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And the obituary, if I’ from behind and looked over his shoulder to see a purple streak that could have been a Banshee zip overhead at high speed in the direction of the s to worry hiht a bit harder about that so said "Hah"

Another Banshee shot overhead, then another, and another Five seconds later, instant bolts of green light punched down fro into the air It wasn’t the town They definitely hadn’t hit the keep They couldn’t bomb the keep, he needed it in one piece, he had to make that cal to the Arbiter’s office, or else-- "Get down, Professor," BB said "I know you toldaround to see where that foreign voice was coetting bigger by the second, probably the Banshees on the way back from their sortie But there was one tooh in the air This tirass There was a deafening zzipppp that sounded as if soht next to hirenade Dirt and water rained on him

The Grunts went crazy, or at least two of them did It wasn’t water It was blood Phil ips lifted his head a fraction and he could see it He couldn’t work out as going on now because the Grunts were screa, but he knew they’d lost one of their buddies Curled and rass a fewSo that hat happened when you hit ato the ground, but he couldn’t hear the Banshees now He risked pushing hiain The Grunts were hunkered down, now chattering furiously

"Hey," Phil ips barked "Hey--guys, get a grip We can’t just sit here al day Coet to the keep"

"They kil ed Sensen," Dengo said "Bastards kil ed him"

"You don’t knohich bastards" Phil ips knelt up What would Mal do? What would Os each other But you work for the keep, yes? Then we go there Even if it’s just to aro--what’s your name?"

"Gikak"

"Move it, Gikak"

Phil ips got to his feet and started walking If he was honest with hiain, but he’d lived through this once and that ht the gods were looking out for hiood as the real thing When he looked behind hi obediently

"You better knock on the door," Phil ips said "I ht be too much of a surprise"

He could see what the shter-size; he could pick out the shape of the hul between the trees With any luck, whoever had done the strafing run wouldn’t be back He couldn’t see anyone as he approached the keep--s headquarters--and the Grunts did as they were told and went ahead

"Just observe, BB," Phil ips whispered "Let e double door didn’t open for a fewlost and confused Then one side eased half-open, fol owed by the muzzle of plasma pistol

"My lady Elar," Gikak said "Sensen’s been kil ed We found this human He’s lost"

The door opened ful y Phil ips had never been up close to a Sangheili fe as the males and this one seemed to kno to handle a weapon

This was hands-on anthropology, live and raw

Charm Courtesy Oh God Do it

"Hel o, my lady," Phil ips said, terrified "May I come in?"

CHAPTER EIGHT

YOU NEED TO DO MORE THAN OVERTHROW THE ARBITER YOU NEED TO WIPE BOTH HIM AND VADAM FROM THE FACE OF SANGHELIOS, BECAUSE AS LONG AS THAT STATE EXISTS, IT WILL REMAIN LOYAL TO HIM, AND IT WILL EXERT ITS POWER AND INFLUENCE

(SHIPMASTER BURAN ‘UTARAL TO AVU MED ‘TELCAM)

UNSC PORT STANLEY, IN SANGHELIOS ORBIT

"I’m sorry, ma’am," Mal said "It was a bit of a bal s-up But we had to open fire"

Osman hoped that her dismay didn’t show on her face She steeled herself to sit wel back in her seat and not lean forward toward the cam mounted on the console They’d done al they could, and she certainly couldn’t have done any better She needed to project her confidence in them

"You’re entitled to defend yourselves," she said "We can only take diplomacy so far Is Vaz okay?"

She could see ainst one of the bulkheads in his tank top with one ar off Naorabbed him by one shoulder, and pinned hilanced around as if he was checking she hadn’t handcuffed hiot burned, but he sed out"

"Ma’anant "I landed hard and it rammed my chest plate into my ribs I’l live"

"So anyway, I think we dropped four of them," Mal went on "We didn’t stop to count"

Oss any worse"

"No, they went mental when they realized we’d entered the teet Phil ips"

"And if he’d told you he couldn’t find him, you couldn’t have taken his word for it Besides, you’ve inadvertently helped boost support for ‘Telcahtful y He see for a tactful response "Wel , I think that’s what used to be known in the Corps as a self-adjusting cock-up"

"Okay, stay airborne and keep looking How far could Phil ips get?"

BB interrupted Osto like the answer," he said

"Try me"

"I believe I’ve cracked soe, seeing as that’s what most of it is"

"And?"

"Portals Lists of portals Chances are he’s activated one, seeing as he can’t leave things alone Which alaxy"