Editing Raid on Anodyne Spirit

|next=[[Operation: SONATA]]

|side2=*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]] {{C|remnants}}

|forces1=*Three [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Phantom|Phantom]]s

|forces2=*Ten [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]]s

Some time after the [[Flood]] [[Outbreak on Installation 00|outbreak]] on the Ark, Atriox decided that he would need to return to the [[Milky Way]]. However, this would be difficult since the [[Portal at Voi|portal]] to [[Earth]] had closed almost a year earlier and the [[Enduring Conviction|only ship]] equipped with a [[slipspace drive]] that he had brought had been destroyed by [[Jerome-092|a]] [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]]. There was another way, however. Rumor had it that there was a [[Menachite portal complex|portal structure]] hidden on Reach that connected to the Ark. To open this portal, Atriox would need a Forerunner [[slipspace flake]]. Thankfully, [[Tartarus]] had recovered shards of [[Menachite Forerunner crystal|the flake]] originally found on Reach and presented them to the Prophet of Truth, who transferred them to the ''Anodyne Spirit'' when it left [[High Charity]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR3|HSoR|Chapter=3}} To retrieve these shards from the Keyship, Atriox dispatched three strike teams, each in their own [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Phantom|Phantom dropship]]. [[Chieftain]] [[Minas]] would lead his team, as well as coordinating the efforts of the other two teams, led [[Blademaster]] [[Okro 'Vagaduun]], and [[Jiralhanae Captain|Captain]] [[Zeretus]].{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}

As Choros was explaining the purpose of this chamber to Okro 'Vagaduun, the Jiralhanae warrior was knocked to the floor by a [[Plasma|plasma blast]]. The strike teams immediately dove for cover while under fire by plasma bolts and [[Vostu-pattern carbine|carbine]] rounds. Minas scrambled to Choros and moved the stunned, but uninjured, warrior to cover behind a stone barrier. As the Chieftain collected himself, he realized that their assailants were using ''Covenant'' weapons, meaning that they were not Forerunner machines. The Banished strike force pushed into the jungle of overgrown foliage to press a counterattack. It didn't take long before they had defeated the attackers and realized that they were Covenant Jiralhanae, suggesting that they had all survived within the Keyship for nearly seven years. They had remained loyal to the empire, likely being unaware of its defeat. Choros noted that the ship likely had enough supplies stored to last the crew seventy years, no less seven. Minas informed Bomarus back on his Phantom of the enemy presence on the vessel as they pressed onto their next destination before the Adytum, the clerestory.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}

Inside the well-lit spherical room were tiered circular platforms that lined the rounded walls. Each platform held terminals presumably used to perform all manner of duties. At the center of the room was the Adytum, an oblong bronze monolith that fell just short of touching both the floor and ceiling. Terminals and interfaces covered its exterior, accessible from the platforms situated along the room's walls. Choros and Itka immediately began the process of extracting the shards they sought from within the Adytum. Minutes later, the two of them were still busy with retrieving the shards when the distinctive sound of [[impulse drive]]s filled the chamber. Peering outside, Minas could see two distinctly Covenant [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] dropships approaching their position. Okro 'Vagaduun, who was nearing the upper balcony along with his team on the lift, noticed it too and assured the Chieftain that they would be there to assist. Minas then contacted Zeretus and told him to stay where he was and have his team secure the bottom of the lift so that they could escape swiftly and safely. Two more Covenant Phantoms appeared behind the first two. With Itka almost done extracting the shards, the strike team prepared to defend against the incoming dropships and the warriors they certainly held.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}

Covenant Kig-Yar were the first to enter, but they were cut down by a barrage from Minas and his men. Then the Jiralhanae entered and the fighting grew fierce and bloody. As the smoke cleared, only three Banished Jiralhanae besides Minas remained—Choros, [[Burekos]], and [[Sopruuz]]. Minas found his second-in-command paying his respects to Itka, who had been killed by [[Grenflekt Workshop Spiker|spikes]] during the skirmish. Out on the platform, he could see the blademaster and his Sangheili fighting off even more Covenant. Wielding a [[Veporokk Workshop Ravager]], one warrior landed 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 informed Minas that they had secured the crystal shards. Choros, however, was deeply troubled by all the men that they had lost, so he asked the Chieftain what it was that Atriox had told him when they first met. Atriox said that "everyone must die for ''something''," which Minas interpreted to mean that everyone should die on their own terms for something that they truly believe in. After Minas shared this wisdom, he announced that they should hurry back to the lift before the Sangheili were overrun. Choros offered the case containing the shards to Minas, saying that it was for him to deliver to Atriox.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}

By this time, only two enemy Phantoms remained and many of 'Vagaduun's men had fallen. The blademaster himself stood confidently in the open, unleashing a torrent of plasma from the rifles he held in each hand. As Minas and his handful of men made their way back to the lift, they could see six more Phantoms approaching in the hazy distance. Choros used his [[Flaktura Workshop Skewer]] to destroy one of the two that were still assaulting the balcony. The team reached the lift and Choros began working at the controls. Just then, Minas heard a noise behind him. He turned to find a massive Covenant Jiralhanae carrying a similarly immense [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]]. With a single swing of the weapon, the bodies of Burekos and Sopruuz were crushed and flung from the platform. Minas fired his [[Kewu R'shi'k-pattern plasma rifle|plasma rifle]] at the Jiralhanae with little effect. Three Sangheili warriors ignited their [[Type-1 energy sword|blades]] and lunged at the creature in response. 'Vagaduun pulled Minas onto the lift just as Choros stepped off of it. The captain realized that the incoming Phantoms would be able to easily track the lift's descent and pick them off. Minas and 'Vagaduun would need protection and a distraction. Before the Chieftain could reason with him, Choros slammed his fist onto lift's release, sending the Chieftain and the blademaster speeding back to the clerestory below.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}