[Naked Crook]

Vernette sighed, as he pinched the bridge of his noes with his thumb and index finger. Vernette: Damn it... Vernette paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. Vernette: I should have seen this coming. Vernette looked at Cochraine. Vernette: Perhaps I am being overtly paranoid about the whole thing, but, I cannot shake the feeling that Silverblur is trying to play us for fools. Think about it. Vernette paused. Vernette: We have it on very good authority that Silverblur, for all intents and purposes, does not like The Trust. It is in his best interests for The Trust to be destroyed. He is looking for a power vacuum, and he is hoping that we will create it for him. By providing us with intel, but refusing to provide us military support, he is sending a very clear message; he wants US to do the heavy lifting and the hard work. He wants US to fight The Trust, and he wants to save his assets. The question is...what is he saving his assets for? After The Trust is gone, what is his purpose? Why does he need a fighting force? Why does he need warships? WHy is he unwilling to commit manpower to fighting his enemy? Vernette paused, as he scoffed. Vernette: Then we have his demands. The very fact that SIlverblur wanted first pickings on The Bismarck tells me that he, potentially, has his eye on Forerunner technology. The Forerunner tech on The Bismarck would be very temping for someone in Silverblur's position. The question is; why does he want Forerunner tech? What use would he have for it? Again, The Trust is as good as dead the moment we get The Bismarck back, yet, he wants access to The Bismarck after The Trust is as good as dead. What is the point? Vernette paused again. Vernette: Something about a rouge Spartan, with everything to gain from the defeat of The Trust, with an eye on Forerunner technology; the most dangerous technology we have ever encountered, and a conscientious objection to providing military support to the effort to defeat The Trust...bothers the hell out of me. Vernette paused. Vernette: Tell me it bothers the hell out of you, too. Tell me I am not the only one who is thinking worst case scenario here. Surely, you have to agree that it is quite suspicious when you put all the pieces together.