Tar growled threateningly, leaning over the table towards Ethat. Both of her hands rested back in the divots she’d created; the stanchions screeched in complaint. When she spoke, her voice wasn’t raised anymore, but soft and laced with poison. “Then your warriors had best remember to stay in line - behind me.”

Tar pushed off from the table and stalked out of the briefing room along with the rest of Aegis team. The last thing she wanted was a lecture from Spartan Ryker, and she made that abundantly clear through her body language, though no doubt the Human wouldn’t pick it up. “Don’t concern yourself with my welfare, Ryker.” She growled. 

Martialling all her discipline, Tar tried to make the best of the Spartan’s obvious investment in this operation by sharing what really puzzled her: “I know my brother. This treachery was always in his heart, but Uztel wouldn’t readily plunder our world. Something doesn’t smell right - I need to talk to him, before I kill him.” 

A pair of facility orderlies pressed their backs firmly against the wall to let them pass. “Can I count on you, Ryker? It has to be me who confronts him - if I fall, don’t let ONI take him. Brissekh will fall apart without blood continuity. It's the only thing holding us together.”