第163页
Encryption Code:Red
Public Key:file /bravo-tango-beta-five/
From:Admiral Roland Freemont, Commanding Fleet Officer, FLEETCOM Sector One Commander/(UNSC Service Number: 00745-16778-HS)
To:ALL UNSC warships in REACH, JERICO, and TANTALUS systems
Subject:IMMEDIATE RECALL
Classification:Classified (BGX Directive)
/start file/
Covenant presence detected on REACH system’s edge coordinates 030 relative.
All UNSC warships are hereby ordered to cease all activities and regroup at rally pointZULU at bestspeed.
ALL SHIPSare to enact the Cole Protocol immediately.
/end file/
“Cortana has picked up ship signatures on thePillar of Autumn ’s sensors,” Captain Keyes said. “Shecannot be sure how many because of electrical interference, but there are more than a hundred alienships inbound toward Reach. We have to go. We have our orders. The Section Three mission has to bescrubbed.”
“Sir? Scrubbed?” John had never had a mission canceled.
“Reach is our strategic headquarters and our biggest ship-building facility, Master Chief. If the shipyardsfall, then Dr. Halsey’s prediction of humanity having only months to survive will shrink to weeks.”
The Master Chief normally would never have contradicted a superior officer, but this time dutycompelled him. “Sir, our two missions are not mutually exclusive.”
Captain Keyes lit his pipe—in defiance of three separate regulations of igniting a combustible on aUSNC ship. He puffed once and thoughtfully examined the smoke. “What do you have in mind, MasterChief?”
----------------------- Page 266-----------------------
“A hundred alien vessels, sir. Between the combined force of the fleet and Reach’s orbital gunplatforms, it is almost guaranteed there will be a disabled ship my squad can board and capture.”
Captain Keyes mulled this over. “There will also be hundreds of ships exchanging fire with one another.Missiles, nukes . . . Covenant plasma torpedoes.”
“Just get us close enough,” the Master Chief said. “Punch a hole in their shields long enough for us toget on their hull. We’ll do the rest.”
Captain Keyes chewed on his pipe. He tucked it into the cup of his hand. “There are operationalcomplications with your plan. Cortana has been running thePillar of Autumn ’s shakedown. We have ourown AI, but by the time we get it initialized and running this ship—the battle may be over.”
“I see, sir.”
Captain Keyes gazed a moment at the Master Chief, then sighed. “If there is a disabled Covenant shipand if we are close enough to itand if we’re not blown to a million bits by the time we get there, then I’lltransfer Cortana to you. I’ve flown ships without an AI before.” Captain Keyes managed a weak smile,but it quickly disappeared.
“Yes, sir!”
“We’ll be at rally point Zulu in twenty minutes, Master Chief. Have your team ready by then . . . foranything.”
“Sir.” He saluted.
Captain Keyes returned the salute and entered the elevator, puffing on his pipe and shaking his head.
The Master Chief turned to his teammates. They halted what they were doing.