[h2][b]Falul 'Taham - Briefing Room[/b][/h2]

[hr]

Confusion and suspicion were what dominated the air of the briefing room as the man, who Falul assumed to be this "Supreme Commander". Falul's guards stayed back closer to one of the walls while Falul himself approached the table. He elected to remain standing, since the chairs were wholly inadequate for him. Given the circumstances, Falul would be most suspicious of anyone who seemed [i]too[/i] comfortable in their surroundings. He still did not know if any of these others present had been somehow responsible for pulling his ship from slipspace. 

On Falul's part, he was patient, intending to be deliberate with his words. Save for the Humans, the other creatures in the room were entirely unfamiliar to him, including the first to speak up after their host introduced himself. The words and attitude of the strange tentacled being were almost enough to detract his attention from the Broodmother. The situation it described sounded asinine, yet it spoke confidently about it. Alternate universes were not a concept Falul was familiar with, and it immediately sent his mind to thoughts of trickery and deceit. Even if it were somehow possible, if the universe they found themselves in was no longer the one he was familiar with, he was suspicious of how quickly the being presented that solution. How could he be sure it was not a lie this Yilthren wanted the rest of them to believe, or that it was not them that was responsible for it?

Falul only started giving more consideration to the notion as the conversation went on, perhaps due to his own unconscious biases towards Humans. The idea of being in another universe would provide convenient explanations to all he had seen so far. The similar circumstances of the other vessels, their spirit's inability to discern their location. Falul was reluctant to trust any of the others, in particular this "Zerg", as it identified itself. But, Falul was perhaps less stubborn than some other Sangheili commanders. He could recognize when he was acting outside of his own experience. Trust, he would not give freely, but he could temper his pride for the benefit of his crew. 

One of the groups of Humans had by their own account, sent information about their people's history to the others in the briefing room. Falul produced a handheld device which projected a red, semi-circular holographic display. It was programmed to be able to interpret data files sent from Human devices, yet, curiously, it could not make sense of anything it had received. The data was in an unknown format, which would take some time to interpret. It was strange enough to, finally, give Falul reason to ask the question that had formed in his mind. 

"This notion you speak of, alternate universes. I am unfamiliar with it. The universe is the whole of existence, yet you claim there is something beyond the infinite. Perhaps this Human is correct; perhaps we come from different places in space, not an...alternate space?" Falul began, though after a moment, he gave a quick, low growl. "Grah! This is talk for an artisan-engineer or...scientist. I am a shipmaster, a warrior. My concern is to know if any before me are threats I will have to face. But, if I am to...entertain this idea you present, then perhaps I have a question to test it? My people, the Swords of Sanghelios, are allied with the Humans of Earth by the word of our Arbiter. Do [i]any[/i] of the Humans here owe their allegiance to Earth? To the...UNSC? Are there any among you I can consider allies to the Sangheili?"