[Naked Crook]

Vernette: In terms of where The Trust could be hiding The Bismarck...I totally agree that it could be somewhere in deep space. Even if we sent every Prowler out into the void...it would take...an eternity to find The Bismarck. The only way we are going to find The Bismarck, is if we get intel that either tells us where it is, or if we can get our hands on the specific IFF transponder frequency. With that said...our best chance is the former...getting intel. Barrabus: Interesting you should say that Vernette. Your desire to recover more intel on The Trust can be easily satisfied by exploring what Captain Cochraine just said. You see, Captain Cochraine also raises a point concerning The Elites, and possible Trust facilities on Sanghelios. If we were to inform The Elites of the danger that is on their world...we might be able to convince them to assist us, by either sweeping The Trust off their world or by directly assisting us in a conflict. Barrabus grunted. Barrabus: While I do not relish the idea of allying myself with The Elites...I am convinced that if we stand by and do nothing while The Trust is allowed to run rampant on their world...we could pay for our short sightedness later on in this conflict. I am not prepared to allow The Trust to continue their activities. Despite my hatred for The Elites as a whole...it is my responsibility to ensure that my world has a future. If I allow The Elites to become panws of The Trust...I endanger my world...and countless others. I would, no doubt, be seen a short sighted fool by anyone unfortunate enough to survive this conflict. Barrabus grunted. Barrabus: There is a human expression that I have learned over the years. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". If we can turn The Elites on The Trust...and at the same time get The Elites to support us...our victory would not be a matter of if...but when. Burke: Right...so lets just take a stroll RIGHT up to Sanghelios, the same planet that our two combined military forces INVADED and ATTACKED and OCCUPIED for a period of time and inform them that we need their help. I like the idea...but I dislike the response that the Elites will give us. I am positive that as far as the Elites are concerned...any Human or Brute ship going into their territory is doing so because it is prepared to do battle. Hayes: I agree. As much as I would kill to have The Elites on our side, and as much as I would want to have them on our side, and as much as I want to warn them that The Trust is threatning their world...they will not ally with us. The best we can hope for is that they kill The Trust...and hope they don;t blame ONI for this. If they do blame ONI for what The Trust is doing...that will mean another war. We simply do not have the credibility in their eyes. Barrabus grunted. Vernette: As always...the opinions of some of my top officers is highly valued on my part...and I cannot ignore their logic and common sense. Barrabus: Vernette...you know me better than this. As it is...I have...an idea. I know someone who can help us. Vernette: You do? Barrabus: Of course I do. There is one Elite, that I know, that...for whatever reason...I have a mutual respect for. He is sorta like you...except he is... Vernette: Less brilliant? Less imaginative? Less charming? Less cunning? Less everything? Barrabus: I was going to say bigger...because Elites ARE bigger than humans. Vernette: The other stuff still applies...for the record. Vernette grinned. He formed a pyramid with his hands. Vernette: Who are we talking about? What is this Elites name? Can we trust him? Barrabus: I can trust him...because I have reason to trust him. As for ONI...you may think differently...but if I can trust him...you should as well. Vernette: Again...who are we talking about? Barrabus: His name is Xyrho. Vernette: Oh no...I do know who this is. Vernette paused. Vernette: In case anyone does NOT know...Xyrho is...well...ONI has him classified as a war criminal. He is an expert in Forerunner technology. According to ONI...he is deemed a teir 1 asset for The Elites and their war efforts...and there is a standing order to "kill on sight". He is the tip of the spear for their R&D into just about everything. ONI made several attempts to kill him during the invasion of Sanghelios...and every attempt was a faliure. He is highly adept in just about every art of combat...and his social status among the Elites is one of great importance. He is, what is known as, an Ascetic. Barrabus: It should be noted, however, that in my own experience, his...obsession with Forerunner technology is purely scientific. He never worshiped Forerunner technology like other members of The Covenant did. In fact...on one occasion...he helped me destroy a Forerunner Construct...but that is not the point. The fact is...I can trust him. If I tell him what sort of danger faces his world...he will help us. Vernette thought for a moment. Vernette: Don't you people just love how this stuff works out. The one Elite that ONI really wants to kill...and we either use him to help us cripple the Trust...or we kill him and cripple the Elites and their R&D... Vernette sighed. Vernette: Welcome to my world...where there is no such thing as a winning decision. Who do I hate more? The Trust...or The Elites? Vernette sighed. He thought for a moment. Vernette: Effectivly immediatly...the termination order on the Ascetic known as Xyrho is hereby rescinded...until further notice. We need this Elite if we are going to stick it to The Trust. If anyone has any objections to this...I don't want to hear them.