Crash Chapter 4
There was a certain wall that even Spartans hit when they were tired that meant they just didn't have anything left to give. Palmer didn't have a lot of experience with that wall, particularly since becoming a Spartan Commander, but she was at that point now. At the moment she was trying to avoid giving in to the desire to lean against a wall for a moment of relief as she knew she'd not be able to move away from whatever she used for support. Damn her pride but she didn't want to struggle to stand up without support in front of a Phantom full of Sangheili. So she'd just have to avoid moving to much to prevent her exhaustion from getting the better of her.
"Today we are victorious," a voice said, causing Sarah to look over her shoulder. The Arbiter moved to stand beside her. "I expect that your soldiers were successful in making their way onto the Guardian."
"I made sure they were," Sarah informed him. "Might have cost me our Pelican but sacrifices have to be made sometimes."
"As long as what's sacrificed is worth what you may receive in return," The Arbiter qualified. "Is your sacrifice worth it?"
"Four of the most skilled and powerful Spartans in human history, including a war hero…And maybe some understanding of what's going on with these Guardians? That all is worth a dozen Pelicans and a handful of Longswords. " Palmer shifted her weight a little to try to ease the pain in her hip.
"You humans have odd measurements," The Arbiter commented with a light chuckle. "I suppose that a vehicle is a small price to pay to try to retrieve good soldiers. Having fought along side the Master Chief I can see him be worth a fairly large number of Phantoms."
"And he isn't even the best of them," Palmer said with a smirk.
"It is a pity then that they were not there to join us on the Ark. They would have been very helpful," The Arbiter mused.
"You should be thankful they weren't there. If they'd been around you wouldn't have any war stories to tell so the other Kiadons would back you." Sarah crossed her arms a bit awkwardly over her ruined chest plate. "You would have been bored out of your mind."
"Speaking of war stories, Vel informed me of your actions in the field," The Sangheili leader let out a low rumble that Sarah identified as a sign of approval. "It is a disappointment."
"What is?" Sarah asked, not wanting to give her mind a chance to come up with it's own interpretation. Her mind was inclined to think the worst, particularly when tired.
"It's a disappointment that you had to spend the assault protecting…"The Arbiter glanced over his shoulder to where Palmer knew Halsey was absorbed into a data-pad of data gathered about the Guardian's awakening. "You would have done well on the front lines of the assault with my team. I would have enjoyed having you join me on the battlefield. I've seen you in combat but would have liked having you fight along side my soldiers and I. It would have made our victory today all the more glorious. And it would have made our foes feel all the more shame as they have a particular distance for our alliance with humanity."
"I honestly would have preferred to be in the fight," Sarah admitted. "I'm not partial to these escort duties but the Doctor is a valued asset to the UNSC. Not to mention I feel like I'm the only human that is willing to treat her as the danger she is. People tend to think she's harmless because of her age but she's smart and has no loyalties."
"A person with no loyalties is not to be trusted," The Arbiter agreed. "Though I've had more of a problem not being sure if someone who says that they're with me are actually with me."
"That level of politics is above my paygrade, thankfully." Politics and governing were two things that Palmer hated. Too much double speak, false promises, and vague wording. It was all a game of chess and if there was one thing that she'd learned since she met Lasky it was that she was shit at chess. "I may not get to take part in the main fighting much anymore but at least I don't have to deal with treaties and deals with other governments."
"A factor of your species that still strikes me as confusing," The Arbiter shook his head and huffed dismissively. "The higher the rank of soldier I deal with the longer it's been since they have been in combat."
Palmer shrugged slightly in response, being careful not to move her shoulder enough to hurt too much. "Taking the rank of Commander took me out of the field, though I try to get out there as often as I can. I hate escorting civilians like the Doctor but being here gave me the chance to help my soldiers. Because I was here in the field I was able to be sure that Osiris made it onto the Guardian. When I'm on Infinity it feels like all I'm doing is sending soldiers to die while I sit safe on the bridge."
"If you would rather be in the field then why take a position that takes you out of combat?" The Sangheili leader asked.
"For the same reason why you're currently leading your entire species. Sometimes the things that are most important to us ask us to step up and lead. It just happens to mean for me that that means sacrificing being on the ground during operations. But I'm dedicated to the Spartans so when they asked me to lead how could I say no?"
"When they made me Arbiter it was a burden of shame but when the Prophets betrayed us I found my people turning to me to lead them. Before the Covenant Arbiter was the rank of the Kiadon that lead all Kiadons. When the great schism happened it felt more like I just happened to have the rank so the duty fell to me as my people tried to remember who they are."
"That all happened years ago," Palmer pointed out. "If they didn't think the rank was being held but the right leader then you would have already been killed and replaced by now. Instead they're lining up behind you so you must be the leader they need."
"And if they have yet to take you from your position then they must be satisfied with how well you have handled your role," The Arbiter reasoned. "Your worth as a leader must be worth taking you out of the field."
"Unless I'm just worse in the field then I'm aware," Palmer joked.
"If what Vel told me is true then I am sure that you are a great loss for the UNSC to not have on the front lines. What I've seen of you in combat has already been impressive enough to make you a warrior that would be missed in combat but considering your condition and actions today you have more value than I knew." The Arbiter moved forward slightly as the Phantom began to slow and the tents and collections of crates that made up the Swords of Sangheilios's main camp. "Well, this moment of calm has come to an end. I have things that I must get in order. Do feel free to join my troops in celebrating the days victory."
"Maybe I will," Sarah told him, silently dreading having to move again. "First I'll have to take stock of how bad the damage to my armor is. Though, if you need my help with anything don't hesitate to ask. I've got a team…somewhere, and the ship carrying the rest of my soldiers is somewhere else, and I'm here."
The Arbiter nodded his head at her request. "I will see if there is anyway you can assist. I'll send for you if I have something you can assist with." The Phantom lowered and the Sangheili leader stepped off of the vehicle.
Palmer watched the rest of the Sangheili started to depart. "Doctor," she called to get the civilian's attention. "Time to get moving." Halsey scowled but she put away her tablet and followed Palmer. Sarah just hoped that she'd be able to find herself as engrossed as Halsey was in the Guardian data.
