Halo: Power Plays

The Didact's Hand
“And you are certain Kamchatka is deserted?”

“Deserted? I never claimed it was deserted. The humans have a small research outpost on the far side of the planet. But they have no real military presence there, and my scouts report that neither the Vadams nor any other party has laid claim to the world. The only resistance you will find around our mutual friend’s objective will be the usual Promethean contingent.”

Jul ‘Mdama, Didact’s Hand and supreme commander of the Covenant, folded his leathery arms over his armored chest. It was a distinctly human gesture, though Shinsu ‘Refum guessed that ‘Mdama did not even realize he was doing it. Human expressions were psychologically subtle things, easily adopted even by their enemies. Shinsu had even heard of human expressions being adapted into the languages of many species in the former Covenant. No wonder they are such a dangerous species

“I need concrete assurances, not estimations and guesswork,” the Didact’s Hand said. “I have neither the patience nor the resources to waste more troops on the Doctor’s guesswork.”

Shinsu leaned forward on the holographic war table between himself and his supreme leader. The table’s display showed a broad overview of the Covenant’s ongoing war against the human UNSC government, the House of Vadam’s forces back on their homeworld of Sanghelios, and the dozens of criminal gangs, pirate fleets, and splinter governments that opposed ‘Mdama’s crusade. It was not an encouraging picture. Covenant task forces were retreating from most sectors, trying to regroup around the handful of strongholds they still held. Shinsu had been on the losing side of a war before, and it didn’t take a strategic genius to realize that the Covenant was not winning this one.

“Doctor Halsey’s guesswork is just about our only chance to turn the tide back in our favor,” he reminded ‘Mdama. “Review my reports again, if you must. If you go to Kamchatka, you will face Promethean resistance. There is no way around that. But this might be our only chance to bring the machines back under our control.”

‘Mdama huffed in agreement. “I never expected to find myself relying on a human’s knowledge of the Forerunners. Yet Halsey’s understanding of the gods, perverse though it is, may yet hold the key to victory.”

Shinsu glanced around the Song of Retribution’s command deck. Jul ‘Mdama’s flagship was crewed only by warriors deemed most loyal to the Covenant cause—a contingent that was shrinking with each passing day. The bridge was almost entirely empty, save for a skeleton crew of officers absolutely necessary for the carrier’s essential operations.

Why bother with this charade when no one is around? he wanted to ask Jul. ''We both know you don’t believe in the gods. You never did. You play the role of a holy warrior only because it suits your purposes.'' He wondered if at some point Jul had truly started to believe the lies he fabricated to reform the Covenant. Such falsehoods, combined with the strains of holding the crumbling organization together, must have taken their toll on ‘Mdama’s health. Perhaps his sanity as well.

But Shinsu was no stranger to living out lies and deceptions. After all, he’d been lying to ‘Mdama since the day he’d joined the Covenant.

“Halsey’s guidance has, for the most part, been sound,” he agreed aloud. “The troubles we have encountered trying to reach the goals she sets have not been of her design.”

“Human interdictions, Sali ‘Nyon’s treachery,” ‘Mdama muttered, almost to himself. “And then the loss of the Prometheans. Yes, we are plagued by misfortunes at every turn. As for Halsey’s own agenda…” He trailed off, tilting his head as if to ponder the dire situation displayed by the war map.

It was a chance Shinsu had been waiting for since his meeting with the supreme leader began. “Halsey may not be treacherous, but there is no denying that her goals are ultimately different from our own. Those differences have led to problems in the past. Problems we can ill afford to deal with at this stage.”

‘Mdama looked back at him. He ran a finger across the white hand emblazoned on his chest plate. “You were just in agreement that the doctor was our best chance to turn the tide. Now you question her usefulness?”

“Not her usefulness, only her willingness to tell you the full truth. She has hidden secrets from us in the past. I would simply question her further before you risk any warriors on Kamchatka. I have interrogated her in the past, with some success. Transfer her to my custody while you ready the forces that will accompany you, and I will ensure that there are no surprises waiting for you on Kamchatka.

The Didact’s Hand considered the suggestion, then nodded his approval. “As you say. The doctor has become more insolent of late. It would do her good to be reminded of her position.”

“I won’t be unduly rough. My warriors will simply impress upon her the need for… transparency.”

“I will have her transferred to your cruiser at once. Be thorough. Once you are satisfied with her answers, return her to the Song of Retribution and prepare two intelligence reports. One for myself and one for Chal ‘Vakar. He will have command of the fleet while I am in the field. He is to take no offensive action while I am away, just continue to marshal our forces and await my return.”

Shinsu brought his hand up to his chest in salute. “As you wish.”

Jul turned away from the war table, then glanced back. “One more thing. The other human… I understand he is here as well?”

“He arrived at the fleet this morning. You were engaged in other matters, so I had him brought aboard my own ship. I wanted to cross-check his legion’s reports with my own.”

“Very well. I want to speak to him before I depart. In some ways he has proven himself to be a more reliable asset than Halsey. I have instructions to give the Kru’desh Legion regarding our next offensive.”

“I will make sure he is ready to report,” Shinsu said. Lately ‘Mdama was letting more and more of these administrative matters fall on him and other members of the Covenant inner circle—another sign the war was taking its toll. He dipped his head in respect, then turned to leave the command bridge. He had just reached the door when the Didact’s Hand called out after him.

“Shinsu,” ‘Mdama said, arms folded once again. “This war is not lost. Not yet. Do not lose faith in victory.”

“Of course,” Shinsu replied. He indicated the warriors at their battle stations. “We are all here because we have faith in victory. We will fight by your side until that victory is achieved.”

It was troubling how easily the lie came to him. He wondered, not for the first time, if this was how it had started with ‘Mdama himself. A few fabricated sermons here, a mix of religious platitudes there, and suddenly he was running himself ragged trying to wring victory out of a war that had been lost before it even began. ‘Mdama had gone too far to turn back now. Shinsu took one last look at the Didact’s Hand, now staring forlornly at the war display, and wondered if this would one day be him.

For all his faults, Jul ‘Mdama truly was a good warrior. A good commander. He wanted the best for the Sangheili people, even if his efforts were ultimately misguided. But that was the problem, wasn’t it? ''We all want the best for our people. We all just have different ideas about what that best is.''

It was, Shinsu reflected, truly regrettable that a warrior like ‘Mdama needed to die.