Indifferent Loyalty
40th Age of Conflict
April 14th, 2553


It was dark and cold outside the station 'Indifferent Loyalty'. Though a Mobile Retrofit Station, the large object had remained in orbit over Eridanus II for the last month. The glassed planet below a ghostly reminder of what the Covenant used to be. The massive 'T' Shaped station just moved through orbit without any hint of moving what so ever. Surrounding the station were dozens of Covenant Cruisers, flying in a fixed defensive formation.

Inside his new office inside of 'Indifferent Loyalty' paced the 'Prophet of Resolve'. He was at a bit of a loss for what was happening. Standing with him in the large purple tinted room, were several Brutes, a couple grunt servants, and a single Prophet. On the screen behind him, there glowed the image of yet another Prophet, though Resolve seemed to ignore him. His red robe moved with his body, as Resolve still found it important to where the clothing of a Councilor. As far as he was concerned he was still a member of the high council. The irony was he knew the council no longer existed, but that was beside the point. He represented the figure head of this 'Loyalist Holdout' and he wasn't about to let any sign of weakness show.

He stopped and turned to the Brutes before him, and spoke plainly. "What do you believe would come of such a venture, Damoritus?" Resolve asked in a calm tone, staring directly at the tall creatures before him. One of them war the black and red of a Brute Chieften, the other wore a similar armor, but instead of red detail it was gold. This signified he was a Fleet Commander. "This is one of an incredibly few pockets the Separatists haven't come searching in, what could you possibly hope to do with a campaign such as that? The Prophet of Resolve asked.

They had been discussing a plan by Chieften Damoritus to finish the campaign on the human homeworld, which as far as most were concerned was an avoidable failure. "Councilor, if I could take all of the vessels here, along with the support of the High Cleric of Reckoning, I believe we can smash the humans to dust, and glass there world. It would act as a rallying cry for all of the Loyalist Holdouts." The Chieften said. He was calm and submissive as well. He had spent years in the service of Resolve, and he was still very loyal to him.

"And for what good will it do? What if there is a Separatist fleet still in orbit over the human homeworld? A combined effort between them and the humans over the ARC brought a fleet which outnumbered them 3 to 1, to it's knees. How would you presume that you could accomplish a different outcome?" Resolve argued. He had a point, the events which had taken place over the arc were an incredible tragedy for all of the loyalists.

"That was a mistake, a group of mistakes! Made by the Prophet of Truth who didn't give his commanders the ability to control their own defenses! Invictus, the other Chieften, spouted back. He was recognized as Damoritus's Great Champion, and for good reason. He had been a fighting the humans since the war began. He had killed his own brother, and defeated a vast number of other opponents. He never understood Damoritus's loyalty towards Resolve, but he hardly shared it.

The Prophet on the screen behind them, wearing a green robe and an ornate head silver head dress, spoke up. "You will keep your blasphemies to yourself, Chieften. The God's gave the Prophet of Truth sight, and understanding greater then any of us will ever know. And it was taken from him by plague and demons." The High Cleric, Prophet of Reckoning said. He was profoundly devout to the Covenant Faith and speaking against it annoyed him more then anything else.

Damoritus shot Invictus a look which implied grave punishment for speaking again. "Esteemed Prophets, you must understand, those were different circumstances. If we act quickly, and en masse, we can most assuredly destroy the humans once and for all." Damoritus insisted.

"And for what, Damoritus? Resolve retorted. "So that the... hold outs will join together to fight the bastard Elites? We haven't heard from any other hold outs, much as they have not heard from us." Resolve looked at things on a whole. He was speaking with 3 people who had been in nothing but military campaigns since they left there birth homes. He himself had been in the political arena since the war began and he had learned to think on the future and the past.

"The plan has it's merits. Moving against the humans and finishing the blow that Truth dealt them. Word would spread to all of the hold outs and perhaps indeed rally them together." Reckoning granted to the Brutes, though not with alot of support either way.

"But at what cost?" Resolve shot back. "What if we are less then successful? Even in victory we put ourselves at too much risk. This station is all we have to hold the Covenant together. Without it, we drift into dissilusion. Whether you fail, or succeed, the Separatists will find us. High Cleric of Reckoning, you yourself employ blind jump tactics to evade them... a tactic learned from the humans. We cannot afford to hold such an offensive, not until we have a greater assurance of a better outcome."

"Agreed, the risks are too high. We should wait until we are better prepared." Reckoning replied.

Damoritus stood in silence, Invictus obviously angry enough that he might rip Resolve apart with his bare hands. But the two remained without a word.

"Return to your fleet Damoritus, see if you can determine an alternative strategy. High Cleric, you continue to search for 'Holdouts'. We will strike in time, but only when we are prepared to so." The Prophet of Resolve said.

The screen behind him went black, and snapped to a view of the space outside the station. Damoritus bowed his head Yes Councilor. Damoritus said turning. Invictus remained staring at the Prophet a moment and then stormed out of the large room. The Prophet of Resolve turned around to stare at the space outside. He was loosing control over the Brutes. He would need to do something soon to keep them under control or there would be a revolt right under his own feet.