Halo Lighting System First Strike Games - Manual (Page 344)

340 HALO: FIRST STRIKE
its head even lower. "Many were lost in the void. This is all there
was to find."
"A pity."
The orb's lid screwed itself back on, and then the container
gently drifted into the Prophet's grasp.
"It may yet be enough for our purposes... and one more relic
from the Great Ones, as precious as they are, will soon make no
difference to us." The Prophet tucked the container deep in the
folds of its underrobe. "Make sure those pilots who survived are
well rewarded. Then execute them all. Quickly. Quietly."
"I understand," Tartarus replied with a hint of anticipation
thickening his voice.
The Prophet inhaled deeply, released a rasping sigh, and then
asked, "And what of the Unyielding Hierophantl"
"The reports are unclear, Your Grace," Tartarus replied. "The
renegade flagship Ascendant Justice was involved, and destroyed.
We are unsure what triggered the station's detonation. The
recorded communications channels were flooded with system
error reports prior to its destruction. The Engineers are saying
this is imp—"
The Prophet held up one claw, indicating silence. Tartarus
halted midsyllable.
"A regrettable turn of events," the Prophet said, "but in the
end, only an insignificant setback. Have the ships that are
battle-ready rendezvous with us at the site of the cataclysm."
"And what of the incompetent, High One? The one who lost
Ascendant Justice?"
"Bring him before the Council. Let his fate match the magni-
tude of his failure."
Tartarus's face twisted with what passed for a grin among his
species.
"Soon the Great Journey shall begin," the Prophet of Truth
continued, and its claws curled into fists. "And let nothing in this
universe impede our progress."