H-hey guys, now before you murder me for letting go of this story for some months just hear me out.

i never intended to leave this story for such a stupid amount of time, I just got very preoccupied with so many other things over the recent holidays and didn't have much motivation to get another chapter written up. And then before I knew it I was starting school again and as it is my final year of high school I've suddenly been put under a lot of pressure with work and tests. Adding to that was the sudden writers block that further ruined my motivation.

But it was the constant emails that I received saying that people had followed and favourited my story and messages from some of my more dedicated followers (FrostWolf, OORAH, Gigglemeyumyums, Notgoodatnames, I'm talking about you guys) that made me feel guilty about not writing. So finally I'm back with another chapter that I hope you will all enjoy.

for many of you I recommend you go back a few chapters to refresh your memory on what's been going on with our awesome Protagonists so you can read this chapter without any confusions. Also should I write smaller chapters to upload slightly quicker or long chapters that will take more time to get out?

and before I forget I am super happy to say we've reached 100 followers for HALO:AOR and over 12.2 thousand views! Thank you everyone for your support and I hope to keep delivering good content as the story progresses.

Location: State of Jalam, Ancient Sangheili temple, Covenant operating base

Date: 22nd February 2558

Time: 1823 hours, Arbiter's execution estimated 1 hour 37 minutes.

"We better have the element of surprise or this whole mission is a bust." Mayne thought to himself as he stepped carefully down the loose crater walls, deliberately placing each foot to prevent any loose rubble from becoming dislodged from its resting place and sent tumbling down the rest of the incline. To make such a mistake would be like turning on a big flashing light and running through the temple grounds chanting the UNSC marine cadence. When he reached the bottom, he heard a small cascade of pebbles run down to rest by his feet and glanced back to the three Sangheili that were accompanying him on the mission.

"Lashra, can you possibly make any more noise?" He said half sarcastically, half irate.

"Be thankful that we are making the minimal amount of noise that we can Human." Lashra replied in a slightly aggravated manner. He had clearly not learnt to appreciate Human sarcasm yet. Mayne turned back to the temple in a crouched position with his eyes peeled for any Covenant movement.

From where they had inserted into the temple grounds, the rear seemed to be devoid of guards or simply Covenant activity in general. It wasn't the Sangheili's fault that they couldn't be as silent as him when moving. They were hulking beings that stood much taller than Mayne and any human in existence, save for the universally known Spartans, or Demons as the Sangheili like to call them, hardly helped by them being the type that would much prefer to charge in guns blazing rather than sneak around like 'A couple of thieving Kig-Yar' as Lashra mentioned earlier.

Once the three Sangheili had made it to the bottom Mayne gestured for the team to advance towards the temple. The temple itself looked to be something out of his history books back in school, the ancient temples of the Aztec Empire that littered the landscape of Mexico back on Earth, except this temple was more rectangular rather than pyramidal.

As they approached the rear of the temple Mayne spotted an opening in the wall of the moss-covered structure, a door that led to a darkness that he couldn't see beyond.

"Catherine, we've found an opening that may lead us to a higher vantage point. The only issue is that it's in the structure. Permission to advance?" He said in a whisper.

"Granted. Just don't be spotted and don't die...Again." Catherine's crackling voice came through and Mayne found himself grinning.

"Will do Sergeant." As he and the Sangheili creeped through the door and into the dark temple Mayne's image enhancing system came online to allow him to see the walls, ceiling and floor in a highlighted state. This would also highlight enemy targets in a red tinge and friendlies in green. It was only when they had walked to the end of the corridor and around the next corner that Mayne had a horrible thought.

"Catherine, I may lose all COMMS the further we get into the temple. Do you copy?" His worries were confirmed when he got his response.

"Your...nnection...breaking up...just find...way to...elp"

"'Just find a way to help.' I can certainly do that." Mayne thought to himself. He turned back to his alien allies that followed him.

"Alright we do this silently, no need to alert the Covies of our presence until the fighting starts." Lashra and his accomplices nodded quietly in the dark corridor. Mayne nodded once and led the group further into the temple with magnum raised and senses on high alert.

Meanwhile on the ground Reesha felt somewhat out of it as she led the Sangheili through the brush to the flanking position Catherine pointed out earlier. Half her attention was in the moment at hand whilst the other was in her mind. Earlier that day she saw Mayne perish but just a few hours later he reappeared and not only that, he also brought three other Sangheili. These Sangheili remained unnamed for now but they were most likely the only surviving souls of the other rescue team. Now after all that had happened she found herself questioning why she had such a shattering sadness course through her at Mayne's apparent death.

The distinct sound of voices dragged her back to reality, causing Reesha to crouch low to the ground and the slight rustling behind her indicated that The Arbiter's Wrath had followed suit. Peeking through the ferns that were now developing a layer of icy condensation, she could spot their target; a Wrath with a team of fifteen Sangheili to support it.

"Wrath is in vision Sergeant Catherine. We await your signal." She spoke over the COMMS.

"Good, we're in position too. We now just have to wait for Mayne. He'll be our height advantage." Catherine responded and severed the connection.

The hissing of Mayne's combat knife sliding out of its sheath was the last thing the Sangheili before him heard before it's eyes darkened as the knife slipped past it's shield and into its neck. Mayne let out a small grunt as he used all his strength to stop the dead Saurian from collapsing to the ground and creating very unwanted noise. Propping the Elite against the wall he wiped his knife against its armour and sheathed it.

Lashra moved past Mayne and glanced down the next T-intersection. This was the fifth one they'd encountered so far and Mayne was becoming increasingly concerned with the lack of vantage points to the outside world.

"We should turn back Human. We are only going to become more lost if we continue." Lashra cautioned but Mayne was already shaking his head.

"No, we keep going until we find an opening. If we fail, we lessen our advantage and our chances of saving the Arbiter."

Lashra took a step towards Mayne with a growl.

"The Arbiter is merely a symbol to the Swords of Sangheilos. Another will rise to take his place should he perish. Maybe even a stronger being who'll crush the Covenant all the quicker."

Mayne stood his ground, determined to keep his current course.

"Are you suggesting that we abandon the Arbiter? That we flee while he dies? That sounds too cowardly, even for you Sangheili. I'm sure you know the meaning of coward."

Lashra paused for a moment, looking ready to tear Mayne to pieces. Mayne was beginning to feel heated, they had travelled all this way to save this Sangheili and now Lashra was going to putting it all at risk.

"Do not dare declare me a coward. I do not abandon our own but there is a line that should not be crossed between honourability and foolishness. Should we continue, we risk all our lives to save an image, an image that can be recreated by another. Even a Human such as you should know that this is complete folly." Mayne was starting to lose control of a logical engagement in exchange for emotion.

"So what about my team? What happens to them? Do we just leave them to die?" He snarled. Lashra didn't bat an eyelid as he replied.

"If it means that we may escape to tell the news that a new leader should be elected then it is a worthy sacrifice."

Now Mayne stepped forward towards Lashra with his hand unconsciously falling to his magnum.

"That bastard! How could he ask this of me?"

"You expect me to just leave them!? Catherine, Ajax, Gabriel...Reesha!? You believe that letting good people die so you can run away and live is the best thing to do? Where is the honour in that?" Lashra pulled up short after that statement. His mandibles that were splayed contracted slightly. Was it because he pushed his boundaries with the Sangheili or was it the mention of Reesha, one of his own kind. Too enraged to care Mayne stormed past Lashra and took the left path but turned back at the last moment.

"Do you know how we actually won the war? We stuck together and came to each other's aid, even when things seemed foolish. In fact, it's the foolish acts that turn out to be the most honourable. Now are you coming or not?" Mayne limped down the hall before Lashra could respond.

The Sangheili glanced back to his comrades who watched the entire ordeal unfold and simply nodded and followed after Mayne.

Reesha glanced to the sky with dwindling hope that Mayne would be able to obtain a position of advantage. The sun was now at its lowest in the horizon meaning that their time was coming to an end.

"Maybe he got lost or delayed by Covenant warriors." She other alternative was one she dared not think about again.

"Commander Reesha, I'm not sure if we can afford to wait any longer. This Field Marshall is looking like he's going to eat the Arbiter for dinner." Catherine's voice echoed through the COMMS. Although some part of her told her to disagree she knew in her mind that Mayne had let them down. She was not angered by this but merely disappointed that Mayne would not be able to assist in the battle that was to take place.

"I agree Sergeant Catherine. When you hear fighting from our side move in and secure that Arbiter." Reesha took another glance over the ridge at their opponents before smiling slyly at her Sangheili allies, "Let us send these warriors back to their Gods." She snarled and pounced over the ridge, drawing her carbine and crashing into the unsuspecting Covenant warriors below.

The response was instantaneous. As Reesha's forces opened up on the enemy their opponents responded with an equally intense barrage of plasma and needles that drove the small rescue team into cover. After placing a few shots into the chest of one Sangheili, Reesha's ducked behind a mound of rubble. The sound of human weaponry in the distance told her that Catherine had begun her attack.

Please hurry Mayne. She thought as she hefted her carbine over the rubble and fired off several shots blindly in the direction of the enemy, a loud warble showed that the shots weren't wasted. Suddenly there was a whoosh and, knowingwhat the telltale sound foretold, Reesha dived out of her cover and into the open just as the wrath's mortar detonated on top of her cover, turning it into a small, smoky crater. With no cover and three Sangheili before her she went on the attack. Dropping her carbine and igniting her crimson sword she lunged forward and sunk the blade deep into the first Sangheili before slicing outwards, beheading the second warrior in the same motion. A flurry of plasma rounds flew over her shoulder, causing the final Sangheili to drop in a bloody display of purple haze. Reesha glanced towards the direction of help and saw Zek some meters away give a simple nod before continuing on with the assault.

Reesha dashed to the wrath and lunged upon it, taking some hits from the plasma turret in the process but her shields held. Once upon the gunner she kicked his head back and shoved the blade ferociously into his sternum, killing him outright. Soon she was hammering the hatch of the wrath and dropping a plasma grenade onto the unfortunate soul piloting the tank. With a glorious display of blue and purple the wrath's core exploded, sending debris in all directions. Now only the survivors needed to be dealt with and now with their armoured support gone they should crumble. Reesha rejoined the others and continued their push through the Covenant lines but before they could the sound of human gunfire cracked through the air and the remaining warriors dropped dead.

"Mayne!" Reesha exclaimed as she looked up to the temple and saw four figures perched on a ledge. One clearly distinguishable ODST and three Sangheili, two with minor armour and one with Field Marshall armour.

"Everything looks fine from here Commander." Mayne's voice crackled in her ear, "Go find Catherine and the Arbiter!" Reesha gave her acknowledgement with a nod of the head and ran in the direction of the other battleground.

Strewn before her lay bodies of both Sangheili and Human, although from the ambush her allies took less of a toll. Ahead of her the Arbiter stood in conversation with Catherine and turned to her as she approached.

"Special Operations Commander Reesha 'Moram, I must truly thank you and your team for your valiant efforts today." The Arbiter commended. Reesha saluted and lifted her head proudly.

"Your appreciation should be directed at the Human's you see before you." She gestured to Fireteam Phoenix, standing alert and ready for any remaining Covenant, "For without their help this rescue could never have taken place."

Her smile broadened slightly as she heard the sound of feet pounding on dirt behind her and she turned to see Mayne, limping slightly back towards them.

"It is good to see you are well Mayne." He shook his head a couple of times.

"Not everything is well, my leg hurts like hell." Even though his face was covered and his voice filtered through his helmet Reesha could hear the smile.

In fact Mayne found himself questioning himself over why he smiled when he approached Reesha and wiped it like one would wipe a dirty slate as he approached Catherine. She removed her helmet and had a grin plastered on her face

"Damn it's good to see you alive Mayne. We were worried sick."

Mayne felt taken aback. "They were that worried about me?" He looked to Ajax who approached him and clapped him over the shoulder, knocking him off balance.

"I knew you wouldn't die on us! You're too strong for that." He laughed. Gabriel just turned away and inspected his weapon. Catherine saw this and placed her hand on Mayne's armoured shoulder.

"Don't worry about him. He'll come around eventually." He shrugged, looking over to Reesha who had her mandibles sealed shut and her eyes narrowed in hatred as she stared at the three survivors of the previous team that were now approaching. Something seemed wrong.

"You know the Field Marshall?" He asked her. She simply nodded.

"Yes, I know Lashra 'Saralum, but I wish I never did."