Muttonhawk

Halo: Aegis Team

Yalu 'Suumko

"Major Yalu 'Suumko." Yalu answered, looking forward as they walked. "And if you know the rudiments already, I have only two motions of advice." He turned an eye to Lucas. "First, do not underestimate the gesture in that gift. Whoever gave it did so knowing you well. Second, there is no ancient sangheili art form and tradition to a dagger like there is in a sword. One only becomes better with an energy dagger by finding greater opponents to teach them."

Yalu left the question of which of them was the greater to the arena.

Looking up to think, Yalu curiously sniffed. "I do not presume you to want to teach," he continued. "But I am also curious to see how Spartans fight more generally...from beside their weapons rather than in front of them."

Halo: Aegis Team

Yalu 'Suumko

Yalu could say plenty about the team's more expressive members by the way they received the meeting. Grikgar in particular shone clearest as an unggoy that betrayed quite the raft of experience. If he served on Thel 'Vadam's fleet at the holy ring, he was either skilled, impossibly lucky, or both. Yalu did not dismiss him for his antics.

As for the mission, Yalu did not expect it to be straightforward. With the amount of unknowns they would be contending with, there was little he could expect for sure. Putting down a rebellious strike was vague, and that was to mention nothing of the possible areas they could be lurking. The sarcophagus, while an awesome construct, was just as big a maze to hide in by the looks of it.

And that was that. Yalu mused to himself that he would have plenty of reading to do of the mission files. However, he realised how stiff his legs felt when he stood up to follow the team to the drop ship...

---

Yalu was not at all hungry by the time they reached the cruiser. He was getting drowsy, and he did not like it. Ryker's energy dagger drew his eye when it lit up.

"Spartan Lucas Ryker," Yalu addressed the human as he had introduced himself beforehand. "My journey to Earth has left me sluggish. Does your War Games module accommodate sparring? If you carry that dagger, you must have learnt how to use it."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros swung himself back up onto Leaps-On-Elves' saddle while Meesei explained their discoveries. He nodded at each point, but had one more question before he set off. "Are we certain they're pairs only?" He looked into the mirror again. "We don't want any enemies spying our plans."

The portal to Cold Harbour interrupted any answer. Everyone's heads turned to the sight.

"Azura's light..." Fendros breathed.

"All the more reason to move!" Janius barked as he slammed his affixed dragon bone axe against the soil. "She'll have an endless amount of those Daedra!"

Fendros reined Leaps around while looking back. "I'll find a messenger!"

Halo: Aegis Team

Yalu 'Suumko

Yalu was more than happy to stand and watch the rest of the team gather. He was honestly surprised that the closest thing to an altercation was between the humans. Nevertheless, he reserved judgement for their battlefield behaviour.

The only further comment Yalu gave was on the way to the meeting room, spoken in Sangheili. "Your rapport with your human friends bodes well for this venture, mgalekgolo. Perhaps the rest of us are able to win their trust as well."

As they filed into the room, Yalu decided to try taking a seat at the conference table, hoping that mimicry of the humans would ease the tension. The seat was low but not impossible. He did feel more out of place than in the ship that brought him here, however.

"How much time do we have?" Yalu asked Major Robinson. It was a rather sudden acceleration of matters; he wanted the pertinent information as soon as he could.

Halo: Aegis Team

Yalu 'Suumko

"Alright, big guy, time to wake up."

Yalu's vertical eye slits dilated open to see a human marine's grin disappear. Yalu was still short of practice understanding what the expression meant but he could guess enough from the tension in all of the marines when he was around.

"We're, uh..." the marine continued. "We're about to land."

Neither of them blinked for a moment.

The marine coughed. "About ten minutes out." He turned and walked back along the deck of the cargo hold, running one hand on an overhead bar.

"Thank you, Stefanovic." Yalu spoke at a much deeper timbre.

The marine tensed up even more. "How do you know my name?"

"The word is written on your harness," he responded. "If I pronounced it incorrectly, I would hear its proper sound from you, should you prefer."

"Naw, I just...didn't know you learnt to read English."

"Why do you think I asked you how long an hour was, human?" Valu said. "It is because I learn."

After counting it all up based on the timepiece on his own HUD, Yalu had sat in his small canvas seat with legs cramping for fourteen hours straight. He had nothing to do and no one to talk to once the humans left him alone, save for the food and drink they brought him. 'A few hours,' was what they said about the flight time. Yalu did not think that one 'hour' was anything to complain about once it had passed. Their lack of honesty was irritating. Yalu thanked his ancestors that sleep and meditation were not beyond him in such an environment.

The cargo bay door opened to bright yellow sunlight contrasted against black tarmac. Yalu strode down the ramp with his equipment over his shoulder, being sure to duck under the low headroom. Marines with their rifles were on his left and right. His eyes adjusted to see another human with a front-brimmed cap and even more guards. Probably someone ranking. A few words and it was not long before he was lead across to one of their non-combat land vehicles.

From that point the extra time did not pass too slowly. Yalu had never been around so many humans before. He wondered if they were as unsure about him as he was about them. How many sangheili lives had they taken? As many human lives as he had taken?

"You seem kinda quiet back there," the driver said. "Y'nervous?"

"Is it your custom to speak of fear?" Yalu retorted.

"Sometimes."

"It is not mine."

They were silent after that.

Everything blurred together until they pulled into a compound with a group that stood out like a boil. Yalu saw an unggoy, a hunter, a sangheili, and a...Spartan, if he remembered correctly. If there was one creature he preferred not to need to outnumber, it was one of them.

Yalu was let out of the vehicle. "Right over there," the human escort said as if it was not obvious.

Yalu approached and only slowed his gait when he noticed the markings of the sangheili in particular. He was checking the dossier of the unggoy, which meant Yalu's history would soon be on display as well.

"The joint operations team rallies here?" Yalu said simply. "I am Major Yalu 'Suumko."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Take Leaps, Ahna," Fendros quickly dismounted. "He'll get you there fast."

Sabine was nearby as she was checking on Do'rhajul and her newer packmate Tarna. Tarna was flicking Daedra blood off her shortsword even though her presence was not obvious on the battlefield.

"I will," Sabine responded clearly to Meesei's order. "Tarna, go ahead of Rossarm's people and stabilise whomever you can before they reach them. I will assist them as well." She handed Tarna a potion while the spoke, no doubt to assist her magicka reserves after the fight.

Tarna took the potion and set off after a quick nod.

The argument had little time to develop before Meesei and Fendros diverted their attention. Rossarm and the Dominion commander exchanged a challenging look, but it was Rossarm who responded first. "At once, champion."

The Dominion commander gritted his teeth. Holding back complaint, he spun and spoke an order. "Halt! Full halt! Form ranks three! Rearward, restore casualties!"

The golden-armoured ranks fell into position with small, rapid drumbeat footfalls. Three rows of Dominion soldiers formed bound shields on the front line while the rest grouped up to find survivors behind them.

"We shall see that depending on this diversion does not grant the Daedra an advantage, Champion of Hircine," the commander said.

Fendros retorted before the statement could set in. "We shall see that time is not wasted informing commander Teroiah of your unprompted opinions!"

The commander's yellowed Altmer face flushed pink with anger and embarrassment. After a seething breath in, he tersely yelled a "Duly noted!" and turned to administrate his subordinates.

The words drew a long glance from Rossarm on his way out, but neither he nor Fendros gave each other a word.

Now a short distance out, Sabine lifted the top of her staff into the air and charged a radiant golden magic above it. The light grew until almost painful to look at before she used her other hand to direct it, spreading wafting tendrils of restorative energy out and towards the still-alive casualties strewn around her.

Halo: Aegis Team

Yalu, Sangheili Major

Name: Yalu 'Suumko

Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios)

Species: Sangheili

Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued.

Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind.

Preferred Weapons/Equipment:
- Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do
- Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H]
- A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades]
- Wrist-mounted energy dagger
- Whatever else is at hand

Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword.

Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory.

Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey.

Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame.

Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with.

After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.

Halo: Aegis Team

Here's my application...

One Solitary Lekgolo...

Just joking, here's a sangwich:

Name: Yalu 'Suumko

Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios)

Species: Sangheili

Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued.

Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind.

Preferred Weapons/Equipment:
- Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do
- Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H]
- A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades]
- Wrist-mounted energy dagger
- Whatever else is at hand

Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword.

Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory.

Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey.

Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame.

Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with.

After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.

Halo: Aegis Team

I'll need at least another day to read up and fill out a CS. Needed to work late the last couple of nights. A hazy character concept is forming in my head, though.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Well in that case I hope you don't get too bored, haha! Glad to hear you're holding steady at least.