[Kairu]

Reynolds and Cochraine watched and listened in horror at what Nighthawk was going to do to Hoffman. Reynolds wanted to stand up for Hoffman, but that would cause alarm to everyone that Reynolds was either soft or defected. Reynolds didn't want to look soft in front of his crew, in front of Harmony. He's always collected and calm, buckling now with an exposed traitor would undermine the image he's upheld for years. Instead, he would watch in agony, part of his mind wondering what would happen to him if Nighthawk found out about his defection. Reynolds couldn't shake the horrible feeling inside his gut. Cochraine, on the other hand, was conflicted about how she felt. She knew he was a traitor, but no one deserved this kind of treatment, absolutely no one. Despite her fear and slight intolerance towards aliens, she would have never considered such an option to a living one. It was inhumane to all forms of life. However, despite her humanity, she knew that Hoffman wouldn't have cracked otherwise. It was easily readable on his face. Torture was inevitable. Before Nighthawk reached his unpredicted pause, Cochraine felt the need to speak up. Cochraine: "Nighthawk! Stop! Doing something like this makes you no better than them!" Fireteam Harmony, much like the Spartan, watched in joy. They knew Hoffman well enough to know how illusive he was, how slick he was. Despite the barbaric nature of the process, they found much joy and amusement in hearing Hoffman plead and cry out for mercy. When Reynolds and Harmony heard Cochraine stand up for Hoffman, they turned in shock. Reynolds was glad that someone else stood up for Hoffman instead of them, but Harmony was surprised that Cochraine would, despite he not knowing the man. Arman decided to step in to intervene. Arman: "Commander, don't. This needs to be done. We've dealt a little bit with Hoffman, believe me when I say that he needs to feel this." When Nighthawk paused to give Hoffman one last chance Cochraine and Reynolds sighed in relief, Reynolds doing so secretly and subtly. Aboard the Perilous Avenger, Vhat was surprised to hear Dangerus promote him to Ultra. Vhat continued to listen until there was an adequate pause. After being told that they were going to defy the Prophets, Vhat became unsure about his role. Vhat: "I understand clearly and I thank you for this honor, Fleetmaster, but I don't think I'm ready for this. The Prophets, in my experience, have never been wrong. Shipmaster Xyrho has told me that they aren't always right and I didn't believe him. I am curious as to what makes this... construct's purpose is. Why defy the Prophets to destroy a Holy relic? What makes it so dangerous?"