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Choros leads the group deeper into the ''Anodyne Spirit'', as he had served the [[Prophet]]s and his uncle [[Tartarus]] aboard the sacred vessel before [[Great Schism]] and was familiar with its layout, certainly much more anyone else in the strike force. The shards of the Forerunner slipspace flake that they sought would be stored in a location called the "Adytum," where the Keyship's own [[slipspace drive]] was situated. Finally, the corridor ends in a wall with several doorways and Choros leads them through the fourth door from the left. The strike force then follows a smaller, dimly-lit corridor into a large chamber with vaulting walkways meeting at a central lift. Here, hundreds of transport cylinders sit waiting to launch personnel up toward the bow of the vessel. After Minas selects a cylinder that could accommodate all three strike teams, Itka inputs a special access code into the nearby interface. The Banished had recently managed to discover this code amidst the debris field of [[High Charity]].{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | Choros leads the group deeper into the ''Anodyne Spirit'', as he had served the [[Prophet]]s and his uncle [[Tartarus]] aboard the sacred vessel before [[Great Schism]] and was familiar with its layout, certainly much more anyone else in the strike force. The shards of the Forerunner slipspace flake that they sought would be stored in a location called the "Adytum," where the Keyship's own [[slipspace drive]] was situated. Finally, the corridor ends in a wall with several doorways and Choros leads them through the fourth door from the left. The strike force then follows a smaller, dimly-lit corridor into a large chamber with vaulting walkways meeting at a central lift. Here, hundreds of transport cylinders sit waiting to launch personnel up toward the bow of the vessel. After Minas selects a cylinder that could accommodate all three strike teams, Itka inputs a special access code into the nearby interface. The Banished had recently managed to discover this code amidst the debris field of [[High Charity]].{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
The lift door | The lift door closes and the transport cylinder shoots upward, reaching an alarming speed. When it cones to a sudden stop, many warriors in the party are left disoriented. The lift door opens into a vast [[Wikipedia:Arcade (architecture)|arcade]] that looks to be a kind of park and common space filled with walkways and delicate platforms, all overrun with swaths of dense foliage. Clearly, the gardens here had gone unchecked for years. Flocks of exotic birds can be seen flitting about in the space's upper reaches.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
Choros begins explaining the purpose of this chamber to Okro 'Vagaduun, when the Jiralhanae warrior is knocked to the floor by a [[Plasma|plasma blast]]. The strike teams immediately dive for cover while under fire by plasma bolts and [[Type-51 carbine|carbine]] rounds. Minas scrambles to Choros and moves the stunned, but uninjured, warrior to cover behind a stone barrier. As the Chieftain collects himself, he realizes that their assailants are using ''Covenant'' weapons, meaning that they are not Forerunner machines. The Banished strike force pushes into the jungle of overgrown foliage to press a counterattack. It doesn't take long before they defeat the attackers and realize that they were Covenant Jiralhanae, which suggests that they had all survived within the Keyship for nearly seven years. Choros notes that the ship likely had enough supplies stored to last the crew seventy years, no less seven. Minas contacts Bomarus back on his Phantom and informs him the enemy presence on the vessel as the force presses on to their next destination before the Adytum, the clerestory.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | Choros begins explaining the purpose of this chamber to Okro 'Vagaduun, when the Jiralhanae warrior is knocked to the floor by a [[Plasma|plasma blast]]. The strike teams immediately dive for cover while under fire by plasma bolts and [[Type-51 carbine|carbine]] rounds. Minas scrambles to Choros and moves the stunned, but uninjured, warrior to cover behind a stone barrier. As the Chieftain collects himself, he realizes that their assailants are using ''Covenant'' weapons, meaning that they are not Forerunner machines. The Banished strike force pushes into the jungle of overgrown foliage to press a counterattack. It doesn't take long before they defeat the attackers and realize that they were Covenant Jiralhanae, which suggests that they had all survived within the Keyship for nearly seven years. Choros notes that the ship likely had enough supplies stored to last the crew seventy years, no less seven. Minas contacts Bomarus back on his Phantom and informs him the enemy presence on the vessel as the force presses on to their next destination before the Adytum, the clerestory.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
Fifteen Banished warriors had been lost in the firefight, mostly consisting of Kig-Yar and Unggoy. Leaving the overgrown arcade, the group comes to a walkway that ends in three doorways. Choros takes them through the rightmost door into a narrow hallway. They file through the dimly | Fifteen Banished warriors had been lost in the firefight, mostly consisting of Kig-Yar and Unggoy. Leaving the overgrown arcade, the group comes to a walkway that ends in three doorways. Choros takes them through the rightmost door into a narrow hallway. They file through the dimly lit transparent corridor which spans one of the Keyship's largest interior spaces. In the gloomy depths far beneath them, Minas notices out innumerable receptacles holding specimens that would have been used to [[Conservation Measure|reseed]] worlds with life after the Halo Array's [[Great Purification|activation]] long ago.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
Their walk along the corridor terminates at a brightly lit curved balcony with a small lift leading to the Keyship's drive controls—and the Adytum—suspended in the blackness hundreds of meters above. Minas realizes that the lift platform is far too tiny to transport their entire force in a single trip, meaning that they would need to split up. Zeretus observes that the top of the lift would make for a perfect ambush location, with the Covenant remnants surely knowing that the entire Banished force could not fit on the lift. Minas agrees but knows that they have no other choice. His strike team would ascend first and then send for the other two teams when they knew the platform was clear. Itka activates the lift and Minas's team soars toward the distant ceiling above. However, they only find an empty balcony much like the one they had just left. A single sealed door waits on the far wall of the balcony. As the strike team steps off of the lift, it immediately begins its trip back to the lower balcony to pick up the next team. Itka works the door controls and the team takes position, preparing for the ambush that surely must be waiting for them inside this final chamber. However, even this room proves to be vacant.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | Their walk along the corridor terminates at a brightly lit curved balcony with a small lift leading to the Keyship's drive controls—and the Adytum—suspended in the blackness hundreds of meters above. Minas realizes that the lift platform is far too tiny to transport their entire force in a single trip, meaning that they would need to split up. Zeretus observes that the top of the lift would make for a perfect ambush location, with the Covenant remnants surely knowing that the entire Banished force could not fit on the lift. Minas agrees but knows that they have no other choice. His strike team would ascend first and then send for the other two teams when they knew the platform was clear. Itka activates the lift and Minas's team soars toward the distant ceiling above. However, they only find an empty balcony much like the one they had just left. A single sealed door waits on the far wall of the balcony. As the strike team steps off of the lift, it immediately begins its trip back to the lower balcony to pick up the next team. Itka works the door controls and the team takes position, preparing for the ambush that surely must be waiting for them inside this final chamber. However, even this room proves to be vacant.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
Inside the well-lit spherical room are tiered circular platforms that line its rounded walls. Each platform holds terminals presumably used to perform all manner of duties. At the center of the room is the Adytum, an oblong bronze monolith that hovers just short of touching both the floor and ceiling. Terminals and interfaces cover its exterior | Inside the well-lit spherical room are tiered circular platforms that line its rounded walls. Each platform holds terminals presumably used to perform all manner of duties. At the center of the room is the Adytum, an oblong bronze monolith that hovers just short of touching both the floor and ceiling. Terminals and interfaces cover its exterior and are accessible from the platforms situated along the room's walls. Choros and Itka immediately begin the process of extracting the shards they seek from within the Adytum. Minutes later, the two of them are still busy retrieving the shards when the distinctive sounds of [[impulse drive]]s fill the chamber. Peering outside, Minas observes two distinctly Covenant [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantom]] dropships approaching their position. Okro 'Vagaduun, who, along with his team, is nearing the upper balcony on the lift, notices it too and assures the Chieftain that they would be there to assist. Minas then contacts Zeretus, ordering him to stay where he is and have his team secure the bottom of the lift so that they could escape swiftly and safely. As he does this, two more Covenant Phantoms appear behind the first two. With Itka almost done extracting the shards, the strike team prepares to defend against the incoming dropships and the warriors that they certainly carried.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
Covenant Kig-Yar are the first to enter, but they are instantly cut down by a barrage from Minas and his men. Then the Jiralhanae enter and the fighting grows fierce and bloody. When the smoke clears, only three Banished Jiralhanae besides Minas remain—Choros, [[Burekos]], and [[Sopruuz]]. Minas finds his second-in-command paying his respects to Itka, who had been killed by [[Type-25 Spiker|spikes]] during the skirmish. Out on the platform, he can see the blademaster and his Sangheili fighting off even more Covenant. Wielding a [[Ravager]], one warrior lands a direct hit on the turbine of one of the Phantoms, sending the dropship careening into the darkness below. Holding an onyx box of Forerunner design, Choros informs Minas that the crystal shards are secure. Choros, however, is deeply troubled by all the men that they had lost, so he asks the Chieftain what it was that Atriox had told him when they first met. He tells Choros how Atriox said that "everyone must die for ''something''," which Minas interprets to mean that everyone should die on their own terms for something that they truly believe in. After he shares this wisdom, he announces that they should hurry back to the lift before the Sangheili are overrun. Choros offers the case to Minas, saying that it is for him to deliver to Atriox.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | Covenant Kig-Yar are the first to enter, but they are instantly cut down by a barrage from Minas and his men. Then the Jiralhanae enter and the fighting grows fierce and bloody. When the smoke clears, only three Banished Jiralhanae besides Minas remain—Choros, [[Burekos]], and [[Sopruuz]]. Minas finds his second-in-command paying his respects to Itka, who had been killed by [[Type-25 Spiker|spikes]] during the skirmish. Out on the platform, he can see the blademaster and his Sangheili fighting off even more Covenant. Wielding a [[Ravager]], one warrior lands a direct hit on the turbine of one of the Phantoms, sending the dropship careening into the darkness below. Holding an onyx box of Forerunner design, Choros informs Minas that the crystal shards are secure. Choros, however, is deeply troubled by all the men that they had lost, so he asks the Chieftain what it was that Atriox had told him when they first met. He tells Choros how Atriox said that "everyone must die for ''something''," which Minas interprets to mean that everyone should die on their own terms for something that they truly believe in. After he shares this wisdom, he announces that they should hurry back to the lift before the Sangheili are overrun. Choros offers the case to Minas, saying that it is for him to deliver to Atriox.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} | ||
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*[[Type-1 energy sword]] | *[[Type-1 energy sword]] | ||
*[[Type-2 gravity hammer]] | *[[Type-2 gravity hammer]] | ||
*[[Type-25 plasma rifle]]{{Ref/Note|Id=PlasmaRifle|Since the Covenant Loyalists using plasma rifles were Brutes and they were assigned to the Anodyne Spirit after the Great Schism, it's possible that they were [[Type-25 Brute plasma rifle]]s instead.}} | *[[Type-25 plasma rifle]]{{Ref/Note|Id=PlasmaRifle|Since the Covenant Loyalists using plasma rifles were Brutes and they were assigned to the ''Anodyne Spirit'' after the Great Schism, it's possible that they were [[Type-25 Brute plasma rifle]]s instead.}} | ||
*[[Type-25 Spiker]] | *[[Type-25 Spiker]] | ||
*[[Type-51 carbine]] | *[[Type-51 carbine]] | ||
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*[[Phantom]] | *[[Phantom]] | ||
**[[Banished Phantom]] | **[[Banished Phantom]] | ||
**[[Type-52 Phantom]]{{Ref/Note|Id=Phantom|It is possible that the Phantoms used by the Covenant Loyalists were [[Type-44 Phantom]]s, but they most likely were Type-52 Phantoms since this model was newer and saw extensive use during the late-war battles in which the Anodyne Spirit was involved.}} | **[[Type-52 Phantom]]{{Ref/Note|Id=Phantom|It is possible that the Phantoms used by the Covenant Loyalists were [[Type-44 Phantom]]s, but they most likely were Type-52 Phantoms since this model was newer and saw extensive use during the late-war battles in which the ''Anodyne Spirit'' was involved.}} | ||
*[[UNSC starship]] | *[[UNSC starship]] | ||
**[[Phoenix-class colony ship|Phoenix-class support vessel]] | **[[Phoenix-class colony ship|Phoenix-class support vessel]] | ||
*** | ***{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} {{Im}} | ||
|title-8=Technology and equipment| | |title-8=Technology and equipment| | ||