At the end of the Ninth Age of Reclamation, Bero'a Ly'ghee and three companions attend the punishment of the Covenant Empire's greatest heretic as Bero'a considers her place in the galaxy... The halls below echoed with the passionate chants of the Unggoy and Kig-yar. “Heretic! Heretic!” they cried, over and over. It was a hated, feared word within the empire; but at times like this, it drew out the cruelty deep within all people. What would lead him to this place? Bero’a found herself wondering. How could a warrior of mine fall so far?