[color=a36209]"Spartan Commander Reed,"[/color] Tapo'hatam corrected himself when Cassandra introduced herself, [color=a36209]"I do not mind inquiries into our technology. Though I imagine Researcher Byrd here has more than enough examples to... dissect when appropriate. Keeping secrets and raining deceit upon their allies is what tore the Covenant apart. The Swords do not intend to repeat their mistakes."[/color] There was an edge of bitterness to his tone, not for the events as they occurred but for all the waste that came before it. He did not regret his actions against the human race prior to the revelation of the prophet's lies but neither did he celebrate them.

The Artificial Being drew his attention, a curious avatar of light that took on a shape reminiscent of some lore he had discovered in humanity's databases. It caused mixed feelings to radiate through his body language. His right fist clenched slightly like it was missing the feel of a familiar weapon, but the indulgent tone he kept in his voice spoke of how he was at least trying to consciously resist the old belief that artificial constructs were abominations of technology.

[color=a36209]"Observant, yet blunt. I am finding it difficult to not like you,"[/color] Tapo'hatam said lightly, [color=a36209]"your words answer their own unasked questions. Only a fool would pretend that things are not... the Sangheili word does not translate well into the human tongue. Awkward in the manner by which a blade breaks against another blade and leaves both warriors without a means to finish their duel? My people do not ignore our part in the Covenant, we can only point out that when their lies were revealed our first act was to draw their blood. Our second act was to stand beside the humans while we did it."[/color]

[color=a36209]"And now that the Covenant lies in pieces... what are the Swords to do? Return to fighting a war that should have never begun? Or would offering our necks as compensation salve the burns we left on human worlds?,"[/color] Tapo'hatam tilted his head to the side in curiousity as though he was legitimately wondering how the artificial being saw things. He switched to his native tongue, [color=a36209]"I have little to gain by being unfriendly among allies. Better to swim with the river than to be still and sink to it's bottom."[/color]