---

Ethat took only a moment of thought to reply to Yalu. ”It’s best to deal with him quickly, but…it is more important to claim the keep and ensure the planet knows of Tar ‘Mdalak’s victory. To flee his keep instead of fighting to the death to defend it would mark Uztel as a coward. Only the most fanatical of Covenant supporters would be willing to overlook such dishonor. If you have to make that choice, focus on securing the keep.” He answered.

After a few moments of silence passed, Major Robinson deactivated the display and pulled Shih’s data chip from the holotank. ”If there are no more questions, then Commander Vael ‘Virisusai has operational authority for Aegis team on this mission. That means he will be your commanding officer. There is a pelican waiting outside to take the team to our Blockade Runner in orbit. All of your equipment is being brought to the ship as we speak, along with UNSC reinforcements and supplies that have been approved for the mission. Dismissed.”

Vael had an eye on Tar. After her initial outburst, she had kept quiet. However, he knew her well enough to know that this was not a mission she could just detach herself from. Much of her motivation for fighting was to restore her father’s honor; family did have clear meaning to her.

Tar barely heard the mission details being discussed. Her ears were ringing like she’d been struck. Her own brother had betrayed the entire family with his treachery. She should have seen this coming! The warning signs had been there, now she really thought about it in this conference room, with the sound of others talking droned on in the background.

When the three of them were just children, Falx, Tar and Uztel spent many hours hunting Du’nak in the forests outside their Keep with the other younglings. Imported from Sanghelios centuries before and rewilded by accident soon after, these animals had adapted well to the cold, wet hillsides of Brissekh and grown suspicious of Sangheili again.

Operating as a pair, Tar and Falx, her older brother, had wounded and cornered a prime specimen. An adult alpha with long, broad tusks and mature back-horns resting within a muscular frame - the ultimate prize. They’d been closing in on the wounded animal after harassing and tracking it for the entire morning. Finally, they found it collapsed up against a rock formation, with dense bushes on one side and a steep drop on the other. They had it trapped.

But as they approached to strike the killer blow and claim the animal as their own, a spear flew through the undergrowth and pierced the Du’nak’s head, killing it instantly. Uztel appeared. Tar & Falx had exploded with fury as Uztel calmly collected his weapon.

“I’m sorry, siblings. I didn’t see you there! Forgive me.” He proclaimed. But Tar saw a glimmer of amusement in her brother’s eyes that day. A sadistic streak that thrived on reaping rewards for minimal personal risk. Uztel swore he had not been stalking the pair of them once he knew they had a worthy prize. Yet, Tar later found out her younger brother’s hunting partner had lost sight of him hours before the incident had happened.

Tar returned from her reverie just as the Human female dismissed them.

“No one touches my brother, except me.” Tar growled, tapping her chestplate with one fingernail as the others turned to leave. “If I fall in battle, you leave and allow Brissekh to decide Uztel’s fate. Or you find Falx and free him, if he still lives. Those are my terms.”

Lucas didn't speak when Tar spoke, instead nodding and continuing on his way out of the briefing room. This whole thing stank of an ONI op, from the removal of Tar's older brother to the younger brother refusing to put himself at risk. In fact, as he stepped to one side to wait for the Commando, he eyed the ONI PO and his escort. Those two were ONI through and through, despite playing nice with the team thus far. If he had to guess, they probably had orders to make sure the team failed if it ever looked to be not worth the effort in the Intelligence agency's eyes. Same as they had tried to do to all the old black ops teams when the war ended. They weren't a necessity anymore, just a risk. We all knew too much... That wasn't to say that the two knew anything about the other issues, Ryker knew ONI too well to think that, but he could probably never bring himself to trust the organization again.

When the Commando stepped out, he matched her pace. "I understand that a lot of this has to do with Uztel has to do with Family Honor and the like. But you're needed alive, by a lot of your people. Don't do anything rash, especially if your brother is what they say he is. You know he won't fight fair or honorably."

---

Ethat let out a quick huff as he turned his head towards Tar. ”Once the assault begins, there is likely no escape without either destroying most of the keep, or deposing Uztel. The Covenant’s operations on Brissekh will be stopped, one way or another. The plan we have devised is our best way of doing so with the least damage to your homeworld. Do remember that.”

Ultimately, Vael saw little reason to argue against the plan at the moment. Strategically, it was sound. If the plan proceeded successfully, then Brissekh would have new leadership loyal to the Arbiter. There would certainly be resistance from Covenant loyalists after the coup, but they would not be conquering Brissekh. Tar had the legal claim to become Scion, so if Uztel was removed in battle, honor would demand most of the citizens’ loyalty. It would be unconventional, with Tar being female, but the position of Scions had changed under the Arbiter’s rule. If they were correct about the level of support for the Arbiter on the world, then Vael did not expect that the resistance would be insurmountable.

Ryker joined Tar as the meeting was dismissed, though Vael did not. He doubted the Human would understand half of what a situation like this would mean for someone in Tar’s position, but if he made the mistake of offending her, then the Spartan could deal with the consequences himself. As long as his team could perform their duties to his standards, they were free to deal with personal issues between them however they saw fit. Should they ever fail in their duties because of such issues, then they would have Vael to deal with. Vael himself wasted no time in making his way to the pelican outside. They would be using a Sangheili Blockade Runner for this mission, so it would be the Humans who were out-of-place this time.

Yalu tried to search the eyes of his superior officers to gauge the reaction to Tar's proclamations. He was not especially relieved to hear the ever diplomatic Lacalu try to appeal to the responsibility Tar had to her homeworld rather than making it clear that she was not the one in power here. The very fact that she was on this mission presented a personal influence that could compromise the objective.

Looking at it from another angle enlightened Yalu. They needed her to fight voluntarily to show the populace she was worthy of Brissekh. They could not have her going rogue. A female commando this far from her keep would necessarily be bold enough to do so.

Yalu walked a few paces behind Tar and Lucas but did not pitch in with his opinion. He turned off to stop by his quarters before proceeding to the hanger so he could leave behind the foam racing collar around his neck.

"Sorry Lucas," he muttered to himself. "I pray you do not learn too violent a lesson with your human sensibilities."

He made a personal note to bring a cold pack with him to the pelican, just in case any heads needed cooling.

Tar growled threateningly, leaning over the table towards Ethat. Both of her hands rested back in the divots she’d created; the stanchions screeched in complaint. When she spoke, her voice wasn’t raised anymore, but soft and laced with poison. “Then your warriors had best remember to stay in line - behind me.”

Tar pushed off from the table and stalked out of the briefing room along with the rest of Aegis team. The last thing she wanted was a lecture from Spartan Ryker, and she made that abundantly clear through her body language, though no doubt the Human wouldn’t pick it up. “Don’t concern yourself with my welfare, Ryker.” She growled.

Martialling all her discipline, Tar tried to make the best of the Spartan’s obvious investment in this operation by sharing what really puzzled her: “I know my brother. This treachery was always in his heart, but Uztel wouldn’t readily plunder our world. Something doesn’t smell right - I need to talk to him, before I kill him.”

A pair of facility orderlies pressed their backs firmly against the wall to let them pass. “Can I count on you, Ryker? It has to be me who confronts him - if I fall, don’t let ONI take him. Brissekh will fall apart without blood continuity. It's the only thing holding us together.”

---

Given that they would be leaving that day, Aegis team were encouraged quickly into the pelican, though once they were aboard the Blockade Runner, they would be able to do as they saw fit until they arrived at Brissekh. Covenant slipspace drives were far superior to the traditional Human Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engines. Journeys that, before the reverse-engineering of Forerunner slipspace technology, took Humans months, the Covenant could complete in minutes to hours. Brissekh was not too far outside Human territory, so it would only take a few hours to reach their destination. They would likely be waiting longer than that for the rest of the fleet to be ready to start the diversion.

Although a corvette by Sangheili standards, the Blockade Runner in orbit, Magnificent Defiance, was even larger than the Autumn-class heavy cruiser they had used during their first mission. As the loading ramp of the pelican opened, they were greeted with a curious mixture of UNSC and Swords personnel and equipment. Sangheili and Unggoy crewmen coordinated with Human marines to organize the vehicles and equipment that were being delivered by a constant stream of cargo pelicans. Obviously, the ship did not have proper storage facilities for Human equipment, not to mention differing organizational conventions between their two militaries, so there were no doubt no shortage of logistical issues for the two groups to iron out. Fortunately, that particular task did not fall to Aegis team.

Before leaving the pelican, Ethat sent each member of the team a map of the ship highlighting relevant areas. Quarters, mess hall, training rooms, and likely most relevant, the armory with their equipment. Given that they would not be staying on the ship long before the start of the mission, they would not likely need to stray far if they did not wish to.

---

Flint got word that he was going to be joining Aegis Team about seven days prior to being needed on the blockade runner Magnificent Defiance. Needless to say he was in a whirlwind trying to pack everything and get flights lined up so he didn't miss the bird out there. Once he was on the pelican headed to the Corvette he finally took a moment to relax. The pelican they ended up throwing him on was outfitted to be carrying strictly cargo, all except for the one seat bolted to the wall he can only assume was reinstalled just prior to take off for none other than himself. Everything else in the bay was inside some sort of packaging or was covered so he couldn't get a good look at what all he was surrounded by, not that it really mattered, it just would have helped him pass the time if he had something to look at and ponder about.

Post flight Flint walked out of the pelican with all his gear in tow. He could already tell he would be enjoying his new position. He was literally standing in a fully operational covenant corvette. His hands itched to start tearing it apart and figuring out what made it tick, but of course, that wasn't what he was here for. He reported in to the receiving officer, a freshly commissioned lieutenant who seemed to still be learning his position. Flint waited patiently as the Lt. figured out where he would be staying. Eventually he was given directions to some personal quarters and shown where the armory was so that he could drop off his things.

He landed only a few hours ahead of the team so he didn't have much free time once he stowed all his belongings, be it in the armory or his temporary personal quarters. He was notified to report to the hanger that Aegis Teams pelican would be landing in any minute now. Flint headed to the bay in his uniform trousers and a combat top, M6S strapped to his leg. By the time be reached the hangar he could already see the pelican on approach, he picked up his pace to a light jog as the hanger crew guided the pilots and set the bird down. Flint started rounding the back end of the pelican just as the rear hatch disengaged and started to lower.

Throughout all of Tar's speaking, Lucas didn't interrupt or reply, instead opting to let the Sangheili female get it all off her chest. However, when she asked for his word to keep ONI's claws off of her home, he nodded. "Stopping ONI from doing something? You can bet I'm all for doing so, without hesitation."

---

The transition to the blockade runner was done without much celebration or pomp and circumstance, which fit the SPARTAN-IV just fine as under the radar is the best way for their team to operate. As he walked off the pelican, not noting the person approaching from one side and the front of the pelican, he started to ponder how the others would handle working underneath Commander Vael'Virisusai. In the interim since now and their last mission as Aegis, Ryker had worked almost exclusively under the Sangheili warrior.

And while he had plenty of prior experience working primarily with the members of the Sangheili race, working directly under one had been both different and educational. So long as everyone could follow orders and do their part, he didn't imagine there would be many issues. However, as he headed for the armory to check on his weapons and make sure it was all up to par and clean, he couldn't help but wonder how well the human members of the team who hadn't worked under Sangheili before would take it.

---

Being aboard the Blockade Runner once again brought Vael back to familiar territory. Time spent among Humans was often spent in cramped quarters among suspicious and unusual people, so being back on a Sangheili vessel was something of a relief. Granted, Blockade Runners were somewhat uncomfortable even among Sangheili. The scented air and constant subsonic sounds of the vessel were not present on the Covenant vessels most Sangheili had been accustomed to serving on. There were still vessels from the Covenant among their fleet, but as they could not be replaced, more traditional Sangheili designs had come to the forefront the longer this war lasted. They tended to have less refined efficiency, relying more on sheer power in weapons, propulsion, and other systems. A lack of safeties meant that ships such as this could be pushed beyond the limits of Covenant vessels, but for less experienced crews, that made catastrophic failures more likely.

Stepping out of the pelican, Vael did notice a Human standing nearby, seemingly waiting for them. Ethat had already handled directing them to necessary locations around the ship, though it was possible that the Humans had some matter of importance for them. The UNSC was also contributing soldiers, vehicles, and equipment to this mission.

Out of Aegis team, Vael was the first to approach the Human. He was small, even by their kind’s standards: a fact that became all the more prominent as Vael towered over him. ”You have something to say, Human?” He asked.

Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker

// Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Sangheili Corvette

The sea food was just as good the last time he was here and again the Unggoy almost got their group kicked out due to his voracious appetite and messy table manners. Honestly he knew he did get a little excited, this particular human food was his favorite but due to its tendency to spoil easily he did not find it very often on other worlds or stations. It seemed they got pulled away just in time to their meeting, he was sure that the next time he arrived here there would be a sign for no Unggoy.

The meeting was rather standard, go in after covenant, loosen their foot hold, and turn the populace against them. The specifics where a little different but it was standard for what he was used too. Grik knew he would have to tread lightly on this one as one of the team was directly involved with it. The Sangheili pilot they picked up on the first mission they had. She was resourceful as were all the team members but this one also had a youthful energy about her that was honestly refreshing. These where all Grik’s observations as he hadn’t talked to her too much before he had to leave.

The Unggoy could only wonder how this mission would be interesting compared to his many other missions. His mind drifted back to his time on his home planet and the vehicle he brought from there. This kept him quiet on the pelican trip up to their blockade runner. A sleek but powerful corvette new and unusual ship types where not unaccustomed to him as he was born on a ship. The human presence on it was staggering. This time they really would have better support than the last one.

Grik stepped off the pelican behind Vael and looked at the human before them. Looking to Ryker as he headed off into the ship for a moment then again back to the human. He wasn’t a Spartan or an ODST, those humans had more of a presence about them, and he didn’t have the weird look of an ONI agent. Was this one a messenger perhaps or a human with a grudge? Grikgar knew the humans had that feeling in the back of their minds that came out when they were indulging in alcohol or drugs. The Ultra stood quietly by Vael curious to see what he had to say before he would go off to check on his new toy in the vehicle bay.

---

As the cargo door on the pelican hit the bay floor Flint was momentarily stunned. He had seen some UNSC and Covenant work together before but this group of individuals was a mental flashbang. He had to check himself to make sure he wasn't gawking at the insane variety on the team, not to mentions everyones size! Flint knew he was on the shorter end of the spectrum but this was just crazy. He watched as the first one off the bird was a Spartan IV who disregarded him entirely. Flint was told he was reporting to a certain 'Vael 'Virisusai' and he had a hard time believing that would be a Spartans name. So he kept searching the team for any clues as to who it might be.

He didn't have to wait long for a big Sangheili to walk straight up to him. The alien towered over Flint, he wasn't particularly intimidated by it since he was accustomed to looking up at people when engaging them however he did not like having to look this far.

"I'm Petty Officer Second Class John Flint, I'm looking for a 'Vael 'Virisusai' of Aegis Team? I'm an Intelligence and Exploitation Engineer sent to aid and assist this asset." extending his hand forward for a handshake. 'Do Sangheili do handshakes? I'm sure this one has spent enough time around humans to know about handshakes right?'

Tar nodded in response to Ryker; pleased despite the dark cloud hanging overhead.

“I’m glad.” She rasped.

---

The Commando was silent for the entire Pelican flight from their lodgings in HIGHCOM Bravo-6 to the Magnificent Defiance. She held onto an overhead rail as the ship rattled through the atmosphere and into space, glowering at the space between atoms in front of her.

She still couldn’t fully believe that Uztel had betrayed the family. There wasn’t much worse you could do in a close-knit Blood Keep. The missing pieces nagged at the back of her mind; what possessed her little brother to do it - was it greed? Or was something else motivating him now? Tar had to find out.

The sounds, smells and cavernous tremors of the hangar bay assaulted Tar’s senses from the moment the ramp started lowering. She immediately yearned for somewhere quieter, so she could contemplate the situation further. She was following Spartan Ryker towards the door her map indicated went to the armoury, when she heard someone talking to Vael and Grik on one side. The words made Tar grit her mandibles together.

Circling back behind the small Human as they extended a hand in greeting, Tar stalked up to their shoulder. “And what does this one propose to exploit, on my homeworld?” She purred, butting in, staring menacingly down on the man. She was small among the other Sangheili, but still loomed over the new arrival.

---

Before the first elite he addressed could answer another, shorter, and much more aggressive Sangheili started barking at him from over his shoulder. Flint dropped his hand and turned square to them, resting his hands on his hips in a relaxed mannor.

"Anything I can get my hands on. Weapons, armor, shielding, comms equipment, you name it. Speaking of which, that's a nice harness you've got on, any chance I could get you to shed it and let me have my way with it? Ill put it back together just like I never touched it I promise."

Flint gestured towards her armor as he talked leaning from one side to the other giving a half assed attempt to try getting a better look at it. He stood tall, as tall as he could, with a grin on his face knowing full well the elite was about to storm off or pound him into a new floor finish for the hangar bay.

Nearby, working with a pair of humans to get what they had affectionately dubbed the 'needle-hog' parked next to a Spectre so that it doesn't cause issues should the blockade runner come under fire, an Infiltrator glances over at the smart-mouthed marine. "Oi, lad, come on now. Commandoes aren't known for their sense of humor." Turning back to her task, she barks an order at a nearby Unggoy who was tapping away rapidly at a datapad. "You there, laddy! What's takin' engineering so long?"

Clearly she'd spent a lot of time around humans, specifically the Scottish. The Unggoy replied in a language that any listening humans could recognize as Sangheili. The Infiltrator growled in annoyance at the reply and waved a human out of the way as she headed for a wall communication before barking into it in rapid Sangheili.

---

Vael was aware of Human conventions for greetings. Many of the Humans who he had been working with as a part of Aegis team no longer bothered with them, since they all knew their customs were not shared. This Human, though, was clearly new. Vael did not know all of the UNSC’s ranks and roles, but the meaning of “engineer” was self-explanatory. If that implied the skills he possessed, then Vreta could see why he might have been selected to assist the team on this mission. They had objectives that would benefit from technical expertise. Vael did recall that some final changes to their team’s composition were being considered by their superiors in the days leading up to the briefing. He would need to check after this to see which had been given approval. These would ideally have been decided upon before the briefing, but logistical issues had been an irritating constant for Aegis team.

Tar ‘Mdalak’s interjection came uninvited, though Vael could not say the Human’s response was any more wise. On his part, Vael would not do anything to hold Tar back unless she threatened to prevent this Human from performing his duties. ”You have a great deal to learn, Flint.”

Surprised and enraged in equal measure by the audacity of this Human’s response, Tar chuckled. Not a cheerful sound, but a hoarse, venomous warning that any living being with sense would run from. When she spoke, her voice was soft and conspiratorial, with a razor-sharp edge. “Ah... A beggar, here for knowledge that isn’t yours. Did you know, little one, there are a lot of places to hide a bag of skin and bone like yours on a Hekar Taa?”

Tar softly grasped the front of Flint’s shirt with her right hand as she said this. She slowly lifted him off the ground until the Human was right in front of her face. “Not to mention the black maw of space, patiently waiting to swallow you forever.” She gestured subtly with her head towards the dark canvas they had just come from in the Pelican, visible behind the forcefield off to one side. “Tell me why I shouldn't slay you right now for your insolence.” Tar hissed.

---

"Woahshit-" Escaped Flints mouth as the elites hand grabbed a fistful of the the front of him, lifting him of the ground. He was hanging onto the sangheili's wrist so that she wouldn't choke him. "Hey now- who says knowledge belongs to anyone huh? We are all in the pursuit of more!" He grunted trying to get a little more comfortable in his brand new teammates hand. Clearly joking he managed to respond to her question, "Just one reason? Well for starters I'm pretty good looking by human standards and you don't wanna let that go to waste!" The fact Flint was grinning like an idiot surely didn't help the situation. It didn't really even seem like he was trying to calm the angry alien who had him by the throat.

"I'll take this as a, 'No you cant have my armor'. Would you mind setting me down gently please?"

Yalu was happy to find that no one needed an ice pack at the drop ship. On the ride up to the blockade runner, he went around starting conversation with the team mates he had not seen for some time. Few enough were receptive.

---

The hangar they emerged from on the Magnificent Defiance somehow did not feel like home for Yalu. The first thing that struck him when he paced down the loading ramp was the human technology fitting so inelegantly with the surroundings.

The new engineer forced his attention when his disrespect reached his ears. Yalu watched on, momentarily distracted by the infiltrator admonishing Petty Officer Flint from a distance. "What manner of human dialect...?" he muttered, hardly understanding a word of it.

Regardless, Tar had Flint by the collar now. Commander Vael left the situation, leaving the peacekeeping to anyone stepping up. Yalu cleared his throat. "'Mdalak. Let us not alienate the humans before we regain your keep. You know many of them are ignorant of our ways."

Tar snarled, reflexively flaring her mandibles to show the Human her teeth. This one seemed like he was trying to provoke her. She raised Flint a bit higher, and balled up her free hand into a fist. Then, she heard Yalu clear his throat and speak to her from nearby.

She turned her head slightly to listen as he appealed to reason. Unfortunately, he did make sense. Tar didn’t particularly like that the UNSC was so heavily involved in this very sensitive mission for her. But, the Human warriors around them were preparing to potentially sacrifice everything to help. She didn’t want to spit on their commitment, for one single Human.

A shout in the background triggered Tar’s hearing. She looked around at the hangar, and noticed a fair few eyes on them. “Put him down!” Another Human yelled anonymously from the throng. The Commando hummed, looking back at Flint. “Tread lightly, Human.” She warned, before dropping him from nearly a metre up in the air. "Commander." She grunted, inclining her head by a fraction of an inch by way of an apology.

With that, Tar turned back towards the armoury and stalked away. A Human pushing a trolley of cargo stopped to let her pass.