A/N: Before I start this story I want to extend my thanks to 'Just-a-crazy-man' and 'edboy4296' for their name suggestions. Some of you might recognize the sparring match from a Star Trek Deep Space Nine Episode, where Commander Worf fights Jem'Hadar in a similar situation.

Chapter 1

We've been fighting the Humans for fifteen cycles. Wherever we go they are there and we are told to exterminate them. But...after fifteen cycles...they continue to fight. Why? Any other race would have given up by now. In the early days of the war there were reports of humans surrendering but they were killed anyway. Once the Humans figured out that there was no surrendering they fight that much harder. I have seen with my own eyes acts of great courage and valor. I have even seen...children no taller than my own fight back. But five years ago is when my faith in the covenant and the great journey began to waver...

-Ry Nomiee

Five years ago.

SSGT. Jeremy Scott fumed. His entire squad of marines had been killed but he survived and fought a single elite minor hand to hand...for five minutes. The covenant trooper seemed impressed and decided to capture him and later execute him for sport. The SSGT. had been forced to fight hand-to-hand in several bouts. Mainly with Grunts and Jackals which he beat fairly easily. This time however he was fighting another minor elite who had pushed him to the ground. Scott got up and palmed a short pole on the edge of the ring. There were at least four such poles, hitting them with the palm signified that you were still in the match. He got back into a fighting position and waited for his opponent's next move. Behind the minor elite he saw a gold-armored elite, the color of a ship, fleet or fieldmaster. He saw the minor's stance change slightly but he knew the elite was about to kick with his right leg. The marine jumped back, then tackled the elite to the ground. He hit the minor in the face with a quick one-two combo but was quickly knocked off. He held his balance and waited for the elite to get up.

The minor quickly got to his feet and palmed a nearby pole. The SSGT threw a roundhouse kick toward the elite's chest, which surprisingly connected. Sensing a weakened opponent the marine drew closer, knowing he couldn't match the elite in a contest of strength. He changed his fighting style to boxing, bobbing and weaving around the elite's punches and swings. Finally a left hook knocked some teeth out of the elite's mouth and left it dazed. Scott with one final snap-kick forced the elite out of the ring, disqualifying him. The SSGT looked at the gold elite. "Is that the best you have?" he asked

The elite grinned, "He was the youngest and least experienced. I will seek another opponent that will provide more of a challenge." he said, then stomped away. The marine was led to his holding cell. Where he fell asleep on the cold hard floor.

In the hall leading away from the sparring ring, a Major domo elite joined the shipmaster who happened to be an old friend. "The human fought well." he said quietly.

"That he did, there aren't many of his species who can match an elite in a sparring match. Come to think of it, there aren't many of any species save the Brutes who can match an elite." the shipmaster replied.

The two elite reached a small office where they could talk in private. "Shipmaster...you know my faith is the strongest of any, but I must wonder why we continue to eliminate the humans. If the prophets didn't demand their extinction they might make a worthy addition to the covenant. Their combat prowess is only limited by their technology."

"I must confess I have those same doubts. And I do agree, if the humans possessed only shielding technology for their ships, they could conceivably defeat us in space as well as on the ground. The tide could turn quite fast."

A moment of silence passed as the two officer contemplated that possibility. Then the Major spoke up. "Who will fight the human tomorrow?" he asked

"I told the human I would find him a worthy opponent. I will fight the human. A true test of his courage."

The next day, the SSGT was quickly and rudely awakened and taken to the ring. He was shoved into the middle of the ring and told to wait. He simply shrugged and began stretching. When he finished he stood and waited some more then the gold armored elite made his way through the crowd. "So, do you have an actual challenge for me today or am I beating up on the youngsters again?" asked Scott.

The elite held his face impassively. "I have found your opponent. Prepare yourself."

"Where is he?" asked Scott.

The shipmaster stepped into the ring much to the surprise of the crowd. "You are looking at him."

The SSGT grinned. But it was not a grin of an easy victory, it was a grin that said 'finally a real challenge'. He and the elite palmed the short poles closest to them, then assumed fighting stances. The SSGT went down first, victim of a right hook. But the marine quickly collected himself, palmed a pole and resumed his fighting stance. The shipmaster was hit with a fast one-two combo, then Scott spun with a back-kick, knocking the shipmaster to the ground. The crowd gasped. The shipmaster grinned, nodded and palmed the pole.

The fight went on for ten minutes, both fighters landing and blocking blows but finally, with blood streaming down his face, the SSGT crawled toward a pole intent on getting up. Then the shipmaster surprised everyone. He put a hand on the human's shoulder. "You fought well human. Enough." he pulled the human to his feet. "What is your name?" he asked to the even bigger shock of the crowd. In Sangheili culture names implied legitimacy and only Elites deserved names.

The human took some deep breaths and spoke. "My name...is Staff Sergeant Jeremy Scott. UNSC Marines Corps, Orbital Drop Shock Trooper 2nd Division, 3rd Battalion, Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon."

Present day

Ry Noimee and Baras 'Jhanakee sat in the shipmaster's quarters on the covenant frigate Unwavering Faith. "You can't be serious...defect? To the humans?" asked Noimee.

"I know it sounds like we're betraying our people. But I believe that the Sangheili are being lied to especially when it comes to the humans. The prophets continue to tell us they will run and cower before us, yet they do not and that they are weak and verminous. But I have seen humans with great strength...and I'm not talking about the demons either. I'm talking about normal humans." replied Jhanakee the shipmaster.

"How do you propose we contact the humans without them blasting a hole in our ship first?" asked Noimee.

"I believe I have something...or rather someone who would be willing to help us in that regard..." replied the shipmaster.