Chapter Two

March 2, 2568

Disclaimer: Halo is not mine it belongs to Bungie, 343 Industries, and Microsoft Studios. This story of Halo is mine though.

As the Arbiter's ship emerged from slip space and into Covenant controlled space he saw many ships around some sort of large object or space station. His ship was then hailed by one of the ships that were orbiting the object.

"Greetings Arbiter, the Holy One is expecting you." The ship commander told him over the communication screen. "Please submit your identification code or you'll be vaporized." The Arbiter knew that if he doesn't summit that days code the ships surrounding the object would destroy his ship with no questions asked, not because they believed they were humans, but a few rebels within the New Covenant fleet have tried to kill several of the Elite councilors. He has been gone for 12 months and 20 days looking for the Spartan known as the Master Chief and putting down revolts so he wasn't prepared for the sudden change. He summited his code to gain access to the planet below. Out in space there were four hundred Covenant ships; and according to the data that appeared on his screen that, more were being built every day for some important mission.

"Arbiter, welcome home." An Elite said to him over the radio.

"Thank you, Zinglong." The Arbiter replied before taking a Phantom over to the object, a floating fortress named the World Devastator. Though not yet finished fortress would be able to fly and fight in space. The Phantom landed in one of the hanger bays of the fortress. As he stepped out of the Phantom he saw hundreds of fighters and transports being worked on. Huragok's, or engineers as the humans called them, floated nearby performing their assign task. Grunts were patrolling the hanger bays along with Sangheili Minors and Jiralhanae. He was met at the end of the ramp by forty Elite Honor Guards and a dozen Unggoy.

"We are here to escort you to the Holy One." An Elite told him. "Please relinquish your weapons." The Arbiter handed over his weapons to the elite.

"Please come with us Arbiter." an Elite in Golden Armor told the Arbiter. He followed after the Golden Armor Elite with the Honor Guards and Unggoy bringing up the rear.

"Who is this Holy One?" the Arbiter asked.

"He has taken command of the entire Covenant Armada and has brought new species into the Covenant. We believe he is a god." Elite told him.

"I have never heard of the Holy One, what has happen since my departure 12 months ago?"

"A lot of things have changed since you left. More of our brothers on other worlds have joined the Covenant. We have allowed the Unggoy to reproduce on several worlds along with the Kig-Yar on different worlds and their warriors have increased the numbers of infantry we have. we are preparing for war."

"He is no god, he is just another prophet. who are you preparing war against?"

"Why the humans of course, it's time for us to take their world for our own and enslave them to do our bidding."

"What are these new species of Covenant you speak of." the Arbiter asked.

"They are the Stoli, Titians, Jirheilli, Gamoneans, and the Reapers."

"What do they look like?"

"I don't know Arbiter." The Arbiter didn't say anything. how could they betray him, and with someone like the prophets he thought.

"You were not here to see his powers when he killed a traitor to our cause." They headed to the leaders chamber. The guards outside announce the Arbiter's arrival then allowed him to enter.

"How do I address him?" the Arbiter asked the Elite.

"As you did the prophets." the Elite answered. The Arbiter entered and bowed before the new Hierarch of the New Covenant. Despite the efforts of the Arbiter and the Elites that followed him after the Great-Schism, some Prophet, or whatever he is, managed to gain control of the Covenant and incorporate all the old allies and even added new ones.

"Greeting's Arbiter, I'm Anubis ruler of the Covenant." He said to the arbiter. "I have heard much about you from your shipmasters. You are to be commended for you actions against the rouge Kig-Yar. I have also heard about you putting down a Sangheili rebellion that wanted to destroy a human world. The prisoners from that rebellion have been release as they have learned their lesson." The Arbiter could not see him from where he was standing due to Anubis sitting on a high throne; though he saw three San 'Shyuum sitting on their anti-gravity thrones three steps below the main High Prophet.

"Thank you noble Hierarch." the Arbiter replied with respect as he bowed. He hated doing this, especially after how the other prophets had treated them before the Great-Schism.

"Arbiter, now is the time for us to return to the humans home planet and take it for ourselves." He was shock by this news and balled his hands into a fist to keep from leaping up there and strike down the imposters; but he wanted to hear what the High Prophet planed to do to the humans first.

"What do you plan to do with the humans that live there?"

"I plan to enslave them so that they can activate forerunner artifacts for us, but you knew this already as the Golden Armored Elite told you. I know you've made friends among the humans, including the Demons. Don't worry, we're not going to hold it against you for making friends with the humans unless you don't pledge yourself to me."

"What happen to my shipmasters? I hear you replaced them with Elites loyal to you; I found that out when I arrived in the system." the Arbiter replied.

"Those that pledged themselves to me still command ships, but those that didn't were executed as I do not tolerate traitors in my New Covenant. However, the Shipmaster and the other Elites that helped you rebel against my Brother, the Prophet of Truth, have taken several of my ships and left. They will be your first assignment, you will find them and bring them back to me for execution." the Arbiter just listened. He wanted to find out more about this new prophet and what his military strength and weaknesses are before he chooses which side to join.

"Who is in charge of the Covenant Military?"

"The Elites are in command of the military and the navy with the Brutes under the Elites." He told him.

"What else has happen since I left?"

"I have brought five new species to the Covenant to help ensure a victory and the Unggoy and Kig-Yar have grown in numbers. Now pledge yourself to me and you will live!"

"I shall never pledge myself to you, nor shall any of my brothers that know the truth about you!" The Arbiter answered.

"That is where you are wrong Arbiter." Another Elite entered the throne room and the Arbiter recognized him as one of the Elites he left in charge of the fragile Covenant when he left 12 months ago. The Elite bowed to the High Prophet and the Arbiter just stared at him. "You see Arbiter, even one your most trusted now serves me."

"I still will never join you!" the Arbiter responded.

"Then you shall die. Know this Arbiter, your friends the humans won't stand a chance when we attack. Their only functioning orbital defense platform will be destroyed by our advance invasion force. Take him away." Two Brute Honor Guards escorted the Arbiter out of the throne room. Along the way they were ambushed by some Sangheili and they killed all the Brute Honor Guards.

"Arbiter follows us, we have a ship waiting to leave." They made their way to the ship. Once inside the shipmaster took off. They had to pass the Covenant armada but no ships fired on them. The Arbiter didn't understand why, but before they could make the jump to slip space, the Covenant ships, including the flying base, jumped.

"Where are they going?" the Arbiter asked.

"To Earth to finish what the Prophet Truth started all those years ago." The shipmaster answered. "Didn't he tell you that?"

"Yes, but I wanted to make sure he wasn't lying, I thought he was building up his army?" Arbiter says to the shipmaster.

"Maybe that is what he wanted you to thank Arbiter," the shipmaster replies.

"Maybe, they're not going to destroy earth, but we still need to warn the humans. Set a course for Earth." They sat a course to Earth and made the jump to slip space. They know that the New Covenant Fleet would meet up with more ships before they make the final jump to Earth. Arbiter only hopes he reaches Earth before the New Covenant did. He knew he'll have to kill many of his brothers to defend the humans, for once again they're blinded by another Prophet. Rtas Vadumee came up to the Arbiter, "As soon as we exit from Slip space a drop ship will take you down to the planet and we will jump back into Slip space and try to get as many ships as we can to help the humans."

"Won't the orbital platforms target us the moment we exit from slip space?" an Elite asked.

"According to our intelligence they haven't been activated yet?" another Elite reply.

"Does the prophet know this?" The Arbiter asked.

"Yes Arbiter," the Elite answers. They continued the rest of the way in silence.

"Well the Prophet is mistaken, the humans have a few that have been activated so once we emerge from Slipstream send the humans a signal that I tell you to send." the Arbiter told one of the Elite Majors.

"Arbiter, won't the humans have a small fleet in orbit around their planet?"

"Yes." the Arbiter replied as they emerge from slip space. The Covenant ship is immediately targeted by one of the Orbital Defense Platforms and a UNSC Frigate that is heading towards them. They sent the signal and the human in the control room of the Orbital Defense Platform granted them clearance to land. The Arbiter, along with sixteen Elites, all battle hardened veterans of the Human-Covenant War and the Covenant Civil War, boarded an awaiting Phantom to take them down to the Spartan base.