti-gravity system, before loading him onto his aching shoulders. Invisibility wove a fine web around them, covering both head to toe. "Sorry, brother," the haze of heat spoke to the unconscious lump resting on his shoulders, with a tinge of regret. "But I won't let [i]you[/i] foolishly throw your life away as he did." * * * "... a pity an honour guard was killed, but that is sometimes the way of things. You have gained their trust, I presume?" "Of course, holy one." "Excellent. You know what is is you must do, when the time comes."