Halo_ Ghosts of Onyx - Eric S. Nylund [68]
reestablished on new signal," he said.
Their plasma smoothed, concentrated—and accelerated.
The Jiralhanae frigate turned into their shot, presenting a smaller target.
A desperate maneuver and not quick enough.
The frigate's shield heated, dispersing the first bolt of superheated ionized gas. The
second strike hit bare hull, melting the shield arrays and sensors, boiling away layers of smooth blue armor-alloy.
"Fire energy projector," Voro commanded, "dead-center targeting solution."
"Aye, sir," Uruo said. "Projector spinning up—firing."
The bridge lights flickered to ultraviolet backup as all the In-cormpdble's power drained into one lance of destruction. It lit the space around the battle, a cleansing illumination. The Tenebrous appeared frozen in time for a moment… before the energy tore through its hull, blasting internal decks to atoms— amidships, and then the aft plasma coils—shattering the ship into a haze of glowing particles.
The surviving Jiralhanae frigate, the Twilight Compunction, however, was untouched… and it continued toward them.
"Recycling engine power," Zasses said. "Fifteen seconds until engine back online."
Fifteen seconds could be a lifetime in a close-quarter space battle.
"Depressurize Seraph launch bay fourteen," Voro shouted. "Dump plasma from auxiliary coils into the lateral lines."
"Plasma diverted," Uruo answered, his face flushing purple. "Emergency depressurization—now."
A tremble ran through the ship as the bay vented. Propelled by the sudden outgassing of their atmosphere, they turned toward the surviving frigate. The Incorruptible's lateral lines appeared to heat.
The Twilight Compunction's engines flared and it turned, maneuvering behind a nearby destroyer for cover.
They were retreating—as they should when presented with superior firepower… even if that power was an illusion.
Voro wondered if the Jiralhanae Ship Master, Gargantum, had been aboard the Tenebrous, or if he had sent it ahead as a decoy.
The carrier, the Lawgiver, turned, and lasers stitched the frigate. Several beams painted its hull, heating the shields— before another destroyer crossed the line of fire.
"Main coil reenergized," Uruo said.
"New course two seven zero by zero zero zero. Break fleet formation. We cannot fight without destroying our allies as well as our enemies."
The Incorruptible turned and accelerated to a position three hundred kilometers over the fleet. Several ships fired upon one another, but many just drifted, unsure what action to take.
Their leaders, the Prophets, were missing; some said they had left to partake in the Great foumey. Rumors abounded they had actually aligned with the Jiralhanae.
There was, however, an even greater threat.
The holographic arc of Halo appeared on the main viewer. Four destroyers stood near, abeam, and targeted hundreds of smaller craft—Phantoms, Spirits, and even Banshees— that attempted to evacuate the surface of the ring structure. They burned these craft with plasma bombardment and flashes of laser fire… but there were too many trying to escape.
Nothing could be allowed to leave that place. If a single
Flood-infected vessel transitioned to Slipspace—their existence would end. The plague would never again be contained.
"Get me a fleetwide COM channel," he told Y'gar. "Use the Prophets' own frequencies."
"Signal acquired," Y'gar said. "Ready for fleetwide broadcast."
Voro spoke: "This is Ship Master Voro 'Mantakree of the Incorruptible to all loyal vessels in the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity.
"Brothers, we must cast out our confusion, and cease falling upon one another. The holy relic is tainted. We must burn the corruption before it takes us all.
"Zasses," he ordered, "send coordinating target solutions to the fleet." He motioned over the main holographic viewer, selecting portions of the Halo ring where dozens of Spirits were slipping away. "We must stop them before they make contact with one of those destroyers."
"Aye, sir. Targeting solutions sent."
The majority of the fleet, sluggish and disoriented, slowly