Halo_ The Cole Protocol Part 3

MIGHTY SPARROW APPROACHING HABITAT TIAGO, APPROACHING HABITAT TIAGO,.

THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

The freighter Mighty Sparrow Mighty Sparrow drifted ever so slowly behind the protective bulk of a stray asteroid as Juliana rea.s.sured some very worried Jackals that the asteroid would miss the drifted ever so slowly behind the protective bulk of a stray asteroid as Juliana rea.s.sured some very worried Jackals that the asteroid would miss the Infinite Spoils. Infinite Spoils.An industrial accident.A debris cloud of rock, water vapor, and metal shards all completed the messy illusion.On deck, a tense Lt. Keyes eyed the screens, watching closely. Everyone in the c.o.c.kpit was suited up, guns at their hips, ready for anything. He glanced over at Li and Kirtley, who had both managed to integrate themselves into the crowded bridge, helping out where needed."You have the ma.s.s driver primed to shoot their s.h.i.+elds out, just in case this doesn't work?" he asked Juliana."Yes, but at that point we have to a.s.sume that even the Jackals won't believe that the attack on their s.h.i.+p was by escaped UNSC, if that comes into play."Keyes doubted they'd believe this was the work of a lone UNSC vessel anyway, but Juliana wanted a door out, in case they found no plans by the Jackals for the Rubble.Privately, Keyes felt the Rubble should just a.s.sume the Jackals had plans for invasion and strike first, intrigue like this be d.a.m.ned.But it felt good to be back in action against the Covenant one way or another."Get ready, then," Keyes muttered. They were close."The Kig-Yar s.h.i.+pmistress is relaxing; her computers are showing the rock won't hit. She's yelling at me for being careless," Juliana reported."All teams go, then," Keyes said. "Now or never."Juliana's body flashed a sudden increase of the equations that decoratively flowed over it. "Airlock a.s.sault teams are go in ten, nine..."Keyes turned to Delgado. "Fire it."The pilot triggered the thruster sequence, and the entire asteroid rolled them around to face the Jackal s.h.i.+p. The thickest part of the cloud of debris lay between them and the Jackal s.h.i.+p as the Mighty Sparrow Mighty Sparrow leapt across the several hundred feet, thrusters blazing. leapt across the several hundred feet, thrusters blazing."Four, three..." Juliana intoned."Brace for impact!" Keyes shouted."Two, one."They struck, and the Mighty Sparrow Mighty Sparrow screeched and s.h.i.+vered as its hull smacked against the screeched and s.h.i.+vered as its hull smacked against the Infinite Spoils. Infinite Spoils. "ODSTs are go for intrusion," Keyes ordered. "ODSTs are go for intrusion," Keyes ordered."Moving out," Faison reported via radio, the banging of an airlock door coming over the channel."I'll be adding support," the Spartan, Jai, reported."We're locked in. Very nice maneuvering, Delgado," Keyes said. "Our hull is holding, minor leaks." He let out breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.Juliana cleared her throat. "The Kig-Yar s.h.i.+pmaster is complaining that we are deceitful, cowardly liars."Keyes chuckled. "I take it she's figured out she's under attack."In the distance, gunfire started up, with the return whine of plasma answering it."Yes," said Juliana. "I would say that she has.""We have contact," Faison reported."Pull me," Juliana said. "We want to be ready to plug in the moment we get the chance.""Okay."Keyes leaned over and gently slid the chip, in reality a small matchbook-sized card, out of its housing in the station. Juliana's hologram flickered away, and he tucked it into his chest pocket as he left the c.o.c.kpit.A pair of ODSTs flanked the airlock, battle rifles at the ready. "What have we got?" he asked."Pretty small contingent of Jackals. We have the corridor in secured. Faison has us pus.h.i.+ng them back toward their bridge."The sound of grenades boomed out, bouncing around the walls."Breached the bridge," Faison reported. "There's still fighting outside the s.h.i.+p by the other entry airlock. You have a clear path to me, though. I'm sending Jai back to get you.""I'll be here," Keyes said, as the echoes of the last blast finally dissipated, and the distinct sound of a wounded Jackal's screams followed it.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR.

INFINITE SPOILS OFF HABITAT TIAGO, OFF HABITAT TIAGO,.

THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Jai whipped out his submachine gun and peered around the cloud of smoke the grenades left behind. Jackals lay draped everywhere on the bridge, thrown clear by the explosions.Nothing stirred in the haze, but Jai walked around, putting a round in the head of each Jackal for good measure."Bridge is secure," he reported.ODSTs streamed in after him. "Bridge is clear," they confirmed.They had plowed through the Jackals quickly on their way up to the bridge, Jai running in front. Five Jackals, unable to hide behind their energy s.h.i.+elds, had died in the corridors. Same for the bridge crew.But from the sound of battle chatter, the bulk of the fighting Jackals had run out of the s.h.i.+p to fight the initial attack from the dock.A good hundred or so of them had held their airlock against that threat, not even for a second imagining that they were going to get boarded from the outside. It was easy enough to keep them from getting back in.The AI and Lt. Keyes had a flair for this, Jai thought."Spartan, can you head back and provide protection for Lt. Keyes?" Faison asked."On my way," Jai replied. He took one last look around the bridge. The ODSTs were throwing the dead Jackal bodies into a pile in the corner.He double-timed it back down the corridor.ODSTs snapped quick nods at him as he pa.s.sed, some flat-out stared as he thudded his way back toward the Mighty Sparrow. Mighty Sparrow. He pa.s.sed Li and Kirtley running toward the bridge with a pair of ODSTs guarding them. He pa.s.sed Li and Kirtley running toward the bridge with a pair of ODSTs guarding them.Keyes waited in the airlock. As Jai stepped inside, his earpiece crackled. "Jai, this is Delgado.""Go ahead," Jai said."I'm pa.s.sing on a message from Petya. Petya. They report success, and are on their way back. That's all." They report success, and are on their way back. That's all.""Thanks," Jai said. He smiled inside his helmet. Adriana and Mike had taken care of business. "You ready?" Jai asked Keyes."Yes. And by the way, Spartan?""Yessir?" Jai looked down at him.Keyes smiled up at Jai. "Boy, is it nice to see you out here with us."So many things could still go wrong, Jai thought. But they'd stormed a Jackal s.h.i.+p, destroyed most of the nav data, and had control of the rest. So far, so good."Jai, Faison, Keyes," Delgado's voice burst over Jai's moment. "We have a problem. There's a s.h.i.+p inbound. Not ours. Covenant."Keyes frowned. "Already?"Jai put a hand on the lieutenant's shoulder. "Come, Lt. Keyes, we need to move quickly, then."

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE.

UNNAMED KIG-YAR TRANSPORT, THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Thel looked at the monitor, not quite believing what he saw: a human freighter, docked with the Infinite Spoils. Infinite Spoils. And he was listening to the Kig-Yar battle channel, where they screamed about human attacks by their UNSC warriors. And he was listening to the Kig-Yar battle channel, where they screamed about human attacks by their UNSC warriors.Zhar looked over at him. "This Rubble grows stranger by the day, s.h.i.+pmaster."Thel shook his long head. "As strange as this may be, it cannot surprise you. The humans are heretics-it was foolish of the Kig-Yar to think they could enter into an alliance with them.""Nonetheless, the airlock is occupied. What do we do now?" Zhar asked."Shoot the human s.h.i.+p," Thel ordered. "It will either move, or we will have to burn our way in."Thel leaned back in his command chair, watching plasma leap out toward the human s.h.i.+p.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX.

MIGHTY SPARROW NEAR HABITAT TIAGO, NEAR HABITAT TIAGO,.

THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Delgado grabbed the sides of his navigation chair as the c.o.c.kpit shuddered. Air pressure dropped-the s.h.i.+p had been holed. He pulled the visor shut on his suit and sealed the gloves. It made operating a console clumsier, but it was clear this bucket was going to be full of nothing but vacuum soon enough.The monitor showed the Covenant craft firing another round of plasma at them. Delgado winced as the Mighty Sparrow Mighty Sparrow groaned. A large chunk of the c.o.c.kpit ceiling caved in, and the gla.s.s all blew out. groaned. A large chunk of the c.o.c.kpit ceiling caved in, and the gla.s.s all blew out.This was bad. They needed to bug out."We're losing the freighter," Delgado reported. "Get your men out of this s.h.i.+p, Keyes. It looks like the Jackals have reinforcements.""Get inside the Infinite Spoils Infinite Spoils with the ODSTs then," Keyes said. "Abandon the with the ODSTs then," Keyes said. "Abandon the Sparrow, Sparrow, it's a lost cause. If we leave the it's a lost cause. If we leave the Sparrow Sparrow docked, they'll have a hard time getting through her. We'll fight our way out down the docks." docked, they'll have a hard time getting through her. We'll fight our way out down the docks."Delgado cleared out of the c.o.c.kpit. At the airlock one of Keyes' men waited for him. Faison, if he remembered the name correctly. "I came back to make sure all my men were out," Faison barked, putting his black helmet on. Delgado could see the corridor he'd just run down reflected back in the visor. "Keyes and Jai are on the bridge, jacking the AI in. We're headed for the docks. I want to lead the breakout there.""I'll go with you," Delgado said. Running with the leader of the h.e.l.ljumpers had to be a safe bet.They ran through corridors, Faison leading, turning the corners with his battle rifle up at chin level. Delgado followed, handgun out.He was struggling to keep up with the marine, though. His legs hurt, his lungs hurt. Everything was one big ache.Faison turned a corner well ahead of Delgado and plasma fire burst out. Faison dropped to the ground with a grunt, firing as he fell. The smell of burnt flesh filled Delgado's nostrils.Delgado rounded the corner firing his pistol low, s.h.i.+fting his aim to hit a Kig-Yar running down the corridor in the feet. It howled, energy s.h.i.+eld falling to the ground, and Faison shot it in the head."d.a.m.n it!" Faison shouted. He sounded angry, not hurt. Despite that, the floor was slick with his blood. The shot had been close to an artery, Delgado guessed. Even without the charring, Faison was in bad shape. "This corridor was supposed to be cleared.""He could have been hiding until now." Delgado crouched in front of the marine. Faison's right thigh had been hit. As he cursed the Jackal, Faison used a knife to cut off long strips of cloth from his left pant leg.Delgado helped him make a makes.h.i.+ft tourniquet, tying it off around Faison's upper thigh to reduce the bleeding. It was a blood-soaked rag by the time they finished.Delgado wiped his hands on his trousers. "You need a medic."Faison leaned his helmeted head against the wall and groaned. "I know," he grunted. "But if we call someone down we're putting them in risk."Delgado sat down against the opposite wall. "What are you doing?" Faison asked."Waiting for help with you," Delgado said.Faison shoved the battle rifle across the floor. "No, you keep moving. You'll have a better chance of getting out of here if you head for the docks. Keep your eyes open.""There is no way I'm leaving you behind," Delgado said."Leave me your pistol," the marine said. "Take my rifle. I've been shot in the thigh and I've already lost too much blood. I'm not walking out of here, pilot. It's just not going to happen.""You have men to lead. We can get them to come back via the docks for you," Delgado said."I'm not spending lives to save my own," Faison said. He s.h.i.+fted his position and winced, and then he yanked his helmet off, throwing it down beside him. "I turned the corridor too fast, I let my guard down, and I paid the price.""And if I wasn't in such rough shape, I would have been right there beside you," Delgado said."Battle is random like that, sometimes." Faison gestured for Delgado's pistol, and Delgado tossed him Senora Sies. Senora Sies. The marine examined it. "Fancy piece." The marine examined it. "Fancy piece.""It has a long history," Delgado said."I'll bet so," Faison muttered. "I'm sorry to have to ask for it, but you'll be better off with the rifle. Now go, quickly."Delgado stood up, and grabbed Faison's wrist in an extended handshake. "You're a good man, Faison. For UNSC."Faison laughed. "I bet it hurts to say that."Delgado smiled. "Not really, soldier. Not really.""Go," Faison hissed. "Please."Delgado turned the corner with the battle rifle up and at the ready, his footsteps echoing softly off the walls as he left the ODST marine behind him in a pool of blood.Once he was down the corridor he ignored Faison's commands and radioed Jai. "Faison is down. If you can get back to this location at any point, he really needs a medic. He'll need backup-we were ambushed."

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN.

INFINITE SPOILS, OFF HABITAT TIAGO, OFF HABITAT TIAGO,.

THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Keyes watched as Juliana appeared over the alien console, her form wavering and sparking."It's getting bad out here," he told her. "We have Jackals on the docks in solid numbers still holding out, and reinforcements at the door on the other side. We abandoned the Mighty Sparrow. Mighty Sparrow. Please tell me all this was worth it." Please tell me all this was worth it."Juliana ignored him as her eyes flashed incandescent white and she dropped to her knees. "Strong security," she whispered. Then she opened her eyes wide. "But it was was worth it. We're in real danger. All of us. Yank me, Lieutenant, and get me back into the Rubble. I have the data I need, and we need to act fast. The Kig-Yar are coming for us. The Rubble will need to make a stand. Get me out of here, Keyes. Now!" worth it. We're in real danger. All of us. Yank me, Lieutenant, and get me back into the Rubble. I have the data I need, and we need to act fast. The Kig-Yar are coming for us. The Rubble will need to make a stand. Get me out of here, Keyes. Now!"Keyes pulled the chip and pocketed it."To the docks?" he asked Jai.The Spartan's gold visor turned to him. "I need to make a detour. Your man Faison's hurt. Delgado asked if we could help."Keyes nodded. "Get to him."Jai thudded out of the room, and Keyes turned to the ODSTs inside the c.o.c.kpit. "Let's get out of here."

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT.

INFINITE SPOILS, OFF HABITAT TIAGO, OFF HABITAT TIAGO,.

THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Thel stepped aboard the Infinite Spoils Infinite Spoils with a snarl. The human s.h.i.+p had clogged up their attempt to board, and they'd had to shuttle over on boarding s.h.i.+ps, burning their way aboard the docked human freighter. with a snarl. The human s.h.i.+p had clogged up their attempt to board, and they'd had to shuttle over on boarding s.h.i.+ps, burning their way aboard the docked human freighter.It left him in a testy mood. And with Unggoy milling about b.u.mping into each other, Thel's mood had darkened further.He leaned over to Zhar. "Have any of them figured out how to move this human s.h.i.+p away?""No," Zhar replied, looking over the Unggoy standing around the c.o.c.kpit, pus.h.i.+ng b.u.t.tons and chattering to each other.Thel sighed. "Leave five Unggoy here to cut the s.h.i.+p loose with plasma torches once we get through the airlock."He stalked back to the airlock and made his way through after several Unggoy. They fanned out ahead of him into the corridors, their ungainly steps making far too much noise.The Kig-Yar s.h.i.+p felt empty. No Kig-Yar had even tried to hold the airlock. Had the humans killed them all?And if so, where were the humans?Zhar followed him through. After the airlock closed, the sound of welding and cutting came through from the other side. A moment later a loud creaking sound filled the corridor, then silence."The human s.h.i.+p is cut loose. The Unggoy Deacon and Saal say they're towing it free and casting it off," Zhar said. "So far, no human s.h.i.+ps have come to sniff around.""Good." Thel looked around. "Unggoy toward the bridge. Zhar and I will secure the other airlock from the docks and eliminate any Kig-Yar there."The Unggoy dutifully headed up the corridor.Zhar patted the plasma rifle in his hands. "Let's go, then."Thel's old friend took the lead, turning corners as Thel quickly followed behind, keeping him covered as they thudded down the inside of the s.h.i.+p through bulkhead after bulkhead.Zhar turned a corner and flinched as human gunfire slapped into his armor. The old Sangheili fired downward, and the shots stopped.The now dead human, its back against the wall, had been already wounded. A large shot to its thigh had bled the creature's strange red blood out onto the floor. Zhar had shot it once: clean through the head."It was sitting down," Zhar said. "Startled me. I barely got a return shot in.""You are lucky it didn't have a more powerful weapon." Thel kicked away the handgun lying by its side."Indeed." Zhar actually sounded somewhat shaken. He squatted in front of the dead human. "I wonder why they left one of their own behind like this? Was it a trap?""Who knows how they think?" Thel said. "Who cares? They are heretics. They do not deserve names or life."Zhar wouldn't stop worrying at some idea deep in his head, "I don't know, Thel. You're a true zealot, I know, and I would never doubt the word of the Prophets, but we've fought the humans for years and they show some capacity for honor. Look, they left behind one of their own, who was bleeding and dishonored, to spring a trap and die with honor. Don't you think that indicates something profoundly n.o.ble about them?"Thel looked down at the dead alien and thought about it, "You think too much, Zhar."As he said that, Thel saw something move quickly out of the corner of his eyes. Zhar snapped out his plasma rifle and fired, just as the large, gray-armor-clad human fired back with a rifle of its own.Thel pulled out his energy sword as the armored human smacked into him, carrying them both rolling down the corridor until they struck a bulkhead hard enough to make Thel's vision blur and knock his sword loose."I cannot get a good aim," Zhar shouted, as Thel struggled to get a grip on the powerful human's rifle.The loud human gun fired into the floor several times as they fought over it, and then Thel got the barrel in both his hands.He stared at his reflection in the alien's visor and roared as he bent the weapon, straining to make it useless. The gold visor stared implacably back at Thel. There were no sounds, though the alien was straining just as hard.What creature did not choose to show its face that wasn't a soulless and dead one? Thel roared again. "Demon! Heretic. Unholy alien!" He headb.u.t.ted the gold visor, snapping the human's neck back with each whiplike blow.The human threw him back and yanked a primitive knife from the chest of its armor.The two warriors stood, staring at each other for a split second. Thel suddenly realized that they would both die, fighting to the very end, equally matched.Equally matched with a human. human. Thel spat purple blood from his mouth. This was a surprise. Thel spat purple blood from his mouth. This was a surprise.The human looked over at the other dead marine, shook its head, and then took off down the corridor."We follow it," Thel gasped, out of breath. He'd broken a rib with that impact."What was was that?" Zhar asked, cautiously pointing his plasma rifle around the corner. that?" Zhar asked, cautiously pointing his plasma rifle around the corner."I do not know," Thel said. "It was strong, though." He joined Zhar, turning around the corner."Looks like it was headed to the docks. Let's go."Zhar had a small limp, and it hurt for Thel to run, but neither of them would allow these to slow them. Both Sangheili ran all out, grunting occasionally, to the airlock dock.They got there just in time to see the gray-armored human disappear past the lip, running out into the large cavernous docking area where human tracers and Covenant plasma filled the air.Kig-Yar corpses lay around the airlock.Zhar took one side, Thel the other, forgetting about the strange new human for now. "It looks like the Kig-Yar were protecting the s.h.i.+p," Zhar said. "But were surprised by the attack from inside.""The humans are moving out onto the docks, back into their habitats," Thel noted. "They have done us a favor. They cleared the s.h.i.+p."He shut the airlock door with a laugh and walked over to Zhar and clapped him on the shoulder. "Guard this door, old friend. I will head to the bridge and get us moving. We will pick up Saal, and then we will see what our options are."Zhar nodded."But you should also check to see what it was the humans were doing aboard when we get clear," Zhar said. "We do not need anymore surprises."Thel thought about the pain in his ribs, and what had felt like a close brush with death, and nodded.What had had that human been? that human been?

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE.

HABITAT TIAGO DOCKS, THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

The sound of the s.h.i.+p's airlock doors shutting echoed throughout the spare cavern that the Kig-Yar had as a docking bay. The lanky aliens paused, looking over at the doors. Two of them ran for the lock, banging on the door, as loud clanks and hisses told everyone in the docking bay that their s.h.i.+p was undocking.Delgado watched the panic spread through the Kig-Yar as they realized what had happened. The Kig-Yar had kept bunched up on the far side of the docks, close to their s.h.i.+p's airlock. That had made getting out onto the docks a dangerous exercise, but the Kig-Yar had realized that letting the humans get off off their s.h.i.+p was better than trapping them in it. Now they were no doubt wondering who the heck was taking their s.h.i.+p. their s.h.i.+p was better than trapping them in it. Now they were no doubt wondering who the heck was taking their s.h.i.+p.Keyes, hunkered down on the far side of a s.h.i.+pping container they were both using as cover, waved Delgado over. The immense bulk of the gray Spartan Jai stood behind the lieutenant."I'm sorry to hear about Faison," Delgado said. The word had spread as they'd remained pinned down by the Kig-Yar. The aliens, with their energy s.h.i.+elds and snipers, were doing far better now in the large, open docking bay than in the tight confines of the s.h.i.+p.Keyes nodded. He looked tired, Delgado thought. These men were all his responsibility. The four dead in the open area of the docks were on Keyes. Now so was Faison."Jai has an idea," Keyes said.The Spartan stepped forward. "You had them all suit up, Keyes. Everyone's vacuum ready. Only a few Jackals are equipped. If we figure out how to flush the air out of the entire dock...""We'd need Juliana for that," Delgado said. One couldn't just flush the atmosphere out of a habitat without extensive overrides.Keyes pulled the large chip out of his pocket that held Juliana. "Jai will cover you; you just need to get somewhere to plug this in. Get Juliana back up and have her flush the bay. We'll pick off the stragglers."Delgado almost reverently placed the AI's chip into his pocket. She'd been created to manage the mining operations of a Madrigal corporation, helping guide asteroids to processing plants around the system. She may have been commercial AI, nothing like the industrial strength thinkers the UNSC used, but she'd somehow managed to keep the entire Rubble together since the fall of Madrigal. Juliana had been a protector of the Rubble for so long she was almost like a technological deity, a G.o.d everyone in the Rubble looked to for help with their troubles.And she fit in his pocket.He scanned the docks. "Over there." He pointed Jai at a console used by supervisors to run the docks. "That should be doable." It was well away from the bulk of the firefight."So go!" Keyes said.The rate of fire from the ODSTs picked up as Jai and Delgado made a run for it, ducking from one set of containers and large structural spars to another.They stopped a mere fifteen feet from the console.Delgado swallowed. From where he had been, the console looked out of the way. Up close, he realized it was in the open. Though far away from the Kig-Yar, they were good shots.Jai realized it too, because the Spartan turned and held out a gauntleted hand. "Give her to me, I'll plug her in."Delgado stared at the Spartan's hand. He'd be just handing over one of the most important a.s.sets the Rubble had.How much did did he trust these UNSC Spartans? he trust these UNSC Spartans?So far they'd worked toward the same goals. If you didn't start trusting someone at some point, he thought, then you'll never trust again.This Spartan was offering to risk his life to get out in the open and try to save them all.How much proof did Delgado need?He took a deep breath and handed Juliana over.Jai cupped the chip in his hands and darted out. For a brief second it looked like the Kig-Yar hadn't spotted them, that Jai would make it to the console and back before they noticed anything.But as the Spartan stood and inserted the chip, plasma fire struck the wall overhead.Delgado leaned out and wildly fired his battle rifle at the Kig-Yar.Several plasma shots grazed Jai, but he kept the chip guarded until Juliana's form appeared over the console."Get back!" Delgado shouted. "She's in the system."Near misses blackened the gray armor as Jai ran back to cover, firing his battle rifle as he did so. Three Kig-Yar fell over, dead. Delgado marveled at the Spartan's accuracy. At this range, across hundreds of feet of dock, all Delgado had done was hara.s.s the Kig-Yar.Jai slammed his back into the container as plasma slapped the other side, boiling metal.Delgado's earpiece crackled, and Juliana's voice filled his ear. "Thank you, Delgado, Jai. What do you need from me?""Blow the air out of here," Delgado requested.Juliana didn't reply, but a second later all the airlocks feeding into the docks blew open with the ba.s.s warbling of emergency sirens and strobing warning lights. Air rushed out into the vacuum, thundering past, and the sound of plasma fire stopped.It was over in a few minutes. ODSTs popped up and shot the few remaining Kig-Yar that were in full gear and still able to breathe and fight.The other aliens died horribly, flailing around, asphyxiated, their long mouths open and frozen in silent screams.Keyes and the ODST Markov looked out over the carnage once the docks repressurized. Keyes looked a bit horrified at the carnage. Markov looked slightly pleased.Jai stood behind them, towering high, battle rifle in hand. "The Petya Petya has caught up to us," he told Keyes. "I would suggest you use it as a temporary command center. It'll keep you from getting recaptured, at the least." has caught up to us," he told Keyes. "I would suggest you use it as a temporary command center. It'll keep you from getting recaptured, at the least."Keyes ran a hand over his silvering hair and nodded. "Thank you, Spartan. We'll need it. Juliana reported that this is just the beginning, the Kig-Yar are up to something. Juliana might as well brief us aboard your s.h.i.+p."Jai slung his battle rifle and plodded off toward one of the nearby airlocks. After a moment, Delgado followed, both glad to be out of the dock full of dead Kig-Yar.

CHAPTER FIFTY.

SANGHEILI-OCCUPIED s.h.i.+P INFINITE SPOILS, INFINITE SPOILS,.

THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Thel looked over the reports that Zhar had patiently gathered for him. The humans had dug around the Kig-Yar battle net, which had been poorly secured."These are details on where the Unggoy Redoubt is," Zhar said. "Including force strength, s.h.i.+ps, how they will shuttle the Unggoy to the Rubble for an attack, and plans for an invasion of one of their habitats called 'Exodus'. The humans have the whole Kig-Yar battle plan for themselves now.""Well, they are clever creatures," Thel said. He shut the display down. "You yourself admired that, if I remember correctly.""This is troubling, though," Zhar said. "It means the Kig-Yar, Reth, may have been telling the truth."Thel sighed. "That they plan to trick the humans out of the location to their homeworld?""Yes. And that he was doing a holy duty for a Hierarch. You must admit the possibility, looking over those plans to attack the humans. These have been in place for years."Thel rubbed the bottom of a mandible thoughtfully. "It is a possibility, now. I agree.""Then we may have crossed the Hierarch," Zhar said. "You of all should know how that chills my heart.""A Hierarch," Thel said, cautiously. Hierarch," Thel said, cautiously."What do you mean?""What I mean is that we were given a set of orders that put us in conflict with orders given by another Prophet."Zhar shook his head. "These things border on heresy.""Then do not speak of them ever again," Thel said. "But it does not change our situation.""But-""So we shall also send a message to Reth," Thel said, trying to add a note of rea.s.surance to his voice. "We will not approach or attack the Exodus asteroid that the Kig-Yar want. We will attack the other human parts of the Rubble, working to destroy the humans there."Zhar swallowed. "Will that be enough to convince the Prophet of Regret that we did what we were asked?"Thel grumbled. "We will destroy the Rubble. We will grind it to pieces from this Kig-Yar s.h.i.+p. How will they doubt our zealotry, then, Zhar? We offer Reth our agreement to leave their habitat alone, and maybe we will come out ahead.""Maybe?" Zhar left the c.o.c.kpit in a dark mood, and Thel sat down on the s.h.i.+pmaster's chair with a sneer. This was not Covenant standard; it was designed for Kig-Yar. It was an insult and an expression of their rebellious impulses. And even worse, it was an uncomfortable fit for the Sangheili. Nonetheless, it would be a good spot from which to oversee the destruction of the Rubble.The sooner this mess was wrapped up, the sooner Thel imagined a more normal life would resume. Betrayals and intrigues were not his strong suit.Sangheili were almost always more... direct.Thel punched the console in front of him in frustration, shattering the screen and denting the metal.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE.

METISETTE, 23 LIBRAE.

Peter Bonifacio unstrapped himself from the pilot's seat of the escape capsule. The long-burn engine had run out; he'd kept the thing maxed to get well clear of the d.a.m.n Spartans that had hunted down Distancia. Distancia.Now he coasted toward Metisette.What was that d.a.m.n Kig-Yar's code? Bonifacio hunted through sc.r.a.ps of paper in his pockets until he found the tiny card.He plugged the frequency into the escape pod's controls and transmitted the emergency.Then he waited nervously until the speaker crackled with the sound of Kig-Yar voices. "Peter Bonifacio. Proceed.""I need help," Bonifacio blurted out. "I'm in a capsule, headed toward Metisette. I need to be picked up!""And do you have our navigation data with you?""Is this Reth?" Bonifacio asked.A moment as the question was transmitted, and then translated. "This is Reth," came the response. "Our data?"Bonifacio swallowed nervously. This was indeed Reth, he told himself. He'd done a lot of business with the Kig-Yar. This was about business. And a partner like Reth would understand a setback. He was dealing with a trade-oriented species, just like himself. Reth would understand. "The data was stolen from me," Bonifacio finally admitted."Stolen? What use is this to us? Why did you bother even calling to admit this?" Bonifacio couldn't tell because of the delay and monotone of the translation device, but it felt to him that Reth sounded angry."I know where they will be taking the data," Bonifacio said quickly. "Please, if you come help me I'll help you get the data."Another pause before the reply, then, "You are a useless lump of nothing that once glittered to us, Bonifacio. We gave you weapons to smuggle, and make a profit on. We gave you docking rights, and helped you in every way we could imagine. And all we asked is this one favor, for which you failed us.""No!" Bonifacio screamed over the radio. He started babbling. "You can't just abandon me, you owe me. We worked well together. We were good together."Only silence came from the other end."I'll tell you where they are taking it, if you do me this last favor," Bonifacio begged."Where are they taking it?" Reth asked."To the Exodus asteroid," Bonifacio said. "And if you do me the favor of picking me up, I'll tell you where it is."Reth laughed. "I already know where it is, thank you. We will be taking it for ourselves soon enough."Bonifacio's mouth dried with fear. He'd been wrong, he realized. About the Kig-Yar. Probably about everything. But he still had his life to save. "But...""I will do you this last favor, Bonifacio," Reth said. "I will not come pick up your pod. Because right now, were I to pick you up, the last moments of your life would be horrible indeed. Good-bye, human."The radio went silent.Bonifacio was alone, floating toward Metisette, looking out the tiny portholes of his escape pod at the distant ruddy orb.He wondered if the air would run out before the heater stopped.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO.

SOMEWHERE NEAR CHARYBDIS IX.

The Prophet of Regret stood in front of a giant screen that showed his fleet a.s.sembled in the far distance: tiny specks of light waiting to be flung through s.p.a.ce wherever he wished.He turned his chair about to regard the other body in the room: the Prophet of Truth.Regret frowned as Truth rebuked him. "You are, as ever, too hasty.""How is this?" Regret whined. "I have sent my hunters out to find the source of what I thought was trouble. I have hunted the humans. I have acted acted.""You have not acted well. My plan was more elegant."Truth, Regret thought, always did like working his intrigues. He shouldn't have been this surprised to find out Truth was behind the design of these smuggled weapons.They were all just an attempt to furtively find the human homeworld, Truth had said, without further fleet engagements. Never mind that Regret knew they could smash the humans, one world after another. Truth worried about the secret of humans, and their first encounter with them. Particularly since the three Hierarchs had worked so hard to hide that secret."Does it matter now what we have done?" Truth said. "There is a mess, and it needs cleaning. The fleet needs to return to this world. If the Kig-Yar have the location of the human homeworld, we can use it and the Unggoy quartered there. If not, then we destroy all traces of this... experiment.""I agree," Regret said, finding himself once again following Truth's lead."The Jiralhanae who betrayed your Sangheili s.h.i.+pmaster, they will need to be destroyed. Their loyalty is commendable, but the knowledge of what they saw must die with them. We do not need any in High Charity High Charity speaking of this." speaking of this."Regret agreed. "You will travel to this world with us, and watch the fleet in action?"The Prophet of Truth bobbed his head. "I want to see this all concluded, yes. I have had my effects brought onto your flags.h.i.+p. We will have joint command. Together we will fix any problems. As we always have."Regret turned and looked at the screen, with its live images of the fleet. Truth had plat.i.tudes, words about being brothers, now that his experiment had failed. But they were only brothers with a shared secret while the humans lived.If they ever got rid of the threat humans presented, then Truth would have no need of Regret. More than ever, Regret realized, if he ever had the chance to destroy the humans first and keep control of his position in the Covenant, he would have to move fast in the future. Faster than Truth's intrigues.Regret shook himself from his thoughts. "Then it is time for us to go there," he said. And using the controls on his floating throne, he keyed in a channel to the s.h.i.+p's bridge and gave the order for the fleet to make the jump.

PART IV.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE.

PETYA, NEAR HABITAT TIAGO, NEAR HABITAT TIAGO,.

THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Delgado sat down in the c.o.c.kpit of the Spartan's freighter, finding it strangely rea.s.suring to be back aboard.Keyes had joined the Spartans aboard the Petya, Petya, along with Markov and Delgado. The other ODSTs remained out on the docks, cleaning up after the firefight. along with Markov and Delgado. The other ODSTs remained out on the docks, cleaning up after the firefight.Things were happening all across the Rubble, Delgado felt. Juliana was off in some vast, spread out, processing mode that made it hard for her to focus on one small area. But she'd asked them all to get ready for a conference. So now they were just waiting, Mike running checks on the Petya, Petya, Jai and Adriana in the back examining his armor after the battle. Jai and Adriana in the back examining his armor after the battle.Keyes paced the c.o.c.kpit, waiting for information, frustrated. Markov just stared at the metal floor, somewhat sh.e.l.l-shocked at the death of his commanding officer, Faison.Everyone surged into the c.o.c.kpit, though, when Juliana finally returned to manifest herself."I'm sorry for my absence," she said, appearing over the communications console. "I was verifying the data I had taken from the Kig-Yar s.h.i.+p. I'm also presenting this information to all members of the Rubble Security Council."She faded away, and in her place the moon Metisette appeared. It zoomed large, until its clouds hung in front of the crowd in the c.o.c.kpit. The image increased, until an irregular oval appeared on the rocky ground of Metisette's surface.Another leap in perspective showed it to be the remains of a crater. Liquid covered the very bottom, filled by a river of some sort with a waterfall. Delgado looked at the shapes by the waterfall's edge. "Are those structures?""The Kig-Yar have created a natural home for hundreds of thousands of Unggoy," Juliana's voice said. "This structure, parked over a methane waterfall where the mists are thick enough with methane that the Unggoy can breathe out in the open, is called the Redoubt. Right now, as we speak, Unggoy are being readied for an invasion of the Rubble."Juliana let that sink in."When do they mobilize?" Keyes asked."Within the next twenty-four hours," Juliana said. The image of Metisette faded, replaced by pictures of Kig-Yar s.h.i.+ps moving out of orbit down to Metisette. "As soon as they pick up the Unggoy."Those images faded as well, to be replaced by Juliana. She c.o.c.ked her head, listening to someone else. "The Council wants to know what our Kig-Yar contacts are saying about all this.""That would tip the hand of any defense the Rubble might need," Keyes muttered.Juliana nodded. "May I offer another point of importance?""Please," Jai said from the c.o.c.kpit's entrance. He'd removed his helmet, and his brown eyes were fixed on Juliana."The Kig-Yar know about the Exodus project." Juliana had dropped a bombsh.e.l.l, Delgado realized. Their most tightly held secret, something he hadn't known about, had been in the Kig-Yar databanks. It angered him. "And once Bonifacio had delivered the navigation data to them, the Kig-Yar were going to use the asteroid as a troop carrier to invade Earth."Delgado felt vaguely sick.Keyes looked confused, but didn't ask any questions for now. This was the first he had heard of the Exodus project, and while he could infer what it might entail from the AI's statement, he was hoping it would let something more solid slip.Juliana waited for this, too, to sink in. "I'm unwilling to lose the Rubble. It's everything I exist for. I say we attack first. We use our ma.s.s drivers like MACs. We get Keyes and his men back aboard the Midsummer Night. Midsummer Night. If we start attacking them while their main force is on the ground, we have a chance of winning this." If we start attacking them while their main force is on the ground, we have a chance of winning this."Keyes fiddled with a pen as he looked around. "The Midsummer Night Midsummer Night has the capacity to go up against that big Jackal s.h.i.+p, but we could get overwhelmed by sheer numbers with all these other craft they have parked throughout the Rubble. And then there's the other issue: have these Jackals been working alone? Because if not, all they have to do is call in support. One stealth frigate won't be much use against what the Covenant usually bring to a fight." has the capacity to go up against that big Jackal s.h.i.+p, but we could get overwhelmed by sheer numbers with all these other craft they have parked throughout the Rubble. And then there's the other issue: have these Jackals been working alone? Because if not, all they have to do is call in support. One stealth frigate won't be much use against what the Covenant usually bring to a fight.""I can't speak to that," Juliana said. "But now we have another problem. The Security Council is getting ready for a meeting. They're shutting me out. This isn't something I can override without drawing attention. Delgado, Maria was Diego's closest relative, and has been given a temporary seat on the Council to represent him. Can you get down there? I don't want us out of the loop here."Delgado was already up. "Take me there, I'll go in."Jai and Mike looked at each other. Jai shook his head. "We don't want to risk taking Petya Petya into the heart of the Rubble. We're already exposing ourselves enough with the AI and Delgado aboard." into the heart of the Rubble. We're already exposing ourselves enough with the AI and Delgado aboard.""I'll take tube cars," Delgado said.

Outside of the tall faux-marble columns of the Council Chambers, Maria Esquival looked over at Delgado. The chambers were buried deep in the heart of Korrah, one of the first Rubble habitats, and he had rushed to get there. "You got over here quickly." She looked like she hadn't slept in days, with bags under her eyes. She pushed a stray wisp of hair aside.Delgado broke protocol and gave her a long hug. "I'm so sorry about Diego."She let go and looked up at him. "They said that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Bonifacio is in an escape pod somewhere with the Kig-Yar?""As far as we know, yes. When this crisis is over, I will personally hunt that c.o.c.kroach down."Maria cleared her throat. "The Security Council just had an emergency meeting to figure out what to do next. I stood in for Diego. I had no voting rights, but I could talk if needed.""I know. What can you tell me?""The summary is that we're grateful for all the risks you've taken, though I think half the Council is ready to string you all up for releasing the UNSC prisoners without locators, or without authority.""We didn't have a lot of time to confer or ask permission, and Juliana was helping.""That disturbs them almost as much as anything. You know the AI is well past her useful age."Delgado nodded. "She's unpredictable. But I think, deep down, what she cares about is the Rubble. What is the Council going to do?""You're not going to like this.""Really?" Delgado raised an eyebrow."They've called the Kig-Yar. They want to see if there is any negotiation to be done."Delgado stared at Maria. "They what what?""Understand-from their position, the Kig-Yar have only helped. And don't lecture me about the destruction of Madrigal. The fact is, you know a lot of people trust the Kig-Yar here. They've worked with us to build the Rubble. They've traded with us. They consider them allies.""They really did it?""Yes. We're waiting for a response."Delgado walked away, shaking his head. "We've completely tipped our hand."Maria looked down at the ground. "I don't know. Maybe not. We're just asking for meetings. I'm not sure what else we can do except get ready to defend ourselves. We have a Council, it's the way the Rubble works. They've spoken.""But they were wrong," Delgado snapped."What would you have us be?" Maria asked. "We're ruled by representatives, and by our votes.""This is a disaster.""Maybe not." Maria grabbed his arm. "Again, all we've done is ask for meetings. We haven't asked why. Certainly with all the recent activity around the Rubble it would make sense that we're jumpy."Delgado looked at her. "I really hope so."

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR.

THE REDOUBT, METISETTE, 23 LIBRAE.

Reth lay in a soft collection of pillows in an approximation of a nest. His skin had been bandaged, cuts and bruises covered with medicines that stank, and he was giddy from pain medication. The damage the Sangheili had done to him still throbbed, but he was beginning to feel like the worst of the pain was over now that a Kig-Yar healer had spent time with him.The soft sound of air fans lulled him near the edge of sleep when the door to his room opened."I was not to be disturbed during this sleep cycle," Reth snapped, his eyes still closed."It is the humans." A lesser Kig-Yar groveled by Reth's feet. "They keep contacting us, requesting meetings.""About what?" Reth opened his eyes. The room was decorated with bits and pieces of art from around Covenant s.p.a.ce randomly piled in corners and hanging off shelves in random chaos and clutter. All were pieces stolen or traded from all the species the Kig-Yar dealt with-a riot of shapes, colors, sizes, and function. It may have looked like random junk, but any Kig-Yar in the room would know it was Reth's h.o.a.rd. In the corner was a handmade Sangheili practice helmet, carved out of a hard wood and painted black. Reth's most prized piece of the collection.Sangheili didn't part with their handmade gifts easily. Reth had to work hard to pilfer that particular item."They won't say," the Kig-Yar by his feet said.Reth sat up, wincing as split skin on his shoulder recracked and started bleeding again. "Send word to all Kig-Yar in the Rubble to pull out. Have them stand ready to act as our front wave. The humans may be getting wind of our plan, somehow. Let's not leave our brothers sitting within easy reach of the aliens.""Yes, lord. But... we have worked with these humans for so long. We have built good things with them. Are you sure we must destroy them?"Reth sighed. "Any day now the Hierarchs will arrive. Do you wish to look like you were helping heretics? Our task is to fetch the location of Earth, and destroy them. Now we are to do this."Time was growing short, Reth felt, if the humans were getting antsy. He was going to have to launch Kig-Yar s.h.i.+ps against the Rubble before the Unggoy were even on their shuttles for the invasion.No matter, he thought. That would just soften up the Rubble before he took it.Once he had the Exodus asteroid, Reth thought, all these stolen baubles in his room would be meaningless compared to that fat prize.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE.

PETYA, JUST OFF HABITAT TIAGO, JUST OFF HABITAT TIAGO,.

THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Keyes turned to Jai at the back of the c.o.c.kpit. "You and your team should leave. The Council seems to think things are unchanged; they might even fight to prevent us getting back aboard the Midsummer Night. Midsummer Night. I don't see the sense in us weighing you down." I don't see the sense in us weighing you down.""I don't see the sense in leaving either," Jai said."I could make it an order," Keyes said."You do outrank me. You may well order me to do it." Jai looked at Keyes. The unspoken second half of the sentence in the air was that Jai would refuse.Keyes raised an eyebrow and drew in a breath to ream the Spartan out, but from behind him Mike spoke up. "Say what you will about Spartans, Lieutenant, one thing we don't do is leave fellow soldiers behind to die."Jai raised a finger. "With us at your side retaking your s.h.i.+p will not be hard to do. With Petya's Petya's navigation charts and the computers synchronized-" navigation charts and the computers synchronized-""We won't be leaving citizens behind to be ma.s.sacred," ma.s.sacred," Keyes interrupted. He already had to live with leaving Charybdis IX on its own. He couldn't bring himself to run away from yet another fight. Keyes interrupted. He already had to live with leaving Charybdis IX on its own. He couldn't bring himself to run away from yet another fight."The Rubble has no love for the UNSC," Jai said. "They are mostly Insurrectionists."Keyes wondered if the Spartan was really that cold, having been trained to do nothing but kill Insurrectionists, and unable to shake that training. Or if Jai was somehow testing him."There are children, Spartan, and citizens. They will be slaughtered. I will offer my services to them, and we will be ready to fight for the Rubble."Jai folded his arms. "Look-""The Jackals are moving out of the Rubble," Dante Kirtley shouted.Keyes snapped his head up in interest. "They're moving out?""He's right. Take a look." Up at the front Mike tapped one of the many screens before his seat.Jackal s.h.i.+ps all eased their way out from the Rubble, according to the contacts on the radar and reports from all over the Rubble. "Like rats from a sinking s.h.i.+p," Keyes muttered.Jai moved in for a closer look himself. "Does the Council know? Where's Juliana? Get that d.a.m.n AI here, she has to have spotted this."Keyes stepped back. The Spartan sounded agitated."My, my, temper, little Spartan," Juliana said. She'd appeared at their sides."Time is short!" Jai said. "We don't have the time to sit around and debate things. We need to move quickly.""What's going on?" Keyes asked, realizing that Jai's frustration mainly came from leading a small team, alone, and now being part of a committee trying to figure out how to defend an entire community.Jai was somewhat out of his element.Keyes, on the other hand, had expected something to happen. The Rubble was basically a very large, slow s.h.i.+p, and it was constantly making course corrections."I come bearing news," Juliana said. "The Council has rethought their approach based on this behavior. I had them recast their votes. They're willing to consider our plans. Second: aboard that Kig-Yar s.h.i.+p I stole some encryption keys. I've been tracking their chatter. We're in even more trouble than just the Kig-Yar attacking-according to the Kig-Yar, they're expecting high ranking officials from the very top of the Covenant hierarchy, and possibly a Covenant fleet, to arrive shortly.""When?" Keyes asked."Even they don't know. Just... soon."Keyes looked at Jai. "Still think we can even make a stand now?"Jai slowly shook his head. "A whole Covenant fleet? Not without some minor miracle. These people are all doomed."Keyes felt he had to agree. It was a chilling feeling."The Council agrees," Juliana said. "They have decided to launch the Exodus habitat and evacuate the Rubble.""The Exodus habitat?" Keyes asked. "You mentioned the name before. I need to ask, what is it?"Jai turned back to look at him. "Right, you need to get caught up a bit."

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX.