User:144-Patient Appelant/Loyalty

Kilo 'Soramee lay in a medical bay at High Charity. The injury he sustained from Reach had nearly killed him. He lay wide awake staring at the wall. He suffered a shot to the ribs by a Warthog-mounted turret. While he felt fine after first taking the hit, he passed out later in a Phantom after losing too much blood. Were it not for his armor catching the bullet, it would have pierced bone or an organ. The door slid open and Kilo looked to the doorway. It was one of his last good friends, Solo 'Soramee, coming to visit him. "I see that you have awaken, brother," says Solo. "How are you feeling." Kilo struggles to sit up. "I have been better," replies Kilo. The attack on Reach was a success for the Covenant but at a major cost. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Covenant forces were killed, mostly Elites and Grunts. "So, how many Brutes did you see on the field of battle," asks Solo. "I saw none myself. Our people made a great sacrifice for the Covenant while the Brutes did little to nothing," replies Kilo angrily. Kilo gets to his feet and slowly stretches his back. "The survival rate for that battle was extremely low. I am suprised that you are alive let alone stand," says Solo. Kilo looks to him and says "I can't die that easily, brother."

Kilo ans Solo are on their way out of the room when they are greeted by Grinimus, a Chieftain. Both Kilo and Solo tighten their fists. "What do you want, Grinimus," Kilo angrily asks. "To see who managed to survive the battle, I am suprised to see only a Minor here," replies Grinimus. Grinimus was an imposing Brute, standing at 9 feet tall. His eyes were orange, his teeth were gigantic, and his breathing was heard a deep growling sounds. Both Kilo and Solo had their own experiences with him. Grinimus sent Solo on a suicide mission before and Grinimus got in a fight with Kilo months earlier. Neither Sangheili knows this but Grinimus and his pack also betrayed a group of Elites on a secret mission which was ruled as a Human ambush. Solo looks Grinimus in his eyes, seen as disrespect, and demands him to leave. Everything goes silent for a moment except for the sound of Grinimus' heavy breathing. Just when a fight between them gets ready to break out, a lower Prophet and his guards passby. The Prophet of Loyalty is a lesser Prophet but he still has more authority than Solo, Kilo, or Grinimus.

"And what do we have here, a fight in the presence of a Prophet," the Prophet questions. Kilo, Solo, and Grinimus drop to one knee and say "No, Prophet." Loyalty looks at them for a moment then says "You may stand. Grinimus, I trust that you have done what I have asked of you." Grinimus' eyes widen and breathing stops for a second then he says "I...I was going to but...I...they." Loyalty raises his hand as a sign for Grinimus to silence himself. Loyalty looks to Kilo and says "You are the one that managed to kill all of those Humans, even one of their Demons by hand, yes," questions Loyalty. Kilo looks to Loyalty and says "yes, Prophet." Loyalty sends an icy glance back to Grinimus who lowers his head. "I see. I suppose that I am the one to tell you that you have been promoted, and at such a young age." says Loyalty. Solo looks to Kilo with pride then the Prophet says "You have also proved yourself at Weeping Shadows of Sorrow and for that, I wish to promote you aswell." Both Kilo and Solo were silent but extremely happy and proud. After recieving their new armors and being assigned to new lances, they were sent on a secret mission by Loyalty. What Kilo, Solo, or their squads didnt know was that the Hierarchs didnt even know of this mission.

Solo and his team were sent in first followed by Kilo. Kilo was now a Major Domo and leads a small squad while Solo is an Ultra. Their mission was one that tested their faith in the Covenant. They were supposed to kill Brutes in a Forerunner facility and steal a Forerunner device inside, thought to be the Sacred Icon. Apparently, Loyalty was planning on taking power in the Covenant by gaining control of the Sacred Icon and becoming the new High Prophet. He was using a few highly skilled hand selected Elites to form his own personal army and Kilo was one of his top picks. Kilo 'Soramee's hatred for the Brutes was overshadowing his loyalty to the Covenant and would therefore assist Loyalty in his coup d'état. Kilo arrived at the facility known as the Pillar. Kilo and his Elites were dropped on what looked like a ship dock on the Pillar's midsection. He quickly made radio contact with Solo who was already deep inside of the Pillar and cut the Brutes contact with the outside world unfortunately, Solo and his men were pinned down by Alactus, a War Chieftain, and his many troops.

Kilo 'Soramee led his team of three drew their Carbines and headed inside of the Pillar. While making their way through, they saw the casualties that Solo 'Soramee managed to inflict upon the Brutes. They reached a walkway that was directly next to the room in which the Brutes had pinned Solo down. Kilo led his men up the walkway and into an area behind the Brutes where they flanked them. The Brutes were caught off guard by this and began to fall. Solo's men had enough of the fire taken off of them to give them the opportunity to begin hurling plasma grenades. Six Brutes were stuck immediately while grenades landed close enough to other to kill them. The Brutes were forced to fallback deeper into the Pillar.At this point, Kilo and Solo split up; Solo searches for the Sacred Icon while Kilo gives chase to the Brutes. "do not let them leave this place. If we are discovered, this will be our end." shouts Kilo. Kilo and his small team split up and try to flank the Brutes. One of Kilo's men, Oso 'Korosee gets aroung the Brutes and drops a plasma grenade in the Brutes path. While the Brutes look back and fire on Kilo, they have no idea that they step directly on the grenade. Four are killed instantly but three Brutes are thrown toward Kilo and Alactus flies near a gravity lift.

Kilo's men fight the Brutes while Kilo chases Alactus. Alactus enters the gravity lift and goes toward the top of the Pillar at high speeds. Kilo is not far behind and hops in the lift after Alactus. Upon reaching the top, Alactus hurls a Power Core at Kilo which explodes and takes down his shields. Kilo stumbles from the blast but does not cease his pursuit. He goes through the door which leads to another dock with an empty Phantom. Alactus is their waiting for him and begins firing his Fuel Rod Cannon at him. Kilo hasily dodges the shots and gets in close enough to knock the Fuel Rod gun from his hands. Upon hitting the ground, the cannon fires two rounds at the Phantom, knocking it off of the dock and to the sands 800 meters below. Alactus looks off of th dock and then at Kilo and lets out a howl. He charges Kilo and punches him twice in his ribs, hurting his wound. Alactus picks Kilo up by his neck and tosses him clear across the dock. Alactus jumps high in the air and tries to stomp Kilo's head while he's still down. Kilo manages to move out of the way and kick Alactus in the chin, knocking four of his teeth out. Kilo punches Alactus twice in the face and once in the stomach which seems to not bother Alactus too much. Alactus tries to pick Kilo up and drop him over the dock but Kilo breaks his arm and strikes Alactus' chin with his knee.

Meanwhile, Solo 'Soramee searches the Pillar for the Sacred Icon. He comes across a room with a large monitor inside built into the ceiling. Under the Monitor is an alter with an artifact suspended by a gravity beam. Solo walks to the alter and picks up the artifact saying "this must be it. Lets go get Kilo." Just then, the large monitor looks down and it's eye turns red. A large beam comes from the monitor and hits the floor next to Solo which is enough to toss Solo and knock the artifact from his hand. Solo attempts to retake the artifact but the monitor begins firing a storm upon him and his men. He sends his men from the room and leaps around dodging the Monitor. He draws his Energy Sword and leaps high in the air. He grabs a ledge on the wall and pulls himself up. Just as the monitor fires on the ledge, Solo jumps to a structure hanging on another wall. He makes his way up until he reaches the ceiling and the Monitor. The Monitor charges it's beam in what would have been it's strongest attach but Solo leaps onto the Monitor and slices the side of it, stopping it from being able to turn itself. The Monitor struggles to aim at Solo but then, Solo impales the Monitor's 'eye' with his sword. A blast destroys the Monitor but Solo is send crashing down to the floor.

Kilo 'Soramee is bloodied from his fight with Alactus but he managed to deal quite alot of damage. Alactus limps toward Kilo who stands near the edge. Both of them charge into eachother but Alactus manages to knock Kilo back and they both go off the side of the dock. They arent dead, however, as Alactus holds the side of the dock and Kilo grasps Alactus' leg. Alactus tries to shake Kilo loose but his grip does not weaken. Alactus looks down at Kilo and says "How dare you come here and go against the will of the prophets?! This is heresy!" Kilo replies with "I am doing this for the Covenant! You and your people should not be a part of it!" Alactus growls and gives a strong shake of the leg and Kilo's finger slips for a second. "We are more loyal to the Hierarchs than you could ever be! We are destined to be their protectors one day and you shall be left in darkness!" Kilo grabs alactus with both hands and says "The Brutes are nothing more than disrespectful savages without dicipline or the capacity for honor! The Hierarchs would never do something as foolish as make you their protectors!" Alactus looks down at Kilo and his hand begins to loosen grip on the dock. Alactus says "If I will not see the day that we are the Prophet's chosen guardians, you will not see any day passed this.

Alactus lets go of the dock in an attept to kill both him and Kilo 'Soramee. Fortunately for Kilo, he has quick reflexes. As Alactus begins to fall, Kilo grabs Alactus shoulder and pulls himself up, leaping off of his shoulder and grabbing the ledge. He watches as Alactus plummets down to the ground. Kilo pulls himself up and makes his way back into the Pillar. As he gets down, his men are just finishing piling the remains of their enemies. They make their way back through the Pillar and find Solo holding his arm and the artifact. "Come, brother," says Kilo 'Soramee. "Let us leave this place." They walk through the Pillar and reunite with Solo's men who assist the injure Solo. They enter their Phantoms and head back to High Charity to present Loyalty with the artifact. Upon recieving the artifact, Loyalty becomes ecstatic. "You have done well. With this, I shall usher in a new era of the Covenant." Loyalty then looks to Kilo and Solo and say "You and your warriors may excuse yourselves. When I need you, I shall call for you again." Kilo and Solo return to their quarters. While they and a few other Elites play Trenta, the Covenant equivalent of poker, another Elite rushes into the door and says "Come on, brothers! The Prophet of Loyalty is about to be executed for heresy!" Kilo and Solo look at eachother and say "heresy?" The Elite replies with "Yes. He was trying to pass a Forerunner artifact off as the Sacred Icon and takeover the Hierarchy. Fortunately, the Prophet of Truth picked up on it and had Loyalty captured. The execution is about to happen now!"

Kilo 'Soramee, Solo 'Soramee, and the other Elites pull away from their game and follow the young Elite to the Mid Tower where the execution would take place. Loyalty is stripped of his robes and place in restraints. Thr Prophet of Truth glides by on his throne and looks at Loyalty with disdain. The crowd that has come to watch the execution is large allowing Kilo and Solo to easily blend in. Truth raises his hand, instantly silencing the noisy croud. "The act of heresy is already a detestable feet." Truth pauses for a moment and looks at Loyalty. "But when heresy is committed by a prophet, it is an even greater abomination." The crowd gives a quick cheer. "For an act such as this, no punshment is too great. On this day, you shall be marked, decapitated, and mutilated." The crowd begins to boom with cheers as Truth leaves. Tartarus prepares to brand Loyalty with the Mark of Shame. Kilo begins to draw his sword as he prepares to rescue Loyalty but he is stopped by Solo. Kilo looks to Solo who just shakes his head. Loyalty is branded with the mark as Grinimus makes is way over with a large blade. The cheers grow even louder at this point. Loyalty has his neck placed on a block and just as Grinimus raises the blade high above his head. Loyalty looks out into the crowd at those willing to watch him die. He looks and spots both Kilo and Solo. Just as Loyalty begins to let out a call for them to help him, Grinimus drops the blade on his neck. Kilo 'Soramee turns away.