Halo_ Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe - Eric Nylund [97]
“She’s not answering on any frequency, Sarge,” Burgundy finally replied over Lopez’s headset. They were on an open frequency for now. Later, only Lopez would have access, and anyone she designated. “Can’t get a peep out of her. No distress beacon. She’s cold, and I don’t think her engines have been running for a while.”
Not if she lay in the same position she’d been in when John Doe had escaped her clutches. So cold and yet hugging so close to the burning shard of a world now lost to them, as if seeking sanctuary.
“Can she zoom in? It just looks like a dark block,” Benti muttered to Lopez, not realizing Burgundy could hear her.
A closer view appeared on-screen. “That better?” Burgundy asked. “She ain’t that pretty. Not by half. I’d never date her.”
A wracked and splintered mountain range formed the backdrop for the Mona Lisa, made it difficult to make her out even with the zoom. She had a blunt snout, the five levels Lopez had seen on the schematic, and some definite damage to the left thruster in the back. A few dents. Some bits like barnacles where compartments had been custom-built onto the ship. That was a bit odd, but not unknown. Near the back, Lopez could see where something had left a definite hole. Not enough to scuttle it. Freighters could take a severe pounding. Almost certainly the Mona Lisa still had breathable air.
“How’d the postmortem go, Benti?” Lopez asked in a quiet voice. Benti had gotten a peek but Lopez hadn’t had a chance to ask her about it yet.
“Why not ask Tsardikos?”
“Huh?”
Benti nodded toward one of the others. “Tsardikos over there did the autopsy. Then they put him on the mission.” She shrugged, that officers move in mysterious ways look on her face.
That made Lopez’s heart do a strange leap. “No,” she said. “I want to hear it from you.” Didn’t want to hear it from a noncom who shouldn’t even be on the mission. Tsardikos didn’t look comfortable over there, fidgeting in his kit. Why should he?
Benti grimaced. “Nasty wounds. Whatever opened his chest and back wasn’t a blade, and took a hell of a lot of force. Don’t know what it was, but I suppose when you’re busting out of prison you use what you can grab. I brought extra blood bags, though. Just in case. It was a prisoner riot, right? It’d have to be.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Lopez said. “You honestly expect some punk-ass jailbird to get a shiv in one of us? You doubting the Marine Corps, Private?” Didn’t mind messing with her people every once in a while.
“It was one hell of a shiv,” Benti muttered. “Sir.”
“Why bother? I mean, if they’re just escapees in a dead ship?” MacCraw piped up. “Just mark her position and come back when things are less hot, Sarge?” Almost like he expected Lopez to say, “You’re right, MacCraw,” and turn the Pelican right around.
Lopez was about to give MacCraw a hell of a reply, one that mentioned his cologne, when Rebecca came over the radio. Closed channel, just for her and Burgundy. “Signal strength is weak, Sergeant. I’m getting the pictures now. We’ve picked up a Covenant ship in the vicinity. Distant, but we’ll have to tread carefully. The commander has ordered the Red Horse to maintain radio contact as much as possible in the field, but we mustn’t reveal ourselves. Maneuverability is limited. You may be on your own for a while. You have your orders.”
“Roger that,” Lopez said. “I’ll check in with Burgundy once we’re on board to see if I can patch you in. If not, I guess it’s just me and the pilot.” From the forward position, Burgundy gave a thumbs-up over her shoulder. Rebecca signed off.
“And me,” Benti said, smiling.
Lopez nodded, said, “Yeah, you too.” She caught Clarence staring at her oddly. Jealous? Yeah, you be jealous, Clarence, you gloomy bastard.
“The game is always changing,” MacCraw said, to the air.
“Give thanks you’ve got a game on,” Lopez said, and almost meant it. Checking on some spooky mystery transport at the ass-end