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Hood let out a breath "I’ edge and belief in ," Parangosky said "May I brief you privately, Admiral?"

"Certainly, Adht, polite smiles at the assembled staff "Let’s break for an hour Caffeine levels are critical You too, Aine Go and check that BB isn’t rifling through your tool locker"

Aine just winked out of existence, leaving a brief darkness behind her, and everyone filed out in tactful silence to leave the admirals to their discussion Hood didn’t say a word for at least thirty seconds after the doors closed Then he ran his hand over his face, brow to chin, weary

"You’re railroading aret Why?"

"I want you to take a look at sohelios" She pushed her datapad across the table to him "Thel ‘Vadam could be deposed in days, and where’s your peace treaty then?"

Hood spent a few es His disood I never did back winners, did I? Found Phil ips yet?"

"Yes, but the spec ops teaed to extract him Don’t you think it’s time you offered the Arbiter some help? He won’t ask for it"

"What’s in it for you?"

"We could destroy a few ships" She didn’t specify whose "How else are we going to re another war of our own?"

"True And?"

"You real y don’t want to see a Sanghelios run by the rebels This is an antihuman movement, Terrence Put them down, and put they that wil --if you’l excuse my vernacular--ain"

"I don’t think their bowels are that easily moved But you’re set on this, aren’t you?"

"We could be there toive Port Stanley soosky lowered her voice "Phil ips has earned his keep There’s no tel ing what else he’s going to bring back for us, either"

Hood leaned back in his seat and looked up at the deckhead

"So we’ve got every reason to give it a run and very few not to," he said at last "But remember we have joint control--she’s our ship, not yours

Without alienating Del Rio, of course"

"It’s a Thursday War He’l understand Nothing odd about having ad for historic trials Let alone mercy -up exercise that involved actual warfare"

"Tiave her a look and eased himself out of his seat "I’l patch you in when Ito be delicate"

Sangheili had their buttons and raw nerves, just like huosky went back to the bridge to s that the more junior crew members would volunteer, and waited She was back in her cabin sipping her fourth coffee when Hood rapped on the door and walked in

"Want to listen in?" he said

Parangosky nodded at the screen and slid out of its range The Arbiter didn’t need to see her there, even if he wouldn’t recognize her "Go ahead"

It took a few osky al in ruins with shattered plaster and smoke everywhere, but the cam showed him in his tidy chamber much as before, apparently un up the city around hi this cal , Arbiter," Hood said "I won’t delay you I’m very aware of the difficulties you find yourself in at the ret I have no resources to devote to helping you find Professor Philliss, Admiral"

"I knohich is why I have an offer for you You need support, and I can give it Let me help put down your rebel ion"

The Arbiter paused He was hard to read, even for a Sangheili "That’s not possible But I value the kindness"

"Oh, it’s possible I have new ships You’ve kept your word Now let me keep mine, and do what I can to preserve the peace"

"And retrieve your people, of course"

"That, too"

"And you’re certain you can do this"

For a osky was surprised by the ease hich the Arbiter see shot at best, but she’d expectedand even a refusal, and she was prepared for plan B, which was showing up uninvited

Ah He doesn’t think we can do it He’s hu a child help you bake a cake by spilling flour everywhere

"I’m certain," Hood said

"And Earth would send its most senior officer into cootten that you fought alongside the Master Chief…"

"So I did" The Arbiter bowed his head "Thank you, but please attend to your own safety I ht not be able to protect your ships"

Hood smiled "I shal see you very soon, then Hood out"

The comms link closed Hood shoved his hands in his pockets and looked sideways at Parangosky

"Stil thinks he’s alaxy He doesn’t believe us, does he?"

She shook her head, stifling a grin "That’s even better And your conscience is stil spotless, Terrence How do you do it?"

Hood a pleased with hientlearet That’s why ONI uniforms are black, aren’t they?"

She slad you’re a little bit of a bastard at heart I can’t stand boy scouts"

Most senior cohelios stil didn’t seerasp the political reality of ONI And that was fine by her

CHAPTER TEN

THERE’S NO BETTER TEST THAN TRYING OUT A NEW ASSET ON REAL ENEMY TARGETS ON THEIR HOMEWORLD, AND ALL WITH THEIR PERMISSION