[h1][center][color=0072bc]Ben-E218[/color][/center][/h1] 

[color=0072bc]"If you aren't certain what the result is when combining them, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to combine them. I doubt either of us has the luck of John-117. Oh, you might know him as Master Chief, or "The Demon." He has unnatural luck, you know. If it was him, the effect would be just what we needed at just the right time. If it's anyone else, we're likely to end up deader than Roger Wilco on a trash hauler. Oh, the Wilco thing is from an ancient piece of human media."[/color] 

Ben continued to examine the power source. He was fairly certain that he knew what this was, but couldn't be entirely sure. He lowered his voice, not wanting anyone to know what he was saying.

[color=0072bc]"Phong, does this match any device on record?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Scanning. Processing. Cross-examining device with other records. Match not found."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Match not-? The UNSC has had the opportunity to examine hundreds of Forerunner devices, including sentinels."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Thousands, actually. The Forerunners had a very different approach to technology compared to humanity or the Covenant. While interchangeable parts were employed, they were only used to the extent that interoperability within the same class of structures was allowed, and sometimes, not even then. In other words, each class of Forerunner installation operated on a different basis, in a manner not dissimilar to how ancient human kingdoms each had their own types of weight and measurements."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Meaning what?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Meaning we don't know what the effect of the Unggoy's tinkering will be. It could be harmless, or it could be catastrophic. I am unable to calculate odds based on the data available. It would help to know precisely what the Unggoy intends to do with the Forerunner technology, but even if he told us, further analysis is impossible without the proper equipment, and there are only five laboratories in the entire UNSC properly tooled to handle Forerunner-"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Thank you, Phong. I'll trust Grik on this one."[/color] Ben set the power source down and looked out at the wilderness around them, if that was the proper term for their environment.