[Halo] New! Halo RPG Pt. 11 - Page 297 - The New Order

Naked Crook · 07-12-2016

Vernette noticed Cochraine at his door, just as he finished speaking. He raised his arm, and gestured his hand, as if telling Cochraine to enter.

When Barrabus saw this, he turned his head, and watched as Cochraine entered the office. He stepped to the side, as he snorted. He looked Cochraine up and down, head to toe, as if sizing her up, before turning back to Vernette.

Barrabus: I can take a hint. I will leave you to question your subordinate.

Vernette: Don't go to far. I am expecting to hear from Shipmaster Xyrho shortly. Once I do, we are going to be discussing retaliatory strategies against The Trust.

Barrabus: I will stay nearby. Inform me when those Sangheili bastards are ready to talk.

Vernette: Will do.

Barrabus turned, as he walked out of Vernette's office; his feet making heavy thudding sounds as he walked away. As soon as Barrabus had left the office, Vernette turned hjis attention to Cochraine.

Vernette: Captain Cochraine, welcome to The Citadel. Honestly...I am surprised you found you way here. Most people get lost. This is a very big facility. Kudos to you.

Vernette paused, as he grinned at Cochraine.

Vernette: I see it, plain as day. Your stance, the dead stare, the tightness in your jaw line. The way your brow seems tense around your temples. You are on edge. You look very tense. I am guessing part of it was The Chieftain. Don't worry, most people are tense around creatures that, on a bad day, can be higher on the food chain.

Vernette laughed.

Vernette: Relax, Captain. Have a seat. I am rather interested to hear your report on Silverblur. How did it go? Were you able to secure us an additional asset?

Kairu · 07-12-2016

Cochraine released the tension in her jawline, sitting down upon the offer. She set the PDA on the Director's desk.

Cochraine: "Well, it didn't go as well as I hoped. He refused our invitation to fight. He isn't willing to risk his own people's lives for a fight they have no interest in. His terms were too high and he knew it. However, after the Trust showed up, he did give us something for risking our necks for him."

Cochraine motioned to the PDA.

Cochraine: "He gave us all of his intel on current locations of various Trust operations. As far as I can tell, it's genuine, however, I don't think that's all of them, whether by choice or not."

Naked Crook · 07-12-2016

Vernette looked at the PDA, and winced his eyes, before he reached out and picked it up. He examined the PDA for a moment, before looking back at Cochraine.

Vernette: A few of these locations we know about. However, a good number of them I did not know about. This data will come in handy. On my end, I am currently in the planning phases for a counter attack against The Trust, so, this information will prove to be very useful.

Vernette paused, as he set the PDA down.

Vernette: That being said, I am genuinely concerned about Silverblur's refusal to provide us with military assistance. This is a man, rather, a Spartan; someone who was created, modified, and trained to fight and kill at every opportunity, refusing to get involved in a conflict against a mutual enemy. He has no qualms providing us with the intel we need to fight The Trust, but, he refuses to even enforce our lines with even a single bullet.

Vernette scoffed.

Vernette: What were his demands?

Kairu · 07-12-2016

Cochraine: "He wanted first pickings over the Bismarck. He also knew about the ship and some of its general details, including how advanced it is. He didn't provide any details, but I'm sure he does have access to part of the Trust's network."

Cochraine shifted in the chair a little. Although it was a sort of casual debrief, she couldn't keep away her discomfort about how things played out. Now hearing that the Elites could be an asset on her team's side, just didn't sit right in her stomach.

Naked Crook · 07-12-2016

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.

Kairu · 07-13-2016

Cochraine nodded.

Cochraine: "I do see the worst case scenario, and I would have to agree. But just to provide some sort of counter-stance, is that not the whole point of asking them to join? Or the Elites? Using them as our 'heavy lifting' force to help us keep the Bismarck. He may feel that we don't stand a chance against it. But he's always been a fringe element. He's never posed a real threat, but if he has an eye on this Forerunner tech, then he must have an end game."

Cochraine sat back in the chair, weighing out the possible outcomes of the pirate element. She then spoke without making eye contact, still staring into the distance.

Cochraine: "Can we really divert any of our forces to address them right now?"

Naked Crook · 07-13-2016

Vernette sighed, and shook his head.

Vernette: I would like to avoid pulling our ships off of their current assignments to chase down one rouge element. The fact is, The Trust has us on the defensive, and I cannot risk the security of our worlds to chase down one Spartan.

Vernette shurgged.

Vernette: That being said...I am forced to come back to the idea of counter-intelligence 101.

Vernette grinned.

Vernette: The prospect of getting The Trust into an armed conflict with Silverblur is a very tempting idea to engage. Some of ONI's finest work has been in false flag operations. However, as with all false flag ops...they carry extreme risk.

Vernette paused, as he glared at Cochraine.

Vernette: Be honest with me Captain; in your honest oppinion, what would it take to get Silverblur into a sustained conflict with The Trust? Do you believe it is possible? I ask because I feel you know this guy in a way that gives you a unique insight into his psyche. I am going to defer to your knowledge on this.

Kairu · 07-13-2016

Cochraine brought her left hand to her chin, forming an iconic contemplative expression.

Cochraine: "Well, I would imagine he, or at least, others he recruits are ex-Trust. It would explain why and how he has managed to keep a tap on their internal databases and activities."

Cochraine took a pause to re-collect her thoughts and focus on the question.

Cochraine: "Well, I think there would be two people that would help. Unfortunately, one of them is dead, Captain Reynolds, my former C.O. The second person is very much alive and active within the Trust, Captain Harvey. At least, I think it's still Captain. She was leading the forces that we encountered on Sanfran."

Cochraine sat still lost in thought.

Cochraine: "Alternatively, we could use me as bait. Harvey had began to sew a seed of descent between Silverblur and I. She tried to pose that I was working for the Trust as an active member and that I lured him out. He seems to have a fixation with me. Probably because he seemed to have a fondness for Reynolds. Using the facade that I'm working with the Trust would put me in danger as well."

Cochraine then sat forward putting her elbows on her thighs in a thinking manner.

Cochraine: "What else could we learn about him? He's an older generation Spartan, perhaps, with your resources, Sir, you may be able to find out which one he is. That could also give us an edge."

Cochraine then had an idea hatch.

Cochraine: "What about that Spartan team that was aboard the Ulterior Motive during the San Angeles Incident? The ones that used the gravity hammers? If you can get details on them, we may be able to pit the fronts against each other."

Naked Crook · 07-13-2016

Vernette grinned, as he looked down at his desk, and began to tap his fingers on an embedded touch screen that was built into his desk. As he did this, a large screen that was mounted on the wall powered up, and the intelligence dossiers for Hammer Team was shown on the large screen.

Vernette: You are talking about Hammer Team. I am familliar with them. I did quite a bit of intelligence gathering on them back in the day...that is, when I saw much more field work.

Vernette paused.

Verneyte: I can tell you, without any doubt in my mind, that these are Spartan II - Class 0s. These were ONI's private stock, and they were always prime candidates for Trust recruitment. While I don't have as much intel on Silverblur, I have no doubt that he is also a Class 0.

Vernette paused.

Vernette: However, as far as Hammer Team is concerned, I can give you the clearence necessary to access their ONI service records, as well as any intel we have detailing their time with The Trust.

Kairu · 07-13-2016

Cochraine took a pause to think and look at the information on the wall.

Cochraine: "Would you be able to cross-examine the list of all Class-0 Spartans that underwent this type of training with all known Class-0s ONI has encountered at present date? We could at least narrow the list down. We could even add in more parameters for personality traits to the filter. Certain ones like 'leader' and 'intelligent' would be a start."

Cochraine began to form a smile.

Cochraine: "He seems to value his alias much like the duo Nighthawk and Anaconda do. If we could crack his identity, it would allow us to gain an advantage over him. Perhaps we can ever use it to coerce him into cooperating with us."