Phoenix Logs/Campaign Logs/Rise of Atriox V

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ONI Section Zero Board//Surveillance transcription of internal communications

between subjects 'D' and 'S'. 05.06.2555 1702 hrs//Full transcript available on

request//

['D'] Play it back to me, let me hear what we got.

"You wish to know about Atriox and his Banished? The Covenant's dirty little

secret. The Jiralhanae they could not control. When I joined the Covenant I was

young and easily led. Even back then he had already passed into legends and

whispers. A monstrous savage who railed against those who would show us

the way to the Great Journey. What a fool I was.

I was there when they tried to execute him. Many have said the same but I

speak the truth. His crime was to question the Great Journey. To question the

Prophets as they sent wave after wave of his kind to die. With each battle he

became harder, his dissent louder until the Covenant had to silence him.

He was to be executed for heresy; for bringing shame upon the Covenant and

doubt to weak willed minds. I was working some menial task nearby when they

brought him in. Bloodied and fresh from the fight. He showed no fear—it was

as if there was too much rage inside him for any other emotion. As the executor

brought down his blade, Atriox rose, killing his would be killer. The other Brutes

fell upon the rest of the guards—such savagery. Years later I heard Atriox had

engaged the services of the Enduring Conviction.

I wonder, would the war have ended sooner had he led the Covenant? Or would

it still be raging? I say this—do not underestimate him. I know you humans.

There is honor in you, but there is equally deceit and I know how you nurture

your plots. If you try and harness his power. He will burn you. Atriox works for

no one. He may not be the Covenant, but he is not your tool."

['S'] That was all we could get out of the Sangheili, sir. He wouldn't say any more

without us answering some uncomfortable questions so we let him go.