A bolt of blue heat blasted from the claw. The blast was similar to the plasma that had hit theCommonwealth . . . and boiled a third of it away. Sam dove forward and knocked John out of the blast's path; the energy burst caught Sam in the side. . . . and boiled a third of it away. Sam dove forward and knocked John out of the blast's path; the energy burst caught Sam in the side.

The reflective coating of his MJOLNIR armor flared. He fell clutching his side, but still managed to fire his weapon. John and Kelly rolled on their backs and sprayed gunfire at the creature. Bullets peppered the alien-each one bounced and ricocheted off the energy shield. John glanced at his ammo counter-half gone.

"Keep firing," he ordered. The alien kept up a stream of answering fire-energy blasts hammered into Sam, who fell to the deck, his weapon empty.

John charged forward and slammed his foot into the alien's shield and knocked it out of line. He jammed the barrel of his rifle into the alien's screeching mouth and squeezed the trigger. The armor-piercing rounds punctured the alien and spattered the back wall with blood and bits of bone.

John rose and helped Sam up.

"I'm okay," Sam said, holding his side and grimacing. "Just a little singed." The reflective coating on his armor was blackened. "You sure?" Sam waved him away. John paused over the remaining bits of the alien. He spotted a glint of metal, an armguard, and he picked it up. He tapped one of three b.u.t.tons on the device, but nothing happened. He strapped in onto his forearm. Dr. Halsey might find it useful. They entered the room. The large window was a half-meter thick. It overlooked a large chamber that descended three decks. A cylinder ran the length of the chamber and red light pulsed along its length, like a liquid sloshing back and forth.

Under the window, on their side, rested a smooth angled surface-perhaps a control panel? On its surface were tiny symbols: glowing green dots, bars, and squares. "That's got to be the source of the radiation," Kelly said, and pointed to the chamber beyond. "Their reactor . . . or maybe a weapons system."

Another alien marched near the cylinder. It spotted John. A silver shimmer appeared around it. It screeched and wobbled in alarm, then scrambled for cover.

"Trouble," John said. "I've got an idea." Sam limped forward. "Hand me those warheads." John did as he asked, so did Kelly. "We shoot out that window, set the timers on the warheads, and toss them down there. That should start the party."

"Let's do it before they call in reinforcements," John said. They turned and fired at the crystal. It crackled, splintered, then shattered. "Toss those warheads," Sam said, "and let's get out of here." John set the timers. "Three minutes," he said. "That'll give us just enough time to get topside and get away."

He turned to Sam. "You'll have to stay and hold them off. That's an order." "What are you talking about?" Kelly said. "Sam knows." Sam nodded. "I think I can hold them off that long." He looked at John and then Kelly. He turned and showed them the burn in the side of his suit. There was a hole the size of his fist, and beneath that, the skin was blackened and cracked. He smiled, but his teeth were gritted in pain. "That's nothing," Kelly said. "We'll get you patched up in no time. Once we get back-" Her mouth slowly dropped open.

"Exactly," Sam whispered. "Getting back is going to be a problem for me."

"The hole." John reached out to touch it. "We don't have any way to seal it."

Kelly shook her head.

"If I step off this boat, I'm dead from the decompression," Sam said, and shrugged.

"No," Kelly growled. "No-everyone gets out alive. We don't leave teammates behind."

"He has his orders," John told Kelly.

"You've got to leave me," Sam said softly to Kelly. "And don't tell me you'll give me your suit. It took those techs on Damascus fifteen minutes to fit us. I wouldn't even know where to start to unzip this thing." John looked to the deck. The Chief had told him he'd have to send men to their deaths. He didn't tell him it would feel like this.

"Don't waste time talking," Sam said. "Our new friends aren't going to wait for us while we figure this out." He started the timers. "There. It's decided." A three-minute countdown appeared in the corner of their heads-up displays. "Now-get going, you two."

John clasped Sam's hand and squeezed it.

Kelly hesitated, then saluted.

John turned and grabbed her arm. "Come on, Spartan. Don't look back."

The truth was, it was John who didn't dare look back. If he had, he would have stayed with Sam. Better to die with a friend than leave him behind. But as much as he wanted to fight and die alongside his friend, he had to set an example for the rest of the Spartans-and live to fight another day.

John and Kelly pushed the pressure doors shut behind them. "Good-bye," he whispered. The countdown timer ticked the seconds off inexorably.

2:35 . . .

They ran down the corridor, popped the seal on the outer door-the atmosphere vented.

1:05 . . .

They climbed up through the twisted metal canyon that the MAC round had torn through the hull.

0:33 . . .

"There," John said, and pointed to the base of a charged pulse laser. They crawled toward it, waited as the glow built to a lethal charge.

0:12 . . .

They crouched and held onto one another. The laser fired. The heat blistered John's back. They pushed off with all their strength, multiplied through the MJOLNIR armor.

0:00.

The shield parted and they cleared the ship, hurtling into the blackness.

The Covenant ship shuddered. Flashes of red appeared inside the hole-then a gout of fire rose and ballooned, but curled downward as it hit and rebounded off their own shield. The plasma spread along the length of their vessel. The shield shimmered and rippled silver-holding the destructive force inside.

Metal glowed and melted. The pulse laser turrets absorbed into the hull. The hull blistered, bubbled, and boiled. The shield finally gave-the ship exploded.

Kelly clung to John. A thousand molten fragments hurled past them, cooling from white to orange to red and then disappearing into the dark of the night.

Sam's death had shown them that the Covenant were not invincible. They could be beaten. At a high cost, however. John finally understood what the Chief had meant-the difference between a life wasted and a life spent. John also knew that humanity had a fighting chance . . . and he was ready to go to war.

SECTION III SIGMA OCTa.n.u.s.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

0000 Hours, July 17, 2552 (Military Calendar) / UNSC Remote Scanning OutpostArchimedes , on the edge of the Sigma Octa.n.u.s Star System , on the edge of the Sigma Octa.n.u.s Star System Ensign William Lovell scratched his head, yawned, and sat down at his duty station. The wraparound view screen warmed to his presence.

"Good morning, Ensign Lovell," the computer said. "Morning, s.e.xy," he said. It had been months since the Ensign had seen a real woman-the cold female voice of the computer was the closest thing he was getting to a date.

"Voiceprint match," the computer confirmed. "Please enter pa.s.sword." He typed: ThereOncewasAgirl The Ensign had never taken his duty too seriously. Maybe that's why he only made it through his second year at the Academy. And maybe that's why he had been onArchimedes station for the last year, stuck with third shift. But that suited him fine. "Please reenter pa.s.sword." station for the last year, stuck with third shift. But that suited him fine. "Please reenter pa.s.sword."

He typed more carefully this time:ThereOnceWasAGirl . After first contact with the Covenant, he had almost been conscripted straight out of school; instead, he had actually volunteered. . After first contact with the Covenant, he had almost been conscripted straight out of school; instead, he had actually volunteered.

Admiral Cole had defeated the Covenant at Harvest in 2531. His victory was publicized on every vid and holo throughout the Inner and Outer Colonies and all the way to Earth.

That's why Lovell didn't try to dodge the enlistment officers. He had thought he'd watch a few battles from the bridge of a destroyer, fire a few missiles, rack up the victories, and be promoted to Captain within a year.

His excellent grades gave him instant admission to OCS on Luna.

There was one small detail, however, the UNSC propaganda machine had left out of their broadcasts: Cole had won only because he outnumbered the Covenant three to one . . . and even then, he had lost two-thirds of his fleet.

Ensign Lovell had served on the UNSC frigateGorgon for four years. He had been promoted to First Lieutenant then busted down to Second Lieutenant and finally to Ensign for insubordination and gross incompetence. The only reason they hadn't drummed him out of the service was that the USNC needed every man and woman they could get their hands on. for four years. He had been promoted to First Lieutenant then busted down to Second Lieutenant and finally to Ensign for insubordination and gross incompetence. The only reason they hadn't drummed him out of the service was that the USNC needed every man and woman they could get their hands on.

While on theGorgon , he and the rest of Admiral Cole's fleet had sped among the Outer Colonies chasing, and being chased by, the Covenant. After four years' s.p.a.ce duty, Lovell had seen a dozen worlds gla.s.sed . . . and billions murdered. , he and the rest of Admiral Cole's fleet had sped among the Outer Colonies chasing, and being chased by, the Covenant. After four years' s.p.a.ce duty, Lovell had seen a dozen worlds gla.s.sed . . . and billions murdered.

He had simply broken under the strain. He closed his eyes and remembered. No he hadn't broken; he was just scared of dying like everyone else.

"Please keep your eyes open," the computer told him. "Processing retinal scan."

He had drifted from office work to low-priority a.s.signments and finally landed here a year ago. By that time there were no more Outer Colonies. The Covenant had destroyed them all and were pressing inexorably inward, slowly taking the Inner Colonies. There had been a few isolated victories . . . but he knew it was only a matter of time before the aliens wiped the human race out of existence.

"Login complete," the computer announced.

Ensign Lovell's ident.i.ty record was displayed on the monitor. In his Academy picture, he looked ten years younger: neatly trimmed jet-black hair, toothy grin, and sparkling green eyes. Today his hair was unkempt and the spark was long gone from his eyes.

"Please read General Order 098831A-1 before proceeding."

The Ensign had memorized this stupid thing. But the computer would track his eye motions-make sure he read it anyway. He opened the file and it popped on-screen: United Nations s.p.a.ce Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1 Encryption Code:Red Public Key: Public Key:file /first light/ From: From:UNSC/NAVCOM Fleet H. T. Ward To: To:ALL UNSC PERSONNEL Subject: Subject:General Order 098831A-1 ("The Cole Protocol") Cla.s.sification: Cla.s.sification:RESTRICTED (BGX Directive) The Cole Protocol To safeguard the Inner Colonies and Earth, all UNSC vessels or stations must not be captured with intact navigation databases that may lead Covenant forces to human civilian population centers.

Ifany Covenant forces are detected: Covenant forces are detected: 1. Activate selective purge of databases on all ship-based and planetary data networks.

2. Initiate triple-screen check to ensure all data has been erased and all backups neutralized.

3. Execute viral data scavengers. (Download from UNSCTTP://EPWW:COLEPROTOCOL/Virtualscav/ fbr.091) 4. If retreating from Covenant forces, all ships must enter Slipstream s.p.a.ce with randomized vectors NOT directed toward Earth, the Inner Colonies, or any other human population center.

5. In case of imminent capture by Covenant forces, all UNSC ships MUST self-destruct.

Violation of this directive will be considered an act of TREASON, and pursuant to USNC Military Law Articles JAG 845-P and JAG 7556-L, such violations are punishable by life imprisonment or execution. /end file/ PressENTER if you understand these orders. Ensign Lovell pressed ENTER. if you understand these orders. Ensign Lovell pressed ENTER.

The UNSC wasn't taking any chances. And after everything he had seen, he didn't blame them.

His scanning windows appeared on the view screen, full of spectroscopic tracers and radar-and lots of noise.

Archimedesstation cycled three probes into and out of Slipstream s.p.a.ce. Each probe sent out radar pings and a.n.a.lyzed the spectrum from radio to X rays, then reentered normal s.p.a.ce and broadcast the data back to the station.

The problem with Slipstream s.p.a.ce was that the laws of physics never worked the way they were supposed to. Exact positions, times, velocities, even ma.s.ses were impossible to measure with any real accuracy. Ships never knew exactly where they were, or exactly where there were going.

Every time the probes returned from their two-second journey, they could appear exactly where they had left . . . or three million kilometers distant. Sometimes they never returned at all. Drones had to be sent after the probes before the process could be repeated.

Because of this slipperiness in the interdimensional s.p.a.ce, UNSC ships traveling between star systems might arrive half a billion kilometers off course.

The curious properties of Slips.p.a.ce also made this a.s.signment a joke.

Ensign Lovell was supposed to watch for pirates or black-market runners trying to sneak by . . . and most importantly, for the Covenant. This station had never logged so much as a Covenant probe silhouette-and that was the reason he had specifically requested this dead-end a.s.signment. It was safe.

What he did see with regularity were trash dumps from UNSC vessels, clouds of primordial atomic hydrogen, even the occasional comet that had somehow plowed into the Slipstream.

Lovell yawned, kicked his feet up onto the control console, and closed his eyes. He nearly fell out of his chair when the COM board contact alert pinged.

"Oh no," he whispered, fear and shame at his own cowardice forming a cold lump in his belly.Don't let it be the Covenant. Don't let it . . . not here. here.

He quickly activated the controls and traced the contact signal back to the source-Alpha probe.

The probe had detected an incoming ma.s.s, a slight arc to its trajectory pulled by the gravity of Sigma Octa.n.u.s. It was large. A cloud of dust, perhaps? If it was, it would soon distort and scatter.

Ensign Lovell sat up straighter in his chair.

Beta probe cycled back. The ma.s.s was still there and as solid as before. It was the largest reading Ensign Lovell had ever seen: twenty thousand tons. That couldn't be a Covenant ship-they didn't get that big. And the silhouette was a b.u.mpy spherical shape; it didn't match any of the Covenant ships in the database. It had to be a rogue asteroid.

He tapped his stylus on the desk. What if it wasn't an asteroid? He'd have to purge the database and enable the self-destruct mechanism for the outpost. But what could the Covenant want way out here?

Gamma probe reappeared. The ma.s.s readings were unchanged. Spectroscopic a.n.a.lysis was inconclusive, which was normal for probe reading at this distance. The ma.s.s was two hours out at its present velocity. Its projected trajectory was hyperbolic-a quick swing near the star, and then it would pa.s.s invisibly out of the system and be forever gone.

He noted that its trajectory bought it close to Sigma Octa.n.u.s IV . . . which, if the rock were in real s.p.a.ce, would be cause for alarm. In Slips.p.a.ce, however, it could pa.s.s "through" the planet, and no one would notice.

Ensign Lovell relaxed and sent the retrieval drones after the three probes. By the time they got the probes back, though, the ma.s.s would be long gone.

He stared at the last image on screen. Was it worth sending an immediate report to Sigma Octa.n.u.s COM? They'd make him send his probes out without a proper recovery, and the probes would likely get lost after that. A supply ship would have to be sent out here to replace them. The station would have to be inspected and recertified-and he'd receive a thorough lecture on what did and did not const.i.tute a valid emergency.

No . . . there was no need to bother anyone over this. The only ones who would be really interested were the high-forehead types at UNSC Astrophysics, and they could review the data at their leisure.

He logged the anomaly and attached it to his hourly update.

Ensign Lovell kicked up his boots and reclined, once again feeling perfectly safe in his little corner of the universe.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

0300 Hours, July 17, 2552 (Military Calendar) / UNSC destroyerIroquois on routine patrol in the Sigma Octa.n.u.s Star System on routine patrol in the Sigma Octa.n.u.s Star System Commander Jacob Keyes stood on the bridge of theIroquois . He leaned against the bra.s.s railing and surveyed the stars in the distance. He wished the circ.u.mstances of his first command were more auspicious, but experienced officers were in short supply these days. And he had his orders. . He leaned against the bra.s.s railing and surveyed the stars in the distance. He wished the circ.u.mstances of his first command were more auspicious, but experienced officers were in short supply these days. And he had his orders.

He walked around the circular bridge examining the monitors and displays of engine status. He paused at the screens showing the stars fore and aft; he couldn't quite get used to the view of deep s.p.a.ce again. The stars were so vivid . . . and here, so different from the stars near Earth.

TheIroquois had rolled out of s.p.a.ce dock at Reach-one of the UNSC's primary naval yards-just three months ago. They hadn't even installed her AI yet; like good officers, the elaborate artificially intelligent computer systems were also in dangerously short supply. Still, had rolled out of s.p.a.ce dock at Reach-one of the UNSC's primary naval yards-just three months ago. They hadn't even installed her AI yet; like good officers, the elaborate artificially intelligent computer systems were also in dangerously short supply. Still,Iroquois was fast, well armored, and armed to the teeth. He couldn't ask for a finer vessel. was fast, well armored, and armed to the teeth. He couldn't ask for a finer vessel.

Unlike the frigates that Commander Keyes had toured on before, theMeriwether Lewis and andMidsummer Night , this ship was a destroyer. She was almost as heavy as both those vessels combined, but she was only seven meters longer. Some in the fleet thought the ma.s.sive ships were unwieldy in combat-too slow and c.u.mbersome. What those critics forgot was that a UNSC destroyer sported two MAC guns, twenty-six oversized Archer missile pods, and three nuclear warheads. Unlike other fleet ships, she carried no single-ship fighters-instead her extra ma.s.s came from the nearly two meters of t.i.tanium-A battleplate armor that covered her from stem to stern. The , this ship was a destroyer. She was almost as heavy as both those vessels combined, but she was only seven meters longer. Some in the fleet thought the ma.s.sive ships were unwieldy in combat-too slow and c.u.mbersome. What those critics forgot was that a UNSC destroyer sported two MAC guns, twenty-six oversized Archer missile pods, and three nuclear warheads. Unlike other fleet ships, she carried no single-ship fighters-instead her extra ma.s.s came from the nearly two meters of t.i.tanium-A battleplate armor that covered her from stem to stern. TheIroquois could dish out and take a tremendous amount of punishment. could dish out and take a tremendous amount of punishment.

Someone at the shipyard had appreciated theIroquois for what she was, too-two long streaks of crimson war paint had been applied to her port and starboard flanks. Strictly nonregulation and it would have to go . . . but secretly, Commander Keyes liked the ornamentation. for what she was, too-two long streaks of crimson war paint had been applied to her port and starboard flanks. Strictly nonregulation and it would have to go . . . but secretly, Commander Keyes liked the ornamentation.

He sat in the Commander's chair and watched his junior officers at their stations.

"Incoming transmissions," Lieutenant Dominique reported. "Status reports from Sigma Octa.n.u.s Four and also theArchimedes Sensor Outpost." Sensor Outpost."

"Pipe them through to my monitor," Commander Keyes said.