Naval Games

Josa 'Nudom stood in the Hokta'Varu Hall’s briefing room. The room was well lit in a vermillion shade of lamps and draped in red rags. The room was suffused with the incense of the Vandu flower made to calm down those who prepared to compete. Although the mood of those who stared at him made Josa uneasy, the group of Sangheili and Demons adorned in red continued to stare at him as if they were lost younglings.
He finally got the courage to move the lump of fear that choked him, “I do not believe I am the right choice for this competition. I am no General nor Field Master.... Please choose someone else....”
The group of red soldiers shifted in shock, laughter, and understanding. One Sangheili emerges from the crowd, his red armor nearly looking identical to the rest of them. Fortunately, Josa knew the red Sangheili as lat 'Kradom, a Sangheili Ranger during the Human-Covenant War.
'Kradom approached Josa speaking fondly and reassuringly “You underestimate yourself young one. Though you only were only in the war for a small amount of time, you quickly gained the rank of a Special Operations Officer and became one of the Evocati... Along with that the humans believe that serving under a Sangheili leader for this game would give our people hope in our alliance.”
The Demon behind 'Kradom spoke up with his own, light and somewhat airy, voice that had a distinct enough difference from the old rumble of the Sangheili Ranger, “As much as I hate to say it, the hinge-head is right... We need someone the crowd can relate with to lead.” 
“We may be allies Demon but do not mistake it for friendship. We still remember the millions of our people your kind have slaughtered. Do not use your names so lightly around us.” 'Kradom snarled at the Demon slighty turning his body to the Demon.
The red Demon then started to step towards 'Kradom seemingly ready to fight. This is what Josa was so worried about, he hated the thought of stepping in between the two and mediating the team. Hell, he hated the thought of social interaction in general.
Before Josa could even speak up and say something, a stern voice boomed over the entire crowd. “CLAMP UP AND STAND DOWN LANCE CORPORAL TUVYA ANDERSSON!”
The entire room shifted towards the door, where a Demon in light grey stood. The Demons in the room went to salute. It was apparently the Demons' superior officer; Josa was relieved that the situation didn’t escalate. Zoning out as he heard the scolding the red Demons were getting, he looked towards the holographic table showing the field of play. Getting lost in the battle plans in his mind. 
 === 《◇◇◇》 === 
Layton-283 sat down in the Kelkath'Varu Hall briefing room with his hand holding up his helmet as if he had palmed himself. 
The room was a loud and obnoxious squabble of blue armored Sangheili and Spartans deciding if he should be leader or the Sangheili named Rtikan 'Tudam should be, mainly it was just 4 people arguing for ‘Tudam to be leader. 
Sighing, Layton considered every conceivable way he could end himself right then and there. The argument had been going on for at least 30 minutes now and every second of it, he regretted joining the tournament. 
His patience held on to reason for at least 5 more seconds before he exploded, “GOD DAM- ARE YOU IDIOTS DONE ARGUING. ITS ALREADY DECIDED THAT I AM THE COMMANDER!!!” 
The room went silent, and everyone stared at him. Once he was satisfied with the atmosphere of the room, he grabbed one of the specially altered burnblades, or at least that's what he heard the Sangheili call them, as he walked out the room heading towards the staging area. 
As he turned the corner, he stared at 3 massive blue gallies. He stopped dead in his tracks in admiration of the ships. They looked so similar to the ones he studied during his Spartan II training: the Hexareme’s and Enneres’. He couldn’t help but smile at the similarities between humans and Sangheili, even though the elites killed his friends and family he couldn’t help but feel a slight respect for them. A slight respect. 
=== 《◇◇◇》 ===
Josa stood at the commanders’ helm of the lead Varu'Khara-Pattern Manta. Looking out the window he could see the darkness of the early morning cloaking the oar rowers of his ship. Three on each side of the ship. He then looked back at the mess of console screens and energy overlays. Overwhelmed by the numbers and figures Josa left the station and walked to the main deck. 
As he did, he looked behind him watching the three suns rise. The sudden light made him look down, where he would be awe-struck by a sight he’s only heard in folktales and lullabies. The sea started to burst into flames-or what looked like flames-as the sun had hit the churning water just right to make the foaming waves look like golden fire.
He watched the seemingly flaming water follow them at a rapid pace before passing them. He felt the shocking electricity of excitement in his blood. Josa spoke under his breath that carried the whistle of hope “Perhaps my leadership is needed”. 
=== 《◇◇◇》 ===
The O.N.I. agent, donning modified grey S.P.I. armor, watched the two fleets approach each other.  Alexander Dragić had been hitching a ride with the participants of the Vrekka Kadir Tournament to ensure everyone played together nicely. Although he was also excited to see who would win this competition.
He knew the basics of the rules, it was a deathmatch, and one team had to be crowned winner. Each team compose of 105 players, there were three Mantas that were each manned by 30 players, and the rest were part of three-man teams who piloted wave-skimmers. The players would use specialized burnblades, which would discharge an EMP which would lock up the players suits. Encase any players fell in the water they would be protected by their suits which also contained a rebreather that can sustain them for at least 24 hours. 
Alexander was still in shock after being told that the 24 hours benchmark was the minimum for a faulty suit. 
He was brought out of his thoughts after watching the ocean igniting in flames. He was about to jump into action until he looked closer at the waves. 
“What's happening?” Alexander questioned uneasily. 
Thel ‘Vadam who had walked up behind him in astonishment in the phenomena happening Infront of them, “The God of the Burning Sea has blessed the red team with his gift of power.” 
=== 《◇◇◇》 ===Rtikan 'Tudam stood on the main deck of the lead Manta, his blood boiling hot, wish the sword he held was able to make the Demon who leads them bleed. He couldn’t stand the nishum taking authority. Rtikan continued to grovel in his own anger and tantrum when the golden horizon caught his eye.
“Kelaidor is on our opponent’s side... Dikvas'!!!” he yelled.
Before Rtikan continue his fuming testimony, he had a devilish idea... He reveled in it for a second before thinking to himself, “Perhaps this is the gods testing me.... I can see it now, ME the great Rtikan 'Tudam defying fate, showing that the entropic humans are the nishum they are and have no place on our world.”
Activating the burnblade he held, hyping himself up for battle, before Rtikan could roar a warcry of a warrior he found himself on the main deck face down. The enemies had started opening fire on them. He watched the battle preparing to aid his Sangheili brothers on the ship. He opened fired on two of the enemy's wave-skimmers successfully taking them out of the competition. He looked around, realizing that they were losing. One of his teammates' gallies was already out, three of the wave-skimmers on his team were also out, and they were out-matched badly. 
He knew what he needed to do.... He started to back up, each step he could the power in his legs, then he started to run. Rtikan didn’t know how fast he was going but he knew he was moving faster than ever before, perhaps faster than those nishum demons, it took him three tremendous strides to reach the end of the deck where he leaped aiming for the enemy's ship. 
His legs absorbed the impact, nearly collapsing before he found his footing. Rtikan looked at all the shocked face smiling. Without Rtikan hesitating started charging at one opponent, a red Sangheili Ranger, before bringing his burnblade down on his head.
Rtikan laughed as he watched the behemoth of the Ranger armor locking up causing him to fall limp at Rtikan's feet.
The voice of the demon leading his team screamed in Rtikan ears, “'Tudam I need you back on the ship now!”
Scowling at the demon order he responded with a growl of hatred, “You do not tell me what to do demon!”
Two other Sangheili charged at him, Rtikan activating his wrist energy shield blocked one of the attackers' blades and the other with his burnblade. Before the two sangheili could even prepare their next strike, Rtikan struck them down quicker than a flash of lightning.
Rtikan continued his rampage downing two more enemy Sangheili all while laughing manically. “YOU CAN NOT DEFEAT ME!! FOR I AM RTIKAN 'TUDAM SON OF SEKO 'TUDAMAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Rtikan heard the heavy footsteps of a demon behind him. Rtikan could hear the demon's allies calling his name, Tuvya Andersson, he continued his bloodlust laughter.
“COME TUVYA! FIND YOUR DEFEAT AT MY HANDS!” Rtikan swung at the red demon's head, which Tuvya swiftly ducked under to do a leg sweep.
Seeing this, Rtikan stepped back swinging again at demon, who just barely blocked Rtikan’s strike.
Tuvya then launched up at Rtikan tackling him into the ocean, both still fighting each other on the way down, Rtikan found himself still in the grip of the demon as they submerged under the water. Rtikan then felt the demon punching him in the face and chest, which Rtikan happily retaliated with his own punches, continuing their struggle as they sunk deeper into the ocean.
Rtikan was then slammed on the head by the demon, disorienting him just long enough for Tuvya to grab the burnblade floating behind Rtikan, giving Tuvya to get the final blow.
With that the game was over. Rtikan team had lost, distraught by his defeat by a human, leading to him finally came to his sense. His team's coms was filled with angered, shocked, and disappointed voices.
He then heard the voice of the demon named Layton, the one who was leading his team, “DAMN IT 'TUDAM I NEEDED YOU ON MY SHIP. WE WERE OVER BEING OVER RUNNED THE MOMENT YOU LEAPED 70 FEET AWAY TO THE ENEMIES SHIP!!”
What Layton had said struck Rtikan down to the core. Before Rtikan retorted, Layton cut him off, “Look you did good fighting the other team. Probably better than majority of the team, but next time please... listen to me”
Although Rtikan did not hear the last sentence. He was lost in his mind, sulking, angered, and embarrassed at his defeat. He layed at the the bottom of the ocean, silently, waiting for the recover teams to find him.