“Bring us about to heading two seven zero,” Captain Keyes ordered Ensign Lovell.
“Aye, Captain,” Lovell said.
“Lieutenant2 Hall, track the dropships’ trajectories3.”
“Pelican One on target to dock with station Gamma,” Lieutenant Hall reported. “Pelican Two initiatingdescent burn. They are five by five to land just outside FLEET HQ—”
“Captain,” Cortana interrupted. “Spatial disruption behind us.”
The view screen snapped to the aft. Black space bubbled with green points of light; the stars in thedistance faded and stretched—a Covenant4 frigate5 appeared from nowhere.
“Lieutenant Dominique,” Captain Keyes barked, “notify FLEETCOM that we have unwanted visitors inthe backyard. I respectfully suggest they reorient those orbital guns ASAP. Ensign Lovell, turn this shiparound and give me maximum power to the engines. Lieutenant Hikowa, prepare to fire the MAC gunand arm Archer6 missile pods B1 through B7.”
The crew jumped to their tasks.
ThePillar of Autumn spun7 about, her engines flared8, and she slowly came to a halt. The ship started backtoward the new Covenant threat.
“Sir,” Cortana said. “Spatial disruptions increasing exponentially.”
Two more Covenant frigates9 appeared, flanking the first ship.
As soon as they exited Slipstream space—a white-hot line streaked10 across the blackness. A Super MACgun had targeted them and fired. The Covenant ship only existed for a moment longer. Its shields flashedand the hull12 blasted into fragments.
“They’re powered down,” Captain Keyes said. “No lights, no plasma13 weapons charging, no lasers. Whatare they doing?”
“Perhaps,” Cortana said, “their pinpoint14 jumps require all their energy reserves.”
“A weakness?” Captain Keyes mused15.
“Not for long,” Cortana replied. “Covenant energy levels climbing.”
The two remaining Covenant ships powered up—lights snapped on, engines glowed, and motes16 of redlight appeared and streamed along their lateral17 lines.
“Entering optimal18 firing range,” Lieutenant Hikowa announced. “Targeting solutions computer for bothships, Captain.”
“Target the port vessel19 with our MAC gun,” Lieutenant Hikowa. “Ready Archer missiles for thestarboard target. Let’s hope we can draw their fire.”
Lieutenant Hikowa typed in the commands. “Ready, sir.”
“Fire.”
ThePillar of Autumn ’s MAC gun fired three times. Thunder roiled20 up from the ventral decks. Archermissiles snaked through space toward the Covenant frigate on the starboard edge of the enemy formation.
The Covenant ships fired . . . but not at thePillar of Autumn . Plasma bolts launched toward the twoclosest orbital guns.
ThePillar of Autumn ’s MAC rounds struck the Covenant ship once, twice. Their shields flared, glowed,and dimmed. The third round struck clean and penetrated21 her hull aft—sent the ship spinningcounterclockwise.
The orbital MAC guns fired again—a streak11 of silver and the port Covenant vessel shattered—a splitsecond later the starboard ship exploded, too.
But their plasma torpedoes22 continued toward their targets, splashing across two of the orbital defenseplatforms. The guns melted and collapsed23 into boiling molten spheres in the microgravity.
Thirteen guns left, Captain Keyes thought. Not exactly a lucky number.
“Lieutenant Dominique,” he said, “request FLEETCOM to send all arriving vessels25 in-system to take updefense positions near our guns. The Covenant is willing to sacrifice a ship for one of our orbital guns.
Advise them the Covenant ships appear to be dead in space for a few seconds after they execute apinpoint jump.”
“Got it, sir,” Lieutenant Dominique said. “Message away.”
“Lieutenant Hikowa,” Captain Keyes said. “Send the destruction codes to those wild missiles welaunched.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Belay that,” Captain Keyes said. Something didn’t feel right. “Lieutenant Hall, scan the region foranything unusual.”
“Scanning, sir,” she said. “There are millions of hull fragments; radar26 is useless. Thermal27 is off the charts—everything is hot out there.” She paused, leaned closer, and a hank of her blond hair fell into her face,but she didn’t brush it aside. “Reading motiontoward Gamma station, sir. Landing pods.”
“Lieutenant Hikowa,” Keyes said. “Repurpose those Archer missiles. New targets—link with LieutenantHall for coordinates28.”
“Yes, Captain,” they said in unison30.
“Diversion, distraction31, and deceit,” Captain Keyes said. “The Covenant’s tactics are almost gettingpredictable.”
A hundred pinpoints32 of fire dotted the distant space as their missiles found Covenant targets.
“Picking up activity just out of the effective range of our orbital guns,” Cortana said.
“Show me,” Captain Keyes said.
The titanic33 Covenant vessel Keyes had seen before was back. It fired its brilliant blue-white beam—alance across space—that struck the destroyerHerodotus , one hundred thousand kilometers distant. Thebeam cut clean through the ship, stem to stern, bisecting her.
“Christ,” Ensign Lovell whispered.
A salvo of orbital gun rounds fired at this new target . . . but it was too far away. The ship moved out ofthe trajectory34 of the shells. They missed.
Another beam flashed from the Covenant vessel. Another ship—a carrier, theMusashi —was severedamidships as it moved to cover the orbital guns. The aft section of the ship continued to thrust forward,her engines still running hot.
“They’re going to sniper our ships,” Keyes said. “Leave us nothing to fortify35 Reach.” He took out hispipe and tapped it in the palm of his hand. “Ensign Lovell. Plot an intercept36 course. Engines tomaximum. We’re going to take that ship out.”
“Sir?” Lovell sat straighter. “Yes, sir. Plotting course now.”
Cortana appeared on the holographic display. “I assume you have another brilliant navigationalmaneuver to evade37 this enemy, Captain.”
“I thought I’d fly straight in, Cortana . . . and let you do the driving.”
“Straight? Youare joking.” Logic38 symbols streamed up her body.
“I never joke when it comes to navigation,” Captain Keyes said. “You will monitor the energy state ofthat ship. The instant you detect a buildup in their reactors40, a spike41 of particle emissions—anything—you fire our emergency thrusters to throw off their aim.”
Cortana nodded. “I’ll do my best,” she said. “Their weapondoes travel at light speed. There won’t bemuch time to—”
A bang resonated through their port side hull. Captain Keyes flew sideways. Blue-white light flashed ontheir port view screen.
“One shot missed,” Cortana replied.
Captain Keyes stood up and straightened his uniform. “Ready MAC gun, Lieutenant Hikowa. ArmArcher missile pods C1 through E7. Give me a firing solution for missile impact on our last MACround.”
Lieutenant Hikowa arched an eyebrow42. She had good reason to be dubious43. They would be firing morethan five hundred missiles at a single target. “Solution online, sir. Guns hot and ready.”
“Distance, Lieutenant Hall?”
“Closing in on extreme range for MAC guns, sir. In four . . . three. . . .”
An explosion to starboard and thePillar of Autumn jumped. Keyes was braced44 this time.
“Fire, Lieutenant Hikowa. Send them back where they belong.”
“Missiles away, sir. Waiting to coordinate29 MAC rounds.”
Blue lightning washed out the view screen. Dull thumps45 sounded through thePillar of Autumn like astring of firecrackers going off. The ship listed to port, and it started to roll.
“We’re hit!” Lieutenant Hall said. “Decompression on Decks C, D, and E. Sections two through twentyseven.
Venting46 atmosphere. Reactor39’s damaged, sir.” She listened to her headset. “Can’t get a clearreport of what’s going on belowdecks. We’re losing power.”
“Seal those sections. Lieutenant Hikowa, do we have gun control?”
“Affirmative.”
“Then fire at will, Lieutenant.”
ThePillar of Autumn shuddered47 as its MAC gun fired. Pings and groans48 diffused49 though her damagedhull. A trio of white-hot projectiles50 appeared on the view screen, chasing the Archer missiles towardtheir intended target.
The first round struck the Covenant ship; its shields rippled51. The second and third rounds struck, andmore than five hundred missiles detonated along her length. Flame dotted the massive vessel, and hershields blazed solid silver. They faded and popped. A dozen missiles impacted her hull and exploded,scarring the bluish armor.
“Minimal damage to the target, sir,” Lieutenant Hall reported.
“But we downed their shields,” Captain Keyes said. “We can hurt them. That’s all I needed to know.
Lieutenant Hikowa, make ready to fire again. Identical targeting solution. Lieutenant Hall, launch ourremote-piloted Longsword interceptor and arm its Shiva nuclear warhead. Cortana, take control of thesingle ship.”
Cortana tapped her foot. “Longsword away,” she said. “Where do you want me to park this thing?”
“Intercept course for the Covenant ship,” he told her.
“Sir,” Lieutenant Hikowa cried. “We have an insufficient52 charge rate to fire the MAC guns.”
“Understood,” Captain Keyes said. “Divert all power from the engines to regenerate53 gun capacitors.”
“May I point out—” Cortana said and crossed her arms “—that if you power down the engines, we willbe inside the blast radius54 of the Shiva warhead when it reaches the Covenant ship?”
“Noted,” Captain Keyes said. “Do it.”
“Capacitors at seventy-five percent,” Lieutenant Hikowa announced. “Eighty-five. Ninety-five. Fullcharge, sir. Ready to fire.”
“Fire at will,” Captain Keyes ordered.
“Missiles away—”
A javelin55 of blue-white energy from the Covenant ship slashed56 at thePillar of Autumn . The beam struck,and cut through the hull. ThePillar of Autumn slid into a flat spin as the explosive decompressionknocked the ship off course. As theAutumn spun, the Covenant energy beam carved a spiral pattern inthe hull, shredding57 armor and puncturing58 deep into the ship.
The ship lurched sickeningly as the beam played across the portside Archer pods; the missiles detonatedin their tubes. Keyes was nearly thrown from the command chair as the deck bucked59 beneath him.
He tightened60 his safety straps61 and scowled62 at the tactical displays. “Damage report!” he yelled, his voicecompeting with the dozens of hazard alarms that blared through the bridge speakers.
Cortana brought up a holographic view of the ship and flagged damaged areas in pulsing red. “Portlaunch and storage bays have been breached—fires on all decks, all sections. Primary fusion63 chamber64 isbreached.”
ThePillar of Autumn tumbled out of control.
“Cortana, get us straight and level. We have to fire our guns!”
“Yes, Captain.” Her body became a blur65 of mathematical symbols. “This is an extremely chaotictrajectory,” she said. “Atmosphere still venting. Hang on. There. Got it.”
ThePillar of Autumn righted herself. The Covenant ship centered on the main view screen. This closeCaptain Keyes saw how huge the ship was—three times the mass of a normal cruiser. There was a podmounted on the top deck; it swiveled and tracked thePillar of Autumn , bringing the turret66 to bear. Itglowed electric white as it built up another lethal67 charge.
“Fire when ready, Lieutenant Hikowa,” Captain Keyes ordered.
“Firing!” Thunder rumbled68 belowdecks. “MAC rounds away.”
The shells struck the Covenant vessel; Archer missiles impacted . . . only a handful got though herdowned shields.
“Cortana, crash-land our Longsword on that bastard69. Set timer delay on the nuke for fifteen seconds.”
“Afterburners on,” Cortana replied. “Impact in three . . . two . . . one. She’s down, sir.”
ThePillar of Autumn sped past the Covenant ship.
“Lieutenant Hall, divert any power you can muster70 to the engines.”
“Bringing secondary reactor back online, sir. That gives us fifteen percent.”
“Aft camera on center screen,” Captain Keyes ordered.
The Covenant ship slowly turned toward thePillar of Autumn and its turret tracked their position. For thefirst time in his life, Keyes prayed that a Covenant ship’s shields would hold.
The alien ship became a flash of white light; its outline blurred71. Their shields held for a split second asthe Shiva warhead detonatedinside its protective aura. The shockwave rebounded72 off the asymmetricalshape of the shields just before their collapse24. Jets of energy exploded outward at three different angles.
Thunder and plasma roiled into space . . . cleanly missing thePillar of Autumn .
The light faded and the Covenant flagship was gone.
Captain Keyes puffed73 again on his pipe and tapped it out. Maybe now they had a chance to rally whatremained of the UNSC fleet and defend Reach.
“Congratulations Captain,” Cortana said. “I couldn’t have done better myself.”
“Thank you, Cortana. Is there a planet nearby?”
“Beta Gabriel,” she said. “Fourteen million kilometers. Practically next door.”
“Good. Ensign Lovell, plot a course for a slingshot orbit. Reverse our trajectory back in-system.”
“Sir,” Lieutenant Dominique interrupted. “Incoming transmission from Reach. It’s the Spartans74.”
“On speakers, Lieutenant.”
Static hissed75 from the channel. A man’s voice broke through.“—bad. Reactor complex seven has beencompromised. We’re falling back. Might be able to save number three. Set off those charges now!”
There was a series of explosions . . . more white noise, then the man returned.“Be advised Pillar ofAutumn, groundside reactors are being taken. Orbital guns at risk. Nothing we can do. Too many. Wewill have to use the nukes—”Static washed away the transmission.
“Captain,” Cortana said. “You need to see this, sir.”
She overlaid a tactical map of the system on the main view screen. Tiny triangular76 red markers winkedon the edges: Covenant ships—dozens of them—reentered the system from Slipspace.
“Sir,” she said, “when the guns around Reach go down. . . .”
“There will be nothing left to stop the Covenant,” he finished.
Captain Keyes turned to Lieutenant Dominique. “Get those Spartans back online,” he said. “Tell them toevac ASAP. In a few minutes, it’s going to get very nasty around Reach.”
He took a deep breath. “Then raise the Master Chief on a secure channel. Let’s hope he has some goodnews for us.”
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1
pelican
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| n.鹈鹕，伽蓝鸟 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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trajectories
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| n.弹道( trajectory的名词复数 )；轨道；轨线；常角轨道 | |
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covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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plasma
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| n.血浆，细胞质，乳清 | |
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pinpoint
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| vt.准确地确定；用针标出…的精确位置 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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motes
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| n.尘埃( mote的名词复数 )；斑点 | |
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lateral
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| adj.侧面的，旁边的 | |
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optimal
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| adj.最适宜的；最理想的；最令人满意的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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roiled
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| v.搅混（液体）( roil的过去式和过去分词 )；使烦恼；使不安；使生气 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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torpedoes
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| 鱼雷( torpedo的名词复数 )； 油井爆破筒； 刺客； 掼炮 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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radar
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| n.雷达，无线电探测器 | |
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thermal
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| adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的 | |
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coordinates
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| n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等 | |
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coordinate
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| adj.同等的，协调的；n.同等者；vt.协作，协调 | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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pinpoints
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| 准确地找出或描述( pinpoint的第三人称单数 )； 为…准确定位 | |
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titanic
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| adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的 | |
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trajectory
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| n.弹道，轨道 | |
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fortify
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| v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化 | |
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intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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reactor
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| n.反应器；反应堆 | |
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reactors
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| 起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆 | |
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spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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eyebrow
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| n.眉毛，眉 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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thumps
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| n.猪肺病；砰的重击声( thump的名词复数 )v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的第三人称单数 ) | |
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venting
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| 消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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projectiles
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| n.抛射体( projectile的名词复数 )；（炮弹、子弹等）射弹，（火箭等）自动推进的武器 | |
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rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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regenerate
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| vt.使恢复，使新生；vi.恢复，再生；adj.恢复的 | |
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radius
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| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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shredding
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的现在分词 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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puncturing
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| v.在（某物）上穿孔( puncture的现在分词 )；刺穿（某物）；削弱（某人的傲气、信心等）；泄某人的气 | |
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bucked
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| adj.快v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的过去式和过去分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fusion
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| n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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65
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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66
turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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lethal
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| adj.致死的；毁灭性的 | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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69
bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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71
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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72
rebounded
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| 弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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spartans
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| n.斯巴达（spartan的复数形式） | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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