第101页
Fred called up his encryption codes. Thirty-seven corresponded to code word SHEEPINWOLFSCLOTHING.
He input the code. "Ready to receive, sir," Fred told him.
Cortana's message played.
The Spartans listened to her automated distress on the new Halo threat and the Flood. John had been with her There were no specific details other than the single mention of him on the Forerunner ship. Lord Hood had to be sending them as backup.
But then Dr. Halsey's text message appeared, explaining the discovery of new Forerunner technologies, and the possibility of capturing and using them to neutralize both Covenant and Flood threats.
Fred reread the message; there was no mention of Kelly. His eyes lingered on the last line: "SEND SPARTANS."
He now understood why Dr. Halsey had left them, although not her reckless disregard of mission protocol. She had followed some clues found in the ruins of Reach, or perhaps within the alien blue crystal. It was a high-risk venture that had luckily paid off. If she had discovered a cache of technology, it could turn the tide of this war.
Fred held up his hands, palms up, and gave a slight shrug to his teammates, soliciting their opinions.
Linda nodded. Will gave the thumbs-up sign.
"We understand, sir," Fred replied, "and we're ready for redeployment. This Onyx system, though—" He rechecked the stellar coordinate embedded in the message. "It's weeks away with the fastest UNSC corvette."
"We'll just have to do our best," Lord Hood said. "The Pony Express stands ready and waiting for your team. They'll jump the instant you board. I'll send reinforcements if we can spare them."
Fred leaned out the elevator doors. Outside blue skies had turned to black and untwinkling stars now surrounded them. He squinted. In medium orbit were sleek Covenant destroyers… so much faster than any human ship.
"Sir," he said. "I think I've found us a better way there. But I'm going to need the detonation codes for these FENRIS warheads."
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← ^ → CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
1420 HOURS, NOVEMBER 3, 2552 (MILITARY CALENDAR) \ SOL SYSTEM, PLANET EARTH \ MEDIUM ORBIT NEAR UNSC CENTENNIAL ORBITAL ELEVATOR (COE)
Fred, Linda, and Will clung to the base of the turret, trying to make themselves as small as possible. It was not as imposing a weapon as its larger kin mounted upon Covenant battleships. With an energy coil about one-third the size of a Warthog it was barely capable of concealing three Spartans.
A great plan… as long as the weapon wasn't fired.
Two Covenant destroyers floated in the dark, their smooth hulls looking more like some deep-sea creature than spacecraft. A dozen Seraph fighter ships and a handful of shuttles angled toward their base ships.
Fred gave a quick nod to the others.
It was working. At least, as well as any plan could that involved three humans against a hundred Brutes and the combined might of two battle-ready warships.