Halo_ The Fall of Reach - Eric Nylund [115]
the Spartans, sir—don’t you think they’re . . . strange?”
“Strange? Yes, Lieutenant. You might act a little strange if you seen and been through as much as they had.” “Some people say they’re not even humans in those suits—that they’re just machines.” “They’re human,” Captain Keyes said. The elevator doors parted and Captain Keyes stepped onto his bridge. It was much smaller than he was
accustomed to; the command chair was only a meter from the other stations. View screens dominated the room, and a massive, curved window afforded a panoramic view of the stars.
“Status reports,” Captain Keyes ordered. Lieutenant Dominique spoke first. “Communication systems are green, sir. Monitoring FLEETCOM Reach traffic. No new orders.” Dominique had gotten his hair shorn since he had been on theIroquois . He also had a new tattoo around his left wrist: the wavy lines of a Besell function.
“Reactor shakedown eighty percent complete,” Lieutenant Hall reported. “Oxygen, power, rotation, and pressure all green lights, sir.” She smiled, but it wasn’t like before—an automatic gesture. She seemed
genuinely happy.
Lieutenant Hikowa took her seat and strapped in. She gathered her black hair and tied it into a knot. “Weapons panel shows green, sir. MAC gun capacitors at zero charge.” Ensign Lovell finally reported: “Navigation and sensor systems online, Captain, and all green. Ready for
your orders.” Lovell was completely focused on his station. A small hologram of Cortana flickered on the AI pedestal near navigation. “Engine shakedown running
smoothly, Captain,” she said. “All personnel onboard. You have half-power now if you wish to move the ship. Fujikawa-Shaw generators on-line . . . you can take us into the Slipstream at your pleasure.” “Very good,” Captain Keyes said. Keyes surveyed his crew, pleased at how they had sharpened up after Sigma Octanus. Gone were the
bleary, haggard expressions, and the tentative, nervous mannerisms. Good, he thought. We’re going to need everyone at the top of their game now. The crew had been briefed on their mission—part of it anyway. Captain Keyes had insisted. They were
told they would be attempting to capture Covenant technology, with an aim to disabling one of the aliens’ ships and bringing it back intact. What the crew didn’t know were the stakes.
“Approaching Reach system’s edge,” Ensign Lovell reported. “Ready to generate a Slipstream—” “Captain!” Lieutenant Dominique cried. “Incoming Alpha priority transmission from FLEETCOM HQ at Reach . . . sir, they’re under Covenant attack!”
SECTION V REACH
CHAPTER THIRTY 0000 Hours, August 29, 2552 (Military Calendar) / narrow-band point-to-point transmission:
origin UNKNOWN; termination: Section Three, Omega secure antenna array, UNSC HQ Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Complex PLNBPriority Transmission XX087R-XX Encryption Code:GAMMA Public Key:N/A From:CODENAME:COALMINER To:CODENAME:SURGEON Subject:PROGRESS REPORT/OPERATIONHYPODERMIC Classification:EYES ONLY TOP SECRET (SECTION III X-RAY DIRECTIVE) /file extraction-reconstitution complete/ /start file/ Secured space-dock repair bay. CorvetteCircumference undergoing final stealth upgrades. Shipyard
records successfully altered. Queries detected from transient AI. Operation deemed AT RISK of being uncovered. As per contingency plan TANGO: ship registration numbers scrambled; hard isolated from dockside
computer network; counterintrusion software implemented; Alpha security protocols enacted onboard.
Just as you called it, sir. Don’t worry—as far as the station computers are concerned,Circumference never even existed. /end file/ /scrambledestruction process enabled/ PressENTER to continue.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
0447 Hours, August 30, 2552 (Military Calendar) / Remote Sensing StationFermion, Epsilon Eridani System’s edge
Chief Petty Officer McRobb entered the command center of Remote Sensing StationFermion . Lieutenants (JG) Bill Streeter and David Brightling stood and saluted.
He wordlessly returned their salutes.
The wall-sized monitors displayed