第67页

　　“Let’s  get  moving,”  the  Spartan  advised.  He  took  point  and  moved  down  the  corridor,  bent  low  and  ready  for  trouble.  He’d  barely  gotten  twenty  meters  down  the  passageway  when  more  Covenant  moved  in—two  Jackals  and  an  Elite.
　　The  enemy  was  getting  closer,  and  more  determined,  the  longer  they  remained.  He  finished  off  the  Jackals  with  his  last  frag  grenade,  then  pinned  the  Elite  down  with  assault  rifle  fire.  Keyes  directed  the  Marines  to  fire  on  the  alien’s  flank,  and  he  went  down.
　　“We  need  togo  ,  sir,”  the  Chief  warned  Keyes.  “With  respect,  we’re  moving  too  slowly.”
　　Keyes  nodded,  and  as  a  group  they  sprinted  down  the  twisting  passages,  stealth  abandoned.  Finally,  after  numerous  twists  and  turns,  they  reached  the  shuttle  bay.  The  Spartan  thought  it  was  empty  at  first,  until  he  noticed  what  appeared  to  be  two  light  wands,  floating  in  midair.
　　Fresh  from  his  encounter  with  the  stealth  Elite  who  had  been  stationed  in  the  brig,  the  Master  Chief  knew  better  than  to  take  chances.  He  drew  his  pistol,  linked  in  the  scope,  and  took  careful  aim.  He  squeezed  the  trigger  several  times  and  put  half  a  clip  into  the  area  just  to  the  right  of  the  energy  blade.  A  Covenant  warrior  faded  into  view  and  toppled  off  the  platform.
　　A  Marine  yelled,  “Watch  it!”  and  “Cover  the  Captain!”  as  the  second  blade  sliced  the  air  into  geometric  shapes,  and  started  to  advance  as  if  on  its  own.  The  Spartan  put  three  quick  bursts  into  the  second  alien,  hit  his  stealth  generator,  and  the  Elite  was  revealed.  Fire  poured  in  from  all  sides  and  the  warrior  went  down.
　　There  was  a  blast  of  static  as  Cortana  activated  the  MJOLNIR’s  communication  relays.“Cortana  to  Echo  419  .  .  .  We  have  the  Captain  and  need  extraction  on  the  double.”
　　The  reply  was  nearly  instantaneous.“Negative,  Cortana!  I  have  a  flock  of  Banshees  on  my  tail  .  .  .  and  I  can’t  seem  to  shake  them.  You’ll  be  better  off  finding  your  own  ride.”
　　“Acknowledged,  Foehammer.  Cortana  out.”The  radio  clicked  as  Cortana  switched  from  the  suit’s  radio  to  its  external  speakers.
　　“Air  support  is  cut  off,  Captain.  We’ll  need  to  hold  here  until  Foehammer  can  move  in.”
　　A  Marine  heard  the  interchange  and,  already  traumatized  by  the  time  spent  as  a  Covenant  prisoner,  began  to  lose  it.  “We’re  trapped!  We’re  all  gonna  die!”
　　“Stow  the  bellyaching,  soldier,”  Keyes  growled.  “Cortana,  if  you  and  the  Chief  can  get  us  into  one  of  those  Covenant  dropships,  I  can  fly  us  out  of  here.”
　　“Yes,  Captain,”  the  AI  replied.  “There’s  a  Covenant  ship  docked  below.”
　　The  Master  Chief  saw  the  nav  indicator  appear  on  his  HUD,  followed  the  arrow  through  a  hatch,  down  a  series  of  corridors,  and  out  into  the  troopship  bay.
　　Unfortunately,  the  bay  was  well  defended,  and  another  firefight  broke  out.  The  situation  was  getting  worse.  The  Chief  slammed  his  last  full  clip  into  the  MA5B  and  fired  short,  controlled  bursts.  Grunts  and  Jackals  scattered  and  returned  fire.
　　The  ammo  counter  dropped  rapidly.  A  pair  of  Grunts  fell  under  the  Spartan’s  hail  of  fire.  Within  seconds,  the  ammo  counter  readOO  —empty.