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Oraka walked in silence for most of the trip, seemingly mulling over his thoughts. Victus tried to remain silent, but his curiosity overcame him. "Sir?"

Oraka did not respond. Victus pushed his luck. "Sir?"

Oraka glanced at him, far less enthusiastic than he had been walking up the mountain. "What is it, Lieutenant?"

"What happened up there, sir?"

"My cease-fire was rejected. That was all."

"If that was it, sir, why did you spend so long trying to convince him to bend?"

Oraka went silent again. Finally he spoke. "Because I learned something up there, Lieutenant."

"What, sir?"

Oraka didn't answer him. They were enveloped by the turian pickets without incident. Oraka began issuing orders over his personal commlink. "Negotiations have failed. Artillery will begin firing when ready. All remaining troops may continue sleeping for another hour or so if they can. We'll begin moving into position about an hour before the barrage cuts off. Light armour will go up with the infantry this time."

Victus knew he should head back to his platoon, but his unanswered question still tethered him to the Colonel's side. Oraka led him up an embankment to where his command vehicle was waiting. From here he could see right up the spur they had just climbed. He wondered if the enemy general and Oleg were staring back down at them.

From in the distance the rumbling began, a slowly building crescendo of artillery pieces discharging their rounds.

"You asked what I learned up there, Lieutenant?" Oraka sighed. "I learned it is far, far more difficult to kill your enemy when you have taken a liking to him."

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7160279/33/