Halo Lighting System First Strike Games - Manual (Page 335)

ERIC NYLUND 331
son groggily got to his feet as well, his arm held at an odd angle,
broken.
"Systemwide transmission," Admiral Whitcomb barked to
Haverson.
"Aye, sir," Haverson said and clumsily adjusted the COM.
"Come on, mighty Covenant warriors," the Admiral shouted.
"We're here in the middle of your fleet with your 'holy of holies.' "
He flicked his ringer at the holographic shard, and it pinged as if
actually struck. "Come and get it!" He laughed again.
Hundreds of Covenant ships moved toward them. Grapple
lines and grav beams attached to the broken hull of the Ascen-
dant Justice. A thousand dropships and Elites in thrust packs
filled the space around the flagship.
The Master Chief watched the countdown timer: 0:27.
Along the ten-kilometer dorsal bulb of the space station,
patches warmed to a dull red, the heat from the overloading reac-
tors becoming outwardly visible.
"Move us back, Linda," John said. "Keep us in the moon's
shadow. Use as much power as we can spare."
"Aye, Chief," Linda replied. "Forward thrusters answering
one third reverse power. Course one-eight-zero."
"Cortana," he asked, "Slipspace generator status?"
"Almost ready, Chief," Cortana said. She bit her lower lip in
concentration. "Capacitor charge at eighty percent. Adjusting fi-
nal calculations. Stand by."
On screen the Admiral wheeled toward the bulkhead sealing
the flagship's bridge. Sparks cascaded along the seam as arc cut-
ters on the other side penetrated. "Master Chief, I have final or-
ders for you."
"Sir," John said.
"You watch and see what's left of this rabble when we're done
with 'em. Do not engage under any circumstances. You get the
intel and hightail it back to Earth and make your report."
"Understood, sir."
"Now listen, son, remember when we talked about the Alamo?
You know every one of the brave defenders in those fights died.
They knew the odds, but they hurt the enemy." He gritted his
teeth in pain. "Both were tactical defeats, but in the end they
were also brilliant strategic victories. They made the enemy