The two Sangheili, Tar and Yalu, took a path that led out across another broad grassy lawn. Earth's singular sun was not lacking today. Each distant bed of multicoloured plantlife leapt out from either side of their eyes with reflected light.

For all of Tar's deliberate voice, Yalu took longer than he wanted to respond. Sangheilios could have been described as exciting, but not in the way Tar implied.

[colour=ff4d27]"Where do you call your homeworld?"[/colour] Yalu asked.

“Brissekh.” Tar replied after a moment’s hesitation. Her home accent showed up through the pronunciation. “My bloodline settled it centuries ago. It is not...quite like Sanghelios, but it is still wild and bountiful.”

This felt strange to Tar. She hadn’t had many proper conversations with her team, and didn’t intend to make a habit of it. You never knew when they’d have to part ways again. But she wasn’t sure how to disengage besides running into the carefully manicured undergrowth.

“Where is your Keep?” She asked, keen to take the attention back off herself.

[colour=ff4d27]"Raithos, Sanghelios,"[/colour] Yalu answered flatly. [colour=ff4d27]"Isolated, well defended, never a strategic priority in history. My people are not exciting, I fear. Their philosophy is not as glorious."[/colour]

Tar huffed gently - she admired the candour. “Every great civilisation needs administrators, adjudicators, artisans...witnesses. To balance the scales between prosperity and pestilence. My own Keep could learn much from yours, I think.” 

Yalu guffawed. [colour=ff4d27]"I would agree with you, but willingness is another matter entirely. One must prefer not to slay those they defeat in that place."[/colour]

They passed by a red marble fountain, atop which stood a statue of a small human holding something up and away from a water bird.

[colour=ff4d27]"I take it your keep conducts themselves differently,"[/colour] Yalu said. [colour=ff4d27]"Commandos like yourself do not come from monastic places."[/colour]

Tar studied the sculptures, her hand idly swishing through the water in one of the small satellite fountains around the edge. She hadn't the faintest idea what the arrangement was supposed to symbolise.

"My people are naturally suspicious. Family feuds have been passed down through so many generations that the original offence is lost." She watched a Pelican drop ship fly overhead.

"Even the war failed to bring us together, until a Brute ship arrived right above our heads." Tar's mandibles flexed and she growled at the mere thought of that day.

Yalu flicked an eye briefly down at Tar beside him. He then looked ahead and sighed through his nostrils. [colour=ff4d27]"...This garden may not be 'exciting,' Commando 'Mdalak. But I recognise it is a place of peace. Unless you are at peace with those events in your past, I will not ruin it today."[/colour]

Tar traded that look with Yalu, and realised she’d said too much. She flexed her fists and changed the subject as they started walking again. “Where did you serve? Before Aegis?”

[colour=ff4d27]"Hm, plenty of places for the Swords of Sanghelios,"[/colour] he recalled, looking up to the blue sky. [colour=ff4d27]"The past few years before Commander Virususai, I was a fireteam lead. Under Ultras 'Sutek and 'Kartar in Khael'mothka. Peacekeeping missions. Hunting Covenant remnants around Rahnelo before that, under Ultra 'Boset. Mostly assaulting Covenant cells, disconnected from that bloodthirsty 'Mdama. The previous Ultra on Rahnelo before that -- his name escapes me -- commanded me for only three months before transfer."[/colour]

Tar nodded, looking ahead but genuinely interested now. There were still many things about the conflict that she did not understand. If not from a tactical point of view, then an ideological one.

"And...before that?"

Yalu breathed in. Just then, a jet black Pelican drop ship with sky-camo on the underside soared over their heads. It was relatively quiet despite the breakneck speed it was travelling at, and didn't look to Tar like the regular model.

The Pelican dragged its tail around the garden to their left, circling them while losing speed until eventually it lowered onto the grass with its cargo bay facing them. "Could've parked closer than that…" Tar's handler muttered, raising a flat hand to his eyes to see who was watching them from inside the craft.

Yalu caught the hint it was their ride. [colour=ff4d27]"Before that is the story of a different Major,"[/colour] Yalu answered Tar. [colour=ff4d27]"That may have to wait for next time."[/colour]