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"Did anyone else make it?" "Scanning ... just dust and echoes. We're all that's left. We did what we had to do. For Earth. An entire Covenant armada obliterated. And the flood. Halo, it's over." "No. I think we're just getting started." Hours had passed since this brief conversation. It had been a long, silent ride since the dramatic climax, which was the explosion of the ring-world Halo. Cortana had not spoken since their conversation. The Master Chief was as dead-as-a-rock. He had fallen asleep almost immediately, his M90 Shotgun with a full load lay at his side. Cortana couldn't blame him. It had been a long four-day battle on Halo. Cortana was piloted the craft to the nearest UNSC held planet, Outer Colony Pride. She estimated it would take at least two weeks to reach Pride, and the time would be longer if they used Shaw-Fujiwara as it had a tendency to be thrown off course by thousands of kilometers. The holopanel at the head of the Longsword interceptor bleeped three times. In front of Cortana's eyes, space dived, and three purple ships slid through the gap in space. "Chief, wake up! Chief, wake up!" John rose up instinctively, shouldered his shotgun, and scanned the room. False alarm. "Chief, wake up!" He heard Cortana's plea for help and rushed to her side. "Chief! Three Covenant frigates." "How much firepower do we have?" "Not enough Chief." "How much?!" "Four Archer missiles. Three Anvil II HE warheads. Two 60mms with two thousand rounds each." "How long before they get within range?" "Thirty seconds." "Arm all missiles. Aim the 60mms at the brid-" "Hold it Chief. These vessels appear Covenant; however, I'm picking up Human life signs. I'm not talking a few prisoners, the vessels are manned by Humans." "Cortana, charge the Shaw-Fujiwara. Just in case." "We have a problem Chief. We're not jumping." "Oh great." "Chief, they're trying to establish communication. Shall I put them on the forward view screen?" "Yes." A young face appeared on the forward view screen. He was young, real young. Perhaps twenty-five. He spoke: "Greetings. Are you the one responsible for the destruction of this fortress-world." "State your name, and where are you from." "I am Yamato. You are?" "Master Chief John-117. United Nations Space Command, United Nations Marine Corps." "Are you one responsible for the destruction of this fortress-world?" "Yes." John placed his helmet back on, tore Cortana's chip out of the databanks, and placed her in his helmet neuron emplacement. "John, I don't like this. These things don't make since. Covenant ship, Human life signs, and now I'm picking something up even more bizarre. They aren't even totally human." "Anything else you should tell me." "Just keep your wits about you." "The High Council demands that you answer for your choices. They also demand that you be taken aboard our ship." "I don't like this Chief. Stay ready for anything." "We are putting your vessel in a tractor beam." The Longsword interceptor shuddered, and its lights dimmed as it came under the power of the frigate. A transparent band of silver light could be seen as the Longsword interceptor was reeled in like a fish on a fishing pole. John disassembled his SPNKr, placed it in his pack, holstered a pistol with a full load to his right hip, ran toward a weapons locker, popped it open, strapped an MA5B to his back, and shouldered his M90 Shotgun. The small craft that sheltered the SPARTAN and the AI construct was entered the docking bay of the huge frigate. A tractor beam held it in place from moving. "Cortana, are the doors sealed tight." "Affirmative." "Can they be opened from the outside at this time." "Negat-" Interrupting Cortana's answer, the doors were wrenched off their hinges. A lone human form stood there, titanium-A door held over his head like an iron bar with ten pounds on it. "Oh shit," were the only words that John could muster at this sight. "They High Council will see you now," the human said. |
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