Chapter 23

UNSC Mobile repair refit station Pearl Harbor.

Epsilon alpha system, 2563 November 15th

In High orbit around UNSC-Sangheili Joint colony, Shanxi.

Anita Goyle glace back slightly at the Asari representative as she stopped in front of the double heavy oak doors that leads to a conference room normally used by the Civilian management. "Here we are, the conference room is right in front of us." As the Asari representative filed into the room Anita held backand turn off her translator before whispering to Levu 'Mdama "Do you think they got the message?"

Levu blinked his eyes slowly before shutting off his translator : "as unexpected as the show of force was I believe they have gotten the message. But my opinion matters little for I'm Sangheili and we fight our opponents in the battlefield not through show of force." Anita Goyle looked slightly embarrassed at having seemingly offended Levu. "Worry not human, I'm not offended. I have learn long ago to tolerate the difference between our two races. This is just another more interesting aspect your race have shown me."

"Thank you" whispered Anita as she turn back on her translator. A quick check reveals the Asaris have already taken the right side of the table, she walked in and took her seat at the left side of the table beside Levu as other representative from both Sangheili and human filled their respective seats. The last two to enter the room was a man with already whitening hair and a Sangheili dressed in the silvery armor of an Arbiter. Anita stood along with the rest of the Human~Sangheili representative and spoke "May I introduce Lord Admiral Hood and the honorable Arbiter Thel'Vadam of the Sangheili republic."

"A pleasure to make you acquaintance" replied Lidanya as she was unsure how to greet the two representative. Lord Hood gave a slight nod in return while Thel merely watched her silently with his sharp eyes…. Studying her.

Lidanya was deeply unnerved before Thel finally said "Let us make haste. There is much to be done both here and elsewhere." His deep booming voice echoes in the silent room.

Anita gave a somewhat amused smile before saying "Very well Arbiter Vadam, may all the representative take their seats." All the races at the table sat into their respective chair even those that have been specially prepared for members of the Sangheili race. "Now before we begin the negotiation between our races we must ask the Asari to clarify one thing." The Asari representatives shared a confused glance with each other before the lights in the room dimmed, and a holo projector displayed the atomic structure of an atom.

To the human and Sangheili representative it was a thing that filled them with dread but to the Asaris… "Ezzo!" exclaimed one of the asaris as she took a closer look at the atom. Lidanya glanced at T'soni before saying "Yes that is indeed Zero element, something that powers every piece of technology in this galaxy, more commonly known as Ezzo. Might I ask what is so important to clarify about it?" She did not miss the worried glance shared between the human and Sangheili representative.

"What do you know of the Forerunners?" asked Levu in an almost hushed tone. The silence in the room was almost palpable now.

"Nothing. We have never encounter a race named that way. The only ancient races we know of are the Prothean and they have been gone for millennia." Now Lidanya was even more confused.

"What you're about to hear must not be share with the general public ours or your, is that understood?" asked Hood in a very clam yet unnerving voice.

"I'll make no guarantees but I'll try." Replied Lidanya as her curiosity about what could have frightened their host so badly.

The holo projector shifted before displaying another image, this time a ring shaped construct. The construct itself was compared to a gas giant. Anita Goyle took over from Hood, "This is a Halo" as the holo projector focus in on the ring like construct. "It was a fortress world build by an ancient race known as the Forerunners in their ancient war against a parasite,… The flood" With this the projector shifted again this time showing an infection form. "The flood are more a virus than anything else, they infect a host and quickly takes over control of the host's body and over a period of time, digest and retain the ability and memories of the host." Even as the explanation was given, the projector shows the infection form jumping on an unfortunate human marine. The marine dropped his MA5B assault rifle in an attempted to free his hand to fight off the creature, but the creature droved a tentacle straight through the marine's neck guard and tapped into his nervous system. Seconds later huge unnatural growth sprouted from the marine's body even as his eyes glaze over and his neck bend to an unnatural angle by the mutation. There were a few spooked whispers by the Asari delegation even as the now infected marine reached down and picked up the fallen assault rifle and load a fresh magazine into the gun.

"By the goddess, what does element Zero has anything to do with this…. Monstrosity?" asked Lidanya fearfully as she mental try to repress the horrible image of the unfortunate victim of the flood. Her stomach gave her the urges to vomit but her pass experience allow her to hold back that action… barely.

"None what so ever." Replied a female voice that came from the shadow. The speaker slowly walked in from the 2nd door and took her place at a seat beside Lord Admiral Hood.

"Dr Catherine Elizabeth Halsey…" said another voice the seethed with rage and displeasure. Before the person can speak more a glare from Hood silence her.

"I'm well aware of your personal grudge, Margaret, so keep your opinions to yourself. Please continue, Halsey." Replied Hood coolly as his unflinching eyes focused on the Head of ONI.

Giving a slight nod to Hood, Dr Halsey tapped on her personal datapad causing the holoprojector to shift another image into view. "Element Zero or Ezzo as our guest call it, is the primary component in Halo's devastating effect, as far as our studies can tell the element itself is used as the catalyst that actually allows Halos' pulse to selectively neutralize and disintegrates the nervous system of all compatible organic life form which in this case are life form with sufficient biomass to sustain any flood infestation."

"By the goddess does this mean every single one of our ships and biotics are a ticking time bomb?" asked Matriarch Lidanya as she fully realized the danger posed by any race obtaining this information and technology.

"Biotics?" inquired Halsey with slight interest. Matriarch Lidanya demonstrated by lifting the datapad set in front of her the telltale hue of biotic powers showed as she concentrated. "Interesting…. This would explain how the Didact was able to manipulate matters without touching them…" Halsey remained quiet as she silently contemplates the possibilities with this new discovery. She snapped out of her thinking and replied "No, the technologies required are far beyond anything we can imagine and even if anyone can get a sample of the technology it would be useless to them without …."

"That's more than enough doctor…" interrupted Parangosky coldly as her eyes glared daggers at Halsey. But the other women simply choose to ignore the Head of ONI, knowing full well that any threats that Parangosky makes would be useless with Hood hawk like eyes watching her every move.

"I see." Whispered Matriarch Lidanya as she felt relieve flood through her. "In that case we shall inform our government as soon as possible. If we may I would like to request a possible agreement between our people. The Asari Republic is now facing a crisis we have never seen before with the sudden betrayal of the Turian Hierarch and Salarian Union, we now stand alone in the galactic community with little to no support from the other citadel races."

"What sort of agreement?" asked Thel Vadum as he slowly leaned forward towards the table.

Matriarch Lidanya hesitated slightly before replying "Some material exchange , humanitarian aid and of course if possible technological exchange ." At that point the head of ONI and Lord Hood exchanged glances with Parangosky asking a question with her translator off while Hood gave a slight shake of his head in reply. After a short argument, which ended with Hood looking slightly ruffled, Parangosky replied to the Asari's request. "We will allow the exchange of materials and humanitarian aid but we will not share our technological advancements with a race we barely even know of." And under her breath she huffed: "I'll be damned if I let some unknown alien access to our tech as my last job."

Thel Vadum was silent even as the human bickering continue on, however when Parangosky gave her reply he had his ready. "Hear me Asari, the Sangheili will allow the exchange but on the condition that no weapon technologies will be exchanged."

"Well if that's all I'll take my leave." With that Parangosky coolly stormed out of the meeting room, her cane tapping a rhythm on the floor. While in the hallway, she lowered her voice "BB finalize my resignation, it's time I let the younger generation to take over."

BB's custom box avatar popped out beside Parangosky's shoulder with a clipboard and pencil animation. "Are you really sure that Serin is ready for this?" Asked BB as his box did a 180 flip.

"She's as ready as I can prepare her for. Hopefully, Hood's idealism will not go too far." Replied Parangosky as she slowly lean on her cane, "Allies with aliens, if I have my way they would have been wiped off the face of this universe. The Arizona incident shows how dangerous other races can get."

"Of that I believe we are in agreement, Margaret." Came a mysterious male voice that sent chills down Parangosky's spine. "Oh and don't bother calling out to your precious BB, my technicians are making sure he's too busy."

Parangosky slowly nodded as she turned to face the uninvited guest, "Jack Jack Jack…You never learn do you, or should I call you the Illusive man now?" Jack Harper merely smiled at the mention of his name. Parangosky continued "Well how has your little group been? Having fun blowing up settlements?"

"Quite, it was especially amusing when the Sangheilis cry out how dishonourable these sort of attacks are. As if they have a reason to cry bloody murder after what they did to us." Replied Jack with a smirk. But Parangosky saw through that mask and the burning hatred for alien in Jack.

"And what about the humans in those settlement? Casualty of war? Some pro-human organization you are. You'll never get away with this, Harper." Replied Parangosky as she slowly reached for her hidden pocket pistol. "ONI hasn't been slacking off. Someone's bound to catch you one day."

"Oh" said Jack with a small grin "Do you happen to mean your little prodigy? What was her name again? Serin Osman was it?" His grin grew even wider when he saw his word hit home. "Yes she and the Port Stanley has been a constant thorn in my side and I have already sent some men to…. Remove them." But before he can continue, a gunshot echoed through the hallway. "How quaint, a pocket pistol. It's been a while since I've seen you use one of those, Margaret. But I'm afraid that bullet was wasted. I'm not here physically… Be seeing you." With that the holo-drone deactivated and dropped to the ground. Parangosky snorted before pocketing her pocket pistol, time to set one last gear in motion before she leaves ONI for good.

Author's note: Many apologies for the long delay, this time it seems my antivirus software failed me big time. Had to reformat my com and reformat my backup hard disks after a pesky virus started to do nasty business in my com and backup hard disks.