Halo_ First Strike - Eric S. Nylund [104]
"Complying," Cortana said. "Flank speed. Conduit is holding. Coming about to two-four-zero by zero-three-five. Collision with Covenant cruiser at this speed and heading in eighteen seconds."
Ascendant Justice-Gettysburg accelerated toward a line of wavering orange plasma—and steamed through it like a ship smashing through a storm wave on the open seas.
Fire splashed over their hulls and burned away layers of armor. The entire hull superstructure groaned. Explosions reverberated through the deck.
"Fire on decks eight through twelve," Cortana reported. "We have lost plasma turret five. Distance to enemy ship six thousand kilometers and closing."
"Initiate a roll, Cortana. Make it thirty degrees per second. That'll spread out the damage over more surface area."
"Roll maneuver, aye. Attitude thrusters set to maximum burn." She exhaled, and her holographic image flickered with irritation. "This will make a targeting solution difficult, sir."
"Set firing range of plasma turrets for point blank," the Admiral told her.
Cortana hesitated for a full second. "Yes, Admiral."
The space on the external cameras slowly began to spin as their ship spiraled toward their intended target. The Covenant cruiser came about to face them. Its plasma turrets glowed like angry red eyes. "Lieutenant, take the weapons station. Cortana, give us a firing solution and manual fire control."
Haverson's hands moved quickly over the Covenant holographic control surfaces. "Cortana has a firing solution, sir. Activate weapons?"
"Stand by, Lieutenant."
"They'll get off the first salvo, sir," Lieutenant Haverson said. Although his voice was calm, a drop of sweat trickled down his freckled cheek.
"I hope they do," the Admiral replied. "It may be the only thing that saves us." Lieutenant Haverson took a deep breath, nodding. "Weapons standing by, sir."
"Cortana, make ready to vent the Gettysburg's launch bay."
"Aye, sir. Overriding bay door safeties. Distance to target three thousand kilometers."
The Covenant cruiser fired. Lances of energy launched and veered toward Ascendant Justice ... and arced away in corkscrew spirals and right angles. The space between the two large masses was still tangled and fractured.
"Two thousand kilometers," Cortana reported. "Stay on course," the Admiral said. "And continue to hold fire." Lieutenant Haverson's jaw clenched, and his hands trembled over the controls. The enemy cruiser filled the displays. Its plasma turrets recycled and glowed a dull red.
"One thousand kilometers," Cortana announced.
"Admiral?" Lieutenant Haverson asked.
"Hold your fire."
"Five hundred kilometers," Cortana said. "Three hundred... two... collision imminent."
The Admiral's fist clenched. He barked, "Fire! All turrets, fire! Cortana, depressurize the launch bay and give us full power to port."
Ascendant Justice was a kilometer from the Covenant ship on an intercept course when it fired. The Gettysburg's launch bay doors opened and the air inside explosively decompressed— propelling the conjoined ships to port—just enough to miss the cruiser.
Plasma rocketed toward their target. There was no way to miss. White-hot fire impacted on the cruiser's hull, splashed across its surface, boiled off the armored skin, and corroded the skeletal framework underneath.
"Aft cameras," the Admiral ordered.
On screen he saw fire explode out the opposite side of the cruiser. The warship tilted and rolled belly-up, plasma disintegrating the interior from stern to stem until it reached the fusion core. The ship detonated in a ball of flame. An instant later the explosion twisted and curved as the warped Slipspace field swept away all traces of the enemy ship.
Lieutenant Haverson exhaled and wiped his brow. "Excellent maneuvering, Admiral."
"Don't waste your breath on victory