[Naked Crook]

Nighthawk and Anaconda had walked out of the Terminal. As they did, Anaconda struck up conversation. Anaconda: So...I noticed that you withheld some information back there. You never mentioned Vanguard. Nighthawk: Need to know information. That is one detail that could cause serious problems. I don't want to be the one to tell anyone that an ancient war machine could potentially hiding on San Angeles, waiting to kill everyone. That is not something you tell people. Anaconda: You told the female... Nighthawk: Yeah, well, The Female... Nighthawk looked around. He saw that there was nobody around. Nighthawk: The Female knows who I am. I think she is an exception. Anaconda: Yeah...I am sure that is EXACTLY why you told her more than the others. Nighthawk: What is that supposed to mean? Anaconda grunted, as he laughed. He didn't answer the question. Nighthawk: Look...the fact of the matter is, I am hoping to get through all of this WITHOUT telling people about Vanguard. All they need to know is that The Covenant found something of religious importance here on San Angeles...and that is it! The rest...the rest can die with history. Anaconda: In other words...you are hoping to keep Vanguard a secret? Nighthawk: Exactly. Anaconda inhaled, and then let out a long moan. Anaconda: Good luck with that You will be lucky if you can pull that off. With The Covenant and The Trust after this thing, with neither side not knowing what they are getting into...you are going to have a hell of a time keeping all three sides away from finding out exactly what is waiting for them. Anaconda paused. Anaconda: In fact...I have no doubt that Vanguard is going to kill all of them if they find it. Nighthawk: IF...operative word IF. Nighthawk paused. Anaconda: Based on what we know, I think it is a safe bet The Trust may inadvertently know where this thing is. They just don't know that it will be there. It may be that fact alone which may make it impossible to keep this a secret. Someone is going to find out. Nighthawk: You know...you may be 100% right about this...but we have to try none-the-less. If we can take this thing out without anyone knowing, that will be a big bonus. There is no point in complicating the matter. If everyone does find out, well, ONI may gag order it anyway. Nighthawk paused. Nighthawk: With The Trust having operatives inside of ONI, they will no DOUBT try to gag order it to save their own asses, on top of trying to think of some half-assed excuses to justify what Spender and his minions were doing on San Angeles. They will blame us, blame The Covenant, blame the UNSC, blame Insurrections, blame civilians, blame anything if it means keeping their little group in the shadows, their little operation out of sight, their treachery under wraps, and their hands pulling on strings that they should not be pulling. Anaconda: We will get them eventually. Anaconda sighed as the duo approached their Warthog. Anaconda: How did I get involved in this. None of these problems were mine to begin with. Nighthawk: If I recall, I asked if you wanted to tag along, and you said yes. Pretty sure that is how you got involved. Anaconda: Why did you ask me anyway? I have never been really clear on that? Nighthawk: You mean, besides the fact that we have been friends for a really long time, had eachother's backs for a really long time, and the fact that I would of said yes had our situations of been reversed? Anaconda: Yeah...besides all of that. Nighthawk: Well...after what The Trust tried to do to you at Paradise Lost...I thought you wanted a bit of revenge. You ARE big on revenge. Anaconda: Yeah...I am. Anaconda nodded, and shrugged. Anaconda: Well...even though most of what we do does not concern me or my problems...I will be honest...it hasn't been boring. So, no matter how...out of hand things get...I will stick around...even though I could walk away and never hear from The Trust again. Nighthawk: I appreciate the loyalty. Anaconda: Hey...no problem. Nighthawk sighed. He leaned against The Warthog. As he did, he got a message from HAWK. HAWK: Nighthawk...I have news that may interest you... Nighthawk: What is it? HAWK: I have managed to decrypt the information you requested. Nighthawk: You mean the inconsistent hashing algorithm in the data files we took from Regional HQ Bravo? HAWK: Correct. I have decrypted them. I have access to the date. Nighthawk: Well...what does it say? HAWK: I can do better than telling what it says. I can show you. Nighthawk sighed. He waited a moment, and then saw a waypoint appear on his HUD. The waypoint was roughly 45 miles from NIghthawk's position, and the waypoint landed right in the middle of a dense mountain range. HAWK: They are coordinates. I have marked the destination on your HUD. Nighthawk: Coordinates? Wait...that waypoint is landing on the Kerby Mountain Range. That entire area, and the airspace, is off limits to everyone, no exceptions. What is out there? What do these coordinates land on? HAWK: Unknown. Nighthawk: Did you try scanning? HAWK: Affirmative. There was nothing. However...a magnified visual sweep revealed a single large structure. There is a base down there, but I cannot find it on sensors. Nighthawk: Why? HAWK: If I had to theorize...the base could protected by a Stealth Attenuation Field...the same kind that shields The Venture Capitalist from detection. Nighthawk: Well...that means we either have an ONI Installation...or a Trust Installation. I am going to guess it is The Trust. Meanwhile: Xyrho was on the bridge of his Corvette. His ship had not participated in the naval battle with the UNSC, simply due to his role and importance at San Angeles. Xyrho had long since decrypted the necessary information, and he was well aware of the facility that was located in The Karver Mountain Range. Xyrho was deep in thought concerning his situation. He was unsure how to proceed with dealing with this facility. It was obviously of great importance. However, Xyrho's thoughts were interrupted when he heard one of his bridge officers call his name. Elite Bridge Officer: Shipmaster...we are being contacted by the Fleetmaster. Chieftain Dangerus wishes to speak with you...in person. Xyrho: Of course he does. Inform him that I will be there as soon as I can. Elite Bridge Officer: Yes Shipmaster. Shall I have a team of- Xyrho: No! No Spec-Ops. I will do this alone. With that, Xyrho turned and left the bridge of his ship, and proceeded down to the hanger bay. Upon his arrival in the hanger bay, he boarded the first Phantom that was available, and instructed the pilot to bring him The Perilous Avenger. Meanwhile: Jennifer was busy tending to the wounded. She was making sure that every single injured Marine was prepped and ready to go. She was nearly finished her rounds, when she saw Admiral Harrison approach her. Jennifer looked at Harrison, and saluted. Jennifer: Admiral...what can I do for you?