Liberation of Realization --Prologue--
Posted By: Sp00k2552<Sp00k@twcny.rr.com>
Date: 9 August 2006, 5:08 pm
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++INCOMING TRANSMISSION+++++
+++++DATED: 032717.6122553+++++
+++++ENCRYPTED EYES ONLY V+++++
+++++TO: ADM RICHARD ISSAC+++++
+++++CC: CPO VIKTOR KETLEV+++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++START MESSAGE+START MESSAGE++
++START MESSAGE+START MESSAGE++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++SPECIAL ORDERS+DECODE KEY V++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++MESSAGE DECODED++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++ ++
+ADMIRAL THIS MESSAGE IS PRIOR+
+ITY. THE COVENANT HAVE MOVED +
+INTO POSITION TO STRIKE OUR C+
+OMMAND CENTER ON TITAN V. FUL+
+L FLEET ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRE+
+D. THE UNSC DIVINITUS HAS SEP+
+ERATE ORDERS. THE DIVINITUS I+
+S TO MOVE TO COORIDINATES ATT+
+ATCHED AND AWAIT FURTHER ORDE+
+RS. CHEIF PETTY OFFICER KETLE+
+V YOUR ORDERS STAND. ASSIST T+
+HE DIVINITUS IN ITS MISSION. +
+ ADMIRAL JACOB BAKER +
++ ++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++END MESSAGE+++END MESSAGE+++
+++END MESSAGE+++END MESSAGE+++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CPO Ketlev deleted the message
from the monitor in the training
center. He quickly walked into
the locker room and into the
showers. He cleaned the smell of
sweat from his body and walked
back into the locker room. He
approached a bench and keyed his
locker. The bench lifted atop a
set of lockers that slide into
the deck to accommodate a smaller
space. He popped his locker open
and dressed. He was already in
the lift when he was paged over
the PA system.
"Chief Ketlev, Sergeant Miller
and Lieutenant Phillips report
to briefing room two."
Viktor rode the lift alone when
it stopped suddenly and the lights
dimmed to be replaced by an eerie
red glow that was famous for
hanging about during an
emergency.
-----------------
Admiral Isaac tore the printout
of the message from the young
Junior officer's hands. "Thank
you Mr. Gillard, now resume your
post." Richard's eyes scanned
the paper but his mouth had
already issued the orders.
"Mrs. Lockhart change course,
Coordinates, Zero Nine Seven by
Three Five Two mark One Three
Three."
Emily Lockhart the ships
navigator locked in the
coordinates "Aye, zero niner
seven, three five two, one three
three. Coordinates locked,
initiating Cole protocol,
random vectors in 5.."
"Ms. Lockhart ignore Cole
protocol, we don't have the
time." Admiral Isaac cut her
off.
"Aye sir, direct jump programmed,
Cole protocol override,
slip space in three, two.." The
UNSC DIVINITUS tore a hole in
space and accelerated into the
void. Thanks to new technology
installed on this ship and one
other the jump would take a
fraction of the time it used to.
Now instead of 6 weeks it would
take them only 46 hours under
optimal conditions.
"Mr. Gillard have Chief Ketlev,
Sergeant Miller and Lieutenant
Phillips meet me in briefing
room two. Now." Richard ordered
as he walked off the command
deck clutching the message.
"Aye sir" Gillard said as he
accessed the ships PA. "Chief
Ketlev, Sergeant Miller and
Lieutenant Phillips report to
briefing room two." Gillard
clicked off the PA system and
looked out the view ports and
fainted.
The UNSC DIVINITUS abruptly
exited slip space as it was
captured in an artificial
Covenant gravity well. The ship
fell to red alert and emergency
klaxons blared as they had
exited slipstream only feet from
the Covenant battleship
Incandescent Courage.
-----------
Aboard the Incandescent Courage
the Sangheili Commander adorned
with Gold armor stood at the top
of his command platform. One of
the other sangheili sitting at a
terminal spoke.
"Ship Master, something is
moving through the void. Shall
I deploy the capture field?"
The commander Iri'tal'ki
pondered for a moment, clicking
his mandibles.
"Do so, and prepared boarding
parties. The others need some
entertainment."
The vessel then emitted a
gravity well large enough to
hinder slipspace travel and
cause most ships to disengage.
It was a success here and proved
their tests accurate, however
the vessel was closer than
expected. The boarding
parties were en route and the
human vessel was going to
collide with the Incandescent
Courage if something was
not done. Iri'tak'ki roared to
his pilots.
"Move us away now, full power
to engines. Prepare damage
control, Brace!"
---------------
Admiral Isaac ran to the bridge
and slid onto the command deck
before it was sealed. Lt. Kiowa
addressed him first. "Admiral,
the Covenant vessel is changing
course and accelerating. It
appears they want to avoid
collision."
The Admiral replied frankly "So
do I, chemical thrusters full
reverse Ms. Lockhart. Lieutenant
Fortis arm the MAC
cannon, and Missile pods A
through J target that ship."
"Aye sir, MAC cannon charging.
Eighty-seven percent. Full
charge in twenty-four seconds.
Missile pods A through J armed
and target acquired. Awaiting
fire order"
The Divinitus slowed and lurched
once as chemicals mixed in
specially designed ports at the
front of the vessel. The
resulting explosions forced the
ship to slow. The Covenant
vessel had accelerated and was
now directly bisected by the
Divinitus' line of fire.
"Fire the MAC cannon Mr. Fortis,
target the boarding craft with
the archer pods."
The Divinitus shuddered as a
molten slag of half ton titanium
spewed fourth from the vessels
modified MAC cannon. Its mass
accelerated to just below the
speed of light and it punched
into the center of the Covenant
ship
and exited the other side.
Green-blue flame jutted out from
the wound.
"Admiral, MAC cannon recycled
and charged for a second shot."
Lt. Fortis called over the
others reporting battle status.
"Fire Mr. Fortis, send them to
hell."
----------
Iri'tal'ki stared at the display
in front of him and growled his
orders "Arm plasma lances, ready
torpedoes. Lock onto that vessel
I want it destroyed."
"Shipmaster, lances armed target
acquired."
"Purge them"
Iri'tal'ki had just taken
command of this vessel a week
ago, his life had been good
until now. Numerous combat
medals, victories and
commandments. But one mistake,
one little mistake and he was
dumped onto this ship as
commander. He was ecstatic when
an infidel vessel was detected
in the void, a chance to prove
himself. This was it, he would
have the humans dead in seconds
at this range. He tilted his
head back and roared a cry of
victory as
half a ton of molten slag
slammed through the deck above
him and his roar was silenced.
----------
CPO Ketlev felt the ship shudder
as he climbed the emergency
ladder in the lift shaft. He
knew something
was going on and was determined
to help. He forced the doors
open on the next deck to see a
circular hole melted into the
hull. Boarding vessels. "Damnit"
he said realizing all to late it
would give away his position. A
grunt leaning against the far
wall peaked his head up and
opened his eyes. It cocked its
head and screamed "ENEMY, THE
ENEMY IS HERE!" and scattered
off looking for its much bigger
friends.
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