[Halo] New! San Angeles RPG

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison noted Tye and Spender's interactions, he would ask about that later. But he also knew that they were now face-to-face with the enemy leader and that these next few minutes would give them an edge, or break their resolve. Harrison knew that the here and now was of very great importance. Before he could speak, Reynolds broke in. Harrison stared at the holotank as Spender answered Reynolds. Harrison noted the way Spender spoke, the way he handled himself and more importantly, the fact that he was indeed the leader of The Trust. He stayed silent for some time, pondering what to say before Harrison himself spoke up. Harrison: Well if all you wanted was to greet us and make yourself known, then I think you've succeeded. Harrison paused. Harrison: But I'm sure a man like you has something else to say.

[Naked Crook]

Spender: As it turns out, Mr. Harrison...you are very correct. Spender paused. Spender: You have no doubt swarmed my ship with your personnel, and you are no doubt sweeping it for anything that you could potentially use. However, I will say this much, that you will find nothing of any particular value, at least, nothing that will help you going forward. Spender paused, as he took another drag of his cigarette. Spender: However, despite our diametrically opposed positions, I felt obliged to extend to you an offer... Spender paused. as he looked right at Harrison. Spender: I propose an exchange of...good faith...

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison shook his head. Harrison: I'm sorry, whoever you are, but I don't think there is anything you could exchange that could undo or fix all of your wrongdoings...and from what I can gather... Harrison paused as he glanced at Tye and Anaconda. Harrison: All of your future wrongdoings.

[Naked Crook]

Spender: You have not even heard my offer yet, Admiral. Spender paused. Spender: Should we recap your situation? You have no idea where we are, you have a limited idea of what we are planning to do, and you have very little means to defend against what you, by now, should know about. Spender paused. Spender: So, Admiral...are you so proud, that you would refuse to even HEAR what I have to offer? Tye glared at Spender; never taking his eyes off of the holotank, for even a second. Tye was all too familiar with Spender's tactics, and he was all to familiar with how Spender could lue and manipulate on a masterful level. Tyber: I am pretty sure that any offer made by you is a losing deal for us. SO why don't you take your deal and stick it where the sun don't shine, you smoking prick. Spender glared at Tye, and frowned. Spender: Check your tone, Lieutenant... Spender paused. Spender: We both know how little I tolerate insubordination...

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison smiled as he interjected. Harrison: Well lucky for us, Commander Vernette here is not part of your crew. So I guess we won't be seeing how little you care for that. Harrison paused as he glanced at Jennifer. Harrison: I think it's time we finished talking.

[Kairu]

Reynolds injected. Reynolds: "Forgive me, gentlemen, but we should at least hear him out. After all, the Covenant is just as much their enemy as ours. And given the situation and how they normally react. Despite this... Vanguard being the pressing issue, can we really trust two renegades at their word that the Covenant won't seize the opportunity to stab us in the back? Catch us with our back turned?"

[Naked Crook]

Jennifer was about to cut Spender off, but she stopped when she heard Reynold's interject. Jennifer had to agree with the fact that THe Covenant could very well stab the UNSC in the back at any moment after Vanguard had been defeated. Spender: You should listen to Captain Reynolds; he raises a very good point. Spender paused. Spender: ONI and the UNSC is so preoccupied with trying to stop The Trust, that they have not stopped to think if they should. What do you think is going to happen if ONI gets its way, and manages to stop us from activating Vanguard? Do you think your new-found cooperation with The Covenant is going to save you from their wrath? Spender paused. Spender: Do any of you honestly think that The Covenant will just peaceably walk away from this? The Trust is dealing with artifacts of significant religious importance to their religion. The Covenant simply wants what we have found; what we are about to turn against them...and they are manipulating you into your own graves. Spender paused. Spender: If you do not believe me when I say that Vanguard, and the technology around it, is NOT religiously significant...ask him... Spender pointed to Anaconda. Spender: If there is one thing that unites us all...it is our hatred of The Covenant. Can we not be civil with one-another on this ONE subject? Surely we can cooperate better then a pack of starving Brutes... Spender looked at Anaconda, as he grinned. Spender: Offense intended... Anaconda glared at Spender, and simply growled back.

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison turned to Anaconda and raised an eyebrow. Harrison: Is this true? Is Vanguard a religious symbol?

[Naked Crook]

Anaconda looked at Harrison, and nodded. Anaconda: To me...no... Anaconda paused. Anaconda: However...to the rest of my Kind, and to the other members of The Covenant...Vanguard would be revered as "sacred". The Covenant worships those who created it as "Gods"... Anaconda paused. Anaconda: That belief is the single driving force behind everything that The Covenant does...including the annhiliation of your species. While there are few...and I mean FEW who refute the status of Vanguard, as well as the faith that binds The Covenant, the fear of reprisal is very real, and any descent against the faith is met with death. I myself spent many years lying about my own faith, for political reasons. Spender interjected. Spender: My point exactly... Spender paused. Spender: The Covenant is fanatical in its pursuit of what it considers holy. I simply wish to use that against them. Our best minds have been over this a thousand times, and we all agree that there very IDEA of being betrayed by their Gods or their sacred beliefs is enough to shake them to the core. The damage we can to do The Covenant, with Vanguard, is not measured by burning ships or dead bodies...but rather, by social collapse. The destruction of their religion is how this war has to be won, and The Trust has the weapon to do it. Spender paused. Spender: History tells us that people turn on each other when they are turned on by their faith. A Covenant civil war is in Humanities best interest. Burke interjected. Burke: Strategically speaking, he is very correct... Spender grinned. Spender: Thank you... Burke: Don't thank me. I merely acknowledge that The Covenant ripping itself apart is better than The Covenant ripping Humanity apart. The fact is, I have seen your handy work for myself...heard of it...seen it...and I was never impressed. The shit that had gone down under your administrations, frankly, makes me sick to my stomach. Burke scoffed. Burke: You are the type of man who holds nothing sacred. You will abuse anything you can get your hands on. If possible, you would put a gun to the head of the Universe, and pull the trigger if it didn't bend to your will. To be totally clear...if Vanguard is everything you say it is...if it is as powerful of a weapon as it is a symbol...then you will turn it on the rest of Humanity the moment you get the chance. Spender: You presume to much of me... Burke: And you think too little of us. We are not stupid, Spender. There is no way in hell we are going to let you activate that AI. I don't say that to protect The Covenant or their religion. Frankly, I could not give a damn about The Covenant or its religion. I say that because I know that we, as in the rest of Humanity, will soon find itself in your iron sights. Spender simply frowned. Spender: Bold words coming from a man who is more skilled with the application of leeches than a gun. Your strategic evaluations of my actions will be entertained when that is no longer the case. Burke frowned. Burke: At least I can say that I have actually saved a Human life. That is more than what you can say. Spender became enraged, as a look of anger shot across his face. Spender: Everything I have done was to save Humanity! None of you can even comprehend the lengths I have gone to to save Humanity from its own annihilation! I have based my entire life on this principle! Tye shook his head. Tyber: It was never about saving Humanity with you! You never cared about saving anyone! The only things you EVER cared about was either saving your own ass or empowering it! Tye shook his head. Tyber: Whatever vision you have for Humanity; whatever is encompased by your definition of "saving Humanity"...it is putrid to the very core. Tye paused. Nighthawk, however, stepped towards Tye. Nighthawk: Commander...it is not worth it... Tye looked at Nighthawk, frowning at him. Nighthawk: Tye...let it go... Tyber: No...this has to be said. I have spent 25 years of my life bottling this up. I refuse to hide from this any longer. Tye turned to Spender, and walked towards him. Tyber: All you know how to do is get people killed. In all your years, you have never done ONE thing that saved ANYONE! All you do is use people, kill people, manipulate people... Tye paused. Tyber: You killed your wife because she wanted nothing to do with you. You killed your daughter because she had the guts to stand up to you. You manipulated Black Team into killing Chairman Davidov and Chairmen Smith because they TRIED everything in their power to stop you. You killed every man and woman in The Trust who had the audacity to oppose you. You even unleashed us on on a civilian population for Christ's sake... Tye paused. Tyber: You manipulated Eli, like you manipulated me... Tye paused. Tyber: You forced me to kill my best friend because you and that asshole Novak fucked him up... Tye clenched his fist as he glared at Spender. Tyber: So help me God...I am going to make you pay for all of it. When we find you, and we WILL find you, I am going to break you in half! Spender simply looked at Tye, as he took a drag of his cigarette. Spender finally budged, as he let out a sigh, and shook his head. Spender: Well then... Spender paused. Spender: I wish you luck with that, though, I think your former team mates may not make that an easy task. However, you do a drive and determination the likes of which I have never seen, so, we will see... Spender paused. Spender: Until we meet again...Black 6... Spender broke eye contact with Tye and looked at Harrison. Spender: I hope you caught that one, Admiral... Spender gave one final grin, before the holotank powered down, and the hologram vanished. Tye was left standing there, his heart rate through the roof, ready to snap at a moment's notice.

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison had taken a moment to himself to gather his thoughts. Tearing apart the Covenant was viable, but unleashing Vanguard to do it was something even he could not stand for. Harrison knew that Vanguard's destruction was the only thing to do in this situation, especially considering the Covenant revered it as a God. But that was put on the back-burner with this new realization. Harrison was focused on Tye the entire time he spoke and everything he said meant that Spender had done something to him, had done something extremely wrong in pursuit of, well, his own goals. The moment he mentioned Black 6, Harrison had begun to put it together, but he needed to hear it first. Harrison knew the situation was delicate at the moment and he knew, from Tye's heavy breathing, that he was about to snap. Harrison took a deep breath and leaned on the holotable. Harrison: Commander...I need you to take a deep breath. And I need you to know that we are on your side here, all of us. I need you to know that we are going to fight the Trust. Harrison paused, he assumed the rest of the room hadn't knew about this either. Harrison was very solemn in his tone and he did his best to keep his cool. Harrison: But, I need an explanation first, Commander.