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The disgusting filth had even managed to seize control of the ship’s engineering spaces before anew enemy, one which was inimical to Covenant and Flood form alike, sent an army of flying robots into the ship and took control of the Engine Room.
Now, as if to prove that ’Ontomee was truly cursed, stillanother threat had arrived on the scene, and he was reluctant to share the news with the already exhausted Elites arrayed in front of him.
“So,” ’Ontomee began lamely, “it seems that a human crashed a Banshee into the side of the ship, and is now on board.”
A veteran named ’Kasamee frowned. “ ‘Ahuman’? As in, asingle human? With respect, Excellency, one human more or less will hardly make a difference.”
’Ontomee swallowed. “Yes, well, normally I would agree with you, except thatthis human is somewhat unusual. First, because he wears special armor, second, because it appears that he’s on some sort of mission, and third, because he singlehandedly killed every member of Security Team Three, which had responsibility for the command and control deck.”
Unnoticed by those in front of him, the seemingly lethargic officer known as Huki ’Umamee started to look interested. He sat up straighter, and began to pay close attention. Having chosen a seat in the last row, ’Zamamee found it difficult to hear. The discussion continued.
“Onehuman accomplished all that?” ’Kasamee demanded incredulously. “That hardly seems possible.”
“Yes,” ’Ontomee agreed, “but he did. Not only that, but having accomplished whatever he entered the control area to do, he left, and is somewhere else on board this ship.” The Elite scanned the faces in front of him. “Who has the skill and courage required to find the alien and kill him?”
The response came with gratifying speed. “Ido,” ’Zamamee said, now on his feet.
’Ontomee peered into the harsh human lights. “Who is that?”
“ ’Umamee,” the Elite lied.
“Ah, yes,” ’Ontomee replied gratefully. “A commando . . . Just the sort of person we need to rid ourselves of this two-legged vermin. The mission is yours. Keep me informed.
“Now, turning our attention to these new airborne mechanisms . . .”
Later, as the meeting ended, ’Kasamee went looking for the volunteer, fully intending to compliment the younger officer on his initiative. But, like the human the Elite was supposed to find, the Elite officer had disappeared.
Having fought his way clear of the bridge, the Master Chief made his way through a series of passageways, ran into more Flood and gunned them down. Cortana figured that they could access the Engine Room via the cryo chamber, and that was where the Chief was headed. The problem was that he kept running into jammed hatches, locked doors, and other obstacles that kept him from taking a direct route.
After he moved through a large, dark room strewn with weapons, the Chief heard the sounds of combat coming from the area beyond a closed hatch. He paused, heard the noises die away, and slipped out into the corridor. Bodies lay all about as he slid along a bulkhead, saw some spikes sticking up over a cargo module, and felt his blood run cold. A Hunter! Or more accuratelytwo Hunters, since they traveled in pairs.