My ears were still ringing from the bombs.

Oni had sent me in on a recon mission, but then they'd hit the base with everything they had, almost no warning.

No attempt to protect me, or Ari, certainly not civilians.

I was just another data point to them. Disposable.

I could feel all the hearts and minds I'd fought for slipping away.

The UNSC would always bomb, and the rebels would always take up arms and vengeance.

Maybe both Sully and Ilsa were right.

There was no room for anything else.

As I looked down at Bostwick, I couldn't help but feel guilty.

I had taken this lost, naive kid and turned her into a foot soldier from my cause.

I'd become an expert at rationalizing my actions, telling myself that ultimately I was working towards the greater good. Can I see the

woman? Don't touch me! I'd recommend sedating her until we can effectively treat her injuries.

I'd rather rot. Just rest. His Bostwick drifted out of consciousness. I looked over at the data chip.

Ari secured prime intel on the anomalies.

And after that, airstrike, any shred of faith I had

that Oni would do the right thing with it was gone.

For all I knew, they would just cover the whole thing up

and let another colony fall.

But in the right hands, this could help save lives.

I wasn't going to turn it over to them.

I was going to get real answers.

And there was only one person who could give them to me.

...