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He finally got enough bearings to tap the system override. No response. He hit the harness emergency release. It was jammed.
"I'm okay," he said over the COM. "Life support's minimal, but still functional. Going to deep breathing mode to conserve air and power. I'll ride it out. You should be able to pick up my IFF transponder once I'm clear. Activating rescue beacon now. I'll be okay. I'll be o—"
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FOUR
ADDENDUM \ AFTER-ACTION REPORT \ UNSC-NAVSPECWEP OPS, FILE EHY-97 SUBJECT: SPARTAN-051
During aforementioned operation (see attached mission profile) to investigate possible rebel activity on the decommissioned construction platform 966a, unofficially named Station Delphi, a catastrophic malfunction of a thruster pack (model 050978, unit serial #82.10923.192) occurred.
At 1000 hours, a thruster malfunction propelled SPARTAN-051 off mission and into interplanetary space.
Immediate rescue attempts commenced with the assistance of the UNSC prowler Circumference, joined on 1/13/2535, 1105 hours, by the UNSC frigate Tannenberg.
Three hundred twenty-two minutes after projected oxygen in SPARTAN-051's variant-V MJOLNIR suit expired, operation terminated as nearby Covenant Action (see attached references) prompted an immediate call to action of all nearby UNSC forces.
Cause of thruster malfunction remains unknown, pending further investigation, but it is hypothesized that a partially decommissioned Shaw-Fujikawa translight engine core on the platform and in close proximity to SPARTAN-051 at the time of the accident may have caused a series of catastrophic electrical malfunctions. anomalous electrical activity also obscured further, later rescue efforts in the region.
Platform 966A has been tagged with a HAZNAV satellite, PENDING HMAT team dispatch (FLEETCOM Order D-88934).
SPARTAN-051 Status: MISSING IN ACTION.
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FIVE
1950 HOURS, DECEMBER 14, 2531 (MILITARY CALENDAR) \ ABOARD UNSC POINT OF NO RETURN, LOCATION CLASSIFIED
Kurt woke up in bed, an osmotic IV in his arm, and nearby monitors displaying his vital signs, blood composition, and brain-oxygen saturation levels.
He surmised he was in a hospital, although there was no call
button, and no obvious door. There was also a camera mounted in the corner of the ceiling. Kurt felt the familiar subsonic thrum around him, and he relaxed. He was on a spaceship. Although he preferred boot-on-dirt, anywhere was better than hard vacuum.
He lowered the bed's railing, and swung his legs over the edge. Pain lanced up his side. Cracked ribs—he'd had them many times. Bruises covered his pale skin; they were especially livid on his shoulders, stomach, and waist. He checked in the mirror for injuries, and then ran his hand over the long black stubble on his head and face. He was intact… but how long had he been unconscious?