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The object opened a single photo eye and gazed at the stars, collecting data to reference its currentposition. It would continue to do this for several days. During that time it would slowly build up acharge. When it reached critical energy, a tiny sliver of thallium nitride memory crystal would be ejectedat nearly the speed of light, and a minute Slipstream field would generate around it. If its trajectory wasperfect, it would intercept a Covenant receiver located at precise coordinates in the alternate space.
. . . and the tiny automated probe would reveal to the Covenant every place theIroquois had been.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
1100 Hours, August 12, 2552 (Military Calendar) /Epsilon Eridani System, Reach UNSC Military Complex, planet Reach, Camp Hathcock
The Master Chief steered the Warthog to the fortified gate and ignored the barrel of the chain-gun thatwas not quite pointed in his direction. The guard on duty, a Marine Corporal, saluted smartly when Johnhanded over his identification card.
“Sir! Welcome to Camp Hathcock,” the Corporal said. “Follow this road to the inner guardpost andpresent your credentials there. They’ll direct you to the main compound.”
John nodded. The Warthog’s tires crunched on gravel as the massive metal gate swung open.
Nestled in the Highland Mountains of Reach’s northern continent, Camp Hathcock was a top-levelretreat; heads of state, VIPs, and top brass were the facility’s normal occupants—these and a division ofveteran, battle-hardened Marines.
“Sir, please follow the Blue Road to this point here,” the Corporal at the inner gate instructed, gesturingat a point on a wall-mounted map, “and park in the Visitors’ Parking area.”
Minutes later, the main facility was in sight. John parked the Warthog and strode across the pleasantlyfamiliar compound. He and the other Spartans had covertly made their way up here during their training.John suppressed a smile as he remembered how many times the young Spartans had commandeeredfood and supplies from the base. He inhaled deeply, smelling pinon pines and sage. He missed thisplace. He had been away from REACH for far too long.
Reach was one of the few places that John considered “safe” from the Covenant. There were a hundredships and twenty Mark V MAC guns on the orbital stations overhead. Those guns were powered byfusion generators, buried deep within REACH. Each Mark V could propel a projectile so massive, andwith such velocity, he doubted if even Covenant shields could withstand a single salvo from them.
His home would not fall.
Tall fences and razor wire encircled the inner compound of Camp Hathcock. The Master Chief stoppedat the inner gate and saluted the MP there.
The Marine MP looked over the Master Chief in his dress uniform. He snapped to attention—his mouth
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dropped open and he stared unblinkingly. “They’re waiting for you, Master Chief, sir. Please go right onin.”