Chapter 21: Voi
Author's Notes: 21 chapters, Six months, 30-some odd followers and favorites, and a HELL of a big cast of characters. DAMN! This has become my lifeblood. I get home from school and can't wait to start writing again! I must say, my grades have improved so much since beginning this book because this book (And your attention to it) inspires me. Thank you to all who favorited, followed, reviewed, or just sat down for a few minutes to read. It means a lot to me. (That says a lot, coming from a sophomore in high school.)
File: (REDACTED) Date: (REDACTED)
USER: Classified [Level (REDACTED) and above]
ENTRY: 12-041/029
CLEARENCE: Classified [Level (REDACTED) and above]
SUBJECT: Review of secure transmission made from SPARTAN III Commander A-259 (NOBLE 1) onboard Covenant Separatist ship Shadow of Intent to Colonel Urban Holland (NOBLE Actual) at ONI CASTLE Base on Reach.
(Transmission intercepted by communications satellites in the Oort Cloud while waiting for further instructions concerning classified project. Transmission was recorded and sent to ONI officials on ONIRF Trevelyan/Onyx shield world.)
~Begin Transcript~
NOBLE ACTUAL: Commander, I hope that the assault on Voi was successful?
NOBLE 1: It was, sir. We surprised them. Pushed them back to the city limits before more reinforcements arrived. Someone must have squawked during the fighting.
NA: Do you think this complicated the mission Commander Keyes gave you?
N1: Sir?
NA: Don't BS me, Commander. Keyes filled me in on the mission before I contacted you. That's why I gave you the mission.
N1: Sir, I was unaware. But yes, I do think it did complicate the mission that the other Spartans carried out.
NA: Other Spartans?
N1: Yes, sir. We've been working with a SPARTAN-II since the start of the Covenant's siege on Earth, SPARTAN (REDACTED). Just before we descended to (REDACTED), we met a trio of SPARTAN-II's from the Spirit of Fire.
NA: How long were you in Voi?
N1: About a day, sir.
NA: Any KIA's or WIA's?
N1: NOBLE 2 suffered a minor injury when a fragmentation grenade she threw was hit in midair by a Carbine round, throwing shrapnel into her left leg, and the surviving marines were executed as we landed.
NA: She?
N1: Yes, sir. (REDACTED) apparently survived Reach by using a prototype ONI hologram made of hard light.
NA: Damn… So that means…
N1: Yes, sir. The only KIA on Reach was (REDACTED).
NA: What's the status of NOBLE?
N1: We've joined the Elites and the rest of the Spartans on the Shadow of Intent and are planning our next move. We've followed the Prophet of Truth and his fleet through a portal that was opened on Earth by a mysterious Forerunner ship. Now, we've found what a Forerunner AI, 343 Guilty Spark, calls the Ark, where all the Halo rings can be fired remotely.
NA: I've seen the report from (REDACTED) about the incidents on Installation 04. From what I understand, the rings will wipe out all life in the galaxy to prevent the Flood from spreading.
N1: Exactly, sir. (REDACTED) found a recording from the former UNSC (REDACTED)'s AI, (REDACTED), inside a Covenant ship infested with the Flood that crashed on Earth.
NA: You're sure about that?
N1: Yes, sir. But the ship was destroyed, along with half of the continent, when the Shadow of Intent glassed it.
NA: So Earth's safe?
N1: For now, sir. The Covenant have left Earth's orbit and have abandoned any ground forces left.
NA: That's not how the Covenant usually acts.
N1: We've seen it before. Remember Sigma Octanus 4?
NA: Right. Commander, good luck on your mission. I'll be in touch soon. Holland out.
~END TRANSMISSION~