//------------------------------// // Two. Fifteen: Lord Tumai // Story: Sins Never Die // by CodenameOne //------------------------------// Two. Fifteen Lord ‘Tumai “Interesting. YOUR kind are the Div? The ancient race that once worshipped the Sangheili long ago?” N’por questioned. “We never stopped worshipping. Wishing that one day you would return. Our faith has rewarded us kindly. We are in dire times” Aldurmaax explained, sitting on the floor. This was an interesting development for N’por; his mission was complete, and he was supposed to report back to the master statesmen, but he was curious to see the Div in action. To see if they were truly capable warriors. Not getting a reply from N’por Aldurmaax continued on. “They came from the heavens, much like you did, but were demons. They plundered our world, destroying anything in their path. They killed thousands! They called themselves; humanity” the High Lord said. N’por immediately perked up, looking at the massive beast in surprise. “Did you say they called themselves ‘humanity’? By the Gods” N’por declared, curling his hand into a fist. “Do you know of them? Do you know of their treachery?” Aldurmaax questioned, curious to see what the humans meant to ‘Tumai. “I know all too well...” -=-=-=-=- Captain Kuyaki leaned back in his command chair on the bridge, idly flicking an antiquated quarter-dollar coin into the air. The view outside was excellent as night began to fall on Griffonia, Celestia’s sun sinking below the horizon. “Excalibur, is our report ready to be sent to ONI?” Adam asked, looking over to the AI plinth. The AI appeared, nodding. “Good. Let’s send it off, then.” “Do you believe our mission to be a success?” Excal inquired. Adam looked away in wonder, idly staring out the viewport. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll just have to wait for the spooks to decide. I mean, we DID--” Adam was cut off by the ship rumbling and shaking, and the alarms going off. Pulling his feet off the console Kuyaki turned his chair forward, alert and ready. “Excal, status report! Get us facing whatever just attacked us!” the Captain ordered, feeling it was more pesky dragons. The UNSC Kabato turned in place, coming about to face-- --A Covenant battlecruiser. With dragons coming at the Kabato. “What the hell? Oh you have got to be jerking me.” -=-=-=-=- “Keep the humans occupied while our new friends attack! I want their primitive cannons knocked off their vessel” N’por commanded, observing the human ship. It was moving to a new position; low and to the left. Aldurmaax’s Div were already nearing it, however. “My dragons have bravely fought the human vessel, but have not fared well in the past. I am hoping you can change that, my lord” Aldurmaax said, watching the battle play out. “The might of our ship will beat them down, and your Div will crush them into dust” N’por declared, tightening his fist. The human ship, seemingly named Kabato, accelerated toward the Zealous Faith, darting under her. “Mistake, humans” N’por growled, arming the bottom plasma projector and firing it. The stream of superheated plasma thundered to the ground below, exploding the area of impact with great force. Thousands of trees around it flashed into ashes, and the rest were lit on fire. Only the side of the human ship had been scorched, leaving her mostly unmarked save for a slight melting. “Turn us around! NOW!” Shipmaster ‘Tumai barked, the Zealous Faith turning on its axis to continue its attack. The human ship had also turned, staring down the battlecruiser. “FOOLS! I crush you with the might of the Forerunners in my hands!” The main turret charged up, preparing to fire on the human vessel. Suddenly there was a flash from the front of the Kabato, a white streak lancing across the sky. It brushed the side of the Faith, ripping a few holes in her hull. N’por growled, the plasma turret discharged, and the human ship came straight for them. The plasma torpedo followed the humans, turning to chase after them. Banking hard to the right human ship roared past the Faith, the plasma torpedo failing to turn adequately and impacting on a nearby mountain, blasting the peak into pebbles. Turning back again the Faith fired its point-defense lasers, targeting any part of the Kabato it could. The humans, recognizing their eventual defeat, retreated, rocketing away from the battle and towards the horizon. “My lord, will you not chase after them?” Aldurmaax commented, baffled. “No, let them run like the cowards they are. We will all enjoy hunting them like wounded animals” N’por ‘Tumai replied, tapping his fingers together.