* * * * * * * * * * * * Ahkrin crawled through the ventilation duct, the scabs etched into his skin creaking and threatening to split as he moved along. Prior to entering the shaft he'd made sure to inject himself with some painkillers from the medical bay; effective, but he found that they had dulled his wits ever so slightly. Still, he was more than a match for most humans he would encounter, even in his drug-laced state. [i]"We need to get you to safety, Admiral,"[/i] a crackly voice spoke over the supposedly 'secure' radio frequency Ahkrin had tapped into. The uncomfortable human earpiece sat loosely in his ear, but worked. [i]"This is my ship! I will not run away like a frightened child. Are the other ships moving in?[/i]" [i]"Yes, sir."[/i] [i]"Good. Now let's get this lynch mob subdued, and collect the Ultra from my quarters. Guard him, we need him alive. What the hell are those idiots thinking?[/i]" The voices over the frequency went silent, and after a moment's pause Ahkrin started moving along once again. If the other human ships were moving in for crowd control, then he wouldn't have long to escape with Zharn, who was seemingly pn the bridge. The situation had exploded out of control. A few in the military where orchestrating the coup but most of the mutineers were civilians, evacuated from the planet's surface. They obviously weren't happy with the people who had killed their families and friends only days ago being treated as esteemed prisoners of war. Ahkrin could understand their point, but didn't really care. Mutinying or not, they were all the enemy. Ahkrin's first move after locating Zharn would be to hunt down Cole and sink a blade into his infernal throat. And if they had killed his friend, then the heathens would be embarking on their own heretical version of the Journey very swiftly. There was a grill in the shaft up ahead, spilling out darkness from below. Ahkrin listened hard for a few moments, but heard no heart beat or any other signs alluding to life forms. He ripped the steel bars open, inwardly laughing at the simple alloy the humans adored, before dropping down. His hospital gown fluttered around as he struck the ground with his feet, reminded him that not only did he need to find Zharn, but that he needed to find them armour too. Ahkrin suspected that their flight from the [i]Everest[/i] would include a heavy impact. Ahkrin acquired his bearings, noting the brooms and mops positioned disparately about the room. It seemed he was in a closet of some sort. In a flash of inspiration, the Sangheili grabbed the shaft of a wooden broom and snapped it in two, making sure that the tip of one side was tapered sufficiently. [i]An assassin always craves a silent weapon,[/i] Ahkrin mused, jamming the broken stick into the tight gap between his belt and abdomen. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but would have to do. Without all the usual technology and implements he had grown used to since first serving in the army of the Covenant, Ahkrin felt strangely naked. He would have to make sure to be careful; a round that would normally be easily deflected by personal shielding could kill. And the human weapons also holstered at his side were prone to ridiculous recoil. Indeed, this escapade would require far more finesse. Ahkrin sidled up to the door and it automatically slid open with a hydraulic hiss. The Sangheili stepped out into the corridor, relieved to find it empty-- "Well, what do we have here?" a voice mockingly taunted from behind him. Ahkrin turned slowly to see a marine step out from a doorway, holding a pistol confidently. "Step aside, human. I have no quarrel with you," Ahkrin cautioned, noting that the man was young and no doubt acting on foolish bravado. "Well, I do seeing as how our two peoples are at war, but I would rather not waste what little energy I have on killing mindless sheep." The marine sneered. "That's fine; you just stay quiet and friendly while I take you back into custody--" The man's speech died in a torrent of blood streaming from his neck, a wooden makeshift spear impaling it like a harpoon would. Ahkrin strode forward, grasping the end and lazily kicking the human away from it. His corpse slid off smoothly, landing with a gentle thud. "Rest easy," Ahkrin murmured, closing the man's utterly surprised eyes even as crimson continued to trickle from the hole in his neck. Ahkrin jammed the blood stained sharp stick back into his belt, taking one last glance at the body before moving swiftly onwards, ascending a flight of stairs adorned by a sign which read 'Holding cells.' Hopefully he would find his armour waiting for him there. * * * [i]Oh, for the love of all things sacred,[/i] Ahkrin cursed as he watched the procession before him from the safety of shadows. A hoard of Unggoy were being shepherded along by armed humans, and they dragging along a large, sickeningly familiar figure. [i]Orpheus.[/i] The Jiralhanae was unconscious, and was giving the poor Unggoy forced to drag him a hard time. The group marched past Ahkrin without spotting him, thanks to the active camouflage in his newly recovered armour. The quartermaster of the ship had fixed a power coupling; a simple enough job, but one which saved Ahkrin valuable time nonetheless. As a way of thanks, Ahkrin had decided to let him live. He'd still have a mighty headache when he awoke, though. [i]This is the opportunity you've been waiting for, Ahkrin. Leave Orpheus behind, and let him be killed by the humans,[/i] the darker portion of Ahkrin's troubled mind spoke spitefully, and for a few moments Ahkrin considered the notion thoughtfully. But he couldn't let the Unggoy die. He'd have to save them all, unfortunately. Ahkrin sighed, stepping out of the shadows and stalking the oblivious humans. They were ODSTs, and checked back occasionally. Even if they had been looking closely, they would have seen only a faint shimmer, and none would have reason to suspect active camouflage with all the Covenant imprisoned and stripped of their armour. He grabbed the ODST tailing at the back quickly, extended his camouflage around the flailing form. Ahkrin waited until the group had moved on a little, before sharply and painlessly snapping the human's neck. It gave way easily, even with the armour. Ahkrin laid him to rest gently in the shadows, polarising his helmet black so the typical blue wouldn't glint in the darkness. "Kyle?" one of the others called out a few moments later as she realised that the man who had been behind them a few seconds before was missing. The others ground to a halt, telling the captive Unggoy too as well. "What is it?" a man asked, concern in his voice. "Kyle's missing," she answered, staring down at the apparently empty hallway, oblivious to Ahkrin's presence. The man paused for a second, before nodding. "Take point," he ordered the others, who stationed themselves along the hallway that had just walked down. Ahkrin, of course, was already behind them all, smiling slightly. He unclasped four plasma pistols from his belt, deftly weaving his way over to the stationary Unggoy, nervously watching the posted humans, who were completely unaware of his presence. He handed a plasma pistol to four Unggoy dressed in high-ranking armour, before speaking quietly in the Covenant tongue. "When I give the order, open fire upon the humans," he instructed them gently, and was relieved to hear little voices mutter voices of affirmation back, even though their tones were tinged with trepidation.