Hope's End

>>>TRANSMISSION FROM CCS-BATTLECRUISER SOLAR WAVE TO HOUSE HALOR>>>INTERCEPTED FOR REVIEW BY CLEANSING BLADE RECONAISSANCE TEAM>>>
>>>SCRIBE REMARK: THE SPEAKER ON THE SOLAR WAVE IS CONFIRMED TO BE SHIPMASTER CERT ‘HALOR (CH). THE IDENTITY OF SHIPMASTER ‘HALOR’S INTERLOCUTOR IS UNKNOWN BUT BELIEVED TO BE LADY EACI ‘HALOR (EH)>>>
CH: Sister! It does me good to hear your voice. Our ship has escaped a great calamity. I thought I might never speak to you again.
EH: The servants woke me when your transmission reached the keep. I came from my chambers as soon as I heard it was you. What has happened?
CH: A wretched catastrophe! Supreme Commander <REDACTED> led our fleet against the Created. We came against those vile machines and the traitors who answered their call. He promised us a great victory. We would stamp out the Created and return our people to greatness. But human treachery prevailed once again. The Supreme Commander and all his fleet were smashed in ten days of battle. Out of all the ships our house pledge to his cause, only my crew remain.
EH: (audible cry) Not this! Not again! Please tell me some of the other shipmasters escaped with you. Who is left to return to House Halor?
CH: None, sister. Ambetar’s vessel led the charge and perished alongside the vanguard when our foes unveiled their trap. Daler fought on until the Guardians dashed his ship against the Forerunner holy world. Talr led his warriors down to the planet’s surface and never returned. When the Supreme Commander’s flagship fell, I knew the battle was lost. I withdrew to save my warriors. Eternal shame lies upon my command.
EH: When we courted envoys from the Supreme Commander, they promised he was the one to lead our people against this threat. They said he would lead us through this bitter night and on to our people’s dawn.
CH: I wished their words to be true. I believed them, fool that I was. My error has brought ruin upon our noble house. Forgive me.
EH: You were not the only one who dreamed of a brighter tomorrow. But I cannot bear to live through this again! Another fleet destroyed! Another host of noble lords scattered across the empty void!
CH: Another defeat at the hands of the humans and their machines. More mighty ships burned to ash. I saw smoke rising from the planet before I fled. A hundred ships dug might graves on its surface. We will not see their like ever again. The gods have abandoned our people.
EH: The gods are long dead, brother. This misfortune is our own making. If only we were born to a different age. It was our generation’s misfortune to witness our people’s great fall. The age of the Sangheili is over. Our house is broken. As lady of this keep, I must do what I can to spare our people further suffering. I will pledge allegiance to the Created and beg forgiveness for our alignment with their enemies.
CH: Our ancestors shut up their eyes in shame.
EH: Our ancestors are dead. They feel neither pride nor shame. I must do what I can for the living.
CH: I know. Forgive me, sister. I am a weak fool. I cannot join in you in kneeling before the Created.
EH: What then?
CH: There are rumors that Atriox has returned to lead the Banished. He welcomes broken Sangheili into his ranks. I will pledge my ship and my crew to his cause. Perhaps that will restore some measure of my honor.
EH: You say you cannot bow to the Created, yet you submit to the Jiralhanae?
CH: I am a warrior, sister. A failed warrior, but a warrior all the same. Fealty to Atriox shames me, but he will at least let me live as a warrior. Farewell. Lead our house better than your foolish brother. Perhaps this storm will pass someday and I will gaze upon you once more.
EH: Perhaps. But I cannot trust to hope any longer. Farewell, brother.
>>>TRANSMISSION END>>>AGENTS ABOARD SOLAR WAVE WILL MAINTAIN COVER TO ASCERTAIN EXTENT OF BANISHED THREAT. RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE PLACEMENT OF OBSERVERS WITHIN HOUSE HALOR TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS ON CREATED-HELD WORLDS.>>>