[Kairu]

Cochraine had arrived minutes before Director Vernette on the Citadel, however, she docked with the main area of the base, rather than a more direct route. While she was under his direct command, she didn't feel any more important than any other captain in ONI. She didn't need any special privilege or treatment. She continued racing her thoughts, periodically stopping and taking a deep breath, essentially 'resetting' her brain's race each time. If time wasn't a factor, she'd have preferred taking the stairs. She loved getting in an exercise where she could, trying to avoid any more extra pounds she's already picked up from being in command. She remembered the last time she was here on the Citadel. It was shortly after the San Angeles Incident for a debriefing with a panel of seven individuals. While she could barely remember their names, she did remember the incredibly harsh, blunt skepticism they demonstrated and giving her a reprimand on her record as a result of the incident. The thought angered in her, but she remembered that she didn't blame them. If she was one of them, on a board of Inquiry dealing with the aftermath of an entire planet being sent into subspace by terrorist elements, she'd be entirely skeptical about the story of Vanguard. Especially when no one friendly actually saw the threat. Her mind continued to think back to those days as she approached the CIC. She noted the Spartans in the room, barely able to tell their existence given the lighting and armor color. She couldn't help but chuckle as how 'typical ONI' it was for something like that. She looked around the CIC, assessing the layout and getting her new bearings. She spotted the office across the way. As she approached, she saw that Director Vernette and Barrabus were inside talking. She felt a knot tie up in her stomach. She couldn't stand having an alien standing in a top secret area with top-notch information and sensitive materials all around, especially the Brutes. They didn't get their name from their grace, after all. She took a deep breath, remembering what Director Vernette asked her. Vernette: I am familiar with your service record Captain. You have an excellent record, I do not dispute that. You have done excellent work in the years that you have been with us, and you are a credit to the uniform. However...your...intolerance...could pose a potential problem for our long term goals. I am not going to order you to like non-humans...but I am going to issue a direct order for you to tread very carefully with your words. Cochraine sighed, doing her best to keep a neutral face in front of Barrabus. She could understand the necessity to play politics and this was one of those times, regardless of her opinion. She stepped near the door and knocked, simply alerting Vernette that she was present in the CIC and was waiting.