The Big Picture

I entered the hall of the keep of the Arbiter, my small party following me. It was strange, passing by Sangheili and not lunging forth at them with my gravity hammer in hand. But I was not here to seek war, but rather, seek that elusive concept, that oft-untested idea: peace. I came as a peacemaker, not a warmaker. That word, “peacemaker.” Rarely does a Jiralhanae utter it, rarely more so for the chieftain of an entire master pack. But I had to seek it. My master pack’s strategic position did not… develop necessarily to our advantage. We had far too many enemies. The Sangheili, the Humans, the Erdellians, blazes, even other Jiralhanae wanted us dead. So, seeking peace with the greatest immediate threat – the Swords of Sanghelios – was desirable.
I continued walking through the hall as large stone doors at the opposite end of the hall opened, and through the walked the Arbiter, one Thel ‘Vadam, and a small group of his followers. Some of my own number grumbled amongst themselves.
“Keep your calm, mates,” I said. “We’re outnumbered. Don’t be so eager to fight.”
The Arbiter and his party and my own party and I stopped in the center of the Hall, a bright orange-yellow light shining in from a western window. We were a short ways away from each other, but further than arm’s length. They did not reach for their weapons, and we did not attempt to draw ours. A silence fell in the room. Really, it only lasted a moment, but it felt as if whole ages passed before us. We stood like stone statues for centuries, waiting for the other to make their move first. The energy of decades of hatred and billions of dead on both sides stood staring at one another, like wild beasts starving and driven mad. But I had to put that aside. For the bigger picture.
“I am Severus,” I said to the Arbiter. “Chieftain and Generalissimus of the Order of the Half-Moon. Lord of Cartomagus, Duthuga, and Ridyac. I come seeking peace terms with the Swords of Sanghelios.”
The Arbiter looked up to me with eyes narrowed, as if closely watching me, studying me like some sort of lab animal or strange multi-headed being. “I am the Arbiter of the Swords of Sanghelios. Many moons have passed since a Jiralhanae spoke of peace to me.”
“Indeed,” I answered. “Perhaps too many.”
The Arbiter continued staring at me, partly inquisitive, and partly vindictive. “The Order of the Half-Moon. Your faction has suffered significant losses attempting to defend against Jul ‘Mdama’s faction, the Banished, and Erdellian special forces. Yours is a situation not necessarily developed to your advantage. And now you come to me, and seek peace.”
“Indeed,” I answered. “I outstretch my hand to you in order than we may fight against one another no longer. Unless of course you are willing to have one more faction remain up in arms against you.”
The Arbiter grunted and nodded his head once. “You are wise indeed. Come, let us discuss terms, Chieftain.”
We walked along, entering a long hallway, flanked on one side by large windows stretching all the way to the ceiling. The corridor was filled with more light. “We have multiple common enemies, Arbiter. The ‘Mdama faction. The Banished are beginning to become a serious threat. And there are more warlords other than ‘Mdama claiming to be the leader of the Covenant than I care to count. We are willing to fight alongside you against them. We make your enemies our enemies, and you make our enemies your enemies. This is only fair.”
“We engage with peace with you alone, that we may have to make war with others? We would enter into a military alliance so soon after the cessation of hostilities?”
“We are already in conflict with the same factions. It would only make sense to coordinate our efforts against them together.”
“I am unsure if many of those who follow me are ready to accept the notion of an alliance with Jiralhanae. There is already much controversy with our current alliance with Humanity.”
“As they seem accepting of a Human alliance, they surely can fathom a Jiralhanae alliance?”
“This intrigues me, Chieftain. Would your people, then, fathom an alliance with Sangheili?”
“They will do as I say… or they will suffer the consequences.”
“Indeed. I am unsure we are prepared for a fully-fledged alliance. However, we are amenable to a pact of non-aggression lasting ten years, along with a trade agreement.”
“Trade? Hmm… my own people do not very much care for trade in general, and with Sangheili there is much doubt. But I am most certainly in agreement with the non-aggression pact.”
“Then we are in agreement. A pact of non-aggression, lasting from this date, ten years.”
“I must remind you, Arbiter, that you will still be attacked by certain Jiralhanae. Just not by us.”
“Naturally. And Chieftain, I hope you understand that there are Sangheili out there who do not recognize my authority, and thus, I cannot control them.”
“As expected in these trying times.”
I then balled up my fist and raised it upwards to where my fist was next to the side of my head, my palm facing the Arbiter. It is an ancient gesture among Jiralhanae, representing many things, and in this case, it is a parting gesture. In response, the Arbiter balled up his own fist and placed it against the left side of his cuirass and nodded his head.
We left the keep, and as boarded our ship, one of our group said, “Those split-jaws had nice skulls we could’ve drank from.” We all had a hearty chuckle.
Category:The Weekly