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| - Streams of plasma tore through the air and danced across the field as dozens of Sangheili warriors ran for their lives amidst the waist-deep grass. The warriors' shields flared and died as the heat from the shots scorched the plants around them and set the field alight. Some of the shots struck their intended targets, sending fleeing warriors collapsing into the burning grass with charred holes where their chests or heads should have been. Others, less fortunate than their slaughtered brethren, waded too deep into the burning foliage and became living torches that filled the air with screams that rose even above the din of the plasma fire. Even more struggled through the fire and smoke only to keel over and choke to death as the fumes from the consumed grass filled their lungs. The sources of all the suffering and terror in the field below hovered and darted about high above the dying warriors. A trio of bulky Phantom dropships and an entire squadron of Banshee fliers were pouring every ounce of plasma they had into the enemy below. The gunners and pilots weren't particularly concerned with hitting their targets. As their commander had explained prior to the assault and as was clearly being demonstrated now, they didn't need to score a hit here to kill their foe. The plasma bolt would merely be the swiftest way they could die. Aboard the lead Phantom, one white armored Sangheili turned to another who had crouched down on the deck with him. "We should be fighting them on the ground on equal terms, as true warriors," he grumbled discontentedly. "There's no honor in this!" His companion started to reply, but froze when another figure loomed over them in the troop bay. This warrior wore a suit of battered officer's armor that bristled with weaponry, and the two crouching Sangheili regarded him warily. "No honor," the figure chuckled. "And yet we're winning. You Fallen won't stand much of a chance against these government warriors unless you take advantage of their mistakes." He gestured down towards the slaughter below. "They were idiots to move against us without air support, and now I've handed you a resounding victory. That's more than a replacement for your precious honor." The first warrior looked up at the newcomer with undisguised contempt. "Were it not for our orders, we'd have killed you a long time ago, you mercenary filth. You pervert the very meaning behind a Sangheili warrior, commander." The newcomer just laughed and turned away to address the troop bay's remaining occupants. These warriors wore the white and turquoise armor of the Fallen special operations forces and wore the anti-gravity gear of Sangheili rangers. Their leader's armor denoted him as an Ultra within the ranks of the Fallen. "Sweep the fields for them, wing leader. The Phantoms and Banshees will coordinate with your fliers and alert you if they spot anything. Engage on sight and don't let up until they're dead." The mercenary inclined his head. "Based on your past performances, I'm sure you'll be thorough." The Ultra grinned from behind his face mask and gestured to his troops. At his signal, they leapt out of the Phantom's troop bay on either side, engaging their anti-grav packs as they did so and shooting off over the fields. Dozens more launched from the remaining Phantoms and joined in their formation, ready to hunt down and butcher any of the remaining government troops. "And this," said the mercenary informed the two Fallen minors. "Is why you two will die as you are. You don't have the right mindset to move up in this war." "I won't listen to any more of this," the first speaker snarled, turning away. "One like you who knows nothing of honor will never understand why we are fighting." The mercenary let out a curt, mocking laugh. "Oh, I know plenty about honor. Enough to know how worthless it is, in any case." The two minors did not answer him, but the mercenary's thoughts had already been stirred. As he gazed down at the fires below that burned brightly into the night, his mind drifted back to the light of a day that had happened an eternity ago in what felt like another lifetime. The day everything had changed. The day his old self had died.
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