Arbiter (Halo)

The Arbiter in Halo 2

In the events of Halo 2, the Arbiter's role is filled by the "incompetent" Elite supreme commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice, the fleet that followed the Pillar of Autumn to Halo. The Arbiter (voiced by actor Keith David) was the one who lost the Ascendant Justice to the Master Chief in (whereas Orna 'Fulsamee was in command of the Truth and Reconciliation). Because the Elite commander failed to protect the "Sacred Ring" from the humans, he was branded with the Mark of Shame and sentenced to be hung by his entrails, his corpse to be paraded through the holy city of High Charity. However, rather than have him slain outright, the Prophets of Truth and Mercy gave him a chance to regain his lost honor and serve the Covenant again. He donned the armor of the Arbiter and became the Covenant's equivalent to the UNSC's SPARTAN IIs, including the Master Chief.

Related Topics:
Pillar of Autumn - Keith David - Humans - Entrails - Master Chief

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As the Arbiter, the Prophets expected the Elite to die early in his tour of duty, completing his apparent "death sentence", but he survived. Dispatched to the Library on Delta Halo, he was to be killed by the Brute Chieftain Tartarus upon completion of his mission there; he is sent plummeting down into the core of the Library.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the game, the Prophets slowly begin to replace the Elites with Brutes, and eventually they call for a genocide of all Elites so that Brutes may replace them in society: a New Order of Imperial Government. This sparks a Covenant civil war. On one side, there are the loyalists: the Brutes, the Drones, and the Jackals, led by the Prophets. On the other, the Elites lead the Hunters and the Grunts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Arbiter, after meeting the Master Chief while being held captive for interrogation by Gravemind, naturally sided with these separatists and became a central figure in the Covenant civil war. This breakaway faction even manages to secure an uneasy alliance with their enemies, the Human United Nations Space Command to stop the mutual threat of the Halos being fired.

Related Topics:
Gravemind - United Nations Space Command

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the end of the game, the Arbiter engages Tartarus in combat over the Index and the detonation of Delta Halo. With the aid of Sergeant Johnson, the Arbiter triumphs.

Related Topics:
Index - Delta Halo - Sergeant Johnson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~