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"A regrettable turn of events. I apologize, Shipmaster, but please... Leave me to grieve this tremendous loss to our Covenant."
"Apologies are unnecessary, Hierarch. I understand completely."
The shipmaster of the transport bowed his head and left Regret alone in his quarters. When the news of the shield world's destruction - along with its sacred Forerunner fleet - came in, the shipmaster had sought to inform Regret in person.
Indeed, the loss would be great. Those ships would've been invaluable in the Covenant's efforts - and they were gifts from their gods, now forever destroyed by the human filth.
And the one who was meant to secure them for the Covenant...
I wonder. In this moment of grief for our lords' gifts, who will pray for you, Ripa 'Moramee?
The Arbiter Regret personally appointed as it became increasingly clear that the war with the humans would be more troublesome than any conflict the Covenant had endured yet.
Although they destroyed every human world they came across, the true strongholds and homeworld of the species still eluded them. The Covenant typically dominated in their engagements, yet losses were slowly chipping away at the morale. Not only was the lengthy war proving tedious, but some were beginning to question it. Why could they not just teach the humans the error of their ways with Forerunner technology and bring their ferocious fighting force into the empire, just like they had with the other species that once foolishly tried to rebel?
Because they are a disastrous race to our Covenant, and none of them can know the full truth as to why.
"Those that question a Hierarch's judgement are nothing more than flegs," Ripa started to say. "But like flegs, there is one incessant chatter of theirs that hounds my hearing."
"What is it, Arbiter?"
"My crime was treachery against my own kaidon. Knowing this, why did you choose me?" Hastily, he added, "I would never dream of disobeying a Hierarch, but even so... How are you certain of that?"
If there were Honor Guards nearby, they surely would be brandishing their weapons in response to a perceived threat. But Regret merely smiled back, fully in control of the hulking brute in front of him.
"I'm rather understanding of mutineers."
He'd elaborate with some half-true story about understanding that rebellion is a response to poor leadership, but that wasn't what was on his mind when he'd given his answer. Regret recalled a duo of ambitious San'Shyuum - Minister and Vice Minister - and their discoveries of a threat against the empire's very core and the incompetent leadership that'd surely fail to rise to its challenge. He recalled the bribery to a Philologist, the blackmail of previous Hierarches, and even defiance against High Charity's Oracle to the point of shutting it down.
Sometimes, you did what you had to, even if everyone would hate you if they knew the truth. Well, to hell with them. His power-seeking was the reason they all still had divine purpose, a strong empire that shielded and ascended them.
Perhaps the Arbiter sensed this - that the two of them were more alike than the surface showed - and his respect was built on that subconscious foundation.
Thank the gods for Sangheili like 'Moramee, who were pleased enough with having divine orders to fulfill - and getting to spill blood because of them. Regret was growing nervous with how much his peer Truth was praising the Jiralhanae's faith and conviction. He was getting too caught up in the glamor of a new toy that he was forgetting the worth the Sangheili had brought them for millennia - forgetting how much the Covenant needed them.
Such as Arbiters. Such as the one who lost his life today. Perhaps he had failed in the end, but Regret was certain he got the furthest anyone would get in this sort of mission. If Truth had his way, then Jiralhanae brutes and Kig-Yar schemers would've somehow lost them the secrets on the human world of Harvest, which brought them to the fleet in the first place. They never would've controlled themselves as much as 'Moramee did in delivering the human woman, either.
"My anger is a form of madness."
"Only because your mentors and leaders, up to this point, have failed to realize its potential," Regret replied. "All that you have achieved up to this point was not in spite of it, but because of it. None of them have noticed, but I have. Its involuntary nature is a sign you are what you are meant to be. I'd dare say it is a divine gift."
"Divine..." Ripa mused, his features going into a rare state of relaxation. Rare in the eyes of others - this was not the first time Regret had coaxed it out of him, in the little time since their first meeting. Unlike Truth, Regret felt little need to be false in his sweet-talking methods. It was easy to get through to 'Moramee, once you figured him out. Too many simply convinced themselves they never could.
"If you say so, then it must be true," Ripa continued, after mulling over the idea long enough. "I will use this gift to serve you well, sire."
'Moramee's wrath was infamous and made up much of his despised reputation, but Regret had seen through it. He knew 'Moramee could be goaded into composing himself just enough to get goals accomplished. Everything, up until the end, seemed to prove that belief correct. As well as the belief that the Sangheili as a whole did not need to be thrown away; despite 'Moramee's concerns regarding some of Regret's orders, his questioning was only momentary and his performance afterwards flawless. He didn't even miss a beat in his mission, even after Regret was forced to imply that a human had more knowledge of a Forerunner relic than himself, one of the three Hierarchs of the Covenant and the interpreters of their gods' will.
He had been a perfect servant. Except for the fact that had perished in the end.
Regret spoke into the empty air. “Thank you for your service, Arbiter.”