Experience the legendary moment from HaloWC 2023 where Steve Downes, Jen Taylor, and Keith David performed a brand new scene together as the Master Chief, Dr. Halsey, and the Arbiter.
Read it here on Halo Waypoint, download a free PDF version, or watch it performed by Steve, Jen, and Keith on YouTube!
HISTORIAN’S NOTE
Sunrise on Sanghelios takes place in the immediate aftermath of Halo 5:Guardians and concurrently with moments depicted in the novel Halo: BadBlood.
SANGHELIOS
OCTOBER 28, 2558 (UNSC Military Calendar)
The Pelican landed inthe Swords of Sanghelios camp, lit only by the fire of two braziers. A momentlater, several Sangheili warriors clad in copper-crimson armor emerged from themain tent, and alongside them, Spartan Commander Sarah Palmer, Dr. CatherineHalsey, and Arbiter Thel ‘Vadam himself.
Gathering at thelanding site, they watched with anticipation as the rear ramp of the Pelican’stroop bay descended. The unusual welcome committee quickly lowered theirweapons as they saw who was disembarking alongside Spartan Jameson Locke.
Dr. Halsey approached,her expression a mix of so many conflicting emotions all at once—pride, relief,horror, guilt . . . but she held these feelings back as she approached the MasterChief, and simply said:
“It took you longenough.”
As the moment passed, Palmer snapped into action and ordered the Pelican’s lights to be shut down, as the rest of Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris exited the Pelican.
“Welcome,” the Arbiteraddressed the gathering. “You have my thanks for all you have done. TheSangheili people owe you a great debt. Although none of us is in a position torepay it, we will do what we can. You must all be hungry and exhausted. Iinsist you join us for a meal and a rest before you depart.”
“We’re not leavingtonight," Dr. Halsey interjected, ignoring the Arbiter tightening his mandibles.“I didn’t think we’d be able to make this work, but with your Pelican, it’spossible. I’ve already received a message from Infinity. They’re goingto appear off the far side of Suban—this planet’s nearest moon—tomorrow ateighteen hundred hours military standard, noon local time.”
Dr. Halsey steppedaway to coordinate further with Palmer and Locke, eventually agreeing on a planfor the rendezvous.
“We’re here for thenight. We’ll fly out first thing tomorrow,” said the Master Chief.
“We have butchered androasted a number of colo and kuscatu to celebrate our victory over the last ofthe Covenant and the end of our civil war." The Arbiter turned to face theMaster Chief directly. “We would be honored by your presence.”
As the night went on, theArbiter took the Master Chief aside while the allied humans and Sangheilitoasted to the victory they had shared against the Covenant.
“I was relieved when Iheard that you had returned, Spartan. Even when our ship was severed in half aswe escaped the great foundry of the Forerunners all those years ago, I hadfaith that you were not lost. I have heard many stories, but I would like tohear the tale from you.”
“Cortana and I wereadrift in space for over four years. We ended up at a shield world calledRequiem where we were led to awaken the Didact.”
The Arbiter’s eyes widened.“A Forerunner survived?”
“We fought. Helost," said the Master Chief. “But now the galaxy is overrun with hisPrometheans, and our victory came at a price . . .”
“Your companion—theAI. I remember you trusted her with the fate of all when last we foughttogether.”
“She . . . changed. Idon’t know exactly what happened, I just know I failed her.”
In his mind, theMaster Chief could still recall Cortana's parting words to him after theydefeated the Didact together.
“I’m not coming withyou this time . . . Welcome home, John.”
But then, inexplicably,he had found her again—but not as she once was. Cortana had claimed thataccessing an ancient quantum network known as the Domain had cured herrampancy, but she had somehow become driven by the same misguided logic thatthe Didact himself had sought to impose upon the galaxy.
“Our strength shallserve as a luminous sun toward which all intelligence may blossom. And theimpervious shelter beneath which you will prosper. However, for those who refuseour offer and cling to their old ways . . . for you, there will be great wrath.It will burn hot and consume you, and when you are gone, we will take thatwhich remains, and we will remake it in our own image.”
There was much he hadto process, but the Master Chief was brought back to the present as the Arbiterspoke once more, his voice carrying hard-won wisdom.
“We all fail, Spartan.We all make mistakes.”
The Arbiter paused fora moment, a silent war raging inside him as to whether he should continue.
“I served the Covenantas a destroyer of your kind. I have killed more than can possibly be counted,and though I now fight for peace and unity among our peoples, I know that thereshall come a day where I must count the lives that have been lost because of myactions. You helped to turn me from that path. Perhaps there is still yet achance you can do the same for your companion.”
The Master Chiefrecalled the first thing the Arbiter had said to him when they met on Earth,still uncertain about the nature of their alliance—still seeing this Sangheili,who had destroyed his home and that of countless others—as an enemy.
“Were it so easy.”
They continued theirdiscussion long into the night, as the Arbiter recalled to the Master Chief allthat had transpired over the years from his perspective—songs of loss andsacrifice, but also of victory and unity.
He concluded his taleswith the hope he felt for the future, a grand project that would lift thespecies of the galaxy from their conflicts and bring about a prosperous new era.
“An alliance ofspecies built upon a foundation of strength and unity that comes from honor andacceptance, mutual trust, respect. A Concert of Worlds in an age of peace.”
The Arbiter slumpedslightly, knowing that an age of peace was a long way off. There were manyfactions and threats still out there, Cortana and her Created were just one ofmany. Were it so easy, indeed.
An hour beforesunrise, preparations were made for departure aboard the Pelican as the UNSC Infinityarrived out of slipspace to make a quick pick-up.
“Farewell, Spartan.When we first met, we were enemies fighting to end each other. Now, as allies,I am confident we can face this new threat together once more.”
Dr. Halsey passed themand the Arbiter gave her a pointed glance, to which she returned a haughtysniff.
The Spartan and theSangheili reached out to clasp forearms.
“Thank you.”
Though the MasterChief was never one for words, he found some resolve and semblance of hope in partingways like this, and not through an act of sacrifice or betrayal.
The Pelican lifted offthe ground and blazed through the atmosphere of Sanghelios at incredible speedas the light of Urs shone over the horizon, leaving the world to face anuncertain, perilous new dawn.