The Arbiter (Level): Difference between revisions

''The scene opens up with a blurry camera shot focused on the floor, before clearing and focusing on the back of [[Tartarus]]. The shot then changes to show [[Tartarus]] walking down a hallway in ''[[High Charity]]'', two [[Brutes]] behind him, carrying [[Thel 'Vadamee]] on their shoulders. They are walking through a prison.''

*'''[[Brute]] 1''': "How much further must we heft this baggage? Any cell will do."

*'''[[Brute]] 2''': "Why not toss him in with this lot?"

''The Brutes pass a cell containing three hungry [[Jackals]], which hiss and growl as they reach out through the bars at the [[Brute|Brutes]] passing by.''

*'''Brute 2''': "They could use the meat."

*'''Brute 1''': "Them? What about ''us''? My belly aches - and his flesh is seared just the way I like it."

*'''[[Tartarus]]''': "Quiet! You two whimper like [[Grunts]] fresh off the [[Food Nipple|teat]]. He's not meant for the jails. The [[High Prophets|Hierarchs]] have something special in mind."

''The [[Brute|Brutes]] and their cargo move out onto a platform overlooking the [[Mausoleum of the Arbiter]]. They ride a [[Gravity Lift]] down to the walkway leading up to it and pass dozens of [[Elite]] [[Honor Guard]]s standing at attention, staves ready. They enter the Mausoleum, where the [[Prophet|Prophets]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] await. The [[Brute|Brutes]] and [[Tartarus]] bow.''

*'''Tartarus''': "Noble [[Prophet|Prophets]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], I have brought [[Thel 'Vadamee|the incompetent]]."

*'''[[Prophet of Truth]]''': "You may leave, [[Tartarus]]."

''Tartarus looks up, surprised.''  

*'''Tartarus''': "But... I thought—"

''Prophet of Truth interjects''

*'''Prophet of Truth:''' "And take your Brutes with you."

''Tartarus hesitates and then bows again.''  

*'''Tartarus''': "Release the prisoner."

''The Brutes drop 'Vadam to his knees and rise, leaving the room. The [[Sangheili]] touches the [[Mark of Shame]] on his chest.''

*'''Prophet of Truth''': "The [[High Council|Council]] decided to have you hung by your entrails and your corpse paraded through the [[High Charity|city]]. But ultimately, the terms of your execution are up to me."

*'''[[Thel 'Vadamee]]''': "I am already dead."

*'''Prophet of Truth''': "Indeed. Do you know where we are?"

*'''Thel 'Vadamee''': "The [[Mausoleum of the Arbiter]]."

*'''Prophet of Truth''': "Quite so. Here rests the vanguard of the [[Great Journey]]. Every [[Arbiter (rank)|Arbiter]], from first to last. Each one created and consumed in times of extraordinary crisis."

*'''Prophet of Mercy''': "The [[Taming of the Hunters]], the [[Grunt Rebellion]] - were it not for the [[Arbiter (rank)|Arbiters]], the [[Covenant]] would have broken long ago!"

 

*'''Thel 'Vadamee''': "Even on my knees I do not belong in their presence."

 

*'''Prophet of Truth''': "[[Installation 04|Halo]]'s destruction was your error, and you rightly bear the blame. But the Council was... overzealous. We know you are no [[heretic]]. This is the true face of heresy, one who would subvert our faith and incite rebellion against the High Council."

''Truth presses a button on his chair and a miniature hologram of an [[Elite]] in abnormal equipment appears.''  

*'''[[Sesa 'Refumee]]''': "Our [[Prophet|Prophets]] are false! Open your eyes, my brothers! They would use the faith of our forefathers to bring ruin to us all! [[The Great Journey]] is a l-"

''Truth cuts off the hologram.''  

*'''Prophet of Truth''': "This heretic, and [[Heretics|those who follow him]], must be silenced."

*'''Prophet of Mercy''': "Their slander offends all who walk the Path."

*'''Thel 'Vadamee''': "What use am I? I can no longer command ships, lead troops into battle—"

*'''Prophet of Truth''': "Not as you are, no. But become the [[Arbiter (rank)|Arbiter]] ... and you shall be set loose against this heresy, with our blessing."

''A large container pod floats into the center of the room, opening to reveal a suit of ancient armor surrounded by white light. 'Vadam stares at this for a moment, before turning back to [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]].''

*'''Thel 'Vadamee''': "What of the Council?"

*'''Prophet of Mercy''': "The tasks you must undertake as the Arbiter are perilous, suicidal. You will die, as each Arbiter has before you. The Council will have their corpse."

''Thel 'Vadamee rises, and walks toward the armor. He pauses before it, and looks to the pods containing the corpses of the Arbiters who fell before him. He reaches up and takes the helmet of the Arbiter, and places it upon his head, then looks to the [[Prophet|Hierarchs]].''

*'''Thel 'Vadamee''': "What would you have your Arbiter do?"

''The scene changes to show the outside of [[High Charity]], the fleet surrounding it. Three [[Phantom|Phantoms]] fly past the camera and swoop past the ruins of [[Halo]], a large piece of it still intact and with landscape and clouds still visible. As it flies, the voice of [[Rtas 'Vadum|Rtas 'Vadumee]] can be heard.''

*'''[[Rtas 'Vadumee]]''': "When we joined the [[Covenant]], we took an [[Writ of Union|oath]]!"

''The scene cuts to the inside of the center [[Phantom]], where [[Special Ops Elites]], along with the new Arbiter, line the walls, with a line of [[Special Ops Grunts]] in the center. An [[Ultra Elite]], the [[Special Operations Commander|SpecOps Leader]] [[Rtas 'Vadumee]], walks among them.''

*'''[[SpecOps Elites]]''': "According to our station! All without exception!"

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee''': "On the blood of our fathers, on the blood of our sons, we swore to uphold the [[Covenant]]!"

*'''SpecOps Elites''': "Even to our dying breath!"

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee''': "Those who would break this oath are [[Heretic|Heretics]], worthy of neither pity, nor mercy! Even now they use our lords' creations to broadcast their lies!"

''A [[Grunt]] fumbles with the methane tank of another Grunt, some air is released, the second Grunt mutters angrily at the first.''

*'''SpecOps Elites''': "We shall grind them into dust!"

''Note: the [[Hidden Subtitle On The Arbiter|Hidden Subtitle]] appears here. It is "And scrape them as excrement off our boots!"''

'' 'Vadumee turns his head to face the camera, revealing he is missing the mandibles on the left side of his head.''  

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee''': "And continue our march to glorious salvation!"

''The Spec Ops Leader approaches 'Vadam. They stare each other down.''  

*'''[[Rtas 'Vadumee]]''': "This armor suits you. But it cannot hide that mark."

*'''[[Thel 'Vadamee]]''': "Nothing ever will."

*'''[[Rtas 'Vadumee]]''': "You are the [[Arbiter (rank)|Arbiter]], the will of the [[Prophet|Prophets]]. But these are my Elites. Their lives matter to me. Yours does not."

 

*'''[[Rtas 'Vadumee]]''': (respectful) "Hmmm...."

*'''[[Phantom]] Pilot''': "Leader, there is no doubt: the storm will strike the facility!"

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee''': "We'll be long gone before it arrives."

''The [[Phantoms]] fly lower, near the top of one of several towers sticking out from the center of the main structure. One deposits a group of Grunts and an Elite, followed by a second one that drops two [[Elites]] and 'Vadamee.''

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee''': "Warriors, prepare for combat!"

'' 'Vadamee ignites his [[Energy Sword]] and looks at it.''

'''(''Gameplay'')'''

===A Whisper in the Storm===

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee (COM)''': "We are the arm of the [[Prophets]], Arbiter, and you are the blade. Be silent and swift, and we shall quell this heresy without incident."

''As 'Vadumee approaches the doors where the rest of the team is waiting to enter''  

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee (COM)''': "The storm has masked our approach, and it should have their local [[Battle-net]] in disarray. We have the element of surprise... for now."  

'' 'Vadumee enters the airlock beyond, with a team of [[Special Operations Grunt|SpecOps Grunts]] and [[Special Operations Elite|Elites]].''  

*'''SpecOps Elite''' "Engage [[Active Camouflage]]! Reveal yourselves only after the Arbiter has joined battle with the enemy!"

''The Grunts and Elites fades in to their surroundings as their [[Active Camouflage]] is engaged.''

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee''': "You may wish to do the same, Arbiter, but take heed: your armor's system is not as...''new'' as ours. Your camouflage will not last forever."

''The team enters the next room. If you wait without being seen for a moment, the two [[Heretic Elite|Heretic Elites]] in this room will talk to one another.''  

*'''[[Heretic Elite]] 1''': "Any word on our missing brothers?"

*'''Heretic Elite 2''': "Still nothing. Given what we have learned, I fear they are lost."

*'''Heretic Elite 1''': "Maybe the [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|Oracle]] will protect us..."

*'''Heretic Elite 2''': "Perhaps. But his [[Sentinels]] are too few. Better we protect ourselves!"

''Later, the team enters an elevator and descends into a hangar containing a [[Seraph]]. A new enemy appears: the familiar [[Sentinels]].''

*'''SpecOps Elite''': "[[Sentinels]], the holy warriors of the [[Halo|Sacred Rings]]. Why have they sided with these [[Heretics]]?"

''(During the battle in the hangar)''  

*'''[[Phantom]] Pilot (COM)''': "Arbiter, clear the hangar and open this door, so I may drop the second [[Lance]]!"

'' 'Vadam opens the door.''  

*'''[[Phantom]] Pilot (COM)''': "Hold position, I am making my approach."

'' 'Vadamee descends through the facility eventually entering a room featuring a window looking out onto a landing pad with three [[Heretic Banshee|Heretic Banshees]]. The Heretic Leader, [[Sesa 'Refumee]] appears.''  

*'''[[Sesa 'Refumee]]''': "Deal with him, my brothers! I will defend the [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|Oracle]]."

''He hops onto a [[Heretic Banshee]] and flies off.''  

*'''[[Heretic Elite]] 3''': "His truth must not be silenced!"

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee (COM)''': "The [[Heretic|Heretics]] are mobilizing their air forces, [[Arbiter (character)|Arbiter]]. Get after their [[Heretic Leader|leader]], but watch your back. I'm sending one of our [[Phantom|Phantoms]] to support you."

''After the first wave of [[Heretic Banshee|Banshees]] is eliminated.''

*'''Phantom Pilot (COM)''': "The [[Heretic|heretics]] have weapons emplacements all over the facility, Arbiter. We'll take them out, one by one, until we find the [[Heretic Leader]]."

''If you take too long to head for the final emplacement.''  

*'''Rtas 'Vadumee (COM)''': "No sign of the [[Heretic Leader]] or his [[Heretic Banshee|Banshee]]. We must keep searching!"

''Alternately:''  

*'''Phantom Pilot (COM)''': "That was the last of them - but there are more ahead."

'' 'Vadam nears the final emplacement.''  

*'''[[Rtas 'Vadumee]] (COM)''': "We've tracked the [[Heretic Leader|leader]] to this part of the station. Clear that landing zone and get inside."

''The Arbiter clears the platform and arrive at the door. Fades to white.''

''Level ends.''