[Naked Crook]

Novak laughed. Novak: Getting you hands on one of those weapons means you have to go through The Consultant. If you are lucky...she may give you what you need...but it won't be pro-bono...not by a long shot. Novak paused. Novak: If you want to talk to her... you can typially find her in her office...Deck 3, Section 12...end of the corridor on the right. She will usually entertain someone so long as they are known in The Trust's ranks...but don't expect her to be friendly. In fact...expect her to be despariging and downright disrespectful. She has never looked to make friends outside of Division 7's Nova Team. Novak paused. Novak: She trusts them like Spender trusts Black Team. Between you and I...Black Team and Nova Team's mutual hatred of the other...falls just short of outright killing one another. Black Team would obviously win...but Nova Team...they get first dibs on all the toys these days. Novak began to pace back and forth. Novak: Be very weary with her. She is...s dangerous as she is obsessed. Novak looked at Liam. Novak: She had serious reservations about providing the gear and equipment to The Risk Takers...because of what you stood for. Novak paused. He shook his head as he laughed. Novak: The Consultant...has a dangerous fascination...and possibly an obsession...with Anaconda. Just Anaconda. She cares very little about Nighthawk...but she has made it very clear that she wants nothing more than to possess Anaconda...for experimentation. She wants something...and we do not know what. The Board of Chairmen cannot get an answer from her...and they are in too precarious of a position to start kicking down doors and interrogating people. Novak paused. Novak: There was a time when everything fell under a single roof, so to speak. However, when The Consultant came onto the scene...and she became the head of R&D...Division 7 began to emerge. SInce then, they have become ALMOST a separate entity. They have become more secrative, more possessive, and much more paranoid over the years. They still answer to The Trust, and you are free to ask her to aquire whatever you wish...but she WILL ask for something in return...and you will NOT like what she asks...and neither will The Board of Chairmen. Novak paused. Novak: At least...that is what I think. Nobody is really sure. So...talk to her if you want. It is up to you. Meanwhile: Black 1 and Black 2 brought their Sabers about, as they altered their heading, and plotted a course to regroup with Black 3 and Black 4. Black 1: Black 3, Black 4...Black 2 and I are finished here. We have taken down the final banshee from our part of the sky, and we are converging on your location. ETA...2 minutes. Black 4 responded. Black 4: Copy that Black 1. Black 3 and I are currently engaged with multiple hostile bogies. Black 3: Sir...we also have reports of AA Teams mobilizing. I cannot say for sure if The UNSC is trying to shoot us down or not. Black 1: Well, we will find out soon enough. For now, we have to make sure that those Transports get off the ground. For now...maintain current operational orders. Black 1 kept his eye on his sensor readout...keeping tabs on Jacob's movements. Part of Black 1 was almost waiting for Jacob to try something. Black 1 couldn't shake the feeling he had...and he was ready if he had to be. Meanwhile: Nighthawk, Anaconda, and Jennifer had left the King Raven's med bay and entered an elevator. As they stepped in, Nighthawk sighed. Jennifer looked at Nighthawk, and then gave a vocal command. Jennifer: Bridge. The elevator doors closed, and the elevator began to move. Nighthawk: That poor man. So much suffering. Jennifer looked at Nighthawk again. Jennifer: I'm sorry? Nighthawk: Tye... Nighthawk shook his head. Nighthawk: I had no idea. I never knew! Nighthawk paused. Nighthawk: Had I known ANY of that... Nighthawk sighed. Nighthawk: All those years wasted over petty bickering with each other. So much time lost. It was my fault...it was all my fault. The falling out we had...it was my fault. Jennifer: There is no point in beating yourself up over this. It is not your fault. Nighthawk: I cannot find any proof of that. Nighthawk clenched his fist. Nighthawk: I will never be able to express how much I hate The Trust. Jennifer: I think I have a pretty good idea. Nighthawk looked at Jennifer. Nighthawk: It is tough to say for sure. Jennifer: Not really. I think I know you pretty well. I know what goes on in that head of yours. I don't pretend to know what goes on in that brain of yours...but I have a very good idea of what goes on in your soul. I tend to have a pretty good judge of character. I wouldn't have slept with you if I wasn't. Anaconda grunted. Anaconda: Why are Humans so vocal about their mating practices? This is the second time I have heard about this today. Nighthawk cleared his throat, as he looked forward. Nighthawk: Right...sorry. Jennifer: Oh, please...I bet he brags all the time about all of his conquests. Anaconda: Actually...I don't. Nighthawk: He doesn't. In fact...he rather dislikes it when I prod. Jennifer: Oh...come on. What does a "big strapping fella" like him have to hide? Anaconda: Everything...actually. Anaconda shook his head. Anaconda: You don't need to know the details. Silence fell over the trio for a moment. Nighthawk began to laugh. Nighthawk: They like to bite each other. Anaconda let out a growl. Nighthawk: They do that too. Anaconda growled even louder. Jennifer: How kinky. Anaconda showed his teeth as he growled even louder. Nighthawk: Relax big guy...we are only teasing you. We'll stop. It is all in good fun. The elevator began to slow down. Anaconda shook his head and sighed as the elavtor came to a fully stop. The door to the elevator opened, and the trio walked out, and entered the bridge. Jennifer: Report!? The comm officer turned around and looked at Jennifer. Comm Officer: Uhhh...ma'am... The comm officer pointed to Nighthawk and Anaconda. Jennifer: Ignore them. Now...report? Comm Officer: Well...ma'am...Admiral Harrison has been...very persistent. He is demanding an update from us. I am pretty sure he is one more transmission from coming over here himself. Jennifer: Well...let's save him the trip. Open a channel with Harrison's ship. Let's get him up to speed. Put him on the main display when you reach him. Comm Officer: Yes ma'am!