Halo_ The Fall of Reach - Eric Nylund [44]
John shot a quick glance to Dr. Halsey. Her face flushed—he couldn’t tell from shame or rage. “MAC at fifty percent charge.” The red light continued to collect along the lateral line of the Covenant ship until it was a solid band. It
brightened. “Eighty percent charge.” “They’re turning, sir,” the nav officer announced. “She’s coming to starboard.” “Ninety-five percent charge—one hundred,” the weapons officer announced. “Send them to Hades, Lieutenant. Fire.” The lights dimmed again. TheCommonwealth shuddered and a bolt of thunder and fire tore through the
blackness. The Covenant ship stood its ground. The bloodred light that had pooled on its lateral line burst forth— streaked toward theCommonwealth , passing the MAC round a mere kilometer away. The red light
glowed and pulsed almost as if it were liquid; its edges roiled and fluttered. It elongated into a teardrop of ruby light five meters long. “Evasive maneuvers,” Captain Wallace cried. “Emergency thrusters to port!” TheCommonwealth slowly moved out of the trajectory path of the Covenant’s energy weapon. The MAC round struck the Covenant vessel amidships. Its shield shimmered and bubbled . . . then
disappeared. The MAC round punched through the craft and sent it spinning out of control. The inbound ball of light moved, too. It started tracking the Commonwealth. “Engines—full power astern,” the Captain ordered. TheCommonwealth rumbled and slowed. The light should have sped past them; instead, it sharply arced and struck her port amidships.
The air filled with a popping and sizzling. TheCommonwealth listed to starboard, then rolled completely over and continued to tumble.
“Stabilize,” the Captain cried. “Starboard thrusters.” “Fire reported in sections one through twenty,” the ops officer said, panic creeping into his voice. “Decks two through seven in section one . . . have melted, sir. They’re gone.”
It grew noticeably hotter on the bridge. Sweat beaded on John’s back and trickled down his spine. He
had never felt so helpless. Were his teammates below decks alive or dead? “All port armor destroyed. Decks two through five in sections three, four, and five, are now out of contact, sir. It’s burning through us!”
Captain Wallace stood without saying a word. He stared at their one remaining view screen.
Dr. Halsey stepped forward. “Respectfully, Captain, I suggest that you alert the crew to get on respirator packs. Give them thirty seconds then vent the atmosphere on all decks, except the bridge.” The COM officer looked to the Captain. “Do it,” the Captain said. “Sound the alert.” “Deck thirteen destroyed,” the ops officer announced. “Fire is getting close the reactor. Hull structure
starting to buckle.” “Vent atmosphere now,” Captain Wallance ordered. “Aye aye,” the ops officer replied. There was the sound of thumping through the hull . . . then nothing. “Fire is dying out,” the ops officer said. “Hull temperature cooling—stabilizing.” “What the hell did they hit us with?” Captain Wallace demanded. “Plasma,” Dr. Halsey replied. “But not any plasma we know . . . they can actually guide its trajectory
through space, without any detectable mechanism. Amazing.” “Captain,” the navigator said. “Alien ship is pursuing.”
The Covenant vessel—a red-rimmed hole punched through its center—turned and started toward
theCommonwealth . “How . . . ?” Captain Wallace said unbelievingly. He quickly regained his wits. “Ready another MAC heavy round.”
The weapons officer slowly said, “MAC system destroyed, Captain.” “We’re sitting ducks, then,” the Captain murmured. Dr. Halsey leaned against the brass railing. “Not quite. TheCommonwealth carries three nuclear missiles,
correct, Captain?” “A detonation this close would destroy us as well.” She frowned and cupped her hand to her chin, thinking. “Excuse me, sir,” John said. “The alien’s tactics thus far have been unnecessarily vicious—like those of
an animal. They didn