"Give me status update Athena, what's our situation looking like."
A blue holographic image appeared on the large blue monitor screen and stared intently at the admiral of the Fist of Judgement, the small pixels had all formed together to create a 3D replica of a fully grown women in casual attire. This Artificial Intelligence peered straight across to the man in front of her as well as monitored over fifty different complex simulations and regulations over the entire UNSC shuttle. She was the Artificial Smart unit for this vessel, named after the Greek goddess of Athena, this particular AI was clever, strategic and completely implied with different tactics on star space warfare; this was something the Admiral required right now.
"Sir, Covenant battle cruisers on intercept course with our fleet, it seems they wish to bury the hatchet and come at us head on." She replied coolly, her head literally swimming in swirly blue hue's and lines.
Admiral 'Ace' Osborn stood at the cockpit of his massively primed and prepared UNSC Fist of Judgement, he evaluated his position evenly and then made a choice, "Release the mines into the space in front of us and start issuing the fleet back, as soon as those covenant bastards get within thirty clicks of those tickers I want them in flames." He spoke evenly, carefully analysing every ship and shuttle under his command, "Then fire mac rounds on any surviving covies with our fleet until they take the hint and retreat."
"An excellent strategy if I do say so myself sir" Athena beamed at him.
Admiral Ace smiled and turned back to his communications monitor, activating a couple of panels on the screen and waiting for them to load before mumbling, "I learned from the best."
Suddenly the screen was outfitted with three captains at station on their own UNSC ships, two of them were Frigates and the last was a Battle Cruiser, they immediately saluted and confirmed his presence as his face appeared on every one of their screens.
"Halberdier, Renaissance and Bravo – 04" He spoke evenly to the three selected captains, referring to them by the name of their ships, "Your objective is to clear away from the main fleet and proceed to extract and assist the civilians down below; watch each other's backs and make sure those damned covenant pay for what they've done!" He completed, slamming his fist down to emphasise the anger they had all been feeling over the invasion of Genesis II.
"Yes sir" "Aye Admiral" "Affirmative", all replied back to him; letting him switch of the communications and prepare himself for the battle of his life.
"Sir, ONI Battle Cruiser 'Red Dusk' has just parked in our right hanger bay C and is requesting both reparations as well as an audience with you." Athena flickered back onto his screen, looking down and flicking of numbers on a holographic pad she had formed.
"Grant it Athena, and give me status on Gold team – I need to know if they will work with a newcomer." Ace replied, tapping at more functions and getting the status lights on every ship under his command; over twenty frigates and battle cruisers lay at his disposal, all awaiting his move and request.
"Affirmative sir, message relayed and mines deployed; is there anything else you wouldn't mind me doing while I'm here?" The AI continued, starting to get irritated with the overwhelming amount of jobs she was forced to do.
Ace continued to speak through her sarcasm, not recognising it, "Get me status on Lucifer and the ODST squad, I want to speak to them before ONI has a chance to grab them for their own vanity projects."
Athena sighed, "Sir you do believe that in the context of sarcasm…"
"We don't have time for sarcasm Athena, were at war; now get me that status report pronto, more than just our lives depend on this running smoothly." The Admiral responded, waving his hand away and not caring for the AI's arguments. He walked over and activated the large window shutters that revealed the outside space system, he saw the three USNC ships leaving the fleet and heading straight down to the system of Genesis II; but most importantly he saw the Thunder advancing towards him, ready to fire and begin a war.
Ace smiled as they continued to travel towards him, oblivious to the trap they had set, "Ok command all ships to start travelling backwards, I want those covies to think we're on the run."
Athena confirmed him while adding, "UNSC spacecraft are not well designed to travel backwards sir, we'll be pretty close to the explosion when the covenant manage to hit the mines."
The Admiral replied slowly, "Well then you better get yourself an order for sunglasses Athena."
Silence rocketed between all of the ships as they slowly travelled backwards, watching the covenant advance towards the mines that awaited them.
Finally Athena spoke, "With all due respect, you need to work on your puns sir."