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Destination: Marakesh
Posted By: The Scribe<nero@cinci.rr.com>
Date: 30 June 2003, 10:14 PM
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Thirteen Pelicans filled the sky as the Master Chief stood atop the observation tower of New Berlin's Central Command Post. It was still early in the day.
"Better go out to meet them," Cortana suggested.
The Spartan had slept outside last night, which was obvious considering there was a cot lying next to a pile of burnt Covenant. The bodies had been good firewood. Although they hadn't smelled the best, the Chief had gotten by just fine.
The Pelicans landed on their designated pads and marines came leaping from the backs.
A rough looking soldier strode up to the Master Chief.
"Hello, Chief, good to see you. My name is Sergeant Frank Mandez," he said, holding out his hand.
The Master Chief shook Mandez's hand and nodded.
"Heard about the trouble last night. How'd it go, Sergeant?"
Mandez laughed.
"Let me put it this way, sir," he put his hand on the Spartan's shoulder. "They were originally going to send thirty three Pelicans to reinforce you. This is all they could cough up without having the Covenant out number their sorry asses. The UNSC's in a real shit storm right now, let me tell you."
Tuka Hanamee walked into the large temple, where the Prophet sat, eyes closed.
"Hello, Tuka Hanamee," it said.
"Hello, exalted one," Hanamee replied, standing before the Prophet in a respectful stance. "Have you made the decision on letting me hunt down the human?"
"Yes I have. You must understand that there have been a few Elites before you who have been denied this request. I actually knew one who decided to do it anyway and was killed. This human is extremely dangerous, but the Prophets have faith in your combat experience and smartness. So, seeing those two good traits, we have decided to grant you permission on the request of hunting this human down."
"Thank you, exalted one," Hanamee said, hiding the intense happiness that he felt.
"We have chosen a team that shall go with you. Eight of them are strike team members and fifteen of them are veterans who wished to come and fight for you. We are putting a great amount of trust in you, Tuka Hanamee. Please do not fail."
The Chief was glad to know he was headed to a ship instead of being on New Berlin. He was ready for a new setting. Space was still dangerous of course, but it required none of his work if enemies were spotted. The only time he would be needed was if a Covenant boarding party should arrive.
The small transport ship sped farther and farther from Earth. Soon the green, blue, and white planet was the size of a basketball in the Chief's view. Ahead of the small ship, the Ion could be seen. Its large engines let off a blue light from its back and small specks of yellow light were sporadically spread all over the body, being windows.
"Docking in two," the pilot said.
Once the ship was docked the Chief unloaded and looked around.
The Ion, being newer than most of the ships he'd been, looked a lot nicer. There was fresh paint on the landing pads and the metal walls still held their gleam.
"Hello, Master Chief, my name is Captain David Kesler," a man behind him said.
"Hello, Captain," Cortana said.
"Why don't you come up to the bridge with me, Chief?" the Captain said. "We can plug Cortana into the ship's central system there."
The Chief began to follow the captain to the bridge through a maze of steel halls and passageways. One thing about the ship that the Spartan noticed was the sentry guns sticking out of the walls.
"What are the guns for, Captain?" the Master Chief asked.
"In case any boarding parties should happen to get on the ship," Kesler said, walking.
Finally they reached the bridge. This particular bridge was a lot nicer than the Pillar of Autumn's had been. Its computer systems were a lot nicer.
The Chief slid the chip from his helmet and placed Cortana in the ships central computer. A small figure of the AI generated on a small pad next to a small keyboard.
"Oh, all the new technology and top of the line navigational systems," Cortana said, amused. "This should be fun to work with."
"Right," the Captain broke into Cortana's moment of excitement. "Chief, we're taking you to the planet Marakesh. After your heroic rescue of New Berlin's central command, the UNSC wants you on a special operation.
An invisible spy, Duka Wunamee stood right behind the Captain, gun raised. The human didn't even notice that the air was distorted.
Wunamee radioed in.
"The special human is headed for the planet Marakesh," he said.
"Good," Hanamee's voice crackled back.
"Your destination information file is ready for you when ever you need to read it," Kesler said.
Hearing this, Wunamee withdrew a small hacking device. The spy carefully slipped it into an input plug for the central computer. After withdrawing information, he sent it to Hanamee.
"His destination is at a small outpost called Phoenix 14," Wunamee said. "You can be ready for him there."
"Good work, Wunamee," Hanamee responded.
Suddenly, Cortana turned a bright red.
"Foreign object detected!" she alerted. "According to the feedback, it's a Covenant hacking syringe!"
The Master Chief, realizing that the bastard could be invisible, turned to Cortana.
"Activate the fire emergency system!" he shouted.
Sprinklers began spraying all over the ship.
The second that the water hit the spy, revealing his form, he knew he'd been caught. He immediately fired a bolt into Captain Kesler's side. The Captain grunted and dropped to the floor.
The Spartan took out his M6D and fired.
A purple spout of blood came shooting up from the Elite's head, and it collapsed, dead.
"Captain!" an Ensign hollered, running to Kesler's aid.
After checking his pulse the Ensign stood up.
"He's dead."
"We can't stop now," Cortana said. "Chief, your arrival at Marakesh is critical to this operation. I'm setting a course now. As soon as we get there, we'll get a replacement for Captain Kesler."
The Ion pushed forward soundlessly in the silence of space. In the distance, the large, looming desert planet called Marakesh awaited the Master Chief.
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