Halo Lighting System First Strike Games - Manual (Page 47)

ERIC NYLUND 43
ships might evade and dodge through the debris field for a few
minutes, but soon their fuel would be exhausted, and the Cove-
nant would move in for the kill.
And where could they really run to, anyway? Neither ship had
Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engines, so they were stuck in this
system and the Covenant knew it. They could afford to take their
time and play with their prey before they pounced.
The Chief performed a sweep scan of the system looking for
something—anything to give him a tactical advantage. No, think-
ing of tactics was going to get him killed. There was no tactical
advantage he could gain that would give him a victory in this
mismatch. He had to change the rules—change his strategy.
He scanned the massive Covenant flagship—that was the key.
That's how he'd be able to turn the tables on the enemy.
He keyed the COM system and hailed the Pelican. "This is
Master Chief SPARTAN-One-One-Seven. Recognition code
Tango Alpha Three Four Zero. Copy."
"Copy," a woman's voice answered. "Warrant Officer Polaski
here." Other voices argued in the background. "Damn good to
hear you, Chief."
"Polaski, proceed at maximum burn to this position." He
dropped a NAV point on the display directly on the Covenant
flagship. He included an exit vector indicating a rough course.
There was silence over the COM.
"Copy, Polaski?"
"I copy. Plotting course now, Chief." The voices arguing in the
background became loud and more strained. "I hope you know
what you're doing. Polaski out." The channel snapped off.
"Get us there, Cortana," he said, tapping the NAV point. "As
fast as you can make this thing fly."
The Longsword rolled right and pitched toward the moon, Ba-
sis. The chief's safety harness groaned as gee forces increased.
"You do know what you're doing?" Cortana asked. "I mean,
we're headed straight toward the largest and most dangerous
Covenant ship in this system. I assume this is part of some daring
and brutally simplistic plan you've cooked up?"
"Yes," the Chief replied.
"Oh, good. Hang on," Cortana said. The Longsword rolled
to port and dived under a rock. An explosion detonated aft of