What Would You Have Your Arbiter Do?
The Great Journey Begins (Redone Chapter)
The battle raged on between the two Sangheli, blood coming from their heads from punches that connected. They were small, still training to be a true warriors. Their mentor hovering above them, watching their movements for mistakes and seeing where they needed improvement. Eventually, the mentor ended their conflict, ready to give his students hints and tips.
"No, no, you are not doing your swings correctly." The teacher took position, motioning one of the younglings to be ready for an attack. "You must focus your energy, not in just your arms, but in your entire self." The teacher swiftly moved, showing how using their energy wisely could save their lives in a true battle. "You cannot just focus your attention on making contact with you opponent either. You must also be ready to block, and in return, retaliate with twice as much efficiency." The mentor took a step back, commanding his students once again, "Now, you try."
The group of three trained for hours on end, not stopping until the two young trainees could fluently do the defense and offense routine. When the old sun finally dimmed the sky, the group split off, ending the training for the day.
"You have made great progress in your training. I am very pleased with your efforts to succeed. You are relieved for the day." The leader released the two students from his teachings.
"Yes, Arbiter." One of the students muttered as they were walking to the barracks.
Arbiter, now released from teaching new warriors, now headed to the officer hall to mingle with his fellow superiors. On the way to the hall, Arbiter passed two guards guarding the armory. He said some pleasantries and told them to switch posts with another group of guards. They happily obliged and walked to the troop hall, where the next armory guards were waiting for the go.
Now that there was nothing blocking his way to the officer's hall, Arbiter walked a bit slower, relaxing his tense muscles from the strain he had obtained over the past few days.
'I blew up a Halo, stopped the Flood, killed Truth, and lost a good comrade. Shame he didn't make it back to see his planet's peace after decades of war.' Arbiter was lost in thought while going through the doors to the officer's hall, making him seem as if he were a ghost.
"Thel, you look like a dead man." Rtas, the ship master of the Shadow of Intent and good friend to Arbiter himself greeted him to the hall.
"I could have been a dead man. Lucky for you I wasn't." Arbiter teased.
"Oh, and why is that?" Rtas spat back.
"Because if I didn't have my council, you would've and I quote, "Glassed the entire human planet." Arbiter teased again.
"You know me well brother." Rtas commented.
"It's my job, seeing that I am now the alleged leader of the Sangheli." Arbiter said.
"Yes well, Jul M'dama seems to disagree with our 'leader." Rtas said.
"I know of him, and he does not scare me. If he desires war, he shall get it." Arbiter nonchalantly commented.
Arbiter and Rtas made their way to Arbiter's private quarters, finishing their conversation at his door to the luxurious room.
"I shall take my leave now Shipmaster." Arbiter breathed out a large breathe, indicating that he was indeed ready to be left alone.
"Good night Arbiter." Rtas bowed and left his friends presence going to his own private room.
Now that he was alone, Arbiter could think of the past nights and what his sleep brought him. Death and destruction were all his dreams were riddled with, the death of all innocents and noble elites. His mother's dead body brought him the most mental scarring.
"Tomorrow is a new day, and I shall seize the prize that awaits me in the science labs." Arbiter whispered this as he lay his head down for his much needed rest.
___...___
The new day awaiting all of Sanghelios brought much enjoyment to Arbiter's mind, sending messages to his brain to get up and get to the Vadam Science Labs.
Getting up from the silk bed made this task even harder for Arbiter as he was forced to put on his armor in preparations for the coming plan he will set in motion.
Now that he was up and ready to go, Arbiter opened his door and walked into the officer's hall, which to his surprise was empty. Not a single soul was in that room, but himself. He shrugged this off and headed down to the elevator which was one of the only ways to gain entrance to the science wing. After pushing the button, Arbiter thought once again of his the empty officer's lounge. There is almost always an officer there to make sure things were up and running, but Arbiter again shrugged this off as the elevator stopped at his destination. When he walked into the science wing, he was surprised to find Rtas in there talking to the science types.
"Rtas what are you doing here?" Arbiter asked.
"Just checking on your hidden plan." Rtas pointed at a monitor with an unmistakable shape appearing on the screen. "You plan to make a portal like Truth did. And go in there alone nonetheless." Rtas was angry with Arbiter's foolish plan.
"Why does it concern you what I do?" Arbiter asked.
"In times such as these, we need a leader who can lead as you do, and a political figure that we can use with human relations." Rtas said.
"I know, and that is why that while I am gone, you will be the leader in my position during my leave." Arbiter whispered.
"Me!?" Rtas questioned.
"Yes, you are the only one that I can trust to get anything done for the Sangheli." Arbiter stated.
"I must rest on this, Arbiter." Rtas commented.
"I understand." Arbiter replied.
"Ah, Thel Vadam. We have been expecting you." The head scientist greeted Arbiter and lead him to the main screen.
"Thank you Ootma Xerox." Arbiter said.
"Yes well, while your slip-space portal is ready to be deployed, we are unaware of where this portal will take you when you enter." Ootma explained, "Nor will we be able to go back to the same spot again after the portal disappears. Now this could cause some complications in your current plan of strategy." Ootma was interrupted mid sentence.
"I will go, alone. I will scout out the nearest planets, check to see if they are inhabitable, place a slip-space coordinate device and return through the portal." Arbiter explained his plan, which stunned Ootma, to say the least.
"O-only if you are willing to go through it under these conditions?" Ootma said, voice full of concern for the leader of his race.
"I am sure." Arbiter headed towards the elevator again, "I will go prep a Phantom gunship and await the word." Arbiter said as he hit the button.
___...___
Arbiter sat at the pilot's seat of the Phantom, awaiting the order to go through the Portal. This is the day that Arbiter has been waiting for: the day he advances the Sangheli race. 'Come now Ootma, surely you have the portal ready?' Arbiter was restless and wanted to go through the portal ASAP. "Honor, do you have an update from Ootma?" Arbiter asked.
The A.I. known as Honor appeared from a small A.I. holographic projector. "No, not since you last asked me Arbiter." Honor replied.
"I know you are the most advanced A.I. the Sangheli has mustered to produce, but please try to be more attentive with the task I give you." Arbiter annoyingly commanded.
"Yes Arbiter. In fact, Ootma has just sent a message giving the go on the portal." Honor said.
"Thank you Honor, now we can go and expand. Start us up." Arbiter commanded.
"Of course." Honor replied with the hum of the Phantom's engines, readying them for space travel while awaiting the go.
"Go." Arbiter said.
Honor boosted the Phantom through the air, slicing through it as if it were hot butter. The Portal was gigantic, and looked like that of a black hole. The alluring darkness of the light emanating from it drew Arbiter closer by the second. And in no time flat, the Phantom ascended into the abyss.
___...___
"Arbiter, you have successfully been the first Sangheli to go through a Sangheli made portal, congratulations." Honor said.
"Ah, it is a great day for my people. We will now start my long tedious plan-" Arbiter's sentence was cut short from a massive explosion heard from the port side of the Phantom. "Honor, What was that!?" Arbiter yelled.
"Calculating...yes, well it appears that Ootma's cautions should have been headed. The slip space portal has closed, and in such a way to cause the largest explosion ever recorded." Honor informed.
"No, no this is not how it was supposed to go." Arbiter bowed his head.
"Arbiter, that explosion has rendered one of the Phantom's engines useless. When or if we enter that Planet's atmosphere, we won't be able to control it." Honor said.
"Wait, what planet?" Arbiter asked as he rose his head once more, "Ah, that planet."
"Yes well, I can't say for sure how you will be able to get out of this Phantom when we enter its atmosphere." Honor yipped.
"Oh I have come prepared Honor. Now tell me, how long until we enter that Planet's atmosphere?" Arbiter enthusiastically asked.
"Hmm, about forty-five minutes, why?" Honor asked.
"Because," Arbiter got up from the pilots chair and walked to the back of the Phantom, "I better suit up for it."
Arbiter grabbed a jet pack from the back of the Phantom and strapped it on. It was somewhat difficult due to the armor he was currently wearing. The ancient armor of the Arbiter is not as new as the jet packs the Covenant supplied, but it could still fit them nonetheless. After tightening the jet pack, Arbiter went to the weapons rack. Due to the missions unknown parameters, Arbiter smuggled experimental weapons with him. He grabbed two experimental energy swords and turned them on. This model of energy sword carried infinite energy. How they got the hilt of the weapon to store so much energy was unknown to Arbiter, but he didn't care to take the time to understand. Next he grabbed two plasma rifles which could regenerate energy from sunlight, effective if the battlefield is nice and sun covered. Last he grabbed a respirator specifically designed for the Arbiter helmet's design. With this device he could travel in hazardous zones and breath the toxic air outside. If the planet was full of unknown gases, it would be best to carry it at all times.
"Honor, how much time is left?" Arbiter asked.
"We are about to enter the planet's atmosphere in five...four...three...two...one."
The Phantom shook as it entered the atmosphere, sending the spacecraft spiraling in the air. Arbiter did not anticipate this and was also sent flying around the room.
"Honor, you know I can't take you with." Arbiter whispered into his comms.
"I know, but perhaps you could just remember me?" Honor suggested.
"It is a deal." Arbiter chuckled. Arbiter's voice became more serious when he asked Honor another question, "How high up are we in the atmosphere?"
"About two miles." Honor answered.
"I shall take my leave Honor. It has been a pleasure knowing you." Arbiter bowed the best he could while tumbling about the Phantom.
"Likewise, Arbiter."
With those last words, Arbiter jumped out of the Phantom as Honor opened the side hatches. As he jumped out, the back of the Phantom spun around, hitting him with tremendous force. After shaking off the pain it caused him, Arbiter flattened his body to slow himself down. Now that he was at an acceptable height, Arbiter started to periodically use the jet pack's thrusters, slowing him down each time he did so. About half a mile off the ground, Arbiter used the thrusters even more bit by bit. When he was just over a hundred feet off the ground, he used the thrusters to their maximum ability. The jet pack couldn't slow Arbiter down fast enough for a gentle landing, so instead, he tumbled to the ground rolling into a giant oak tree while he did so. When he made contact with the tree, Arbiter's head got hit too hard, inevitably knocking him out.
___...___
Luna walked out onto her balcony, noticing something odd about her beautiful night sky. There was a Purple object flying towards Equestria. She didn't plan any meteor showers, nor did she know of any meteors that could be purple in color, but sh planned to find out what is was.