[Halo] New! San Angeles RPG

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison was conversing with Strike Team Diamond at their pelican. Ice: And what do we do about the Covenant? Harrison: We wait for them to make the next move. I could care less if they "helped"- Harrison made air quotes as he spoke, us take this ship. They're the enemy, they've been the enemy for the last fifteen years. Madison: And Nighthawk? Harrison sighed. Harrison: Enemy. I don't care what anyone else says. Harrison saw Burke, Tye and Cameron enter the hangar bay through the corner of his eye. He watched the three converse and then separate with Cameron heading towards him. Harrison continued to talk to his team. Harrison: Get prepped. I want this done as fast as possible. You'll be taking Sharpmen to Deck 14, maximum security brig. Ice: Maximum? Harrison nodded. Harrison: The man killed two dozen marines, until I can talk to him, he stays under security. Under your security. Clear? Everyone nodded.

[Naked Crook]

Just as Harrison had finished speaking, Cameron stopped in his tracks, standing next to Harrison, and looking down at him. Cameron: Sir, if I may be so blunt...I don't think Captain Sharpmen needs a talking to, and he certainty does not need understanding. What he needs is a bullet in the head. Cameron paused. Cameron: What are you hoping to achieve by talking to him?

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison sighed. Harrison: I am hoping to learn something before we sentence the man to death. Harrison paused and looked at Cameron. Harrison: If there is anything I know, it's that a man whose about to die has nothing to lose. And a man who has nothing to lose, gives up information. Easily.

[Naked Crook]

Cameron: Men with nothing to lose also have everything to gain, including a shot at extending their own lives. I have seen it many times, sir; men will say anything to save their own lives, and I suspect that Jacob will be no different. Men like him claim that their actions were for a greater good; which in this case would be collecting intel to use against The Trust. I would not trust a single word the man has to say. As Cameron said this, Jennifer had entered the hanger bay. As she approached Harrison, Fireteam Diamond, and Cameron, she caught the final part of what Cameron said. Jennifer: Trust which man, Cameron? Cameron turned and looked at Jennifer. Cameron: Jacob Sharpmen. I firmly believe that man is going into full damage control mode in order to save his own ass...ma'am Jennifer nodded. Jennifer: That would be my default position on the matter. I could see that being the case. Jennifer paused. Jennifer: However, that is beside the point. I would much prefer to get under way and get that traitor out of my brig.

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison shook his head as the three of them walked into the pelican. Harrison: Neither of you know the man like I do. Harrison paused as he tapped the hull of the pelican, within a few moments the bay door closed and they were moving. Harrison took a seat and sat down. Harrison: But like Captain Frost says, this is beside the point.

[Naked Crook]

Jennifer: Frankly, Admiral...I don't think any of us knew Jacob as well as any of us thought. There is nobody in this Pelican that could have predicted his momentary defection to The Trust. Jennifer paused. Jennifer: Don't assume that you know him any better than we do. ONI would be a pretty terrible intelligence agency if it did not know things about people. Jennifer remained standing, her hands behind her back, with her back to the cockpit. She listened as the engines began to fire up. As the engines engaged, she turned her head, and barked a single order at the cockpit, giving the pilot a single destination and instruction. Jennifer: King Raven...double time it! Jennifer then turned back to face Harrison. Jennifer: FYI Admiral...the one thing I will not compromise on is being forced to sit out of any questioning or interrogation of Jacob Sharpen. I will be present for any questioning that takes place. That is non-negotiable. You may not care about ONI Protocol...but I do. I live by it, and I stand by it...and I will not allow you to stop me from doing my job. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that I do have options and I do have recourse if you try to stone wall me in my responsibilities. Jennifer paused. Jennifer: This is not a threat...just a friendly reminder on behalf of The Office of Naval Intelligence. Meanwhile: Spender, Yates, Novak, and The Consultant had left the hanger area, and had moved to Firebase Mediterranean's CIC. Upon their arrival, Spender began to bark orders at all of the Trust Officers that were stationed there. Spender: Someone open an encrypted channel on the lower EM bands, and direct the message directly at The Mind's Attrition, addressed directly to Captain Reynolds. I wish to speak directly with him...immediately. Flag the message as priority 1, and mask the communication signature using a UNSC header. Spender waited a moment, as the communications officer carried out the order that was assigned to him. Comm Officer: The channel is open, and the message is sent. We will now have to wait for someone to respond, and forward the message along to Reynolds. This will depend on Reynold's availability, and his crew's ability to forward the message along. Spender: I can wait. I am nothing, if not patient.

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison shook his head, he could tell Frost wanted her job to be done, but he had more pressing concerns and he never wanted her to not do her job. He just wanted her to fall in line, and he wanted to find the truth. Harrison: Not once did I say you were to sit out of the questioning, Captain. Not once did I mention that I were to be doing it alone, I never wanted that. Harrison paused as he stared at Frost, he was sick of ONI's bullshit. Harrison: But if you think I am going to idly sit by and allow you to have Nighthawk sit in on matters of grave importance like this, you are mistaken. He will not be allowed anywhere near sensitive UNSC or ONI information. And not to mention Commander Vernette's revelation, if I wasn't going to be notified then you shouldn't have let that monster hear it either. Harrison paused. Harrison: He is a terrorist, more so to ONI than he is to the UNSC, you of all people should know that. And yet you seem to overlook that fact at his every action. If ONI doesn't take it seriously, then the UNSC will and the UNSC will act. Harrison smirked, he wanted to make sure Frost understood. Harrison: And that, Captain, is a threat.

[Naked Crook]

Jennifer simply grinned. Jennifer: I have no intention of involving Nighthawk with the interrogation of Captain Sharpmen. I would not waste his time. TO be quite frank...Nighthawk has better things to do. Jennifer shrugged. Jennifer: As for Tye's history; Nighthawk was in the loop for tactical reasons. Information like that helps him understand his enemy. It gives him new insight into The Trust. Anything that helps Nighthawk kick The Trust square in the ass, is fine by me. I stand by my decision to include Nighthawk in the original debriefing. I owed him one anyway. He deserved to be included. He had earned the right tr know. Jennifer paused. Jennifer: I find it so laughable when people call him a "terrorist". I have colleagues that coll him a terrorist. You call him a terrorist. Just because you think something is true, does not make it true. I will agree that he can be adversarial, confrontation, and downright rude. These are facts...I have seen it. I don't approve of his behavior, but then, I see the company he keeps...and then it starts to make sense why he is such an asshole. There has to be something for Anaconda to respect...otherwise...it will fall apart. I have yet to meet a Brute who respects the politically correct. You dislike the man because of his way of doing things and his personality. However, it is those things that make him effective at what he does. You really need to think about if you REALLY want these two to be your enemies. It is not a good idea. Jennifer paused. Jennifer: However...I am sure this is all falling on deaf ears. I am sure that you have convinced yourself that those two are the enemy. I am certain that you are going to find a way to go toe to toe with him...just to satisfy your hatred for that man and his very large associate. Jennifer grinned. Jennifer: The way you talk...the way you speak about him...the way you talk about a UNSC response; you want armed conflict with him...don't you? You want to do battle with Nighthawk and Anaconda...don't you? If that is what you are after, then I want no part of it,

[Hells Sniper]

Harrison sighed. Harrison: Tactical reasons? The man despises the Trust, and you let him learn that one of our highest ranking officers... Harrison paused as he knew Strike Team Diamond was on the pelican, he shook his head. has a past with them. You let him in on valuable secrets because you "owed him one." For Christs' sake, the man doesn't need every single detail to put up a fight against the Trust, hell, you weren't going to let me in on those secrets and I'm the one leading the damn fleet! Harrison was clearly still angry over the situation with Nighthawk and he was still upset with Frost for many things. Harrison: And laughable, really Captain? The man has murdered more men and women than I care to count, he has killed countless civilians and military leaders because he didn't agree with them. He's killed dozens of Spartans because he has some grudge against them? He is partnered up with an enemy sworn to destroy humanity and yet you can respect that? What do you call that? By all definitions of the word, he is a goddamned terrorist. Harrison could feel the pelican begin the docking sequence as he stood up. Strike Team Diamond also prepped themselves. Harrison: I don't want an armed conflict with Nighthawk or Anaconda. I want their heads separated from their bodies. And by the end of this, I'm sure others will too. The pelican bay door opened to one of the hangar bays on the King Raven. Strike Team Diamond had immediately departed the pelican, waiting for Harrison, Frost, and Cameron. Harrison: After you, Captain.

[Naked Crook]

Frost stepped off the Pelican, as she led the group across the hanger bay, and towards the main exit, which would take them into the corridors of the ship. Jennifer: It is clear that you are lacking significant information on Nighthawk and Anaconda's activities. Jennifer paused. Jennifer: I don't pretend to understand why Nighthawk and Anaconda do what they do, or kill who they kill. A lot about them is still a mystery... Jennifer stopped, as she turned and looked at Harrison. Jennifer: But, have you ever considered the possibility that The Trust is MORE than just The Ulterior Motive? Have you ever considered that The Trust was MORE than just one ship and one crew at one location? Have you ever considered that someone aboard your ship MAY be a member of The Trust, and you never knew it? Jennifer paused. Jennifer: I seriously doubt that Nighthawk and Anaconda are serial killers out for cheap thrills. Given how fanatical they are about fighting The Trust, is it not conceivable that every single one of their victims may have been tied to The Trust? Think about that prospect. Jennifer then turned, as she continued to walk. As she did, Cameron, who was following behind the group, spoke up. Cameron: Sir, I am curious... Cameron paused. Cameron: You define Nighthawk as a terrorist because he has, allegedly, partnered up with an enemy that is sword to destroy Humanity. I assume you mean his little stunt involving The Covenant aboard The Ulterior Motive. Cameron paused. Cameron: If that IS your criteria for being a terrorist, then would not Jacob also be, by your definition, a terrorist? Jacob DID, after all, ally with an enemy who is trying to destroy us, namely, The Trust...and last I checked, The Trust was trying to activate some sort of doomsday AI that will kill everyone. Jacob has killed some of our fellow soldiers, and he did this all without telling any of us. Cameron shrugged. Cameron: In your own words...what is Jacob? Is he a terrorist...or does he get special exception because he is a friend of yours?