The Codex

CHAPTER 1 " THE GATHERING STORM "

ZOOOOM

WHEN DID YOU RECIEVE THIS TRANSMISSON?

WE PICKED UP THE SIGNAL JUST OVER A CYCLE AGO.

IT WAS FAINT BUT THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR...

THE CODEX HAS REVEALED ITSELF.

WHY DID YOU FAIL TO REPORT THIS UNTIL NOW?

I SENT SCOUTS TO INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY DISCOVERED A HUMAN PRESENCE ON THE PLANET.

AND BECAUSE OF YOUR RASHNSS THE HUMANS AHVE BEEN ALERTED TO OUR PRESENCE...

YOUR FAILURE TO ALERT THE COUNCIL BORDERS ON HERECY!

I THOUGHT IT Necessary TO ACT WITH HASTE TO DISCOVER THE LOCATION OF THE CODEX.

YOU ACTED NOT WITH HASTE, BUT WITH RECKLESSNESS!

YOU WERE RUGHT TO INVESTIGATE THE SIGNAL IMMEDIATELY...

HOWEVER, IF THE HUMANS REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY...

THEY COULD INFLICT INCALCUABLE DAMAGE TO ITS HOLY STRUCTURE.

THEY WILL NOT! EVEN NOW, MY FORCES ARE POISED TO TAKE THE PLANET AND...

...?

BOOOOOO BOOOOOO BOOOOO BOOOOO

BOOOOOOO BOOOOOOO RAAAAAH RAAAAAH

FOOL! FOOL! BOOOOOOOO BOOOOOOOO

BOOOOOOO BOOOOOOO

RAAAAAH RAAAAAH

I HAVE NEVER WAIVERED IN OUR QUEST TO FULFILL OUR COVENANT...

I HAVE NEVER BEFORE FAILED THE COUNCIL, AND I WILL NOT NOW!

I WILL RETRIEVE THE CODEX!

NOBLE PROPHET OF TRUTH, THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH! SILENCE THIS WRENCH...

THE COVENANT DOES NOT FORGET THOSE WHO SERVE IT FAITHFULLY... ...ALTHOUGH YOUR ACTIONS COULD HAVE LEAD TO CATASTROPHE...

HE HAS JEAPORDIZED EVERYTHING!

!

...YOUR MILITARY PROWESS MAKES YOU INDESPENSABLE TO THE COVENANT.

YOU HAVE OUR BLESSING...

HMPH...

BUT PRAETOR...

DO NOT FAIL US AGAIN!

DRACO SERPENTIS IV SEPTEMBER 11, 2552 (STANDARD MILITARY CALENDAR) 1452 HOURS

WELL, I TOTALED THE CAR, BUT BY THAT TIME IT ONLY HAD ONE WHEEL LEFT ANYWAY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER THREE?

ONE WORD... NEEDLERS!

...MORON HAHAHAHAHA... *SIGH*

UHH, SIR? I-I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO SEE.

WHAT IS IT DANIEL?

WELL-WELL I-I'M NOT SURE AND I--DON'T WANT TO START A PANIC 'CAUSE--YOU KNOW--MACHINES DO BREAK AND YOU CAN'T ALWAYS...

DANIEL, WHAT IS IT?

THE SLIPSPACE SCANNERS ARE SHOWING THAT SOMETHING MASSIVE JUST JUMPED IN SYSTEM.

MASSIVE LIKE WHAT?

I-IT'S ROUGHLY THE SAME SIZE OF THE FLEET THAT ATTACKED REACH.

WHERE'S IT HEADED?

IT'S HOLDING A GEOSYCHRONOUS ORBIT AROUND THE OLYMPIAN CAVE SYSTEM.

ISN'T THAT WHERE GREEN TEAM IS STATIONED?

SHIT! GREEN TEAM, THIS IS BLUE LEADER. DO YOU COPY?

JAKE RESPOND! HELLO?

... ...DAMN IT!

DELTA BASE, THIS IS BLUE LEADER. WE HAVE DETECTED AN INCOMING COVENANT FLEET IN ORBIT DIRECTLY ABOVE GREEN TEAM'S POSITION. DO YOU COPY? COPY THAT! I'LL TELL THE CHIEF. I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD GET BACK DOWN HERE.

ROGER THAT. BLUE TEAM, PACK UP! WE'RE HEADING BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN!

CHIEF, THIS IS RED 5. A COVENANT INVASION FORCE HAS JUST BEEN DETECTED...

...I THINK THE WAR JUST GOT HERE

ROGER THAT. RED TEAM, SUIT UP! WE'VE GOT INCOMING!

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TO BE CONTINUED...