[Naked Crook]

ODST Black Team kept silent for the entire ride back to The Ulterior Motive. Black 1 hid his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. He was not pleased that The Consultant and Nova Team had shoehorned their way into the fold, and obstructed the work of The Risk Takers. Black 1 was well within his right mind to terminate Anaconda where he lay. There would be no more need for upgrades to The Risk Takers if Nighthawk and Anaconda were out of the picture. However, despite all of this, Black 1 simply contained himself. Part of him hoped that keeping Anaconda alive would backfire on Nova Team hard enough to kill them. The two Vultures eventually made their way back to The Ulterior Motive. Both Vultures docked in Hanger Bay 2, side by side. Once the docking procedures were complete, the rear hatches of The Vultures opened. ODST Black Team stepped out of the Vulture. However, the moment they did, they noticed that The Consultant was already awaiting their arrival in the hanger bay. The Consultant stood tall, her hands behind her back. The look in her eyes was very cold, and very distant. Anyone who took the time to analyze her, would know right off the bat that her mind was racing a mile a minute. This was a woman who only cared about results. She only cared about what she got from an endeavor. She demanded precision, and she had a keen dislike for incompetence. Her very stature screamed intolerance for anything that was less than the best. However, the one thing that always brought life to her posture, a glimmer of humanity to her eye was the sight of Nova Team...her team...her crowing accomplishment...her favorite soldiers...her most loyal friends...her only friends. Black 1 watched the interaction between The Consultant and Nova Team. This was a rare sight. The Consultant: Nova Team...welcome back! Anubis: It is good to be back in your presence ma'am. The Consultant allowed a slight grin to run across her face. The Consultant: I trust your new equipment was to your satisfaction. Anubis: Of course ma'am. The new gear was a welcome addition to our operation. It made things much easier than they already are. The Consultant: I am pleased to hear that. The Consultant paused. She gathered her thoughts, then changed the topic. The Consultant: Where is he? All four members of Nova Team pointed at The Vulture that Black Team and The Risk Takers flew in on. The Consultant then turned towards The Vulture, and began to walk towards it. She walked past ODST Black Team, not even acknowledging them, as she glared at The Risk Takers. Her eyes shifted downwards as she saw Anaconda. A sadistic grin ran across her face, as she turned to Nova Team. The Consultant: Well done Nova Team...well done. Of course...you four are the only ones capable of a feat as great as this... Anubis: It should be noted that we had The Risk Takers carry the creature. I believe such menial work is below Division 7. The Consultant: I completely agree Anubis. I would never dream of asking the four of you to do such...menial, arduous, labor. The Consultant turned again to face Liam. She pointed at him. The Consultant: YOU! Spartan! Pick the Brute up! The Consultant paused. She began to glare at him, as her voice turned ice cold. The Consultant: Pick him up...now... Meanwhile: On the plane'ts surface, just outside The Apex Applied Research Building, Tye looked at Jesse, and gave a prompt answer. Tyber: We call for evac, return to The King Raven, and we plan our next move...whether it be against The Trust or The Covenant. Whoever needs to die more...we go after. Tye paused. Tyber: I hope it is The Trust. I want a round 2. Tye turned away. As he did, he barked a general order to everyone around him. Tyber: Check the fallen! Round up anyone who is wounded, and prep them for evac! Tye then walked off, as he contacted The King Raven. Tyber: King Raven...this is Commander Vernette. Jennifer, do you copy? After a moment, Tye got an answer from Jennifer. Jennifer: Go ahead Tye. What is the situation down there. Tyber: The Trust went into full retreat. However, this was no victory. They dusted off anyone who could be questions, their military personnel went out fighting, their entire computer network was wiped...and... Jennifer: And? Tyber: Between you and I... Tye paused. Tyber: You know that Brute that Nighthawk chums around with? Well, during the evac...The Trust captured him. I spotted them evacing with The Brute. It looked like they brought him down...cause the big guy was not moving. There was stunned silence over the comms for a moment. Jennifer: Does Nighthawk know? Tyber: I am not looking forward to finding out. Either way...this is not going to go down well Ma'am. Tye sighed. Tyber: With everything considered... Tye's voice went down to a whisper. Tyber: I am starting to lose hope here. We are losing on every front...and our victories are too small to matter. Then again...I should be used to this by now... Jennifer: Tye...relax. We are not finished yet. Last time I checked we are still in this. Jennifer paused. Jennifer: Besides...based on my most recent update...Hoffman is all but ours now. Harmony is doing a hell of a job extracting him. Last I checked...their evac had arrived, and they were pulling him out. I am going to get another update from them shortly. Jennifer paused. Jennifer: In the mean time TYe...gather up The UNSC down there...and fall back to your LZ. I will dispatch Pelicans for the wounded and the non-wounded alive. We need to regroup...and we need to have a good discussion about our next move. Tyber: Copy that Jennifer. Vernette out. Tye closed the comm line. He simply sighed. Tye was feeling the pressure...but he was good at hiding it. He knew how to keep himself together.