Covenant CCS-class Cruisers orbited around High Charity and Installation 05. With Phantom shuttles skirting to the Ring and back. One flew away from the ring toward the massive space station. Slowly flying into a large hangar inside. The Phantom touched down and opened it's doors. A Jiralhanae squad exited out of the craft, carrying the passed out bodies of two human troopers in white armor and one crimson armored Sangheili over their shoulders. Taking them to the prison chambers deep inside High Charity. With two Brutes walking behind him, Thel Vadam walks into the large hallway that have a row of Elite Honor Guards leaving the chamber. Vadam notices the unhonorably and brutal exchange of the Jiralhanae. Who forcefully steal equipment from his fellow brothers while seeing some of the brutes fight each other for armor parts as he ascends the stairs leading to the Prophet's Inner Sanctum. A pair of former Elite Honor Guards pass by him, without their helmets carrying plasma rifles instead of energy staffs. Walking through a large doorway, past new Honor Guard Brutes to where the Prophet of Truth & Mercy speak with Spec Ops Commander Rtas Vadum about the situation.
"This is unprecedented...! Unacceptable!" Rtas Vadum argued.
"A Hierarch is dead, Commander."
"His murderer was within our grasp." Rtas growled, making a fist. "If you had not withdrawn our Phantoms."
"Are you questioning my decision?"
"No, Holy One. I only wish to express my concern that the Brutes…"
The Prophet of Truth holds up his hand for silence before speaking. "Recommissioning the Guard was a radical step. But recent events have made it abundantly clear that the Elites can no longer guarantee our safety."
Rtas sighed with an distrustful tone; "I shall relay your... decision to the Council.". Then left giving the Arbiter a nod of respect who nods in return.
"Politics..." The Prophet of Truth let out a small sigh. "...How tiresome. Do you know, Arbiter? The Elites have threatened to resign? To quit the High Council? Because of this exchange of hats?"
"We have always been your protectors for a millennia."
"These are trying times... For all of us."
"Even as the Human's annihilation filled us with satisfaction. The loss of one of the Sacred Rings wracked our hearts with grief."
"Putting aside our sorrow, we renewed our faith in the prophecy that other rings would be found." Prophet of Truth said, turning to the rotating ring. "And see how our faith has been rewarded."
"Halo! Its divine wind will rush through the stars. Propelling all who are worthy along the path to salvation." Mercy preached with his arms in the air.
"But how to start this process? For ages we've searched for one who might unlock the secrets of the ring. An Oracle... and with your help, we found it." The Prophet of Truth said, turning to 343 Guilty Spark who is suspended in place with a gravity beam.
"With appropriate humility, we plied the Oracle with questions and it with clarity and grace has shown us the key." Mercy said, pushing a few holo buttons. Showing a hologram of the Activation Index.
"You will journey to the surface of the ring and retrieve this Sacred Icon. With it, we shall fulfill our promise..."
"Salvation for all!" Mercy preached with his arms in the air.
"...And begin the Great Journey." The Prophet of Truth finished his sentence. Turning away from the Arbiter to speak the Prophet of Mercy in private.
"Does he know?" Mercy asked his compatriot after the large doors closed behind the Arbiter.
"Gladly no. I told you the Elites will be easier to deal with once the Demon took care of that bumbling idiot." Truth replied with an venomous tone, showing his true colors.
"Ah Tartarus... My most trusted instrument." Truth smiled at Tartarus who is kneeling before him. "Rise."
"Guide the Arbiter on the path but once he aquires the Sacred Icon. We want you to take care of him swiftly. Once he's out of our way, our path will be clear and you as our guardian will lead us toward the Great Journey." Truth ordered with Mercy nodding in agreement.
"Have your Brutes deal with the Sangheili. This Holy City needs to be cleansed of their heresay so that our path will be clear. It's time for you be our protectors." The Prophet of Mercy ordered the Chieftan with a smile.
"Yes Holy Ones. By your word, the Elites will be dealt with and I! Tartarus! Chieftan of the Brutes will lead us to salvation!" Tartarus exclaimed, gripping his Fist of Rukt with unquestioned loyalty. Marching out the double doors with two of his bodyguards to perform their work.
A Phantom dropship flies toward the ring. Dropping down into the clouds flying towards the Quaratine Wall. Cutting to inside the Phantom cockpit with Tartarus standing behind a Brute pilot.
"Once the shield is down, we will head straight to the Library. I do not wish to keep the Hierarchs waiting."
"The Human who killed the Prophet of Regret... Who was it?" Vadamm asked.
"Who do you think?"
"The Demon is here!?" Vadam replied with surpised anger.
"Why? Looking for a little payback?" Tartarus snorted.
Thel retrieves his Carbine while affirming his own goal by replying "Retrieving the Icon is my only concern." Only to hear an skeptical laugh from Tartarus "Of course.".
The Phantom flies by the Sentinel Wall, stopping over a landing with remains of an recent battle. Vadam dropped down onto the platform discovering evidence of Sentinel and Enforcer wreckage littered on the ground. Hearing the Phantom blasting away from the area. Behind him, an Enforcer rises up slowly advancing to which Vadam turns around. Firing a few bolts with his Carbine at the Enforcer to little effect. Suddenly, the Enforcer is struck by sustained plasma fire losing its right crushing arm in the process. The Phantom flies by and the Enforcer chases after it.
"Lower the shield, Arbiter! I'll pick you up when you're finished." Tartarus barked once he flew away with the Enforcer speeding behind them.
Meanwhile... deep in the Flood infested Sentinel Wall. The Doom Slayer made his way to discover a battle scarred chamber with UNSC equipment, weapons, shell casings, and several flood forms scattered around. He continued exploring till he heard a sound nearby and turned to his left to see a rolling water barrel. Gripping his super shotgun, he cautiously walked over discovering an severly injured UNSC Marine who had three containers labled 'Biofoam' laying near him. Hearing footsteps, the Marine aimed his pistol at the unknown figure entering into the light, then lowered it once he saw the green armor and spoke with a raspy voice "A Spartan? Thank god."
"What's the situation?" The Doom Slayer asked.
The Marine sighed before speaking as tried to remember. "We were setting up a staging area to prevent the Covenant from reaching the Library. *Cough* As we were about to move... these things..." The Marine explained, coughing up blood then drank from his canteen to clean out the blood. "Fuck. Ambushed us out from no where...and... and several fire teams decided to run into the tunnels hoping to lose them. Fuck." He replied as he closed his eyes and shook his head then finished with; "Fuck, I can still hear their screams."
"Can you walk?" The Doom Slayer asked.
"No. My leg is broken. I'll only slow you down." The Marine replied, reached for his radio and handed it up to the Doom Slayer. "Here. Take my radio I won't need it anymore. You can use it to find any surviving teams who maybe still be holding out there." The Doom Slayer took the radio, placing it into his pack and started walking to where the UNSC Marine pointed. Walking till he heard the Marine speak "Hey? One last thing..." The injured marine paused with a smile "Give'em hell, Spartan."
With his Jackal backup wiped out by the Sentinels, the Arbiter continued onward through the hellish chambers. Chambers infested with relentless flood, Sentinels, and one mysterious demon he'll encounter later. He activated his cloaking device once he reached the next open chamber. Sprinting past the Human Flood forms and Aggressor Sentinels who were battling for control. He activated another piston, falling deeper into the flood infested wall. Making his way to discover a UNSC Marine armed with an M60 shotgun fighting off a large swarm of Flood and watched the battle unfold. He then noticed a seven foot soldier in green armor armed with a saw-like weapon rushing in to save the Marine.
"Demon." He cursed upon the sight, hearing mechanical sawing echoing through the chamber grow louder and closer to where he stood. Forcing him to activate his sword in preparation for the upcoming battle, but to his surprise nothing appeared. No Demon appeared.
He looked back across the chasm to see more Flood rushing in but were immediately cut down by both the Demon and the UNSC Marine. He observed the duo converse with one another for a few minutes then something miraculously happened. Both gave him a silent friendly wave and he couldn't believe it and unsure on what to do he responded in kind with a friendly wave. Watching the mysterious Demon hold up an M60 Shotgun. Laying it by a metal pillar while placing a few supplies before walking away.
"Why would they do this? Could it be for survival? A truce maybe?" Thel questioned himself while sprinting over. Hoping to catch up to them yet only to find burning corpses and the supplies that were donated to him by the mysterious demon.
He inspected the supplies to find a M60 Shotgun with twenty shells, three frag grenades, and a canteen with clean water. After grabbing the supplies and the new weapon. He trotted deeper into the infested chambers, blasting legions of Sangheili and Human combat forms, eventually picking up another human radio transmission.
"Negative ma'am! They are not Covenant!" *BOOM* "COVER THAT DOORWAY!" The UNSC Marine screamed over the comm followed by another booming explosion which cut the signal.
Thel continued through the final chamber that had a heavy cloud of flood spores that made it diffcult for him to see. The Flood wasn't making it eaiser for him either as they continued to attack him from all sides. Thel blasted his way through them quickly burning through shell after shell till he heard the unfortunate click instead of loud blast. He tossed it over, activated his sword to slice his way through the Flood. Dodging into cover as one carrier form fell over on it's face. Unleashing an explosion of more spores and little infection forms. Resurrecting more combat forms back from the dead from which he previously slain before. Once as the first combat form lundged toward it's next meal. Thel felt a forceful tug from behind and was thrown aside into a dark corner. Regaining his senses, Thel peeked out from the shadows to see the same mysterious demon who previously waved at him from before. Fighting valiantly against the relentless flood forms with a alien crimson-red bladed weapon with lethal brutality. With his curiosity getting to the better of him, Thel joined the Doom Slayer in battle by evicerating the three remaining Elite combat forms with his energy sword. To which the Doom Slayer responded silently with a respectful nod.
"You fight with vicious brutality of an Brute but with the elegance of an Sangheili Swordsman." Thel complimented as a way to break the ice, then replied; "I'm the Arbiter. Who are you?"
"I'm Doomguy. The Doom Slayer. The UNSC calls me 'Spartan' and your Covenant calls me 'Demon'." Doomguy chuckled then finished by asking. "What do you think?"
"By observing you from the shadows. I'd call you Demon, but I believe Doom Slayer is more fitting for your stature." Thel replied with a slight chuckle.
"I know we're here for the Index. How about we work together?"
"If I do... How do I know you won't stab me in the back?"
"I convinced the lone marine I saved to give you some supplies and I saved you from death. Yet, here you stand." The Doom Slayer replied, holding out an open hand. "What do you say? Deal?
The Arbiter contemplated his thoughts for a moment before speaking. "Indeed. You've saved my life and that is something I'll never be able to repay you back for... I'd say we have a deal." He replied. Then shook the Doom Slayer's hand with a firm grip, forming an unexpected alliance between them.
They dropped down into the next chamber that was akin to the landing pad from before. Hearing the noise of an Covenant Phantom being driven away by ground fire from several combat forms. Both the Doom Slayer and the Arbiter dropped down and fought prodigiously against the Flood. The Doom Slayer tossed a grenade over into a group of infection forms while Thel evicerated a few combat forms with his energy sword. A combat form armed with an energy sword sprinted out from the shadows towards Thel. Jumping into the air for a lethal strike, but the Doom Slayer stopped it by grabbing the hilt of the sword. Ramming the sword into it's chest and slicing upward before giving it a forceful kick over the edge of the platform.
"Thank you." Thel said with a sigh of relief. Starring up to see the light emitting from the Library, shooting straight into the snowy night sky.
"Beautiful ain't it?" The Doom Slayer asked, pulling off his helmet to feel the icy air.
"Yes... yes it is." Thel replied, feeling the icy air on his skin. Closing his eyes and opened them to stare back at the towering temple of the Library. Thinking about his past actions while starting to question his faith within the Covenant. Connecting the dots by to slowly come to the hard truth that he and everyone of the Covenant are being used as fools. Coming to the realization, he turned to the Doom Slayer and the Doom Slayer turned with an curious stare. "Yes?" He asked.
"By the Gods. They've betrayed me. They've betrayed my people and the Covenant for their own personal quest for power." Thel said, lowering down his head with sadness and anger then looked back up at the battle-scarred Doom Slayer. "I have a plan, but we'll need to find Rtas and his Elites. He and I have respect for each other. It'll be easier for me if I talk with him. He's a capable warrior and a good, honourable friend. We can be extremely formidable if I can get him on our side." Thel explained, then thought about the Humans as well.
"Agreed." The Doom Slayer replied, fitting his helmet back on. "Let's move."
They both dropped down into the tunnel reaching the bottom of the Containment Wall. As soon the doorway opens, an Sentinel manufacturing facility is struck by a couple of light-blue Wraith mortars. Exploding in the sky as it began to crash and burn towards within the Quarantine Zone. They proceeded towards the wall and were greeted by Sangheili drop pods dropping into the canyon with Sangheili Special Forces exiting out of them.
"Forerunners be praised, the Arbiter!" The Sangheili yelled, then activated his energy sword once he spotted the Doom Slayer. "Arbiter! Watch out! A Demon is behind you!"
"NO! Wait! This is the Doom Slayer. He saved my life within the horrors of the facility. He's my friend." The Arbiter defended. Raising his arm in front of the Spec Ops Sangheili, preventing a conflict between them.
"Well... If he's your friend, then he's a friend of mine." The Sangheili stated. "The Quarantine Zone has been compromised. We must do what we can against the Flood. Our Commander has landed further in, let us join him."
All three crossed the bridge toward the next section of the wall while engaing more Flood along the way. Meeting up with Spec Ops Commander Rtas Vadum who is defending a small hill with three plasma turrets and one canopy. Rtas heard incoming footsteps from behind and turned to see the Arbiter to which he responed in surprise; "Arbiter? What are you doing here?"