Part 2
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/31135102/

Finally decided to upload some more stuff >.>

And more recent stuff where I'm a touch better at writing than when I used to be. Hopefully.

This is currently my longest profile that I made for Yappas Halo RPG; my female T'vaoan Champion Kael Gel. Entourage Commander and currently next in line for leadership of the Kig-Yar clan Gel, one of the largest Clans. Torn between revenge and caring for her remaining Chick - which is made worse when the Chick seeks her out in the military.

Hope you like and a lot of the lore and such is stuff I may made myself extrapolated from the little we know about Kig-Yar politics and histories. I'll be putting up some more info to help soon.

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Current pages; 42. Current word count; 22,578

Sponsoring Staff Member: Frazer, Kill

"My little one will sail the Eternal Sea with calm waters and clear skies, but the humans murderers still living make the boat rock and skies darken - thankfully the Covenant wish to eradicate them. As long as their goals match mine I will serve to give Qesa peace as I failed her in life."
- Kael to her Mama(Zaat), Commodore of Gel, upon gathering her Entourage and leaving Eyan shortly after being promoted, they have not spoken to each other since.

Faction & Division: Covenant Military, Sect of Lamenting Consecration, T'vaoan Commander.

Rank: Champion
Name: Kael of the T'vaoan clan Gel - Kael Gel
Race: Kig-Yar - T'vaoan
Gender: Female
Age: 43
Height: 6' 11''
Weight: 230 Lbs.


Appearance:
As the Kig-Yar are an egg-laying species Kael, despite being a female and having a few chicks to her name, has nothing along the lines of what humans call 'breasts'. Rather if a person was unaware of the feather and subtler differences between male and female T'vaoan they would likely assume she was just a large male, screeching with blades poised bearing down on them to stab viciously. As a female T'vaoan however Kael is taller than males and is a imposing figure at nearly seven feet of rage and muscle tuned to kill. Her skin and scales are the normal dull grey of her species and rather than a large mane of feathers like the males she has a ruff around her neck of feathers dyed gold to denote her rank and no arm feathers. Her beak is also slightly more pointed than a males and her eyes are a bright orange rather than the more common yellow of her race. Despite what several of the universe seems to think about her species Kael keeps her claws, hand and foot, relatively short and only slightly sharp as she has to deal with a lot of political meetings on her home world when on leave and other races when she is on deployment. And large claws often don't leave a good impression on the other, or the drapes. However, in large part because of her life of combat, Kael isn't what other T'vaoan would call 'attractive'. Rather she has gotten all of her mates with her combat skills and physical power - as a lot of higher up females often do. And those that see her often know of her and the powerful Nest behind her, or see her golden armor and know better than to call attention to her lack of being a 'pretty bird'.

Several wounds score her skin from her years of combat as she has been playing the game of life for a long time however, and plays it full contact and expects the same from others. Despite the full body armor the T'vaoan wear into battle it isn't impenetrable and it conceals many lasting wounds on her. The largest and most easily scene is a large scar under her left eye that she received when she was a Murmillo - given to her by a Human Demon when her helmet was shot off her head. From that same battle she also has the telltale signs of a bullet hit in her abdomen, just missing her gut, and one in her right thigh. Most of the pain from these wounds are gone, but the thigh wound still flares if she's hit in that area as the rifles round embedded a little in her thigh bone before it was eventually removed. Other small scrapes and scars are all around her body but most are hidden beneath her armor sans the ones on her hands, which are several from the training she did in her youth with the Gel wrist blades.

As a Champion however her armor is nothing to scoff at as it has saved her from many of those injuries being the end of her. The dull golden armor still with many of its original pieces on it despite the dents although she spends time and does a good job keeping it clean but leaves in the dents and smaller scratches to show her service. On its shoulders lay the crest of her Clan, Gel, and has standard torso armor(with hologram unit), leg armor, and shoulder armor. The forearms do look very different however as they are wider than normal and also more bulky that they would be just out of the factory. This is because the bracers contain not only the smaller forearm shields of the Murmillos but also her nests signature weapons, wrist blades. One in each bracer that are ready to flip out at a flick of the wrist and although the blades have been replaced many times she has claimed many lives in return with them. Her Champion helmet also looks different from the standard because of her different feather and skull structure compared to the male head most were designed for - but it still contains a HUD, radio, BattleNet uplink, and basic motion tracker. The large flaps at the back are mostly gone and instead slope down toward her back to better protect the back of her head while still allowing her full visual scan range. The eye pieces also glow orange, like her eye color, rather than yellow - and the beak armor is narrower to keep it snug on her skull. The last touch on the helmet is a red splotch under the left glowing eye, where she was shot years ago - whether this is for remembrance or a challenge is up for debate.

For weaponry and equipment, as she has had many years to gather them, Kael has quiet the powerhouse of weapons. Her main arm is a Focus Rifle, which she has named Dream Melter - for all the hopes and faces it has boiled away. The barrel of the rifle is free of ornamentation so it can freely vent heat when needed but she has scratched the name of her murdered child into the weapon above the thumbhole; Qesa (Those that know enough of her life to wonder why Roh's name isn't beside Qesa don't dare ask her.) Besides this the weapon is free of markings. For her side-arm she carries a Needle Pistol, a rare weapon for non-Sangheili that she pried from the dying fingers of a corrupt Sangheili General after showing him the reward for treachery (explained further down). Because the weapon is rare she has had her clan etch the Gel crest into the grip so others are sure of who it belongs too. This is often holstered on her right thigh as she is, rare for most Kig-Yar, right handed - with additional ammunition canisters on her left thigh. She also carries generally two plasma grenades on the left side of her belt, for when they are needed (which is often), and finally two canisters of Rudakk Gel on the back of her belt. One of the few Sangheili inventions she will praise them for as it has saved her life a few times before so she now always carries some.

When not wearing her armor, which is only on extended downtimes as even on ships she still keeps most of her armor on, Kael often opts for one of three 'outfits'. The first is just the body-suit that is under her armor to begin with. The suit with small points on it that help to connect the armors small systems together so the HUD and vitality readouts for her file and Covenant command can be more easily read. This is very rarely her walk around outfit, more of what she would sleep in when in a safe location, but is sometimes used for short treks to grab some food or cuff some ears before she rests. While wearing this she is most likely unarmed unless she is carrying a weapon as the suit has no mounting points for weapons. The second is her 'normal' clothing, comfortable pants with a belt that she attaches a much more old fashioned holster for her Needle Pistol with two ammo canisters attached to it and normally a long sleeved padded shirt. On her wrists she normally also has at least one of her Gel blades that is mostly just the blade and mechanism with a sheath over the blade until it is flipped out. This is worn during the between mission rest periods where she is mostly just walking around looking for something to do so her mind doesn't go to murder and sadness. Her final outfit, the formal one for special occasions, takes its style from the High Class of Eyan, Shipmistresses, male captains, Commodores, and very wealthy merchants. More fitted pants than her relaxing outfit with a smaller more elaborate belt over a short sleeved shirt and an embroidered waistcoat. She most often wore an outfit like this during her alliance diplomacy time on Eyan, and has only worn it during her Covenant deployments to meetings with Til or other important Covenant or Sect leaders when outside of combat. She wears no outward weapons with this attire but has a knife on the inside of her waistcoat and under her right pant leg, just in case you understand, and can easily attach her pistol holster or a rifle sling if needed, but both would ruffle and crease the carefully pressed outfit.


Strengths:
* As befitting her station her combat skills are nearly unmatched. Be it rifle, blade, or hand to hand she has been harshly and thoroughly trained in them all and has lived through countless engagements of each type.
* Like many of her race she is a very fast runner and an excellent jumper. One of her favorite ways to extinguish the lives of Humans or Failures is to leap atop them from or tackle them at speed before plunging her wrist blades into vital areas.
* As she is often the leader of her race on deployments and in combat she is excellent at that; able to quickly evaluate a situation from a vantage point and direct her Specialist files to needed locations as well as being able to lead larger forces when the need arises.

Weaknesses:
* Has absolutely zero tolerance for insubordination or failure - either gender not allotted any special treatment. Insubordination is often dealt with personally and with harsh wounds for the offending T'vaoan, Kig-Yar, or Unggoy and she often extends the same treatment to Sangheili Minors and Majors that step our of line as well. Failure is often rewarded with death for the survivors: unless the mission was authorized by another leader, which she then goes to 'speak' with, or unless a Demon shows up as she knows their power personally. Her brutality makes all but her own personal file either scared or resentful of her.
* Doesn't believe in the Covenant Religion or the Sangheili's right to rule. She follows Til because in her eyes he has earned his station through constant battle and survival - but other Sangheili, Unggoy, Yanme'e, and Jiralhanae she views with disdain.
* Although fearless in the face of Humans, she is secretly terrified of Demons and will falter if faced with one again unless she is backed up by similarly legendary allies.
* If she has nothing to do for long periods of time she will easily sink into depression and have violent outbursts on anyone around due to her deep seated rage and anger for what happened to her first daughter. One of the reasons she keeps enlisting to fight.

- Other tidbits;
* A skillful dancer, though its not often seen on combat or even during downtime - she saves it for when she is back with her own clan on Eyan. Though she has in the past shown the skill after particularly successful missions. It involved a lot of side to side movement with up and down motions, simulating the roll of a ship in choppy waters.
* Has a certain fondness for Human weaponry for their simple nature and power, and over the course of her military career she has taught herself how to strip and re-assemble most of the more common arms and is particularly fond of the Magnum after the scope unit has been removed and Shotguns for their similar nature to her peoples weapons.
* As one of her Clans Matrons she can be very Political when she receives her reports from her Clans land on Eyan and especially the few times she returns. Although she avoids the Covenant Politics as much as she can if one were to see what she deals with in these reports one would think she would do well in it.


Biography:

- Pre-Covenant life; (2503-2520, age 0-17)
Born joint eldest into the head nest in the Gel clanKael, her twin brother, one of her three younger brothers, or younger sister, will likely become the next Commodore of Gel when their Mama passes into the sunset. But she is still going strong and is still able to fight so its unlikely that time will happen soon. As she was born into not only the Elite of a clan but also Kig-Yar High Society she was never left wanting when growing up. But because the Elite she happened to be born in was also known as one of the most brutal and warlike of the clans her early life was also incredibly harsh and demanding - but as all her siblings did she rose to the challenge.

Just after shedding her down feathers she was put into exercises and drills to make sure she could move and have the endurance to fight when that stage arouse. Once a young athlete and able to properly remember and take hits she began to train in the art of hand to hand and claw to claw fighting. Among her siblings Kael started to stand out for the gusto she would show for these lessons, eagerly practicing all the times she could even when she was supposed to be resting from them. This eagerness impressed and pleased her Mama and before the rest of her siblings she began to train with the wrist blades the nest was known for. The scales on her hands often receiving cuts that she still has as scars now.

It was during this training that her Papa started to come back from his Covenant deployments, which from what Kael had been told were just a bunch of flying about looking for old ruins - but from her Papa's tales he had recently been hunting down the pride filled Sangheili who had decided they had a better idea than the San 'Shyuum. These tales of combat against 'superior' foes made her train even harder so she could go and hunt them down as well.

Her training continued until she was fifteen, when her clans main Keep was attacked with a sneak attack from the Spice Sisterhood, one of their oldest enemies. It was here where Kael got her first taste or real life or death combat. As she was still young she wouldn't normally be deployed to keep out aggressors from their inner sanctums but the fighting was kind enough to come to her instead. While taking tea with her family in the main entrance of the Gel compound several of the visiting Kig-Yar leapt at them, screaming 'Down with Gel!' and 'For the Sisterhood!' The assault was fast enough for her Papa to be hit with a poisoned blade, as well as her twin brother as they were closet to the attackers - but the reaming members of the family lept at the assassins and engaged them in return. Her twin and Pa fought as much as they could before they collapsed but they were dead before the melee ended. Kael rushed by a male Kig-Yar that cackled about taking out the small one, but as he tried to swing at her neck with his green tinted dagger Kael, without a return to the taunt, took a sliding step inside his guard as she turned, gripped his wrist, and yanked down hard. The cracking of his elbow on her shoulder and the screams of the fighting quickly brought forward guards - but they wouldn't arrive in time to get these bastards themselves. Turning so her back was pressed against the male chest she flipped him over her shoulder, and then fell with him as he landed on his back as she also flicked out her wrist blade. She slashed as she fell, then rolled with the movement off his body as he gasped and held his slashed open throat. Quickly rolling on her feet she jumped over to her youngest sisters side and was at least able to save her by jamming her blade into the female Kig-Yar's skull, breaking the blade in the process - in one fell swoop saving a life and proving she was a warrior of Gel for breaking a blade upon an enemy.

The rest of her family had made quick work of the other assailants, and the guards took care of the rest as they carefully carried Pa and Kael's twin toward the medical wing of the Keep to prepare them for the Last Voyage.

Although she didn't admit it at the time, Kael had never felt more pleased or exhilarated than that fight. Knowing that all the training paid off and she was able to kill to protect those she cared about, using her skills for the good of the Nest. As she watched the sailing vessel containing her brother and Pa's body slowly float away to be taken by the currents to wherever Aecor decided to take them she was debating on what to do - and after the singing had finished she told her Mama that she had decided to join the Covenant - fight for the glory of her people. As her Mama was still distraught from the deaths she made Kael promise that if she was ever wounded or injured that she would stop and return to the Keep to a management position in the Nest. With the agreement settled upon she left within the week to her Pa's old force - her newly repaired single wrist blade ready to stab and maim while her other siblings continued their training and her Mama set to work making the Sisterhood pay for their assault.


- Induction into the Covenant and Minor; (2520-2521, age 17-18)
Unfortunately for Kael when she arrived at what was called 'basic training' the Sangheili heretics had been dealt with, so after cracking the skulls of her fellows in the training drills she was accepted into the Covenant but there wasn't anything for her to do. She was assigned to an Kig-Yar exploration ship, Words Dear., and the tales of horrible boredom she had heard during her youth turned out to be true. With nothing to do for weeks on end she spent the time instead starting up her old training drills with the crew of the Kig-Yar vessel, over the course of a year turning them from a collection of scrappers into a collection of very deadly close quarters warriors. The young T'vaoan, although the youngest member of the crew, quickly gained the respect of the other crew men and in return for her training they did the best they could in teaching her the finer points of marksmanship and ship to ship combat - two things she didn't get a large amount of training for at home.

There were still no enemies however for her to test these new skills on, but she continued to train and be trained for the time when there would be. She keept in contact with her Mama as Kael was told that Mama had begun gathering support for an alliance, Hul and Eox also sick of their sneak attacks. The news cheering Kael up but the boredom soon got her down again.

The Shipmistress was very impressed by this Eyan born lass and when it came time for evaluations gave her top marks, and the next time they docked for supplies a new set of armor was waiting for Kael's new position as a Major.


- Major; (2521-2532, age 18-29) (War begins 2525.)
The new red armor did little to improve Kaels mood however as she was still being bored out of her mind staring at the walls of a ship with only training to distract her. Even the reports from home, that alliance talks were beginning, started to become meaningless as she would just spend the day exercising until she collapsed, eating, and sleeping. The messages from the San 'Shyuum livened up the dull drum a little but only because the crew would make fun of it as none of them had bought into the religion. As she turned twenty however the crew were finally given something to do as for loyal service to the Covenant they were allowed to land on planets to examine the Holy Relics rather that just catalogue planets that showed up on their scans. The different environments provided a good amount of joy for the crew as they were able to run and jump around the jungles and explore the deserts they came across to find the hidden ruins. While also being able to sample all the exotic fruits and wildlife they wished and had some nice feasts while on these assignments. It was during one of these feasts that she met Tah, an asteroid T'vaoan, he was a fairly strong male but quickly accepted her dominance and they started to stick together on these planet excursions.

The better part of a year passed before mating season rolled around again and Kael took part in this cycle - and soon enough was deposited back on Eyan for the process. During this time her Mama filled her in on the brewing alliance between them and the Clans of Hul and Eox and that her still living siblings had been so far content to remain on Eyan and do jobs for the clan rather that follow their big sister into the military. But Kael filled her, and her siblings when they showed up to see her and the egg, in that it wasn't like she had expected. All it was really was boredom and exploration, probably more fighting to be done here. But she was still on a tour of service and had only been on leave briefly to lay the egg and be there for hatching before she would be picked up to return to the tedium. Her egg hatched four days before she was due to ship out, and Kael was happy for the first time in a long time. The little ball of down feathers with the bright eyes saw her first as she was keeping it warm with blankets when it hatched. As her first time being at a hatching, let alone one of her own, Kael really didn't know what to do besides try to keep the little thing warm and comforted. Tah was the first to arrive after she had spent some time with the lil one personally, followed by Kael's Mama. The small female didn't cry or squawk for anything, just peacefully slept most of the time while eating and drinking the little time it was awake. The remaining three days Kael was always close at hand as she walked around the Gel compound, showing her own little one around her new home, the armory, training halls, and the execution grounds, before she left. But she finally had to leave, and left lil Qesa in her Nana's care and with a last preen left with Tah for the shuttle that would return them to the Words Dear. Kael was understandably sad to go, but was pleased that her other siblings were doing well and had faith in her Mama to raise little Qesa to be a proper Gel.

The following year was much the same as the one before she had Qesa, flying around, the occasional planet to run around on, and talking with the crew and Tah. The calls back to home including a progress report on the alliance and Sisterhood situation but also little cheeps and peeps from Qesa which never failed to bring a smile to Kael's face as she was kept up to date on how she was growing. But in 2525 everything changed.

They were enjoying an 'extended investigation' of some Holy ruins, that happened to be near a beach that they were taking full advantage off, when their ship received word that one of their Kig-Yar comrades had discovered a completely new type of ship that seemed to either fly themselves or had some kind of program flying them...and they were full of all manor of loot! Quickly finishing up the needed investigation and cataloguing of the ruin they loaded up and sent in the coordinates for one of these mystery ships - but it would take them a few weeks to arrive as they were very far off.

It was during this travel time that they were called off by their Sangheili superiors and redirected back to a Covenant staging area that they were much closer too. They finally arrived after a week and we're filled in on the situation. A new group of aliens, armed with weapons very similar to classic Kig-Yar designs but the aliens more like very small bald Jiralhanae, had taken over a planet festooned with holy relics. The Kig-Yar ship that had first discovered the planet had been destroyed and the Jiralhanae ship that arrived second just escaped. They would be joining the second force that was to be sent to support the single Battleship currently on station marking the relic sites and glassing the surface. With this new mission they were loaded up with additional provisions and weapons should their comrades need help and sent off with the larger Covenant force.

The call back to home when they stopped to refuel at the halfway point really worried Kaels Mama but after being told the amount of vessels they were being sent with she calmed down and just wished for her to be safe, Qesa managing to say Mama and Nana this time. Shortly before they departed the refueling station they were told that the Battleship had been attacked but destroyed two of the three ships but the third got away. But just before they arrived they got the worrying message that even more alien ships had arrived, and the Battleship presumed lost. Several of the larger faster ships got there before them ad began battle with the alien ships. By the time they finally arrived the alien vessel had pulled back again and they were directed toward the surface to assist in setting up a base from which to investigate and catalogue the Holy Site on this planet. Nerves and tensions were high but they had been told that no aliens remained on the planet to oppose them.

After landing and unloading all they could into the decently deep snow the crew of the vessel stuck around as a much larger vessel landed after them. Honor guards rushed out of this ship, the crew wisely moving aside as the vessel was also soon shown to be carry both an Arbiter and a San 'Shyuum Hierarch and despite none of them accepting the faith they knew when it was time to act as if they did as they all bowed and moved aside to let the two very important figures move past them toward one of the sites that were currently being excavated. They continued to work setting up a warm location for the higher ups to meet and bowing any time a Sangheili walked past just to be on the safe side. At least the work kept them warm as the base was finally completed. Resting after the exertion a Sangheili soon approached them and told them to go scout out this frozen hell, and they did for the better part of two days, rushing back to base to warm up before setting out in a new direction. Each time the base was more built up by their comrades fortunately and so far the Aliens had so far stayed away - but it wasn't to last, just to Kael the breaking of it took way to long.

The four years at this damned planet were completely miserable to Kael as well as one more being full of nothing but boredom! Reports back home and from home were very rare in this location and the best she knew of home was that Qesa was growing up well and had started her exercises and the alliance of the Clans had seemingly went well and they were developing plans now. Her Mama was also worried that occasionally attacks were directed at her base but Kael kept reminding her that she was fine. Nearly day it was cold rations on top of more cold rations and tromping through the freezing snow on hours on end searching for signs of the aliens or engaging in small firefights with groups of them. She occasionally boarded a Phantom to help the locations further away from the Holy Site but these were just small skirmishes before returning to the frozen site. The reports from the warmer parts of the planet was at first always bad but space was always uplifting, and more and more troops were being able to be deployed and the planet was slowly being taken into the Covenant's graps. But she still had to tromp for hours through the snow, the claim that their sensors couldn't pierce the thick snowstorm overhead so they had to rely on more basic methods to locate them. Kael really doubted this was the case and it was more for security, and she would have preferred that to being lied to. Even if it was true it was the damn glassing that caused these storms, they should have really though of that before hand - but finally the tedium was broken, very violently and with a good amount of worry from the ground forces - with reports that more aliens had arrived in system, punched a good hole in the defending Covenant fleet, and sent small ships down toward them. Thankfully they still had the Words Dear as well as the Arbiters vessel, more than enough space to get all the ground teams out if they needed to evacuate.

She was once more tromping through the snow in a thick coat and boots as her Carbine was held in her crossed arms against her chest. Her file this time understaffed as two of their group had gotten frostbite yesterday from being half buried in snow for a few minutes. But she finally heard the now familiar noise of their gun mounted transport. Crouching down she commanded her file to do the same and soon it burst out of the snow around two hundred feet from them, racing toward the Holy Site. Kael tried to sight down on it bit it was bumping up and down so erratically she knew she wouldn't be able to hit the driver or gunner and all she would do was give away her position as she waved for her two minors to hold fire as well as she tapped the radio on her jacket and warned the camp of the approaching vehicle...but got no answer. Hissing in anger the small file tried to make their way back as quick as they could, and just got in sight of the site when the vehicle zoomed toward them and away from the site. The sound of plasma fire let her know that the aliens had been spotted, but the most pressing concern was getting out of the way. Shoving one minor aside as she leapt she called for the other to jump, which he thankfully did as they all avoided the churning wheels of the transport. Thankfully the gunner was too busy turned back toward the base to take aim at the three T'vaoan. Unfortunately however they jumped off the flat snow and onto the slop of a decently tall hill, and roll and tumbled all the way down. Kael, unlike the minor she pushed, saw this however and was able to drop her carbine and curl into as tight of a ball as she could to weather the fall better than that minor, who ended up with a broken leg. But between her and the other minor they were able to carry the injured troop back to the site and found out that the vehicle and aliens just seemed to be scouting - the snow covered file able to get some rest and warm up after their excursion.

After sleep with half of her file now unable to leave Kael was instead put on watch duty, which she would normally dread but the chance to see these aliens again more than the glances she saw yesterday. So she kept a dedicated vigil over her section of the base, Tah occasionally checking in with her as he was still out scouting with his file that they sometimes heard quiet sounds of the aliens engines but nothing ever showed up. But Kael, as well as the rest of the forces, knew that the Holy Site was the only thing worth anything on the planet anymore, sot he aliens would be coming to take it back so they remained vigilant. The attack that did eventually come was very sudden, the roar of engines as several of the transports rushed the Covenant line. Kael hunkering down with the defenders and firing back as much as they could, but they soon had to retreat as the vehicles crashed through the fortifications doors. Thankfully the aliens were more interested in the Holy Site and so the defenders were able to fall back tot he ships in relative safety - but Tah was no-where to be seen and wouldn't respond to radio calls. The Sangheili soon brought her mind back to the present as the Aliens had entered the holy site, and they were going in there to clear them out.

But when they mobilized to enter, leaving a good section of their force at the large entrance to be sure none of them escaped, they found most of the Aliens able to activate the panels that could not be activated by the Sangheili seemed to work easily for them...and it opened up alternate paths for them. The plasma fie they threw after them only caught a few stragglers but they were able to find a location to hold out, but the Covenant were confident that they would be able to eventually pick them off. That is before the explosions started. Massive treaded vehicles were assaulting their back forces, and with only grenades and no heavy weapons they could not get close enough to stop them. They were forced to fall back to the vessels once again and the aliens inside the holy site able to just walk out. The Sangheili knew something however and after the aliens had finally been chased out they ordered the two ships with of troops to load up and leave.

It was when she was taking her time getting back into Words Dear, trying to give Tah time to arrive, when she was told that his file had been found. Each shot on the head once a good ten feet from their weapons. Kael bristled at this that he had been cowardly enough to try and surrender - she thought he was better than that. Turning on her heel after receiving this news she loaded up without any more lollygagging, and the ships soon left to return to the Covenant fleet in orbit - the Sangheili at least taking notice of her work over the past years in the small skirmishes as she was reward with a new orange set of armor and a helmet once they left the system. She had some leave time however before she returned to lead a lance however, and intended to spend all of it warm and with Qesa, having not seen her in nearly five years.

Arriving back home just in time to be their for the celebration of Qesa being six years old Kael was luckily able to be there to award her little chick her first wrist blade. It was time for her to begin to learn how to fight - against not only her own kind to defend the nest but also against this new threat of 'Humans'. They reminded Kael a lot of vermin, or those soon to be sunk Sisterhood; more always seemed to come out when some were killed and they always found a way to slink away or escape just to come back later with more friends. But she had seen the threat their weapons could pose, less powerful per shot that the weapons of her people but able to cycle much faster which certainly seemed to help their troops as they never seemed to think accuracy was very important. But what she had seen she involved in her personal teachings of her little girl, crouching down to be the same basic size as the Humans or her own kind when she would be holder as she helped guide Qesa'a blunted wrist blade into vital areas, showing her how to guard, the footwork needed to dodge and get in close for a strike.

Kael had planned to spend the majority of her time on leave molding Qesa into her successor as Kael was currently top of the bracket to lead Gel when her Mama finally died - but she kept getting called away to go to diplomatic meetings with the representatives of Hul and Eox to get to know their allys in the coming extermination missions. So after giving Qesa the best basics she could she would hug her, leave her with the trainers, change into a waist-coat and pants, and return when she could to check out her progress. Thankfully because Gel was the largest of the Nests in the alliance the meetings were often held on their lands, but they still often took the better part of a day to complete. Kael able to swap from the Markswoman she was on the field to the respectful diplomat as she sat at the table with the two male representatives of Hul and Eox. Thankfully she had taken the time while traveling back to Eyan to catch up on the situation her Mama had been brewing and so was able to fairly easily discuss their clans histories, what they would gain from this alliance, and most important what the Sisterhood would loose. Kael preferred when Eox sent their male diplomat as she quickly found out that being a recently promoted Murmillo, as well as being a large dominate female could easily win over the male diplomats and she would be able to leave the meetings early to find Qesa before she collapsed asleep after a hard days training, making Kael very proud that she was eager to learn.

Despite Qesa doing very well in training Kael often found her sitting on her small nest looking out the window at night when Kael finally returned, staring at the transport ships overhead and the stars beyond them. Qesa quickly told her that she wished to fly, be able to see the Gel lands all at once and have the freedom to go where she wished. Kael was very accepting of this view as she knew that Qesa would know how to fight and that was enough for her. If she wanted to be a sky queen that would be fine for her as she tried to set up some trips for Qesa on her resting days to be shown around some ships and even taken on some short flights - which Qesa loved every second of.

However Eox sometimes sent another female so during her extended leave time of several months she had to work on her proper discussion skills as well as being bossy. Kael found it to be more to her tastes as she originally though as to her it was just like any battle; the scouting party of the male would be swiftly smashed aside so he could oggle at the two females as Kael moved in, observing her opponents location and defenses before sending in strategic strikes to weaken the walls before she could move in and get what she needed. She quickly replaced her Ma for Gel's go to alliance representative, but soon her Mama went to some as well as Kael was quick to remind them she was still a member of the Covenant and would be leaving soon.

During these months she also felt the pull of mating season again, and after one particularly successful meeting, where it was agreed that Gel would provide border guards to keep the Sisterhood out in exchange for price drops on the other clans equipment - attack plans soon following, she pulled the Hul representative aside and soon had herself another egg to keep warm. Unfortunately she wouldn't be around for the hatching this time and with a last good-by to her Ma, family, and the other Nest representatives that showed up to see her off she hugged Qesa tightly before hopping back on the shuttle to return to Covenant space, getting some communication skills from her short visit as well as another Chick.


- Murmillo; (2532-2540, age 29-37)
Finally back in the Entourage she had recently been assigned to Kael fit into her new orange armor and helmet easily enough as well as accepting a very unexpected gift for the Gel Alliance for her. Murmillo arm shields with built in wrist blades for her - the honor of having two of her clans weapons filling Kael with a lot of pride that she had proven herself enough of a warrior to have two. Sending back her thanks she was responded to with the great news that her egg had hatched and out had crawled a strong male. But now Kael was away from home, and needed to focus on the task at hand.

In her leave time the war with the Humans had accelerated quickly, their numbers, just like she had suspected, proved to be much more numerous than originally intended. But they fell easily enough, especially in Space combat, and would soon be wiped out...like that Sisterhood.

The next few years passed quickly for Kael as she was for once not bored on her deployment, moving from location to location with the Entourage led by a competent male for once that greatly enjoyed making Humans flee so the force could hound them down to death. The few times they were able to actually fire back Kael was able to either evade or block most of it, her armor protecting her from the rounds that did make it through. Occasionally a lucky shot would make it through, but scars and shallow wounds were easy enough to heal with the Sangheili's disgusting gel and the victories continued.

But rumors began to spread of rare ground defeats, but not to overwhelming numbers but mechanical beasts that the Humans seemed to be hiding from the Covenant up until now. The Sangheili tried to quell these stories and remind the forces that nothing could stand against the onslaught, but Kael, in part because she was a Kig-Yar, had access to their wide berth of information. Through this she found out about these 'Demons', but thankfully they seemed very rare - and she was confident with her lance they would be able to bring it down under a hail of accurate fire should the time arise.

In between her thirty third and thirty fourth year of life Kael was allowed a leave period to return home and see her family and the state of the alliance. She arrived in good spirits, now a paradigm warrior of Gel and a decorated one at that with several successful missions due to the actions of her lance and the entourage as a whole. She was welcomed back to Gel with a small celebration but Qesa was nowhere to be seen, but she was quickly told that she had been taken on an extended ship journey with some of Gel and would be back in two days. As a Mama though she was still concerned and wanted to see her little one for herself. Only stopping to see her family and shake hands with the Commodores of Hul and Eox that had arrived Kael wished them well, and welcomed them to the Gel lands which they were free to share with the alliance formally and officially signed off on, but politely excused herself to try and see Qesa. She did stop however to pet and preen over her youngest chick but since they were currently asleep she let them stay where they were and went to find Qesa. Mostly walking past the celebrations she entered her private room in the Gel compound and finally got a response from the ship Qesa was going. Kael breathing a sigh of relief when Qesa was the first beak she saw followed by a little hand as she waved at Mama through the camera. An elderly male pilot smiled and bowed to Kael, greeting her as Mistress before filling her in that they were making a circuit of the Eyan system and would be back soon, Qesa asking a lot of questions and remember a lot for a ten year old. Kael was very pleased that she was happy and proud to see Qesa with a combat ready wrist blade, so she had moved onto the advanced training and was learning about something she loved.

But Kael's world was about to be shattered...

The warning klaxon blared up behind the elder and Qesa, alerting the bridge of another ship Slip Spacing in range of them. Quickly moving back to stations only Qesa remained at the call screen as Kael quickly tried to figure out what was happening. The bridge officers saying it was right in front of them...but there was nothing out the large window. Qesa getting scared as she looked back at her Mama and asking what was going on - Kael quickly telling her she would be ok, the sensors would find it. But then the space in front of the Kig-Yar ship fluxuated and a ship that looked like some kind of sea monster, sharp angels, shaped like a bird with its wings down, and looking right at them just seemed to appear out the window. The bridge crew froze at this, as did Kael, as the other vessel just stared at them. A garbled message played over the bridge speakers that made Kael's blood freeze and her feathers snap up...it was the Humans language! The bridge erupted into a panic as the other vessel opened something right under its large blue eyes and a large torpedo started to rocket toward the Kig-Yar vessel. Blinking once Kael screamed and gripped the screen, shouting at them to destroy it, to run, to do something! But the vessel had nothing, no weapons and although the engines were fired they could not evade the attack...Qesa looking back at the screen, eyes wide, as the missile was about impact.

"Mama?"

The call died, no signal, black screen. Kael staring at it, frozen in terror before she screeched, the call reaching nearly all of the Gel hall as she burst from her room, the door hanging off its hinges as she screamed for a ship, a vessel, anything that could reach the limits of the system, now! The celebrations were forgotten the Hul Commodore's Assault Carrier was quickly crewed and launched to that vessels last known whereabouts.

But all they found were wreckages...

Kael kept searching for hours, for any sign of the ship her little chick was on or evidence of the Human vessel. But only debris for the former and empty space for the latter. She didn't give up however, but the realization that Qesa was dead...murdered by the Humans was slowly starting to sink in. Finally the Hul Commodore turned the ship around despite Kaels quiet protests, and tried to comfort her but Kael just collapsed to her knees and cried. The first time she really had in her life. Not when her Pa and brother died but she was now. The trip back to the Gel compound was a silent one, and once back Kael shut herself away in her room - door still broken.

She didn't leave, accept any visitors, or food and drink for two days. Her family, especially her Ma, really worried for her safety but after one of Kaels blades had been hurled at them when they tried to enter, it getting embedded in the door, they decided it was best to leave her be. Finally, near midnight on the second day, Kael emerged. Murmillo helmet tightly strapped to her head, carbine and plasma pistol strapped to her armor, and beak tightly clenched. Making her way to the Gel Commodore quarters she roused her Ma to let her know that she was leaving to return to the Covenant, and was going hunting. Her Ma knew that her tour of duty was about to expire...but she must have renewed it during those two days. Knowing that she could not be dissuaded from this goal her Ma just wished her to be safe...and to make those Humans die slowly when she found them. Kael promised that she would, and while leaving the quarters she spotted her youngest chick asleep on top of some pillows. Taking a deep breath she slowly let it out as she lightly patted the little ball of down feathers and nodded.

"He's yours now Ma..."

With that she left, and it would be many years before she returned back to her Nest lands. Her entourage noticed she was different when she arrived back - more secluded, more prone to lashing out, and more bloodthirsty. Rather than the calm lance commander they were used to Kael would become a wild animal in combat against the Humans. She seemed to think any Humans could be the one, and would wound with precise shots to make them die slowly or when she could make them slow enough so she could catch up to them, drive her blades into the bodies until they stopped moving. She had also given the description of the vessel she saw to the Kig-Yar information group and her Entourage but none of them had seen it before...but she would find it. The male Champion was at first worried for this new Kael, but then was glad to have her as she still gave good orders just took more of the fight for herself rather than just let her Minors and Majors have all the fun.

The battles of speed and murder continued until Kael was thirty seven, when the Champion pulled her, a Commando, and two other Murmillo's aside one balmy noon to tell them about a special assignment they had to accomplish. A small human information station had been found, hidden, and they were going to go kill everyone there and then steal the data. For Kael killing the humans would have been enough for her to go, but the information may be something about their ships, and could lead her closer to the murderers. Loading up on weapons they swiftly made their way through the forest to the indicated coordinates and quickly found the indicated post. Waiting in the trees it seemed lightly defended, with three armed humans outside and at least one more suspected to be inside. At a nod from the Commando the trio of Murmillo's dispersed and prepared their nades for the assault.

With a cheep the assault started, blue flares landing near the humans as her two fellow Murmillos dropped from the trees and rushed as they exploded. Kael was bloodthirsty, but not stupid as she watched them get gunned down by the now two humans that were still inside the building. Taking aim with her carbine from her perch she picked off one as they looked around to try to find more targets as the other got a large needle stuck in his forehead from the Commando. Waiting a few seconds to listen if any more humans were in-bound they both nodded in agreement and dropped from the trees to make it over to the base. Still with weapons out untill they were sure the interior didn't hide any of the sneaky humans.

With the location secure the Commando entered the base to begin to try and find the information they were meant to find as Kael went about the grim task of dragging the bodies of her comrades away from the disgusting humans so they could be retrieved later, two fools who wanted glory and only received bullets in return. With that done she began to loot the bodies, even shooting one of the Humans arms a few times to cook it then taking a bite. Soon the Commando exited with the black information box and smirked in triumph, helmet attached to his belt. Nodding Kael offered him the cooked arm and looked over her loot before a suppressed shot rang out, followed by the shattering of bone. Seeing the Commando out of the corner of her eye start to fall Kael dove toward the building and pulled out her weapon once inside, peaking through the doorjamb to see what was attacking them...

A Demon

Her breath caught in her throat as she stood flat against the wall as another round from the Demons rifle zipped through the doorjamb where he head used to be...One was finally here, and she was alone against it. But the information could lead her to the guilty, and she wouldn't be trying to surrender to this abomination of Human and machine.

The battle was short, Kael and the Demon exchanging shots as Kael was shot in the abdomen and in the thigh and eventually found herself breathless and slumped against the wall of the compound with the Demon having her dead-to-rights. Kael trying to rise and ready her wrist blade but the pain and blood loss made her collapse as she waited for the last shot. But it never came, the Demon turning on his heel, grabbing the info box from the dead Commandos limp hand, and then vanished into the trees. It had left her to bleed out, a weaklings death. Hissing in pain Kael clamped her beak shut and slowly dragged herself out the door, across the grass, and to her fallen Murmillos, popping one of the canisters of Rudakk Gel and shoving some inside her bullet wounds, before the injuries finally overwhelmed her and she collapsed.

It was night when she finally awoke, very weak but alive at least. Staggering to her feet Kael started to slow walk back to the Covenant base, leaving most of her weapons and equipment behind and fully expecting to be executed when she returned for failure. Some of the perimeter guard found her before she collapsed again and helped her to the base, where instead of the berating and stab for failure the Champion actually congratulated her on surviving a battle with the Demon and let her make her way to the Huragok healers.

It was during this slow walk that the Sangheili major, who had demanded the Champion send a team to retrieve this information, found her and was very angry to know that she was the only survivor. Kael, however, with her mind full of the what ifs of that info she failed to retrieve and with pain still wracking her body was in no mood for this, and with a flick and a thrust the Sangheili was silenced as his unshielded throat was pierced by her blade. Kael didn't even make it the last few meet to the medical station before she was brought down under a mass of Unggoy and Sangheili and cracked across the back of the head into unconsciousness.


- Prison and the training; (2540-2541, age 37-38)
Kael was one more surprised when she awoke - she fully expected to be killed for what she did, or just left to die from the injuries the Demon sustained, but she found herself in a small room with a slanted grate on top of it, as if she was some kind of animal. All of her armor gone as well as her weapons were gone as she used the wall to support herself and get to her feet. She could just see out of the grate if she stood up straight and was reward with a view of a wall. Sitting back down she laid her hands flat on the floor and nodded - she was on a ship. Running a hand over the back of her neck she nodded again when she found the small puncture wound. She had been drugged as well, so who knew how long she had been unconscious. But she was still alive, just needed to focus on that as she started to do exercises in the small room of the cell.

Kael assumed it was four days when two Sangheili finally arrived at her cell door beside the Unggoy who would put food in the cell and quickly flee - but Kael wasn't in the mood for more murder now as she had been thinking about what had happened. She still needed to find those Humans who had murdered her little chick, and killing her comrades, no matter how pig headed they were, wouldn't help serve her cause. She did as she was instructed as the Sangheili opened the cell down and slipped plasma restraints over her wrists behind her back. She was quickly marched to a waiting phantom, the prisoner train picking up two Sangheili, a crying Unggoy, and a Jiralhanae by the time they arrived in the hanger. The Phantom looked a lot more built up than she was used to and as they were loaded up it become clear, the normal places where soldiers would stand had been replaced by containment cells as herself and the other prisoners were loaded into one each. No words had been said to them, the only sound on the walk and loading being the curses of the Jiralhanae and the crying of the Unggoy, but as the Phantom lifted off the deck a hologram of an elderly looking Sangheili appeared in the middle of the floor and started to speak.

"Welcome to the holding facility Crying Retribution, where you will be kept. Many of you likely wonder why you still live, as what you may have done likely warranted your own execution as well." So it was just a recording, great. Kael wondered if that Sangheili had actually been the one who had said any of this. "But the Commanders the Sects you have come from, or other leaders if you happened to be the ones who murdered your commander, have decided that you were skillful or had enough worth to be used for a different purpose. That purpose may be shown to you today when you arrive, tomorrow, or you may never be let out to be shown the Gods purpose for you. But here you will stay regardless, enjoy the life we have given you even if you deserved none."

Kael scoffed at this and turned a little in the containment field as she nodded to the Sangheili in the cell beside her. "Do you lot always talk like that? Or just, you know, all the time?" The Sangheili, as well as two of the guards that had brought them on board, gave her a very rude gesture and Kael hissed back at them. But it was mostly to herself...she would have to work on that if she was going to get out of here and get some assistance to find that human ship. She was quiet the rest of the trip as well as when she and the others were unloaded under guard. All of the species taken to different places in the large facility. It was an eye opening experience for Kael as even with her years of service she had never suspected that the Covenant would allow so many 'traitors' to live. The threat of death was supposed to keep soldiers in line, specifically her people and the Unggoy - but here were hundreds of Jiralhanae, Sangheili, Kig-Yar, and Unggoy malcontents all awaiting some bigger plan. She was un-cuffed and shoved inside a cell that was decently sized, clearly intended to hold her here for a long time that contained a bed, waste and cleaning facilities, what looked like a wall communication and entertainment system, and a neat stack of dull looking clothing. Cheeping in approval Kael took time to clean herself as she hadn't be able to on the transport over and then laid down on the clearly Sangheili designed flat bed, no-where near as comfortable as a Nest, and soon fell asleep.

Several months passed for Kael in the prison, and although it was boring once again this time she welcomed it. It gave her time to rationalize to herself that she would need to get a handle on her temper if she wanted to ever leave, or ever get help from the Covenant to find her goals. But every time she tried to talk with the guards she just couldn't stop seeing that idiotic Major who just couldn't leave well enough alone...and then Qesa who she failed after. Finally she managed to at least hide the rage, put on a mask for when she was dealing with others, and would do her best to maintain it. It wouldn't be healthy...and she would have to find something to keep her busy or distract her less the anger she was suppressing became too much for her to hide, or better yet a way to unleash it in a way that wouldn't ruin her chances. But it was the only option if she was to continue her quest and try to gather support for it. She was thankfully able to send a message back to her Clan lands, although severally limited in what she was able to say she finally sent that she was alive, and just very busy with a Sangheili long assignment. She spent the rest of her time exercising, making sure she kept herself in peak physical condition and doing her combat exercises as best she could with info-pads strapped to her wrists to simulate the weight of her blades.

A few months after turning thirty eight, Kael celebrating by letting out some of her rage by calling the guards all manner of nasty names which earned her a few kicks in return as well as a day without food, a day dawned that seemed like any other day. Kael awaking at dawn to begin her training drills. But instead of an Unggoy or Huragok to deliver her breakfast a Sangheili ultra - that Kael recognized as this section of the prisons warden - was waiting outside her cell. Kael stopping her practice with her leg extended in a kicking position as she shifted to be facing the larger alien with raised eye ridges, but in a show of her practice of keeping her anger bottled down said nothing. The Sangheili seemed to be content to wait however, perhaps it was some kind of test? Kael eventually returned to a more neutral standing position before the Ultra finally spoke after two minutes of silence.

"Are you aware of Field Master Til Je’at Ra’ha ‘Muramai and the Sect of Lamenting Consecration, Kael?"

"No, but the Covenant is wide reaching so you shouldn't be surprised."

"It was just a question T'vaoan, but your purpose may have just arrived. He is conducting an extensive training for his Sect." Kael perked up at this, feathers rising up but she managed to remain where she was standing. A chance to leave would be the first step in hunting down the Humans. The Sangheili just smirked with its split-face and continued. "And he needs a force to oppose the progress of his newer members and veteran fighters from reaching their objective so they can learn how to fight as a team against the Humans. I hear he is offering positions is his sect if you are able to beat his forces."

Kael didn't need much more information than that to accept the deal. Turning to face the wall without resistance or snippy comments as her arms were handcuffed again and she was led out of the prison and toward the landing pad. Soon several other prisoners from all the species section were loaded up and soon on their way to the Keep of Reserved Sanction. It was during the slip space journey that the Opposing Force were told the details of what they had signed up before; all too eager to get out of the prison, have a chance at fighting again, or perhaps doing some more killing to question before hand. But they would be fighting the Sect in a forest and a savannah over the course of two months, but there would be no killing in this training. Their job was just to derail, wound, and capture any of the sect they could until they ran out of troops to try and force past them. But the Sangheili would have no shields...perfect. A small part of Kael's mind thought this would actually be fun as she plotted and the trip continued. All she would have to do is to stomp down a few of this Til's precious troops and show that she was worthy of a spot so she wouldn't be sent back to the prison.

Arriving on the planet the troops were given back their old armor and versions of their old weapons that had been modified to just stun and wound, not kill. Needle weapons however were banned as a large spike jutting out of your chest that then shattering was very hard to make not lethal. Kael's wrist blades however were not returned, and she was instead given a blunted knife, but it would have to do as she holster her pistol, carbine, and knife and attached her Murmillo helmet, the troops loaded up into phantoms in sections to make it out to the savannah where a old Sangheili temple rested, the Sects main goal. It was here where the 'enemies' met their commander, an aged Zealot, former General, who would be leading them. As he began his speech Kael looked around at who they had on their team...and wasn't pleased with their chances. There was the occasionally Sangheili or Jiralhanae but most of the opposing force seemed to be Kig-Yar, who looked to be mercenaries, and Unggoy. The General seemed to come to the same conclusion as after his frankly rubbish speech that had Kael rolling her eyes the entire way through he called her, and a few Sangheili aside, and told them they would be his special team with a special assignment, lead sections of the opposing force to make sure the Sect couldn't advance. It would get her noticed, and that's all that mattered.

They had a few days to get set up, Kael and her Sangheili partner one of the four special teams that were deployed to the forest area, decently near to the Sects starting point, and here they waited for the training to begin. As they waited they discussed what had brought them there. Kael explaining the fight with the Demon, which the Sangheili never believed, and then the murder of the Major that get her arrested. The Sangheili, Ado 'Quartamee - had a less impressive story where he stolen supplies for himself and had been found out, and when told to come quietly he nearly killed the two Sangheili minors who had come to stop him and had been arrested for it. Kael doing well to not break out laughing at him as the training finally began.

Her and Ado waited in the tree as they gave the signal for their section of Unggoy and Kig-Yar to go deeper into the forest and make some noise. To the Sects credit they did not go and investigate one at a time, but they should have been looking up more often, especially in a forest, as a group of five Unggoy and a Kig-Yar moved beneath Kael's perch. She waited for them to just pass before nodding to Ado and hopping off the branch, giving a quiet squawk to signal the other Kig-Yar and Unggoy to move in. She landed right beside the Sect's Kig-Yar, crouching down to absorb the impact as she spun with her leg out to sweep his legs out from under him as Ado and five of her own Kig-Yar fell upon the squeaking and panicking Unggoy. Laying out her arm she caught the back of the Kig-Yar's neck as he cheeped and kicked his feet, but her other hand quickly clamped his beak shut as she pressed down on his neck with her catching arm. Shushing him quietly she kept a constant pressure as she looked over and saw the Unggoy topple over from sharp strikes to the head with wooden or metal implements, their thick chitin protect them from serious damage as the Kig Kael was holding quickly started to weaken, his claws uselessly scratching at her arms as Kael shook her head and leaned over to be in front of his eyes as she offered a little advice as her orange helmet eyes stared at him.

"Go for the eyes next time, scratches won't stop a lethal hold." She whispered before the Kig kicked a last time and went limp in her arms. She quickly released him as to not cause any serious damage as she nodded to the others and quickly slung the small male over her shoulder and carried him the short distance to her groups hidden camp. Thankfully they had a good amount of rope as the Sect's troops were quickly bound up in a group and the Kig-Yar's beak roped shut as well as they alerted the overseeing Sangheili that they had a group for pick-up. Leaving some of her Unggoy behind to watch them Kael and Ado returned to perimeter guard to watch.