Jared watched as Joro 'Vantak, now his second in command, one of the Elites worked to set up a comms array. "How long do you think this will take?" Jared asked as the Elite focused on his task, he received no response. He shrugged it off and turned to face out of the tower it had been a few days since the attack in the temple. He'd gained recognition from nearing colonies and other resistance groups. They were trying to get communications from said resistance groups. "Commander, the array is working but the signal is weak" the Elite said. Jared wasn't mad at being called commander but he didn't earn the rank. It was handed to him by the populi he watched over.

Jared picked the microphone up and spoke into it. "Vuto 'Gozamee. Are you there?" He said nearly butchering the name. The radio crackled and no response came through. He said it again hoping they would respond. He set down the microphone "let me know if you hear anything" he said to one of the Elites. And left the tower

Stepping out he breathed in and let it out. The courtyard smelt less rancid than it had before. Children ran past him and then a group of patrolling marines. "Morning sir!" One said as they walked past. He walked towards the border they had set up to protect against The Hand of Prophecy "anyone come by or enter?" He asked the volunteered sangheili who watched the gate. "Nothing has shown up since yesterday, were expecting another supply transport soon though." The sangheili said. "I want to speak with them when they come" he said looking out into the sandy wasteland with cliffs of sandstone riddling the area, the sun just before setting on the horizon.

After leaving the post the sangheili stood at he found himself back at the temple. Just outside stood a group of marines "sir! We need to talk to you" one of them said as he walked closer "make it quick" he said. They entered the temple which was being used as triage "one of our guys got injured while we were out on our last mission. Our next one is recon of their stronghold in Chaura. But we need one more person to go with us, do you have any recommendations?" The marine said placing his hands behind his back. Jared shrugged "I'll go. It's been a while since I left home base" Jared said adjusting his belt carrying his pistol holster. "It's just a simple recon mission so it shouldn't be bad." The marine said. His fellow marines looked at each other. "Briefing is at 0400 tomorrow morning sir." He said before saluting and turning to face his marines.

A sangheili who volunteered to join his group came running up. "Sir!" The young sangheili said. His youth showed he hadn't learned the same way the Elites had, or known their ways. Jared turned to face him. "We have radio communications up" he said trying to catch his breath. "Why are you out of breath? Is it that urgent, I just wanted to know when we could talk with the others" Jared said placing a hand on him. "It's not that sir." He took a gasp of air "it's who is on it," he responded. Jared's heart stopped.

After reaching the tower Jared saw Joro 'Vantak listening to a small speaker. Beside the microphone "do they know we can hear them?" He asked the Elite, he shook his head "they said something over the radio. I responded but whilst trying to hail Vuto 'Gozamee they stated who they were and to respond. They dismissed me and began speaking again." the Elite said and went back to listening. "I say this might be a good break for us" Jared said crossing his arms. "All is fair in love and war" Cato echoed through his head. He smirked 'stay focused on the radio' he thought in response. 'I want to know what's said and if it could be beneficial to us' he finished. "Please don't do that, it makes me uncomfortable" the Elite said, breaking his train of thought. "What?" He replied. "You're talking to your AI and it makes many of us uncomfortable" he responded "uncomfortable how?" She sent a chill down his spine. He shuttered making it obvious she spoke to him. "I'll keep it away from being noticed as much as possible" he said before leaving the tower. "I can't not do what I was created for" she said to him. 'No, but I can tell you to behave more' he thought making small gestures as he walked down an alley. He felt a chill down his back followed by silence, he let out a sigh and kept walking. Jared walked into the house he was staying at. Staying inside could pass as a shanty town itself, the downstairs was crowded with soldiers. All of which were resting or finding ways to keep themselves entertained. Jared walked up the stairs to the second and onto the third, the floor was a single hallway with doors lining each side, he walked towards the end and opened the 3rd door on the left, which was claimed as his own room, he sat down on his bed and pulled out a data pad, a picture popped up on the main screen, a small group of people sat at a table, raising glasses and staring at the camera, in the center sat a much visibly younger Jared. He focused on the picture "there's no way they made it out alive" Cato said, forming herself on the small desk adjacent to the bed. Setting the pad down he looked at her "You don't know that, they could've made it out." he said getting agitated. "Jared you saw two of them on the floor before you got knocked out, there's been no chatter about Liam or Sarah. They're gone" she said, her voice calm but angry. He let out a sigh and laid down on the bed, "optimism is all I've got to run on. So that sliver you want to burn out isn't going to happen." he said and closed his eyes, hoping she would just leave it be "not that I don't want to burn it out but because I'd rather have that hope not crash and burn if they are gone when we need that bit of hope in a situation" she said before fading out and falling silent. He ignored the response and attempted to sleep.