Halo_ Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe - Eric Nylund [179]
From the flickering weapons station a shrill alarm sounded, confirming missile lock on the Las Vegas.
Cole yelled into the comm, “All hands brace for impact! All crew brace—”
The bridge shuddered.
For a split second the air condensed into fog, then explosive decompression blasted out the atmosphere.
BRIDGE LOG OF THE UNSC LAS VEGAS (PRIMARY, VIDEO,
SPATIAL ENHANCEMENTS = TRUE) / TERMINATED
0332.091
0348 HOURS MARCH 2, 2494 (MILITARY CALENDAR) \ UNSC
DESTROYER LAS VEGAS PATROLLING 26 DRACONIS SYSTEM
CAPTAIN’S LOG (AUDIO)
{TRANSFER CONTROL CODES ENABLED PER MIL JAG
ORDER TR-19428-P}
Captain Lewis and Commander Rinkishale are dead. The rest of the bridge crew are either incapacitated or dead.
I, Second Lieutenant Cole, Preston J. (UNSC Service Number: 00814-13094-BQ), do hereby assume command of the UNSC destroyer Las Vegas and responsibility for the actions detailed henceforth.
Emergency bulkheads are in place on the bridge and the additional breaches on decks one through eight and eleven through fourteen have been contained. Decks sixteen and seventeen remain evacuated and cannot be repaired.
The Shaw-Fujikawa drive is offline. Primary and secondary reactors are offline. There was a major spike in the primary system. Radiation containment protocols are in effect.
We are dead in space.
I have been trained to follow the rules and regulations and enforce our laws.
And even when I broke those rules—it has been to uphold a higher honor.
Now I am faced with a choice: Break those rules, discard honor, or lose. No—this has nothing to do with winning or losing. I must break the rules and my honor or die. Or all the crew will die.
With so many lives at stake, I have no choice.
I have ordered our missile silos’ doors shut.
I have signaled our unconditional surrender to the insurgent-controlled ship Callisto and requested immediate aid for our wounded.
They won’t be able to resist the prize of a UNSC destroyer. They won’t fire. They’ll answer the distress signal.
END ENTRY CAPTAIN’S LOG \ UNSC LAS VEGAS
EXTERNAL CAMERA A-4, UNSC DESTROYER LAS VEGAS \
0406.335 HOURS MARCH 2, 2494 (MILITARY CALENDAR)
Callisto’s prow approached the port side of Las Vegas and slowed to a full stop five kilometers away—with her missile silo doors open.
After three full minutes Callisto moved closer and turned so that the two ships were abeam: Cargo Bay 5 on the port side of the Las Vegas aligned with Cargo Bay 3 on the starboard side of Callisto.
Robotic tethers reached from Callisto, groping over the crumpled armor of the Las Vegas, until they found purchase.
The arms pulled the Las Vegas within a few meters. A hard docking collar extended from the Callisto—large enough for three trucks side by side to roll across—and fitted to the side of the Las Vegas.
Orange safety lights strobed along the passage as the seal was established, the interior pressure equalized, and the links locked and checked.
Incoming comm on alpha channel from Callisto: Las Vegas, prepare to be boarded. Offer no resistance and we will evacuate your injured to Lawrence Space Station. Any tricks and we open fire.
Comm (alpha channel): This is Las Vegas. Understood. None of my crew will fire.
A moment passed and then more strobe lights flickered along the Callisto’s flank, indicating her cargo bay doors opening.
A second shudder traveled the length of the docking passage—from the Las Vegas into Callisto.
On the port side of Callisto explosions blossomed outward from inside, obliterating her midsection from decks fourteen to three. Armor plates and bodies tumbled into vacuum . . . along with plumes of gray-green reactor coolant.
Both ships spun out of control.
The docking passage between the destroyers strained and twisted—and the connection snapped.
Atmosphere continued to pump out of Las Vegas’s bay, propelling her farther from the now crippled Callisto.