Editing Thel 'Vadam

{{Status|Canon}}
{{disambig header|the [[Arbiter]] created near the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]]|other articles relating to "Arbiter"|Arbiter (disambiguation)}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Swords
|name=
|image={{Pageimage|HTMCC-H2A TheGreatJourney Thel.png}}[[File:Enc22 ThelVadam.jpg|300px]]
|homeworld=[[Vadam]], [[Sanghelios]]{{Ref/Book|Id=VIS|EVG|Page=11}}
|birth=[[2485|December 10, 2485]]{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}
|death=
|causeofdeath=
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Sangheili]]{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}
|gender=Male{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}
|height={{Convert|238.6|cm|ftin}}{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}{{Ref/Book|Id=ENC|Enc11|Page=138}}{{Ref/Reuse|wp thel}}
|mass={{Convert|144.7|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}}{{Ref/Reuse|wp thel}}
|hair=
|eyes=Amber{{Ref/Reuse|wp thel}}
|affiliation=*[[House of 'Vadam]]{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}
*[[Covenant]] {{C|Before 2528-2552}}{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}
*[[Covenant separatists]] {{C|2552-2553}}
*[[Swords of Sanghelios]] {{C|2553-}}{{Ref/Reuse|wp thel}}
|rank-title=Titles|rank=*[[Kaidon]] of [[Vadam]] {{C|c. 2535-}}
*[[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] {{C|c. 2535-2552}}
*[[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] {{C|2535-2552}}
*[[Arbiter]] {{C|2552-}}
|sn=
|notable=*Last Arbiter of the Covenant
*Killed the [[High Prophet of Truth]]
*Founder and leader of the modern incarnation of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]
*Primary liaison between the Swords of Sanghelios and the [[Unified Earth Government]]
}}
{{Quote|The Arbiter. Maybe more than any other figure, a symbol of what [[Milky Way galaxy|the galaxy]] could one day become.|[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]] on Thel 'Vadam.{{Ref/Reuse|Esc1}}}}

'''Arbiter Thel 'Vadam''' (formerly ''''Vadamee'''){{Ref/Marketing|Id=LongRoad|Halo Waypoint|The Long Road Home}} is the [[Sangheili]] [[kaidon]] of the [[House of 'Vadam]] and the last [[Arbiter]] to serve the [[Covenant]]. He continues to hold this title in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|wake]] of its [[Great Schism|dissolution]]. Presently, he leads the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], an alliance of [[keep]]s modeled after an ancient order of the same name, and is considered by many to be the formal leader of all Sangheili as the '''Kaidon of Unity'''.{{Ref/Site|Id=wp thel|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/arbiter-thel-vadam|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Arbiter Thel 'Vadam|D=4|M=7|Y=2015}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P245|Enc22|Page=245}}

Thel commanded several fleets during his service in the [[Covenant]], most notably the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], of which he was [[Supreme Commander]]. This fleet mounted a successful [[Fall of Reach|attack]] on the [[human]] colony of [[Reach]] under his command and later [[Battle of Installation 04|fought]] the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} on [[Installation 04]], the first [[Halo Array|Halo ring]] to be discovered by the Covenant and [[humanity]]. 'Vadamee was responsible for over one billion [[human]] casualties over the course of the decades-long war against the humans and the [[glassing]] of at least seven colonies.{{Ref/Game|Id=terminal 3|H2A|H2A:Terminals|Terminal 3}} At the outbreak of the [[Great Schism]], Thel became a leading figure among the Sangheili and aided the [[United Nations Space Command]] in its efforts to stop the [[High Prophet of Truth]] and his forces from activating the [[Halo Array]]. He and [[Fleet of Retribution|many Sangheili]] fought in multiple battles alongside the [[Spartan-II]] super-soldier, [[John-117]] on [[Installation 05]], [[Earth]], and [[Installation 00]] in the final weeks of the war.

Returning to [[Sanghelios]] after the war's conclusion, Thel became a symbol of Sangheili honor and resilience in the face of betrayal. He attempted to unite the feudal states across his homeworld in forming the first coalition government since the [[War of Beginnings]]. Despite his efforts, he met resistance from [[Covenant remnants|other Sangheili factions]], who felt that his ideals and beliefs went against the traditional Sangheili values of [[Forerunner]] worship or that the peace treaty with the [[human]]s could not be trusted. This disagreement soon spilled over into [[Blooding Years|civil war]], and the Swords of Sanghelios became locked in conflict with other groups, primarily [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] and the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]]. He led the Swords to victory over these two groups, thanks in part to assistance from the UNSC. 

==Biography==
===Early life===
[[File:H2A Terminals ThelTraining.png|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadamee training.]]
{{Quote|Thel 'Vadamee was born of noble blood. The legendary house of 'Vadam. His family's renown demanded great expectations for his military career. And he would meet them all.|A San'Shyuum scribe about Thel 'Vadamee {{Ref/Reuse|a2at12}}}}
Thel was born to the noble and powerful [[House of 'Vadam]], rulers of the powerful state of [[Vadam]] on [[Sanghelios]]. In his youth, Thel was trained in the ways of fighting by his relative [[Lak 'Vadamee]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=tcp72|TCP|Chapter=72}} He later joined the [[Covenant military]], adding the "-ee" suffix to his surname according to custom. During the [[Human-Covenant War]], Thel participated in the Covenant [[Fall of Madrigal|attack]] on the [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Madrigal]] in [[2528]].{{Ref/Reuse|HTCP19}} By [[2535]], he had at least one wife.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTCP19|TCP|Chapter=19}}

Within a short time, Thel achieved both the rank of [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] and the title of [[shipmaster]], and became [[kaidon]] of his state through the votes of Vadam's [[elder]]s.{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=9}} At some point, Thel would sustain an injury in the training ring due to a mistake. His family, having a recently promoted shipmaster in the bloodline, hushed up the incident, as well as the resultant visit by a physician, due to the Sangheili's cultural stigma toward doctors and medical operations. During his convalescence, Thel handmade an old-fashioned [[doarmir]]-fur shipmaster's cloak, and would later wear it as part of his shipmaster's attire to remind him that he could make grave mistakes if he let his guard down.{{Ref/Novel|Id=TCP22|TCP|Chapter=22}} Thel's role as kaidon was important for the House of 'Vadam, as he was tasked with continuing the reign of the powerful state of Vadam. Early in his rule, he was attacked by three Sangheili assassins wielding energy swords. He managed to kill all three without injury, and proceeded to appear before Vadam's elders to determine which had ordered the attack. Thel discovered that the assassination orders had come from the elder [[Koida 'Vadam]], and after killing him, he ordered all of Koida's line to leave Vadam keep by sunrise.{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=8}}

===Conflict at the Rubble===
{{Quote|It is a poor soldier who insists on seeing things not as they are, but as he wants them to be. One day reality hits, and his illusions fail him, and he dies stupidly. What honor is there in that?|Thel 'Vadamee{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=34}}}}
[[File:H2A Terminals - ThelZealot.png|250px|thumb|left|Thel 'Vadamee as an Elite Zealot soldier]]
In [[2535]], Thel was sent to [[Charybdis IX]] with command over the vessel ''[[Retribution's Thunder]]'' to participate in the [[Battle of Charybdis IX]], while being overseen by the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]]. He and several other Sangheili boarded the {{UNSCShip|Do You Feel Lucky?}} and attempted to access the vessel's navigation database, but it had already been purged. He left and witnessed the destruction of the ship before being called to ''[[Infinite Sacrifice]]'', where he met the Prophet of Regret in person. Regret informed him of humans reportedly wielding modified Covenant weapons, a transgression he believed to be the doing of the [[Kig-Yar]]. He was then sent to the [[23 Librae]] system to track down the source of the illegal weapons traders. For the mission, his ship was accompanied by the Kig-Yar vessel ''[[A Psalm Every Day]]'', commanded by Shipmistress [[Chur'R-Mut]] and the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Pellius]].{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=18}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=21}}

Upon arriving at 23 Librae, Thel and his crew discovered [[the Rubble]], a collection of asteroid habitats built by Kig-Yar and Insurrectionist humans working together. Almost immediately afterward, ''Thunder'' was attacked by ''A Psalm Every Day''; Pellius had decided to betray Thel so that he could claim sole credit for the discovery. Thel and his crew were taken by surprise, allowing the traitorous vessel's second salvo to disable the ''Thunder's'' weapons, communications and engines. ''A Psalm Every Day'' escaped while Kig-Yar boarding craft and [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]]s strafed the hull. Thel, increasingly frustrated, gave permission for his crew to abandon ship; this was a test to weed out the weaker Sangheili among his crew. Enemy Spirits destroyed the retreating craft in short order. Thel then ordered the [[self-destruct|destruction]] of the ''Retribution's Thunder'', which killed the boarding Kig-Yar.{{Ref/Reuse|TCP22}} Thel, however, survived and was captured, imprisoned on the Rubble along with most of the bridge crew. They ultimately managed to escape and hijack a [[Kig-Yar shuttle]],{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=24}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=27}} taking them to [[Unnamed Kig-Yar transport|another Kig-Yar vessel]]. On the surface of [[Metisette]], Thel captured the leader of the warband, [[Reth]].{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=29}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=32}}

[[File:H2A Terminals - Jai vs Thel.jpg|thumb|250px|'Vadamee and Jai engaged in combat.]]
Escaping Reth's clandestine [[Unggoy]] army, Thel returned to the Kig-Yar's vessel. Throughout the interrogation, the Sangheili were surprised by Reth's insistence that he was allying with the humans with the blessing of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]. According to Reth, the sale of the contraband weapons was a bluff in order to locate human worlds through tracking devices implanted in the weapons.{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=34}} Reth eventually escaped when a loyal Unggoy switched off his prison's energy barrier, fleeing via escape pod.{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=36}} Thel then turned his eyes to the Rubble, as a large skirmish between UNSC [[UNSC Midsummer Night|forces]] and Kig-Yar forces was taking place on the ''[[Infinite Spoils]]''.{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=40}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=45}} The Sangheili and his crew boarded the ''Infinite Spoils'' and came face to face with [[Jai-006]], engaging him in a brief fight. The Spartan then fled the ship with the other UNSC forces. Thel, surprised at the strength of the human warrior, stayed behind and commandeered the ''Infinite Spoils''.{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=48}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=50}}

Thel managed to destroy most of the Rubble's [[mass driver]]s,{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=56}}{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=60}} but was left helpless when [[The Redoubt]] was destroyed and [[Habitat Exodus]] left the system. There was little else to do but wait for the [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] to arrive and recover him with his comrade, [[Zhar (Sangheili)|Zhar]].{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=65}} Upon reporting the failure of the mission, Zhar attempted to kill the Prophets feeling helpless at the loss of his honor caused by the Prophet's scheming. Thel activated his [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]] and killed his friend without mercy.{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Chapter=69}} This act prompted Truth to spare his life, and he gave Thel command over a ship in the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]].{{Ref/Reuse|tcp72}}

===Life as Supreme Commander===
{{Quote|One of the youngest to achieve the status of Shipmaster, and one of the youngest to gain the rate of Supreme Commander. In our campaign against the humans, few have risen to renown as 'Vadamee. World after human world, all laid low for sake of the Great Journey.|A San'Shyuum scribe about Thel's achievements {{Ref/Reuse|a2at12}}}}

[[File:H2A Terminals - Thel and Prophet.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Thel 'Vadamee discovering Installation 04.]]
At some point between 2535 and 2552, Thel 'Vadamee served as the [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]. During this time he led the Covenant forces in the [[Battle of Camber]]. 'Vadamee and his fleet caught the UNSC forces completely unaware. He began his ground and orbital assault before most of the planet was aware of the attack. While 17 of his ships bombarded key defensive positions, 'Vadamee personally led an attack on the UNSC system headquarters. He first engaged the [[3rd Battalion Reserves]], who were caught completely unprepared. 'Vadamee ordered his men to wait for the humans to prepare to defend themselves before wiping out the entire unit.{{Ref/Game|Id=a2at2|H2A|H2A:Terminals|Terminal 2}} Throughout his time as Supreme Commander he was also responsible for the glassing of [[Bounty]], [[Alluvion]], [[Mesa]], [[Greydowns]], [[Kroedis II]], and [[Estuary]]. He and his forces were responsible for over 1 billion human casualties—over 23,000 of them military personnel—and the destruction of 123 UNSC ships.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal 3}} ONI [[ONI#Section Three|Section 3]] attempted to kill him at different times, but failed each time resulting in the deaths of several operatives.{{Ref/Game|Id=a2at1|H2A|H2A:Terminals|Terminal 1}}
 
[[File:HGN ThelVadamee SupremeCommander.png|thumb|150px|'Vadamee wearing an ornate helmet and cloak during the [[Battle of Installation 04]].]]
Near the end of his time serving as Supreme Commander, he led the Covenant forces under his command to victory over the UNSC's greatest military stronghold. The [[Fall of Reach]] proved to be the highlight of Thel's service in the Covenant. As the battle ended, Thel ordered a flotilla of warships to follow the fleeing {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. The ''Autumn''{{'}}s course led them to holy Forerunner artifact [[Installation 04]]. After confirming that the ring was a creation of the "gods", the [[Prophet of Stewardship]], the highest ranking political figure with the Fleet, immediately claimed authority over the operation, claiming the mission was now a religious matter. As Thel was unwilling to relinquish command with the ''Pillar of Autumn'' en route, and unable to contact ''[[High Charity]]'' to determine who held jurisdiction, a power struggle emerged between Thel and Stewardship for ultimate authority. As the [[Battle of Installation 04]] wore on, the Prophet began subverting Thel, misappropriating military forces to secure facilities on the ring. Thel sent a single infantry unit to the ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' to relieve the Prophet, but it was destroyed on approach. The Prophet threatened further punishment for any future affronts to his leadership. As Thel assembled a strike force to physically relieve the Prophet, the emergency beacon on the ''[[Infinite Succor]]'' was activated. Thel dispatched a [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations]] force to assess the threat and procure the [[Minister of Etiology]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=priority|HTF|Chapter=Adjunct|Detail=[[Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit]]}} As Thel was about to leave with his strike force for ''Ascendant Justice'', [[Special Operations Commander|Spec Ops Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee returned to the ship and revealed the results of his mission: the [[Flood]] had been unleashed on Halo.{{Ref/Comic|HGN|Story=The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor}} 	

[[File:H2A-ThelBeforeHierarchs.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Hierarchs of the High Council leading the trial of Thel 'Vadamee.]]
With the situation deteriorating, Thel ordered the evacuation of all ships from the ring, as well as shooting down any vessel which failed to return clean bioscans. When Thel's force arrived on ''Ascendant Justice'', he discovered that the Prophet of Stewardship had left for the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''. The crew of the ''Ascendant Justice'' acknowledged Thel's authority as Supreme Commander without hesitation.{{Ref/Reuse|priority}} Unsurprisingly, Thel refused to come to the Steward's aid after its capture by the UNSC. These distractions were to cost Thel the battle, as SPARTAN-117 and Cortana successfully detonated, ''Pillar of Autumn'' under the nose of the Covenant's occupation. The detonation destroyed the Halo ring, ending the Battle of Installation 04. With little else to be done, Thel ordered his surviving ships to fall back from the destroyed Halo. This retreat was to save his remaining fleet from the Flood, but not his honor. In an act that further humiliated Thel, the ''Ascendant Justice'' was captured by [[John-117]] and a small human boarding party. Shortly after his ships failed to pursue the ''Ascendant Justice'', Thel was called before the Covenant High Council to answer for his failures.{{Ref/Novel|FS|Chapter=Epilogue}}

During his time returning to High Charity, Thel wrote a ''[[Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition Manual|Report on the Atrocity at Halo]]'', detailing his view and apology for the ring's destruction alongside an analysis of the weaponry and vehicles of both the Covenant and Human ground forces.{{Ref/Book|[[Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition Manual]]}}
{{clear}}

===Fall from grace and becoming the Arbiter===
[[File:H2A - Arbiter helmet.jpg|thumb|250px|'Vadamee wearing the Arbiter helmet for the first time.]]
{{Quote|Most high and honored Prophet: It is with greatest shame that I lay myself before the judgment of the Council. I expect and will accept no mercy. My failure in this matter is absolute; I embrace my responsibility and my punishment. <br>The disgrace and blasphemy at Halo was an abomination caused by my incompetence and failure of judgment.|'Vadamee to the Prophet of Truth in the ''Report on the Atrocity at Halo''.{{Ref/Book|Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition Manual|Page=2}}}}

The loss of the holy [[Forerunner]] [[Installation 04|relic]] was an unforgivable failure in the eyes of the High Prophets and Sangheili Councilors. 'Vadamee was stripped of his rank, title, name, and honor, and branded a heretic for his failure to safeguard the Sacred Ring.{{Ref/Level|H2|H2:The Heretic|The Heretic}} The [[Mark of Shame]] was branded upon his chest, and he was sentenced to death. His corpse was to "be hung by his entrails" and "paraded through [[High Charity|the city]]" as an example to others.{{Ref/Level|Id=H2TA|H2|H2:The Arbiter|The Arbiter}}

The Hierarchs, however, had a different fate in mind for Thel. Upon being brought before the High Prophets of Truth and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], Thel was offered the choice of becoming the new [[Arbiter]]. Understanding that the office of Arbiter was itself a death sentence and seeking to regain his honor, Thel accepted.{{Ref/Reuse|H2TA}}

===Threshold gas mine===
{{Main|Raid on the Threshold gas mine}}
{{Quote|What would you have your Arbiter do?|'Vadamee to the Prophets{{Ref/Reuse|H2TA}}}}
[[File:H2A-Arbiter&Sesa-02.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Thel encounters a [[343 Guilty Spark|Holy Oracle]] held by the [[Sesa 'Refumee|Heretic leader]].]]
'Vadamee's first assignment as the Arbiter was to stop the [[List of known Covenant heretics|heretic]] uprising based on a [[Threshold gas mine|Forerunner gas mine]] in the atmosphere of [[Threshold]]. He was assisted by [[Rtas 'Vadumee]], [[Special Operations Sangheili]] and [[Special Operations Unggoy]].{{Ref/Reuse|H2TA}} The operation was complicated by the unexpected escape of the Flood from the facility. During the chaos that followed, the Heretic leader [[Sesa 'Refumee]] sealed himself in a protected zone of the station. The Arbiter drove the Heretics out by cutting the cables from which the facility hung, causing the gas mine to fall. After crashing his [[Type-26 Banshee|Type-26AZ Banshee]], the Arbiter fought his way through the Flood and surviving Heretics toward the station's hangar. Before Sesa 'Refumee could escape in a [[Type-31 Seraph]], the Arbiter assassinated him, but not before the Heretic Leader revealed the source of his heresy. The Arbiter was surprised to discover that the Heretics had been aided by a Holy Oracle, the [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]].{{Ref/Level|Id=H2TO|H2|H2:The Oracle|The Oracle}}

With the uprising suppressed, the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae|Chieftain]] [[Tartarus]] extracted the Arbiter and used the [[Fist of Rukt]] to capture the Oracle. His actions, which involved throwing the Oracle into the {{Pattern|Kez'katu|Phantom}} recklessly, angered the Arbiter's religious sensibilities. With Tartarus, he left the gas mine via Phantom, as ''[[High Charity]]'' and the fleet departed the Threshold system.{{Ref/Reuse|H2TO}}
{{clear}}

===Battle of the Quarantine Zone===
{{Main|Battle of the Quarantine Zone}}
{{Quote|We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way!|Rtas 'Vadumee during the Battle of Installation 05{{Ref/Level|Id=H2QZ|H2|H2:Quarantine Zone|Quarantine Zone}}}}
[[File:H2A-Arbiter&Prophets.jpg|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadamee with Prophets of Truth and Mercy.]]
Aboard ''High Charity'', Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee witnessed the [[Changing of the Guard|replacement]] of the [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen]] with the [[Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Jiralhanae]] as a result of Regret's assassination at the hands of the human [[Demon]]. Though distressed by change, and voicing his concerns to the Prophet of Truth, 'Vadamee made no further comment, as he has found out that the Covenant found another [[Installation 05|Halo]]. The High Prophets, who were surprised by both the fact that 'Vadamee had escaped from the Threshold gas mine and that he helped recover the Monitor Guilty Spark (the "Holy Oracle" to whom they inquired about Halo), decided to send him to Installation 05's "[[H2:Quarantine Zone|Quarantine Zone]]" to retrieve the [[Activation Index|"Sacred Icon"]]. This holy relic was needed to activate Delta Halo and begin the Great Journey. On the way to the surface via a Phantom captained by Tartarus, Thel learned from Jiralhanae Chieftain that it was the [[John-117|Demon]], the very same one responsible for Installation 04's destruction, who assassinated Regret.

Thel made his way through the [[Sentinel Wall]] (with a few surviving [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]]) to deactivate the [[Library]]'s [[quarantine shield]], fighting a number of Sentinels and Enforcers, eventually passing by dead Jiralhanae on the way. He eventually deactivated the shield, but before Tartarus could pick him up, an Enforcer fired on his Phantom forcing him to break off. The situation was soon complicated when it was discovered that the Flood was running loose throughout the Wall and fighting the Sentinels. He progressively made his way on foot, briefly bearing witness to Human Marines being overrun by the Flood, who were slowly overwhelming the facility. Eventually, Thel made it to the other side of the Sentinel Wall, just as a [[Sentinel manufacturing facility]] was shot down by a Wraith mortar. Just as the Arbiter engaged the Flood on the ground, several [[Udka-pattern Assault Carapace|drop pods]] landed with [[Special Operations Sangheili]] aiding him in his rendezvous with a very surprised Rtas 'Vadumee, who commanded the Sangheili to hold off the Flood until Phantoms could drop in reinforcements, and after a tough fight, they did.{{Ref/Level|Id=H2SI|H2|H2:Sacred Icon|Sacred Icon}}

[[File:HTMCC-H2A_—_Rtas_rallying_troops.png|thumb|250px|left|Rtas 'Vadumee rallies his Sangheili to battle.]]
It was then when the Arbiter filled the Spec Ops Commander on the former's mission to find Halo's Sacred Icon. Rtas pledged his help and ordered his troops to accompany Thel, but not without warning him to not underestimate the Flood. The Arbiter then made his way through various structures and canyons where Sentinels and Enforcers were fighting Flood who commandeered numerous vehicles such as Ghosts, Wraiths, Warthogs, Specters, and even a Scorpion, before traversing through the same Sentinel Manufacturing facility he saw get shot down earlier. Eventually, Thel and Rtas found a Gondola that would take them straight to the Halo's Library, where the former's objective was located. However, they discovered that humans have commandeered another gondola and are heading for the same destination. But with incoming Flood approaching from behind, the Spec Ops Commander stays behind and holds them off while the Arbiter takes the Gondola ahead with remaining Sangheili reinforcements. Wave after wave, the Flood attacked, but the Arbiter and his allies managed hold them off until the Gondola reached its final destination.

The Arbiter proceeded into the Library, encountering the remains of a battle between [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]], [[Sentinel]]s and [[Flood combat form]]s, and witnessed [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]] and [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] retrieving the Index. Using his armor's active camouflage, he stalked Johnson and Keyes. Leaping out of the shadows, 'Vadamee surprised Johnson, knocking him unconscious after a brief tussle. Keyes attempted to shoot Thel, but was quickly overpowered and disarmed. Tartarus then arrived and captured Keyes by using his hammer's gravity manipulation abilities, claiming the Index for himself. Tartarus informed Thel about the Jiralhanae's [[Great Schism|intended genocide]] of the incr