In a massive fucking ship's cargo/landing dock, there is an action sequence with a warthog crashes, throwing Master Chief onto the deck. A Scorpion slides by and MC dodges about evading debris, Cortana yells, "HANG ON" and Master Chief latches to the deck, hanging on for dear life. Items in the cargo bay are then sucked out the gaping cargo bay door in the direction of
A GIANT GOD DAMN HALO CHARGING ITS FUCKING LASER LIKE IN A LARGE FIRE EMBLAZONED STARGATE KIND OF SPECTACLE
Master chief ducks behind a crate as the Arbiter gets away in a ship.
Cortana goes:
"We're not going to make it"
And Master Chief goes, "Yes we will"
dramatic, tearjerking pause
"It's been nice working with you, John."
***A GIANT EXPLOSION CREATES A FADE TO WHITE***
...
At a memorial service (in the sunset) for all those who died in the war for humanity, what looks like Admiral Hood, removes his hat and speaks before a mural of photos:
"For us, the storm is passed... The war is over... But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark.. and did not return...... But as (This decision requires approach beyond measure???? [TOO GRAINY TO HEAR]) Sacrifice, an unshakable conviction of their fight... Our fight... will (TOO LOW/GRAINY TO HEAR)
The Arbiter shows up at the multi-personnel memorial service, Hood continues his speech:
"As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren. A memorial to heroes lost. They enabled/en-nobelled(TOO GRAINY TO HEAR WELL) all of us, and they shall not be forgotten." (((I can assume this hill is part of New Mombasa's ruins)))
Hood puts his hat back on. pauses. Then salutes. "PRESENT ARMS!"
A line of soldiers pull up their battle rifles and fire into the air in a final salute.
The Arbiter then approaches Admiral Hood who then turns to him:
"I remember how this war started. What your kind did to mine. I can't forgive you... but... (holds out hand) you have my thanks. For standing by until the end." - Admiral Hood to the Arbiter, he then shakes his hand. "Thank you... tearjerking pause I can't believe he's dead."
Arbiter to Hood: "If it were only so easy"
The Arbiter walks away and enters a covenant drop-ship before returning to the larger one above. Within the larger ship, an Elite colleague of the Arbiter says, "Things look different without the prophet's lives... (THE ELITE MUMBLES SOMETHING I CANT HEAR)"
The Arbiter replies, "Fear not, for we take risks" He then turns to his chair and says, "Take us home"
The Elite replies, "By your will, my lord."
The scene goes back to the memorial and you see the following engraved:
TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE FALLEN
IN THE DEFENSE OF EARTH
AND HER COLONIES
MARCH 3RD, 2553
and in the very corner of the memorial you see the number 117 scratched into the plaque.
Arbiter \Ar"bi*ter\, n. [L. arbiter; ar- (for ad) + the root of
betere to go; hence properly, one who comes up to look on.]
1. A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a
controversy between them.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In modern usage, arbitrator is the technical word.
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2. Any person who has the power of judging and determining,
or ordaining, without control; one whose power of deciding
and governing is not limited.
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For Jove is arbiter of both to man. --Cowper.
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