Page 299 of Reaper Said Mine

"The people behind this crisis wanted exactly what happened."

No one argues. That part is obvious now.

Ursa taps the second datapad.

"They wanted escalation. They wanted the Reapers dependent on Coalition support."

Then she taps the third.

"They wanted the Alliance preparing intervention."

Silence settles across the room because she's right.

Again.

Ursa looks directly at me.

"And we're giving them exactly what they wanted."

“I know."

"No," Ursa says calmly. "You know they're manipulating events."

She taps the displays.

"But you're still operating inside the framework they built."

The room grows very quiet.

I study her. I know that expression. I've seen it before, usually right before she says something that makes me want to argue and later realize she's right.

I hate that pattern.

"What are you proposing?" I ask.

Ursa exhales.

"We negotiate with the Combine."

The command center falls silent. Krell actually drops his stylus. Skahar slowly opens both eyes.

I stare at her, certain I misunderstood.

"You want what?"

"Negotiations."

She says it so calmly that it sounds almost reasonable.

I let out a sharp laugh.

"No."

Ursa folds her arms.

"You haven't heard the argument."

"I heard enough."