User:XW3 AR3 L3GION/Battle of Telma System

"We entered the system in time to watch the cowards deploy the anti-matter weapon on Telma Julk. The bright flash of explosive force almost blinded us but with horror we watched as half the moon was devoured by light. Soon the moon broke upon itself, scattering around Telma. It wasn't for some time when we realised our Arbiter was fighting upon that moon."

- Sangheili naval crewman.

Background
The Battle of Telma System had begun as part of the Tek'Malen Offensive; a grand attack along the Tek'Malen Theater to halt frontline production of the Neo-Covenants weapon factories and shipyards, causing their supply lines to triple.

The Battle of Telma Julk was part of this offensive and consisted of a small naval battle above Telma's moon, Telma Julk, which ended in a stalemate. However, two hundred thousand Sangheili warriors, including the Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, had managed to break through and land on the surface. The Sangheili took Telma Julk only starport, halting the transport of vehicles and weaponry off-planet and turned in into a heavily fortified stronghold.

The Arbiter and the Sangheili contingent remained on the planet for seven weeks constantly under attack from a far larger Jiralhanae force until the Jiralhanae Commander of the Telma system, Heranus, wasting thouands of his soldiers lives in futile attempts to take the Sangheili stronghold decided to simply eradicate the planet and the Sangheili using one of the largest anti-matter weapons seen in the Doisac War.

The deployment of the weapon was successful but costly. Telma Julk provided a large amount of the frontlines vehicles, weaponry and munitions and the amount of anti-matter in the Neo-Covenant was set back by sixteen months. However, the Jiralhanae had killed the Sangheili and, most importantly, Thel 'Vadam Arbiter of the Sangheili. A move which would lead to the revenge attack of the Ses'Kumlia Offensive aimed specifically at the Jiralhanae's non-combatants.

Battle
On the 14th January 2623, Sangheili reinforcements had entered the Telma system to re-engage the Neo-Covenant defence fleet led by Commander Heranus, only to see Heranus deploy the anti-matter weapon. Sangheili crewmen watched as the moon, Telma Julk was destroyed, it remnants scattering around the gas giant.

Within the hour, the Sangheili forces had powered forward determined to exact revenge on the Jiralhanae, however, Heranus and a large pat of the Neo-Covenant fleet had fled leaving behind four pre-Schism Covenant destroyers which delayed the Sangheili long enough for them to lose the Slippace trail.

Sangheili chroniclers recounted, "the battle was short and inglorious but we had pain and sorrow in our hearts" as the battle quickly changed to a doomed search and rescue mission for any survivors of Telma Julk.

Aftermath
The Sangheili began a three month mourning period for the loss of the Arbiter and in revenge conducted the Ses'Kumlia Offensive, an attack against Jiralhanae worlds with the expressed intent to slughter non-combatants, a very un-Sangheili motive.

Heranus, Commander of the Telma system, was awarded with females and prestige for killing the Arbiter before been quitely executed for the loss of the Telma system and anti-matter used in the destruction of Telma Julk.